Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 555 The Great Wall, Panda, Shanghai, and Shen Juan

The battle raged until late at night, and when I woke up, it was already noon.

After having lunch at home and parting ways with Xiao Xiao, Shen Juan went to a beauty salon in the afternoon to get her makeup and hair done for tonight's party.

He then arrived at the Mercedes-Benz Arena ahead of time to shoot promotional materials for Ali, who had given him a $1200 million appearance fee this year.

“Ali and I have been working together for two and a half years, from April 2018 to November 2020. Every collaboration between us has been comfortable and smooth. They are very professional, know how to respect the artists’ ideas, and are willing to give each performer enough space to express themselves freely.”

"Moreover, during the two years of cooperation, seeing their plans and strategies in the field of cultural communication, I can feel that they want to do more than just sell products, but also bring more interesting content to everyone. It is a very lucky thing for me to grow with such a brand."

"As for whether I will appear at the Tmall Double 11 Gala next year? Of course I would love to! As I just said, they are very professional, and the stage design and equipment are excellent (they are very willing to spend money and are very generous with their spending). So as long as Ali needs me and as long as my schedule is right, I would definitely be happy to meet everyone at the Tmall Double 11 Gala."

After quickly finishing the media interview, Shen Juan returned to his private lounge and took a photo as instructed by his staff.

The idea was to have him lie on the sofa to replicate the photos Taylor Swift took backstage at the Tmall Double 11 Gala last year, making it easier for them to conduct subsequent marketing and attract traffic.

Shen Juan was speechless at this. He felt that Ah Li's arrangement was a bit disrespectful to him, the world's number one.

He is already the most sought-after superstar in the world right now, so why would he need to deliberately ride on Taylor's coattails?
But he didn't say anything.

After all, one should have a sense of contractual obligation.

Now that the money has been received, I naturally have to honestly finish the work.

Thanks to the joint efforts of all staff, the Tmall Double Eleven Carnival Night, which attracted much attention this year due to the participation of many big-name guests such as Shen Juan, Ariana Grande, Li Nacha, and Ma Long, finally kicked off at 7:30 pm and was broadcast live on multiple live streaming platforms at home and abroad on time.

First, there was a promotional advertisement with Yi Yang Qianxi, the newly appointed spokesperson for Tmall, reading the narration. Then the camera switched to the scene.

Amidst deafening screams, the first guest of the evening, Yi Yang Qianxi, took to the stage to perform his new song, "My Boo."

After the song ended, the atmosphere in the venue and the live broadcast room was completely ignited, and the live broadcast comments rolled like a tide.

Then, the six hosts took to the stage in unison with light steps, the lead host's voice loud and enthusiastic:
"Hello everyone, you are currently watching the live broadcast of the 2020 Tmall Double Eleven Carnival Night, exclusively sponsored by Red Star Macalline. Let's give another round of applause to Tmall's spokesperson, Yi Yang Qianxi! The song 'My Boo' has launched the Tmall Future Market. Hello everyone, I'm your host, Da Zuo."

After the opening party, Tmall introduced the second guest of the evening, Zhang Yixing, who performed "Descendants of Yan and Huang".

Speaking of which, because of his relationship with "Go Fighting!" and Tomato TV, Master Lay became Tmall's first spokesperson in 2016. He has participated in many events and galas held by Tmall and maintained a very good cooperative relationship with Cool Factory. In the middle of the year, he also became Youku's VIP member spokesperson.

Shen Juan replaced Zhang Yixing in 18 and became the new darling of the Ali Capital camp. He not only successfully became the global spokesperson for Tmall, unlocking many resources from Ali and Youku, but also accelerated Ali's investment in Lehua to some extent, becoming Lehua's current second largest shareholder.

As for the newly announced spokesperson, Yi Yang Qianxi?
Similar to Wang Junkai, who became the spokesperson for League of Legends this year.

All of this was to help Shen Juan deal with redundant resources.

You can take these rubbish if you want.

Shi Yike doesn't have time to attend those secondary events.

And what's interesting is...
As we all know, truly large capital firms, in order to reasonably avoid risks, will not put all their eggs in one basket.

That would be too dangerous and too much of a gamble!
So after Wang Yibo, who soared to fame last year, successfully proved his fans' spending power this year, he also became another prince of Ali. During this period, he has been openly and secretly fighting with other four-character fans from the same capital camp, buying each other's smear articles, all in order to get a higher internal ranking and win more high-quality resources.

Shen Juan, who had already established a superior position in the Chinese entertainment industry and stood at the top, could sit back and watch the tigers fight, quietly observing how his colleagues, who were much older than him, fought tooth and nail for resources that he didn't care about.

At 9:30 p.m., the gala had entered its second half.

"I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road. I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no"

During the live broadcast of the Cat Evening News, Li Nacha, who was called by Shen Juan to make quick money, was passionately singing his signature song, Old Town Road.

In the backstage dressing room, Shen Juan was watching the performance with Cheng Xiao, Liu Xiening, and others, and giving their comments on the live stage.

Because there were so many A-list celebrities at this gala, Ali arranged for all of them to perform at the beginning of the show.

So not long after their performance, they all gathered in Shen Juan's dressing room, completely ignoring the rumors and controversies about them accompanying Shen Juan to open the silver handkerchief.

"So he recorded the performance in the US beforehand?" Cheng Xiao couldn't help but ask, looking at the sassy Li Na.

Shen Juan took a sip of coffee and replied casually, "It's not impossible to do live streaming, but the risks of cross-border live streaming are too high. Many unexpected situations are hard to control. It's safer to record a live stream. For example, I recorded a BMA performance before, and I also need to find time to record the AMA stage."

When will this year's AMA be held?

"On the evening of the 22nd, North American time."

"Is the boss confident that he can beat everyone?" Kong Xueer asked.

"You should ask the other nominated singers if they're confident they can snatch a few awards from me and walk away unscathed."

Thinking of what happened to people like Broken Eyebrow Camille, Liu Xiening suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. "That's true, the pressure from your fans is too great."

"Could it be that my business performance is just too inconsistent?"

"If awards were really judged solely on commercial performance, you would have swept the Grammys at the beginning of the year, so why bother with Billie Eilish?"

"That's different. She's a purebred Gen Z genius white woman, shouldering the great mission of reviving the glory of white music in a pop music scene that is gradually being dominated by black music. I'm just an outsider who follows the trend of the times and is suspected of cultural appropriation. Who do you think they support?"

Shen Juan shrugged. Although he was a little speechless at the Grammys' attempt to force a balance, he had nothing to regret.

To put it bluntly, whether we admit it or not, the mainstream trend in the music scene right now, and the most popular genre among listeners, is Black music.

Including Shen Juan himself and the group of friends he knows, whether it's Bieber, Ariana Grande, Marlon, or Li Nacha, who is black himself, they all play black music. Bieber, in particular, has adopted the West Coast style, not only hanging out with black rappers all day long, but also learning their essence of showing underwear in their outfits.

It can only be said that the decline of white music is an established fact, and among the many top-tier singers, only Taylor Swift is still struggling to hold on.

But as the saying goes, things will turn into their opposites when they reach their extremes.

As white music has fallen to its lowest point, it is destined to experience a revival in the near future.

Therefore, if Shen Juan wants to further expand his status and influence in the global pop music scene, this will undoubtedly be a rare opportunity to take off while riding the wave of opportunity.

After chatting about our recent personal situations, we talked about our daily lives. In a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, time always flies by.

As Shen Juan followed the staff to the waiting area, Ariana Grande's pre-recorded stage performance was playing on the live stream.

"You see right through me. I can't hide anything from you. You know me inside and out, even better than I know myself. It seems like nothing can be hidden from you. You see right through me, allowing me to be myself again, to protect my self-esteem, and to start treasuring myself as you love me, to re-examine myself from your perspective."

Looking at Ariana Grande on the screen, who clearly has white features but a skin tone like a black person, who is petite like a loli but has a fiery and open personality, Liu Xiening couldn't help but feel a little jealous, perhaps because she had seen clips of the show on Douyin before and knew that the protagonist described in these lyrics was Shen Juan.

Or perhaps it's envy.

I'm genuinely envious!
I envy her ability to write her emotions into lyrics, and I envy her ability to openly express her love in front of so many people.

I wish I could be like her.

Liu Xiening couldn't help but fantasize like that.

It's a pity that it's nighttime now.

But it's not time to close your eyes and go to sleep yet.

She thought that by being honest with Shen Juan and revealing her feelings to him, she could enter his "fishpond" and find happiness that would satisfy her. But she later discovered that this was just the beginning of a marathon, and she had only just stepped onto the starting line, surrounded by other competitors.

So instead of fantasizing about unrealistic shortcuts and indulging in beautiful fantasies, it's better to honestly settle down and return to reality. With the passage of time, you can gradually build up warmth through small acts of kindness, slowly closing the distance between you and Shen Juan and increasing his favorability towards you.

She knew this path would be difficult.

Although she knew perfectly well that she did not have a significant advantage over the other participants in the marathon.

But she had made up her mind and was ready.

After all, that's just the kind of person she is—she loves to endure hardship!
That's just how stubborn I am!
At 11:30 p.m., guided by backstage staff, Shen Juan stepped onto the lift and onto the stage to make his debut.

In an instant, the entire venue erupted in cheers, with screams tearing through the dome.

Shen Juan stood on the stage and looked around.

At this moment, the entire Mercedes-Benz Arena was filled with Alovers who had come for him. The red glow sticks in their hands gathered into a vast sea of ​​red, turning the entire venue into a magnificent red, bringing a great visual shock to all viewers around the world who were watching the live broadcast.

Shen Juan, positioned in the center of the stage, was so handsome under the spotlights from the dome that it made people's hearts race and their eyes dazzle.

First up is "Positions," a collaboration with Ariana Grande.

A person sings confidently on stage, exuding charm.

One person on the screen has a bright smile and is full of energy.

After the song ended, a live broadcast across the ocean took place.

"I just watched the whole performance, Alex, your performance was absolutely perfect! I've fallen in love with your voice!"

"Thanks, you're too kind."

"I'm absolutely speaking from the heart, I'm not flattering you!" "Ari, you need to understand that this is a live broadcast. If we wanted to do mutual flattery, we have plenty of time to do that kind of thing in private."

"Okay. So, what questions do you want to ask me?"

Shen Juan heard a staff member's instruction through his earpiece: "Is there anything you'd like to say to your Chinese fans who support you?"

"Of course! I've always wanted to say this to my Chinese fans. I'm truly grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much! Every time I see the messages, paintings, and little gifts you share online, even though we're thousands of miles apart, I can feel your love."

"You have made me love my career even more. I have always wanted to visit you and sing for you in person. I will always keep this wish in my heart! Finally, please don't forget how special you are and how important you are to me. My love for you is really beyond words."

"Okay, so what are your impressions of China?"

"Emmm, I don't want to lie, but when I heard this question, the first thing that came to my mind was..."

"The Great Wall, Panda, Shanghai, and Alex Shen."

On the large screen on the stage, Ariana Grande's eyes were filled with tender affection as she looked at Shen Juan, as if she wanted to melt him.

There's no room for euphemisms or subtleties whatsoever!

My basic attack is like throwing a straight ball!
The scene has completely exploded!

Some people, eager for a good show, stirred up trouble and hoped the internet would erupt into a fight over it; others cursed Ariana Grande in their hearts for being shameless enough to say such things in front of so many people; still others, unaware of the situation, thought it was just a formulaic remark used by enthusiastic foreigners to curry favor with their Chinese fans.

At the same time, fans and viewers in various live streaming rooms were also unable to contain their excitement, and their desire to discuss was extremely high!
[Why is A so excited tonight? Is she doing this because she doesn't want to lose face when she comes to Shen Juan's hometown?]

[Airi Anzu's condition tonight is really off! She's like she's on drugs, she's totally obsessed with my idol!]

"Memories of China? I guess it's the Great Wall, pandas, Shanghai, and Alex Shen." Celebrate! Another famous quote has been born! We Alexana fans are really enjoying ourselves! While other celebrities try their best to hide their relationships, my sister just keeps showering us with sweet moments!

[A Japanese entertainment enthusiast passing by, is this a lookalike of Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa?]

But is it possible that they're not dating, which is why they can interact and promote their relationship so openly?

I really think they're not a good match. Ariana Grande plays an independent, strong female lead, and she definitely wouldn't be able to accept Shen Juan's womanizing personality.

【What's the point of your opinion? I think they're a good match! Everyone abroad is shipping them, and you insist on going against the mainstream opinion? Can't you stop being a sober and rational person and stop being so disgusting? We've already been keeping our own little world to ourselves, okay?】

Next was "Sunflower," a collaboration with Marlon.

During the remote connection, this guy shared the amusing story of how Shen Juan treated him to Moutai and cigarettes, enjoying Chinese specialties.

Then came the indispensable flattery.

"To be honest, when I first met Alex, I had no idea how popular he would become, or how popular he would become in the future. After all, I was doing pretty well back then, haha. But I never expected that just six months later, he would release the album 'Leviathan,' which would make all singers today feel ashamed."

"I won't say he's a genius, because many people have already said that for him. I believe everyone has seen how gifted he is. So what I want to say is, Man! This man, your idol, is simply a monster! I've never seen anyone with such high talent who can work so hard! He's confident but never arrogant, ambitious but never complacent. He embodies all my beautiful fantasies about successful people!"

"A genius who doesn't boast about his talent will eventually become a legend."

"That's what I wanted to say."

"This man is a legend!"

“A living legend!!!”

Then it was time for Li Nacha, the North American publicity officer for Wajuan, to join her, and the two of them performed "INDUSTRY BABY" together.

During the video call, Nacha quickly shared his story of how he met Shen Juan and how he found redemption through Shen Juan.

“Alex took care of me like an older brother. He not only gave me a lot of experience in the industry and in life, but also taught me how to love myself and how to stay calm, elegant and confident. He is like my mentor and guiding light. I can see all the good qualities I want to have in him.”

"So to some extent, I actually share the same thoughts as you. Seeing him receive the flowers and honors he deserves, I feel genuinely proud and honored. Seeing him being maliciously smeared and slandered, I feel the same heartache as you, and I will also seek justice for him on social media."

“I really, really love him! Even if I put aside his identity as a singer, I have long since become a loyal Alovers.”

Fans screamed wildly, and the live chat was flooded with comments.

【Dragon Baby is so cute~】

Those who praise Juanjuan are all good people, and all adorable!

[Giving away Moutai and Liquor as gifts is really something! Is this considered cultural export? No wonder Longbao's voice is getting worse and worse; it's Shen Juan's fault!]

I can understand Ariana Grande confessing her feelings, but Li Na is outrageous.

[My allure is irresistible to both men and women; I'm a complete succubus!]

Doesn't anyone else think Naza is also quite pretty?

I think you're really hungry.

[This is outrageous! A perfectly good night of celebration has been turned into a personal awards ceremony for Shen Juan. Is this the power of Master Juan?]

Finally, it was time for Shen Juan's solo performance.

The song is performed as a medley of three songs: "Go Crazy," "my ex's best friend," and "Leave The Door Open."

Aside from "Leave The Door Open" which recently became a number one single thanks to extra support from fans, the other two songs are hailed as mid-tier powerhouses by fans. Although they don't rank high, they have remained stable in the top 20, showing no obvious signs of decline, and it looks like they will stay on the charts for a long, long time.

To put it simply, it's easy on the ears.

The audience of passersby is extremely broad.

CB and mgk's streaming comeback works are quite impressive, and they have managed to dispel public doubts about them.

Now that he has such a great opportunity to promote his songs, Shen Juan thought he might as well keep working on these two songs and see if he can extend their chart weeks and one day make them another hit single with 10 billion plays, adding more achievements to his resume.

"Come on over, l'll adore you."

As the final song of the evening concluded, the six hosts, accompanied by a group of dancers, took to the stage for the final wrap-up.

Surrounded by staff, Shen Juan returned to the lounge, quickly packed his belongings, and then left the venue by car.

Meanwhile, the teams of the artists who were fortunate enough to appear on the largest-ever Tmall Double 11 Gala are also starting to work behind the scenes.

The trending topics on Weibo were almost entirely dominated by related issues, and the internet was flooded with marketing press releases that tried to attract traffic from various angles.

#YiYang's Millennium is so handsome it makes me cry#, #ZhangYixing mentions the power of China again#, #YangChaoyue's performance was a waste of time#, #ZhouShen's Gokuraku Jodo dance is so cute#, #MaoBuyi seems to have been kidnapped by the backup dancers#, #G.E.M.'s performance felt like a concert#, #ShenJuan's Red Sea performance shocked the world#, #The Cat Evening Gala became a ShenJuan commendation ceremony#
Of course, the most talked-about event, aside from Ariana Grande's declaration of love, was the world premiere of AS3's new song.

[Yay! I see Juanjuan dancing again!]

[It's silky smooth, delicate, and sophisticated—the rhythm is perfectly combined! I think the only truly top-tier R&B artists of this era are The Bonsai and Shen Juan. They've perfected the technical aspects of R&B, whether it's the incredibly smooth glissando or the seamless vocal transitions.]

[Go Crazy truly boasts top-tier rhythm; the last time I saw such top-tier rhythm was with Shen Juan (doge)]

I think "My Ex's" is a really good song! Why does it only have so few favorites? It's practically at the bottom of AS3's charts.

This style is genuinely disliked in China, despite being incredibly popular abroad. In China, it remains a niche within a niche.

[Unavoidably, aesthetic preferences differ between domestic and international audiences, but there's no need to criticize domestic works; this song isn't much better anyway.]

[Your handsome idol's guitar-playing style this time is noticeably different from before; it gives me a kind of "MGK" vibe.]

[MGK is doing well, even managing to get me hooked up with him. By the way, where's Guns N' Roses been making his fortune lately? I've only seen him dating Megan Fox. Has he been a singer all these years? I haven't seen him anywhere. Is he really that washed up?]

When I realized Leviathan was just the beginning for Shen Juan, I was already incredibly excited! When I learned Shen Juan was only 22, I was even more thrilled! Shen Juan is such a successful man.

I browsed the comments for a while, and then I got home.

After clearing the Taobao shopping carts of the team members, Shen Juan met Cheng Xiao, who had gone home to take a shower earlier, in his own entryway.

"Honey, you must be tired from work!"

"Late-night snacks are ready!"

"So, are we having supper first, or am I the first thing you eat?"

The girl, who had specially tied her hair into cute pigtails, looked at Shen Juan with a meaningful gaze and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.

Shen Juan smiled.

Then, under the expectant and eager gaze of his girlfriend, he reached out and took control of the rather large front armor.

The answer is self-evident.

Only after expending your energy can you have an appetite for food.

(End of this chapter)