HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 37 [037] Taiwan Launches Sales, Jielun: I Feel Like I've Always Been Living in His Shadow
So arrogant!
This was Zhou Jielun and Liu Genghong's first impression of Qi Yuan.

But soon they discovered that Qi Yuan had the right to be arrogant.

Qi Yuan's dribbling, shooting, and feints are all at a very good level.

He was the public enemy of the Central Academy of Drama. Back in his freshman year, he often played basketball with students from the Central Academy of Drama, and he was frequently targeted and focused on. He had already honed his skills long ago.

Qi Yuan quickly glided and used a few feints to break through the defense of Zhou Jielun and Liu Genghong. He then leaped under the basket and performed a cool dunk.

Speaking of which, Qi Yuan hasn't dunked in a long time, and it feels good to have this long-lost feeling.

The somewhat shy Zhou Jielun watched Qi Yuan's clean and crisp dunk and thought that Qi Yuan was incredibly cool at that moment.

Isn't this exactly how he imagines himself playing basketball?

"Well played." Liu Genghong handed over a new bottle of mineral water.

"It's really awesome," Zhou Jielun praised.

"It's alright. I've been playing basketball since elementary school, and I was on the school basketball team in high school and college." Qi Yuan thanked him and took a few big gulps of water.

“You live in this area too? Let’s exchange phone numbers, maybe we can play basketball together sometime,” Liu Genghong said.

"I just arrived in Taiwan today and haven't had time to get a SIM card yet. Maybe later. My name is Qi Yuan."

"Liu Genghong".

“Zhou Jielun, you can also call me Jay.”

After exchanging a few words on the court, Qi Yuan left.

Looking in the direction Qi Yuan had gone, Chou Chieh-lun said, "Geng Hong, A-Yuan is quite an interesting person. He said he just arrived in Taipei today and lives nearby. Could he be an artist from some company?"

There are several record companies in this area, and many Taiwanese celebrities live nearby.

Liu Genghong pondered for a moment: "It's very likely... Hmm? Jielun, don't you think the name Qi Yuan sounds familiar? It seems like I've seen it somewhere before."

The two slapped their thighs, only then realizing that the arrogant and ignorant person being criticized by the Taiwanese media in recent days was named Qi Yuan.

"The newspapers said his records sold very well in mainland China, and he even declared he would end the reign of the Four Heavenly Kings, not even putting Richie Jen in his eyes. But after interacting with him, I don't think he's such an arrogant person." Zhou Jielun shook her head.

"The media always likes to exaggerate the facts. Maybe that's not what he said, but the media distorted it to attract attention." Liu Genghong, as a veteran in the industry for many years, has much more experience in this regard than Zhou Jielun.

Although he, as a relatively unknown artist, is generally ignored by the media and paparazzi, he has personally witnessed many successful colleagues being slandered by the media.

In many cases, being able to be smeared and defamed by the media is also a manifestation of strength.

The media won't bother with someone who isn't famous.

"I think his album will be released in Taiwan on the 1st? I'll buy a copy to listen to then." Chou Chieh Lun had seen Warner's promotion in the news, and he envied Qi Yuan for being able to release an album.

"Jaylen, don't be too envious of him. You will have the opportunity to release an album in the future."

"How could that be? I can't sing well, and Brother Xian said I'm not good-looking either."

The two chatted as they walked home.

Qi Yuan, who had just arrived home and taken a shower, had no idea that Zhou Jielun and Liu Genghong had heard of him before he came to Taiwan and were planning to buy his record on the 1st.

……

A few days passed quickly.

1997 has ended, and 1998 has officially begun.

Qi Yuan's departure from the mainland for only a few days has brought about new changes in the mainland music scene.

At the beginning of last month, Andy Lau released his Mandarin album "Love When It's Unforgettable".

By the end of the month, the album had become a hit in mainland China, with "World's Number One" and "Ice Rain" quickly climbing into the top ten of the music charts.

This album has also boosted the popularity of the song "Chinese People" from earlier this year.

Andy Lau occupied three spots in the top ten of the music charts. In 1997, the Four Heavenly Kings were still incredibly popular.

With the hit TVB series "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", the theme song "Hard to Recite Sutra" sung by Wakin Chau has seen its popularity soar, and his song "Friends" has even regained the number one spot on the music charts.

In just half a month, Qi Yuan's glory days of dominating half of the mainland music charts are gone forever.

Currently, Qi Yuan only has two songs left in the top ten of the charts: "The First Time" and "Because of Love, So I Love".

Upon learning of the changes in the mainland music charts, Qi Yuan couldn't help but sigh, "This is the golden age of Chinese music, with hit songs emerging one after another, just like chives in the field."

He wasn't too upset about losing three of the top ten spots.

Intense competition brings challenges. While Hong Kong and Taiwanese singers were dominating the mainland music charts, he opted for an extreme switch.

January 1, 1998 arrived, and his self-titled debut album, "Prayer," officially went on sale in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Are fans and singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan ready for this R&B extravaganza?

……

A music and video store near Alpha Corporation.

Liu Genghong and Zhou Jielun came to the store after get off work.

"Boss, do you sell Qi Yuan's records?"

The two of them were regular customers of the store and had bought quite a few records there.

"Yes, cassette tape or CD?"

"CD." Zhou Jielun reluctantly bought a disc.

The price of genuine DVDs in Taiwan is twice that in mainland China, costing between 100 and 120 yuan.

After paying, Zhou Jielun took the disc, said thank you, and left with Liu Genghong.

Before they even left the store, they heard several Taiwanese female students asking the owner if he had any of Qi Yuan's records.

The two were somewhat surprised; it seemed that quite a few people were buying Qi Yuan's records. They had thought that the media's criticism of Qi Yuan's arrogance would affect sales to some extent, but it turned out they were wrong.

While those media outlets were criticizing Qi Yuan, Zhou Jianhui and Warner Music were also taking action, promoting Qi Yuan's album in advance.

They posted Qi Yuan's posters at the entrances of major music and video stores, using Qi Yuan's good looks to precisely target young girls.

The girls didn't care whether Qi Yuan was arrogant or not, as long as he was handsome.

Ugly people are called arrogant, while handsome people are simply called unique. Qi Yuan is such a unique person.

After buying the cassette tape, the girls also bought several posters of Qi Yuan.

The new customer who came in was a girl, and she wanted to buy Qi Yuan's record as well.

Chou Chieh-lun and Liu Geng-hong were both a little envious; Qi Yuan actually has so many female fans. Being handsome has its advantages.

The two returned to the Alpha artist dormitory, where Zhou Jielun invited another newcomer from the company, Wen Lan, and the three of them snuggled up at Liu Genghong's house to listen to Qi Yuan's CDs.

Insert the disc into the CD player's tray, and the picture appears on the TV.

When the album's first song, "Small Town Girl," was released, all three members were stunned, especially Jay Chou.

Isn't it said that the mainland music scene is very backward?

Isn't it said that the popular music in the mainland music scene is all from ten or twenty years ago?
Why does Qi Yuan's music give people the feeling that it is ahead of the Taiwanese music scene?

"Small Town Girl" was just the beginning; the subsequent songs "Starry Sky" and "Simple Love" shocked Jay Chou even more.

For some reason, Zhou Jielun had this illusion that he seemed to be living in Qi Yuan's shadow.

(End of this chapter)