Huayu98: Starting with mentoring pop divas

Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei, Taiwan.

A coffee shop downstairs from a recording studio called "Moonlight".

Li Shuo has been staying at this recording studio with Zhou Jianhui for the past two days to record his debut EP before the summer vacation.

The EP is designed with a "3+1" configuration: three main songs plus one bonus track.

Zhou Jianhui's idea was to take advantage of the summer holiday season to release the EP first.

He wasn't worried about the quality at all, and he also took Li Shuo to various variety shows and events during that time.

Then, the full album will be released in August.

It's late June in Taiwan, and the midday heat is humid and muggy.

This café, tucked away downstairs from the recording studio, is a great place to escape the summer heat.

The air conditioner was running at full speed.

Today's recording has finally come to an end, and Li Shuo is sitting by the window eating lunch.

Because I was going to record a show later, I ordered a dish at this cafe that didn't match the ambiance at all.

"Peeled chili pepper and preserved egg noodles"?

The chewy udon noodles are wrapped around crumbly century egg, spicy with peeled chili peppers, and served with special black vinegar.

This bowl of noodles, with its slightly spicy and tangy flavor, was surprisingly appetizing and delicious!

Across from him sat a middle-aged man, the owner of the "Moonlight" recording studio upstairs.

Chen Zihong is one of the four most popular gold-medal producers in Taiwan.

Singers she has collaborated with include Elva Hsiao, A-mei, Richie Jen, and Alex To.

They also discovered Penny Tai and Maggie Chiang, earning them the reputation of having top-notch "ears" in the Chinese music scene.

Right now, he was looking down at the songs that Li Shuo was preparing to record.

He originally refused this job.

I was already busy with two singles by Jimmy Lin and William So.

And I heard he's a sixteen-year-old boy?

He didn't take it too seriously.

I'm guessing it's some kind of personal connection... Given Warner's recent situation, how dare they invest so much resources in promoting a newcomer of this age?

However, he couldn't refuse the personal request from Zhou Jianhui, who had just taken office as chairman of the Greater China region.

We finally met.

Upon closer inspection... this young man has a very impressive physique, standing over 1.8 meters tall with a good appearance; he looks like a star just by standing there.

Is Warner Music going down the idol route? That's fine, it could be a viable path.

Upon hearing it again… after his first audition in the studio, he was stunned.

The vocal quality is amazing! And it's not just one quality... The breath control is so steady, it's unbelievable for a newbie!

Coming back to my senses, I wondered if the song I was auditioning for, "Darwin," was actually an original composition by this handsome young man.

He was a little dazed at the time.

But that wasn't all... This kid then pulled out a few songs that he claimed were selected from his "collection of works".

He took it and looked at it for a while... Oh my! Where did you, Zhou Jianhui, find this "prodigy" newcomer?!

And then, based on my experience in the prison cell these past two days… I, Chen Zihong, have become a “tool”!?

"Uncle Jing, thank you..." Li Shuo finished his meal and was answering the phone.

"I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence, so when I received the guest list for the recording session that day, I quickly sent you a text message."

The person on the other end of the phone was Wang Jing.

Yesterday, Zhou Jianhui gave him the guest list for the segment "Super Star Face" on "Super Sunday". He glanced at it and immediately saw two familiar names.

Remembering something, Li Shuo immediately sent a text message to Wang Jing, briefly explaining his preparations for his music debut in Taiwan and his schedule of running around for gigs.

Sure enough, Wang Jing called today, having already given prior notice.

Wang Jing replied quickly and warmly: "Ah Shuo, don't worry, I've already spoken to them. They'll try to get you more screen time on stage and support you!"

Li Shuo smiled and thanked him before hanging up the phone.

Chen Zihong watched him put away his phone and coughed lightly.

"Li Shuo,"

He spoke slowly, his tone somewhat serious: "Although we haven't known each other for long, I still have some suggestions for you."

Li Shuo took a sip of the iced Americano that had just been delivered.

"Teacher Chen, please speak!"

Chen Zihong pondered for a moment: "I won't say anything about the four songs on your EP yet. They're your debut songs, so it's acceptable that they're of high quality and have very different styles."

He looked somewhat conflicted and pointed to the stack of sheet music next to him.

"But the songs you added later, which were for the August album, were all of such high quality... it's a bit of a waste."

Li Shuo seemed not to understand what he meant.

Chen Zihong continued, "Usually, when a new artist releases an album, they release one good song and a few mediocre ones. But you're different; every single one of your songs can be a lead single."

As he spoke, he himself found it somewhat absurd.

In all my years in the industry, this is the first time I've felt that there are too many good works from newcomers, and that the quality is too high.

"I took a quick look and broke these songs down. Each song contains a few songs I've collected. If I release two albums a year, I can use them for at least three or four years."

Li Shuo smiled and thought to himself... Why would I need to collect other people's songs... Oh right... I am "collecting" them... Never mind then.

"Don't worry... Teacher Chen. I'm not afraid to release albums in the future, I have some more in my portfolio..."

Chen Zihong was taken aback.

In your portfolio? There's more?

Looking at the calmly smiling young man in front of him, he suddenly felt an impulse.

Why don't we tie this kid up and dig out his collection of works to see how many more of this kind of trash he has!

The bell at the entrance of the coffee shop rang, and the heat wave quietly "sneaked in".

Zhou Jianhui strode in and waved to Li Shuo: "Let's go, it's almost time, 'Super Sunday' is urging us."

Li Shuo stood up and bowed slightly: "Teacher Chen, I'll head over now. I'll leave the rest of the work to you."

Feeling like he had no part in the conversation anymore, Chen Zihong waved his hand dismissively: "Go on, go on."

Sitting in the new Mercedes that Zhou Jianhui had specially allocated funds to buy, with the air conditioning on full blast, the early summer scenery of Taipei flowed past the car window.

Summer is great.

The heat of Taiwan is indeed visible.

Right now, there are many young women on the street wearing hot pants that show off their long legs, and tank tops that outline "hot air balloons"!

It's so dazzling it makes your eyes water!

After passing some inconspicuous corners, you'll find betel nut stands filled with...slender and plump women... their snow-white clothes wrapped in very "economical" fabric.

The expressions and gazes of those looking down the street were as ambiguous as the shop signs and names on the storefronts.

Wow... How many years will it be before we see this kind of imagery on short video apps on our phones again?

I glanced at my Nokia phone... Ugh! Useless!

Zhou Jianhui occasionally caught a glimpse of Li Shuo's gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. He deliberately slowed down and moved a little closer to the side of the road.

At the nearest shop, three scantily clad and glamorous betel nut beauties were leaning against the counter. As the car approached, they even winked at the window.

Li Shuo was leaning against the car window when he suddenly felt that the "reference point" in his eyes was getting bigger and bigger. He turned around and was facing Zhou Jianhui's wickedly smiling face.

Then he stepped on the gas and sped away.

Li Shuo turned his head to look in the rearview mirror and saw the three graceful figures who had come out to greet him stamp their feet in their slender high heels!

A series of trembling curses were directed at the taillights, and faintly, one could hear a coquettish "Damn it..." or something like that.

The two men exchanged a glance and revealed a knowing smile that both men understood.

On the set of "Superstar Face".

The opening performance by Sister Xiaoyan and Harlem Yu Chengqing already heated things up.

Today's guests are Aaron Kwok and Ekin Cheng, who are here to promote their upcoming film, "The Storm Riders".

Don't be fooled by the fact that Wong Jing's name isn't listed in the official cast and crew credits of "The Storm Riders".

But as one of the owners of "Best Partners Limited", he was the initiator and behind-the-scenes producer of the project, and the real driving force.

So when Li Shuo learned that these two Hong Kong male stars were coming to appear on the show, he immediately told Wong Jing.

With the coordination of Zhou Jianhui from WarnerMedia, the program team also made arrangements, cutting two of the already unsatisfactory celebrity look-alikes from the ordinary people, and allocating more time to Li Shuo.

Backstage waiting area, Li Shuo held a V for Vendetta mask that he felt he wouldn't need from a previous lottery draw, standing behind the camera and watching the recording.

Aaron Kwok, whose Mandarin is not very fluent to begin with, was correcting Ekin Cheng, who was even more stuttering: "It's 'Wind God Legs,' not 'Dusty Legs'!"

Ekin Cheng repeated innocently, "Wind God Legs... Wind God Legs..."

The whole place burst into laughter.

Then everyone started talking about the actresses in the movie, the love triangles and such.

Sister Xiaoyan, intending to lighten the mood, asked, "Who does Shu Qi like off-screen?"

Harlem Yu Chengqing quickly replied: "Huang Zijiao!"

Then that short, lewd-looking guy said, "How disgusting!"

…Thinking back to the truly disgusting and twisted behaviors that were later exposed about this guy.

Li Shuo, who was listening backstage, sneered inwardly: You think you're worthy?

One by one, ordinary people with celebrity look-alikes went up, singing or imitating, but the audience's applause was sparse.

Finally, it was Li Shuo's turn.

A photo was displayed on the large screen outside.

Takeshi Kaneshiro's angelic image in the movie "Lavender".

Against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds... the face of the angel in white was so handsome it was outrageous.

Meanwhile, a photo of Li Shuo taken casually backstage by the director was also revealed.

During the recording, before the host could even hand over the microphone, before the guests could react, and before all the audience members could react...

A rare gasp of surprise erupted from the show's producers!

The director also announced that it was time to go on stage.

Holding a V-shaped beard and smiling mask in his hand, Li Shuo walked onto the stage.

The audience was still reeling from the shock of the comparison photo.

In front of Takeshi Kaneshiro's angelic photo on the large screen, this tall and upright young man stood still.

Sister Xiaoyan is a shrewd person. Seeing the audience's reaction, she immediately said, "Come on, take off your mask and let us see!"

"3, 2, 1!"

Li Shuo removed his mask at the opportune moment.

Another uproar erupted at the scene.

Harlem Yu Chengqing exclaimed in amazement, "Wow, is this really a likeness? Or is it just that he's really handsome? I can't tell!"

Sister Xiaoyan naturally chimed in, "Of course he's really handsome! This young man named Li Shuo has a very unique style of handsomeness!"