Chapter 68: Jin Xia: Teacher Chi’s First Ep—everyone Go Listen!
“I hope so…”
Jin Sui’s phoenix eyes looked out the window, and after a long time, she said: “The company’s few film and television projects should also be prepared to start.”
“Film and television will ultimately be stronger than the music industry. We need to transform.”
“…” Zhang Jie paused, probing: “Can Xia Xia star in our company’s first project?”
Jin Sui raised her neck and shook her head without hesitation: “Xia Xia can shoot whatever she wants. As her aunt, should I go… go find her? If the family sees that, they’ll laugh me to death.”
Zhang Jie: “…”
Just keep being stubborn. If you keep it up for a few more years, you’ll really have to step back.
“Go handle it.”
“Okay.”
……
In the following days, Chi Ye kept running back and forth between the recording studio and the film crew.
He flew on airplanes until he felt like vomiting, but fortunately, the EP production progress was impressive.
Three days later, initial versions of the melodies for several songs had been produced, and at the same time, the creative team had also created an initial version of the theme and cover for Reboot.
Chi Ye was quite satisfied after seeing it.
EP covers are actually all similar, and he personally wasn’t too picky about this aspect.
On the fourth day, Chi Ye switched to a different recording studio.
Because the ace singer from the Hong Kong Jin Sui Company had arrived in Beijing and wanted to use this studio.
The Chi Ye Team’s current progress was nearly complete, without much turbulence, and Chi Ye didn’t tell the Empress Dowager about this—what kind of phoenix man would trouble the Empress Dowager with everything? He shouldn’t be one, right?
In any case, the EP production progress was very smooth, even faster than expected.
One week later.
Three days after Jian Ni officially ended, the edited version of the first episode finally went live on Mango TV.
That day, Chi Ye’s long-stagnant and slowly growing favorability began to show “explosive” growth.
The hot search term #Chi Ye Jin Xia# unsurprisingly appeared on the hot search list.
Chi Pan Xia Yu CP fans were in carnival.
The Empress Dowager sent him a follow-up message: 【Have you recorded the full version? Teacher Chi, I want to listen!】
【Almost done, I’ll let you listen first thing.】
Chi Ye soothed the young girl.
From the first day he started recording, the Empress Dowager hadn’t arrived in person, but her soul had already flown over, causing the final few episodes of Jian Ni to be attacked by black fans and black marketing accounts for several days, saying she was unprofessional and unfocused.
Although it was indeed a bit…, but so what?
Chi Ye was always like this—partial to people, not principles, especially when it came to the Empress Dowager.
【Okay then, remember to tell me if you run into difficulties!】
【Got it.】
The two ended the conversation, and Chi Ye put down his mobile phone, listening to Director Zhang’s shouts nearby and the sounds of the film crew members moving around.
He had truly run into a bit of difficulty now.
The EP would probably go live officially in about a week, and there shouldn’t be too many accidents.
But before the EP launched, following the convention for releasing albums, it would actually be best for him to appear on a few popular music variety shows or grand ceremony activities to promote Reboot and advertise his first EP.
—Just like on New Year’s Eve back then.
But unfortunately, he previously had no singer “attributes” or resources at all, and the hot music variety shows were all projects everyone fought for.
He had his team try communicating with directors of a few variety shows, but the responses were all very disappointing.
Chi Ye? Who the hell is Chi Ye? Is he even a singer?
And the Empress Dowager and Jin Sui had no connections or networks in this area on the mainland.
“President Chi, Hua Yichen performed the lead single from his album at Weibo Night yesterday, and it officially released his first New Year’s album at noon today.”
Assistant Xiao Liu had entered work mode, reporting on the current situations of several “opponents.”
Of course… maybe others didn’t see Chi Ye as an opponent yet.
“Ah, doesn’t he resident on two hot music variety shows? And he went to Weibo Night too—too desperate.”
Chi Ye had learned of this news yesterday, but he still couldn’t help sighing. The mage went all out to promote just to beat Yu Yan once… gua jiu cai.
As for Weibo Night yesterday, Chi Ye hadn’t received an invitation due to certain reasons.
Not surprising, after all, Yue Na had always been secretly watching him, and they would probably release various negative black marketing press releases around the days he released his album.
“This time Yu Yan’s Team still ignored him, but his fan team was very active.”
Xiao Liu paused, saying: “They really want to peng ci Yu Yan.”
Chi Ye: “Indeed, I’m familiar with this. I like peng ci too.”
Xiao Liu: “…”
Among the younger generation in the internal entertainment circle’s music scene today, Hua Yichen was a top streamer, but in the entire circle, he wasn’t a big top streamer.
Whereas Yu Yan was the unrivaled top streamer in the entire internal entertainment circle.
At the same time, as an idol origin, though he didn’t focus on the music route now, whenever he released a song, it would inevitably be NO1 on the three major platforms, and most would even climb the all-time sales total list.
Hua Yichen considered himself the “number one of the young generation” in the music scene and naturally hated Yu Yan with gritted teeth.
Both sides’ fans had always been in the “hostile” （peng ci） phase.
Whenever Hua Yichen released a song, regardless of willingness, Yu Yan’s side would be attacked, and then… Teacher Hua would be crushed and defeated.
Teacher Hua’s fans, repeatedly abused, would go crazy buying albums, and the two’s album sales were always at the “pinnacle of the music scene.”
“Then I’ll peng ci too. In this aspect, I’m not bragging—they all have to step back!”
After thinking for a long time, Chi Ye decided to take the initiative.
Waiting for Yue Na to come “hit” him—what kind of thing was that?
Since there were no big events now and he couldn’t get on music variety shows, he might as well use his strongest skill, marketing, to fiercely peng ci Teacher Hua first.
—No promotion channels? Then I am the promotion channel!
The studio had reserved some marketing funds, and he wouldn’t hold back in this aspect.
Thus, starting that evening, rumors began circulating online that Chi Ye had spent three years, even during his Yue Na period, custom-tailoring an EP for himself that was about to be released.
Quality off the charts—everyone who’s heard it says it’s good!
Rumor has it Teacher Hua, after hearing it, praised: From now on, Chi Ye is the father of the Chinese music scene!
Various marketing accounts pushed videos + soft articles, and with Chi Ye’s name that naturally carried “traffic,” plus Hua Yichen added in.
Popularity began to soar, but the Hua Yichen team was furious!
Bro, how can someone be so shameless?
And “everyone who’s heard it says it’s good”? Do I have super hearing? Have we even met?!
Hua Yichen himself had always been proud of his traffic and hated others peng ci him the most, let alone this person being the “number one on the blacklist” from Yue Na’s headquarters.
In a fit of rage, the next day at some offline promotional event, he was “reminded by fans”: “Hua Hua, don’t gua jiu cai!”
Hua Yichen was stunned and leaned in pretending not to hear: “What did you say?!”
“Hua Hua, don’t learn from non-singers to gua jiu cai!”
“Don’t gua what?”
“Don’t gua jiu cai!”
That day, #Chi Ye Gua Jiu Cai# exploded the hot search term, directly rushing into the top five.
No need to look—definitely bought.
And Hua Yichen’s promotional event short video was also being wildly shared.
From Chi Ye’s New Year’s Eve announcement of “releasing an EP” until now, topics about the EP were finally thoroughly ignited.
Chi Ye was very satisfied with this situation. He thought Hua Yichen was a good person, too cooperative—like an emergency response, he reacted immediately to Chi Ye’s slight peng ci and hit back hard.
How wasn’t that a form of promotion?
“But Chi Ge… most of the comments are scolding us… is this really effective?”
Xiao Liu had heard Chi Ye sing and was amazed by this boss’s “hidden depths,” but this was her first time encountering a “whole internet blacking” scene.
To this, Chi Ye said: “This is nothing. Is this even blacking? Too gentle.”
Xiao Liu: “…”
“For him, it’s indeed not blacking.”
Director Zhang had come over at some point, chuckling and teasing: “Our Teacher Chi has seen big scenes. Compared to those, this is basically coquetry.”
Xiao Liu said nothing, just continued to be shocked.
“By the way, when is your EP releasing? I’ll support you with one copy then.”
Director Zhang was still very righteous.
Although Chi Ye’s EP and Circulation weren’t related, it had to be said that with Chi Ye’s antics, Circulation had gained a bit of popularity.
How wasn’t that the male lead’s credit?
Chi Ye glanced at him: “Just one?”
“……Or what?” Director Zhang was puzzled: “My relatives don’t have that many encounters with dirty things. Otherwise, I could consider buying a few more.”
Chi Ye: “?”
Ran Qiao passed by holding a thermos cup, stopped upon hearing, and asked curiously: “Will you release cassette records? I like more retro cassettes.”
Chi Ye smiled: “Ran Ran gets it. Planning to buy a few hundred to support your Chi Ge?”
Ran Qiao: “No, who would spend money to suffer? I mean, if you release them, give me one. So many singers don’t release physical records now. I’ll use it to make up numbers.”
Chi Ye turned and walked away: “Friendship over, everyone. You’re all too harsh. I won’t say another word to you.”
Everyone: “…”
Director Zhang hesitated and looked at Xiao Liu: “Your boss wouldn’t really think of himself as a strength singer, right?”
Xiao Liu also turned and silently left: “I think you’re all too much.”
“Just kidding. I’ll definitely support you with a few hundred then. Look at you, can’t even play.”
Director Zhang muttered, hurrying to “soothe” Chi Ye.
“Tsk tsk… wherever Xiao Chi is, it’s lively.” Teacher Liu, not far away, saw this and shook his head with a sigh: “The first film crew he joined this year is like this—very nice.”
“How many are you planning to support?” Teacher Fang smiled beside him.
“I don’t understand young people’s music… but I’ll book out a venue… um, for the children to listen.”
Teacher Fang was surprised: “Aren’t you afraid the children will jump up and hit you?”
“Look at you. Buy it doesn’t mean I have to listen. Supporting a friend.” Teacher Liu smiled, then turned to leave.
“Then I’ll book out a venue too… Xiao Chi is still a good person.” Teacher Fang certainly wouldn’t say she was doing it entirely for Jin Xia’s sake.
—Rumor in the circle: Jin Xia would buy big on the day Chi Ye releases his EP!
Who knew if it was true or not.
……
Thus, time passed.
The next day, Hua Yichen’s first New Year’s album Chu Yu was released.
Right from release, it immediately entered the top ten monthly digital album bestseller list on the three major platforms, and soon reached fifth.
Two minutes after release, sales exceeded 300,000 copies, 7 million in sales volume.
In less than 24 hours, album sales volume reached 27 million.
The exaggerated sales data and record-breaking huge posters hit the Weibo hot search list that day, dominating all the hot searches on the three major platforms.
Had to say, in the digital album era, you could say the music industry had declined, but the top traffic few people’s money-grabbing speed wasn’t slow.
And voting and album sales in the digital album era were completely different from the record era years ago.
On the internal entertainment side, the most authoritative music charts and channels in the music scene were the three major platforms.
Namely: QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, and Ku Ting Music.
The three major platforms occupied over 95% of the internal entertainment music market. All singers releasing singles or albums followed the normal process of launching on all three major platforms.
Of course, those with exclusive copyright contracts didn’t count.
Chi Ye’s Reboot partnered with NetEase Cloud Music and Ku Ting Music. As for why no QQ Music… those in the know get it.
This time, Hua Yichen’s fans and team were determined to surpass Yu Yan, so they went all out. The 7 million album sales in two minutes after launch broke Hua Yichen’s personal past record.
But compared to Yu Yan casually releasing an album and hitting the top ten all-time terrifying sales volume, it still wasn’t enough.
Fans, like they were on chicken blood, continued charging money to buy.
At this moment, another heavyweight top streamer entered the fray at the beginning of the year.
—Shi Jinwei released her first EP of the year, Sunlit Reveries.
As one of the four little flowers and the only Sister Qianzi with a name in the music industry, her EP, right upon release, achieved 200,000 in sales volume.
And unlike Hua Yichen, her music was something bystanders and ordinary fans would buy into.
In other words, stronger staying power.
So after 24 hours, Sunlit Reveries’ sales volume reached just over 30 million, directly crushing Teacher Hua’s calculated explosion, and still rising.
By the day before the second episode of Jian Ni aired, Shi Jinwei’s EP sales volume had reached 45 million—terrifying.
And on this very day, the Chi Ye Team’s work finally wrapped up perfectly.
His first EP Reboot was set for official release tomorrow at noon twelve o’clock.
Just in time, tomorrow was the airing day for the second episode of Jian Ni, which happened to have the segment of the Empress Dowager drinking cola…
“Make way, I’m about to show off.”
On the Circulation film crew, after communicating with his assistant over the phone and confirming that NetEase Cloud Music and Ku Ting Music had proofread the master tape, mixing, and copyright and could go live anytime, Chi Ye opened his Weibo, which he hadn’t updated in a long time.
He posted a simple post: 【Tomorrow at noon twelve o’clock, my first personal EP Reboot, for you all.】
The “you all” here referred to the fans who had always accompanied him, persisting in voting and anti-black no matter how much gossip there was outside.
The Weibo post went out, comments surged, and the Empress Dowager, who had been waiting for this moment, was the first to repost with: 【@Chi Ye, Teacher Chi’s first EP, so good! Everyone go listen!!】
