Chapter 85: Can Young People Sleep?
Shanghai Theatre Academy.
Wang Chuanjun held up a Wen Hui Bao newspaper, jumping onto the podium excitedly: “Classmates, a chance to become famous overnight has arrived! Wahaha, who wants to sign up with me for Go! Boys!…”
Zheng Kai shrugged: “Chuanjun, are you silly? That’s a singing competition, not a beauty pageant!”
Li Jinming put down Zhang Liangying’s championship poster and said with a smile: “As if Chuanjun could participate in a beauty pageant~”
Jiang Suying, who was applying lipstick, looked up, “Chuanjun can sing, can’t he? Isn’t he the karaoke king of our class?”
Chen Chichi started to undermine him, laughing: “The application requirements for Go! Boys! are very strict, you must be handsome and sing well!”
Wang Chuanjun said indignantly: “If I dress up like this, aren’t I handsome?”
Everyone: Pfft~
…
Shanghai University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
Qiao Renliang excitedly held the newspaper: “I’m going to participate in Go! Boys!, I want to become famous overnight like Zhang Liangying.”
…
Chengdu.
Zhang Jie was conflicted.
In 2004, he participated in Dragon TV’s My Type My Show and won the championship, then signed with a company and released an album, “The First Album.”
He achieved some small successes.
But seeing Zhang Liangying become famous overnight after winning the championship, he felt his own championship was garbage.
Now.
Mango TV was going to hold Super Boy, and Dragon TV was going to hold Go! Boys!, both claiming unprecedented investment scale.
Dragon TV was his lucky place, while Mango TV had produced Zhang Liangying… Which one to choose?
“If I choose Mango TV, I’ll definitely sign a ten-year contract with Tianyu. Is it worth it?”
“With Shen Qing’s help, Zhang Liangying has already successfully left. If I participate in the competition, I definitely won’t be able to escape signing a contract…”
“Moreover, after the Liangying incident, Tianyu’s contracts will definitely be flawless.”
“What to do…”
…
Sydney, Australia.
Su Xing, who was studying abroad, saw the news sent by his friends back home and excitedly ran to the balcony: “Next year, I’m going to win the Super Boy championship, I want to be as famous as Zhang Liangying!”
…
Shenzhen, Ben Se Bar.
Resident singer Chen Chusheng held a pirated album by Zhang Liangying in his left hand and promotional posters for Super Boy and Go! Boys! in his right.
Zhang Liangying’s impact on him was too great; the temptation of overnight fame made him think about it day and night.
At 24 years old, he had been singing in bars for 6 years. He had participated in several competitions during this time, but without much success.
Now, the Super Girl competition had completely changed his outlook on life—he had to showcase himself on a higher platform!
Now, the opportunity had arrived!
Chen Chusheng touched the guitar in his arms, his eyes firm: “Old friend, we’ll meet on stage!”
…
Beijing, Houhai Bar.
Nineteen-year-old Ma Tianyu was on his way to work at the bar.
He was currently a bar waiter.
Passing a newsstand, he saw Zhang Liangying’s championship photo on the front page and was filled with envy.
She was his favorite Super Girl contestant!
He touched his empty pockets, but Ma Tianyu still bought a newspaper he usually wouldn’t splurge on, reading it as he walked towards the bar.
This article dug into Zhang Liangying’s experiences from childhood to adulthood. Halfway through, Ma Tianyu’s eyes reddened, and he couldn’t help but cry.
His family was too similar to Liangying’s!
On the Mid-Autumn Festival when Ma Tianyu was 5 years old, his mother committed suicide by taking sleeping pills due to unbearable debt pressure, and his father left home.
For more than ten years, he had lived with his two older sisters and grandparents, developing a shy, timid, and fearful personality from a young age.
But he had a passionate heart.
He wanted to be famous!
Seeing the application times and requirements for Super Boy and Go! Boys! in the newspaper, Ma Tianyu secretly made up his mind.
…
For several days, the widespread impact of Mango TV’s Super Girl continued to ferment.
Countless young people across the country with dreams of stardom were experiencing the same scene, everyone preparing for the upcoming talent shows next year.
Zhang Liangying’s success had greatly stimulated them.
Few young people could resist the temptation!
Meanwhile~
Other fans who had a clear understanding of their own abilities did not plan to participate. They now only wanted Zhang Liangying to release an album.
Even if the album writing was slow, releasing a “Zhang Liangying 2005 Super Girl Competition Songs Compilation” would be enough to satisfy the Liangfen fans.
In recent days, Taihe Rye Music’s phone lines had been bombarded by enthusiastic Liangfen fans, with people urging them to release the compilation quickly every day.
…
Time flew by, and it was mid-September.
Shen Qing and Zhang Liangying had finished their vacation and handled personal matters. Yesterday, they successfully moved into their new house in Beijing.
They didn’t live in the one-bedroom, one-living room apartment provided by Taihe Rye Music, but instead spent over 1.4 million yuan to buy a 130-square-meter three-bedroom, one-living room apartment near the Third Ring Road.
Their wallets were instantly half empty.
However, they would soon receive their August ringtone dividends, which was expected to bring in a considerable amount.
In the evening.
The two sat on the balcony, enjoying the Beijing night view.
Zhang Liangying swirled her wine glass and giggled: “Baba~ Let’s sleep until noon tomorrow, and then go climb the Great Wall in the afternoon?”
Shen Qing: “You call me ‘Baba’ so smoothly~”
Zhang Liangying: “Hehe, I like calling you that.”
Shen Qing: “I prefer to call you ‘my loyal second class private’!”
Zhang Liangying: “Ew, Baba, do you like role-playing in the military? Then I’ll watch more military-themed movies from now on and learn how to be your loyal second class private! By the way, Baba… which country’s military style do you like?”
Shen Qing: “Very good, second class private, Ying! I love your answer so much! As for which style, I’ll try them one by one. Tonight, let’s start with a German style… Also! No sleeping in tomorrow, get up early and come with me to Taihe Rye Music to introduce ourselves, and then go to the Central Conservatory of Music to study!!!”
…
The teachers at the Central Conservatory of Music were very professional.
Zhang Liangying studied for a month, going through all styles including Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Huangmei Opera, Bel canto, Qinqiang Opera, and Pop…
At the same time, Shen Qing was not idle.
He was also studying.
With so many talent shows next year, all of them famous, and many well-known contestants signing up, perhaps he could discover a few promising talents to train?
Worst case scenario, he could participate himself!
Experiencing the thrill of being in the spotlight… that also seemed like a good option?
But Shen Qing wanted to be a judge more, to be the man at the top of the food chain. He just didn’t know if he would have the opportunity?
Unfortunately, his qualifications were too shallow… Dragon TV, unless their brains were rusted, would not invite him to be a judge.
He needed an opportunity!
He wondered when this opportunity would arrive!
But for now, improving his own strength was definitely the right move. To be a judge, one had to be formidable, otherwise, if his singing skills were inferior to the contestants, his words wouldn’t carry much weight.
He had to diligently “shear the wool” from the system.
These days, he carried his makeup bag every day. Upon arriving at the Central Conservatory of Music, he did nothing else but apply makeup to the teachers in their offices one by one.
【Music Theory +100】
【High Notes +108】
【Falsetto +69】
【Head Voice +150】
【Smoky Voice +99】
【…】
Shearing wool every day was incredibly satisfying.
…
Not long after, Zhang Liangying, whose singing skills had improved significantly, re-recorded 13 original songs she had sung during the competition.
After discussing with Shen Qing and the producers at Taihe Rye Music, they decided to select 10 songs to be recorded onto a CD and released nationwide at a lower price.
This wouldn’t be a formal album, but rather the first benefit for the Liangfen fans.
They had supported Liangying all the way, and it was time to give back to everyone.
The original title for this compilation was intended to be “Zhang Liangying 2005 Super Girl Competition Songs Compilation,” but Tianyu would definitely not allow it, so they had to remove the words “Super Girl.”
Finally, Shen Qing named the compilation simply after one of the songs: “It’s Blowing – 2005 Zhang Liangying Competition Songs Compilation.”
Shen Qing designed a cover makeup for her that was both dignified and elegant, yet also charming and lively, guaranteed to make any man unforgettable at first glance.
“Ahhh, finally the compilation is here!”
“I’m going to buy ten copies!”
“I heard this compilation is priced at only half the market price. Liangying is too good.”
“This compilation includes ten songs. Are the remaining 3 reserved for her first album?”
“Did you guys hear? Tianyu is producing albums for Li Yuchun and Zhou Bichang. Their fans say their sales will beat Liangying. What a joke!”
“Let them see the power of us Liangfen fans!”
“…”
Late October.
Two news items once again swept across the internet.
Zhang Liangying’s competition songs compilation would be released across Asia on November 1st, the same day Jay Chou’s new album “Chopin of November” would be released.
November 1st, 1:00 AM.
Beijing, a long queue formed outside Xidan Audio-Visual World.
Among them.
60% were Jay Chou fans, and 40% were Zhang Liangying fans.
The two groups were initially competitive, but upon hearing that the other party wasn’t vying for the same albums, they instantly became good friends and started chatting in the cold weather.
When the store opened the next morning, the 3,000 CDs stocked were instantly sold out.
Jay Chou’s CDs sold 2,000 copies, and Zhang Liangying’s compilation sold 1,000 copies.
The store manager had to urge the distributors to restock.
The same scene occurred across the country.
The frenzy of the Liangfen fans today could only be matched by Jay Chou’s fans.
Sina: 【Newly emerging potential Little Heavenly Queen Zhang Liangying’s CDs sold out within an hour of release. Jay Chou’s new album has unprecedented heat, with the title song “Nocturne” being refreshing】
Sohu: 【Witness the grandeur of the Chinese music scene on November 1st! New talent show singer Zhang Liangying is not afraid of Jay Chou, releasing CDs on the same day】
Hong Kong Media: 【Super Girl champion Zhang Liangying is actually clashing with Jay Chou! The battle is fierce, and large-scale riots have occurred between their fans】
But in reality, the pirated copies sold even better.
Jay Chou’s album sold 2.11 million copies in a month, and pirated copies sold 5.3 million.
Zhang Liangying’s compilation sold 1.02 million copies, and pirated copies sold 2.98 million.
Damn it, the money was all earned by the pirates.
However, it’s no wonder others can make money; their pirating speed is too damn fast.
Jay and Zhang’s CDs were released at midnight on November 1st, and pirated copies appeared by the morning of November 2nd.
Their speed was astonishing.
If one wasn’t a die-hard fan, they could easily be attracted to pirated copies.
After all, “Chopin of November” cost 68 yuan for a genuine copy, and Zhang Liangying’s compilation was 25 yuan.
But pirated copies were only 10 and 7 yuan.
…
Zhao Lei, in order to buy the first batch of compilations, ended his Sichuan-Tibet journey early and returned to Chengdu with his worn-out guitar.
Early in the morning, he was waiting at the entrance of the music store for it to open.
The owner saw him and said familiarly: “Lei Zi, I told you I’d save a copy for you, I didn’t forget.”
Zhao Lei touched his head and smiled foolishly: “I’m just eager to hear Zhang Liangying sing. You don’t know, I listen to her songs to fall asleep every night on the Sichuan-Tibet route.”
The owner bent down and lifted the rolling shutter, smiling and teasing: “I see you want to be a star too.”
Zhao Lei nodded: “Of course, my dream is to be a rock singer, then ride my little motorcycle around, and go to every place where my fans invite me for drinks.”
The owner laughed heartily: “Haha, I wish you achieve your dream. Here, the album is for you!”
After buying two copies of the compilation, Zhao Lei carefully placed them in his backpack, then rode the hostel owner’s small motorcycle back quickly.
Upon arriving at the small inn, he excitedly opened the CD and put it into the owner’s CD player.
As the disc spun, familiar music came from the speakers. Zhao Lei sat on the sofa and listened for half the day.
He listened to “It’s Blowing,” “Red High Heels,” “Fairy Tale Town,” “My Dream,” “Father’s Prose Poem,” “When You Are Old,” “Farewell,” “Agony,” “Thing,” and “Ambitious Person” over and over again.
Only when his stomach growled with hunger did he get up and say to the owner: “Jun Ge, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I’m going back to Beijing to continue my music dream.”
The hostel owner patted his shoulder: “Keep going. What are your plans this time?”
Zhao Lei said: “I want to find Shen Qing to be my master and ask him to write songs for me. If he doesn’t agree, then I’ll… I’ll participate in Mango TV’s Super Boy next year…”
