Chapter 69: 《reboot》
Jin Xia’s Weibo post generated even more attention and traffic than Chi Ye’s personal one.
Especially since the first episode of When You aired with great success, #Chi Pan Xia Yu# CP fans have gradually perked up.
Of course, some die-hard fans said that Jin Xia has changed, becoming unfamiliar to them!
「Xia Xia! It’s you again!」
「Going to listen right now, going to listen right now!」
「Good girl goose, don’t be anxious, Mommy’s going right now.」
「Jin Xia, wake up, you didn’t really start dating, did you?!」
「Somewhat unfanning, promoting an unpopular star over and over by getting involved, don’t you care at all about your own reputation?」
「The whole world knows Chi Ye’s singing is deadly, but you make your fans “send their lives.”」
「Unfanning and stepping back, if you don’t unfollow Hu Ye today, I won’t follow you.」
Empress Dowager looked at these top-liked comments, feeling angry, annoyed, and aggrieved, because several big accounts were old fans she recognized well.
She wanted to delete comments, but Sister Mi immediately stopped her: “You posted one, what else do you want to do? Do you need me to top up some money for you to buy up all the music platforms and directly change the data to make him surpass Yu Yan?”
Jin Xia: “…”
“You all don’t understand!”
“Yes, yes, we don’t understand, you’re the one who understands the most, Understand Sis.” Sister Mi had a headache: “I’m telling you, what you said earlier is absolutely not allowed. Hong Kong side is already a mess, have you considered your own career by going to help your aunt?”
“No, this matter is absolutely not allowed!”
“…”
…
Meanwhile.
Joy and noise belong to others, loneliness and frustration belong to Jin Sui.
Jin Sui really felt she was too unlucky.
Back in the day, at her most glorious time, several big shots in Hong Kong would nod and bow to her.
Even several relatives at home back then didn’t skimp on asking her for resources and money.
But times have changed, and she never expected she’d fall to this point one day.
Without family support, is there really no way out fighting alone?
She was unwilling, staring at the album sales report, popularity analysis, and other materials Zhang Jie had just sent over.
Mentality exploded.
— Huang Yixiao’s first album battling in the mainland ended dismal in a state where almost no one paid attention.
Not to mention beating Hua Yichen before “going to war,” he didn’t even beat other mainland singers who released songs in December last year.
As of now, one week after release, Huang Yixiao’s total sales on the three major platforms is 15 million.
This was accumulated over a week, with Jin Sui using a lot of her personal resources and connections to force it up.
Think about it, with no fan base to begin with, this performance is already pretty good.
But… Hua Yichen’s album sales broke 27 million in 24 hours!
Now it’s at 35 million, a full 20 million gap.
Not to mention the even higher Shi Jinwei, no kidding, this time we really have to step back a bit.
This time she got a harsh lesson from internal entertainment circle, her mind a bit foggy—seeing Jin Xia’s Weibo post made it even foggier.
“What is Xia Xia doing… Sigh, she never paid attention to these things before, why so proactive this time?”
Zhang Jie beside her was speechless: didn’t pay attention before, pays attention now, need to ask?
Of course because of someone.
“Um… I think this performance is already very good, Sui Zong, at least our album didn’t lose money, expected to earn a lot more.”
Jin Sui shook her head: “I don’t want to earn, I want to break into the mainland market.”
Zhang Jie: “…Take it slow, entering late is like this.”
“You think I was too conservative back then too…”
Zhang Jie didn’t speak.
“Sigh, forget it.” Jin Sui waved her hand, Jin Xia’s Weibo post also reminded her of Chi Ye: “Chi Ye… is the album recording going smoothly? Changed studios, didn’t say anything, right?”
“He probably didn’t tell Xia Xia.” Zhang Jie said: “Didn’t he preview it? Releasing tomorrow, should be done by now.”
Jin Sui nodded, praising for the first time: “Then he still has some conscience and temper.”
Zhang Jie: “…”
“Since recording is done, let’s listen to it, after all we helped make it here, if quality is too poor, need to fix it a lot.”
“This Chi Ye really, says releasing means releasing, wasn’t he saying to tweak word by word?”
Jin Sui thought thoroughly: “Can’t let company’s reputation get bad again.”
Zhang Jie nodded: “Okay, I’ll tell the team over there.”
“Alright.”
Zhang Jie’s actions were quick, but Chi Ye Team was dumbfounded.
Yes, from producing the EP with Chi Ye until now, they had been in a state of dumbfounded + busy throughout.
Despite Chi Ye’s various prior preparations shortening the production cycle of Reboot as much as possible, everyone was still busy with spinning heads—because Chi Ye set a deadline, must finish everything by month-end.
So after receiving the call from Hong Kong, everyone reacted for a while before understanding what was going on.
Hurriedly sent the completed full version of Reboot to Headquarters via computer, and chuunibyou reminded: “Receive the baptism of heavenly sounds!”
Zhang Jie: “?”
After receiving the EP, she was unhurried, preparing to “listen critically” with Sui Zong.
But unluckily, Film and Television Department people came to discuss matters, so waited another hour before Jin Sui tiredly returned to the office: “What?”
“Uh… Didn’t you want to listen to Chi Ye’s EP?”
Zhang Jie’s expression at this time was very strange, seeming to want to speak but not knowing what to say, with lingering shock and disbelief in her eyes.
“Hm?”
Jin Sui keenly caught her expression, very surprised: “What’s wrong with you?”
“Um… Do you want to listen yourself?”
Jin Sui looked at her: “Listen myself?”
“Listen properly with professional equipment.”
Zhang Jie suggested: “I just tried it, feels… pretty amazing.”
Jin Sui finally got curious: “That bad to hear?”
Zhang Jie didn’t speak, just led Jin Sui to the expensive listening room the company built, gesturing: “Start.”
Staff nearby who prepared early nodded, starting to randomly play a song included in Reboot.
—Love Smiling Eyes
Melodious tune rose, accompaniment cheerful and delicate, faintly carrying a strange regret.
Jin Sui was stunned.
Just the accompaniment made her feel refreshed, ears captured.
Immediately after, a familiar yet strange male voice sounded.
His voice clear yet rich, delicate with slight hoarseness, as if calmly recounting a story of sorrow and longing:
“If not for that mirror not like you, not hiding secrets”
“I still wouldn’t believe without you, my smile more beautiful”
“That day hearing you on the phone, slightly apologetic concern”
“I hung up more thoroughly than you saying breakup”
After first four lines of verse, Jin Sui crashed on the spot, dumbfounded looking at Zhang Jie.
Zhang Jie spread hands indicating: I have no fucking idea who sang this!!
Second verse continued:
“Tears wet clothes washed clean, sunlight dries memories”
“Folded up heartbreak, from tomorrow only go out with happiness”
“This city of love though crowded, if really encounter you”
“No need to be surprised, my smile she can’t replace”
Chi Ye’s singing grew more passionate, emotions more intense:
“Leaving you I only discover myself, those smiling eyes~”
“Tears flowed like unavoidable storm”
“Drenched yesterday deleted”
“Leaving you I only find myself~ those smiling eyes”
“Goodbye love, I will make myself, make myself decide”
“…”
Jin Sui fell silent.
But her silence didn’t last long, soon Sunlight in the Crack When You Initial Dream and other EP included songs played in sequence.
Her just-composed thoughts thoroughly disrupted, standing somewhat at a loss in the room, only Chi Ye’s voice echoing in her ears.
Zhang Jie beside was a bit surprised—for usual proud little Qian Sui, she’d elegantly sit on the soft sofa, eyes disdainful or contemptuous listening to songs, casually sharp commenting.
How to put it?
She personally felt, mainly the contrast!
Anyway, that’s how she was earlier.
Don’t know how long passed, EP looped fully once, luxurious listening room quiet again.
Jin Sui suddenly snapped awake, surprised: “Why not continue playing?”
“Sui Zong, it’s already ended.”
“Only this much?!” After saying, Jin Sui realized, awkward: “Um… I mean, why did Chi Ye only release an EP, why not a full album?”
Everyone: “…”
“…” Jin Sui fully came to, holding forehead: “Wait, let me calm down… um…”
Zhang Jie answered for her: “Sui Zong, this time we seem… not ‘dead through,’ still have opportunity…”
“No.”
Jin Sui raised head, phoenix eyes furious: “I get Chi Ye writing others, but what does When You mean? How can he write this kind of song for Xia Xia!”
“And this Love Smiling Eyes, something wrong, Chi Ye isn’t clean, he dated girlfriends before?”
“This bastard, he’s not a good person! Exposed!”
Zhang Jie dumbfounded: “Ah?”
Sui Zong, can you not be such a “niece slave”!
…
That night, Guangying Shimen Company in Hong Kong urgently contacted the three major platforms, requesting to raise Reboot’s recommended resources to the highest level of Huang Yixiao’s previous album.
QQ Music said nothing, just kept refusing.
The other two major platforms were straightforward—as long as you pay, any position is fine.
Chi Ye himself didn’t know, at the end, Hong Kong side would actually “proactively” give him resources.
So, without knowing details yet, they didn’t reply to Hong Kong’s request to purchase EP copyright.
—He’s busy filming + releasing song now!
Next day, noon twelve o’clock.
Circulation film crew.
During lunch break, Chi Ye, in front of Director Zhang, Ran Qiao and others, officially released his first EP on his Weibo.
Same time, two major platforms launched his EP Reboot, with top-tier big image covers.
【#Chi Ye Reboot##Hua Yichen Listened and Said Good##Album Live# Struggling from the trough, groping in darkness, I finally found the power to reboot. This Reboot EP is my rebirth work, every note a farewell to the past; every melody a vision for the future. Hope it accompanies you, on life’s road, bravely hit the reboot key, write your own brilliant chapter.】
Post released, comments exploded.
「Bro!! Finally released!」
「Buying right now!」
「Front row selling earplugs, buy album and for life safety, buy earplugs too oh.」
「Meme fans don’t be cheap, now die-hard fan time!」
「Have some shame, are you a singer? Releasing album, don’t you know your singing level as idol?」
「I’m done, can you stop bringing Hua Hua’s tags, addicted to Peng Ci?」
「Hua Hua fans report this Weibo together! Suspected fraud and murder!」
For Chi Ye’s repeated Peng Ci, Hua Yichen’s fans directly exploded.
Hua Hua’s album this time didn’t beat Yu Yan… didn’t even beat actor Shi Jinwei who only dabbles in music, already angry inside.
Now Chi Ye repeatedly Peng Ci Hua Hua.
Isn’t this delivering to door to be scolded?
For a while, Hua Hua fans started team building under Chi Ye’s Weibo, but soon noticed something wrong—how is Chi Ye’s fan combat power this strong?
Can’t beat!
Chi Ye die-hard fans now absolutely one can block a million troops, seeing someone wild under Chi Ye’s Weibo, each raring to join the counter-battle.
Hua Hua fans not yet organized entry, can’t beat, directly went to various plazas to spam screens.
「Chi Ye also deserves to be human? Such obvious leek harvesting, official not managing? @Some Official」
「Boycott unlucky person! Boycott popularity riding habitual Peng Ci!」
「@QQ Music doing great, suggest @Wang Yi Yun Music @Ku Ting Music learn!」
「@Wang Yi Yun Music @Ku Ting Music, if you two don’t take down his song today, I’ll uninstall your APPs!」
「Listened to new song, this called song? Almost sent me off, sisters spam it up!」
「…」
Various plazas started seeing Hua Hua fans’ messages, but after long time, they noticed wrong again—such big commotion, why no bystanders step in to “help” them?
With Hu Ye’s reputation, isn’t this perfect blackening opportunity?
Something wrong, what happened?
…
Chi Ye’s EP release this time, few reposts, only Empress Dowager as yesterday, actively reposted with text: 【Good listen good listen good listen good listen!】
Little girl continues harvesting wave of negative press release, no one else… perhaps too unpopular, no attention.
But Chi Ye not worried, just got message, two major platforms’ recommended resources seem upgraded.
With his EP quality + this resources, plus off-field Hua Yichen, Yue Na friendly contributed negative press release traffic.
If can’t take off like this, he can just buy tofu to crash dead.
“Come on, let’s continue, I’m adjusted.”
Chi Ye stood up, makeup and styling done, ready to continue Circulation filming.
Surrounding crowd each surprised looking at him.
Director Zhang waved hand: “No rush to start, first make everyone in crew buy one of your EP!”
First two chapters, two more later, today four updates 16000+ words, making up famine of 3000 monthly ticket additional and 4000 monthly ticket additional, try to push this climax to end
