Mid-February.
While the online popularity of Ting Yu remained high, many noticed that he hadn't released any new songs for over half a month. His last song was "Dao Jian Ru Meng," the theme song for "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber."
For fans accustomed to Ting Yu's sporadic bursts of releases, this was torture.
There was also no news about the album promised for the Singer Group. Although everyone knew an album couldn't be produced in such a short time, the fans felt a sense of emptiness and unease with Ting Yu's silence.
"I miss when Ting Yu used to release five or six songs a month!"
"Damn, even the donkeys on a production team wouldn't rest this much!"
"Can't anyone provoke him to release ten songs in one night again?"
"Haha, who in the domestic entertainment industry dares to provoke Ting Yu now? Do they not want to work in this field anymore..."
"Who the heck cured Ting Yu's 'frequent urination' of releases?"
Fans were frantically demanding new songs.
Everyone seemed to have grown accustomed to his frequent releases, the feeling of waking up to a new song from Ting Yu. They would reflexively loop the songs without even feeling surprised.
But now, things were different. Ting Yu hadn't released new music in over half a month. For other producers, half a month would be nothing, and many wouldn't even be prompted after half a year. Most producers released only two or three songs a year, or even just one.
Ting Yu was different. Since his debut, he had released music at a high intensity every month. This month, over half a month had passed without a new song, and fans naturally felt unaccustomed.
It was like being accustomed to eating your fill every day, and then suddenly being starved for two days – how could you possibly endure it?
Ting Yu's popularity was terrifying. Even the trending topic of fans demanding songs reached the top ten.
#Jiangnan, please film more TV dramas so Ting Yu can release songs!#
#Starving, release music quickly!#
#Ting Yu, you feel so strange...#
"Currently, it seems that only Jiangnan can make Ting Yu release new songs."
"That's right. As long as Jiangnan's TV dramas or movies are still being filmed, we can just focus on the theme songs for his works!"
"Ting Yu's Weibo is silent. Everyone go to Jiangnan's Weibo and urge him. Plus, when Jiangnan films a new drama, we get new songs and new shows to watch. It's killing two birds with one stone!"
Soon, netizens discovered this.
So, the army of song-demanders migrated to Jiangnan's Weibo. This wave of demands not only kept Ting Yu's popularity high but also gave Jiangnan, whose popularity was already soaring due to the Spring Festival slot, another surge of fame!
However, just as everyone was enjoying themselves.
The Weibo topics that Jiangnan and Ting Yu had notified them about,
Due to the flourishing state of the domestic entertainment industry, several new trending topics emerged.
#The Era Music Awards Ceremony is about to be held, live broadcast nationwide!#
...
Chongqing City.
In an apartment.
Zhang Wei wore a black suit, his leather shoes polished to a shine!
"Shige, I'm leaving first," he waved to his good buddy Li Yunchuan, who was having breakfast.
"Wait a moment!" Li Yunchuan put down his bowl and chopsticks and walked over to Zhang Wei.
After appraising him, he smiled and reached out to adjust Zhang Wei's tie.
"In the blink of an eye, you're about to become a Song King," he said with a complex expression after finishing.
When Zhang Wei was down on his luck, Li Yunchuan had always helped him.
The two had been good buddies for many years.
Later, when Zhang Wei made up his mind to go to Xinghui and join Ting Yu's Singer Group, his popularity skyrocketed. His song "Gu Yong Zhe" made him famous across the country. Zhang Wei, who debuted as a competition champion, re-entered the public's view after a period of decline.
Then came "Fu Kuo," which completely amazed the entire Chinese music scene with his vocal performance.
It earned him the qualification to be nominated for Song King.
However, due to the interconnectivity of domestic and overseas data, no music awards ceremony was held last year, and all awards were deferred to this year. Therefore, Zhang Wei had to wait another full year.
As Zhang Wei's good friend, Li Yunchuan knew how much Zhang Wei longed for the Song King title. Now that his wish was about to come true, he was genuinely happy for his junior.
"Shige..." Zhang Wei looked at Li Yunchuan's complex expression and didn't know what to say.
"Let's go. I'm looking forward to your trophy moment!" Li Yunchuan patted his shoulder, turned, and continued eating his breakfast.
Zhang Wei looked at Li Yunchuan, then nodded firmly.
He turned and walked outside.
After Zhang Wei left.
Li Yunchuan stared blankly at the door.
"Song King... I'm envious."
As a singer, everyone desired the Song King award. After all, for ordinary singers, the Song King was the pinnacle. As for those above, the Song Gods, among the younger generation in the domestic entertainment industry, there was only Ting Yu.
...
Chongqing City.
Gong Ju Ren's home.
Gong Youcai and his relatives were playing mahjong in the hall.
"Dad, Uncle Er, Auntie, I'm leaving now."
Gong Ju Ren came downstairs. He was dressed in casual wear and carried a travel bag.
Gong Ju Ren now had less childishness but more composure than before.
"You're going dressed like that?" Gong Youcai turned back, glanced at Gong Ju Ren's attire, and said with annoyance.
"Heh heh, the suit is in the bag," Gong Ju Ren grinned and patted his backpack.
"That's more like it. Come back early. I've booked a whole floor at the hotel for a celebration banquet for you," Gong Youcai laughed heartily.
Then, he nodded at his son with immense satisfaction.
"You guys eat yourselves. I already have a celebration banquet booked in Kyoto to celebrate with Brother Yu and other colleagues," Gong Ju Ren waved his hand.
Then, he slung the backpack over his shoulders and walked out.
"Alright, I'll have the finance department transfer a few million to you. Our Song King celebration banquet shouldn't be too low-key," Gong Youcai shouted to Gong Ju Ren.
"Dad, how many times have I told you? I have money. Keep your money for your retirement!"
Gong Ju Ren's voice came from outside the door.
He was no longer the rich second generation who could only ask his parents for money.
His bubble tea shop was now a nationwide chain. Furthermore, although he gave all the copyright fees from the songs he sang to Su Yu, his appearance fees for participating in programs were also quite substantial. Therefore, although Gong Ju Ren's net worth was not comparable to his father Gong Youcai's, he still had several hundred million.
"Sigh... the child has grown up. As a father, I don't feel as accomplished as when he was little."
After Gong Ju Ren left, Gong Youcai sighed softly.
"Little Gong is almost a Song King, and you don't feel accomplished?" a relative nearby said nonchalantly.
"You don't understand. I, Gong Youcai, have nothing but money. When he used to ask me for money, that was when I felt most accomplished. Now that he doesn't ask me for money anymore, what's the point of me earning so much?" Gong Youcai sighed with a deep tone.
"Brother, can we not be so pretentious?"
"This... I'm speechless!"
"Let's play cards, let's play cards. Brother has shown off again!"
...