"I asked a few friends who studied both Western and traditional Chinese instruments. Some of them joined traditional orchestras, some joined string ensembles. Let me quote one of them word for word—
Simple? Of course it's simple. Theoretically, you could slide-tackle and take down a T. rex. If you think instruments are all connected, then mastering one would make learning the rest easy, right?
The premise is, you still have to master at least one first.
Besides, that idea is more ridiculous than the United States' transition to capitalism. Modern instruments can be classified into five categories: idiophones, membranophones, aerophones, chordophones, and electrophones. And those seventy or so videos basically cover all five categories. Stop trying to explain it away, just admit it—Chu Zhi has been possessed by aliens. The planet's name: Music Star."
Hu Du was not stupid. He claimed it was a direct quote from a friend, but in truth, the first part was copied exactly, while the latter was cut out.
When friends speak in private, they often speak more bluntly, sometimes even harshly.
The original words weren't "Music Star," but rather, "Tsk tsk, I'm so damn jealous of this kind of talent. So even when you're about to commit suicide from depression, there's still an upside? Honestly, I'm starting to think Chu Zhi's the one profiting from this."
If he had posted the original quote, he would have been torn apart by comments. Hu Du knew better than to do that.
The article ended with: "There's always a certain kind of creature in this world. They disguise themselves as humans. They look like humans, talk like humans, even eat and go to the bathroom like humans. But their sole existence is to make the rest of us feel inferior."
"Hahaha, that's so true. I have nothing to say to that."
"I've personally studied violin for twenty-one years, since I was five. I make my living from it now, but when it comes to learning other instruments, at most I can say it's somewhat helpful. I still can't master them quickly."
"If you think mastery in one instrument translates instantly to all others, you can have some shrimp balls as a consolation snack."
"I'm not feeling inferior. Not at all. Because Jiu-yé is my sun."
"Question for everyone: if your idol is so amazing that you feel crushed under the weight of their talent, what should a fan do?"
...
Hu Du never expected that this piece, which wasn't even a music review, would become the most-read and most-liked in his column simply because it praised Chu Zhi. By a wide margin, too.
Not only that, his followers shot up by a significant number.
It felt like lightning coursed through him. He began to understand Zhang Mingyi's response: "It's nothing. Chu Zhi is the version answer."
"The version answer... it really does make sense." Hu Du murmured.
A new star in the Chu Zhi praise circle was quietly rising.
At the same time, the winter sun was also rising, though without warmth. Sunlight spilled across Chu Zhi's body, as cold as the constant online reminders for him to update his content.
Lunchtime meeting—
"Brother Chu, the client has a request," said Niu Jiangxue.
"Hmm?" Chu Zhi listened closely, wondering what Bona's issue was with 'You Got Me Drunk'.
"They want to use the demo version," she said.
"What do you mean?" Chu Zhi didn't quite get it.
Niu Jiangxue was puzzled too. "They mean using the demo directly, no need to record a full version."
That was a first.
Not just for Chu Zhi. Even Lao Qian, a veteran with over a decade in the entertainment industry, was stunned.
"Paying such a high price, yet Warner only wants the demo? Who's this generous fool in the industry?" Lao Qian asked.
"The client said the demo was just too good. Even though it's incomplete, the emotions are so raw and powerful it's perfect," Niu Jiangxue repeated Bona's producer's words.
"Good enough to make them choose the demo over a finished version? This sounds like a fantasy novel," Fei-ge remarked.
Wang Yuan frowned. She found Bona's decision odd. The demo was sung entirely by Xiao Jiu, so naturally, the full version could have the same quality. The logic felt as if Xiao Jiu could never recreate that demo's performance again.
"Is it really that good?" Lao Qian immediately said, "Jiu-yé, can we have the honor of hearing it first?"
Chu Zhi nodded. No reason to refuse.
With a projector in the meeting room, Niu Jiangxue quickly set it up and played the track.
'You Got Me Drunk' with its intro runs about five minutes, but the demo was only about two minutes, covering the A section and the chorus.
Drunken Immortal, Voice of Despair 80%, and master-level technique—combine those three in a love song and what do you get?
It felt like attending a hundred weddings, only for the bride to run away with someone else every time. That one line, "Is it my fault that I can't let you go?", tore through the soul.
When the two minutes ended, everyone in the room—Lao Qian, Wang Yuan, Niu Jiangxue, Fei-ge, Qi Qiu—was caught up in the sorrow.
Only Niu Jiangxue was less affected; she'd already heard it earlier when the client gave their response.
Clap clap clap.
Lao Qian applauded. "Jiu-yé, how many heartbreaks have you gone through to sing like this? I almost cried."
If she didn't know his background, Wang Yuan might have believed Chu Zhi had suffered some devastating romantic loss.
Fei-ge discreetly wiped away tears, the song stirring memories he'd rather forget.
"Brother Chu you should release a love ballad album. With this level of quality, you'd be the undisputed king of heartbreak songs," Fei-ge said. "I get why the client made such a strange request."
Qi Qiu wasn't surprised at all. You don't need to have experienced love yourself to sing a love song well. It's a common misconception. As long as the emotion is there, it works—and Chu Zhi was overflowing with emotion.
"So, about this matter?" Niu Jiangxue brought the discussion back to business.
"If the contract is fine, and the client insists, there's no need to refuse," Chu Zhi decided.
She nodded. That settled the first agenda item. Next was the popularity of 'My Love From the Stars'. JYP wanted to release the theme song as a single to rake in more money.
South Korean entertainment companies are ruthless when it comes to milking their own audience.
After hearing his management team's opinions, Chu Zhi declined JYP's proposal.
"No need to overuse a character," Niu Jiangxue summed up.
Most stars would milk a hit role for all it's worth, but Chu Zhi's team preferred a slow burn approach.
The lunch meeting lasted an hour. As it ended, Chu Zhi said, "Ah Qiu, you ate unusually light today. Stomach not feeling well?"
"You notice everything, Brother Chu. I drank a bit with friends yesterday—red wine, beer, white spirits all mixed. My stomach's upset," Qi Qiu admitted.
"Then take care and rest. Watch your diet," Chu Zhi reminded.
The others could rest after lunch, but Chu Zhi had to rush to the capital for his next schedule.
Beijing and Guangzhou were the cities he visited most, thanks to award shows and commercial events. He spent the day busy as always, while the internet continued to buzz about him.
People still discussed his many musical skills, though their focus began to shift.
It's normal for the internet to drift off-topic. The new question: "Does Chu Zhi have forty-eight hours in a day?"
On Zhihu, a well-known literature blogger named KK posted several of Chu Zhi's public schedules.
[Image] [Image] [Image] [Image]
"From these, anyone could see his days often began at 8 AM and ran until 10 PM, with almost no days off.
These schedules are legit. Given his fame, everywhere he goes there are photos and reports. So with so little free time, he still reads history for over two hours daily, and teaches himself so many instruments? Honestly, I suspect his time isn't like ours. Maybe he has forty-eight hours… the legendary Time Lord?"
Her question was one many fans, netizens, and even industry people had.
"Truthfully, even with forty-eight hours, I couldn't do all that."
"If I hadn't watched Back to the Countryside, I'd wonder too. But in the VIP version, you see that Jiu-yé only sleeps four or five hours a night, every night. Sometimes he goes several nights without sleep. That's like having three or four extra hours daily, which he uses for study and practice. Even his Bilibili updates are always around midnight."
"Chu Zhi is a man terrifyingly disciplined."
"'Outstanding people always manage their time.' The writer was right. Oh, and a few months ago, Jiu-yé even learned a dance just to surprise fans at the Orange Festival."
"Don't flame me, but I think even with discipline, a normal person couldn't do this. Maybe his depression caused some kind of change in his brain…"
After much discussion, three key terms emerged as the focal points of public speculation: self-discipline, depression, and talent.
There's a saying, "It's wise to be wary of others," because there will always be those who view things in the worst possible light. Fortunately, the celebrity at the center of this news was Chu Zhi, whose public image was favorable enough and whose goodwill was deep enough to avoid widespread skepticism. Instead of questioning how it was achieved, people simply discussed it.
Badminton boy Zhou Yiyu followed the news closely, feeling inspired. If someone as exceptional as Jiu-yé was still working hard, what right did he have to slack off?
Coincidentally, he had a day off tomorrow, so Zhou Yiyu drafted a schedule for himself:
[8:00–9:00: Breakfast
9:00–9:05: Reading
9:06–9:10: Taking reading notes
9:10–9:15: Practicing songwriting
9:16–12:00: Taking a short break after a tiring morning—playing with his phone
12:01–14:00: Taking a nap
14:01–14:05: Starting a new round of study
14:06–14:15: Practicing a foreign language
14:16–14:20: Practicing an instrument
14:21–17:00: Taking another break—balancing work and rest
…]
Looking at his meticulous training schedule, Zhou Yiyu nodded in satisfaction. Tomorrow would surely be a fulfilling day!
Setting aside the domestic buzz for now, let's shift focus to international matters.
Far away, in Berlin, Germany, a three-story building housed the organizing committee of the world's largest rock festival—the Wacken Open Air.
They were finalizing this year's invitation list.
Veteran bands were a given. The main lineup would feature rock musicians and groups in their thirties—no arguments there.
The real disputes came with the "newcomers" list. The definition of "talent" is subjective.
"I think we could invite the Chinese singer Chu Zhi. I saw him perform 'We Will Rock You' at the Asia Rock Festival. It was excellent," said Donovan, an Irish drummer from a famous rock band.
"A Chinese rock singer?" someone questioned. Not surprising—whether in this world or ours, Chinese rock had produced legends, but none had broken out globally.
Donovan nodded. "I like 'We Will Rock You'. Adam knows who I mean." He clapped and stomped his feet to the beat.
The others looked puzzled. Clearly, the Western rock scene barely paid attention to Asia.
"I know Mr. Chu Zhi, but he's not exactly a rock singer. He's more famous for acting," said Higuchi Hanato, one of only two Asian committee members.
The other was Mao Zhiming, lead singer of the band Kagandile.
Although Mao believed Asian rock musicians should support each other, he agreed with Hanato after a moment's thought.
"Mr. Chu Zhi is a talented young man with great singing skills and stage presence, but I don't think he's a fit for Wacken either," Mao said.
"In that case, maybe next year," Donovan conceded.
The list was finalized by evening, followed by a so-called "party"—in name only, since hardly anyone showed up.
"Hanato-san, do you have some grudge against Mr. Chu?" Mao asked later.
Mao Zhiming had a favorable view of Chu Zhi, finding 'Just a Little Expectation for the World' deeply healing.
"No grudge," Hanato said flatly. "I simply don't want him at Wacken. Our country's rock scene leads Asia. I don't want him disrupting that."
"I see." Mao Zhiming thought rock should grow by encouraging talent, not suppressing it. But Hanato was acting for the sake of his own country's artists, so Mao Zhiming let it go.
As Mao Zhiming left, Hanato muttered to himself, each word deliberate:
"Chu Zhi, I told you—reject my friendship, and you will never be invited to Wacken."
===
"你把我灌醉" (Ni Ba Wo Guan Zui – "You Got Me Drunk")Original Artist: Huang Pin Yuan (黄品源)