A free album didn't mean Chu Zhi and his label wouldn't profit. This first release was a litmus test—streaming numbers would dictate platform licensing fees.
In the battle for market share, platforms would pay handsomely for non-exclusive rights just to avoid the cardinal sin of not having an artist's work. Users would flee en masse.
CEO Huang Bo saw this clearly. Hence, he wasn't worried about the 6-million-RMB MV production costs. No capitalist pours money into truly profitless ventures.
"QQ Music and NetEase Cloud both want a text interview tomorrow. Which one?" Niu Jiangxue asked.
At Chu Zhi's tier, video interviews for music apps were off the table. Text was the compromise.
"Neither." Chu Zhi declined. Tomorrow was reserved for Hélène Keller Eyewear's shoot in Sanya.
"They're offering 700,000 RMB for an exclusive," Niu said. "We could have an editor draft responses based on your talking points."
For context, A-list singers like Jam Hsiao or JJ Lin earned ~800,000 RMB per live gig—two songs or a medley. Yet here, Chu Zhi could make nearly as much without lifting a finger.
The perks of being a top-tier idol.
"Fine. Just stick to the album's themes we discussed," Chu Zhi relented. He understood the platforms' game—exclusive content = perceived prestige = user retention.
"NetEase Cloud then?"
"Sure." Chu Zhi skimmed the Armani press conference invite. As their new face, attendance was non-negotiable.
Busy? Absolutely. But unlike the original owner who blindly obeyed his team, Chu Zhi prioritized ruthlessly.
——
While the artist hustled, so did his fans. The Little Fruits mobilized.
[Orange Garden Group Chat]
One Bite, One Little Orange: "Nine gave us free albums. Let's give back! No bulk-buying—just dominate Weibo, Douyin, and Feidian's hot searches!"
"No chart manipulation? We could easily top KuGou, NetEase, QQ Music, Apple Music..."
"Same. Want to surprise Ah Jiu."
"Saved my allowance for multiple copies. Now I can put it toward promotions!"
One Bite, One Little Orange: "@everyone NO. Trust Nine's talent. Artificial stats hurt his public image—his organic appeal is already the best among top idols. Just amplify visibility!"
Wei Tongzi double-posted this plea. As both insider and fan, she grasped the bigger picture.
"Want to support? Taiyang Chuanhe's collab with Japan's Alter Studio is dropping limited-edition figurines! Preorders soon!"
The chat erupted. Merchandise was the true cash cow—a 20-RMB pillow with Chu Zhi's face sold for 300 RMB as a "limited edition."
Kangfei Entertainment, now crippled by fan boycotts, had once raked in fortunes from Chu Zhi keychains alone.
——
Li Xingwei's Camp
"Promotions secured across four charts: China Songs TOP, China Music Popularity, Huayu Music, and Global Chinese Music," his manager reported. "Digital campaigns are also set."
The first two were state-backed. One emphasized patriotic themes, the other was a weekly fan-voted pan-Asian showdown. (On Earth, Kris Wu and EXO-M dominated the latter.)
The third, run by the China Audio-Video Association, blended jury and public votes. The fourth—a dying radio relic—clung to relevance via Music Life, an official music newspaper.
"Taiyang Chuanhe's only pushing online platforms for Chu Zhi," the manager noted.
"Charts require vocal skill. What does he have—" Li Xingwei's rant died as Weibo's splash ad loaded:
[New Album 25,117 Possibilities: March 11!]
The poster featured Chu Zhi's face mosaic'd from fan-submitted album titles (Chu Nation, Gentle for Life, Our Love...). Tapping it led straight to his profile.
"Since when does Taiyang Chuanhe out-promote us?!" Li fumed.
"You're still our top artist. All resources flow to you but—" The manager braced for impact. "—the board signed deals to rep SM and JYP's groups in China."
"Zhang Minggang's brain got kicked by a donkey? Pushing K-pop?!"
Li, a vocal Japanophile/K-pop hater, recalled I Am a Singer's aftermath—his dinner invites to dictionary-uncle Hou Yubin and Koguchi Yoshihiro were both rejected. The former wanted family time; the latter only had eyes for Chu Zhi.
"Your album No Li, No Way even impressed the producers. With Back to Field, Who's the Murderer, and Ace vs Ace lined up, we'll crush them on visibility and quality," the manager soothed.
Li simmered down. "Promotion matters, but talent wins wars."
Then he spotted a fan post: [Can't wait for Against the Light! Ah Jiu's performance was god-tier. The true uncrowned king...]
"Uncrowned my ass. Second place means second-best." Li scoffed. "Fixing this industry's delusions starts with me."
——
Lin Xia's Camp
In contrast, Lin "The Flop" Xia was spiraling. His mid-tier label couldn't match Chu/Li's 20M-RMB endorsement clout.
"Maybe Heavenly Purity will blow up as Dance in the Rain's theme song?" Manager Xian offered weakly.
"Maybe." Lin stared blankly.
"Hope never dies! As long as we—"
Lin cut him off with a withering look.
Xian sighed. When Lin insisted on moving his release date to clash with Li, he'd warned against it. But ego trumped sense.
Most artist meltdowns are self-sabotage. Fans blame teams, but who really holds the leash? Xian mused before resuming his pep talk.
——
In the 2000s—a golden age where monthly album wars were common—such a showdown would've been met with "I curse you to regress 15 years!", the highest compliment.
Music critics, unable to wait, penned thesis-length "previews." Notably, most analyses of Chu/Li/Lin ended with obligatory support for Wu Xi's rock album—"Rock never dies!"
Zhang Mingyi, once a shameless Wu Tang sycophant, now dual-simped for Wu and Chu:
*[Just Waves of Wheat and Against the Light make this a 5-star anticipation. That Against the Light performance was the most breathtaking I've witnessed. Full review post-March 11.]*
Comments flooded in:
"Chu Zhi fan? Instant follow!"
"AGREED! Can't wait for Zhang's breakdown!"
Watching his Zhihu followers spike by 30,000, Zhang grinned. Wu Tang's star is fading post-reality show. Time to pivot.
"Chu Zhi, huh?" His eyes sharpened. Let me cook up some next-level glazing.
Compared to the contortions needed to praise Wu Tang, Chu's emotive vocals were low-hanging fruit.
——
March 10-11
Almanac:
Auspicious: Moving in, engagements, school, praying for heirs
Inauspicious: Renovations, weddings, opening businesses
As the heavens opened in a torrential downpour—
The battle began.