[Home] was ready for testing, but Chu Zhi decided to wait until Southern Weekly published its article before launching it.
What was this called? A little suffering first, then a sweet reward.
Of course, you could also give the reward first and then the suffering—it all depended on the execution. The Acting Emperor was well-versed in the art of conditioning.
Stepping out of the van, Chu Zhi stretched lazily and said, "Brother Qiu, could you please take Xiao Zhu home? It's late, and it's not safe. Thanks for your hard work today."
As he spoke, he handed Qiu a pack of Hua Zi cigarettes. Even if he hadn't said anything, Qiu would have taken Xiao Zhu home, but Chu Zhi made a habit of reminding him.
As for the cigarettes, Chu Zhi didn't give them every time—because small favors given too often ceased to be favors. Returning to his apartment at 11 p.m. was considered early for a top-tier celebrity with a packed schedule.
"Oh, I forgot to pick up the package." Chu Zhi only remembered when he reached the elevator. He turned back to retrieve it from the delivery locker.
"What did Da Bai send me?"
A few days ago, Su Shangbai had messaged him, saying he'd mailed a gift. Chu Zhi had tried to pry out details but got nothing.
He wasn't the type to tear open packages on the street, but he gave it a little shake. It weighed about two pounds. The feel of it—"Could it be candy?"
Back in his empty apartment, Chu Zhi was alone. Did he feel lonely? Of course not. He enjoyed it.
Opening the package, he confirmed it was indeed candy—branded "Big White Soft Candy." The problem was, he wasn't a big fan of sweets. As a Chongqing native, he preferred spicy food.
The candy seemed to be from a Vietnamese brand? Chu Zhi sent Su Shangbai a quick WeChat message: [Da Bai, got the soft candy.]
Disciple of the Big Cat: [Ninth Bro, eat some when you're feeling down. There's lemon and orange flavors. It's a new product from the candy factory I just acquired in Vietnam.]
Acquired a candy factory? Damn, Chu Zhi could practically smell the wealth.
After exchanging a few messages about recent happenings—Su Shangbai had been in Southeast Asia for the past month or two, busy with the factory—their chat ended with:
[ZG Boy Group is huge in Vietnam too. Their songs play in every mall here. I hope one day, Ninth Bro's music will be everywhere in Vietnam.]
Chu Zhi felt that day wasn't far off. South Korea was just the first stop in Asia. Next, he'd spread to Southeast Asia.
"Dominating Southeast Asia's entertainment scene is easier in film and TV. Music is harder to conquer." Chu Zhi pulled out a notepad and started drafting a plan.
Thanks to Korea's cultural export strategy, their influence ran deep in Asia's entertainment ecosystem—Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, you name it.
Taiyang Chuanhe Entertainment, on the other hand, was utterly lacking in this area. TikTok was the exception—its reach in Southeast Asia was massive. That meant Chu Zhi needed to strengthen his ties with TikTok.
"I have to accept that TikTok endorsement deal. With offers from Korean companies coming in, TikTok should agree to my price." Chu Zhi wouldn't interfere with Fei Ge's negotiations out of impatience.
After finishing his development plan, Chu Zhi got ready for bed. But just as he was about to sleep, a sudden premonition struck him—now might be the perfect time to hit the jackpot in the lottery.
He happened to have 5 Personality Coins left.
"System bro, let's roll the lottery. Open the prize pool for me," Chu Zhi said.
—[Rock Trench Coat]
—[Haizi's Poetry Collection]
—[Gospel of Angels]
—[Curio: Fragrance Pill]
—["Rogue"Song Package]
—[Special Grand Prize: Michael Jackson's Dance Skills]
The prizes in the pool were incredibly tempting. Michael Jackson's dancing might not have been the most technically advanced, but in terms of stage presence and synergy with music, he was easily top three in global music history.
"Sooner or later, I'll get MJ's songs. If I actually land this—" Chu Zhi's eyes gleamed with desire.
After experiencing the sheer power of Farinelli's vocal skills, Chu Zhi had developed an obsession with special grand prizes. If he won this, he'd gladly punish himself by enduring another decade in this purgatory called life!
"Rogue"was a Cantonese golden classic, Zheng Zhongji's signature song. Some said Hong Kong's 2005 had Exaggeration, and 2006 had Rogue—both were iconic hits.
"I'm not planning to break into the Cantonese market yet," Chu Zhi mused as he checked the other prizes.
The Fragrance Pill gave the user a natural, enchanting body odor—no idea what scent, but supposedly irresistible.
"What kind of nonsense is this? Feels like this prize pool just took a turn for the erotic." Chu Zhi already considered himself devastatingly handsome. Add a divine fragrance, and he'd basically become a walking aphrodisiac.
For the safety of the general public, maybe not.
Haizi's Poetry Collection was self-explanatory. The Rock Trench Coat was a magical item that, when worn, could electrify an audience and make them lose their minds.
Hmm—sounded useful, but Chu Zhi wasn't sure he needed it.
"Even Gospel of Angels would be fine. It's similar to Voice of Despair."
Except, according to the description, Gospel of Angels represented a voice of hope and beauty.
Chu Zhi made his wish and spun the lottery—Gospel of Angels.
"Nice! A fantastic prize. Not the grand prize, but these 5 Personality Coins were well spent." Chu Zhi was pleased.
"My sixth sense is on point. Now that my Personality Coins are at zero, it's a good stopping point."
"Wait—I already have Farinelli's vocal skills, and now Gospel of Angels. If I went into preaching, wouldn't I be the ultimate evangelist?"
Not that he'd actually do it. Why trade stardom for being God's servant?
With two opposing vocal skills—despair and hope—Chu Zhi felt he could reduce audiences to emotional wrecks. He wanted to jump out of bed and test Gospel of Angels right away, but his eyelids grew heavy. His spirit was eager, but his body demanded sleep.
The next day, the sunlight was lackluster.
But Chu Zhi's mood was radiant. He recorded himself singing "Against the Light" and listened to it. The sound of his own voice made him smile uncontrollably—it was the kind of singing that made people feel pure happiness.
"If I sang a beautifully worded folk song now, it'd be an instant kill. Something like "The Wind Blows the Wheat"—even without the humming interlude, it'd move people to tears." Chu Zhi assessed, feeling his power level rise dramatically.
Good things came in pairs. Whether it was due to his extra popularity in Korea or his strong domestic image, Niu Niu's team received their first big director offer—Fan Dao's new film, "One Song".
Niu Jiangxue explained Fan Dao's status in the industry—a Berlinale Golden Bear winner. Chu Zhi mentally compared him to a certain famous director—peaked early, then spiraled downward.
"Director Fan's requirement is to spend two or three months in the countryside to cultivate a rural vibe."
A reasonable request. If Chu Zhi were pursuing acting, he'd have accepted without hesitation. But he wasn't. Two or three months was too long. Chu Zhi had his agent politely decline.
Five days had passed since the MBC King of Masked Singer finale aired. Despite the criticism, Chu Zhi's popularity in Korea hadn't waned at all. Many Korean fans posted online, hoping to hear more of his music.
Understandable. Even with paid memberships and followings counted, Chu Zhi's Korean discography only had "Herbal Medicine" and "Opera".
His management team wasn't too concerned. After all, they weren't in it for the fans—just the money.
Another Saturday arrived—auspicious for travel. Southern Weekly published its exclusive interview with Chu Zhi, both in print and online.