The playful "question-and-answer session" between Luo Zheng and Gao Yuanyuan ultimately ended without a clear winner.
Or perhaps—
from the beginning, there had never been a winner.
After all, in matters between men and women, some battles looked fiercely competitive on the surface, yet by the end both sides willingly surrendered.
Meanwhile, outside their little world, things at Blue Whale Entertainment were becoming increasingly lively.
Inside the CEO's office, Huo Wenxi pushed the door open with unusual force.
The moment she entered, she slammed a stack of sales reports onto Luo Zheng's desk.
"Two hundred and eighty thousand copies!"
Her voice nearly shook the entire office.
"We succeeded!"
Her face was filled with excitement.
Her eyes had practically turned bright with joy.
For someone usually composed and professional, seeing Huo Wenxi lose control like this was extremely rare.
Luo Zheng calmly took the report and looked through it.
The corners of his mouth slowly lifted.
But unlike Huo Wenxi's excitement, his expression remained very calm.
Not because he wasn't happy.
But because...
he had expected this outcome long ago.
"Not just success," he said slowly while putting down the report.
"We're about to create a new record."
Huo Wenxi sat down opposite him and took a deep breath.
This time, Blue Whale Entertainment had truly gone all out.
Through Barry Meyer's connections, Luo Zheng had successfully established cooperation with Warner Music.
Jane Zhang's album The One wasn't released only in Mainland China.
Taiwan.
Singapore.
Malaysia.
Thailand.
Almost every important Chinese-speaking market received simultaneous release treatment.
And the results?
Even Huo Wenxi felt slightly dizzy looking at them.
Mainland first-week sales:
280,000 copies.
Taiwan:
65,000 copies.
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand combined:
40,000 copies.
Every market exploded.
Every sales chart had her name at the top.
Major record stores were reporting shortages.
Radio stations repeated her songs continuously.
Even music critics who usually enjoyed criticizing newcomers suddenly became unusually gentle.
Because this album truly contained too many hits.
One or two explosive songs might be luck.
But ten?
That wasn't luck anymore.
That was domination.
Huo Wenxi looked at Luo Zheng with strange eyes.
Sometimes she genuinely suspected something was wrong with this man.
Movies became hits.
Investments succeeded.
Now even music was exploding.
Was there truly anything he couldn't do?
"The annual sales championship is basically guaranteed now."
Huo Wenxi finally calmed herself.
"With this lineup...if we still lose, then something would really be wrong."
Luo Zheng nodded.
Not only annual champion.
In his memory, many songs inside this album had terrifying power.
Time could prove everything.
"How are the concert arrangements?"
Luo Zheng suddenly changed topics.
Huo Wenxi immediately answered:
"We already finalized several northern provincial capitals and first-tier cities."
Luo Zheng frowned slightly.
"Too small."
Huo Wenxi blinked.
"Too small?"
Luo Zheng stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, Beijing's cityscape stretched beneath sunlight.
Then he said slowly:
"Change the plan."
"No more small-scale arrangements."
"We're doing a nationwide tour."
Silence.
Even Huo Wenxi froze.
Nationwide?
For a newcomer?
This scale was practically crazy.
But after thinking for a few seconds—
she suddenly realized.
Luo Zheng wasn't simply promoting an artist.
He was creating momentum.
Massive momentum.
He wanted Jane Zhang to become a phenomenon.
A symbol.
The representative face of Blue Whale Entertainment.
Understanding this, Huo Wenxi nodded decisively.
"Understood."
"I'll contact people immediately."
Luo Zheng smiled.
"Good work."
The moment those words came out, Huo Wenxi rolled her eyes directly.
Good work?
Recently she had practically been working herself to death.
And this culprit actually sat there acting polite.
Still—
complaints were complaints.
The smile hidden in her eyes couldn't be concealed.
Soon she left hurriedly.
Outside, however, things were becoming increasingly noisy.
Ever since Blue Whale Entertainment had been established, the media had practically followed every movement Luo Zheng made.
And now—
with album sales exploding—
journalists instantly lost their minds.
Countless articles flooded newspapers overnight.
[280,000 Copies in First Week! Jane Zhang Creates New Mainland Record—"Liang Style Love Songs" Sweep Asia]
[Hollywood Genius Becomes Music Godfather? Luo Zheng Personally Creates Ten Hit Songs]
[The New Queen of Mandopop Arrives! Newcomer Jane Zhang Dominates Multiple Asian Markets]
Even Taiwan media, usually difficult to impress, became unusually enthusiastic.
[Wolf From the Mainland Arrives! Jane Zhang Breaks Taiwan Newcomer Record]
The headlines exploded.
Discussion forums exploded.
Radio stations exploded.
Blue Whale Entertainment's popularity instantly rose another level.
Inside employee apartments, Huang Bo waved a newspaper around excitedly.
"Baoqiang!"
"Look at this!"
"All ten songs entered charts!"
Wang Baoqiang scratched his head.
"I think...she just sings really well."
Huang Bo immediately looked exasperated.
"You don't understand!"
"Singing well matters, but songs matter too!"
"If President Luo hadn't written these songs, becoming famous wouldn't be this easy!"
Baoqiang immediately nodded obediently.
"Okay."
"I don't understand."
Huang Bo suddenly sighed.
"If President Luo gave me one song…"
"I'd become famous overnight too."
Wang Baoqiang looked serious.
"No."
Huang Bo stared.
"No?"
Baoqiang grinned.
"You don't need songs."
"You'll definitely become famous."
"I believe it."
For a moment, Huang Bo suddenly became quiet.
Then laughed.
"Thanks."
Elsewhere—
inside The Story of a Noble Family production crew—
another conversation was happening.
Director Li Dawei sat awkwardly before Liu Xiaoli and others.
Across from him sat Liu Yifei.
Dong Jie.
Chen Kun.
The atmosphere felt strangely uncomfortable.
After hesitating for a long time, Director Li finally spoke:
"Could you...help ask President Luo something?"
Everyone immediately understood.
So that was his goal.
Liu Xiaoli calmly asked:
"What is it?"
Director Li coughed awkwardly.
"Could President Luo write our theme song?"
Silence.
Everyone instantly understood.
Recently media reports praising Luo Zheng's songwriting talent had spread everywhere.
And his own popularity had become ridiculous.
If The Story of a Noble Family obtained a theme song personally created by Luo Zheng—
then publicity would instantly double.
No.
Triple.
After thinking briefly, Liu Xiaoli nodded.
"I'll ask."
Beside her, Liu Yifei immediately raised her hand happily.
"I'll ask cousin too."
Director Li looked overjoyed.
"Price isn't a problem!"
"As long as President Luo agrees!"
Nearby, Dong Jie quietly lowered her eyes.
Her emotions felt complicated.
Recently she increasingly sensed something.
Luo Zheng was moving further and further away.
Not because he changed.
But because his world was becoming larger.
Too large.
There were more women.
More people.
More opportunities.
And her place seemed smaller and smaller.
So recently she had begun paying attention to Liu Xiaoli and Liu Yifei.
Something about that mother-daughter pair always felt...
strange.
Very strange.
She couldn't explain it.
Nor dared investigate deeply.
Because some things—
the more one knew—
the more dangerous they became.
Nearby, Chen Kun watched everything silently.
Then suddenly sighed inwardly.
President Luo truly had incredible luck.
Resources.
Power.
Women.
Fame.
Everything seemed to gather around him.
Life really wasn't fair.
Outside the window, sunlight slowly stretched across the film set.
Meanwhile in countless cities—
Jane Zhang's songs continued spreading.
And in Beijing—
Luo Zheng still had no idea.
While one queen of love songs had risen...
many people had already begun quietly planning their next move.