"Sang beautifully. Teacher Gong Xingzhi's vocal skills are truly impressive. We juniors should learn from him."
"This song, under Teacher Wang's rearrangement, has been given a new burst of life. Playful and charming."
"I couldn't help but stand up and applaud."
…
Chu Zhi, serving as a one-man praise machine, was just one of the special guest judges alongside the panel of expert reviewers.
He simply could not understand how some people in their twenties could speak so brazenly, directing and critiquing seasoned singers in their forties as if they were in charge.
Of course, skill determines authority, not age. But when some so-called "expert" opened their mouth, what came out felt like kindergarten-level nonsense.
"No wonder people say, if you can't make it as a singer after learning to sing, you become an influencer. If you can't even be an influencer, then you become an expert," Chu Zhi muttered under his breath.
While in Xingcheng, Chu Zhi decided to take Wei Tongzi out for a meal. She was not only the leader of one of his fan groups but also a die-hard Little Fruits. In between her work as a host for Mango TV, she often organized and hosted fan events.
If one were to be precise, Wei Tongzi was more dedicated as a fan than in her official job.
At first, Chu Zhi had no idea. But over time, it became impossible for her to hide it from him.
He deliberately chose Yihua Home-Style Cuisine on Liuzheng Street. Their order included twice-stir-fried frog, braised flower mushrooms with preserved egg yolk, and chopped chili fish head.
"This place…" Wei Tongzi's mind flashed back. It was where she and her idol had first shared a meal.
"Could it be that Jiu-yé still remembered?" Her heart thudded wildly. She wanted to ask but couldn't bring herself to speak.
"Tong Tong, do you still remember these dishes?" Chu Zhi suddenly asked.
Wei Tongzi froze. "Hm?"
"After I was falsely accused, I finally got a booking for 'I Am Really a Singer.' Back then, you were one of the rare people who treated me with real kindness. It was here, and you ordered these very dishes for me," Chu Zhi said. "Looking back now, I'm deeply moved. Without your support on that show, Tong Tong, I might not have been able to hold on."
!!!
Three exclamation marks, because there were no words that could describe Wei Tongzi's feelings. She herself had only remembered coming to this restaurant with him. She couldn't even recall what they had eaten.
But her idol had remembered it perfectly.
To have a place in her idol's heart was like being struck by a happiness bomb. Wei Tongzi's eyes turned red, brimming with tears.
"It was all because Jiu-yé did so well. I didn't really help much…" her voice trembled slightly.
"How could you say that? Three years ago you treated me to a meal like this, so today I'm returning the favor," Chu Zhi replied.
"Mhm, mhm, I promise I'll eat plenty." Afraid she might actually cry and ruin her makeup, Wei Tongzi discreetly pinched her thigh under the table, using the pain to hold back her tears.
Eating the twice-stir-fried frog, she felt it was the best she had ever tasted in her life. She also made up her mind, once and for all—she would be a Little Fruits for life.
Absolutely.
A few days later, Chu Zhi returned from Xingcheng to his studio in the Magic City.
"Brother Chu, Wawaji Entertainment wants their artist Li Heng to perform 'Against the Light' on stage. I turned them down directly," Niu Jiangxue reported.
The good thing about having a strong piece of work was that many shows wanted to use it, and other singers wanted to cover it—always for a fee, of course.
Trusting Niu Jiangxue's judgment, Chu Zhi waited for her to continue.
"This Li Heng is a singer who adores America while belittling China. I thought you wouldn't want someone like that singing your song," Niu Jiangxue said.
"What's his nationality? Chinese-American?" Chu Zhi asked.
"Chinese citizenship. He's posted his passport before," she replied.
"Biting the hand that feeds you," Chu Zhi commented. "Good call, Sister Niu. In the future, just reject these outright. No need to even discuss them."
Then another thought struck him. "Actually, let's make a post. Say that any artist who disparages or disrespects their own country is forbidden from singing my songs."
"That might not be a good idea," Niu Jiangxue cautioned. "Right now, anything you say gets magnified. It might cause trouble."
"I know what you mean. You're worried that some shady figures in the entertainment industry will hold a grudge. But so what? I couldn't turn back even before going head-to-head with Adidas," Chu Zhi said calmly. "And I have no desire to turn back."
"Wouldn't this hurt your chances of breaking into the European and American markets?" she asked.
"Respecting your own country is the only way to earn respect abroad. Besides, I want my influence to encourage domestic fans not to blindly idolize the West," Chu Zhi explained. "Liking Western culture and art is fine—it's personal taste. But stepping on your own while elevating others is not."
Niu Jiangxue said nothing more. She had long known that Chu Zhi carried a strong sense of national pride.
Chu Zhi took a short rest, then opened the folder Niu Jiangxue had left him. It was a script she had selected.
A live-action adaptation of a manga that had sold over sixty million copies, known as the number one shoujo manga, with popularity across Asia.
The script came from Japan's TBS Television, offering a generous price.
Its title: Handsome Boys. Direct enough.
The story followed female lead Makino Tsukushi, sent to a prestigious school where she became entangled with the heirs of four powerful families: Domyoji Tsukasa, Hanazawa Rui, Nishikado Sojiro, and Mimasaka Akira.
In this adaptation, the Domyoji family was rewritten as a Chinese conglomerate, likely to attract Chu Zhi.
That was status—when the script was adjusted for your nationality.
"I'm already twenty-three. Playing a student wouldn't feel right," Chu Zhi sighed. He disliked pretending to be younger than he was.
But personal judgment and audience perception were two different things. Just like that Earthling Brother Ming—when he thought he was handsome, he came off greasy; when he thought he was average, he was actually quite charming.
Similarly, Chu Zhi thought he would look unnatural playing a student, unaware that just last year, his role as Fujiiki Itsuki in After I Close My Eyes had been hailed in Japanese media as "the most beautiful high school student."
After reading through the script in twenty minutes, Chu Zhi decided to keep it under consideration.
Three days passed in a blink. For Chu Zhi, it was seven or eight events. For the Little Fruits, it was an endless wait.
Finally, Love Letter opened its curtains.
In China, the album's tracks were released for free on multiple music platforms.
In Japan, bookstores stocked Song of Spring Rain.
In South Korea, physical copies of Demon King appeared in record stores.
Across other Asian countries, the international edition Sweet went on sale online.
The album Little Fruits Are Sweet had five versions: the free Chinese edition, the international edition Sweet, the Korean edition Demon King, the Russian edition Stars, and the Japanese edition Song of Spring Rain.
The songs themselves were identical, but the lyric booklets and photo cards differed, each with translations in English, Japanese, Korean, or Russian.
Japan's term for Chu Zhi's fans—spring rain—actually made sense upon reflection. Supporters were like the gentle, steady rain of spring.
All fifteen songs were dedicated to the fans.
Angel lyrics: You are like an angel, giving me support and strength, like a poet relying on the moon, like dolphins relying on the sea…
To Everyone Who Knows My Name lyrics: Once more I am drowned in applause, before me you stand, so moved, in the darkness the world seems to stop turning, our hearts can embrace without our hands…
One after another, the songs spoke with heartfelt sincerity. And with Glory and The Brightest Star in the Night Sky already famous, the album's emotional weight was undeniable.