"Brother Chu, how about recording the Korean EP first? President Park of JYP Entertainment has called seven or eight times in the past three days," Niu Jiangxue said helplessly.
"I'll check the schedule," Chu Zhi replied. The Korean EP had always been his decision, and Niu Jiangxue had been helping delay things. Resolving it early would be one less thing to worry about.
The upcoming month's schedule was packed, but most appointments could be rearranged. The only immovable item was the 25th Global Chinese Music Awards ceremony.
"See if you can free up two or three days, just enough for me to record a few Korean songs," Chu Zhi said.
"Got it." Niu Jiangxue agreed to make the adjustments.
The sun, growing drowsy from everyone's busyness, called it a day early, giving way to a rainy night.
The soft patter of rain filled the air. Chu Zhi quietly noticed that Wang Yuan was a hidden "literary girl" type. During lunch, she deliberately went for a walk in the rain without an umbrella, returning to the office soaked, her hair and clothes dripping wet.
The office had showers and a lounge. Wang Yuan kept a spare long dress there, so she immediately took a hot shower and washed her hair. She'd done this often, and never caught a cold.
She did it because she was genuinely happy—she had finalized the design templates for the When I Close My Eyes merchandise.
Chu Zhi noticed but didn't comment or show himself. Everyone had their quirks they didn't want others to know. His was "acting."
He had planned to be home by 9 p.m., but plans rarely kept up with change.
Chu Zhi was in the middle of feasting—he liked to order food delivery and go all out. Tonight's "battle" featured a Mega Double Beef God Burger, three servings of New Orleans chicken wings, a ten-inch pizza, and a variety of snacks.
Some might think the movie idol had no appetite today. Not true. A ten-inch pizza was enough for two.
Just as the feast reached its peak, the phone rang. The caller was Brother Zheng—Zheng Huo, a rock legend.
He answered on speakerphone.
"Reading anything, little bro?" Zheng Huo's voice hinted he had something to say.
Sensing that, Chu Zhi paused mid-bite, pulled out the half-eaten chicken wing from his mouth, removed his disposable gloves, and picked up the phone.
"Just eating. What about you, Brother Zheng? Had supper yet?"
"Haven't smelled supper in ages. Getting old, metabolism can't keep up. Eat too much, and it's high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high everything," Zheng Huo chuckled.
"Ah, you've got to take care of your health," Chu Zhi responded, recalling details instantly. "You also need to watch your diet because of your diabetes."
"You remembered that?" Zheng Huo was surprised. It had only come up once at a gathering.
"How could I possibly forget something about you, Brother Zheng?" Chu Zhi replied sincerely.
Moved by his concern, Zheng Huo didn't beat around the bush. "Hey, do you have any signed photos? Send me two."
"Huh?" Chu Zhi was momentarily confused.
"My niece watched your new movie and became a huge fan. Said she'll ace all her subjects this semester if she gets your autograph. I couldn't take it anymore and had to call you. I know you're busy during the day, so I'm calling now."
"Brother Zheng, call me anytime you need something. When have you ever been too busy?" Chu Zhi laughed. "What's her name? Best to personalize the autograph."
Zheng Huo told him the name. Chu Zhi agreed, and the call ended shortly after so he could finish eating.
Right after hanging up, he wrote the autograph, sealed it in an envelope, and left it on the table for mailing the next day.
He worried that if he waited until after eating, he'd forget. Better to do it first. The leftover chicken wing was a little cold by then, but not one to waste, he ate it anyway.
He had many things to eat, just like there were many stars in the night sky. Chu Zhi's daily schedule was the same—always full, never light.
Niu Jiangxue couldn't free up two or three whole days, so they spread the recording across two weeks. In between other tasks, Chu Zhi recorded five Korean songs.
From the selected album Universe, there were seven songs. He disliked one and skipped it, and one was a Chinese version. A five-track mini-album was more than enough.
Once the EP was recorded and sent to President Park of JYP, Niu Jiangxue was finally spared the bombardment of phone calls.
While Chu Zhi squeezed in time to record the EP, the film's box office earnings kept climbing. When I Close My Eyes performed well across Asia, except in countries like Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Afghanistan.
The final numbers:
China: ¥730 million
Japan: ¥450 million
Asia-wide (30 countries): ¥1.68 billion
The only limitation was Shochiku's distribution channels. For example, in Singapore, only one theater showed the film. If Toho had handled it, the box office could've gone up by another ¥200 million.
Thanks to the generous profit-sharing terms, Chu Zhi earned a significant sum.
Being a principled boss, he gave Lao Qian a sizable bonus—after all, it was his strong recommendation that made this happen.
What Chu Zhi gained from Tōi Kimoku wasn't just money, but fame.
A bombshell article from Asahi Shimbun read:
"In 2020, domestic box office revenue and moviegoer attendance in Japan are expected to exceed 280 billion yen and 20 million people, respectively. While many films earned over 10 billion yen, only one live-action film stood out: When I Close My Eyes."
"The real problem lies in a lack of creativity among filmmakers," said Shochiku President Kishimoto Seishi at a press conference on May 4, 2021.
"Innovation can come through storytelling or casting. Capturing that one moment of freshness can elevate a film. The spark between director Oozu Etsuji and Chu Zhi was such a moment."
"Films can create superstars. Chu Zhi has become the first Asian superstar of the 21st century."
Public recognition followed:
#1 in Korean online poll for "Most Handsome Male Star": Chu Zhi
#1 Ideal Artist on Russia's THT Television
#1 Most Handsome Male Star in Vietnam
Top 3 Most Mentioned Stars on Thai and Indian internet platforms
Fastest Rising Star in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Myanmar (via LEE magazine)
Top New Male Star in Bhutan, Brunei, and Singapore
The Japanese live-action film industry had been weak for years. Previously, they relied on Hollywood for blockbusters and international film festivals for art. Now, both markets were failing.
So when Asahi Shimbun finally saw a successful domestic film, they praised it with all they had. The rankings were legitimate, with links and sources to back them up.
Chu Zhi's voice hadn't yet swept across Asia, but his face had already arrived.
As a star, he was elated. As a singer hoping to produce meaningful music—he was even happier. It was perfect preparation for his future records.
The cover of Entertainment Biweekly, one of the top entertainment magazines in China, boldly asked:
"Is Chu Zhi Already an Asian Star?"
In this age where few people still bought entertainment magazines, the question went viral. After all, gossip on Weibo was free. Yet the magazine sparked real debate.
Entertainment Biweekly not only translated the Asahi Shimbun article but also added research on Chu Zhi's international rankings and influence.
In Thailand and Russia, Chu Zhi had already been popular even before the film's release.
In Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia—countries with large Chinese populations—Chu Zhi was already known. The movie only boosted his fame further.
"He might not be an Asian superstar yet, but he's absolutely an Asian-level celebrity."
"One movie feels a bit exaggerated…"
"A single film can be a signature work. If he's got fans in so many countries, why not call him Asian-level?"
"Now how did brother Jiu become this famous when we weren't looking?"
"Chu Zhi is a singer, and in the end, it's still about the music."
Public opinion was mixed, but the general consensus was clear.
Domestic fans had always known Chu Zhi was famous. Now they finally had a sense of how far that fame had reached.