"Chu-san, where are you right now?" The call came from Koguchi Yoshihiro, someone Chu Zhi had not seen in quite some time.
"I'm in Spring City, China," Chu Zhi replied. He had come to attend a wildlife conservation forum. Playing the role of the Emperor Beast was like being a brick: wherever he was needed, he went.
"Spring City? What a coincidence, I'm here too," Koguchi Yoshihiro said over the phone, his voice brimming with delight. "Let's have dinner together tonight."
Since they were both in Spring City, Chu Zhi had no reason to refuse. He agreed readily, exchanged a few more words, then hung up as work still waited on his end.
Koguchi Yoshihiro was in a very good mood after the call. He had once again been invited by Mango TV to appear on Phantom Music City, so he had been staying in Star City. Checking the map, he realized Spring City was just a little over a thousand kilometers away. A short flight would take him there.
If someone were to ask why he called that "along the way," his answer would be simple: the Earth is round. Anywhere could be "on the way."
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Koguchi. If you need anything, call me anytime," said Zhu, the Mango TV staff member assigned to receive him.
Normally, variety show guests had their accommodation and meals arranged.
"Thank you, Zhu-san," Koguchi Yoshihiro said politely.
He set his luggage in his room. He rarely traveled with a manager, only with a personal assistant. His assistant's flight was later, so he would arrive in Star City afterward.
The reason he avoided traveling with his manager was blunt: the man was plain-looking, and Koguchi Yoshihiro, who openly admitted to being vain about appearances, disliked being seen with him. Before his debut, he had no right to demand a change. After fame, the years of cooperation made it inconvenient to swap.
Opening his backpack to take out his laptop, he also pulled out three albums of The Man Watched by God. He had promised to get autographs from Suzuki Kano, Kuroki Ozawa, and Aoi Miyabi.
Suzuki Kano needed no introduction. She was the "national wife" of Japan, even topping Chu Zhi in fan polls for "Most Anticipated Artist Concert." Nine out of ten so-called "lost generation" otaku men were Suzuki Kano fans.
Kuroki Ozawa and Aoi Miyabi were both rising actresses in Japan. Their common trait: striking beauty. Chu Zhi had, in fact, gathered quite a following of female Japanese artists.
It gave him the right to confidently tell Japanese male fans, "Your idol may not be me, but your goddess' idol definitely is."
Koguchi Yoshihiro logged into his email and checked the schedule the Phantom Music City staff had sent. Recording would start the next afternoon at four.
Perfect. He booked a 3:30 pm flight to Spring City, dinner with Chu Zhi in the evening, then a flight back the next morning. Flawless timing.
Since Spring City was famous for its mushrooms, he treated Chu Zhi to wild mushroom hotpot.
Over dinner, Koguchi Yoshihiro brought up Sony Music's invitation for Chu Zhi to become an album spokesperson. He also reminded Chu Zhi that it was time to prepare a Japanese album.
"Let's make it a proper studio album, with ten tracks. I still have plenty of good songs on hand," Chu Zhi said. Back at his hotel after dinner, he thought it over. Thanks to previously drawing a "Detective Conan" music pack, he had quite a few quality songs stockpiled. The Emperor Beast never wasted resources.
Album Theme: Even if we hold nothing in our hands, I still have love.
Riding on the Silver Dragon's Back
Even If We Hold Nothing in Our Hands
ヤキモチ (Jealousy)
Chu Zhi sorted through his songs, looking for ones about love and perseverance against fate. Soon he lined up five: 真っ赤なLip (Crimson Lip), Time After Time: 花舞う街で (In the City Where Flowers Dance), ハルウタ (Spring Song), さだめ (Fate), and Secret of My Heart. Conan truly was a treasure chest.
He then used an album voucher and spent five "character coins" to exchange for Zard's compilation Cruising & Live, pulling out two classics: 揺れる想い (Shaking Feelings) and the Japanese "second national anthem" 負けないで (Don't Lose).
That made ten songs, fully arranged.
But reviewing the list, Chu Zhi decided 揺れる想い didn't quite fit the theme. He swapped it for 遠い星を数えて (Counting the Distant Stars).
"Mid-May, after the China-Vietnam diplomatic celebration, I'll begin recording. Hopefully I can release it after the Summer Supersonic Music Festival, around August or September," Chu Zhi murmured to himself.
"This year's Chinese-language album may not happen, since after the English debut succeeded, it's best to ride the momentum with another one. The 'Four Great Classics' concept album can wait."
The Emperor Beast's success came from one thing: crystal-clear goals.
"This Japanese album will be untouchable."
Satisfied, he checked his balance. Only thirteen character coins left. That was the only thing troubling him.
As for why Koguchi Yoshihiro had come to Spring City instead of Beijing, Shanghai, or Star City? Chu Zhi shrugged it off. It was none of his business.
The next day, after the forum ended, Chu Zhi was invited by Boss Huang, the organizer, who also happened to be head of state-owned Fudian Bank. Out of courtesy, Chu Zhi attended.
A vegetarian organization had also been invited, and its president, Zhang, saw an opportunity.
"We must protect other living beings, which is why vegetarianism is humanity's most perfect lifestyle. Since Mr. Chu is so active in charity, surely you will support vegetarianism?" Zhang declared.
Whenever question marks floated in Chu Zhi's head, it meant the problem wasn't him. It was the other person.
Regaining composure, Chu Zhi asked, "President Zhang, are you asking me to promote vegetarianism?"
"Yes. I am sure you have never been to a slaughterhouse. If you did, you would see cows crying as they await death. I wept when I saw it. It made me want to keep living," Zhang said passionately.
He pressed on: "Besides, eating vegetarian benefits the economy. While China has eliminated absolute poverty, many still cannot afford meat daily. If everyone adopted vegetarianism, that problem would disappear."
"Last year, we imported more than ten million tons of meat. Imagine the treasury savings if we stopped. That money could go toward development."
"And American researchers have proven that a vegetarian diet improves skin and overall health. As a celebrity, that should appeal to you too."
Zhang spoke quickly, confident his logic was airtight.
Chu Zhi's face remained calm, but his sharp gaze weighed Zhang carefully, trying to decide whether this man was foolish or malicious.
"I have two questions, President Zhang."
"Please ask. I'll do my best to answer."
"First: I cannot judge whether those American studies are sound, but according to UN FAO data, the top three countries for per-capita meat consumption are New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. If vegetarianism is scientifically superior, why hasn't the United States set an example by limiting meat intake?"
Zhang sighed. "Because truth is in the hands of a minority. Vegetarian organizations exist in the West, but their influence is small. If our nation adopted vegetarianism swiftly, we could surpass the United States in another form of progress. And with your influence, Mr. Chu, it would happen much faster."
Chu Zhi asked his second question. "Imagine a rich man who ate delicacies all his life. In his later years, he bought a cottage and grew his own cabbages. Next to him, a poor farmer also ate cabbage daily. The rich man says, 'What was the point of working so hard? In the end, I eat the same as you.' President Zhang, are the rich man and the farmer truly the same?"
"If the rich man had always been vegetarian—"
Chu Zhi cut him off. He did not want to hear another word.
"I don't oppose vegetarianism, but do not force your ideals on others. Boss Huang, I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
He stood and walked out.
The private room fell silent. Boss Huang's face tightened with suppressed anger. He had hoped to build goodwill with Chu Zhi, but the vegetarian group had ruined it.
President Zhang opened his mouth to complain about Chu Zhi's rudeness but could not bring himself to say it. The gathering fizzled out in awkward quiet.
Yet the episode did not sour Chu Zhi's mood. He returned to Qiantang for a small 618 e-commerce campaign with a major platform. The details had been negotiated by Lao Qian; Chu Zhi only needed to attend the signing.
The Emperor Beast's influence had grown to the point of quietly reshaping people's fates, just like what happened to Hashimoto Rimi, a young idol in his circle.
"Rimi, Rimi, do you know you're famous now? Do you know?" In Star Entertainment's makeup room, Hashimoto Rimi was fixing her makeup when her friend and fellow trainee Takizawa Nanako burst in. She grabbed Rimi's shoulders and shook her hard.
Rimi felt like Ninny's stuffed Ragdoll bunny, shaken mercilessly.
Nanako's twin tails were disheveled from running.
"Famous? What are you talking about?" Rimi asked, confused.
"Your Twitter has four hundred thousand followers now!" Nanako nearly shoved her phone into Rimi's face.
"What?" Rimi pulled back her head and stared.
It was true. Her account had jumped to four hundred forty thousand followers overnight.
She was stunned, as if Ultraman himself had landed in front of her.
She was just a small idol with barely twenty thousand followers. How could her count soar by more than three hundred thousand in a single night?
"It's because of your tweet yesterday. Now you're trending as the so-called 'Peripheral Offender,'" Nanako explained breathlessly.
"Offender? Wait, I didn't commit a crime!" Rimi panicked at the word "offender."
She checked the phone herself to see what was going on, Nanako still rambling beside her in a flurry of half-coherent words.
===