Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

Chapter 104 Spreading Rumors

As night fell, the dimly lit private room of that elegantly decorated teahouse in Tsim Sha Tsui was filled with even thicker smoke than usual.

Zhou Qiyuan held a cigarette between his fingers, the embers flickering and reflecting on his ashen face. The radio on the table was still playing "A Thousand Songs," its melodious tune now sounding like needles pricking his ears, making him restless and agitated.

"Manager Zhou, what should we do?" Boss Huang rubbed his hands, his voice filled with anxiety. "This song is playing everywhere now, even the old ladies selling snacks on the street are humming it! Our previous methods of blocking the channels are completely useless!"

"Useless?" Zhou Qiyuan stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his voice laced with ruthlessness. "Lin Zhou thinks he's so capable? He turned things around with just a handheld game console and a bus, didn't he? I'd like to see if he can protect that little girl named Zhao Yazhi!"

As soon as he said that, everyone in the private room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Zhou Qiyuan.

"What Manager Zhou means is..." a tall, thin boss asked hesitantly, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

"The music industry isn't a place where you can succeed just by having good songs," Zhou Qiyuan sneered, taking a sip of his tea but tasting no flavor. "A newcomer, with no background or experience, ruining her would be a piece of cake."

He put down his teacup, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. His voice was extremely low, yet carried a chilling undertone: "First thing tomorrow morning, get those tabloid reporters moving. I want everyone in Hong Kong to know that Zhao Yazhi got 'A Thousand Songs' not because of talent, but because of…"

He paused deliberately, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes: "By relying on his improper relationship with Lin Zhou."

"Isn't this...isn't this too harsh?" Boss Huang hesitated. "If Zhonghua finds out, we might not be able to handle the situation."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Zhou Qiyuan scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "Those tabloid reporters, what wouldn't they write if they got paid? Besides, there's no smoke without fire. As long as we release the news and embellish it, who will bother to find out if it's true or false? The people of Hong Kong love to read this kind of juicy gossip."

He paused, then added, "I'll also get people to spread rumors in nightclubs and dance halls, saying that Zhao Yazhi used to sing in nightclubs and that her private life was very chaotic. I want to make her fall from grace and be shattered to pieces!"

The people in the private room exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Yes, so what if the song is good? Once her reputation is ruined, the audience will naturally turn their backs on her. No matter how popular "A Thousand Songs" becomes, it will eventually become a "dirty song."

The next morning, several tabloids with eye-catching headlines appeared on the streets and alleys of Hong Kong.

Shocking! Newcomer Zhao Yazhi rose to fame through unspoken rules; her song "A Thousand Songs" was actually a bargaining chip!

A Wild Phoenix from the Nightclub Scene? The Unknown Past of Zhao Yazhi!

Behind Lin Zhou's strong support for Zhao Yazhi: Is it a case of a discerning eye recognizing talent, or is there more to the story?

These tabloids were sold by street vendors and quickly spread throughout Hong Kong.

Inside the teahouse, the patrons were engrossed in reading newspapers.

"Tsk tsk, so that's why a newcomer got such a great song!"

"From nightclubs? No wonder your singing is so alluring, you must have practiced it a long time ago!"

"Lin Zhou, why doesn't he just focus on writing novels and being a boss? Why does he have to mess around like this? He looks so talented, I never expected him to be involved in this kind of thing!"

Rumors spread like wildfire throughout Hong Kong. Some believed them, while others were skeptical, but regardless of their veracity, these vile words were like knives, stabbing at Zhao Yazhi before she even had a chance to enjoy the joy of fame.

Zhao Yazhi, who was completely unaware of these rumors, went out shopping with Chen Meiling today. However, as soon as they stepped out of the gate of Zhonghua Park, they felt that the people around them were looking at them strangely.

The whispers and pointing at them by passersby pierced Zhao Yazhi's ears like needles.

"Look, it's her! Zhao Yazhi!"

"She looks quite innocent, but I never expected her to be so dirty behind the scenes!"

"I don't even dare to listen to 'A Thousand Songs' anymore; it makes me feel nauseous!"

Zhao Yazhi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she stopped in her tracks. She gripped the strap of her bag tightly, her heart sinking, and her eyes instantly reddened. She wanted to refute, to shout that she hadn't done it, but the words caught in her throat as if something was blocking her throat, preventing her from speaking.

Upon seeing this, Chen Meiling immediately stepped forward, blocking Zhao Yazhi's path, and angrily shouted at the passersby, "What nonsense are you spouting! Yazhi is not that kind of person! These newspapers are just making things up!"

But her voice sounded so faint amidst the murmurs of the crowd.

Instead of calming down, some passersby whistled and said flippantly, "Oh, are they getting angry because they've been exposed?"

Chen Meiling was so angry that she was trembling all over, but she could only protect Zhao Yazhi tightly and walk back quickly.

Back in the training room of Zhonghua Records, Zhao Yazhi could no longer hold back. She squatted on the ground, her shoulders trembling violently, and tears fell to the floor like beads from a broken string.

"I didn't... I really didn't..." she choked, repeating it over and over, her voice so weak it was like a mosquito's hum.

The other girls gathered around, feeling both heartache and anger as they watched her cry so painfully.

"Those people have gone too far! How could they slander someone like that!"

"It must be those record companies' doing! They just don't want us to be popular!"

"Yazhi, don't be sad, we all believe in you!"

Comforting words seem so pale and powerless in the face of overwhelming rumors.

Just then, the door to the training room was pushed open. Lin Zhou walked in with the record company's employees, his face terribly gloomy, clutching a crumpled newspaper in his hand.

He looked at Zhao Yazhi, who was squatting on the ground crying, and then at the girls whose faces were full of indignation. The coldness in his eyes was almost overflowing.

He had long anticipated that Zhou Qiyuan and his group wouldn't let the matter rest, but he never expected them to resort to such despicable means to slander a girl who had just debuted.

"Stop crying, everyone." Lin Zhou's voice was deep, yet it carried a reassuring strength. "A clear conscience fears no accusation. They want to smear us, but I'll show them that smears aren't so easy to throw."

He walked up to Zhao Yazhi, squatted down, gently patted her shoulder, and said firmly, "Ms. Zhao, believe me, I will clear your name."

Zhao Yazhi raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and nodded, her voice choked with emotion.

Lin Zhou stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice icy: "Zhou Qiyuan, and those people hiding behind the scenes, they owe us an apology."

He turned to his secretary and said in a deep voice, "Secretary Chen, contact the most authoritative newspaper in Hong Kong. I need to hold a press conference."

Chen Man nodded immediately: "Okay! I'll take care of it right away!"