Chapter 119: A Date with Lu Yu

Story Setting: January 2007
Recommended Song: "Back at One"

Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional. Please do not associate it with real-life events. Any similarities are purely coincidental!

After finishing his comeback performance in Beijing, Jiang Yihan wasted no time heading to a studio in the city. He was set to be interviewed by Lu Yu for her show, "A Date with Lu Yu," marking his first television appearance in China.

In the dressing room, he met with Lu Yu to discuss the topics for the show, clarifying what could and could not be talked about. Although Lu Yu appeared petite, the wisdom and intellect in her eyes were unmistakable; clearly, someone capable of hosting such a successful show was not to be underestimated.

"Jiang Yihan, could we take a photo together?" Lu Yu’s request caught him off guard, as she was a celebrity herself and had surely met countless major stars. Noticing his hesitation, she smiled and explained, "I really like your albums and your songs. Let's take a photo to commemorate this."

"Oh, I’m truly flattered. Thank you, thank you," Jiang Yihan replied, reflexively bowing as he still held onto the habits he had picked up in Korea.

After taking the photo, they sat down to discuss the script. The studio audience consisted of about five hundred people, including some who had just attended Jiang Yihan’s fan meeting—they were certainly efficient.

"With the spread of the 'Korean Wave' into China, we have been paying more and more attention to the Korean entertainment industry. Among the stars in Korea, we have spotted a Chinese face. Let’s welcome Jiang Yihan!" Lu Yu’s introduction was concise and direct.

"Hello everyone, I am Jiang Yihan," he said, greeting the audience with a smile.

"Wow, seeing you up close, Jiang Yihan, you really are handsome," Lu Yu remarked after observing him closely, making him blush. "Right?" she asked the audience, receiving an enthusiastic, unanimous response.

"Jiang Yihan, why didn't you debut in China? With your looks and talent, surely someone would have scouted you for acting back home," Lu Yu asked, transitioning smoothly into the interview.

"Actually, before high school, I lived in my hometown—a very small place where almost everyone knew each other, so I never really thought of myself as having any special 'conditions'," Jiang Yihan said with a laugh. "Besides, China is so vast; there are certainly many people who are better looking and more talented than me. Because the country is so large, it’s just hard to discover them. I hadn't received any such offers in China back then, haha."

"Oh, that was a loss for our Chinese agents! But your return to China for this album is a sort of homecoming, isn't it?" Lu Yu continued. "How were you discovered after you went to Korea to study?"

"It was all a coincidence. Not long after arriving in Korea, I started working part-time," Jiang Yihan recalled the chance encounter in 2004 that changed his life. "I happened to run into Director Park Young-ho on the street, and I ended up doing a commercial. That’s how it all started."

"Is Park Young-ho the director of 'Can I Love You?'" Lu Yu asked, referencing last year’s hit film.

"Yes, that’s right. So, Director Park is truly my benefactor," he replied with a smile.

"You started with commercials, right? I heard you practiced in your Korean agency for less than a month before debuting as a singer. That seems to be an incredible record in Korea," Lu Yu noted. While this was no longer news in Korea, it was still relatively unknown in China.

"Actually, after filming the commercial, I never imagined what would follow," Jiang Yihan said, still finding it surreal. "Signing with the agency, preparing for my debut—it all felt like a dream. As for debuting in just a month, I find it unbelievable myself, let alone others. I was just an ordinary student who knew nothing before. To receive so much love after my debut… I was genuinely, truly surprised."

"Haha, I doubt you were just an 'ordinary student.' I heard you have many talents, which is naturally why you were so well-received," Lu Yu said, touched by his humility. "You play the piano and guitar, and you compose as well. Four songs on your first album were written by you. And I heard you studied dance with friends in high school. It seems you already possessed the necessary skills."

"Ha, I wouldn't put it that way," Jiang Yihan laughed. "These were just hobbies I picked up for fun. As for songwriting, you only get praised if you succeed. Otherwise, it’s just a child playing around. I wouldn't call my skills 'talent'; I’d say they just provided a foundation for my performances. There are many people in Korea more talented than me who are still trainees without a chance to debut. You can’t say they are inferior to me. It comes down to both strength and luck. I can only say I am a lucky person."

Hearing his modesty, Lu Yu led the applause, and the entire studio joined in. "Speaking of piano, guitar, and dance, how did you decide to learn those?"

"Well, I’ve always loved the stage since I was young, and my mother was very supportive. I learned piano at school when I was small, and later, my mother bought me an electronic keyboard, which is how I learned. I taught myself the guitar in middle school," he said, speaking of his childhood with a warmth, even though it was just him and his mother.

"Wow, so how many years have you been playing the piano?" Lu Yu asked, sounding surprised.

"About a dozen years, though it was on and off. Most of it was self-taught, so I can just play it—I wouldn't say I'm amazing," he replied cheerfully.

"Why don't you show us a little something right now?" Lu Yu’s suggestion was met with cheers from the audience. Jiang Yihan did not decline and walked over to the piano nearby.

"I’ll perform a song from my third Korean album, 'Intersleep.' It’s in Korean, but I hope that’s okay," he asked the audience, who naturally agreed.

*It follows me closely, reminding me of the pain; it brushes past my eyes, and everything turns dim. Everyone is smiling—they are smiling—and it pushes me further and further away. I don’t understand, everything is so sad. Can you hear my voice from the outside?*

*I hope you can hold me now, hold my frozen heart. I look from afar and feel that nothing can stay in my heart; I can no longer live alone. I hope you can hold me now, hold my frozen heart. I am lost in a deep winter slumber; I cannot find a way out on my own. Can you wake me up?*

*I know, when I accept it, it hides love from that moment on. So I have been guarding it, watching it slowly change, but it has bound me, it has trapped me. What must I do to make it disappear, to make it disappear? Can anyone hear my voice from the outside?*

*I hope you can hold me now, hold my frozen heart. Won't you kiss me? Perhaps you could bring me into your world. I can no longer live alone. I hope you can hold me now, hold my frozen heart. Please drive it all away—will I return to myself? I hope I can.*

The somewhat abstract lyrics captured Jiang Yihan’s feelings of despair from that period vividly. The song was technically demanding, and his transition through the high notes during the chorus once again demonstrated his formidable vocal strength. Naturally, the piano arrangement made the performance even more moving and haunting.

When the song ended, the applause lasted for a long time.

"That was amazing! Did you write this yourself?" Lu Yu asked, still marveling at his command over his voice and the music.

"Yes, I wrote it during that period last year," he replied, as the mention of that time was inevitable.

"Can you talk about what happened last year? How did it unfold, and what was your state of mind?" Lu Yu finally asked about the period everyone was aware of.

"It started with a conflict with a senior artist. The media twisted the facts, blew things out of proportion, and once the negative rumors started, everything spiraled out of control," Jiang Yihan said, downplaying the events in a way that made those who knew the truth feel heavy-hearted. "I was very discouraged at the time. It was my first time facing such a situation. 'Intersleep' was written then; I just wanted someone to trust me, to believe I wasn't the person they described. Unfortunately, I failed. But later, my sister and my friends were very supportive. We got through that time together, which is why I was able to return and sit here today."

"Do you hate them—the media, the rumor-mongers, and that senior?" Lu Yu searched for the right word, finding that only "hate" fit the emotional weight of the situation.

"Not really. I wasn't discouraged by the people who created those things, but by the people who didn't believe in me. I’ve always felt that an artist’s everything doesn't belong to them; it belongs to the fans who support them. If those fans leave, the artist loses their value," Jiang Yihan said, his tone filled with regret. "The regrettable thing is that I couldn't hold onto their trust."

The studio fell into a heavy silence.

"Don't worry," Lu Yu said, steering the conversation toward a lighter tone. "Believe in us—believe that the vast majority of your fans trust you, because they know better than anyone what kind of person Jiang Yihan is. Actually, your achievements over the past two years have been remarkable. Have you kept track?"

"I know a little, but not in detail. My manager, Li Ran, handles all of that, so I’m not really sure," he said, relaxing his tone.

"Let’s look at the numbers: your first album sold 300,000 copies in Korea, ranking second; the second album sold 600,000 in Korea and 2 million across Asia. Your film broke the all-time Korean box office record and earned over $200 million in Asia. By these numbers alone, you are the most famous Asian artist of the last two years. How do you feel about that?" Lu Yu reeled off a list of staggering figures. Even though the audience knew he was popular, they were shocked by the scale of his success, especially considering he hadn't even promoted abroad.

"I can only say it’s a result of both luck and hard work," Jiang Yihan said, surprised by the numbers but composed. "The albums and the film complemented each other. I never expected such results. The film was almost never made, but after it was released, it received so much love—it was truly a surprise. I have to thank everyone for their support."

"Jiang Yihan is truly humble," Lu Yu said, pausing for a moment before asking, "I see in your profile that you are friends with Asian stars like Jang Dong-gun and Lee Hyori. Are there other friends in the Korean industry you are close to?"

"Jang-ge and Hyori-nuna are seniors who have taken great care of me. I remember when I first debuted, Hyori-nuna guided me on stage techniques, and Jang-ge helped me land commercial deals. I was truly flattered by their kindness and the opportunities they gave me. Also, Kang Ho-dong-hyung—he helped me a lot when I first appeared on variety shows. Without him, I wouldn't have had such high recognition in Korea." Jiang Yihan was genuinely grateful for those who had helped him. "As for friends, it’s difficult to make friends while working so hard. I don't have many—just the ones everyone knows, like Kim Jae-joong of TVXQ and Han Geng of Super Junior."

"Is Han Geng the other Chinese artist who debuted in Korea?" Lu Yu asked, clearly having done her research.

"Yes, he debuted in November 2005. He won the Rookie of the Year award at the end of last year and is doing very well. He even collaborated with me on my third Korean album," Jiang Yihan said, eagerly promoting his friend.

"Two Chinese people in a foreign land—you must have had a lot to talk about," Lu Yu said with a smile.

"Actually, he had it much harder than I did. As I mentioned, I was lucky and my debut went smoothly; he faced more obstacles. But it’s all in the past now, and he’s developing very well. I’m sincerely happy for him," Jiang Yihan said. "However, there is a special group in Korea—anti-fans. I faced them before, and now Han Geng is facing the same issue. I just hope these people will stop. After all, we all work hard and struggle just to stand on that stage. Please give us more support."

"It has been a pleasure talking to Jiang Yihan today. He is a very hardworking and sincere young man. I hope everyone will continue to stand by him in the future. To close, let’s have Jiang Yihan perform his classic hit, 'Can I Love You?'" Lu Yu concluded, though she seemed reluctant to let the interview end.

The program concluded with the crisp sound of Jiang Yihan’s guitar, the beautiful melody, and his sweet singing.