Chapter 137: A Record-Breaking Book Signing

Story Setting: March 2007
Recommended Song: Big Bang — "Hogee"
Disclaimer: This work is purely fictional. Please do not project it onto real-life figures. Any similarities are purely coincidental.

The massive success of the concert left everyone at the celebratory banquet a bit tipsy, with the exceptions of Jiang Yihan and Li Ran. They couldn't afford any slip-ups, as there was an autograph session scheduled for the next day.

At six o'clock on the morning of the autograph session, Li Ran had to carry a groggy Jiang Yihan to get his makeup done. There was no choice; the event was set to start at eight, and as soon as the record store opened, the signing would begin. If they didn't prepare early, they would be late.

"Why did you have to schedule it so early today?" Jiang Yihan asked, his eyes still heavy with sleep, though his consciousness was beginning to clear.

"Don't you remember the last time in Korea? We didn't have enough time, and we ended up having to schedule an extra session." Li Ran flipped through the itinerary for the next few days. It wasn't too packed; he mainly wanted to keep the schedule light so he could meet with some Japanese advertisers, giving Jiang Yihan a chance to relax.

"But this is Japan. Will as many people show up as in Korea?" Jiang Yihan looked doubtful.

"Don't worry. Believe in yourself, and believe in me. Just prepare to spend the whole day signing," Li Ran said, secretly making a face at Jiang Yihan. The other staff members didn't notice, but Jiang Yihan was already used to it.

Upon arriving at the venue, Jiang Yihan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor and looked out. Three long lines stretched down the street, disappearing into the distance. The people in the first few dozen rows were packing up their blankets—it was clear they had spent the entire night there.

Now, these fans at the front were busy primping, re-tying their hair and applying makeup. Everyone was striving to present their best side, hoping to leave a lasting impression on Jiang Yihan.

Watching this scene, Jiang Yihan felt as if he were in another life. He had held an autograph session during his first album, and many people had come then, too. Perhaps the scene before he appeared that day had been just like this. Everything that happened back then played out in his mind, clear yet blurred.

As he thought about it, Jiang Yihan smiled. How had he been in the entertainment industry for only two years, yet it felt like he had been here for ages? Now, whenever he experienced something new, he loved to reminisce. Had he grown old? He chuckled to himself.

As time drew near, it was almost time for Jiang Yihan to make his appearance. Even from the second floor, one could feel the excitement of the fans.

"Is my popularity in Japan really this high? I think this is my first time here," Jiang Yihan voiced his confusion.

"It is. Why wouldn't it be?" Li Ran walked over with a cup of coffee and handed it to him. "Actually, there are many reasons for your popularity in Japan—luck, coincidence, and talent all play a part."

With Li Ran’s explanation, Jiang Yihan realized that the turnout was indeed the result of many factors.

First, Japanese musical style is quite different from Korea’s. While they share commonalities, Japanese music leans more towards a flashy, Westernized style. In pop music alone, Japan has J-pop, while Korea has K-pop. This difference makes it difficult for Korean singers to succeed in Japan. Artists like TVXQ and BoA succeeded mainly because their music was produced in Japan, using a Japanese style to break into the market, and they were packaged specifically for Japanese audiences. Success there depends heavily on corporate planning.

However, Japan has never been exclusionary toward foreign music; it just varies in the degree of acceptance, which worked in Jiang Yihan's favor.

Most importantly, the Japanese market is most receptive to foreign stars through television and film. Bae Yong-joon is a classic example. Jiang Yihan had gained a foothold in Japan without any promotion or album releases, relying solely on the film *Can I Love You?*

When the film was released in Japan last year, it had already achieved brilliant results in China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. At first, curiosity drew people into the theaters, but the subsequent wave of rave reviews kept them coming. Japan has never lacked a market for pure romance films—Iwai Shunji’s *Love Letter* was an unprecedented success. Now, *Can I Love You?* had captured the hearts of Japanese film fans with its similarly fresh style, elegant visuals, vivid acting, and two handsome young leads.

At the time, TVXQ had just begun their promotions in Japan, and Kim Jae-joong, as one of the leads, naturally received significant attention. That was when the Japanese market realized that the other lead, Jiang Yihan, was also an outstanding singer. Starting with the film's theme song, a "Jiang Yihan" craze began to sweep across Japan.

Jiang Yihan's music has some Korean influence, but it is subtle; it leans more toward a gentle Chinese style mixed with Western jazz-pop. This style was highly welcomed in Japan.

From the film to his music and Jiang Yihan himself, Japan had largely embraced this young man. If his popularity was only at an "A-list" level before, the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor award provided a massive boost. When his third album, *Rainbow*, was released, its trendy hip-hop sound immediately caught everyone’s attention. Those who already had a good impression of him now completely fell for the boy who excelled in both music and acting.

Now, thanks to his film, his music, and the air of mystery he maintained, Jiang Yihan's popularity in Japan had reached the top tier. This could be seen in the Oricon chart sales and the fans' excitement over the past two days. Li Ran had chosen to come to Japan to stabilize this popularity and, hopefully, elevate it even further.

Watching the crowds gathering outside, Li Ran was confident that Jiang Yihan’s charm was universal, even in Japan.

"Let's go, it's time!" Li Ran led Jiang Yihan down the stairs.

When Jiang Yihan appeared, the entire venue erupted in excitement—screaming, jumping, and surging forward—a testament to his genuine popularity.

"Hello everyone, I am Jiang Yihan." He greeted them with a beaming smile, receiving an endless wave of cheers in return.

After a brief interview, due to the language barrier, Jiang Yihan didn't say much and immediately performed "Rainbow." The fast-paced hip-hop track was very popular in Japan. Everyone sang and danced along, and the venue became an ocean of excitement.

As the song ended, according to the plan, Jiang Yihan was supposed to sit down and begin the signing session. However, the interpreter told him there was a special guest.

"That wasn't in the schedule," Jiang Yihan said, looking at Li Ran backstage. After Li Ran spoke with the interpreter and relayed the message, Jiang Yihan was stunned. The guest had come on her own because she was a fan of his music and admired him.

"Who is it? A Japanese artist who likes my music?" Jiang Yihan was surprised.

When the host invited the guest onto the stage, the shock was even greater: it was Hikaru Utada. Hikaru Utada! The Japanese diva, the talented songstress who had become a sensation across Asia with "First Love," the theme song for *Witch's Conditions*. It was really her.

When she stepped out, the venue exploded into a second storm of cheers, no less intense than the welcome for Jiang Yihan.

Jiang Yihan was so surprised he didn't know what to say—not that he could have said much anyway, given his lack of Japanese.

Hikaru Utada was not very tall, and her smile was very warm. She wore casual clothes today. As soon as she got on stage, she gave a ninety-degree bow, shook hands with Jiang Yihan, and said in Chinese with a bright smile, "Hello, I really like you."

Although the pronunciation was a bit awkward, Jiang Yihan understood clearly. He hurriedly bowed and thanked her.

*My God, is this real? Was this not arranged by the company?*

Through the host's interview and the interpreter's explanation, Jiang Yihan learned that Utada really did love his music. When she watched *Can I Love You?*, she loved the theme song and became curious about the singer and the composer. She even asked her manager to look into it, only to discover that the singer, lyricist, and composer were all the same person: Jiang Yihan. Out of curiosity, she listened to all of his songs and began to fall for the young Chinese artist.

When his third album was released in Japan, the song "Intersleep" completely won her over. She felt she just had to meet him. The song was technically demanding and very difficult to master, and Jiang Yihan’s moving performance made her want to see him in person.

That was how today’s meeting came to be.

After the audience learned the truth, the host asked her for her first impression of Jiang Yihan. Was she disappointed? Was he different from what she imagined?

"Haha, actually, he’s even better than I imagined," Utada said with a laugh. "He’s even more handsome in person than in photos. Especially when he smiles—he has a very special charm."

Hearing this through the interpreter, Jiang Yihan blushed and smiled, which immediately drew cheers from the crowd. Utada added, "See? How could anyone not love someone who looks so handsome and cute when he smiles?"

"Actually, I came today because I wanted to hear Jiang Yihan sing live," Utada said, explaining her main goal. "I really admire his performance of 'Intersleep.' I wondered what it would sound like live."

"Would you two like to try singing it together?" The host’s suggestion was met with wild support from the crowd. Two powerhouse singers performing such a rare, beautiful piece was definitely something to look forward to.

Jiang Yihan smiled and nodded. He had always admired and liked the songs of the Japanese diva, Hikaru Utada, so he was more than happy to sing with her. The only problem was they hadn't rehearsed, and "Intersleep" was notoriously difficult. He felt a bit uncertain.

The song began, and the two displayed a surprising amount of chemistry, trading verses. The first half of the song felt like a confession, their voices blending perfectly to create a unique charm.

When the song reached the chorus, the pitch climbed higher. Utada could feel the strain on her vocal cords; it was a very taxing song.

*I hope you can hold me, hold my frozen heart now. I look from afar and feel that everything cannot stay in my heart. I can no longer live alone. I hope you can hold me, hold my frozen heart now. I am lost in a deep slumber in winter. I cannot find a way out alone. Can you wake me up?*

Jiang Yihan’s voice was well-warmed up, so he handled the transitions in the melody perfectly, adding a hint of raspy, weathered emotion to the higher notes, making the delivery incredibly poignant. Utada also proved her strength; despite her face turning red by the end, she didn't lag behind, her vocal prowess matching Jiang Yihan's.

As the song ended, the venue erupted in thunderous applause.

Utada clapped as well. People were right—hearing Jiang Yihan live was even more infectious than listening to a CD. She hadn't believed it before, but now she knew it was true. Singing with him felt like a duel between martial arts masters; it was exhilarating, and she felt like she hadn't had enough even after finishing.

Jiang Yihan was also clapping, truly admiring Utada’s powerful vocal ability. While the song was challenging for a female vocalist, Utada’s performance was nothing short of brilliant.

After this spectacular vocal showdown, the autograph session officially began.

The long line moved forward. Everyone was still buzzing with excitement after the amazing live show. Not only had they seen Hikaru Utada, but they had also witnessed Jiang Yihan's superb, flawless live performance. The prince-like Jiang Yihan had, as Li Ran anticipated, let everyone experience his lethal charm.

The session progressed slowly. Jiang Yihan signed one after another until his hand grew sore. After signing six or seven hundred copies, it was already afternoon. His hand had gone numb, and his face was aching from smiling for so long.

Li Ran looked at the crowd, which showed no signs of thinning. After consulting with the organizers, he decided that for the remaining four hours, the autograph session would transition into a handshake event. This would speed things up, reduce the burden on Jiang Yihan, and allow more fans to be reached.

Even though some fans were reluctant, the signing was changed to a handshake.

Jiang Yihan shook his swollen right hand and whispered to himself, "Keep going!"

Even with the change to handshakes, the event lasted until eight in the evening. Jiang Yihan hadn't eaten all day; he was long past the point of hunger and was now experiencing the physical toll of exhaustion.

At 8:20 PM, even though there were still fans waiting, the event had to end because Jiang Yihan had reached his physical limit and was starting to feel dizzy.

The day's events set an astonishing record: Jiang Yihan had greeted over 15,000 fans, including signings and handshakes. This record not only proved his incredible popularity but also left his hand completely swollen and his body totally exhausted, requiring Li Ran to carry him back.

Having witnessed this record-breaking event, Jiang Yihan’s popularity in Japan climbed even higher. After all, not everyone could pull off such a stunning performance of "Intersleep," and his princely charm was simply irresistible.

From this day on, Jiang Yihan was also the "Young Master" of the Japanese castle!