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

Chapter 105 Clarifying the Rumors

The banquet hall of the Peninsula Hotel was packed with people, and the flashes of light from the cameras were so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Today is the day Zhonghua Records is holding a press conference, and the news has almost alarmed all the media in Hong Kong.

The tabloid reporters who spread rumors arrived, the reporters from major newspapers who wanted to dig up exclusive scoops arrived, and even reporters who usually only focused on financial news were on the move – after all, this was not just about singers and records, but also a game between Zhonghua Group and several record companies.

In the center of the banquet hall, a red carpet was laid out on the stage, and a long table was set up with a microphone on it. Lin Zhou, dressed in a sharp suit, sat in the center, his face stern.

To his left was Zhao Yazhi, whose makeup was exquisite but could not hide her haggard appearance. She was wearing an elegant white suit, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her fingertips slightly white.

To my right is an elite lawyer from Zhonghua's legal department, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a serious expression and a thick stack of documents in front of him.

The reporters in the audience could no longer contain themselves, and a buzzing sound of whispers filled the air.

"I heard Lin Zhou is going to produce evidence, is that true or not?"

"Zhao Yazhi looks quite pitiful today; maybe those rumors are just false?"

"Shh, don't talk nonsense, or those tabloid reporters will target you and spread rumors about you!"

At 10:00 a.m. sharp, Lin Zhou raised his hand and gently tapped the table.

Instantly, the banquet hall fell silent, and all eyes were on him.

"Thank you to all the media friends for taking time out of your busy schedules to come." Lin Zhou's voice clearly carried through the microphone to every corner. "The purpose of holding this press conference today is only one—to clarify all the recent rumors about Ms. Zhao Yazhi."

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound of notebooks being flipped through immediately rose from the audience, and the flashes of cameras began to go off wildly again.

"First, regarding the rumor that 'Ms. Zhao Yazhi rose to fame through underhanded means and obtained the rights to 'A Thousand Songs',' Lin Zhou's gaze swept across the audience, his eyes sharp as knives. 'I can tell you all clearly that this is utter slander!'"

He gestured to his lawyer, who immediately stood up and projected a document onto the screen behind him.

On the screen, the scoring rules for the new talent assessment of Zhonghua Records, the daily training records of the seven new talents, and the judges' scoring sheet on the day of the assessment were clearly displayed.

Zhao Yazhi's name ranked highly in every category, especially in singing and physical performance, where she received full marks.

"These are all the original materials from Zhonghua Records' new talent audition," the lawyer said in a steady and powerful voice. "The entire audition process was recorded on video. As for the judges, they were three authoritative figures from the vocal and physical performance fields, hired by Zhonghua Records at high salaries. Mr. Lin Zhou did not participate in the scoring."

Moreover, when they signed the contract, it was already stated that whichever lady completed the training first and passed the assessment with a high score would be given a record to sing.

Ms. Zhao Yazhi was able to secure the role in "A Thousand Songs" through her tireless efforts and impeccable performance in the audition, and it had nothing to do with any improper relationship.

The audience erupted in uproar.

The tabloid reporters' expressions instantly turned somewhat unpleasant.

Lin Zhou didn't give them a chance to catch their breath, continuing, "Secondly, the rumors about 'Ms. Zhao Yazhi having a background in nightclubs and a chaotic private life' are utter nonsense!"

He gestured to the lawyer again, and the image on the screen changed, showing Zhao Yazhi's resume.

It clearly states that Zhao Yazhi graduated from Hong Kong Women's Vocational School (I don't know if this is true, so I can only make it up). After graduation, she never had any experience singing in nightclubs. She only received singing training for the first time after signing with Zhonghua Records.

"This resume has been notarized and is authentic and valid," the lawyer added. "We have found that the person who initially spread this rumor was instructed by a senior executive of a record company to fabricate facts in nightclubs and dance halls. We already have relevant audio evidence."

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

The reporters raised their hands like madmen, almost shoving the microphones to Lin Zhou's mouth.

"Mr. Lin! Is the record company executive you mentioned Zhou Qiyuan of Universal Music Hong Kong?"

"Ms. Zhao! What do you have to say about these rumors?"

"Mr. Lin! Will you pursue legal action against those who spread rumors?"

Lin Zhou raised his hand, silencing the crowd, and fixed his gaze on the reporter who was pressing Zhou Qiyuan for answers. His tone was icy: "I won't name names, but I want to say that competition in the business world should be fair and square. Using despicable tactics like spreading rumors to suppress competitors is simply contemptible!"

He paused, then turned to look at Zhao Yazhi beside him, his gaze softening instantly. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder, as if to give her strength.

Zhao Yazhi took a deep breath, stood up, and took the microphone.

Her voice trembled slightly, but was unusually firm: "I know that many people have been talking about me and questioning me during this time."

I want to say that I, Zhao Yazhi, have always acted uprightly and honestly, and have never done anything wrong. "A Thousand Songs" is an achievement I earned through hard work, and I cherish this opportunity. I will repay those who support me with even better works.

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, but she stubbornly refused to shed a tear.

Someone in the audience started clapping, and then thunderous applause followed, lasting for a long time.

The reporters who had originally come to watch the spectacle now looked at Zhao Yazhi on stage with eyes full of sympathy and admiration.

Lin Zhou watched this scene, a faint smile playing on his lips. He knew the rumors had already been debunked.

After the press conference, Lin Zhou led Zhao Yazhi out of the banquet hall. Sunlight streamed through the glass doors, falling on the two of them and dispelling the gloom of the past few days.

"Mr. Lin, thank you." Zhao Yazhi stopped and looked at Lin Zhou, her voice choked with emotion.

"You're welcome." Lin Zhou smiled. "This is what you deserve. The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty."

Just then, a reporter caught up with them, holding a recording pen: "Mr. Lin! Will you be taking legal action next?"

Lin Zhou turned around, his eyes resolute: "Yes. We have officially filed a lawsuit in court to hold those who fabricated and spread rumors legally accountable. I want everyone to know that Zhonghua Records will not allow others to smear it!"

The reporters' flashbulbs went off again.

Sure enough, the next day, when Zhou Qiyuan was at home looking at the photos of the press conference in the newspaper, he was so angry that he smashed the teacup in his hand on the ground.

With a "bang," the teacup shattered, and tea spilled all over the floor.

Zhou Qiyuan hated Lin Zhou with a vengeance. He never expected that he would be exposed. It seemed that he should deal with the mess he had made as soon as possible to avoid being punished by the company.