Chapter Sixty: Exclusive Interview (1/2)

Ye Zhao took the notice handed to him by Takeda Jun—it was an invitation for an exclusive interview with CDDATA. CDDATA held extraordinary significance on Ye Zhao’s path to fame; not only had the magazine offered him substantial support during his underground days, but when numerous music publications later banded together to attack him, CDDATA did not join the chorus of detractors. Instead, they chose neutrality, and when his new single was released, they provided a well-reasoned analysis of its lead track. At the end of their article, they even wrote, “We have reason to believe he is a true genius,” which stood as the highest praise imaginable.

Though Ye Zhao had never actually interacted with the magazine, their connection was already profound. Knowing this, Takeda Jun refrained from making a hasty decision on whether Ye Zhao should accept the invitation. The notice outlined the potential topics for the interview, focusing primarily on his musical creations and some harmless questions about his interests and hobbies. Additionally, the magazine hoped to take a series of photographs of Ye Zhao. As for the timing of the interview, they respected Ye Zhao’s schedule but hoped it could be completed within the month.

After confirming there were no sensitive subjects involved, Ye Zhao instructed Nanjo Kuan, “Contact CDDATA for me. Tell them I’m willing to accept their exclusive interview. As for the timing, if it’s convenient for them, let’s get it done within the next couple of days.”

“Understood!” Nanjo Kuan turned and made a phone call. Not long after, he returned with an answer, “Ye Zhao-san, the appointment with CDDATA is set for tomorrow at two in the afternoon. Is that alright?”

Ye Zhao gave an OK gesture.

…

At two o’clock in the afternoon, accompanied by Kamimura Yuuki, Ye Zhao arrived at a photography studio located somewhere in Shinjuku Sanchome.

The session began with the photo shoot. The stylist made a final check to ensure Ye Zhao’s hair and makeup were perfect, the wardrobe assistant straightened the collar of his grey casual suit, and all the octagonal lights and reflectors were set in place. Since the main purpose was the interview, they only needed a couple of photos for illustration, so the photographer didn’t ask Ye Zhao to pose dramatically. A few straightforward shots were taken; once confirmed, the photography segment was declared complete.

The interview itself was conducted downstairs in a café. To create a relaxed atmosphere for the exclusive, CDDATA had specially booked the entire venue, which was decorated with a pleasant ambiance.

The interviewer was a woman named Nagano Yoshie. She wore her long hair loose over her shoulders, dressed in a dusty pink motorcycle jacket, and appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

Nagano Yoshie greeted him, “Nice to meet you. I’m Nagano Yoshie, the dedicated reporter from CDDATA who will be conducting your interview today. I look forward to working with you.”

Ye Zhao replied, “The pleasure is mine. I hope you’ll guide me well, Miss Nagano.”

The two settled at a small table by the window. Nagano Yoshie placed a silver pocket recorder on the tabletop. The waitress brought the menu, and Nagano Yoshie asked, “Ye Zhao-san, would you like something to drink?”

“I’ll have a latte,” Ye Zhao said, without opening the menu.

Nagano Yoshie turned to the waiting waitress, “Two lattes, please.”

The waitress withdrew, and soon the sound of the café machine whistling came from the corner of the bar.

…

“Ye Zhao-san, I’ve listened to all your songs. They are truly excellent pieces,” Nagano Yoshie said, sipping her coffee, as if beginning a casual conversation.

“Thank you.”

“As an underground artist, you released the renowned track ‘Summer Colors,’ which has a strong folk flavor. What inspired you to create that song?”

“Well,” Ye Zhao smiled, “the summer back then was unbearably hot. I wanted to make a refreshing summer song, so I even abandoned any unnecessary instrumental arrangements—then came that song.”

“This time, ‘Winter, Again’ takes winter as its theme and is another huge success. It seems you’re very skilled at composing songs related to the seasons. What was the impetus for this piece?”

“At first, I simply wanted to compose something completely different from my previous singles. I love winter, and the release was scheduled for December, so it became a winter song.”

“I see,” Nagano Yoshie nodded. “Speaking of which, creators often mention ‘inspiration.’ Where does your inspiration come from when you write music?”

“From all sorts of places. For example, speaking with you right now, Miss Nagano, I might suddenly be struck by inspiration—or maybe it comes to me in a dream while sleeping. Since it’s ‘inspiration,’ it’s a feeling that can’t really be put into words.”

Since he would need to continually produce various “original works” in the future, it was necessary to provide a plausible explanation for his creative process. Sure enough, after hearing this answer, Nagano Yoshie looked at him with a newfound hint of admiration in her eyes.

…

“After making your mainstream debut, Ye Zhao-san, what do you feel has changed the most?”

“Suddenly having a manager and assistant, perhaps,” Ye Zhao joked. “Just kidding—if I had to say the biggest change, it’s that my horizons have broadened. There are so many outstanding musicians in this circle, and I still have much to learn.”

“Speaking of learning, have you taken up anything new recently?”

“Oh, plenty. Aside from music itself, I’ve recently started attending screenwriting school.”

“Screenwriting school? That’s quite a leap from music—are you planning to cross over into another field?”

“If I say that, once this interview is published, people will surely accuse me of aiming too high and achieving too little,” Ye Zhao laughed. “I really like movies, so I wanted to understand the process of creating a script. If I get the chance, maybe I’ll try this ‘crossover’ you mentioned, Miss Nagano. But for now, just consider me a pure learner.”

…

After covering the music-related questions, Nagano Yoshie asked a few symbolic questions about Ye Zhao’s personal life. For a musician shrouded in mystery like him, the public’s curiosity was intense.

“What kind of person is Ye Zhao-san in private?”

“Terrible temperament. If I don’t get enough sleep in the morning, I get cranky. In short, I’m a pretty self-centered person.”

Nagano Yoshie smiled, “But I haven’t seen any signs of a bad temperament in you, Ye Zhao-san. On the contrary, I find you very gentle. By the way, what do you like to do when you’re resting?”

…

…

The atmosphere of the interview was light and harmonious. Nagano Yoshie wasn’t the type to ask tricky questions, and Ye Zhao wasn’t an artist who gave vague answers. With mutual cooperation, the interview proceeded smoothly. After about forty minutes, Nagano Yoshie switched off the recorder, stood up, and thanked him, “Thank you so much for your cooperation today. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to interview you again in the future.”

She extended her right hand, and Ye Zhao shook it politely, quickly letting go. “Likewise. It’s been a pleasure talking with you, Miss Nagano. If we could chat again like this, it would be wonderful.”