Chapter Twenty-Two: I’ve Been Thinking About You for Quite Some Time

Several days passed before the uproar between Ren Qian and the King of Pop gradually subsided, though the commotion had merely set the stage for an even greater drama yet to unfold.

What everyone awaited with bated breath was this: Ren Qian, the music scene’s latest sensation, had sparked a wave of resonance among millions with his unconventional Cantonese song “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies.” With “Guardian of Flowers” and “Lingering Regret,” he had amassed two million fans on Weibo, seemingly rising out of nowhere. But could this newcomer, in two years’ time, shatter all records with unprecedented album sales?

Some believed in his potential, but mainstream media, ever skeptical, scoffed at such a notion.

Special Seek Entertainment declared:

“In this era of severely depressed album sales, even dreaming of five million in sales would be a daunting challenge for the newcomer Ren Qian.

The reasons are as follows: Firstly, going viral on Weibo does not equate to true fame. Weibo reflects only a fragment of public awareness. Ren Qian seems to believe that having two million followers is extraordinary, and in his inflated self-assurance, he dares to challenge a well-established superstar.

But let’s be clear: a million followers is hardly grounds for a rookie’s arrogance. Our data shows that nearly three thousand Weibo tycoons boast over a million followers. There are hundreds with tens of millions, and the divas Li Feifei and Ning Yilian each have forty million. Secondly, the quality of Ren Qian’s music is mediocre at best. The much-hyped 'Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies' features lyrics no better than a high schooler’s—banal lines, devoid of any classical charm, as unpalatable as chaff. The later hits, 'Guardian of Flowers' and 'Lingering Regret,' are equally lacking in taste, offering nothing remarkable. Such songs may momentarily attract attention, but cannot withstand the test of time. To imagine surpassing the legend of Wan Feng’s sales with such material is nothing more than the daydreams of an arrogant upstart.

Finally, throughout this entire affair, Ren Qian has shown not a shred of respect for his elder, Wan Feng, which speaks volumes of his character. One’s conduct reflects one’s art; someone who cannot grasp the basic courtesies of life is bound to disappoint fans, and disappointed fans will not buy his albums. So, I dare say, two years from now, his album’s sales are not worth praising. I confidently predict he won’t even break five million!”

This was, in truth, a smear piece, its sole purpose to damage Ren Qian’s reputation.

Such articles were everywhere, produced by the likes of Special Seek Entertainment, Waveform Entertainment, and myriad others. Clearly, Wan Feng had mobilized considerable resources. With so many media outlets echoing the same slander, the impact on Ren Qian’s public image was anything but minor. Left unchecked, this campaign of defamation would surely destroy him.

Fortunately, Ren Qian was not fighting alone; at least online, he had a devoted group of diehard fans rallying behind him. Some fringe media, eager for attention, deliberately spread contrarian views, which, in their way, helped vindicate Ren Qian. Though such efforts seemed a drop in the ocean, they at least sowed seeds of doubt among the public.

Those who followed entertainment gossip often had time on their hands—time to dig online for the full story.

Most surprising of all, a few media outlets actually published positive commentary about Ren Qian. For instance, Infinity Entertainment wrote:

“If there’s been a ripple in the stagnant waters of the music world recently, it is without a doubt the result of new releases from the divas Li Feifei and Ning Yilian. Their bold experimentation in these songs has broken years of deadlock in the industry, ushering in a breath of spring at a time when affected, archaic lyrics have grown ever more tedious.

Listening to these divas, one finds none of the dry, mechanical stacking of words—only a natural simplicity, yet imbued with a unique beauty. We’ve reviewed this at length in previous columns, so we’ll not repeat ourselves. We uphold the belief that life itself is art. When ancient-style songs first appeared, they bore a refined elegance, but now they grow increasingly flavorless, ever more estranged from real life.

These divas have set an example, and anyone who truly loves music can draw inspiration from them. As for Ren Qian, whose three songs have taken Weibo by storm, their popularity arises precisely because they resonate with real life. 'Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies' gives voice to the hardships and dreams of millions, recounting life’s trials—sorrowful and pessimistic, yet not without inspiration. This singer has truly grasped the essence of life as art...”

Such positive reviews were not rare. Though Infinity Entertainment had existed only two years, its candor and independence set it apart from other entertainment media, earning it real influence. Its praise was a boon for Ren Qian.

Ren Qian could only offer a wry smile—this was the downside of not signing with an entertainment company, especially as a fresh-faced rookie. With no resources at his disposal, all he could do was rely on himself, unable to influence what the media chose to say about him, left to watch from the sidelines like an outsider.

But now, with things as they were, no company would sign him anyway—the burden of public opinion was too great. Entertainment companies were not fools; it simply wasn’t worth risking so much for an audacious newcomer.

“So in these two years, I must build a comprehensive network within the entertainment industry. When the time comes to launch my album, I’ll need powerful publicity—ideally, support from top-tier stars, even film legends, godlike producers, television executives, renowned hosts, divas… If I can secure such backing, coupled with a high-quality album and a viral reputation, only then might I surpass the so-called legend of the King of Pop’s sales,” Ren Qian thought to himself.

Clearly, achieving all this would not be easy.

Why would these big names promote you for free? Is it because you’re impossibly handsome? Hardly—unless you have close personal ties, or have helped them in the past, only then might they return the favor.

“The road ahead is long and winding; I’ll take it one step at a time,” Ren Qian mused.

...

“Ta-da! I’ve been waiting here for ages, and finally, you’re here!”

On his way to meet the nurse for lunch, Ren Qian was suddenly confronted by a plump figure—a girl, no less—who blocked his path, her laughter booming as she spread her arms wide.

People often say, the girl who smiles is the most beautiful. So she greeted the idol she’d dreamed of day and night with a lovestruck grin, determined at last to fulfill her wish of giving him flowers—a wish she’d resolved to act on at the New Year’s gala.

She’d planned to rush the stage with flowers during the first song, but “Farewell to Ideals” left her sobbing uncontrollably, tears blurring her vision and, she feared, ruining her beauty. She decided to wait for the second song. But “Guardian of Flowers” was so exhilarating it had her quaking, drenched in sweat, too exhausted to move. Twice delayed, she resolved to seize the last chance during “Lingering Regret”—only to find it even more heart-wrenching, and again, she missed her moment.

Ren Qian stared at the girl, rooted in the middle of the road like a living barricade, and could only sigh inwardly.

He’d seen this girl before—no, this plump one, he’d seen her before!

Why did such a romantic moment feel so comical now? Never mind—what mattered most was lunch with the nurse.

Left, right, up, down, left, right, up, down...

Though the girl was not exactly agile, her size made her formidable; no matter how Ren Qian tried to slip past, she blocked him with ease.

Now, beaming with pride, she announced in a loud, sweet voice, “Qian, I’ve had my eye on you for ages! From today on, I’m going to pursue you—until you’re nestled in my arms like a little bird...”