Chapter 155: Is Zhang Dong Sober? (Third Update – Begging for Monthly Tickets)
The firecrackers began when some self-proclaimed objective critics appeared in the comment section.
Indicating, after hearing the duet between Big Brother East and two others, East clearly fell behind in his playing.
Among them, the most intense was a Bilibili user by the name of [@I’m-Dog-Of-CatSauce].
“Before we dive in, let’s get this straight—I come from a music conservatory, my taste in music is superior to the average person. Seeing these streamers gushing about ‘Big Brother East heroically taking the stage,’ it’s cringe to no end.”
Going back to “The Spanish Bullfighting Song,” the first ten bars serve as an introduction. None of the three had any issues with that. However, starting from the eleventh bar where the main melody comes in, Mr. Zhang’s bowing and pitch accuracy clearly weakened. From the twenty-first bar, they needed the slide technique to express sudden emotional changes. Listening solo to the violin sounds fine, but combined with the piano and cello, it’s disastrous! To the other two instruments, he’s like dead weight!
In the climax when all three accelerated, Zhang’s lackluster performance became even more apparent, he’s just barely holding on. Fortunately, the video only played a portion of the climax. You think if they kept recording another few seconds, Zhang would’ve been exposed?
Individually speaking, Zhang’s rendition of “The Spanish Bullfighting Song” is pretty decent; it matches his reputation as “the man who understands Moonlight and Cat.” But compared to the two others, their skills are way too strong.
Let me tell you something harsh—playing a shtty violin that diminishes their performance, you should be grateful not being kicked out already!
“. . .”
As soon as this comment appeared, the comment section exploded.
Zhang’s fans rapidly retaliated at a rate of 10 replies per second.
“You don’t know sht! Violins naturally have less tension than cellos, isn’t weaker momentum expected?”
“What do you know, you mongrel? Why don’t you try yourself!”
“Don’t you know that East is a professional violinist? He’s participated in real competitions twice! How dare you disrespect him!”
“Bllsht! Can you even hear it? East studies Moonlight and Cat music, can you match him?”
The comment section erupted into a massive brawl, arguments raging on.
But with Zhang’s large fanbase, they easily dominated one-sidedly.
Even if people removed the fanboy lens, many still sided with Zhang.
After all, a million-fan violinist on the music platform, calling himself a “former professional violinist,” versus two anonymous nobodies.
Logically, East must’ve done better, right?
To retaliate, countless fans posted ridiculous comments!
“Enough, East’s playing elevates theirs! Those two probably never had an opportunity like East’s performance!”
“If East weren’t so focused on Bilibili friends, wanting to focus more on videos, he wouldn’t have retired. With his skill, he’d already be an international violinist!”
“Ha! If those two amateurs claim they understand Moonlight and Cat better than East, show us their work! Otherwise, I’ll doubt your brain!”
Shut up! Shut up!!!
Zhang Dong wishes he were dead.
He didn’t know he was that impressive.
Being called a “professional violinist” sounds cool, but anyone signed to a music agency can say the same.
It’s like an 18th-tier singer calling themselves a star!
Wouldn’t he have become famous if he truly had the talent?
Fanboys usually boosted his ego, making him even feel smug. But now, seeing these comments attacking him, his face burns red.
He’d already admitted to being evenly matched, how much more can his fans insist that his violin performance crushed the others?
Isn’t this setting him up for failure?
What if those two big shots saw this?
His face would be in ruins.
At least, the two aren’t famous, likely not VIPs.
Even if the video goes viral, it shouldn’t cause major trouble.
But if they were famous musicians or Bilibili influencers with thousands of followers, he would lose it.
“DING!”
At that moment,
Zhang Dong’s phone buzzed.
A notification flashed on the screen:
“[Moonlight and Cat]’s update—Come and see soon~”
“?
New song? He was surprised.
Without being biased by his roles as an up-and-coming musician and violinist, he indeed is a huge fan of Moonlight and Cat. Otherwise, why spend so much time analyzing their music?
After that firestorm, only a new video from Moonlight could bring solace.
He opens the video.
Baseball cap, mask, bookstore entrance…
Haha.
Must’ve tapped his own video accidentally.
Zhang Dong exited, re-entered.
Baseball cap, mask, bookstore entrance…
“F*CK!!!!!!”
A roar reverberated through his bedroom, shaking the entire neighborhood.
The sky has fallen on Zhang Dong.
“No, wait, hold on—”
Glancing at the bottom-right [Bilibili~Moonlight and Cat] watermark.
Zhang Dong tried to calm down and play the video.
A young man and woman sit at the piano, the man playing piano, the woman playing cello. They’re performing their new piece, “One Step Away.”
The video confirmed—there’s no other player involved, no hired collaboration.
It’s them, Moonlight and Cat.
He and Moonlight and Cat, had performed the Spanish Bullfighting Song together.
Then, he turned down Moonlight’s offer to continue and left.
Left.
“Zhang Dong, what the hell are you doing?!”
In a flash, Zhang Dong turned into a frog, hopping onto bed, head slamming the pillow repeatedly.
He refused his idol’s duet invitation, missing the chance almost to get Moonlight’s WeChat.
Now, Zhang Dong curses himself a hundred times a “moron!”
But it gets worse.
Far worse.
Lying on the sofa, freshly showered, Lin Tian
had yet to check the feedback of his new video.
Instead, a shocking one surfaced on Bilibili:
[“Street Run-in with a God! Street Duet of The Spanish Bullfighting Song! Matched equally, so exciting!”]
Ah, this.
So, today’s violinist is actually a Bilibili up, quite popular.
Lin Tian felt intrigued.
After watching the video, pondering, scrolling down, he noticed over ninety-nine comments tagging “@Moonlight and Cat.”
(End of Chapter)
