Chapter 358: Treating Moon Cat Fans Like Japanese People?
Baijing International Concert Hall.
In the morning, the main entrance is bustling with crowds.
Audiences lined up in an orderly fashion to enter, along with media reporters and various individuals participating in the learning process.
The atmosphere is lively.
“Welcome everyone to the second stage of the 2025 Dragon Zither Cup—the semifinals!”
As soon as the live broadcast starts, the two commentators are already rushing into position. The camera splits between the entrance of the concert hall and the pair at the commentary box.
“Hello everyone, we are the familiar ‘Double Leaf Duo’! I’m Zhu Ye.”
“And I’m Feng Ye.”
“Today, we’ll be your commentators for this semifinals!”
The screen shifts.
It cuts to the backstage entrance of the concert hall.
This is where the contestants enter.
At this moment, one after another, contestants have started to arrive, carrying their cellos and walking inside.
“Whoa! Brother Ze is here!”
Soon a keen-eyed viewer watching the live stream spots Bai Junze.
He stands out—among all the contestants, he’s the only one not wearing a suit or a formal dress.
Wait—actually he is!
If you count that floral shirt and the casually tied black tie, combined with that flowing black coat covering his entire body, as a suit.
Walking through the crowd, Bai Junze is so eye-catching that he’s hard to miss.
During the preliminaries, this outfit had even drawn laughs from the audience.
But with his electrifying performance of “Blue Bohemian Rhapsody” on stage, he completely conquered everyone!
Weird outfit aside, it’s starting to look better and better!
In everyone’s eyes, he seems to have transcended into a realm of artistic greatness!
“Brother Ze’s fashion is still as rebellious as ever!”
“Hahaha, did you see? He added another bath ticket on his cello case!”
“This is Brother Ze—just casually entering a competition, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
“Honestly, I’m not interested in the classic versus pop music showdown; I just want to see Brother Ze welding on stage! Melt those wannabe protégé players!”
“Go, Ze, blast them away!”
Next comes the next contestant before the camera.
Then a woman draped in a black fitted evening dress with a mink stole appears.
“Teacher Bai Xi!”
Viewers in the comments immediately call out her name.
With an exquisitely done makeup and a dignified demeanor, every step she takes radiates the charm of a mature woman.
She’s just entering, yet she struts down like she’s on a runway, and among all the players, she’s the one with the ultimate model vibe!
“So hot! Love Teacher Bai!”
“Every time I watch Sister Bai Xi perform, it feels like I’m watching a beautiful dance!”
“She’s really beautiful and incredible! Although she’s not as famous as Gan Yan Yu, I believe Bai Xi’s skills are even better!”
“Honestly, she’s the only one whose performance can make me think of play scenes; I just feel she must handle her bow in various ways off stage!”
As soon as this comment pops up, it gets instantly blocked by the system.
The next second, that user is kicked out of the live stream.
“You can tell the audience’s mood is really high today!” Zhu Ye says with a smile.
The event hasn’t even started, and just watching the contestants come in has already heated up the live stream.
“Of course! Today is a crucial match for advancing to the finals, eliminating from 50 to just 11 contestants!”
Feng Ye uses this moment to educate the viewers, saying,
“Historically, those who make it to the finals are indeed the elite from the classical cello scene in Tianchao and are listed in the official TOP 10!”
“Yes, this is something every player should be proud of.”
Hearing these words, many audience members gasp and reflect.
After all, this is the final showdown of the Dragon Zither Cup!
Getting into the finals means ranking within the top ten nationally!
Even if they don’t end up with first, second, or third place, just making it to the finals is an utter honor for a cellist!
Many newbies who just recently stumbled into the music competition scene may not grasp this concept of “national top ten.”
However, they at least know that this year’s popular player, Bai Xi, seems to have been eliminated in the preliminaries last time.
She’s that strong!
Even a player like Bai Xi couldn’t touch the final last time two years ago.
You can just imagine how terrifying this “national TOP 10” must be.
“Additionally, there’s something else I want to clarify,” Zhu Ye continues.
“In the semifinals of the Dragon Zither Cup, concerning the advancement list, every judge will be extra cautious in scoring.”
Extra cautious in scoring?
Many viewers find this comment amusing.
Isn’t that just a given?
Wouldn’t judges naturally be careful while judging?
“Precisely because of this caution, the judges’ perspectives may not align perfectly with the audience’s views—like some performances that seem particularly good to us viewers may not be rated as highly by our esteemed judges,” Zhu Ye explains.
“Yes, in last year’s competition, there was indeed an incident where a contestant’s fan caused quite a ruckus at the concert hall entrance because they were unhappy with the judges’ scores!” Feng Ye chuckles.
“Oh yes, that one truly left an impression!”
Zhu Ye reminisces, “After all, the one eliminated was a very famous contestant back then! It’s only natural for fans to be upset.”
“It’s understandable that fans can’t accept their idol being eliminated!” Feng Ye smiles at the camera and says,
“Music is a subjective thing; you can’t lash out just because someone disagrees with you. Our judges represent the current highest standards in the music industry, with far more professional perspectives to judge what constitutes a good performance. I trust our judges respect all contestants in the Dragon Zither Cup.”
As Zhu Ye and Feng Ye share laughs and anecdotes, the viewers become increasingly uneasy.
Suddenly, they’re talking about scoring and the irrational behaviors of fans.
Why does it feel…
Like they’re hinting at someone?
Among those sensitive viewers, some immediately sense the underlying tone.
“Whoa, are you trying to suggest that Brother Moon and Cat-chan are this year’s targets?!”
What “popular contestants”?
“Unreasonable fans”?
Who are they referring to?
Who doesn’t know—
In this Dragon Zither Cup arena, which contestant is most likely to showcase the “discrepancy between judges’ and audience’s perspectives”?
Wouldn’t that be Gan Yan Yu?
With the buzz around classical vs. pop music recently, many viewers joined in to munch on the drama.
It couldn’t be avoided.
A lot of viewers became aware, through various discussions, of how the music competition system tends to favor pop over classical.
Goodness!
After all that,
The two commentators have seemed to be setting up a trap for today’s competition!
Doesn’t that mean, there’s a good chance that today’s match would have Moonlight and Cat’s classical music being maliciously scored low?
Are they just putting up defensive measures in advance, treating Moon Cat fans like Japanese people?
The anger of the Moon Cat fans surged.
Some more agitated viewers took to the comments:
“Laughing to d*ath, they aren’t even pretending anymore!”
“What is this “more professional” perspective? Sounds like they’ve prepped an excuse!”
“Just say you’re targeting Moonlight and Cat! No need for all this circumlocution.”
“Exactly! Music is so subjective—do I think the judges are subpar? What’s wrong with that?”
As these comments flooded in.
Soon, another wave of supporters joined the fray.
“Huh? Did they just mention Moonlight and Cat? Is a certain fandom that sensitive?”
“Laughing to d*ath, I thought they meant our Mao Wei Ang!”
“Here comes the paranoia; the competition hasn’t even started yet, and they’re already imagining themselves getting low scores from the judges!”
“Hahaha, when they get eliminated, they’ll have a ready excuse—just claim they were targeted!”
With these comments flying, more Moon Cat fans, originally quiet, also got fired up.
All sides quickly jumped into battle, fingers dancing on the keyboards.
“d*mn! Are you saying such nonsense while wide awake?! Who doesn’t know classical music is a weaker piece in the Dragon Zither Cup?!”
“You guys performing pop music can even call that music? Everyone knows this year’s version favors pop music! Just engage with that!”
“Seriously, stop playing around! Screaming about how the strong version’s unfair!”
A torrent of profanity and terrible descriptions floated through the comment section.
The live stream quickly turned into chaos!
With the environment turning so terrifying, Zhu Ye and Feng Ye were at a loss.
No way!
The competition hasn’t even started yet!
They’re still just showing footage of the contestants entering.
And the battle has begun already?!
Long before today’s broadcast, both had anticipated that their commentary would be an arduous task.
Who doesn’t know,
The disputes surrounding Moonlight and Cat with Mao Wei Ang have already raged on Weibo for half a month!
Half a month!
Countless pop artists took the stage and heavyweight predecessors voiced their opinions, engaging in online warfare.
It’s a matter of saying the wrong word, and they could get obliterated without any remnants left!
In such a critical moment.
Zhu Ye and Feng Ye felt explosive pressure.
If they say anything wrong, accidentally utter something they shouldn’t,
They’d find themselves facing a storm of net backlash!
At that point, losing their jobs would be the least of their worries; the terrifying public backlash could even drive someone to madness!
Subsequently, they decided to discuss the disconnect between judges’ and audience perspectives beforehand to build some buffer!
After all, anyone with a bit of insight into today’s situation knows.
In this semifinals, Moonlight and Cat are definitely not advancing!
When that time comes, the very first to face wrath would be these two responsible for commentary.
No matter how you said it, it’s going to be hard to explain.
Say the judges have issues? You’re asking to be done with commentary.
Say Moonlight and Cat are just not good enough? You’re ready to get canceled.
Building armor in advance allows them some leeway later.
You can imagine the terrifying pressure they felt.
With such thoughts, Zhu Ye and Feng Ye kicked off today’s commentary.
However, despite feeling fully prepared.
It clearly wasn’t enough!
Just ten minutes into the broadcast.
The live stream’s tempo started to spiral out of control!
“Oh, here come Moonlight and Cat-chan!”
Just then, Feng Ye takes the initiative to speak up.
The viewers’ attention successfully shifts.
On screen,
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu walk into the venue, cello on their backs.
While Feng Ye is speaking, he himself is momentarily taken aback.
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu seem much more relaxed than he expected?!
Gan Yan Yu, in a revealing white gown, walks elegantly while Lin Tian carefully watches the ground.
They’re chatting and laughing as they proceed inside.
Such a relaxed demeanor,
Not many of the contestants who entered earlier showed this; most had grave looks, some were just stone-faced.
But the ones who should be most stressed, Moonlight and Cat, are instead so at ease?
Feng Ye internally marvels, feeling deeply impressed.
Perhaps, this is the tranquility of the Gods of Classical Music!
“My goodness, Cat-chan looks so beautiful today!”
“No wonder she’s the most beautiful cellist at the Dragon Zither Cup.”
“Leave no regrets! Brother Moon, Cat-chan! Regardless of the outcome, we’ll always support you!”
“Go for it! Even if you lose, it doesn’t matter, you both are already amazing!”
Similarly touched by Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s relaxed demeanor are many viewers.
Before the competition, many fans newly awakened to the scoring system were truly worried sick.
Just thinking about how these two were likely to be stopped here made them quite sad.
Some even said they wouldn’t watch this match and would just wait for the replay.
They simply didn’t want to witness that moment with their own eyes.
However,
Seeing the present state of the two, many began to feel freed.
Perhaps they had long since made peace with it!
Not caring about winning or losing, just wanting to present this final stage.
Since Moonlight and Cat are already prepared for what lies ahead,
As fans, all they could do was to wish them well.
With the appearance of Moonlight and Cat, the comment section became flooded with blessings.
The hostility in the live stream diminished significantly.
Zhu Ye and Feng Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Indeed,
The influence of idols on fans is not to be taken lightly.
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s calm, non-competitive demeanor.
Even brings their fans’ hearts to settle down.
Thinking about this,
Feng Ye feels a surge of admiration.
As a music fan, he truly understands why these two are the top flows of today’s music scene.
Only such individuals can truly be called idols!
The last contestant to enter is Mao Wei Ang.
He arrives in style, stepping out of a luxurious black sports car.
When he gets out, he’s flanked by bodyguards for protection.
As Mao Wei Ang walks into the scene, the live stream comments reach a new high.
Even some of the onsite staff get excited.
Even,
As soon as Mao Wei Ang enters the venue, he is intercepted by reporters from the organizing committee requesting an interview.
An interview?!
Feng Ye feels puzzled because even as a commentator, he’s unaware of such an arrangement.
“Wait, there’s this segment today?”
At this moment, Zhu Ye grins and responds,
“Did you not hear? Just last week, Teacher Mao’s latest song exploded! It’s called ‘g*n Out Like a Dragon’ written for King Chen.”
“‘g*n Out Like a Dragon’?”
Upon hearing the title, Feng Ye suddenly feels it sounds familiar, as if it has been popping up in his line of sight frequently during this time.
“You can say it swept the Chinese music scene; it’s incredibly popular—its streaming numbers are skyrocketing across major platforms, even my six-year-old kid sings along with it!” Zhu Ye laughs.
“I’m sure many viewers in the live stream have heard of this song too.”
Quickly, comments flood in saying, “Yeah,” “Exactly,” “Teacher Mao is amazing!”
Zhu Ye continues, “It’s said that this time, Teacher Mao will perform this piece in the competition, so stay tuned!”
Feng Ye is totally stunned.
A brand-new smash hit to be performed at the Dragon Zither Cup?
(This chapter ends)
