Cui Zhengzhi's album 'Provocative' has amassed over 40,000 ratings and reviews on WeChat Music. A closer look at the comment section reveals a stark polarization in audience opinions.
More than half of the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, though many are generic comments like "Amazing!" "This album is fantastic!" and "Support Zhengzhi oppa!" The section is flooded with 10/10 ratings, but much of the praise appears repetitive and formulaic.
The sheer uniformity of these reviews gives off an air of artificial hype.
Of course, there are a handful of detailed, well-articulated positive reviews, but compared to the more critical comments, they are noticeably fewer.
The low-score reviews, on the other hand, feel far more candid. Many listeners who purchased the album weren't impressed. The consensus among dissatisfied buyers is that 'Provocative' leans too heavily on Korean-style production, resulting in a predictable and monotonous experience with few standout moments.
Some expressed regret over their purchase, noting that although the album only cost 8 yuan, a single track from 'Provocative' would have sufficed.
Others ridiculed the album, comparing it to the cookie-cutter aesthetic of K-pop, saying the songs were like mass-produced plastic surgery results— identical and indistinguishable. Some tracks, they claimed, were so similar they might as well be twins.
A few even demanded refunds.
By contrast, Lu Chen's album 'My Old Classmate' has received a similar volume of reviews— around 40,000— but the reception has been vastly different.
Over 90% of the comments are positive, and most of them are thoughtful and substantive, rather than the boilerplate praise seen under 'Provocative'.
Listeners each have their own favorites: some love 'My Old Classmate', others adore 'Those Flowers', some praise 'Dust in the Wind', and many have listened to 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky' dozens of times without growing tired of it.
A WeChat Music user with the ID "Morning Star" commented: '"Lu Chen's album takes me back to the golden days of my youth— first love, dorm mates, childhood friends, and the bittersweet nostalgia of a time that will never return."'
'"Even though I've heard most of these songs live before, the full album feels entirely different. The arrangement and instrumentation are so carefully crafted. 8 yuan for this? An absolute steal. I just wish I could get my hands on a physical CD."'
Another user, "World Traveler," wrote: '"I first saw Lu Chen perform on 'Singing China', and a few of his songs really struck a chord with me. The moment I found out he had released an album, I bought it without hesitation. I wasn't disappointed— it's phenomenal."'
'"One thing's for sure: Lu Chen, you're a truly exceptional singer!"'
Many others shared similar sentiments, with some even reminiscing about their own youth. The organic, heartfelt discussions in the comment section stood in sharp contrast to the manufactured enthusiasm surrounding 'Provocative'.
And for one person, that contrast was infuriating.
''Bang!''
An expensive branded mouse slammed into the desk with a loud crash, its plastic casing splitting apart, revealing the shattered circuit board inside. The device was beyond repair.
Hearing the commotion, Cui Xiuyin rushed over, still clutching her phone.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking. Seeing her brother seated in front of his computer, visibly seething, she didn't know what to say.
Originally, she and Cui Zhengzhi were scheduled to leave Huhai for Shacheng today, but the unexpected sales slump had thrown a wrench in their plans. The promotional schedule had to be revised, and the entire team was scrambling to adjust. The situation was a mess.
But given Zhengzhi's foul mood, she didn't dare push him further.
She knew her brother well. He had always enjoyed a smooth career, so when things didn't go his way, his temper flared. Smashing a mouse? That was mild compared to his usual outbursts.
Today was September 11th.
Lu Chen's 'My Old Classmate' had already surpassed 150,000 total sales. It was an undeniable success— on track to hit 'Platinum Record' status.
Meanwhile, 'Provocative' had stalled, barely creeping past 90,000. The gap between them was a crushing reality.
In just three days, Cui Zhengzhi had gone from riding high to crashing down in despair.
And yet, even 90,000 copies sold was an impressive figure.
After a long silence, Zhengzhi finally spoke. "Sis, did the company call again?"
Cui Xiuyin sighed. "Yes. They're furious. They've pulled all remaining promotional efforts for the album and have stopped buying rankings. They're demanding you fly to Shacheng tomorrow. If you don't…"
She hesitated. "Also… Mom and Dad called. They want to know what's going on with you."
For the past two days, Cui Zhengzhi had locked himself in his hotel room, refusing to attend events or answer calls. The company was at its breaking point.
Cui Xiuyin had been covering for him, citing illness, but that excuse wouldn't last much longer.
Zhengzhi shut his laptop and rubbed his face, his voice hoarse. "I get it. We'll leave for Shacheng tomorrow. Rework the schedule for me."
"Got it!" Cui Xiuyin beamed, relieved to see her brother snapping out of his sulk. "This loss doesn't matter. There will be plenty of chances to crush that Lu Chen in the future!"
Cui Zhengzhi nodded, his expression firm.
But his mind was still replaying the scathing reviews of his album—the biting criticism, the relentless praise for Lu Chen. Each word felt like a dagger, stabbing deeper and deeper into his pride.
'Lu Chen…'
He burned that name into his memory, vowing to erase today's humiliation one day.
On September 12th, sales of "My Old Classmate" surpassed 180,000 copies.
By September 13th, it had exceeded 200,000.
On September 15th, it reached 250,000!
In just seven days, the album set a new record for the highest first-week sales on WeChat Music in the past six months, surpassing releases from several top domestic singers. It marked the most impressive sales performance by a newcomer in years.
In contrast, Cui Zhengzhi's "Provocative" was lagging, selling only 110,000 copies in the same period— less than half of Lu Chen's numbers.
At this point, the online accusations that Lu Chen had manipulated the rankings had largely died down.
The reason was simple: everyone knew Lu Chen was an independent artist with no major entertainment company backing him. Buying 20,000 to 30,000 fake sales might be possible, but reaching these figures was a different story entirely.
Online album sales differ from physical copies; the first week often accounts for around 50% of total sales. With a first-week figure of 250,000, "My Old Classmate" was on track to surpass 500,000 copies overall.
500,000 copies meant Platinum certification and a revenue of 4 million yuan!
With a 50% profit share after deducting 10% tax, Lu Chen stood to earn a staggering 1.6 million yuan.
Considering his investment in the album was only a few hundred thousand, it was a massive return!
The industry was abuzz with envy, and many found it hard to believe.
How did an album with pre-released live versions and no large-scale promotional campaign achieve such phenomenal success?
On the evening of September 15th, Chen Guodong, a certified "Music Lecturer at Capital City Normal University," published a thought-provoking blog post titled "The Silent Majority."
Although Chen Guodong had little direct involvement with the entertainment industry, he was a respected music critic, contributing regularly to top music websites and magazines.
In his post, he dissected Lu Chen's album and its unexpected success, which had drawn widespread industry attention.
He began by recounting how, on September 10th, he attended a freshman welcome party at the university, where he heard four songs: "My Old Classmate," "My Brother Sleeping Above Me," "Those Flowers," and "The Brightest Star in the Night Sky."
All four tracks were from Lu Chen's album, and the students enthusiastically embraced them. Several boys performed these songs live, earning rounds of applause and cheers from the audience.
By contrast, the party's popular dance performances received only lukewarm reactions.
This led Chen Guodong to reflect on why Lu Chen's campus folk songs resonated so strongly with college students and why they had sold so well on WeChat Music.
He analyzed that the album's success was due to its connection with the "silent majority."
The so-called "silent majority" refers to everyday young listeners and casual pop music fans— students, working professionals— who enjoy music but don't actively engage in fandom culture. They typically search for free downloads of their favorite songs and rarely voice their opinions online.
This massive but often overlooked audience is not a primary focus for entertainment companies, which prioritize fan-driven profits.
As a result, the mainstream pop market caters predominantly to fan groups, heavily influenced by Western and East Asian music trends. Entertainment companies and artists constantly adapt to these global trends to stay relevant.
The decline of domestic musical originality is closely tied to this imbalance!
But were the "silent majority" truly content to passively accept the status quo?
The answer was an emphatic no.
Even some long-time fans of mainstream pop had grown tired of the endless imitation and commercialized production of Western and Korean music. They wanted something fresh but had few alternatives.
That's where Lu Chen came in— a breath of fresh air in the industry. His "campus folk" style rekindled hope for homegrown originality!
This pent-up demand erupted, propelling the sales of "My Old Classmate." Many listeners who typically downloaded music for free willingly paid 8 yuan to support Lu Chen.
And that's how he completely overshadowed Cui Zhengzhi.
Cui Zhengzhi, after all, was the epitome of the Korean wave trend in the domestic market.
This wave of support was not just a commercial success; it was a silent protest— an assertion of the power of the "silent majority."
In his closing remarks, Chen Guodong urged the domestic pop music industry to reflect deeply.
Do not underestimate the "silent majority."
(End of this chapter)
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