Chapter 38

With the participation of several major album publishers in Jingcheng, the sales channels for "Wolf Loves Sheep" were fully opened.

The increase in album sales led to Cheng Chen's fame being firmly established in the Chinese Pop Music Scene.

Nearly all major domestic music charts were dominated by "Wolf Loves Sheep."

Previously top-ranked and hailed as the teacher who loved so deeply he crawled under cars, A Du and his "He Must Really Love You" were now dethroned by "Wolf Loves Sheep," slipping to second place.

The two songs chased each other, evenly matched.

Third and fourth places remained Cheng Chen's "Autumn Does Not Return" and "Fairytale," the two hottest songs of 2002, without exception.

Although "Fairytale" had already achieved impressive results, it had not yet fully unleashed its full power.

Cheng Chen knew this well, since at least one-third of "Fairytale"'s popularity in his previous life came from its tear-jerking music video.

However, "Fairytale" had strong staying power; over time, its brilliance gradually emerged.

With its astonishing record-breaking success, Cheng Chen and this album were enough to earn a place in the annals of the Chinese Pop Music Scene.

Fifth on the chart was Yang Kun and his "It Doesn't Matter," with his flamboyant vocal style.

This era was filled with countless stars: not only veteran singers continuously releasing classics, but also young idols leaving their youthful imprints.

Zhou Jielun's "Back to the Past," SHE's "Beautiful New World," and the strongest single, later sweeping every street and alley as "Little Wei."

And veteran singer Ren Xianqi's "Alone," and Li Shengjie's must-listen anthem for lovestruck fools, "Obsessive Devotion," among others…

The entire Chinese Pop Music Scene responded to Cheng Chen's sudden rise with great enthusiasm, showering him with praise—even folk and rock circles extended olive branches to him.

Of course, where there was praise, there was also slander; some mercilessly criticized "Wolf Loves Sheep" as vulgar and pandering, deliberately shocking to please the masses.

Someone even posted an article online titled "My View on Wolf Loves Sheep," stretching over a thousand words, such as:

"Wolf loves sheep is natural law; wolves are carnivores, and what they love is the delicious flesh of sheep. Once a woman is pursued and won by a man, it's like a sheep falling into a wolf's mouth—her body and soul follow the wolf.

Therefore, men are the strong, women the weak; wolf loves sheep is a lie, a manifestation of the world's restlessness…"

Originally, this post only circulated on forums; Cheng Chen's fans scoffed and fiercely opposed it, but others wholeheartedly agreed, openly accusing Cheng Chen of inciting gender conflict.

Online feuds were normal, and no one took them seriously.

Until September 1st, the day when students across the nation returned to school, public opinion suddenly exploded like gunpowder:

On September 1st, the Huayu Yinyuehui held a symposium in Jingcheng themed "Resist Vulgar Trends in Songs."

Many veteran artists sharply pointed out the various vulgar trends in today's music.

They mercilessly criticized songs like "Just Love You," "Don't Talk, Just Love," and "Wolf Loves Sheep."

They also signed a collective petition on-site to resist vulgar songs.

The symposium was hosted by veteran artist Xu Dong, who first analyzed the vulgar trends in today's music scene:

"Some of these songs are filled with vulgar language and verbal violence, while others like 'Wolf Loves Sheep' and 'He Must Really Love You' have hollow themes, are overly sentimental and fake, and moan without cause.

Some are merely attention-seeking and trivial, like 'I Just Love Knitting' and 'Singing Love Songs on the Toilet,' which, under the excuse of being close to the people, cram every daily activity—eating, drinking, defecating—into their lyrics.

There's even a song directly titled 'Death,' and since the word 'death' appears repeatedly, it's far too negative."

In addition, Xu Dong identified multiple reasons behind this vulgar trend.

One important reason he mentioned was the overnight fame of A Du, Cheng Chen, and others, which stimulated some singers.

Xu Dong concluded by stating that next month, Huayin would host a song competition in Jingcheng, aiming to guide music back onto the right path.

Meanwhile, the veteran artists on-site lamented bitterly: "I'm worried about my grandchildren—they're already in their teens and easily exposed to these things; they can sing those parody songs without even thinking.

Children just think it's fun, and before they can tell good from bad, their souls are already polluted. In thirty years, when they become the backbone of society, I fear these influences will still linger."

The content of this symposium soon spread wildly online, with major and minor media outlets and print magazines racing to report it.

Especially Cheng Chen and A Du, repeatedly named, suffered unwarranted backlash; their fans rose up online to fight back.

Since the chart battle began, their fans had often clashed fiercely, but now they united against a common enemy.

Defenders, mockers, and onlookers quickly ignited a massive online war, the battle growing fiercer by the day.

After the symposium ended, sales of Cheng Chen and A Du's albums began to slow.

"Get me connected to the head of the Huayu Yinyuehui—I want to ask them what the hell they're doing!"

Wang Tianxiao flew into a rage in his office, his newly bought phone suffering again.

"What's going on with the Huayu Yinyuehui?"

Cheng Chen walked into the office and asked.

"What's going on?" Wang Tianxiao sneered angrily:

"They're just targeting you because you're making money—using you as a scapegoat. What a bunch of bullshit music meetings—they're just old men who can't stand seeing newcomers rise, trying to ride on your fame for attention!"

Hearing this, Cheng Chen keenly picked up a key piece of information and finally breathed a sigh of relief:

"I thought it was an official denouncement. As long as it's not official, I'm fine."

"Do they even qualify as official? They're just a loose music organization. By their own logic, at least half the songs in the entire music scene would fail their standards—why don't they dare to point fingers elsewhere?

They're only bold enough to target you because you're newcomers with no backing. But those old men still have some influence, so public opinion has turned against you. Don't worry—it'll pass soon."

Wang Tianxiao rubbed his messy hair and sighed helplessly.

"I get it—they're using me and A Du's fame to promote their upcoming song competition. Next month? I'd love to join them for a little game."

Cheng Chen picked up the cup on the desk, took a sip of water, and smiled.

Hearing this, Wang Tianxiao's eyes lit up and he hurriedly said:

"Exactly! Their music meeting invites all musicians, right? You go there and win first place—then see how those old men handle it! Hahaha!"

Seeing Wang Tianxiao's mischievous grin, Cheng Chen shot back:

"How do you know I'll definitely win first place? We might get rejected the moment we sign up—I'm currently the 'bad influence' everyone's yelling about online!"

"That's no problem—leave it to me!"

Wang Tianxiao patted his chest and promised.

Cheng Chen glanced at him and thought silently:

I can't afford A!

……