Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 482 Even Investigators Can Find Spring

米国时间5月20号零点，华国时间5月20号12点，欧洲时间5月20号凌晨5点。

Nearly eight figures of fans and netizens around the world watched the documentary "Mr. China" simultaneously on Netflix.

They also left their thoughts on the documentary and comments on the global support for Shen's birthday as soon as possible.

From New York and Los Angeles to London and Paris, from Shanghai and Beijing to Tokyo and Seoul, every screen is expressing love and wishing you a "Happy Birthday." In this moment of solidarity, we wear masks, hold up light sticks, and sing "Blinding Lights" across mountains and seas. It turns out that love truly can transcend borders and viruses! Shen Juan, your radiant 21st year has passed, and your destined glorious and great 22nd year has arrived. The whole world is responding to your call, shining brightly for you!

[I just saw that ANA's plane with Shen Juan's logo was sending birthday wishes at 10,000 meters altitude. This is truly astonishing! The tourism industry is already struggling during this pandemic, and the airlines dared to do this, plus so many internationally renowned brands like LV, Tiffany & Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Porsche joined in. It just goes to show that Shen Juan's commercial value is unparalleled, and his fans' purchasing power is insane.]

[Located in London, the comments at Piccadilly Circus were so touching! The moment the Chinese birthday wishes were displayed, fans from all over the world around us applauded and cheered! It turns out that "Happy Birthday" is equally moving no matter how it's said. Shen Juan has united us into one family!]

[I was on duty at the Bund today when I saw Shen Juan's face on the big screen. An older woman next to me asked, "Who is this? So many young people are surrounding him." I explained that he's a singer who launched a global charity concert, and his fans even donated to forest protection. The woman smiled and said, "That's what fandom should be like!" Indeed, doing charity work during this time of crisis is far more meaningful than crowding around for fan support. For Shen Juan, I have nothing but respect!]

[As a casual viewer, I actually watched the whole movie. Although I didn't truly fall in love with Shen Juan (because I'm not usually a fan of celebrities), I saw a different side of him, not the Shen Juan others described. He has his own unique charm, making people genuinely want to shout, "Keep going, Shen Juan!"]

Seeing him open up about his vulnerability on camera suddenly made me feel close to him, and his songs became even more powerful because of it. And Shen Juan's mother was absolutely right! Having talent doesn't require excessive humility, but it's essential to remember to be grounded, confident but not arrogant! I truly envy parents like that; Shen Juan's character is inseparable from his excellent family upbringing! Finally, it's amazing how profound it is to see the path a person has walked! Alex truly, truly represents uniqueness!

Seeing him return to the practice room in Seoul broke my heart. Who understands the meaning of "those sweats were just late"? Back when I was watching Produce 202, I was heartbroken when he suddenly withdrew from the competition. Now, seeing him standing in a stadium of 100,000 in Melbourne, I suddenly feel that all the waiting was totally worth it! Mr. Hua, you really did it! It's so great to be able to hear your songs, to know you, and to be your fan!

Watching the documentary felt incredibly healing, especially the part where he fought against the shipwreck—it was so inspiring! His lines, "I only do what I believe is right" and "Then let me be in danger," are more powerful than any motivational quote! The Chinese bully we often talk about is always so kind! This seemingly aloof and distant pop star is always so sincere and gentle with his fans! Mr. China, Alex Shen, we love you forever!

[Shen Juan, only 22 years old. Holder of the highest monthly audience record on "Voice of China," the first singer in history to have a tour gross over one billion US dollars, the world's number one male singer, a fashion icon, and a Grammy nominee with six Grammy awards for a middle-aged artist. Behind all this glamour lies a wealth of experience. "Gossip Boy," "Fake Idol," "Hit Song Maker"—Mr. China once again reveals the extraordinary Shen Juan behind the scenes, helping us understand the story behind his success.]

[CCTV's praise of him as a role model is entirely justified! During the pandemic, fans transformed their support for him into donations to fight the pandemic, planting trees for environmental protection, and building primary schools for children in impoverished areas. This positive influence is invaluable! In the documentary, he said, "Life isn't an exam," and neither is idol worship. What we admire is not a perfect idol, but rather his fighting spirit of 'recognizing reality while still daring to pursue dreams,' which has a profound impact on young people.]

In the documentary, he said, "What I've always truly pursued is greatness; I want to be like Michael Jackson." If someone else had said that, I would have thought they were arrogant, but coming from him, I only felt that he could definitely do it, because, as he said, Alex means unique.

Unlike most celebrities, he seriously considers and earnestly shares his thoughts with the world. It is this belief that drives him to constantly step out of his comfort zone, possess the courage to challenge industry barriers and overcome all difficulties, and ultimately create phenomenal works like *Underrated*, *Leviathan*, and *Sisyphus*, which have changed future music genres and influenced the entire music industry's development! This great and brilliant life trajectory evokes profound感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection).

[I became a fan of Shen Juan's conversation with his mother; it turns out his clear-headedness is inherited! So many celebrities get arrogant after becoming famous, but he said in the documentary that he has even greater ambitions. This unpretentious ambition is so captivating! It's our good fortune to see such a work during this time of crisis!]

In short, Shen Juan's personal documentary, "Mr. Huaguo," is not merely an accessory to his work.

The Leviathan and Leviathan Era tour is great enough that it doesn't need an additional documentary to add value to it.

Rather, it is the most strategically significant "self-analysis" and "narrative reconstruction" in his career to date!
At the crucial moment when he was crowned Grammy, dominated multiple data charts, broke many records that were previously considered impossible to break, and became the world's number one male in an indisputable manner, Shen Juan, together with the outside world, completed a deconstruction and reshaping of the public symbol "Alex".

Its value and significance can be interpreted in depth from multiple dimensions.

First, there is the proactive reconstruction of public image:

Shen Juan's public image in the early days was often labeled under the company's all-round marketing and packaging, such as a god-like idol and a white moonlight of talent shows. He was even labeled with negative tags such as "vulgar" and "promiscuous" due to controversial events (such as the idol circle ganging up on each other and being rumored to have multiple romantic relationships at the same time).

The core function of "Mr. Hua Guo" is to wrest the narrative power back from media hype and public speculation.

This is the first time since his debut that he has stood so frankly in front of the camera, revealing his true feelings behind these controversies.

He talked about the pressure and anxiety he felt when he first entered the industry due to "intense market competition," and explained the behind-the-scenes story of his early hard work in perfecting his smile.

He confronted the depression he experienced when his debut dream was shattered in 2016 and he was sidelined by his company, admitting that "at that time, I felt that I had done nothing useful and that all my efforts might have been in vain."

He clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with the public opinion: "Many people are trying to portray me as a rich second-generation with powerful connections, thinking that this will erase my efforts and deny my success."

This sufficiently authentic, demystified presentation allowed the public to see Shen Juan beyond his labels: a creator who is vulnerable, confused, angry, and resilient. He is no longer the passive person pushed along by public opinion, but a controller who actively tears off the packaging and defines himself.

This shift in his image laid a more solid foundation of trust for his subsequent creative work and public interactions.

Secondly, there is the deep connection between art and personality:
That is, to construct an artistic personality.

The documentary, by recording his song drafts and discussions with producers, helps fans and listeners who are unaware of the stories behind the songs understand that these lyrics were not written for the sake of rhyming, and that these creations are no longer isolated songs, but rather his true reflections on the current state of various things in the world.

Next comes breaking down the filter of the perfect idol and strengthening the bond and emotional connection with fans:
Shen Juan was once criticized by outsiders for being "unrealistic and out of touch with reality" due to her "overly exquisite styling" and "overly strong character persona".

The United States is different from East Asia.

Lao Mei doesn't really like celebrities with overly strong personas because it makes them feel that they are fake and hypocritical.

The documentary deliberately exposed his imperfections.

These details resonate with ordinary people—it turns out that even big stars have the same struggles as us.

Therefore, fans no longer just admire his talent, but also begin to understand his situation. This emotional connection gradually evolves from simple "worship" into a "symbiotic" relationship where they are inseparable.

Then there's what Shen Juan has been doing.
They have gradually evolved from "simple musicians and pop singers" to "cultural symbols with a sense of social responsibility".

He no longer just outputs melodies, but also values.

The documentary format makes this kind of output more convincing.

It's no longer an empty slogan.

It is a sincere expression based on personal experience!
This image of a high-quality idol not only solidified his status as a "spiritual leader" in the hearts of his fans, but also allowed his influence to quickly transcend the music industry, making him a leading representative of "brave voices" in global popular culture.

He no longer tries to cater to the outside world's unrealistic expectations of a perfect idol, but instead embraces his own true edges.

He no longer confines his creative work and the expression of his views to personal emotions, but expands them to contemporary issues to influence society.

He is no longer afraid of losing the support and affection of some people, but instead remains steadfast in speaking out for what he believes in.

The most important value of "Mr. Hua Guo" lies in the fact that it allowed Shen Juan to complete a self-analysis-style landing "from symbol to real person", thereby promoting the transformation from a "man-made person" packaged by the company's marketing to a "self-creator" who pursues freedom, breaks away from the company, and seeks his true self.

Therefore, without a doubt, it is not only a documentary about Shen Juan, but also a popular culture revelation about "how public figures can remain authentic under the spotlight" and "how creators can make talent and conscience coexist".

It is not long.

It only lasted 85 minutes.

But it means a lot.

Many people have benefited from it.

Zhang Jingyi is undoubtedly one of them.

Having admired and longed for Shen Juan for many, many years, she certainly wouldn't miss any material related to Shen Juan.

So after watching the documentary
Happiness, joy, sadness, sorrow, pride, and emotion—all sorts of feelings burned within me. The brilliance on stage, the despair of being sidelined by the company after my dreams were shattered, the gloom of facing a crisis of public opinion, and the confusion of falling into self-doubt—all sorts of images floated into my mind.

This left the girl, who had once regarded Shen Juan as a god and whose eyes were almost entirely filled with him, in a daze for a long time.

When you say "I'm fine" and "I'm okay," are you just trying to reassure others, or do you really mean it?
Life can be long or short.

What's truly fortunate is that I was able to find my true self during this time and do what I love.

She admires people like that.

It just so happens that the senior student is him.

He can do whatever he wants.

He can freely radiate his brilliance and inspire others.

People's perspectives are always limited; they are always confined to one corner, thinking about how others are and how they should be.

But no two leaves in the world are exactly alike.

Let alone people.

I remember when I first met you, I had just turned 18, and you weren't yet as famous and shining globally as you are now.

But I'll be 21 in two months!
Time really flies.

In the blink of an eye, we've all grown up.

I entered the entertainment industry.

You became the world's number one male.

The dazzling Alex finally found Shen Juan.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jingyi, whose eyes were already red, felt a burst of inspiration and had countless words she wanted to express.

So he quickly got up and went to the computer to record audio scripts for the next video of the content creator "Tired Planet".

"Having achieved fame at a young age, you have experienced more good and bad times than anyone else. You have tried to be a good child in everyone's eyes, to be kind to others, and at one point you covered up your true self and only smiled at people. No one knows the pressure and bitterness better than you. Sometimes you may not even have forgotten it yourself."

"But the more attention you receive and the more dazzling your fame, the more ill intentions you will face! They are constantly criticizing you, mocking you, ridiculing you, and belittling you. They don't care about you; they only care about whether they are entertained and whether they benefit from it."

"Inner strength cannot be acquired overnight, and the suffering you have endured cannot be expressed in a few words. As someone who appreciates you, supports you, and loves you, I regret that I cannot offer you substantial help when you are hurt, or share some of your pain. You may not even hear what I am saying today."

"But it's true that we feel sorry for you, and it's also true that we feel bad for you, so we really hope you can believe that we will always believe in you! We are so glad that after going through so much, you were finally able to reach a consensus with your true self, and we are so glad that you were finally able to learn to treat yourself well and learn to let go."

No one is perfect. Neither we fans nor the world needs you to be a perfect person.

Just be yourself!

"You are perfect enough."

"at last."

"Thank you for being in my life, thank you for the music you brought, thank you for the strength you gave us."

"The road ahead"

"Please continue to walk happily and joyfully!"

5 month 21 number.

Emerald Lake, Dachadan, Qinghai. The final scene of the film "A Little Red Flower" is being filmed on set.

Shen Juan, dressed in a white shirt and jeans, and Liu Haocun, dressed in a pure white dress, stood on either side of the main camera from the perspective of the host.

"action!"

After Ma Xiaoyuan passed away, Wei Yihang said, "After she left, my river dried up too."

Although Wei Yihang later tried to live a positive and hard-working life—getting into university, participating in hiking, no longer hiding in a corner and isolating himself, but starting to interact normally with people—it was still hard for him not to feel sad and upset when he came to the lake that had always been flashing through his mind.

So he lingered for a moment, gazing intently at the Emerald Lake, which held profound significance for him and contained many precious memories.

Gradually, the world around us changed.
In Wei Yihang's imagined parallel universe, another Wei Yihang is living happily with another Ma Xiaoyuan.

Do you remember what Ma Xiaoyuan once said? "I so wanted to be the girl who stood by the lake with you, but I'm not. I'm not in your future."

"But you're already in my future."

Wei Yihang looked at Ma Xiaoyuan in the parallel universe, who was holding Wei Yihang's hand and jumping around by the lake.

"Crack!"

"Alright, I hereby announce that filming for 'A Little Red Flower for You' has officially wrapped!" Han Yan shouted with a beaming smile through a megaphone. "Everyone, hurry up and get ready! The wrap party has already been booked in the city. Let's all go out for a farewell dinner together later! We'll drink until we drop tonight!"

After about two months of filming, "A Little Red Flower for You" has finally wrapped up filming in Qinghai!
"Filming has finally wrapped up. The closed-door shooting was definitely more troublesome than usual. Tomorrow I'm going back to my hometown to be with my wife and kids!"

"Don't complain after getting such a good deal! The benefits and conditions in this group are absolutely the best I've ever encountered!"

"How could it not be good? After all, the lead actor is Shen Juan."

"Hehe, I'll be working with Shen Juan in my next group too."

"Holy crap! This is awesome! Where's the group?"

"June, Shanghai."

"That's awesome! Shen Juan is the King of Shanghai!"

"He's filming over there and can probably close off whichever road he wants. This time he's probably really going back to his old base to film."

The cheerful crew members chatted and joked amongst themselves as they packed up equipment and props.

The two lead actors then walked to a secluded lake and found a relatively clean spot to sit down.

"Are you satisfied with the birthday present I gave you?" Shen Juan gazed at the breathtakingly beautiful emerald green lake in front of him.

I thought you wouldn't give me a gift.

"how is this possible?"

Shen Juan glanced back at Liu Haocun and saw her hugging her knees, a gentle and serene smile on her face, quietly gazing at the lake. She looked somewhat like the woman he had chatted with on the rooftop a few days ago, except that the weather was better and the sun was brighter today.

“But that’s really what I think, because of what you did that day.” Liu Haocun was a little down because Shen Juan’s different attitudes toward the two of them that day already said a lot. At least she knew that between her and Zhou Ye, Shen Juan would choose Zhou Ye without hesitation and without wavering.

"You don't need to compare yourself to others."

"Is it because you know I can't compare to her, so you want me to be content with what I have and don't want me to suffer?" Liu Haocun's clear and bright eyes showed no joy, anger, sorrow, or any extra emotions, but his tone carried a hint of bitterness, revealing the girl's true feelings at that moment.

"I didn't say that." Shen Juan almost laughed.

"But isn't that what you meant?"

Liu Haocun rolled her eyes at Shen Juan, somewhat speechless. This was a new skill she had learned from Shen Juan. It could only be said that spending more time together would indeed make one more and more like the other.

I wonder if this will lead to the abstract notion in the fandom that "only rolling your eyes is a symbol of a sister-in-law."
"I just think that everyone has their own strengths, but the length of time we've known each other and the time we've spent together are different. So a temporary setback doesn't mean complete failure. It's like a marathon. Starting late is definitely a disadvantage, but there's still a long way to go to reach the finish line, and everything is still subject to change."

Liu Haocun sensed Shen Juan's implication and couldn't help but retort, "You really are a complete scumbag."

“I have never denied this fact.”

“But then again, you’re actually quite gentle.” Liu Haocun unconsciously drew circles on the ground with his fingertips, trying to relieve the tension and inexplicable pressure in his heart. “I can understand why so many girls are willing to be moths to a flame.”

"Thank you for the compliment."

"I'm not praising you."

"Thank you anyway."

"Oh~" Liu Haocun dragged out the last syllable, his lips involuntarily curving upwards, his expression looking somewhat smug.

After a moment of silence, Shen Juan suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on the clean, fair face beside him: "And what about you?"

Liu Haocun was stunned for a moment: "Me?"

Are you doing this willingly?

Shen Juan threw a straight ball.

Liu Haocun's breath hitched, and he fell silent.

When I first met you on the subway, I thought it was just a fleeting encounter, and I thought we would never cross paths again. But I never expected to become so dependent on you now. Our accidental meeting and dreamlike reunion have melted away all the unpleasant voices.

Of course I know you're a womanizing scumbag!

The whole world knows it.

But putting aside your status as a scumbag, you are actually a really good person.

I love your thoughtfulness and your gentleness.

I like your voice and your personality.

I prefer the look in your eyes when I look away, even if it's devoid of any emotion.

All I know is that your appearance made me, someone who often uses fake smiles to hide my unhappiness, secretly happy for a long time.

Netizens advised me not to be foolish, and I also advised myself to be rational.

But you look so cute when you smile!

Even cuter than the you in my dreams!
It's exactly the kind of feeling I love!

So Shen Juan
Can you tell me why, even though we're under the same sky, every time we're apart for more than two days, when we meet again, I can't help but run up to you with a joyful heart, and say in the softest, sweetest voice, "Long time no see!"

Thinking of this, Liu Haocun turned to look at the shimmering lake in front of him, his eyes filled with envy and longing, and his voice became exceptionally gentle: "Shen Yujie, Wang Churan, and Zhou Ye, when you're with them, the genuine laughter you have is something I've never seen before. So I'm just curious when I can make you laugh like they do? When can I make you choose me with the same unwavering determination as they do?"

"Didn't I just say? You don't need to compare yourself to others." Shen Juan looked at her with a complicated expression.

"Do you think I will lose?"

Liu Haocun rested his chin on his hands and looked at Shen Juan, his beautiful, lively eyes sparkling with a soft light. "And I just wanted to thank you. During the two months we filmed together, no matter what I did, you were always by my side, giving me support and encouragement. I learned a lot from you that my teachers and parents never taught me. Every day you were on set was fulfilling for me, and I never felt lonely or bored."

"So I also have a question for you: have you been happy during these two months with me?"

After a long silence, Shen Juan chose to tell the truth.

"Not every moment is a happy one."

He even suspected that his partner was a hater of his, so how could he not be careful and be completely open with her?
However, Liu Haocun did not feel regret or sadness upon hearing this answer. On the contrary, her gaze towards Shen Juan became noticeably more complicated, even containing a sense of resignation and cunning after her thoughts were seen through, as well as a stubborn and defiant feeling of doing what she knew was impossible.

She sighed softly, her voice carrying an ambiguous meaning, as if lamenting for herself, or perhaps a sudden, clear understanding after a moment of realization: "That's probably one of the reasons you made them willingly do it."

"Do they include you?"

"I am truly willing!" The girl looked harmless, but her eyes shone with stubbornness and determination.

"But you know I'm a scumbag, and you're still willing to be with me? Didn't you say you were a god of pure love before?"

"More important than pure love right now is not losing!" Liu Haocun felt deeply humiliated when she thought about the way Zhou Ye looked at her that day. She never wanted to experience that feeling again! She would repay all the grievances she suffered that day a hundredfold in the future!
“Many people always say nice things, but when things actually happen, they regret it and feel that they were not mature enough when they made the decision.” Shen Juan always felt that she had unknowingly provoked a formidable enemy for her.

Must people born on the same day, month, and year only end up killing each other, if not falling in love? How tragic.
How do you know I belong to "many people"?

Shen Juan didn't dwell too much on this unclear topic: "I think you need to prepare yourself mentally in advance."

"I'm used to observing as I go, and besides, you won't understand something until you've actually experienced it."

"Then you might feel jealous and upset."

"I'll come and scold you when I'm jealous!" Liu Haocun curled up the corners of his mouth, regaining his usual lively and cute self.

"Alright, since that's the case..."

After a moment of silence, Shen Juan made a decision in his heart.

He reached out and took the girl's cool little hand in his, slipping his fingers between them until they were intertwined. Then he looked into her eyes and earnestly invited her, "Let's try it together and experience it together. As for the results and how we feel, we can talk about that after you've felt it clearly."

Liu Haocun nodded vigorously, nodding rapidly!

At that moment, she only felt happy.

The kind of happiness that makes you want to jump for joy!
I never imagined that one day I would actually meet my dream man in real life!
This is all so dreamlike!
And then there was something strange.

Unexpectedly, even an investigator who, despite being in darkness and yearning for the light, had long disregarded his personal safety, could encounter spring.

Even though I approached him with such malice, he was still so gentle and kind to me.
Perhaps this is the blessing I receive for my wholehearted good deeds!
(End of this chapter)