Chu Zhi – The Art of Emotional Crushing

#ChuZhiGodTierLivePerformance

#EmotionalCrushingOverTechnique

#HoldBackTearsChallenge

Originally, Mango TV's program team had planned to promote the Lin Li showdown, but Chu Zhi's performance ended up spawning three trending hashtags instead.

The last time the internet was this abuzz was when a certain popular singer dropped an album with massive promotional backing.

Abiang: "I thought it was all thanks to million-dollar post-production tuning, but turns out..."

Shang Xi: "Zero technique, but damn, it hits hard. Full-body chills."

YouthStayYoung: "How many times did this guy get dumped to sing like this? It's so tragic I almost feel bad roasting him."

SwordRider: "Wahhhh, I just got dumped and was looking for something to cheer me up. Instead, I found more pain. Swallow (my ex's name), how am I supposed to live without you?!"

WantToEatPhone: "Mind blown. Never in a million years did I expect Chu Zhi to deliver like this. If someone told me he'd win first place in the competition, I'd have called it rigged. Guess I was the clown all along."

The sheer dominance of these discussions completely overshadowed all other variety shows—proof of just how explosive the hype was.

Each of the three hashtags represented a different angle of discussion.

#EmotionalCrushingOverTechnique was a long-debated topic among netizens on Douban's music forums and Zhihu Q&A threads—which matters more, technical skill or emotional delivery? Typically, the former won out, because technically proficient singers usually had emotional depth anyway, while finding a singer with raw emotion but poor technique was rare.

Examples of the latter were mostly viral amateur singers, like Earth's Xidan Girl or Sunrise Yang Gang. But Chu Zhi's case—overwhelming emotional power with zero technique—was practically the chosen one of the "emotion-over-skill" camp. A unicorn. A rooster that laid eggs.

The fans arguing over technique vs. emotion were mostly just bored. For audiences, the answer was simple: they wanted both.

#HoldBackTearsChallenge trended after netizens who claimed they "didn't cry listening to Chu's 'Desert Island'" left comments like:

"Yeah, it's sad, but I'm the 'God of No Tears.'"

"What's there to cry about? Just wailing nonsense."

"Only my baby can make me cry."

The very existence of this challenge proved the song's tear-jerking power. The contrast between the leaked video and the live performance was staggering. Even Meng Fan, who came up with the promotional strategy, never expected it to blow up like this.

The Masked Singer had planned to reveal a contestant's identity in its first episode, which was supposed to be a major draw for viewers. But now? Barely a ripple.

In the conference room of Golden Eagle Tower, Wang Ke and Meng Fan were grinning like Cheshire cats. If described in song lyrics: "Sweet like honey, you smile so sweetly~"

Meng Fan: "So, about Dahuá Entertainment's proposal… have you thought it over, Producer Wang?"

Wang Ke: "Ask them if they can sweeten the deal further."

After their initial plan to sic Lin Li on Chu Zhi failed, Dahuá Entertainment immediately sent negotiators to strike a "strategic agreement" with the show's production team. Their demand? Let Dahuá handpick all 800 live audience members for the next recording.

As seasoned schemers in the entertainment industry, Wang and Meng instantly understood the implications.

"Chu Zhi, you want to climb back up step by step with your talent? Fine. We'll make sure the audience reminds everyone watching that you're a disgraced celebrity—unworthy of love."

A chorus of 800 boos and protests, amplified by public opinion guide ("Someone like Chu Zhi shouldn't be allowed on stage!"), would be a brutal one-two punch.

The plan might slightly damage the show's reputation, but Wang Ke deemed it "within controllable limits." Besides, collaborating with Dahuá had more perks.

As for Chu Zhi? Frankly, Wang and Meng never once considered him in their calculations—even after he single-handedly boosted the show's buzz twice.

In fact, Wang Ke believed Chu Zhi should be thanking him for "magnanimously allowing a scandal-ridden artist on stage." Without me, where would you get this chance to perform?

Another Masked Singer producer was fuming, his frustration "overflowing like the Yellow River after a storm." Even a post-mistress-visit glow couldn't soothe his rage.

He was the one who'd rejected Kangfei Entertainment's resource swap (no regrets), but now he cursed inwardly: "Why hasn't Chu Zhi flopped yet?!"

Chu kept close tabs on his redemption arc. The shift from "universal hate" to "universal shock" in the comments was a massive improvement.

"Let's see if 'HeavenEarthSky' has posted yet." He clicked on the ID without logging in.

For context, this netizen was the same brutally unfiltered commentator who'd once dissed "Wind Waving the Wheat" with gems like:

"My ancestors are rolling in their graves!"

"This ain't singing, it's a public execution!"

Her latest take on "Desert Island" had gone viral with 10K+ replies.

[User HeavenEarthSky's Review]

When I first watched the video, my heart dropped. Oh no! It's like having diarrhea in a diaper—no way this ends well! Chu Zhi's "zero vocal skills" rep is toast.

But holy mother of Sichuan peppercorns, the man delivered!

His voice was like a ghost wailing from the underworld—so full of sorrow, pain, and despair that even funeral dirges sound cheerful in comparison. (And that's with suonas blaring.)

My 30-roll tissue stash wasn't enough for this cryfest. Him winning first place? More shocking than an arrow to the chest.

The emotional gut-punch was unreal. At this point, challenging him is like sitting bare-assed on crystal—a guaranteed "egg-meets-rock" situation.

Forget his personality; purely judging the performance? Well-deserved win.

Top Replies:

"Sis, you don't even have eggs to crack. Chill."

"I declare: Chu Scum's 'Desert Island' is the definitive version. No debates."

"Nah, the original's still classic. Different vibes."

"Amazing, but too heavy. Can't listen twice—my lungs need a break."

Chu noticed a subtle shift: fewer people called him "steel wool" (a mocking nickname), opting for "Chu Scum" or just his name. Progress.

Beyond shifting public opinion, professionals were weighing in too—including Zhang Mingyi, a judge for the next round.

Zhang didn't post on Weibo ("Who doesn't smell the stench of that platform?"), but on Zhihu (500K+ followers), where he was verified as: Music Critic / Producer | Works: 'Barnacle'

(Note: 'Barnacle' was a flop in this parallel world, unlike 'Desert Island' or 'Glass Flowers.')

[Zhang Mingyi's Review]

Experiential Singing.

In acting, there's 'method acting'—where performers draw from real experiences to embody a role.

Chu Zhi seems to have a similar gift: channeling personal trauma into his music. His 'Desert Island' isn't just a breakup song; it's a dirge of hopelessness. Not melancholy—despair.

I don't know the details of his past, but it's clear he's been drowning in it. You can feel his despair in every note.

The off-key cracks? Flaws that elevate the art. What's more beautiful than the Mona Lisa? The lost Mona Lisa. More perfect than the armless Venus de Milo? A Venus missing her head too.

Even now, that cracked "goodbye" haunts me. My soul trembled.*

If Chu Zhi had perfect technique, this wouldn't have been half as powerful. Sometimes, imperfection is the point.

(Typical Zhang Mingyi—hot takes galore. "Better because he can't sing"? Bold.)