Chu Zhi's semifinal performance of Against the Light didn't just move Jiang Wan—after its broadcast, the episode racked up over 10 million clicks on Mango TV within half an hour. Of course, this didn't mean 10 million unique viewers (most video platforms had clever ways of counting clicks).
That said, if the previous episode—featuring Chu Zhi's Desert Island and Li Xingwei's presence—had given I Am a Singer a slight edge over Masked Singer King, the semifinal was a complete domination. Externally, it crushed competing shows in buzz; internally, despite having two A-list stars like Lin and Li, the discussion still revolved entirely around Chu Zhi.
"Of course Orange was framed. Isn't it obvious?"
"When the scandal first broke, Chu Zhi's fans kept saying it was 'competitors smearing him.' My first thought was 'delusional cult fans'… Now I'm wondering—what if they were right?"
"Everything was too neatly arranged. Chu Zhi was a top-tier idol—even if he made the worst mistake a star could make, he should've had some diehard fans. But my cousin, who's deep into fandom, told me two of his biggest fan club leaders suddenly turned on him, causing chaos in the fandom. The scandal spread perfectly, and the fanbase collapsed at the same time. Coincidence? I don't buy it."
"@Li Tingyu, can you actually provide evidence? You can't just post a vague 'tell-all' and call it a day. I kinda believed you at first, but after watching the semifinal and remembering the warmth of Waves of Wheat, I just can't reconcile that with the guy in your post. If it's all fake, then the world owes Chu Zhi an Oscar."
"Let's stay rational. There's no definitive conclusion yet. Chu Zhi did suffer, but we can't just turn around and cyberbully another potential victim. Hope the police step in soon."
Statements like these sent shivers down Dahuá Entertainment's spine. They weren't afraid of netizens defending Chu Zhi—public opinion was fickle, easily manipulated. What terrified them was that people were actually thinking critically now, even if their takes were biased.
The writer Milan Kundera once said: "I love the Jewish proverb, 'Man thinks, God laughs.' Why? Because the more man thinks, the further he strays from the truth."
Whether deep thought truly distances us from truth is debatable, but one thing was certain—it was steering the public far from the narrative Dahuá had crafted.
Beyond sparking reflection and reviving his fandom, Against the Light—or rather, Chu Zhi's performance—had a healing effect. Just as it had for Jiang Wan, countless others found solace in it.
Silent River (Weibo, 200K+ likes)
"They say 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease,' and it's true. In my family, my younger brother was always the troublemaker, so he got all the attention and gifts. Every birthday, he'd get cakes and presents—because if he didn't, he'd throw a fit. Meanwhile, on my birthdays? No gifts, often no cake. My mom would just sigh and say, 'You're so understanding.'
Well, 'understanding' kids don't get sweets. Chu Zhi, don't be so damn understanding. You hide your tears because you don't want to burden others with your pain. But if you're always strong, who'll remember to comfort you? Look at you—breaking our hearts."
Masu (Zhihu response to "Thoughts on Chu Zhi's semifinal performance? Is he really as bad as Weibo claims?")
"The despair in Against the Light was palpable, but I've got a high tolerance for sadness—I held back tears through most of it. But then… Chu Zhi said, 'I hope everyone who hears my song—whether they hate me, really hate me, or especially hate me—can be surrounded by light.' That's when I lost it.
He knows he's public enemy number one online. He knows he's got no one in his corner. And yet, even as the world curses him, he's still trying to give us hope. The absurdity of it hit me like a truck. Here I am, a middle-aged guy drowning in life's frustrations, pissed at everything—and yet, compared to Chu Zhi, I'm living the dream.
I'm not saying 'suffering Olympics' logic applies here. But if someone who's suffered way worse than me is still trying to lift others up, what right do I have to wallow? I refuse to be outclassed in resilience by a kid half my age. That performance healed something in me.
I don't care what the internet says—if Chu Zhi drops an album, I'm buying it. Not as a fan, but as someone who was saved by his art. Tomorrow's another day. We'll find a way."
Douban, known for its artsy userbase, had its own wave of emotional posts under topics like:
"What's your ideal romance?"
"Which hobbies changed your life?"
"Your favorite lyric?"
One post, by user Dragon's Molar, stood out:
"I'm a high school senior prepping for college entrance exams when the doctor drops a bombshell: suspected systemic lupus erythematosus. My grandma had it. I'm terrified—if it's confirmed, I won't have time to study, and I'll become a burden to my family.
Tonight, Chu Zhi's performance gave me courage.
'I feel where love exists—it has always been by my side.'
That's my favorite lyric now. My parents will be my rock."
The combination of Against the Light's raw emotion and its message created a reaction no one anticipated—a wave of reasoned, compassionate discourse online.
The Three-Act Strategy
—Waves of Wheat – Rebranded Chu Zhi as the gentle soul of music.
—Desert Island – Garnered sympathy and a small loyal following.
—Against the Light – His withdrawal from the competition + undeniable talent = massive fan surge.
Chu Zhi's Weibo and Instagram had been dormant for months, comments disabled. His fans—self-dubbed "Little Oranges" (a play on his name and the proverb "Oranges turn bitter when planted north of the Huai River")—had nowhere to channel their support.
In desperation (and classic fandom impulsiveness), they flocked to the accounts of celebrities linked to Chu Zhi—whether allies or rivals—flooding them with a mix of concern and attacks. Targets included:
Wei Tongzi (openly supported Chu Zhi post-Desert Island, sharing photos with captions like "Fan goals achieved—Nine's the sweetest, zero diva vibes.")
Koguchi Yoshihiro (the boldest of all, praising Chu Zhi in Japanese on Weibo: "楚さんの『風が麦の波を吹く』は最高です!彼こそ本物の歌手だ!" – "Chu's Waves of Wheat is the best! He's a true artist!")
(Fun fact: Japanese does have punctuation like commas and periods, but exclamation/question marks are rare in formal writing—mostly seen in ads or variety shows.)