Chapter 19: A Tide of Praise

Zhang Qiyang grasped Qin Xueyang’s hand, plump as a steamed bun, and gently pulled her to sit down. “Don’t get worked up for nothing, sit down. Eastnet isn’t going to cheat me—you should think about who I am. Would they dare to cheat me?”

His words were filled with confidence and authority.

Qin Xueyang was still unwilling to accept it, but on second thought, his logic made sense. Eastern Music Network was merely a subsidiary under the music division of Eastern Entertainment Group. That music division was itself just one of the less prominent branches under Eastern Entertainment. And the group as a whole was but a small part of the vast business empire of the Orient Group.

The young man before her, Zhang Qiyang, was none other than the heir apparent of Orient Group—the crown prince and future chief successor of the conglomerate.

To Eastnet, in the presence of this scion of the wealthiest family, they were so insignificant as to be negligible. They’d have to be out of their minds to even think of cheating him.

Yet the paid download figures for “Night Star” were abysmally low, and Qin Xueyang simply couldn’t understand it. So many people came to listen to the preview—why was no one willing to pay for the official release? Was Zhang Qiyang really that unpopular? If they didn’t like him, why would they rush over to listen to his song in the first place?

It was truly exasperating!

Zhang Qiyang himself felt helpless as he looked at the numbers, but this was the reality he had to face, and also the obstacle he would need to overcome in the future.

Given how much the previous owner of his body had been hated, the fact that several thousand people still bought the official release of “Night Star” immediately brought him comfort.

On the launch page for “Night Star,” a flood of fan reviews soon appeared.

Since the site only allowed those who had paid for the download to leave comments on the track’s page, these reviews were far more genuine and measured than the free-for-all rants found on Weibo.

The most upvoted review was by Eastnet’s chief music reviewer, “A Lifetime,” who had this to say about “Night Star”:

“In my memory, Lord Cannon’s voice has always carried a sense of loneliness, wildness, and icy detachment. Yet this ‘Night Star’ is different. In this new song, we still hear that familiar loneliness, but it is no longer accompanied by a cold, dark heart—instead, there is a warmth that melts the soul. This is a work worthy of repeated listening and savoring, a song with true warmth.”

The second most popular review came from Eastnet’s gold-star critic, “Why Fear the West Wind Sorrowing Over Painted Fans”:

“This is an outstanding piece. Whether from the lyrics or the melody, you feel a surge of strength injected straight into your heart. In recent years, Chinese pop songs have easily stirred emotions, excited crowds, or moved listeners to tears, but rarely have there been works that truly empower. ‘Night Star’ is just such a song—it gives people immense strength.”

Other gold-star critics had their comments pinned to the top as well.

One, in particular, was especially effusive and flattering, calling Zhang Qiyang “the brightest star in the night sky of the Chinese music scene tonight.”

It was clear these reviews were influenced by Eastnet's intentions to promote the song, but to earn such high praise from professional critics showed just how deeply this song had resonated with listeners.

Among the comments from ordinary fans, the song’s popularity was equally evident:

“I finally found a song I can set as my alarm without hating it. The surprise is, it’s actually by Lord Cannon!”

“Listening to this song brought back memories of my days on the mountain. No blaring horns, no polluted air, no computers. Only blue skies, white clouds, the sun, and a sky full of stars every night. Beautiful scenes I truly miss. I wish I could go back to that time.”

“So good! Damn good! Lord Cannon, you rock!”

“To my beloved Lord Cannon, please guide me—I want to chase you, to see you, to protect you! I really do love you!”

“No matter how hard life gets, you have to smile from the heart.”

“Music is a flavor, and this song makes me smell winter at university. Tonight, Lord Cannon is making everyone take notice.”

“I’ve never paid for a song before, Lord Cannon, you got my first time!”

“Same as the person above—my first time too, Lord Cannon. I was going to use these two bucks to buy a lottery ticket, but your song was just so damn good, I got excited and gave my lottery money to you. Lord Cannon, remember, you owe me a five-million-yuan jackpot!”

“For some reason, this song reminds me of those embarrassing days when I failed courses in college… Sigh.”

“I hope there’s a guy somewhere out there thinking of me. I want to be the brightest star in someone’s night sky.”

“I’d rather keep all my pain in my heart than forget your eyes!”

...

Reading these sincere, heartfelt messages, Zhang Qiyang was deeply moved. The power of music was truly boundless.

Sometimes, the emotions stirred by music left a deeper and more lasting impact than even his beloved films.

Qin Xueyang brought over her phone, showing the Eastnet app. There was a long review that had moved her, and she wanted Zhang Qiyang to read it too.

It was a candid and relatable review from an ordinary fan. The full text was as follows:

“Just heard this song, so here’s what I think.

I’ve been crazy busy lately, running around for work with nothing going smoothly—just a mess of frustration.

Because of my job, my girlfriend and I have been living apart in different cities. We only see each other on weekends or when I get home for meetings.

So tonight, I was in a pretty low mood, lying on my bed feeling like roadkill.

Then I heard Lord Cannon’s new song.

I’d heard his stuff before—if you can call it music—but honestly, it never clicked for me.

But this ‘Night Star’ really surprised me.

What caught me first was his switch between chest and falsetto. Maybe because I always run out of breath when I sing, so my voice cracks and goes falsetto, but singing along with this song felt so satisfying.

Then, reading the lyrics and listening again, I suddenly found my eyes welling up (I’m a big guy, covering my face). I thought of all the things my girlfriend has done for me, how she’s always been there for me through these tough, bleak nights, giving me support and courage.

Critics can say a lot from a professional angle, but for someone as tone-deaf as me, what matters most is who this song makes you think of. Who is the brightest star in your night?

Years from now, when I listen to this song again, I know I’ll remember today, and her—my star in the night.

That’s enough for me.”

...

“That’s really well written. Too bad it’s a bit long—if it were shorter, I’d repost it on Weibo to keep the buzz going,” Zhang Qiyang said.

“Don’t you dare repost reviews!” Qin Xueyang quickly stopped him. “You’re Lord Cannon! If you repost a review, your fans will look down on you. That’s not your style.”

“I know, I was just saying.”

There was no need for Zhang Qiyang to fan the flames on Weibo anymore, because “Night Star” had already swept through the platform like a warm tornado.

In less than half an hour, “Night Star” had seized the top spot on Weibo’s trending topics.

Countless fans were searching for the song.

Many influencers linked to Eastern Entertainment were promoting it as well.

But the official account of Eastern Music Network was pushing it the hardest.

Every time “Night Star” broke a new listening record, Eastnet’s official account would post a celebratory thread with a ten-thousand-yuan cash prize, flaunting the song’s meteoric rise and the records it was smashing that night!