They were wearing club T-shirts from a university in northern Taiwan and were having a lively discussion.
"Ake, do you think Jay Chou will sing 'The Name of Heaven' tonight? I really want to hear it live!"
A slightly chubby boy wearing black-rimmed glasses, Wang Junhong, asked with a look of anticipation.
"Definitely! This is the Taipei Arena, so the classic songs are definitely going to be on the playlist. I actually hope he sings more of his early works, like 'Beautiful Woman' and 'So Much Love,' those are masterpieces!"
The boy called Ake is named Chen Zhike. He has a trendy middle-part hairstyle and wears a Jay Chou brand bracelet on his wrist. He speaks confidently.
"By the way, isn't there a special guest tonight? Wang Yueheng."
“His recent song ‘The Fleeting Years’ is really popular. My sister plays it in her room all day long.”
Another boy, Li Zhexuan, who looked rather refined, pushed up his glasses and said.
"Hmph, Wang Yueheng?"
"He's just a mainland artist who suddenly became popular. How can he compare to Jay Chou? Jay Chou has accumulated years of experience. Classical elements, movies, directing... he's an all-around genius! Wang Yueheng? He's just lucky, plus he's been promoted by the government. In terms of talent, they're worlds apart! Jay Chou is the true god of music!"
Chen Zhike's initial excitement faded, and he curled his lips, revealing a clear hint of disdain.
His voice was not loud, and his tone carried the superiority of a veteran fan and an instinctive aversion to "suddenly famous people".
These words sounded somewhat jarring amidst the noisy yet generally harmonious atmosphere around them.
"Hey, kid, aren't you being a bit too judgmental?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a girl who had been looking down at her camera equipment on another bench suddenly looked up.
Her name is Su Nianwei. She is in her early twenties, with a neat ponytail, wearing a white T-shirt with the words "Liyue Menghe" printed on it, and a media pass around her neck—she is a student in the Department of Journalism at Taipei University.
Two girls were sitting next to her, one of whom was her classmate and best friend, Zhang Xiaowen.
The other was a new friend I met through the fan club, Zheng Qing, a high school teacher.
All three of them bought tickets to this concert specifically because of Wang Yueheng.
Su Nianwei stood up and walked to Chen Zhike, her expression serious but restrained: "It's fine to like Jay Chou; he's an excellent musician. But is it necessary to elevate your idol by belittling other musicians? How many people have been inspired by Wang Yueheng's 'A Man Should Be Self-reliant' and 'The Motherland Will Not Forget'? How many people have been warmed by his video of spontaneously singing 'The Fleeting Years' for an old man at the night market? Is the quality of music only judged by seniority and so-called 'originality'? Isn't touching hearts and conveying strength also important values of music?"
"That's right!"
"Many of our friends changed their views on military songs and mainstream music for the first time after listening to Wang Yueheng's songs. His creative vision and positive energy are very rare in the music scene today. Moreover, he is a graduate of Tsinghua University and a naval ensign. His talent and character are impeccable, okay?"
Zhang Xiaowen also stood up to show her support.
"To truly love music and an artist is to appreciate their strengths and draw strength from their work, rather than comparing them to others or putting them down."
"Jay Chou has his greatness, and Wang Yueheng has his strengths; there's no conflict. We're all here to enjoy the music, aren't we?"...
Their words were reasonable and well-founded, and immediately resonated with some people around them.
"That's right!" "If you like something, just like it. Why put one down and praise the other?"...
Many fans holding Wang Yueheng's support items nodded in agreement.
Chen Zhike was refuted in public, especially by several girls, which made him lose face.
Wang Junhong and Li Zhexuan, who were standing next to him, also looked a little embarrassed. They tugged at him, signaling him to say less.
But Chen Zhike was young and impetuous, especially in the Taipei Arena, which he regarded as a "sacred place".
Surrounded by Jay Chou fans, an impulse to "defend his idol" made him raise his voice:
"Ha, that sounds nice! Vision? Positive energy? Those are just propaganda tools the authorities need! Jay Chou's music is true artistic expression, unrestrained by anything! No matter how popular Wang Yueheng's songs are, can they influence an entire generation and become a cultural symbol like Jay Chou's songs? Jay Chou's songs are the classics that have stood the test of time! He's only been in Taiwan for a few days? He's gained some buzz through marketing and coincidences, and he really thinks he can share the stage with a superstar? Tonight, he'll be lucky if he's not overwhelmed by Jay Chou's aura!"
These remarks were highly inflammatory and went beyond the scope of normal discussion, carrying a clear element of aggression.
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