Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 597 Global Hot Topic: The Value of Spying on Websites Has Exploded

Just as Shen Juan was making the most of his last moments to say goodbye to his girlfriend who was about to return to China, news about the Buckingham Palace award ceremony quickly swept across the global internet, with multiple terms and topics trending at the top of search results in various countries and regions.

Newsnight, produced by the BBC and covering multiple countries and regions including Greece, India, and the United States, is one such example.

Unlike regular news broadcasts, Newsnight does not pursue a large number of news items. Each episode usually focuses on 2-3 important events, and the content is developed through special reports, expert interpretations, and in-depth interviews with political figures and public figures. For example, seven years ago, the Chinese ambassador to the UK appeared on this program to explain China's solemn position on issues such as visiting sacred toilets and the Eland Sea Snapper. Overall, it is quite authoritative.

At this moment, four guests or debaters from different fields and with different professional backgrounds are sitting on either side of the studio.

The host started by addressing current hot topics.

"This afternoon, Alex Shen, a singer from China, received the CBE medal from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. This honor, which symbolizes the recognition of the British Royal Family, has caused quite a stir online. So, is he a well-deserved cultural ambassador or a product of political compromise?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the white commentator named Mark on the left leaned forward slightly, his tone filled with undisguised skepticism: "Well-deserved? Sorry, I absolutely disagree! The core of the CBE is to recognize those who have made substantial contributions to British society. Yes, Alex's songs are indeed very popular on global streaming platforms, and his Leviathan Era tour has become the highest-grossing tour in human history. However, he has never brought any innovation to the British music industry. On the contrary, he has squeezed out the living space and exposure resources of local artists. More importantly, in 2021, the UK is promoting cultural exchange activities with East Asian countries!"

"Therefore, in my view, this medal is more like a diplomatic gesture rather than a pure recognition of social contributions. Moreover, awarding the honor to a foreign artist who has spent less than a month in the UK to date is undoubtedly a devaluation of the medal system and a disregard for the feelings of the British people!"

"This is a shameful moment in history that all British citizens should remember! Every citizen should feel ashamed of this!"

It can only be said that every country has this kind of "wolf warrior" mentality, whose main purpose is to incite confrontational sentiments and rake in patriotic traffic.

As a person of Asian descent, and specifically Chinese, Shen Juan is naturally prone to provoking white-skinned wolves to condemn foreigners.

Sitting opposite him, a fair-skinned middle-aged woman named Lucy immediately retorted: "Without a doubt, Mr. Mark Thompson, you have confused the definition of social contribution! Alex's music has not only topped multiple authoritative charts and broken numerous prestigious records, but his tours have also generated enormous economic benefits for London! How many British teenagers have come to understand Eastern culture because of him, and thus come to appreciate this diverse world with a more inclusive mindset? Isn't this a groundbreaking cultural contribution? The original intention of CBE included recognizing cross-disciplinary value, and the social value that Alex has brought to Britain is extremely profound!"

"Moreover, we all know that during his time of charity work, the 'One World: Together at Home' global charity concert, which he spearheaded, raised over £500 million for the UK healthcare system, far exceeding the charitable donations from our local artists. Isn't this a contribution to society and the country?"

"Moreover, director Spielberg and Angelina Jolie are foreign nationals who have received honors. Alex's influence and philanthropic achievements have fully met or even exceeded their standards. So I'm very curious, why can they do it, but he can't? Is it because of his nationality? Or because of his skin color?"

While Wolf Warrior is highly aggressive, it also has its flaws.

Because in a free speech environment, it is easy to touch on racial issues and end up shooting oneself in the foot.

Therefore, there are simply too many countermeasures to list.

The program team specially invited a former Ministry of Culture official to take over the conversation: "But those foreign honorees either have long been rooted in the UK or have had a disruptive impact on a certain field in the UK. For example, Mr. Spielberg has brought huge international influence to the British film industry. But Alex Shen is different. Compared to the pioneers and promoters who have contributed to British music, he is more like a passerby who passed through the UK and took advantage of the popularity of a wave of fans. His popularity is certainly hot and his fans are certainly enthusiastic, but he spends less than ten days a year in the UK. Such a contribution is too superficial."

"More importantly, our people are still waiting for the OBE, while Adele and Ed Sheeran, who are equally popular, are only at the MBE level. So why give the higher-level CBE to foreigners? Don't the contributions of our local artists deserve priority recognition? When did Britain become the kind of country that needs to award honors to foreigners to gain influence?"

These are truly heartfelt words.

After all, he had worked diligently for decades without ever getting such a prestigious medal, while Shen Juan obtained it so easily. Moreover, it was awarded to him by the government in a way that was vying for favor with France. This made it really difficult for the old man to maintain his composure and psychological balance.

A well-known blogger who praised Shen immediately retorted: "Then let me ask you, isn't Alex's work mostly in English? Has he maintained the global influence of the English language? Cultural influence is never measured by length of residence; this value is far more profound than these current, visible, tangible benefits!"

"As for why the two you mentioned are MBEs while Alex is a CBE? The reason is simple, and I don't mean any offense to Ms. Adele and Mr. Ed Sheeran, but it's just the truth. They are not singers in the same league as Alex. Alex's achievements far surpass theirs! Alex's pop art is something all British singers should learn from!"

"Anyone who knows Alex can see that all the good moral qualities of modern humans that we can imagine are fully embodied in him!"

The audience fell into a brief silence, shocked by these sensationalist and traitorous remarks. The host then stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "The core of the controversy may lie in whether the standard of honor should serve the local community or transcend national borders and align with international standards. The answer to this question will probably require time to prove."

At the same time, it was early morning on Hong Kong Island.

In response to this matter, the front pages of newspapers, produced by working overtime late into the night, also presented a peculiar contrast, each representing a different stance.

The neutral Ming Pao published an article stating that Shen Juan's awarding of the Honours at Buckingham Palace marks a victory for the entire Chinese community.

The staunchly patriotic Ta Kung Pao focused on public welfare, its words filled with praise and affirmation for this source of pride for China.

Of course, where there is praise, there is criticism; controversy is never absent.

For example, the Aipo Daily, which is about to be shut down due to its rigidity, used a self-destructive approach to discredit Shen Juan. It published an article implying that Shen Juan used Western honors to raise his status and even questioned whether he, as the face of China, was excessively seeking the approval of foreign royal families and was a complete foreign worshipper!

It's rare to find someone who is exceptionally skilled at framing others.

This act of the thief crying "stop thief!" has made many netizens burst into laughter. Whether in simplified or traditional Chinese, it's hard to keep a straight face right now.

In random street interviews, some secondary school students rushing to school excitedly voiced their support for Shen Juan in front of the camera: "He's really amazing! Let those foreigners see the talent of our Chinese singers! No matter how envious and sour they are, it won't change the fact that he brings glory to us Chinese. He's awesome!"

Another office worker, who looked quite young, tried hard to suppress a laugh and made a wish to the camera: "Sorry, who is Shen Juan? I don't know him at all! But since he's making such a big deal out of it, let's wait for him to come to Hong Kong and hold ten or eight concerts, and then we'll see just how much he has to offer!"

Meanwhile, 700 kilometers away in Taiwan, the sounds of arguments on political talk shows have become an alarm clock waking people from their dreams.

On the studio stage, Lu Ying, a famous commentator, was spitting as he spoke: "Shen Juan simply paved his way up with the capital of Da Lu. This medal is Xi Fang's compromise with Da Lu! If our artists had the same resources, they should have received higher-level honors long ago! Actually, I think we should just copy his development model and not think too much about it."

"Didn't some scholars say that the probability of someone like Shen Juan becoming a sensation in North America is only one in ten thousand? That's easy, we can just go to universities and grab ten thousand young people with decent features, train them for three to five years, and one Shen Juan will definitely emerge in the future!"

"Moreover, if one out of ten thousand people produces one, and two out of twenty thousand produce two, how many college students does Taiwan have now? One million! This means that if we increase our resources for cultivating and educating young people now, in three to five years, we will have fifty Shen Juans and fifty female Shen Juans! How can we not revive our nation?"

Such arguments were quickly ridiculed by the public.

On the underworld forum PTT, the number of views and discussions on related topics has already exploded, and Shen Juan is a top influencer no matter where he is!
Supporters argued, "Music knows no borders, this honor is well-deserved!", "No matter what, Shen Juan has brought honor to us Chinese!", and "Damn! Those who belittle Shen Juan are just useless shut-ins. Once you actually go abroad, you'll know just how much Shen Juan has helped the Chinese community!"

The opposing side shouted, "They're just using numbers to create a spectacle!", "Britain is outdated; those medals aren't valuable enough!", "Shen Juan is an exception; his success doesn't mean other Chinese people can do it!", "Damn! This is ridiculously over-the-top! He hasn't even been to Taiwan yet, and we're already making such a fuss over him. If he actually came here for a concert, wouldn't everyone just surrender? Damn it!"

In addition to related news reports, many colleagues in the industry also shared their feelings about Shen Juan's award.

DuaLipa, being British, first offered his congratulations.

Although I can't help but feel a little envious, after all these years in the industry, she hasn't received even a single prestigious award.

But she acknowledged Shen Juan's strength and achievements.

Sometimes she even felt that this person was Gui!

Therefore, there is only envy, not jealousy.

She has a clear understanding of the gap between herself and Shen Juan.

Cardi B, who keeps a close eye on Shen Juan's activities and praises him relentlessly, also updated her Twitter, using her poor cultural literacy and a bunch of black slang and profanity to praise this friend she considers her best. In the past two years, as her popularity and exposure have been declining, she really wants to take advantage of Shen Juan's popularity to make a comeback!
American netizens aren't idiots, so they either teased her about wanting to eat big bananas from East Asia or mocked her for not being able to walk independently. They said she could brag about having chatted with Alex once for a lifetime. Even Sister Mariah Carey's Christmas "You'll Kill Me" is probably not as valuable as Sister B's party friendship (she only talked to Shen Juan at an awards ceremony)!
Then, on the domestic side...
Han Hong succinctly stated: 【Master Juan is truly amazing!】

She admired Shen Juan.

And it's the kind of appreciation that's beyond appreciation!

The reason is simple: they all love doing charity.

Even during the Yiqing period last year, when her foundation was questioned by the public, Shen Juan indirectly stood up for her.

Then, Shen Juan's temperament and personality suited her very well.

Therefore, she is definitely the most influential celebrity fan!

Yes, it has the most weight in a physical sense!
David Tao jokingly posted on Weibo that if he and Penny went to England after the friendship ended, they could tell the restaurant owner that he was Shen Juan's mentor and ask if they could enjoy free drinks.
Before Shen Juan could even interact with this mentor-like figure, his fans had already flooded the comments section, showering this "mentor" who had imparted so much useful experience to Shen Juan with the most sincere insults, and subjecting the poor Hu Tao to a thorough and relentless humiliation from head to toe.

It's no wonder fans hate David so much. After all, his behavior is notoriously problematic.

So of course, Xiao Chunjuan would shift the blame onto him.

An excited Lay also shared a photo of himself and Shen Juan backstage at "Idol Producer" on Weibo and Instagram, with the caption: "Proud of you, brother! We're both working hard in our respective fields! See you at the top! #ChinaPower #Friendship #SeeYouAtTheTop"

Shen Juan never responded to this behavior.

But Master Lay just keeps doing it with such enthusiasm.

My buddy loves to fawn over Alex while being ignored, and he loves being disliked by his own fans and scolded by Shen Juan's fans.

Cai Xukun and Wang Jiaer also became sycophants, praising him wildly.

Of course, Jackson is a bit more sycophantic in comparison.

After all, Kun Kun is a top influencer, so he still has some self-respect.

Of course, it is precisely because he is often too proud to admit his mistakes that he misses many opportunities to attract more customers and advance his career.

This often frustrated him.

With the March ban about to end, Wu Jiaheng, who is about to announce his comeback and resume work, is also very worried.

That damn Shen Juan is so arrogant and rampant now. Once I make my comeback, will he just find some excuse to send me back to jail again?

Because he had been humiliated by Shen Juan by stepping on his head so many times in the past two years, he now suffers from a serious psychological disorder that makes him terrified of the mere mention of Shen Juan's name. Just seeing the name "Shen Juan" online makes his heart race and makes him feel breathless. If he were to meet Shen Juan in person, he would probably be so scared that he would urinate a few drops.

And that big-faced girl named Tian Xiwei
Is this guy going to explode at me again?

Holy crap, how could Shen Juan be so wicked!
What's the point of keeping so many coolies and cowardly suicide soldiers?
Are you trying to ruin the Chinese entertainment industry?!

As for the Pug's situation, which everyone is very concerned about?
Before Shen Juan officially reconciles with him, he obviously won't be updating his status anytime soon to avoid being over-interpreted.

As a top figure in the Chinese music scene, he still has some self-respect and won't shamelessly pander to Shen Juan like David Tao.

In addition, fans and netizens were shocked by the fact that Shen Juan had been awarded honorary medals by both Britain and France, and left many comments.

Three years ago, he sang at his birthday celebration. Three years later, he was awarded a medal at Buckingham Palace. Every step Shen Juanjun takes paves the way for Asian culture; this is truly the light of Asia! He elevates personal honor to the collective level; this is true responsibility!

As a Serbian, I only began to learn about Asian culture through Alex. He has indeed brought a lot of positive changes to his country and region through his own efforts, and he truly deserves this honor.

[At 22, he's already a CBE (Certified Ennobled) – is being ennobled far behind?]

[To be treated with such respect by all heads of state truly makes him a shining example of Asian excellence! In a time when the West holds sway, Shen Juan has achieved almost everything an Asian artist aspires to! His existence is of extraordinary significance to the entire Asian continent.]

[To all you die-hard fans of Shen Juan, I just have one question: Does Shuang Gu Long have the same influence as Shen Juan? Would he be received by so many high-ranking heads of state when he goes abroad? Don't give me that nonsense about African tribes having seen his movies. If I wanted to, I could find traces of Shen Juan's songs in so many African tribes!]

Shen Juan's accolades are truly impressive! They'd be impressive even in Europe, let alone considering he's Chinese. So I'm really curious about the attitudes of these online celebrities in China. Where do you get the nerve to constantly associate yourself with Shen Juan for marketing? Sometimes the difference between people is greater than the difference between a person and a dog, and in front of Shen Juan, you're just a bunch of stray dogs wagging your tails!

[I think the most anxious people right now are those Gangdu guys who've lost their horses. The big-circled kids they look down on were personally awarded medals by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, while they've waited so many years and still haven't received a master's embrace. They're probably about to explode!]

Considering the complex historical entanglements between the two countries and the British's meddling diplomatic style, I have ample reason to suspect that the British are deliberately trying to annoy France this time. The Knight's Cross is the fifth level of the French Legion of Honour, while the CBE is the third level of the Order of the British Empire, just one step away from being awarded the KBE and knighted. The cunning British are clearly trying to curry favor with this pop star and take the opportunity to sow discord between him and France. And indeed, many fans already think France is too stingy, hahaha!

Public opinion was clearly outraged.

So many fans and netizens are proud of this!
After all, Britain, as a long-established global superpower that colonized the world in previous centuries, still retains an undeniable influence in many areas, especially in its former colonies, even though its development is lagging and it is being despised by many.

In short, with the improvement of China's comprehensive national strength, the Chinese people certainly do not need their recognition and approval.

In an era when even the Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, and biology, which benefit all of humanity, are being questioned, nothing is impossible.

However, this does not prevent their recognition from having a certain social value and authority internationally, especially in the Western world.

Moreover, it is the Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Knight of the Legion of Honour.

He was awarded medals in succession at the age of 22.

Even globally, very few people can unlock this achievement, let alone in East Asia on the other side of the continental plate.

Therefore, many self-media marketing accounts and online video bloggers, in order to gain traffic, have specifically analyzed and explained the value, difficulty, and significance of Shen Juan's achievement through videos or texts. They have used this as an opportunity to further enhance Shen Juan's influence and social status in the public's mind, thereby promoting the transformation of his image from an entertainment star to a national pride.

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The noise and disturbances from the outside world cannot affect the parties involved.

It was 1 a.m. London time.

Shen Juan, who has been posting frequently lately, updated her Instagram again.

alexs: Goodnight, London.

The accompanying photos were some pictures he casually took while strolling around London with Xiao Shen tonight, which they thought had a certain artistic merit.

Fans currently in London or who have been to London before went wild upon seeing these familiar street scenes, expressing deep regret in the comments section. They lamented that if they had known Alex was going out for a walk that night, they would have braved the heavy snow to arrest him! They might have missed the best chance of their lives to meet Shen Juan!

Meanwhile, in a forgotten corner, an account with only a handful of followers also updated its status at the same time.

jocelyns: Goodnight, London.

Although the photos posted did not overlap with those of Shen Juan, if Leeuwenhoek were to compare these photos side by side, he would quickly discover that they were all taken with the same camera. In fact, in one of the photos posted by user jocelyns, a blurry figure resembling Shen Juan could be seen reflected in the shop window.

Unfortunately, no one really pays attention to this alternate account unless Xiao Shen actively seeks out the media to leak information and promote himself.
But this is obviously impossible.

As for Sister Tian, ​​who always gets trending on Weibo with the hashtag #SisterTian'sStatus# whenever she's involved in a scandal with Shen Juan, she's always the subject of jokes from netizens.

Because of her previous criminal record on Weibo, which made it unsuitable for her to reappear in a short period of time, and considering the excessive harassment from a group of savages on the internet, Sister Tian, ​​who calls herself a modern-day Mulan, has brought her talents to the internet and led her air force to engage in a bloody battle with those problematic users of traditional Chinese characters.

Loyal bones are buried everywhere in the green mountains, so why should we return home wrapped in horsehide?
Being banned on the internal network is a disgrace!

Getting your account banned on foreign websites is an honor!

I might be able to tolerate being insulted!

But insulting Shen Juan and our country is unacceptable!
what?
The courtesan, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still sings "The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard" across the river.
While we were fighting tooth and nail to protect Shen Juan, he was subtly showing off his love for his girlfriend on Instagram.

Hehe, even if that's true, what does it matter?

You protect the world, I will protect you.

Regardless of what others think or feel, she's prepared to give her heart to this stinky dog!
(End of this chapter)