Chapter 136: “Ran, Listen to Me—We’re Not Going to Cheat.”

Eight o'clock in the evening.

As the clock struck, the first episode of the first season of "Voice of Nature" officially premiered.

This moment had been long awaited by countless netizens and viewers. After all, the production team had released so many behind-the-scenes teasers and engaged in such extensive promotion that the audience's anticipation had reached a fever pitch well before the broadcast.

Countless viewers were poised in front of their screens, waiting for the show to begin. This is the benefit of effective marketing; it can quickly capture an audience. However, the prerequisite remains that the program itself must be solid. If the quality is lacking, the backlash can be brutal—shows being canceled immediately after their debut is not unheard of.

As eight o'clock arrived, "Voice of Nature" officially began. Although it started with promotional trailers, even then, the livestream flooded with a massive influx of fans.

Within mere seconds, the screen was completely overwhelmed, occupied by a sea of comments. If one chose not to disable the scrolling text, it would be impossible to see the footage on screen.

"Love Ran for a lifetime, never to be parted."
"Fly bravely, Zhou Ran, Ran-fans will follow forever!"
"Here for Sister Yuan, looking forward to the collaboration with Zhou Ran!"
"Destined for three lifetimes, here for you!"
"The visual-fans have arrived, move aside, everyone!"

The comments in the chat could roughly be divided into four factions. By far the most numerous were the fans of Zhou Ran, who accounted for more than half of the total volume.

This clearly demonstrated the combat effectiveness of Zhou Ran's fanbase. Of course, a large part of this was because Zhou Ran had been inactive for so long; the sudden return to the screen had left his fans bursting with excitement, having been bottled up for quite some time.

Moreover, Zhou Ran possessed the largest following among all the contestants and partners. He was something of an anomaly in this program; as a musical partner, his popularity surpassed that of the actual singers, creating a somewhat inverted dynamic.

Zhou Ran’s follower count on Weibo alone was nearing 50 million, with his total across all platforms exceeding 100 million. While these figures may have been inflated, they still provided a glimpse into the scale of his base.

Behind Zhou Ran’s fan corps, the next largest groups were the fans of Zhang Yuan and Xu Yan. Both women were established "little divas" in the industry, so their following was substantial, even if their engagement in the chat wasn't as fierce as Zhou Ran's.

This is a common reality. Many singers appear to have lukewarm online presence, yet their concert tickets sell out in minutes, leaving others with no chance to even try (yes, Xu Song, I am talking about you—getting tickets to your concerts is absolutely impossible, my god!). Conversely, some viral celebrities seem incredibly popular, yet their concert ticket sales remain mediocre.

Aside from these three, the remaining comments came from the combined fans of other singers and casual viewers, illustrating the ecosystem within "Voice of Nature."

It is a harsh reality: those with a fan base always hold a higher status than those without. In identical circumstances, organizers will always prioritize resources for those who can bring in a larger audience and, consequently, greater profit.

If one wishes to break through these limitations and secure better resources, the path is simple: follow Zhou Ran’s lead and break out through sheer talent. Step by step, if your ability is strong enough, you can naturally shatter these barriers. Even capital will eventually bow to you and seek collaboration.

After the long introductory segments and promotional trailers, the show finally transitioned into the main content.

The program was split into two parts: behind-the-scenes footage of the contestants composing or arranging their songs, and the actual stage performances.

When the footage of the contestants creating their music was shown, it immediately captured the audience's attention. To them, seeing their idols in their private, creative element was the most compelling part of the show. Such behind-the-scenes glimpses are rarely seen, and "Voice of Nature" can be credited with a successful innovation here.

When the segment featuring Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan composing together aired, it triggered a minor frenzy among the viewers.

Seeing Zhou Ran compose a song in just a few minutes completely shattered their logic. It was terrifying. The viewers in the chat felt exactly like the cameraman on set: utterly shocked.

"No way, Zhou Ran, you already have a song? What kind of speed is that!"
"Others are still pondering how to adapt or create a song based on the theme, and you've already got one finished???"
"Ran, listen to me, bro, turn off the hacks. Don't cheat, it’s no fun!"
"Others are still learning how to walk, and you're already flying? Did you just skip the running phase? What are you doing!"
"Is this pre-prepared?"

Without exception, the audience was stunned by Zhou Ran's creative speed. It defied common sense; while others were still searching for inspiration, Zhou Ran had already finished his work.

Was this the difference between an ordinary person and a genius? Many viewers began to suspect that Zhou Ran had prepared the songs in advance and only brought them out once the show started. Some even suspected collusion between Zhou Ran and the production team.

Wang Chong, the producer, had long anticipated these concerns. He had privately asked Zhou Ran beforehand if he had prepared anything in advance, especially since the theme he provided for the first episode was broad enough to potentially be guessed.

However, when Wang Chong asked, Zhou Ran simply gave him a reassuring gesture, indicating that these were all spontaneous ideas and that there was no need to worry.

In any case, these songs were all in Zhou Ran's mind; no one had any evidence to prove they were prepared in advance.