56 Internet Response

Finally, the long-prepared Canxing Nova Awards concluded amidst a joyful atmosphere. As expected, this grand event generated a series of outstanding musicians who received awards, and in the days following its conclusion, the buzz surrounding the Nova Awards reached its peak.

While TMY had been nominated for the Top Rising Star Award along with the eight others who won their category, she was defeated by the pop award winner, Eric Moon.

But she didn't mind. She never expected to win in every category, as Electronic Music was the only lacking genre.

To give a metaphor, Electronic Music in this world was similar to Country Music in her previous world. Sure, there were some decent songs, and most people knew it existed, but all the songs began to sound the same after a while. Over time, the ceiling for quality had lowered, so she had easily broken the ceiling and now had the entire sky above to grow.

A genre like pop, however, was only growing larger. The ceiling was sky-high, which made Eric Moon's win more substantial. Standing out in a sea of trees is much more complicated than in a hedge maze, after all.

But all contestants who won, and even some runner-ups, had their fate changed overnight. Standing out in a forest is much easier if all the other trees are cut down.

Pop, rock, folk, and more - the search volumes of the award winners skyrocketed, and their social media accounts substantially increased in followers.

Among them was the recipient of the Electronic Music Producer award - TMY.

Since the Canxing Nova Award was broadcast simultaneously on multiple satellite TV stations, even those who usually paid little attention to the internet became aware of this rising producer. With such heightened interest, even those who were not regular electronic music listeners were likely to check out a few songs, wanting to find out more.

Subsequently, when they approached TMY's music with a mindset of exploration, many people discovered that once they delved into it, they couldn't pull away. Numerous individuals were astonished by the innovative way of musical expression.

They couldn't fathom how TMY created electronic music, why her imagination was so vast, and how she managed to play with the sounds of music in such a way.

Moreover, it was entirely different from the electronic music they had heard before!

Whether it was "Fox" or the award-winning piece "Closer" and "Solo Dance," the number of plays for each song soared.

However, there was one point worth mentioning. Many electronic fans had hoped to see TMY's face when receiving her award, which never happened. This disappointed many, and fans couldn't help but voice their grievances.

On the Light Cloud Music platform, the comment section for "Closer" witnessed a significant surge, surpassing the 80,000 mark.

"Wow, amazing! I discovered a new world. I came from the Canxing Nova, and these songs are incredible."

"I first heard this song at my local supermarket but never worked up the courage to ask the employees what it was called. Who would have thought that watching the Nova Awards would bring me such an unexpected reward."

"^^ *The Search Function has left the chat*"

"This award is truly legitimate!!! Oh my god! TMY deserves to be a Canxing producer!"

"TMY didn't make an appearance. I wonder what emotions I would have if I were that poor employee who accepted the award on behalf of TMY. I'm so curious."

"Honestly, I feel bad for them. They didn't sign up for a national television appearance."

"Understandable. I guess there must be a reason they choose not to show their face. I heard that Yang He, the director of Light Cloud Music, is close to TMY. I wonder if it's true."

"By the way...am I the only one who noticed that The Rex is back to commenting on Weibo? And they even apologized?"

"^Obviously, we're not the only ones. Our village has had internet access for a long time."

"Wow, he really apologized."

Eric: "Hey @Cheng_Xiaofan, you wanna apologize too?"

"Wait, hold on, guys, I have a theory. Eric, talking about Cheng Xiaofan? Where have I heard this before?"

"Is this Eric Moons alt account?"

"I think it must be!!"

Eric: "Wait! Guys!!!"

And quickly, an account with the name Eric gained 50,000 followers...

- - - - - - - - - -

The comment section of TMY was abuzz with praise and messages filled with joy.

There was something that captured the attention of fans and listeners alike. The former rising star producer, known as The Rex, unexpectedly reopened the long-dormant comment function on their Weibo account. To add to the surprise, they shared a lengthy apology in their latest post, mentioning TMY and the Light Cloud Music platform.

These developments have sparked intrigue. Based on the analysis of many TMY fans, it appears that The Rex has been under immense pressure, particularly after missing the opportunity to become the premier electronic producer. The weight on The Rex's shoulders has become unbearable.

Despite occasional snide remarks, TMY fans have become more restrained and halted their constant criticism. Their presence in the limelight gradually diminished as the spotlight shifted away from The Rex. Instead of receiving hundreds of thousands of likes, their posts now receive merely tens of thousands.

Not too long ago, The Rex boasted a staggering 8 million followers on Weibo. However, within a short period, a series of incidents unfolded. Now, the count stands at just over three and a half million followers.

Furthermore, the rate of new followers has significantly slowed. The growth rate has plummeted by 1000%, and it would take considerable PR efforts to regain traction within a few years.

This dramatic rise and fall in popularity underscore the unforgiving reality of this industry, where mercy is a rare commodity.

...

While the online world is buzzing with activity, a place that never rests or quiets down, the real-life situation is quite different.

For instance, Tang Miaoyi has returned to her peaceful life after the grand Canxing Nova Awards.

On this particular Sunday, it was the second day since the ceremony's conclusion, and Miaoyi, who had already adjusted her sleeping and waking patterns, got out of bed early. She gazed at the ceiling for about fifteen minutes, lost in her thoughts.

It wasn't until Qiuying entered the room to remind her to have breakfast that Miaoyi fully snapped out of her daze.

She quickly dressed and freshened up. Miaoyi watched anime on her phone at the dining table while enjoying a breakfast of milk and cornflakes with honey, feeling particularly hungry.

Qiuying, also having breakfast, suddenly asked, "By the way, Miaoyi, do you have any plans for today? You can't just stay cooped up at home, can you?"

"Plans?" Miaoyi tapped her phone screen a few times with her little finger, pausing the video. She wrinkled her tiny nose and replied, "I... don't have any plans. Why are you asking?"

Miaoyi had intended to spend a relaxing weekend at home. For her, having a phone and internet connection was akin to being in heaven.

Qiuying said, "Well, I might go for groceries since we're running low. If you're free, let's go out together and do some shopping?"

"Buy things?" Miaoyi added more honey to her bowl, stared into the distance briefly, and thought about it. "Hmm... then let's go together. I also need to purchase a few things."

If Qiuying hadn't mentioned shopping, she wouldn't have realized. But now that she did, Miaoyi suddenly remembered that, as an electronic music producer, a vital piece of equipment was missing from her collection.

She couldn't afford it in the past, but now, as TMY, it would be easy to buy.

"What are you planning to buy?" Qiuying asked with a puzzled expression.

"A gas stove!... No, wait, a DJ turntable!" Tang Miaoyi corrected herself.

"Honestly, a gas stove doesn't sound bad..."