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Since debuting in 2015, Lu Chen's fanbase has grown at an astonishing rate, especially on Wave Blog, where his follower count skyrocketed from just tens of thousands to over 15 million in just half a year.
But at the heart of his fan support has always been the Lu Family Army, the core fan group originally established by Li Mubai.
To date, the Lu Family Army boasts over 500,000 members, serving as the backbone of Lu Chen's fandom. With more than 200 WeChat groups, they operate across multiple platforms, anchored in Whale TV's Lu Chen livestream room, the official Lu Chen fan club on Wave Blog, and Lu Chen Bar, forming a massive and highly organized fan network.
On the evening of February 18, 2016, the Asian Chinese Music Awards, hosted by CCTV and CNR and broadcast live, drew the attention of thousands of Lu Chen fans thanks to his four award nominations.
Many fans were glued to the TV or watching livestreams, while simultaneously chatting and posting feverishly on forums and fan sites. On Lu Chen Bar, new threads popped up every second, and page views shattered previous records.
These fans weren't fans of Whale TV or the Wave Blog interface; instead, they were long-time forum dwellers, passionately posting in Lu Chen Bar. Anytime there was an event, they'd rally in force, so frequently that people often referred to them collectively as "shuijun (water army)."
There are two types of "shuijun":
Bottled water (paid posters)
Tap water (volunteers who post out of genuine support)
Lu Chen Bar's posters? Almost entirely filled with tap water.
So when Lu Chen won Best Newcomer, the forum exploded in celebration. Congratulations poured in like lava erupting from a cracked crust, the homepage was awash in festive red threads!
But this fiery excitement didn't last long. As the awards ceremony continued, the atmosphere slowly cooled, especially when Lu Chen lost the Best Lyrics Award. The tone in the forum shifted to collective sighs of disappointment.
"No surprise he didn't get Best Lyrics. Kinda expected."
"No offense, but… who even are these people? I seriously don't know any of them."
"You don't know Wang Guangzong? Never heard of 'Spring Dawn', 'Moonlight Over My Homeland', 'At the End of the Road'?"
"Say what you want, but Wang Guangzong is legit. A real industry heavyweight. It's not shocking Lu Chen didn't win."
"Not shocked? Even if Wang was great in the past, I've never heard his winning song! Meanwhile, everyone knows 'I Love You, China'!"
"Awards aren't just about how popular the song is."
Though many Lu Chen Bar fans were disappointed and frustrated over the loss, most took it in stride. There weren't many radical outbursts or accusations of censorship or rigging.
Compared to how Lu Chen was snubbed on other domestic charts like the Chinese Music Ranking Mid-Year Chart, this recognition felt fair, at least CCTV wasn't being shady this time.
Of course, some fans stayed hopeful.
One thread read: "Don't panic, folks, we still have Best Composition and Best Album to go!"
Someone else quickly replied: "Yeah! Best Composition is up next. Lu Chen still has a chance!"
But not everyone agreed.
A user with the ID [Heavy Metal Element] posted: "If he couldn't even win Best Lyrics, you think he's getting Best Composition? Dream on. 'I Love You, China' is mediocre at best, riding the wave of patriotic vibes. Wouldn't have even been nominated otherwise."
"Frankly, Lu Chen's being way overhyped. Newcomers like Lin Chuxuan are no worse than him."
This user clearly wasn't a fan, his fan value was 0, which instantly set off the forum regulars. Dozens of rebuttals flooded in:
"Where did this troll come from? Take your negative energy and GTFO."
"Hehe. Jealousy much?"
"So sour your teeth are falling out. Lemme guess, you're a Lin Chuxuan fan?"
"Don't feed the troll. He's clearly just here to stir the pot."
Despite the backlash, [Heavy Metal Element] doubled down:
"Hehe, so this is the 'quality' of Lu Chen's fans? Learned something new today. I'll say this right now, if he wins Best Composition, I'll eat this custom-made Modong keyboard in front of me!"
That last line was classic internet bait, and it lit a firestorm across the forum.
Betting to eat a keyboard is a long-running in-joke among Chinese netizens, especially on forums. Some even jokingly bet on eating worse. (Let's not go there.) There was once someone who "ate a keyboard" after losing a bet, a chocolate keyboard, of course.
So no one really believed he'd eat the thing. But the problem was, [Heavy Metal Element]'s tone was incredibly grating, he insulted the whole fanbase with one post.
His mention of a "custom Modong keyboard" was also a subtle jab.
Modong keyboards are luxury items, entry-level ones cost thousands of RMB, and custom models can go for tens of thousands. Most forum-goers, being everyday people, couldn't afford one.
So this added a layer of elitist mockery that rubbed many fans the wrong way.
Still, some fans chose to remain silent in the face of his arrogance.
Because to be honest, Lu Chen's chances of winning Best Composition really were slim.
That category carries far more weight than Best Lyrics or Best Newcomer, and in the history of the Asian Chinese Music Awards, no one has ever won both Best Newcomer and Best Composition in the same year.
The Most Important Thing Was, Lu Chen's Competition Was Just Too Strong!
Dong Zhen, Zhang Keyi, and Tang Xiya, all titans in the field!
Normally, songwriters are far less well-known than performer-singers, they're simply not in the same league in terms of public recognition.
A great song that's heard across the nation from the Yangtze to the Great North will usually make people remember the performer, not the songwriter, unless the songwriter is also the singer. No matter how much status a songwriter has in the showbiz world, that's a reality they can't escape.
And Dong Zhen, Zhang Keyi, and Tang Xiya, they're all well-known composers whose names fans remember.
That's exactly why [Heavy Metal Element] dared to publicly roast Lu Chen and his fans in Lu Chen Bar with such reckless arrogance, because on paper, Lu Chen didn't stand a chance.
So what was the point of arguing back? It would only feed his ego.
Meanwhile, as flame wars raged online, back at the National Grand Theater, the winner of Best Composition was about to be revealed.
The presenter? Li Xing.
Now 32 years old, Li Xing is one of the rare triple-threat superstars in China, 17 years in the industry, more than a dozen albums released, numerous film and TV roles under her belt, and accolades across the board.
In terms of seniority and star power in the entertainment world, she even ranks above Chen Fei'er, although the latter's recent breakout in 'Autumn in My Heart' has put her neck-and-neck.
Tonight, Li Xing wore a deep sapphire-blue evening gown with a plunging neckline, her elegant and mature aura magnified under the spotlights, an undeniable presence.
Gracefully, she tore open the sealed envelope and unfolded the card inside.
The next second, China's pop queen showed a look of astonishment, as if she'd just seen something unbelievable.
Her expression was instantly broadcast on the massive LED screen behind her and beamed to millions watching at home.
But seasoned awards show viewers knew this kind of suspenseful acting was par for the course, just part of the theatrical flair presenters love to bring. It was rarely as dramatic as it looked.
The audience in the hall barely flinched, used to the routine, they quietly waited for the name to be announced.
Then Li Xing parted her lips and calmly announced two words: "Lu Chen."
Lu Chen? Lu Chen?!
How could it be Lu Chen?!
The audience was momentarily stunned, as if the side character had suddenly become the lead of the story.
Unbelievable.
But then the music started playing throughout the auditorium, confirming what everyone had just heard:
"The lark flies across the blue sky...
I love you, China~
I love you, China~
I love you, China~"
"I love your vibrant spring seedlings,
I love your golden autumn harvest…"
No doubt about it. It was Lu Chen's "I Love You, China"!
With this already wildly popular song, Lu Chen took home the 16th Asian Chinese Music Awards' Best Composition Award, earning his second Golden Lark trophy, and this one carried even more weight.
Li Xing smiled: "Congratulations to Lu Chen!"
The spotlight locked in on Lu Chen.
He was completely stunned, having just lost Best Lyrics, he never imagined he'd win Best Composition. The surprise caught him totally off guard, and it showed on his face.
But honestly, his reaction was totally natural. He's not a robot, anyone would be shocked in his shoes.
Chen Fei'er gently nudged him, turned with a smile, and said: "Congratulations!"
She was the first to start clapping.
It was as if the rest of the audience suddenly woke from a dream, cheers erupted, followed by a wave of thunderous applause.
Who would've thought CCTV would drop such a bombshell? Entertainment news outlets were going to have a field day tomorrow.
To be fair, Lu Chen's win was well-deserved. His nominated piece, "I Love You, China," perfectly blended pop sensibilities with a patriotic melody, and is arguably the most well-crafted and widely loved song of its kind in recent years.
The only reason no one had expected him to win was that his competition was so strong.
One long-standing criticism of the Asian Chinese Music Awards, now in its 16th year, is that it's often driven by seniority, major awards almost never go to newcomers.
But now, in its final year under this name, the awards threw a curveball.
Still, any clear-eyed observer could tell that CCTV wasn't just trying to stir up buzz, this was a deliberate effort to encourage and support the new generation of pop musicians, giving young artists like Lu Chen more opportunities to shine.
This was a great sign for the future of Chinese pop music, and it made everyone all the more excited for the upcoming Global Chinese Music Awards, set for December 31st, a merger and upgrade of the Asian Chinese Music Awards and the China Original Music Charts.
So after the initial shock, the audience gave Lu Chen a roaring ovation as he took the stage.
This was his moment of glory.
(End of Chapter)