As "Pegasus" took flight and became a massive hit, critics spontaneously recommended the film. Audiences who had seen it debated the ending, with many wondering, "Did Zhang Chi really die?" Some believed he likely survived after falling into the sea. Others pointed out that the descriptions of Bayinbulak mentioned cliffs, forests, and snow-capped mountains, but no sea, suggesting the screenwriter intentionally omitted it. Therefore, they concluded Zhang Chi must have died, and the post-credit scene was his son's imagination.
A more elaborate theory emerged: Zhang Chi had actually died five years prior on the night of the car race, and the entire film was a dream of his close friend, Sun Yuqiang. Earlier, when Zhang Chi and Sun Yuqiang went to rent a car from Manager Ye, Manager Ye said, "I've done my best," to which Sun Yuqiang replied, "It's okay, Doctor." This led to speculation that Sun Yuqiang, devastated by his best friend's death, had suffered a mental breakdown and, in his delusion, addressed the manager as a doctor. The theory further suggested that the car crashing off the cliff at the end was also Sun Yuqiang's fantasy, and the real Zhang Chi had died five years ago after falling from a building. "There was no champion racer, it was just Sun Yuqiang's dream." This theory left many viewers heartbroken. "Don't shatter my Dao heart!" "Your imagination is truly wild!" "If this is true, I'll kill you first, then kill the old thief Jiang Nan!"
A good drama not only provides a satisfying viewing experience but also resonates with the audience and sparks discussion. "Pegasus" achieved this, with Zhang Chi's relentless pursuit of victory and the film's overarching theme of "dedication" providing ample talking points. Screenwriter Jiang Nan and director Gu Qianqian also became subjects of analysis by film critics. The production team's strategy of remaining steadfast in the face of initial negative reactions was a groundbreaking marketing move, saving on promotional costs and showcasing the capabilities of Jiang Nan and Gu Qianqian. From that moment on, no one dared suggest Jiang Nan's success was solely due to "Listening to Rain." The novice director Gu Qianqian also gained widespread recognition.
In the following days, the box office for "Pegasus" surged, while "Chasing Dreams of the Entertainment Industry" declined sharply, suffering collateral damage. Douban ratings for "Chasing Dreams of the Entertainment Industry" plummeted to 3.2 and continued to fall. The market is such that without comparison, differences between films of the same genre are not readily apparent. However, once contrasted, a clear, overwhelming disparity emerges. The production team of "Chasing Dreams of the Entertainment Industry" lamented their misfortune in encountering Jiang Nan's film.
December arrived, and the third episode of "Masked Singer" began recording. Backstage at "Masked Singer," Su Yu scrolled through Weibo's trending topics, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He had been rather uncertain this time. Surprisingly, Jiang Nan's film, despite its initial poor performance, became a trending topic, which in turn propelled the movie to popularity. Otherwise, according to Su Yu's expectations, it would have taken at least two more days to ignite. However, the outcome was good. Jiang Nan's massive success had firmly established him in the film and television industry. He noticed many online comments comparing him to "Listening to Rain" in the industry. "Listening to Rain" was known for not relying on popular idols, instead using newcomers and achieving success in the era of traffic solely through quality. Jiang Nan had done the same this time, with no popular stars in his film, a novice director, and minimal promotion initially, successfully turning the tide through quality. The feeling was very familiar, carrying the unmistakable essence of "Listening to Rain." The film and television industry was truly on the cusp of change! Many industry insiders felt a premonition.
Su Yu, reading the online comments about Jiang Nan, smiled and posted a message from Jiang Nan's account: "Thank you for your support!" After sending the message, he shifted his focus away from the film and television industry to concentrate on completing the recording of this episode.
"Welcome everyone to 'Masked Singer,' exclusively sponsored by Xiang Guo Wu Yu..." The host took the stage. In the previous episode, Night Rabbit had showcased his high-pitched vocals for the first time. Although the falsetto in "Moonlight" lacked the raw power of a full-throated shout, Night Rabbit's vocal performance had captivated many viewers. Discussions about him now associated him with powerful singers. It's worth noting that before the last episode, many believed Night Rabbit was merely taking a niche path by relying on his versatile voice. Judge Yin Na was a leading proponent of this view. However, after the performance of "Moonlight" in the last episode, Yin Na's impression of Night Rabbit had changed. "I'm quite looking forward to Night Rabbit's performance this episode," she said, smiling at the other judges as she looked at the stage.
"I'm curious to see what song Listening to Rain will write for him. I heard about that online event where Listening to Rain adopted a netizen's story and promised Night Rabbit would sing it on this episode of 'Masked Singer'," Mo Yan said, leaning back in his chair with an expectant smile. He was very much following Listening to Rain, especially his every move online. Not long ago, when Listening to Rain responded to a comment from someone who provided a story online, Mo Yan had also commented, expressing his anticipation. Music maestro Jiang Qian had also commented. These two, widely recognized as fans of Listening to Rain, had their actions become unsurprised by netizens. They, who usually maintained a high-profile distance and rarely posted on Weibo, would invariably pay attention and like Listening to Rain's updates.
"I'm different from both of you; I'm more eager to see the performance of Faceless Knight," Liu Huan said with a smile. He had refused to vote for Li Yuan in the previous episode, drawing criticism from many of Li Yuan's fans. Faceless Knight's rebuttal of Li Yuan had also earned Liu Huan's favor. "What good performance could he possibly give?" Mo Yan waved his hand dismissively. "Listening to Teacher Mo Yan's tone, it seems he's guessed Faceless Knight's identity?" Liu Huan inquired. "He probably has," Mo Yan admitted without concealment. "Who is it?" Liu Huan asked curiously. Han Qi and Yin Na also turned to look at Mo Yan. "If I say, it won't be as fun," Mo Yan shook his head with a smile. The others pouted.
At this moment, the drawing of lots began. Interestingly, the two new replacement singers drew each other. Faceless Knight's opponent was Red Dragon, who had also shone in the previous episode. Meanwhile, the singer known as the luckiest, Balloon Queen, found her opponent to be Night Rabbit, the two-time reigning king of singers! "Wuwuwu... I'm done for," Balloon Queen wailed as soon as she saw the draw. It seemed her good luck had run out.