POP CULTURE CORNER

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Zheng Shuang is an actress known for playing parts in those Chinese dramas about ancient history, and is particularly beloved by the teenage set for her young looks. She’s recently attracted a lot of commentary for losing weight and admitting to plastic surgery, but apparently her young fans are still devastated by anything which contradicts their ideal of her; photographs of her smoking a cigarette were enough to prompt her fans to cry photoshop, and this in turn prompted the photographer to release actual film footage proving that she had, indeed, engaged in the dastardly deed of smoking a cigarette. one begins to understand why she might want to light up. - daVid daWSon

“IMPORTED LITTLE OLDER BROTHER”

Known affectionately as “Imported Little older Brother” among his fans, Dimash Kudaibergen was a Kazakh contestant on Hunan TV’s “Singer 2017,” where he became famous for his particularly high“dolphin” voice register after he sang the famous song “opera 2” on the show. But this blessing became a curse—Dimash soon received a letter from the lawyer of Vitas, the original singer of “opera 2”, accusing him of adapting and singing this song without authorization and asking him to stop singing any Vitas song again. But this didn’t affect the fans’ crazy love for their “imported brother.” Dimash still stands on the stage of “Singer 2017”, and now the only question is whether his voice can go even higher than that of his screaming fans. - d.d.

you’Ve goT queSTionS, She’S goT anSWerS

(BuT you proBaBly Won’T like Them)

I’ve been binge-eating all through the Spring Festival and gained so much weight. I hate myself! Dear Ayi, how can I lose it quickly?

Stuffed Steve

Back in my day, we starved for two days and ate a single meal of gruel made of corn on Spring Festival Eve. Look at what modern times have done to you, you 馋鬼(chánguǐ, greedy guts), you 吃货 (chīhuò, glutton). Lose it quickly? 想得美！(Xiǎng de měi! Dream on!) Try all the 针灸 (zhēnjiǔ, acupuncture) and 火疗 (huǒliáo, fire treatment) you like, but it won’t help you overnight. Just shut your mouth and go work out. Haven’t you heard? 三月不减肥，整年徒伤悲。(sān yuè bù jiǎnféi, zhěng nián tú shāngbēi. If you don’t start to lose weight in March, you will be left with sadness for the whole year) I can get you a discount on a nice 健身卡 (jiànshēnkǎ, gym membership card).

got questions for our Agony Ayi? Send them to agonyayi@theworldofchinese.com

WU-ING FANS ACRoSS THE PACIFIC

Co-productions between China and the US have had a rocky history (Matt Damon, we’re looking at you) but Canadian-Chinese actor Kris Wu has proven adept at managing to insert himself into both film cultures. Last year he played a key role in the critically and commercially successful Mr. Six, and this year he appeared alongside Vin Diesel in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. He also had a bit part in The Mermaid, which went on to become China’s most successful film of all time in terms of box office receipts. Wu was most recently in the news for playing in an NBA celebrity game alongside Chinese actor Jiang Jinfu. Shrewd play, Wu. There are few areas with greater pull for both young American and Chinese fans than basketball. - d.d.