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| Li Xiaoran's Cryptic Weibo Posts Fuel Speculation After Song Voting Clash With Zhang Yue. (Credits: Sohu) |
A song choice on Ride the Wind 2026 (乘风2026) has somehow turned into one of the show's most talked-about storylines, proving once again that on this programme, even selecting a track can create enough discussion to fill an entire episode. What began as a fan voting event for a fifth performance collaboration song quickly evolved into a social media storm after Li Xiaoran and Zhang Yue found themselves competing for the same Na Ying classic, Just Like a Dream (梦一场), leading to deleted posts, fan disagreements and endless online theories.
The latest controversy emerged during the show's limited-time song recommendation event, where the group receiving the highest number of votes would gain priority access to their chosen song.
Both Li Xiaoran's team and Zhang Yue's team selected Just Like a Dream, immediately creating a competitive atmosphere between two of the season's most discussed contestants. Initially, Li Xiaoran's supporters held the lead before being overtaken by Zhang Yue's camp, with reports suggesting the gap grew to nearly 100,000 votes at one stage.
As the voting intensified, Li Xiaoran took to social media with a series of emotional messages that were later deleted. Among the posts were comments translating roughly to "Can't get it, can't get it, let it just be a dream," "Don't vote anymore, it doesn't matter," and perhaps most notably, "Really don't vote, I sing badly anyway, I don't deserve it."
The messages vanished quickly, but not before screenshots spread across Chinese social media platforms at remarkable speed.
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| 'I Don't Deserve It': Li Xiaoran's Deleted Messages Stir Fresh Debate on Ride the Wind 2026 |
The posts attracted attention partly because Li Xiaoran had openly expressed her wish to perform the song. Earlier, she had referenced her previous performance of Na Ying's Conquer, joking that she had forgotten much of the lyrics and wanted another opportunity to redeem herself through Just Like a Dream.
What appeared to be a light-hearted appeal suddenly became a much bigger story once the competition between the two teams intensified.
Eventually, the situation took another unexpected turn. Zhang Yue's side reportedly decided to stop actively campaigning for the song, a move many interpreted as voluntarily stepping away from the contest.
Once voting concluded, Li Xiaoran's team secured first place and won the right to perform Just Like a Dream, while Zhang Yue moved forward with a different track.
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While the outcome itself seemed straightforward, the reaction afterwards was anything but. Online discussions quickly shifted from the song to the meaning behind Li Xiaoran's deleted posts.
Some viewers criticised the actress for making public comments during an active voting battle, arguing that it indirectly placed Zhang Yue in an uncomfortable position regardless of her intentions and felt the messages reflected genuine disappointment rather than strategy, pointing out that Li Xiaoran has built a reputation over the years for speaking candidly rather than carefully polishing every public statement.
The debate became even more complicated when rumours began circulating that production staff may have encouraged Li Xiaoran to consider another song choice.
Although no official confirmation has emerged, online speculation intensified after reports claimed she became emotional when meeting supporters later that day.
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Meanwhile, Zhang Yue continues to enjoy a surge in popularity thanks to her performances on the programme. The 31-year-old actress, best known to many viewers for playing the unforgettable Lin Youyou in the hit drama Nothing But Thirty, has earned praise throughout the season for her vocal abilities.
Her cover of Zhang Bichen's Interstellar became one of the standout performances of the competition and significantly boosted her profile among viewers.
Li Xiaoran's journey on the show has been quite different but equally memorable. The 50-year-old actress became an unexpected talking point after an off-key performance earlier in the season attracted both criticism and affection.
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While some viewers teased her singing ability, others appreciated her willingness to laugh at herself and step outside her comfort zone. In a programme filled with polished performances, occasional imperfections have arguably made her feel more relatable to audiences.
Many c-netz believe the real issue lies not with either contestant but with the voting format itself. Critics argue that the mechanism naturally encourages fan groups to compete against each other over limited resources, creating unnecessary friction where none previously existed and noted that both actresses appeared interested primarily in performing a song they liked, while fan communities ended up treating the process like a championship final.
For now, neither Li Xiaoran nor Zhang Yue appears interested in extending the drama beyond the song selection process.