Yu Tragedy Repeats: Zhang Linghe Purged? 17-Year-Old Athlete Shock! Fan Shiqi Vanishes

An actor is criticized by the military for being too beautiful. An athlete with three gold medals spirals into panic over weight gain, despite eating just one meal a day. A young star dies under mysterious circumstances, and the person suspected to be involved simply vanishes from every screen. Three stories. Three individuals. At first glance, they seem completely unrelated. But look closer, and you'll start to see the same hand pulling the strings behind them all. It's the hand of a government that believes the human body is state property, and that the lives of the young are nothing more than expendable resources. If this is your first time on the channel, don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications. This is exactly the kind of content we bring you every week, unpacking what's really happening behind the headlines. Now, let's begin. John Ling criticized for the powder-faced general image. The term powder-faced general comes from the new Chinese TV drama Chasing Jade, adapted from an online novel. Since its release in March this year, the series has quickly topped charts across multiple platforms in China and Southeast Asia. It's a fictional historical romance, with John Lingye starring as the male lead, the warrior general Shi Zheng. In the original novel, the character is described as refinedly handsome, with a jade-like, cold face. The production stayed faithful to that vision— polished styling, elegant armor, a clean appearance, and a dignified presence. Everything seemed normal until March 27, when the account Jun Zheng Ping, affiliated with the People's Liberation Army Daily, unexpectedly published a critical article. The piece argued that traditional Chinese culture has long valued masculine strength and rugged beauty, but that some modern historical war dramas have softened the image of generals, making them overly delicate and detached from the true spirit of a soldier. The post quickly shot to number one on Weibo. Soon after, netizens fueled the trend by comparing past portrayals of heroic figures to John Lingye's version, such as He Rendong as Xiang Yu or Hu Jun as Qiao Feng. John Lingye responded by saying that audiences often focus only on whether he is good-looking, I don't judge that," he said. Take Leonardo DiCaprio as an example. He was once known for his looks, but hadn't won an Oscar. Later, he broke past that barrier and gained recognition through his role in The Revenant. That's the reality. Appearance can make people overlook emotional expression, but all I can do is set aside external factors and focus on doing my job well, becoming a better actor. In truth, while Chinese culture has indeed valued masculinity, it has never rigidly enforced it as the only standard of beauty. Heroes and warriors were not judged solely by appearance. History even records famous generals known for their looks, such as Zhou Yu, the Prince of Lanling, and Dugu Xin. These figures not only achieved great military feats, but also left behind the image of the beautiful general. So in today's context, what is wrong with portraying a general as handsome according to modern aesthetics? However, according to commentator Li Dayu, this controversy goes beyond aesthetics. Behind it lie three layers of political logic. First, the erasure of individuality. Military figures are standardized and homogenized. Personal appearance can lead to independent aesthetics, and independent aesthetics can lead to independent thinking, something the authorities do not tolerate. Second, monopolizing the definition of heroism. In China's discourse system, what is worthy of admiration is not organically formed, but defined by the party. Third, control over the cultural sphere. Culture driven by the market can weaken state control. So from cracking down on fan circles to criticizing the powder-faced general, these actions are all part of an effort to reclaim that control. Since the Yan'an era, the authorities have promoted an aesthetic of the worker-peasant-soldier, rough hands, tanned skin, and plain military uniforms. This reached its peak during the Cultural Revolution, when heroic characters in model operas all looked the same, not as a reflection of reality, but as ideologies shaped to serve politics. If you look at Chinese cities today, especially Beijing, even shop signs have been standardized, stripped of any sense of everyday life. Everything feels rigid, like uniform screws produced to a single specification. The authorities seem to have an almost obsessive fixation on the idea of uniformity. The account Junjianping is one of the highest level propaganda outlets of the Chinese military. It typically comments only on major issues like Taiwan, the United States, According to Ming Pao, this latest criticism likely came under direction from higher authorities. Soon after, the account Zhejiang Propaganda also spoke out, arguing that this trend represents aesthetic values overriding moral values, and warning that it could have a negative influence on young people. As a result, actor Zhan Lingye has found himself in an awkward position. Simply performing a role faithful to the original work, yet becoming the target of official criticism. This could potentially impact his career going forward. An Olympic champion with three gold medals panics over weight gain. Kuan Hongchuan, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, has recently come under public criticism after appearing to gain weight during an interview. Many people attacked her appearance, yet few bothered to question the real reasons behind it. Whether she knows the cause or not, in front of the public, the 19-year-old chose to remain silent. Still, some thoughtful netizens have begun to notice the issue. Perhaps the fault does not lie with her. In an interview, she revealed that she had been so hungry she was nearly exhausted, even saying it felt like I was about to die. Throughout 2025, she limited herself to just one meal a day in an attempt to lose weight, yet her weight did not drop. Even drinking water makes me gain weight, she said. As a result, she no longer dares to wear dresses or shorts she likes, is afraid of stepping on a scale, and even feels anxious when looking in the mirror. Every day, people call her fat, pushing her to the brink emotionally, at times breaking down in tears. Physically and mentally drained, she even told her team she wanted to step away for a while. During the same interview, Kwon Hong-Chen also mentioned that she only experienced her first menstrual cycle after the 2024 Summer Olympics. If I eat even a little, I gain weight. It's very hard to adjust. Think about that for a moment. How old was she then? Seventeen. That number alone gives many people pause. The typical age for the onset of menstruation in girls is around 15 to 16, which is already considered somewhat late. At 17, it is clearly unusual. Some argue that intense training can delay development, but that explanation may also serve to deflect responsibility from authorities. Female athletes in the United States also train intensely, yet most begin menstruation at 13 to 14. At 17, it would generally be considered a medical concern. In the pursuit of medals, harm to athletes in China is not unheard of. In fact, some observers have directly raised suspicions that within a system involving potential pharmaceutical intervention, athletes may have been subjected to hormonal or other forms of control from a young age, suppressing puberty to maintain a certain physique. Once such interventions stop, the body may enter a phase of rapid compensatory development, possibly explaining the phenomenon of gaining weight even from drinking water. While these allegations in Kuan Hongcheng's specific case still require further evidence, many believe they are not without basis, given that such practices are not unfamiliar within China's athlete management system. In 1995, key members of the Ma family army, track team, including world record holder Wang Junxia, jointly signed a letter accusing the program of subjecting them to long-term doping. Those who refused were reportedly injected by coaches anyway. Side effects included hoarseness, liver damage, and physical collapse. In 2000, six athletes from Ma Junren's team tested positive for doping and were expelled from the Olympics. Xueyin Xian, former head of the medical department for China's gymnastics team, revealed that more than 10,000 athletes had been forced to use steroids and growth hormones from as young as 11 years old, under the rule. No drugs, no place on the team. She was dismissed in 1988 for refusing to administer banned substances to an athlete and by 2015 had fled to Germany to seek asylum. At the same time, many retired Chinese athletes have suffered long-term health decline, with some even losing fertility. Yet they have received little to no post-care support from the government. In addition, in 2021, as many as 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for doping. Chinese authorities attributed it to contaminated food and the athletes were not banned from competition. What drew even more controversy was that the World Anti-Doping Agency accepted this explanation at the time, triggering strong international backlash and even prompting an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. This is the core issue. A government that criticizes makeup in films for undermining masculine spirit, yet turns a blind eye to chemical intervention in athletes' bodies, extreme dieting and systemic drug use, even encouraging such practices. Within this logic, the human body is a tool of the state, and the lives of young people are resources to be consumed. Does this pattern feel familiar? Take the case of Yu Menglong. The tragedy of Yu Menglong and the disappearance of Fan Shiqi. The circumstances surrounding the death of Yu Menglong remain deeply suspicious. Yet to this day, no clear answers have been provided. Police quickly concluded it was an accident after drinking, ruling out any criminal involvement. However, soon after, information began circulating online, suggesting that multiple people had been present that night, including a director, a screenwriter, managers, and even individuals connected to powerful circles. Some have speculated that Yu Menglong was killed for refusing to comply with certain unspoken rules, or that he became a scapegoat for someone influential. Yet the authorities' response was not to investigate further, but to delete posts and tighten control over public discourse. Still, public sentiment cannot be silenced so easily. People began organizing informal boycotts, targeting those rumored to be involved, among them singer Fan Shiqi. An audio clip circulated online, in which a voice could allegedly be heard saying, Fan Xiaohua, save me, followed by knocked unconscious. Some claimed the recording had been sent to South Korea for voice analysis, with results reportedly showing a high match to Fan Shiqi. Fan Shiqi and his team strongly denied the allegations, but doubts persisted. On October 9, 2025, he announced the cancellation of a concert in Chengdu, reportedly after selling only around 15 tickets. His role in the drama The Love's Ambition was cut down to just 8 minutes, with his name pushed to the end of the credits. Other projects were edited or had his scenes removed. In particular, the series Veil of Shadows, originally scheduled to air on April 1st, had all of his scenes completely deleted. There was no court ruling, no prosecution, no official conclusion, yet everyone responsible for making decisions, from producers to streaming platforms, moved in the same direction. Fan Shiqi's face could no longer appear on screen. This was not a legal judgment, but a silent verdict delivered by the market. Meanwhile, in the United States, fans of Yu Menglong have raised funds to install a memorial bench in Beverly Hills. So far, they have collected $6,095, with $5,000 already paid, and are proceeding with engraving and plans for an unveiling ceremony. The powder-faced general, Kuan Hongchen, and Yu Menglong, three young individuals who seem unrelated, yet in reality, all function as pieces on a political chessboard. They grew up praised as flowers of the nation, but upon reaching adulthood, that same nation treats them as tools to be used, discarded, and controlled at will. This is a question that young people in China must confront. What do you think about the fate of these stars? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thank you, and see you next time.