Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 5

For every skilled Daoist, there’s a demon a zhang higher*.

*As virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten (道高一尺，魔高一丈) It’s a proverb often used to suggest that when good increases, evil increases even more in response. Note: A zhang is 3.33 meters.

Lu Yiyao, with minimal effort, harvested all the heat that had been painstakingly generated for Ran Lin.

It’s like you exhaust yourself swinging a shovel and hoe to fry a pot of sugar-coated chestnuts, only to have someone else easily scoop them up for just a few cents when they’re done.

The charm of the airport incident originally revolved around Lu Yiyao. If Ran Lin were replaced by some other low-tier actor, nobody would care. Thus, when Ran Lin’s proactive @ raised expectations to their peak, Lu Yiyao’s response became the brilliant climax of this event.

Whether they were fans or just passersby, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Then, either screaming until their voices were hoarse or laughing with great enthusiasm, they eagerly rushed to comment under Lu Yiyao’s Weibo, sharing the thoughts and feelings they had been brewing all day.

By the time Lu Yiyao posted his Weibo, Ran Lin had already been sent back to his dorm apartment.

In reality, he spent the entire day in the company’s meeting room doing just one thing—posting that Weibo tagging Lu Yiyao. The rest of the time was spent waiting for Lu Yiyao’s response.

But Lu Yiyao was too calm, so by four in the afternoon, Wang Xi, having other matters to attend to, let him go after giving some instructions.

There were three things Wang Xi instructed. The amount of information was quite large, but seemingly sure that he would understand, she stated them succinctly:

“First, for the near future, all Weibo-related actions must wait for company instructions; no free play or self-expression allowed. Second, tomorrow the company will arrange for you to visit Han Ze’s drama set. There will be a short interview by a gossip entertainment program also visiting. The airport incident will surely be brought up, so you better prepare in advance. Third, I will take over your scheduling. I might not be able to attend to you daily like Kang Hui, but we don’t need to be like family. Just remember, I can make you famous.”

What’s the relationship between an artist and their agent?

If the artist is famous enough, then the agent serves them.

But if the agent is more famous and has better resources and connections in the circle, then unfortunately, they’re here to lead you towards prosperity. If they tell you to plant rice, you better bend down and get to it.

“Have you seen Weibo?” At 6:02 PM, just two minutes after Lu Yiyao’s Weibo was posted, Wang Xi called.

Ran Lin was in the shower at the critical stage—hair washing. Fortunately, his phone was on the washstand, so despite the awkward situation with foam on his head, he still managed to pull back the shower curtain and answer the call, putting it on speaker.

“Not yet, Xi Jie. What’s up?”

“Lu Yiyao replied.”

“Really? How did he reply?”

“Aren’t you going to check yourself?”

“…”

“Are you in the bathroom?”

Ran Lin was startled. His first reaction was to grab the shower curtain to cover his lower body, then he looked up at the black and white ceiling of the bathroom, as if somewhere in those eerie squares had a hidden surveillance camera beneath them.

“You sound echoey. It’s obviously a closed space.” Wang Xi seemed to imagine his frantic actions from the sound of the shower curtain, her voice carrying a rare hint of amusement. “He interacted with your Weibo post, very cleverly done. You can check it. No need to reply to him. That would be superfluous. But remember to follow him.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Ran Lin wiped a clear path on the foggy mirror.

In the limited space of the mirror, a young man with messy hair from shampoo appeared. Bright eyes, white teeth, youthful energy, somewhere between a boy and a man, with a face full of collagen, past the baby fat but not yet maturely chiseled. Handsome and enduring.

“You can only fool little girls.” Ran Lin poked at the harmless face in the mirror. “Lu Yiyao probably wants to curse your entire family tree now.”

After quickly rinsing his hair and hastily finishing with the shower gel, Ran Lin then rolled back onto his bed with his phone.

Taking a deep breath, with the reverence of reading some important document or a great work, he clicked into Lu Yiyao’s Weibo.

Lu Yiyao’s public demeanor was within Ran Lin’s expectations, but his approach was even more brilliant than Ran Lin had anticipated.

Truly worthy of being a star who could grip both popularity and reputation.

Whether this attitude was Lu Yiyao’s own or his team’s suggestion, it was the most beautiful response.

From the replies under Lu Yiyao’s Weibo, it was clear to see that, aside from fans sending hearts, there was a stream of people turning into fans.

Ran Lin let out a soft sigh, somewhat wishfully thinking that since Lu Yiyao agreed or was willing to post such a Weibo, maybe he wasn’t so opposed to being used for popularity…

[😲 God Lu’s acting skills showcased in the mall. Yun Zhang’s angry soul returns!! [Second-hand video]]

“…and will never, ever, forgive you!”

Why did he impulsively click on this fan-taken video?

Why let him see that the video’s filming time was this very afternoon?

Why, long after the drama had finished shooting, could Lu Yiyao’s acting still be so genuine and immediate?

That night, Ran Lin dreamt about these questions.

In his dreams, the temporary stage in the mall had an extra person who looked and was built just like him. Lu Yiyao’s explosive line was no longer directed at the fans below, but at the person on stage with him.

Later, it seemed like Lu Yiyao wanted to get physical, but the host, sensing trouble, immediately made a joke.

Then Ran Lin woke up, frightened, and couldn’t fall back asleep.

—On this quiet autumn night, Ran Lin, an 18th-tier male star, made a wish that he would never cross paths with Lu Yiyao in this lifetime.

The visit to Han Ze’s drama set went smoothly. Although Han Ze was indifferent to him privately, he displayed unity and friendship in front of the camera, as expected of artists from the same company.

Sure enough, the moment the gossip entertainment reporter saw Ran Lin, they perked up, almost eager to interview him thoroughly about the airport incident.

Fortunately, Wang Xi intervened in time and pulled him away. Otherwise, most of the scenes he prepared for might not have been sufficient.

However, what ultimately appeared in the entertainment program was a somewhat shy and inexperienced young man regarding the airport incident. Far from being arrogant, he sincerely expressed his apologies for the trouble he caused Lu Yiyao.

The interview aired two days later. By then, the fervor over the airport incident had significantly cooled, but the lingering interest remained. Thus, Ran Lin gained a substantial number of new fans and followers.

On the day the program aired, Lu Yiyao responded to his follow—by mutually following each other on Weibo.

Mutual following was precisely the development the company hoped for, much like Lu Yiyao’s previous response, which the company also welcomed.

But for some reason, Ran Lin always found the timing of Lu Yiyao’s actions intriguing.

For example, his response to the Weibo post came after a whole day of the incident fermenting and after Lu Yiyao had recited lines at the mall.

And then, like this time, when the interview aired and the discussion, which had been dying down, revived again.

The timing of Lu Yiyao’s choices seemed like… he was using these actions to express his attitude. And Ran Lin always felt that the clearer Lu Yiyao’s response, the more it indicated that his emotions were fluctuating intensely, even though there was no basis for such a deduction.

The broadcast of the interview and mutual following on Weibo weren’t the end. That evening, a renowned two-dimension artist released a CP video of Yun Zhang x Linghu Xiaodao.

Linghu Xiaodao was the most handsome ancient costume character Ran Lin had ever played, among all his male roles. Although the drama’s viewership was abysmal from start to finish, and even the TV station was reluctant to rerun it, Linghu Xiaodao became the cherished character for a small group of two-dimension fangirls.

Needless to say, Yun Zhang had already become the husband of countless fangirls.

What was even more fatal, the video was excellently produced, combining clips of Yun Zhang and Linghu Xiaodao into a heart-wrenching, fanservice MV. From editing to soundtrack, it was seamless and fluent, making the four-minute video almost more exciting than the two original works.

People in the industry could tell it was professionally made.

Although many top fans create videos for their beloved characters, the timing of this release, right after mutual following and immediately being shared by various marketing accounts, was quite suggestive.

Of course, the melon*-eaters didn’t care about such nuances.

*Term used for gossip/rumors. Melon eaters/eating melons, refers to people who are consuming gossip without taking any sides or expressing any particular opinions.

Especially a wave of fangirls, instantly fired up by the video, were charmed to death.

Yun Zhang and Linghu Xiaodao rapidly ascended the hot search list.

The two parties involved didn’t respond further or interact.

But after all, the loving fangirls were a group capable of conjuring an 80-episode idol drama from a simple mutual follow. Thus, the CP hype, riding on the wave of the airport incident, blew even stronger and farther.

A month later, Ran Lin, who had appeared on several small-scale notices, received a contract for the reality show <National First Love Drifting Story>.

<National First Love Drifting Story> was a star-studded travel, adventure, survival, and challenge reality show heavily invested in by XX Satellite TV.

Judging from the planning alone, it seemed unfocused, a bit of a mishmash, unlike other shows where the focus was clear from the name—be it parenting, puzzle solving, singing, or labor. Even pure travel shows had their selling points—beautiful scenery plus celebrities. Audiences could easily choose what interests them.

But the cast of this show was its distinguishing feature—Lu Yiyao + Zhang Beichen + Xia Xinran + Gu Jie + ?.

These four names were among the brightest new generation in the entertainment industry.

The oldest, Gu Jie, was twenty-five, and the youngest, Xia Xinran, twenty-two. Although there were younger stars in the industry, either their popularity didn’t match up or their image didn’t fit the show’s planning.

More importantly, all five had achieved fame at a young age and had been touted as the “National First Love*” by their companies.

*Term in the entertainment industry referring to stars who capture the hearts of the public with their charming, fresh, and innocent image, reminiscent of one’s first love. Generally, these celebrities are youthful, attractive, and possess certain innocence or purity traits.

Lu Yiyao, needless to say, debuted in a youth campus movie adapted from a novel. Although he was still a sophomore at a university in the UK at the time, he took advantage of the holiday to return to China to play a supporting male role. As soon as the film was released, it achieved good box office results. Coupled with the “acting contrast” provided by the leading actors, Lu Yiyao, who had studied drama and performance at the University of Manchester for less than two years, unexpectedly gained the most popularity and successfully entered the entertainment industry. Of course, later on, because he spent most of his time filming in China, he eventually dropped out of university. Consequently, his management company soon stopped marketing him as a scholarly idol. However, his incomplete college education was still modestly listed in his Baidu Encyclopedia educational background section.

Zhang Beichen and Xia Xinran, 23 and 22, respectively, rose to fame four years ago in a talent show called <You Are Still Young>. At the time, countless girls dreamed of being their girlfriends.

Zhang Beichen, with his sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, was dashing, while Xia Xinran, with red lips and white teeth, was delicate and pretty. Both stunning and handsome, they impressed in subsequent film and television works. To this day, people have gradually forgotten their idol show origins but still remember their “youthful boyfriend” images.

Gu Jie was the most distinct among them—the epitome of hormonal appeal.

He became famous at twenty with an ancient detective drama, playing a taciturn but highly skilled young martial artist. Initially burdened with deep vengeance, he later clears his family’s name and avenges them with the help of the male lead, becoming the lead detective’s loyal hound.

That drama made both the male lead and him famous, especially Gu Jie, who initially received unfavorable reviews—his looks were only average in the demanding idol drama environment, and he had a slightly dark complexion and an odd appearance, perhaps having offended the makeup artist. But later, thanks to his heart-wrenching romance with the second female lead, he rebounded.

And in a scene near the end, the screenwriter showcased his physique.

Only then did people realize, “Holy shit, he’s thin in clothes but muscular without! Totally different from the frail, flowery young men outside!” He exuded raw, sexual masculinity!

That’s just human nature. When someone dislikes you, even your beauty appears ugly, and when they like you, even your ugliness seems handsome.

Besides, Gu Jie wasn’t ugly. After the TV series ended and he attended various promotions, he adopted a clean and dashing style. Gradually, no one thought he wasn’t handsome anymore. Everyone felt he was irresistibly charming, the kind whose mere glance could “impregnate”.

There were five guests, but only four names. During the initial promotion of the show, the fifth guest was represented by the silhouette of a killer from the “Conan” series, a move Ran Lin thought was just a gimmick by the production team.

It wasn’t until Wang Xi handed him the contract that he realized the star the production team had in mind was still considering and hadn’t given a final word, forcing them to wait.

Now that the star had declined due to scheduling conflicts, only they knew the real reasons. Wang Xi finally managed to secure this opportunity for Ran Lin.

Partly due to Wang Xi’s efforts and partly due to luck.

In terms of fame, appearing on the show with these four was a step up for Ran Lin. The production aimed to present the “National First Love”, a concept not so easy to personify. There were many popular stars, but few could claim the title of “National First Love”, be available, and not demand exorbitant fees. After much deliberation, they settled on Ran Lin, whose recent popularity was intertwined with Lu Yiyao.

Although his fame might be somewhat inflated, he was affordable. The price Wang Xi negotiated for his participation in this reality show was a bargain for the production team.

One wanted to rise on the heat of the moment, the other sought the best value for a smooth production. Once they negotiated, it was a perfect match.

“The terms are a bit strict but not excessive. We’re the ones asking, so some compromise is necessary,” Wang Xi said nonchalantly as Ran Lin scrutinized the contract.

Ran Lin blinked, returning to the present. In fact, Wang Xi had misunderstood him; although he was pondering over the contract, his mind was occupied with someone else.

Putting down the contract, Ran Lin looked worriedly at Wang Xi. “Are you sure… he will accept my participation?”

The person Ran Lin hoped never to encounter again—not only might they meet, but they would also be shoulder to shoulder on a rough journey.

Ran Lin was now embarrassed to even think of the other’s name, fearing the gods might record another sin against him.

Wang Xi thought he had a serious question. Hearing this, she smiled. “He signed the contract last month. He won’t break it for you. Besides…” Her makeup-perfect face showed a familiar trace of sarcasm. “His status isn’t high enough to influence the production team’s decisions.”

Ran Lin had nothing more to say.

Actually, he wanted to ask if he could avoid participating, or at least join a different show, and not always be associated with the same person.

But he knew there was no need to ask.

Just looking at the lineup, he knew this variety show would be a hot topic. Wang Xi must have worked hard to secure this opportunity. Missing out on this would mean losing a rare chance.

Shanghai, in a dressing room at a magazine cover photo shoot.

After the stylist finished Lu Yiyao’s makeup and left his agent Yao Hong brought hot news, which shocked Lu Yiyao…

“Ran Lin is the fifth person?!”

And infuriated him.

“I’ve tolerated the fake CP hype but is he planning to exploit me forever?!”

In the makeup room, only Lu Yiyao and Yao Hong remained, but the former still kept his voice as low as possible, expressing his vehement feelings through gritted teeth.

Hong Jie gently patted her artist’s shoulder, a light touch with a calming effect. “He’s affordable and can fit the ‘National First Love’ theme.”

Yao Hong’s voice, as plain and kind as her personality, gradually calmed Lu Yiyao. However, he still found the claim of Ran Lin fitting the show’s theme laughable. “Him, a National First Love?”

Lu Yiyao was naturally charismatic; even his angry expressions were charming.

Fortunately, Yao Hong’s son was already in high school, so managing Lu Yiyao was like taking care of a child, with patience and tolerance.

However, Yao Hong’s ability to bring Lu Yiyao to his current status indicates that she wasn’t a pushover. Unlike Wang Xi’s assertive and flamboyant style, Yao Hong possessed a combination of softness and firmness, handling matters with more tact and thoroughness.

Seeing Yao Hong scrolling through her phone, Lu Yiyao curiously asked, “Hong Jie…”

After a moment, she handed him the phone.

It was an entertainment news article from two years ago, the kind written out of desperation for lack of topics— [If there’s a first love, it must look like you: Ran Lin, the most handsome boy in a white shirt in history.]

The content was negligible, full of clichés.

But the accompanying picture was intriguing. Sunset, playground, horizontal bars, a boy in a white shirt.

“See? Fits the first love theme, right?” Yao Hong teased seeing how engrossed Lu Yiyao was.

Lu Yiyao returned the phone, pondering for a while before commenting, “He’s aged well.”

The boy by the playground and the “fake fan” at the airport, except for their clothes, were indistinguishable.

It was a face forgotten by time, forever young.

“Stop thinking about it and prepare well.” Yao Hong knew Lu Yiyao had accepted reality but still needed time to let go. “This is your first variety show. It’s very important.”

Lu Yiyao, however, struggled in his thoughts one last time. “Is there really no way out?”

Yao Hong looked into his eyes, saying softly but firmly, “One day in the future, you will be a true superstar. Then, everyone who wants to stand by your side will need your consent.”

Lu Yiyao was momentarily speechless.

The photography assistant came in to notify the start of the second set.

Lu Yiyao nodded and followed him out.

He was distracted during the second part of the shoot, only gradually focusing after several reminders from the photographer.

He was pondering Yao Hong’s words.

He wasn’t questioning their validity but wondering if that future was what he truly wanted.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 4

There would never be a hot search on Weibo without a reason.

Even if the onlookers were idle, what was the chance that tens of thousands of them were typing the same keyword in the search bar at the same time? Even twins aren’t that in sync!

So, it wasn’t the masses who created the hot search, but some mysterious force that put it there first, and then you followed the trend, becoming one of those hundreds of thousands, even millions, of searches.

Lu Yiyao’s team had done this kind of thing too.

Especially during the time when the reputation of <Ten Years of Rainy Night> wasn’t particularly good, even him drinking black coffee could make the hot search. The omnipresent articles praising his explosive acting skills seemed to be everywhere online, as if his team wished to portray him as the only saving grace of this drama, making him feel somewhat guilty and question Hong Jie if this might be going too far.

But before his own studio’s PR team could stop, the producers, not wanting to sit idly by, furiously invested in publicity, determined to stir up popularity to compensate for the lackluster reputation.

So, Lu Yiyao, just after drinking black coffee, started to show off his love with the female lead in the hot search.

In all honesty, the female lead had a boyfriend who was a behind the scenes wealthy man crazy about his wife. Therefore, after the drama finished shooting, apart from public promotions, he never even exchanged phone numbers or WeChat with the female lead, let alone something like “Lu Yiyao admits XXX is his standard for choosing a partner”, which was obviously a ridiculously fake headline.

But there was no choice.

The rights to the name “Lu Yiyao” in the hot search no longer belonged to him. It belonged to the management team, to the drama producers. Thus, this name had a doll dress-up game, wearing hot pants today and a dress tomorrow.

The only difference was that the hot searches created by the management team could be about Lu Yiyao’s real life or his drama character, while those created by the drama producers always came with the tag of the character Yun Zhang.

So, the combination of Ran Lin + Lu Yiyao suddenly appearing in the hot search made Lu Yiyao extremely angry.

No matter how much his own team promoted him, they would never bind someone else to him without permission—that was the red line Lu Yiyao set for his PR team.

Yao Hong once tactfully advised him, saying that being too upright in the entertainment industry was fatal. The onlookers didn’t care about your stance. What they saw most directly was that this star was very active, always in the news, while that one was always silent, probably flopped.

But Lu Yiyao didn’t think this was being too upright.

If he were really so high-minded, he wouldn’t have cooperated with appearing on the hot search for every little thing, even managing to act in a crying scene without eye drops, thus becoming a sensation in announcements for his genuine performance without artificial aids.

But hyping himself up was one thing.

Exploiting others was another.

This was Lu Yiyao’s principle, unrelated to whether he was a star or not.

So, he was angry, not just because he was frustrated at being exploited, but more so at his own foolishness and annoyance.

It was all tricks, through and through.

From the moment Ran Lin chose to appear at the airport wearing that baseball uniform that made him ten years younger, the trickery had already begun.

Don’t mention anything about coincidences or misunderstandings.

How could it be such a coincidence that, among so many fans at the airport, only one light board fell? How come, among all the airport staff, only this eighteen-tier star cared about the environment? Why did he stand at the exit in a daze after picking up the light board? The timing of the airport surveillance leak was just so coincidental? The gossip marketers were so idle to do video post-production themselves?

Go to hell!

Once all the accidentals were removed, it was all a trap.

The makeup artist looked at her boss, his chest heaving, burning with rage. His handsome face was frowning, and his facial muscles were as stiff as if he had been over-injected with hyaluronic acid. She wanted to comfort him, telling him not to keep it all bottled up, just curse it out.

But she knew her advice would be useless.

At the age of twelve, he was sent to a private boarding school in England, only returning to China to join the entertainment industry after dropping out of university at twenty.

The most critical eight years of personality development were spent in the thick British atmosphere.

Although Lu Yiyao himself never said it.

But everyone in the studio, including Hong Jie, could see that the mainland star was always striving to be a gentleman with good upbringing.

Lu Yiyao’s black coffee aroma didn’t reach Dream Without Limits.

At that moment, Ran Lin was sitting in the empty meeting room of the company, munching on a bun, sipping soy milk, and scrolling through Weibo.

He was summoned to the company just after ten, and he was left hanging here for almost an hour.

Other than Kang Hui’s words of “Don’t make a sound on Weibo or accidentally like anything,” he received no other instructions.

Bored to death, he could only nibble on his breakfast in this empty time nearing noon.

Had he not been interrupted, he could’ve slept till sunset in his own little nest. But now, even if he wanted to sleep, he couldn’t.

He was suddenly trending on Weibo. It was unbelievable that the company actually spent such money on him.

Even more unbelievable was how effectively they drove the topic. Starting from the “Most Awkward Pick-Up in History” to the current “Together”, the rhythm was perfectly led.

And gradually, videos from TV shows he participated in years ago started to surface. This led to another round of heated comments like “Ahhh, fresh out of water*” and “Why did he debut as a youth and is still a youth now, damn.”

*(鲜出水) Term used online to metaphorically describe someone who appears youthful and vibrant, making them “refreshing” as they have just emerged untouched. It’s basically a compliment that highlights someone’s youthful appearance and their “fresh and energetic” presence.

Step by step, methodically, it was like a textbook case of Weibo promotion.

Kang Hui couldn’t possibly have this level of operational skill.

Ran Lin narrowed his eyes, munching on his bun, brainstorming. The sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows fell on his youthful side face. His eyelashes cast beautiful arcs in the light and shadow, looking just like a campus idol.

Of course, an idol wouldn’t be eating buns in a study room.

At noon, the meeting room door was finally opened.

Ran Lin, nearly dozing off in the autumn sun, hurriedly climbed up from the table. Upon seeing the visitor, he immediately stood up straight. “Xi Jie.”

Ran Lin, though thin, was a tall guy at 1.8 meters. But in front of Wang Xi, who was 1.68 meters, his presence was instantly overshadowed.

Wang Xi, in her early forties, looked around thirty-five.

She wore a set of ash-gray professional attire, a vest over a white shirt, with cropped pants and high heels today. The vest’s waistline was perfectly cinched, accentuating her graceful waist. The shirt was classic in style with thoughtful details. The pants were slightly tapered at the hem, revealing a bit of ankle, creating a visually cohesive look with the high heels, making her legs appear long and straight.

“Sit.” Wang Xi’s attitude was so natural that it didn’t seem like this was her first direct conversation with Ran Lin, but more like a boss wanting to talk to an employee. After saying this, she went around to the other side of the large conference table and sat down first.

Ran Lin hurriedly walked two steps to the right, sat down directly opposite Wang Xi, and instinctively straightened his back.

“Have you been sleeping here all morning?” Wang Xi’s voice was somewhat cold that even her joking sounded more like mockery.

Ran Lin, who usually seems very jovial and fond of jokes, actually knew very well when to be serious.

“I scrolled through Weibo for two hours, then I was afraid of accidentally liking something and disrupting the rhythm the company had worked so hard to establish for me, so I dared not to continue.”

Wang Xi slightly tilted her head, looking at Ran Lin with interest for the first time. “You are smarter than I thought.”

Ran Lin laughed awkwardly, not sure whether to respond or not, and finally just scratched his head and straightforwardly asked, “Xi Jie, just tell me whatever plans the company has.”

Wang Xi slightly lifted her eyelids. “Before, the company was cooperating with you. From now on, you need to cooperate with the company.”

Ran Lin was stunned, blinking his deer-like eyes, not quite understanding.

What did she mean by the company cooperating with him? He didn’t even dare to leave the conference room all morning except for going to the bathroom.

Wang Xi didn’t expect him to understand immediately and further explained, “What you did last night was good—great timing, and you were lucky. But in this circle, you can’t rely on luck. You need to rely on operations, understand?”

Ran Lin suddenly felt embarrassed and hurriedly said, “No, Xi Jie. Last night’s incident was an acci…”

“No need to explain to me. Whether it was a misunderstanding or intentional, it makes no difference.” Wang Xi leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze locking onto Ran Lin. “What I care about is how to use this opportunity to make a comeback for you.”

Ran Lin nodded, not speaking further.

A “salted fish*” wasn’t qualified to talk about a comeback.

*It’s a metaphor referring to someone who wants to be lazy and has no great ambitions.

“If there’s no problem, the company will help you post a Weibo tagging Lu Yiyao. If you’re not comfortable, you can post it yourself, but the content must follow what we set. As for the follow-up interactions, let’s see how Lu Yiyao reacts.”

“…”

“Don’t understand again?”

“Can I see the draft of the Weibo post first?”

Wang Xi frowned slightly, not quite appreciating Ran Lin’s overthinking. She preferred obedient artists, who do as told, because her decisions for them were always the most efficient and beneficial.

But it was just the beginning. He would be trained eventually. At least Ran Lin had good comprehension, understanding quickly, saving her a lot of effort.

Most celebrities’ Weibo accounts were managed jointly by the artist and the company. The former would post about life and emotions, interacting with known people or other celebrities, while the latter would post edited street shots, selfies, drama stills, event photos, and all advertising promotions.

The company might suggest celebrities post seemingly high-EQ comments on hot topics, buy and sell personas, as well as how to act cute and interact with other celebrities, but rarely directly posts these kinds of personal things for them. After all, celebrities are also people who want to have their own opinions, views, and social circles.

Therefore, although the company had Ran Lin’s Weibo account password, involving Lu Yiyao, they still needed to notify him in advance.

[I really didn’t mean it 😂 @Lu Yiyao]

Ran Lin looked at the draft message Wang Xi quickly edited on her phone, feeling as if eight hundred horses were galloping through the grasslands in his heart.

If he were Lu Yiyao, seeing this Weibo post, he might first block this Ran Lin, then pull him out of the blacklist to give him a severe punishment on the level of the top ten tortures of the Qing dynasty, and then block him again!

“The video is already so hot. Just repost it and act cute. It’s no big deal,” Wang Xi said lightly.

But Ran Lin could only see two words from this draft—blatantly shameless¹.

“Can I… not tag Lu Yiyao?” Ran Lin struggled internally for a long time before bringing up this request, which was sure to be criticized.

In fact, he didn’t even want to post on Weibo, but if he said that directly, he probably wouldn’t even have a chance to discuss it.

As expected, Wang Xi’s face darkened, and her voice turned completely cold. “Not tag Lu Yiyao? Are you saying that everyone’s been busy all morning for nothing? Or do you think you’re hot enough on your own, not needing to ride on the coattails of a popular actor?”

Biting the bullet and meeting Wang Xi’s sharp gaze, Ran Lin tried to make his attitude seem neither too resistant nor too yielding. “I understand the effort the company has put into me; otherwise, with my level of obscurity, even if I were associated with Lu Yiyao, there wouldn’t be this level of discussion. But now there are already comments on Weibo accusing me of riding on his popularity. If I tag Lu Yiyao now, won’t it be too obvious?”

Wang Xi chuckled and said mockingly, “It’s already very obvious, so whether you continue to ride on his popularity or not, you can’t establish a reputation for integrity.”

The words were harsh, but Ran Lin had no time to be angry. He just hoped to minimize the severity of being blacklisted or criticized by Lu Yiyao’s fans and onlookers. “How about this, Xi Jie. I’ll post the Weibo, and I’ll tag Lu Yiyao, but I’ll edit the content myself. Once it’s done, I’ll show it to you, and if you approve, then I’ll post it.”

Wang Xi looked at him for a long time, searching for any signs of cunning or ulterior motives, but there seemed to be none. It was just a sincere negotiation.

“Okay.” Since he agreed to tag Lu Yiyao so readily, she let it slide.

But—

Wang Xi’s fingernails, painted with nude polish, lightly tapped on the dark wooden table, making her words deliberate. “You only get one chance to turn things around. If you miss it, even God can’t make you popular.”

Ran Lin smiled and said nothing.

Perhaps because he had never been truly popular, he no longer had a strong desire for fame. But he wanted to act, and if being famous meant getting roles, then he’d play by the rules this time.

It was just that he felt a bit sorry for Lu Yiyao.

Five minutes later, Wang Xi, looking at the Weibo draft on Ran Lin’s phone, raised her beautifully shaped eyebrows.

She didn’t look at Ran Lin, but there was rare approval in her eyes as she looked at the phone screen, and her voice turned from cloudy to sunny. “Actually, even if you posted according to my draft, Lu Yiyao wouldn’t publicly confront you. Getting on the hot search without spending a penny, his PR team would be too happy to care. Moreover, he needs to continue playing the role of Mr. Nice Guy. But your version now is more likely to garner sympathy…” Towards the end, Wang Xi finally looked up and gave him a genuine smile. “You’re not that dumb after all.”

Ran Lin laughed awkwardly, while in his heart, he apologized to Lu Yiyao a hundred times over.

At one o’clock in the afternoon, Beijing time, Ran Lin, the subject of the hot search whirlwind, finally spoke up. He reposted the most popular subtitled video and wrote in Weibo—[#Meeting an idol who respects and cares for fans, you’ve become a fan too, #Whether it was before or not, from this moment, I am your die-hard fan. Please accept my beam of love! 🤩* @Lu Yiyao]

*It’s actually an Ultraman emoji. I imagine something like this.

Without the company’s intervention, Ran Lin’s Weibo exploded first!

First, a bunch of girls, whether fans or passersby, fainted in their pink bubbles, then Lu Yiyao’s fan army arrived, uniformly praising Lu Yiyao as the idol who treats fans the best and thanking Ran Lin for liking him.

Of course, there were discordant voices, such as some overly sensitive true fans who came up and accused him of riding on Lu Yiyao’s popularity!

But they were quickly stopped by other fans, saying no one has the right to chase away any fan on behalf of Lu Yiyao. “Poster, please don’t take it to heart.”

Ran Lin breathed a sigh of relief in his heart; this was the best scenario he could have hoped for.

Since he was already riding on the coattails of popularity, he might as well do it openly and simultaneously brush up some good feelings for Lu Yiyao.

This way, even if Lu Yiyao’s fans wanted to complain, they would be more lenient considering he had praised Lu Yiyao.

Ran Lin, you scheming bitch¹!

¹This is referring to him being blatantly shameless (mentioned earlier). The word is (心机婊) which is a colloquialism that combines cunning/scheming with a derogatory term for a woman (usually bitch). 

After scolding himself, Ran Lin silently prayed that Lu Yiyao was an easygoing person.

Because getting angry was inevitable. Everyone in the circle knew how to play the game; being suddenly tagged, nobody should treat anyone else as a fool.

But if someone was easygoing, their temper would come and go quickly, making both Lu Yiyao comfortable and lessening Ran Lin’s guilt.

At the same time, in a shopping mall beside Chang’an Street.

The hall was packed with roaring fans, and on the temporary promotional event stage, the host invited the brand’s spokesperson, Lu Yiyao, to offer some benefits to all his supporting fans at the end.

“This is difficult for me.” Lu Yiyao showed a troubled expression, but his eyes still smiled, curving beautifully and occasionally glancing at the audience, causing waves of screams.

“How about this.” Seeing time was running out, the host cleverly intervened. “Many fans became your fangirls through <Yun Zhang>, so could you perform a line from the drama to let everyone relive the charm of Yun Zhang?”

Lu Yiyao liked this suggestion. He immediately nodded, then faced the audience, and in a few seconds, entered the emotion.

The fans below held their breath, and the entire mall instantly quieted.

When he looked up again, the smile was gone. The man on stage, though dressed in a modern fashion style that didn’t match the drama, anyone who had seen the drama could feel that at this moment, he was no longer Lu Yiyao but Yun Zhang, deeply hurt and hated by his beloved—

“Don’t ask me when I can let go. Because I love you, I will never let go and will never, ever, forgive you!”

Three seconds of dead silence.

Then, thunderous applause and screaming erupted.

At six o’clock in the evening, Beijing time, after fermenting for a whole day, the airport blunder finally received a response from the other party involved, Lu Yiyao—

[The true love fan is too handsome, I’m also desperate 😭 //@Ran Lin: #Meeting an idol who respects and cares for fans, you’ve become a fan too, #Whether it was before or not, from this moment, I am your die-hard fan. Please accept my beam of love! 🤩 @Lu Yiyao]

How hard is it to maintain a good public image?

Lu Yiyao thought it depends on each person’s definition of “hard”.

In his case, smiling and acting cute while his heart bled was already pushing himself to the limit.

Kinky Thoughts:

Oh god, trying to find matching emojis is killing me… but probably not as much as how Lu Yiyao is feeling right now (lol).

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 3

“I can’t take it anymore, hahaha. Ran Lin, you’re really talented. How did you come up with the idea of holding up a light sign, hahaha—”

On the way back, He Jiayi, who had watched the whole process, still couldn’t stop laughing while holding his stomach.

Even Chen Ling, who was usually quiet and reserved, couldn’t help but laugh along.

Everyone thought he did it spontaneously, just to ride on the popularity of Lu Yiyao. But this act was really funny, especially after being recognized by the entertainment journalists. The scene was quite amusing. So instead of mocking, everyone just wanted to laugh heartily.

Ran Lin was laughed at until he lost his temper.

He felt like this incident was like the ancient story of ‘ghost hitting the wall*’—picking up the light sign as if possessed, standing still as if under a spell, facing Lu Yiyao as if destined, and taking a warm photo together as if by fate.

*Phrase that describes a situation where a person becomes trapped in a maze, typically while walking in a familiar place. They feel as if they’re walking in circles or unable to find their way out of a seemingly endless repetition of the same path or scenery. Depending on context, it could mean metaphorically a situation where someone is stuck in a repetitive or confusing scenario in life, unable to find a way out despite their efforts. In this case, it’s the latter.

Perhaps that sign carried the spirit of an obsessed fan, so whoever picked it up would be possessed by the fan’s spirit.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain this absurd mix-up.

But until the end, he didn’t say anything to the journalists. From the moment Lu Yiyao hugged him for a photo until he quickly left after the photo, it was only half a minute. Even when they later realized he might also be a star, there was just a flash of surprise in their eyes. Then, without waiting for his reaction, he gently let go, saying, “I’m really tired from the journey and need to rest, sorry everyone,” perfectly concluding the image of a friendly and approachable star.

The journalists, though they let him pass, still followed Lu Yiyao all the way to the door.

Kang Hui called them to take pictures on another floor, saying Han Ze had already gone back, and the ready photographer thought the scenery there was better.

It wasn’t a discussion, just a notification.

All three of them understood and immediately rushed to the designated place.

The journalists might come back after Lu Yiyao got in the car to dig deeper into the gossip of this lesser-known male star greeting his idol with a light sign, or they might not come back and just continue to follow Lu Yiyao. But none of this mattered to Ran Lin anymore.

The subsequent shooting went smoothly, and soon, the three of them followed their manager back in the car.

Kang Hui finally pieced together what happened from He Jiayi’s snickers and brief comments, and his face darkened.

Ran Lin’s heart sank, knowing he was about to be scolded.

Having been in the industry for two years, although he was still a lesser-known star, he was well aware of the various tricks in the industry.

What is popularity¹? It’s about having buzz².

¹Red (红) In terms of the entertainment circle, this means popularity.
²Heat (热度) In terms of the entertainment circle, refers to buzz. This term is commonly used to measure the success or impact of marketing campaigns, celebrity influence, or the reach of news stories and events in the digital age.

How can one achieve popularity? Those with good conditions, strong connections, resources, and willingness to work hard, aside from accumulating goodwill and visibility through roles in various productions, also need to stir up some topics. Those with poor conditions, lacking background and resources, must resort to all means to grab headlines.

An opportunity like the one he just had was a godsend. What he should have done was to cling to Lu Yiyao’s coattail*, expressing his fanboy feelings even though he was a star himself.

*Clinging/Hugging someone’s thigh. Basically, riding on their coattails (currying favor with someone).

If successful, he could not only ride on the news but also use the opportunity to build a relationship with Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao’s team would naturally not let him slap a young fan’s face in front of the cameras, so whether their relationship is good or not doesn’t matter, as long as the fans think they hit it off from today.

The worst-case scenario would be Lu Yiyao’s fans not buying it and heavily criticizing him.

So what?

Criticism* was also a form of buzz.

*Black. Slandering and creating or spreading black materials (negative information/scandals) to defame someone or some projects, usually done by anti-fans.

But he didn’t say a word in front of the camera, missing the chance to make headlines.

Even if tomorrow the news spreads about him holding a sign waiting for Lu Yiyao, without interaction, communication, or catchy phrases—just a few photos or a few seconds of awkward video—there was no angle to stir up news.

Unexpectedly, Kang Hui didn’t say much; he just gloomily stared at him for a long time, eventually took off his glasses, rubbed his temples tiredly, and then asked Chen Ling, “There’s no problem with the fan meeting the day after tomorrow, right?”

Chen Ling, not knowing how the topic shifted to him, was stunned for a moment before answering, “Oh, no problem. We’ve rehearsed it several times.”

Kang Hui nodded and then rested with his eyes closed, not saying another word.

He Jiayi curled his lips, obviously disgusted with Kang Hui’s attitude throughout the whole process.

It wasn’t out of solidarity with Ran Lin; he just didn’t get along with this agent.

If an artist doesn’t get along with their manager, don’t expect them to become popular.

But He Jiayi didn’t care, as he had already given up on his future and was just waiting for his contract to end to change careers, using his savings to start a second profession.

Ran Lin didn’t dislike his agent. After all, he had been with him since his debut.

But he understood He Jiayi’s feelings.

Because both of them were in the same situation: being abandoned.

Yes, it wasn’t just neglect anymore.

Kang Hui, managing three artists alone with limited experience and resources, could only focus on one.

And Chen Ling was the chosen one.

It was simple. Chen Ling could sing, write songs, and perform well, making him suitable for variety shows, fan meetings, and even writing songs for dramas and movies.

The entertainment industry didn’t lack people who looked good, like Ran Lin and He Jiayi.

But talent was appreciated everywhere.

So facing Ran Lin’s hopeless situation, Kang Hui couldn’t even bother to speak.

Ran Lin gave He Jiayi a faint smile, with a sense of relief and helplessness.

Even if he had clung to Lu Yiyao’s coattail just now, what then? Without work, reputation, resources, or prospects, any buzz would be fleeting.

Hot topics* on Weibo updated every hour.

*Think “trending topics”. 

Even the biggest trending events faded away in a couple of days.

The company’s driver drove like he was racing for his life. Ran Lin, sitting next to the door, rested his head against the window, watching the street scenes swiftly recede.

He was twenty-three this year.

He wondered how much more of his youth he could squander in this industry.

The other protagonist of the airport incident, Mr. Lu Yiyao, forgot about this incident as soon as he turned his head.

After returning to his luxurious apartment in the Chaoyang District and taking a refreshing hot shower, he didn’t even have time to reminisce about the wonderful moments at the film festival before diving into his soft bed for a sound sleep.

On the same night, under the same dawn sky.

One in the CBD center, the other almost out of the East Fifth Ring.

Unbeknownst to the two people dancing with the Duke of Zhou* in their dreams, in another space, on Weibo, where there were thousands of sleepless people, their ‘brotherly love video’ was slowly fermenting.

*This is a humorous idiomatic expression (dancing the cha-cha with the Duke of Zhou) to refer to someone who’s in deep sleep and possibly dreaming. The Duke of Zhou is a revered figure in Chinese history known for his wisdom and moral integrity. In Chinese culture, he’s often associated with dreams.

“Lu Ge, your coffee.”

The clever assistant had long figured out Lu Yiyao’s habits—a sandwich for breakfast without fail, accompanied by a latte if the previous day was normal, or black coffee if he was fatigued or had stayed up late for filming.

Few people would both like a latte with hardly any strong coffee flavor and pure black coffee without any embellishments.

But his boss was an exception.

However, if all your colleagues complained about how difficult stars were to serve, and you found your boss quite agreeable, even often calm when you thought he should be angry, then even a bit of unusual preference was endearing.

“Mm.” Lu Yiyao didn’t even lift his head, just grunted. It seemed like he wasn’t in a good mood.

The assistant froze, thinking, ‘You really can’t praise people.’ Just after he did, the coffee wasn’t taken, and the usual “thank you” was gone too. Although he didn’t expect it, after getting used to it, it was still awkward when it was taken away.

Despite his internal complaints, the assistant promptly placed the coffee on the table in front of the makeup mirror.

The makeup artist, who had finished Lu Yiyao’s makeup and was working on his hair, gave the assistant a look, and he understood, quietly stepping back.

The boss was angry.

And it was that kind of anger that couldn’t be resolved by cultivation; only suppressed, causing an internal turmoil.

His phone slammed onto the table, hitting the coffee cup. Fortunately, the coffee shop’s takeaway packaging was sturdy, only sliding half a centimeter to the side before steadying itself.

Lu Yiyao had been scrolling through Weibo all morning, and the makeup artist had been sneakily watching too.

Although it wasn’t nice, from her perspective as a bystander, this matter was really worth calling a few friends for afternoon tea to gossip about.

Here’s what happened.

At 8 a.m., the famous Lu, who reportedly had barely slept a few hours the night before, was brought directly to the makeup room in a nanny car by his manager, Hong Jie. He had a midday engagement in the city to promote a product he was endorsing.

Although Lu Yi Yao was sleepy-eyed, he professionally let the makeup artist do her work. However, yawning one after another, truly bored, and with the assistant who went to buy breakfast perhaps caught in the morning rush and not yet back, he could only scroll through Weibo and check his mentions, a better option than doing nothing, while making sure not to disturb the muscles in his face.

Little did he know, upon checking a message from a friend in the industry, he would see himself.

Seeing oneself on Weibo wasn’t unusual for Lu Yiyao.

But today was different. In today’s Weibo, beside his own face was another.

The topic was still brewing heat. When Lu Yiyao looked, comments were continuously increasing.

The title was [It’s so sad that ugly people can’t even chase stars these days] accompanied by his photo with Ran Lin and a ten-second video.

The video was hastily shot, noisy, but the picture was clear, and the reporters’ teasing at the end was very audible.

He and Ran Lin, standing shoulder to shoulder, objectively speaking, made a pretty scene.

That was when Lu Yiyao remembered last night’s episode.

Soon, the top two or three similar Weibo posts had over a thousand replies, as people who scrolled at night had gone to bed and those up for work continued scrolling.

Most hot comments were like, “Ahhh, this is too handsome” or “Wow wow, my God Lu’s charm is unbeatable.”

There were a few true fans criticizing Ran Lin for riding on popularity, but they were quickly responded to by rational fans with, “There’s nothing wrong with one more person liking him. Please don’t attract hate towards God Lu.”

Lu Yiyao was used to being used for popularity, and besides, Ran Lin hadn’t done anything troublesome on camera or said anything outrageous.

In fact, the guy didn’t say a word.

This made Lu Yiyao uncertain whether it was a publicity stunt or genuine fandom.

But in just half an hour.

The direction of public opinion subtly shifted.

First, a few netizens forwarded the video and asked, “Am I the only one who thinks Ran Lin’s laugh looks very awkward 😂?”

Then, more and more netizens replied, “You’re not alone 😏*.”

*Note: This is supposed to be a doge emoji like this.

And then something miraculous happened—airport surveillance footage leaked.

In the video, from his “body double” attracting the fans away to Ran Lin hesitantly picking up the light sign, then looking at the trash can, and finally, his own dashing arrival at the exit, mistaking someone as a fan and embracing them.

The surveillance video was silent, but just watching it, it could be interpreted as “Ran Lin deliberately picking up the light sign pretending to be a fan.”

But what ultimately led the narrative was “What to do when mistaken as a fan by a star? I really just wanted to protect the environment 😂.”

This topic was much more dramatic than the previous one, and it was the kind of reversal that the public loves to see.

Soon, the two videos were spliced together by some entertainment marketing account with thoughtful post-production, especially the thirty-second video where Ran Lin didn’t say a word, bizarrely given start-to-end subtitles, fittingly dramatic.

He hugged Ran Lin’s shoulder, and Ran Lin was stunned— [This star…. This might be a misunderstanding.]

He pulled Ran Lin to face the camera, and Ran Lin was still stunned— [What should I do? Should I run now?!]

Halfway through the video, Ran Lin subtly sighed— [Well, let’s not face slap anyone. It’s just a mistake.]

In the last third, Ran Lin showed an awkward smile— [I’m so tired…]

In the final scene, reporters shouted randomly, but Ran Lin continued to smile— [Lu Yiyao, you owe me an Oscar.]

The video ended with a dark screen with red text— [I’m not your fan, but I love you deeply. — Ran Lin]

As soon as the video was released, various marketing accounts immediately went crazy sharing it, and it instantly became a hot topic.

The watching crowd was dumbfounded, but because the subtitles added were so humorous, the comments were uniformly filled with “hahahahahaha.”

If Lu Yiyao couldn’t smell something fishy at this point, then his four years in the entertainment industry would have been in vain.

Regardless of whether Ran Lin picking up the light sign was accidental or deliberate, this current trend was definitely led by the other party’s team.

Although Lu Yiyao’s status in the entertainment industry was still that of a junior, he was at the peak of both topic and popularity, a critical phase where traffic and popularity were exploding. If handled well, the future would be a smooth road. To get involved with him at this time was indeed a clever calculation.

Fortunately, Ran Lin was completely unknown, so the gimmick of “star misunderstanding star” in this video was actually not much different from “star misunderstanding a passerby”. The only point of humor was “how awkward”, but once the awkwardness was over, it was over—just a joke that couldn’t stir up much trouble.

This could be seen from the comments; even the hottest marketing accounts only had around two thousand comments below.

As long as he didn’t respond, the heat of this matter would quickly fade.

In this self-comforting relief, Lu Yiyao waited for his assistant’s coffee.

It was really just the assistant’s bad luck.

If he had returned just two minutes earlier, Lu Yiyao wouldn’t have been so angry.

Unfortunately, neither early nor late, at the very moment he spoke, Lu Yiyao’s well-cultivated heart just happened to explode into pieces of shit.

—The names Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao, tied together, parachuted into the hot search*.

*This is the title of the novel. See Kinky Thoughts for more details.

Kinky Thoughts:

The title of the novel is (空降热搜) which transliterated means Airborne Hot Search. In terms of context, I went with Suddenly Trending (which is basically what’s happening here).

Just a note, I’m not familiar with Weibo or the emojis/gifs/ect. they use. I hear it’s similar to Twitter. For emoticons I can’t find, I’ll try to substitute with what I think match best, leaving a footnote behind (similar to the doge emoji).

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 2

“Wait here first. We’ll shoot Han Ze first and then you,” Kang Hui briefly instructed before diving into the sea of youth with his team.

The big screen showed that the flight had arrived.

Since it was a flight rescheduled at the last minute, the company had limited time to prepare, and with the three of them needing makeup and styling, they managed to arrive just in time despite rushing. Originally, the plan was to shoot them first, but now they had to prioritize Han Ze’s schedule.

Kang Hui was the common agent for the three of them, but not for Han Ze. After noticing Han Ze’s potential for stardom, the company hired Wang Xi, a top agent who had just left Pentium Times Media Group, as Han Ze’s agent. Subsequently, she naturally became the head of the agent department at Dream Without Limits.

Pentium Times Media was one of the most influential media groups in the country, with excellent platforms and resources, and its agents were among the best in the industry. However, for unknown reasons, Wang Xi left without taking any artists with her, citing “philosophical differences”.

This was followed by Han Ze’s sudden rise to fame.

He Jiayi always liked to say behind the scenes that Han Ze was just lucky, while Chen Ling, the youthful rebel, didn’t care much about anyone.

But Ran Lin thought differently. With the same resources, some became famous while others didn’t. It might be a matter of timing or talent. Instead of envying others, it was better to focus on oneself.

Of course, that was his motivational talk last year. This year, he was a negative energy boy, unable to muster the same enthusiasm.

Wang Xi probably knew Lu Yiyao, as the latter’s studio, though nominally independent, was actually affiliated with Pentium Times Media, making him technically an artist of Pentium Times Media. Despite Wang Xi not being Lu Yiyao’s agent, they belonged to the same company and probably knew each other, even if they only met once a year at the annual meeting. Moreover, Wang Xi was likely familiar with Lu Yiyao’s agent.

It must be a mixed feeling for Xi Jie*, now with her new company’s artist competing against her former company’s colleague and artists (at the international arrival exit). Especially since Lu Yiyao was currently on a roll, overshadowing Han Ze.

*Sister (姐). Term used to show respect and affection towards someone who is female and is either older or holds a higher position or authority. Usually, it signifies closeness or a friendly relationship.

Ran Lin didn’t know Lu Yiyao personally, but he always saw him—on TV and Weibo.

Especially this year, which was a big breakthrough year for Lu Yiyao.

Although that person had a few memorable film and TV roles in the previous two years, it wasn’t until this year that he truly shined. With leading roles in the TV dramas <Ten Years of Rainy Night> and <Yun Zhang>, and the film <Beihai Tree> all released in the same year.

Both TV dramas aired in March and April, back to back, on the same two networks. For a time, jokes were made online that turning on the TV meant seeing Lu Yiyao.

Both dramas were based on popular IPs and targeted young audiences. While <Night> received mediocre reviews, <Yun> was highly acclaimed, resulting in a positive aftereffect for both shows. Their high ratings also demonstrated Lu Yiyao’s value, outperforming most IP dramas of the same period and even the previous year.

For fans, it was about idolizing the person.

For investors, it was about the return on investment.

Lu Yiyao excelled in both aspects, making it only natural for him to rise to fame.

As the saying goes, good things come in pairs, but for Lu Yiyao, favored by fortune, good things come in threes.

In June, just as his popularity was surging from the two TV shows, his film <Beihai Tree> was released. Although it was a niche art film with modest box office returns, it received critical acclaim and was nominated in a major category at an international A-list film festival in August.

Now, just after National Day, Lu Yiyao had returned home in glory, having walked the red carpet at the festival and gained international recognition.

Despite only winning Best Cinematography among the three nominations, a nomination for Best Actor at an internationally recognized festival was enough to make Lu Yiyao stand out among his peers, shedding his idol image, elevating to a serious actor, and making a grand transition to a film star.

In terms of earning potential, films may not be as profitable as TV dramas, but in terms of prestige, the big screen was always the ultimate goal for stars.

Many popular TV actors become box office poison when they move to films. By establishing a firm footing on the big screen, Lu Yiyao had already outpaced his contemporaries.

He was only twenty-four this year.

Just a year older than Ran Lin.

“Ahhhhh—”

“Han Ze! Han Ze!”

“Ahhhh—”

The fans’ screams, as if gathering strength all night, almost lifted the roof of Terminal 3.

Ran Lin, who had been enviously daydreaming about Lu Yiyao’s success, was startled by the screams.

The international arrival exit was packed, and all the young men and women who came for Han Ze, as well as some for Lu Yiyao but also casual fans of Han Ze, started screaming.

Ran Lin and the others stayed on the outskirts, unnoticed, even though they looked incredibly handsome.

Han Ze had already come out, not wearing a hat, sunglasses, or a mask, which meant he was in great condition and confident enough to face the candid shots of his true fans.

And indeed, he was.

In a clean, sharp trench coat, his stride seemed to create a breeze. His hair was casual yet stylish, and his handsome face, smiling all the way, showed no signs of travel fatigue, radiating vitality and warmth.

Han Ze’s popularity was no fluke.

Elegant in costume drama and dashing in modern attire, his presence alone captivated the audience. This was a gift from the heavens.

As Han Ze moved out, part of the crowd followed him, creating a chaotic mix of screams, footsteps, and shoving.

Kang Hui was quickly swallowed up by the crowd, but Xi Jie, who had been following Han Ze, and the photographer who came with them remained conspicuous. However, most fans and entertainment journalists were still waiting for Lu Yiyao.

Han Ze’s figure became increasingly distant in the throng of fans, soon about to leave the terminal building.

He Jiayi voiced his concern. “Are we just going to wait here foolishly? Looking at this, that kid will probably just hop into the company car and leave as soon as he’s out of the terminal. Will the photographer even come back to take our photos? And after that, do we just take a taxi home in the middle of the night?”

Chen Ling, irritated by the airport’s no-smoking policy, didn’t bother to respond, yawning continuously.

Ran Lin actually didn’t want to bother with him either, as this colleague of his always had a straightforward way of thinking. Seeing He Jiayi getting restless, Ran Lin had to put an arm around his neck in a brotherly gesture and explained, “Don’t worry, there are so many people with Han Ze. Even if we clear the space, that small broken car won’t fit all of us. The company must have already arranged a car to wait for us.”

He Jiayi froze, then after a moment, he nodded in realization. “Makes sense!” He continued looking at Ran Lin, adding, “You’ve got a sharp mind, kid.”

Ran Lin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling that the compliment wasn’t quite fulfilling.

“Ahhhhhhhh—”

“Lu Yiyao Ahhhhhh—”

“Ahhhh I love you—”

It was unknown who shouted first, but after that, the noise level never went down.

If Han Ze’s fans almost overturned the terminal, Lu Yiyao’s fans completely did. Thankfully, the hall didn’t allow parking, or else the alarms would be blaring now.

Compared to Han Ze, Lu Yiyao was fully equipped with a hat, mask, and sunglasses, keeping his head down and swiftly walking out, surrounded by staff. He didn’t even offer a smile to his fans who came to pick him up. His speed was almost supernatural, as if he was escaping.

Ran Lin felt somewhat disappointed.

He had wanted to see the real person.

Lu Yiyao in TV dramas was exactly his type—with sharp eyebrows and charming eyes, appearing cold when not smiling, but usually wearing a faint smile. In historical dramas, he was an elegant young master, his fringe tied into his hair bun, exuding restrained passion; in modern dramas, he was a playful boyfriend, his fringe down, fresh and sunny.

What a pity.

Ran Lin sighed silently in his heart. He Jiayi, who had just freed himself from Ran Lin’s arm, was watching the crowd following their “male god” with a complex expression.

Being in the same entertainment industry, the impact of such unequal treatment was huge. Unless one had a will of steel, it was hard to stay unaffected.

The hall returned to silence. The international arrival exit was now completely empty, with a piece of a light sign lying on the ground. It had only the word “Yao” still flashing, probably dropped in the earlier commotion.

Ran Lin decided to pick up the light sign—after all, it was a busy exit, and such an object lying on the ground seemed unsafe. But upon picking it up, he started regretting it.

He hadn’t thought much about it initially, just considering it a simple act of environmental care. However, holding the light sign, he realized it wasn’t disposable like cheering lightsticks. This well-made sign could last a year or two if well-preserved.

In his first year in the entertainment industry, Ran Lin had occasionally seen fans holding light signs to pick him up at the airport. The number was, of course, incomparable to Lu Yiyao, but whether it was ten fans or a hundred thousand, each fan’s feelings were the same. Probably no one liked to see the light sign they made to support their idol thrown in the trash.

Wait a minute.

Perhaps inspired by the flickering light sign, Ran Lin suddenly sensed something amiss. He looked up at the big screen above the exit. Sure enough, although the flights from Han Ze’s fashion week and Lu Yiyao’s film festival city both showed as having arrived, there was a fifteen-minute gap between their arrival times. Even if Lu Yiyao was fast, luggage delivery always followed the flight order. How could he have come out right after Han Ze?

A commotion from behind caught Ran Lin’s attention. The gossip journalists who had followed the fans in pursuit of “Lu Yiyao” were now hurrying back!

Ran Lin widened his eyes in disbelief and looked back at the international arrival exit. Although he had a vague idea of what was happening, he found Lu Yiyao’s trickery astounding.

Roll, roll, roll—

The sound of rolling luggage approached.

The first to come out was a group from the Sunset Red International Travel Group. Despite it being late at night, the elderly tourists were still enthusiastically discussing their trip. Then came a few foreigners, followed by young students…

About six or seven minutes later, the flow of people slowed down, and finally, the exit was quiet and empty again.

It seemed like all the passengers from the flight had left.

But Ran Lin, glancing at the media still waiting around, firmly believed his guess was correct.

Roll, roll, roll—

Here they come.

Ran Lin looked up, fixating on the exit, not sure why he was so determined nor whether he wanted to verify his guess or see the real Lu Yiyao, who could come up with such a cunning plan.

Lu Yiyao wore black casual pants, a dark gray pullover knit sweater with a white shirt underneath, the collar peeking out, and the hem casually loose. Unlike Han Ze’s meticulous preparation, Lu Yiyao seemed more casual, his hair slightly messy from the journey, adding a lazy charm to his relaxed style.

However, his bare face and the fleeting look of astonishment on the faces of the entertainment reporters as he walked out betrayed him.

This person must have anticipated that his “stand-in” would draw everyone away.

Ran Lin was sure of it.

His lips uncontrollably curved upwards, as Ran Lin could almost imagine in his mind Lu Yiyao’s internal monologue at this moment, surely filled with words that would be bleeped out on television.

But this man was quick to adapt, or perhaps he had good self-control, quickly hiding his annoyance and wearing a gentle smile in his eyes.

The sound of clicking cameras was incessant.

Lu Yiyao allowed them to take photos generously.

Ran Lin thought that he must have figured that since it had come to this, it was better to be graceful than to appear disheveled.

Some eager reporters began asking questions, their phones set to record almost pushed into his mouth, mostly about the film festival, and a few bold ones directly asked about scandals.

His agent, Yao Hong, was with him from beginning to end but didn’t overshadow him. She seemed very confident in Lu Yiyao, not hastily intervening even when scandalous questions were asked. Unlike the always impeccably made-up Wang Xi, who was sharp and efficient, this woman in her forties appeared gentler and simpler, not like a strong woman, but more like an elder sister.

Her confidence wasn’t without reason—Lu Yiyao deftly handled the scandal-related questions, even managing to make the reporters laugh.

Ran Lin, standing close by, heard everything clearly and instantly realized that this was a response Lu Yiyao had prepared well in advance, just waiting for someone to walk into his trap so he could display his wit.

After answering about five or six questions, Yao Hong finally spoke up, expressing gently to the reporters the artist’s need to return and rest soon.

The reporters, rarely encountering an artist’s team willing to negotiate, empathized and slowly cleared a path. Of course, they continued to take photos, trying to capture as much material as possible.

Ran Lin also stepped aside with the reporters.

Lu Yiyao, in person, was even more charismatic than on TV. Ran Lin, from a purely appreciative perspective, felt his trip that evening wasn’t in vain.

Huh?

Lu Yiyao looked over without warning and Ran Lin didn’t have time to look away.

Their eyes met.

Initially preparing to leave quickly with his manager and assistant, Lu Yiyao suddenly walked towards Ran Lin.

Ran Lin was instantly nervous. Before he could react, Lu Yiyao had already put an arm around his shoulder, smiling brightly. “Thank you for coming to pick me up.”

It’s not you, but rather you guys. At this moment, Ran Lin represented all the fans and fangirls who were roaring like a tidal wave.

Ran Lin looked at Lu Yiyao, then at the light sign in his hand, suddenly feeling despondent.

On one hand, Lu Yiyao posed with him for the press.

On the other hand, the entertainment reporters understood immediately and snapped away.

Ran Lin swallowed and could only manage an awkward but polite smile.

The character “Yao” on the light sign flashed in front of the camera, speaking for the holder’s endless love for his idol.

Lu Yiyao might have had a moment of conscience, feeling that his earlier trick wasn’t very honorable, so he repaid his surviving fan holding the light sign with full apologies, or it could have been an act, playing the role of a star who loves his fans. But regardless of which, Ran Lin felt he was at a loss…

“Are you… Ran Lin?”

Finally, one of the more knowledgeable reporters recognized this eighteenth-tier male star.

“It really is Ran Lin!”

“So, you’re also a fan of Lu Yiyao, haha!”

“Did you enter the entertainment industry just to chase stars?”

“That’s so inspiring!”

“Ran Lin, say something…”

The focus of the media shifted from Lu Yiyao to Ran Lin, and the reporters relaxed a lot more.

But Ran Lin didn’t want to speak.

He just wanted to smash the light sign at everyone.

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