Chapter 43
The director gathered all the cast members, welcoming Wei Yuan, whose dedicated camera crew and livestream were finally set up.
Hundreds of thousands of viewers were already waiting in the livestream room, but most of Wei Yuan’s fans were watching other livestreams, trying to catch glimpses of him.
As soon as his livestream started, millions of viewers poured in.
The other cast members applauded, looking at Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan, used to being the center of attention, greeted everyone with a smile, then waved at the camera. “Hello everyone, I’m back.”
[Ahhh, Young Master, ahhh! You have no idea how much we missed you, wuwu! Do you know how we’ve been living all these months?!]
[Help, aooo! Such a beautiful face! The entertainment industry can’t live without Wei Yuan!]
[Young Master is back! He’s really back! I’m no longer a homeless child!]
Wei Yuan glanced at Lu Dingyun, who was standing a few meters away, separated by three other cast members.
But as soon as he looked over, Lu Dingyun also happened to look at him, their eyes meeting, and Wei Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked away.
The director, oblivious to this brief exchange, introduced Wei Yuan as a new cast member, then explained the rules about earning island currency and completing tasks.
Wei Yuan’s mind, however, was elsewhere.
Hadn’t Lu Dingyun just offered to grill fish for him?
Logically, as a top star, he wasn’t close to Lu Dingyun, not even acquaintances, but Lu Dingyun hadn’t acted distant at all.
His actions – patting his head, holding his wrist, kneeling before him, offering to grill fish for him – were all unlike his usual aloof demeanor.
Come to think of it, their interactions hadn’t been within the normal social boundaries.
Lu Dingyun had definitely crossed the line!
Wait, Wei Yuan suddenly remembered something.
Lu Dingyun had often watched his stage performances and even secretly liked his videos.
Could it be that Lu Dingyun was his fan?!
Wei Yuan’s eyes lit up.
It was possible, right?
Opposites attract, and although they were both men, their personalities were completely different.
It was perfectly normal for someone like Lu Dingyun, so introverted and aloof, to admire a lively and outgoing idol like him.
That would explain everything.
Lu Dingyun must be his fan, secretly following him, and the way he kept calling the kitten “Xiao Yuan,” even though its name was “Gui Yuan,” was clearly a reference to “Xiao Yuan,” as in Wei Yuan.
And when his brother had asked Lu Dingyun to visit him, he had readily agreed.
Perhaps he had been eager to go!
The more Wei Yuan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. After all, Movie Emperor Lu was a bit reserved but secretly passionate, so secretly admiring his rival wasn’t out of character.
And after he had arrived on the speedboat, Lu Dingyun had deliberately stayed away from the crowd, pretending to be indifferent, clearly playing hard to get!
So, by approaching him, hadn’t he fallen right into Lu Dingyun’s trap?!
Wei Yuan was annoyed with himself.
“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Fan Tian nudged his arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Huh?” Wei Yuan was slightly dazed.
Fan Tian pointed his chin towards the director. “He’s asking who you want to room with.”
Who could he room with?
Wei Yuan instinctively said, “Of course I’ll room with Lu…”
He stopped abruptly.
Everyone looked at him expectantly, their eyes gleaming.
The camera zoomed in on his face, capturing his every expression.
Wei Yuan cringed, changing his answer. “Of course I’ll have my own room. Didn’t they say there were plenty of rooms on the island?”
His manager, Su Da, had told him that Jiang Su had invested in the second season of the show, so the production crew was being extra generous, booking the entire island and hiring numerous extras.
And they had prepared luxurious seafood feasts and ocean-view suites, ensuring a perfect vacation and recovery experience for Wei Yuan.
Fan Tian explained, “Yes, everyone has their own room, but they’re all two-bedroom suites. Only Qi Lesheng and Lu Dingyun don’t have roommates yet.”
Qi Lesheng had his own room because his bandmate might be joining them later.
And Lu Dingyun had his own room simply because no one wanted to room with him, afraid of the awkwardness.
So, although the director was asking Wei Yuan to choose, there was really no choice at all.
Both logically and emotionally, Wei Yuan naturally wanted to choose Lu Dingyun.
He looked at Lu Dingyun, who was also looking at him, their eyes meeting across the three people separating them.
The three people between them instinctively took a step back.
Wei Yuan glanced at them, his ears turning slightly red.
He coughed, looking at the director. “I’m fine with anyone, you decide.”
Everyone was surprised by his answer, but considering Wei Yuan’s prideful personality, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
So, they all looked at Lu Dingyun.
Lu Dingyun seemed to be deep in thought.
Qi Lesheng, afraid of being caught in the crossfire, quickly raised his hand. “I want my own room.”
Wei Yuan looked at him, and Qi Lesheng, meeting his gaze, blushed furiously, stammering, “I-I’m Teacher Wei’s fan, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep.”
Everyone paused, then burst out laughing.
Wei Yuan: “…”
Although speechless, he knew Qi Lesheng was telling the truth.
They were both signed to the same company, an entertainment company owned by the Jiang family.
Wei Yuan had debuted a year earlier than Qi Lesheng’s group, and his exceptional singing and dancing skills had made him an idol to all the trainees at the company.
Qi Lesheng, a trainee at the time, had been shy and timid, too afraid to ask for an autograph.
It was his bandmate, and now boyfriend, who had taken him to meet Wei Yuan, getting his autograph and even taking a photo together.
Wei Yuan had encountered them several times after that, even once witnessing them kissing in the practice room, a memory all three of them had chosen to forget.
Wei Yuan looked up at the sky, as if saying, “Don’t ask me.”
Lu Dingyun smirked, addressing the director. “I’ll room with Wei Yuan.”
Hearing his name from Lu Dingyun’s mouth, Wei Yuan’s face flushed.
Strange.
With the room assignments settled, and since it wasn’t too late, they decided to set off the fireworks Wei Yuan had brought.
Fireworks were permitted in the designated areas near the island.
Wei Yuan, excited, immediately beckoned Fan Tian. “Let’s go.”
“Let’s go!” Fan Tian responded instantly.
Wei Yuan then called out to the others, and several of the younger, more adventurous cast members followed.
Teacher Ma, standing beside Lu Dingyun, watched the young people running towards the fireworks, smiling. “Aren’t you going?”
Lu Dingyun shook his head, his gaze fixed on the white-clad figure.
Teacher Ma, glancing at the nearby camera, suppressed his curiosity and went to talk to the others.
Lu Dingyun walked a short distance away, sitting down on a small stool, his long legs extending beyond the camera’s frame.
The cameraman took a few steps back to capture his entire profile.
Wei Yuan set up the fireworks with the others, placing them about three meters apart.
He glanced over and immediately spotted Lu Dingyun, sitting alone, as if waiting for someone to find him.
Although they were quite far apart, and he couldn’t see Lu Dingyun’s face clearly in the darkness, Wei Yuan felt like he was being watched.
He turned to the others. “Let’s light them on the count of three.”
Everyone agreed.
“One, two, three!”
The sound of lighters igniting fuses filled the air, and everyone cheered, stepping back.
Wei Yuan also turned and ran towards Lu Dingyun.
Lu Dingyun, seeing him approach, his heart quickening, took his hands out of his pockets and placed them on his lap.
“Boom!”
Fireworks exploded in the sky, one after another, painting the night with vibrant colors.
The handsome young man reached him, smiling, the fireworks creating a stunning backdrop, and extended his hand.
Lu Dingyun blinked, his heart pounding, and took his hand.
==
[Ahhhh, sisters, it’s our lucky day!]
[I won’t allow anyone to miss Leaky Cotton Jacket’s fan video! If Teacher Lu and Young Master aren’t real, then I’m not real! Watch it, everyone! This is official! Indulge yourselves!]
The shippers had been ecstatic ever since Wei Yuan appeared in the livestream.
Every interaction between Wei Yuan and Lu Dingyun was a moment of pure bliss.
Their subtle glances, their intertwined hands, their casual words…
And the romantic whispers on the beach, Movie Emperor Lu half-kneeling before Wei Yuan, holding his wrist, their faces so close, his voice so gentle.
And their figures silhouetted against the exploding fireworks.
Lu Dingyun, looking at Wei Yuan, his eyes deep and tender, Wei Yuan watching the fireworks, the light reflecting in his eyes, his ears slightly red.
In just two hours, there had been so many iconic moments, fueling Leaky Cotton Jacket’s creative frenzy, producing new content every thirty minutes.
Of course, it wasn’t just a sleepless night for the shippers.
The livestream had ended after the cast members returned to the hotel, but the internet was still buzzing.
#WeiYuanRecovers
#WeiYuanJoinsSmallTownSeason6
#WeiYuanLuDingyunInteraction
…
The top thirteen trending topics were all related to Wei Yuan, even the sponsored ads were from the clothing brand he endorsed.
Besides the news of his recovery, the most discussed topic was his relationship with Lu Dingyun.
The rumor of them being together had become almost a certainty, and now, with Wei Yuan’s sudden recovery after Lu Dingyun’s visit to the Jiang residence, it seemed even more plausible.
How else could someone, practically in a vegetative state, suddenly wake up after their lover visited them?
Shippers: This is love! True love!
Wei Yuan’s fans, heartbroken and distressed: Young Master, you’re such a hopeless romantic! But it’s okay, as long as you’re awake, wuwu.
Lu Dingyun’s fans were on the verge of tears: Anyone who watched the livestream would know they’re together!
There were some who didn’t believe it, like Wei Yuan’s anti-fans, who had also resurfaced after his recovery.
Wei Yuan had a significant number of anti-fans, mostly fans of other celebrities he had offended.
They had been quiet while he was in a coma, not wanting to attack someone defenseless.
But now that he was awake, they were back in action.
Time to bash him!
So, amidst the fans’ excitement, dissenting voices started appearing.
[Seriously? Does anyone actually believe these two are a couple? It’s obviously just for publicity.]
[Young Master Wei, afraid of losing relevance after being asleep for so long, is using Movie Emperor Lu for clout, haha.]
[Conspiracy theory: Wei Yuan probably woke up a long time ago but, seeing his declining popularity, hatched this plan with Lu Dingyun to deceive the public.]
[Lu Dingyun’s fans are too naive. I can’t stand it. Your idol is being used, and you don’t even care? Just wait and see, with Wei Yuan’s temper, he’ll definitely cause trouble for Lu Dingyun. I’ll wash my hair upside down if he doesn’t!]
The anti-fans’ comments didn’t have much impact, but they caught the attention of some fans.
Especially Lu Dingyun’s fans, who started to wonder if it was true.
With Wei Yuan’s personality, it was indeed possible he would cause trouble for Lu Dingyun.
Like tonight, when unloading the supplies, Wei Yuan had bossed Lu Dingyun around, his tone incredibly disrespectful.
The more they thought about it, the more uneasy they felt.
But Wei Yuan’s fans dismissed these concerns, claiming he only spoke like that to those he was close to.
He was either cold and distant or overly polite towards strangers, only treating his close friends, like Fan Tian, with such casual disrespect.
And the shippers found it perfectly normal, claiming Wei Yuan was simply acting spoiled with his boyfriend.
Besides, Lu Dingyun himself hadn’t seemed bothered, willingly doing as he was told, clearly enjoying it.
The online frenzy didn’t affect the people on the island.
In their hotel room, the door was closed.
The small living room wasn’t brightly lit, and although two people were present, an awkward silence filled the air.
This was bad.
Wei Yuan, standing by the door, regretted not rooming with Fan Tian.
He wasn’t ready to share a room with Lu Dingyun, in his human form!
Lu Dingyun, having changed into his slippers, entered the living room, poured himself a glass of water, and turned to Wei Yuan.
Seeing him still hesitating by the door, he raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and walked towards him.
Wei Yuan: “!”
