Chapter 81: Sweet Nothings
@MinZhiV: You are too brave and quiet; I almost forgot you were in pain.
Min Zhi silently logged into Weibo, posting this suggestive sentence amidst the relationship rumors.
Fans rushed over to decipher it.
[Asking out of ignorance, has Min-ge been possessed?]
[Can’t stand you lovebirds, have some mercy on your single fans…]
[Min-ge probably just had a sudden urge to revisit his major? He said in the comments that it’s a quote from Hemingway]
[In case new fans don’t know, let me tell you, our Min-shen is a Comparative Literature major]
[…?? This is the most ridiculous gossip I’ve heard this year]
[I checked, Min-ge actually studied literature? Comparative Literature??]
[???]
The topic gradually went off the rails.
Even true fans were shocked.
Xi Leng, witnessing the fans’ reactions, thought that his initial shock wasn’t because he wasn’t a dedicated enough fake fan, after all. It was hard to imagine this person seriously studying literature.
Even now, he was lying on Xi Leng’s lap, reading a book, claiming to be gathering inspiration for his new song.
There was no sign of the new album yet, but the cover was confirmed, his doodle, combined with Xi Leng’s discarded draft, quite abstract, yet also with an air of profound artistry.
Xi Leng scrolled through his phone, finding another piece of news about Min Zhi.
#MinZhiCharityDonation#
@PenguinAntiDomesticViolenceFoundationV: Thank you! [/Flowers][/Heart][/Flowers] //@MinZhiV: You are too brave and quiet; I almost forgot you were in pain.
This newly established foundation immediately reposted Min Zhi’s cryptic Weibo post.
An anti-domestic violence foundation, perfectly matching Min Zhi’s words.
Xi Leng was stunned, glancing down at the person seriously reading a book on his lap, pleasantly surprised, but what was with the penguin? Did a private joke have to be announced to the world?
Several media outlets also published related news.
@NewsExpressV: According to Min Zhi’s studio, Min Zhi participated in the establishment of the “Penguin Anti-Domestic Violence Foundation” on the 5th of this month. Last month, Min Zhi donated 33 million yuan to establish the foundation…
Fans, passersby, and haters were all shocked: 【?????????】
【As expected of a celebrity, 33 million casually donated?】
【There are many who can donate 33 million, but he’s the only one who actually did it, right??】
【Sorry, Min-shen, I shouldn’t have criticized you before…】
【This person is so capricious, actually donating, impressive!】
【Becoming a fan (as long as he doesn’t break the law, I’ll support him unconditionally)】
【The commenter above has truly grasped the essence of being a ZhiMi (Min Zhi fan) 2333】
【Staying rational, I have a feeling he’s planning something big… proceed with caution…】
【Wait, isn’t the number 3300 a bit… Leng Leng’s birthday is March 3rd, right?】
【Holy shit, even 33 million is part of your ploy??】
As expected.
No one understood Min Zhi’s style better than his fans, sometimes even his boyfriend was caught off guard.
Publicly announcing their relationship now would only be harmful, jeopardizing his career and exposing Xi Leng to potential cyberbullying. Min Zhi hadn’t mentioned going public yet; Xi Leng figured he wouldn’t do it without discussing it with him first.
But how could a man in love resist showing off, especially a first love heading towards marriage, not showing off only meant he wasn’t serious!
Min Zhi, in the middle of the night, quietly changed his Weibo bio to “In a relationship.”
He naturally couldn’t hide it from his tens of millions of fans.
【????】
【Holy shit???】
【Ge… isn’t this you… this is Weibo, not a dating app】
【I’ve probably been brainwashed, not only am I not surprised, I even feel… happy?】
【Honestly, how many male artists at this age aren’t dating? Most of them have been in constant relationships since they were teenagers, they just don’t admit it publicly.】
【A bold guess, Min-shen debuted at 18, this is his first time acknowledging a relationship, could this be his first love?】
【Aaaaah】
【Air Conditioner CP YYDS】
[Translator’s note: ‘Air Conditioner CP,’ a nickname given to Xi Leng and Min Zhi by fans, combining Min Zhi’s name (致, Zhi) and the word for cold (冷, Leng) to create a pun on ‘cooling,’ like an air conditioner.”]
【This is a victory for pure love!!!】
【Min-ge didn’t say who it is, CP fans, stop getting ahead of yourselves】
…
#MinZhiRelationshipConfirmation# topped the trending topics late at night, with a bright red “explosive” tag.
However, there was a difference between “confirmation” and “announcement.” The excitement was dampened slightly, he only admitted he was in a relationship, without revealing his partner’s identity, incredibly tight-lipped, a stark contrast to his usual style.
As fans eagerly waited, once again demanding an explanation, Min Zhi appeared, even gracing his fan group with his presence, responding to the rumors and speculations.
He rarely made appearances like this, the fans excitedly welcomed him, vented their anger, gossiped, then pushed their luck, questioning why he wasn’t doing a live stream, was he hiding something?
Min Zhi replied good-naturedly, 【I’ll do a live stream next time, I have company at home】
The fans expressed their speechlessness, disgust, and anger, yet the number of online members continued to increase.
Min Zhi typed quickly, a wall of text appearing in a flash.
【Just to reiterate a few things】
【I’ll say it again, less offline chasing, unless it’s really convenient and you have nothing better to do, then I don’t mind. Offline chasing is dangerous and a waste of money. There are so many people, I won’t remember you even if you beat me up】
【I’m impatient and I hate noise, it would just make us both unhappy】
【Isn’t absence makes the heart grow fonder? If you like, I can make more appearances in the fan group, do more live streams?】
【There will be album signings and concerts in the future, I’ll welcome you all then】
He expertly used the tactic of lowering expectations before the reveal, and these last few words appeased the angry fans.
【Please spare me from other offline events】
【This man, he’s in love, planning to get married, there’s really no point in chasing him】
【Use that time to travel, buy some good food】
【Your own life is always your priority. Study hard, work hard, get rich. As for relationships… it’s fine whether you’re in one or not, there are too many scumbags out there. Choose carefully, don’t settle, okay?】
His words were always blunt, even a bit harsh, but his sincerity was always evident.
As Min Zhi excitedly typed away, Xi Leng, watching curiously, leaned closer, wanting to see what he was writing, also worried that he would say something outrageous and cause trouble.
Min Zhi, however, shifted slightly, mysteriously hiding his phone, “Not letting you see, you fake fan, join the group if you want to see.”
Xi Leng, naturally not in the group, was convinced: “Okay.”
But he was still incredibly curious, glancing over at Min Zhi every now and then.
Min Zhi noticed every time, his eyes and the corners of his lips curving upwards, still not showing him his phone, how mean.
Min Zhi, in a great mood, continued chatting with his fans: 【I waited 25 years for him. I’m very happy now, and I wish you all happiness as well】
Even the fact that he had been single until 25, he stated it frankly.
The fans then filled the screen with question marks.
【Wait, him?】
【Gege, why the sudden change? I’m scared??】
【Why are you suddenly so sweet… has love changed you?】
【…Is the admin… the girlfriend?】
Min Zhi: 【No, haha, it’s me, of course, I just kicked him out, he kept giving instructions and couldn’t even speak properly ^ ^】
【！！！！！】
【Him?? Him?? Him again???】
【So it really is a boyfriend!?】
【Holy shit, why can’t I send my message… his name seems to be blocked by Min-ge…】
【Let me try… really?】
【So it really is [/Penguin], right? The icy kind (can’t type those two characters, I’m speechless) [/Penguin][/Penguin][/Penguin]】
【No wonder the foundation is also [/Penguin][/Penguin][/Penguin]…】
【…Perhaps [/Pig] blocked it to prevent CP fans from bothering Min-shen? You’re overthinking it】
【It’s clearly to prevent you from getting too excited and cursing】
【The more he explains, the more I feel Min-shen’s love】
【Aaaaaah, is it really him or not!!!】
Once the “boyfriend” topic started, there was no end to it.
Min Zhi only responded to the questions about whether he received any guidance from his “boyfriend” today, he had to make things clear and defend himself,
【His guidance was just four words: Talk less】
【He can’t even speak as well as I can】
One message after another.
The topic constantly derailed, turning into sickeningly sweet dog food.
【But I like this kind of quiet one, haha】
【But he’s not using his silence as an excuse, he’s trying very hard to learn how to speak :D】
【His love is shown through his actions】
【Actions speak louder than words, I’m sharing this wisdom with you】
【Meaning, don’t take my nonsense too seriously. Go to bed early, I’m also going to rest, bye】
Fans: 【!!!!】
【Holy shit, seven times “he”, he can’t have accidentally typed it seven times, can he???】
【So, it really is the boyfriend…】
【Congratulations to the entertainment industry for acquiring the second top-tier male “sister-in-law” :)】
【Min-ge, just say something!!!】
【Aaaaah, he ran away again!!】
【A dog man’s words are deceitful】
【?? That’s fine, he admitted his words are nonsense】
【…???】
