Late at night, in the entertainment section of a famous gossip forum, someone quietly made a post.
[POSSIBLE RECEIPT] [I suspect a certain two-character Z-surnamed male star and a certain three-character J-surnamed Movie Emperor have an indescribable relationship]
OP: As the title says. Today I happened to run into the two-character Z-surnamed male star shopping at a big mall. He was wearing wireless earbuds and video-calling someone; the other person’s face wasn’t shown, but their tones were intimate, and the Z male star even asked if he could “keep” the person on the other end. I was already burning with gossip-fueled curiosity, but I managed to hold it back with my Primordial Power—until, of all things, Z’s earbuds died and the male voice on the other end just blasted out loud!! BLASTED!! OUT LOUD!!! Holy shit, do you guys know whose voice I heard???
1L: The guy was wearing earbuds and OP could still hear how “intimate” they were? Got Clairaudience or what?
2L: The three-character J-surnamed Movie Emperor is too easy to guess. OP might as well have typed the full name.
3L: And from that, my first thought for the two-character Z-surnamed male star is that certain Pest who’s flopped so hard he’s drilling toward the center of the earth.
4L: Damn, this melon’s kind of big?
7L: Gossip with evidence is called a receipt; gossip without evidence is called a rumor. Just so everyone knows.
8L: I can fabricate receipts like this on the spot, twenty of them. Move along, move along—another empty-handed rumor-monger.
OP: I’m not done yet! That J-surnamed Movie Emperor’s voice—anyone who’s heard it never forgets it, right? It’s the bedtime lullaby of countless Voice Cons! When I heard that voice, my whole body jolted! I nearly dropped what I was holding!!
I told myself it was just a similar voice, but then I got slapped in the face—that duck-voiced croak of Movie Emperor J’s agent? Anyone who follows the Movie Emperor even a little should’ve heard it. I’m not a diehard fan of the Movie Emperor, but I’ve been to his live events. I absolutely cannot have misheard. And!! Here’s the kicker!!—the agent directly called out the Z male star’s name, and even said in a particularly suggestive tone, “Ordinary friends, got it, got it.”
Does that phrasing sound familiar, folks? When you have a secret crush you won’t name, don’t your friends tease you exactly like that?
In that moment, my world crashed, the earth shook, and everything spiraled out of control. I simply couldn’t hold it in anymore, so I’ve come to let you all taste this with me—I can’t be the only one going insane!
12L: …OP’s story is actually kind of convincing.
13L: Convincing how? Anyone who knows Movie Emperor J at all knows this is impossible, okay? Especially with an Z male star—the two couldn’t even have contact!
14L: Speaking of which, the Z-surnamed male star and Movie Emperor J have indeed been co-starring in a drama recently.
15L: 13L, is your internet still from the village? Have you heard about the recent one-stop service where the Movie Emperor proactively followed, liked, and commented on the Z male star’s Weibo?
18L: Enough with the J-surname and Z-surname stuff—Just say Jiang Sheli and Zhu Huai, alright? I’m a Jiang fan, and I swear here and now: if Jiang Sheli and Zhu Huai have anything going on, I’ll eat SHIT on a livestream!
19L: Um, excuse me, who is Zhu Huai?
20L: …I’ve never heard of him either. I only know Jiang Sheli.
21L: Never heard of him +1. Where did this D-list nobody crawl out from to mooch off our Brother Jiang? Let me teach him how to behave!
24L: Everyone above, calm down. He’s just some nobody deliberately latching onto the Movie Emperor for hype. Don’t fall for it and give him the attention he wants.
30L: Honestly, in this industry, plenty of celebrities have tried to hitch their wagon to Jiang Sheli. Only Zhu Huai managed to make all you Jiang fans remember his name. I guess that counts as a kind of success?
…
…
66L: I think OP might be telling the truth. Was that mall name starting with X…? If so, well…
That day, my boyfriend and I were shopping in a certain G Brand store when a boy with a really good aura walked in. His eyes were gorgeous. I couldn’t help stealing several glances—my boyfriend even got jealous… Ah, I’m getting off track. Anyway, he was carrying a lot of bags—probably clothes he’d bought.
When he came in, the clerk asked what he wanted, and he said he was buying cufflinks to gift a good friend, specifically emphasizing “male.” And guess what—he bought the new Starry Sky Collection from G Brand. Those of you in the know should understand the meaning its designer gave to Starry Sky, right? If it weren’t for the dignity a broke nobody should maintain, I would have really, really wanted to buy a set for my boyfriend.
And here’s the funny part: when the clerk asked if he wanted the matching tie clip, he hesitated. All kinds of promotions couldn’t tempt him—but then the twist came. The clerk said there was a lucky draw, and the first prize was an autographed life-size standee of the Movie Emperor. He paid on the spot! Six figures! I tell you, my boyfriend and I were both stunned!
OP reply: Exactly!! He did buy a ton of clothes that day!
70L: That still doesn’t prove anything. Even if it’s true, what if Zhu Huai is just a fan of Movie Emperor Jiang?
71L: Did Zhu Huai win first prize?
66L reply: No. His little expression looked like he was about to cry. He only calmed down after the clerk gave him a poster.
71L reply: They gave him a poster too?? I’m genuinely so jealous!
72L: How come none of you are asking the real question?? OP, where IS that mall??? If I hop on a plane right now, can I still make the event?
80L: ??? Wait, what’s wrong with you people? How much did Zhu Huai pay you? Drop the group number? OP didn’t even see his face—who knows if any of this is real? Receipts or shut up! Already contacted the mods. You’re welcome!
66L reply: I SAW his face! He must have been too stuffy and pulled his mask most of the way down. There’s no way I’d mistake him!
80L reply: Photos? I’ll say it again: receipts or shut up.
82L: Despicable Zhu is really too much. Shipping him with the Movie Emperor? I’d rather ship Liu Qi with the Movie Emperor. At least Liu Qi is clean-cut and has never done anything to sabotage his teammates.
83L: Right! Fresh-faced little puppy newcomer X aloof, gentlemanly Movie Emperor—any Madam want to write it? [Presenting a pen, please.jpg]
84L: Last time, Movie Emperor Jiang specifically followed Liu Qi on Weibo, then deliberately followed Zhu Huai. Who knows if that wasn’t a diversion.
88L: AHHHHH finally someone’s shipping this pair! I can finally say it! I have a girl friend who does odd jobs on the set of 《The Disloyal Minister》. Apparently, the Movie Emperor has personally guided Liu Qi’s acting many times, without a single hint of impatience! Not aloof at all! AHHHH!
89L: Shocked! This is not the Movie Emperor Jiang I know!
90L: No need for 80L sis to demand receipts. I’ll provide them myself [video.avi]
That was clearly a secretly filmed video—the picture wasn’t high-definition, but the subjects were recognizable. Liu Qi, in costume, sat intimately close to Jiang Sheli. Jiang Sheli had his back to the camera, gesturing at something, while Liu Qi mimicked him on the side, a satisfied yet cautious smile on his face.
The video wasn’t long—just over ten seconds—but it was more than enough for netizens to imagine all sorts of angsty romance: a hot idol and a top Movie Emperor in a hidden, tortured, forbidden love.
Sure enough, before long, the thread was topped with a tower of screaming marmots, and the [HOT] tag appeared, the post refusing to leave the top of the front page.
But the good times didn’t last. When netizens tried to open the thread again, a moderator had already deleted it, and the IDs of the Original Poster and 66L had been banned for a month.
Reason: Spreading rumors without evidence.
—
The day after Qi Baojia’s birthday, Zhu Huai returned to the company dormitory to prepare for Thursday’s indoor variety show.
But the day before the recording, he still hadn’t received a script or a rehearsal notice.
He called Little Nan. “Where’s the show script?”
Little Nan said, “Brother Zhang didn’t send it to me. He handled this gig directly—why don’t you ask him?”
Brother Zhang’s full name was Zhang Bei—the very agent who had washed his hands of Zhu Huai.
Zhu Huai had no choice but to call Zhang Bei himself.
The call rang for a long time before it connected, and the agent’s lazy voice drifted through the line. “Zhu Huai?”
Zhu Huai said, “Brother Zhang, I’m calling about tomorrow’s variety show…”
“Oh, that. I was just about to call you about it.” Zhang Bei cut him off. The tone didn’t sound right to Zhu Huai at all, but he kept his temper and said, “Mm, go ahead.”
“There’s no rehearsal for the show. Tomorrow’s recording has been changed to a live broadcast, and there’s no script—it’s meant to test the guests’ on-the-spot reactions. You’ve got no problem with that, right?”
Live?
Zhu Huai was stunned.
Many variety shows these days did use live broadcasts. Netizens had grown tired of the scrambled final products cut by scissors-happy editors; rather than what the production team wanted them to see, they preferred to witness things with their own eyes.
But by the same token, live broadcasts had a much higher chance of accidents. Even without a full script, the general flow was usually still communicated to the guests.
Zhu Huai voiced his confusion.
Zhang Bei sounded impatient. “Don’t you trust me?”
“No, it’s just a little strange.”
“What’s strange about it? Viewers these days don’t like scripted shows. Besides, it’s a low-rent little variety show—just wing it. You’re not getting stage fright, are you?”
Zhu Huai certainly wasn’t getting stage fright. He just found it strange. He’d watched every episode of 《Indoor Games》, and each one had clear traces of scripting. For it to suddenly have none—unless the producer had been replaced.
Zhang Bei’s voice came again, but he had moved on to another topic.
“Zhu Huai, I heard from a friend on set that Jiang Sheli has been looking after you?”
The alarm bells in Zhu Huai’s head immediately rang loud and clear. He hedged, “Brother Jiang looks after everyone.”
Zhang Bei was noncommittal. “I know you and Liu Qi don’t get along, but you’re from the same company. If he could earn Jiang Sheli’s appreciation, it could pull you up too. Look at your situation now—no work, no popularity, drowning in scandals. Once your contract expires, which other company is going to want you?”
Zhu Huai said nothing, his jaw tight, his eyes narrowing to a sharp angle.
Zhang Bei didn’t expect an answer and pressed on. “You’re not still dreaming about getting into Phantom, are you? Jiang Sheli’s coldness is famous industry-wide. Ordinary people can’t get in there—you know that, right?”
“Brother Zhang.” Zhu Huai said. “Say what you want to say directly.”
“Clever boy.” Zhang Bei said. “If Jiang Sheli asks you out to dinner or anything, remember to let me know. Create a little opportunity for Liu Qi. As for your contract renewal, I can put in a good word with the higher-ups.”
So the plan was to force Liu Qi and Jiang Sheli into a CP publicity stunt.
A surge of air rushed from Zhu Huai’s chest to his throat, his breathing rhythm shifting. His knuckles went white from clenching too hard.
Back in his idol group days, the company had arranged for members to hype one another up—it had genuinely helped boost popularity.
But someone of Jiang Sheli’s caliber… getting a CP going with him was no small-time game like those old tricks.
Zhang Bei also knew that if he wanted Zhu Huai to give up a golden opportunity like this, he’d have to offer something real to pry his mouth open.
“You know 《Beautiful Life》, right? The show originally invited Liu Qi. I can tell them Liu Qi’s schedule doesn’t allow it and slot you in instead…”
Zhu Huai interrupted. “Sorry, Brother Zhang.”
“What?”
“Jiang Sheli and I aren’t that close.”
