Chapter 23 – I Like You Very Much

Shen Fubai hastily searched his and Jiang Heng’s names on the internet, and pages popped up immediately—most were flame wars. In the past, he and Jiang Heng had their separate domains without overlapping. They rarely had been compared, given that their routes in the industry were different. What Shen Fubai most wished for back then, was that one day, the two of them would be mentioned in the same breath. However, he never anticipated that when that day came, it would be due to an all-out fan war that had thrust them both into the headlines.

Shen Fubai clicked on a heated post on the forum. The commentary section was absolutely vicious. At this point, the fans were no longer discussing right or wrong; they were solely fighting for popularity.

Netizen A: Fully support Shen Fubai, no need for explanation. I’m taking my little darling Fubai away. Fubai, cheers!

It was clear this was a Shen Fubai fan.

Netizen B: A supporting actor, what does he have to be proud of? Doesn’t he know to respect his elders? Don’t mention his early debut to me. In this circle, the person with the best work gets the higher status. What work does SFB have that’s impressive?

It was clear that this was a Jiang Heng fan.

The issue of Shen Fubai’s lack of work was undoubtedly a painful point for his fans. After all, Shen Fubai really didn’t have much to show for his career. His singing was heavily edited, and his dancing was stiff. His only achievement was his rank as the top student in Classic Chinese Dance in his class at Beijing Dance Academy’s affiliated junior high school… That is, until his current performance undermined his past successes, leading many to suspect that he had cheated.

Every time a rival fan attacked Shen Fubai, calling him just a pretty face, his fans could do nothing but suffer in silence, because the truth was exactly as they said—they couldn’t refute it.

Netizen C: What the hell is this uptight chicken adding drama for herself? The official statement clearly said it’s a dual-lead drama, and Yu Tang’s role is pivotal. It’s okay that ‘Pear Blossoms’ title makes it sound like Yu Tang is the main lead? Regardless of how great JH is, they’re just a supporting role for Fubai.

It was clear this was a fan of Shen Fubai.

Netizen D: I can’t stop laughing. The leading roles are clearly labeled, and Heng Heng’s name comes first. Maybe it was a face-saving measure for a certain little boy who might have forced the producers to call it a dual-lead drama. But we all know who’s the second lead. Don’t try to overplay your hand and overshadow us Heng Heng. You’re still young. Alright, gals, go take a break if you need to. Us Heng Heng fans, with our triple-crown-winning idol, don’t need to fight with these young actors—it’s beneath us.

It was clear this was a Jiang Heng fan.

Netizen F: I’m going to say this gently; am I the only one that thinks the two of them—Heng Heng and Fubai—are a perfect couple…? Please don’t attack me, I’m a fan of both. I think Fubai not looking at Heng Heng isn’t indifference—it’s shyness. He couldn’t bear to look directly at him…

It was clear this was…

…A fan of them as a couple?!

In the heat of the fighting emerged an endangered species at the forefront of trend-following.

As Shen Fubai scrolled through the comments, some were civil, albeit in a mocking sense, while others straight-up insulted people—it was not a sight for the faint of heart.

Shen Fubai felt a growing anger. Actor fans usually couldn’t beat the enjoyers-of-popularity fans in a fight. Jiang Heng’s fans were mostly reasonable, but his own fans may not have been… He didn’t care about being cursed, but he did care about Jiang Heng being cussed out by his own fans.

Suddenly, seeing the truth-telling comment from netizen F brought a glimmer of hope into his eyes.

Really! His fellow netizen, you’re the only one with clarity in this mess; you’re the only clean one in a sea of turbid beings!

Alas, such a breath of fresh air had been overwhelmed by a flood of mud.

Both sides of the only fans united to attack her: “Cultists, go away!”

This was a tough situation…

Shen Fubai closed the post and cautiously glanced at Jiang Heng, who was engrossed in his phone.

His heart suddenly filled with a surge of nervous energy.

Did Heng Heng see the online war?

Their issue had snowballed over the past few days; even those with no interest in entertainment news would have gotten alerts about it. It would be hard for Heng Heng to have missed the gossip.

Did he need to clarify that he hadn’t actually ignored him that day? That it was really just as that netizen had suggested—he hadn’t been brave enough to look directly at him.

Shen Fubai deliberated over it for several seconds, then, with an air of significance, he started, “I heard that I ignored you that day.”

Jiang Heng lifted his eyes from his phone and turned his gaze to Shen Fubai.

His eyes, like polished obsidian, glittered with a starry glow. Shen Fubai felt his heart do a dizzying somersault, before he continued, “I want to clarify. I did see you, but… but I didn’t have the courage to greet you.”

Jiang Heng blinked a few times.

Shen Fubai anxiously awaited his response, “I’m sorry. Do you, could you not mind?”

Jiang Heng’s gaze softened, leaving a soft smile on his elegant face, “There’s also something I want to clarify.”

“There’s a rumor that I’m not satisfied with you—it’s not true,” Jiang Heng paused, “I actually like you very much.”

I like you very much… finally telling you under such circumstances—

I, I like?

Shen Fubai nearly exploded with joy, even considering performing an on-the-spot, 360-degree spiral into the heavens. He knew the liking Jiang Heng referred to wasn’t the romantic kind (Jiang Heng: You didn’t know), but Shen Fubai felt immense joy nonetheless.

Right now, the television couldn’t be more timely as it played the song: “I’m in so much love with you, in every night the stars shimmer.”

Then Shen Fubai’s excitement turned flat. He felt cold all over.

Why did this come up when it was so unsuitable? The station actually replayed his variety show from many years ago?

Shen Fubai had made his debut through a talent show. Six years ago, Apple TV launched a reality show called “Tomorrow’s Star,” specifically for teenagers to participate in and discover new idols.

Initially, there were a hundred competitors, and in successive rounds of elimination, only ten remained. The other nine signed with a boy-band management company to debut as a group. The champion signed exclusively with Sheng Entertainment, receiving a multitude of resources and intense promotion.

Shen Fubai was that champion.

Among a hundred boys, all lush and fresh with delicate beauty, being the last one standing seemed like a stroke of luck, but for Shen Fubai, it was indeed rather easy.

He dazzled the stage at first sight and deeply impressed the enormous audience in front of their televisions. His final voting score was well ahead of the second-placer, and he deservedly took the top spot.

With an average age of 19 among the contestants, 16-year-old Shen Fubai was the youngest.

He had been famous since his debut, without a dormant period, enduring no hardship, and making a smooth and lucky journey all the way. Even if some green-eyed monsters were prepared to cast shadows on him, Shen Fubai’s public relations team quickly fixed the issue.

Shen Fubai’s resources were really good. The songs in his album were specially created and written for him by the company, commissioned from renowned songwriters and musicians. Unfortunately, it was a wasted effort as Shen Fubai didn’t have a talent for music, causing people to believe that the lyrics and melodies were “put to waste.” Even when his detractors mentioned his accomplishments, they would derisively say, “His most praiseworthy achievement is being the champion of “Tomorrow’s Star,” isn’t it?”

It’s been quite a while since then, and many people forgot that Shen Fubai, back in the “Tomorrow’s Star,” won the championship not just because of his face.

He stunned everyone with a dance—

The TV was now showing the first episode of “Tomorrow’s Star,” with the initial introductions of the one hundred contestants.

With so many people, it was naturally impossible for every one of them to get a spot in the camera frame; some were even fully cut out without showing their face, simply there to fill the numbers.

Shen Fubai, of course, stood out from the crowd. He received plenty of close-up shots.

The hundred boys were arranged in several rows, all of different qualities. The 16-year-old Shen Fubai was at the center.

In fact, being in the center did little for him; such was his looks that no matter where he stood in the crowd, he’d always be the first one to catch the eye.

The song that had been played on the TV just before wasn’t sung by Shen Fubai; it was a spontaneous performance by another contestant. Each contestant had thirty seconds to display their talent after introducing themselves. The detailed demonstrations of talent awaited future episodes.

After a competitor finished his introduction, it was almost time for Shen Fubai’s debut.

He needed to quickly switch the channel! Shen Fubai was filled with anxiety at the sight of the show from six years ago– although it wasn’t particularly a black mark on his history, it still embarrassed him that Heng Heng could witness it.

Shen Fubai sought out the remote control, “Let’s watch something else; this one is not worth our time. Ah, where is the remote?”

Jiang Heng discreetly hid the remote under the pillow and went through the motions of looking for it again, “I can’t find it.”

Shen Fubai was somewhat flustered, “Keep searching thoroughly.”

Jiang Heng feigned helplessness, “I really can’t find it; it’s not here.”

Then came Shen Fubai’s voice from the TV.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Shen Fubai, and I’m 16 years old. I go to the middle school affiliated with the Beijing Dance Academy, studying classical dance.” The appearance of the dazzling youth captivated everyone’s attention, with accompanying pleasant voice. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to sing.

In front of the TV, Shen Fubai: “…” Hell.

Jiang Heng feigned surprise, “You participated in this show?”

“Yep,” Shen Fubai’s emotions were complex, “I debuted through this.”

On TV was the 16-year-old Shen Fubai, and in real life, there was the 22-year-old Shen Fubai. A similar breathtaking beauty, truly evoking a sense of time travel.

Jiang Heng smiled, “You’re very impressive.”

The 16-year-old Shen Fubai wasn’t 180-cm-tall yet, but his body proportions were already excellent, standing tall among boys slightly over 170 cm. His aura surpassed everyone else by a great margin.

No one could doubt that he wouldn’t be popular.

The boy’s performance was simple, so simple that no one else could replicate it—thirty seconds of incredible leg control, with not the slightest tremor in his calves.

This was the strength of being top of his class.

Jiang Heng wondered many times, the boy who once danced so well, why did his limbs seem out of sync later on?

Shen Fubai was still looking for the remote control, “It’s just an old show; let’s change the channel.”

Jiang Heng asked, “Your performance was on which episode? This channel has a playback service.”

Shen Fubai paused in his search for the remote control, hesitating, “…Do you want to watch it?”

Jiang Heng answered affirmatively, “Yep.”

Shen Fubai quickly replied, “In the third episode.”

Actually, Shen Fubai lied; it was the fourth episode. He simply didn’t want Jiang Heng to see his dark history, so he misled him. When the time came, he could pretend he remembered wrong and pass the circumstances off easily.

“Tomorrow’s Star” had twelve episodes in total. There was no chance Jiang Heng would sift through each one looking for him.

Jiang Heng: …Obviously it’s the fourth episode at 24 minutes and 52 seconds.

He had gone over all of Shen Fubai’s reality shows over and over many times. He knew the exact minutes and seconds of Shen Fubai’s appearances by heart and could vividly remember every frame of the images. He was just asking half-heartedly.

Jiang Heng accurately pulled the remote control out from under the pillow and fast-forwarded to the fourth episode and precisely stopped it at the 24-minute mark.

Faced with Shen Fubai’s odd stare, Jiang Heng was very calm, “I accidentally pressed the wrong button.”

To be so careless as to hit the button that made it one minute before his performance?

Shen Fubai opened his mouth to reply,

“Turns out you knew where the remote was all along.”