CH 13

Chapter 13: Not so simple feelings

[I won’t allow myself to be the only one screaming! Have you all seen Jin Yanliu’s new look?]

[What’s going on with him? I almost didn’t recognize him. Is he going for a seductive and cheap image?]

[But it looks really good! With his divine aura and red hair, he looks absolutely stunning!]

[Hey, person upstairs who keeps acting like a groundhog, could you please share a picture?]

Without delay, a fan of Jin Yanliu quickly posted the recently unveiled gorgeous picture.

Why should my brother’s beauty be exclusive to just the fans? They want to hear the screams from onlookers!

As expected, as soon as the picture was posted, the comments poured in:

[Wow!]

[Damn, I have to admit, this beauty is radiant.]

[In person, Jin Yanliu looks even better than online. He literally shines like a star. His demeanor, aura, and height… When he walked past me, it took my breath away.]

[That person upstairs is acting like a fan pretending to be an ordinary bystander again. They’re really exaggerating.]

[I believe the person above. You all know Zhang Hezhi, right? He’s that male celebrity who everyone says is plain and lacks charisma. Well, I happened to run into him at a hotel once, and, holy crap, he stood out in the crowd. He had fair skin, was beautiful, and had charisma. If he’s like that, then someone like Jin Yanliu, who is on a whole different level of beauty, can be even more impressive. There’s a clear distinction between celebrities and ordinary people.]

[I swear I’m not a fan of Jin Yanliu, but I’ve seen him in person, and he truly is godlike. Timeless beauty!]

[Actually, someone with Jin Yanliu’s tall stature, long legs, perfect figure, and smooth hair could never be average in real life. He’s also fair-skinned.]

[It’s great to be good-looking. No matter how he dresses up, he’s always handsome. Light makeup or heavy makeup, it always suits him. But he has always had a traditional and proper image as a young actor. Why the sudden change?]

[Could he really be starring in ‘Entering the Demonic Path’? Mu Hua Ying is known for his red attire.”

[Damn, now that you mention it, that might be the case.]

[Those Jin Yanliu fans must be devastated.]

[Screw your tears!]

The Liu Ye Fans (Leaf fans) immediately flooded the comments section with a plethora of beautiful pictures of Jin Yanliu, sparking a wave of discussions.

Among all the fan groups in the entertainment industry, the Leaf Fans were the largest and most passionate. They had clear divisions of labor and operated with the highest efficiency. Whether it was on Baidu, Weibo, fan forums, or even YouTube, wherever Jin Yanliu’s name appeared, they almost had complete control.

However, despite their influence, the Leaf Fans couldn’t help but feel a tinge of worry when they saw the phrase “Jin Yanliu’s Hair Color” trending on Weibo.

Jin Yanliu, known for his handsome appearance, usually preferred a light and natural makeup style. But today, he not only had vibrant red hair but also applied a rusty red eyeshadow in the corners of his eyes. His lip color seemed slightly redder than usual, and his fair complexion made him look youthful and radiant.

While he still looked good, the sudden change in his image felt somewhat jarring, giving off an air of inconsistency.

Jin Yanliu had a carefree personality and a somewhat pampered temperament, but his image had always been positive. He debuted in a popular school drama and became a national heartthrob, deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. His clean-cut image had a unique blend of youth and maturity, making it widely popular among the mainstream audience. Now, with such an abrupt change in his appearance, could he be transitioning to a different style?

[Brother, he wouldn’t really accept a boys’ love drama, right? Please, no.]

[Definitely not. Why would you even think that?]

[Why don’t we ask the group leader to talk to Xiao Ge? If it’s not true, we can issue a statement to reassure everyone. Lately, the rumors have been getting more and more detailed.]

Xiao Pangzi, who was reading the group chat, lowered his head and handed his phone to Cheng Fei. “Fans have been messaging me asking about ‘Entering the Demonic Path’ and whether Yanliu ge actually accepted that role. How should I respond? I feel like if I tell them the truth, they’ll explode.”

Cheng Fei glanced at the messages and then passed the phone directly to Jin Yanliu. “When I get home today, I’ll convene a meeting to discuss how we can make an official announcement.”

“We need to appease a few key fans, especially those who have influence within the fan club,” Xiao Pangzi, who often communicated with fans, had some experience in handling such situations. “Once we can stabilize them, they can help us stabilize the rest of the fans.”

Some key fans even had direct contact with their agency and shared a close relationship, earning respect within the fan community.

Initially, Jin Yanliu thought of letting them handle it and refraining from interfering. However, he had a change of heart. If he allowed them to do nothing and let the fans drift away, they probably wouldn’t understand, and he wouldn’t be able to explain himself either. So he remained silent.

He believed that losing fans would be a positive thing.

After all, if he didn’t lose them now, they would eventually leave when he fully embraced his true self.

Let them go, let them all go. It would be best if they all left. He didn’t want any of his fans to be deceived by impostors.

However, he had been withholding this information and hadn’t made an official announcement because he had other plans. Now, the timing seemed perfect.

He took out his phone and searched for “Falling Leaf” on Weibo.

“Falling Leaf” was his infamous anti-fan, who had amassed hundreds of thousands of followers by relentlessly bashing him. Under their banner, there were numerous lackeys diligently signing in to the anti-fan super topic every day, spreading unwavering rumors about him.

He had heard of “Falling Leaf” before, but he didn’t anticipate this person’s formidable presence in the novel “Rotating Love and Devotion.” In the story, they personified maliciousness, causing several public relations crises for the fake Jin Yanliu. This individual was not only crazy but also cunning and strategic, setting up one trap after another. Among the antagonists, they were the lowest in rank but faced the harshest criticism.

However, an anti-fan like this needed occasional revitalization and achievements to become a leader among the anti-fans.

First, he checked “Falling Leaf’s” Weibo account and saw their latest pinned post: “Earth-shattering revelation! Golden Peak Falls, and the Ugly Army gains another fierce general!”

The accompanying text was ordinary, merely summarizing the recent rumors circulating in the entertainment industry about “Entering the Demonic Path,” without providing any fresh insights.

He clicked on the comments section and read the most liked comment from a Leaf Fan: “You’ve run out of ideas.”

The second comment stated, “Your mom is ugly.”

Being a top-tier anti-fan was no easy task. It required an incredibly strong mentality to withstand the relentless attacks from numerous fans without crumbling.

He couldn’t determine if this person genuinely hated him or was simply seeking attention and traffic by stirring controversy.

In an era where popularity was determined by online traffic, some people became influential figures by supporting their favorite stars, while others gained influence by bashing celebrities. The fear was not criticism but rather being ignored.

Jin Yanliu now planned to give this person a significant gift.

He registered a new account.

After contemplating for a while, he chose the username “MeltingGoldChopsWillow.”

Then he sent a message to “Falling Leaf” using the new account.

“Hey, hey, take a look at me. I have earth-shattering news about Jin Yanliu!”

He attached a blurry picture of himself from today’s makeup session.

To arouse curiosity, he decided to release a vague teaser.

After publishing the post, he adjusted his seat and reclined.

Zhou Beiyang wore headphones and held a tablet, sitting next to him, engrossed in watching a dance video. It appeared to be a new routine their group was preparing to learn.

He leaned in, resting his chin gently on Zhou Beiyang’s shoulder. The dance moves were impressive and stylish, but he wondered about the accompanying music.

Reaching out, he removed a wireless earphone from Zhou Beiyang’s ear and inserted it into his own.

Their faces were almost touching, while Zhou Beiyang remained still, semi-reclined in his seat, his slender fingers lightly gripping the tablet.

Cheng Fei sat a bit forward, observing the two of them.

Uh-oh, ever since that absurd idea had crossed his mind, the more he looked at Jin Yanliu and Zhou Beiyang, the more something felt off.

They were close like brothers, yet there was something different about their relationship.

As he observed, Zhou Beiyang seemed to sense his gaze and raised his eyebrows, making eye contact with him.

Perhaps it was the angle or the absence of a smile on Zhou Beiyang’s face, but his eyes held an unusually serious and even vigilant expression, resembling the gaze of a wolf.

Cheng Fei was momentarily taken aback, then turned his head to look out the window. After a while, he heard Jin Yanliu laugh and say, “Damn, this move is so difficult.”

He turned his head and saw Jin Yanliu leaning against Zhou Beiyang’s shoulder, his red hair brushing against Zhou Beiyang’s thick black hair, his smile as radiant and bright as ever.

Zhou Beiyang’s lips curved into a faint smile, exuding gentleness, warmth, and handsomeness. The wolf-like gaze from earlier was merely a figment of his imagination.

Author’s Note: I know everyone is eager to see Zhou Beiyang’s darker side, and I share that excitement too. However, the more he can conceal it in the initial stages, the more impactful it will be when he finally unveils his true colors. Gradual progression is crucial.

Just the thought of Xiao Zhou’s sinister side emerging in broad daylight fills me with anticipation.