In the photos, Xu Linshen appeared remarkably relaxed, both in his demeanor and expression. This stark contrast to his usual serious and composed image left a profound impression on the viewers, evoking a hard-to-describe feeling.
—There seems to be an invisible barrier between these two. How did they even meet? Leaving aside everything else, their educational backgrounds are on different levels. I don’t think they’d have much in common. The only possible guess is… Did Mr. Xu also watch “Thunderstruck”? Umm… well, that’s not really the point.
—Seeing them together makes me feel the chemistry. I’m beyond saving. Am I the only one who feels that Mr. Xu looks at Zhong Yu with deep affection and tenderness?
—Lately, I’ve become a die-hard fan of Su Ershao from “Thunderstruck” and I now have an 800-meter bias towards Zhong Yu. By the way, I never thought Zhong Yu would be praised for his acting skills. It’s like pigs can fly… Well, I just wanted to express my feelings.
The sentiments expressed by netizens highlighted their curiosity about the connection between Xu Linshen and Zhong Yu, while also playfully speculating on their dynamic and even hinting at the possibility of a romantic connection.
This trending topic’s unexpectedly high engagement can be attributed to two main factors. On one hand, it’s due to Zhong Yu’s continuous high visibility lately. On the other hand, it’s the side of Xu Linshen presented in this photo, a side that has rarely been seen in the public eye before—considerate in his gestures, tender in his gaze, with eyes brimming with cheerful smiles.
Following this, some bored internet users resurrected the old post about Xu Linshen’s mansion and his friends in the industry. This trending topic remained at the top of Weibo’s trending page for a whole day without showing any signs of diminishing in popularity.
# [Image] Another Member Added to President Xu’s Circle of Friends. Speaking of which, people have been speculating about something between President Xu and Le Huo that’s, well, not describable. But I always feel that even if it were true, I would definitely choose someone like Zhong Yu [no intention to start a war]. And the chemistry between these two in the picture is really sparking! That slender waist and long legs in the shirt and jeans are making my nose bleed.#
As for this trending topic, most people’s speculations only revolve around the idea of them being friends, and the public discourse hasn’t gone in any other direction.
However, what truly caused an uproar among netizens was Zhong Yu’s regular live stream on his Instagram account.
This was a new plan that Fang Dingyao devised for Zhong Yu after a company meeting, aiming to maintain exposure while keeping the workload lighter compared to other projects.
The main advantage is that this approach allows real-time interaction with more fans and netizens. Increased social interaction is one of the simplest and most effective ways to manage depression. As the star of Starlight Entertainment, Zhong Yu was essentially nurtured by Fang Dingyao. She invested a lot of effort in him and didn’t want him to easily give up on his career. She also wanted to see how far he could go.
With a natural charm that attracts audiences, and the ability to trend effortlessly, Zhong Yu, who has now even shed his only weakness in acting, is undoubtedly on a promising path in the entertainment industry.
His daily live stream starts around 8 in the morning, broadcasting from Zhong Yu’s apartment. After waking up, Zhong Yu sets up the camera, opens the app on his phone, and greets the viewers as they gradually join the stream.
Around 8 o’clock, there are only a couple of thousand viewers, but then the number starts to skyrocket at a rate of several viewers per second.
As soon as viewers enter the live stream, they see a sleepy-eyed Zhong Yu, his face almost pressed against the camera, and a strand of unruly hair sticking up on top of his head. He’s dressed in a casual shirt and pants, with the soft texture of the shirt and the outline of his collarbones subtly visible, revealing a pristine fairness to his skin that’s hard to put into words. Perhaps it’s because he’s in a familiar and comfortable environment, but he appears relaxed and much more approachable than he does on screen.
The early morning fans, who had been eagerly waiting, couldn’t contain their excitement any longer. Comments were pouring in rapidly. Not only were they thrilled to see their idol early in the morning, but also because this was essentially Zhong Yu’s first time revealing his private residence.
The bedroom’s decoration was visibly luxurious yet casual, with a touch of industrial style. The black-and-white combination, blending metal and wood, preserved a warm atmosphere while maintaining a sense of quality. It was very youthful and… well, very “single.”
This conclusion was swiftly drawn by netizens based on the bedroom’s style and decor.
“Now I’m going to prepare breakfast. You guys can decide what I’ll have this morning.”
As he spoke, the camera shifted to the refrigerator, revealing its well-stocked contents. Many netizens began offering suggestions and quickly turned into lemon experts, as each item turned out to be quite expensive.
And in just this short half-hour, the number of viewers watching the live stream skyrocketed from a few thousand to over two million.
The comments section was ablaze with activity. Celebrities’ everyday lives behind the scenes undoubtedly held a strong allure for netizens, as it provided a sense of closeness and authenticity.
For a full two hours, netizens watched as Zhong Yu prepared and had breakfast, tidied up his room, and played games.
Though these were all very mundane activities, netizens couldn’t help but feel that every movement and glance from Zhong Yu delivered a true beauty attack. Moreover, he occasionally answered questions from viewers, speaking clearly and with an appealing voice. People found themselves unconsciously drawn in, causing the number of viewers to steadily rise. Within less than two hours, the viewership had reached ten million.
It was almost eleven o’clock when fans were still in the live chat room, watching their idol sip juice. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door.
Even though the camera didn’t shift, the clear sound of the door opening through the speakers sent a ripple of excitement through the netizens.
—Could it be a friend from the industry? Or just the manager and assistants?
In just a matter of seconds, the barrage of comments was flooded with various speculations until a voice broke the silence.
It was the voice of an adult man, deep and magnetic. Following the voice, the sound of the door closing could be heard. As the man slowly entered the frame, there was about a second of pause before the entire live chat room exploded!
The man at the door exuded an elegant demeanor with handsome features. Who else could it be but Xu Linshen?
The comments section was immediately flooded with questions like, “What’s the relationship?”
—Everyone, let’s not get too excited. Maybe they’re just friends…
—No, no, pay attention to the details. Just now, Zhong Yu didn’t go to open the door! So, the question is, how does CEO Xu have a key to Zhong Yu’s place?
The barrage of comments was filled with inquiries about their relationship. Many people spread the news, bringing along friends and acquaintances, and in just two minutes, the number of viewers in the live chat room increased.
“Him?” Zhong Yu placed the straw back and smiled slightly, his eyes bright. “He’s my boyfriend.”
Boyfriend, does that mean he’s come out? So straightforward? So unreserved? And so casual?
This sentence was like casually throwing a bomb into the water, instantly creating a thousand ripples in the live chat room!
The number of viewers in the live chat room kept increasing, and within ten minutes, it made its way to the top of Weibo’s trending list. The explosive news overwhelmed Weibo once again, leaving the unfortunate programmers working overtime during mealtime. As for Xu Linshen, who had just been acknowledged as the boyfriend, he first seemed a bit stunned but was then immediately called over by Zhong Yu to greet the viewers in the live chat.
The viewers who were greeted by CEO Xu with a friendly smile were still a bit shocked, and the fans in the live chat room who were initially just there to catch a glimpse of their idol’s daily life and adore his looks were almost instantly stunned by this unexpected, earth-shattering revelation.
As for the bystanders and gossip enthusiasts, they were absolutely thrilled. This is some spicy drama!
The livestream ended at half past eleven, and immediately following were the trends and news reports. Zhong Yu’s agency, as well as Zhong Yu’s personal Weibo account, swiftly posted acknowledgments and tagged Xu Linshen’s private account.
Same-sex marriage had become legal and quite common since the year before, and it wasn’t the first occurrence in the entertainment industry either. But who was Zhong Yu? And who was Xu Linshen?
One was an unquestionable top star in the entertainment industry, while the other was the heir to the Xu Corporation. What kind of entity was the Xu Corporation, anyway? In the Forbes ranking of the wealthiest people in China, only two individuals made it to the top 30, and one of them was the CEO of the Xu Corporation.
With a top-tier celebrity combined with a top-tier tycoon, the sudden official announcement without much warning caught everyone off guard.
Their Weibo accounts quickly became flooded. This piece of news alone must have fed countless marketing accounts. On various forums, any tag involving the names Zhong Yu and Xu Linshen was paired with the “explosive” label. The video of the two of them together on Zhong Yu’s Instagram was clipped and circulated wildly by netizens. Major video-sharing platforms and social media sites started reposting it, generating an astonishing level of discussion.
Usually, when such a trend emerged, netizens would immediately start digging into the two individuals’ pasts. Their level of perceptiveness rivaled that of famous detectives, and it didn’t take long for them to uncover various hints.
In the wake of their announcement, they received plenty of well-wishes, but skepticism also abounded.
After all, in the collective subconscious, whether in terms of societal status or other aspects, many assumed that someone like Xu Linshen, a scion of a wealthy family, getting together with a popular star like Zhong Yu was nothing more than seeking a youthful, beautiful, and thrilling experience.
But when Zhong Yu said the three words, “He’s my boyfriend,” the bright sparkle in his eyes unmistakably portrayed genuine affection. Coupled with the rumors about their friendship in the past…
For a while, the online sentiment took on a bizarre tone. Unlike the typical narratives surrounding female celebrities marrying into wealthy families for financial gain, Zhong Yu’s comments section was filled with either blessings or well-intentioned advice.
—This boyfriend doesn’t seem reliable. Dear mother, please be cautious… Why not focus on your career and strive for an Oscar?
However, haters seized the opportunity to spread rumors that the relationship was merely between a sponsor and a kept individual. They even insinuated that many of Zhong Yu’s advantageous opportunities were closely tied to Xu Linshen.
These kinds of speculations were a treat for gossip-hungry marketing accounts. Before long, the direction of public opinion was completely swayed. What was initially about two people coming out as a couple morphed into a narrative of a wealthy benefactor supporting a young star and Zhong Yu’s connections being portrayed as solid evidence.
Nasty and hurtful comments were flying all over the place. As a top star, Zhong Yu, who usually received so much attention, was now facing substantial criticism.
However, this tide of negativity didn’t last long. In just a little less than two hours, there was a complete reversal of the situation. Faced with these doubts, Xu Linshen’s private Weibo posted a clarification.
Xu Linshen (V):
The wedding is set for the end of the year. We both take this relationship very seriously. [Image]
In a span of just under two minutes, Zhong Yu’s personal Weibo followed with a retweet.
This sudden twist was like a roller coaster ride—a slap in the face that came too quickly, with no sense of preparedness. The quality of the gossip was too good; each detail was fresh and solid. Moreover, the accompanying picture displayed the engagement rings of the two individuals. No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t seem like just a casual affair!
—
The psychologist would come over every Saturday. However, he found the speed of Chu Yan’s recovery from the illness truly astonishing. Each time the psychologist visited, he could sense that Chu Yan was becoming even more cheerful compared to the previous time.
“Feeling happy! I’ve finished reading all the picture books you recommended to me,” Chu Yan exclaimed.
The psychologist felt gratified. Being able to help a depression patient emerge from their shadow so quickly truly made him proud of his profession. During their conversations, he even had a vague feeling that Chu Yan’s psychological resilience might be even stronger than his own.
Xu Linshen has been on edge these days. Although he could also feel that Chu Yan’s condition was improving, a sense of worry had been lingering within him. Hearing the psychologist’s remarks this time finally allowed him to let go of some of that worry.
Xu Linshen paused for a moment and sighed. So, had Zhong Yu already had this idea of going public for a while?
He had always thought that as artists, they wouldn’t be willing to announce their relationships too early, as it would significantly affect their career development.
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