Whenever he thought about the past, remorse overwhelmed Xu Linshen’s heart uncontrollably.
He turned his gaze towards Chu Yan, who was sitting by his desk. Chu Yan’s face no longer showed any traces of the sadness from earlier. He was now quietly eating fruit and reading manga, a smile slowly spreading from his eyes.
Returning his focus to the computer, he hadn’t been reading work emails for long when he suddenly heard the person beside him say, “Shouldn’t you change your profile picture on Weibo?”
Xu Linshen was puzzled and responded with a questioning “Hmm?” At that moment, his phone vibrated on the side. He lifted his fingers from the computer and picked up the phone, opening the message box to find a cartoon image sent by the other person.
The color scheme of the whole image was very soft and pink, and the cartoon characters’ movements were quite comical. Xu Linshen hesitated for a moment, and his initial thought was—this image is somewhat childish. However, he turned his head and saw Chu Yan looking at his phone with an expectant expression.
“This is a couple’s profile picture, and I’ve already changed mine,” Chu Yan added, as if sensing Xu Linshen’s hesitation.
A couple’s profile picture?
Upon hearing this term, Xu Linshen was momentarily taken aback. For a moment, he couldn’t react. While he rarely went online and wasn’t familiar with trendy things, even just from the surface, he could understand the meaning of that term.
It’s a couple’s…
Under his expectant gaze, Xu Linshen obediently opened his Weibo and changed his profile picture. After changing it, he clicked to take a look.
Then he couldn’t help but curve his lips, thinking to himself that although it was indeed childish, it was also… quite cute.
Ever since the two announced their wedding date on their official Weibo accounts, the online insults directed at Zhong Yu have gradually subsided, replaced by sincere well-wishes. Occasionally, a couple of troublemakers might appear, but they would quickly be drowned out by other comments, and the comment sections became harmonious.
Netizens also noticed that the profile pictures of the two had turned into cute cartoon couple avatars. While Chu Yan had been using Weibo as if it were his personal blog before, he became even more uninhibited after going public with their relationship. His posts became overly sentimental, complete with exaggerated text and images, openly showcasing their affection on Weibo and frequently mentioning Mr. Xu.
As for Xu Linshen’s private Weibo, his formal style was completely derailed. Previously, he wouldn’t even post two Weibo updates in a year. Now, he would retweet and comment on almost every one of Zhong Yu’s Weibo posts, receiving enthusiastic likes from fans each time. It seemed like he was flaunting their love at every moment.
As a result of this situation, the number of fans for both of them continued to grow, and their popularity skyrocketed. They even made it to the top of the “c-super topic” list, thanks to their fans’ support.
The reasons behind this were quite simple. Both of them had exceptionally high levels of attractiveness, and their images as a couple were visually pleasing. Moreover, Zhong Yu’s considerable popularity and his private romantic affairs have always been subjects of great public interest.
Every Saturday morning, fans and followers eagerly awaited Zhong Yu’s live stream. Often, even before the scheduled time, the comment section would be flooded with excitement, as Zhong Yu had fulfilled the requests of fans and followers for the past two weeks by showing off every aspect of Xu Linshen’s luxurious mansion, including the villa, the garage, and even the wine cellar, during his live streams.
Xu Linshen was usually low-key and had never publicly shared details about his private life or residence. So, when fans were able to catch glimpses of his lifestyle through Zhong Yu’s daily live broadcasts, it naturally sparked excitement and joy among them.
The camera shifted to the study, which was decorated in a stark and somber style. A massive, solid wood floor-to-ceiling bookshelf was neatly arranged with a stack of professional foreign-language books. However, several rows were left vacant to hold comic books and picture storybooks. These picture books stood out with their vibrant colors, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding decor.
—5555, so many comic books! This is the life I’ve been dreaming of!
—Are they still spreading rumors about being financially supported? From these past few episodes, their relationship seems really good. It’s the kind of relationship I yearn for—despite having different lifestyles, preferences, and tastes, they genuinely compromise, tolerate, and understand each other.
Over the course of a month, the popularity of Zhong Yu’s daily live broadcasts kept rising. Edited versions of his streams garnered extremely high views on major video-sharing platforms. Following Zhong Yu’s success in live streaming his daily life, a trend emerged online, prompting more and more celebrities and internet influencers to record and share their daily routines through live streaming.
Initially, fans were concerned that revealing their relationship might lead to a decline in Zhong Yu’s popularity. However, to their surprise, his popularity continued to grow over the next month, and trending on social media had practically become a common occurrence.
Meanwhile, a series of products featuring Zhong Yu’s likeness on Taobao achieved unprecedented sales. Items like cups, toothbrushes, and pajamas with his signature became incredibly popular.
—
Time flies, not long after the conclusion of “Thunderstruck” the White Magnolia Awards ceremony swiftly followed. As one of the most prestigious and authoritative awards in the Huaguo film and television industry, the White Magnolia Awards were highly regarded and held great credibility. Therefore, the awards ceremony always garnered immense attention within the entertainment circle.
This year’s event was particularly hyped, with no other reason than the fact that, thanks to his role as Second Young Master Su in “Thunderstruck” Zhong Yu had already secured nominations for Best Popular Actor and Best Leading Actor at the Huading Awards prior to the White Magnolia Awards.
Being nominated once again for Best Leading Actor at the White Magnolia Awards ignited a firestorm of excitement among netizens. Securing nominations for two major awards was already an extraordinary feat, let alone being nominated for Best Leading Actor, an award of the highest prestige. Netizens’ enthusiasm reached unprecedented heights, and in the Bai Yu Lan Awards’ online poll for Most Popular Actor, Zhong Yu’s votes consistently remained in the lead. He surged ahead with overwhelming support, leaving his co-stars Yue Huo and Lang Cen far behind with hundreds of thousands of votes, showcasing an overwhelmingly dominant popularity.
Netizens were taken aback by Zhong Yu’s meteoric rise in popularity, achieved through the unstoppable momentum generated by just a single TV series. No one had anticipated that he could rejuvenate his popularity to such heights, a level that had not been reached in quite some time.
For many years, the entertainment industry hadn’t witnessed a top-tier star quite like this. The logic behind it was rather simple. In the current landscape of constant development in both the internet and the entertainment sector, the likelihood of producing a universally adored superstar has become increasingly slim. Apart from various other reasons, the diversification of aesthetic preferences brought about by the advancement of the internet was bound to lead to fragmentation.
The awards ceremony took place at the Oriental Art Center in City B. The event brought together numerous renowned directors and veteran artists from the film and television industries.
The entire gala was simultaneously livestreamed across the internet. The red carpet event officially kicked off at 8:30 PM. Female celebrities adorned themselves in tailored gowns, their makeup exquisite, competing in a splendid display of elegance and charm. The theme of most red carpet events was often the beauty contest among female stars, which also became the focal point of the reporters’ attention.
Furthermore, after each such event, countless comparison posts would inevitably flood the internet. These posts would cover everything from hairstyles and makeup to body shape and demeanor, often proving even more enticing than the awards themselves.
Rows of luxury cars were parked in front of the entrance of the Art Center. Celebrities who had walked the red carpet gradually entered the central hall. The moment Chu Yan came into view, screams from fans echoed on both sides of the red carpet. Waves of commotion intensified one after another, and the live streaming video was flooded with the rapid repetition of the name “Zhong Yu.”
Brilliant spotlights descended from above, and Chu Yan’s well-tailored suit showcased his perfectly proportioned physique to its fullest. His legs were long and straight, his posture upright, and he even managed to outshine the 6’1″ male host standing next to him.
After the red carpet segment concluded, the scene transitioned to the main hall of the ceremony. High-definition cameras were placed in various corners of the hall. The event lasted a full two hours, with the preliminary warm-up segments coming to an end before the actual awards presentation began.
“As the undisputed phenomenon of the year, ‘Thunderstruck’ followed its sweep at the Huading Awards by once again claiming the Best Director, Best Production, and Best Drama Series awards.”
—Ah ah ah, just as I expected, a complete sweep! Did they really leave no room for other TV dramas?
—’Thunderstruck’ deserves it, Director Zhao deserves it, all the lead actors deserve it. So excited!
After the group awards, it’s time for the individual awards. The Most Popular Actor award is based on online voting results, and to be honest, there has been no suspense about this award since the start of the voting a few days ago. The gap in votes between the first place Zhong Yu and the second place Le Huo is so large that it’s clear at a glance that there’s no chance of a comeback.
Tonight’s most suspenseful and highly anticipated award is the Best Actor award. There are three nominees, and one of them is the highly acclaimed Emperor of TV dramas, Yu Meng, who has already won two major awards, the Hundred Flowers Award and the Golden Bear Award.
Beside him, Xu Linshen squeezed Chu Yan’s hand that was resting on his knee and asked in a low voice, “Are you nervous?”
Chu Yan didn’t say anything. He turned his head and saw a slight bobbing of his Adam’s apple on Xu Linshen’s long neck. He reached out and held the other person’s hand, realizing there was a thin layer of sweat on his palm.
“…”
Underneath the comments, Zhong Yu’s fans and casual viewers were equally nervous. However, many fans left reassuring messages, saying that being nominated in such intense competition was already impressive, especially with the two nominations from the Huading Awards. For an artist of Zhong Yu’s age, reaching such heights was already beyond the reach of most other actors.
After the host finished the first half of the award introduction, the entire venue fell into a five-second silence. This brief stillness instantly heightened the tension in the room. It seemed like everyone was holding their breath in anticipation. As the countdown on the big screen stopped at “1”, the host smiled and broke the silence with a resounding announcement, “The winner of the 26th White Magnolia Award for Best Actor is Zhong Yu!”
“Congratulations to Zhong Yu, and once again congratulations to the cast and crew of ‘Thunderstruck’!”
Immediately, a tidal wave of applause erupted, following the host’s words and blending with the applause. The camera and spotlight finally settled abruptly on the far left of the second row.
Countless spotlights shone from above, and almost instinctively, Chu Yan looked to the side at Xu Linshen. The latter paused for a second, then curved his lips into a smile, his eyes bright with pride.
Amidst the applause, Chu Yan calmly stood up from his seat and walked steadily towards the stage.
The fans of Zhong Yu, who were watching the live broadcast, were almost moved to tears, and the barrage of comments continuously displayed a long string of “Ah ah ah ah ah!”
Oh my goodness! He actually won the dual Best Actor titles!!!
Nominated for the Huading Awards, winning the White Magnolia Award for Best Actor and the Popularity Award—all of them captured by him. In the entertainment industry, this hadn’t happened in almost five years!
As the evening came to an end, major entertainment news outlets worked overnight to draft articles and publish them. Once again, the entire entertainment circle buzzed with excitement. At just 25 years old, Zhong Yu secured two nominations at the Huading Awards and won the dual Best Actor titles at the White Magnolia Awards.
Weibo and various forums were flooded with discussions. This was truly astonishing. As the most authoritative and impartial awards in the Huaguo film and television industry, the significance of the White Magnolia Awards was beyond doubt. To receive recognition from such a prestigious award was the ultimate affirmation for an actor.
As fans of Zhong Yu, there was no doubt that they were the happiest.
Fans of his looks indulged themselves by praising his appearance, always maintaining a flawless state—an undisputed celebrity in the entertainment circle. Those devoted to his career rested easy as well, considering he represented two foreign luxury men’s fashion brands and had graced the covers of several major domestic fashion magazines. Now, he directly holds the titles of the dual Best Actor at the White Magnolia Awards…
In the case of others, any one of these achievements would be worth boasting about for years.
—Oh my Buddha, I’m exhausted from following Zhong Yu’s news lately. His boyfriend is a top-tier magnate, and now he’s won dual Best Actor titles. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he wins an Oscar tomorrow…
—Brother, seriously consider the Oscar. [Smile]
Fang Dingyao scrolled through Weibo once more, her excited emotions still difficult to settle. An artist’s career was directly linked to the interests of their manager. As a top-tier agent at Starlight Entertainment, she had spent nearly twenty years navigating the entertainment circle, nurturing numerous A-list male and female talents who had reached the peak of their fame in the industry. However, she had never encountered someone like Zhong Yu.
If this momentum continued… she truly couldn’t fathom what heights Zhong Yu might reach.
After the event concluded, inside the car, Xu Linshen couldn’t resist raising his hand to touch his hair. He had used a lot of hair gel for styling, leaving it feeling stiff to the touch, which was not particularly pleasant. So he smiled and asked, “It might be a bit challenging to wash it out later, right?”
“Ah, that.” Chu Yan waved it off casually. “There’s a dedicated shampoo for it, very straightforward.”
Outside the window, the streetlights flowed by like water. Due to the lighting, the carriage only allowed a view of the other’s graceful and fair side profile. Xu Linshen quietly observed for a while, then seemed to recall something as if out of the blue. His voice was soft and extremely husky as he called out, “Zhong Yu…”
Hearing the sound, Chu Yan turned his head. In the dim light, he saw Xu Linshen take out a velvet box from his pocket and then open it before his gaze.
The plain ring emitted a cool silver glow in the dimness. Xu Linshen took one out of it. Before he could say anything, he heard the person beside him softly speak.
One phrase of evaluation: “It’s too low-key.”
“Mr. Xu, with so much money, did you buy this ring from a two-yuan store? There isn’t even a tiny diamond…”
Hearing his words, Xu Linshen couldn’t help but laugh and cry. An internationally renowned jewelry designer’s piece from the limited edition collection, recognized worldwide, how did it become something bought from a two-yuan store?
Suppressing the smile at the corner of his lips, Xu Linshen cleared his throat and said, “Oh… Do you want diamonds then? Can pigeon egg-sized ones do?”
“Sure, but next time, let me buy you pigeon eggs instead…”
Before his words could fully sink in, he noticed that the other had taken another ring from the box and casually put it on his own finger.
Xu Linshen was momentarily stunned. It truly was casual, just like getting dressed in the morning, Xu Linshen watched this action, and a thought emerged in his mind.
Xu Linshen also slipped his own ring onto his finger, looked down, and smiled, “Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
—End of the Main Story
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