RED Chapter 100

The opposition was fierce, but Chi Feiran’s fans were not ones to back down easily.

“Wow, escalating so quickly? Always calling others toxic. Our Ran Ran is just popular and envied. Some people just can’t stand seeing others do well and get jealous easily. Your idol shoots some early romance drama and you still have the nerve to call for others to be banned? So impressive!”

“Can’t some people just accept that good things happen to others? Normal friendships are seen as clinging to someone more popular, and classmates interacting is seen as trying to gain fame. It’s ridiculous!”

“Xia Wen is pure? Hahaha, a veteran in the industry for over ten years, and you’re telling me he’s pure? That’s hilarious! Taking my new and adorable Ran Ran away, who has only debuted for a year and is already more popular than yours! Hahaha!”

Chi Feiran’s popularity continued to grow due to the ongoing success of “Xia Gu,” and recent Weibo marketing had further boosted his image as a versatile talent, which was much stronger than Xia Wen’s now-off-the-air drama.

In the world of celebrities, popularity isn’t determined by how long someone has been in the industry. As Chi Feiran’s fans mocked, he might have debuted later, but he was currently outshining Xia Wen by a significant margin. Xia Wen’s fans couldn’t handle this, and seeing that they couldn’t out-argue Chi Feiran’s ever-growing fanbase, they decided to expose Chi Feiran’s supposed facade.

They organized a group to counter the content of the “all-rounder Chi Feiran” Weibo posts that were most frequently shared.

“Let’s take a deep dive into this so-called all-rounder idol. Is he truly all-round, or just making a lot of noise with little substance?”

“First, let’s talk about the recent hardcore finger heart gesture that supposedly had the entire film academy as witnesses. Okay, let’s assume his shooting skills are great for now. But saying he can beat an instructor and hyping him up as some martial arts master? I can only laugh. Anyone with military training knows that many instructors are actually newbies themselves, with just a year or two of experience. Veterans wouldn’t want the hard work of training new recruits, so, haha, interpret that as you will.”

“Tai Chi sword? That’s just for show. He learned a bit of it while filming a martial arts movie. His stance might look good, but the archery contest in ‘Perfect Holiday’ obviously had signs of editing. Why was it edited? Ask the show’s producers. As for horseback riding…”

“You all think dressage is impressive? Dressage movements are basic equestrian skills! Emphasis on basic. What’s so impressive about that? Oh, it looks great in a commercial? Well, whose commercial doesn’t?”

“Oh, and the claim about knowing over ten languages? Sounds impressive, right? Haha, fooling kids who haven’t been abroad. Many countries are smaller than our provinces! The reality of those languages? You can guess. If you want to flaunt academic prowess, at least show some verifiable credentials. Why is it that there’s no record of him?”

“Musical genius? Piano virtuoso? Sorry, all I hear are simple tunes. His sales were boosted by Rong Jin’s hype. Maybe my taste is just too refined, shrugs.”

“In conclusion, he might have some talent, but hyping him to this extent is treating people like fools. This kind of shameless marketing is what’s ruining the entertainment industry. Think critically and don’t be deceived by promotional articles!”

This series of arguments, combined with organized reposts, had some impact, making many of Chi Feiran’s fans furious. Just as they were planning to retaliate by exposing Xia Wen, Chi Feiran suddenly updated his Weibo.

Chi Feiran V: Haha, black and white. [Photo]

In the photo, Chi Feiran and Xia Wen were close together, smiling at the camera with peace signs. One had a radiant, sunny smile, while the other had a gentle, bright expression. Both boys, in their late teens, exuded youthful energy and each had their own outstanding charm, but together, they looked surprisingly harmonious.

Just looking at the photo made people smile. These two should get along well!

As Chi Feiran captioned, it truly was black and white!

After half a month of military training, everyone was getting tanned. Despite their efforts to use sunscreen, the sun was too strong. Xia Wen had tanned significantly, adding to his sunny and healthy appearance, but standing next to the still pale Chi Feiran made the contrast stark.

Xia Wen immediately reposted the Weibo with a photo of his own, saying, “Hmph, I’m black and white by myself. I’m not jealous of those who stay pale! QAQ”

He attached a picture of his arm, showing a noticeable tan line at the sleeve. While not as dramatic as the contrast with Chi Feiran, the difference was still visible.

Chi Feiran replied with a few more interactions, wrapping up the matter.

The reason Chi Feiran hadn’t reposted Xia Wen’s Weibo earlier was simple, and had nothing to do with fan attitudes or other dramatic reasons – he simply didn’t have the time!

When he had free time, he spent it playing games with Xia Wen and others, or catching up with his boyfriend. He had no interest in Weibo. Li Yuan and his team kept an eye on social media, but how to handle it was up to Chi Feiran, especially since Xia Wen was his classmate. Initially, Chi Feiran didn’t care about the online conflict, thinking it wouldn’t affect his relationship with Xia Wen.

However, seeing Xia Wen becoming increasingly concerned and the conflicts escalating, Chi Feiran realized ignoring it wouldn’t work. So he decided to show his stance openly.

Despite past examples warning that celebrities intervening in fan disputes might have various negative outcomes, Chi Feiran didn’t care. His friend seemed to need this.

After posting the Weibo, Xia Wen looked visibly relieved. Then Xia Wen hesitantly and expectantly asked, “Brother Chi, will you join me for a show recording?”

Their military training was ending just in time for a weekend when Xia Wen had a show to record. He had successfully transitioned to a new image but lacked the strong resources Chi Feiran had, so his schedule was packed.

Chi Feiran had planned to rest at home with his boyfriend, but he agreed after a brief hesitation, not wanting the issue to drag on.

The online fan conflict cooled down somewhat due to their Weibo interaction. Chi Feiran’s fans, seeing his high-minded approach, were happy to mock Xia Wen’s fans from a moral high ground, laughing at their idol’s visible friendship: “Look, they’re getting along well. You guys can keep jumping around! Hahaha!”

The hardcore Xia Wen fans were left in a tough spot, only to receive a final blow from Xia Wen himself.

Xia Wen went to record a show with Chi Feiran! And Chi Feiran’s role was that of a good friend!

The show they recorded was a lighthearted talk show that aired online, with a quick production cycle. It was recorded one week and aired the next, taking advantage of their current popularity. When the show’s promotional materials were released, featuring Xia Wen and Chi Feiran as guests, the anticipation skyrocketed.

Many people were eager to watch, wanting to see if their friendship was genuine or just for show.

When the episode aired, the real-time viewership numbers hit a new high. Chi Feiran’s current popularity, combined with Xia Wen’s established fame, drew in not only their fans but also many curious onlookers.

As soon as the show started, the appearance of Chi Feiran and Xia Wen immediately attracted a large audience eager to scrutinize their relationship down to every frame, as if using a microscope.

Throughout the show, their interaction became increasingly clear. Although Chi Feiran was participating as a friend and not the main guest, the host frequently brought him into the conversation due to his higher popularity compared to Xia Wen.

This situation was quite risky. If Chi Feiran didn’t respond, it could affect the show’s quality. However, if he did, it might overshadow Xia Wen, making things awkward for him. Yet, Chi Feiran handled it well. He responded to the host’s questions and quickly shifted the topic back to Xia Wen. Most of the time, he simply listened attentively to Xia Wen.

Xia Wen, aware of Chi Feiran’s intention to avoid stealing his spotlight, took the opportunity to share numerous anecdotes about their time during military training, frequently praising Chi Feiran with comments like, “Chi Ge is truly amazing!”

It almost seemed as if Xia Wen was paid to advertise for Chi Feiran. Even the host couldn’t help but laugh and exaggeratedly said, “Alright, alright, you’ve successfully convinced me! No need to praise Chi Ge any further!”

Xia Wen laughed as well and replied, “I’m speaking from genuine admiration! I can’t help it!”

Their lighthearted banter and laughter created a genuinely warm atmosphere on the show. Initially, there were quite a few discordant comments in the real-time chat, but as the show progressed, these negative voices diminished, replaced by more supportive ones.

“Though there are many fake friendships in the entertainment industry, these two are still so young. Let’s allow for some positivity in the world!”

“You can see they truly have a great relationship! Chi Feiran is so gentle. Even though he’s younger, he seems so understanding, like an older brother caring for Xia Wen!”

“Oh my, I suddenly find this pairing adorable… What should I do? I’m betraying Rong Rong!”

“Please don’t ruin this moment with shipping fantasies! It’s possible to have genuine friendships, you know!”

As the show approached its end, the host asked if they had any messages for the viewers.

Chi Feiran responded formally, “I’m very happy to participate in this show. I hope everyone supports Xia Wen.”

After he finished, he naturally looked at Xia Wen, signaling for the camera to focus on him.

Xia Wen, after a brief silence, finally spoke from the heart, “Thank you to everyone who has supported me since I was young. I know you want to protect me, but… I’ve grown up now.”

He looked directly at the camera and continued, “Some paths I need to walk by myself. Please don’t hurt my friends in the name of loving me.”

Chi Feiran was surprised by Xia Wen’s words, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

Xia Wen, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief after speaking his mind. He had thought about this for a long time and finally made up his mind.

It’s rare for celebrities to speak so candidly about their inner thoughts. Often, it’s not because they don’t want to, but because they know it won’t change anything. When fans clash fiercely, celebrities stepping in usually doesn’t improve the situation. They can interact indirectly, but speaking out directly often leads to more turmoil.

This interview resolved many conflicts but also sparked new ones. Many of Xia Wen’s extreme fans chose to unfollow him because of his words.

“I’ve unfollowed him, cried my heart out. We’ve fought so hard to protect him, afraid he’d suffer any slight, and what do we get in return? He tells us not to hurt his friends? So he hurts us, his fans?”

“I feel like I’ve been blind. Grown up? Nonsense! Barely an adult and knows nothing of the world’s harshness! Deserves to be played with! He’ll have his time to cry!”

“How did he get to where he is without us fans? Unbelievable! Eating from the bowl and then turning around to scold us? Ridiculous!”

There will always be rational fans in the world, but often, their voices are the quietest. The ones who make the most noise are the irrational fans.

What made them even more upset was the mockery from Chi Feiran’s fans, with whom they had previously clashed fiercely.

“How does it feel to be slapped in the face by your own idol? Refreshing? Haha, even your idol finds you annoying! Impressive!”

“Hehe, I’ve switched to supporting Xia Wen now. Seeing those idiots in such a mess makes me so happy!”

“Chi Feiran is amazing. Without us even lifting a finger, Xia Wen comes out and slaps them himself. I knew I picked the right idol!”

This situation created a polarized world where one side was elated while the other was furious.

In such times, everything tends to go to extremes.

Then, a shocking piece of news emerged — “The Warrior” was reported under real names!

The reported reasons were: graphic violence, homosexual content, and spreading incorrect values to teenagers.

Before anyone could react, Chi Feiran himself was reported too!

The accusation: malicious hype and tarnishing the image of soldiers!

The person who filed the report was a former fan of Xia Wen who had unfollowed him. She channeled all her anger towards Chi Feiran.

“Your movie is still showing, right? You like to stir up hype, don’t you? I’ll take it all away! Let’s see what you do now!”