Gu Yanqiu sent Chen Duo a message: “I’m sorry so many people online are attacking you because of me.”
Chen Duo replied: “I never take these things to heart.”
Gu Yanqiu breathed a slight sigh of relief. But soon, dense waves of pain pierced through him. He really was a useless idol, not only failing to make his fans proud. He didn’t want to continue like this anymore.
Chen Duo didn’t know his thoughts. Regarding the verbal abuse and online bullying that terrified most people, she treated it as completely normal.
After all, before she crossed over, Gu Yanqiu had already been a top idol.
Over the years, through all the storms of feuds with various fandoms, which battle hadn’t she participated in?
A few thousand people cursing her now was like light drizzle to her.
Seeing her online, the companies contacting her became even more active, as if knowing rival companies were also reaching out, each offering higher prices.
But Chen Duo remained unmoved – she wasn’t short of money.
While rich kids competed over academic credentials, hobbies, and luxury brands, she preferred pointing her camera at those shining stars and artists, watching them work desperately hard for their careers and finally earning everyone’s love.
It was like experiencing a life she had never lived herself.
She just never expected that the top-tier idol who shone so brightly in her world would become such a pitiful figure here.
It gave her the joy of the raising system all over again. Moreover, having watched his cafe concert performance, as his top fan, she genuinely felt Gu Yanqiu’s abilities were even stronger than the top idol from the parallel universe.
Suddenly, the “typing” indicator appeared, hesitating for a long time before Gu Yanqiu finally said: “Can I add your WeChat?”
In that moment, Chen Duo felt like she’d been struck by happiness. She really wanted to show her fangirl sisters from the other timeline – she’d been asked for her WeChat by her own idol!
Chen Duo didn’t hesitate for even a second, immediately sending her WeChat ID.
Soon her phone notification sounded – Gu Yanqiu had added her, using the godly photo she had just taken as his profile picture.
Happiness doubled.
And his WeChat name was his real name. She immediately went to check his Moments.
What fangirl hasn’t dreamed of peeking at their idol’s social media?
But clicking in left her disappointed. Only a single horizontal line was displayed.
His Moments were so clean it seemed like he’d never posted anything.
Gu Yanqiu sent a voice message: “Thank you, Duoduo. I’ll work hard to be a good idol.” His voice was clear and smooth, very pleasant to hear.
Chen Duo listened to it repeatedly several times. She grinned foolishly for quite a while before finally replying: “Keep it up.”
She regretted it immediately after sending. Having never interacted with celebrities before, she didn’t know what she should say.
Compared to Gu Yanqiu, her reply seemed even colder, as if she were the celebrity and he was the fan.
The roles were completely reversed.
She considered adding a few more words.
But then Gu Yanqiu sent her a line-drawn puppy sticker.
Chen Duo was blissful again.
The Gu Yanqiu from the other world also loved sending line-drawn puppy stickers.
It was when he appeared on a variety show where, as punishment, he had to show his chats with other famous artists.
That brief chat record instantly became treasure among Gu Yanqiu’s fans, analyzed until worn smooth. Regarding Gu Yanqiu’s preference for line-drawn puppy stickers, fans followed his example and widely adopted them too.
So adorable.
Chen Duo thought to herself.
“Hey, hey, hey… that’s enough.” Xu Kaiming was practically green with envy as he deliberately mimicked Gu Yanqiu’s voice: “Thank you, Duoduo. I’ll be a good idol.”
Chen Duo seemed to snap out of her daze suddenly, staring at him: “What are you doing here?” This was a hotel. He couldn’t have used some illegal method to get in, could he?
Hearing this, Xu Kaiming’s face flushed with anger: “Chen Duo!!! You’re the one who opened the door for me just now! I brought you breakfast!”
He was a full-grown man – 181 cm tall – yet he could be forgotten so completely.
Then he watched as Chen Duo, who had just woken up, fiddled with her phone. After adding WeChat, she had listened to that “Thank you, Duoduo” message at least thirty times.
And she kept showing that fond, doting smile. He simply couldn’t bear seeing his girlfriend staring at another man like that.
When he spoke up to remind her, she actually looked startled and asked him why he was here?
Xu Kaiming was both frustrated and furious: “You’re my girlfriend now.” The next words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.
He didn’t want Duoduo looking at other men, but last time, this was exactly why she had refused to be with him. He didn’t dare say those words.
The more Xu Kaiming thought about it, the more hurt he felt: “I’ve liked you since we were five. How could I compare less than some other man? Childhood friends really can’t compete with new encounters.”
Chen Duo’s cheeks turned red: “What nonsense are you talking? It’s not that…”
Xu Kaiming asked: “Not what?”
Chen Duo said: “I’m just not used to having a boyfriend yet.”
Xu Kaiming immediately became alert: “You promised me in the hospital room. Moon can testify – she recorded it back then.” He had specifically added Moon on WeChat for that clip.
Chen Duo said: “That’s not what I meant. Let’s eat.”
Xu Kaiming gave her a suspicious look, but when he saw she wasn’t listening to that voice message anymore, he cheered up: “Your favorite soup dumplings and congee. The hotel’s aren’t authentic, so I went out to buy them.”
“I’m not that picky. The hotel food would have been fine.” When Chen Duo used to chase stars, she traveled all over the country and would eat whatever was convenient.
But Xu Kaiming said: “I don’t care how it was before, but now you’re my girlfriend, and I have to make sure you eat well.” He emphasized the words “my girlfriend” heavily, the reminder practically overflowing.
“Oh.” Chen Duo’s cheeks flushed red.
When she was younger, she had quite liked Xu Kaiming too – after all, he was handsome and had a good personality.
But he was just too popular with girls. From middle school through high school to college, he never stopped receiving love letters.
Chen Duo had known when to retreat and only treated him as a good friend.
Who would have thought they could end up together?
She felt strange inside.
Seeing her eat, Xu Kaiming said: “I want to chase stars with you.”
Chen Duo immediately lost her appetite: “But you don’t like idol artists?”
“I didn’t before, but I do now.” Xu Kaiming had his own calculations – this was the girl he had secretly loved for over ten years, finally won over.
He didn’t want to start a long-distance relationship right after getting together.
Xu Kaiming said: “Here.” He waved his phone.
Chen Duo glanced at it – it showed audience seats for “I Am a Singer.”
Xu Kaiming said: “Went through a lot of trouble to get these. Gu Yanqui’s next performance is there. Didn’t you want to hear him live?”
“Ah? How come I didn’t know about this?” Chen Duo said.
Xu Kaiming wore an inscrutable expression: “I told you, you can’t do without me!”
Neither Chen Duo nor even Gu Yanqiu had known about the invitation competition for “I Am a Singer.”
But within less than an hour, the entire internet knew. Because it was officially announced.
Gu Yanqiu appeared as a challenger contestant.