To accommodate the fans’ schedules, Zhang Xiaowan specially coordinated with the crew to arrange the visit on a weekend.
The fans brought warm sweet rice wine tangyuan, Starbucks coffee, and chocolate for An Juexiao. They also prepared thoughtful hand warmers for every crew member. Not only the director, assistant directors, and actors received gifts, even the aunties who served tea and cleaned had their share.
The crew reacted differently upon receiving gifts from An Juexiao’s fans. Su Lanxue smiled gracefully and thanked them politely, while Peng Chenglang hesitated between the different hand warmers, unable to decide whether he wanted the yellow one or the blue one.
With a wave of her hand, An Juexiao gave him both. Peng Chenglang happily took the hand warmers and went aside to eat tangyuan.
After the two left, Su Lanxue’s manager muttered quietly, “An Juexiao and her team are quite good at winning people over, everyone in the crew got gifts.”
Su Lanxue said calmly, “You usually only focus on the director, producers, and actors when building relationships. If you do not think about the ordinary staff, does that mean others are not allowed to?”
Her manager replied, “Oh, Lanxue, I am just worried about you…”
He was about to continue nagging when he saw An Juexiao returning, so he fell silent.
An Juexiao put an arm around Su Lanxue affectionately, “Sister Lanxue, the tangyuan is ready, do you want some?”
“No, you go ahead,” Su Lanxue declined gently, “I am a bit tired, I will go back and rest.”
“Oh, okay!” An Juexiao did not notice the distance in her tone. After being refused, she went off to eat happily.
After leaving Su Lanxue, An Juexiao enthusiastically greeted her fans, “It is so cold, eat more.”
As she spoke, she personally handed bowls of tangyuan to her fans. The young fans felt that the tangyuan tasted especially good when delivered by their idol.
“Huh, why is there no meat-filled tangyuan?” An Juexiao had been looking forward to this treat for a long time.
As soon as she said that, everyone around her looked at her strangely. One staff member asked, “There are tangyuan with meat filling?”
An Juexiao said with heartfelt conviction, “Of course there are, and they are delicious. Have none of you tried them?”
“Stop being so dramatic, here is your meat-filled tangyuan,” Zhang Xiaowan walked over with a steaming bowl.
An Juexiao’s eyes lit up, “Oh my god, Wanzi, you are such an angel.”
Zhang Xiaowan smiled, “Do not praise me, the fans prepared this specially for you.”
Hearing that, one of the young fans said, “Actually it was Open-the-lid’s idea. She said Sister Xiao is from S City and would probably like meat-filled tangyuan, so she asked us to bring it.”
Hearing this, An Juexiao nodded in realization. Not only did she eat it herself, she also recommended it to other crew members, but everyone politely declined and stuck to red bean and sesame fillings.
After eating the warm tangyuan, An Juexiao held her hand warmer and chatted with her fans. Hers was pink with two rabbit ears, with her cartoon avatar printed on the smooth surface. It was both cute and warm, making it hard to put down.
“Sister Xiao, you look so beautiful in real life.”
“You are already so thin, why does your manager still want you to diet?”
“It is getting cold, make sure to wear more.”
“Can I get an autograph, please?” A young girl held out a notebook eagerly, “Sister Xiao, can you give me a special signature?”
A group of young fans surrounded An Juexiao, chirping like little chicks.
Standing in the middle, An Juexiao felt a bit like… a mother hen.
“If I were not pretty, how could I be an artist? I also think I am quite thin, but it is still not enough. You all should keep warm too. Do not freeze yourselves just to look good.” An Juexiao answered each question while taking the notebook handed over by a fan, “It is quite far from the train station to here, was the journey tiring?”
Hearing that, several fans covered their mouths and laughed.
An Juexiao asked in confusion, “What is it?”
“We came by plane, the airport is not far from here.”
The filming location of “Prosperous Tang Fantasy Song” was one of the four major film studios in the country. It was not only the largest but also the newest. To make travel convenient, it had been deliberately built near an airport.
An Juexiao: “……”
She glanced at the cameras the fans were carrying, then at their outfits, branded from head to toe. She suddenly understood what Zhang Xiaowan meant by “sometimes fans are richer than the celebrities themselves,” and felt like crying.
While signing autographs, An Juexiao chatted casually with the fans, and the phrase she repeated most often was “you all should study hard,” making the fans giggle and call her the class monitor.
She handed a signed notebook back to a fan, warmed her hands with the hand warmer, and continued signing, “These hand warmers came at the perfect time, mine just broke.”
The fans said happily, “It was all Open-the-lid’s suggestion. She said instead of snacks that disappear after eating, it is better to give practical items, so the whole crew will remember your kindness.”
An Juexiao paused while signing. She had not expected that Open-the-lid-and-win, at such a young age, could be so thoughtful. From the meat-filled tangyuan to the hand warmers, these small details showed care everywhere. If she could have a daughter this clever and considerate in the future, that would be wonderful.
As An Juexiao was chatting with her fans, she suddenly noticed two girls nudging each other, looking hesitant to speak. So she said directly, “If you want to say something, just say it.”
One fan asked shyly, “We also want Brother Chenglang’s autograph, is that okay?”
This kind of behavior, asking for another celebrity’s autograph in front of one’s own idol, was something many artists disliked. But An Juexiao was open minded and smiled generously, “Of course, no problem.”
She waved toward Peng Chenglang, who was eating tangyuan nearby, “Chenglang! My fans want your autograph.”
Peng Chenglang, who had been focused on eating, heard her call, handed his bowl to his assistant, wiped his mouth, and said, “Coming.”
Although they were An Juexiao’s fans, Peng Chenglang cooperated fully, giving autographs and chatting whenever asked.
After everyone had gotten their autographs, An Juexiao asked, “Do you want a group photo?”
The fans were overjoyed, their eyes lighting up, “Yes, yes!”
An Juexiao pulled Peng Chenglang along to take photos with them. Some quick-handed fans immediately uploaded videos to the group.
Fan at the visit 1: Sister Xiao is so beautiful and friendly, she really spoils her fans. Brother Chenglang is so handsome too, and he treats Sister Xiao very well.
Fan 3, who did not attend: Why do I feel like Sister Xiao sounds sweet when she calls Peng Chenglang’s name?
Fan at the visit 4: I heard Su Lanxue call him by his full name, but our Sister Xiao only calls the last two characters.
Seeing the discussion, Fan 2 excitedly raised the couple banner again: So are they actually real?
Open-the-lid-and-win: …………
Fan at the visit 1: Little Open-the-lid is here. We mentioned you to Sister Xiao, she said thank you very much.
Open-the-lid-and-win: .
Gu Zhanran looked coldly at his phone. What was the point, others could call him Chenglang, but he was called President Gu.
Soon, the visiting time ended. An Juexiao personally saw the fans off. Watching the girls leave, she rotated her wrist and said, “Do not underestimate just chatting and signing autographs, I feel more tired than filming. Their imagination is so rich, signing notebooks and photos is one thing, but even phone cases, dolls, and thermos cups need signatures.”
“Pfft.” Zhang Xiaowan could not help laughing, “That is because you agree to everything and sign anything. However many words fans ask for, you write them all.”
“They came from far away, it was not easy. If I can fulfill their requests, I will,” An Juexiao thought for a moment and said, “We should thank little Open-the-lid this time too. How about I send her an autographed photo by mail?”
Zhang Xiaowan said, “I already contacted her, she said she does not need it.”
“Does not need it?” An Juexiao muttered, “Did I meet a legendary aloof fan?”
Zhang Xiaowan also found it unusual. After years of working as an assistant, she had seen all kinds of fans, but someone like Open-the-lid-and-win, who wanted nothing at all, was rare.
That night, An Juexiao messaged Open-the-lid-and-win again.
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: I heard from Wanzi that you do not want an autographed photo?
Gu Zhanran raised his brows. It was not that he did not want one, he was just worried that the autograph might say something like “Little Open-the-lid, study hard and make progress every day,” which would only give him a headache.
Open-the-lid-and-win: No need, you and Peng Chenglang.
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: Haha, I did not expect you to be so curious about gossip too. This finally makes you feel like a young girl.
Open-the-lid-and-win: Young girl?
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: Yes, you used to seem quite aloof. Do not take what people say in the fan group too seriously.
An Juexiao found Open-the-lid-and-win both interesting and steady. Besides, since the other party did not know she was the celebrity herself, she felt free to chat openly.
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: Peng Chenglang is not her type.
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: I really cannot understand why you fans all worry like mothers, are you afraid I cannot get married?
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: I mean our An Juexiao.
An Juexiao said a lot, but Gu Zhanran went straight for the key point.
Open-the-lid-and-win: Then what type does she like?
I am a Xiaoxiao bird: Stylish and carefree with money, handsome and charming with charisma.
A thought suddenly flashed through Gu Zhanran’s mind, is that not me?