After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH84

Chapter 84

Gu Xingshi clicked on the edited video.

The opening footage was a bit shaky, but he recognized it immediately—it was the hallway at the TV station he had visited that morning.

In the video, he bumped into Shen Hanyuan and then helped him up.

He vaguely remembered the encounter; he’d helped the man up and left immediately. The entire exchange took only a few seconds.

But in the video, this moment was dragged out in a long, slow-motion replay.

The other staff in the background were all blurred, leaving only Gu and Shen, locked in a supposed gaze.

Gu looked down; Shen looked up.

A close-up emphasized their eye contact, and in this prolonged slow motion, with the romantic music swelling, the atmosphere was intense and intimate.

Even the part where they glanced away and passed each other was edited to feel like a hesitant, unspoken attraction.

The slightly angled shot, as if taken in secret, fit perfectly with the lyrics playing: “Loving you is my secret.”

The scene shifted to the inside of the studio.

It seemed to be behind-the-scenes footage from a variety show. Gu and Shen appeared in the same shot, though Gu was surrounded by a crowd, chatting with friends and artists, while Shen sat alone in a corner.

Gu’s casual glance passed over Shen, but then, as Gu looked away, Shen lifted his gaze in Gu’s direction.

With the combination of slow-motion, filters, and background music, the video managed to manufacture a heart-wrenching “forbidden love” vibe.

“Surrounded by friends, you’re the life of the party.

Yet I can only look at you from afar.”

In a mere 30 seconds, the video forced an unrequited love story onto Gu Xingshi.

Admittedly, the editing was beautiful and moving.

If he weren’t one of the protagonists, he might even appreciate it as a fan.

But being one of the people in it?

It made his toes curl with secondhand embarrassment. He almost wanted to pay someone to erase his memory of it.

The comments, however, told a different story:

[Eyes don’t lie!!]

[You have so many people around you, why can’t you look at me?]

[Ahhhh, it’s both heartbreaking and addicting—I can’t breathe!]

[Ladies, go check out the photo from the XX awards! That was XingHan’s first time in the same frame. Their eye contact is a goldmine!]

[And another fun fact: President Gu rarely posts on Weibo, but he posted on March 21, which happens to be Shen’s birthday. OMG, it’s like mutual pining!]

[This ship is killing me!]

*

Gu Xingshi was utterly baffled, looking at his screen like an elderly person fumbling with a smartphone on the subway. ‘Huh?’

Wait a minute!

Where were they getting this “material” from?

That so-called “photo together” was a group picture with at least thirty or forty people in it—how on earth did they manage to ship two people who weren’t even standing close to each other?

And the Weibo post was even more absurd; he couldn’t even remember what he’d posted that day. Before today, he hadn’t even known Shen Hanyuan existed, let alone followed him on Weibo, and yet here they were forcing a ship?

After seeing all this, Gu felt he could almost accept the Wen-Gu CP fans—at least he and Wen Yue had actually met twice. This was a whole new level of ridiculous.

The system chimed in cheerfully: [This is just standard procedure for someone with Shen Hanyuan’s ‘natural CP halo.’ There was a time when people even shipped him with a husky simply because he looked at the dog a little longer in a crowd. It was just because he’s a bit nearsighted—his gaze even looked soulful when directed at a dog…]

Gu Xingshi: [Huh??]

[Moreover, Shen Hanyuan originally had a gentle personality and was courteous to everyone. But after he greeted someone a few times too many at an awards show, he was instantly CP-ed with them and forced into this cold, distant persona…]

Gu: [What???]

As wild as it sounded, even witnessing it firsthand felt surreal.

Just then, a string of new Weibo posts popped up, all condemning Shen Hanyuan with words like “player,” “fickle,” and “not honoring his ‘husbandly duties.’”

The system was quick to explain: [Those are from the CP fans of Shen’s last drama. They’re the same fans who were holding CP signs outside the TV station earlier. You see, his co-star had no previous chemistry with anyone, but somehow with Shen, the CP hit hard, and the fans went wild with emotion!]

[Since Shen publicly denied the CP, saying they were just colleagues, the fans concluded that ‘explaining means hiding something; only real couples try to avoid suspicion!’ So they started calling him a jerk while editing wedding photos of them together. And if anyone pairs him with someone else, they’ll jump in to curse him out…]

Gu was stunned. [That’s… completely unhinged!]

[Oh, and there’s more!]

[Originally, while Shen often had CPs edited with him, fans generally kept it low-key. But in this drama, his co-star got involved personally, and the CP fans went all in, only to find that Shen wouldn’t play along. His co-star then played the victim, gained sympathy, and purified their fanbase, leaving all the backlash for Shen. Now his agency is furious and plans to use him as a stepping stone to boost their other more ‘cooperative’ artists.]

Gu shook his head in disbelief. [Poor guy!]

[Exactly. And the show was partly funded and produced by Shen’s agency. The storyline was average, but it gained traction because of the CP hype. Now that Shen refuses to promote the CP, the popularity has shifted entirely to his co-star, leaving his agency empty-handed and irate. They’re ready to throw him under the bus to boost their more compliant artists.]

After checking out Shen Hanyuan’s work, Gu noted that Shen’s acting was genuinely impressive.

More importantly, his versatility was remarkable; he could adapt to various roles with ease. It would be a shame if his career were hindered by something like this.

Drumming his fingers thoughtfully on the table, Gu sent a message to his company’s Artist Management Department: [Find me the contact information for Shen Hanyuan’s agent—I’d like to sign him.]

*

Meanwhile, at Shen Hanyuan’s home, his manager Ji Sida was pacing anxiously.

In stark contrast, Shen sat calmly at the table, making dumplings.

His nimble fingers folded the dough in precise, even pleats, and before long, a round, plump dumpling took shape in his hands.

Ji Sida threw up his hands in frustration. “How can you be making dumplings at a time like this?”

Shen continued working, and after a moment, he replied slowly, “Well, what else should I be doing? I can’t starve just because I’m worried, can I?”

Ji Sida knew that when his artist was focused on something, his responses tended to lag a little.

In fact, this quirk had once been used by CP fans as “evidence” of his supposed love for his co-star, and no amount of explanation could change their minds.

While they talked, Shen Hanyuan finished preparing a plate of dumplings and placed another batch, already boiled, into a food container. He handed it over to Ji Sida. “Here, take these home.”

Ji accepted the container, starting to put it in his bag before he froze suddenly. “Wait… do you have any other color of container?”

Shen Hanyuan blinked. “Huh?”

With a troubled expression, Ji groaned, “I just remembered, Guo Zhang’s favorite color is blue. If fans see this, they’ll start saying you made these dumplings just for him!”

Shen Hanyuan’s hands stilled at once.

Ji Sida sighed in frustration. “Guo Zhang, that two-faced jerk! He looked so decent during filming—I actually thought he was a good person. But it turns out he’s a master manipulator. Once he saw the CP blowing up, he jumped in to flirt with the fans himself! If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

Shen Hanyuan asked quietly, “…Didn’t the company say they would help us sort things out?”

“You still believe that company nonsense?” Ji Sida snapped. “You refusing to play along with the CP hype cost them a wave of popularity. Now they’re furious. I’ve heard that Liu Fangrui has been lobbying hard, trying to get you and one of his artists cast in a new drama together so they can pull another ‘Guo Zhang move’ and ride your popularity to the top.”

Shen Hanyuan fell silent.

Seeing his expression, Ji Sida softened his tone. “Hey, I’m not blaming you.”

“I actually get where you’re coming from.” Ji patted his shoulder. “Plus, it’s not like Guo Zhang is the only popular CP you have. If you cater to one pairing, another group will rip you apart. Better to stay out of it altogether. Sure, they’re mad now, but at least they’re not out for blood.”

Shen Hanyuan frowned. “Isn’t there any way out of this?”

Ji Sida gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Right now, you’re in a situation where playing along doesn’t work, refusing doesn’t work, and whether you do well or mess up, it’s all the same. I’ve stressed over this so much I’m going bald…”

Shen Hanyuan: “…”

“Oh, by the way,” Ji Sida suddenly remembered. “There’s one more thing I wanted to tell you today.” He pulled out his phone and opened a CP super-topic with practiced ease. “Did you know that you’ve been shipped with President Gu?”

Shen Hanyuan was taken aback. “Which President Gu?”

“Who else?” Ji’s expression turned dreamy. “Of course, I mean Leshi’s President Gu!”

Shen Hanyuan froze.

He suddenly recalled his encounter in the TV station hallway with a young man who had refined features and a gentle temperament. At the time, he’d thought the guy was probably just another artist.

It wasn’t until he entered the studio that he learned the person was actually Leshi’s President Gu.

To be honest, in today’s entertainment world, any artist without scandals who genuinely wants to work hard dreams of getting into LeShi.

Shen Hanyuan had secretly thought about it too, especially after he’d been slandered and his company failed to act.

Aware of his own “natural CP halo,” Shen had deliberately kept his distance, hoping to avoid being photographed together and causing trouble for the other party.

But despite his caution, the inevitable had still happened.

Concerned, he asked, “Someone as influential as President Gu—he must be furious about this baseless rumor, right?”

Ji Sida wavered. “He… probably wouldn’t be too mad. I’ve heard from people in the industry that President Gu is quite easygoing, and besides… it’s not like you did it on purpose.”

Shen Hanyuan let out a small sigh of relief.

But then Ji added, “Although…”

Shen’s anxiety returned. “Although what?”

Ji Sida hesitated. “Word is that President Gu and President Wen of the Wen family are an item, and they’re very close. If that’s true…”

Both their expressions changed.

Shen Hanyuan murmured, “Maybe… I should apologize in person?”

Ji Sida replied, “But how would you even apologize? Publicly? That would only backfire. People would just say, ‘If it’s not real, why avoid suspicion?’”

Shen Hanyuan hesitated. “…Then privately?”

Ji Sida frowned, “Would that seem insincere?”

Shen was silent.

The two discussed various options, but none seemed viable. Their heads were spinning.

Just then, Ji’s phone rang. It was an unknown number.

Ji answered, “Hello, who’s this?”

A calm voice replied, “This is Gu Xingshi.”

Ji Sida: “!!!”

Shen Hanyuan: “!!!”

Oh no!!

President Gu was calling—could he be here to demand an explanation?!

Before Gu could even begin, both men blurted out in unison, “We’re so sorry, President Gu!”

Gu Xingshi: “?”

After a bit of back-and-forth, Gu clarified that he wasn’t calling to confront them.

Both Ji and Shen let out a huge sigh of relief.

Ji held the phone reverently with both hands. “So, President Gu, what can we do for you?”

Gu explained, “Well, our company would like to sign both you and Shen Hanyuan.”

Ji’s hands went slack, and he nearly dropped the phone.

He and Shen exchanged a stunned glance.

If it were anyone else, they’d assume the person was just offended and wanted to teach them a lesson by taking control of them.

But this was Gu Xingshi!

Everyone knew that President Gu was renowned for his integrity. There was no way he would stoop to that.

Shen couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked, “President Gu, could I ask why you’d want to sign me?”

Sure, his acting was decent, but LeShi already had plenty of talented actors, and he didn’t have any standout skills. Plus, his CP “halo” was a huge hassle.

If he were in Gu Xingshi’s position, he’d avoid signing an artist with this kind of baggage.

But Gu simply laughed and said, “What you see as a flaw, I see as an asset.”

Shen Hanyuan: “?!!”

It was the first time anyone had ever said such a thing to him.

Maybe it was the genuine tone of Gu’s voice, but Shen suddenly felt a desire to open up. “But… it’s been such a huge burden for me. I barely use Weibo because I’m afraid anything I post will be screenshotted as ‘proof’ of some imaginary relationship. I avoid interacting too much with co-stars, and I even have to steer clear of wearing colors associated with them…”

He hesitated, then continued, “And it’s started affecting my work. Every time I try to fully immerse myself in a role, I get this nagging thought: ‘Will fans ship this?’ I… I really love acting, but it’s… it’s just…”

Shen Hanyuan’s voice grew thick, and he could hardly continue. Realizing this, he quickly composed himself. “I’m sorry, President Gu. I got a bit emotional…”

But Gu Xingshi replied, “I understand how you feel. If you want my advice, I’d say—don’t see this as a burden. Instead, think of it as an asset.”

Shen Hanyuan blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

“A handful of CPs is like having a few ships, but if you have an endless number of CPs, that makes you an absolute heartthrob,” Gu said with a calm smile.

Shen Hanyuan: “!!!”

Ji Sida: “!!!”

Gu continued, “What’s the harm in letting them ship you? Once there are so many CPs that fans can’t keep up, they’ll stop focusing on pairings and just focus on you.”

The two were completely stunned.

Ji Sida, in particular, had never thought of such a solution before. It felt as if a door to a new world was slowly opening before him.

*

“What?! A CP?!” Sun Hongfei nearly jumped out of his seat. “President Gu’s CP with who?! When did this happen?!”

Xiao Li opened Weibo and showed him the CP super-topic.

After scanning it, Sun Hongfei relaxed, letting out a scoff. “This is just an edited fake CP—obviously made up. I know the real CP!”

He leaned back in his chair with a smug expression, swirling the tea leaves in his cup and then taking a long, satisfied sip.

After all, despite all the other attention-seekers, none had ever come close to threatening President Wen’s position.

The real deal is the real deal—these fake pairings don’t compare.

As he sipped his tea, he added with a mentor-like tone, “Xiao Li, you need to work on your composure…”

“Oh,” Xiao Li replied casually. “But President Gu has just signed that guy to LeShi.”

Sun Hongfei: Spit—

“What?!!!”