[I can't wait for Ning Tingyu's fans to see this tomorrow. They'll feel like their world is falling apart, hahaha.]
[When I saw Ning Tingyu marketing himself as pure and innocent, I knew his image would collapse. I didn't expect it to be this disastrous, though, or to see it happen on a livestream.]
The viewers in the livestream were having a lively discussion, but when they saw Wen Feiran sneaking food, they were just as startled as Ning Tingyu had been.
[Can Wen Feiran teleport? How did he suddenly appear there?!]
[??? I've had his livestream open this whole time. How did I not see him?]
[Why is Wen Feiran so calm? He's still eating, hahaha. Cute, like a little hamster.]
[He doesn't think Ning Tingyu was deliberately putting on that act for the camera, does he...]
[Deliberately? That would mean Ning Tingyu deliberately ruined his own reputation because he wanted to leave the industry. Wen Feiran's reflex arc could circle the earth, and he only just realized what happened!]
[Hahahaha, it's even funnier with Wen Feiran's bewildered, shocked expression. How is he in every iconic scene?]
#Wen Feiran's incredible obliviousness#, #Wen Feiran can teleport#, #Wen Feiran is funny#, and other topics also shot up the trending searches. Paired with the topics about Ning Tingyu's image collapsing, they were twice as funny.
As the matter continued to spread online, Wen Feiran returned to his room in a daze, curled up under the covers, and held his burning face.
Wah, I'd made a fool of myself again!
Ning Tingyu was the one whose image had collapsed, yet Wen Feiran was the one who had embarrassed himself. He hid under the covers, tormented by his feelings for a long time. He only barely managed to fall asleep as the sky grew light, but he kept dreaming and waking up, until the vibration of his phone woke him at nine in the morning.
Wen Feiran opened his eyes in resignation. His gaze was clear, with no trace of sleepiness, as he picked up the phone beside him: [Gossip squad] 99+ messages.
??? When did I join this group chat?
He tapped it open and found that there were only three people in the group. The other two were Zou Yuxing and Su Shangting.
[Number one handsome guy: Did you see the trending searches online? I'm dying of laughter.]
[I'm a dumbass: What's with this group? Have you got nothing better to do?]
[I'm a dumbass: Zou Yuxing, do you have a death wish? Change my group nickname back!]
[Number one handsome guy: All right.]
[Number two handsome guy: Did you change it... Wait, why am I number two?]
The two of them argued about the nicknames for a full half hour before finally getting back to the subject.
[Number one handsome guy: Feiran, hurry up and tell us why you reacted like that last night @.]
[Number one handsome guy: Your name is way too ordinary. Let me change it for you.]
[Number one handsome guy: @Entertainment Industry Gossip King. That suits your identity so well.]
Wen Feiran's scalp tingled when he saw that.
[Entertainment Industry Gossip King, don't give me weird names.]
[Entertainment Industry Gossip King, there's something wrong with both of them. Their true colors would have been exposed sooner or later; I just happened to be there.]
[Number one handsome guy: You're finally awake!]
[Number one handsome guy: It's happened twice now. Is it still just a coincidence?]
[Number one handsome guy: I have a feeling there'll always be gossip to enjoy if I stick with you!]
[Co-Number-One Handsome Guy: You really know how to exaggerate. Of course it's just a coincidence. What, do you think he can be there every time?]
[Co-Number-One Handsome Guy: And you even changed his nickname to that. People will laugh their heads off if word gets out.]
[Number one handsome guy: If you don't believe me, fine. Why do you have to be so sarcastic about it? Feiran, ignore him. Hurry up and tell us why you reacted like that.]
[Entertainment Industry Gossip King: I saw the camera right from the start. It was in such an obvious spot that I thought Ning Tingyu knew too and was deliberately acting out a script about a loving older sister and younger brother...]
[Number one handsome guy: Hahahaha]
[Co-Number-One Handsome Guy: .]
[Number one handsome guy: You're really something. How did you come to think they were actual siblings?]
Wen Feiran also realized how foolish he had been and shrank further under the covers in embarrassment.
[Number one handsome guy: Doing something like that in front of a camera, and having it livestreamed too. Ning Tingyu really has no brains.]
[Joint first-time handsome guy: His studio is something else too. Reposted a Weibo post.]
Wen Feiran opened it and read the clarification post on Weibo very carefully. He was completely stunned.
Perhaps birds of a feather flocked together. The studio actually explained the incident by saying that "Ning Tingyu was under too much pressure at work and had begun hallucinating. The person on the other end of the call was a staff member pretending to be someone else to help Ning Tingyu with his treatment." It also said it would send lawyer's letters to those spreading rumors and resolutely defend Ning Tingyu's reputation.
Logically speaking, it did make sense, but it was far too ridiculous. They were practically treating people like fools!
Zou Yuxing burst out laughing without holding back. Wen Feiran couldn't comment on it either and put his phone aside.
It was getting late, and he couldn't stay in his room forever. After washing up, Wen Feiran walked out.
When he reached the living room, he suddenly sensed that something was off. Even Zou Yuxing was sitting properly on the sofa.
He was just about to ask why when a head popped up from the sofa in front of him. Ning Tingyu smiled and greeted him. "Good morning."
"..."
This was their first meeting since the night before, and the atmosphere was even more awkward than he had imagined.
Wen Feiran couldn't control his expression, and his thoughts were almost written on his face. As he looked at Ning Tingyu's flawless smile, admiration welled up in him.
After something like that had happened, Ning Tingyu was still acting as if nothing were wrong. What a strong mentality!
"Good morning." He pursed his lips and sat down on the sofa in the corner.
Ning Tingyu's face was paler than before, with a sickly look to it, and he began his performance again. "If Feiran hadn't reminded me of the difference between fantasy and reality, I wouldn't have known my mental state was so bad that I'd made up three older sisters!"
"I'm an
only
child. My parents were always busy with work, so I rarely got to see them. After that, I entered the entertainment industry. I know I didn't do well, which is why everyone criticized and blamed me. I couldn't handle it and longed for love so much that I imagined three older sisters who would accept me and take care of me."