Successfully Joining

Back when they were online, the audio had been a little distorted, but they had already thought it sounded nice. In person, it sounded even better. Though hiring an accountant did not require someone good-looking with a pleasant voice, having someone like that in the fan club was certainly easy on the eyes.

After Xiao Ming removed his mask, the three girls let out startled cries. They kept close track of Qu An's movements, so naturally they knew of Xiao Ming, though they were not especially familiar with him.

"Y-you're Xiao Ming?" asked the baby-faced girl who looked like the youngest, stammering slightly.

Xiao Ming nodded. He suddenly regretted it a little; it seemed they knew who he was. Still, he quickly composed himself. As someone who had been through countless interviews, he was already well versed in interview techniques and gave a brief introduction.

"I'm Xiao Ming, online handle [One Flute Tune]. I have an undergraduate degree in economics from Peking University, with a minor in financial management. I'll be starting my first year of graduate school at Peking University this semester... That's my basic profile."

In fact, through the earlier rounds, Xiao Ming had already been one of the three girls' preferred candidates. His professional skills and his familiarity with Qu An were both the strongest.

But none of them had expected [One Flute Tune] to be Xiao Ming.

The girl in the middle was the president of Qu An's fan club, while the two beside her were vice presidents. The three exchanged looks, their expressions turning solemn as their initial amazement vanished.

Xiao Ming quietly watched them. The four of them stared at one another in silence. Combined with Xiao Ming's serious expression as he said nothing, no one dared speak. In the end, the girl in the middle was the first to ask a question.

"Your résumé is excellent, and you know Qu An's work very well. But we all know you're a celebrity, so may I ask why you want to join our fan club?"

Xiao Ming had not expected that question. Thinking of the brief time he had spent with Qu An, the corners of his lips lifted faintly. "If you have seen someone shining and burning brightly, and that light has shone on you too, then you become willing to burn yourself to make that person's light shine even brighter."

It was an abstract answer, but all three girls understood.

"But how can we be sure you aren't just trying to ride Qu An's popularity?"

Xiao Ming considered telling them that he did not plan to continue developing in the entertainment industry, but after thinking it over, he decided there was no need.

What he needed to show them to join the fan club was not merely the fan-like affection he had for Qu An, but his sincere and realistic original intentions and goals. Those empty, superficial things could not fool their eyes at all.

If they had all been seventeen or eighteen, words like that might have easily stirred them up. Throwing caution to the wind, willing to give everything simply because they loved someone—anyone would be moved to tears hearing it.

But there was too little purity in the adult world. Even liking someone came with one's own calculations. Perhaps liking him made one look good, or perhaps it helped display one's devotion.

It was not that completely pure love did not exist. It was simply that things that were too pure were often the most frightening. If you imagined him as too noble, then when an accident happened, it would only feel as unbearable as an avalanche.

"Perhaps you'll find it easier to accept if I put it in more practical terms. The opportunities and possibilities I have now have undeniably been helped by Qu An. But judging from my own résumé, I do not really need those so-called opportunities to become famous.

"I chose to join the fan club simply because this is Qu An's fan club, Qu An's support system, and I'm a career fan. I want him to do better. I'm not so pure that I'll be satisfied no matter what he does. I want to see him keep climbing higher.

"What can the fan club give me? For me, perhaps it is fulfillment and repayment, because I can do what I can for Qu An. His success will have a part of me in it.

"As for why I like Qu An, that is actually hard to explain. Maybe I simply like that sense of being fully immersed in the world when he acts. Though it has not been long, I do not think the length of time is the most important measure. We all come to know and appreciate him more through the accumulation of time.

"To put it even more presumptuously, I believe I can use my own strength to see more possibilities in him. Or rather, I look forward to seeing that I helped make him."

It was a very confident statement—realistic, yet sincere. Their fondness for Qu An was not without expectations; they wanted to see him reach the very top.

Xiao Ming had not felt such a surge of emotion in a long time. Back when he was in school, he had not understood why some girls around him would stay up until two or three in the morning voting for their idols.

He had not understood why they would scrimp and save just to attend one of that person's concerts. He had not understood why, even if they might never meet that person, they would still argue fiercely to defend that person's reputation.

But after getting to know Qu An and watching so many of his works, he seemed to understand.

When we saw light and chased light, how could we not also want to help light shine brighter, to create light?

Fans who had liked Qu An for a long time could mostly sense the detachment beneath his polite, gentlemanly exterior. It was not directed at any particular person, but at the whole world. He seemed to exist apart from it.

Qu An was only more lively when he acted. And after being in the industry for so long, his most popular period had come after he became Best Actor. That was why they also looked forward to seeing what more he could become.

The fan club itself had been founded out of love, in hopes that he would do better.

Clearly, Xiao Ming's words had moved the three girls. In truth, this final meeting had only been arranged so they could get to know him better in person. They exchanged glances, then told Xiao Ming to give them time to discuss it.

Xiao Ming nodded and left the private room, heading to the counter to order the simplest lemon tea.

At first, he had taken joining or not joining with a casual attitude. But after spending time with Qu An, just as he had said, his appreciation and understanding of him had continued to grow.

So he felt the impulsive fervor of his youth, wanting to do something for the other person like a moth flying into a flame. When that person succeeded, he would feel honored as well.

After a while, one of the girls came out to find him, and Xiao Ming followed her back inside.

"Our finance department has a finance team, so everyone's workload will not be too heavy. The sister mainly in charge has fallen ill, so I'll be your contact for handling matters. There will be a one-month probation period, during which we will assess you from multiple angles in practice. [One Flute Tune], welcome to the leadership team of our fan club."

They acknowledged One Flute Tune, which meant they had accepted Xiao Ming's identity as a fan. Xiao Ming lowered his peach-blossom eyes, the corners of his mouth curving up.

"Please take care of me."

Once the girls confirmed that Xiao Ming had joined, they relaxed considerably. The faint smile on his face also diluted the air of detachment around him. And when the topic turned to Qu An, Xiao Ming became surprisingly talkative, completely unlike his usual cold demeanor.

"What should we call you? What's more convenient?"

"Just Xiao Xiao."

The girls called him that a few times, and gradually it turned into "Xiao Xiao." Xiao Ming did not correct them, though for quite a long time afterward, everyone thought One Flute Tune was a girl.

"When did you start becoming a fan of Qu An?" Su Erya, the fan club president, dropped her earlier manner and now seemed as innocently chatty as a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl.

That question had come up during the earlier interviews, but clearly they had not quite believed his answer.

"A little over a month ago, before I joined Full Speed Ahead!." Xiao Ming told the truth.

"Ah." The three of them were somewhat shocked, because judging from Xiao Ming's understanding of Qu An, no one would have guessed it had only been a month.

Xiao Ming did not dare mention that he watched videos at five times speed. He merely smiled. He was suddenly grateful that, in the past, in order to outwork everyone else, he had learned many methods for improving his memory, which had become an ability through years of practice.

It was funny, really. Only in that moment did he belatedly realize that his efforts truly would not be entirely useless, nor would they only serve one purpose.

The four of them chatted a little longer about Qu An. Mainly, the three girls asked Xiao Ming about Qu An on Full Speed Ahead! and in the mint advertisement. Xiao Ming shared what he could, but he said nothing about the typhoon period or the third episode.

Xiao Ming's coldness lay only in his expressionlessness. As long as someone was willing to chat with him a little more, they would discover his slightly lively, adorably awkward personality hidden beneath that distant exterior.

They talked for a while longer, then said their goodbyes when it was about time.

"Only the three of us will know your identity." The statement was both protection for Xiao Ming's privacy and a veiled warning.

Xiao Ming accepted it readily.

In truth, he did not want people knowing he was a fan in Qu An's fan club either. Never mind anyone else—if Qu An found out, he would probably be so embarrassed he could dig out an entire castle with his toes.

Tomorrow's filming location was Qingcheng, famous for its Mountains and Rivers. The production team had arranged hotel rooms for them as well, so they could rest once they arrived that evening.

Xiao Ming was in a very good mood on the way back. His flight was at nine in the evening, and it was nearly eleven by the time he arrived at the hotel.

After coming out of the shower, he saw that Qu An had messaged him asking whether he had arrived at the hotel. Xiao Ming replied, and the other man immediately sent him a voice call.

Qu An's voice sounded tired. "How does your hand feel now?"

There was also an announcement for flight boarding in the background. Xiao Ming knew at once that Qu An had not boarded yet.

"It doesn't feel like much now. I can stretch my palm normally without issue. You just finished work today, so get some rest first." As for accidentally getting the bandage wet in the shower and having water seep through it, there was no need to tell Qu An about that.

Qu An was probably truly exhausted. He answered with a nasal "Mm," sounding as though he had caught a cold.

Xiao Ming frowned, but he could not see how the other man was doing, so he could only let it go and check on him tomorrow during filming.

After finishing all his recordings, Qu An went for an audition. Zhu Fei had no intention of making him swallow everything in one bite. In the new script, Qu An's character had several emotional arcs: familial love, friendship, the bond between teacher and student, and the love scenes that were the most difficult for him.

The role Qu An was playing was a police officer, and the initially planned love interest was a female forensic pathologist.

Most of the major scenes were not difficult for Qu An, and he could handle emotional scenes other than romance. Therefore, the only thing Qu An needed to prove was that he could perform love scenes.

He knew the director. After discussing the script with him earlier, the role had basically been settled. But the director knew well that Qu An had shortcomings in emotional scenes, so he arranged an audition that evening first.

There were not many people in the private room, only the director and screenwriter. Qu An did not need a particularly good environment; once the director told him to begin, he began.

The scene was about him being set up by the murderer while investigating a case. He and the forensic pathologist were trapped together and injured. She was shot while saving him, yet for the greater good, he had to keep going and chase the murderer.

Before acting, as Qu An considered the scene in his mind, what flashed through it was Xiao Ming being injured yet continuing his task during today's filming.

They were completely different situations, but the conflict and pain between emotion and reason had something in common.

Qu An won applause from the film director and screenwriter.

"Xiao Qu, I always thought you were missing a screw in this area. I was even going to tell you to try dating someone. But looking at you now, you've improved." Then he asked gossipily, "Are you seeing someone?"

Qu An had already swiftly gathered his emotions, with none of the pain from his acting visible on his face. Gentle and refined, he said, "Director Xu, please stop teasing me."

Only after chatting and laughing with them for a while longer did he bid them farewell.

Afterward, he went to meet Gu Wuping. On the way there, he kept thinking about the images of Xiao Ming that had appeared in his mind during the audition, his fingertips tapping lightly against the leather seat beside him.

Gu Wuping was Gu Wenjun's older brother, and his family had been friends with Qu An's family for generations.

"Xiao An, how have you been lately? Aunt Yan asked me to check on you a few days ago."

Qu An smiled, his emotions unreadable. "Sorry to trouble you, Brother Wuping." How could his mother not know how he had been lately? She was merely indirectly reminding him not to forget his follow-up appointment.

"Xiao An, don't overthink it. Aunt Yan is only worried about you." Gu Wuping looked as though he wanted to say more but stopped himself. When he finally said it, there was a hint of an older brother's consolation in his tone.

Gu Wenjun was two years older than Qu An, while he himself was a full nine years older. Qu An had not liked talking or interacting with people as a child, only improving considerably around the age of eleven.

Gu Wuping was not particularly good at coaxing children, nor would he cling to Qu An and play with him like Gu Wenjun did. So when Yan Zhenshu asked him to help persuade Qu An, he had been quite nervous.

But Qu An was easy to talk to. It was simply that his easygoing manner carried a sense of indifference. Gu Wuping did not say much more, instead chatting with Qu An about filming. After they finished eating, the two went their separate ways.

Gu Wuping would not participate in the next day's filming, as he had a regular variety show to complete.

No sooner had Qu An parted with Gu Wuping than his mother called.

"An'an, are you having fun on the show?" Yan Zhenshu's tone on the other end was very gentle, entirely unlike the image of a fiercely driven woman she had once projected on screen.

Qu An's name had been chosen by a fortune-telling master because his grandmother believed in such things. The master had said his fate was too prosperous and needed to be tempered, or else excessive prosperity would only burn him. So they chose the character An, meaning dark. The master had also said he would face a calamity in life but would receive help from a benefactor, telling Grandma Qu not to worry.

Qu An's parents did not believe in such things, but they could not argue with Grandma Qu, so they gave Qu An a childhood nickname.