"Um... should I call the director and ask security to chase them away?" Gu Weichen asked tentatively.
"It's fine, no need. I'll get out and let them see me." Shen Xuanrun spoke calmly.
"Aren't you afraid one of Jiang Yi's rabid fans will throw sulfuric acid at you again?" Gu Weichen asked with amusement in his eyes.
The two continued staring at each other.
"It's not that extreme. Jiang Yi has already been arrested. That person only came to throw sulfuric acid at me because they believed his malicious lies."
Shen Xuanrun had no idea why, but he just felt rather awkward.
"To be safe, I'd better stay by your side," Gu Weichen said after a moment of thought.
"Sure, but make sure you keep your mask on. After all, you're the great CEO Gu. It wouldn't be good for you to show your face."
There have already been rumors about the two of us. We can't let people online photograph us together again, or there'll be more rumors. Boohoo~, this is how my dream of being a straight man fell apart.
Gu Weichen raised his eyebrows without speaking.
Soon, Shen Xuanrun got out of the car. Wearing a mask, Gu Weichen stayed close beside him, never leaving his side.
The fans quickly spotted Shen Xuanrun too, and one of them shouted:
"Everyone, look! Shen Xuanrun is over there!"
The group immediately swarmed over, surrounding Shen Xuanrun and Gu Weichen. Gu Weichen raised his arms around Shen Xuanrun, leaving a safe space for him.
Whoa, Gu Weichen's move was bursting with boyfriend energy. So manly. Pfft, pfft, pfft, what nonsense am I thinking?
Gu Weichen clenched his hands tightly, then quickly relaxed them.
The fan closest to Shen Xuanrun bowed deeply and said:
"Shen Xuanrun, we're sorry! We misjudged people and insulted you for so long. We're not asking for your forgiveness. We just hope you know that we realize we were wrong. We hope you won't be sad or angry."
"I insulted you too, and I even cursed you with xxxx. I'm sorry!" another person quickly chimed in.
"Me too. I called you disgusting and said you deserved it..." Someone else raised a hand.
I know you insulted me, but could you please not repeat what you said? Otherwise, even though I wasn't angry before, I'll want to get angry now. Boohoo~, I'm so pitiful. I was cyberbullied for so long! The drama queen Shen Xuanrun started rambling inwardly again.
Only after everyone had said a few words and the crowd slowly quieted down did Shen Xuanrun speak.
"I understand now. I also know you were all deceived, so don't worry. I'm fine now. You can rest assured!"
Meanwhile, Shen Xuanrun's cheerful voice sounded in Gu Weichen's mind.
I know you're easily fooled, getting swept along by other people's narratives every day. Although you cyberbullied me for so long, I'm magnanimous and won't hold it against you. Truly impressive people don't sweat the small stuff! Hehe, I'm so embarrassed.
Looking at the fans before him, who were so moved they were about to cry, Gu Weichen marveled, Only I know how different Shen Xuanrun is on the inside. Who could understand this feeling? Still, it feels pretty good.
"You were hurt so badly, yet you're still making excuses for us. Boohoo..." Soon, an emotional fan burst into tears.
"Actually, you're victims too. After all, you were deceived as well. I'm not making excuses for you. It's simply the truth."
Hmph! If I didn't say that, "Shen Xuanrun acts like a diva" would shoot up Weibo's trending searches tomorrow! I'm no saint. I'm just an ordinary person. I don't want Little Li knocking on my door again with that astonished look! I'm terrified.
"Actually, if you want to insult us, you can. We can take it! After all, we hurt you so much," one fan said.
"If I have to say anything, I only hope that from now on, you'll think carefully about every word you say. Society needs rules, citizens need decency, and the internet needs clarity. Don't let online violence pollute your spiritual home!"
"Because I've been caught in the rain, I want to hold an umbrella over others. Sometimes words can hurt more than violence! A casual remark from you might save someone, but it might also hurt someone else. I hope you'll gain something from hearing what I've said."
The crowd fell silent and lowered their heads. It was unclear whether they were repenting or deep in thought.
Society needs rules, citizens need decency, and the internet needs clarity. Gu Weichen silently mulled over the sentence. Looking at the young man before him, who seemed to be glowing, he wondered why his heart felt so full. What a strange feeling.
"All right, all right. It's already very late, so hurry home. If it gets too late, it's easy for something to happen on the way," Shen Xuanrun continued.
Go on, hurry along! I don't want anything happening to you on the way tonight. Although, although you insulted me before, I've already forgiven you. A magnanimous heart can hold a ship! I'm the best!
Gu Weichen looked at the young man, whose sharp tongue concealed a soft heart. In fact, he wished the young man could be a little more ruthless. Only then would these people be unable to hurt him.
The fans began approaching Shen Xuanrun one by one, bowing before slowly leaving. Shen Xuanrun smiled and nodded at them too.
The fans soon dispersed completely, leaving Shen Xuanrun and Gu Weichen standing at the entrance to the set.
"Thank you for today. Not only did you treat me to dinner, you protected me just now too," Shen Xuanrun said first.
"It was nothing. After all, I was the trigger for all of this."
"If there's nothing else, I'll head inside. Have a safe trip, Mr. Gu!" With that, Shen Xuanrun turned and walked into the set.
Gu Weichen watched the young man walk away, suddenly feeling an emptiness in his heart. After standing there for a while, he turned and returned to the car, telling the driver to take him home.
Someone had filmed the entire encounter, and the video was soon posted online. When countless night owls clicked on it, they fell into the same silence, felt the same emotions...
The truth behind Shen Xuanrun's case finally came to light, but how many other truths were buried beneath people's vitriol? How many people could only shed tears silently in the dead of night?
They endured accusations from people claiming the moral high ground, retreating into the shadows, unwilling to set even one foot outside to experience the world again. Spring's warmth and blooming flowers had nothing to do with them.
The crowd has never thirsted for truth.
They turn a blind eye to evidence that does not suit their tastes.
If falsehood appeals to them,
They are more willing to worship falsehood.
Whoever supplies them with illusions
Can easily become their master;
Whoever destroys their illusions
Will become their victim.
-The Crowd