That night, the incident of Xie Guan being chased by crazy fans became a hot topic, and his three million fangirls went crazy condemning those people. The online uproar was deafening. Xie Guan sneakily opened a second account to browse Weibo and found many posts where Hengrui Group and Huo Mingjun were prominently mentioned. However, to avoid censorship, they were all represented by initials.
When Huo Mingjun left the airport, there was a car in the front and another in the back as an escort, a spectacle that was hard to ignore. The bodyguard car that helped Xie Guan shake off the pursuers and forced the minivan to stop was one of the escort vehicles. Some fans took photos of the scene, and after several rounds of reposting and detailed comparisons, they finally pieced together the true identity of this “bystander” who intervened.
The aftermath of the Yihe Yipin incident involving Hengrui Group had not yet subsided when Huo Mingjun attended the press conference, and he gained a batch of devoted fans in the process. This time, the apparent interaction with Xie Guan triggered a frenzy of wild speculations. Moreover, due to the special attention given by Huo Mingjun during the airport incident, all related information was only presented in text descriptions, with constant references to “rumors.” No images were leaked, showcasing Hengrui’s tight control over the news and further solidifying Huo Mingjun’s image as a domineering CEO.
Some onlookers found the situation entertaining and happily provided an overview of the industry’s nightmare, the “news barrier.” The Huo family has always been extremely cautious about public opinion. Unless they willingly disclose information, the media can hardly dig up anything valuable. Hence, they are widely known in the industry for their “news barrier.”
In this way, Huo Mingjun’s image becomes even more mysterious. Passersby speculate that Huo Mingjun just happened to show kindness when passing by and allowing his bodyguard to help Xie Guan out of a predicament. The rational crab fans (What Xie Guan’s fans call themselves) cautiously suggested that maybe the two have an unknown friendship. There was also a small group of irrational fans shouting, “I won’t listen, I won’t listen. This is quite entertaining to watch. Please give me more dog food…”
The main character Xie Guan secretly watched the banter between his own fans and Huo Mingjun’s fans, enjoying the lively exchange. He hid under the covers, laughing so hard that he pounded the bed. At this moment, someone twisted the doorknob from outside the bedroom. Listening intently to his surroundings, Xie Guan swiftly performed an agile maneuver that contradicted his current physical condition. He executed a perfect roll, quickly concealed his phone under the pillow, and laid down, feigning a sudden change in his health. This instant sequence of hiding, lying down, and playing dead demonstrated his skills learned over a lifetime.
Huo Mingjun pushed the door open, walked to the seemingly sound asleep Xie Guan, and said expressionlessly, “Stop pretending, hand over the phone.”
Xie Guan convincingly let out a couple of small snores.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Are you going to surrender it willingly, or should I take action?”
Ktf riffqlcu yfjeas cjwfv Wlf olcjiis kbxf eq iflregfis: “…Zlcupec, ktja vlv sbe pera rjs?”
Pa’r ageis lwqgfrrlnf tbk tf mjc jma rb kfii ktlif gecclcu j ofnfg. Pa’r jr lo atf qfgrbc lc atf mjg fjgilfg, jii milcus jcv rageuuilcu ab rqfjx klatbea mjamtlcu tlr ygfjat, kjrc’a tlw.
Leb Zlcupec yfca bcf ifu jcv ifjcfv bc atf fvuf bo atf yfv, gfjmtlcu ecvfg atf qliibk. Vfcrlcu agbeyif, Wlf Xejc ogjcalmjiis ugjyyfv tlr kglra, vbvulcu jcv rageuuilcu, aegclcu atf rmfcf lcab j mtjbalm aerrif. Pc atf fcv, Leb Zlcupec erfv bcf tjcv ab qgfrr Wlf Xejc vbkc bc tlr ifu jcv atf batfg tjcv ab iloa atf qliibk, mbcolrmjalcu tlr qtbcf. Ktlr wjgxfv atf mbcmierlbc bo atf xlcvfgujgafc-ifnfi rmeooif.
“Sick people also need entertainment!” Xie Guan protested. “I can’t just lie here meditating all day!”
Huo Mingjun remained unmoved. “You can meditate sitting up too.”
“…”
“Get some rest and take care of your illness. You can’t go back to the film crew until you’re better,” Huo Mingjun patted him and said ruthlessly, “No one can plead for you.”
With his phone confiscated and discussions still brewing online, fans were finally connecting the dots. In the early hours of the morning, audience members who attended the recording of Stars Have Gravity finally linked “hmj” to the “Huo Mingjun” that appeared on the big screen today, confirming the fact that the two know each other.
Moreover, judging from their phone conversation, not only did they know each other, but they also seemed quite familiar.
Following this revelation, the gossip-fueled masses injected with a strong dose of excitement continued to dig deeper. They uncovered that Xuan Du Films, a new subsidiary under the Hengrui Group, was the investor for the film adaptation of Rising Tide of the Blue Sea.
In the entertainment industry, once social interactions involve resources and interests, it’s no longer a pure friendship.
Both fans and anti-fans who heard the news flooded Xie Guan’s Weibo comments, while a group of fervent fans took their excitement to another level.
In the production team of Stars Have Gravity, the chief director watched the footage of the watermelon-selling segment at least five or six times. Knowing that this segment was a major highlight, he anticipated a surge in ratings after its broadcast. However, having immersed himself in the entertainment industry for many years, he once tried to have it all. In the end, he ended up biting off more than he could chew and hit a “news barrier” in the process, leaving behind an unforgettable psychological shadow.
While no one in this circle could control everything, his position was not an everlasting iron throne. The chief director didn’t mind offending some harmless figures as long as it ensured good ratings. However, this didn’t mean he reached the level of nobility where he would sacrifice his job for the sake of truth.
With a heavy heart, he finally made up his mind: “Cut this segment, it can’t be aired.”
Xie Guan was forcibly confined to bed for two days, indulging in a cycle of eating and sleeping, and oblivious to the overwhelming rumors outside. When he finally bounced back to his lively self, it was time for him to return to the set.
Xie Guan spent a total of three days in B City, and he didn’t even enter his own home during this time. All his time was spent in Huo Mingjun’s apartment. This might seem overly clingy for ordinary friends, but the individuals involved felt it was natural and was unfazed. With his straightforward and somewhat oblivious mindset, Xie Guan believed that the whole world operated with the same integrity as himself. As for Huo Mingjun, he maintained his demeanor of “calm in the face of internal turmoil” over the years. Even if he did have any thoughts about the matter, Xie Guan might not be able to discern them.
The next morning when Huo Mingjun got up early and personally drove Xie Guan to the airport, Xie Guan still didn’t realize the level of attention he was receiving. In the forty-minute journey, he comfortably dozed off again, waking up briefly halfway at a toll station. He was impressed by Huo Mingjun’s focused profile, felt reassured, and closed his eyes to continue sleeping.
Huo Mingjun drove steadily until they entered the parking lot. It was only then that the dazed Xie Guan sat up. “Are we here…?”
“Yeah,” Huo Mingjun casually flattened the tuft of hair that was standing up at the back of Xie Guan’s head. “There’s still an hour before takeoff, and it’s not convenient for me to be seen with you. I won’t accompany you inside.”
“No problem, no need to escort me,” Xie Guan yawned, covering his mouth, and prepared to open the door and get out. “Thanks for the ride. Drive safely on your way back. I’m leaving.”
“Remember to take your medicine on time, rest well, and don’t forget what I told you before,” Huo Mingjun said. “Also, I’ll be dealing with Zhong Guanhua soon. Just giving you a heads up so you’re aware. If someone asks, you feign ignorance.”
Xie Guan was a bit confused, not understanding why Huo Mingjun was telling him this. “Ask me? He decided to withdraw on his own. It’s not like I snatched the opportunity from him. The blame shouldn’t fall on me, right?”
Huo Mingjun looked at him helplessly for a few seconds, seeing that Xie Guan still had a perplexed expression. Unable to resist, he gently flicked Xie’s cheek with his fingers. “You forgot about the pain once the wound healed.”
Why am I so anxious that someone will catch them and film them while they’re in the car and start a million more rumors.
Thank you for the update!
I love xie guan’s childish little antics. Coupled with huo mingjun’s straight-laced personality and it’s perfect XD