TSSRWAB Chapter 12

“Lu Xi plays the role of Ning Gan in Hunting? Tsk.”

 

“Zhao Ziyang may have a sharp tongue, but he knows his craft. This guy must’ve been acting terribly.”

 

“Director Yuan should give A to Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu at least has acting skills.”

 

Te first episode of Actor was broadcast. When the trailer was released, those who knew Lu Xi would sneer at it. An outdated pop idol came back to make money? Those who didn’t know Lu Xi thought that this young man should be in a boy band or a flower vase[mfn]花瓶 huāpíng – lit. flower vase ;  often used to describe someone who is beautiful but lacks talent or substance.[/mfn]. What’s the point of acting? It’s an insult to the acting profession. Sure, Zhao Ziyang’s harsh, but his critique hit right.

 

Online, the buzz was all about mentors clashing and the drama of the judging panel. The audience figured it was probably just editing tricks by the show’s production team. D-rating for Lu Xi? Sure. But Director Yuan’s A likely went to Zhao Yu. It was the editing that made it seem like sparks flew.

 

Zhao Yu’s fans believed the same.

 

Compared to Lu Xi, who had zero acting experience, Zhao Yu had already done two productions. The director even praised him for his good acting skills and few NGs.

 

Still, curiosity won out, and everyone clicked into Episode 2.

 

It was finally time for the famous scene from Hunting. Some even rewatched the film just last summer.

 

“Wow, the gege is super handsome, but he doesn’t look right for Ning Gan. He’s too young and doesn’t have that scheming, seasoned feel.”

 

“I need to see just how bad this really is.”

 

Premium members opened the ultra HD screen mode. After a brief background intro, the setting instantly transported viewers into the film.

 

The door opened. Ning Gan entered.

 

【WTF, did he just transform into someone else?】

 

【He’s giving me Hannibal vibes, but hotter, honestly.】

 

【Ahhhhhhhh this is freaky as hell. Ning Gan is a total psycho.】

 

【That profile shot and then straight-on… flawless. If he starred in a movie, I’d watch it ten times.】

 

Then came the final line. Ning Gan asked, “Isn’t it good to die in my hands?”

 

The barrage[mfn]弹幕 dànmù – lit. bullet screen – refers to a real-time, interactive commenting system where user-generated messages scroll across the screen like a stream of bullets, commonly seen in video-sharing platforms (e.g., Bilibili, Nico Nico Douga). Originating from Japanese video culture, it enhances communal viewing experiences by allowing audiences to share reactions simultaneously. (They are the comments you see floating on the screen.)[/mfn] of live comments exploded with:

 

【YES YES YES, Ning Gan come take my dog life.】

 

【I’m already on my third replay of this part. I’m seriously obsessed with Ning Gan.】

 

【I need every single piece of info on Ning Gan in the next three minutes.】

 

【I’ll give my kidney to sleep with Ning Gan!!!】

 

Second watch, third watch, all for Ning Gan’s face and acting skills. By the time the final scene rolled around, the screen was completely flooded with screaming, confetti emojis, and “husband” comments. Those paying attention would notice that the comments were using Ning Gan’s name.

 

【Warning: incoming fire. I’m laughing so hard I could die.】

 

When the Hunting scene ended, it was time for the mentors’ feedback.

 

And then came the juicy part shown in the preview.

 

【Zhao Ziyang has the audacity to lie with a straight face. I’m speechless.】

 

【Here’s a joke: Zhao Yu gets an A, Lu Xi gets a D.】

 

【Zhao Yu’s acting in this scene took me right out of it.】

 

【HAHAHAHA Director Yuan slapping faces is the perfect mealtime entertainment.】

 

【Lu Xi is too hot, too freaking amazing.】

 

【Zhao Ziyang: “Stick with me, I’ll teach you depth.”】

 

【Lu Xi, coldly: “I only signed on for one episode.”】

 

【Hahahahahaha Zhao Ziyang is a dumbass.[mfn](raws) 赵子杨是个sb。Zhào zǐyáng shìgè sb. – In Chinese internet slang, sb (傻逼 – shǎ bī) is a derogatory term meaning “idiot” or “stupid.” It’s considered vulgar and offensive.[/mfn]】

 

The episode wasn’t even over yet, but netizens were already posting and looking for shared tags on Weibo. #LuXiSignedForOneEpisode#, #LuXiNingGan#, and #ZhaoZiyangCommentary# shot up on the real-time search, some at the top, others trailing behind.

 

The first comment on Weibo was: Who the hell is Lu Xi???

 

Then  after watching the clip of Hunting, it became: Holy crap, this guy’s acting is insane!

 

One search later, they found Lu Xi’s old dance stage cuts. Absolutely zero acting experience.

 

!!!

 

What kind of god-tier being is this?

 

Zhu Li, knowing Actor would bring a surge in attention, had already clipped Lu Xi’s past highlight moments. She has a Bilibili account with a decent following, and tonight the video views skyrocketed.

 

【Ahhh licking the screen. I want to stan.】

 

【He’s so damn hot when he dances.】

 

【This debut stage is such a contrast, just like Lu Xi himself.】

 

【A hidden gem.】

 

Zhu Li herself became a fan after that debut performance. Soft golden hair, pale skin, beautiful and noble in a suit and bowtie; he looked like a young master walking out of a high-end gala.

 

The music started with a gentle piano intro and then exploded a few seconds later.

 

The little young master took off his jacket, removed his bowtie, and tousled his hair. And in an instant, the carefully wrapped, innocent-looking boy turned into something wild and free, impossible not to desire.

 

The stage was on fire.

 

—

 

It was Saturday.

 

The two buns didn’t need to go to kindergarten, and Lu Xi had promised to take them to the aquarium. Early in the morning, they got themselves up, stood on their kiddie stools to brush their teeth and wash their faces, and packed their little backpacks. Doubao stuffed his with snacks until it bulged.

 

He stared at the bag with wide, round eyes and pouted. “Too much. Daddy’s gonna notice.”

 

Dougao, with his cold little face, unzipped the bag.

 

Doubao happily packed snacks into didi’s bag instead.

 

Perfect teamwork.

 

Xiao Lu ate too many midnight snacks the night before, so he wasn’t feeling too hungry. He quickly made some fried eggs and toast with milk.

 

After breakfast, the little family of three set off.

 

There were cars in the garage, and Lu Xi knew which ones were bought by his eldest brother. He picked the SUV with child seats installed.

 

“Daddy, can we feed the little lions milk?” Doubao buckled his seatbelt.

 

Lu Xi thought about it. “I think so?”

 

“Daddy, there are no lions at the aquarium,” Dougao reminded him.

 

Xiao Lu: …

 

Just then, the phone rang. Lu Xi saw that it was his elder brother and answered the video call.

 

“Uncle! Daddy’s taking us to the aquarium!”

 

“Hello, Uncle.”

 

The twins excitedly greeted him from the back. Lu Xi shifted the phone to show them and asked, “Da-ge, do you need something?”

 

“Not really. You focus on driving, I want to chat with the two of them.”

 

The man in the video was beautiful, with long black hair pouring down his shoulders. He’s lazily leaning on the chaise longue and his voice was low and seductive. A natural-born succubus. If his elder brother wanted someone, there is no one he can’t get. Lu Xi thought.

 

They were blood brothers, but due to some unknown twist of fate, Lu Xi got lost, became an orphan, and was adopted by human foster parents. He never suffered materially. His foster parents were somewhat notable figures in the U.S., and adopting a Chinese child gained them favor with their higher-ups.

 

Kind, non-racist, family-loving model citizens.

 

When Lu Xi was four or five, they told him he was adopted.

 

It wasn’t just kindness, it was an investment. Lu Xi understood that from a young age. His foster parents weren’t harsh, but they planned his life for maximum returns.

 

Later, he left and met Xie Zhuhan. He eventually realized Xie Zhuhan didn’t love him. Just when he was about to run, his elder brother found him because he was already pregnant with Doubao and Dougao.

 

Something about the succubus bloodline stirring. Anyway, his elder brother found him.

 

He lived eighteen years as a human. The moment he found out he was a succubus: ???

 

What the hell.

 

Then again, it kinda made sense.

 

He’s beautiful since he was a child and many people like him.

 

Like that one time he briefly met the young master Rhettsey, who insisted Lu Xi be his study companion through college.

 

Later, with his elder brother’s help, Lu Xi successfully terminated his contract with his agency and left the country.

 

His elder brother kept telling him his succubus traits were awakening, and he would be more beautiful and charming. Lu Xi looked at the charming and seductive face of the elder brother in the video and felt that Xiao Lu could not do it. He did not want to be a heartthrob.

 

“Okay, I’ll let you two chat.”

 

Lu Xi handed the phone to the twins and focused on driving.

 

Doubao’s chubby little paws gripped the phone, and he and his didi chattered away with their uncle, giggling, even whispering little secrets.

 

Lu Xi perked up: !

 

But couldn’t hear what they were saying. He guessed his elder brother probably couldn’t either.

 

The aquarium was in the suburbs. After buying tickets, Lu Xi got the twins little whale balloons and tied them to their backpacks.

 

“Chong ya! Let’s go see the little sea lions!”

 

Lu Xi was really happy.

 

—

 

The Internet exploded again.

 

The buzz from the night before hadn’t died down. Lu Xi’s performance on Actor was too good, and his comebacks at Zhao Ziyang were too satisfying. But not everyone was thrilled. Zhao Ziyang was just being natural. Zhao Yu’s fans were also unhappy. To them, the public comparing Lu Xi and Zhao Yu in Hunting was clearly Lu Xi, an unknown actor, trying to bring Zhao Yu down.

 

You think they’d tolerate that?

 

It would be strange if they can tolerate it.

 

Time to tear him up.

 

There’s no shortage of dirt[mfn]黑料 hēi liào – “black material,” meaning scandals, dirty secrets, or compromising info[/mfn] on Lu Xi.

 

Four years ago, he debuted in a nine-member dance team called LBX9. His Weibo ended with one last post:

 

LBX9–Lu Xi: We broke up. I am sorry. I am leaving.

 

This account hasn’t been deleted and all the posts are still up. For male idol group members, the requirements are clear: they must stay single and avoid scandals. After LBX9 was formed, every member had to comply… except Lu Xi. His personal Weibo account was the only one where he posted whatever he wanted, never hiding anything.

 

At that time, Lu Xi was explosively popular. He had only posted three things about his private relationships; not frequently, and the wording was low-key and simple.

 

Fans erupted in their first wave of outrage: they cursed the company, cursed the managers, and demanded that the company control Lu Xi saying that Xixi was young and should not be deceived, and that it was too early to fall in love, etc. The company remained silent and they could not control him.

 

So some people speculated that either Lu Xi’s background was not simple, or the person who was dating Lu Xi was not simple, and the company could not control Lu Xi. Everyone believed the latter more.

 

Especially because of one photo of a watch.

 

Of the two hands, everyone recognized Lu Xi’s slender and delicate hand, and the other hand was obviously from a grown man’s.

 

The watch was a new Hermès fashion model, priced at over 80,000 yuan[mfn]about 11.1k USD[/mfn]. This only convinced people more that some older man had bought it for Lu Xi.

 

【Just an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t read much, got famous with a pretty face, probably kept by some rich old man.】

 

【Really lacks sophistication, flaunting a watch like this, and thinks he can marry into wealth. He’s just a male mistress.】

 

【What’s so great about a fashion watch? At that price, why not buy a Swiss brand? So shallow, uncultured, nouveau riche trash.】

 

At that time, China didn’t yet have the concept of “traffic stars.”[mfn]流量 liúliàng – “traffic” “flow volume” –  refers to online popularity metrics (views, clicks, engagement) that determine a celebrity or content’s influence and commercial value[/mfn] Lu Xi’s explosive popularity gave him the aura of a top-tier celebrity. He had many fans, but just as many antis. Vicious remarks and speculations emerged one after another. No one believed that Lu Xi bought this watch for his boyfriend with his own money.

 

Nor did anyone know that after taking on jobs, endorsements, magazine shoots, and stage performances, the money he saved after repaying his adoptive parents’ hefty upbringing fees left him with only enough for two watches. He spent it all.

 

The first time he liked someone was so simple, sincere and passionate. A young man offering his earnest heart. The watch had many tiny diamonds, sparkling like the Milky Way, like a sky full of brilliant stars. He just wanted to give it to someone he loved.

 

Lu Xi did not delete that Weibo post before he left.

 

Loving openly, without reservation, without regret.

 

Yet it became irrefutable proof to attack Lu Xi, that he was a kept man, scandal-ridden, a homewrecker.

 

Five years ago, and now too.

 

【Disgusting.】

 

【Serves you right, getting dumped by your sugar daddy.】

 

【Shameless, not even fit to shine zy’s shoes.】

 

【Just get lost already, you’re too dirty.】

 

–

 

The author has something to say: Xiao Lu suffers today, but he will pummel the gong tomorrow.

 

 

 

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