Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Xiao Bojun slowly shifted his body backward, gently moved his limbs off Zuo Qiu, got out of bed, and left Zuo Qiu’s room.

As the door closed, Zuo Qiu opened his eyes. He had woken up when Xiao Bojun did. Realizing Xiao Bojun’s movements, Zuo Qiu actually didn’t overthink it. After all, there are many boys with bad sleeping habits. Oh, and the fact that he was hard? Wasn’t that perfectly normal for a man upon waking up in the morning?

But to avoid embarrassing Xiao Bojun, Zuo Qiu decided to pretend he knew nothing.

…

During breakfast, Zuo Qiu said, “Brother Zhao sent me the flight time. It’s 9 AM tomorrow. Let’s pack our things together later.”

Zhao Zhixian meant that since they had just debuted, and this reality show was their first appearance, he wanted them to pay more attention to external details. They should wear the outfits the stylist prepared yesterday, so they needed to discuss and prepare their clothes for the next few days.

“Sure, we’ll pack after we eat,” Xiao Bojun replied.

The two tacitly avoided the topic of sleeping in the same bed last night, maintaining a peaceful pretense.

After eating, Xiao Bojun sat on the sofa and looked at the reality show’s schedule.

“There’s no script for anything. How am I supposed to act?” Xiao Bojun tossed the flimsy piece of paper, titled “Reality Show Come With Me Time Schedule,” onto the coffee table. Most reality shows on TV now have scripts, but this program was highly focused on innovation. Apart from a rough time schedule, it provided no content regarding the show’s activities.

Zuo Qiu looked down at his own script, answering without looking up, “The show’s purpose is to showcase the most authentic side of yourselves. You don’t need to ‘act.’ Just follow your usual habits.”

Xiao Bojun felt reassured upon hearing this. He immediately stretched out his long legs, resting his feet on the coffee table, hands clasped behind his head, staring blankly.

Zuo Qiu glanced at him in his downtime and said, “You’ll lose fans if you look like that on the show.”

Xiao Bojun glared at Zuo Qiu. “This is my most authentic side. If I lose fans, so be it.”

Zuo Qiu thought about it; Xiao Bojun’s brother’s intention was not to create specific personas for them. Personas established these days were bound to collapse, so it was unnecessary. As long as the two of them acted naturally and comfortably, it was fine, provided they weren’t too unconstrained.

“Fine, whatever makes you happy.” Zuo Qiu had checked their Weibo follower count today; it was nearly 500,000. If they really lost fans… then let them. It was better than overdoing an act now and suffering a backlash later.

…

The next morning, the two got up and took a taxi to the airport. Both boys were naturally tall, and especially after their hair and styling makeover, their appearance level surged. Simply walking through the bustling crowd, they had a unique quality that made them stand out.

They had been handsome since childhood, and their appearance together at school always garnered many second glances, but being scrutinized in the moving crowd of the airport felt different.

Zuo Qiu scanned the excited people surrounding them and talking, quietly asking Xiao Bojun, “Are we being recognized?”

Xiao Bojun frowned. “Probably. Let’s walk faster.”

The two sped up, trying to reach the waiting lounge before people could confirm their identities.

“Ahhh, it’s Z.X! It’s them!”

Suddenly, a shout came from behind. Zuo Qiu felt that after that sound, footsteps converged on them from all directions. In less than a minute, the two were completely encircled by people.

“Are you the Z.X duo?” “Are you Zuo Qiu?” “Are you Xiao Bojun?” “Can you sign an autograph for me?” “Are you traveling for a show or a movie?”

Zuo Qiu was startled by the clamoring questions from the surrounding crowd. There were too many people and too many questions; he didn’t know how to handle it. Zuo Qiu looked at Xiao Bojun, who was frowning and looked displeased.

Fortunately, just as they were helpless, Zhao Zhixian arrived in time with airport security. Zhao Zhixian raised his voice to the crowd: “Thank you, fans, for liking Z.X, but Xiao Bojun and Zuo Qiu have work to complete now. Please cooperate and do not disrupt the normal airport order. Thank you.”

The onlookers were fairly rational. Upon hearing Zhao Zhixian’s words, they slowly moved back, creating a path for the duo.

Zhao Zhixian shielded Zuo Qiu and Xiao Bojun, hurrying them inside and quickly completing the boarding procedures.

Once the three were seated in the waiting lounge, Zuo Qiu finally relaxed. “Brother Zhao, thank you.” If Zhao Zhixian hadn’t arrived promptly, they would probably have been “stuck” for a while longer.

Zhao Zhixian saw Zuo Qiu’s slightly pale face slowly regaining its color and smiled. “It’s nothing. You’ll get used to things like this.”

Zuo Qiu: “Actually, the fans were quite nice.” After all, once Zhao Zhixian spoke kindly, everyone cooperated and moved aside.

Zhao Zhixian said, “The more they like you, the more frantic they will become.”

The duo had only debuted two days ago. They had few works and shallow roots. In short, the level of fan devotion was not yet sky-high. After more works are released, the crazy fans will be unstoppable.

Of course, many stars fade quickly like a short-lived flower before they reach the point of being frantically chased by fans. Zhao Zhixian believed they would be much more successful than most stars.

Xiao Bojun looked sullen. He didn’t like that feeling. Being surrounded just now, with no one listening to him and surrounded by fans he couldn’t hit or scold. Thinking that going out in the future might mean being constantly watched like this, Xiao Bojun felt depressed. He turned to look at Zuo Qiu, thinking, I’ve given up so much for you. What are you going to give me in return?

Zuo Qiu saw Xiao Bojun staring at him unhappily and asked, surprised, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Bojun turned his head. “Nothing.”

Zuo Qiu didn’t understand why Xiao Bojun was unhappy, but Zhao Zhixian guessed part of it. He comforted them: “This is a good sign. If no one was paying attention to you, that would be the real problem.”

At this, Zuo Qiu felt the logic was sound. Being recognized at least indirectly proved they were getting attention.

While the three were chatting happily, the internet was also buzzing. Fans who witnessed the entire process at the airport posted updates about Zuo Qiu and Xiao Bojun online.

“I finally saw the real faces of my two newly claimed husbands today! They are so handsome, even without makeup! Being able to see them with my own eyes is truly a blessing. Next time I meet them, I must get an autograph!” “I saw them too, haha. Zuo Qiu is so soft and adorable! Our enthusiasm scared Qiuqiu a little.” “They are even handsomer in person than in the MV. I love Junjun! Even though he was expressionless, I still love him! I’m wildly cheering for him!”

More netizens speculated about where the two were heading and what works they would present next. The Z.X duo successfully sparked public discussion once again.

…

Come With Me is a flagship reality show of Z TV Station. The filming location is a small guesthouse on the beach in City H. The guesthouse’s “Boss,” Zheng Yang, and “Boss Lady,” Liu Min, are currently top-tier film stars. As regular guests, they welcome four new “residents” every week, staging various romantic, touching, or humorous stories. The show airs during prime time on Fridays and Saturdays, and its ratings have always been excellent.

After arriving at City H airport, Xiao Bojun and Zuo Qiu met the show’s pick-up crew and boarded the production car. The make-up artist in the car immediately began doing their makeup.

Zhao Zhixian knew Xiao Bojun was uncomfortable with a lot of make-up and told the artist, “Keep it light and natural.”

The makeup artist nodded, carefully examining their features. Both were handsome and young; they were perfectly fine without makeup. So, they simply dusted a thin layer of powder on each of them and were done.

…

Meanwhile, at the guesthouse, the Boss and Boss Lady were chatting at the entrance. Zheng Yang asked Liu Min, “One of the four ‘residents’ today is a pair of two people. Did you know?”

Liu Min asked, “Are a celebrity couple coming?”

“No.”

“Then a pair of lovers?”

“Not that either,” Zheng Yang added. “I’ll give you a hint: it’s a very popular duo recently. Two guys who are especially, especially handsome…”

Hearing this, Liu Min shrieked excitedly: “I know! I know! Their song is super catchy! One looks like a ‘little wolfdog,’ and the other is like a ‘little milkdog.’ They’re both my type! Oh, if I were 20 years younger, I’d definitely pursue them.”

“Hmph,” replied Zheng Yang, who was playing Liu Min’s fake husband. “Am I dead?”

The two bantered in front of the camera to warm up the atmosphere while waiting for the four groups of residents to arrive.

After the car carrying the first guest, a new-generation popular young actress, arrived, the car carrying Zuo Qiu and Xiao Bojun followed soon after.

The director of Z TV Station had a good relationship with Zhao Zhixian. Since Zhao Zhixian gave Z TV the new duo’s debut show, the director intended to do them a favor by having them appear last, as the finale. But Zhao Zhixian refused.

Among the four groups of guests, besides them, there was a new popular young actress, an accomplished actor who had just been nominated for Movie King, and an established female star who, despite having few recent works, had a massive fan base. If they were to appear last, the young actress would be fine, but the fans of the other two would definitely be unhappy. Xiao Bojun and Zuo Qiu’s foundation was still too shallow to withstand any criticism.

“Who is the second guest? I’m so excited…” Liu Min stood at the guesthouse entrance, craning her neck at the car parked nearby. “Ah, they’re getting out, they’re getting out… Their legs are so long! Ooh, golden hair? Wow, another one is getting out! It’s Z.X! It’s them! Zuo Qiu! Xiao Bojun! They’re here! They’re here!”

As Liu Min described them in an exaggerated way, the camera slowly zoomed in on the direction Liu Min was facing. The two boys in the frame looked like princes straight out of a comic book.

Zuo Qiu wore a white T-shirt with a blue denim jacket and black casual trousers. His light chestnut hair was naturally fluffy, and the heart-shaped fringe on his forehead made his entire face look incredibly delicate. Xiao Bojun wore a striped color-clash shirt under a black jacket, paired with long-legged-showing jeans. His small golden curls were styled in a slick-back. He was expressionless, but his aesthetically pleasing features were unforgettable.

As the two stepped out of the car, one smiled at the camera, and the other merely nodded slightly. Both had high visual appeal, but their contrasting personalities created a huge impact.

Liu Min’s reaction was probably the most authentic sentiment of many female fans. She shrieked a few times and rushed out of the guesthouse entrance. Without waiting for Zuo Qiu to greet her, she darted between the two and grabbed a hand of each, holding them tightly.

Zuo Qiu good-naturedly smiled at Liu Min’s excited behavior. Liu Min, being over 40, was like his mother. Xiao Bojun was unaccustomed to such sudden closeness from strangers, but he didn’t show it.

Liu Min looked adoringly from one to the other, unable to get enough. Finally, she turned to the camera and said, “I have the greedy thought for the first time—I want to have two boyfriends at the same time,” she said, holding up the two hands she was grasping. “They absolutely must be this handsome!”

Zuo Qiu laughed softly: “Sister Min, you flatter us!”

Liu Min smiled even wider upon hearing Zuo Qiu’s address. “Qiuqiu has such a sweet mouth.”

Shortly after the three entered the guesthouse, the remaining two guests also arrived.

Liu Min and Zheng Yang, as the guesthouse owners, welcomed everyone and briefly explained the guesthouse rules.

“You need to prepare your own meals every day. There’s a laundry room on the second floor… But that’s not the main point. The main point is—every room has a camera, and they are very hidden cameras! They will record all your movements! So, be careful!”

The pervasive hidden cameras were a major selling point of the show. Many candid moments of life shown in the program were thanks to these secret cameras.

…

Xiao Bojun and Zuo Qiu pushed open the door to the room labeled “Z.X,” dropped their luggage, and immediately started searching for cameras. Zuo Qiu had studied the previous seasons, and guests who found and shielded the cameras were not interfered with by the production team.

Five minutes later, they found five cameras in various nooks and crannies. After shielding them all, they finally relaxed and prepared for the upcoming activities. However, neither of them noticed the miniature camera on the wall above the bed, concealed within a painting of the same colors, quietly recording all their expressions and movements.