The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 22

[Has it started?]

[I see the handsome Mu Yunji as soon as I enter. Is he actually the one opening the event today?]

[Replying to the person above: Mu Yunji is the spokesperson for Aurora.]

[I heard Lin Zhiyu is coming today as well. It feels like another good show is about to start!]

[How unlucky. Why mention Lin Zhiyu? With his current reputation and status, what kind of clothes could he even borrow? Why come to the red carpet at all? To embarrass himself?]

[Insider information: Lin Zhiyu really did not borrow any clothes. Rumor has it his manager even begged the editor-in-chief of Gaza, but they only had the leftovers that Jiang Yubai did not want.]

[That is hilarious. Lin Zhiyu must be going crazy with anxiety. Why has the Blue Bird crew not leaked any news of him battling Jiang Yubai? I have had enough of this boring domestic entertainment circle; I want to see some real action.]

[I am silently opening the Lin Zhiyu super-topic and starting to look forward to the sharp critique thread tonight.]

The area before the red carpet was already star-studded, with media outlets’ long-range lenses gathered together.

Lin Zhiyu stood in the waiting area, listening to Chen Chen’s nagging in his ear: “Brother Lin, walk slowly later. Stand for a few extra seconds in places with many cameras to get some exposure.”

Xie Jingyao, standing nearby, could not help but chuckle. “Your assistant is like a worried mother. Do not worry, I will lead him.”

Whether the production crew or the lead actors’ teams had spoken with the organizers, the main cast of The Blue Bird was arranged almost entirely together. The two leads went first, followed by Xu Xiao and Yan Ruohan. Originally, given Lin Zhiyu’s status, he should not have been paired with Xie Jingyao; he was quite surprised when he received the schedule.

Xie Jingyao wore a black suit with green bamboo embroidery climbing up one side. It was simple, but when paired with the gold painted folding fan in his hand, it highlighted his ethereal temperament.

“This outfit is good; it suits you,” he said to Lin Zhiyu.

Lin Zhiyu smiled and replied, “You as well. It is just the color. People might scold me later for clinging to a popular star like you to fabricate a couple dynamic. I should have picked a different color.”

Xie Jingyao did not seem to care, saying nonchalantly, “Plenty of people want to create a dynamic with me. Five years ago, my scandal partners could have circled the Earth three times.”

Just as he finished, the usher gave them a signal. Xie Jingyao patted his arm and said, “Let us go.”

Lin Zhiyu exhaled expressionlessly and followed him out.

The camera flashes erupted simultaneously, and the dense clicking sounds were like a mountain of thunder. Lin Zhiyu lowered his chin slightly, looking straight ahead, his steps light and elegant.

The wide-legged culottes billowed with his stride, the layers of fabric spreading out like a tide and outlining wave after wave. The embroidery on his jacket sparkled under the lights like stars, and the floral ornaments on his shoulders were radiant.

The demantoid garnet earrings swayed gently, making him look dreamlike under the magnesium lights. The cameras followed his every step, and the critics in the live chat were disappointed to find they could not find a single unflattering angle.

The live stream chat exploded:

[Who is this? Lin Zhiyu?]

[Who said he could not borrow clothes? This outfit is too beautiful; it has a cold elegance that transcends gender!]

[I thought he had no fashion resources left. Where did this come from? If these are the leftovers Jiang Yubai did not want, then I am blind.]

[This face, this body, this relaxed vibe. I suspect he was reading the wrong script before. If he had even a bit of career ambition, he would be on the same level as Jiang Yubai. Who needs Mu Yunji?]

[My mom asked why I am using my tongue to type comments. Everyone, can we just be fans of his looks for once? This face really hits my aesthetic.]

All sorts of visual-praising comments drowned out the initial mockery. The shutters of the media reporters grew more frequent, and many photographers instinctively moved forward a few steps.

Lin Zhiyu left his name on the signature wall. Xie Jingyao had signed before him and glanced over. It was standard, neat student handwriting.

Before he could ask why Lin Zhiyu had not practiced an artistic signature, the official cameraman approached with the lens from behind. Xie Jingyao reacted quickly, closing his fan and flicking it lightly toward the bottom of the lens.

The cameraman flipped the camera in a coordinated move. One second, the viewers were immersed in Xie Jingyao’s beauty; the next, the screen spun, lights wavered, and then Lin Zhiyu reached out to stop the lens. He leaned in close and feigned a wipe with his sleeve.

His exquisite face was magnified infinitely in the frame. His hair was dusted with fine glitter that sparkled under the lights. His eyes were elongated by light colored eyeliner; looking lazily into the camera, he seemed like shimmering spring water.

[Who thought of this camera movement? One beauty followed by another!]

[I am defecting for one night. It is too beautiful. That moment just now really did it for me. I admit I was a bit loud about Lin Zhiyu before!]

[My dead ex-husband has truly been resurrected. I suddenly feel the vibe from his debut stage. Is this the charm of a first love?]

[I have to say, that waist is so thin and those legs are so long. Anyone else would look ridiculous in that outfit. Lin Zhiyu has a bad temper, but his looks are definitely an asset in the entertainment circle.]

[Did no one notice Lin Zhiyu’s handwriting? It is a standard good-student font. The contrast with Xie Jingyao’s flamboyant signature is tragic. Has no one made him practice in all this time?]

[My teacher made us copy this font every day in the third year of high school. I have post-traumatic stress disorder now.]

[I feel like we can actually look forward to The Blue Bird. Xie Yunce does not have much screen time anyway; as long as the face is good.]

[What use is a face? The casting issue for Xie Yunce is not settled. Who knows if he snatched the role through improper means like Wen Lu said? Resist Lin Zhiyu’s comeback. This red carpet is boring; I am going back to file a complaint.]

Weibo followed suit and erupted.

Mu Yunji finished the red carpet and went straight into the gala venue. Just as he found the lounge and before he could even sit down, he received a flurry of messages from his social circle. They were all images of Lin Zhiyu’s red carpet appearance.

The core message of the texts was basically: “Buddy, are you too picky? You looked down on someone like this? Is there something wrong with you? Do you regret it now?”

Mu Yunji was so angry he almost cursed out loud.

But when he clicked those links and saw the images captured from the live stream, he was momentarily speechless. The magnesium lights cast a soft glow over Lin Zhiyu. His expression was indifferent, yet he possessed a cold, otherworldly quality. The arrogant, overbearing vibe from before had completely vanished. The white high-fashion outfit highlighted his tall and upright stature, and the tassels on his earrings swayed slightly, making the demantoid garnets look like fallen stars.

Combined with that vivid red mark under his eye, two completely opposite styles merged within him, becoming unexpectedly soul-capturing.

Mu Yunji admitted that for a split second, he was indeed bewitched by that exterior. But it was only for a second. After all, clothes make the man. Without that high fashion, he would be nothing.

Mu Yunji’s gaze froze as he frowned while scrutinizing the clothes on Lin Zhiyu. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he snapped his head around to look at Mu Sui, who was sitting by the window.

“Did you give those clothes to him?” Mu Yunji said with suppressed anger, walking aggressively toward Mu Sui.

Mu Sui slowly moved his gaze away from the screen in his hand. In the brief flash of the screen, Mu Yunji seemed to see the trending search regarding Lin Zhiyu’s red carpet appearance.

“What if I did, and what if I did not?” Mu Sui looked at Mu Yunji with a dark gaze and a deep voice. “Mu Yunji, do you talk to Father and Grandfather like this at home?”

“Stop acting superior with me.” Mu Yunji sat on the single sofa opposite him, crossing his long legs with irritation and staring directly at Mu Sui’s face. “Mu Sui, this is the first time I have seen you care so much about someone. It is hard to imagine that one day you would be played like a fool.”

Mu Sui tapped his phone with a dark expression and asked, “What are you trying to say?”

To this day, whenever Mu Yunji thought of Mu Sui’s sarcastic comment about hidden intentions back at the film studio, he felt like he was sitting on needles. He was disgusted to the point of wanting to scrape off his own skin. He had racked his brain and could not understand why Mu Sui thought he would have any improper thoughts about Lin Zhiyu. It was the joke of the year.

But at this moment, he felt as if he had accidentally touched a thread in the mist, a thread that could unravel his confusion in an instant.

“Have you forgotten? I told you long ago that Lin Zhiyu is very calculating.” Mu Yunji curled his lips arrogantly, like a victorious hound. “He only agreed to marry you so readily because he thought he could use you to get back at me. But now that the direct path is blocked, he is taking a detour.”

“How many resources has he taken from you? I cannot believe you are so easy to talk to that you just gave them to him.” Mu Yunji paused, propping his chin up nonchalantly. “My dear elder brother, I really could not tell that you were so innocent, getting fooled by a few sweet words from a person like that.”

Mu Sui looked at him coldly, his deep black eyes like a chilling, endless abyss, causing Mu Yunji to shiver involuntarily.

After a long silence, he leaned back into his wheelchair and relaxed his shoulders. He asked back, “Mu Yunji, in what capacity are you speaking to me?”

“I can understand that because my marriage to your former pursuer is harmonious, you are acting out of shame and anger,” Mu Sui said slowly. “But what I choose to give him, what does that have to do with you?”

“Or rather, are you finally realizing now how stupid a decision it was to cooperate with Mu Qiongyu and push him to me?”