What to Do if You’re Being Targeted by the Superstar? [Entertainment] - Chapter 1

Sheng Zhinuan had been dispatched to H-City for an urgent assignment by the headquarters, and she spent the entirety of the flight lost in sleep. It was only when the wheels touched the tarmac that Xiao Qi, her cameraman, gently nudged her. “Nuannuan, wake up. We’re here.”

Sheng Zhinuan pulled off her sleep mask, her mind still swathed in a lingering haze. “Already?”

Xiao Qi, possessing the weary efficiency of a veteran employee, was already slinging his camera over his shoulder. “After you, Princess,” he said, gesturing toward the exit with a playful flourish.

The person sent by the H-City Television Station to meet them was a young woman named Xiao Chen. She recognized Sheng Zhinuan instantly and waved them over, her face flushing a bright crimson the moment their eyes met. “Reporter Sheng… hello. It’s an honor to meet you.”

When Sheng Zhinuan wasn’t laughing like a goofball, she was quite an imposing figure. Standing at five-foot-six with exquisite, sharp features, she wore a flowing silk dress paired with a crisp white blazer. She was the very picture of a sophisticated, high-ranking intellectual.

Flipping on her professional switch, Sheng Zhinuan offered a perfect, eight-toothed smile. She stepped forward and extended her hand. “Hello there.”

“Reporter Sheng,” Xiao Chen said, her voice trembling with excitement. “I’ve followed all your reports. I… I’m a huge fan of yours.”

Sheng Zhinuan’s smile remained impeccable. She stood half a head taller than the girl and looked down at her with the gentle gaze of an older sister. “Thank you. Though, for the record, I prefer Jiejies myself.”

Xiao Chen blinked, utterly bewildered.

Xiao Qi massaged his temples in resignation. As Zhinuan’s longtime partner, he was all too familiar with how quickly her “elegant” facade could crumble. He stepped in to smooth things over. “She’s just teasing you, Xiao Chen. Shall we head to the station?”

“Of course,” Xiao Chen replied, regaining her composure. “The car is this way. Please follow me.”

Upon arriving at the station, however, their car was swarmed by layers of fans who had completely blockaded the entrance. Dozens of young women held up support banners and photographs, camping out stubbornly around the perimeter of the building.

Sheng Zhinuan peered through the window and sighed inwardly. H-City TV certainly lived up to its reputation as the epicenter of entertainment; their star power was undeniable.

With the main entrance blocked, Xiao Chen had no choice but to park on the roadside and lead them through a narrow side path. “The cast of The Chronicles of the Magnificent Mountains and Rivers is here for a recording today,” Xiao Chen explained as she held the door open. “Two of the leads, Song Yixiao and Li Annian, are top-tier idols, hence the massive crowd.”

Sheng Zhinuan nodded in understanding. As they walked through the halls, a burst of laughter erupted from a nearby studio. She couldn’t resist casting a glance inside.

In that fleeting second, her attention was completely arrested by a girl sitting at the very edge of the stage.

The girl was slender, but her skin seemed to glow with a luminous pallor. She wore an understated white dress, and her soft, wavy hair cascaded down like a veil of dark silk. Perhaps sensing Zhinuan’s gaze, the girl turned her head.

Sheng Zhinuan’s breath hitched in her throat.

Good heavens, she thought, she is breathtaking.

The girl’s features were carved with delicate precision. There was a soulful depth to her eyes that made it feel as though she were looking at the world with profound affection. In that moment, Sheng Zhinuan felt as if an arrow had been shot directly into her heart.

Without looking away, she frantically waved her hand at Xiao Qi. “The camera! Give me the camera, quick!”

Xiao Qi was confused, but he dutifully handed over the device.

From where Zhinuan stood, the angle wasn’t ideal for a wide shot, but since the young actress was seated in the corner closest to her, the view through the viewfinder was actually perfect.

Zhinuan snapped two photos. As if sensing the shutter, the actress turned again and offered a small, shy smile directly into the lens. Behind the camera, Zhinuan’s heart thundered against her ribs, but her fingers never faltered as she captured several more frames in rapid succession.

She was simply too beautiful. Zhinuan found herself momentarily entranced.

“Don’t keep Professor Li waiting,” Xiao Qi urged. Zhinuan hummed a vague response and shoved the camera back into his hands.

“Send those to me later,” she whispered firmly.

Xiao Qi rolled his eyes but nodded. “Fine, fine. Now move, Princess.”

As they walked, Zhinuan kept replaying that smile in her mind. Her thoughts were entirely consumed by the mysterious actress, and she had to physically shake her head to force herself back into a professional headspace.

The purpose of this trip was to interview Professor Li, a venerable scientist who had recently received national honors. Because of his advanced age, he was unable to travel to A-City, so the network had sent Zhinuan to him. The H-City station was taking the visit very seriously, having settled the professor into a nearby hotel a week in advance. Zhinuan was equally prepared, having spent days refining her interview script.

While the station staff went to fetch the professor, Xiao Chen led Zhinuan to the interview suite. It was a spacious room, and after Xiao Qi produced a stack of official network logos, the team set about redecorating the space to meet their standards.

Once the setup was complete, Zhinuan pulled a small mirror from her bag to check her makeup. The foundation she had applied before the flight was beginning to fade around her nose.

“Reporter Sheng, why don’t I take you to the dressing room for a touch-up?” Xiao Chen suggested.

Zhinuan gave a polite nod. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

As they reached the dressing room door, the rhythmic clicking of heels echoed down the hallway. Sheng Zhinuan, who had been looking down at her phone, felt a sudden jolt of intuition. She looked up and saw the very same actress from the studio walking toward her, followed by an assistant.

Zhinuan hadn’t realized it while the girl was seated, but now that she was standing, her legs were impossible to ignore. They were long, slender, and flawlessly pale. Zhinuan wanted to stare just a moment longer, but the girl disappeared into the dressing room ahead of them.

Inside, the room was a chaotic blend of extravagant gowns and a dizzying mix of perfumes. Zhinuan’s eyes immediately began to scan the crowd.

“Here, Reporter Sheng. You can sit here,” Xiao Chen said, guiding her to a vanity. It was situated directly behind the young actress.

Hearing the commotion, the actress turned around. Her eyes locked with Zhinuan’s. While Zhinuan was still caught in a daze, the girl offered a polite nod and a soft smile before turning back to her own mirror.

Zhinuan felt a sudden, inexplicable heat rising to her cheeks. From her position, she could see the reflection of the girl in the mirror before her. The actress was wearing a backless white dress, and beneath her cascading hair, the elegant lines of her spine were faintly visible.

For a moment, Zhinuan felt like a monk who had accidentally stumbled into a den of temptation. She didn’t know where to let her eyes rest. Fortunately, a makeup artist arrived quickly. Zhinuan breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes, allowing the professional to work, yet the image of that porcelain-white back remained burned into her mind.

Get it together, Zhinuan, she scolded herself.

Midway through the touch-up, a sharp voice cut through the room. Zhinuan opened her eyes and saw Han Li, another actress from the same drama, approaching. Han Li had debuted years ago and had a few hits under her belt, making her a recognizable name in the industry. Zhinuan had encountered her once before at an official event.

Han Li tapped imperiously on the young actress’s table. Before a word was even spoken, the girl stood up and took a respectful step back. “Sister Li, please. You go first.”

Zhinuan narrowed her eyes. She was well aware that newcomers were often bullied in this industry, but she hadn’t expected it to be so blatant over something as trivial as a makeup chair.

Zhinuan’s touch-up was finished. She stood up and caught the young actress’s eye, gesturing to her own vacated seat. “Over here.”

It was her first time speaking to the girl, and Zhinuan felt as though her voice was trembling. However, as a seasoned journalist, the more nervous she felt, the steadier her composure appeared.

The actress flashed a grateful smile, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents. “Thank you.”

Zhinuan didn’t trust herself to speak further; she simply gave a curt nod and walked out of the dressing room, though her legs felt so stiff that she was practically marching in lockstep.

Back at the interview suite, Xiao Qi was finishing the final equipment checks. He looked up and frowned. “What happened to you? You only went for a touch-up. Why are you walking like your legs are broken?”

Sheng Zhinuan ignored his teasing and returned her focus to her preparation materials, and soon enough, Xiao Chen arrived at the interview suite with Professor Li. Zhinuan smoothed her expression, centered herself, and professionally dove into the work at hand.

By the time Zhinuan and Xiao Qi finished their assignment, it was already five in the afternoon. The leadership at the H-City station had organized a formal dinner, and as they stepped outside, the evening air was thick with a sweltering, spicy heat.

The venue was a local establishment famous for its crawfish. Just as Zhinuan took her seat, she noticed a television mounted on the opposite wall playing The Chronicles of the Magnificent Mountains and Rivers.

Seeing that breathtakingly beautiful face on the screen again made Zhinuan feel as though the world had suffered a glitch in its programming. How many times was she going to encounter this girl in a single day? It felt less like a coincidence and more like a deliberate twist of fate.

Throughout the meal, Zhinuan found her gaze drifting uncontrollably toward the television. She noted that the actress’s skin was noticeably fairer than everyone else’s, and her acting was surprisingly nuanced and full of life.

However, Zhinuan’s heart sank as she watched the plot unfold. In the span of a ten-minute scene, the girl was slapped twice. Even through the heavy, beautifying filters of the television broadcast, Zhinuan could tell that the swelling on her cheeks was painfully real.

Unable to watch any longer, Zhinuan finished her meal in a somber mood and headed to the airport with Xiao Qi. After a long day of work, both of them were reaching the limits of their endurance.

The network had provided economy class tickets for their return to A-City, but Zhinuan made a swift executive decision. “We’re upgrading to first class,” she declared with a wave of her hand.

Xiao Qi’s eyes practically welled up with tears of gratitude. “Thank you, Princess! You’re a lifesaver.”

When they finally touched down in A-City, it was the middle of the night. Zhinuan wrapped herself in a thin cashmere blanket and let out a soft sneeze.

Xiao Qi watched with unconcealed envy as Zhinuan’s father, a distinguished diplomat, personally pulled up to the curb in his Audi A8 to collect her. Zhinuan turned back and asked, “Xiao Qi, are you heading back alone? Do you want us to give you a lift?”

Sheng Weian, Zhinuan’s father, was a renowned figure in Chinese diplomacy whose face frequently graced the front pages of political news. Xiao Qi wouldn’t dream of troubling such a man to act as his driver, and he shook his head so vigorously it looked like a rattle. “No, no, no! I’ll just grab a cab. I’m fine, really!”

Sheng Weian stepped out of the car. Although he was dressed in casual weekend attire, his posture was remarkably upright and his hair was perfectly groomed, radiating an aura of natural authority. Xiao Qi could only stare in silent awe.

“Dad, I want ice cream,” Zhinuan said, her voice turning lazy and sweet as she leaned into her habitual role as the pampered daughter.

Sheng Weian took the luggage from her hands, a doting smile playing on his lips. “It’s in the car. I just bought it.”

As Xiao Qi watched the two interact, he couldn’t help but marvel at Zhinuan’s incredible luck. She possessed a wonderful personality, a top-tier education, and a prestigious family background, yet it was this warm, envious domestic atmosphere that felt like her greatest treasure.

*****

In the quiet of the night, Zhinuan found herself sitting on a sofa, her body feeling strangely rigid. The young actress she had seen earlier that day was now kneeling right beside her.

They were so close that Zhinuan could catch the scent of her perfume—a cool, crisp fragrance that was uniquely captivating. The actress’s long hair draped over Zhinuan’s lap, and as the girl moved, the ends of her tresses brushed lightly against Zhinuan’s calves.

The sensation was maddeningly electric, both itchy and sweet.

The actress offered Zhinuan a shy, timid smile. Her eyes were shimmering and bright, appearing as though they were brimming with unshed tears. She reached out, her slender arms winding around Zhinuan’s neck in a soft embrace.

As that exquisite face drew closer, she looked as radiant as a flower in bloom. There was a faint, bashful pink hue touching the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose. She gazed at Zhinuan with such profound tenderness that it seemed as if Zhinuan were the only person in the world she could truly trust.

Sheng Zhinuan felt as if she had been struck by a binding spell; she was completely unable to move. The actress leaned gently into her arms, and Zhinuan was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of softness and that intoxicating, cool scent.

“Please,” the girl whispered, her voice like a clear, cold spring.

“Please… love me.”

With those words, the actress’s full, crimson lips pressed forward to claim Zhinuan’s own.

Support What to Do if You’re Being Targeted by the Superstar? [Entertainment]