What to Do if You’re Being Targeted by the Superstar? [Entertainment] - Chapter 3

That evening, as soon as dinner concluded, Sheng Zhinuan retreated to her room and locked the door, throwing herself immediately into editing the photos she had captured earlier that day.

Outside, her family exchanged knowing glances, their eyes sparkling with the unmistakable glint of curiosity.

“Has Nuannuan made a new friend recently?” Sheng Weian asked in a hushed tone.

Zhou Qing shook her head. “She hasn’t mentioned anyone. But did you see her during dinner? She couldn’t stop smiling. Whatever is making her this happy must be significant.”

“Do you think she’s in love?”

“Hardly possible.”

“Well, she must at least have someone she likes.”

The grandparents joined the debate, and as the discussion grew more animated, Sheng Weian and Zhou Qing decided to sneak toward Zhinuan’s door to eavesdrop. Just as they leaned in, the door swung open.

Zhinuan stood there holding a water glass in one hand and her phone in the other, her eyes still glued to Yu Zi’s social media profile. She looked at her parents, who were caught in their suspicious loitering with utter confusion.

“Mom? Dad? What on earth are you two doing?”

Before Sheng Weian could invent an explanation, Zhinuan excitedly turned her phone screen around. “Since you’re here, let me introduce you to a rising star I’ve recently started following.”

“Her name is Yu Zi, and I am absolutely obsessed with her!”

Zhou Qing took a closer look and gasped in surprise. “She looks so familiar. I think I’ve seen her in The Chronicles of the Magnificent Mountains and Rivers.”

“Exactly!” Zhinuan was delighted that her very first attempt at “fan-selling” had gone so smoothly. She eagerly began sharing everything she knew about Yu Zi with her mother.

When they learned that Yu Zi came from an ordinary background and was currently struggling to find her footing in the cutthroat industry, the family’s expression shifted to one of collective sympathy.

“A girl that beautiful is destined for stardom,” Zhou Qing sighed. “It’s just a tragedy to think of how much she must be suffering to get there.”

“It is incredibly difficult for young actresses to break through these days,” Grandma added.

“Our Nuannuan rarely takes such a strong liking to a celebrity,” Grandpa noted. “I have high hopes for this girl, if only because I trust our granddaughter’s impeccable taste.”

As the family chatted away, a sudden, fierce desire to do more for Yu Zi took hold of Zhinuan. For now, however, she knew her contribution was limited to editing photos and meticulously managing the Daydream fansite. If she could build Daydream into a success, she could surely help Yu Zi attract a wider audience.

Yu Zi’s small but dedicated fan base quickly took notice of this new account. As her very first dedicated fansite, many initially assumed it was just a casual project started by a hobbyist who would likely post a few low-quality shots before disappearing.

However, users soon realized that the content on Daydream was anything but ordinary. The perspectives were masterful, and the technical skill behind the edits was undeniable. The skin textures remained natural while the lighting and color grading felt sophisticated and high-end.

It was immediately obvious that a professional was behind the lens.

Consequently, followers began to pour in, and the comment sections were filled with praise for the site’s professional quality. Zhinuan watched her follower count climb slowly but steadily, feeling a profound sense of satisfaction. In her spare time over the next few days, she began binge-watching Yu Zi’s scenes in the drama.

She had to admit that for a newcomer, Yu Zi’s acting was remarkable. She played Linglong, a maid whose loyalty to the Princess Consort never wavered, accompanying her through every hardship until she eventually sacrificed her own life for her mistress. The scrolling “bullet comments” on the screen were filled with viewers calling Linglong a “little angel.”

After watching the episode where Linglong met her tragic end, Zhinuan found she lacked the courage to continue. Instead, she spent the next two nights editing a tribute video for the character and uploaded it to a popular video-sharing platform.

The video opened with Linglong smiling as she pushed open a set of intricately carved wooden doors, her exquisite face prompting a flurry of excited comments from viewers.

User A: Linglong is gorgeous! She has the face of a future leading lady!

User B: It’s our little angel Linglong… I love her so much, I’m crying.

In just a few minutes, the video highlighted Linglong’s most poignant moments: tasting medicine for her mistress, shielding her from a blade, and even the moments she was struck by the story’s antagonists.

In this segment, the narrative shifts from the high-society comforts of A-City to the gritty, undercover reality of investigative journalism in H-City. I have focused on maintaining that rhythmic flow you prefer, using connective verbs to bridge the gap between Zhinuan’s professional mission and her personal devotion to Yu Zi.

*******

Sheng Zhinuan’s video was a masterpiece of aesthetic curation because she had selected clips that showcased Yu Zi’s beauty with clinical precision. There wasn’t a single frame where her expression faltered, and every moment was rendered with exquisite grace. Accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful score, the video initially led viewers to believe that Linglong would meet her tragic canonical end, yet Zhinuan had spliced together a hidden alternative. In her version, the little maid survived and remained by her mistress’s side for eternity.

Since the video included the official tags for The Chronicles of the Magnificent Mountains and Rivers, it was quickly picked up by the drama’s fanbase. The character of Linglong had already earned a decent reputation, but Zhinuan’s edit elevated her to new heights of popularity, eventually propelling the video onto the trending charts of Bilibili. Zhinuan’s account, YZ Daydream, became a recognized name almost overnight.

Despite her rising digital fame, Zhinuan’s real-life pursuit of her idol hit a standstill. As a newcomer with nearly zero industry leverage, Yu Zi’s public schedule was almost nonexistent, and Zhinuan hadn’t seen her in person since that day at the cinema. She spent her working hours scrolling through the same old photos and videos until the digital content felt worn thin from over-use.

Finally, Yu Zi’s agency posted a rare update announcing that she had secured a new role in a period drama titled Phoenix in the Paulownia. Zhinuan quickly discovered that the show was an adaptation where Yu Zi would play the fourth female lead, Yuwen Xuan, a princess from a fallen kingdom.

Yuwen Xuan was a complex antagonist who entered the new emperor’s harem under a false identity to avenge her family. Her character was written to be cold and vengeful, responsible for framing concubines and even the death of the emperor’s children before eventually meeting her own end by poison. It was an infamous role that had once topped “Most Hated Villain” lists on literary forums. Zhinuan sighed as she realized why such a substantial part had gone to a newcomer like Yu Zi; the character was designed to be loathed by the public.

When the production’s official social media revealed they were filming at the H-City Movie Studio, Zhinuan remembered a conversation with her department head. There was an investigative lead regarding a food processing plant in H-City that was allegedly in league with local gangs to manufacture tainted products. The national station was looking for someone to go undercover.

Upon realizing the factory was located right next to the movie studio, Zhinuan practically bolted from her desk. She ignored Xiao Qi’s startled expression and marched straight into her boss’s office to volunteer. After a bit of quick thinking and some fortunate coincidences regarding a colleague who needed a partner, Zhinuan secured the assignment. She was told to pack her gear and head out quietly the very next morning.

******

Zhinuan traveled to H-City alone under the undercover alias of “Sheng Xiaonuan,” a girl with only a middle-school education looking for factory work. She was met at the station by her colleague, Mr. Huang.

In A-City, Mr. Huang was a sophisticated urbanite who took pride in fine dining and sharp dressing, but the man who greeted Zhinuan was almost unrecognizable. He wore a faded black T-shirt and plastic flip-flops, and his greasy hair hung in limp strands over his eyes. He quickly ushered her into a battered van that rattled violently the moment he hit the accelerator.

“Finally, a backup!” he groaned as they drove. He looked at Zhinuan’s designer suitcase and shook his head. “My dear princess, that suitcase alone is worth more than this van. We’ll have to hide it in the rental room.”

The living conditions were a far cry from the Sheng household. When Zhinuan pushed open the door to her tiny rental and saw a cockroach scuttle across the floor, she felt her composure start to fracture. Mr. Huang simply patted her shoulder with a touch of schadenfreude, telling her to rest up before they “started their shift” at the factory the next day.

After a quick shower, Zhinuan changed into an oversized T-shirt and her own pair of cheap flip-flops, deciding to scout the area near the movie studio. The evening in H-City was vibrant and noisy, filled with the smoky, savory aroma of street-side barbecue. Having grown up under strict parental supervision, Zhinuan had rarely been allowed to eat street food, so she eagerly bought a handful of skewers and ate as she walked.

The movie studio was massive, and even though Yu Zi was far from a household name, the area was teeming with fans. Zhinuan eventually tracked down the filming location for Phoenix in the Paulownia. Since filming was strictly private, she tucked her camera away and joined the crowd of onlookers, craning her neck to see.

She knew from experience that catching a glimpse of a star during a night shoot was mostly down to luck, but tonight, the universe seemed to be smiling upon her. Just as she had found a place to stand, a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.

There, emerging from the center of the commotion, was Yu Zi.

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