Chapter 18

Huo Xingze’s arrival not only caused an unprecedented stir in the live broadcast room, but also created excitement and enthusiasm at the recording site.

Not to mention the adults at the scene, even the children were jumping with excitement.

“It’s Brother Huo Xingze!” Zhao Yiyang, holding Jiang Xu’s hand, exclaimed. The two children, being the oldest, enjoyed watching movies. They had seen several of Huo Xingze’s popular films, especially a police-themed one where he played a smart, strong policeman. Because of this role, he attracted many young fans who admired justice.

Zhao Yiyang quickly let go of Jiang Xu’s hand and ran over: “Brother Xingze, hello! I’m Zhao Yiyang, I like you very much, you’re my idol!”

“And me, and me,” Jiang Xu also jumped over excitedly, “I’ve seen all your movies, I like you so much, can I get your autograph?”

Children love to follow the trend. Seeing their two older brothers so excited, Zhou Ziyu and Zhou Ziai also broke free from their mother’s arms and ran over with their friends. The five children surrounded Huo Xingze, “Brother Xingze, I want an autograph too.”

“I want an autograph, and a photo too. Brother Xingze, is that okay?”

Huo Xingze’s appearance instantly turned into a fan meet-up. The children were noisy, and the scene was lively. It was obvious to everyone that Huo Xingze’s appearance was more exciting than any guest before him.

Even Zhong Yao, Fang Tang, and Zhuang Yi, who was invited by Fang Tang, along with three other female artists, didn’t care about Huo Xingze’s superstar status. They too joined the fan-chasing group, holding their children and asking for autographs.

It couldn’t be helped, Huo Xingze was too popular.

At just 22 years old, Huo Xingze can be called a legend in the industry.

His status is really special. Before returning to China to develop his career, Huo Xingze was already an internationally renowned top idol. He used his talent and strength to make a name for himself internationally, becoming famous and popular all over the world.

When all his fans thought he would continue as an idol, Huo Xingze did something that surprised everyone. He gave up everything he had worked hard for abroad, terminated his contract, and resolutely returned home!

After returning to China, Huo Xingze established his own studio. With his fame, his popularity after returning to China could only be imagined. His albums would sell out in a minute, with the production company restocking so much they could barely keep up. Whenever he held a concert, the venue, no matter how big, would be packed. His popularity after returning home didn’t decline; many foreign fans flew in just to attend his concerts. Even though overseas fans couldn’t understand his Chinese albums, they still sold out abroad in large quantities…

Huo Xingze is a legendary figure.

But when others thought they had figured out his path, Huo Xingze surprised everyone again, and he did it to the extreme.

At the age of 20, Huo Xingze entered the film industry, transitioning from idol to actor. Some people in the industry weren’t optimistic about him at first, and his fans were worried he wouldn’t succeed as an actor. After all, not every idol can become a good actor. But Huo Xingze proved them wrong!

Every movie Huo Xingze starred in became a hit. Whether it was a commercial film that broke box office records or an art film that earned critical acclaim, Huo Xingze could handle them all.

He became the youngest actor to win the Golden Tripod Award, the youngest Grand Slam winner of the Best Actor Award, and the fastest actor to win Best Actor twice. In the past two or three years, Huo Xingze has almost monopolized domestic film awards. If a movie can invite Huo Xingze, it guarantees box office success. Who wouldn’t want such a young and talented actor?

“He can act in any role and be anything – he’s a born actor. No one can stop him from shining. He creates legends!” – This is how Huo Xingze was described by one of the most influential professional film magazines in the industry.

Yao Tuo squeezed his way through the crowd of excited fans. He pulled Zhao Yi Yang away and returned the kids to their mothers, finally calming the chaotic star-chasing scene.

Once everyone was seated, Yao Tuo asked, “Huo, are you and Mingyou good friends?”

Huo Xingze, holding Nian Nian in his arms, glanced at Shen Mingyou, who was sitting next to him, and replied, “Yes.”

Yao Tuo followed up with his usual question, “What kind of good friends?”

Nobody had expected Huo Xingze to know Shen Mingyou. When she retired five years ago, Huo Xingze was already an international superstar. At the time, he was working in Country H as the most popular idol in the top boy group. There seemed to be no way their paths could have crossed.

Huo Xingze explained, “I met Sister Youyou before I debuted. You could say she’s my neighbor’s sister. Before I went abroad, she lived next door to me, so we’ve known each other for many years.”

“Wow, that’s some destiny!” Yao Tuo said, turning to Shen Mingyou. “Mingyou, how do you feel about having a friend like Huo Xingze?”

Shen Mingyou smiled and said, “If I had known back then that the boy next door would become a superstar, I would have bullied him less.”

“Haha, so Huo was bullied a lot by his neighbor sister back then.”

Huo Xingze added, “Yes, I was definitely bullied a lot.”

Yao Tuo asked, “Nian Nian seems to know you well. Have you stayed in touch?”

“Of course,” Huo Xingze said. “Xiao Niannian is my loyal fan. She loves hearing me sing, so I sometimes call her before bed and sing her a lullaby. You could say she grew up listening to my songs.”

[Wow, forget being Shen Mingyou—I want to be Nian Nian and listen to Huo Xingze’s lullabies! Nian Nian gets special treatment.]

[Why don’t I have a neighbor brother? Is it too late to get one now?]

[Maybe I should be nicer to my neighbor’s brother. Who knows, he might turn into a superstar.]

[They were neighbors long ago, but even after growing up, they’re still best friends, always supporting each other. What a beautiful friendship!]

…

“Mom.” Gu Aifei, who was sitting nearby, held Zhou Ziai tightly in her arms. Feeling uncomfortable, Zhou Ziai whispered a reminder.

Realizing what she was doing, Gu Aifei quickly loosened her grip, but the frustration in her heart didn’t ease. From the moment Huo Xingze appeared, Gu Aifei knew she had lost to Shen Mingyou once again.

Gu Aifei had invited Ji Wenlun, hoping he would be the highlight, but Huo Xingze stole all the attention. Though Ji Wenlun was a big star, his fame seemed dim next to Huo Xingze.

Both were at the top in their fields—Ji Wenlun as a TV star and Huo Xingze as a movie star—but in terms of status and influence, Ji Wenlun couldn’t quite compete.

Gu Aifei glanced at Ji Wenlun apologetically. He smiled back, signaling he didn’t mind. But only he knew whether that was truly the case.

“Alright, everyone, it’s time for the talent show,” the director announced, introducing the next segment. “I’m sure you all rehearsed last week, so give it your best and show us a great performance!”

This was the final task. The mothers and children, along with their guest stars, were set to perform together.

Zhong Yao and her son Zhao Yi Yang did a comedy skit, with Yao Tuo helping out. Their performance had the whole audience laughing.

When the skit ended, Zhao Yi Yang gave a gentlemanly bow and a shy smile.

[Zhao Yi Yang is amazing. He mimicked the animals so well!]

[Zhong Yao and Yao Tuo have such great chemistry, the best comedy duo.]

Fang Tang then performed one of her classic songs, with Zhuang Yi as the composer. Fang Tang’s singing was expectedly beautiful, but Zhuang Yi’s voice surprised everyone. After they finished, Jiang Xu—dressed in cool, hip-hop attire—took over with an impressive rap performance.

[Zhuang Yi sings so well, he could be a singer!]

[Fang Tang’s voice is such a gift from God.]

[I never knew Jiang Xu had real talent. He’s more than just a playful kid.]

Next, Gu Aifei and her group performed an instrumental ensemble. Ji Wenlun and Zhou Ziyu played the violin, while Gu Aifei and Zhou Ziai played the accordion. It was a challenging piece, and Ji Wenlun, known for his violin skills, shone brightly. Surprisingly, Gu Aifei’s accordion performance was equally impressive, even though it was her first time showcasing it publicly. The three-and-a-half-year-olds, Zhou Ziyu and Zhou Ziai, played simpler parts but still did a great job.

[Wow, I didn’t know Gu Aifei could play the accordion, and she’s so good at it!]

[Ji Wenlun looks like a prince when he plays the violin—so elegant.]

[Ziyu and Ziai are so young, but they’ve clearly put in a lot of effort.]