Chapter 48

This was the first birthday Su Xingyao truly celebrated since his sister’s passed away.

It wasn’t a birthday that was intentionally ignored, nor was it one spent secretly in a small, isolated corner.

Lu Jiuxu’s birthday wish was so earnest and sincere.

It was like a passionate, burning flame, unstoppable as it rushed into his heart.

Su Xingyao looked down at the gift box that he had been asked to keep, the one Lu Jiuxu had given him.

He finally understood the purpose of Lu Jiuxu’s visit.

It wasn’t to attend a gathering, but to personally wish him a happy birthday.

Fireworks scattered across the sky.

Lu Jiuxu, who had been watching Su Xingyao gently with his head lowered, asked him, “Do you want to open it?”

His voice was languid and soft.

Su Xingyao lowered his head.

The delicate gift box in his palm was opened.

Inside was an exquisite and beautiful watch necklace.

The watch dial, with a Klein blue base, was surrounded by a circle of scattered gemstones.

The intricately carved hour and minute hands fixed the time at 3:12.

That night, Su Xingyao found himself unusually sleepless.

The special nightlight that Lu Jiuxu had given him was on in the room, its warm light dispelling the darkness.

Su Xingyao looked at Sunset and Coral design on the nightlight and couldn’t help but gently pinch their faces.

He didn’t fall asleep until 3 a.m.

But that night, his dreams were filled with color.

They were as vibrant and sweet as the candies of a Children’s Day celebration.

In this dream, Su Xingyao once again saw the friend from his childhood.

The friend had given him all their small cakes and snacks on Children’s Day.

“I don’t like these, you eat them.”

Su Xingyao looked at the snacks in his hand in surprise, his big eyes filled with confusion. “Why don’t you like them?”

The friend hesitated, then finally said, “I don’t like sweet food…”

At the end, his voice dropped even lower, and he whispered, “I thought you might like them.”

Su Xingyao did like them. He rarely had the chance to eat snacks.

He carefully asked once again if the other person was really sure they didn’t want the snacks. After getting a firm answer, and following the principle of not wasting food, Su Xingyao happily accepted all of the snacks.

As he carefully packed them into his backpack, he discovered that there was even a piece of chocolate inside—one that the teacher hadn’t given out.

It was the chocolate he had longed for, but never had the chance to eat…

His hand froze for a moment as he packed the snacks. “You don’t like chocolate either?”

The other person gave a quick reply.

“No, I don’t. You can have it all.”

After that, the person hurriedly slung their backpack over their shoulder and ran out the school gate, almost as if chased by a puppy.

Su Xingyao, having received so many gifts for no reason, hurried after the other person, asking anxiously, “Then what do you like? I’ll share with you next time…”

The other person didn’t stop, but turned their head to look at him.

“Whatever you give, I’ll like it.”

“Yue Shuang, happy Children’s Day!”

That night, someone from the supercar club took a few photos of the event and posted them online.

The person didn’t dare to capture a clear shot of Lu Jiuxu’s face, nor did they include Su Xingyao. They only posted a blurry picture of the fireworks in the sky, with birthday wishes flashing on the lightboards, and a side profile of Lu Jiuxu, focusing intently on Su Xingyao before driving.

In the photo, the man’s perfectly proportioned shoulders and back made the simple white shirt look elegant and restrained.

The two buttons on his shirt were undone, revealing a long, well-defined neck and side profile.

Under the night sky, the black car and white shirt complemented each other, creating an atmosphere that was particularly captivating.

The person who posted the photo shared it on an international social platform, with the caption:

“Only came here for you~ Grateful to witness such a grand and romantic birthday wish~”

The wealthy, attractive woman who posted the pictures had quite a few followers on her account.

As soon as the photos were shared, they were quickly reposted onto some domestic forums.

【Help, this is so enchanting】

【Not sure, is this a proposal scene?】

【It’s a birthday celebration!】

【Do birthdays have to be this ceremonial? Wuuu, it’s so thoughtful and romantic!】

【Only came for you—Is this a boyfriend celebrating their lover’s birthday?】

【Fireworks, supercars, and lightboards everywhere… Rich people really know how to put on a show】

【Aaaaah, am I the only one who thinks this man is handsome? Even though we didn’t see his full face…】

【So, is there any kind-hearted person who can spill the tea on who the handsome guy in the supercar is? So dedicated to celebrating his wife’s birthday, so sweet.】

【Exactly, I don’t want to figure out who’s in the driver’s seat, but I’m honestly super jealous of the person in the passenger seat. Bet they were so touched…】

【Being his wife must be so lucky.】

Because many people weren’t familiar with Lu Jiuxu due to the social circles they moved in, they couldn’t recognize him just from a silhouette or side profile.

But this didn’t stop the fans from speculating and enjoying the moment.

The photo had a strong sense of light and atmosphere, and it was clear that the main character was someone handsome.

After seeing the picture, many people couldn’t help but save it.

However, because they didn’t know one of the main characters was Su Xingyao, everyone quickly forgot about it after their initial speculation.

The entertainment industry soon stirred up a new topic, pulling their attention elsewhere.

This new drama was sparked by the show Leisure Weekend.

Just as Zhang Shan Feng had worried, the show’s episode aired on Friday, and they immediately bought trending spots to tie in with We’re Going Traveling to suck up all the attention.

Although the staff of the Travel show noticed it in time during filming and tried to adjust the content and format the next day, it was still based on themes that had been planned beforehand. The content and ideas were practically identical.

So, after Leisure Weekend premiered, viewers compared it with the earlier episode of We’re Going Traveling and noticed the similarities between the two shows.

Content like this, which focuses on slow-paced variety shows, tends to have similar structures anyway, and since Travel hadn’t aired yet, the audience didn’t think much of it at first.

However, the Weekend team, desperate for attention and buzz, wasn’t satisfied with just that.

After the episode aired, they immediately bought a ton of press releases, tying them with Travel’s earlier live broadcast content. They shared screenshots and videos, subtly throwing shade.

At nearly the same time that night, major marketing accounts posted similar press releases.

Entertainment 666: Is this a coincidence? Both We’re Going Traveling and Leisure Weekend aired segments promoting intangible cultural heritage at the same time. After watching Weekend, I seriously wondered if they coordinated this with each other, hahaha. But to be honest, although the content is similar, Weekend did it much better. Especially the part where they sold the flutes the guests made during a live broadcast. It was way better than the former. Family, go check it out! The part where they sold ten flutes for 100,000 was just hilarious.

Domestic Gossip and Paparazzi: I’ve realized that I really love whatever I watch. A few days ago, after watching Su Xingyao painting fans, I was dying to buy one. But last night after watching Leisure Weekend, I was dying to buy the flutes the guests made. I only found out when I went to order that they had previously done a live stream selling stuff! Oh my god, they’re promoting intangible cultural heritage while also boosting local economic development. Shouldn’t everyone support this?

Entertainment Insider: Both shows recently focused on intangible cultural heritage, but I have to give a shoutout to Leisure Weekend. Although it’s a new show, the flow and refinement are much better than We’re Going Traveling. The live stream sales with the guests were fun and engaging, helping the artisans promote their works and sell them. This is real promotion and contribution to local intangible cultural heritage. To be honest, Travel was a bit disappointing. It felt a little superficial. Even though the latter episodes weren’t aired yet, you could tell it would just end with the guests completing their tasks and the show wrapping up perfectly, making it feel a bit flat in comparison.

The marketing accounts on various platforms all posted almost identical content.

They first emphasized that both shows featured a segment on intangible cultural heritage in this episode. While the format was similar, Travel’s team didn’t put as much effort into it as Weekend did.

Then they focused on praising the live-streamed sales segment in Leisure Weekend.

This segment was originally designed by Zhang Shan Feng and his team, and they had planned to highlight it as a major selling point. The goal was to provide the most direct sales promotion for the local intangible cultural heritage.

However, the other side had already jumped the gun and aired this segment a day earlier.

In order to avoid having the two shows present identical content and flow, their team had no choice but to cut this segment and replace it with other promotional material.

Who would have thought that after they reluctantly dropped the segment, the other side would immediately use this point for marketing, aggressively stepping on their promotional efforts?

Tying up content with rivalry and creating drama is always the fastest way to build buzz in the entertainment industry, and it never goes out of style.

It works for both artists and production teams.

One show, already carefully edited and fully aired, and another, a live broadcast that was incomplete midway.

Viewers who are too lazy to search for the live broadcast replay will naturally prioritize watching the already-aired show that’s been hyped up by the marketing accounts.

So, with these trending topics bought and rivalled against, Leisure Weekend‘s first episode soared in popularity, quickly catching up to the viewership of We’re Going Traveling‘s first episode.

The Travel team was furious after seeing the other side’s manipulative tactics.

No one wants to see their hard work turned into stepping stones for someone else.

However, since their latest episode hadn’t aired yet, everyone knew that if they started a public feud, it would only play into the hands of the other side and give them more attention and buzz.

But being stepped on like this, if they did nothing, it felt equally frustrating.

The team was stuck, unsure of what to do.

Before they could fully process the situation, they found that the other side had launched another round of marketing.

This second wave of publicity was just as annoying, making it hard for anyone to stomach.

This time, they didn’t target the production team but instead set their sights on one of the guest stars, Su Xingyao.

Leisure Weekend‘s first episode also featured a guest star.

And, coincidentally, the guest star they invited had a deep connection with Su Xingyao.

The guest was Jiang Xunche, Su Xingyao’s on-screen partner in the drama he starred in when he first debuted.

In the fantasy drama where Su Xingyao made his debut, he played a lively and adorable little dragon living in the mountains.

Jiang Xunche, on the other hand, played the noble and emotionally aloof Emperor from the heavens.

The two characters met, and the little dragon inexplicably developed a fondness for the Emperor. By chance, she used a task as an excuse to follow him everywhere and travel with him through the mortal realm.

While the main leads in the drama endured a painful love story, this supporting couple’s relationship was sweet as can be.

But in the end, after the main couple had their happy ending, the little dragon sacrificed herself to save the Emperor.

Afterward, the Emperor, who had never understood love, broke all rules and his cultivation to force a reincarnation of the little dragon for twenty lifetimes.

The couple’s personalities matched perfectly, and the drama was a huge hit, which naturally drew many fans who loved their on-screen chemistry.

To promote the show, Leisure Weekend‘s marketing team decided to dig up this old on-screen couple and use them to stir up interest and attention.

Entertainment Industry: I Ship No CP Other Than This One: Two years ago, the little dragon followed the Emperor everywhere he went, when the Emperor painted, she learned to play the flute. Two years later, the Emperor appeared as a guest on Leisure Weekend, and the little dragon followed closely behind. The most ironic part is that in this episode, it’s the little dragon painting while the Emperor plays the flute… I won’t allow you to miss seeing Jiang Xunche playing the flute in this episode! The atmosphere was absolutely amazing!

My OTP Is The Best: Does anyone understand? The CP I shipped two years ago is now appearing one after the other on two variety shows. What’s even more coincidental is that these two shows have a similar format and the same theme, and they’re both focused on intangible cultural heritage!! Even the recording times were back-to-back! Oh my god, this really feels like the Emperor and the little dragon’s twenty-lifetime karmic connection!

I Ship The OTP for Real: Let’s be honest, Su Xingyao, why don’t you just go on Leisure Weekend next time? I really want to see you two on the same screen together!

After a large batch of marketing accounts posted these CP-themed messages, accounts that were probably bots or ghost accounts immediately flooded the comments section, spamming all kinds of CP-related posts.

The paid commenters kept spamming while also shouting that Leisure Weekend was really good, with Jiang Xunche playing the flute like he did in the drama—it’s just impossible not to ship them…

Once the press releases from the production team were out, and because Su Xingyao was currently very popular, it instantly went viral.

Originally, the production team had planned to capitalize on Su Xingyao’s popularity by using CP fanfare to promote their show.

But who knew that many of Su Xingyao’s fans didn’t even realize he had acted in a drama before?

Once the marketing accounts hyped it up, fans began searching for clips from the old drama.

Then they realized that not only was Su Xingyao incredibly handsome, but his acting was surprisingly good too!

【Little dragon Su is so cute with his contradictory words, I just want to pinch him!】

【I would take this adorable wife if the Emperor doesn’t want him!】

【Oh my god, the makeup and costumes in this drama were terrible, but Su Xingyao managed to pull it off. He made those awkward outfits look so ethereal!】

【Baby, you’re amazing, is there anything else I don’t know? Please act more, you’re so talented!】

New fans were overjoyed and couldn’t stop praising Su Xingyao’s looks and acting.

Just as they were high on it, suddenly a group of people came out to criticize them.

【Are the Emperor-Dragon CP fans still not dead? Why are you coming back to cause trouble? Su Xingyao, who are you trying to disgust with this press release?】

【Weren’t you already criticized two years ago? Are you still using Xunche to promote yourself?】

【Some fans really have no shame, their idol has a boyfriend, yet they keep throwing themselves at him.】

【Some people should know their place. Everything Jiang Xunche does, Su Xingyao follows. It’s laughable that even their show got copied.】

【Take my Jiang Xunche away, he’s so pure. The little third-party fans should know their place.】

Suddenly, the fans were caught off guard, feeling confused.

When they looked more closely, they realized that the ones attacking Su Xingyao were actually fans of the Jiang Xunche and Chu Zian CP.

【??? Speak with some respect.】

【Little third-party? Are you seriously escalating things over a drama relationship?】

When they saw so many people defending Su Xingyao, fans from both sides arrogantly left a comment.

【Go understand what happened back then before spouting nonsense.】

Naturally, many people didn’t know what happened back then. After being warned, they started digging into the past.

However, the fans of Jiang Xunche and Chu Zian were so confident, but the truth was, in this case, Su Xingyao was really innocent.

When Su Xingyao debuted, he was paired with Jiang Xunche for a collaboration, and who knew that when the show aired, the drama would become a hit.

Since they played a couple in the drama, the drama’s fans got really into the CP and shipped them intensely.

The Emperor-Dragon CP even ranked among the top three on the CP trending topics list.

This CP was originally just from the drama, and after the show ended, it was supposed to remain there.

But who would have thought that Chu Zian, for some unknown reason, went crazy and suddenly pulled Jiang Xunche into a dating variety show, officially announcing their relationship.

After the official announcement, he, as the main partner, directly came out and tore apart the Emperor-Dragon CP fans.

After tearing apart the CP fans, he then inexplicably came forward again, subtly insinuating that Su Xingyao, knowing that his dear “husband” had a boyfriend, still harbored inappropriate feelings for him.

Despite their love for the CP, the fans of Emperor-Dragon quickly abandoned it once Chu Zian made his move and confirmed his relationship.

Jiang Xunche, who had gained fans with his devoted, noble character from the drama, also lost many followers due to Chu Zian’s actions.

Seeing his fan base crumbling, Jiang Xunche’s team panicked and, in order to retain their followers, started following Chu Zian’s lead, directing all the blame at Su Xingyao.

At the time, Su Xingyao wasn’t handling the situation at all, and he had no team to manage the public opinion.

As a result, the situation spiraled and continued to spread uncontrollably for a long time.

Eventually, the rumor that Su Xingyao was a third party trying to break up Jiang Xunche and Chu Zian’s relationship stuck.

No one came out to clarify, and even when Su Xingyao explained himself in an interview, no one believed him.

Lacking support in the public opinion war, the newly-rising Su Xingyao was relentlessly bashed by Jiang Xunche’s fans and bystanders, who attacked him mercilessly.

At first, the incident faded over time, and nearly no one brought it up anymore.

But when the Leisure Weekend program team discovered that Su Xingyao was a guest on We’re Going Traveling, they deliberately stirred up the past to generate buzz.

As soon as they mentioned it, it was like poking a hornet’s nest.

Chu Zian and Jiang Xunche’s fans, who were already upset by Su Xingyao’s recent rise, completely lost it.

They all rushed to Su Xingyao’s social media, hurling insults at him and calling him shameless.

In just one night, countless defamatory posts about Su Xingyao flooded the internet.