Jiang Lechen—the best butcher in the idol world, and the best performer in the veterinary world.

As a C-list idol in a trainee boy band, Jiang Lechen felt less like he was chasing his dream in showbiz and more like he’d signed up for boot camp.

Monday to Friday, he was killing himself in an 8 a.m. university lecture, fighting tooth and nail for his attendance record and GPA.

After the second class ended, he’d bolt to the agency to clock in for dance, voice, and acting lessons.

Saturdays and Sundays were spent cooped up in his dorm, waiting for some vague, far-off chance to get on stage.

He saw himself as a part-time idol. Others might be willing to die for a spot in the limelight, but he was just there to scrape by on his 2,000-yuan base salary.

His friends tried to talk him out of it. “The fee for breaking your contract is low. If it’s really not working out, just quit the band and go back to being a normal guy!”

Jiang Lechen refused. “No way! I think I can stick it out a little longer. The master at the temple said I’m destined to be famous!”

Wouldn’t you know it, his joke became a prophecy. Jiang Lechen… actually made it big.

It’s just that, after he got famous, why did the domineering CEO, the top-tier industry senior, his aloof roommate, the younger member in his group, and that famous director (cast listed in alphabetical order)… all want to invite him for a “late-night script reading”?

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If you love sitting at the alley entrance on a summer evening, wearing flip-flops, watching the stream of people heading home as dusk settles;

If you love offering advice to the old men playing chess in the park, and greeting every passing dog with genuine enthusiasm;

If you love pulling a bottle of orange juice from a roadside convenience store fridge, downing it in one go, and then letting out an orange-flavored burp…

…Then you’ll definitely love Jiang Lechen.