Extra: Fans

In the three years she spent acting in the entertainment industry, Zhu Xinyue didn’t produce many works, but each one was a high-quality masterpiece.

When Zhu Xinyue appeared in the public eye as an actress, the external evaluations of her were always particularly harsh. Perhaps it was because she was different from other actors—she had many scripts to choose from, but she didn’t have the ambition that the public hoped for. Especially her career-focused fans wished she would step out of her comfort zone and play roles that were completely opposite to her own personality.

[Zhu Xinyue’s choice of roles and scripts is too conservative. Although she interprets the characters very well, every role more or less has her own shadow in it. Whatever she plays, it always feels like she’s playing herself.]

[I have followed her from her first drama to now, I am eagerly hoping she would play some different roles to surprise the audience. But unfortunately, until she left the circle, there wasn’t a single role that amazed everyone.]

[Zhu Xinyue is like a diligent employee in a company who only does the work within her job scope and doesn’t touch any extra work, showing no ambition.]

Voices like these often appeared in actor reviews, and most people felt very regretful about Zhu Xinyue’s short acting career.

One fan who is a blogger with a million followers specifically wrote a 20,000-word summary of Zhu Xinyue’s acting career after she left the industry.

After this video was released, it quickly became viral.

[Fan: …Overall, she was quite steady and landed smoothly. Among so many actors in the entertainment industry, many start high and end low. If I were to describe Zhu Xinyue in one word, it would be ‘stable.’ Whether it was her work or her private life, it was all very stable.

She wasn’t like Ji Qingyuan, who amazed everyone as soon as he debuted, being able to take on any role and impress the audience; nor was she like Liang Yuyu, who had a progress curve, winning the Best Actor award at an international film festival last year with an art film, gaining recognition in the industry. She also wasn’t like some celebrities who gain popularity through CP hype and sensationalism.

Her acting was consistent from start to finish. As long as she stood in front of the camera, she was the character.

Many people said that whatever she played, she was playing herself. But it was only because her acting was ‘stable’ that made people feel it was real, convincing everyone that she was the character, making the audience feel she was playing herself.

If it were another popular star, people would say she was ‘playing herself,’ but as soon as the camera cut to her, it would immediately break the immersion.

Zhu Xinyue’s ‘playing herself’ had subtle changes every time. For instance, when she played a female assassin betrayed by her partner, her eyes were cold, as if she had anticipated the betrayal, her cold smile and the way she threw firewood into the fire were like disposing of a body; when she played an intern betrayed by her boss, pushed out to take the blame, her eyes were confused then angry, and after the anger came anxiety and fear of losing her job. That kind of frustration made me deeply empathize.

Such a ‘stable’ actress is rare, especially when I found out that none of Zhu Xinyue’s works had any major flaws, achieving a ‘zero bad review’ career. In a way, Zhu Xinyue, as an actress, Zhu Xinyue can be regarded as handing in a satisfactory answer sheet.

Perhaps because she was overly low-key and her acting was too stable, there wasn’t much controversy about her ‘goodness,’ like a middle student in a class that teachers trust the most. So I didn’t pay much attention to Zhu Xinyue before.

It’s a pity that I fell in love with her in this way after Zhu Xinyue stopped acting. I actually want to say, like other career fans, that I hope she comes back to act. But while researching, I accidentally came across her lover’s small account. After watching that video, I think maybe Zhu Xinyue, who is no longer an actress, has found her life’s goal.”

The fan ended the video with a vlog, with a note saying, “Reposted with permission.”

The video was only nine minutes long and was a compilation.

The first clip was of Zhu Xinyue and Ji Linyu’s wedding. Zhu Xinyue was held up by him, wrapping her arms around Ji Linyu’s neck and kissing his lips. Ji Linyu smiled brightly, and the two looked incredibly sweet on camera.

The screen was filled with countless comments.

[President Ji can’t hide his smile.]

[He wasn’t even this happy when he successfully acquired XX company.]

[My wife looks so beautiful in the wedding dress!]

[I’m not here to break up this family, I’m here to join it!]

[This best man lineup is amazing! The two behind Ji Qingyuan seem to be the young masters from XX mines and an oil prince?!]

…..

The next clip was during their honeymoon. The camera was originally filming fish jumping out of the sea, then a bubble floated over, followed by countless bubbles, blocking the camera.

The camera turned towards the direction the bubbles came from—Zhu Xinyue was holding a bubble gun, leaning against the railing, asking a crew member to take pictures for her.

Zhu Xinyue was wearing a floral dress, her hair being blown by the sea breeze, squinting against the bright sunlight. The bubbles didn’t create a dreamy atmosphere. Instead, they got all over her face, causing her to wave her hand to pop them.

Noticing the camera, Zhu Xinyue looked over, smiling and scolding, “What are you laughing at? Stop laughing at me!”

Zhu Xinyue’s tone sounded fierce in the video, but her smile was brighter than the sun.

“I’m not laughing at you,” the man’s voice was deep and pleasant off-camera. “Be careful not to slip.”

“Then you do it.” Zhu Xinyue handed the bubble gun to the cameraman.

The camera shook slightly, and then the footage was filled with bubbles and Zhu Xinyue.

[Photographing the sea: Random shots. Photographing my wife: Zoom in, adjust angle, wife is so beautiful, these darn bubbles are blocking my view of my wife’s beauty!]

[President Ji seems to be Zhu Xinyue’s fan, and his wife is always the center of the camera.]

[It’s hard to imagine President Ji holding a pink bubble gun.]

[Can the crew send me a copy of my wife’s photo?]

……

The next clip was in a helicopter, with Zhu Xinyue in the pilot’s seat. The next clip after that was at a shooting range, with Zhu Xinyue holding a gun and shooting at a target, looking cool and fierce…

Every time the scene switched, Zhu Xinyue had a new life experience. Every shot of Zhu Xinyue was different, from spring to summer to autumn to winter. Her lover recorded her life with a camera, patiently editing this video.

The final clip had clearer picture quality, seemingly shot with a professional camera.

The voice-over was familiar to the audience—it was Ji Qingyuan’s voice.

“Is this the fondant cake you made?” The cameraman was Ji Qingyuan, and the camera focused on the fondant cake in front of Zhu Xinyue. The cake was shaped like a cozy little wooden house, with two small figures in front of it, modeled after her and Ji Linyu.

“Yeah, I studied how to bake for a long time!” Zhu Xinyue showed off the cake to the camera, “I’m going to trick Ji Linyu into coming here later and give him a surprise.”

When she said “surprise,” her eyes lit up. The audience could feel her excitement and anticipation for Ji Linyu’s reaction through the screen.

Ji Qingyuan casually set the camera aside and walked over to Zhu Xinyue, carefully observing the extremely delicate cake.

“So thoughtful?” Ji Qingyuan touched his chin, “Doesn’t that make my birthday gift for my brother seem particularly thoughtless?”

“What did you get him?” Zhu Xinyue asked.

Ji Qingyuan glanced at the camera and smiled, “Not telling you.”

“Tsk.” Zhu Xinyue was very familiar with him, joked around a bit, then carefully put the cake back into the transparent box, tying a ribbon on it slowly and carefully.

As Zhu Xinyue tied the ribbon, Ji Qingyuan looked at the camera and asked her, “Honestly, my brother is pretty boring and doesn’t know how to make girls happy. What do you like about him?”

[Ji Qingyuan is definitely doing this on purpose, always looking at the camera.]

[This video is probably a gift for his brother.]

[Best wingman! No wonder he’s their matchmaker!]

[Thanks for the assist, brother! (Even though they’re already together)]

[So when is Ji Qingyuan going to fall in love since he’s so good at this?]

[He said he wouldn’t date until he wins Best Actor.]

Zhu Xinyue didn’t seem to realize the camera was still recording, thinking it was just taking pictures.

Her actions slowed down, her eyes fell on the two figures in front of the small wooden house, and her expression became very gentle.

“I like that when I’m by his side, he is him, and I am me.

“He doesn’t impose his expectations on me, doesn’t mold me into a perfect doll. I don’t have to live for others’ wishes, becoming what they imagine. In front of him, I can cry, laugh, get angry, feel wronged, say the wrong thing, or do the wrong thing, and it’s okay. He accepts my imperfections and accompanies me to do whatever I want.

“Because I like him, I’ve come to like myself more.”

The video ended here, leaving the audience wanting more, eager to see Ji Linyu’s reaction

The video ended here, leaving the audience eager to know Ji Linyu’s reaction to the fondant cake and her confession.

Some people in the comments knew about this small account, but to avoid disrupting their lives, everyone tacitly refrained from mentioning the ID, only describing their lives in words.

[I’ve never dared to follow President Ji’s account, afraid he’d stop updating if people found out about his love-struck side.]

[I just went in and got a shock. Who would have thought President Ji couldn’t find his wife when he got home, panicked and asked on his small account if he should call the police, only to find out she was watching a movie in the underground theater and fell asleep. (lol)]

[I bet Zhu Xinyue’s own photo album doesn’t have such a comprehensive collection—pictures: pieces of fondant cakes, with the caption: my wife is skillful and the cakes she makes are beautiful.]

[Why did he take a picture of a fondant rose in the trash?]

[President Ji: Even if it’s trash, it’s the most beautiful trash.]

[Everyone stop following!President Ji hasn’t bragged about his wife for three days already!]

[Bad news: Zhu Xinyue followed President Ji’s small account with her main Weibo account!]

[Please keep the wife away from the fanatical fan’s small account!]

[Am I the only one who wants to know the follow-up to that vlog?]

The audience didn’t have to wait long for the follow-up. On the night Zhu Xinyue followed President Ji’s small account, Ji Linyu’s main account posted a new pinned update.

“@Ji Linyu: Because I love her, I love this world even more. @Zhu Xinyue”

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Ayalee: With this the story of Zhu Xinyue and Ji Linyu finally reached the end. Thank you so much for reading and supporting ICTTMLBBM. Your support is very much appreciated. <3

If you are looking for other modern romance novel to read, do check these out:

Marriage Chronicles

After Hugging the Wrong Boyfriend

I Fell In Love with a Rich Man by Mistake

Three Meals a Day

Gentle Training for the Wild