Extra 1: Live Streaming Incident

The Blue Maple Leaf Film Festival is one of the most prestigious international film festivals, with the Maple Leaf Award carrying significant weight, signifying a high level of recognition for acting skills. During those days, anyone with even a slight interest in film discussed Yan Zhao’s award. Yan Zhao’s popularity skyrocketed, and numerous film crews sent him invitations, including offers from top directors and elite teams.

Surprisingly, he declined all of them.

Shortly after 《The Red Parrot》 won the award, Yan Zhao chose to study film directing in Country A for a year.

He didn’t release any press statements when he left. It wasn’t until fans spotted him at a well-known university in Country A that Salt Soda realized their idol had quietly gone abroad to further his studies!

The fans, calling themselves Salt Soda, lamented that Zhao Zhao, the big pig trotter, went abroad without informing his weak, pitiful but loving fans. They wanted to see him off at the airport, sob sob sob.

Taking a year off from filming new works would certainly result in some loss of popularity. Fortunately, Yan Zhao had always been diligent in his work. His unreleased movies, TV dramas, and variety shows were enough to get his fans through this dry spell.

But it was a different story for the CP (couple pairing) fans.

Just after their idol publicly announced his relationship with Shen Yuanting, they were ready to enjoy the sweet moments, only to find out the couple was now in a long-distance relationship!

This was like a thunderbolt! And it wasn’t just any long-distance relationship; it was one that spanned across the Pacific Ocean!!!

Thinking about Yan Zhao and Shen Yuanting being separated by such a distance, the CP fans were on the verge of tears, biting their handkerchiefs.

Zhao Zhao, how could you be so heartless? If not for us, at least think about President Shen, sob sob sob.

Hurry back to being active; without sweet moments, they might start losing interest!!!

Yan Zhao: The baked goods I made under Teacher Shen’s guidance. Please stop calling me a kitchen disaster, okay? [Picture] // Yan Zhao: Tried to bake bear-shaped cookies, but they turned out like burnt brown bears. [Pouting] [Picture]

Shen Yan CP fans: There’s no way we’ll lose interest, not in this lifetime. With so many sweet moments and plenty of content, the fans are incredibly talented, and I absolutely love my CP.

In Country A, inside an apartment study, a desk lamp cast a warm orange light. A dissertation lay open on the desk, covered with simple annotations in red ink, indicating the places Yan Zhao needed to revise.

Yan Zhao listened to his phone, “Can you decline that for me? I previously promised Director Xie that I’d join his film after my studies… Variety show? I can be a guest.”

Song Jing discussed some work arrangements with him and reminded, “During the live stream later, just pick some simple questions to answer. If they ask about the TV series, be careful not to spoil anything.”

Yan Zhao replied, “Okay, I know.”

After hanging up the phone, Yan Zhao lifted Wang Zai from the office chair beside him and scratched its chin. “Go find your dad and play for a while.”

Wang Zai opened its eyes, reluctantly nuzzling Yan Zhao’s hand, and left the study, looking back with every step.

Yan Zhao laughed, got up, and opened the window. Outside, the world was a snowy wonderland, with snow piling up on the branches and rooftops.

For Country A, it was the night of December 31st. The old year was about to end, and the new year was about to begin. For those back home, it was already the first day of the New Year.

He turned on his computer, checked the camera and other equipment, and connected to the live stream.

The Salt Soda fans had been eagerly awaiting this New Year’s Eve stream. Before Yan Zhao even entered the live stream room, millions of fans were waiting, and when the scheduled time arrived, the influx of fans tested the server’s capacity.

Once the live stream started, Yan Zhao first asked if the audio was clear, then began answering fan questions according to the plan.

【Zhao Zhao, when are you coming back? We miss you so much!!!】

“I’ll be back around May next year, maybe a bit earlier. It’s hard to say.”

【Did you see today’s update of “Like Morning Dew”? Did Chen Bai die?!!!】

“Don’t ask me for spoilers; I won’t answer.”

【Spicy hot pot, spicy roasted chicken, spicy crawfish, spicy duck neck, spicy rabbit head, spicy potatoes!】

“…It’s late at night here, don’t make me hungry.”

Yan Zhao watched the rapidly scrolling comments on the screen and saw one that said: 【Is President Shen spending New Year’s Eve with Zhao Zhao?】

Yan Zhao read it aloud and answered, “He’s here.”

【Please let President Shen appear on camera!!!】

【We want to see you together!!!】

【We want some sweet moments!!!】

Yan Zhao’s live stream was focused on him, but fans were eagerly hoping for Shen Yuanting to make an appearance. Yan Zhao sighed helplessly, “He’s still working overtime.”

【Is being a CEO really that tough?】

Yan Zhao replied, “It’s very tiring. Being a boss isn’t easy.”

After answering more fan questions, before ending the stream, it was time for the fan giveaway. One lucky fan wrote: 【I want to see Zhao Zhao play a horror game.】

Yan Zhao: “…”

Really? Are you actually my fan???

Though Yan Zhao was reluctant, the suggestion received overwhelming support from his fans. So, Yan Zhao challenged himself, deciding to extend the live stream. He downloaded a recently popular domestic horror game from Steam and started playing live.

In the eerie old mansion, moonlight streamed through the windows, casting an uncanny glow into the room. An NPC in a red robe sat with its head bowed on a wicker chair, its face obscured by shadows. The background music was faint but intermittently punctuated by mournful sobbing, making Yan Zhao’s scalp tingle.

He picked up a candle and lit it with paper money. Just then, the door to the house was knocked upon!

Knock, knock, knock.

Each knock was rhythmic, the dull thud of wood being struck echoed like a bell.

A female voice actor eerily whispered, “Open the door, let me in.”

Yan Zhao maneuvered the protagonist around the house, looking for a hiding place.

The woman continued to speak, her knocking growing louder, “Aren’t you going to open the door? Open the door, let me in!”

The live chat was in chaos, with scared comments: 【Ahhh, this is so scary, I’m covering my eyes!!!】

And others who were enjoying the thrill: 【Zhao Zhao, open the door! The lady must be anxious to get home. Look, she’s about to kick the door in!】

Yan Zhao’s soul was practically leaving his body as he mechanically made the protagonist hide under the bed. “Not opening it.”

A few minutes later, the female voice finally disappeared. Just as Yan Zhao was about to make the protagonist crawl out, a shadow moved from the window towards the bed, culminating in a pair of red embroidered shoes.

The female NPC who had been sitting in the wicker chair walked to the bedside, bent down, and her bloodshot eyes stared under the bed. She said, “I came inside—”

“Crash,” the study door opened, and two blurs, one black and one white, dashed into the room, knocking over a decorative vase.

Yan Zhao: “…………..”

Live chat: Ahhhhh, a ghost!!!!!

Yan Zhao lowered his head to see Wang Zai and Snowball chasing each other, leaping over the floor, the window sill, the desk, and the bookshelves, moving so fast they almost left afterimages.

Yan Zhao: “Stop.”

The black and white blurs skidded to a halt, looking up at him with feigned innocence.

Yan Zhao picked up both cats and placed them on his lap, first patting Wang Zai on the head: “Don’t be naughty. You can’t just open the study door whenever you want.”

Wang Zai, after being scolded, leapt onto the desk and curiously nudged the camera.

Yan Zhao turned to reprimand Snowball: “Don’t follow your brother and cause trouble, you little rascal.”

Snowball’s ears flattened, and his blue eyes looked watery, as if he was about to cry.

Yan Zhao put the cat down: “Go play outside.”

Comments filled the live chat:

【…This cat looks familiar.】

【Isn’t that Wang Zai and Snowball!!!】

【Is Cat General here too? Isn’t he supposed to be spending New Year’s with President Shen???】

【Your couple time isn’t so exclusive!】

【I have a thought…】

【I have a thought too, not sure if it’s right.】

【Can you stop being so cryptic!!!】

【Doesn’t President Shen have no Weibo account? Maybe he’s just not verified…】

【Is President Shen Wang Zai’s dad?】

The game ended, returning to the load screen. Yan Zhao glanced at the comments and calmly admitted, “Yes, Yuanting is Wang Zai’s dad.”

He said it calmly, but the fans couldn’t remain as composed.

Wang Zai’s dad was known in the fandom as the wealthiest fan, having shown off a room dedicated to fan merchandise. Everyone thought no one could surpass his dedication, and it turned out he was Shen Yuanting?!!!

Voting and supporting a loved one seemed perfectly fine, but when it was Shen Yuanting doing it, it felt so surreal!!!

The thought of the CEO of Tianliang Wangpo Corp keeping track of voting times was such a stark contrast!!!

Unaware that his alias had been revealed by Yan Zhao, Shen Yuanting saw the two cats slink out of the study with their tails tucked, knowing they had caused trouble.

Having just finished a meeting, Shen Yuanting checked the time, closed his laptop, and made a cup of hot milk, which he brought into the study.

Yan Zhao was just getting back to the scene where the female ghost was knocking on the door when Shen Yuanting entered, giving him another fright.

Yan Zhao took off his headphones: “You scared me to death!”

Shen Yuanting placed the milk on the table, glanced at the screen, and the close-up of the female ghost barely fazed him, as if he were looking at a random passerby.

“It’s 11:30. Time to go to bed,” Shen Yuanting said.

Yan Zhao protested, “It’s New Year’s Eve!”

Shen Yuanting gestured towards the screen where the ghost’s face was cracked wide open, “Are you planning to spend New Year’s with her?”

Yan Zhao quickly replied, “…No!”

“Good.” Shen Yuanting smiled, lifted Yan Zhao’s chin naturally, and kissed him.

The warm, moist tip of his tongue brushed against Yan Zhao’s lips, ready to part them.

Yan Zhao’s eyes widened, and he pushed Shen Yuanting away, his face flushed. “I’m live streaming!!!”

Shen Yuanting touched his own lips, still feeling the soft sensation of Yan Zhao’s kiss.

The live chat exploded with comments.

【Ahhh, I’m still a kid, please show more!!!】

【Whoa, that was intense!!! Were they about to French kiss?!】

【The internet is not a lawless place!!! If you keep kissing, the stream will get shut down!!!】

The fans were in a frenzy, watching as Shen Yuanting’s gaze slowly shifted to the diligently working camera—almost as if he were looking at them through it.

A hand reached out, covering the screen. After a moment of spinning, the screen went black.

In Yan Zhao’s headset, he could hear the sound of a chair rolling and a soft, low “stop” from Yan Zhao. The screen displayed:

【The host is not in the live stream room.】