AFMD : Chapter 7

Fu Zhen and Gu Miao were photographed entering and leaving together multiple times. Coupled with Fu Zhen’s denial of Gu Miao’s pregnancy, the public assumed they were together.

Isn’t that how the entertainment industry works? First, cover up the truth, and when you can’t anymore, use the opportunity to promote and eventually announce your marriage.

After the girl group became popular, they couldn’t always attend events together, and each member received individual program invitations. However, Gu Miao didn’t receive any because he was mute. Occasionally, he would stand on stage for photos, but for variety shows and such, unless the whole group participated, there was no chance for him, as the show’s effect wouldn’t be good.

Although the atmosphere within the girl group was harmonious, the battle between fans and anti-fans didn’t care about their real relationships. There were always a small group of fans who joined forces to belittle Gu Miao, saying he was dragging them down, had no commercial value, and could only rely on joint promotions. He couldn’t even secure a single event.

Gu Miao’s true fans passionately refuted this, but seeing their idol’s schedule fall silent, they couldn’t argue much. But Gu Miao still insisted: if it weren’t for him, who would rehearse the new dance moves first, coordinate with the choreographer, manage all the details, and ensure the best stage effects for the girl group? Don’t forget his contributions!

Anti-fans: Anyone in the same profession could do these tasks.

Fu Zhen and Gu Miao’s fans were furious.

So, a message spread within the industry: Invite Gu Miao and Fu Zhen will come for free.

With someone like Fu Zhen, handsome and with great business skills, various programs were eager to invite him. However, he was rich enough and unwilling to accept.

The producers smelled a gossip opportunity and offered a sky-high price for the couple’s debut appearance.

One variety show sent an invitation, and behind Gu Miao and Fu Zhen’s names, there were a lot of zeros. Fu Zhen’s fee was slightly higher than Gu Miao’s.

Seeing the contract, Fu Zhen casually took a pen, crossed out the digits in front of the zeros, and added them all to Gu Miao.

The agent was exasperated. If you want to hand over the payment card, sure, but can you first clear the company’s bills?

So, the program paid a fortune for Gu Miao, leaving Fu Zhen with a meager amount.

Gu Miao didn’t know the inside story and wanted to decline the invitation. He had self-awareness; if the program didn’t perform well, wouldn’t it be deceiving the audience?

Fu Zhen handed a pen to Gu Miao, placing it in his hand like teaching a three-year-old to write. He guided him to the signature line and said, “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you.”

Even if the ratings plummeted, Fu Zhen would be the one filling the pit first.

Gu Miao turned his head to look at Fu Zhen, their cheeks close enough to kiss. When he turned, their lips almost met.

Fu Zhen smirked, “So happy?”

“No,” Gu Miao honestly replied.

“You can pretend to be mute at times like this,” Fu Zhen regretted.

As scheduled, the variety show began recording. One of the segments was a classic and popular game called “Charades.”

Among the participants were entertainers who were married, in various stages of dating, in ambiguous relationships according to marketing, and a civilian couple, as well as Fu Zhen and Gu Miao, whose relationship was unclear.

In the first round, Gu Miao gestured while Fu Zhen guessed. He didn’t use sign language but instead imitated pictographic representations, which was unexpectedly adorable coming from the usually aloof Gu Miao. Fu Zhen restrained his laughter, receiving countless fierce glares from Gu Miao.

Other guests: Who wrote the script for this pair? Why are they flaunting their relationship so much?

They unsurprisingly ranked first. While everyone congratulated them on the surface, they all knew that Gu Miao was mute, and his body language was undoubtedly more accurate than anyone else’s.

In the second round, they switched positions.

Gu Miao couldn’t speak and could only write. This game relied on guessing through clues, sometimes getting synonyms, sometimes guessing one of the words right. It depended on the duo’s reaction abilities, gradually approaching the correct answer through affirmations and negations.

The other guests spoke at their fastest pace, while Gu Miao… Gu Miao received a whiteboard, and his writing speed was slow.

“We’re going to be at the bottom,” Gu Miao whispered to Fu Zhen.

“With your husband here, don’t worry,” Fu Zhen boasted.

Gu Miao ignored Fu Zhen’s bragging. He could almost imagine the embarrassing scene, like a student who was bad at sports participating in a 1500-meter race. All the athletes had reached the finish line, but he still had one and a half laps left. However, the spirit of sportsmanship was perseverance, so the student endured the earnest gazes of the whole school and finished the race, delaying the progress of other events.

“We’ll probably be edited out,” Gu Miao thought.

“No, but they might fast forward through it later, and the whole nation will see us babbling nonsense,” Fu Zhen teased him.

However, during the formal competition, to everyone’s surprise, including Gu Miao’s, Fu Zhen actually knew sign language!

“Is this considered cheating?” the host exclaimed. “Fu Zhen, when did you learn this?”

Fu Zhen signed one after another, probably a sign language master, seamlessly and elegantly, maintaining his usual godly demeanor without uttering a word.

Gu Miao understood every gesture he made, and without needing a second look, wrote down the correct answers.

The host continued to hype, “This is the first time Fu Zhen has shown this skill in public. Let me ask on behalf of the fans, what else can’t you do!”

“Did you learn it for Gu Miao?” someone asked.

“How long have you been learning…”

“…”

“Alright, let’s check the time. One minute and five seconds! The shortest time used. Adding the previous round, they’re still in first place… Huh, why is Gu Miao crying!”

Fu Zhen’s face changed, and he quickly went to hug Gu Miao, skillfully turning off their microphones, comforting him, “What’s wrong, baby…”

The host was tactful but sharp-eyed, immediately realizing, “Fu Zhen, does Gu Miao not know you’ve been learning sign language? Is he moved to tears? Staff, quickly pass the tissues…”

Gu Miao sniffled a few times, his eyes slightly red. He didn’t expect that Fu Zhen had never mentioned… that he learned sign language for him. But the host quickly picked up on it, how difficult it must have been to learn, and how touching it was.

“Gu Miao’s first public tears, the reason is unexpectedly…” What a sensational teaser. They had to ask a few more questions.

Gu Miao nodded, unable to hold back his tears again.

Fu Zhen was about to be driven crazy by this host. If Gu Miao cried out loud, who would be responsible! He felt so sorry for him, only able to press Gu Miao against his chest. His jacket had metal chains on it, afraid they might prick Gu Miao, so he unbuttoned it, letting Gu Miao cry against his white shirt. Soon, it was soaked, and his heart ached from the heat.

His poor baby was so pitiful, unable to even cry out loud.

Gu Miao grabbed Fu Zhen’s jacket, suppressing his sobs, feeling how difficult it was to hold back his tears. He wrinkled Fu Zhen’s back, anxious, and reluctant to let go.

The post-production team of the program felt like they had discovered a treasure trove. They worked overtime to rush out the video ahead of schedule, fearing spoilers and potential loss of hype.

Fu Zhen and Gu Miao’s fans were in tears of joy: “What a beautiful love story! Mom, please allow me to get married!”

On the other hand, Fu Zhen hinted at a certain influential figure in the industry, teasing with a mix of truth and fiction, exposing Gu Miao’s sky-high appearance fees, fiercely hitting back at those anti-fans.

What is called commercial value!

Gu Miao wasn’t unprompted, he just couldn’t afford it!

He even posted his tax documents as proof.

Fu Zhen, who hid the fact that he had paid for Gu Miao’s appearance fee under his wife’s name, acted as if he were a junior high school bully trying to find a place for his little girlfriend.

When Gu Miao found out, he was desperate to repay the money, but Fu Zhen refused, using the excuse that he was repaying the money from the last concert and casually handed over his car and house keys.

“Can I make up for owing you the ‘call’ now?” Fu Zhen sincerely asked.

Gu Miao: “Can you even owe that?!”

Author’s note: Fu Zhen: I only wanted to show off a bit, but I didn’t expect to make my wife cry.