His phone buzzed. Luo Ding opened it to find a WeChat message from Duan Xiubo with a link.
Luo Ding: “?”
Duan Xiubo immediately replied, “Take a look.”
Seeing he was connected to Wi-Fi, Luo Ding clicked on it.
It was a video website. Still confused, Luo Ding waited for the short loading time to pass. A message appeared on the screen: “No live-action!”
The music started.
“小冤家~ 小冤家~ 像个傻瓜~”
(Little enemy~ Little enemy~ Such a fool~)
A playful female voice sang as the video showed a scene from some unknown drama where Duan Xiubo, with his arms crossed, gazed into the distance with a doting smile.
The camera then switched to a clip of Luo Ding from a promotional event, turning to the camera with a subtle smile. Due to the angle, the smile looked particularly like the smirk of someone who had just done something mischievous. Pairing it with Duan Xiubo’s earlier shot, Luo Ding couldn’t help but mentally fill in the gaps, and goosebumps almost rose on his skin.
“What did you send me?!”
After a while, Duan Xiubo shamelessly replied, “I thought it was well-edited.”
Luo Ding pursed his lips, stared at the message for a while, then clicked the top-right corner and blocked him!
A moment later, he quietly pulled out his earphones, re-opened the video, and, shifting to a more relaxed position against the wall, pressed play again.
Actually, the song was pretty catchy. Good for lifting one’s spirits when feeling down.
********
Both of them were busy. By the time Duan Xiubo realized he had been blocked, several days had passed. He called repeatedly, apologizing profusely to Luo Ding and swearing never to make the same mistake again. Luo Ding, feeling helpless, eventually removed him from the blacklist, though he still didn’t understand why Duan Xiubo, after being rejected, continued acting so naturally and making all these intimate gestures.
Undoubtedly, receiving such warm and considerate attention from someone behind the scenes felt good. Luo Ding had gradually gone from wanting to clarify things every time to now just going with the flow. As long as Duan Xiubo was happy.
On the day of the annual music awards, Luo Ding received an invitation from the *Wolong* production team to attend the Huaxia International Film Festival. Luo Ding had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
The news came suddenly. The *Wolong* team hadn’t hinted at anything the day before, and the rush left Luo Ding scrambling to prepare.
While smoothing out the creases in his suit, Luo Ding furrowed his brows as Wu Fangyuan and Gu Yaxing busily handed him items and checked details on the iPad. Gu Yaxing complained, “The news came so suddenly, with only a few days to prepare. We still need to sort out your outfit and appearance, and don’t forget about finding a date. Where are we going to find one?”
Huo Xie personally called to explain and apologize to Luo Ding: “I’m really sorry. Originally, we didn’t plan to attend this festival. But with so many quality domestic and international films participating, the competition will be fierce. Unlike previous years, where it was more like small fish fighting, this year is going to be intense. If we air during the Spring Festival, other festivals won’t catch up. Venice hasn’t responded yet either. So more exposure and a few extra awards will benefit everyone.”
Luo Ding expressed no dissatisfaction. Gu Yaxing and his team’s frustration wasn’t with attending the event but with the lack of preparation time.
“Why not ask Sister Pan if she’s available?” When it came to finding a date, Luo Ding immediately thought of Pan Yiming.
“Oh, right!” Gu Yaxing hurriedly called Pan Yiming’s agent to inquire about her schedule. The news wasn’t optimistic. Though she was excited about attending the film festival, her year-end work was too packed. Starting the next day, Pan Yiming would be flying to Japan for at least half a month, making her completely unavailable.
Luo Ding was stunned. He didn’t have many close female celebrity friends. To avoid tabloid rumors, he had always been polite but distant with female stars. After shooting, he would rarely exchange contact information unless necessary.
The industry was full of gossip. Luo Ding remembered a similar experience in his previous life when he had lunch with a female co-star with whom he barely shared any screen time. She quickly started a rumor that he had a crush on her, and the news spread like wildfire. To this day, some fans still believed she was his official match. Every time he saw her after that, he would be so scared that he’d walk the other way.
The actress, however, greatly benefited from the rumors. She quickly went from being a third-tier starlet to a small-time actress with endless opportunities, eventually climbing toward first-tier status.
Now, at a point where he needed to be especially careful, inviting an unfamiliar female star was too risky. After pondering for a long time, Luo Ding finally thought of someone else.
“Why not try calling Sister Yuan?” Though they didn’t keep in touch often, he had a decent relationship with Yuan Bing.
Liu Yu laughed when she heard Wu Fangyuan introduce herself, “Our Sister Yuan is certainly popular today. You’re the third invitation we’ve received. Let me ask her.”
Yuan Bing also chuckled, “You only remember me when you need something. You’re all the same.”
Luo Ding sincerely apologized, “Sister Yuan, we were in the same production. You could walk with me, save yourself some trouble, and don’t even need to find another male partner. I’ll dress modestly to make sure you shine brightly.”
Yuan Bing laughed heartily, “Alright! For that comment alone, I’ll cancel all other invitations!”
Luo Ding nearly knelt in gratitude.
After hanging up the phone, he breathed a sigh of relief, though for some reason, his heart felt a bit empty.
Even when busy, people still needed company. Wu Fangyuan answered a call and hurriedly went out. A moment later, she returned with a strange expression, carrying a bag.
“Luo Ding,” she asked, “what’s your relationship with Duan Xiubo? Why does he keep sending you things?”
Sent by Duan Xiubo? That hollow feeling Luo Ding had moments earlier suddenly disappeared, and, though distracted, he kept a calm expression as he opened the box to find a diamond-encrusted watch inside.
Luo Ding was stunned.
When would Duan Xiubo stop this? The last watch he sent, a black one from Van Cleef, was worth well into the six figures—far beyond what Luo Ding could afford. After the event, Wu Fangyuan had carefully tucked the watch into his pocket, handing it to Mi Rui only when he was sure it was safe, terrified something might happen to it.
But this one? It was a handcrafted, precision timepiece with the finest mechanics. Its price was easily doubled, pushing into seven figures.
Even though Luo Ding only borrowed these expensive watches and returned them afterward, the sheer value of them made him call Duan Xiubo.
The voice on the other end didn’t sound right, as if Duan had just been angry, though he tried to sound calm: “Hello?”
“Brother Duan.” Luo Ding got straight to the point, unafraid of his temper, “Why did you send such an expensive watch?”
“Oh, Luo Ding, I didn’t even look at the caller ID just now,” Duan Xiubo’s tone softened immediately, “You have no idea how frustrated I am right now. Huo Xie’s been slacking, telling us the news just two days in advance. How am I supposed to find someone to walk the red carpet for Best Actor? Everyone has plans. And what’s with Yuan Bing? How busy could she be? Liu Yu’s getting bold, rejecting me without even letting her take the call.”
Luo Ding listened to his complaints, but pulled him back to the main point: “Brother Duan!”
“Oh, you mean the watch. Just wear it. I meant to tell you last time, I don’t switch them out often. You might as well keep it and wear it. Which one did I send this time? The precision timepiece, right? Do you remember that time we ran into old Xia Rui? This was a birthday gift from him. I don’t like the color, so I don’t wear it often. The brand is changing its spokesperson this year, and with all the attention on you, you could get the next endorsement if you wear them more.”
Luo Ding silently listened to him complain about Yuan Bing not accepting his invitation, but the only thought running through his mind was: rich people are truly something else.
The Precision brand—Luo Ding had never bought one, even during the height of his success. There’s an old saying: the rich collect watches, the poor collect cars. Luo Ding never even had the guts to collect cars, let alone spend a fortune on such a tiny accessory. The entry-level Precision watches had soared to nearly a million yuan, and this limited-edition, diamond-studded one from Duan Xiubo? Four to five million was the minimum. Duan Xiubo’s offhand “there are a few more” left Luo Ding speechless.
As a man, encountering a peer so wildly successful, Luo Ding couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
But when he recalled Duan Xiubo’s earlier complaints, Luo Ding’s feelings balanced out.
So what if he’s rich? He can’t even find a date. Luo Ding thought, *At least I got Yuan Bing first. When one door closes, another opens.*
****
The annual music festival was a much bigger deal than the Perfect Network Media Gala.
In recent years, the Chinese music industry had been declining. Many big-name singers had either retired or semi-retired. The market, caught in a transitional period, had seen some salvation in the form of rising new stars. However, it seemed nearly impossible to return to the days when Chinese songs dominated Asia.
With the rise of the internet and television, the days when audio ruled were long gone. The music industry had reached its bottleneck.
The new generation of singers was scarce in talent. Some lacked experience, while others lacked skill. It had become rare to see a Chinese song take Asia by storm, while Korean and Japanese trends had risen to the forefront. Only a few outstanding Chinese singers managed to capture international attention.
Veteran singers, with their fame and wealth, had long become more selective in their appearances. Thus, any event that managed to invite them was seen as both authoritative and legitimate.
The biggest highlight of this year’s Network Media Music Awards was that it had invited three veteran singers, which had already become a hot topic.
In contrast, the Chinese Music Festival had gathered all the most heavyweight figures in the music world. Many younger singers couldn’t even qualify to be nominated.
Even Luo Ding, with several hit singles both domestically and internationally, was only just able to squeeze into the Best New Artist category. Pan Yiming didn’t make it into any music-related nominations, only receiving a nod for Best MV Production.
Such award shows often weren’t just about talent.
Connections, background, and reputation all played key roles. There was no need for conspiracy theories—these factors had always determined an artist’s success.
****
Smiling warmly and walking steadily, Luo Ding didn’t stand out with his attire, but he waved calmly to the cameras on both sides.
The female singers before and behind him wore increasingly revealing outfits, yet the camera time they received starkly illustrated the hierarchy of fame. Those who were currently trending or had deep ties in the industry were photographed extensively, even if they were wearing modest coats and pants. Meanwhile, the older stars who were only there because of their seniority struggled to attract attention, despite flashing surgically enhanced smiles.
The entertainment world is an even harsher reality than the corporate one. Many of those past their prime had once been at the pinnacle of success, yet now they had to resort to baring cleavage to gain some attention.
Luo Ding felt a tinge of sadness, recalling how, when he first started, his news would quickly be overshadowed by juicier gossip. Now, with the scandal surrounding Su Shengbai and Xu Zhen, his name was back in the headlines, though not by much. If he wanted to last, he had to have foresight and work harder than anyone else.
His wave became more polished, his posture straighter, as he mentally armored himself for battle.
High-definition photos from the event were quickly published by the media. Before the heavyweight guests arrived, Luo Ding became a refreshing sight among the more eccentric crowd due to his clean-cut appearance.
Dressed in a simple suit fitting for the season, his subtly lighter-toned attire—somewhere between dark green and blue—complemented his slender waist, long legs, and broad shoulders, perfectly merging his outfit with his own charm. Even fans who couldn’t attend in person were excited just to admire his photos. It had been a while since Luo Ding’s last public appearance, and once again, he looked flawless.
With nothing better to do, people began analyzing Luo Ding’s outfit. Soon enough, they discovered that his seemingly ordinary clothes were far from cheap.
The suit was a new seasonal piece by Van Cleef, the tie from Dustuban, and though the shoes were from a domestic brand, they were also quite expensive, with an impressive design.
Everyone moaned about being unable to afford the same outfit. Then someone shrieked in discovery, “Wait! Look at the watch!”
“I’ll be damned. Is he really cutting off any chance for us to match?”
“Prince Charming. He’s rich and handsome.”
“And famous.”
“Stop with the riddles! Just tell us what’s up so we, commoners, can learn something.”
“Have you heard of Precision?”
“Yeah, Swiss luxury watches, right? Is the god wearing Precision?”
“This watch must be worth at least five million. Damn, the god is hiding his true self. I bow down.”
“I remember the person who wore Precision the most in the country is Duan Xiubo. So, the god really follows in his footsteps, huh? Two rich men in love, and us mortals can only stand by and watch.”
Duan Xiubo?
At the mention of that name, everyone’s imagination ran wild. They quickly dug up news and found a photo from Duan Xiubo’s appearance at the European Film Festival, where he wore an almost identical limited-edition Precision watch.
In the photo, Duan Xiubo looked commanding and calm, his black suit perfectly accentuating his figure. The exposed wrist showed a Precision watch almost identical to Luo Ding’s.
Why “almost identical”?
Because one watch was black, and the other was white. The diamonds and small details on the dials were on opposite sides, but aside from that, there was no difference.
Everyone shared a collective “oh.”
“Oh, couple’s watches. Only rich people can flaunt their love so quietly.”
“This love display is too much. Are you that afraid people won’t know you’re dating?”
“God, I get it. This single dog will just go die now.”
Backstage at the event, Duan Xiubo refreshed his homepage, seeing the string of posts saying “single dogs, just go die now.”
He silently chuckled.
P : Thank you so much Rain for your help ! ♥
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