"Su Lin! It's Su Lin!"
"Ah~~~"
Suddenly, screams erupted from downstairs.
Attracted by the noise, the girl upstairs immediately looked down. She saw a tall, slender young man with dyed blond hair, escorted by bodyguards, walk onto the stage.
"Hello everyone, I'm Su Lin." He took the microphone from the host, removed his mask, and greeted those around him.
Then, a tidal wave of cheers and screams followed.
Su He covered her ears, nearly going deaf.
Just moments ago, she was basking in her own popularity. But with Su Lin's arrival, she was completely overshadowed. Some of the most vocal fans were her own.
"Oh my god, I didn't expect Su Lin to be here! If I had known, I would have brought my other friends!"
"Quick, quick, take pictures and send them to the group chat to show off!"
"Sisters who aren't here today are missing out big time!"
Amidst the clicking of cameras, Su Lin returned to his seat.
Coincidentally, Su He was seated right next to him.
"One has to admit," Su He muttered to herself, "the organizers of this event are really good at stirring things up."
"Putting a big star next to me, a nobody, they really have the nerve!"
The host, with great effort, finally managed to calm the crowd. "I'm sure everyone, like me, is curious as to why our big star Su Lin is here, right?"
"Yes!" the fans responded in unison, playing along.
"Then, please welcome Ms. Fan from Taoli to enlighten us. Please!" Having successfully built the atmosphere, the host stepped back.
Ms. Fan, the project lead for Taoli, was dressed in a white skirt suit and exuded an air of sophistication. Her speech was anything but stale; it was witty and humorous, piquing everyone's interest within minutes.
"I'm sure you've all heard the news about the upcoming live-action adaptation of the comic, right?" she winked at the audience.
"So, is Su Lin the confirmed male lead?" a fan asked from the crowd.
"Yes," Ms. Fan admitted readily. "Some time ago, the company held an online public vote, and Mr. Su Lin's votes were overwhelmingly dominant, winning him the role by a landslide."
"Ah, so it was that vote! I thought it was some unofficial poll!" someone gossiped from the crowd.
"I voted for Su Lin back then too! I can't believe he actually landed the role, this is great!"
"Su Lin is finally willing to act in a TV series,呜呜呜!"
Down below, the fans were on the verge of tears with excitement.
On stage, Ms. Fan suddenly turned to Su Lin and asked a question that was on everyone's mind. "Mr. Su Lin, since your debut, you've always focused solely on music and have never ventured into film or television. What was the catalyst that made you change your mind?"
As soon as the question was out, the surroundings fell silent.
This question was too sharp!
While the fans below held their breath, they eyed Ms. Fan with hostility.
"Could she be a hater? Why ask such a question at an event like this? Isn't she trying to embarrass Su Lin in public?"
The host was also stunned. "This question isn't in the script. If things go wrong, how are we supposed to wrap this up?"
His manager returned from a phone call, furious. She tried to intervene, but heard Su Lin say slowly, "Oh, because someone wants me to act, I have to give her some face."
"Su Lin, are you being forced?"
"Yeah, if you don't want to act, don't! We're here for you!"
"This is outrageous! His agency must be forcing him to take the role!"
"Sweetie, focus on your music, don't touch acting. We can afford to break the contract if necessary!"
Su Lin's loyal fans, who had followed him for years, knew his personality. He wouldn't compromise unless absolutely necessary.
The risk of transitioning from singer to actor was immense. If he acted well, no one would acknowledge it, attributing it to his idol status. If he acted poorly, he would be heavily criticized.
Therefore, his fans had always respected his decisions and did not wish for him to take on any bad scripts.
While the comic "Living with a Big Shot" was popular, no one knew how the live-action adaptation would turn out. There were too many uncertainties. For instance, the director's style, the co-stars, and even the costumes and makeup. A slight misstep could lead to widespread backlash.
"No one is forcing me," Su Lin said, a smile playing on his lips. Then, he glanced at Su He beside him. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Su He was taken aback. "Why is he bringing me into this? Isn't he drawing all the fire towards me?"
"Ah, why is Brother asking the person next to him? What's their relationship?"
"They seem quite familiar. Could it be... that kind of relationship?"
"Don't jump to conclusions. It might be a pre-arranged segment."
"As a loyal fan, I must not disgrace my idol. Stay calm!"
Indeed, the crowd below erupted in discussion.
"That internet celebrity is doing it on purpose! She must have a sugar daddy behind her, otherwise, why would Su Lin interact with her!" The girl watching from upstairs clenched her fist in anger. "That woman is shameless! She's even flirting with Su Lin!"
If Su He knew what the girl was thinking, she would have cried out her innocence. When had she ever flirted with Su Lin! She was glaring at him!
In fact, Su He was unaware of this whole affair. When Taoli contacted her, she was in Nancheng taking care of Jiang Xiaoxiao and couldn't answer the phone. They then managed to get the phone number of Lu's CEO's office. Cheng Jue answered the call, and after consulting with Lu Yanbei, and thinking it best to keep things within the family, he designated Su Lin as the male lead.
Taoli received confirmation and, after considerable effort, finally reached an agreement with Su Lin's agency, leading to this event.
Due to being too busy, Lu Yanbei had forgotten to mention this to Su He.
However, with Su He's sharp intellect, she quickly figured it out. She adjusted her glasses and took the microphone from Su Lin. "Hello everyone, I am Miao Dian Xia, the author of 'Living with a Big Shot,' and also your idol's sister—Su He."
As soon as Su He's name was announced, the female fans who had been hostile towards her did a complete 180-degree turn.
"No way, they're siblings!"
"Oh my god, two people I'm a fan of are on stage together, and they have this relationship!"
"No wonder they looked so familiar!"
When the chatter from the audience subsided, Su He continued, "Su Lin's life is all about music. To get him to play the male lead, I had to do a lot of convincing."
"So, the male lead was pre-determined, wasn't he?" Ms. Fan asked another crucial question.
Su He shook her head. "No. I approached him only after the voting ended. Initially, he disagreed, saying he was afraid he wouldn't act well and would embarrass me..."
As Su Lin listened, he felt something was amiss. "Sure enough, she's my sister! While praising herself, she doesn't forget to put me down."
"Then how did you persuade him later?" Ms. Fan asked, her interest piqued.
"I made a bet with him, and he lost," Su He continued fabricating.
"May I ask what kind of bet it was?" Ms. Fan asked with a smile.
"Well... Su Lin, you tell them," Su He ran out of ideas.
Su Lin rolled his eyes silently. But since Su He was the darling of the family, he had no choice but to play along. "It wasn't a bet. She has my childhood photos and threatened to expose them if I didn't act."
As soon as he finished speaking, another wave of screams erupted from the audience.
"Ah, Sister, please release the photos quickly!"
Su He raised her eyebrows with satisfaction. "Alright! If the viewership breaks fifty billion, I'll share his old photos on Weibo."
Su Lin: ...