Zhang Yang felt that her name was a perfect match for Sheng Shi. Firstly, they were both two characters, secondly, they were both independent words, and finally, one was unrestrained while the other was domineering, and their auras were well-suited.
Although she and Sheng Shi were actually worlds apart.
Sheng Shi was Zhang Yang's idol, as well as the idol of countless other girls. His height, looks, persona, and professional ability were all top-notch, and he was the most popular and hottest male star.
Zhang Yang loved Sheng Shi, and in her daily fantasies about him, she lived a mundane life.
Until one day, someone told her that she could have Sheng Shi. To have him, meant to completely possess him.
The story actually began three years ago when Sheng Shi became famous overnight due to an idol drama. Zhang Yang was amazed by him at first sight and devoutly believed that he was the most handsome man in the world, with countless other advantages that she became more obsessed with as she learned more about him.
Since then, Zhang Yang had become a devoted fan and devoted most of her time, energy, and money to all things related to Sheng Shi. She used her sacrificial passion to gather a large group of like-minded people in the fandom, and she became well-known in the community.
In real life, she was just a low-level employee, but in the virtual world, she was the admirable "Sheng Li Fei Yang," who worked hard for Sheng Shi's data and reputation. She was confident, humorous, sharp, and focused on the internet, and she had her own fans who followed her every word.
During holidays, she would receive gifts from Sheng Shi's studio, including cards with his autograph.
Her idol is thinking of her, and her idol's fans adore her.
Zhang Yang felt that Sheng Li Fei Yang was the true her, and only Sheng Li Fei Yang could truly express Zhang Yang.
But something happened last month that made her feel depressed for two weeks.
There was a girl named Mina in the fan circle. She was very rich, but it's unknown what her family does. Although she didn't contribute much time to the fan site and joined the fandom recently, she spent a lot of money.
Mina was also a fan of Zhang Yang. They had a core group of four people in the same city, with Zhang Yang as the leader, and they often discussed local support activities together.
One day, Mina suddenly posted a photo in the group, showing her and a man embracing each other intimately.
Zhang Yang took a quick glance at the photo, and her scalp exploded.
Sheng Shi?!
No one spoke in the group for a moment, probably all shocked.
After calming down, Zhang Yang noticed that the man in the photo had longer hair than Sheng Shi's recent hairstyle, and there were obvious differences in their facial features. The man also appeared to be a little younger than Sheng Shi.
Er Guan spoke up: "Who is this? Isn't this her brother?"
Mina: "Hahaha, doesn't he look like her brother?"
Jing Yi Yi: "Damn, he really looks like her brother, especially at first glance. Who is he?"
Mina: "He's my boyfriend, actually, he doesn't look that much like him, but with the filter on, he really looks like him."
Er Guan: "Wow, you're not single anymore?"
Zhang Yang typed a few words in the chat box, then deleted them. She opened the photo again, zoomed in, and then zoomed in again, feeling her heart constrict with discomfort and her hands trembling.
The boyfriend of Mina, while not exactly Shengshi upon closer inspection, really did resemble him quite a bit. His handsome features seemed to jump out of the screen, almost blindingly bright.
Mina: We just got together. His name is Ke Yu.
Mina: He's a bit shorter than Shengshi, but still 1.8 meters tall.
Mina: He's also really good at sports and has a great physique like Shengshi.
Mina: I've even got him dressing like Shengshi for me. He even learned to talk and sing like Shengshi to make me happy. Haha, sometimes I really want to beat him up for using his face, which looks so much like Shengshi's, to make jokes.
Mina: But he really is just as gentle as Shengshi.
Mina: Sorry, I'm just so happy and wanted to share with you guys right away!
Mina then sent several more photos.
As Zhang Yang self-flagellated by opening each photo, her mind buzzed and her organs seemed to plummet downwards under some unseen force. He wasn't Shengshi, but he looked like him, and even a low-budget substitute version was enough to be dazzling. While her brother was like the unreachable sun in the sky, this man was a worldly firework, attracting people like moths to a flame.
Watching the lively discussion in the group, Zhang Yang finally typed a few emotionless words: "Wow, he's really handsome."
Mina: Right, Fei Yang Jie, I was also scared when I first saw him.
Mina: Next time I'll bring him out for the sisters to see!
Meanwhile, Jing Yi Yi was chatting with their group of three: Actually, he doesn't look that much like him, and his temperament is far worse than his brother's.
Er Guan: That's obvious. Just being able to like her failed plastic surgery face is scary enough.
Zhang Yang: (laughs)
Er Guan: Yeah, and she said she wants him to dress like his brother, but his brother's clothes are so expensive.
Er Guan: Think about it, if this guy could afford his brother's clothes, he wouldn't be interested in her. It's definitely her who's paying.
Zhang Yang: She's from a wealthy family, a little princess.
Jing Yi Yi: She posted on Weibo.
Zhang Yang immediately switched to Weibo to check it out. In just over ten minutes, her reposts had reached over ten thousand. Among the reposted comments were envy, congratulations, doubts, and even curses.
Zhang Yang thought about all the videos she had worked so hard on, the graphics she had paid people to make, the crowdfunding she had run for publicity and charity, and how few of them had ever reached ten thousand views. Meanwhile, Mina had just posted a few bragging photos and had this kind of attention. She felt even worse.
At the same time, she also had some doubts. Sheng Shi had been popular for three years now, but why hadn't anyone noticed the handsome guys who looked like him online before? Did they just not want to be exposed before?
Having money is really fucking good, Zhang Yang thought.
Mina has always been a show-off. Her Weibo and social media posts were filled with luxury goods, sports cars, mansions, imported liquor, and partying. If it weren't for them both pursuing the same celebrity, they wouldn't have had any connection. Since dating this man who looked like he belonged in an imperial era, they have been publicly displaying their affection all the time.
So recently, Zhangyang's mood has been as gloomy as the never-ending rainy season.
On Mina's birthday, she invited them all and sent a separate message to Zhangyang, earnestly inviting her again.
Zhangyang used to be a bit disapproving of Mina's behavior, but didn't dislike her. Mina could spend money on her boyfriend, respect herself, and even her mistakes could be attributed to her young age. Plus, there are benefits to being silly, obedient, and without scheming.
But since this Ke Yu appeared, the atmosphere in the group has been different from before. Nonetheless, Zhangyang still had to attend. Everyone had the same purpose: to see if Ke Yu, who was stripped of filters, was truly as handsome as in the pictures.
Most of the attendees at Mina's birthday party were her own friends from her social circle, and only three of them were from the fandom. They were clearly out of place compared to the flashy rich second generations, internet celebrities, and minor stars. The three of them seemed plainly dressed.
After Mina greeted them, she went to receive other friends, while the three of them huddled in a corner of the KTV room, watching the beauty and elegance of those around them, feeling awkward and out of place.
After a while, the door of the room was pushed open, and a tall man carrying a large bouquet of bright red roses walked in gracefully.
Zhangyang stared at him in astonishment.
Ke Yu, Mina's boyfriend, was recently famous online for resembling someone from an imperial era.
She muttered the word "fuck" under her breath.
Unfiltered, but still resembling him. Ke Yu wasn't as tall as the other man, but he was a few years younger. They had all seen the real person, so they could tell at a glance that he wasn't the same person, but he was still handsome and imposing. He was wearing the same suit that the other man had worn at the Dior Spring show, with a smile similar to that of the other man's, as if he had walked directly from the runway to here.
As soon as he arrived, the girls screamed in unison.
Ke Yu walked straight to Mina, not even glancing at anyone else, and presented her with the flowers and gifts. The two of them hugged and kissed each other like there was no one else in the room, and the atmosphere boiled like rolling water.
The three people in the corner stood up and forced a stiff smile on their faces, saying, "Happy birthday! You look so pretty today."
Mina smiled brightly and said, "I'm so glad you could come today. I want to introduce you to this idiot." She pointed to Ke Yu and sweetly said, "We all met because of my brother, so I think you'll be happy to see him too."
"He's really handsome, just like my brother," Jing Yiyi looked at Ke Yu with shining eyes in the dimly lit room. She reached out her hand and said, "Hi, nice to meet you."
Ke Yu shook hands with everyone like a gentleman.
Zhang Yang's face blushed fiercely and she couldn't look directly into Ke Yu's sincere and candid gaze. She felt ashamed of herself, nervous and shy, and jealous and resentful.
"Let's take some photos!" Mina suggested, holding onto Ke Yu's arm and looking up at him. "Haha, even though you're a fake brother."
Ke Yu still maintained a polite smile and satisfied all of his girlfriend's requests.
They took many photos of each other and also took group photos. Mina kept refreshing her friends' circle and Weibo all night.
Zhang Yang secretly looked at the photos and thought with embarrassment that she and Ke Yu looked like a prince and a maid in the same frame. If she were with Sheng Shi, a woman who was shining brightly, would she be able to stand by Sheng Shi's side without feeling inferior and dying of jealousy?
The party hadn't ended yet, but they had to leave early. They felt uncomfortable with each other, not to mention that they had to catch the last subway.
Jing Yiyi looked at her phone and sighed, "I'm quite handsome, and even my voice sounds a bit like my brother's. I can't help being envious."
"But we just don't match at all. Mina always wears heavy makeup and makes herself look ten years older. She really has the air of a nouveau riche. And she even made someone wear her brother's clothes. What does she want to do? Does she really think she's dating her brother?" Ears coldly laughed, "Being with someone who looks like my brother can really hypnotize yourself for a while."
Zhang Yang remained expressionless.
"To be honest, I think Ke Yu is a bit dull and gives off that impression. Haven't you guys noticed that it's always Mina who's socializing with people, while he barely speaks and acts like a large ornament?"
"Really? Maybe he's not interested in women?"
"Don't any of you guys ask him what he does?" Zhang Yang said.
"If you don't ask, we won't either," Er Guan said. "It's not like you and her are the closest."
Zhang Yang wanted to argue back, but then he remembered that Mina was actually the one who brought him into the group at the beginning. She muttered, "Not interested."
On the subway, Jing Yi Yi sat next to Zhang Yang and edited photos.
Zhang Yang glanced over and said, "You're really planning on posting them, huh?"
Jing Yi Yi was startled for a moment, then quickly said, "No, I'm just used to editing photos and practicing. I'm not going to post them, why would I post someone else's boyfriend?" She closed the photo app in annoyance and switched to checking Weibo.
As soon as she refreshed the page, Mina's Weibo post appeared.
"This scheming b*tch, she's still going to post these ugly photos without editing them?!" Er Guan cursed loudly, drawing the attention of the other passengers on the subway.
Zhang Yang leaned over to take a look and saw that Mina had posted many photos from the party, including ones with them in it.
With their awkward makeup, cheap clothing, and nervous expressions, Zhang Yang felt embarrassed for the three of them in the photos.
Thinking about Mina's ostentatious smile, Zhang Yang said in a low voice, "Forget it, no one knows us anyway."
Dragging his tired body back home, Zhang Yang quickly took a shower and collapsed onto his bed.
It's already very late, but she can't sleep. She stares at her phone, watching as the day, and Mina's birthday, pass by. There are still 43 minutes left, and their party must still be going on. Even if it ends, so what? Mina and her boyfriend can continue to "party".
Zhang Yang is feeling very frustrated, so she starts browsing the Shengshi hot topic on Weibo and clicks on a music video that she has already watched numerous times.
Before the song finishes, a phone call suddenly comes in from Er Guan.
Zhang Yang answers the phone, but before she can say "hello," Er Guan urgently exclaims, "Quick, go on Weibo, Mina has been exposed!"
Zhang Yang jumps up from her bed, her heart pounding. "What happened?" she asks.
"Ah, I can't explain it in a few words. I'll send you the link. Hurry and go check it out!" Er Guan's voice is filled with excitement. "It's so damn exciting!"
Zhang Yang finds the link and clicks on it. Over the years, she has gained a lot of experience in dealing with haters, so she instinctively checks out the poster's profile first. It's a newly registered small account that clearly specializes in exposing people. Then she starts reading the Weibo post and becomes increasingly alarmed.
The post tells a shocking story in great detail.
Mina had been active on the internet since she was fourteen or fifteen years old. At first, she was a fan of a Korean boy group, but not long after, she found a boyfriend who looked a bit like the leader of the group. In less than two years, she had moved on to a male artist in China and had a new boyfriend who looked similar to him. At the time, no one had connected these incidents because Mina had not yet undergone plastic surgery. After she had her whole face done, she deleted all her previous photos. So where did these photos come from? It's likely that her friends contributed to the exposure.
Zhang Yang carefully compared Mina's first two boyfriends, and the first one only looked about 30% like the idol, while the second one could reach 50-60%. As for Ko Yu... it could only be said that each boyfriend looked more like the real thing than the last. It's not unusual for someone to find a boyfriend who looks like their idol, but what's really rare is finding three such boyfriends in seven or eight years!
Is the power of money really that great, that Mina is specifically spending money to find a boyfriend in the Chinese community? Can money really achieve this? It seems too exaggerated.
The forum also raised the same question, but unfortunately, even the original poster didn't have an answer. Moreover, he also raised the same question as Zhang Yang, that these three men are so handsome and in such an era, "being like a popular star" is such an easy hype, it should be easy for them to make fame and fortune. Why did all three of them, who previously had no trace on the internet, suddenly become known as Mina's boyfriends?
Zhang Yang scrolled through the comments below, the discussions were lively, as if nobody needed sleep. But most of the conclusions were: having money is really great.
Zhang Yang knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. She opened WeChat and clicked on Mina's chatbox. After some thought, she sent a message: "Are you sleeping?"
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