Chapter 52: Breakfast for Two (A Newcomer Asks for Votes)

The next day.

Lu Province Academy of Arts, First Cafeteria.

Li He and the shameless scoundrel he hadn't seen for three days sat on opposite sides of a dining table.

Li He's breakfast was simple as always: a spicy tofu bun, a soft, fluffy fried dough stick, a bowl of savory tofu pudding, and a boiled egg.

His shameless friend, however, chose a more refined breakfast: three meat buns paired with a cup of plain soy milk.

With his mouth full of fried dough, Li He still remembered to care for his best friend. "How's the revision going?"

"It's solid," He Luo declared confidently.

People who say that usually end up doing poorly... Li He recalled a certain strange experience and shivered.

Li He laughed. "Jiang Qi is treating us to lunch today, and He Xi'er too."

Before coming to Spring City, Jiang Qi had already agreed with Li He to treat him as thanks for "Foam."

Li He, having already accepted the payment, intended to refuse, but considering that Jiang Qi had traveled all the way from Green City to Spring City, he relented and agreed.

"We're going, of course. Where?" He Luo said confidently, "My finals are steady, I don't need to revise anymore, and I have the time."

You look so handsome when you're confident... Li He said, "She'll pick us up. It's probably a private place—she's a public figure after all, and being photographed would be troublesome."

Still Jiang Qi and He Xi'er, with two mysterious men, braving the blazing sun, dressed casually, entering and leaving upscale restaurants.

If such photos were leaked, tomorrow's headlines would be reserved.

If things went awry, the shameless He Luo's identity could be exposed, along with the risk of outing the talented 'Gabby' alias.

At this, He Luo pulled a long face. "So I'm a celebrity now, but there's not a shred of celebrity treatment."

I've debuted too.

And as April's Rookie King, crowned and honored in every way.

Though the "Troubles" incident had passed, he had gained countless fans, millions on Weibo, all real and highly engaged.

Such treatment is only for the hottest young stars.

Li He didn't look up. "You could post a selfie video on Weibo or DouHand, and you'd get the full celebrity experience. Fans would crowd around you, maybe even get your meals for free in the cafeteria."

He Luo was filled with longing.

That feeling of being welcomed everywhere—who wouldn't want it?

Especially when teachers in the Academy would see him in the future... He Luo's face glowed, spirit soared, and his thoughts drifted beyond the Milky Way.

Li He took a sip of tofu pudding and cut through the fantasy. "If you're not afraid of being beaten to death by fans, or pelted with razor blades, you can try."

A moment ago He Luo was radiant; now his heart was dead.

Right.

My fans would love to hit me with razor blades. Other fans insult me and mine don't even retort, they even think I deserve it... He Luo nearly cried.

To be an idol to this extent, it's all thanks to my best friend.

He Luo was on the verge of collapse.

"Old Li, I carry all your burdens. To have a friend like me is truly unique in the world," He Luo said plaintively.

Looking at his friend, who resembled a resentful wife shut away in her chambers, Li He couldn't help saying, "I heard you have a younger sister."

A younger sister?

The sudden change of topic caught He Luo off guard.

Four seconds passed before He Luo, full of confusion, said, "Where would I get a younger sister? We've grown up together since childhood—you know everything I have and don't have."

"Get lost, don't say such disgusting things," Li He laughed and scolded. "Didn't you watch Jiang Qi's livestream yesterday?"

"No," He Luo replied innocently. "I was in the library all day and didn't get back to the dorm until ten."

So diligent... Li He pulled out his phone, opened Weibo, and handed it to his shameless friend.

"See for yourself. By the way, my phone's expensive—it's been with me for three years."

He finished speaking, set down his fried dough stick, and prepared to watch the show.

"What, you think I'll smash your phone?"

Still unclear on what was happening, He Luo took the phone from his friend.

Then.

His hand instantly turned pale as he gripped the phone tightly, almost throwing it away.

Thankfully, Li He had warned him in advance... Li He silently munched his melon, making no comment.

He Luo's gaze was glued to the top three trending topics on Weibo, unable to look away.

#Mysterious girl appears in Jiang Qi's livestream, sings another hit, rumored to be original#
#He Luo's real sister He Xi'er debuts, the same style, the same flavor#
#The Shameless He Luo#

For a while.

He Luo weakly handed the phone back to his friend, afraid he'd throw it otherwise.

What the hell is all this?

What do they mean by He Luo's real sister is He Xi'er?

"Old Li, is there any hope for me?"

He Luo was on the verge of collapse—the imagination of netizens this year was too wild, unstoppable.

"Actually, He Xi'er is quite pretty—getting a beautiful sister for free isn't bad," Li He tried to console him.

'Getting one for free'... He Luo was speechless. "You can have this good fortune."

"I'm Li, she's He, not the same," Li He struggled not to laugh, nearly bursting.

After a moment.

He Luo said, "Then why did so many people online criticize me when He Xi'er was singing?"

What does it have to do with me?

I didn't even know about this.

How utterly innocent.

Li He thought for a moment. "Maybe they think you're her brother."

Damn it.

"Old Li, I'm afraid I'll lose control and want to hit you."

That statement was so easy for him to say, standing there with no pain.

Li He stopped while he was ahead—the shameless friend's reaction had satisfied him.

After a pause, Li He smiled. "Think of it this way: others struggle to trend, but you don't need to do anything—just like that, you occupy two of the top three spots. Isn't that great?"

Many celebrities have to stir up divorce scandals, surrogacy, and all sorts just to trend.

The shameless one doesn't need any of that; just revising for exams and he's trending.

Hey!

Don't say it.

It really is easy.

"Anyone who wants this kind of trending can have it; I certainly don't," He Luo said, defeated.

Sometimes, Li He had to admire his best friend.

Why wasn't this magnet for controversy himself?

Let them come at me instead of He Luo... Li He silently grumbled.

Li He inwardly asked, "System, in He Luo's situation, who gets the negative emotions?"

System: [Negative emotions caused by He Luo's involvement with the music piece 'Troubles' belong to the host.]

This explanation was quite smart... Li He suddenly stopped envying his friend's lightning rod status.

That is, as long as the negative emotions are caused by works produced by the system, they all belong to him... This mode seemed awfully familiar.

Why did it feel like an unscrupulous boss exploiting migrant workers?

To make up for his best friend, Li He comforted him. "Next time I write a new song, I'll let you sing it."

Next time, I'll draw a song that suits you... Li He silently added.

The damn system only allows random draws, not custom orders.

The supposedly amazing system suddenly wasn't so amazing.

"Deal. No backing out. Come on, pinky swear," He Luo said, reaching out.

Li He was speechless, black lines on his face, but finished the pinky swear and said, "This time, Jiang Qi's reason for treating us is to thank me for letting her sing 'Foam.'"

Jiang Qi glossed over the fact that she had paid for it.

"She should thank you," He Luo said matter-of-factly. "'Foam' made her explode in popularity. Treating us is only right."

He'd listened to the rest of Jiang Qi's debut album, and it was all good.

But compared to "Foam," it just didn't quite measure up.

You could say that Jiang Qi was able to transform from a newcomer into a powerhouse overnight thanks to "Foam."

It was his best friend who made her.

Treating them to a meal in gratitude was only proper.

"Jiang Qi's purpose is thanks," Li He analyzed, "but the company behind her, Shengshi Entertainment, probably has more in mind than just gratitude."

"What is it?" He Luo asked, not understanding.