Chapter 168 Coming to the Moon: Not Asking About the Road Ahead, But Following One's Heart

Shen Yuning debuted through a talent show two years ago.

Before that, what lay before him was the future his family had planned for him:

After graduating from high school, he went abroad to study economics and business management. After achieving some success, he returned to Huatian and managed the family business with his elder brother, Gu Yanzhe.

A broad road to prosperity where one can live a life of ease simply by following the established path, paving the way to a future whose end can be seen at a glance.

For many, this may be the path to becoming a winner.

But for Shen Yuning, it was not so.

He loves dancing, he loves singing, and he loves being on stage where everyone can see him.

In his early years, his family experienced financial difficulties. In order not to cause trouble for his family and to ease his parents' worries, he always acted like a good child, suppressing his emotions and restraining his own preferences. In order to make his parents happy and his brothers at ease, he lived the sensible life that they expected.

Later, under the management of Gu Yanzhe and Ji Zhiheng, Huatian regained its vitality and became a leading company in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Mr. and Mrs. Gu were able to retire abroad with peace of mind, and also take care of the Gu family's overseas businesses.

Everything is getting better.

Only then did Shen Yuning feel comfortable revealing his preferences.

He had initially mentioned his debut to his older brother, Gu Yanzhe.

But Gu Yanzhe, having been immersed in this industry for many years, understands best the filth and chaos of this circle.

He didn't want his younger brother to get involved, so he refused on the spot and even reminded Shen Yuning to focus on his studies so that he could take over the family business as soon as possible.

Normally, Gu Yanzhe dotes on Shen Yuning the most and is also the most empathetic towards his younger brother.

Therefore, Gu Yanzhe's opposition was undoubtedly the biggest blow to Shen Yuning, who was still young at the time.

Upon learning of Star Entertainment's idol audition event, Shen Yuning secretly participated in the talent show under the pretext of living at school.

Luo Luo was the first person to notice Shen Yuning in this talent show.

To avoid being exposed, Shen Yuning concealed his true identity; apart from his name, all other information was fabricated.

Everyone assumed that he came from a backward small county and had no background or connections.

Although she made it through the competition with her outstanding stage presence, the editing by the production team and the limited screen time made everyone feel that Shen Yuning was ambitious but lacked real ability.

In addition, he is straightforward and can't stand those who scheme and plot, and sometimes he speaks out against many injustices, which makes the leadership dislike him. The other contestants also feel that he is poor but arrogant.

He was even eliminated by a single vote in one qualifying round.

The time he barely managed to stay was because Luo Luo spent a lot of money to buy him support data.

It was this time that the production team saw the value in Shen Yuning and gradually gave him more screen time, allowing more people to see the real Shen Yuning.

"Do you believe in fate? There were so many glamorous and flamboyant contestants back then, but I was immediately drawn to that boy who had very little screen time. He didn't talk much, wasn't humble at all, and his eyes were full of arrogance, like 'I'm the best in the world.' There were a lot of voices criticizing him online, and even during the qualifying rounds, some people in the audience were yelling at him to get off the stage, but he was not affected in the slightest. He just stubbornly and arrogantly presented his stage."

"Back then, I thought, what a cool guy! Despite all the gossip and rumors, he still has his own space. His stage presence is just as good, so why doesn't he get the attention he deserves? Why should someone like him be eliminated? Just because he's different from others?"

"When someone gave me the tickets to the event that day, I didn't really intend to go. But after going, it felt like destiny, and I saw another version of myself."

"I want him to win—even if it's not the final center position, I will do everything I can to get him into the top ten."

"I want more people to see him, to see the boy I like shining on stage."

As one of Shen Yuning's earliest and most prominent fans, Luo Luo's answer during a street interview is still circulating among fans.

Luo Luo's family was well-off.

Although they weren't extremely wealthy, the Luo family was still a well-known and influential merchant family in Mo City.

After my grandmother passed away, she left her a lot of things.

With her own hard work over the years, she's definitely a well-off woman.

Due to her personality and the estrangement from her father, she was not ostentatious and never spent money extravagantly.

But when she supported Shen Yuning in her early years, she didn't care about the money at all.

She even dragged Wen Nian to vote for Shen Yuning, and in order to get more attention for Shen Yuning, she made merchandise for him and even asked Wen Nian to help draw fan art of Shen Yuning...

She did almost everything she could.

And Shen Yuning did not disappoint her expectations.

Even after making it into the top ten, Gu Yanzhe discovered her and forcibly took her home.

But he still gave it his all and made it to the finals that night, winning the championship with absolute strength in the live voting segment.

After that, Gu Yanzhe bought out his contract with Xingchen and signed with Huatian, and then had Sister Li mentor him, officially starting his career in the entertainment industry.

At that time, Luo Luo was still paying attention to Shen Yuning.

Compared to the previous busy work, later it was more about providing support in my spare time.

It's as if I've finally witnessed someone's growth, accompanied him through the storms and the dawn, and can now gracefully step back from the limelight and watch him walk his own path to glory.

"I don't know if I liked it or not, but at that time, I was probably holding my breath and placing all my hopes for life and my ambition to break free from the shackles of fate on him. When he finally succeeded, I felt like a son I had raised for a long time had finally grown up. My messy life at that time seemed to be encouraged, and I felt that I also had the power to break free from the constraints."

Luo Luo always considered herself a "mommy fan" of Shen Yuning, so she often said this when talking to Wen Nian about Shen Yuning.

At that time, her attitude towards Shen Yuning was simply to silently observe and accompany him from afar.

Many big fans have the contact information of their idol's manager or even the idol himself.

But Luo Luo didn't like that.

"I like him and want to get close to him, but I don't want to get too close."

"Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Sometimes, knowing too much isn't necessarily a good thing."

However, Shen Yuning did not ignore Luo Luo because of her low profile, nor did he forget the girl who had accompanied him since his early days, as well as the countless fans who cared about him, even as his fan base grew.

He specially designed a separate app called "With Ning" for his fans, the Ning Family Army.

Here are every diary entry he has kept since he participated in the talent show.

I've maintained the habit of keeping records to this day.

Even now that he has become a top idol.

The names of his fans also appeared in his diary more than once.

Shen Yuning, a "country bumpkin" on Weibo who only likes to forward silly videos, only shares his most authentic inner thoughts with his fans—or, as he calls them, his family—on the "Yu Ning" platform.

The name of Luo Die appeared most often.

He meticulously recorded everything the red-haired girl did, and was filled with gratitude.

So when the studio announced Luo's addition, fans felt a sense of "it should be this way" and offered their blessings.

Those who chased the light have finally seen it.

-

A few months ago, filming for "Temptation Star" began in Mo City.

Wen Nian invited Luo Luo to dinner with Ji Zhiheng.

Knowing that she liked Shen Yuning, the two of them decided to bring Shen Yuning along to surprise Luo Luo.

That was the first time the two met.

The hot pot restaurant was filled with steam. The young man, wearing a baseball cap, kept his head down and remained silent, afraid of being recognized.

But once he learned Luo Luo's identity, he completely let down his guard and revealed his true foodie nature.

They ate and chatted non-stop, thoroughly enjoying themselves as if they were old friends, until they had to lean against the wall to leave.

The boy who had been watching from afar suddenly appeared beside her, as if they were old friends she had known for a long time. There was no unfamiliarity or distance between them, only an unspoken understanding.

She understood his pride, his ambition, and his yearning for and pursuit of his dreams.

He understood her loneliness, her rebelliousness, and her discontent and defiance towards life.

Only after truly experiencing it did I realize that what lies beyond the distance is a delightful gift from life.

Beneath the idol facade, Shen Yuning reveals the sincerity and simplicity of youth, as well as a maturity and thoughtfulness beyond his years.

He laid bare his inner thoughts to her without any reservations.

Look at his struggle.

Also see his despicable behavior.

See his untold aspirations.

He didn't know how to express his longing, but after she complimented a certain outfit, he bought many sets and wore them repeatedly. For a time, people thought he didn't change his clothes for more than half a month.

Knowing that she liked the jujube paste cake from Dongjiao Street, and afraid of being recognized, she wore a wig and sat in a hand-cranked wheelchair to queue up to buy it. In order not to cause any misunderstanding, she also made sure that everyone in the studio received one as a welfare meal.

Knowing that she disliked a dull and tense work atmosphere, he would always joke around and make fun of her during work breaks. Seeing her smile made him happy too.

Their feelings for each other grew stronger with time spent together.

The age gap obscured their feelings.

Once you get used to their company, you start to see them as friends.

But only when they sensed the crisis did they suddenly see their own hearts clearly.

"Shen Yuning, do you know what you're doing?!"

Sister Li caught up and pounded on the car door.

The car window rolled down.

Shen Yuning raised his head.

"I'm sorry, Sister Li, I have to go."

"What about your career? What about your fans? Don't you care about any of that?! Let me tell you, Shen Yuning, you're playing with fire, pushing yourself to the brink of ruin! In the end, even President Gu won't be able to protect you!"

Sister Li wished she could drag Shen Yuning out of the car window.

Shen Yuning suddenly smiled.

He looked up and said, "Sister Li, I have to go."

"You asked me before whether my feelings for Luo Luo were genuine or just a passing interest; whether I had considered whether Luo Luo liked me; and whether I had considered the impact on her if things were to be exposed. I've been thinking about these questions a lot lately, and even this afternoon I was still pondering them."

"But now, I can tell you seriously and with certainty."

Shen Yuning raised his hand, making a vow gesture.

“I like her, I like her a lot. I like her so much that I can’t wait to see her and tell her how I feel. If she refuses, I will sincerely wish her and Jiang Xiuyuan well; if she agrees, even if I have to give up the stage, I will stand in front of her and do everything I can to resist all the rumors.”

"I might feel regret without the stage, but I can never forgive myself for missing out on what I love because of hesitation and cowardice."

"Perhaps this seems ridiculous and childish to you, but I have to go through it myself to find my own answer."

After saying his last words, Shen Yuning started the car.

Sister Li opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Having cared for Shen Yuning for so long, she knows this child all too well.

To shed the label of being a "resource-backed" celebrity, to present a perfect stage performance, and to prove himself to more people, he could sleep only 5 hours a day for a whole month, spending the rest of his time practicing dance.

Day and night.

To successfully portray Qi Zechen, he could stay in the dance studio for a long time, performing in front of the mirror again and again, tirelessly memorizing all the lines and key points.

He was proud, yet humble.

He had a high opinion of himself, but he also gave it his all.

Once he makes a decision, it's very difficult to change it.

Sister Li silently took two steps back.

The car drove past her, out of the garage, and sped off towards the west of the city in the quiet night, whipping up a howling wind.

Like an arrow released from a bow.

Shen Yuning stared ahead, his gaze firm and his expression solemn.

Just like before, she defied the wishes of her parents and brother and stubbornly went to the finals.

At this moment, he came to the moon and ran towards his girl.

Don't ask about the road ahead.

Follow your heart.

-

What do you think?

Song Ying hung up the phone and looked at Luo Luo, who was still in a daze.

She had just finished a phone call with Shen Yuning when she heard Sister Li's voice from the other end.

Just then, Luo Luo happened to be nearby. After a moment's thought, Song Ying called her over, gave her an earphone, and together they listened through the speaker to hear what was happening around the corner.

Luo Luo silently took off her headphones and handed them back to Song Ying.

"Sister Li is right, I can't ruin his future."

"Is this what you truly believe?"

Song Ying countered with a question.

Putting aside the influence of Chiang Hsiu-yuan, she genuinely considered Lo Lo a friend.

“I used to think that Shen Yuning was still an immature kid. Even if you didn’t like Xiu Yuan, Shen Yuning was definitely not a good match. But now it seems that if he really is willing to retire from the entertainment industry for you, he can be considered a responsible and real man.”

"I won't let him leave the industry." Luo Luo clenched her hands at her sides.

Upon hearing Shen Yuning's words, Luo Luo admitted that for a moment, it felt as if a magnificent firework had burst forth in her heart.

But soon, worries and concerns arose.

"The stage is his life."

Song Ying shook her head and corrected, "That was before. We all heard his attitude very clearly, didn't we?"

Song Ying looked at Luo Luo and said, "If you have a mouth, you should use it. These days, the kind of tragic love story where you do what's best for me and I do what's best for you, and then you both miss out on each other, is no longer popular. I advise you to think it through."

After saying this, Song Ying patted Luo Luo on the shoulder and left.

She was left alone to think.

A jumble of thoughts raced through Luo Luo's mind.

After racking her brains to no avail, she finally chose to relieve her boredom by keeping herself busy.

Music drifted around the campfire as Luo Luo sat under a tree, exporting photos from the daytime and beginning to edit them.

This was something she was good at, and she quickly calmed down.

The repaired Weibo post sparked another wave of praise.

Until the last group.

Looking at the screen and the magnified details, Luo Luo suddenly frowned.

A moment later, she slammed the laptop shut, glanced around, and then quickly walked up to Song Ying and whispered a few words.

"Really?!" Song Ying's expression hardened.

Luo Luo frowned. "I'm not sure, so I need you to take another look."

"Walk."

Song Ying had just entered the tent when Luo Luo followed closely behind, carrying her laptop.

In the enclosed space, Luo Luo turned on his computer. In the center of the screen was a magnified view of Zachary's phone screen.

The original camera image had too high a resolution. To avoid Zachary's screen being spied on and unnecessary privacy being exposed after it was posted, Luo Luo initially planned to zoom in and fine-tune the blurred interface. Who would have thought that she would see content that shouldn't have appeared?

—Kill them with fire.

Luo Luo switched to another photo.

“Zachary’s wallpaper looks like this, so we can rule out the possibility that this chat screenshot is his phone wallpaper. Ah Ying, no matter who he’s chatting with, this is a dangerous statement—unless it’s some kind of line, but it’s still very strange.”

"It is somewhat unusual."

The plan of Sheng'an Division is a secret, and Song Ying cannot tell Luo Luo about it, so she can only remind him in other ways.

She handed the computer back to Luo Luo and instructed, "Send me a copy of these pictures. It's almost time tonight, and it should be closing up outside soon. Get some rest, and don't go too far if you need to get up in the middle of the night. Leave the rest to us."

"good."

Luo Luo nodded.

Zachary is Song Ying's friend; with her involvement, the truth will surely come to light quickly.

——

The next chapter will reveal Jiang Xiuyuan's official pairing.