Chapter 232

Lu Yan He brought out the heated roast duck and pizza and called out to Li Zhibai, who was still playing games on the sofa. Li Zhibai then lazily stood up, "Coming, coming."

Lu Yan He glanced at him.

Looking closely, one could indeed tell that although Li Zhibai was deliberately pretending to be the same as usual, for someone like Lu Yan He who had lived under the same roof as him for four years, it was still very obvious that his state was different from usual—somewhat low and irritable.

Zhou Ping'an not acting like a decent person wasn't a one-day occurrence, and Lu Yan He didn't know what to say.

Eating dinner.

Yan Liang said, "We're leaving tomorrow to record 'Young Days', and I don't know who we'll meet. Have you guys heard any news?"

Lu Yan He shook his head and said, "They are keeping it very confidential, acting all mysterious, just hoping to see us meet others while unaware."

"As long as Ma Zhiyuan isn't there, it's fine." Li Zhibai said, "If they bring Ma Zhiyuan over too, I'm not recording this crappy show."

Lu Yan He: "It shouldn't come to that."

He thought about it again and said, "They should all be people around our age. With Li Zhibai here, they probably don't have much money to hire other popular stars; it feels like this show isn't very wealthy."

"Yeah." Yan Liang nodded, "That's my feeling too."

It's hard for a show to afford several artists of Li Zhibai's level at the same time.

The gap in artists' prices can span a chasm.

It's even a difference of several digits.

Just like the three of them tacitly never mentioning money or remuneration.

In the past, only Li Zhibai was particularly popular; now Lu Yan He also has the momentum of rising fame, while only Yan Liang is still muddling along in various shows and commercial performances, neither hot nor cold.

The gap objectively exists. They have never talked about it, but they all have a similar feeling. These things are hard to put into words; once said, many things seem laid out in front of them, impossible to avoid, only increasing the awkwardness. So, it's better not to say anything and just be pure friends.

"Do you think this show can be a hit?" Yan Liang asked.

Li Zhibai shook his head, "I have no interest in this show. If it weren't for you guys participating, I wouldn't bother going, regardless of whether it's a hit or not."

Lu Yan He said, "That depends on how this show is filmed."

Yan Liang: "This is my first time recording a show for so long. Before, it was at most one or two episodes, and this is a reality show. I've seen many artists say reality shows are hard to record because there are cameras filming you twenty-four hours a day, with no time to rest. Even if you want to pretend, you can't, and you can't keep it up."

Lu Yan He said, "The three of us don't need to pretend, right? There's nothing to pretend about."

He felt that the three of them didn't need to worry about meeting everyone with their true faces; they didn't have bad habits, nor were they the type of people with terrible personalities or tempers.

Yan Liang looked a bit conflicted and said, "Zhou Ping'an said my true personality is relatively mild and lacks characteristics, making me unmemorable on the show, and asked me to find a label so everyone can remember me."

"What Zhou Ping'an said is bullshit." Li Zhibai immediately retorted, "What label did he ask you to find?"

Yan Liang shook his head, "I haven't thought of one yet. He said if I haven't thought of one, he'll help me come up with one later."

Li Zhibai retorted: "He really only knows how to play these games, creating personas and hyping topics."

In recent years, Li Zhibai's popularity has remained high. Although it's due to Li Zhibai's own charm and the help from his family, it also has to do with Zhou Ping'an constantly finding personas and hyping topics for him. For example, the most distinct label on Li Zhibai, "the true-natured rich kid," was found by Zhou Ping'an.

This label also became the most well-known attribute of Li Zhibai, and because of it, he gained the love of many people.

Li Zhibai's retort was purely a subjective disdain. Standing from the perspective of Lu Yan He and Yan Liang, especially from a utilitarian perspective, Zhou Ping'an's approach was understandable. Of course, the two of them wouldn't refute Li Zhibai's words at this time.

Everyone knew that Li Zhibai was currently at his most emotional regarding Zhou Ping'an.

Who is Zhou Ping'an?

And who is Li Zhibai?

Of course, they would side with their friend rather than with reason at this time.

Who knew, a few minutes later, Li Zhibai said again: "Actually, if you really have to find a label for yourself, I think self-discipline and exercise are very suitable for Yan Liang."

"Huh?" Lu Yan He was taken aback, subconsciously wanting to say that such a label might be too simple and too common.

Li Zhibai seemed to immediately realize what kind of reaction such a suggestion would get, and added: "Don't think such a label is tacky. Although many people create such a persona, how many can truly persist day after day like Yan Liang? I think Yan Liang, just like Old Lu, should livestream running every morning. If you had livestreamed for these four years, maybe you, Old Yan, would have already made everyone recognize you through this point."

Lu Yan He suddenly understood Li Zhibai's meaning in an instant.

Indeed, setting aside everything else, as a friend who has been with Yan Liang day and night for these years, if one had to find the most consistent thing about Yan Liang, it would be his persistence in exercise. His daily morning run was the thing that left the deepest impression on Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He nodded and said to Yan Liang, "I suddenly feel that Li Zhibai is quite right."

Yan Liang gave a puzzled "Ha," "Isn't that something many people can do?"

"Yeah, indeed, but in the world of most people, this is something that can't be done." Lu Yan He added for Li Zhibai, "And among idol artists, actually, not many people can do it. Most of the time, everyone just occasionally posts a photo of the gym, posts their healthy meal, right? You are someone who can persist in morning runs every day, not just putting on a show in the gym and taking a photo."

Li Zhibai: "I think don't say anything else, just go open a livestream account and livestream yourself running every day."

Yan Liang looked puzzled: "How do I livestream this? I hold a selfie stick while running? That's too showy."

Lu Yan He said, "Why not go buy a selfie device that can be worn on the head?"

"And then just film my own big face and the look of me panting?" Yan Liang suddenly had an idol burden and immediately shook his head, "That's too ugly, no."

Li Zhibai thought for a moment and said, "At least you can persist in doing this in 'Young Days'. By then, you'll have your own exclusive photographer filming you. Using this show to strengthen this label is also fine."

Lu Yan He nodded in agreement, "It would be best to simultaneously film Li Zhibai sleeping like a log to make a comparison."

Li Zhibai: "..."

Lu Yan He: "Let's go communicate with Li Zhenzhen and see if it's okay to film like this."

"Old Lu, do we really have to hurt each other like this?"

"It can't be called hurting each other, can it?" Lu Yan He laughed, "It can only be called stating the facts."

Li Zhibai stuck up a middle finger at Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He and Yan Liang both laughed.

At this moment, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.

The three of them were all taken aback.

Yan Liang was the first to get up to check the situation, looked through the peephole first, then turned back and said, "Cheng Hai."

He opened the door.

Cheng Hai stood at the door, the smile on his face revealing a hint of awkwardness.

"Cheng Hai, are you looking for us?" Yan Liang feigned surprise.

Actually, Yan Liang also knew what Cheng Hai was here for.

Cheng Hai's gaze crossed Yan Liang's shoulder, looked at Li Zhibai inside, and said, "I have something to talk to Li Zhibai about, is it convenient now?"

Yan Liang turned back and glanced at Li Zhibai.

Li Zhibai looked normal, nodded, and said, "It's convenient, why be so polite? Have you eaten dinner? If not, eat a bit with us."

Li Zhibai's attitude not only surprised Cheng Hai but also surprised Lu Yan He and Yan Liang.

They hadn't expected that Li Zhibai would greet Cheng Hai as if nothing had happened, as if the incident where Zhou Ping'an gave the role originally intended for him to Cheng Hai had never occurred.

A hint of secret gratitude immediately appeared in Cheng Hai's awkward mood.

Cheng Hai came in and said somewhat apologetically, "I didn't expect you guys to be eating dinner, sorry for the interruption."

"What interruption is this?" Li Zhibai rolled his eyes at Cheng Hai and said, "Don't be so wishy-washy, I haven't seen you like this before, and it's not like it's our first day knowing each other."

Cheng Hai sat down and scratched his head.

He seemed to want to say something to Li Zhibai, but couldn't open his mouth, looking very embarrassed.

Seeing this, Lu Yan He and Yan Liang looked at each other, and he said, "I'm going to buy a drink, what do you guys want?"

"I'll go with you." Yan Liang immediately understood.

The two of them tacitly made space for Li Zhibai and Cheng Hai to talk.

The two of them went out together.

Once downstairs, walking into the night, Yan Liang immediately said, "Brother Bai's reaction really exceeded my expectations. I didn't expect him to be so magnanimous this time and not vent his anger on Cheng Hai."

Zhou Ping'an giving the role originally intended for Li Zhibai to Cheng Hai—although this didn't sound like Cheng Hai's intention, Cheng Hai was the beneficiary. With Li Zhibai's personality, it wouldn't be strange at all for him to vent his anger on Cheng Hai. In fact, his reaction just now was what made Lu Yan He and Yan Liang feel strange.

"Brother Bai is like this because the person is Cheng Hai, right?" Lu Yan He pointed out incisively, "You know what he's like; he has a big temper and little patience for others, but for friends he's truly close to, he's always quite generous."

"That's true." Yan Liang nodded, "Cheng Hai is also in a tough spot. Zhou Ping'an arranges resources for him, and it wouldn't be right for him to refuse in front of Li Zhibai. If he refuses, he offends Zhou Ping'an. Zhou Ping'an really doesn't act like a decent person."

Lu Yan He: "Cheng Hai came at a very timely moment tonight. If he hadn't come, Li Zhibai would probably have been truly angry at him."

"Also, actually, it's not that Li Zhibai must have that role, it's that he wants an attitude." Yan Liang said, "Zhou Ping'an doing internal adjustments without even saying a word to Li Zhibai—Li Zhibai has every right to lose his temper."

For Li Zhibai, because of the popularity of the role he played in 'Accompany You to the End of the World', there are indeed many roles coming his way now. One role, two roles—Li Zhibai really can't take them all, and it's impossible to take them all. Zhou Ping'an communicating with the production team to get the ones suitable for Cheng Hai to Cheng Hai is also understandable. The key is Zhou Ping'an's attitude and approach.

This isn't Zhou Ping'an dividing a cake, but giving a cake that was originally meant for Li Zhibai to someone else—even if Li Zhibai can't eat it, it should be Li Zhibai who agrees to give it to someone else.

Lu Yan He and Yan Liang arrived at the convenience store at the entrance of the residential complex, bought a few sugar-free drinks, and didn't rush back. After all, they didn't know how long Li Zhibai and Cheng Hai would talk. Since they came out, they had to at least create twenty minutes for them, so they simply sat down at the convenience store, each opened a bottle, and drank while facing the sidewalk outside the window.

Then, Lu Yan He was recognized.

There were many pedestrians coming and going at the entrance. A young girl just subconsciously turned her head to look at the window of this convenience store and recognized Lu Yan He at a glance. Lu Yan He watched as the girl's eyes suddenly widened, revealing an expression of surprise and disbelief.

Before Lu Yan He could make any cover-up or disguise, the girl excitedly took out her phone and started taking pictures of them.

He turned to Yan Liang and said, "We have to go."

Yan Liang nodded with a smile and said, "Let's go."

Before this girl's actions could attract more people, the two of them hurried away.

Being recognized frequently is a symbol of rising fame—Lu Yan He has felt this more and more clearly recently.

Yan Liang asked, "Old Lu, what do you think of Brother Bai's suggestion?"

"What suggestion?" Lu Yan He didn't react for a moment.

Yan Liang said, "Livestreaming running every day."

"Hmm... I think if you can persist, it will have unexpected effects." Lu Yan He said, "Just like when I livestreamed studying before, the internet world is very big, and we don't know how many people are doing the same thing as you. They also like to see bloggers doing the same things as them; following them is like finding a companion. I think getting up in the morning to run is the same. Many people can't do it, but there must be some who can. And there are probably many people who can't do it themselves but lie in bed holding their phones watching you run. Although they aren't running themselves, seeing you run gives them a feeling that they are running too. How to describe this? Spiritual victory method? Anyway, it's something like this. I've found that there are many people like this on the internet now. The most important thing is, maybe you can drive many people to do this with you? Many people can't persist in running alone, right? If there is someone livestreaming morning runs every day, maybe they can persist along with you."

Yan Liang heard this, thought for a moment, and said, "Then I'll go research and see how to do it."

Lu Yan He nodded.

He also sincerely hoped that Yan Liang could find his own path and become popular.