"How much longer until we arrive, Brother Qiu?" Chu Zhi asked.
The driver, Brother Qiu, replied, "About half an hour."
Brother Qiu and the personal assistant Xiao Zhu had both accompanied the team on this trip. The SUV was rented temporarily at the airport. Having their own driver made things much more convenient when attending events in different places.
"Sister Niu, could you let the film crew's director know that there's no need for a grand welcome dinner tonight? It's unnecessary," Chu Zhi said.
"Mmm—alright." Niu Jiangxue hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Top-tier celebrities naturally traveled with an entourage, and in an era where everyone emphasized pomp and circumstance, not doing so would only make the other party look down on you rather than appreciate your humility.
A welcome dinner was indeed optional, but the main priority was ensuring that the accommodations were a presidential suite (the most expensive room type).
Chu Zhi had originally planned to take a short nap in the car, but then he remembered something. He took out a bag of Big White Soft Candy from his bag and placed it in a spot that was both noticeable and inconspicuous.
He snapped a selfie—no fancy techniques needed when you had looks like his. With a simple click, the candy packaging made it into the frame.
Although his Weibo and INS accounts were managed by professionals, celebrities could still log in themselves—otherwise, how do you think some of those scandalous posts happened?
@EatingABigOrange: [Good morning, afternoon, and evening to all the Little Fruits in Zhangjiajie.] [Image]
[Damn, damn, even from this unflattering angle, he's still so handsome. SOS, I'm gonna die!]
[I'm from the countryside. Folks back home say I'm not refined. I used to think I wasn't good enough for you 'cause I was poor. But now the harvest is in, and I'm bringing two sows to your place as a gift. Ninth Lord, what do you think? Yay or nay?]
[Hey, what's that candy? Does Ninth Lord like sweets? I think I've discovered something big.]
[I looked it up—seems like a new brand called Big White Soft Candy. No way a small factory could afford Ninth Lord as a spokesperson, so he must just like it himself. I've already placed an order. If I eat the same candy as Ninth Lord, then by extension, it's like we've indirectly kissed.]
...
Fans would scrutinize every detail of their idol's posts. Chu Zhi knew that even if a certain four-letter celebrity posted a picture, fans would zoom in and notice a hole in their socks. How could they miss a giant candy wrapper?
Even though Su Shangbai was just playing a reality-simulation game, the help he provided was real. So when Chu Zhi got his hands on this candy, he wanted to help advertise it. And now, while the timing was perfect, he seized the opportunity.
Half an hour later, the van arrived at the hotel.
Producer Sun, Director Zhang Guti, Liao Dachong, and others had been waiting at the entrance for a few minutes. Even Producer Sun, who represented the investors, had to swallow his dissatisfaction—this was a top-tier celebrity they were dealing with.
"Sorry for the trouble. It's my first time in Zhangjiajie, so finding my way here was a bit tricky. Thanks to Producer Sun, Director Zhang, and Brother Liao for coming out to greet me. Next time, I'll manage on my own," Chu Zhi greeted them.
His opening words immediately put Producer Sun at ease. Whether there'd be a next time was another matter, but Chu Zhi framed their presence as helping him find his way rather than groveling before a celebrity. It made them feel a lot better.
"Teacher Chu is from Chongqing, so it's normal if he's never been to Zhangjiajie before," Producer Sun said with a smile, signaling the hotel staff to handle the luggage.
"I'm a bit of a homebody, so I don't go out much," Chu Zhi replied.
"Looking as elegant as ever! Long time no see," Liao Dachong said, examining Chu Zhi with the gaze of someone appraising a work of art.
This was different from Koguchi Yoshihiro, who simply liked being friends with handsome men and beautiful women. The latter was just a straightforward admirer of looks.
"Brother Liao, you're as dashing as ever too," Chu Zhi said without hesitation.
And Liao Dachong actually believed him. He grinned and said, "Really? I've been researching skincare lately, and I thought my complexion looked a bit better. Guess it wasn't just my imagination, huh?"
"Looking closely, it's definitely not an illusion. Your cheeks look fairer and smoother," Chu Zhi said.
Old Qian and Director Zhang couldn't help but twitch at the corners of their mouths. The former thought, "This guy's face is as rough as mine—pockmarked and uneven. If that counts as 'fairer and smoother,' what the hell did it look like before?"
Director Zhang Guti, meanwhile, was struck by the sheer audacity of the top star in front of him. How could a face that would make babies cry be described as "dashing"?
As they walked from the entrance to the lobby, everyone made brief introductions.
Director Zhang had initially wanted to suggest taking some promotional shots today, but then he remembered how even the male lead, Hu Fengchi, had taken his sweet time getting into character after joining the crew. So he kept his mouth shut.
"Teacher Chu must be tired from the trip. You should rest early today," Producer Sun said, not expecting any work to be done. "The Water Village Presidential Suite you're staying in has a sauna and private pool, and you can have food delivered to your room."
The Water Village Presidential Suite was publicly priced at 28,000 yuan per night, but the crew had booked out the entire hotel at a discounted rate. Besides, the suite had three bedrooms, so Chu Zhi's entire team could stay there.
"The trip wasn't that tiring. If the photographers and directors aren't exhausted, why don't we take the promotional shots today? That way, if there are any issues, we can adjust them tonight," Chu Zhi suggested proactively.
"Uh—"
His enthusiasm caught Producer Sun off guard. After a pause, he asked the director, "Is that doable?"
"No problem. We can start anytime," Zhang Guti said.
They headed to the makeup room, which had originally been the hotel's wellness center. The stylist fitted Chu Zhi with a wig while explaining, "The male lead is a glam rock singer, so his look is going to be pretty flashy."
"Because the male lead is too handsome, he feels like his fans only like him for his looks, so he gets plastic surgery," the stylist said, then quickly moved on, realizing how absurd the plot sounded.
Being a rock enthusiast himself, the stylist went into detail about glam rock—how it used visually striking makeup and flamboyant stage presence to perform songs with dark, decadent themes, creating an indescribable contrast.
Another characteristic of glam rock was its gender ambiguity. Queen, at one point, could be considered glam rock, with lead singer Freddie Mercury often performing in women's clothing.
Chu Zhi was fitted with a long, curly golden wig, then given lipstick and eyeshadow—though not fully feminized, as the shading on his nose and jawline kept his features sharp.
"Damn, this is insane, dude. If you actually did glam rock, it'd be like 'holy shit' squared," the stylist blurted out. "With this look, even the ridiculous plot suddenly makes sense."
Chu Zhi studied his reflection in the mirror. Frankly, he couldn't appreciate the aesthetic, but it reminded him of a certain Japanese rock star—was it Hayashi Yuki or Yuki Hayashi?
That guy had this same style and was hailed as Asia's number one "crazy beauty."
Well—Asia's number one title might have to change hands now, because Chu Zhi's natural looks were even more striking.
Once the makeup was done, the stylist hurriedly called the photographer over to snap a few test shots, which were then shown to the director and producer...
Meanwhile, Chu Zhi returned to his room. The Water Village Presidential Suite had three bedrooms: one for him, one shared by Niu Jiangxue and Wang Yuan, and another for Old Qian and the photographer. Xiao Zhu and Brother Qiu had temporary beds set up in the study and living room.
Just as Chu Zhi was about to rest, he was called back.
"Ninth Lord Chu, we need to take a few more photos. The terrace here has a great view," said the dedicated photographer, Chen Shu.
"More photos?" Chu Zhi remembered they'd already taken some that morning.
"For the fan community perks," Chen Shu explained.
Since they were building a fan community, there had to be some exclusive content. Daily perks like photos were a must. Wang Yuan had even suggested shots of his collarbone or a post-shower look—great ideas, but Chu Zhi had declined.
Chu Zhi wasn't opposed to fan service—after all, fans were here for his looks—but there had to be some justification. He couldn't just post thirst traps for no reason. That'd make him no different from a "benefits girl."
"Alright, Uncle Chen, let's do it," Chu Zhi said.
Hearing the nickname, Chen Shu winced. He was only in his early thirties—being called "uncle" felt a bit much.
But since Chen Shu had addressed Chu Zhi as "Ninth Lord Chu," the latter found the formality amusing. Chen Shu was the eldest in his family, so Chu Zhi playfully dubbed him "Uncle Chen" in return.
(Note: "Uncle Chen" here is a playful, slightly exaggerated nickname based on Chen Shu's seniority in his family, not a literal "old man" reference.)