I Grew Up with the Top-Tier Star

[An untouchable flower in public, a clingy, devoted wife-guy gong with separation anxiety around his wife vs. a pure-hearted, universally adored shou who knows nothing about romance because he's focused entirely on his academic career]

Top-tier star Pu Sheng, who has never appeared on a variety show, suddenly announces that he will be joining Season Two of A Trip with Friends. The news sets the internet ablaze, with everyone speculating about what kind of friend Pu Sheng will bring along. Fans wait eagerly until the day the show premieres.

As soon as the preview clip goes online, fans swarm it. They're dying to know what kind of friend their favorite star will bring on the show.

The video is only a minute and twenty seconds long, so no one expects much from it. But the moment they click in, it completely upends their expectations.

The aloof Actor Pu, who has always claimed to dislike physical contact, gets out of the car and hurries around to open the passenger door. One hand braces against the top of the door while the other reaches inside without hesitation, naturally taking hold of a slender, pale hand that seems to glow. He looks ready to personally help the passenger out.

It was already unbelievable that Pu Sheng had opened the door himself. This combination of opening the door and offering to help someone out was unprecedented.

Anyone in the entertainment industry would feel honored by this. Yet the person in the passenger seat seems annoyed. The hand in Pu Sheng's grasp struggles, and when it can't get free, a leg sticks out of the car and kicks him in the shin. "Will you stop it? My legs are fine! I don't need you to help me. Instead of wasting time, why don't you go do something useful at the trunk? There's so much luggage!"

A lovely but unfamiliar young man's voice, full of reproach, comes from inside the car. The camera doesn't zoom in on the passenger, so no one can see him. But the viewers aren't focused on the voice. They're focused on what he said.

That was a downright commanding tone. They had never seen anyone dare talk to Pu Sheng like that.

And with that kick, he hadn't shown Pu Sheng the slightest bit of respect.

Everyone expects Pu Sheng to glare in anger, but the camera cuts to an even more unbelievable sight:

The great Actor Pu, having just been scolded, grins like an idiot, not the least bit angry. Not only that, he even comforts the person first, speaking gently toward the car. "My bad, my bad. Don't be mad."

A dense wall of question marks appears across the top of the video.

What happened to his supposedly permanently expressionless face whenever he wasn't acting? What happened to him supposedly disliking flattery, keeping strangers at a distance, and telling even his friends to get lost? Why was he the one sucking up now?

Less than ten minutes after the preview goes live, the hashtag #WhoOnEarthIsPuSheng'sFriend!# takes over the trending topics. #Can'tBelieveThisIsTheActorYouAre!# follows right behind it. No one can believe what they're seeing. The huge buzz draws in some casual viewers, who subscribe to the variety show's livestream just to see what the fuss is about.

The day the A Trip with Friends livestream begins, countless viewers flock to watch. The "friend of Pu Sheng" who's been teased for an entire week finally appears on camera, holding hands with Actor Pu himself.

The moment the camera focuses on them, the whole livestream erupts.

Pu Sheng's face is already stunning, but the beauty hiding behind him is even more so!

That night, the hashtag #HolyCrapPuShengYou'veBeenKeepingABeautyHiddenAway!# hits number one on the trending list.

As filming continues, the whole show seems to change its tune. What was supposed to be a travel variety show gradually turns into a dating show, complete with live reactions to the couple's every interaction.

#TheUntouchableFlowerPersonaHasCollapsed#

#OhNoBabeYourChildhoodFriendSeemsToLikeYou!#

#PleaseLiliTakePuGeAlready!#

#GetTogether,DoItForMe#

#PuGe,WeOnlyWantLiliAsOurSister-in-Law#

One hashtag after another appears on the trending list. The shippers are going wild, practically glowing as the stars themselves feed them their favorite scenes.

The "Birthday Present" ship becomes an unexpected hit, but the accompanying public opinion soon takes a nasty turn.

As an ordinary person, You Li is put on a pedestal, but inevitably faces criticism. The first to attack him are Pu Sheng's extreme fans.

They start loudly proclaiming that You Li isn't good enough for their idol. Professional haters quickly join in, paying for smear campaigns and spreading malicious rumors. Public opinion splits sharply.

Then a hacker digs up You Li's academic qualifications and achievements.

The whole internet is stunned again.

All the achievements that officials had kept quiet, without making a big deal of them or publicizing them, and all the online protections set up to keep him safe, are exposed in that moment.

The state itself publicly takes a stand in support of You Li, fiercely defending him and refusing to let anyone slander him.

Fans who had quietly shipped the couple are floored. They exclaim over how incredible their sister-in-law is, then complain tearfully on Pu Sheng's Weibo, tagging him by name: Pu Ge, it seems like you're the one who's not good enough for Lili.

Core message: Love is beautiful, and so is romance.