Don't Fake It with Your Archrival [Showbiz]

Updated every night~

(Sharp-tongued, flirtatious, washed-up idol bottom x arrogant, strong top-tier star top)

When the variety show first started, Yu Heng and Shang Wuyu found themselves spending every day together again after years apart.

The damp scent of fruit lingered faintly in the air. The other man studied Yu Heng's flushed earlobe and drawled, "It's just fanservice, playing along for the cameras."

-

Yu Heng and Shang Wuyu were famous rivals in the entertainment world. Five years ago, they burst onto the scene as the leaders of two boy bands. Rumor had it they'd never gotten along since childhood and would never appear in the same frame.

When their names appeared together on the cast list for a variety show meant to break the ice, the trending topics exploded.

[They might as well call it a fighting show. What ice are they even breaking?]

[They're going to fake a couple act on the show? Did the director laugh when he typed that?]

[They're not even in the same league anymore. Yu Heng, quit clout-chasing Shang Wuyu.]

[Yu Heng's washed up, while Shang Wuyu is still a top-tier star, okay?]

Even after the show aired, their fans kept insisting otherwise.

When Yu Heng's long, beautiful fingers reached behind Shang Wuyu's waist to tie his apron, the comments said, [Just another way to fake a couple act. Nice performance.]

When they hugged onscreen, the comments predicted, [Wow, they're standing that close. Too bad they're definitely cursing each other out inside.]

Then, on the day of the finale, the livestream started early by accident. Shang Wuyu leaned down and kissed Yu Heng's sleeping cheek. The stream immediately froze.

-

"Didn't you say you were homophobic? That's quite a sacrifice."

The little mole on Yu Heng's chest was kissed until it turned red and glistened. He still gave Shang Wuyu a challenging look.

They'd been bitter rivals for over a decade, and neither had ever given way.

Shang Wuyu sighed and lowered his head to kiss him, pulling open his shirt to reveal his shoulder. "That's your bite mark from when you were eight months old and had your first tooth. You've been biting me since you were a baby. Even if I was homophobic, I'd have gotten over it by now."

The sudden disappearance without a word in middle school, the provocations meant to draw attention, the rumors of homophobia... All those years of insecurity and doubt, all the threads behind their misunderstandings, had been woven into lies to hide their feelings.

#TheFormerRivalWasActuallyMyFirstLoveAndUnforgettableCrush#

#TheyWereChildhoodSweethearts#

Amid the explosive trending topics, someone dug up Yu Heng's childhood essay books. Every page was filled with Shang Wuyu's name, written in his own hand.

Bonus scene

Watching Yu Heng get more and more into the fanservice, the band members were moved to tears. "Our leader is so great, faking a couple act with his least favorite person for the sake of the group."

Until one day, they caught their leader pinned against a wall by the leader of their rival group, held by the back of the head and kissing him passionately.

"..."

-

Reserved and flirtatious x openly flirtatious

The bottom is stubborn about everything, especially what he says.

No real-life inspiration, no real-life inspiration, no real-life inspiration. This old author doesn't follow celebrities.

My new novel next door is out now.

Please add The Lazy Little Slacker Meets the Aloof Protagonist Kid to your reading list~

Little Zongzi is a lazy little slacker who takes it easy every day.

Then one day, he dreamed that he was living inside a book, as a minor cannon-fodder character. He was a regular kid who'd been sent on a show with a celebrity couple.

But he accidentally offended the protagonist's family, and they were all banned from the industry, leaving him homeless on the streets. The two older guys on their show also became sworn enemies.

He woke up from the nightmare in a panic, only to find himself on the actual show.

He tried desperately to refuse: "Cannon fodder! I'm cannon fodder!"

No one believed him, and the helpless little kid was packed off to the show.

The little slacker decided to change his fate. When he saw the protagonist kid with his cold little face, he quietly started sucking up to him.

"Hi! I'm Zongzong. I was born during the Dragon Boat Festival, and I'm chubby and cute. What's your name?"

"Hold hands~"

"Hugs~"

"Kisses~"

The protagonist kid watched the little thing who clung to him every day and pushed up his sunglasses with disdain.

Until the children's variety show ended...

Seeing that the cannon-fodder kid he'd never have to deal with again was safe, Zongzong breathed a sigh of relief. He'd not only avoided living on the streets, but had also brought the two older guys on the show together, instead of letting them become enemies for life after it ended. Satisfied, he decided to make his escape.

"Sowwy, it was all just work. Bye-bye."

The protagonist kid, whose feelings had been betrayed: ?

-

Years later, Zongzong had forgotten all about that time. Happily transferring to a new high school, he went by the full name Ling Pu.

He heard that the most famous student at school was the younger brother of a renowned movie star. He'd appeared on a TV show as a child, but no one was allowed to mention it in front of him.

Ling Pu: Why does that children's variety show sound familiar?

The next day, he went to the cafeteria and saw a handsome guy he recognized, expressionlessly spearing a piece of zongzi. "I said I won't eat it. I freaking hate this stuff."

The aloof gaze lifted and met Ling Pu's as he passed by.

Ling Pu: "...Hi."

*

1. No real-life inspiration. This old author doesn't follow celebrities.

2. The first part is a children's variety show.

3. During the children's show, the kids only have friendship storylines, while the adults have romance storylines.

The blurb was screenshotted and saved (2022.12.08)

Theme: Harmony and friendship can help us build a better tomorrow!