Pure Hatred (Showbiz)

Tan Yiran and Shen Yanxi are at each other's throats again. The news broke, and every platform filled with trending topics, while Weibo, the gossip hub, crashed under the traffic.

Who are Tan Yiran and Shen Yanxi? One is a wildly popular genius singer, the other a top-tier star and hugely famous actress. In the industry, they're like two kings who never meet. Their "feud of the century" could fill a 400-page PDF and still leave plenty out.

They fight over endorsements, tear into each other's business deals, and take pointed shots at one another on social media without naming names. In short, neither will let the other outshine her. For them, the entertainment industry isn't a dazzling world of fame and fortune, but a battlefield thick with smoke.

But once, Tan Yiran and Shen Yanxi were sweet together.

Both came up through talent competitions. They first met on a show where they were monitored from every angle, and immediately hit it off. They formed an alliance and became partners. Before every elimination round, they swore loyalty to each other and made heartfelt declarations. They had pet names just for each other, and every glance between them was sickeningly sweet. Their CP fans called themselves the happiest fans in the entertainment industry. That summer, they filled the air with sweetness wherever they went.

On the night of the finale, everyone expected Tan Yiran to debut in the center position. But when the votes were announced, Shen Yanxi came in first. As everyone stood there in confusion, Tan Yiran posted on Weibo, calling someone shameless and accusing her of rigging the results and stealing votes. She didn't name names, but everyone knew she meant Shen Yanxi.

And so their "feud of the century" began. Their fans traded insults for three days and three nights.

They cut ties completely after the finale, but their snide remarks and mocking jabs at each other online never stopped. A Douban group devoted to analyzing their every move described them this way: Behind every "I hate you" echoes the lingering refrain of "I love you." It's not you I hate, but the you who doesn't love me. If love can't be expressed, then what is burning with rage if not another kind of fluttering heart?

Bonus Scene One:

At a livestreamed brand launch, someone captured a frame of them looking at each other. Their supposedly dead CP fans went wild: whenever Tan Yiran and Shen Yanxi look at each other, they want to devour the other whole. They just want to devour her lips and strip off her clothes.

Bonus Scene Two:

While shooting a magazine spread together, Tan Yiran pointed at Shen Yanxi and snapped, "Shen Yanxi, you're shameless! You've slept with the entire entertainment industry, haven't you?"

Shen Yanxi smiled coolly and nonchalantly. "Strictly speaking, no. There's still you, after all. If you want, I can make an exception."

Theme: Love is the greatest power