A Guide to Faking Bromance When Everyone Hates You

[Complete. My new story, "After Being a Nobody Cannon Fodder, the Brooding Protagonist Holds a Cremation for Me," is now underway! Find it on my author page.

Story blurb:

Bad news: The day after becoming a Best Actor, I was hit and killed by a truck.

Good news: I was reborn in a beautiful young idol's body, so I can keep acting.

Terrible news: He's universally hated, buried in scandals, a serial fanservice peddler, and an actor with five-cent acting skills.

[Company: Your job is to sell your ship with your former teammate Xu Junxing on a livestream variety show, not to act. Got it?]

Song Chaotong: ...

What do you mean, not to act? Could just anyone pull off the original owner's earth-shatteringly awful acting? (Angry)

*

First day of selling the ship-

His former teammate and current top-tier star, singer Xu Junxing, shows up at the set, pinching his nose as if Song Chaotong were a bug.

Song Chaotong steps forward and takes his hand, forcing a smile with the original owner's five-cent acting skills, his mouth trembling.

"Long time no see, A Jun."

Xu Junxing: ...

The few old ship fans still left are ready to hang themselves: Same old performance. Good heavens, what oily ship-sellers have I been into?

Bystanders: (chew) (retch) (chew) (retch)

*

Second week of selling the ship-

The young idol, dragged through the mud by the whole internet, is no longer as arrogant as before. He's so careful about physical contact that he only dares to stare jealously from behind.

His silent protection leaves Xu Junxing's hostility turning into confusion. His lashes tremble uneasily.

The new ship fans drawn in by the pairing's black-garlic flavor are ready to hang themselves: Good heavens, we just started shipping them and now they're getting divorced?

Bystanders: Song Chaotong's acting is so bad. He can't act that lovestruck. Could there really be something going on between them?

Their ship goes viral. Acting offers pour in, and he even gets to star in the movie he's been dreaming of.

Song Chaotong: You'd rather ship a sewer couple than believe I can actually act.

Let's destroy this world.

*

Two years after they started selling the ship-

"I heard the Consumers' Association is cracking down on fake couples," Song Chaotong says, reading the news at home. "So..."

"Let's break up." "Let's make it official."

Song Chaotong's mouth slowly forms an O as the realization dawns. "So we're actually dating?" The tips of his fanservice partner's ears turn red.

An hour later, the old and new ship fans who see the relationship announcement on Weibo are ready to hang themselves.

Even writing fanfiction isn't as bold as the real people.

Might as well hang ourselves.

Please note:

1. A scheming, attention-seeking Best Actor who knows how to control a room x a sharp-tongued but soft-hearted top-tier star who lives for his career.

2. A devoted, mutually doting couple. The romance is a slow burn, and the face-slapping comeback takes time. At first, the top takes better care of the bottom, but later the bottom firmly returns his feelings and pursues him. The first ten chapters feature lots of livestream comments.

Theme: A professional spirit grounded in hard work and facts