Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 505 Absolute admiration, heartfelt worship

It was quite hot in Wuhan in mid-July.

In the rest room of the surgical building of Tongji Hospital, several young medical staff were catching up on sleep by lying on the table. The screen of their mobile phones on the corner of the table was lit up, playing Shen Juan's "Ordinary Angels" on a loop.

This is one of their favorite songs during this period, and every time they listen to it, they feel an overwhelming sense of strength and emotion.

"Aren't you asleep yet? Wake up, everyone! A special volunteer will be coming to deliver supplies and gifts to us later. Girls, let's go and greet them!" The head nurse hurriedly pushed open the door, still clutching a freshly printed list in her hand. Her voice was low, but it revealed an undisguised excitement and enthusiasm.

Li Meng, who had just finished her night shift and was about to go back to her apartment to sleep, sat up rubbing her eyes. Her hair was a little messy from being pressed down, and she muttered listlessly with a wronged look on her face, "Which company is delivering milk this time? I haven't even finished one carton yet! I think they would be more motivating if they gave me an autographed photo of Shen Juan!"

Zhang Yue was applying double eyelid tape in front of a small mirror when she heard this and jokingly said, "Maybe he's a handsome volunteer? Remember that young man who came to deliver masks last time? You complimented him on his looks, didn't you? You even said his back view had a hint of your own charm?"

Li Meng blushed instantly and reached out to scratch her, while the others burst into laughter, and the break room became noisy until the head nurse smiled and tapped the table: "Alright, stop fooling around, hurry up and change into a clean coat. They specifically said they wanted to see what we look like in our daily lives, so don't always show up with marks from the protective suit."

"Just because he wants to see us in casual clothes doesn't mean we have to wear them, does it?"

"You don't have to wear it, it's entirely voluntary and not forced."

"The people who came this time are quite impressive?"

The head nurse, turning into a riddle teller, smiled meaningfully and nodded: "The scale of the event will be even greater than you imagine."

"Could you reveal who it is?"

"You'll find out when you get there."

"what"

About ten minutes later, a group of young girls who had quickly finished dressing and grooming walked through the inpatient department corridor toward the lobby.

Li Meng, who had nothing to do, was still scrolling through her phone with her head down.

The screen showed Shen Juan's selfie Weibo post from last night, accompanied by the puzzling caption "See you tomorrow."

She zoomed in on the reassuringly beautiful eyes in the photo, and while she was amazed and smiled, she couldn't help but secretly think that everything in this world is a transaction of money hidden beneath the surface of concern and care, but only chasing stars is a transaction of money hidden beneath a heart full of sincerity.

Because of you, I study hard and work hard.

Because it's you, I want to know everything about you.

Even though you've said a million times that life is more important than idol worship and that you should love yourself before loving others, you can still easily sway my heart.

So, living under the spotlight, seemingly radiant and world-renowned, do you ever experience any troubles?
Sigh. If I could meet Juanjuan in person, even just a glimpse from afar, or just hear his voice, my years of idol-chasing would be complete.

When the glass doors to the lobby were pushed open, a blast of cold air hit us, followed by the uncontrollable low screams of my colleagues.

Li Meng subconsciously looked up.

Then his steps suddenly stopped.

The phone in my hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

A tall young man wearing a mask and a white T-shirt stood next to the information desk, carrying two bags in his hands, listening intently to the nurse whose eyes seemed to be shining.

The warm light in the hospital lobby fell on his handsome face, giving him a soft halo. His profile was clean and sharp, with a high nose bridge. This volunteer, who made his colleagues gasp in surprise, was none other than Shen Juan, who had appeared in her dreams countless times and even become her phone wallpaper, someone she saw every day.

"I am not wrong, right?"

Am I dreaming?

Am I hallucinating because I just got off a night shift?

The colleagues who were with him were all stunned. Someone whispered, "It really is Shen Juan. Why is he here?"

As if he had heard a noise, Shen Juan suddenly turned around and saw a group of young medical workers in casual clothes with sleepy expressions on their faces. He immediately put on a smile as gentle and polite as possible and said softly, "Hello, I am Shen Juan."

Li Meng felt her heart was about to jump out of her throat. Her hand trembled as she picked up her phone, like a cafeteria lady serving food at school. Although her dream had come true, she felt that everything around her was so dreamlike that it seemed unreal. Even Shen Juan seemed to have a hazy, beautiful quality in her eyes, making him even more dreamlike in his handsomeness!
It was the experienced and knowledgeable head nurse, who wasn't a fan of celebrities in her middle age, who was the first to react. She stepped forward with a smile and said, "Mr. Shen, thank you so much. It's too kind of you to come all this way."

"Don't say that, it's what I should do."

Shen Juan handed over two bags containing iced milk tea and various beautifully packaged snacks.

"I heard that everyone has been working very hard in shifts lately, so I specially bought some cooling items. I don't know if they'll suit your taste. Other supplies that can help the hospital and everyone will be delivered later. I have to go to other places this afternoon, so I came here early to meet everyone."

"Finally, I also prepared this. I wonder if everyone will like it? I made it by hand a while ago when I had some free time."

(Can be replaced with Chinese)
Zhang Yue stared at the bling-bling friendship bracelet in his hand and suddenly remembered a video she had seen on Douyin a few days ago.

During a live broadcast from home during the pandemic, Shen Juanyi was asked about the situation in Wuhan by foreign fans. He said, "After the situation stabilizes, I want to go and see those who risked their lives for everyone."

It turns out he wasn't just being polite.

It turns out he really did remember it.

He is such a very, very good person.

"Brother Juan, Teacher Shen Juan," a young doctor wearing glasses walked forward shakily, clutching a notebook tightly in his hand, his face flushed with excitement. "My girlfriend and I are both your fans, and that's actually why we met and eventually got together."

"Really? That's such a wonderful coincidence! It's so precious to be able to come together because of the same interests!" Shen Juan's eyes were full of sincerity, and her tone was filled with obvious surprise and warmth. Then she naturally took the notebook and asked with a smile, "Do you need a signature? I can write 'Wishing you eternal happiness'."

The young doctor nodded vigorously, said his and his girlfriend's names, and then repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

"When the epidemic was at its worst this year, we didn't go home for almost a month and a half. Every night, we would wear headphones and listen to your songs on NetEase Cloud Music to cheer ourselves up and each other up. I remember you said in an interview that music is like a kind of memory storage device for you. There will always be a period of time when you particularly like a certain song and then listen to it on repeat. So these songs are like carrying my special time. Some people and some things are like engraved into the melody."

"Both she and I thought it made a lot of sense because we felt the same way. For us, your music really has an extraordinary significance. Those songs represent that very difficult but also very warm and cozy time that brought us closer to each other, helped us understand each other better, and made us rely on each other more."

Shen Juan's gaze softened again, and he said with some emotion, "Actually, being able to gain everyone's support, be liked by everyone, become a small bond connecting our emotions, and even become the matchmaker who brings you together, is a particularly meaningful thing for me. It is my honor."

After signing the book and returning it, he added, "If you have time in the future, how about I invite you to my concert? Of course, I'm not just talking about you and your girlfriend, I'll extend an invitation to everyone here. In this very difficult and special time, you are the real heroes."

Will you hold a concert in Wuhan?

Shen Juan shrugged. "Of course!"

"Really?!" Many people were so excited they almost jumped up.

"And I should have another movie coming out soon, so if you have time and are interested, I would be happy to invite you to see my movie. It's a romantic comedy, so you can relax a bit after work, how about that?" Shen Juan was referring to the movie "The Matchmaker" that he had just mentioned.

"Of course we'd love to!!!"

"However, we may have to wait until the lockdown is lifted, since we are still a long way from completely controlling Yiqing."

"It's okay!!!"

Only now, barely regaining her senses, Li Meng took a deep breath and finally mustered the courage to step forward, her voice barely a whisper: "Brother Juan, um... can I take a picture with you? I've liked you for four years! From university until I graduated and started working last year, I've always been your fan."

"Of course, could you tell me your name?"

My name is Li Meng.

Is it the "cute" in "acting cute"?

"Ah."

"Your name suits you perfectly, I really like it, it sounds beautiful! And could you tell me if you have a boyfriend now?"

"Unfortunately, I've never been in a relationship."

"This means you'll meet an amazing partner in the future!" Shen Juan naturally stood next to her, even bending down slightly so the camera could frame the two of them, who had a 30-centimeter height difference. "Do you want to smile more? Or should I pretend to be nervous to create a couple vibe?"

Li Meng, her face flushed red, was almost driven to madness by what she was being said, and even her reply was somewhat incoherent: "Whatever."

The moment Shen Juan handed the phone back to her after taking the photo, Li Meng smelled a faint fragrance on him. This inexplicably reminded her of the time when her feelings for him were at their most intense. Everyone else was writing their names on their protective suits, but she was the only one who added "Shen Juan's fan" before her name.

Although the head nurse and colleagues teased her for being a bit scheming, at least during that period, the name was indeed a light that supported and accompanied her through countless long nights.

Shen Juan didn't stay long, afraid of disturbing everyone's rest and work.

Before leaving, he took out his phone, gathered everyone together for a group photo, and shared it on Weibo and Instagram.

Shen Juan/alexs: [I pray that all the love you sent out that failed to achieve its purpose will eventually return to you.]

There are no fancy words.

Even the accompanying photos were fresh, unedited group photos and photos from the album, yet they topped the trending searches within minutes.

Back in the lounge, Li Meng looked at the group photo she had just saved on her phone. In the photo, Shen Juan had his head slightly tilted to the side, his mask half off, a gentle smile on his face, and his eyes were softly fixed on her. She, on the other hand, lowered her head shyly, but her shoulders unconsciously leaned towards him.

Just as he had joked, the scene did indeed resemble a young couple who had just confirmed their relationship, still feeling a bit nervous and shy, with even the surrounding air seemingly filled with a faint sweetness. Thinking of this, Li Meng couldn't help but smile, and the happiness and joy in her heart kept bubbling up like bubbles.

It turns out that having chemistry with someone you like is this sweet, cloying feeling that makes you want to hide your happiness and be secretly delighted!
Then she suddenly realized...
This summer, which had endured a harsh winter, seemed to have become exceptionally gentle because of this dreamlike, brief encounter.

Some people seem to be born to be the light that illuminates the desolate world of others, bringing warmth and strength to everyone.

Meanwhile, in another corner of Wuhan, Wang Junkai and Du Haitao, who were also guest stars on this episode of Chinese Restaurant, stood side by side on the roadside. They had just learned some exciting news from the production team, so the topic of discussion naturally revolved around this world-renowned "mystery guest".

"I can't believe he actually came!"

Du Haitao's tone was full of excitement.

Although he had met Shen Juan on another program on Hunan TV just two months ago, no matter how many times they had met, no matter how much controversy and negative public opinion surrounded Shen Juan at this stage, Shen Juan is still the contemporary top pop superstar that all celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry look up to and worship without discrimination!

If it weren't for the negative impact, he would have even considered kneeling before Shen Juan to wash away the shame and negative influence he had suffered from kneeling before Quan Zhilong.

After all, no matter how much he likes Korean culture and G-Dragon, he has no right to compare G-Dragon and Shen Juan; they are not even in the same league.

If he insists on using GD to emulate Shen Juan, then there is only one outcome left for him: to suffer a disgraceful and ruined old age, just like Bago.

"I didn't expect that either."

Wang Junkai is actually not familiar with Shen Juan at all.

Although they got to know each other very early on through the TV series "Our Youth", they had almost no private communication.

Even the few limited exchanges were awkward conversations organized by Song Zuer, an e-person with a slightly talkative tendency.

So to be honest, he didn't know much about Shen Juan. His previous understanding of Shen Juan, a peer, was probably just that...
He is usually very quiet. Song Zuer jokingly called him a quiet and handsome man in private, saying that he was so handsome that he was beyond their usual style.

He was very serious when he worked. Although his acting skills at the time were not particularly good and he was still quite inexperienced, they were definitely much better than the others.

He was very polite, bowing to thank every staff member. He thought this must be a habit Shen Juan developed in South Korea.

That's all.

I learned about the rest through the news.

He himself lacked accurate understanding.

Even so, he knew that Shen Juan was definitely not him, nor was he someone that anyone else in the entertainment industry could try to take advantage of!

After all, as artists, unless they harbor deep-seated hatred or are particularly jealous, they generally hold those who excel in their field in high regard. No one understands better than them how difficult it is to achieve that level of success. Therefore, while they envy and are jealous of Shen Juan's achievements, they also admire and yearn for him. Wang Junkai, for instance, secretly admires and even idolizes Shen Juan, his senior from the same school who is only one year older than him.

He even knew that his brother had been clumsily imitating Shen Juan in multiple dimensions, trying to copy him poorly.

They just didn't tell anyone.

After all, fans don't like their idols idolizing people their own age; to some extent, this behavior is a betrayal of the fans.

So it's best to keep it to yourself! Because he believes that even if you don't say it, the other person can still sense it.

And the other side.
Due to the flooding, ships are unable to reach Wuhan.

With the help of Wang Junkai and Du Haitao, the Chinese restaurant crew successfully moved their location to a restaurant on the shore.

At this moment, the men are processing ingredients in the kitchen.

The women set up tables and chairs inside the restaurant.

"Chaoyue, you've looked outside at least forty or fifty times in the last half hour. Who are you waiting for?" Zhao Liying asked with a playful smile.

Yang Chaoyue hurriedly looked away, forcing herself to remain calm, and said, "It's nothing, just checking if there are many people around here."

"Still pretending!" Li Haofei, the Hunan TV contracted host in charge of livening up the atmosphere, chuckled and nudged her lightly with her elbow, teasing with a smile: "Who was it that rushed to the bathroom to touch up their makeup as soon as they heard from the production team that Shen Juan was coming?"

(Mango TV originally planned to replace Li Haofei with Cheng Xiao, but considering that among the five regular guests, apart from Zhang Liang, they were either taciturn or pretended to be serious, and someone was needed to liven up the atmosphere, so they decided to add Cheng Xiao, thus forming a lineup of three men and three women: Huang Xiaoming, Zhang Liang, Lin Shuwei, Zhao Liying, Cheng Xiao, and Li Haofei.)

Yang Chaoyue was still being stubborn: "I just think that since a new colleague is coming, we have to show our best side."

It wouldn't be accurate to call it a crush.

There might be a little bit of goodwill, but not much.

She just felt that, how should I put it?

enjoy
It's probably because he admires Shen Juan.

I admire both his looks and his career.

When people encounter beautiful things, they always unconsciously become serious; this is a primal instinct determined by human genes.

So Yang Chaoyue subconsciously wanted to dress herself up beautifully before meeting him, hoping to leave a good impression.

Although they had met at a League of Legends exhibition match a long time ago, isn't there a saying that goes like this?

A scholar should be treated with new respect after three days of separation!
So she also wanted Shen Juan to see the changes in her!
In the kitchen, Lin Shuwei was wiping a clay pot with a dishcloth, Zhang Liang was chopping scallions, ginger and garlic, and Cheng Xiao was washing vegetables by the sink. However, whether it was because she knew that Shen Juan was coming to the Chinese restaurant soon or for some other reason, she seemed a little absent-minded and her movements were noticeably slower than usual.

"Xiao Xiao, I heard Shen Juan wrote a song for you?" Lin Shuwei noticed her change in mood and asked with a smile.

Cheng Xiao instinctively wanted to admit it, but remembering what Shen Juan had told her last night, she changed her mind and said, "We wrote it together."

"So you're in charge of the lyrics, and he's in charge of the music, right?" As a singer, Liu Yuning is obviously very interested in things in the music industry.

He had even made thorough preparations for this, collecting and learning a great deal of information about Shen Juan and his preferences in advance, all in order to take this opportunity to build a good relationship with Shen Juan and leave a good impression on him, making it easier to infiltrate his inner circle in the future.

“Yes!” Cheng Xiao smiled and nodded gently.

"I heard it too, it really is sweet!" Zhang Liang said with a smile.

"Thank you!"

At this moment, the store manager Huang Xiaoming's voice suddenly came through the walkie-talkies they were wearing, clearly filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Partners, friends, everyone get ready to pick someone up outside the restaurant! Our important guest today, Shen Juan's car will be here in five minutes!"

"okay!"

"So fast?"

"finally come!"

"Xiao Xiao, are you smiling so happily?"

"No way!"

"I wasn't laughing just now, but I am now."

The crowd responded in unison.

Then they all stopped what they were doing, tidied themselves up in front of the mirror, and walked out of the restaurant to gather on the roadside.

Not much to say.

This guy, the only guy in the Chinese entertainment industry, the only master in the Chinese entertainment industry, has arrived here, so we really need to take him seriously!
After all, he is not only a top performer in the entertainment industry, known as "the best in the world", but also an opinion leader at the national and social level. He has honorary titles including but not limited to "Demolitionist", "Son of Shanghai", honorary doctorate from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Hong Kong University, and Dato' of Malaysia, as well as the good reputation given to him by the public.

Others enjoy such treatment on TV shows mainly because of their seniority and age, but he is unique in that he has earned his status as an artist through genuine achievements.

If you don't show respect to such important figures, then you can expect to be cyberbullied by their fans and boycotted by the industry!

They waited for about five minutes, each with their own feelings.

When the SUV from the sponsoring brand of the program slowly pulled up to the side of the road, the moment the door opened, everyone stared in astonishment.

I felt my breath and heart stop for a moment.

Being handsome is certainly part of the reason.

No one in all of East Asia can deny Shen Juan's handsomeness.

But more than anything, it's that mysterious and enigmatic aura.

That superstar feeling that's hard to describe in words.

As soon as Shen Juan got out of the car, he saw the crowd standing by the roadside to welcome him. He smiled and held up the box with the Chinese restaurant logo on it. It was the funding that the production team had asked him to bring to the Chinese restaurant staff: "This is the support fund that the production team asked me to bring to you. I hope you can bring warmth and love to the people of Wuhan."

"Yes! It definitely will!" Huang Xiaoming replied with a smile.

Du Haitao was the first to greet him, his face beaming with a bright smile, so excited he didn't know what to do with his hands.

"Brother Juan! Long time no see!"

Calling someone more than ten years younger than himself "brother" shows that Haitao is indeed an experienced, shameless, and experienced sycophant.

Following the principle of not hitting a smiling face, Shen Juan stepped forward and gave him a gentle hug, saying, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

As a result, this simple hug made Haitao feel even more excited than when he met GD, and he wanted to kneel down and worship him.

After all, the Shen Juan you meet in your dreams and the Shen Juan you meet outside give you very different feelings, completely different feelings!

Shen Juan, whom I longed to meet, was like a gentle school heartthrob, without such strong star power; he hid all his brilliance.

But outside, on other programs, he shines brightly and exudes a powerful aura, constantly demonstrating the true value of being called the chosen one.

Wang Junkai stood to the side, and when Shen Juan turned to him, the young man subconsciously stood at attention: "It feels like we haven't seen each other for a long time."

Shen Juan smiled and gave him a light hug. "I still remember the day I finished filming, you treated the whole crew to milk tea."

"I thought there should be some kind of ceremony when filming wraps up."

“I know, that’s why I remember it.”

It wasn't until Shen Juan and Liu Yuning started talking that Wang Junkai came to his senses. So what did he mean by that?

Is he thanking me?

Or are you mocking me?

It should be thanks.
Sigh. The gap between him and me is still too big.

A single sentence can make me overthink.

Although everyone here is a celebrity, an artist.

However, there are differences between celebrities.

Shen Juan truly deserves to be called a star among stars.
Zhao Liying extended her right hand to Shen Juan: "Hello Shen Juan, I am Zhao Liying! We met at the awards ceremony before."

Shen Juan politely returned the handshake, "Why are you being so formal?"

"Won't this create distance? We don't even have WeChat."

Shen Juan took out his phone from his pocket, raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Isn't it available now?"

After Shen Juan added Zhao Liying on WeChat, Yang Chaoyue, who was feeling awkward but pretending to be calm, walked over.

"Hi~ Long time no see!"

"Well, long time no see."

Yang Chaoyue was about to respond nervously when she saw Shen Juan walk past her and head towards Cheng Xiao.

Is there traffic?

"Fortunately."

"I've reserved a single room for you!"

"Do I need to say thank you?"

"Of course not! Hehe~"

Yang Chaoyue stood there blankly, watching Shen Juan and Cheng Xiao chatting happily. Thinking of the song "Shi Yi" that she listened to before going to bed last night after celebrating Cheng Xiao's birthday with everyone, she felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart.

It's a little sour and a little astringent.

It's not a matter of liking or having a crush on someone.

He likes handsome men, especially top-tier handsome men.

But I won't fall in love at first sight just because of a face.

So to put it bluntly, she just felt that it would be very prestigious to stand next to Shen Juan like Sister Cheng Xiaotian.

That's it.

Well, at least for now, that's all.

(End of this chapter)