Zongman: The post-2D era

Feng Feng frowned, his hands unconsciously clasped together, his knuckles slightly white, it was obvious that he was experiencing a silent struggle in his heart.

"Yukino, Ruby...when is she coming?"

His voice was low and slightly nervous, and his eyes revealed a resistance and uneasiness towards the unknown.

Yukino opened her red lips slightly, her voice soft but firm: "Tomorrow afternoon, there will be a small exchange meeting in the school auditorium. She will show up at that time and said that she wants to explain the misunderstanding in person and hopes to have a face-to-face meeting with you."

She paused, her eyes fell gently on Feng Feng, "Don't worry, I will be with you and face it together."

As Yukino finished her words, Feng Feng seemed to be able to foresee the complicated atmosphere in the auditorium tomorrow - flashing lights, whispers, and those curious or questioning looks.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, but the inexplicable panic in his heart spread like ripples.

He began to imagine himself standing under the spotlight, face to face with Ruby Hoshino, trying to clarify everything in front of everyone and wash away the unwarranted stigma.

The self in the picture is both firm and slightly fragile, and all of this will be revealed one by one under the sunshine tomorrow.

Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps broke the silence in the room, and then a hand as delicate as jade gently patted Feng Feng's shoulder.

He shuddered suddenly and looked up, only to see a girl in school uniform standing in front of him. Her familiar smile was like the warm spring sun, instantly lighting up the entire room.

It's Ruby Hoshino, who is more vivid and closer to reality than her image on the screen.

Ruby's long hair was casually tied into a ponytail, with a few strands of hair gently brushing against her cheeks, adding a bit of girl-next-door intimacy to her.

Her bright eyes sparkled with anticipation and sincerity, as if they could see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts. "Mr. Feng Feng, it seems that my appearance has surprised you a little."

She smiled like a flower, with a barely perceptible hint of playfulness in her voice, "But don't worry, tomorrow's announcement will be for the public, and our preparations today are the key. Come, let's discuss how to clear up this misunderstanding."

Xueno's eyes suddenly became sharp, like the first ray of cold light penetrating the clouds in winter, shooting straight at the hand gently resting on Fengfeng's shoulder.

She spoke slowly, her voice was soft but carried a dignity that could not be ignored: "Miss Ruby, your physical contact seems too intimate. Don't forget, this is a school, and we are still discussing business."

After saying that, Yukino took a step forward lightly and naturally stood between Feng Feng and Ruby, separating the two with a subtle gesture.

There was no hostility in her eyes, but she clearly conveyed a sense of boundaries, making it impossible to ignore her identity and position as the president of the student union.

When Ruby heard this, the smile on her face froze slightly, then quickly returned to normal. She gently withdrew her hand, with a hint of apology and understanding in her eyes.

"Ah, I'm sorry, President Yukino. I was negligent. Indeed, I should have been more careful about my behavior in an occasion like this."

As she spoke, she bowed slightly, and her sincerity and humility eased the tense atmosphere a little.

Feng Feng was about to speak to ease the delicate atmosphere, but Ruby had already turned lightly and faced him, with an unprecedented seriousness in her eyes.

"Mr. Fengfeng, I have an idea about this matter." As she spoke, she took out an exquisite notebook from her backpack, gently opened it, and showed it to the two of them.

The notebook was densely packed with all kinds of information, ranging from the direction of online public opinion to detailed analysis of the Yuki Osauchi incident, and even included several carefully designed clarification plans.

Ruby's finger gently slid across one of the pages and stopped at a plan with pictures and text:

"We can do this, through an open live dialogue, not only to respond to the outside world's doubts, but also to show the other side of the Xiaozone incident and make the truth more three-dimensional. Of course, all this requires your participation, using your voice to directly communicate with the public."

Feng Feng's face suddenly turned gloomy, with deep resistance locked between his brows. He stood up abruptly, and when he looked at Ruby, there was a hint of imperceptible pain in his eyes.

"Ruby, I don't want to talk about Xiao Zone anymore."

His voice was low and firm, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, with unquestionable power.

When Ruby heard this, an expression of disbelief and confusion appeared on her face. She bit her lower lip lightly, and her eyes lingered on Feng Feng, as if looking for some answer.

Then, she slowly paced around Feng Feng. Each step seemed particularly heavy, and there was an indescribable depression in the air.

"But, Feng Fengjun, if you don't do this, those unfounded accusations and misunderstandings will only snowball and eventually crush you, and even the innocent girl will be dragged into it."

There was a hint of urgency in Ruby's voice. She stopped and faced Feng Feng, her hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

Ruby's eyes suddenly sparkled and she said, "Then we'll just have to let the opponent in that scene bear the bad reviews. Anyway, that person has poor acting skills and is full of scandals."

"Tomorrow you will act out the jumping scene with me again. This time I will perform it to the fullest, even better than Xiao Zuo Nei."

"This way, netizens will see that it's not my acting that's bad, but the other person's."

Feng Feng sighed softly, his eyes full of helplessness and fatigue. He shook his head gently, his voice low and firm:

"Ruby, you know what? I never thought of becoming a star. All this glory and controversy is a heavy burden for me."

Hearing this, the anxiety on Ruby's face was gradually replaced by tenderness. She gently closed the notebook and looked at Feng Feng tenderly, as if she could see through his inner struggle.

"Mr. Feng Feng, I understand how you feel. But sometimes, when faced with misunderstandings, running away is not the best solution."

"Tomorrow, let's treat it as a day for us to fight for the truth together. Please, let me work with you to break those groundless accusations."

Chapter 815: The Remaining Waves of the Lake

Thursday, September 29

Feng Feng stared at the short video of Ruby Hoshino and himself jumping off the building on the screen, looked at the nearly 10 million views, and sighed with his hands on his forehead.

Hoshino Ruby also said proudly: "I have tens of millions of fans after my debut. How are you going to thank me?"

Feng Feng raised a playful smile and deliberately prolonged his tone: "Oh? In that case, I must treat you well. Tell me what kind of 'delicious food' you want to eat, and I will cook it myself, and I guarantee that you will never forget it."

Upon hearing this, Hoshino Ruby's eyes lit up, as if she had foreseen a table of delicacies. She clapped her hands excitedly:

"It has to be - spicy crayfish, sweet and sour spare ribs, steamed sea bass, garlic broccoli, braised pork, four-joy meatballs, jade tofu, Kung Pao chicken, and... oh yeah, jade shrimp and tomato beef brisket soup! How about it, isn't this a luxurious menu?"

After saying this, she looked at Feng Feng triumphantly, as if she could already see a table full of delicious food swaying before her eyes.

Feng Fengcan smiled and nodded. The sunlight shone through the window lattice onto his warm smile, and it seemed that even the air was filled with a hint of anticipation.

"Okay, it's settled. I'll go to the market tomorrow morning to pick out the freshest ingredients and ensure that your taste buds will enjoy a feast." His words were filled with unquestionable tenderness and determination.

When Hoshino Ruby heard this, her eyes brightened. She almost jumped up and took Feng Feng's hand. The two figures stretched out in the slanting afternoon sunlight and walked briskly towards the home economics classroom.

In the classroom, the sunlight dappled on the wooden tabletop, rows of kitchen utensils sparkled with a silvery luster, and the air seemed to still be filled with the sweet aroma of baking from the previous class.

Hoshino Ruby pointed at the pots and pans excitedly, her eyes sparkling with endless longing for delicious food: "I have asked people to prepare the ingredients a long time ago, let's get started."

She seemed to be eager to work with Feng Feng to create a miracle for their taste buds in this small world.

Feng Feng skillfully cleaned the crayfish, his fingertips nimbly moving through the water. Occasionally he looked up with a helpless smile on his face, and said jokingly:

"It seems that our great star Xingye had planned this 'food trap' long ago."

Upon hearing this, Ruby Hoshino's cheeks turned slightly red, but she pretended to be calm as she picked up the broccoli beside her and gently rinsed it. There was a cunning light in her eyes and a smug smile on the corner of her mouth.

"No, I'm just looking forward to cooking with you. I definitely don't want to eat the best food to cheer myself up."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the phone on the table. The screen was dimly lit, showing an unread message. It was an urgent work arrangement sent by her agent, but she chose to ignore it and just wanted to immerse herself in this rare tranquility and joy.

Between the two of them, the sounds of flowing water and cutting vegetables intertwined into a warm melody of life, and the air was filled with anticipation for the feast for taste buds that was about to blossom.

Feng Feng is like a master chef who is in control of everything. With the dance of his fingertips, flames jump on the three stoves, each telling a different food story.

The red oil of the spicy crayfish was bubbling in the pot, and the spicy aroma was like an alluring magic, quickly spreading to every corner of the classroom, causing the wind outside the window to seem a little eager to find out what was going on.

The sweet and vinegar aroma of the sweet and sour spare ribs are intertwined to form a mouth-watering sweet storm. The golden ribs are even more tempting under the sugar-colored wrapping, as if every bite is the taste of happiness.

The deliciousness of the steamed sea bass is quietly released in the rising steam. The delicacy and sweetness of the fish meat are more distinctly layered against the backdrop of scallions and ginger, making people take a deep breath involuntarily, trying to absorb this pure deliciousness into their hearts.

In the classroom, as the dishes gradually took shape, the aroma became stronger and stronger, almost solidifying into a entity, flowing slowly between the light and shadow.

Hoshino Ruby was amused by Feng Feng's humorous and witty command and sometimes she covered her mouth with her hands to chuckle, and sometimes she hurriedly handed over various seasonings and side dishes. The tacit understanding and laughter between the two were like the most perfect seasoning, making this delicious meal even more touching.

Outside the door, the students in the corridor who were originally rushing to the cafeteria slowed down their pace involuntarily. Attracted by the sudden fragrance, they stopped and looked around curiously.

Some sniffed the air with surprise on their faces; others stood directly at the door, their eyes flashing with desire for delicious food, as if even time had stopped.

The sunlight shines through the window and onto everyone's face, creating vivid pictures of the temptation of delicious food. This moment inside and outside the classroom is closely connected by the warm fragrance and laughter, becoming a unique landscape on campus.

Hoshino Ruby was touched by the eager gazes and expectant expressions of the students outside the door. She turned to look at Feng Feng, her eyes flashing with cunning and tenderness.

Seeing this, Feng Feng raised the corners of his mouth and nodded in understanding, as if everything was self-evident.

"Since everyone is so enthusiastic," Hoshino Ruby said to the students outside the door with a smile, "then come and help! However, you must abide by the rules and don't make trouble!"

Upon hearing this, the students cheered and rushed into the home economics classroom. The originally quiet space was instantly filled with youthful energy and laughter.

The students quickly divided into groups. Some were responsible for arranging the dishes and carefully decorating them.

Some were busy preparing dipping sauces, with various condiments colliding in the bowl to create attractive colors and flavors;

Others gathered around Feng Feng, learning his techniques of stir-frying dishes, exclaiming and laughing from time to time.

Feng Feng gave patient instructions, occasionally inserting a few humorous jokes, which made everyone laugh.

An hour later, Hoshino Ruby sat at the dining table with a few grains of rice hanging from the corners of her mouth. She smiled and squinted her eyes, as if she had just woken up from a sweet dream.

The sunlight shone through the window onto her satisfied face, giving her smile a warm golden edge.

She gently patted her slightly bulging belly, looking playful and cute. Then she turned to look at Feng Feng, her eyes sparkling with gratitude and vitality.

"Feng Feng, thank you! This meal is like a super energy station. I feel fully recharged and can work hard for a while longer!"

As she spoke, she stood up and did an exaggerated stretching motion, as if she wanted to release all her fatigue completely with this one move.

Her fingers slid across the screen of her mobile phone, but her eyes occasionally drifted towards Feng Feng who was busy tidying up the kitchen utensils. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes.

On the screen, a short video that had just been uploaded attracted her full attention——

In the picture, a male actor was smiling but there was a hint of provocation in his eyes. He announced to the camera that he would launch an acting challenge, targeting Feng Feng, calling him "the most authentic performance appraisal master in the entertainment industry."

In the comment section, comments poured in, some supporting the actor's courage, while others were affirmation and expectation of Feng Feng's ability.

Ruby Hoshino's heartbeat couldn't help but quicken. She knew very well that although Feng Feng was low-key, his talent in his professional field was impeccable. Such a challenge would undoubtedly push him to the forefront.

Chapter 816: Difficult to Enter the School

Friday, September 30

Feng Feng came out of the guard room and walked into the school with a sigh of relief.

Yukinoshita Yukino walked side by side with him and asked curiously, "Are you really not going to let that actor into the school?"

"I don't like to be in the spotlight. Besides, he's not Ruby. He doesn't have that much face."

Feng Feng walked lightly in the morning light, across the paths of the campus, and every step seemed to carry a bit of unruliness and casualness.

In front of the teaching building, students were walking in groups of two or three, or hurriedly alone. He smiled and nodded to each of them, occasionally stopping to chat with familiar classmates.

"Hey, Feng Feng, I heard you've been getting close to a celebrity recently? A big star!"

"No way, I'm just an ordinary person. There's no way a big star would be interested in a small role like me."