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Chapter 16 一 A Giant Figure Appeared in Mid-Air.

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What does this mean?

What was Lin Chen’s attitude? Was there something hidden, or was he equally eager for the movie? Fans speculated variously.

This kind of incident quickly fermented without Bai Ruogu’s knowledge, dominating the hot topic lists. Even Bai Ruogu, an 18th-tier artist, was also brought up in popularity, and many people started to investigate his acting career.

Visibly, Bai Ruogu’s fan base was rapidly expanding. In the era of exploding interstellar populations, the number of fans quickly surpassed tens of millions and continued to grow…

Bai Ruogu, along with the crew, navigated through space in a spacecraft. He lay at the edge of a transparent window, gazing at distant planets and meteorites floating in the universe.

However, these scenes were fleeting, as the next moment they would jump to another space, presenting a new scene before him.

He looked at the smart brain in his hand, which showed the distance to the destination.

When he first came in, he listened to the instructions of the staff and scanned the spacecraft’s synchronized navigation with the smart brain, clearly marking the coordinates between the two points.

The vastness of the heavens and earth, the sun bringing brightness to some objects. In this vast universe, the spacecraft was as tiny as dust.

Just as Bai Ruogu looked up to calculate the timing of the planets’ movement, the smart brain beeped with a notification sound—

Ten seconds away from the destination, 9, 8, 7…

Bai Ruogu swiftly shifted his gaze forward. His eyes contracted as a planet grew larger and larger, obscuring the sunlight, casting a shadow through the aircraft’s window.

For a moment, it seemed as if the world fell silent. Then the aircraft began to shake violently. After a while, the cabin door opened, and the evening sun streamed in.

Bai Ruogu subconsciously walked towards the door. The moment he opened it, the sight that greeted him broadened his perspective.

Sure, here’s the passage translated to English in the past tense:

He saw only mountains overlapping, their forms continuous and undulating, stretching out as far as the eye could see. Distant peaks had blocked half the setting sun, leaving behind a swathe of darkening sky.

Bai Ruogu took a deep breath. Although others were used to it, it was still a bit of a shock for him, a man who had lived a thousand years ago.

As he walked outside, he suddenly heard a “be careful.” Strong arms pulled him back just as the sound of sliding rocks echoed in the air.

Looking down, Bai Ruogu realized he was standing on the edge of a cliff, the next step leading into an abyss.

Shaken, he quickly turned around to see that it was Li Huai who had pulled him back.

Seeing that he was unharmed, Li Huai breathed a sigh of relief and grumbled as he turned back towards the aircraft.

“What kind of ghost place is this we stopped at? What if something dangerous happens with such a high risk?!”

Someone inside quickly appeased, “Director Li, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I had someone stop here on purpose. Isn’t the next scene a cliff scene? We’ll go down as soon as we’re done filming!”

“Don’t you guys f***ing know to give advance notice? What if someone accidentally falls down without knowing?!”

An apologetic voice came from inside, and Bai Ruogu sighed in relief, not taking it to heart.

After all, this wasn’t a good place. The props team quickly came out to set up, eager to finish shooting and leave early.

After a while, everything was ready, and filming officially began—

When Hua Xingyuan opened his eyes, the ethereal blue light around him and the special steel plates on the walls had disappeared. What lay before him was such a magnificent scene.

He took a breath of cool air, feeling overwhelmed by the sight before him. Faced with such a strange scene, he subconsciously felt a bit scared until he saw the smart brain on his wrist, which barely eased his nerves.

The smart brain blinked with a green indicator light, symbolizing that he was in a special space.

Stepping on the uneven ground, the almost real sensation under his feet amazed him.

He tried to grab a handful of leaves next to him. He could feel the texture of the leaves themselves, but he couldn’t change them in any way, even though a light breeze could change the position of the leaves.

He continued walking forward, accidentally tripped over a pebble without looking down.

He gasped, got up, holding his knee and observing the surroundings. The instructions from before echoed in his mind—

The experience wouldn’t cause any substantial harm to the body, but would attempt to simulate the genuine experience of the scene as much as possible.

He stood up, feeling the pain but it didn’t hinder his movements. He stretched his arms, enjoying the comfortable breeze in the air.

“Is this the planet beyond 100,000 light-years away? Not bad. I’ll have Dad buy a spacecraft to bring Xu Mo here for vacation!”

He wandered around here for a while, discovering the pleasant climate and good natural conditions, becoming more certain that this was a suitable place for relaxation!

He inputted the coordinates into the smart brain so he could find his way back here later.

Just as he was wandering around with his hands on his hips, he suddenly heard an unusual sound…

His heart skipped a beat, the guy who often skipped classes to watch movies instantly understood what the sound was.

He had thousands of thoughts to justify that the sound wasn’t what he thought it was. But when he turned his head forward, he saw a man covered in blood and wounds, riding a horse in military attire.

The hooves pounded swiftly, trampling through the grass, and the man held a gun in his hand, though it was riddled with wounds, and blood flowed down the horse’s side along the barrel of the gun.

In Huaxingyuan’s mind, that gun was a very old-fashioned piece. It was essentially a gun that should have been called the ancestor of guns and placed in a museum.

But this…

He was just a rich second generation, accustomed to interacting with students on campus. Where had he seen such a scene before? Just the blood on the man’s body was enough to make him dizzy!

He gasped for breath, stepping back, but the horse ran too fast, and suddenly it was in front of him.

He retreated to the edge of the cliff, out of sight of the horse. Facing the cliff, the horse lifted its front hooves, clearly startled.

He didn’t understand the situation, only seeing the man on the horse seemed unable to hold on and rolled directly off the horse with a loud “thud,” hitting the ground hard.

Hua Xingyuan’s eyelids twitched, just hearing that sound made him feel pain.

But the man couldn’t relax, firmly gripping the gun and thrusting it into the ground, his arm veins bulging.

Hua Xingyuan held his wildly beating heart, realizing he was very close to the man now, and could even see the blood drops on his fingers clearly.

He gathered his courage and looked at the man. The man had short, neat hair, eyes like a deep pool, a fierce look, a high nose bridge, and clear features. His lips were slightly pale from blood loss, and his body was tense.

The man turned around, staring firmly in his direction, as if waiting for something, his hand tightly gripping the gun, ready to shoot.

This was the first time Bai Ruogu had seen Lin Chen, who was acting, head-on. The immersion was extremely strong. Whether it was the gaze, the movements, or the demeanor, it felt as if he were a real person. He almost forgot that he was acting because of being so close to him.

Indeed, he was a film emperor…

He was amazed, but at the same time, his fighting spirit was even more ignited. The road to becoming an actor was still very long, and he had just started out. There was still a lot for him to learn.

Soon, sounds came from ahead, the sound of hooves galloping toward them, with a distinct tone in the air.

“Major Esley, I advise you to surrender as soon as possible. Your army has been completely wiped out, and your country will sooner or later belong to us, Tamon.”

However, before their arrogance could prevail for too long, as soon as a figure appeared, Eisley pulled the trigger, causing the opponent to tumble directly from the horse, motionless.

“You bastard! You must pay with your life today!” His companion exclaimed angrily, followed by gunfire from their side.

Due to positioning, Hua Xingyuan unconsciously aligned himself with Eisley, even beginning to worry about him.

As bullets pierced Eisley’s body, the sight and sound shocked Hua Xingyuan, who stood dumbfounded, staring at the exposed flesh and the bleeding arm.

“Are you alright?” He didn’t know how to express his emotions, simply blurting out the words, knowing the other side couldn’t hear anything.

Nevertheless, Eisley remained unfazed, firing again despite the wound, causing another person to fall from a horse.

One shot after another, everything before Hua Xingyuan surpassed his understanding. This was not something a student should witness.

Eventually, the bullets ran out, and enemies began to encroach upon Eisley, who had many wounds and blood running from the corners of his mouth…

The enemies were furious, directly stabbing Eisley with knives. Eisley pulled out a small knife from inside his boot and, with his last strength, stood up and plunged it into the opponent’s chest.

Those nearby hurried to save their comrade, kicking Eisley out. Unable to steady himself, Eisley fell off the cliff, still with a knife lodged in his body.

Yet, he felt no sadness, his eyes carrying a hint of relief.

As he fell, he shouted with exhilaration, “Long live the Empire!”

The voice rang out loudly, echoing through the entire mountain and dispersing downwards.

The enemy realized that their efforts had been in vain, so they cursed a few times and rode away on their horses. Hua Xingyuan, who was left behind, looked at all this with a somewhat bewildered expression.

He gasped heavily for breath, his heart pounding as he looked at the corpse on the ground, then panicked as he looked at the fresh blood on the ground, so frightened that his legs went weak and he collapsed directly.

Having grown up in times of peace, where has he ever seen such scenes of fierce fighting? Especially when the bullets just flew past, he almost didn’t duck down and cover his head.

Running his hand through his hair, he almost cried. Just as he was catching his breath, he suddenly heard a faint groan.

Hua Xingyuan froze, then quietly looked down below the cliff—

On a protruding rock on the mountainside, there were a pair of bloody hands. The hands were very powerful, leaving behind a bloody imprint on the rock.

The view below was obscured by the rock, which was why the enemies hadn’t noticed it just now.

Hua Xingyuan was filled with dread, wanting to retreat, but an inexplicable sense of justice compelled him to try to save the situation.

Just then, he noticed a very long vine at the edge of the cliff.

Making up his mind, he stood up and decided to tie one end of the vine to a tree and let the other end down.

Grabbing the vine, he intended to pull it up with force, but it remained stubbornly still.

Hua Xingyuan forgot the rule that he couldn’t change facts, thinking it was his own lack of strength.

As he pulled harder, he lost control and his body slipped, tumbling downward.

“Ahhhh—” he cried out loudly, only to hear a “thud” followed by a mechanical voice.

[End of the Experience]

With the director’s call of “cut,” the scene was finally finished.

Countless crew members hurried to the edge of the cliff to lend a hand. Li Huai looked at the filming effect and suddenly heard a scream.

“Quick, someone come over! Mr. Bai’s safety equipment malfunctioned! The strap just came loose, and the safety device fell off before it could be opened!”

Li Huai’s heart skipped a beat, almost scared out of his wits, and he hurried over.

Beneath the cliff, there was a deep chasm. Lin Chen had already activated the safety device early, and in an instant, the “small iron box” around his waist opened, enveloping his entire body in a huge bubble, flying upwards.

However, the rope tied around Bai Ruogu’s waist, which held the “small iron box,” suddenly snapped, and he fell straight down like a freefall.

The hearts of the entire crew stopped, many people covered their mouths, their eyes were red. Li Huai didn’t know what he was yelling, hitting the ground by the cliff with force. Lin Chen in the bubble also froze, staring blankly below.

Bai Ruogu could feel the swift wind rushing against his cheeks, his whole body falling weightlessly downwards.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, moved his hand, and then fell silently, looking ahead quietly. Sometimes, the most panic-stricken person is the quietest.

His brain was in chaos, even though he was above average in intelligence, there was simply nowhere around to leverage, no way to ease the current situation.

Was this reincarnation going to end like this? Such thoughts flashed through his mind, clearly unwilling to accept such an outcome, yet helpless.

As he fell down, all he could see was the vast sky, the slightly dark sky with orange clouds on the horizon.

But at that moment, a huge figure suddenly flashed across the sky.

Bai Ruogu’s heart skipped a beat, even though he couldn’t see clearly, he had a very familiar feeling.

The next moment, his smart brain rang, the sound wasn’t the typical mechanical sound of the smart brain, but rather a cold, distant male voice that seemed to have appeared once in a dream.

[Automatic activation of protective mode.]

Protective mode? What kind of mode?

Bai Ruogu didn’t understand, nor could he imagine.

At the same moment, a semi-transparent blue giant figure several hundred meters tall suddenly appeared in the void.

The giant’s body was transparent, with countless streams of data flowing within. With steady hands, it caught Bai Ruogu, cradling him in its palm.

It originally appeared to be modeled after a person, and it appeared to be a man.

The figure slowly lowered its head, its azure eyes meeting Bai Ruogu’s gaze…

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Chapter 15 一 He Doesn’t Need Others to Be Nice to Him.

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Because the crew was going to leave in the evening, Bai Ruogu had to go back to his rental house to pack his luggage. Therefore, he declined Lin Chen’s invitation to go together and went back alone.

Lin Chen stood at the doorstep watching Bai Ruogu’s figure fade into the distance, momentarily lost in thought.

He clenched and then released his hand, murmuring softly, “Quite a special person.”

Until Bai Ruogu’s figure was no longer visible, he leaned against the door frame, opened his smart brain, and scrolled to the official account of the crew…

The account had been created not long ago, with only a few hundred followers, most of whom were crew members.

As he scrolled down, there was only one post on the official account: [Light Years Official V: I’ve joined the ‘Everyday’ big family, everyone come follow me!]

He shook his head, his finger hesitating above the like button, before finally closing the page with his hand.

The official account wasn’t in a hurry to promote, and he didn’t need to rush either. Besides, neither of them were fools, they could calculate.

As if suddenly remembering something, he opened his smart brain and scrolled to the contacts, then dialed one of the profiles.

The screen filled with static glitch¹, and it was so laggy that even the sound was lagging.

Lin Chen rubbed his head in frustration. He couldn’t understand what was going on. It was as if he was cursed. Ever since he lost internet connection on set, his internet speed had been moving at a snail’s pace. He tried to fix the problem by paying for a faster plan, but his payment was rejected. This was starting to drive him crazy.

After an unknown amount of time, there was finally a sound from the other side.

“Wei, Hello, Mr. Lin! What a pleasure to hear from you…”

“It’s truly an honor to have you contact us proactively.”

“What? Endorsement? Alright, alright, do you think we still doubt the people you introduce to us?”

“This…Bai Ruogu? You’re not talking about that person… are you?”

“Alright, alright, no problem. For the sake of Mr. Lin’s reputation, we’ll just give them all to Mr. Bai. We won’t worry about the sales volume.”

“Okay, okay, we’ll take the initiative to contact. We absolutely won’t disclose your information, so please rest assured.”

Lin Chen finished the call and closed the smart brain. He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist a few more times, then finally put down his arm and went inside.

Since Bai Ruogu didn’t want money, he could have given him some resources instead. Anyway, he never lacked this kind of thing, but the current Bai Ruogu should have needed it.

After finishing everything, Lin Chen didn’t feel anything special. He walked towards the mecha room, wanting to see his brother, Suoer, again.

As he looked ahead on the path, the smart brain on his wrist flashed a red indicator light, emitting a long-lasting glow before falling silent.

. . . . .

Bai Ruogu returned to his rental room after a busy day. He looked at the time on his wrist and realized he would have to leave in about an hour and a half.

Concentrating all day left him feeling weary, so he set the alarm clock, planning to rest for an hour first, and then spend half an hour packing after waking up from a nap.

He casually took off his shoes, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep before even covering himself with the blanket.

Exhausted all over, he experienced a brief moment of relaxation, with a hint of contentment on his face.

Su Miao floated nearby, quietly watching Bai Ruogu, using all his rationality to suppress the uprising emotion called riot.

His eyes blinked lightly, and his virtual heart was scorching hot, as if it was being washed by lava.

Beyond all the precise calculations, there was a mysterious sensation that transcended science: a sense of soul connection that could be locked onto with just one glance, leading one to believe that person to be ‘the one’.

Su Miao’s long silent heart started beating. Just 50% more, and he could unlock all his emotions, daring to recall everything they had been through from start to finish, daring to release his emotions, expressing all his obsessions….

Bai Ruogu forgot to close the window, and his exposed skin felt a bit cold. He rolled around in bed, trying to cover himself with the blanket, but due to fatigue, he lacked strength and failed several times.

Su Miao’s eyes flashed, and at the same time, news from Lin Chen’s side was transmitted…

An outsider was being kind to Bai Ruogu.

It seemed to trigger something, and Su Miao’s gaze became sharp. The next moment, his entire virtual body suddenly dissipated, and above Bai Ruogu’s bed, there was suddenly a thick, bluish light protective cover.

The cover gently descended, enveloping Bai Ruogu’s entire body securely. The warmth from the cover transferred to Bai Ruogu instantly, causing him to sigh with relief, squinting his eyes, his expression becoming content.

He pulled at the cover on his body, wrapping himself up like pulling a blanket around. Wrapped in the center of the light cover, he felt warm all over, as comfortable as lying in a warm quilt in winter.

The light cover also wrapped around Bai Ruogu tightly, sealing tightly together, with no gap between them.

The light cover behind Bai Ruogu was obviously thicker, pressing against his back. A pair of strong arms reached out from behind the light cover, wrapping around Bai Ruogu’s waist and locking him in. Even his legs were not spared, wrapped in a translucent, deep blue object.

Bai Ruogu slept very comfortably, feeling reluctant when awakened by the alarm clock, cuddling his “blanket” and rolling over, not even wanting to open his eyelids.

As he hesitated and struggled, suddenly he heard a cold, mechanical sound, the source of which was near his head, close to his ears.

“Would you like to start the housekeeping system to automatically pack your luggage?”

Bai Ruogu scratched his ear, thinking it was the bed’s built-in sound system. He yawned, hugged the “pillow” behind him, and mumbled, “Activate it and help me tidy up.”

“Okay.”

In a daze, there were faint sounds in the rental house, and Bai Ruogu knew it was packing his luggage for him, without thinking much about it. He just suddenly wondered why he hadn’t noticed this system before? This way, he wouldn’t have to do household chores every day as before.

Half an hour passed in an instant, and the familiar cold mechanical voice called him up again.

Bai Ruogu opened his eyes and suddenly felt a bit cold. Carefully looking down, he didn’t know where the blanket had been kicked off to.

Bai Ruogu: ?

Then what was he covered with before?

Time was tight, and Bai Ruogu didn’t think much about it. He got up and saw the neatly packed luggage bag next to him. Opening it casually, he found everything he needed inside, without anything he needed to rearrange.

A trace of doubt arose in Bai Ruogu’s heart, but because time was pressing, he didn’t have time to think carefully. He hurriedly picked up the luggage bag and rushed to the set.

Upon arriving at the set, the director had already rented a large aircraft in advance, and the crew members were busy moving equipment inside.

Bai Ruogu chatted with Li Huai for a while and also learned about the destination of their trip this time.

This planet was a mid-to-low-level planet nearly a thousand light-years away from planet Ruogu. At this time, civilization was similar to that of ancient Earth in the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

The place they were going to land this time was somewhat like ancient Europe, except that some technological inventions were relatively early.

After a while, everyone was ready, and they all boarded the aircraft one after another. Shortly after, the pilot started the aircraft, and it disappeared from planet Ruogu in an instant.

Director Li Huai leaned against the window, watching the distant planet recede, and breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, he finally had the courage to officially announce the movie on the interstellar network.

Today was originally a calm day as usual. Netizens lay at home leisurely browsing the StarNet, but as they scrolled through, they stumbled upon a strange post…

This post was an official announcement from a film crew, and they hadn’t heard of the movie’s name before. They quickly glanced over the cast list, most of which were unfamiliar names.

Huh! Another flop! Netizens didn’t even want to look at it, and some even doubted how they stumbled upon such a boring post.

However, shortly after, discussions about this movie called “Light Years” grew more and more, to the point where every three or four posts, one was about discussing “Light Years”.

Netizens: ??

Now this was odd. They hadn’t even heard of this thing before, so why were so many people discussing it all of a sudden?

Something fishy was going on! Netizens, driven by curiosity, clicked into the comments section, wanting to see what was worth discussing about this movie.

Until—

They suddenly sat up, their eyes fixed firmly on Lin Chen’s name, as if unable to believe it, they returned to the homepage and looked again at the cast list of the “Light Years” film crew.

Starring: Bai Ruogu, Lin Chen, Zhang Yuqing…

Wait! They rubbed their eyes in disbelief, even specifically clicked on the names to check their profiles, and found out they were indeed not homonyms, which left them completely baffled.

Lin Chen’s popularity was just too high. Basically, every three or four netizens, one would be Lin Chen’s fan. When they saw their idol suddenly appearing on a cast list for some unknown movie, their immediate reaction was confusion, followed by ecstatic joy!

Oh my! What’s going on? Has our brother come out of hiding? Our brother is finally back at work. Ahhh, I can’t wait to see him on the screen soon!

For any normal person, facing an unknown production crew, their first reaction would be that the crew was too low-key, there might be big shots among them!

Excitedly, they started searching for information about the movie cast. But after repeated searches, they almost turned everything upside down. No matter how much information they found, it all indicated that this crew was terrible, almost making them doubt their life choices.

What’s going on? They knocked on their smart brains hard, and their glasses almost fell off after they made sure there was no problem.

An outdated director who had directed seven or eight flops, a toxic lead actor whose movies had been boycotted countless times, a bunch of actors who had never appeared on screen?

Oh my gosh! They shook their heads in disbelief. Brother, if you were kidnapped, please blink your eyes.

On this day, Lin Chen made a comeback and directly rushed to the top of the hot topic, with a red “hot” character added at the end.

Subsequently, a series of hot topics followed suit.

#Lin Chen Returns with a Flop#

#Mysterious Production Crew#

#Lin Chen’s Decision to Take on a Movie Role Has an Inside Story#

Just when everyone started suspecting that Lin Chen was clueless about this movie, all of Lin Chen’s fans suddenly found a new notification in their inbox.

[The Lin Chen you follow has just liked a post from the crew of “Light Years.”]

Fans: ?!!

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Chapter 14 一 Repair Lin Chen’s Mecha, Suoer.

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Early the next day, Bai Ruogu took advantage of the half-day free time and went to Lin Chen’s house.

As soon as he entered the door, the butler and all the servants were very respectful to him, serving tea and water and everything else.

Lin Chen was also very delighted upon hearing that he had arrived, and hurriedly went forward to greet him.

Bai Ruogu came to repair the mecha in his free time. Seeing this, he didn’t waste any time and had the tools and parts brought over directly.

Lin Chen’s smile became even more genuine after hearing this. After all these years of being pampered by the entertainment industry, he actually took the initiative to pick up the toolbox and personally took Bai Ruogu to meet Suoer.

Suoer was in a huge mech room. As soon as they entered, the spacious interior greeted them, filled with various kinds of machine oil and tools for mech maintenance.

As they walked in, the change in lighting caused Bai Ruogu to squint. In the middle, a sturdy and old mech came into view.

The familiar exterior and circuit design made Bai Ruogu feel as if it were just yesterday, stirring up indescribable emotions within him.

Before his passing, these were just models, but now they were made real.

And… this was still the first generation. Without any improvements, every part was personally designed by him, and he knew every screw and wire like the back of his hand.

Rubbing his eyes, he took a deep breath, opened the toolbox, rolled up his sleeves, and began to search for the right tools and parts.

Lin Chen also crouched down beside the toolbox and scanned the parts inside, his voice steady, “Do you need any help?”

Bai Ruogu raised his hand to stop him, frowning slightly without looking up, habitually saying, “Don’t interfere with my rhythm.”

His tone was different from when they were filming, instead carrying a seriousness and professionalism. This change caught Lin Chen off guard, and he gazed at Bai Ruogu.

Bai Ruogu seemed to sense something as well. He paused, then looked up and smiled, “Sorry, this is what we do at home. I’ve been accustomed to it since I was young.”

Lin Chen shook his head and said, “It’s okay, please continue.”

He went along with a smile, seemingly unaffected on the surface, but inevitably had some thoughts in his mind.

The first time he met Bai Ruogu, the other party spoke humbly. Later, on the set, he also appeared humble and accepting, leading him to always think of the person in front of him as gentle and modest. However, in that moment just now, although it seemed natural, it made him involuntarily want to step back, with his heart beating faster.

Lin Chen suppressed his restless heart but his mind subconsciously replayed the feelings from just now.

This feeling was familiar, like suddenly being back in school. Back then, his academic performance was outstanding, and during university, he often encountered academic professors. There was once a professor from the Imperial Research Institute who visited, and at that time, the professor seemed to be contemplating a problem with a very serious and solemn demeanor…

Yes, it was that feeling, and even bolder, that professor didn’t leave as deep an impression as Bai Ruogu did! Lin Chen felt a bit dazed and quickly interrupted his thoughts.

He looked down at the young man in his early twenties in front of him, unable to resist the urge to smack himself. Bai Ruogu indeed had talent, but he wasn’t as impressive as he had imagined, not even comparable to that professor!

Really, it was probably because his inherent impression of Bai Ruogu was too deep, that’s why when he saw Bai Ruogu in a completely different light, he experienced a great mental shock.

He had intended to continue helping, but Bai Ruogu stopped him. Although Bai Ruogu was polite this time, the implication was clear. He would only delay Bai Ruogu’s progress here, so it was better to go out and give Bai Ruogu some peace and quiet.

Lin Chen was initially hesitant, but when he thought of Bai Ruogu as his only hope, he reluctantly let go of his worries. He glanced at the servants nearby and walked out, making sure to close the door behind him before leaving.

The natural light outside disappeared suddenly, but the indoor lighting became even brighter.

Bai Ruogu’s fingers paused, his gaze deepening. He retrieved a tool and some parts from toolbox, then stood up directly, gazing up at the worn-out mecha in front of him.

The white ceiling lights had cast a shadow on his figure, tall and upright, as he walked straight towards the mecha.

Behind him, Su Miao stood still, staring at Bai Ruogu’s back, and fell into silence.

A nursing mecha was a strange existence in this era. The first generation blueprints had disappeared without a trace, leaving others clueless and unwilling to bother reconstructing a mech that seemed to have little purpose beyond household use.

However, this nursing mecha had a different meaning to Bai Ruogu. It was a model that he personally created, and it was a model that he had designed for countless days and nights.

As his hand touched the rusty shell, complex emotions surged within him. The next moment, he tore off the outer shell, dismantling the entire mecha!

Except for the core chip, most parts scattered in an orderly manner, distributed in every corner of the room.

After various cleanings and repairs, the broken and rusty parts were replaced, taking on a new appearance. Faulty circuits were repaired, severed wires reconnected, and new circuits were added to bring the mecha closer to the standards of the present era.

Time passed by, and most of the parts on the ground had been transformed into a new form. Then, they were reassembled, and new circuits were added. Gradually, the scattered parts on the ground became fewer and fewer, and the chips were gradually wrapped up, becoming larger and larger. Slowly, the shape of a mecha emerged.

Time had long passed noon, and the air had shifted from scorching to mildly cool. As the final shell was assembled and the screws tightened, the whole mecha appeared refreshed, though it was clearly a cold object, but it possessed the breath of life.

The mecha’s shell gleamed brightly, and its indicator lights began to flicker, signaling that all was well and there were no faults.

However, Bai Ruogu did not inform Lin Chen. Instead, he settled himself into the cockpit.

Bai Ruogu was enveloped within the mecha, with a blue light screen in front of him.

There were many buttons on the control panel, and the seat was very comfortable.

Bai Ruogu lay inside the mecha, his eyes clear, a natural smile on his face, reminiscing with contentment.

He sat up, tilting his head, suddenly feeling a bit nervous for some reason.

Systematically, he pressed several buttons, as if entering a password.

As he pressed the enter key, the entire mecha suddenly lit up, and a mecha appeared in the center of the panoramic view light screen.

A mechanical voice echoed, perhaps due to the mecha itself, sounding masculine, heavy yet earnest.

The entire sound reverberated within the cockpit…

“Hello, Dad!”

Bai Ruogu burst into laughter, reaching out to touch the mecha’s shape on the light screen, replying cheerfully, “Yes, good son.”

Bai Ruogu reclined in the pilot’s seat, laughing casually. No one would have expected that the mecha Bai Ruogu had left behind years ago would address him as dad.

Bai Ruogu casually comforted the little mecha, instructing it to charge obediently, then exited the cockpit.

Bai Ruogu could not see the virtual person standing not far away stiffen, his eyes filled with a sudden and violent change in emotion.

His eyes were fixed on Bai Ruogu, wishing he could pull him. The virtual arms lifted in the air, and the next moment, the entire sky outside darkened, with fierce winds blowing through the trees on the street, countless leaves dancing swiftly in the air…

Pedestrians looked up at the sky in shock. The weather forecast on their smart brains clearly indicated it would be sunny. Why was the weather becoming increasingly inaccurate these days?!

Inside the space, the red alarms kept sounding——

Unable to calculate!

Unable to calculate!

Please input new speculative conditions and evidence! While this behavior may surpass common cognition, it’s inevitable that intentional factors are involved. This verification has been classified at the highest level. Please handle with caution!

Bai Ruogu was listed as a space SSS+ unlimited important person. Even though the deduction had been very close to a possibility, as long as there remained a 0.0001% uncertainty, judgment couldn’t be made.

This verification had certain drawbacks. There was a possibility that later generations could have found historical materials and deliberately triggered the conditions, so it still could not be verified.

——The probability of it being him is 52.0%.

After powerful blocking systems, the virtual person gradually returned to calmness, but some consciousness continued to follow Bai Ruogu’s movements.

Su Miao stood in front of the mecha, and in an instant, a powerful consciousness invaded the nursing mecha in front of him, triggering alarms inside the mecha.

Gradually, Su Miao’s virtual body also appeared in the blue light screen inside the mecha.

Facing this sudden invasion of AI, the mecha, Suoer, experienced a moment of shock and confusion.

The little mecha in the light screen shook its body and emitted a mechanical voice of a boy.

“Are you an enemy?” Simultaneously, Suoer switched to defense mode, staying vigilant against Su Miao’s potential invasion.

Su Miao stood silently within the light screen, gazing at Suoer, then suddenly spoke, asking, “What did you just call him?”

Suoer shrank back a little: “Father…” it timidly called out.

“Yes, good son,” Su Miao responded expressionlessly.

Suoer: …

After Bai Ruogu finished repairing, he walked out, while Lin Chen anxiously waited outside.

As soon as he saw Bai Ruogu come out, Lin Chen couldn’t wait to ask, “How is it? Ruogu, is it okay?”

Bai Ruogu nodded and pointed to the mecha inside, saying, “You can go in and take a look.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen eagerly walked in.

Upon entering, the completely refurbished mecha shell made Lin Chen’s heart feel alive. He looked at his old friend with an incredulous gaze. Despite forcibly suppressing his expression, his trembling fingers betrayed his inner turmoil.

He walked over and skillfully opened a panel, revealing the fingerprint verification inside.

Placing his finger on it, Suoer was activated in an instant, making a unique sound effect.

Suoer’s sound system had been badly damaged for years, so hearing such clear and bright sounds now brought a faint glimmer to Lin Chen’s eyes.

Lin Chen smiled and wiped his eyes unconsciously. He sincerely thanked Bai Ruogu, saying, “Thank you, thank you so much. Suoer is like my own brother. He is my other half!”

As he spoke, he wanted to grab Bai Ruogu’s hand, but this action seemed too presumptuous, so he halted momentarily. To express his gratitude, he deeply bowed to Bai Ruogu.

Bai Ruogu hurriedly helped Lin Chen up, while Lin Chen smiled and touched Suoer’s shell, saying, “Brother, now we can play for decades again!”

Suoer’s exterior lights flickered, then replied, “Yes, my good brother.”

This should have been a touching scene, but for some reason, Bai Ruogu’s eyelid twitched.

He tentatively asked, “Are you of the same generation?”

Lin Chen hugged Suoer joyfully, “That’s for sure!” Then he turned his head curiously and asked, “Is there a problem?”

Bai Ruogu pinched the wrist of his other hand, his face unchanging and calm, “No problem, it’s fine.”

---

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Chapter 13 一 The Fansite is Crowded.

Taw’s note: Previously, I used ‘Fan Page’ instead of ‘Fansite.’ The original text is 应援站 (Yìngyuán zhàn), which literally means ‘Support Station.’ I felt that ‘Support Station’ might not known, so I have decided to use ‘Fansite’ from now on. 😁

---

After resting well, Bai Ruogu boarded a public flying car to the technology museum.

Beneath the towering and majestic building, a blue virtual door blocked the entrance, with the words “Closed for Business” hanging on it.

Bai Ruogu presented his crew identification to the staff and, after clearance, followed the guiding robot inside.

They paid for two days’ worth of business at the museum, in exchange for half a day of filming time.

Passing through corridors, Bai Ruogu finally caught sight of the crew and equipment.

Everyone arrived earlier than Bai Ruogu and had already begun setting up.

Some actors were getting their makeup done. Due to the needs of the scene, Li Huai negotiated with the museum staff to make a cameo appearance. The museum staff readily agreed, they were eager to try with curious and excited hearts.

As soon as Bai Ruogu set down his belongings, the director happened to see him. He smiled kindly at him and directed him to the makeup room.

After nearly half an hour of continuous busyness, everything was finally ready, and the filming resumed.

Hua Xingyuan, accompanied by Xu Mo, arrived at the technology museum. As they entered, a scene filled with a sense of technology flooded their vision.

The ceiling resembled a black bottomless vortex, with many shiny stars twinkling above, and the background seemed endless like the universe, brimming with mystery. If one ignored everything else, it felt as if people were living in the universe.

The ground was a deep blue, resembling glass, and with each step, wondrous data would emerge and spread outward, pulsating continuously.

Robots serving as staff were everywhere, with their high-end and novel appearances adding to the sense of technology.

Here, Bai Ruogu’s character, Hua Xingyuan, displayed the expected arrogance. As soon as he entered, he began frolicking around, playing with the exhibits in the museum, and even teasing innocent little robots…

This series of events made Li Huai, behind the camera, both smile and shake his head. He hadn’t expected Little Bai to appear so proper yet be so unrestrained when acting.

He looked so arrogant that it made him want to go up and give him a beating.

Meanwhile, Xu Mo, as a close friend, started to advise incessantly, but Hua Xingyuan proved to be far more ignorant than he had imagined. He relied solely on his family’s wealth, swaggering around, and often remarked, “It’s no big deal, I’ll compensate for any damages.”

After suppressing it for so long, Xu Mo finally exploded. He stood in place, grabbing Hua Xingyuan’s shoulder and shouted,

“Hua Xingyuan, that’s enough! Can’t you have a bit of decency? Do you think anyone in society would accept someone like you?!”

Xu Mo looked at Hua Xingyuan, his eyes shimmering, gritting his teeth and making a “grinding” sound.

He was about to continue his lines, but was suddenly interrupted by Li Huai’s shout of “Cut.”

They turned around, only to see Li Huai frowning and tapping the table.

“I’m telling you, Zhang Yuqing, what are you doing? What’s the difference between what you’re doing and reciting lines? Is Xu Mo’s expression like that? Remember, you’re angry now, simmering with rage! And your arm, did you put any strength into it? What kind of performance is this? Do it again!”

Zhang Yuqing, who played Xu Mo, felt a jump in his heart, feeling uneasy. When he stood back in his original position and looked at Bai Ruogu again, he felt timid.

As the crew prepared again, with a “action,” Zhang Yuqing could only bite the bullet.

“Hua Xingyuan, you…” He tried to muster up the feeling of anger.

“Cut! Zhang Yuqing, what are you doing? I said simmering rage, not murder! Do it again!”

“Hua Xingyuan, that’s enough…”

“Cut! Is this anger? You’re almost crying. What the hell are you crying for, you big man?! Can you act? Do it again!”

“Hua…”

“Roll, roll, roll! I’m giving you time to think this over. If you can’t act your way out of this, you better get out of here!”

Li Huai cursed with his director’s temper, waving his hand to give everyone a break. Zhang Yuqing looked dismayed as he sat down, staring at the ground, sinking into self-isolation.

At that moment, another shadow appeared before him, and then someone sat down beside him.

“What do you think of our movie?” the person next to him suddenly asked, their voice clear and soft.

He turned his head to find Bai Ruogu, suddenly nervous, and quickly apologized for what had just happened.

“Sorry, sorry I’ve delayed you for so long.”

Bai Ruogu shook his head, patting Zhang Yuqing’s shoulder reassuringly. “It’s okay. This kind of thing is all too common and not worth remembering.”

Zhang Yuqing breathed a sigh of relief, his mood just starting to calm down when he heard Bai Ruogu beside him say, “I suddenly don’t want to shoot this movie anymore.”

“What?” Zhang Yuqing was shocked to hear this sudden bombshell. He turned his head hurriedly and asked, “Why? This movie is so good, and with Actor Lin as the lead actor, it’s bound to be a hit.”

As he spoke, Zhang Yuqing clenched his fists, his nerves all bundled up.

Bai Ruogu sighed and leaned back, casually saying, “Who knows about the future? I’ve been banned so many times. Whether this movie can be released or not is another matter. What’s the point of wasting effort?”

“You…” Zhang Yuqing panicked, flustered. “But you should at least give it a try! Maybe this movie will be a hit!”

“Ah, but the prospects are bleak.”

“But… if you shoot it, there’s still a chance, if you don’t, there’s no chance at all!”

“But I’m too lazy to bother.”

“You!” Zhang Yuqing choked with anger, even though he respected Bai Ruogu, but what the other person said made him uncontrollably furious.

Just as he was about to say something further, Li Huai waved his hand, indicating to start filming.

And so, Zhang Yuqing abruptly stopped, and all the actors and staff were in their positions.

The filming resumed——

This time, Zhang Yuqing was filled with anger. When the director said “action,” he directly grabbed Bai Ruogu’s collar, veins bulging on his arm.

His eyes protruded, he breathed heavily through clenched teeth, glaring fiercely at Bai Ruogu.

Li Huai showed an amazed expression, couldn’t help but stroke his chin, suddenly seeming to have some thoughts as he looked at Bai Ruogu.

Didn’t the two of them seem to be together just now?

Xu Mo stared at Hua Xingyuan, his eyes reflecting the other’s figure. His fingers gripped the other’s collar tightly, creaking as he did so.

He was so angry that he couldn’t speak coherently, cursing at Hua Xingyuan, “Do you think you’re so great? Can you do whatever you want just because your family is wealthy? Once you step out of school, you’ll be worthless in society! Utterly useless!”

“At least try a bit harder! Is your mental strength meant to be wasted like this? Success is right in front of you, but you damn well refuse to try! I’m truly disappointed in you. Can’t you have a bit of ambition? Can’t you see what state you’re in now, what kind of person you are?!”

He was so overwhelmed with anger that he pushed the other away, walking off in a random direction where there was no one around.

Hua Xingyuan hadn’t expected this turn of events, his expression blank, with indescribable emotions in his eyes.

He was pushed onto a chair by the other person, his waist hit hard, and he gritted his teeth, his face somewhat pained.

However, he did not close his eyes, and just stared blankly at Xu Mo’s retreating figure.

He wanted to reach out to catch him, but he clenched his hand and withdrew it. His lips trembled as he forcibly turned his head, remaining in place.

The camera switched to the clock on the wall. Time was passing second by second. An hour passed, and finally, the sound of a chair moving was heard.

The slender figure slowly got up. Hua Xingyuan looked up at the indicator above, which displayed the newly installed Star Gazer right ahead.

His expression suddenly became blank…

Finally, he moved his feet, walking alone towards there. It was supposed to be two people, but he had disappointed his only good companion…

The Star Gazer was in a huge observatory. Under the guidance of the staff, Hua Xingyuan topped up all his pocket money in one go.

The door opened and closed. The camera lingered on the notice above for a long time, accompanied by the faint system voice from the observatory…

“Please select the observation direction.”

“Please select the observation distance.”

“Okay, the Star Gazer’s maximum distance of 100,000 light-years is confirmed. Due to being the furthest distance the system has experienced, the preparation time is longer. Please be patient.”

“Preparations are complete, the experience begins…”

The real story begins, while the director starts looking for filming locations matching the movie’s content.

In today’s universe, some planets are highly developed and have entered the forefront of technology. However, some are underdeveloped, and some are even in primitive societies.

Between this range, there are countless planets that can serve as filming locations, providing materials for the movie. It can even be said that there’s nothing you can’t find if you search.

Soon, the director found a suitable environment on a planet and arranged transportation for the crew, scheduled to depart in a day.

Bai Ruogu went to remove his makeup first, and then he started packing his luggage. When he left the set, he happened to pass by Zhang Yuqing.

He looked at the other person’s anxious and uneasy expression, seeming eager to apologize. Bai Ruogu, however, smiled and took a step forward, saying, “Don’t worry, I never had the intention of leaving the crew.”

Without wasting any time, he picked up his luggage and walked away.

Zhang Yuqing stood still, his expression blank. He looked around in a daze, and in an instant, everything became clear to him.

He then turned to look at Bai Ruogu’s departing figure, his expression somewhat complicated as he pondered something.

After finishing filming, Bai Ruogu suddenly remembered his fans on StarNet. So, he eagerly opened his smart brain and took a selfie, then uploaded it to Everyday.

[Actor Bai Ruogu: Finished filming, feeling relaxed. (Image)]

The selfie showed only the upper half of his body, standing on a bustling street with people coming and going. Perhaps to avoid exposing others’ privacy, some parts were blurred. It was a slightly upward angle, showcasing a delicate face, with soft features.

His almond-shaped eyes showed a hint of nearsightedness, looking very focused. His fair skin was flawless, and his facial features were harmoniously proportioned, with his black hair giving off a somewhat youthful vibe.

Apart from the tall buildings on either side, the background was dominated by the vast expanse of the blue sky.

When this selfie was uploaded to Everyday, his fans went crazy, leaving comments and reposting, all eagerly admiring.

Some avid fans quickly saved the photo to their gallery, while others even set it as their smart brain background.

Zhang Yaya was Bai Ruogu’s die-hard fan. At this moment, she lay in front of her smart brain screen, crazily admiring her idol’s looks.

She clocked in every day without fail, often voting for her idol. However, her idol was just a minor celebrity, and no matter how hard Zhang Yaya tried, her idol never gained much popularity.

Zhang Yaya was constantly frustrated. Her idol was obviously so outstanding, when would he finally become popular?

However, on that day, after her routine on Everyday, she saved her brother’s beautiful photos, crazily admiring his looks, and sighed at how his photography skills had improved!

After logging off from Everyday, she casually searched her brother’s name on StarNet. She had expected to find the usual obscure early news, but today she stumbled upon an unheard-of website.

“Actor Bai Ruogu Fansite,” with over 200,000 fans.

Zhang Yaya’s eyes widened in disbelief. What?! Her brother actually had a fansite? Judging by the number of fans, it appeared to be gaining attention!

She quickly clicked into the website, assuming her brother’s popularity would be minimal, but to her surprise, this high-end website immediately dazzled her.

The layout was clean and stylish, with various options clearly defined and beautiful fonts! Every method of support was available, divided into numerous sections such as video section, figure section, photo section, schedule section…

Holy cow!!! Wasn’t the configuration of this website amazing?! Even the fansite for top interstellar stars weren’t this great, right?!

As soon as she registered her account, a prompt popped up asking if she wanted to join a chat group.

Join! She definitely had to join! Being alone with so many fans was boring; she could meet like-minded sisters right away!

Zhang Yaya’s home had poor internet, and she thought it would take a while for the app to load, but the speed was unexpectedly fast, switching instantly, not even giving her time to blink.

Zhang Yaya: ??? Wait! Something seems off?

Once she entered the chat group, named Ruogu Fan Group 1, there were over a thousand members.

Zhang Yaya became even more excited, staring at the screen eager to see what her sisters were saying and to join the conversation.

But the chat group was unusually silent…

Zhang Yaya: ???

Yaya: [Huh? Is there anyone in this group?]

As if triggering some button, the screen suddenly flickered to life, message after message followed.

[Welcome, new member!]

[Wow, wow, welcome!]

[I’ve just realized how great my brother is, his acting is superb!]

[I’m simply infatuated with my brother’s looks, ahh I could admire them for a lifetime!]

The atmosphere suddenly became lively. Zhang Yaya breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest, and secretly thinking: Maybe the system was just glitching earlier. How could there be no one in such a large group?

Zhang Yaya joined in too, chatting occasionally, even making several good friends!

They felt like old friends, discussing how to support their brother.

Zhang Yaya was ecstatic, she finally found her base camp today!

However, what she didn’t know was that in the virtual data space, there was a line displayed on the backstage of a platform—

Registered members for fansite: 1.

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Chapter 12 一 Established a Fansite

---

While waiting for the afternoon filming, Bai Ruogu casually ate a few bites of food before reclining on the sofa in the rental house. He browsed the news on StarNet using his smart brain.

He was using an entertainment platform called “Everyday¹,” which was also the main battlefield for actors and celebrities. The platform had all sorts of updates, mainly focusing on entertainment gossip. It was also the fiercest battleground for fan communities.

Bai Ruogu carefully compared it and found that this platform was quite similar to a certain platform in the past, except that it didn’t stand out as much as that platform did. Instead, its influence was on par with other entertainment social platforms.

The hot topic was at the top of the virtual screen, with words scrolling from time to time. Most of them were news about celebrities.

For example, if a certain celebrity had a public spat with another celebrity, who cheated on whom, who dated whom… as long as the popularity was high and the topic was relevant enough, even the smallest details could make it to the hot topic.

Bai Ruogu lay comfortably, lightly shaking his head with a smile as he scrolled through these news, sighing before moving on to the next hot topic.

Actually, this was quite good. It was better to have some trivial things about celebrities trending than to have some major social event become a hot topic.

As he scrolled, he suddenly thought of something and uttered an “Oh,” then curiously clicked on the profile icon.

On the personal homepage was an account named “Grain²” a level-seven account with a three-year history, but it had no posted content. His memory reminded him that this was his small account.

Then what would his main account be like?

Bai Ruogu wondered, driven by curiosity, and clicked on the account. As expected, below the small account was a main account with a diamond badge.

The name of the main account was straightforward: Actor Bai Ruogu, followed by a verification badge.

Bai Ruogu wasn’t afraid of anything, so he directly switched to his main account.

Instantly, there were numerous notification sounds, and the red message indicator in the bottom corner showed 99⁺.

Bai Ruogu raised his eyebrows slightly, but he was not surprised, as if he had expected it. He calmly opened the homepage, which showed 3.3 million fans.

He continued scrolling through the posts he had posted before. Most of the time, they were a paragraph of text with a few pictures. The pictures included everyday scenery, a few small dishes, or his own selfies or artistic photos.

These posts typically garnered around 10,000 likes, with comments hovering around 2,000, and most shares reaching a few hundred, occasionally just over a thousand.

His thumb brushed over the data in front of his eyes, his brow twitched slightly, and he casually opened the comments section of one post.

First comment: [Ah ah ah, brother looks so handsome, I really like brother!]
Second comment: [First!!!]
Third comment: [I could eat brother’s looks for a lifetime!]
Fourth comment: [Keep it up, forever love you, brother!!]

Bai Ruogu found it both amusing and exasperating.

It seemed that his fans were all fans of his appearance.

He didn’t feel these little fans were shallow at all, instead, he found them quite cute.

In his past life, he also had fans, but most of them were more dignified, and lively ones like these were rarely seen.

He still remembered when he posted, the comments were always so positive.

[Learn from Master Bai, Master Bai is the role model for our whole lives!]
[Took the college entrance exam today, when giving examples, I used Master Bai! In the future, I also want to be a person who contributes to society like Master Bai.]
[Prosperity, democracy, civilization, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness.³]
[Thanks to Master Bai for his contributions. Wishing him good health and a long life.]

Bai Ruogu smiled and shook his head, with a hint of joy in his eyes.

He used to enjoy all kinds of comments, whether they were youthful and lively or positive and uplifting, as long as his fans seemed carefree.

Thinking that it had been a long time since he had posted anything, he closed his script, put it on the table, and took a picture of it. Then he opened the app and started editing the content of his new post.

[Actor Bai Ruogu: New film starts shooting, stay tuned (with picture).]

As soon as the post went up, some die-hard fans rushed in. Bai Ruogu refreshed the page, and several comments appeared below.

[First!!!]
[Wow, a new film? Can’t wait!]
[Brother is taking on a new role? Wait, brother is an actor? I just found out!!]
[Wow, brother is so beautiful, I wonder what he looks like in front of the camera! Can’t wait.]
[Cheering for brother, go go go, brother will surely be a box office hit!]

Initially, the first few comments were all from Bai Ruogu’s hardcore fans, and they were blindly confident in him because of his looks.

As more comments poured in, some started to repeat, mostly praising Bai Ruogu’s appearance or expressing anticipation for the new movie.

Bai Ruogu chuckled helplessly, “No wonder they say fans are like parrots.”

As he spoke, he scrolled through the screen, more and more comments with similar meanings appearing before his eyes.

He murmured softly, “The content is so similar, is it really sincere?”

But as the comments increased, there were also some meaningful questions.

[Did brother start filming? What genre is it?]

It wasn’t a question that needed to be kept secret anyway, and Bai Ruogu was bored, so he just treated the fans in front of him as chat partners.

He instinctively wanted to say science fiction, but suddenly realized that this genre was no longer considered science fiction given today’s technology.

[It’s more of a romance film.]

Fans were pleasantly surprised to see the somewhat aloof brother suddenly reply to them, and quickly clamored to confess their love.

Some fans in the comment section spotted Bai Ruogu and sent comments like “Caught my brother in action,” while others took the opportunity to ask questions.

[Is my brother really filming a movie? Which film crew is it? Why hasn’t there been an official announcement? Is my brother the lead actor?]

Bai Ruogu typed with his mind.

[This time it’s a low-key movie, and I’m the lead actor.]

The fans were excited and followed up with questions: [Who is the director of the movie? Are there any other actors acting alongside my brother? I’m really curious.]

This time Bai Ruogu stopped answering. He glanced sideways at the script on the table, his eyes becoming deep.

Before the start of filming, he had specifically discussed with Li Huai because the crew had Lin Chen, a potential big hit. With his fan base, there was no need to worry about box office losses.

However, considering that most of the cast were newcomers and that both he and Li Huai were controversial figures in the industry, once the lineup was known, especially to Lin Chen’s fans, they would definitely face intense criticism.

So they had initially planned to shoot the film first and then promote it, which could have avoided many unnecessary factors. But just a moment ago, he suddenly changed his mind…

Black and red were still red⁴. Many people had tried their hardest to get this kind of attention, but they couldn’t. Not to mention their new movie was coming out soon. As long as they controlled the rhythm well, the more attention they got, the better it would be for the box office.

Furthermore, regarding word of mouth, even if there was a lot of criticism before the premiere, once the quality of the film proves to be excellent, impressions can easily be turned around.

Bai Ruogu’s eyes became deeper, and the curve of his smile became more apparent. He conveyed his plan to Li Huai via voice message and then lay on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling, appearing quite relaxed.

Ah, why did he get himself into this kind of situation?

When he thought about public opinion, he transferred another 10 million from his remaining 70 million accounts to Li Huai, with a note to ask for more if necessary.

He believed Li Huai should have his own way of dealing with such matters.

Sometimes, the success or failure of a work depended on marketing. The saying “good wine doesn’t need to be advertised” was not always true. What if the customer got lost on the way? No matter how good the wine was, it was useless. Many good works were unknown due to insufficient publicity, and many mediocre works became well-known because of heavy promotion.

Although many viewers might have criticized the show for not living up to its name, what was the point? No amount of criticism would result in a refund of the capital.

Not all good works could rely solely on word of mouth; those buried deep needed exposure to see the light. Those already famous needed additional embellishment to ascend to a higher level.

Since Bai Ruogu wanted to make a movie popular, he couldn’t afford to lose at the starting line of publicity, no matter how good or bad the movie turned out to be.

At that moment, when Li Huai received Bai Ruogu’s message, he suddenly realized the situation and quickly utilized his previous connections to hastily establish a public relations department.

In addition, he hired several bodyguards with an A rating or above to protect the crew, and he also put the emergency hotline as the first option in the speed dial column.

As the two of them began to get busy, Su Miao, who was standing next to Bai Ruogu, also followed Bai Ruogu’s gaze and looked at the screen.

His eyes flickered with red light, and the words on the screen reflected in his pupils.

[Ah ah ah love you, brother. You looks so handsome.]

[Husband, I’m here, look at me!]

[Ah ah ah , I’m dead. Today is another day of screen licking.]

[Husband, I want to give birth to a monkey for you!⁵]

The red light in Su Miao’s eyes flickered faster and faster, while the virtual body floating in the air gradually warmed up. There was a noticeable fluctuation in the chest.

The air flowed quickly as Su Miao’s lips tightened into a straight line, and the light in his eyes grew brighter.

Just as the riot was about to spiral out of control, the word “actor” in front of Bai Ruogu’s name suddenly fell into Su Miao’s recognition system…

Everything seemed to come under control, and the hot breath gradually calmed down. However, an unnoticed vortex began to hover in the air, growing deeper and deeper, like a black hole, though it wouldn’t suck in objects.

System analysis in progress—

[Fandom]

[Fans]

[Common quotes]

Gradually, everything returned to calmness, and the virtual person’s eyes narrowed slightly. Su Miao appeared normal on the outside, but no one could see the data in their virtual brain tearing, bouncing, and squeezing frantically.

Amidst the storm raging in the brain, something was straightened out and gradually consolidated into a will.

In a vast, boundless expanse of blue data space, scattered pieces of information were pieced together.

At the same time, a website emerged on StarNet called the ‘Actor Bai Ruogu Fansite,’ which was run by a newly registered user.

Ruogu’s poison is invincible V.

Though seemingly insignificant, this fansite quickly attracted attention, with many accounts becoming members.

The fansite rapidly expanded, gaining 200,000 fans in an instant. Subsequently, seemingly concerned about being noticed, the data began to run slowly.

The website was also the only one among Bai Ruogu’s fansite to have gained popularity.

…The probability of it being him is 21.14%.

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1. 日际 (Rì jì) ↩︎
2. 谷粒 (gǔ lì), 谷 (gǔ) same with 白若谷 (Bái ruògǔ), but the meaning of 谷粒 (gǔ lì) itself is grain. ↩︎
3. 二十四字社会主义核心价值观 (Èrshísì zì shèhuì zhǔyì héxīn jiàzhíguān) it’s a twenty-four character socialist core values. It split into eight character for each level. First Level – National Level: Prosperity, Democracy, Civilization, Harmony. Second Level – Social Level: Freedom, Equality, Justice, Rule of Law. Third Level – Individual Level: Patriotism, Dedication, Integrity, Friendliness. ↩︎
4. 黑红也是红 (Hēi hóng yěshì hóng) It is a routine to become famous and popular through black material, causing public controversy or attracting everyone’s attention. ↩︎
5. The original text is [老公我要为你生猴子!] (Lǎogōng wǒ yào wèi nǐ shēng hóuzi!). This word is originally a homophonic form of “I want to give you a baby”. It may be because girls who directly say that they have a baby will show that they are not reserved enough , and in addition, giving birth to a monkey would be very funny. It is more in line with Internet culture , so the word became popular on the Internet. ↩︎

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Chapter 11 一 Don’t you know what bad things you have done?

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The classroom was empty, lacking the bustling atmosphere that had left the boys feeling disoriented. The surroundings became somewhat desolate.

There was a moment of emptiness in the boy’s heart, followed by a sense of relief once the emotions subsided.

He sighed with relief and stretched lazily, as if recalling something and looked up. When he noticed the familiar face with a furrowed brow, he shrugged it off, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

He slouched in his chair, propped his legs on the table, and with a smile on his face, he said, “Thanks, you’ve always been a great buddy since childhood. Whatever you want to eat, just say it, it’s on me.”

The boy with glasses pursed his lips and looked at him for a long time. He sighed and his face became distressed.

He then took a seat in front of the boy, speaking earnestly, “Xingyuan, you can’t continue to neglect yourself like this. In a year, we’ll be going to senior high school, and with your grades, it’ll be very difficult for you to get into a good school!”

The more he spoke, the more distressed he looked. He scrutinized Hua Xingyuan from head to toe, noticing the branded clothing he wore, most of them renowned labels, and even the ones that weren’t were custom-made by top designers.

Pausing for a moment, he shook his head involuntarily, his brow furrowing as he spoke with concern, “Your family background is indeed formidable, but what about your talent? Having SS-level mental strength is something many people strive for, yet you’re wasting it like this? At least do something practical, don’t just lie around, okay?”

Hua Xingyuan chuckled and patted his companion’s shoulder, urging him to relax. “Come on, don’t worry so much. There’s no way I could mess up that badly.”

Seeing his friend still glaring at him, Hua Xingyuan rubbed his nose and grinned, trying to appease him. “Okay, okay, enough about that. By the way, Xu Mo, I heard there’s a new device called the Star Gazer in the technology museum. It allows you to see events happening at any point in the universe. Wanna give it a try? I’ll cover it!”

Watching this guy’s indifferent attitude, Xu Mo felt a deep sense of exhaustion.

He sighed and sighed again, unsure whether to speak or scold. Eventually, he reluctantly adjusted his cheap glasses and nodded in agreement to Hua Xingyuan’s proposal.

The scene ended with the two of them walking away shoulder to shoulder, and the classroom door closed, leaving it empty.

By the window, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, the artificially grown vines recorded the youth and innocence of his younger days. Back then, he was just a naive and carefree student, whose only worries were probably the nagging of his parents and friends, and the occasional feeling of disappointment when his exam results came out.

The first scene ended like this, unexpectedly smooth without any hiccups, and the entire set erupted into thunderous applause. Many faces bore satisfied smiles, indicating clear signs of promise.

Bai Ruogu’s arm was still on the shoulder of the actor next to him, his smile carrying a hint of mischief.

Amidst the applause from all the actors, the arm withdrew, and Bai Ruogu’s eyes, once filled with youthful rebellion, slowly closed, only to reopen with a profound and gentle gaze.

His posture straightened gradually, standing tall with a demeanor seasoned by experience, and there was a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Chen had walked over without anyone noticing, also applauding to congratulate Bai Ruogu.

Looking down at Bai Ruogu’s face, with its fair and delicate features exuding a quiet aura, it was evident how different he was from the character he portrayed in the drama.

One second immersed, one second detached. He was a very talented individual.

Lin Chen’s smile deepened, unsure whether to describe this person as gifted or secretly competitive.

At least in today’s era where popularity reigns supreme, there are very few people of the same age group who could match Bai Ruogu’s acting skills.

The scene just now was rather mundane, simply setting up the previous relationship. There weren’t any plotlines that heavily tested acting skills, but one could also say that the entire scene was a test of acting ability.

Some of the finer details of filming couldn’t be fully grasped, but the other party’s immersion was strong, giving him the feeling that he had truly merged into that character.

Lin Chen’s gaze became more appreciative. His applause continued, showing obvious interest in the person before him.

His gaze was unreserved, falling directly into the eyes of the invisible virtual person standing beside him.

Su Miao: …

He quietly watched the person before him, their face reflected in his pupils, accompanied by various data analyses and gradually reddening screens.

A huge red exclamation mark kept flashing, indicating impending danger.

Current mood: Appreciation accounts for 56.4%, the probability of love appearing in the future is 15%.

Curiosity and probing account for 32.1%, the probability of love appearing in the future is 22.4%.

Other unknown or complex emotions account for 13.5%, the probability of love appearing in the future is 9.91%.

In the case of multiple emotions appearing together, the chances multiply. Currently, the probability of love appearing in the future is 66.59%!!

This is an extremely dangerous data! The data, unclear throughout the space, undergoes violent fluctuations, with numerous exclamation marks filling and covering the entire display screen, obscuring all vision.

“Ding, ding, ding…” The alarm sounded accordingly.

Even though director Li Huai has seen many excellent actors, he is still very surprised to meet such an outstanding actor like Bai Ruogu at this low point.

He generously praised Bai Ruogu to the other actors, saying which aspects of Bai Ruogu’s acting were the best and most worth learning from.

The other actors also looked admiringly, some joining in the flattery, while others found a deserted corner to rehearse their own lines repeatedly.

Lin Chen saw this scene but did not join, instead, he turned around and walked towards the back.

He wore a trench coat, walked steadily, and smoothly activated the smart brain on his wrist.

The virtual screen appeared in the air. Lin Chen raised his head, and his deep and steady gaze swept over the communication button above, then he clicked on it with his mental consciousness.

A few days ago, Bai Ruogu said he could rescue Suoer, but they needed some specific tools, and some outer shell components had to be redesigned.

Fortunately, the mecha industry is particularly developed now, and Bai Ruogu’s family is also engaged in this field.

After Bai Ruogu finished drawing the blueprints, he signed a contract with the Bai family in Lin Chen’s name, and he estimated that the items would be ready in a few days.

Lin Chen calculated that it had been several days since the blueprints were sent out. It might came today.

He dialed his assistant’s communicator, and a reminder appeared on the screen indicating that the connection was in progress.

Lin Chen couldn’t see that there was a virtual person beside him, naturally not seeing the red light flashing in the virtual person’s eyes.

At first, the other person looked at his face, then noticed his gaze and shifted their attention to the virtual screen.

The red light in their eyes flickered, and the corners of their mouths lifted slightly.

After dialing for a long time, Lin Chen still hadn’t received an answer. He was puzzled because his assistant usually wouldn’t turn off their phone.

The phrase “Connecting” continued to flicker. Initially, Lin Chen hadn’t noticed anything unusual, but after a while, he observed that the flickering frequency decreased and slowed down.

Even though there were several signal towers nearby, the screen inexplicably displayed the words “Weak Signal.”

Lin Chen: ?

In this day and age, why would there still be a “Weak Signal” issue? Wasn’t this something only encountered in the early days?

However, this strange phenomenon didn’t cease; instead, it intensified.

In fact, there was a string of ellipses behind it. Gradually, one dot disappeared, then another, as if something was eating them.

After a while, the call finally went through, but the sound was intermittent and not as clear as before.

[Slow internet speed. Would you like to check your internet connection?]

[Slow internet speed…]

Many such messages appeared on the screen, disrupting Lin Chen’s thoughts. He began asking his assistant about the smart brain.

“Oh? Slow internet? Boss, why don’t you try purchasing a few acceleration packages? They significantly improve speed.”

Each smart brain came with the option of acceleration packages, which Lin Chen quickly noticed and clicked on.

In order to increase the speed of the internet, he bought 10 packages at once, expecting the speed to increase. However, a red message appeared in the middle of the screen.

[Your internet speed has a low affinity for you and refuses to accept your transaction. Transaction failed.]

Lin Chen was stunned, pointing at the screen blankly, asking his assistant, “What should I do if it doesn’t want me to buy it?”

Assistant: ??

“What? What’s going on?!”

Before Lin Chen could react, a bunch of dolls wearing red bellybands suddenly appeared on the screen, holding red fans and dancing, with music playing along, looking both festive and eerie.

Lin Chen: …

“I think… my smart brain might have been infected with a virus?”

“Huh?” The assistant was dumbfounded. “How could that happen? Oh, I remember, if the smart brain malfunctions, you can contact the smart brain terminal. As long as you pay enough money, any big problem can be solved instantly.”

Sure enough, there was an option for the smart brain terminal in the lower corner of the screen.

Lin Chen tried clicking it, but before he could explain the situation, a message popped up.

[The smart brain terminal thinks you deserve it, let you suffer on your own.]

“What have I done?” Lin Chen was stunned and blurted out instinctively.

[The smart brain terminal says you know exactly what you’ve done wrong.]

Lin Chen: …

How could he not know what he had done?

. . . . .

Because they were going to the technology museum for the next shoot, the crew had already contacted the management there in advance and paid a certain fee, so everyone packed up and agreed to meet there on time in the afternoon.

After removing her makeup and changing clothes, Bai Ruogu bid farewell to the crew and walked out.

The weather outside wasn’t very good, it was drizzling and a chilly wind was blowing.

Bai Ruogu didn’t prepare any thick clothes when he arrived, so he could only shrug.

The shop selling rainy day equipment happened to be across the street, and Bai Ruogu would have to walk through the rain to get there.

Su Miao floated over and stood behind Bai Ruogu. He looked at Bai Ruogu’s worried expression, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Bai Ruogu sneezed and rubbed his arms, intending to run through the rain.

In an instant, Su Miao understood.

He looked up at the sky, and the information in the air dispersed, as if transmitting some signal.

Just as Bai Ruogu was about to step out from under the eaves, the rain suddenly stopped, and the sun came out.

Bai Ruogu: ?

He stood there dumbfounded, caught off guard, only able to marvel at his good luck.

To guard against sudden changes in the weather, Bai Ruogu quickly headed towards the direction of the rental house.

He didn’t notice that just a moment ago, three curved clouds had appeared above the eaves, like a smiling expression.

Above the clouds, a small rainbow appeared…

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