Chapter 48: "An Unexpected Rise to Fame"

Time flew by, and suddenly it was July. Zhou Ran’s closed training had lasted for over a month, and throughout this period, he had vanished into complete silence. Not a single trace of Zhou Ran could be found online—no news of him working, not even a candid photo. This abnormality quickly stirred the curiosity of Zhou Ran’s fans and netizens alike. After all, Zhou Ran was at the height of his popularity; how could there be absolutely no news?

Rumors began to swirl. Some speculated that Zhou Ran had fallen seriously ill; others guessed he was secluded, composing music. Countless theories circulated about his whereabouts. One thing was certain: anyone who managed to uncover Zhou Ran’s activities during his disappearance would have a sensational scoop on their hands.

Thus, a feverish search for Zhou Ran swept across the internet. People from all corners pulled every trick in the book, desperate to find him and obtain firsthand information.

Meanwhile, rapper M was sobbing in the restroom. After competing on "Who Is the King of Song," his own resources hadn’t improved—in fact, they’d declined. M couldn’t fathom why; every contestant who appeared on that program saw an uptick in popularity after it aired. M was the sole exception, an oddity whose momentum inexplicably shrank.

Today was supposed to be the release day of M’s new album. He had invested heavily, purchasing marketing resources and even securing the top spot on Weibo’s trending list. M paid dearly for this, hoping it would be his comeback. Yet, barely had he claimed the number one spot when he was swiftly knocked off by an unexpected contender.

The search for Zhou Ran surged to the top of the trending list, entirely fueled by the passion of fans and netizens, without any intervention from Zhou Ran’s team. In other words, M had spent lavishly, yet couldn’t outdo Zhou Ran, who hadn’t spent a dime.

Thinking of this, M clenched his teeth in fury, venting his anger by pummeling the sofa. As he struck the furniture, he muttered, "Damn Zhou Ran, just you wait. I’ll beat you."

As M continued to thrash the sofa, he accidentally struck a nearby power strip. Instantly, he was electrocuted, left numb and dazed. If not for the cleaning lady nearby, M might have said his final goodbye. Truly, when luck turns sour, even drinking water gets stuck in your teeth; even such a rare accident as getting shocked by a power strip happened to him.

Yet, in a twist of fate, M benefited from the mishap. The cleaning lady sent him to the hospital, where a journalist happened to recognize him. Through subtle questioning, the reporter learned the reason for M’s hospitalization. The story was posted on Weibo and unexpectedly went viral, propelling M into the spotlight in a unique way. He may not have liked this method, but it landed him on the trending list—something his money had failed to accomplish, though the price for this fame was rather steep.

While everyone frantically searched for Zhou Ran, he appeared openly in a large plaza.

In the past, Zhou Ran would never dare show himself so brazenly in a shopping mall; he knew his own fame, and wherever he appeared, crowds would soon gather, snapping photos like paparazzi. Now, however, Zhou Ran had no such fears. After more than a month of closed training, he had become painfully thin. Just days ago, he weighed himself: at six feet tall, he was barely over 120 pounds, resembling little more than skin and bones—a walking skeleton.

This transformation was thanks to Chef Huang, whose film required the male protagonist to have a malnourished physique. Zhou Ran had to lose weight until he matched the director’s vision. Coupled with the intense training, he had grown much more weathered; no longer did he resemble the youthful Zhou Ran of before. He now looked little different from a homeless wanderer.

Though he suffered greatly during training, the wisdom and skills he gained over the month far outweighed the hardship. The rewards were immense. Now, if Chef Huang asked him to recreate the feeling required during the audition, Zhou Ran had myriad ways to express it, no longer relying solely on extreme methods.

Zhou Ran went out today with Zhang Xiaofeng. Having lost over ten pounds, his old clothes hung too loosely, so he needed to buy new ones. Once that was done, Zhou Ran could finally take a brief rest, waiting for Teacher Huang’s notice to join the crew.

Zhang Xiaofeng, who accompanied him, had also changed somewhat over the past month. Though not as drastically transformed as Zhou Ran, Zhang Xiaofeng was different enough that he would no longer be recognized even if he wore a mask.

Zhou Ran originally thought today would be a simple shopping trip, nothing eventful—but plans rarely survive unforeseen changes.

…

On the plaza, a show was being recorded. A woman with flowing long hair, dressed in white and wearing three-centimeter heels, faced the camera and introduced herself: "Hello, everyone! I’m Lexin, host of Mango TV, and welcome to this episode of ‘Street Interviews!’”

“Street Interviews” was a web show broadcast by Mango TV. Its content involved randomly interviewing passersby with amusing questions. Each episode lasted barely more than ten minutes, airing exclusively online.

Today, Lexin was out to randomly select an audience member for an interview. Just as Zhou Ran and Zhang Xiaofeng passed by, Lexin noticed them. Though their attire was ordinary, they exuded an aura that hinted at hidden stories.