My Idol Secretly Loves Me: Chapter 5

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Chapter 5:

The name "Su God" comes from the fact that he has a god face and god acting skills.

In Su Yan's entire career, it was inevitable that he would occasionally mess up his lines. But usually it was just a few wrong words, a problem with pronunciation, or just forgetting.

But how could he mess up this badly?

"Classmate, didn't you hear? First come, first served."

Between this and "Okay."—

The distance was as wide as the difference between the inconspicuous Luo Xiaotang and the distinguished daughter of Luo Cheng, Luo Tang.

At this moment, the classroom atmosphere was enigmatic.

Luo Tang stared at Su Yan, hardly believing her ears.

He was leaning against the desk with arms crossed, his expression conveying, "Let's see what this foolish girl is going to do."

Everything was normal, right? His noble expression was spot on. So why did he suddenly blurt out the wrong lines? And so outrageously off? Was it an accident or...

"Su Yan?" Director Chen's voice came over the speaker, prompting Luo Tang to also snap out of her daydream.

"Director Chen, my bad," Su Yan turned around briskly. "Sorry, let's do another take."

When he turned back, his gaze met Luo Tang’s. Her eyes were still a nice and translucent light brown, and her skin was set off extraordinarily white by the blue of her school uniform.

Su Yan usually played roles born in chaos or burdened with complex missions. Now, in the clean school uniform, he looked like a beautiful young man straight out of a manhua.

But for some reason, his eyes carried an inscrutable message.

"Luo Xiao Tang, raise your hand when you're ready."

Luo Tang closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and signaled the cameraman beside her.

After this scene, they filmed a closer angle for post-production editing. Luo Tang's task for the day was complete.

Su Yan and Liang Ziyue still had many scenes to shoot. After leaving the classroom, Cheng Cheng immediately linked arms with Luo Tang, exclaiming: "Tang Tang!"

Cheng Cheng's voice couldn't contain her excitement. "Just now, you and Su Yan looked so compatible, oh my god! The perfect combination of a spoiled rich girl and a scheming male god! What should I do, I was originally a fan of the book, but now I want to ship you two!"

Luo Tang: "?????"

Luo Tang chided with disdain, "How could you! Still a fan of the book? Are you being fair to the main characters?"

Cheng Cheng stood tall. "Sorry! But I am loyal to my love for appearances!"

Luo Tang: "..." You're so proud, huh.

"Really, really," Cheng Cheng recalled the scene, still couldn't help but giggle. "You two together, neither overshadowing the other's looks or aura. Instead the couple vibe is so strong."

Luo Tang sincerely replied, "Thank you for saying that about me and my idol."

Cheng Cheng had other things to attend to. Seeing that Luo Tang was almost done, she left after a brief chat.

Luo Tang, with nothing to do, went to an empty classroom and sat in a desk while idly browsing Weibo. Time passed without her noticing until a shadow fell over her.

Luo Tang looked up to see who it was. Her mood instantly brightening like the sun breaking through on a rainy day. "Su Yan!" Her voice pitched higher than usual. "Are you done filming?"

"For now." He walked over and sat on a desk next to hers.

The same posture, the same type of desk. The only difference: her legs dangled in the air, while his feet firmly touched the ground.

Luo Tang gauged the difference in their leg lengths.

Her smile suddenly froze.

...Oops.

Her dangling legs stilled.

"Weren't you just watching others film?" Su Yan turned to her. "Why stop?"

"...Just didn't feel like it anymore," Luo Tang's voice dropped an octave.

She had read the novel, after all!

Watching him and Liang Ziyue act out their mutual crush and flirtation? She'd rather not :)

The girl's previously cheerful expression wilted.

Her eyes drooped, her cheeks slightly puffed, and the invisible fluffy ears on her head also drooped.

"So," Su Yan seemed amused. "Why didn't you feel like it?"

"Because I don't really like Liang Ziyue, so..." Luo Tang wasn't actually that averse to her. She just made up an excuse. "...I just don't want to see you being intimate with her."

Su Yan's eyelid twitched. "Intimate?"

Luo Tang: “Yeah, like the love scenes between the leads."

"...Have you seen the scenes between the leads in the script?" Su Yan asked. "In the script."

Luo Tang shook her head. "No." She didn't want to upset herself.

"..."

Luo Tang sensed his almost inaudible sigh. "There are no love scenes."

Luo Tang: "Ah?"

Su Yan leaned back, his gaze on her slightly exasperated. "What did you think? Would a high school setting have a love line? Encouraging early romance?"

"..."

"This drama, I decided to participate only after reading the script in advance."

Luo Tang didn't understand, blinking. "What do you mean..."

"It means," Su Yan paused, a small smile on his lips, his voice clear and pleasant. "If it required being intimate with another woman, I wouldn't have taken the role."

Leaving this bombshell, Su Yan, the male lead, was called away again.

Luo Tang watched his retreating figure in the blue and white school uniform, sitting in the desk, stunned.

After a while, she opened Weibo on her alt account, with the tag of Su Yan's fan club, and posted a tweet.

Two hundred meaningless "ah"s.

After a week of filming, "Our Youthful Days" would premiere this Saturday at 8 pm on Rainbow Channel, the largest slot in terms of viewership. It wiuld be simulcast online with the television broadcast.

Saturday for the first episode. Sunday for the second.

Luo Tang's role wasn't particularly challenging. She learned as she acted, made friends, watched her idol, and even acted opposite him! As the villainous supporting character, she had a great time on set.

But now—the show was about to air!

Acting was one thing, but broadcasting for viewers was another.

When Luo Zhou previously teased her about being chased and scolded by netizens, she was full of dreams about entering the industry and didn't take it to heart.

Waking up early on Saturday, lying in bed, gazing at the intricate crystal chandelier personally selected by the queen and the emperor, Luo Tang suddenly felt melancholic.

Sob...

Was she really going to be chased and scolded by the whole internet? T-T

Well, it's already filmed. No point in worrying now.

For following her idol's footsteps, paying a price was to be expected, right?!

Even if she were to be scolded, it would be Luo Xiao Tang!

Thinking this way, Luo Tang felt strangely comforted. She sprang up from bed and headed to the bathroom, starting a beautiful day with skincare.

—The beautiful day ended at the dining table.

Luo Tang had spent almost every day of the week on set. During dinner, Mrs. Bai and Mr. Luo inquired about her recent activities.

Near the end of dinner, Luo Zhou suddenly spoke. "Dad, Mom, our princess's efforts this week can be seen tonight."

"…!"

Why bring that up?!

"Hm?" Mr. Luo was initially startled, then remembered: "Oh, right, right, right, Tang Tang's TV drama is about that time right?"

Luo Tang hurriedly said. "Eh, Dad, it's nothing interesting, just high school life for young people—you guys wouldn't like it."

"What are you talking about," Mrs. Bai was displeased, frowning elegantly. "We must watch the drama you're in." The true matriarch, Mrs. Bai, issued an ultimatum, "Later, Zhou, you're also not allowed to return to your room. Watch it with us."

Luo Zhou made a face. "I'd love to."

Luo Tang: "…"

What's so watch-worthy about playing a doomed supporting character?! She must have owed this devil in her past life! Definitely!!!

The maid prepared fatigue-relieving tea after their meal and put it on the coffee table. The TV that was big enough to be used as a home theater was turned on and on it was none other than the Rainbow Channel.

At 8 pm sharp, the Luo family, amidst the fragrance of tea, began... watching TV.

Luo Tang initially wanted to chat with them to distract from the drama, but seeing her parents and Luo Zhou's serious reactions, she didn't have the heart to follow through.

Watching her own show broadcast was... a peculiar experience.

Halfway through, Luo Tang no longer felt awkward and even started discussing with Mr. Luo: "Dad, let me tell you, my character later on, she's going to do this and that to Qi Yue…"

Mr. Luo: "That bad?!"

Luo Tang: "Exactly! Super bad!"

Mr. Luo laughed: "Is it fun to act?"

Luo Tang also laughed: "Super fun, hehe."

The father and daughter discussed the plot, while the queen and the crown prince elegantly sipped tea.

The stylistic differences between the four were stark.

...

The episode was fifty minutes long, with commercials making it just over an hour.

Filming was indeed chaotic, and Luo Tang hadn't anticipated what the final edit would look like. But watching it now, she had to admit, the post-production was impressive.

"Our Youthful Days," set in high school, had many limitations. It had to comply with regulations and pass censorship. Some topics were strictly off-limits—like early romance, skipping classes for unjustifiable reasons, and too close male-female interactions.

Hence, the substantial adaptation from the original work was something the fans understood.

—"We're here for the looks, having Su Yan play Yu Ge is like a dream come true."

On the first day of filming, after the heart-fluttering conversation with Su Yan, Luo Tang re-read the script thoroughly.

It must be said that the scriptwriter was a genius. The drama was flawless, youthful, humorous, warm, and even had positively energizing scenes.

—For example, the hero and heroine, Gu Yu and Qi Yue, compete with Huanggang test papers, and Gu Yu challenges Shi Yin with tough questions, asking her to recite the core socialist values, etc. *

The survival instinct was off the charts.

T/N: 黄冈试卷: Huanggang test papers from a famous middle school that is synonymous with top students.

After the episode, the cliffhanger was Shi Yin asking Gu Yu.

Shi Yin, chin up, asked the expressionless boy opposite her, "Can I be your deskmate?"

The girl's face showed determination, like a proud and beautiful peacock.

The scene froze there.

Three faces on screen: Qi Yue slightly frowning beside them, Gu Yu and Shi Yin facing each other, one cold, one smiling.

The first episode ended.

Luo Tang drank too much tea and rushed to the bathroom, missing the family's post-show thoughts.

While washing her hands, her phone buzzed on the side.

Luo Tang dried her hands and unlocked her phone, entering WeChat.

Cheng Cheng: [OMG! You're trending Tang Tang! Check Weibo NOW!!!!!!]

"??????"

Her phone nearly fell into the sink. Luo Tang hurriedly opened Weibo and the trending list.

Trending #3: #WhoIsLuoXiaotang???#

"…!!!"

F*ck F*ck F*ck!!!

Although she had braced herself that morning, she only expected to be scolded, not this—

Not just scolding, she was trending?!

Sob! Is Shi Yin really that detestable?!

Standing in front of the sink, her hands shaking, Luo Tang clicked on the trending topic #WhoIsLuoXiaotang.

The first post she saw was:

[@EntertainmentGossipSis: Omg! After a whole night of watching "Youthful Days," I have only one question: Who is Luo Xiaotang??? Give me all the info on this woman within three minutes, and you're my sisters okay? [Image]

The attached GIF was her walking towards Gu Yu and Qi Yue, in slow motion.

Due to the angle, Shi Yin had a halo effect around her. The moment her hair was flipped, her slender, fair neck was fully visible, her eyes looking into the camera, her entire face exposed.

"?"

It didn't seem like they were scolding her...?

Luo Tang scrolled further down the hot comments, all posted within the last ten minutes.

[who else started watching this drama for su yan but ended up fixated on shi yin the whole time? i definitely did /smile]

[where did this stunning fairy come from omg? I actually didn't pay attention to what she said, just her face? so who exactly is luo xiaotang???]

[not to say anything else, but casting someone so beautiful as the third female lead? are the directors insane?!]

[this rich girl character is just to my taste. i don't know why, but she feels so... noble??? am i crazy? someone slap me awake…]

Luo Tang was about to scroll further when she accidentally clicked into the replies of this hot comment.

[when I read the novel, i cursed this princess shi eight hundred times a day, but now... i don't feel like cursing, just want to say... umm this actress is too beautiful right?]

[Agreeing with above, she really has that aura. The original princess shi was an annoying, arrogant brat, but this portrayal is of a true princess right??? (except the lines are still so stupid)]

[Hahaha, portraying a scheming rich girl as a real·princess, is this considered character derailment?]

[this derailment is good]

Still dazed, Cheng Cheng sent another message.

Cheng Cheng: [Remember the account I set up for you, the one with a company verification and zero followers, called @LuoXiaotangtang on Weibo?]

Cheng Cheng: [It's at 100k followers now.........]

Luo Tang: "........"

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