ADTCP Ch24part1

The teacher on the podium was droning on in incomprehensible “scripture,” while Tao Zhen hid furtively behind his desk, holding his breath. When Zhu Wensheng’s reply popped up, he didn’t dare look right away. He squinted and took in the line of text,

【S: Mm. I’m also only being kept by you.】

The heart lodged in his throat finally dropped back into place, and his tangled, messy mood gradually calmed. Tao Zhen exhaled, slowly put his phone away.

Since he’d said that, Zhu Wensheng shouldn’t worry anymore about being replaced, right?

The classroom curtains were pulled open; dazzling sunlight slipped through the gaps in the leafy shadows, scattering bright dappled light across the floor.

Propping his chin, Tao Zhen felt a bit wistful, oddly guilty.

Zhu Wensheng really was a great person, hardworking, ambitious, and thoughtful. He’d definitely go far.

The only flaw was that he was too poor; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to humble himself with Tao Zhen.

In short, Tao Zhen couldn’t shake the feeling he was forcibly pushing a good man into prostitution.

***

Maybe the canned peaches helped; after another day or two of rest, the injury on Tao Zhen’s tongue completely healed.

With some free time, he tweaked the edit, then posted the video in the evening when traffic was higher.

After the first two videos, the “ZhenZhibang” account had already built up a decent fan base. As soon as the new video dropped, they got the notification and flooded the comments like a tide, howling to grab the top spots.

【Mint-Milk-Tea-Yyds: Look what treasure I just found!!】

【Chocolate: Aaaa every video from the creator is so high quality, this one’s so beautiful I’m bouncing off the walls!】

【Lye-Breadstick: Wow, is this a new creator or an MCN-planted account? Every video is a banger, born to be a media star! I’m jealous!】

Most people, as before, went wild praising Tao Zhen’s voice and face. The video was beautifully shot:
In an empty, dim classroom, the blond boy sat by the window, eyes lightly closed, singing in a low voice a love song filled with lingering reluctance, distinctive, memorable, with clever little touches.

The styles of his three videos were broadly similar, but the content and small ideas weren’t repetitive. This kind of “vertical” content is the easiest to pull in a big wave of fans in a short time.

But problems followed. As the audience base grew, not everyone came in good faith.
Some men, jealous at the swarms of girls calling friends to watch under his viral video, posted sour, scornful comments.

【X-Tech’s-#1-Hunk: Obviously all makeup, who knows how heavy the skin-smoothing and filters are. Only you women like this pretty-boy stuff. Wouldn’t even rank at our school.】

【Eastern-Yanzu: What year is it? People still like these corny songs? Even my dad doesn’t listen anymore. How is this going viral??】

【She-And-Dreams-Both-Lost: He can only survive online. No real skills, bro. Come compete in the real world. [image]】

Curious, Tao Zhen tapped the image. It was a Mercedes with a giant hood ornament. Looking more closely, he realized the badge wasn’t original. From front lights to rear lights, the whole “Mercedes” was cobbled together from mismatched parts.

“…”

He didn’t want to waste breath on a guy like that, and was about to exit when a dozen replies suddenly popped up under those sour comments.

【Reply: Wow, progress really is something, looks like pork can type now. Sure, the creator would rank at your X-Tech, since your “campus heartthrob” voters clearly have pica. ^^】

【Reply: Sorry to say, lots of people still like these “corny songs.” Why doesn’t your dad listen, because he overheard them, right?】

【Reply: Congrats to the 2002 kid on the 2001 kit-car. I wouldn’t dare sit in that “Benz”, I’m afraid it still has soul rings attached.】

These defenders were razor-sharp, easily mocking the trolls into sputtering rage. Not only that, they twisted the knife, listing, one by one, the clothes, cars, and school that Tao Zhen had shown across his videos, slapping those facts in the haters’ faces.

Moments later, the trolls had run out of steam, silently deleted their comments, and set their accounts to private.

Staring at these girls who’d charged in for him, Tao Zhen was stunned for once.

Clicking through to their profiles, he found they’d followed him since his first video, not only liking, commenting, and bookmarking everything, but also drawing chibi fanart of him, encouraging him in DMs that his singing was really good.

A warm current seemed to flow through his chest. Tao Zhen saved the chibi drawings and carefully admired them for a long while, then sent each of them a row of red-packet transfers.

Fresh off their comment-section battle, the girls opened their DMs to see an orange ¥888 transfer strip. They almost stumbled, no time to scream before sending back a string of “???”

Seeing they all wanted to decline, Tao Zhen thought for a moment and added a few lines:

【Zhen Zhibang: Take it, just my thanks for the drawings! They’re all super cute; I love them.】

【Zhen Zhibang: But don’t argue with that kind of person for my sake anymore. If it risks your privacy or safety, it’s not worth it. We’re online to have fun.】

【Zhen Zhibang: I don’t care what they say about me. What they say is their business, just hear it and let it go. Don’t believe it.】

If someone is willing to expend so much energy online to tear down someone they don’t even like, bending over backwards to smear and mock, that proves nothing except that their own life isn’t going well.

Tao Zhen didn’t dwell on it; his third video quickly hit the week’s trending list.

A bunch of MCN companies were bombarding his DMs. But thinking about the shoots he’d have to coordinate with them, and the possibility of offline events… he shelved the idea for now.

He personally didn’t think it was a big deal, but others felt it was a pity, especially Tong Xia and Gu Xingzhou. They truly had his best interests at heart, and Tao Zhen knew it, but he felt embarrassed to say that whenever he sang in front of others his hands and feet turned icy and he broke into a sweat. So he deftly changed the subject:

【Zhen Zhibang: Speaking of which, didn’t you ask when I’d take things further with my boyfriend? I forgot to say, we’ve already kissed!】
【Tong Xia: Don’t change the subject, your account’s doing so well now, why exactly are you… wait a sec? You and your boyfriend did WHAT??】

【Gu Xingzhou: HOLY ?!】

The group call rang the next second. As soon as Tao Zhen picked up, the two of them were howling like wolves. They said Tao Zhen was like an abacus, just a flick and he moves.

He tried to joke and act cute to skate by, but they wouldn’t let him; after a barrage of interrogation, they finally, barely, let the topic drop.

But they weren’t satisfied. They were intensely curious about the boy Tao Zhen was “keeping.”

“Isn’t National Day coming up? Bring your boyfriend, we’ll all go to Jiangcheng together! Let us meet him!”

“Yeah, I heard they just built a big Dayu Bay over there, tons of celebs and influencers are checking in. Sounds pretty hot!”

Tao Zhen’s heart stirred. He hadn’t seen his two friends in ages, not since moving to Nancheng over summer break.

And despite “dating” Zhu Wensheng for quite a while, they hadn’t properly gone out to play together.

“Okay, I’ll call and ask him,” Tao Zhen hesitated. “But I can’t promise he’ll be free, he’s busy training for combat sports.”

Tong Xia and Gu Xingzhou agreed enthusiastically.

***
National Day really was around the corner. With the seven-day holiday coming, schools and companies alike were in “scattered focus” mode; everyone was restless and in no mood to study or work.

Even the people at the Light club were the same. Seeing the regular members happily discuss where to go play, the professional fighters couldn’t help being envious. After conferring repeatedly, they decided to send a representative to petition the head coach on the group’s behalf.

“Coach Liu!”

Under pressure from the circle of brothers behind him, Da Hai nervously clenched his tank top. “Thing is, there’s still some time before our next match, but since August we’ve only had three or four days off. Everyone’s feeling a bit tired…”

The head coach looked up, gaze sweeping the sheepish faces. “So what do you want?”

“We were thinking, with National Day coming up…” Da Hai gave a fawning little laugh, posture humble. “Could we maybe take the chance to get a few days off?”

The head coach closed the training log and fell into thought.

It’s true, this field can’t get lax, but these pups don’t have a fight right now; it wouldn’t be impossible to let them ease up briefly…

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. With boxing gloves in hand, Zhu Wensheng descended with a calm expression, breaking the coach’s train of thought.

“Not happening!” the head coach suddenly snapped.

“You all done with training? Can your roundhouse sweep drop an opponent? Can your rear-naked choke not be escaped?”
“Since your S-Ge joined the club, there hasn’t been a single day of real ‘rest.’ Even if he takes a few hours off, he comes back and makes up the time.”

The more he spoke, the more iron he sounded. “Why can’t you learn from him? Huh?”

Led by Da Hai, the group lowered their heads like quail and dutifully took the scolding.

Zhu Wensheng gave them a cool glance, lips parting as if to say something, when his vibrating phone drew his eyes.

He answered. On the other end, Tao Zhen’s clear, expectant voice: “Zhu Wensheng, are you free over the National Day holiday?”

Zhu Wensheng paused, set down the gloves in his hand, and asked softly, “What’s up?”

“Mm, kind of,” Tao Zhen thought for a moment. “My friends asked me to go on a trip, and they want me to bring you along to meet them.”

“Your friends?”

“Yes, two childhood buddies I grew up with. They know about us… and really want to meet you. Of course, I already told them you’re busy, if you’re training at the club, then forget it.”