Chapter 1: The Movie Star Meng Chao
The night hadn't fully faded, and the sky was just beginning to brighten.
The director carrying a camera knocked on the door in front of him. He thought he'd have to wait a long time for someone to respond at this hour, but to his surprise, the door opened within a minute.
The door was opened by a young man whose features were soft and elegant. His lips were slightly pursed, as though he was nervous, his arms hanging naturally at his sides, fingers lightly tugging at the seams of his trousers.
"Good… Good morning." The young man, one of the protagonists of this recording, Lin Qin, said softly, his voice barely audible. If not for their close proximity, the director might not have caught what he said at all.
"Good morning, Mr. Lin." The director stepped into the room, setting up the shots for the recording as per instructions.
Lin Qin lived alone in this apartment, yet it lacked the typical clutter you'd find in most young men's spaces. Everything was neatly arranged and immaculately clean, resembling more of a showroom than a lived-in bachelor's pad.
As the director filmed, Lin Qin had already emerged from the bedroom, wheeling a suitcase along. He stood at a distance, his palm gripping the handle tightly, saying nothing.
"Mr. Lin, are you ready to head out?" The director finished collecting footage and only then noticed the quiet figure standing in the corner. He was slightly surprised. Lin Qin had stunningly good looks, yet once he stood there, it was as though his presence completely vanished.
Lin Qin nodded, his gaze seemingly focused on some empty spot.
The program's vehicle was already waiting downstairs in the residential area. Lin Qin pushed his suitcase all the way down in silence, leaving the accompanying director frowning deeply.
Being this subdued wasn't ideal for reality TV—it lacked drama and engagement. Without standout moments, the edited footage might end up entirely unremarkable.
Once they were in the car, the director tried to have a conversation with Lin Qin.
Director: "Mr. Lin, why did you decide to accept our program's invitation this time?"
Lin Qin was part of the industry, but he kept such a low profile. Aside from acting in films, he never took on commercials, seldom attended events, and was rarely seen in public. Even when he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, it had been his agent who went to accept the trophy—Lin Qin himself didn't appear at all. On the few occasions he did attend functions, he walked the red carpet dutifully and then seemingly evaporated from the scene.
If not for the critically acclaimed films under his belt, it wouldn't be surprising if people had forgotten his existence entirely within the entertainment industry.
So when Lin Qin agreed to participate in "We Are Together," a romance reality show, and even signed on as a fixed cast member, the production team was taken aback. They hadn't held out much hope when sending the invitation but were met with Lin Qin's surprising acceptance.
Clearly, the director's question posed some difficulty for Lin Qin. After fumbling for a long time, he managed to squeeze out a few hesitant words: "… I just wanted to say yes…"
Director: "…"
Right, just one question and the conversation was already dead.
The director frowned, feeling as though he'd encountered an insurmountable obstacle in his career. After racking his brains, he managed to come up with another question. "Mr. Lin, do you know who you'll be filming with for this show?"
As soon as the question was asked, Lin Qin seemed to realize something. The tips of his ears flushed a deep red, and it looked as though he were burning up entirely.
"I… I do." Lin Qin nodded lightly. Sitting upright like a kindergartener, he kept his back straight and his hands neatly placed on his knees. "It's Senior Meng."
For a moment, the director wondered if there was something wrong with his hearing. He couldn't help but notice that when Lin Qin said "Senior Meng," his tone was filled with reverence and earnestness—completely different from his earlier timid manner.
The director quickly seized the opportunity. "Mr. Lin, is this your first time meeting Meng in person?"
"Yes." Lin Qin replied softly, the blush on his face spreading like ink in water, slowly blooming. His fine features became even more striking when tinged with this flush, almost unbearably beautiful.
However, his nervousness was also impossible to hide.
The director adjusted the camera and asked: "Mr. Lin, are you feeling nervous?"
"Huh?" Lin Qin seemed momentarily lost, but after hearing the question, he pulled at the corners of his mouth to reveal a small smile. "A little."
"Why?" The director probed. "Is it because you're going to meet Meng? I heard you're quite fond of him."
A fire seemed to ignite within Lin Qin, setting his entire being ablaze. He stammered in response, "Yes… Senior Meng is… my idol."
"This time, you'll be filming 'We Are Together' with Meng. Do you have any expectations, or anything you'd like to say to him?"
Lin Qin spent a long time trying to think of something before earnestly responding, "Senior Meng, please take care of me." He looked at the camera with utmost sincerity and seriousness.
Director: "…" Well, now the conversation was completely finished.
Since they had departed so early, the program's convoy avoided Beijing's rush hour and arrived smoothly at the airport.
As planned, the team receiving Meng and the one following Lin Qin would rendezvous at the airport before boarding a flight to Binhai City, where the official recording for "We Are Together" would begin.
With the growing popularity of BL (boys' love) culture, the market had become increasingly aware of its potential. Amidst the flourishing variety show landscape, and with the recent legalization of same-sex marriage, Apple TV jumped on the trend by creating a reality show spotlighting male-male dynamics. The show was named "We Are Together."
The program invited only two fixed hosts to be featured in a two-month recording schedule.
During filming, other celebrity guests would occasionally join to discuss life or play games.
Put simply, the show presented a subtly crafted narrative where two newlywed husbands navigate everyday moments with their friends. How these stories become entertaining is up to the hosts.
To be more direct, it's essentially a slow-paced reality show disguised as a sugar-coated romantic spectacle.
The freedom granted by this show was extraordinarily high—there was no script, leaving the entire process up to the hosts to improvise. No one had any idea what sort of chemistry would form between them.
About half an hour later, the team escorting Meng finally arrived.
Meng Chao, known simply as Meng, stood tall and striking, his sharp features making him stand out even amidst a sea of celebrities. Frequently seen wearing glasses, he exuded an air of scholarly elegance. He rarely attended public events and seldom interacted with fans on social media, which lent him an image of aloofness in the eyes of his supporters.
He was undoubtedly a legendary figure in the industry. Debuting at eighteen, he swept domestic Best Actor awards by nineteen. That same year, his stellar performance in a poignant arthouse film earned him three Best Actor awards from major international film festivals, catapulting him to fame overnight. His debut was nothing short of a meteoric rise.
Since then, he's maintained a steady rhythm of one film per year, with each release achieving both box office and critical acclaim. His unparalleled acting prowess has established him as a leading figure in Hua Country's film industry, and awards have practically become synonymous with his name.