Chapter 30: My Relationship with Jingyi Is Far From Ordinary

Gu Jingyi glanced back, a faint sound of camera shutters echoing behind him.

He took a few more steps forward and waved vigorously in that direction.

Fandom fans are the most devoted of all; their love is like a brilliant, magnificent firework display.

Take, for instance, this moment: late December in Hebei Province is exceptionally cold. It was three or four in the morning, the coldest time of day, with a layer of frost already crystallizing on the ground. Yet, several "fansite masters" remained at their posts outside the iron gates of the recording site, their cameras mounted on tripods. From time to time, they would tuck their hands into their pockets to warm them, then take a quick sip of tea that had long since gone cold.

They endured such hardship simply for the chance to see their idol. Even if the odds were slim, they were willing to stay put. Beyond the fansite masters, about a hundred other fans stood behind them.

Experienced fans knew well that the initial stages of the talent show were dedicated to the trainees mastering the theme song. Time was short, the tasks were heavy, and most trainees had so little time that they would collapse into bed immediately after a grueling practice session. It was rare for anyone to appear near the convenience store at this hour; most were usually shuttling between the dormitories and the practice building.

However, Tian Xiwei knew clearly that Gu Jingyi had a very low appetite before stepping onto the stage to perform. He would at most take a few shallow bites just to keep his body running. Those who knew of this habit included some fansite masters who had traveled across the ocean from South Korea.

Gu Jingyi did not know how long they had been waiting, but as he approached, he realized the crowd was larger than he had imagined.

"Gu Jingyi!!!"
"Jingyi, look here!"

Noticing him walking toward them, the fansite masters erupted in a flurry of movement. They set down their milk tea, hand warmers, and binoculars, hoisting their heavy "bazooka" lenses to aim at the figure walking from the direction of the convenience store.

The recording center had only one convenience store, and it was quite small. Whenever trainees went to shop, they always emerged carrying bags filled to the brim. During the recording, the convenience store was tightly cordoned off by the production team with wire mesh, but that could not dampen the enthusiasm of the fansite masters; they were desperate to see their chosen picks.

As Gu Jingyi stood before them, the sound of shutters—*click, click, click*—began to fire wildly.

Gu Jingyi was accustomed to it; he did not even blink amid the barrage of flashes. As he walked closer, he quickly spotted a familiar figure among the crowd. Most of her face was completely obscured by a camera lens, revealing only a fluffy crown of hair that shimmered with a soft, dark luster under the flickering lights.

Tian Xiwei had an astonishing amount of hair, its texture visibly soft and voluminous. If one subscribed to the notion that "hair reflects the person," she should have been a gentle-tempered soul. But that was only "if."

Noticing Gu Jingyi's gaze, she looked up and beamed at him.

Tian Xiwei was strikingly beautiful, carrying a sharp, unapologetic, and arrogant allure. She was like a rose; just looking at her was enough to make one's eyes ache. She wasn't afraid of being discovered by Gu Jingyi, appearing right under his nose. Having rushed out, Tian Xiwei wore no makeup, her skin porcelain-white. Her cheeks were flushed with a faint red from the cold wind, giving her an air of pure, seductive charm.

Seeing her face reddened by the biting wind, Gu Jingyi frowned. It seemed that no matter the time, Tian Xiwei was always disobedient.

His gaze lingered on her for a few seconds before sweeping across the rest of the group.

"It’s so late already. Aren't you all cold?"

Gu Jingyi possessed a face that naturally created a sense of distance. His features were deep-set, and even without the elaborate stage makeup, he remained stunningly handsome—a clear favorite of the Creator. His sudden approach, coupled with his genuine concern, left the fans so moved they could barely speak, some stammering in response.

"N-no, not cold. Just seeing you makes me so happy."
"Oh, is that really Brother Jingyi...?"

With their idol suddenly appearing before them, the fans were so happy they could hardly tell if they were dreaming. Gu Jingyi noticed their state but didn't say much more. The fans just stared at him in a daze, unable to form a complete sentence.

Just as he was about to leave after their brief exchange, he noticed Tian Xiwei’s calves trembling slightly, and the back of her hand, which had been fiddling with the camera, was red from the cold.

They had known each other for nearly a year; why was this girl still so reckless?

Gu Jingyi stopped and took some hand warmers out of his bag. He squeezed them in his hand and pushed them through the wire mesh with some difficulty. Tian Xiwei took them, looking a bit dazed, as a wave of heat washed over her. Her palm was instantly filled with the warmth of the warmer, and she stood there, stunned.

Gu Jingyi smiled at her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, signaling for her to snap out of it. Tian Xiwei's palms were burning hot, while her fingers remained slightly cool, as if she were going through a high fever.

"Ahhh, Brother Jingyi, I'm cold too!"
"Gu Jingyi, I'm so cold!!!"

The other fans, quickly regaining their senses, began to coquettishly clamor for his attention, their voices rising in a wave.

"Alright, alright, there’s enough for everyone. Don’t rush, and please, no pushing."

Gu Jingyi stood before the wire mesh, handing out the warmers one by one. In truth, these items were meant for himself. All trainees participating in *Idol Producer* were required to wear the standard-issue uniforms. During the cold winter, trainees usually wore thick down jackets over their uniforms. Gu Jingyi, however, was an exception; he refused to wear the standard puffy coat. Over his pink Grade A training uniform, he wore a wool overcoat, looking perfectly dashing.

Dior’s evaluation of him was still ongoing, and Gu Jingyi could not afford to wear a bulky down jacket at such a critical time. The wool coat paired with the thin uniform was beautiful but freezing, and the hand warmers were his only relief.

The warmers in his bag ran out, but dozens of fans had yet to receive one. Gu Jingyi placed the bag on the ground and asked the fans to wait for him. Not long after, he returned.

Gu Jingyi had handed out all the warmers, and every fan received one. The wire mesh had left faint scratches on the back of his hand, which the observant fans quickly noticed.

"Gu Jingyi, you're hurt!" A younger fan noticed and was on the verge of tears.

"It's nothing. It’ll heal by the time I reach the dorm," Gu Jingyi teased, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Compared to the love the fans showed him, these small gestures were nothing. Gu Jingyi waved goodbye to the fans and headed back to the dormitory with his bag. Though the fans were reluctant to see him go, they did not call out to stop him.

"Gu Jingyi’s Donut, why are you still standing there? We aren't stalkers; you need to keep a grip on reality."

The fansite masters, having caught Gu Jingyi and captured a series of beautiful photos—and having received a "warmer" from their idol—were feeling quite fulfilled and were packing up to leave. Seeing their fellow fan, with whom they had chased Gu Jingyi’s offline activities many times, still staring off into space, they couldn't help but remind her.

There was only a fine line between a fansite master and a stalker, and they all kept to that boundary.

Tian Xiwei heard her slightly embarrassing fandom nickname called out and snapped back to reality. She didn't answer the other fansite masters, but the events of the past year with Gu Jingyi flashed through her mind. She squeezed the white non-woven fabric of the hand warmer in her hand, leaving wrinkles in the material.

*[Hmph, my relationship with Gu Jingyi is far from ordinary.]*

Tian Xiwei remained silent, only lowering her head with a faint, knowing smile.