When the news broke, there was a collective gasp.

Everyone, not just Shen Xingsui, was shocked. Of everyone present, only Fu Jinxiao seemed unfazed, smiling down at the audience. His calm demeanor towards leaving the stage and the entertainment industry showed no signs of regret or melancholy, much like his indifferent debut on the stage years ago.

A reporter finally mustered the courage to ask, "Mr. Fu, was this a spur-of-the-moment decision?"

"No," Fu Jinxiao responded, "I've contemplated this for a long time."

Those words seemed to close a chapter in their history.

Some might assume that announcing a relationship could lead to a career slump, with fans potentially abandoning him. There would undoubtedly be conspiracy theories, but he wasn't perturbed. He faced the situation gracefully and confidently, just as he had entered the entertainment industry alone years ago. Now, as he contemplated leaving, he wasn't clinging to the glitzy aura of fame.

Journalists continued firing questions:

"Mr. Fu, did you leave the industry because of a romantic relationship?"

"Will you stay behind the scenes after retiring?"

"Have you considered your future endeavors?"

"Are you concerned about finding a suitable path after retiring from the limelight?"

The questions from the audience were sharp and to the point, touching on a subject that the entire nation was keenly interested in. Especially with the ongoing live stream, the atmosphere was tense, with viewers holding their breaths.

Fu Jinxiao responded with a half-smile, "It's a bit of both. Acting and singing are my passions, and I've already achieved all the awards and experiences I aimed for in this field. It's just about changing the scenery and experiencing a different phase of life."

"Part of it is also because my family wishes for me to return and assist. And if I step back from this life," Fu Jinxiao glanced at Shen Xingsui with a playful tone, "I would have more time to spend with him."

A buzz of surprise filled the room at this revelation.

For a long time, the media and the public perceived Fu, the eminent actor, as very straight-laced. He had never reciprocated any flirtatious overtures from female celebrities and maintained a pristine reputation. Most considered him too straightforward and lacking romantic flair.

But now, it seems that wasn't the case.

His romance is exclusive, steadfast, and unwavering. From the heights of stardom, he's willing to step down to be an adoring spectator of love.

...

This press conference set all media platforms abuzz that evening.

#FuJinxiaoAnnouncesRelationship

#FuJinxiaoRetires

#LonelyCityPressConference

These trending topics went viral. Some, who had just finished work and missed the live stream, were taken aback by the trending news, even questioning its authenticity:

"This can't be true!"

"I'm shook!"

"One shock wasn't enough, here's a double whammy."

"Why Shen Xingsui of all people?!"

While many struggled with the revelation, many others embraced it. From the talent show "Starlight" to other reality programs, in just two short years, the fan base of Shen Xingsui and Fu Jinxiao exceeded five million. Even before the official announcement, there were frequent fan speculations and, post the movie's release, a surge in "ship" fans.

Same-sex marriage is, after all, legal.

Previously, when fans speculated about their relationship, some argued against mixing reel life with real life. Anyone who stepped over the line faced harsh criticism. But now that the relationship has been officially announced, it's a celebration for all the fans:

"The couple I 'shipped' is real?!"

"Ecstatic, feels like the holidays!"

"Don't Shen Xingsui and Mr. Fu look so good together?"

"He truly cherishes Sui Sui, showing him evident favoritism from early on."

"He never really hid it."

While some embrace and commend, others inevitably disapprove. Among the dissenters were the hardcore fans who naturally didn't take kindly to the news, prompting some sarcastic remarks:

"They say revealing a relationship costs fans, yet Teacher Fu gained 500,000 followers overnight."

"Sui Sui’s fanbase increased by over 2 million."

"Losing one of you won’t hurt; if you’re leaving, just go."

"Enough with the threats about quitting the fandom. You’ve already driven your idol to quit the industry. Are you happy now?"

Some fans warmly accepted the news, while others didn’t.

In fact, certain fanatic groups collectively targeted the official accounts and posts of the movie "Lonely City," blaming it for their idol's coming out. There were even attempts to sabotage the movie's ratings with one-star reviews.

During this time, Shen Xing Sui did call the director.

Zhang San San responded, “It’s not that big a deal, Sui Sui. I’m not bothered at all. Even though our ratings dropped, as long as we made the movie with integrity, its quality will shine through. Besides…”

Shen Xing Sui inquired, “Besides what?”

“Well,” Zhang chuckled, “thanks to their antics, our movie’s popularity soared. Just today, we hit 2 billion at the box office.” He said with a hint of pride, “No matter how they rate us, a good movie always finds its audience.”

That reassured Shen Xing Sui.

This was Zhang San San's debut movie, and Sui Sui didn’t want his personal matters affecting others.

Shen Xing Sui saw the online protests but felt much more resilient than before, knowing that with Fu Jin Xiao by his side, they could face any adversity together.

Wang Mei Can, still concerned, said, “We’ve dispatched teams to clear the plaza, Sui Sui. Don’t take everything to heart.”

“I’m alright.” Shen Xing Sui smiled, comforting his manager, “Some critics might be right in their observations. I might not yet match Fu Teacher’s achievements, but I believe that one day I will stand beside him as an equal.”

Wang Mei Can paused, then sighed, “Sui Sui…”

Shen Xing Sui: “Yes?”

“You’ve grown up.” Wang Mei Can gently patted his head, “I believe that day will come.”

...

Online, public opinion continued to ferment.

Among the voices, some of Fu Jin Xiao's fans didn’t dislike Shen Xing Sui per se, but believed he wasn’t worthy of their idol, accusing him of leveraging the relationship for fame and harboring ulterior motives.

Fan 'Little A', a longtime supporter of Teacher Fu, was one of the skeptics.

“Shen Xing Sui is so young; what could he possibly understand about Teacher Fu?” Little A grumbled, “I bet they’ll break up in less than six months.”

They have a group among them.

Within this group, many are loyal fans. Some are even affluent supporters, mainly because Fu Jinxiao's work and discretion have been impeccable. Even if they saw the two together, they didn't read too much into it. Currently, most are quite displeased:

“Should we hire a detective or something, to dig up some dirt on Shen Xingsui?”

“He surely has a dark past.”

“Didn’t a rumor about him being involved in school violence emerge before?”

“That rumor was debunked, so it's of no use.”

Everyone was voicing their opinions all at once, most of them complaining:

“Why did Teacher Fu choose him?”

“He's nowhere near good enough for Teacher Fu.”

“Exactly, I'd feel better if Teacher Fu chose a fan. Look at some of these ladies; they’re wealthy, beautiful, and genuinely care about Teacher Fu.”

“Take Madam, for example. She's pursued Teacher Fu for years. I can't imagine how heartbroken she must be now.”

“I really don't trust this Shen Xingsui.”

Amid the discussion, Xiao A stood up: “I remember once on a variety show, some of Shen Xingsui’s private accounts were accidentally exposed by the crew. Do you think if we find those accounts, we might unearth something?”

Her words were a wake-up call!

Everyone was previously like headless flies. But now, they were suddenly enlightened: “That makes sense. I recall someone requested a popular influencer to investigate. He seemed to be following small leads. We can approach him. If there's any dirt on Shen Xingsui, his true colors will be revealed.”

They all instantly agreed.

Among the fans, there are always some leaders. Xiao A naturally took charge, approaching that influencer in hopes of discovering more clues. This person wasn’t really part of their circle and was known to be quirky. When Xiao A contacted him, she wasn’t expecting much, but surprisingly, she got a response.

The influencer replied, “I located the original poster of that wallpaper. The artist mentioned about a comment on the picture. When the show aired, the artwork was freshly posted, only a few days old, by a lesser-known account. So, there were only a few hundred comments. The show's cameraman didn't capture the account's name, but I noticed a recommended page where he followed another obscure artist. Coincidentally, that artist was also lesser-known.”

“By comparing comments and filtering overlapping fans of both artists, I narrowed down to a potential account,” the influencer said. “I initially intended to sell this information, but after viewing the content, I changed my mind. Some things are priceless.”

Xiao A, seeing a potential dead end, grew anxious, “What do you mean by priceless? Is the news huge? Just name your price. Regardless of its relevance to Teacher Fu, our fan club can pool funds for you!”

Reflecting upon the numerous posts, the influencer honestly replied, “Yes, it is related. And it seems to have been going on for quite some time.”

Hearing this, Xiao A grew excited. They hadn't expected to uncover potentially damaging information about Shen Xingsui!

The influencer, seeming hesitant, finally said, “Since you're so keen on knowing, I won't sell the information. I'll post a Weibo tonight, disclosing everything I know. Everyone will know then.”

Xiao A was surprised yet elated, “You're not charging? Thank you so much! We’ll be ready to check your Weibo tonight. Please make sure to reveal everything!”

Receiving such news was exhilarating for her. She immediately shared this with the group, and they were all ecstatic upon hearing it.

"Really?"

"Great, finally, we can see what kind of person he truly is."

"He always seems so perfect in public, but who knows what he's like behind closed doors?"

"I'll notify the others. We'll be on the lookout tonight."

"Right, we should also buy a trending spot!"

"I hope some scandalous information comes out, so Fu Teacher can see his true colors!"