“The teacher would say a lot of encouraging words, but we felt that they were so far away. They also felt so empty. Plus my grades were already firmly at the top tier [1]. My parents only wished that I could get into our province’s university.” Yang Qi answered seriously in full semblance of an obedient student.
What he said reflected the viewpoint of a child who grew up in a poor family in undeveloped areas that never had the chance to see prosperity. It also reflected the farmer’s family’s outlook for their kids. In other words, they were easily satisfied with where their kids were. Just like what Mrs. Yang said when she met Yun Xiangxiang.
She didn’t even dare to dream about her son entering Qingdao University. That was the reason why Yang Qi muddled through everything before he followed Yun Xiangxiang.
“How were you so sure that Xiangxiang is a top student and studied painstakingly? I think that anyone who went to high school should understand how difficult it is to raise your grades from five hundred points to seven hundred in a year. The blood and sweat shed over the course of the year would be unimaginable.”
“I joined the fan club and got to know the president. She’s classmates with the goddess. Since I’m usually shameless and worked without complaint, I know that we are in the same batch. The president would also tell me about the goddess’s results when I asked about it.” Yang Qi relaxed a lot when it came to this topic.
“Xiangxiang is an actress. It would be normal to assume that she would register herself at a university that’s related to films. What would you do if she didn’t go to Qingdao University?”
“Isn’t that also in Beijing? I didn’t really think I could be coursemates with the goddess. I only wanted to do my very best to get close to her. I didn’t know why I would have the idea of going to universities in Beijing myself.”
“So you only wanted to be in the same city in the beginning.” Zhao Qun concluded for Yang Qi. “So are you excited now that you’re the goddess’s coursemate and get to be so close to her? Ever thought of pursuing the goddess?”
Yang Qi shook his head strongly. He tensed up again, “I never really have that idea. The goddess deserves better.”
His gaze was clear. It was obvious that he was telling the truth.
“Don’t be scared. Say anything you want.” Yun Xiangxiang gave him a piece of tissue when she saw him breaking out in sweat from anxiety.
Yang Qi loosened up a little when he noticed that Yun Xiangxiang did not get the wrong idea. He wiped the sweat off his forehead before saying to Zhao Qun candidly, “The goddess is a symbol of faith for me. I like her a lot. You might ask me why I like her, but I can’t really tell you why.
It’s not born from inadequacy. Mine is just pure affection. There’s nothing else in there. I know myself very well. There’s nothing now, there will be nothing in the future. I think the affection the fans feel toward the idol leans more to spirituality. There won’t be any axes to grind in a rational affection.”
Zhao Qun smiled contentedly, “You understand more about how to like your idols than people older than you. Then what will you do if your future girlfriend disagrees with you liking Yun Xiangxiang?”
“This problem shouldn’t appear,” Yang Qi shook his head, “Now everyone knows that I’m a fan of the goddess. She must have accepted this if she could become my girlfriend. I can accept my girlfriend disliking my muse, but I cannot accept her hating or stopping me from liking her.”
“Seems that Yang Qi is crystal clear about his feelings for his idol,” Zhao Qun turned his attention to Yun Xiangxiang when he was talking, “What about Xiangxiang? Being so beautiful, you must have a lot of suitors. Will you consider it if it’s your fan?”
“Actually nobody’s pursuing me until now,” Yun Xiangxiang said with resignation, “My dad’s a teacher. Everyone in junior and senior high knew about it. Anyone who tried to pursue me would go straight into the teacher’s office. There was no chance of success. As for future partners, I think relationships rely on feelings. Liking someone or not has nothing to do with their identity.”
“Xiangxiang, as an actress who got admitted into Qingdao University with spectacular grades, will you continue your acting career?” Zhao Qun continued.
“I will,” Yun Xiangxiang answered unequivocally, “I adore acting and I think that this job is meaningful. Just like how ‘Caring Love’ influenced Yang Qi, I hope I can produce more positive works in the future to influence more people. The way I see it, any field is contributing to society as long as we pour our hearts into it.”
“Now your fans in the audience and those in front of the TV can sigh in relief. A lot of people were afraid that you would quit acting,” Zhao Qun continued with a smile, “As an actress, what do you think of the phenomenon of chasing after idols?”
“I think that there should be a bottom line and rationality for anyone and anything. As long as the bottom line and rationality are there, they won’t do anything too crazy.
Humans need a goal to strive for. Someone to release their chained emotions on. They won’t search for this someone from anyone around them. At this moment, public figures will act as their target. There’s nothing wrong with chasing after your idols. I think the pros outweigh the cons if you don’t do it blindly; if you don’t become sheep; if you don’t lose yourself.”
Actually, aside from guiding teenagers through positive stories like Yang Qi and Yun Xiangxiang’s, the core goal of the show was to teach teenagers how to chase after their idols reasonably. This phenomenon in society had become the bane of teenage education nowadays.
That was why the program team spread their story far and wide.
“Yun Xiangxiang, how should an idol guide their fans in your opinion?” Zhao Qun tossed the final question out.
“They don’t.” Yun Xiangxiang shook her head with a smile, “Fans are individuals with an independent mind. They aren’t any idol’s appendage. Nor are they the idol’s students or kids.”
“Idols shouldn’t manipulate what they think, nor should they abuse their thoughts. They shouldn’t look at them as a symbol of fame and glory. They shouldn’t turn them into profit numbers.”
“I actually don’t want to be an idol. I only want to be an actress who works hard to portray the works that I think are great. To portray the values of life and relationship which I think are right.”
“No matter if you agree or not, the fans and the larger crowd have their own judgment. I can only work my hardest to not let those who like me down. To leave them with no regrets for liking me. That is all.”
Yun Xiangxiang paused for a while before staring at the camera, “If it’s possible, I hope that one day everyone can treat actors with the same calmness as they treat other staff. I hope that their craze is only directed to the film and the character played by the actor. I hope they don’t for some reason get unconditionally obsessed with some stranger that they don’t know, don’t understand, and is irrelevant to them.”
Nobody expected Yun Xiangxiang to blurt that out. An instant of silence descended on the audience, both live and those in front of their TV.
Even someone as experienced as Zhao Qun was stunned for a second before giving a standing ovation.
The show’s recording came to a close amidst thunderous applause. It was at this moment that a great deal of people felt that Yun Xiangxiang was truly one of a kind. She was indeed different from a lot of superstar actors.