Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

Chapter 97 I am a staunch materialist

"How long were you standing outside?" Lin Shen asked casually as he started the car.

"It wasn't long, just around the time you cut the ribbon. I originally wanted to go in and take a look, but there were so many people gathered at the entrance, so I gave up."

Lin Shen smiled and said, "Why didn't you tell me? I could have had someone take you in."

"No way," Chen Duling shook her head. "Your fans are too scary. I'll just watch from outside."

As the car drove out of the underground parking garage, Chen Duling let out a long sigh of relief: "Finally, I can breathe again."

Lin Shen glanced at her and laughed: "Are you really that serious?"

"As for it," Chen Duling said seriously, "you have no idea, I was wrapped up like a dumpling in the mall just now, afraid of being recognized."

As a result, all your fans were staring at your standee, and nobody paid any attention to me.

Lin Shen turned the steering wheel and onto the main road: "What can you see from the outside?"

Chen Duling paused for a moment, then turned her face away: "I was just curious to see what a big star is like in his daily life."

"What did you figure out?"

"I can tell you're quite the actor." Chen Duling turned around, her eyes crinkling. "You smile so perfectly at the camera, it's like you're a completely different person."

Lin Shen smirked: "Business requires it, you'll have to do the same then."

"No way! My face is frozen from smiling!"

The car merged into the traffic and drove at a leisurely pace. Chen Duling looked at the street scene flashing past the window and asked, "Hey, are you hungry?"

"good."

"Let's go eat then, I've found a place." She took out her phone and scrolled through it, "A private kitchen, the environment is quite quiet, we won't be disturbed."

Lin Shen nodded: "Okay, you give me directions."

Chen Duling started navigating, and a mechanical female voice came from the phone. Only then did she put down the phone: "By the way, are you tired from today's activities?"

"It's alright, I'm used to it," Lin Shen said. "Taking photos, conducting interviews, and chatting with VIPs are all pretty much the same process."

"Chatting with VIPs?" Chen Duling blinked. "What do they talk about?"

Lin Shen thought for a moment: "Just coax them, compliment them on how nice they look in this or that, and maybe sign some autographs for them."

After hearing this, Chen Duling couldn't help but laugh out loud: "This is too tragic. Even a big star has to chat with someone."

As the car drove away from the vicinity of the mall, Chen Duling took off her hat. Her hair was a little messy, so she casually tidied it up and then put her hands back into her sleeves.

She glanced out the window and suddenly said, "But your fans are really going all out."

Lin Shen glanced at her.

Chen Duling continued, "I saw them standing there from beginning to end, and many girls kept holding up their phones to take pictures for hours without their hands shaking."

Lin Shen smiled: "Didn't you say you were only here for a short while?"

Chen Duling choked for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window: "—It'll only be a little while."

Lin Shen didn't expose her, he just smiled.

Chen Duling turned back and asked curiously, "Aren't they tired? They've been standing for so long, holding up such a big camera."

"Station admins, well, it's all about practice."

"A fan site admin?" Chen Duling blinked. "You mean one of those people who specializes in taking pictures of celebrities?"

Lin Shen nodded: "Some people just like it, while others make money from it."

"Make money?" Chen Duling was clearly intrigued. "How do you do it?"

"Sell the photos, I guess." Lin Shen turned the steering wheel onto the main road. "The good photos can be sold to other fans, to marketing accounts, to media outlets. If the market is good, a set of photos can sell for hundreds or even thousands."

Chen Duling gasped, then shrank back: "Luckily I'm not famous, so no one takes pictures of me."

Lin Shen glanced at her, a smile playing on his lips: "Once your movie is released, you'll wish you had all these people."

Chen Duling was taken aback: "Why?"

"Celebrities also need to maintain their exposure," Lin Shen said. "Do you think those candid photos, airport photos, and behind-the-scenes footage are just casually taken by fans? Many of them are taken by fan site admins, and some are even released by their own teams."

Chen Duling nodded thoughtfully, then asked with a hint of doubt, "But don't they make money by selling photos? What does that have to do with you?"

Lin Shen laughed: "They make their money, I need exposure, it's a win-win situation. Once a good-looking leaked photo is released, it'll trend on social media and generate buzz."

Sometimes, the team even has to proactively contact those top-tier fan site operators, giving them inside information so they can come and take photos.

After listening, Chen Duling remained silent for a moment, then muttered softly, "There are really a lot of tricks involved here—"

Lin Shen smiled but didn't reply.

As the car passed an intersection, Chen Duling suddenly spoke up again: "Hey, you say those fan site admins earn so much, are their photos really that professional?"

"It depends on the person," Lin Shen said. "Some have been doing this for a few years and their grasp of the camera, lighting, and angles is even better than that of the average photographer."

Moreover, they know the celebrities they're photographing better than anyone else. They know exactly what expression to make, and which angle looks best.

Chen Duling's eyes lit up: "Then do they also know a lot of inside information?"

Lin Shen glanced at her: "What, want to hear some gossip?"

Chen Duling was a little embarrassed, but still nodded: "A little."

Lin Shen smiled, thought for a moment, and said, "Okay, I'll tell you one. Do you know why so many celebrities are so superstitious about feng shui and fortune telling?"

Chen Duling blinked: "Because of superstition?"

"Not entirely," Lin Shen said. "There's a saying in this industry: a small success depends on promotion, a big success depends on fate."

Many people have poured money and resources into their careers but still can't become famous, while others become famous inexplicably, and nobody can explain why.

Lin Shen paused for a moment: "So many people believe this, thinking that they are lacking something in their destiny, or that the feng shui is wrong. Burning incense, inviting gods, and finding a feng shui master are all standard practices."

Chen Duling suddenly remembered something: "I've seen the news! Many celebrities have sought out Qigong master Wang Lin."

Lin Shen twitched the corner of his mouth.

Wang Lin.

That master's main clients aren't just celebrities.

But he didn't say it aloud, he just nodded: "Yes, he's the most famous one. Some people go to him because they really believe in him, some just want peace of mind, and some see that everyone else is going to him, so it would seem strange if they didn't."

Chen Duling laughed: "I'm different. I'm a staunch materialist and I absolutely don't believe in these things."

Lin Shen glanced at her, smiled, and said nothing.

He used to be a staunch materialist.

After time travel—it's hard to say.

Although I wouldn't go to the lengths of those people who seek out fortune tellers and feng shui masters, I would still go into a Taoist temple to donate incense and seek peace of mind.

I've always been involved in charity work, and I'd rather believe in the existence of accumulating merit.

But he couldn't say these things to her.

"What are you laughing at?" Chen Duling looked at his expression, a little unconvinced. "I'm serious, I don't believe in those things."

"Alright, alright, you're a materialist," Lin Shen replied with a smile.

Chen Duling then leaned back in her seat, satisfied.

The car turned into a quiet street. Chen Duling glanced out the window and suddenly said, "Hey, turn left at the next intersection, then go into the second alley."

Lin Shen followed her directions and drove along the narrow alley, lined with old-style residential buildings and withered vines climbing the walls.

"What kind of place is this?" Lin Shen asked, a little curious.

"A place to eat," Chen Duling said matter-of-factly. "I searched for ages, and this is the most secluded place. I guarantee there won't be any paparazzi."

Lin Shen glanced at her: "You're quite professional."

"Of course." Chen Duling was a little smug. "I checked a lot of travel guides and specifically chose this place."

The car stopped in front of an old house. The house looked quite old, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and a wooden plaque hanging at the entrance.

Lin Shen got out of the car and looked around. This place was indeed well hidden, tucked deep in an old residential area, and most people would never find it.

Chen Duling had already reached the door, but turned back to look at him: "Come on, what are you standing there for?"

Lin Shen followed.