Chapter 196: Very Considerate

Chapter 196: Very Thoughtful

"Live streaming?"

The group looked somewhat bewildered.

Meng Fan, of course, had to explain, his demeanor tinged with a touch of honest shyness. "I am a streamer, and I’ve grown accustomed to the live format. If it isn't live, I get nervous and clumsy; I wouldn't know how to act, and I couldn't achieve the results you're looking for. I’ve tried performing without a stream before, and I made so many mistakes—it was quite pathetic."

The group listened in stunned silence. Was there really such a thing?

And besides, were you a sand art performer or a rapper? That rhyme sounded like complete nonsense!

"Teacher He, Hua Hua, Sister Kou Kou..."

At that moment, Bai Zhi walked over. She hadn't gone on stage yet and had come specifically to congratulate Meng Fan. She had watched his performance via the live stream and found it incredibly moving.

Hearing Meng Fan use his "I get nervous without a live stream" excuse to turn down these celebrities—and then deliver a rap on top of it—she stepped in to smooth things over, fearing a misunderstanding. "Xiao Fan is truly a streamer. He really does get nervous during non-live performances. That’s why, even after the rehearsal this morning, he turned down an invitation from the head director, David, for the Las Vegas show."

"Ah?"

The group was taken aback once more. Having seen the performance through the stream, they didn't think Bai Zhi was exaggerating. If he could turn down a Las Vegas show, what else could they say? Was it just that... all artists were this eccentric?

Hua Hua and Sister Kou Kou were both singers; they had originally intended to invite Meng Fan as a guest performer for their concerts. But their concerts weren't live-streamed. As for other live opportunities, they existed, but who knew when they would arise, and the conditions were beyond their control.

And so, they left with regret.

Teacher He, however, pondered for a moment before asking Meng Fan with a smile, "If it were a live stream, would you agree?" He added, "Provided you have the time, of course."

Meng Fan nodded.

"Then let's exchange contact information so it's easier to reach you."

Teacher He and Meng Fan swapped phone numbers and WeChat IDs, then left, looking quite satisfied.

"Teacher He, wait a moment."

Meng Fan called out to him, walked over, and chuckled. "Um, could we take a photo together? I’m a fan of yours; I grew up watching your shows."

Teacher He had heard this line from people in their thirties and forties, let alone a college student in his early twenties like Meng Fan. He happily stood beside Meng Fan, looked up at the phone in Meng Fan's hand, and teased, "You certainly grew up quite large, didn't you!"

Meng Fan was thrilled to get the photo. Even though there was a big star at home, that didn't mean Meng Fan was indifferent to meeting other celebrities. Of course, there were countless stars backstage, and Meng Fan wasn't about to chase every single one for a picture.

—The three major satellite channels collaborating on this live broadcast did not include Mango TV, and Teacher He was not there as a host, but as a high-level executive from Ali Music.

After a few words with Bai Zhi, who had to go prepare for her set, Meng Fan headed toward the lounge. Soon, he encountered another big star he wanted a photo with.

Only, he felt a bit nervous.

"Hmm? Hello."

Meng Fan had a strong presence—so strong that even this superstar noticed him. Seeing Meng Fan standing there, watching him with eager eyes, the star walked over voluntarily and said with a smile, "You’re... Meng Fan, right? Hey, not bad. That performance just now was super dope."

"Jay, could I take a photo with you?"

"Of course."

After the photo, Jay even took a cup of milk tea from his assistant and handed it to Meng Fan. It was warm and very thoughtful.

It also proved that Jay truly loved his milk tea.

Meng Fan returned to the lounge to remove his makeup and change. Just as he stepped out with his milk tea, hoping to sneak into the venue and catch a bit of camera time, he saw Su Qingcen walking over. She gave him a big hug.

"Today's performance was amazing! Thank you!"

On her way back after her interview, she couldn't wait to watch the video of the performance from her assistant. She had known it was a success while on stage and had enjoyed it thoroughly, but seeing the video still left her deeply moved.

It was, arguably, the most satisfying and enjoyable performance of her career thus far.

Meng Fan, held tightly by Su Qingcen, was a bit dazed. Su Qingcen hadn't changed out of her costume yet, and that fairy outfit was so... being held this tightly... it was soft and very thoughtful!

"Um, I should be the one thanking you."

Meng Fan didn't know what else to say. Only when Su Qingcen finally let go did his breathing return to normal.

It wasn't that Meng Fan had impure thoughts; it was just that, who the hell could stay calm while being hugged by their idol?

"Hmm? Is this milk tea for me? Thanks! I was just getting thirsty."

Seeing the milk tea in Meng Fan's hand, Su Qingcen smiled and took it. *Pop*, she poked the straw in and took a sip, her eyes narrowing into crescents. It looked delicious. She waved a hand, saying she was off to remove her makeup and would see him later.

That... Meng Fan was very reluctant, okay? He had wanted to taste what the milk tea held in Jay's hands tasted like, hey!

So, is it true that if you have something good, you must eat or drink it as soon as possible?!

Meng Fan asked a staff member for directions and headed toward the venue. After walking for a while, he could hear bursts of excited screaming.

There were still staff members here, but they were only responsible for keeping people out, not for stopping those coming from within. They glanced at Meng Fan and recognized him as the sand artist who had just provided such a visual feast—after all, his presence was so strong, they were bound to remember him for a while. They didn't say much, and one staff member even led Meng Fan to an excellent viewing area.

Perhaps it was also to prevent the stars coming out from causing unnecessary commotion among the audience.

This viewing area was perfect. Following the usual conventions of such galas, the "audience plants" were mostly stationed in this area.

Why have "audience plants"? To make the shots look better when the cameras pan across, of course!

The cameras don't just scan randomly. Beyond capturing interesting moments, they mostly cut to the "plants"—they need to look good on camera and have a lively demeanor. Otherwise, it would be awkward if the camera cut to a crowd that looked distracted. Although such a gala wouldn't have people looking distracted, one never knew, right?

For Meng Fan, this spot was simply perfect. This was exactly the kind of position he wanted.

A while later, Bai Zhi's group went on stage to sing. The performance effect was quite good, bolstered by their popularity, and especially for that male actor, simply getting through it without a disaster was a success.

Program after program passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was past ten o'clock. A group of stars and hosts came on stage.

The gala featured quizzes and lucky draws, driving TB red envelopes and gift bags—the content was quite rich, and these celebrity guests were always the ones to announce the winners or participate in the quizzes.

Aside from the two hosts, this group included two male stars and two athletes. Jay was among them. They were there representing a hit variety show from Blue Whale TV.