Chapter 1855: The Image of an Artist

Zhao Fusheng certainly wasn't going to tell Dong Chenxi what he was really planning.

Sometimes, even if you explain many things, people still won't believe you, so why waste your breath?

This had nothing to do with personal friendship; it was simply the reality of the situation.

After telling Dong Chenxi not to worry too much and to keep an eye on SoftBank's movements, Zhao Fusheng went home.

Only when he got home did he remember that he had forgotten to ask Dong Chenxi why she was in the capital so early—had she only spent one day at home during the New Year?

Shaking his head, Zhao Fusheng didn't dwell on it. Dong Chenxi wasn't a child; as an adult, she surely had her own reasons for everything she did.

Even for a good friend, he couldn't say too much.

Zhao Fusheng's sudden return naturally delighted the family. Fan Beibei immediately pounced on him, her face full of excitement: "Brother, brother, you came back so fast!"

"Mm-hmm, I came back for some business."

Zhao Fusheng patted the little girl's head and said with a smile.

Fan Baobao naturally knew that Zhao Fusheng had returned for serious matters. Zhao's father and mother, on the other hand, didn't know. When they asked, Zhao Fusheng casually explained it was business, and they didn't press further.

They all knew that Zhao Fusheng's business was now very large, and they couldn't help much. The only thing they could do was try not to cause him trouble.

Since Zhao Fusheng was back, they naturally wanted to prepare some good food. Zhao's mother and Li Yuan cooked a big table of dishes, and the whole family happily gathered around to eat.

During the meal, Fan Baobao chatted with Zhao Fusheng about some gossip in the entertainment circle, telling him that one of her college classmates had announced a relationship.

"That's normal."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "As long as they're not top-tier idols, it's perfectly normal for artists to announce their relationships."

Fan Baobao was taken aback: "But for ordinary artists, doesn't announcing a relationship usually affect the market?"

"That's not necessarily true."

Zhao Fusheng disagreed with her view and said seriously: "It depends on how you look at it. For example, if you were to announce now that you're married, what kind of people do you think would stop liking you?"

Fan Baobao was startled, then said: "It's hard to say..."

She meant it sincerely, because she herself didn't know the composition of her fan base.

Zhao Fusheng said: "Exactly. You debuted as an actress, and so far, apart from those ads, your works are all movies and TV dramas, and you've played all kinds of roles. Do you think fans like your works more, or do they like you as a person more?"

"That would be... the works, right?"

Fan Baobao thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng.

"Right. People who like your works care about your on-screen image. Whether you're married or not only matters to those fans who like you for your looks."

Zhao Fusheng replied casually: "Simply put, for idols, they need to sell a persona to gain fan support. But for actors, the work is your foundation. Whether you get married or fall in love, fans don't really care."

Fan Baobao seemed lost in thought, pondering something.

Zhao Fusheng didn't ask further. What he said was the truth.

Wasn't Chen Yao, who he had cast from the auditions for "Wulin," a case in point? In her past life, after rising to fame through "Wulin" and then starring in "Lurk" with Yan Wang, she quickly became a top-tier actress.

Later, during her divorce, she successfully painted her ex-husband as a scumbag. After getting together with her photographer husband and having a child, it was exposed that she had cheated first, earning her a reputation as one of the industry's white lotuses.

Dubbed the Queen of Weibo, her public intellectual image caused her reputation in the industry to plummet.

If she were an idol actress, she would have been completely finished.

But unfortunately for them, Chen Yao was an actress.

With "All Is Well," she made a complete comeback, becoming the lead actress of a hit drama and returning to the top.

Audiences simply didn't remember her negative news; they only cared whether the works she starred in were good and whether the roles were classic.

As for those negative stories, as long as they weren't matters of principle, hardly anyone paid attention.

This wasn't a joke. In the entertainment industry, hot topics change at lightning speed, especially in later years, with all kinds of trending young stars emerging endlessly. If your Weibo followers weren't in the tens of millions, you wouldn't even dare call yourself a little flower.

So, Zhao Fusheng's words weren't a joke but a solid fact.

For an artist like Fan Baobao, whose actor image outweighed her idol image, there was no need to worry about so many things.

Of course, everyone's considerations are different.

Not everyone was as bold as Han Lu, who directly announced his relationship.

And it turned out that he was just an idol, not a true actor.

How much popularity Han Lu lost after announcing his relationship was known only to him and his team.

...

...

"You had something else in mind with what you said today, didn't you?"

That night, as they were going to sleep, Zhao Fusheng asked Fan Baobao.

Knowing Fan Baobao as well as he did, she wouldn't have brought up that topic for no reason; there had to be a reason.

"Can't you be a little dumber?"

Fan Baobao glared at Zhao Fusheng and said helplessly.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "No help for it, that's just how I am."

"I can't be bothered to complain about you."

Fan Baobao snorted and said to Zhao Fusheng: "What do you think about making our relationship public?"

"Public?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned, looking at Fan Baobao with some surprise: "Is it because of what Mom said?"

In his mind, if not for Li Yuan's words, Fan Baobao wouldn't have considered revealing the fact that she was married with a child.

After all, she had always wanted to avoid giving the outside world the impression that she was marrying for status.

Women have delicate feelings, and Zhao Fusheng could understand that.

But in Zhao Fusheng's view, Fan Baobao was overthinking this matter.

"No, I think it might actually be a good thing."

Fan Baobao looked at Zhao Fusheng seriously and said: "I've always felt that being honest is at least a sign of sincerity to the fans. What do you think?"

Shaking his head helplessly, Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "Do as you please. Whatever makes you happy."

He truly didn't mind. He himself wasn't one to care about others' opinions. All along, he had been worried about Fan Baobao, because if their relationship were exposed, many people might find it hard to accept.

After all, fans are a species that is hard to judge by common sense.

"Don't worry. With you here, I've always been happy."

Fan Baobao leaned against Zhao Fusheng and said softly.

...

...

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

On the Lantern Festival, every household eats yuanxiao and looks at lanterns.

Especially in the capital, the whole city was surrounded by red lanterns.

"Want to go out and see the lanterns?"

Zhao Fusheng asked Fan Baobao.

"No."

Fan Baobao shook her head and pointed at her belly: "I don't want to move."

Actually, she disliked the crowds outside and the lack of safety.

Zhao Fusheng naturally understood her thoughts, nodded, and said nothing more.

After dinner, Zhao's mother and father took the child, Li Yuan took Fan Beibei, and the group, under the protection of bodyguards, left home to see the lanterns.

Only Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao remained at home.

"A rare moment alone together."

Zhao Fusheng said to Fan Baobao after seeing off the elders and children.

Fan Baobao rolled her eyes, pointed at her belly: "And this one too. How is it just the two of us?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then laughed: "They say a woman gets three years dumber with each pregnancy, but you seem to be getting smarter instead."

Hearing this, Fan Baobao smiled triumphantly: "Of course. Do you think I'm as dumb as others?"

Zhao Fusheng chuckled and made no comment on her words.

This woman was getting quite inflated, a bit full of herself.

"What, you don't agree?" Fan Baobao glared at Zhao Fusheng and asked.

"Yes, yes, yes. You're beautiful, so whatever you say is right."

Zhao Fusheng quickly said.

He had no choice. At this moment, she was the queen, and there was a baby in her belly, so he had to concede.

Seeing Zhao Fusheng behave, Fan Baobao magnanimously let the matter drop.

She knew she was just using the baby as leverage to tease him.

This was a little marital game. After all, a couple couldn't always be as respectful as guests. The so-called 'holding the tray level with the eyebrows' and 'treating each other with respect' were just manifestations of ancient people bound by feudal ethics.

Everyone knows the phrase 'holding the tray level with the eyebrows.'

It comes from a story. In the Han dynasty, there was a couple named Liang Hong and Meng Guang. They moved from the north to the south to work, and without a proper place to live, they worked for a wealthy family under the eaves. Liang Hong worked outside, and Meng Guang prepared his meals. When the food was ready, she placed it on a small tray and carried it to him. To show respect, she lifted it as high as her eyebrows.

As for 'treating each other with respect,' it literally means that husband and wife respect and cherish each other.

The latter goes without saying, but the former is a trap. The husband works, the wife prepares meals and lifts them up to show respect—how is that different from 'lying on ice to get carp'?

The true way for a couple to get along lies in being natural.

In front of that person, you can happily do anything, because no matter what you do, he will tolerate you. Even if your actions are not entirely correct or even seem a bit foolish, it doesn't matter. There will always be that one person by your side, accompanying you.

That is true love.