Chapter 2399: Chapter 1611: Starting Point (Should’ve Avoided Eating Unfamiliar Instant Noodles)

On Sunday, Duanmu Huai took Ruby out, and they sat down in a private room of a nearby coffee shop.

Although Ruby was quite puzzled along the way about who Duanmu Huai was taking her to meet, since Duanmu Huai didn’t say... she could only wait and see.

"Whew..."

After entering the private room, Ruby finally took off her hat, glasses, and mask, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Being an entertainer is really troublesome."

"But sister, you’re an entertainer too! I really wish I had your skills!"

"Actually, even if you had my skills, it wouldn’t make any difference."

Duanmu Huai stretched lazily, then sat down and started browsing her phone.

"Why?"

"Because I’m an actor, and you’re an idol."

"Is there any difference?"

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s answer, Ruby was a bit puzzled, while Duanmu Huai glanced at her.

"When you think of actors, what’s your first impression?"

"Eh?"

"High and mighty, far from the crowd, right."

"Ah, yes... that’s indeed true..."

"That’s the benefit of television and the silver screen."

Duanmu Huai shrugged.

"To the public, actors are more like ’people living inside the television’, with the screen creating a physical separation, causing most people to naturally feel detached from actors. You’ve seen it, many actors have had scandals or announced marriages, but most people aren’t really interested, right."

"That’s... indeed the case."

"The reason lies in this inherent sense of detachment; whether the actor is performing on TV or appearing in real life, to the audience, they’re ’people from the TV’, and what happens to them is ’things that happen on TV’. Just like in news reports, when you see a place hit by an earthquake or hurricane, it’s hard to truly empathize, right."

"Hmm..."

Ruby obediently nodded.

"But idols are different. You face the audience up close, so to them, idols are tangible, real-life people, not distant, ethereal beings on screen. This closeness means audiences invest more energy into idols than actors, making them more prone to backlash when something happens."

Duanmu Huai spoke as she showed Ruby her phone.

"See, both involve infidelity scandals. For actors, it was just routine condemnation, followed by a bow and apology. But for idols, it’s not only insults and apologies; they may even have to leave the group, ending their entertainment careers. How about that? Fair, isn’t it?"

"It’s really unfair..."

Looking at the news, Ruby pouted unhappily.

"I’ve always hated those people! As if they have the right to criticize when someone else does wrong, just like when Mom was stabbed... It clearly had nothing to do with them, yet they came out to spread rumors... Using various banners to maliciously damage..."

"That’s what idols have to face."

Duanmu Huai put away his phone.

"Actually, actors used to have these extreme fans, but now, thanks to idols, actors have fewer of those fans."

"Eh? Why?"

Upon hearing this, Ruby was instantly displeased.

"Because those extreme fans desire close contact with their favorite idols, which is obviously very difficult for actors. They can’t enter the TV station or filming sites, and certainly not actors’ homes. Even tracking is likely to break the law. But for idols, things like handshake tickets—spending a few hundred to thousands of yen to shake hands and chat with idols—pose no legal risk. People pursue low-risk, high-reward situations, and before idols existed, those crazy fans could only chase actors. But now, with a lower-risk alternative in idols, these fanatics naturally choose the easier targets."

"Uwah..."

After hearing Duanmu Huai’s explanation, Ruby showed a speechless expression.

"Sister, the way you put it makes it sound like all idol fans are crazy."

"That’s exactly what I’m saying. In my view, those guys waving glow sticks under the stage are far from normal."

Duanmu Huai affirmed his point.

"Falling for capitalism’s tricks, willingly offering everything to be exploited by capital... The benefits go to the agency, but when something goes wrong, the one cut off and doomed is definitely the idol herself. This twisted system breeds twisted fans, a match made in heaven."

"Ugh..."

"By the way, I think your obsession with idols is quite abnormal."

"Ugh ugh ugh...!"

At this, Ruby almost bared her teeth at Duanmu Huai like a provoked puppy, but she knew it was useless arguing with Duanmu Huai. To Ruby, perhaps due to their mother being murdered, her sister has always disliked the idol occupation since childhood. She used to argue with Duanmu Huai about it but has long since given up debating the issue.

After all, if she were too noisy, the impatient Duanmu Huai would pull her over and spank her, giving her a taste of how the weapon of criticism doesn’t match the criticism of weapons.

"Ding ding ding..."

At that moment, the phone rang, and Duanmu Huai picked it up and answered.

"Hello, yes... We are here, come over, the location is... yes, just like that."

After stating the address, Duanmu Huai hung up, while Ruby couldn’t resist her curiosity and asked.

"Who’s coming, sister?"

"Someone you know very well." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Me?"

As Ruby wondered in confusion, footsteps sounded, stopped at the private room door, and then it opened to reveal a long-haired girl in a hat walking in.

"Hi, I’m here. How are you guys?"

"—————————!"

Hearing this voice, Ruby was completely frozen. She stared dumbfoundedly as the girl took off her hat, revealing her face, unable to believe her eyes.

"Chi Yin?"

Standing before Ruby was none other than Hei Chuan Chi Yin, yet at this moment Hei Chuan Chi Yin was completely different from the Hei Chuan Chi Yin Ruby knew. She was wearing a playful, cheerful smile, exuding a strong presence that was impossible to look away from, even though her attire seemed casual.

But to Ruby, it felt like a completely different person.

It was their mother—Xingye Ai.

"What’s wrong, Ruby? Why are you making that face?"

Seeing Ruby frozen in place, Hei Chuan Chi Yin approached her with a mischievous smile and asked. Although she didn’t resemble Xingye Ai much, and their voices differed, as Xingye Ai’s daughter and a devoted fan, Ruby completely sensed Xingye Ai’s unique qualities from Hei Chuan Chi Yin before her.

Almost as if... Hei Chuan Chi Yin was possessed by Xingye Ai.

"Sister?"

Ruby pleaded for help by looking at Duanmu Huai, who only then nodded to Hei Chuan Chi Yin.

"Alright, that’s enough, thank you, Chi Yin."

"No problem at all."

Suddenly, the aura of Xingye Ai vanished from Hei Chuan Chi Yin, and she once again became the gentle, somewhat introverted girl Ruby was familiar with.

"???"

Staring at Hei Chuan Chi Yin, Ruby widened her eyes in surprise, unable to understand what just happened.

"This is Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s acting."

Duanmu Huai then explained to Ruby.

"She researches the character thoroughly and then fully embodies that role. This is what I meant, one way to become Xingye Ai."

"You mean completely imitating mom... Ai, and becoming her?"

If she had heard this before, Ruby would have scoffed, believing what made Xingye Ai special was her unmatched presence that irresistibly attracted people. Such a quality simply couldn’t be imitated by ordinary people. But Hei Chuan Chi Yin did it; in fact, if not for the differences in voice and appearance from Xingye Ai, Ruby, a seasoned fan, might have mistaken her for Xingye Ai.

Because that unique, presence-filled quality is impossible to imitate... No, is it possible to imitate?

After this encounter, Ruby fell silent, while Duanmu Huai ordered lunch, and the three of them ate together. Hei Chuan Chi Yin then excused herself, mentioning she had work with the theater troupe.

"Sorry for wasting your time."

"It’s okay, I’m glad Xiao Ai asked me."

Hei Chuan Chi Yin waved at the two, turned towards the station, and disappeared from view, at which point Duanmu Huai looked at Ruby.

"Any thoughts?"

"I don’t know... performance... can actually be like this..."

"Hei Chuan Chi Yin is special; she’s the troupe’s lead actress. Honestly, witnessing her ability feels eerie, almost like ghost possession..."

"Uh..."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s comment, Ruby showed a complex expression, but she nodded in agreement.

Truly, it did resemble ghost possession.

"By the way, how did you persuade her to play mom?"

"Oh, I told her you are a fan of Xingye Ai and currently facing a bottleneck, hoping she would research and perform as Xingye Ai for you... We can’t exactly say you want to see mom, or else I’d have to take you to the hospital."

"I see..."

"Alright, let’s go, it’s not over yet."

"Where are we going next?"

"To watch performances."

Duanmu Huai extended his hand to hail a taxi.

"Let’s go."

Then Duanmu Huai took Ruby to a music festival ground, which didn’t match the high level of those Ruby usually attended. Comparatively, this festival was akin to a second-tier football league, featuring mostly underground idol groups with mediocre performances. Ruby watched in confusion, not understanding why Duanmu Huai brought her to this, but she quietly followed him through the entire event and... they finally returned home.

"Today’s music festival, do you think any idols there could compare to Ai?"

"Of course not."

Ruby shook her head firmly.

"Then do you think they’re worthless?"

"Well... not really..."

"Exactly, even among these underground idols, each center member has their own shine. While compared to Ai, they might be just starlight, but..."

Sitting in a chair, Duanmu Huai opened a computer and started playing recordings of Xingye Ai, which Ruby watched silently.

"They have their own unique sparkle, right."

"..."

Ruby remained silent, just nodding quietly.

"Then, one last question."

Duanmu Huai waited for Ruby to finish watching the performance, staring at her.

"Back to the beginning, why do you want to become an idol? Is it to become Xingye Ai? Or to surpass her?"

"Neither!"

Gritting her teeth, Ruby stood up and shouted.

"I only hope... I just want to stand on stage with mom, to become idols together!"

"Very well, seems you’ve found your answer."

Duanmu Huai stared at Ruby, who only then seemed to realize what she had just said.

"So, you know exactly what you should do."