CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 40 - 38: Supporting a Good Friend

Lan Yening quickly scanned through the screen and opened "Pocket."

To his surprise, Ye Yuwei wasn’t online today, leaving the twenty-year-old feeling quite dejected.

He desperately wanted to see his goddess and comment on today’s updates.

Meanwhile, Ye Yuwei was having dinner with Wu Jingxiang.

In an elegantly traditional, Tang Dynasty-style private room, the two of them sipped sake.

"Yuwei, try this—it’s salmon flown in from Japan."

"Thank you, Teacher Wu, you’ve gone to so much trouble." Ye Yuwei ate the delicious food with delight. Such expensive delicacies were things she could hardly have dreamed of indulging in before.

"Since we’re celebrating, we should eat something good. Congratulations on your great results from Speed Report 16." Wu Jingxiang raised a blue-and-white porcelain cup.

Ye Yuwei smiled and raised her own cup, the two clinking lightly before downing their drinks in one gulp.

"Yuwei, is Director Ma from the TV station still bothering you, like you mentioned last time?"

"Not anymore, I’ve already firmly rejected him." Ye Yuwei picked up a slice of fish, which melted in her mouth.

"Yuwei, opportunities like that one are considered rare in your field, aren’t they?" Wu Jingxiang’s tone was level, but his eyes sharpened, as if trying to see through her.

"If we set aside moral reckonings, they’re indeed rare. The competition in this industry is brutal. If you’re not willing to sacrifice, there’s always a line of people who are." Ye Yuwei smiled wryly.

"It seems like this industry really is murky—men and women, all so casual."

Ye Yuwei nodded slightly. "Entertainment originally comes from rituals. Ancient rituals either involved sacrificing captives to appease the gods or male and female revelry, so this industry was chaotic from the start."

"If that’s the case, why do so many people still want to get into it? Actors being taken advantage of, forced to drink, sleep around, and exploited—that’s not exactly a secret, right?" Wu Jingxiang gazed deeply at her.

"I don’t know what others think, but I just wanted to change my life." Ye Yuwei’s smile carried a hint of melancholy. "My family environment wasn’t good. I once thought I’d rise through studying hard, but I didn’t have the circumstances for it."

Ye Yuwei sighed and continued, "Without a high degree, it’s impossible for me to find a decent job. I accidentally stumbled into this industry, and since I’m here, I should give it a fight."

"Then why not accept Ma Tao’s offer? Without connections, breaking through seems nearly impossible."

"I have my principles. While I yearn for success and fame, I can’t sell my soul." Ye Yuwei’s eyes were earnest, as pure as a clear blue sky.

"Yuwei, it’s rare that you still hold on to this innocence." Wu Jingxiang raised his cup.

The night wind was cool; the city lights glittered.

After their meal, Wu Jingxiang drove her back to the residential center.

"Yuwei, here are some clothes for you to wear."

"Teacher Wu, this..."

"Aren’t you headed to a film shoot? Wear some good outfits to the set so people don’t look down on you." Wu Jingxiang chuckled and added, "I bought these when I was feeling down—they’re brand new, yet unworn."

"Teacher Wu, thank you. I, I..." Ye Yuwei felt a warm, sour surge in her heart. She knew his final remark was to save her dignity.

"Yuwei, keep pushing forward!" Wu Jingxiang reached out and gently fixed her slightly disheveled hair with his faintly intoxicated fingers.

"I will!" Ye Yuwei, stirred deeply within, gazed at her mentor.

By the time she returned to the center, it was already past eleven, but Ye Yuwei still logged into "Pocket."

Accompanying her was Li Jiaqi, who had just returned from school.

"Pocket" was far livelier today than usual.

The fan count had already exceeded three thousand, but the haters were rampant.

Within ten seconds of Ye Yuwei logging in, waves of vile comments flooded in like a torrent.

Lan Yening, who had been waiting for Ye Yuwei to come online, felt so furious at the sight of those messages that he thought his lungs might burst.

These haters were utterly shameless—verbal abuse, mental harm, and even horrifyingly offensive images.

Lan Yening couldn’t imagine what kind of torment Ye Yuwei was enduring while forcing a smile in front of the screen.

"I’ve seen the replies to my posts—lots of people are calling me royalty. If I were royalty, would I still be eating instant noodles every day?" Ye Yuwei chuckled.

"Of course you are royalty! You even get two eggs and a sausage more than me,"

Li Jiaqi, sitting next to her, began teasing.

The screen exploded with comments, strange symbols, and meme-like stickers.

"What are you talking about, Jiaqi? I don’t eat two eggs or one sausage—I’m dieting most of the time."

"Sorry, sorry, my mistake, I really screwed up." But the screen erupted into even more laughter.

"Someone asked about my goal. Actually, my goal is simple: to charge towards Spirit Seven with everyone. So please, everyone, take care of your kidneys!"

"What? Some people have already eaten several kidneys? Well, better add extra cumin."

Suddenly, a barrage of comments targeted Li Jiaqi.

"Yezi, why are you still hanging out with Li Jiaqi, that foot-washing maid? She’s just leeching off you."

"Yezi, leave Li Jiaqi behind! She’s holding you back."

"Li Jiaqi, if you’re really Yezi’s friend, then step away from her—don’t dilute her fan base."

"Li Jiaqi, can’t you have some self-respect? Yezi just hit sixth place and you’re already riding her popularity."

Reading these words, Li Jiaqi felt as if she were being stabbed repeatedly. She knew these accusations weren’t entirely unfounded.

Right now, her friend was carrying her through the livestream to boost her visibility.

"I think my old fans all remember—I started streaming on Pocket with Jiaqi when I joined the team. Back then, Jiaqi was even more popular than me. So to those calling her a leech, shut up."

Li Jiaqi, hearing her friend openly confront the "Only-Yuwei" haters to defend her, was so moved she nearly broke down in tears.

"Everyone has friends at different periods in their life.

Jiaqi and I met while we were struggling, weathering storms together.

If I were to abandon my friend just because I’ve gained a bit of fame now, would I even be worth liking?"

Ye Yuwei spoke seriously, her sincerity striking even Lan Yening, listening on the other end, to tears.

"Yuwei, you truly are a kind, good girl—to treat your friend so warmly."

Just then, a new comment popped up on the screen: "Everyone wishes to hold on to their original self. But as we keep moving forward, it’s not defeat that changes us—it’s the endless compromises enforced by our environment."

Lan Yening saw this sentence and thought about Ye Yuwei’s resignation. He froze momentarily.

Maybe he was one of her friends too. But she could no longer meet him casually anymore.

He was still just an ordinary worker scraping by, while Ye Yuwei was already a rising star—a deep chasm of life circumstances separated them.

The livestream didn’t last long, and Ye Yuwei logged off soon afterward.

"I’m sorry, Yuwei, I’ve dragged you down." As soon as "Pocket" closed, Li Jiaqi was tear-stricken and apologizing to her friend.

"Jiaqi, stop saying things like that." Ye Yuwei grabbed her friend’s hand. "Keep pushing—one day we’ll make it together."

"Mhm!" Equally emotional, Li Jiaqi tightly gripped her friend’s hand.