Love O2O (Onscreen 2 Offscreen)

Chapter 1

Fame has its perks. Everywhere you go, people recognize you. Every project you make, fans show you love.


But like everything else, it also has its cons. Every place you roam, cameras capture your every move. Every person you interact with, a thousand eyes scrutinize.



"What's my schedule for today?"



Same question I ask everyday. This has been my routine. Eat, sleep and work.



"You have an interview with Hunan TV at 1, a meeting with Oppo until 6 then you're free."



Finally, some alone time for me.



"Block my 6 onwards. I have a party to attend."



"Jing Bo Ran's birthday. I have your gift here."



"Shi shi ni, jing li."



Sometimes I barely sleep. Other times, I don't get to sleep at all. Not that I'm complaining. Being one of the top actors in China surely has its perks.



And its cons.



Yang Yang Must Not Date.



"You're reading Weibo again, Yang."



"Am I really married to my fans?"



"If you want to succeed, basically."



Frustration. The headlines been the same again and again, be it with Song Qian or Zhang Tian'ai.



But one headline's the most frustrating of all.



Zheng Shuang Must Not Date Yang Yang



We've just finished filming our series back then, Love O2O, when some of my fans decided they know better who I should end up with. That weibo post garnered much attention and I can only imagine how it must have affected her. I did my best to let my fans know I wasn't happy. I let them know that I'm not their property, told them straight up to find their true happiness in hopes that they would leave her alone.



But they didn't and she avoided me since then.



Zui jin hao ma? How are you these days?



Here I am again, waiting patiently for her text. Hoping against all hope she'll reply. Every now and then I would text her, from a simple HI to a random quote. Time and time, I receive none.



But not today.



Ni hao! I've been good. You?



I pinch myself as I read the first reply I've received from her over a year.



Never been better.



If you only know how happy you make me feel with just your text, Shuang.



Seeing her message somehow erases all the frustrations I've been having.



That's good to hear, Yang.



There goes her end spiel. Quick, think of something.



It's Jing Bao's birthday. Are you coming, Shuang?



I want to see her, badly want to see her.



Oh, that. I'm afraid not.



Just like that, all hopes deflated.



But I'm not one to give up.



He won't let you hear the end of it.



Hey, a man can still try.



I really want to but I'm filming now. I'll make it up to him some other time.



And that about kills it.



Hao de. Okay.



And just like that, she's gone. Again.



"I can feel your breath from here, Yang. What is it?"



"Mei you."



"There must be something for you to be breathing so heavily."



"Just somebody."



With those words, my manager already understands.



"We've been through this, Yang."



I keep my phone in my pocket. "I know."



"You can't keep pining for her."



"I just want to talk to her again."



"You know what's best for her."



But what about me? Am I being selfish?



I straighten my suit as my manager pick up my stuff. I ride a shiny white Jeep Cherokee, champagne already on hand. I look outside the window mindlessly as my manager runs down everything I need to do today.



Yes, fame has its perks.



But how come I can only feel its cons?