I Became the Koi Actor After Entering the Book

**Chapter 71: Glasses**

Translator: Namizaki

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The timing of this video was too perfect. All the questions were ordinary, but in this context, they took on an entirely different meaning.

From the moment Chi Zhongqiao debuted, he had been associated with the term “method actor.” In the public eye, he was a powerhouse performer, naturally set apart from the countless “little fresh meat” idols.

In an era where a celebrity’s outfit could trend on social media, ninety percent of Chi Zhongqiao’s trending topics were far more “thrilling.” He was either being targeted by online trolls or on his way to being targeted.

When he starred in <Empress of the World>, he was accused of being a “sugar baby” and of having a “sugar daddy.”

When he acted in <Campus Prince and Campus Belle>, he was initially criticized for taking on a trashy role.

During a reality show appearance, he was even subjected to a smear campaign, accused of lacking integrity.

His role in <Invisible Crime> was even worse. The entire internet mocked him for having no notable works or experience.

Looking back, this young “little fresh meat” actor had actually played quite a few memorable roles. As Ge Fangyu pointed out, an actor’s primary job is to portray characters. Should someone be ridiculed for playing many supporting roles? Had Chi Zhongqiao not poured his heart and soul into bringing these characters to life for the audience?

The Young General Mu Yan, whose name once dominated social media feeds, still lingered in memory, his cold armor vivid in the mind’s eye.

The Campus Prince, with his stoic demeanor and unexpected humor, writing “We, as youths, have a bright future ahead” in that iconic scene—a moment hailed as textbook-perfect acting.

Shang Tang, seemingly elegant but truly chilling, his complex character meticulously layered for the audience’s understanding.

These characters remained vividly etched in people’s memories. A mere spark could instantly reignite their recollection, rekindling the fervor of their past adoration.

Many older viewers, who enjoyed films and dramas without actively following celebrities, still frequented social media but lacked the fervor of younger users. They might remember a character vividly but forget the actor’s name, exclaiming upon seeing them again, “Isn’t that… what’s-his-name? He played that Young General or the Campus Prince, right?”

This prolonged trending topic suddenly connected these disparate roles in their minds, crystallizing into the image of a real actor. Thus, Chi Zhongqiao ceased to be merely “the Young General,” “the Campus Prince,” or “Shang Tang” in their eyes, and became “Chi Zhongqiao.”

More people now knew “Chi Zhongqiao,” and this recognition was no longer a fleeting, insubstantial awareness but a deep impression linked to numerous beloved characters.

As this connection solidified and deepened, people’s affection for the characters transferred to the actor himself. Even if this fondness wasn’t enough to make them fans, it left them with a lingering bias and goodwill.

How many actors had risen to fame on the strength of a single role? What was there to mock about that? Moreover, Chi Zhongqiao had starred in a film with an 8.9 rating on Film and TV Review Board—a single film that alone would place him among the year’s top-tier actors.

So why was he still being targeted by haters?

The public quickly arrived at an answer: His meteoric rise and exceptional talent had made him the target of envy.

With this explanation, the public’s gaze toward Chi Zhongqiao shifted from admiration to pity. What a wonderful young man, they thought, how could he be so pitiful?

Driven by sympathy and curiosity, a significant portion of the public began following Chi Zhongqiao. The haters gained nothing from their efforts. Despite their initial advantage, Chi Zhongqiao had turned the tables against them. They seethed with resentment while simultaneously fearing a major counterattack from Zhaohui. Surprisingly, despite this being the perfect moment for retaliation, neither Zhaohui nor Chi Zhongqiao’s Manager made any move.

At Zhaohui,

Du Yusheng opened Chi Zhongqiao’s private platform, checked the backend follower count, and slowly sipped his tea. “Stable.”

Zhong Yin scratched his head. “Are we just letting it go like this?”

Chi Zhongqiao lowered his head slightly, texting Lu Yuzhou while saying, “We should quit while we’re ahead.”

Zhong Yin said, “Brother Qiao, do you think someone’s deliberately trying to smear you?”

Chi Zhongqiao’s hand paused. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Probably.”

Du Yusheng chimed in, “Definitely. For years, the industry’s been dominated by the Four Young Male Stars and Four Young Female Stars. Zhongqiao’s sudden rise naturally made some people jealous, worried he’d steal their resources. Honestly, they’re overthinking it. Zhongqiao’s resources aren’t even in the same league as theirs. I don’t know why they’re so anxious.”

Every year, the Chinese Entertainment Industry publishes unofficial rankings of its stars. These rankings vary across media outlets, but the top Four Male and Female celebrities generally remain consistent.

The “Four Young Male Stars” and “Four Young Female Stars” refer to the top four ranked young male and young female stars, respectively.

Last year’s Four Young Male Stars underwent a major reshuffle. Of the original four, only Li Jinghong remained. The three newcomers lacked deep roots, which is why Starbright dared to offend other artists so openly during the filming of <April in the Human World>. They hoped to seize this perfect opportunity to solidify Li Jinghong’s position as the top Young Male Star, ensure his smooth transition to more mature roles, and, after a year or two of strategic accumulation, propel him into the ranks of the industry’s ultra-elite.

As the year-end approached, the next round of Four Young Male Stars rankings loomed. Li Jinghong’s position remained unshakeable, but the other three were filled with anxiety. Having only recently risen to prominence, their resources and foundations paled in comparison to Li Jinghong’s. Nor could they compete with Chi Zhongqiao’s meteoric rise. Who knew which of them Chi Zhongqiao would displace this year?

No one wanted to be replaced. Some, panicked, chose to hone their acting skills and strive for advancement through legitimate means. Others, however, resorted to underhanded tactics.

Chi Zhongqiao had never paid much attention to the Four Young Male Stars. He knew who they were, but aside from Li Jinghong, he had no personal dealings with any of them.

As Du Yusheng had pointed out, his resources and those of the Young Male Stars rarely overlapped.

Chi Zhongqiao vaguely recalled the three Young Male Stars who had been ousted last year. Two had their reputations ruined by scandals, while the third had retired at the peak of his career.

Chi Zhongqiao took a sip of his milk tea. “The year-end review isn’t for another month. They’re rushing things.”

Zhong Yin still didn’t understand. “Then why aren’t we adding fuel to the fire this time?”

Du Yusheng smirked smugly, scolding Zhong Yin, “Your Brother Qiao doesn’t need hype to stay relevant. We’ve already secured Zhongqiao’s position as a top-tier star. Anything more would be overkill.” He had managed many top-tier artists, but none had ever reached the super-tier. Now that Chi Zhongqiao had climbed to this level, the super-tier seemed just a step away. Yet Du Yusheng knew that this final step would be harder than the entire journey so far.

Super-tier stars like Yan Qingbo first gained significant international recognition, then secured high-end endorsements, and finally achieved critical acclaim for both the quality and quantity of their work.

Du Yusheng sighed. “Your Brother Qiao has an outdoor shoot in a few days. Take good care of him.”

Zhong Yin nodded eagerly.

Du Yusheng turned his gaze back to the screen. “Let’s hope <Invisible Crime> and <Campus Prince and Campus Belle> perform well overseas.”

Chi Zhongqiao leaned back on the sofa, his composure a stark contrast to Du Yusheng’s anxiety. “No rush. They won’t be released until next year.”

The Emperor isn’t worried, but his Eunuchs are.

Du Yusheng: “Get out! Get out!”

Chi Zhongqiao was about to start filming. To avoid his fans panicking after his sudden disappearance, he held a livestream the night before leaving.

Since he was at home, he dressed casually in a camel-colored fleece hoodie, sitting on the sofa and holding his phone.

The livestream chat filled with a dense stream of comments:

“Qiao Bao’s going on set again?”

“Our Qiao Bao looks so good!”

“Brother Qiao, I love your Shang Tang so much! I love the Young General too!”

Chi Zhongqiao replied, “That’s right, I’ll be heading to the set in a couple of days. I’m letting you know my schedule so you won’t miss me too much.”

After chatting for a while, he shifted the topic to <Invisible Crime>. He noticed some viewers were curious about his outfits in the drama.

Live Chat:

“I absolutely love Brother Qiao’s black coat! It’s so badass!”

“Waaah, please tell us the brand!”

“And that smoky gray knit sweater! It looks so cozy!”

Pressed by their questions, Chi Zhongqiao relented, “Most of the clothes are props from the drama, but those specific pieces you mentioned are my personal wardrobe.”

He stood up and went into his bedroom, returning with a black coat. This coat had appeared frequently in the drama, and because it was his own, it fit him more snugly than the prop versions. The first time he wore it, fans had raved about how “drop-dead gorgeous” he looked, and numerous online stores even started selling replicas of the coat.

“This is a personal item,” Chi Zhongqiao said, pulling out a knitted sweater. “This one too, and a shirt, though I think it’s in the laundry…”

“I don’t even know the brand. Yuzhou brought it back from a business trip, and I have no idea which store he got it from.”

Chi Zhongqiao preferred small, miscellaneous items and didn’t pay much attention to “big things” like clothes. He’d heard Yuzhou mention the brand once, but because he hadn’t cared, he’d already forgotten.

Seeing the barrage of questions in the comments, and realizing how much people genuinely liked the coat, Chi Zhongqiao said helplessly, “I guess I’ll ask Yuzhou.”

The comments exploded:

“Ahhhhh, confirmed! They live together!”

“New here? Qiao Bao and President Lu have been living together for ages!”

“I’m gonna die! Ahhhhh!”

“Uh… Sisters, what’s all the excitement about?”

Chi Zhongqiao didn’t read the comments. As he left the bedroom, he said, “This is men’s clothing. It might not fit you girls.”

He gently knocked on the study door, which was slightly ajar, revealing a crack. Lu Yuzhou’s voice called out, “Brother Qiao, come in.”

Chi Zhongqiao stood in the doorway, careful not to let the phone capture Lu Yuzhou on camera. “Just wanted to ask where you bought that black coat I wore on set?”

Lu Yuzhou had just finished processing the last document and shut down his computer. “You mean the one you wore in <Invisible Crime>?”

Chi Zhongqiao nodded.

Lu Yuzhou walked over. “That coat belongs to Du Ke. I bought it for you during a business trip earlier this year. What about it?”

“Nothing,” Chi Zhongqiao replied. “They were just asking what brand it is.”

Lu Yuzhou had already reached Chi Zhongqiao’s side. “Are you live-streaming?”

Chi Zhongqiao nodded, glancing at the chat. He noticed some viewers were already speculating about the thin-rimmed glasses he had worn once before. Chi Zhongqiao groaned inwardly. “Those glasses aren’t mine. They’re Yuzhou’s—the ones he’s wearing right now…”

With practiced ease, he removed Lu Yuzhou’s thin-rimmed, non-prescription glasses and put them on. “No prescription,” he said calmly. “These are for radiation protection.”

He pushed the glasses up his nose and chuckled softly. “What do you call this… ‘refined villain’ look?”

Live Chat:

“AAAHHHHH! The glasses are so hot!”

“Glasses Qiao! I’m dead!”

“They’re definitely together!!”

Lu Yuzhou’s gaze lowered to that last comment, his eyebrow twitching slightly. The tables have turned. Is this ship finally sailing into official territory?

Zaki~ English is not my first language, but I’ll try to get the translations as close as possible to the Author’s work. If you see any grammatical errors or mistakes in the translation, please feel free to drop them in the comments section so I can correct them immediately. Thank you and Happy Reading 🙂