ABSML Chapter 20: The Fan Meeting

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

After spending so much time with the film crew, returning home at last, Chen Zhan found himself in a relaxed state of mind and body.

The first thing he did was retrieve a few potted plants he had left in the care of the old man next door. He then spent the rest of the day cleaning his apartment. With the weather getting colder, he decided to order an air conditioner online once he was nearly done tidying up.

With all the daily chores taken care of, he began gradually preparing for the details of the fan meeting.

As he contacted venues one by one, he quickly realized that just the cost of renting a space and hiring a host added up to a significant amount.

By the time he finished organizing the event on his own, his current savings would likely be cut in half.

Chen Zhan furrowed his brows, weighing the pros and cons in silence. From a long-term perspective, it would be hard to find another opportunity as ideal as this.

After careful consideration, he called the person in charge of a relatively cost-effective venue. After some bargaining, they reached a compromise. Chen Zhan paid the deposit and mentally prepared to return to a frugal lifestyle.

That also meant he could justifiably postpone his plan to get a gym membership.

To avoid overcrowding and ensure a good experience at the event, Chen Zhan waited until the night before the fan meeting to announce it on Weibo:

【A small offline gathering—looking forward to meeting you all. 🌸】

He included the venue address at the end.

Due to the previous sausage incident, the public’s hostility toward him had somewhat subsided. However, many were still surprised by his decision to hold a fan meeting.

【hjk: With his credentials, what gives him the right to host a fan meeting?】

【Meeting in the Middle Ages: It’s a small offline gathering. Please read carefully!】

【Shaba: Does he think calling it a "small gathering" will fool us? We see right through him.】

【Meeting in the Middle Ages: There’s a limit on attendees, and it starts early. But it’s close to my house.】

【Has Chen Zhan Reformed Today?: You’d have to be crazy to go! By the way… how do you get to Zhongzhou Street?】

The comment section quickly became lively, though this time, since it wasn’t linked to Jiang Ying, the post didn’t gain as much traction as before.

For Chen Zhan, this outcome was just right—he wouldn't be criticized for repeatedly trending online, yet the publicity would still be effective.

The next morning, before seven o’clock, Chen Zhan wrapped himself in a thick coat and waited at the bus stop for the first bus.

A light mist had risen in the early morning, likely slowing traffic. He stood in the cold wind for quite some time, but there was no sign of the bus.

Just as he was taking a sharp breath from the chill, a sedan pulled up slightly ahead of the stop. The window rolled down, revealing Yin Ronglan inside.

A savior!

Without a second thought, he strode over.

Once inside the car, the warmth immediately pushed back the cold. As he settled into the soft leather seat, Chen Zhan turned to look at him. “The cars you borrow keep getting fancier.”

Yin Ronglan casually changed the subject. “Are you cold? Want me to turn on the heater?”

Chen Zhan shook his head—too much warmth would make him drowsy. Instead, he reconfirmed the venue address with him.

While waiting at a red light, Yin Ronglan inadvertently caught a glimpse of Chen Zhan transferring money to someone. At that moment, Chen Zhan looked up, and their eyes met. He smiled.

“I asked Wang Cheng to find me a plant,” he said.

After a pause, he elaborated, “There might be media at the event today. You know how variety shows always zoom in on audience reactions?”

Yin Ronglan was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a smile. “You’ve really thought this through.”

The venue wasn’t far from the apartment complex, and since they arrived early, finding a parking spot was easy.

At the entrance, staff members were already waiting.

Yin Ronglan put on a mask before getting out of the car after Chen Zhan.

“Aren’t you suffocating?”

Yin Ronglan shook his head and coughed lightly. “I have a cold.”

The event venue wasn’t overly decorated, maintaining a simple and elegant style.

The hired host was very professional—perhaps because Chen Zhan had offered a fair price. They rehearsed their script together, ensuring familiarity with each segment. By the time they finished, noise could already be heard from outside.

The staff hurried to arrange the chairs.

At this moment, the main doors were still locked. Checking the time, Chen Zhan nodded, signaling that they could begin letting people in.

Yin Ronglan, thanks to Chen Zhan’s hospitality, was already seated in the first row, close to the center. Hearing about the total expenses, he frowned. “That’s quite expensive.”

Actually, it wasn’t just expensive—it was very expensive.

Chen Zhan explained, “Most of it went toward security screenings and hiring bodyguards.”

Following his gaze, Yin Ronglan noticed several burly men standing at the entrance, unsure of when they had appeared. He was taken aback. “Is that really necessary?”

The same question lingered in the minds of those waiting in line.

The first to enter was a young woman. As her bag was being checked, she grumbled to her companion, “It’s just a fan meeting. Even malls don’t have such tight security.”

Her companion also sounded reluctant. “It’s too over-the-top.”

Before she could finish, the person behind them was caught carrying a suspicious liquid. The man initially wanted to argue, but upon seeing the bodyguards, he backed down. A bottle of paint was eventually found on him.

As for its intended use—it was obvious.

The items confiscated afterward were even more diverse: spiky balls, vegetable leaves, and eggs.

One attendee protested after being found with eggs. “I didn’t eat breakfast. Can’t I bring food?”

A bodyguard expressionlessly picked up one of the eggs, weighing it in his palm. “Raw eggs for breakfast?”

The man’s face turned red instantly. He stammered a few words before bolting out, leaving the eggs behind.

The two girls who had complained earlier exchanged glances. The first one quickly changed her stance: “Security checks are essential.”

With space inside being limited, those at the end of the line initially thought they’d have to stand at the entrance. But with troublemakers removed, more seats became available.

Ironically, the strict security ended up making attendees feel relieved.

Yin Ronglan glanced at Chen Zhan. “You really understand people well.”

Chen Zhan turned slightly to him and said indifferently, “I just planned ahead. Besides, these troublemakers’ tricks are nothing compared to the stunts I used to pull.”

As attendees began receiving numbered tickets, Chen Zhan remained seated, which seemed impolite. He stood up, smiling and nodding as people entered.

A young woman’s face immediately flushed red. At her age, meeting such a refined and handsome man was bound to make her heart race.

Most people had only seen Chen Zhan through media coverage, where he was either being escorted by police or stubbornly waiting outside Jiang Ying’s agency.

Seeing him in person now, they found him far more attractive than in photos.

The girl had ticket number one and was seated in the front row near the aisle. Her companion sat beside her, whispering, “I thought he’d look brooding and gloomy.”

“He’s so handsome—better looking than some celebrities.”

Seated nearby, Yin Ronglan overheard their conversation and couldn’t help but chuckle.

As more people entered, the host signaled for the music to be switched to a softer tune. As expected, media representatives had arrived.

After a brief and concise opening speech, the host gestured to Chen Zhan and said, “No need for introductions—I’m sure you all know who he is.”

Typically, a writer’s fan meeting would include an introduction to their works and achievements. However, aside from police records, there was little to highlight about Chen Zhan’s past.

The host had racked his brain while drafting his script, eventually settling on a lighthearted and humorous tone to avoid making the event feel too rigid.

The audience responded well to this approach.

The journalists didn’t try to hide their presence. They carried cameras and politely greeted the staff, prompting Chen Zhan to arrange extra seating for them.

A Q&A session could easily become awkward if handled poorly. But given Chen Zhan’s notoriety, the session was lively, with both the audience and journalists eagerly vying to ask questions.

The most common question was: Why the sudden change? What made you finally start acting like a decent person?

“My mental state wasn’t great before—I was extreme. If others loved with three parts devotion, I loved with ten,” Chen Zhan replied. “But once you reach the limit, letting go becomes easy.”

His words resonated deeply.

To love someone with complete abandon, leaving no room for retreat—it was an intense and almost foolish way to feel. Few would ever choose it.

Since dragging the topic on wouldn’t be productive, the host soon ended the Q&A session.

“Next, Mr. Chen Zhan will deliver a heartfelt reading of Confessions—a reflection on his past life, a crystallization of his personal growth and enlightenment!”

The grandiosity of this statement even made Chen Zhan glance sideways at him, finding it hard to listen.

Fortunately, the host quickly handed him the microphone, and the venue quieted down.

To make the reading feel more formal, Chen Zhan had handwritten a copy of the text. Taking a moment to regulate his breathing, he began reading slowly:

...........

“…She never treated me with kindness, unlike the superficial women who flocked to me after learning I was wealthy. Though she was just a minor actress at the time, I believed that one day, she would shine brightly…”

On a rainy day, knowing she never carried an umbrella, I rented a car and waited for her at the company entrance as the rain poured down.

But with the downpour came another figure—someone holding an umbrella, there to pick her up.

“Driver, are we going or not?”

A wealthy young master beat her to the car and asked me this question.

Driver?

My eyelid twitched. “Charged by the minute—two yuan per minute.”

He nodded, then turned to the goddess beside him. “It’s not safe to take a taxi alone. I’ll see you home.”

Annoyed, I deliberately took a detour, stretching what should have been a thirty-minute ride into an hour.

But who would’ve thought—the man had remarkable patience. He never lost his temper the entire way.

When she finally got out, that bastard handed me three times the fare in cash.

“Thanks.”

For the first time, the coldness in his expression softened slightly.

“Thanks to your detour, I got to spend more time talking to her. We got a lot closer. This money—you’ve earned it.”

..........

Chen Zhan had an exceptional voice—deep and powerful, his tone shifting seamlessly through the twists and turns of the story, captivating the audience.

As expressions grew increasingly complicated across the crowd, his gaze locked onto someone in the audience—

The paid water army he had hired at great expense.

T/N: “water army” is a group of people paid to react a certain way in order to influence public opinion.

He deliberately glanced in the direction of the media, providing them with a subtle psychological cue. Then, with a slight nod, he signaled to the girl.

—Now, let the show begin!

The girl took a deep breath, sensing that she was about to face the most challenging performance of her water army career.

_____

T/N: Please give support in my ko-fi page, thank you😊