Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1057 - 1032: The Korean Superstar Upstaged
Previously on Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group...
Ye Chen appeared utterly perplexed.
What in the world was going on?
Was this bunch of girls out of their minds?
Oppa? Who the heck was Oppa?
As the throng of wild female admirers charged at him, Ye Chen sensed a chill running down his spine.
This was utterly mad.
With no moment to hesitate, Ye Chen seized Lin Wanrou's hand and bolted.
Lin Wanrou, just as puzzled, trailed after Ye Chen.
Fortunately, they sprinted fast enough to shake off the pack of schoolgirls.
"Oppa, why are you fleeing?"
"Oppa, hold on for us."
"Oppa, I'm your biggest fan, why dodge us?"
Wherever they dashed by, people stood frozen in shock.
A man was clutching a woman's hand while racing frantically, pursued by a massive wave of fangirls.
"What major celeb is that? Totally awesome!"
"Gotta be a huge star; else, fans wouldn't freak out like this."
At last, Ye Chen and Lin Wanrou burst free from the airport building.
They hit the parking area, but before hopping into the vehicle, the admirers closed in.
Ye Chen swiftly protected Lin Wanrou.
The fans hemmed in Ye Chen and Lin Wanrou, their faces beaming with excitement.
"Oppa, Oppa."
A few daring fans promptly surrounded Ye Chen.
Ye Chen showed a totally lost look.
These girls were pushing boundaries, frenziedly taking shots.
Even Ye Chen's cap, shades, and face mask got yanked away by the fans' eager fingers.
Once Ye Chen's features came into view, the group quieted down.
Turns out he wasn't the Oppa they'd hoped for.
Yet this fellow was strikingly good-looking.
"Heavens, this dude outshines our Oppa by miles."
"Spot on, he's my dream guy."
"Gazing at this stud, my Oppa seems like a total loser."
"What should I do now that I've lost all feelings for Oppa?"
"Though it pains me to say, I wanna quit being a fan for real."
If Ye Chen's looks scored a perfect hundred, Oppa barely hit eighty.
The difference was enormous.
One could say that after spotting Ye Chen, their so-called dashing Oppa turned downright unattractive.
Ye Chen was at a loss for words: "Why chase after me like that? It's terrifying and risky!"
Oh wow, I believe I've got a crush on him now.
Right, I'm absolutely ditching the fandom.
Even in irritation, this hunk radiated appeal.
Ye Chen grew even more baffled.
At the same time, those who'd come to snap pics of Cui Chenghao at the airport started furiously photographing Ye Chen instead.
OMG, he's insanely hot, no filters required, perfect for the lens.
So guys from Hua Country can be this stunning.
Why bother idolizing Korean stars when we've got such gems right here?
…
Right then, Cui Chenghao emerged all decked out, flanked by his crew and guards.
A relaxed grin played on his lips.
His stance was impeccably straight.
He had pictured the moment flawlessly.
At the gate, supporters would scream his name, yell in frenzy, and a few might swoon from joy over his signature.
Yet the instant he exited the corridor, he froze in disbelief.
The welcome area lacked any fans.
The excitement he'd anticipated never materialized.
Cui Chenghao stood there, confused.
Where were all those pledged admirers? Why was the place deserted?
A chill settled in his chest.
Didn't everyone say I was a hit in Hua Country? So why no welcoming crowd?
The grin faded from his face, replaced by a flush of shame.
Now, some passengers glanced at Cui Chenghao and murmured softly.
"Is that a star? What a show he's putting on."
"Hilarious, check out the swarm of suited guards around him, yet zero fans to greet the guy."
"This is mortifying; gotta film it for Douyin, he acts like a superstar, brings tons of security, but no one shows up."
"I'm cracking up; peak level of fooling oneself."
A handful whipped out their mobiles, recording the funny spectacle to upload on social platforms and Douyin.
Cui Chenghao and his team wore uneasy expressions.
The agent hurriedly urged, "Keep moving, don't halt; this is way too shameful."
The whole party surged ahead hastily.
The guards maintained their linked formation, circling Cui Chenghao protectively.
The display was pure comedy.
Upon reaching the exit at last, the sign-holding group for Cui Chenghao came back.
Spotting the fans, Cui Chenghao's gaze sparkled.
"See? Who claimed I lack supporters—here they are."
Cui Chenghao felt triumphant.
The security tensed up, positioning themselves as a barrier between Cui Chenghao and the crowd.
"Move aside, stop getting in the way of my fans."
Cui Chenghao then noticed the fans were too near.
The fans caught sight of Cui Chenghao too.
"Oppa is over there."
"But why does my Oppa strike me as pretty plain now?"
"Yeah, same here—he doesn't measure up to that earlier heartthrob at all."
"I can't stand it; I'm out of the fandom."
"Me too, leaving the fandom."
The fans experienced a sense of letdown.
They discarded their support banners and walked off.
Suddenly, Cui Chenghao was left speechless and stunned.
What just occurred?
What was that about some ordinary dude they mentioned?
The supporters dispersed swiftly, abandoning Cui Chenghao and his group in disarray.
Cui Chenghao fumed so much he clutched his chest and toppled over.
"Chenghao!"
The agent and crew rushed to him, lifting Cui Chenghao into the vehicle and speeding to medical care.
Meanwhile, buzz in entertainment news exploded. Douyin and bloggers rushed to publish stories.
"Korean Idol Believes He's a Hit, Faces Brutal Reality Check"
"Post-Encounter with Hua Country Hottie, Cui Chenghao's Admirers Feel Duped and Bail En Masse"
"Cui Chenghao Ignored in Hua Country, Labeled Ugly by His Own Fans"
"Cui Chenghao Mocked by Supporters, Collapses from Heart Episode On Site"
Before long, the story raced across the web.
It shot straight to trending status.
Cui Chenghao's Weibo had peaked at more than five million fans, but within a single day, four million ditched him.
Prospective sponsors backed away from deals instantly.
Even ads and show tickets saw floods of cancellations.
Cui Chenghao and his squad had aimed to rake in fortunes in Hua Country, but now they sat utterly stunned.
In the clinic, Cui Chenghao, hooked to an IV, browsed the updates online, nearly bursting a vessel once more.
The agent yelled urgently.
"Doctor, doctor!"
The physician dashed in.
"IV won't cut it this round; bypass operation is necessary."
Just then, Ye Chen and Lin Wanrou got back to their place.
Time apart had deepened their longing.
They savored a romantic meal by candlelight, then shared intimate moments in the bedroom.
Come dawn the following day, Lin Wanrou headed back to her job at the firm.
Ye Chen, on the other hand, stuck to his delivery routine.
Lin Wanrou proved sharp and perceptive.
Though intrigued by Ye Chen's delivery gig, she refrained from prying into the reasons.
Deep down, she only cared that Ye Chen found joy in it.
Ye Chen kept up with DiDi orders.
Come midday, the heat got to him a bit.
He chose a cool, shaded area in the park to take a break.
Unbeknownst to him, a reality TV shoot was set to happen there soon.