Chapter 1640 – Side Story: Caution in Posting
Another year of college entrance examinations had arrived, and Tianhua University, as the country’s premier institution, was naturally the dream destination for countless students.
With only a week left until the exams began, a topic quickly surged to the trending list.
#National Heartthrob Spotted at Tianhua University, Suspected of Coming Out#
Clicking on this hot topic revealed a photo of two young men embracing by the Tianxian Lake at Tianhua University.
【Yan Wukangsha】: Oh my gosh, which shameless jerk is slandering our Shunshun, coming out just for some attention!
【Might Fall for You】: That photo is so blurry, how could anyone tell it’s our Shunshun? Not even a little!
【Plastic Surgery Game】: Baby doesn’t care, baby just wants to curse—may the media that spreads rumors perish!
No wonder the audience was so furious; the “national heartthrob” in the trending news was none other than Wei Zishun, a child star turned into a sensation.
Speaking of Wei Zishun, he was a child that grandparents, parents, and older siblings had watched grow up.
Due to his good looks, he starred in a reading pen commercial, which thrust him into the public eye, leading to several other advertisements, using them as the stepping stone into the entertainment industry. His first TV drama was a major historical production where he played the childhood role of the main character, Wei Ying. The drama recounted the history from the late Five Nations era to the early Jiang Zhao dynasty, and it was regarded as a rare classic.
At this point, the public started to realize that this little child star had a name that sounded eerily similar to the lead character, Wei Ying!
As Wei Zishun grew up, he broke the curse of “child stars must grow up poorly,” becoming even more handsome, with a strikingly recognizable appearance and a compelling demeanor. When he turned sixteen, he starred in a historical drama, and as soon as stills of him in dark clothing were released, he captivated countless fans. His warm and gentle aura, along with a refined appearance, made him seem like an elegant scholar straight out of a history book.
Wei Zishun had debuted at a young age, but he was mature for his years, disciplined, and not blinded by fame in the bustling entertainment world.
Unlike today’s rising idols, Wei Zishun’s acting skills were renowned for being exceptional; he won the youngest Best Actor award at the age of eighteen.
Although not a traffic idol, his popularity was more terrifying than that of any young star, and his fan base was fierce.
This day’s trending topic had his fans up in arms!
Their Shunshun had just won the Best Actor award and was preparing to hunker down for the entrance exams when marketing accounts began spreading rumors that he was coming out.
Of course, not everyone loved him; like any star, he had his share of haters.
【Bingbing Wu Li】: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Maybe he really is coming out; he definitely has that gentle, vulnerable vibe.
【Button No Front or Back】: The photo is blurry, but you can tell it’s Wei Zishun. Can’t believe you hardcore fans didn’t recognize your own master! Look how tightly they’re hugging—there’s definitely something fishy going on. Besides, Wei Zishun hasn’t had any gossip for years. Who knows what his sexual orientation really is? So what if he’s coming out? Same-sex marriage is legal in our country, isn’t that great?
These negative comments were drowned out by countless fans.
Their Shunshun was only eighteen this year; if he really had gossip, that would be alarming! Does that mean his sexuality is up for debate?
The online chaos was loud, but the main character was lost in joy.
The paparazzi’s photo was real—there were two men in this picture, one being Wei Zishun, and the other the academic star of Tianhua University’s History Department, Nie Guangshan.
As his name suggests, Nie Guangshan was refined and elegant, exuding an aura of nobility.
Wei Zishun visited Tianhua University today for an early campus tour.
Though he was an actor, he didn’t plan to attend a performing arts school but chose the top university in the nation instead.
If haters found out about this plan, they’d likely tear him apart, questioning how an arts exam student could even dream of attending the top school!
Tianhua University had an acceptance score that was despairingly high; admission depended solely on merit—there were no shortcuts.
For Wei Zishun to gain entry into Tianhua University meant he needed a score above 670; otherwise, he had no hope whatsoever.
An arts exam score of four hundred or so would count as brilliant, but Wei Zishun had to score over 670—wasn’t he asking to ascend?
“Zishun, how have you been these years?”
Nie Guangshan, dressed in a crisp white shirt and arm band, with thin-framed glasses perched upon his nose, appeared scholarly and refined.
“And I? I’ve been well,” Wei Zishun replied gently, a warm smile gracing his face, “How about you, Guangshan?”
“I’m doing very well.”
The two gazed at each other, both unsure of how to begin the conversation.
Nie Guangshan had always been exceptionally intelligent, but he bore a secret burden—ever since he grew older, he would sometimes have flashes of unfamiliar scenes in his mind. In his dreams, he found himself as a noble from the chaotic Five Nations, Nie Liang. A year ago, he had casually watched a movie, and when he saw the protagonist’s face, an overwhelming rush of memories nearly swept him off his feet, bringing past life memories flooding back.
“I saw your film, the one where you won Best Actor… what made you want to become an actor?”
Even though being an actor was a legitimate profession now, in the chaotic Five Nations, they were just seen as second-rate entertainers.
Nie Guangshan couldn’t imagine that Wei Ying, living again, would take on such an experience.
“From a young age, I had a strong urge to break free from the constraints of my family and do what I wanted. Back then, I was too young to know what that was. Then an opportunity came; I was discovered to do an advertisement by a talent scout. To fulfill this desire, I nearly got my leg broken by my birth mother, but thankfully, I prevailed, and they let me do as I pleased.”
Wei Zishun said this with a smile, but Nie Guangshan felt a pang of bitterness.
Why was that?
Because Wei Zishun’s obsession mirrored his own from his past life right before dying.
【If there is an afterlife, I will live as a commoner, hiding away from the mundane world, making a few friends, enjoying gatherings, and free from the bonds of materialism…】
Nie Guangshan asked him, “When did you start recalling your past life?”
Wei Zishun replied with a smile, “When you came into my view, everything came rushing back to me. Do you still remember what I said, Guangshan?”
【In the next life, I would still want to be a close friend of Guangshan’s. We could enjoy the moonlight together, light incense, brew wine, and discuss the world. That would be enough.】
At that moment, as Nie Guangshan stepped into his line of sight with a heavy book in hand, Wei Zishun froze, knowing that a long-lost friend had finally returned.
Although the two hadn’t spoken much, their hearts understood each other deeply; many thoughts could be communicated without words.
Wei Zishun removed his heavy mask and took out his phone, casually draping an arm around Nie Guangshan’s shoulder.
“Come on, let’s take a picture.”
Nie Guangshan smiled softly at the camera, their joyful expressions captured in the same frame.
“In this era, it’s truly beyond imagination how prosperous and miraculous it is,” Nie Guangshan marveled as he watched Wei Zishun lower his head to operate Weibo, “But… doesn’t Zishun find the history of this era a bit strange? When did Liu Xi change to Jiang Pengji?”
After recapturing his memories, Nie Guangshan immediately researched the history of the chaotic Five Nations.
He tried to spot familiar people or events from scattered tidbits of information.
To his shock, Liu Xi was missing, and instead, a formidable Jiang Pengji had appeared.
Upon further digging, he found that Jiang Pengji’s previous name had been “Liu Xi,” the legitimate daughter of the Hejian Liu clan.
This era’s Liu Xi differed vastly from what he had in his mind, and many historical events and figures had significant discrepancies.
This led to Nie Guangshan frequently stumbling in his exams; it took him quite some time to reconcile with reality.
“Though there are discrepancies, the trajectories are similar. Moreover…” Wei Zishun’s expression was hard to describe, “It’s not appropriate to just call out my ancestor’s name.”
Nie Guangshan: “…”
Wei Zishun hid his face in his hands, “Currently, my identity is that of her descendant.”
Nie Guangshan couldn’t help but chuckle, “If Liu Xi found out, wouldn’t she be furious enough to rise from her crypt?”
Wei Zishun’s expression was one of exasperation, “Not only am I her descendant, but I’m also a descendant of my third brother…”
Nie Guangshan suddenly remembered the unnamed male corpse found in the royal tomb.
“That corpse that was buried with Liu Xi was actually your third brother Wei Ci.”
Wei Zishun nodded, “Indeed! I never expected that Zixiao would… sigh…”
In this life, he was reborn as the descendant of both his third brother and sister-in-law; what a tangled fate!
Wei Zishun had practically betrayed Jiang Pengji in his last life, but ultimately, it was all for his brother’s sake.
The male that belonged to the female emperor would inherently lack status; he couldn’t rise in court and was easily targeted. Wei Zishun, being knowledgeable about his ancestor’s history, certainly knew the infamous meteor incident. Had it not been for the female emperor’s protection and his brother’s shocking luck, he would have likely met a disastrous end.
He merely hoped his brother could distance himself from Jiang Pengji, marry, and live a peaceful life—far better than being haunted by a woman for half a lifetime. Little did he know, rebirth had turned him into the descendant of this couple, which was absurd!
“My name in this life is actually Wei Ying.” Wei Zishun wrote the characters ‘Wei Ying’ in Nie Guangshan’s hand, explaining, “You probably guessed it; my background is royal. The royal family has a conservative atmosphere, and they certainly wouldn’t allow direct descendants to enter the entertainment industry. I had to adopt a stage name—thus, I became ‘Wei Zishun.’ The current female emperor is my mother, and coincidentally, my legitimate sister is also attending Tianhua University.”
Wei Zishun didn’t just come to Tianhua University to tour the campus; he also wanted to catch up with his long-lost sister.
“Your legitimate sister? Doesn’t that make her the crown princess?”
Nie Guangshan knew that the imperial throne was passed down to daughters, not sons, meaning men had no claim to it.
In fact, until the previous female emperor, the male descendants born from female emperors were hidden from the public; outsiders had no idea they existed.
This generation was slightly more open; the public thus learned there was a male prince in the royal family, yet they knew neither his name nor his appearance.
Nie Guangshan thought about it and probe, “Is your legitimate sister named Jiang Chen?”
There were very few notable Jiang surname women at Tianhua University; only Jiang Chen fit the profile.
Wei Zishun was about to nod, but in his peripheral vision, he spotted his sister Jiang Chen striding angrily toward them.
“Sister!”
Wei Zishun shouted effortlessly.
“What’s going on here?”
Jiang Chen flashed her phone, the screen just so happened to show the scene of Wei Zishun and Nie Guangshan embracing.
She bombarded him with questions, “And what’s this Weibo post about ‘Finally waiting for you, Nie Guangshan?!’”
This Weibo post was one Wei Zishun had just shared, featuring their smiling photo together, quickly trending online.
Nie Guangshan extended his hand, “Hello, junior. I’m Nie Guangshan, currently a junior.”
Jiang Chen glanced at him, shook his hand cautiously, and said, “Sophomore, Jiang Chen.”
Wei Zishun then added, “Sister, Guangshan and I hit it off immediately. I really feel like we’re destined brothers.”
“Just from your names, I can tell. The internet is in an uproar right now; it’s best you think about how to smooth this over,” Jiang Chen commented, “If this escalates, mother won’t hesitate to break your legs, and you’ll have to come home. So make sure you think it through.”
Under Nie Guangshan’s incredulous gaze, Wei Zishun actually began to act cute.
The royal family had strict rules, yet Wei Zishun managed to navigate the entertainment industry due to the female emperor’s care and repeated concessions.
If the public learned of Wei Zishun’s princely status alongside this “coming out” trending topic, the royal family would surely explode.
Jiang Chen rubbed her temples with a headache, “Do you have confidence in getting into Tianhua University?”
Ever since Tianhua University was established, the royal family’s direct descendants had to rely on their own capabilities to gain admission—this had become an unwritten custom.
Wei Zishun stated seriously, “Of course I can.”
Jiang Chen suggested, “Then post on Weibo saying you’re visiting the school, and coincidentally met someone with a fateful name, Nie Guangshan, and hit it off. Nie Guangshan is a full-scorer from our batch, with a straight-A reputation, which should help suppress the coming out rumors. But if you do poorly in next week’s exams, you’re bound to be ridiculed online, so prepare your heart.”
Wei Zishun countered, “I feel like if I post that now, I’ll get roasted on the internet.”
An arts exam student wants to get into Tianhua University?
What a joke!
But…
Guangshan actually got a full score to enter Tianhua University?
In that case, he couldn’t afford to embarrass himself too much.
“Sister, after the college entrance exams, I plan to take a two-year break from acting.”
Jiang Chen asked, “Take a break from acting? Didn’t you go through hell and high water to become an actor as a child? What’s changed now?”
Wei Zishun glanced at Nie Guangshan and replied earnestly, “I’ve realized there are more important things to do now.”
Having lived again, if he couldn’t enjoy the beauty of mountains and rivers with friends, wouldn’t it be a pity?
In this reunion across lives, he wanted to understand more about his friends in this lifetime and had little interest in his career for now.
Jiang Chen sighed and affirmed, “You do as you like; I’ll have your back if the sky falls.”
Once Jiang Chen left, Nie Guangshan remarked, “A descendant of Liu Xi, truly impressive.”
“She’s taken care of me a lot since we were young, and as the future princess, she bears immense pressure,” Wei Zishun added.
While talking, he quickly drafted a Weibo post and clicked send.
In just an hour, three posts about Wei Zishun shot up the trending list, firmly holding the top three spots.
The latest post even crashed the Weibo platform.
What?
National heartthrob Wei Zishun, an arts exam student, declared he intends to take the entrance exams for Tianhua University?
Regardless of the public’s speculations, Wei Zishun, closed off in isolation, focused solely on his studies, eventually completing his exams and later accompanying Nie Guangshan on a trip.
On the day they returned, he posted another message.
High school score report, liberal arts 735, the national liberal arts top scholar.
【Not as good as Guangshan, just a small consolation. In the future, I hope for your guidance @Nie Guangshan】
After some thoughtful consideration, Nie Guangshan retweeted this post.
【Welcome, my friend @Wei Zishun】
The internet exploded once again!
【Human Shine】: Mom asked me why I’m kneeling to scroll Weibo QAQ heartthrob, how can you be so amazing!
【Walking in the Human Realm】: Suddenly feeling like the cycle of life is repeating itself; Wei Zishun and Nie Guangshan, Wei Ying and Nie Liang, both top scholars in arts and sciences. Did you guys plan this to bully study losers? Heartthrob, weren’t you always on the filming set? How did you manage to ace those scores?
A decade later, their family’s heartthrob announced his complete retirement from acting, leaving millions of fans sobbing and sleepless.
The next day, the royal family held a press conference, formally introducing Prince Yuan De, who hadn’t shown his face for nearly thirty years.
When the public saw on screen a mature man with a graceful demeanor, everyone collectively went dumbfounded.
Prince Yuan De smiled gently.
“Hello everyone, my name is Wei Ying.”
The audience erupted into a frenzy, and the entire internet crashed.
