Chapter 160

Half a year had flown by since filming began.

During this time, the Lugan CP had somehow grown in notoriety, and many fans were frantically trading screenshots of the supposedly intimate scenes between Lu Qia and Gan Mo.

Because there had been so many shots where they appeared to interact closely.

Even after filming wrapped, and the movie was about to be released, their CP fanbase didn’t decrease.

The reason was simple.

“A fan asked a question—he wants to know if you two are really close off-camera, which is why the media often captures you together.”

The question came from a host of a first-tier variety show.

He furrowed his brow slightly after asking.

Why that question? He remembered preparing something else.

He instinctively glanced at the director.

The director looked a little guilty.

The host understood.

He sighed internally but quickly covered it up externally.

“Actually, I know you’re from the same company and have worked together for many years. So naturally, you’ve developed a pretty good friendship, right?”

He gave them a way out, and it was unexpectedly smooth.

Lu Qia didn’t take it.

Nor did Gan Mo.

Both rolled their eyes in unison.

Lu Qia: “Friendship, maybe. That’s it.”

Gan Mo: “I wouldn’t call it friendship either. More like my manager was asked by her manager to keep an eye on her. That’s all.”

The host was stunned.

This answer was completely different from what he imagined!

He tried to offer another out.

“But… don’t you often meet up? I thought maybe you were friends who love to tease each other?”

Lu Qia’s disdain deepened.

“Tease, yes. Love, absolutely not.”

Her words caused some Lugan CP fans in the audience to squirm.

Sure, everyone knew that shipping real-life CPs risked a collapse someday—but having the subjects themselves contradict them? That was too much!

Gan Mo chimed in next.

He spoke casually, yet it left everyone dizzy.

“Pfft, who has time to ‘tease each other’? Besides, if I weren’t restricted from the CP group…”

His voice cut off abruptly.

Lu Qia’s eyes went wide.

The host’s eyes went wide.

The audience erupted.

What did they just hear?

CP?

CP group?

The one they were thinking of?

The seasoned host felt he had just experienced a personal Waterloo.

What were these two even doing?

Could they still conduct a proper show?

He raged internally but kept up appearances externally.

“So that’s how it is. Seems like you do care about your fans’ reactions. Which makes sense—many actors do. They’re curious, and want to understand their followers. Right?”

When he said right?, his gaze was so earnest it was almost pleading—please!

Take the hint he gave!

You’re here to promote the movie—stop with the unprofessional antics!

This was the moment to take the hint—no more waiting!

Gan Mo immediately knew he’d misspoken just now.

It had to be the constant exposure to Lu Qia’s bluntness lately that somehow made him… well, made him feel all those things!

“Indeed… actually, I—”

He wanted to continue, but Lu Qia was faster.

Her words slipped out instinctively:

“No, he isn’t shipping our CP.”

That one sentence caused a ripple like a thousand waves.

Gan Mo was mortified.

The host was numb—he had done everything he could, but there was no way to salvage this. Even if he wanted to, these two had to follow his cue!

Meanwhile, the live audience erupted.

What?

Shipping CP?

Shipping which CP?

And it wasn’t even their own CP—so whose CP was Gan Mo shipping?

Someone in the front row murmured:

“So Gan Mo was just trying to share the resources with Lu Qia? They were both shipping the same CP?”

Fan Qing paused the video.

Expressionless, he stared at the two on the screen, then slowly lifted his head.

In front of him, Lu Qia and Gan Mo both lowered their heads.

Behind them, their two managers’ faces read pure despair.

Fan Qing: “…So this means your CP-shipping has been exposed?”

Gan Mo nodded, shamefaced.

Lu Qia was similarly pressed into nodding.

Unbelievable.

Fan Qing asked further:

“So… how did people find out which CP you were shipping?”

Gan Mo’s embarrassment deepened.

Lu Qia suddenly felt awkward too.

Hmm?

Judging by their reactions, Fan Qing felt something wasn’t right.

He instinctively glanced at the two managers.

They hesitated, then wiped their faces.

“Um… Mr. Fan, maybe you should just see for yourself?”

It had gotten to the point where it was almost impossible to say outright.

Fan Qing thought for a moment, then slowly opened Weibo.

Fans who had just watched the variety show were already in uproar:

“Holy crap? Is this for real? Are they actually shipping?”

“…Damn! I’ve been shipping the Lugan CP this whole time! And yet, they don’t even act on it themselves, and every time they meet, it’s just to ship someone else’s CP???!!! I… I don’t even know how to describe how I feel. It’s complicated as hell.”

“I’m shocked too. So shipping CPs really is universal, huh?”

“I’m dying laughing at today’s trending topic. I’ve seen countless celebrity shipping scandals, but never this kind of collapse. Lugan… are they serious? Celebrities shipping other celebrities’ CPs? I’m dying. Who are they shipping? Are they sweeter than themselves?”

Once the question was raised, it was like opening the floodgates:

“Finally, someone’s curious! I’ve been wondering this forever! Which CP are they actually shipping? I really want to know—especially to see what kind of CP quality could make two people who seem incompatible meet up just to share resources.”

“LOL, I also want to know. Not for anything else, mainly to see if it’s sweeter than Lugan.”

“…Hmm, I think I might know which pair it is, but don’t say anything.”

“Shh, don’t reveal it! We quietly profit here—don’t let anyone figure it out!”

“Exactly, confirm with me—this is definitely our sisterhood’s secret. Quietly profiting, yes!”

Those sharing secret signals weren’t CP fans of Fan Qing and Nie Luo? Impossible.

They quickly messaged each other privately:

“Ladies, keep it secret!”

“Right! Keep it tight!”

“Yes, yes, yes. If you can’t resist, just imagine the fan content the group produces. A CP this high-quality and overwhelmingly sweet cannot be backstabbed!”

United in purpose, yet the biggest mole was already present—Lu Qia herself.

The trending topic had blown up, and suddenly an artist stepped forward:

“…Damn, I just realized how terrifying this is. I ship Lugan too. I was about to draw something for them, but then I saw this picture shared by sisters in the group.”

She uploaded a picture showing Lu Qia and Gan Mo heads together, looking at a phone.

“…I didn’t think much of it at first, but when I started drawing, I realized the images on their phone seemed to be ones I made for another CP. If that’s really the pair… I understand now. But damn, it’s even easier to ship than Lugan—this is true!”

Fan Qing: …

So the artist ended up exposing them?

Technically yes—but really, it was the fans’ curiosity that caused it.

In the artist’s picture, very little of Lu Qia’s phone was visible.

Yet after reading the artist’s note, fans quickly traced the source.

The source wasn’t hard to find—it had appeared on Weibo before.

The first fan who found it froze.

“…Damn, guys, I found it. And this image… I don’t even know what to say.”

Then the second, third fan—one after another—they stared at the image, confused.

A strange feeling settled over them.

“So… the CP Lugan was shipping is actually Mr. Nie??? And the other person—who is it? I can’t quite tell, but I think it’s a man? Am I seeing this wrong? Damn, my feelings just went all weird!”

“…Friend, don’t overthink it—they’re men. If they’re both naked, how could you not recognize them?”

“Still… Lugan! You ship this hard??? And Gan Mo! You’re a guy—why are you shipping a male-male CP?”

“Mom, this feels so surreal. The CP I ship, they’re shipping another one! And that other pair actually looks pretty appealing… I feel my stance suddenly wavering. Am I… not quite right?”

The fans all sank into a strange, tangled thought.

Once they recovered, the hashtag #LuganShippingCP shot up the trending list.

Fans entering the topic were immediately confused.

What is this even?

When they clicked on the image, everyone froze, then collectively “swore under their breath.”

“…Whoa! So this is how people ship CPs? I get it now!”

“…Oh my god, is this trending for real? I don’t read much, so don’t lie to me!”

“What? I thought I was watching Lugan on a variety show… why does this feel like a public execution? And why are they shipping Mr. Nie’s CP? Lugan, you’re not right!”

One fan had a sudden realization:

“Wait… so this picture came from Lu Qia’s request? She even commissioned NSFW art just to ship the CP???”

“Whoa—Watson, you just hit the blind spot!”

“Whoa—I don’t know what else to say except… whoa.”

“Cough, cough… Damn! Is this for real? But come on, isn’t this basically how our master normally ships CPs???”

Fan Qing watched the trending chaos unfold. The flicker of anticipation on his face slowly solidified into… disappointment.

What is wrong with this generation of fans? Can they even grasp the point?

Meanwhile, Lu Qia had been quietly observing him.

And the longer she stared, the stranger it felt.

Why did Fan Qing seem… not angry?

His expression looked more like frustration and annoyance than rage.

But… they’d accidentally exposed Fan Qing and Nie Luo’s relationship. Shouldn’t he be mad?

In a flash of insight, Lu Qia blurted out:

“Mr. Fan, are you and Mr. Nie planning to go public?”

Silence.

A dead, suffocating silence.

In the midst of it, Lu Qia’s manager gave her a sharp pinch on the philtrum.

Hold it together!

If she broke down now, she was finished!

Think about all the years of effort—and the mortgage that wasn’t fully paid!

Gan Mo’s expression was one of shock.

His manager looked at Lu Qia’s manager as if witnessing a doomsday hero.

Fan Qing, however, was genuinely surprised.

He stared at Lu Qia for a long moment, then slowly nodded, under the incredulous gazes of the other three.

“You just realized, huh.”

Lu Qia: !!!

Gan Mo: ???

Two managers: philtrum pinch + deep breath.jpg

Fan Qing slowly stood and gestured for them to sit on the sofa.

Since Lu Qia had figured it out, he might as well use it to his advantage.

“Now that you know, you can do me a favor. Consider it… your chance to make amends.”

The two managers immediately tensed.

A favor?

That sounded very… suspicious.

“No problem!”

Lu Qia and Gan Mo almost said it in unison.

For the first time, they realized how in sync they were.

They exchanged a glance.

Lu Qia: Why did you agree?

Gan Mo: Aren’t you the only one shipping this CP?

Lu Qia: …Damn, you’re right. Since we’re shipping the same CP, we might as well be friends from now on!

Gan Mo: …Exactly!

They both lowered their gazes, but their eyes flickered with excitement.

Looks like their early “investment” in Fan Qing and Nie Luo hadn’t been wasted.

Fan Qing’s eyes held a hint of satisfaction.

He turned to the two nearly fainting managers and handed over a couple of resources.

“Of course, I’m not letting you help completely for free.”

The managers hesitated, but retreated from the brink of disaster.

The revelation about Lu Qia and Gan Mo caused a huge stir.

Fans joined the discussion with an almost magical curiosity—they never expected that their beloved CPs might also be shipping someone else’s CP.

Even Nie Luo and Fan Qing’s CP fans were stunned, a bit flattered too.

Some moderators even recognized Lu Qia’s ID in the fan group.

And they felt a little troubled:

“…Should we kick Lu Qia out of the group?”

“…I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

“…Honestly, I also…”

The moderators exchanged uneasy glances.

After a long moment, one finally spoke up:

“Even if we talk about it, kicking her out would make us look too… harsh. I thought about it—she hasn’t really done anything wrong in the group. She’s just a pure CP fan. Let’s leave her in.”

The suggestion sent everyone into deep thought again.

After a long pause, the earliest admin finally spoke slowly,

“Guess that’s the only way.”

Lu Qia had no idea how close she had come to being kicked out of her favorite CP fan group. She was now on a variety interview show—together with Gan Mo.

The host quickly asked them a question:

“Speaking of which, you two recently caused quite a stir on the trending charts. Some fans are curious—how did you come to ship this CP? Is there a special reason?”

Lu Qia: “Actually…”

Gan Mo: “Actually…”

The two suddenly shared an inexplicable tacit understanding—and then both fell silent.

The host, who already knew what they wanted to say, could only wish he could punch each of them.

“…Actually what? Why don’t you say it together, so we can hear if it’s the same reason?”

Lu Qia and Gan Mo exchanged a glance.

Next moment, in perfect unison:

“Of course it’s because Mr. Fan keeps visiting Mr. Nie’s set!”

Lu Qia added:

“And every time Mr. Fan comes over, he always brings treats for everyone—but the portion for Mr. Nie is always personally prepared by him.”

Gan Mo nodded:

“That’s right. Mr. Fan seems pretty skilled. I’ve seen several times that the food he brings for Mr. Nie is handmade. He brings drinks too—it’s all done very carefully.”

Lu Qia nodded enthusiastically:

“Exactly! And Mr. Nie… he’s actually easy to get along with, but as you know, when he’s not acting, he’s pretty quiet. And when he’s quiet, his expression is kind of aloof, which can be intimidating. But every time Mr. Fan comes over, Mr. Nie seems like a completely different person.”

Gan Mo agreed with a sigh.

“Yes, so in our crew there’s a saying: just look at Mr. Nie’s expression off-camera to know if there’s any extra treat for the day.”

The host saw an opening:

“So by your account, Mr. Fan and Mr. Nie are indeed close. But I thought this film required strict physical conditioning? With Mr. Fan constantly bringing food and drinks, didn’t the director worry about him—like that it might affect Mr. Nie’s figure?”

Lu Qia and Gan Mo exchanged a look, then simultaneously “shushed” him.

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

Not just the host—everyone had it wrong.

Lu Qia even felt tears welling up as she remembered:

“Mr. Nie gaining weight? That never happened. We only found out later that Mr. Fan carefully calculated every portion for Mr. Nie—there was absolutely no impact on his figure.”

Gan Mo smiled wryly and added:

“Exactly! Back then, everyone else in the crew gained a little weight, but Mr. Nie didn’t. If it weren’t for the drastic changes in me and Lu Qia showing on camera and catching the director’s attention, we wouldn’t have realized it at all!”

Lu Qia couldn’t help but tear up.

“Right! The clown was me! So many of the photos you see of me with this guy? A lot of them are us suffering through fitness together.”

The host: …The script didn’t say anything about this.

Well, it didn’t matter. The goal was achieved.

He forced a sympathetic smile.

“You two really went through a lot.”

Afraid they might continue spilling more, he quickly turned to the camera:

“That concludes today’s interview. Let’s thank our two guests for participating.”

Once the interview ended, the segment was quickly aired.

Many fans finally picked up on subtle hints.

Especially Nie Luo and Fan Qing’s CP fans.

They watched the interview, hearts racing, disbelief mingling with nervousness.

“Is it really what we think it is?”

“Ladies! I’m panicking! I feel like I might have noticed something, but I can’t believe it! Could this actually happen to me? I’ve had countless CP ship collapses before!”

“Spit it out, everyone, let’s talk it through. What if… it really is?”

Ordinary CP fans were this anxious; a few moderators were even more shocked.

“…Damn, I think they might really be going public. Who’s going to tell me? I’m not dreaming, right?”

“Also, someone slap me—I’m getting the same vibe.”

“Slap me too! I think I’m having the same dream as you guys.”

“…Honestly, if everyone feels this way, could it… actually be?”

“Yeah, what if it is?”

There was no “what if.”

Fan Qing, who had been quietly preparing everything, gave them all a dose of reassurance.

The day after the interview aired, The Invincible Manager officially premiered.

At 8 a.m., Fan Qing’s Weibo reposted both Nie Luo and the official film promotion.

Fans were speechless.

CP fans could hardly believe their eyes.

Shortly after, Fan Qing and Nie Luo simultaneously posted a photo.

The image was extremely simple:

Two hands—one fair, one wheat-colored—holding two movie tickets.

The tickets clearly read “Couple Seats” in bold letters.

Fans: ???

CP fans: !!!

And that wasn’t all.

Soon after, a flood of posts appeared on Weibo from fellow celebrities:

Teng Huang official v: Congratulations. @Fan Qing @Nie Luo

Jin Ershao v: Congratulations. @Nie Luo @Fan Qing

 

Invincible Manager v: Congratulations. @Fan Qing @Nie Luo

Miss Yuan v: Congratulations. @Fan Qing @Nie Luo

Lu Qia v: Congratulations. @Nie Luo @Fan Qing

Gan Mo v: Congratulations. @Nie Luo @Fan Qing

Yang Yang Real Estate v: Congratulations. @Fan Qing @Nie Luo

Jian Feiyang v: Congratulations. @Fan Qing @Nie Luo

Yuan Jing v: Congratulations. @Fan Qing @Nie Luo

…

The long list of accounts left everyone completely dazed.

What shocked them most was that afterward, a whole batch of official accounts starting with the character “Jin” also posted congratulatory messages!

Fans counted carefully—there were no fewer than eighteen such official accounts.

And all of them had the “Jin” character. Could it be… they were all from the same family?

Jin Si looked at the posts, somewhat displeased.

He thought for a moment, then picked up his phone and began calling one by one.

“It’s me.”

“Huh? Nothing serious, just wanted to ask—do you use Weibo?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s good—keeps you up to date.”

“Nothing major. Just wanted to share that my sworn younger brother Fan Qing officially announced his relationship today with his partner. Young people, you know—they like to do things this way. As the big brother, I can’t interfere, so I thought I’d just have a few of the subordinate companies post on Weibo to show support.”

“Right, just wanted to share a little joy with you all. That’s all—I’ll call the others next.”

Nearby, Tang Sheng, hands on his hips, watched him call one after another with a smile, repeating the same words without a hint of annoyance. Tang Sheng couldn’t help but feel both exasperated and amused.

After a while, he stood up to pour a glass of water for him.

Well, seeing him like this… it was undeniably cute.

Author’s Note:

Main story complete—!