coobybook Chapter 228 Who forced you?
Chapter 228 Who forced you?
Zhang Chengkai never expected to be rejected, let alone that Pei Jiyue would react so strongly to his rejection, as if his confession was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.
"Why?"
Zhang Chengkai still refused to give up, or rather, he simply refused to believe that Pei Jiyue was telling the truth.
"Jiyue, do you not believe me? Do you think I'm lying to you?"
No, everything I just said came from the bottom of my heart. I genuinely like you and want to date you; there wasn't a single falsehood in it!
As a result, Pei Jiyue's face showed a "you're crazy" expression, and her tone revealed obvious disappointment.
"Because you're a member of a boy band! Because you're an idol! Your profession dictates that you can't date!"
This time, Zhang Chengkai was dumbfounded.
He never expected to receive such an answer.
That's right, it's an unspoken rule in the industry that boy band members can't date.
But the question is, how many people actually follow this rule?
Don't we all know the truth but turn a blind eye?
When he participated in the talent show, some of the contestants even had girlfriends. As long as he hid it well and acted well, who would know?
In recent years, it has become even more so.
Even if a relationship is exposed, some idols will either deny it to the death or, as long as they play dead well, their fans will defend them.
Or perhaps the evidence against them is so overwhelming that they can't deny it, so they simply admit it outright.
As a result, although some fans will leave, a large number will remain, believing that those who leave are not truly devoted fans, while those who stay are the true fans who will never abandon their idols.
Some more rational people would just comfort themselves by saying that their brother is a grown man in his mid-twenties, so why can't he fall in love?
However, some irrational fans will try every means to direct their criticism at their idol's partner in order to divert their sadness about their idol's relationship. They will portray their idol as a foolish man who has been deceived by a bad woman and look forward to the day when he opens his eyes.
It seems that the more wicked the woman is, the more innocent and pitiful her brother appears, and the greater the love of these fans seems.
There are even boy band members who got married and had children during their time in the group, and they still have a large number of fans defending them, right?
In short, the entire entertainment industry, including the fan base, is exceptionally tolerant of male idols. It's just a matter of dating; there are plenty of people willing to spoil them.
Therefore, Zhang Chengkai felt that this was not a big deal at all. He had been in the industry for so many years and had never been involved in any scandals or anything related to dating that lacked "beauty," which was already considered professionalism.
Even if he faces the risk of losing fans after his relationship is exposed, this risk is nothing compared to the benefits that Pei Jiyue, his "sister-in-law," can bring him.
These were all things Zhang Chengkai had already considered, but he never expected Pei Jiyue to refuse, especially for a reason that he found somewhat ridiculous.
After pondering Pei Jiyue's psychology for a long time, Zhang Chengkai cautiously began to speak:
"Ji Yue, are you worried that making our relationship public will affect my career?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I've been in the industry for so many years, it won't have a big impact. Although some fans might leave, I don't think that matters as much as you..."
Unbeknownst to him, Pei Jiyue's heart was already screaming with rage after hearing those words.
Because she finally understood how it felt when her idol's career collapsed.
Yes, her career collapsed, and it collapsed on her own shoulders, giving her a double blow.
She wasn't Zhang Chengkai's dream girl fan at all, but rather a career fan.
In her opinion, idols shouldn't be in relationships!
While idols need to possess strong skills such as singing and dancing, in the public's perception, an idol's appearance is sometimes just as important.
This means that the idol profession, to a certain extent, involves "selling dreams," maintaining a single image, and even portraying oneself as the "ideal partner" for fans to attract and retain them.
Therefore, Pei Jiyue believes that the fan economy is the foundation for idols to stand on. If an idol doesn't even care about his fans, what right does he have to be called an idol?
But Zhang Chengkai's current actions and thoughts only consider whether he himself will be affected, without thinking about his other fans at all.
This is also why Pei Jiyue was so disappointed.
If an idol doesn't even care about their own fans, isn't that the same as abandoning their original aspirations?
"What do you mean by 'although some fans may unfollow'?" Pei Jiyue was exasperated. "That's right, your fans may be a group, but they are all made up of real people, aren't they?"
"They have their own feelings, and they have spent time, energy, and even a lot of money on you. They would choose to unfollow you because they feel that their trust and affection have been betrayed."
So you mean even though you know they'll be hurt and saddened by announcing your relationship, you still don't care?
Zhang Chengkai was also getting a little annoyed; he hadn't expected Pei Jiyue to be so stubborn on this kind of issue.
Yes, he knew that most fans couldn't accept their idol finding a wife.
But isn't the premise that the sister-in-law isn't herself?
Zhang Chengkai thought that no matter how fiercely fans criticized his sister-in-law, if it were him, wouldn't he be willing to be that sister-in-law?
But what's the deal with Pei Jiyue?
He wouldn't even accept the chance to be her sister-in-law?
She's even more virtuous than this idol! She might as well be the idol!
Zhang Chengkai knew, of course, that he couldn't say these things in front of Pei Jiyue. After all, she wasn't an ordinary person, and offending her would definitely be a losing proposition.
But he had already confessed his feelings, yet he was rejected so decisively that he felt he had lost face, and naturally, he became a little less discreet in his speech.
His face darkened, and he retorted unhappily:
"Does that mean I can never fall in love? Am I destined to be a bachelor for life, remaining celibate forever?"
“Of course that’s not what I meant,” Pei Jiyue explained, “but aren’t you still young? Becoming an idol was your own choice. Don’t you know the nature of this industry? You can’t enjoy their support and sacrifices, enjoy how they propelled you to success, and then betray them?”
Pei Jiyue's meaning can be summarized in four words: Who forced you?
You want your fans to devote themselves to you wholeheartedly, and after you've gained fame and fortune, you also want your fans to support your love life?
Does Zhang Chengkai not get all the advantages in the world?
Moreover, when idols announce their relationships a few years after transitioning to acting or becoming independent singers, or after more than ten years in the industry and reaching a certain age, fans rarely react with strong opposition but instead choose to offer their blessings.
Does he really have to attack his fans at this crucial stage of his career?