Dating the Heartthrob Superstar Chapter 1: Movie Star Meng Chao

Chapter 1: The Movie Star ng Chao

The night hadn't fully faded, and the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The director carrying a cara knocked on the door in front of him. He thought he'd have to wait a long ti for soone to respond at this hour, but to his surprise, the door opened within a minute.

The door was opened by a young man whose features were soft and elegant. His lips were slightly pursed, as though he was nervous, his arms hanging naturally at his sides, fingers lightly tugging at the seams of his trousers.

"Good... Good morning." The young man, one of the protagonists of this recording, Lin Qin, said softly, his voice barely audible. If not for their close proximity, the director might not have caught what he said at all.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin." The director stepped into the room, setting up the shots for the recording as per instructions.

Lin Qin lived alone in this apartnt, yet it lacked the typical clutter you'd find in most young n's spaces. Everything was neatly arranged and immaculately clean, resembling more of a showroom than a lived-in bachelor's pad.

As the director fild, Lin Qin had already erged from the bedroom, wheeling a suitcase along. He stood at a distance, his palm gripping the handle tightly, saying nothing.

"Mr. Lin, are you ready to head out?" The director finished collecting footage and only then noticed the quiet figure standing in the corner. He was slightly surprised. Lin Qin had stunningly good looks, yet once he stood there, it was as though his presence completely vanished.

Lin Qin nodded, his gaze seemingly focused on so empty spot.

The program's vehicle was already waiting downstairs in the residential area. Lin Qin pushed his suitcase all the way down in silence, leaving the accompanying director frowning deeply.

Being this subdued wasn't ideal for reality TV—it lacked drama and engagent. Without standout monts, the edited footage might end up entirely unremarkable.

Once they were in the car, the director tried to have a conversation with Lin Qin.

Director: "Mr. Lin, why did you decide to accept our program's invitation this ti?"

Lin Qin was part of the industry, but he kept such a low profile. Aside from acting in films, he never took on comrcials, seldom attended events, and was rarely seen in public. Even when he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, it had been his agent who went to accept the trophy—Lin Qin himself didn't appear at all. On the few occasions he did attend functions, he walked the red carpet dutifully and then seemingly evaporated from the scene.

If not for the critically acclaid films under his belt, it wouldn't be surprising if people had forgotten his existence entirely within the entertainnt industry.

So when Lin Qin agreed to participate in "We Are Together," a romance reality show, and even signed on as a fixed cast mber, the production team was taken aback. They hadn't held out much hope when sending the invitation but were t with Lin Qin's surprising acceptance.

Clearly, the director's question posed so difficulty for Lin Qin. After fumbling for a long ti, he managed to squeeze out a few hesitant words: "... I just wanted to say yes..."

Director: "..."

Right, just one question and the conversation was already dead.

The director frowned, feeling as though he'd encountered an insurmountable obstacle in his career. After racking his brains, he managed to co up with another question. "Mr. Lin, do you know who you'll be filming with for this show?"

As soon as the question was asked, Lin Qin seed to realize sothing. The tips of his ears flushed a deep red, and it looked as though he were burning up entirely.

"I... I do." Lin Qin nodded lightly. Sitting upright like a kindergartener, he kept his back straight and his hands neatly placed on his knees. "It's Senior ng."

For a mont, the director wondered if there was sothing wrong with his hearing. He couldn't help but notice that when Lin Qin said "Senior ng," his tone was filled with reverence and earnestness—completely different from his earlier timid manner.

The director quickly seized the opportunity. "Mr. Lin, is this your first ti eting ng in person?"

"Yes." Lin Qin replied softly, the blush on his face spreading like ink in water, slowly blooming. His fine features beca even more striking when tinged with this flush, almost unbearably beautiful.

However, his nervousness was also impossible to hide.

The director adjusted the cara and asked: "Mr. Lin, are you feeling nervous?"

"Huh?" Lin Qin seed montarily lost, but after hearing the question, he pulled at the corners of his mouth to reveal a small smile. "A little."

"Why?" The director probed. "Is it because you're going to et ng? I heard you're quite fond of him."

A fire seed to ignite within Lin Qin, setting his entire being ablaze. He stamred in response, "Yes... Senior ng is... my idol."

"This ti, you'll be filming 'We Are Together' with ng. Do you have any expectations, or anything you'd like to say to him?"

Lin Qin spent a long ti trying to think of sothing before earnestly responding, "Senior ng, please take care of ." He looked at the cara with utmost sincerity and seriousness.

Director: "..." Well, now the conversation was completely finished.

Since they had departed so early, the program's convoy avoided Beijing's rush hour and arrived smoothly at the airport.

As planned, the team receiving ng and the one following Lin Qin would rendezvous at the airport before boarding a flight to Binhai City, where the official recording for "We Are Together" would begin.

With the growing popularity of BL (boys' love) culture, the market had beco increasingly aware of its potential. Amidst the flourishing variety show landscape, and with the recent legalization of sa-sex marriage, Apple TV jumped on the trend by creating a reality show spotlighting male-male dynamics. The show was nad "We Are Together."

The program invited only two fixed hosts to be featured in a two-month recording schedule.

During filming, other celebrity guests would occasionally join to discuss life or play gas.

Put simply, the show presented a subtly crafted narrative where two newlywed husbands navigate everyday monts with their friends. How these stories beco entertaining is up to the hosts.

To be more direct, it's essentially a slow-paced reality show disguised as a sugar-coated romantic spectacle.

The freedom granted by this show was extraordinarily high—there was no script, leaving the entire process up to the hosts to improvise. No one had any idea what sort of chemistry would form between them.

About half an hour later, the team escorting ng finally arrived.

ng Chao, known simply as ng, stood tall and striking, his sharp features making him stand out even amidst a sea of celebrities. Frequently seen wearing glasses, he exuded an air of scholarly elegance. He rarely attended public events and seldom interacted with fans on social dia, which lent him an image of aloofness in the eyes of his supporters.

He was undoubtedly a legendary figure in the industry. Debuting at eighteen, he swept dostic Best Actor awards by nineteen. That sa year, his stellar performance in a poignant arthouse film earned him three Best Actor awards from major international film festivals, catapulting him to fa overnight. His debut was nothing short of a teoric rise.

Since then, he's maintained a steady rhythm of one film per year, with each release achieving both box office and critical acclaim. His unparalleled acting prowess has established him as a leading figure in Hua Country's film industry, and awards have practically beco synonymous with his na.