Chapter 728 - 499: I’m Actually a Wu Gou Fan!?

It’s not just Xu Siyu who feels that something’s off.

Other people are starting to notice it too.

Not far from Xu Siyu, a male audience member looks around, scratches his head, and says: "Uh, folks, why do I feel something’s off? I thought at the event there were only Wu Gou’s haters and passersby attending. But now... could it be that everyone is here because of Wu Gou?"

Hmm?

Huh?

This remark undoubtedly leaves everyone present momentarily stunned, not quite understanding what he means.

The male audience member continues to explain, "I suddenly remembered, do random audience members really come to this offline "X Night" event? Just to walk a red carpet, you have to start queuing from noon, and if you’re late, you might get pushed to the outer edges and see nothing. If you’re not a fan chasing stars or coming to see someone specific, you wouldn’t have the stamina to show up, would you?"

As he talks, he openly reveals his allegiance: "Well, I might not chase stars, but I guess I’m a Wu Gou entertainment fan. I came to see the hype online, and now I’m here to see the buzz in person."

Everyone is even more stunned. No actual passersby came?

Looking around uncertainly, they say, "If that’s the case, it seems like in past years, there weren’t many attendees for the offline X Night either. If there were, they were all fandom fans? But this year it’s so popular, surely it’s not all because of Wu Gou? There are so many people."

"Yeah, I’d estimate there are already twenty to thirty thousand people on site, does Wu Gou have that much influence? But... I actually did come because of Wu Gou. Didn’t people online say that guy is absurdly good-looking in person? I came to see what he really looks like."

"I don’t think it’s all because of Wu Gou. Well, I’m curious if Wu Gou will perform, so I came to see if I could catch a glimpse."

"Yeah, isn’t that too exaggerated... I’m here to see if Wu Gou can shut up his haters in person."

Everyone: "..."

Each of them says it couldn’t be, but the reason they came is all because of Wu Gou...

Isn’t this basically everyone coming for Wu Gou!!

What the hell, wait!

Could it be there really are no passersby present?

Could it be that besides those fandom fans, everyone else is here for Wu Gou!?

The more everyone compares notes, the more they realize something’s off. Among the crowd, at least the male audience members aren’t passersby, they’re all here for Wu Gou.

Whether they’re here for the excitement or the performance, they’re basically all Wu Gou’s entertainment fans or passerby fans!

And as for the male audience, what about the remaining female audience?

Someone directly asks a female audience member next to them, "Friend, why did you come to the event?"

The female audience member is also obviously a bit puzzled and confused, but... she resolutely shakes her head, "I’m just a passerby here to see the fun."

Huh, a passerby?

The person asking tentatively says: "Wu Gou scumbag?"

The female audience member’s expression seems to darken, taking a few deep breaths, but she still firmly says, "I’m a passerby."

Hmm, really a passerby?

The person asking hesitates for a moment and then tries: "Wu Gou’s low morals?"

Female audience member: "!!!"

"Are you sick or something! I said I’m a passerby! He may have issues, but do I need you to remind me!?"

Everyone present falls into silence, watching the suddenly furious female audience member.

Yeah, a passerby.

But not a very good one.

After a moment of silence, the scene suddenly erupts.

"Damn, everyone’s really here because of Wu Gou!?"

"Wu Gou’s fans are sneaky, aren’t they? Even offline, they hide among the crowd like online pretending to be passersby?"

"Are they going for another undercover operation? Online they’re all swearing, and in reality, they’re buying everything up! Sisters, we won’t fight for your oppa’s endorsements!"

"Didn’t they say it’s us against the world? Where’s that now? There indeed are a lot of fandom fans, but aren’t there even more ’passersby’?"

"Even more ’passersby’, fine, but the fandom fans are split into groups, and if you compare them individually... I was hoping to see Wu Gou turn the tables, but he’s exposed himself before even making a move."

"You still expect Wu Gou to fall? With all the online slander, yet the offline turnout because of him is more than all the fandom fans combined... People just love Wu Gou too much!"

Listening to the uproar around her, Xu Siyu feels the blood rushing to her head.

Wasn’t today supposed to be the day he falls, weren’t we supposed to take him down together?

Why is it not going as expected now!

Why, with all that fuss online, are there still so many attending in person just for him?

You damned passerby fans!!

Saying you’re just here for fun and not taking sides, yet you arrive earlier than anyone else once something happens!!!

And you damned real fans too!

You leeches hidden among the crowd!!

Xu Siyu feels her rage boiling over, she can’t just watch this happen, she has to do something!

She stands up and shouts, "No, I’m a hater of that bastard! I’m not here to support him! Don’t lump me in with those fans of his!"

Her words successfully bring silence to the scene.

Everyone looks at her in surprise.

"Wu Gou hater? Right, Wu Gou has quite a few fans who left the fandom and didn’t support anyone else."

"Oh, so a lot of Wu Gou’s haters must’ve come too."

But it’s only surprising for a while.

Soon enough doubts arise.

"No, you can’t be sure. Could be someone pretending to be a Wu Gou hater, after all, if they can fake being passersby, they can very well fake being haters too."

"Yeah, just like online, it looks like all haters, but they’re faster at buying stuff than anyone else."

Xu Siyu: "!!!"

Xu Siyu: "???"

They’re saying I’m pretending to be a Wu Gou hater!?

What the hell are you bastards talking about!

I...

Xu Siyu wants to loudly confirm her identity as a hater, but looking at the doubting eyes of the male passersby around her, the curious, disdainful, or friendly eyes of the female passersby.

She suddenly feels utterly drained of energy.

Reality is so complicated too.

Why is it so hard to see him fall.

...

Zhang Li and her best friend Han Yan are blending into the crowd, pretending to be normal passersby.

"So many people came?"

"He’s pissed off too many people."

They’re somewhat guilty, seeing no signs or banners supporting their own idol; everyone here must be their idol’s haters. If their identity is exposed, won’t they be drowned in spit?

But as they feel guilty, they notice some clamor in the distant crowd.

And that clamor is slowly spreading outward, the voices growing louder.

It doesn’t take long before they hear the whispered discussions around them.

"They’re saying everyone here is a Wu Gou fan."

"They said the whole crowd is here for Wu Gou, no real passersby."

"Wu Gou’s fans are supposedly hiding in the crowd."

"Seems like the whole crowd is Wu Gou’s fans! Those without banners are! The guys are passerby fans, entertainment fans, and the girls are true love fans, girlfriend fans."

Hmm?

Huh?

Zhang Li and Han Yan exchange bewildered looks.

What are they talking about, the whole crowd is their idol’s fans?

Impossible, it’s too far-fetched.

Their first reaction is disbelief.

But as the discussions around them grow louder, and more confessions appear, and many female passersby exchange meaningful or knowing glances between themselves.

This, this...

Could it really be true?

Zhang Li and Han Yan’s eyes begin to sparkle.

Looking around at the regular fandom troops, then at the "passersby" without fandom marks, estimating both sides’ numbers...

Suddenly, they’re not feeling as guilty anymore?

The clamor of discussion keeps growing, many are still dubious.

From the outskirts, the edge of the crowd suddenly erupts with even more noise.