CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 22 - 20 Playing Tricks

Green Island Cafe

Wearing a mask and wrapping herself tightly, Jiaqi was sitting nervously in the private room.

This was her first time meeting a fan in private. The negative emotions of nervousness, fear, shame, and self-blame almost made her want to flee without a second thought.

The idol rules she usually considered as mere formalities were constantly flashing in her mind, each line of text was so clear today.

She felt like a shameless woman who sold her soul for money, betrayed her vow, and trampled on the profession’s bottom line.

"Li Jiaqi, it’s really you!" A young man, also wrapped up tightly, knocked on the door of the private room, ecstatically exclaimed in a hoarse voice.

"...Yes, it’s me, you must be Zhang Yuze."

"It’s me, Jiaqi. I’ve attended all your handshake events, but I’ve never dared to speak to you. Jiaqi, you’re so beautiful, like a little fairy."

Zhang Yuze looked at her infatuatedly, his chubby body itching to move, as if he might lunge at her the next moment.

Jiaqi couldn’t help but shrink back a bit, feeling extreme disgust in her heart, but she had to deal with him delicately.

"I still have to rehearse in the afternoon, it took a lot of effort to get leave to meet you this time."

"Jiaqi, it must have been hard for you. Order anything you like; I often see you eating only instant noodles in your pockets."

"What else can I do? You know the company makes money by exploiting us little idols."

Jiaqi gradually calmed down. This time she could come because he fulfilled his promise by casting 150,000 votes for her.

She could tell that this person’s financial condition was average, not much to squeeze out. Such people were merely a temporary "blood bag."

Upon hearing Jiaqi mention the company, Zhang Yuze’s eyes filled with anger: "The gang is inhumane; we invest so much money in voting for you every year and buy so many peripherals, yet only a few bucks go to small idols. You should switch companies."

Jiaqi couldn’t help but smile bitterly: "It’s not that easy. Our contract terms are extremely long: idol contract until 30 and an additional 20-year film and television contract. Leaving would require paying an astronomical penalty. Our only hope is relying on fans like you to vote."

"Jiaqi, rest assured, I will fully support you."

"Actually, I know it’s not easy for you to make money. Just send me 20,000 yuan a month for living expenses, and that’ll be enough."

"Two... twenty thousand yuan?" Zhang Yuze’s face immediately showed difficulty.

"Actually, the 20,000 yuan is just for normal expenses. You know we have to smooth things over on the management side to get announcements, maintain relations with top members, and I also want to hire dance and vocal teachers to improve my professional skills..."

As Jiaqi said this, she secretly glanced at the man in front of her, seeing hesitation on his plump, slightly ashen face, knowing he probably could afford it.

"Yuze, I’m not someone who just asks for money out of vanity. But, it’s impossible to become a TOP star without support. Can you help me?"

Zhang Yuze, seeing Jiaqi’s sincere yet hopeful gaze and her face like a camellia flower, was utterly captivated.

He was a senior programmer, his salary quite decent, earning over 400,000 yuan a year in pure income.

But due to his appearance, he could never find a girlfriend. At his most frustrated and repressed hormonal peak, he happened to watch a "Galaxy Girl Group" ’Summer Cool Show’ online and became utterly infatuated.

After months of indulgence and watching dozens of small theater performances, he became crazily and obsessively enamored with the girl in front of him, feeling she was his lifelong ultimate dream.

Every midnight when he couldn’t help himself, he would take out her photo and fantasize for a long time.

Today, he came with the intention of having a private conversation with his idol and then leaving.

The 150,000 was just to realize a dream in his heart, not to expect anything more.

But when he saw Jiaqi in person, he felt his mind and actions were out of control, just wanting to be closer to the girl in front of him.

Now, seeing her looking troubled, he felt his heart breaking.

"Jiaqi, don’t worry, it’s just 20,000 yuan a month. I’ll give it to you. I’ll just save a bit myself; I don’t spend much anyway."

"...Well, Yuze, if it’s beyond your financial capacity, then forget it."

"No, really, it’s no problem. Look, here’s my pay slip." In his urgency, Zhang Yuze took out his phone to show his pay slip, almost ready to reveal his bank account and password.

"Jiaqi, did you know? I used to live in a daze, only knowing how to code every day, miserably waiting for the day to end like I was slowly ending my life. But everything changed since I started liking you; the world’s colors were no longer just black and white."

"Jiaqi, do you know! Seeing you smile makes me especially happy, my lips involuntarily curling up. Sometimes, I don’t want to work, but thinking about needing to vote for you gives me the motivation to continue."

Jiaqi looked at this otaku who seemed almost airborne, a twinge of pity flashing in her heart.

But she thought about how she might really lose Yuwei if she didn’t get a good ranking in both the immediate and total selections this time.

Some of Yuwei’s fans were already spreading rumors that she was leeching off of her.

"Yuze, thank you, you really don’t have to give so much for me. Just send me 15,000 yuan a month for living expenses, and I’ll find a way for the rest."

Hearing his idol being considerate of him like this, Zhang Yuze was almost moved to tears.

"Yuze, I have to go back now, my leave is up. By the way, I also prepared a gift for you, I hope you like it."

"A gift?"

With his mind blank, Zhang Yuze watched as she took out an item from her backpack—a shirt.

"It has my signature on it. Be sure to keep it safe!"

The sweet voice made his heart blossom with joy, realizing it was a rather luxurious silk shirt.

This made Zhang Yuze even more flustered and grateful: "Jiaqi, this gift must be expensive!"

"It’s okay. I saved on about half a month’s food expenses." This wasn’t a lie; she indeed used half a month’s food expenses to buy this shirt.

As they say, you can’t catch a wolf without risking something, and he had already spent more than a hundred thousand on her.

"Thank you, Jiaqi, I..."

"Yuze, just knowing my feelings is enough."

"Jiaqi, can we meet often in the future?"

Upon hearing this question, Jiaqi’s face suddenly turned gloomy, frightening Zhang Yuze into hurriedly apologizing.

"Yuze, you know the group has many creepy fans watching us little idols. If we meet often, they’ll definitely find out. You don’t want my idol career to end, right?"

"Of course I don’t want that."

"We can meet once a month at an agreed time."

Jiaqi knew that if she didn’t occasionally give some sweetness, this dog’s loyalty might wane or even turn against her.