The "nobles" were going head-to-head with the little fruits in a real fight. Compared to Korean fans, even the most hardcore fans of domestic top stars seemed rational. Would you believe that when a Korean star was about to leave China, a fan actually apologized to them on behalf of China...
When other team members like Lee Jun-seok and Jo Kwon heard about this, they had no intention of intervening. Let them argue—as long as it didn't affect their ticket sales, show appearances, or endorsements, it didn't matter.
"Chu Zhi is not someone to be trifled with," Liu Pei observed the entire battle.
As someone who had once wanted to compete with Chu Zhi for the top male artist spot at Taiyang Chuanhe Entertainment, Liu Pei first had his status as a "period drama heartthrob" shattered by Chu Zhi's MV. He felt like he was no longer the idol his fans once adored—as if they had all "betrayed" him.
Then, Liu Pei threw himself into acting to gain more fans, only for his momentum to be crushed by the Korean drama Diamond. Now, watching Chu Zhi wield his sword against the overwhelming wave of Hallyu, Liu Pei suddenly felt utterly outmatched.
On Weibo, the most influential account regarding firefighting was [China Fire Rescue], the official account of the Fire and Rescue Bureau under the Ministry of Emergency Management.
Local fire departments were part of the armed police forces, reporting to local public security bureaus, and further up to provincial fire rescue corps. The Ministry of Emergency Management wasn't a direct superior but a State Council department responsible for coordinating major disaster responses, including earthquakes, floods, and large-scale rescue operations.
"Director, we've compiled the information on Chu Zhi," the secretary handed over a folder.
Director Gu nodded and dismissed the secretary to attend to other matters. He began reviewing the documents and immediately noticed that Chu Zhi's father, Chu Ying, had been a member of the Chongqing Fire Rescue Brigade. During a rescue mission for an elderly man trapped in a landslide, Chu Ying was buried in a mudslide. By the time his team found him, only his body remained. He was posthumously honored as a martyr and awarded the Chongqing Youth May Fourth Medal.
"A martyr's family member?" Director Gu was surprised that a top celebrity was the child of a martyr. His first thought was to check whether all the commendation and bereavement funds had been properly disbursed to the family.
"It must have been hard for a woman to raise a child alone—"
Before he could finish that thought, another revelation struck him. About half a year later, Chu Zhi's mother, Yang Weiyu, a police officer in the JJ District Public Security Bureau, was struck and killed on duty by a hammer thrown from a high-rise.
The suspect was later arrested, and it was discovered to be a deliberate act of revenge by a criminal gang she had previously helped apprehend. Yang Weiyu was also posthumously honored as a martyr.
Losing both parents to duty—his father at age ten and his mother just before he turned eleven—Chu Zhi was raised by his grandfather. As the child of two martyrs, he received preferential treatment in schooling and other areas. But two years ago, his grandfather also passed away.
And then he endured cyberbullying—
"What is the propaganda department doing?" Director Gu instinctively wanted to ask why the child of two martyrs could still suffer online abuse. Were they trying to defy the heavens?
But he quickly understood. For one, the propaganda and public security systems were separate. Moreover, with around three hundred posthumous martyr honors awarded every year to those who protected the country in peacetime, there were simply too many cases to track.
"A pitiful child," Director Gu murmured after a moment of contemplation. He then called the public security department to nominate Chu Zhi as both a fire rescue ambassador and a public security promotion ambassador.
As a director-general under central management, Deputy Party Secretary of the Ministry of Emergency Management, and head of the Fire Rescue Bureau, Director Gu's nominations were essentially guaranteed approval.
Though the China Fire Rescue account couldn't openly repost or like Chu Zhi's direct clapback at ZG Group due to certain restrictions, appointing him as an ambassador was akin to familial support.
Instead of commenting on Chu Zhi's direct rebuttal, Director Gu left a remark under Guangming Daily's interview clip with Lee Jun-seok:
[Foreign celebrities working in China must abide by the country's rules and regulations, setting a positive example for their fans.]
His stance was clear. When Dahuang Entertainment informed Lee Jun-seok about the official media's involvement, the latter panicked. He quickly posted an apology video via the Goodyear Zeppelin official account, claiming he deeply respected firefighters and hadn't meant to discriminate, blah blah blah.
Here's the kicker—normally, once the idol apologizes, shouldn't their stubborn "noble" fans also stand down?
Nope. They kept arguing, as if their lives would be incomplete without it. But under the overwhelming public backlash, their voices gradually faded.
Chu Zhi's initial goal was to speak up for firefighters, but the outcome brought him unexpected benefits. First, his bold stance attracted a wave of male fans.
Additionally, even though the final resolution came from official media, Chu Zhi had single-handedly held his ground against five opponents—like diving deep into enemy territory, nearly taking out the carry, and escaping unscathed. He was even more elusive than Han Jump Jump (a playful reference to a mobile game character).
Businesses, talent agencies, and entertainment media all witnessed that while the Korean wave was dominant, it wasn't unstoppable—at least, not for Chu Zhi.
Meanwhile, inside the airplane cabin, Chu Zhi was deep in thought—
[Philanthropy King (I Am the Man Who Will Become the Philanthropy King)
Donate ¥10 million discreetly *1 → 1 Personality Coin ★
Donate ¥10 million discreetly *3 → 3 Personality Coins]
"System, is donating discreetly considered a 'personality'? Does that mean celebrities are normally expected to publicize their donations?" Chu Zhi asked.
[Yes.] The system replied bluntly.
Discreet donations weren't cost-effective. If he was going to donate, he might as well do it loudly to maximize the benefits. But this time, he didn't want to publicize his donation to the fire department.
(In the woods of Bear Ridge, who wouldn't offer Brother Qiang a smoke?)
Chu Zhi even felt like offering the system a cigarette. Back when he didn't understand the value of Personality Coins, he now realized they cost ¥10 million apiece.
But honestly, compared to the rewards—like the [Farinelli's Talent], "Voice of Despair," and "Perfect Voice (Non-Lyric Version)"—it was a steal. These were things money couldn't buy in real life.
As for Poetry of Late Adolescence, Against the Light, and the Miscellaneous Songs Collection, Chu Zhi estimated they'd at least break even.
"Donations should still be made public. As a public figure, I should set an example."
"But the 'Philanthropy King' achievement can serve as an emergency option. If I ever desperately need Personality Coins, I can exchange money for them." Chu Zhi pondered. It was a good safety net.
Originally, Director Guo was supposed to bring the Cat Pet footage to Shanghai yesterday, but the schedule shifted to Beijing today. A single change in plans meant countless phone calls to rearrange other commitments.
When Chu Zhi disembarked, he didn't use any special exit or have fans waiting. This wasn't due to a lack of popularity—unless a celebrity's team publicly shared their itinerary, fans couldn't track it.
Those grand fan receptions at airports? Either they were pre-arranged by fan clubs or involved paid extras. At Chu Zhi's current level, he didn't bother with such superficial displays.
The screening was held at the China Film Group headquarters in Haidian District. This was Chu Zhi's first visit to the legendary institution, and it shattered his illusions—the place looked shabby, more like some small factory than the powerhouse of Chinese cinema.
Cat Pet was a China Film Group production. Director Guo Xun was known for balancing commercial and artistic films.
When it came to commercial projects, Director Guo simply tapped into trending themes. This year, pets were hot, so he made a mid-budget comedy about a girl swapping souls with her cat. Given his past box office record, it was unlikely to flop.