"I still feel like I'm dreaming. I actually got selected! From childhood to now, I've never won anything except consolation prizes. Was all my luck just saving itself for this moment?" Li Minjia beamed with joy.
"Same here, girl! I'm so happy! I never thought Ah Jiu would actually set aside a whole day just for us," Bu Hui said with a big smile.
"Right? The lottery started a few days ago, but all it said was 'Mystery Grand Prize.' Who would've guessed it was a full-on fan festival?" Li Minjia laughed, unable to hide her excitement.
She was 24 this year, and her voice carried the unfiltered delight of a diehard fan. Her "Home" level was 7, earned through years of loyal suffering as a devoted follower.
"Finally, I get to see Xiao Jiu in person. That alone makes my whole year worth it," Bu Hui added.
At 34, she had flown in from the city of Modu for this event. She was also carrying out a mission. One of her girlfriends had won the ticket too but couldn't get time off work. Surprise wins often meant zero prep time.
Seeing Bu Hui juggling large and small bags like she was off on a spring picnic, Li Minjia asked curiously, "Sis Hui, why did you bring so many snacks?"
"I was worried they wouldn't provide water," Bu Hui replied. She was an old hand at the fan game, once a follower of Li Xingwei. She had attended fan meets before, and in her eyes, this festival was just a leveled-up version. That alone was already impressive.
"No water? No way. At least bottled water, right? They've gotta give each person one," Li Minjia blinked, surprised.
"Come on, there are three hundred of us. You think they'll hand one out to everyone? We can't expect the staff to do everything," Bu Hui said. "We have to learn to take care of ourselves. Self-sufficiency, you know?"
Spoken like a veteran. Suddenly, it all made sense to Li Minjia. She nodded solemnly. "You're right. That's actually really smart."
"I'll go grab a couple bottles too then," she said.
"No need, I brought extras." Bu Hui pulled a bottle from her bag and handed it over.
"Thanks, Sis Hui!"
"Don't mention it," Bu Hui said. "But don't open it yet. There's a security check later. Usually, concerts don't allow outside drinks. They worry people might sneak in contraband. But since this is a fan fest, maybe they'll be more relaxed. Unopened bottles should be fine."
At the entrance of the expo center, there was no red carpet, only a lawn of artificial grass and a 3D sign shaped like an orange tree. Ceremony mattered.
Wang Yuan had arrived around 3 PM, sent ahead by Chu Zhi to take charge. She was more than just a pretty face, known for her calm and reliable presence.
"Clatter—"
In the rush, someone knocked over a display of potato chips.
"Sister Wang, I..." A staffer panicked. "I was just trying to arrange the snacks and... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Relax. We still have more than an hour before fans start arriving. Just reset the display." Wang Yuan's tone was steady. "But try not to be so clumsy next time."
She led by example, helping rearrange the potato chips. Over a hundred cans had been set up into the shape of a heart with the help of a frame.
Admission would start at 5:40 PM via QR code check-in. But it was only five now. Li Minjia and Bu Hui had come early—too early.
They were afraid of being late. After all, this was Shancheng, the legendary 8D city. Navigating it as outsiders wasn't easy, so they'd left early just in case.
Even so, they weren't the earliest. A few male fans had arrived at 3:30 and were casually smoking nearby.
Of the 300 selected "Little Fruits," over 230 were female fans. About 60 were male. That one-in-five ratio was actually pretty high. Most A-list stars wouldn't dream of numbers like that.
"Haha, I just tapped randomly and somehow got in."
"Same here. Actually, my girlfriend's the bigger fan. She didn't win, but I did."
"Honestly, I like his ballads best. 'Suddenly Missing You So Much' and that cover of 'Deserted Island'? Absolute bangers."
"Not bad. I'm not even a fan-fan, but Chu Zhi? He's the real deal. He's got traffic and talent, and he actually spends money on his fans. Compared to other celebs who just milk their fandoms dry, Chu Zhi is practically a model citizen in this industry."
If they weren't fans, why travel this far? But guy fans were weird like that. It was as if being a fan was something to hide.
Female fans competed to prove who loved their idol more. Male fans, on the other hand, competed to act like they didn't care at all.
This fan festival, the first of its kind in a parallel world, was the ultimate treat for the "honest boy" of the industry. First, the organizers covered all round-trip travel costs for all 300 attendees—plane or high-speed train—and included dinner. Sure, it was economy class or second-class tickets, but still.
That alone was impressive. And to outsiders, it seemed like Chu Zhi was spending a fortune for very little return.
But the entertainment agency Di Shou had done the math. Even counting all flights and meals, the cost per fan came to under 4,000 yuan. Multiply that by 300, and it was only 1.2 million yuan.
Including venue rental and decorations, it all came under 2 million.
The hidden benefits were massive. With one livestream, Chu Zhi was about to make every fan circle envy the Little Fruits.
Little Fruits, the most dazzling kids in fandom. Speak with pride.
Speaking of which, the fan festival stream wasn't sold to any platform. It was being broadcast directly on the Orange Orchard app, with the production crew sent over by Taiyo Chuanhe.
Chu Zhi wasn't the type to quietly do good without recognition. If he gave eight parts kindness, he needed the world to see all twelve.
By 5:30, Qiu-ge finally parked the van in the underground garage of the expo center.
"Xiao Zhu, I'll need your help with the stuff," Chu Zhi said as he jogged in. This was his first fan festival, and he didn't want to be late. He slipped in through the side door into the room being used as a makeshift dressing area.
The makeup artist was already waiting inside. Chu Zhi didn't need much work, just a quick change of clothes. The tourism promo video outfit was a little too formal for this event.
"Made it just in time," he said, finally catching his breath. Qiu-ge's driving skills were top-notch. He made a note to send some snacks to Bao Huazi later as thanks.
Everything was ready. At 5:40, check-in began. Every bag had to pass through security to prevent sharp items from entering. Three hundred guests wasn't that many, but the process still needed to be smooth.
Two security lanes were opened, one on each side. The lines formed neatly. Everyone here was a Little Fruit, all from the same fan app. No pushing, no snatching.
Bu Hui and Li Minjia entered one after the other, passed through the main hall, and followed the signs reading [Little Fruits This Way] to reach the event space.
What greeted them was a stunning scene.
The ceiling glittered with star-shaped lights, like a sky full of stars. The floor was covered in flowers, grass, and potted plants—all real, rented fresh from the flower market. No cheap plastic.
There were small sofas, chairs, single seats, and long benches, all spaced comfortably and arranged freely around the stage. The layout felt relaxed, cozy.
At the center of it all stood a round platform with a large banner:
[A Place Only Little Fruits Know].
And around the edges? A massive snack wall and drink pile. Chips, spicy strips, senbei, rice crackers, mini cookies—enough for three hundred people and then some.
Chu Zhi had stocked up based on how much a regular person would snack while watching a movie at home. He bought more than enough, just in case.
If there was too much, fans could take the extras home.
What was this? A buffet? A giveaway?
"Sis Hui, is this really for us to eat? Or is it just display?" Li Minjia couldn't help but ask.
"Uhh—" Even Bu Hui was confused. This... this was a level of luxury she'd never seen before.