Chapter 130: Glory in the Past Tense

Luo Chen was not particularly familiar with the restaurants in Qingshui City. Having arrived only two months ago, he had spent most of his time at home producing videos, save for the occasional outing with Luo Tianyi to visit a restaurant or food street. He simply had no leisure time to explore the city's culinary scene.

He only knew a handful of places. The Zhonghua Pavilion was out of the question, and the Sade Restaurant, which felt more like a place for business meetings, was hardly suitable.

As for the city's only high-end Western restaurant, Luo Chen had once been coerced into going there by his younger sister under a signed agreement. While the food was decent, the atmosphere was painfully awkward—it was essentially a restaurant for couples. Naturally, he couldn't take Yuezheng Ling there; otherwise, this gesture of gratitude would be mistaken for a date.

"How about we go to the FANS Restaurant?"

After some consideration, Luo Chen decided it was the most appropriate choice. Although the FANS Restaurant occasionally hosted events, it was usually quite empty, allowing for quiet conversation without interruption.

More importantly, the owner of the FANS Restaurant was wealthy, ensuring top-tier decor and first-class chefs. The relaxed atmosphere was perfect for a meal between friends. Luo Chen had long since noticed the burly man behind Yuezheng Ling staring daggers at him; he suspected that if he had suggested a romantic restaurant, the man would have thrown him onto the street.

"The FANS Restaurant?"

Yuezheng Ling thought for a moment. She had no impression of the place, but out of trust for Luo Chen, she agreed.

...

In the afternoon, after finishing his final exam, Luo Chen declined Li Hua’s repeated invitations and left the classroom alone.

He wouldn't have minded checking out Ruan Hongyi’s fan meetup if he had the time, but he simply lacked the energy for it now. He hoped Li Hua and the others wouldn't cause any major trouble, though he didn't put much stock in their assurances.

By evening, inside the FANS Restaurant, the place was unusually bustling. Upon entering, Luo Chen regretted his choice. Had he known there was an event, he would have preferred to shamelessly beg for a meal at the Zhonghua Pavilion.

"Luo Chen, what's wrong?" Yuezheng Ling, who had followed him in, asked, seeing him frozen in place.

"It's nothing, just surprised by how many people are here."

Luo Chen scanned the nearly full restaurant, recalling the fan meetup Li Hua had mentioned that morning. *Could it really be here?*

Seeing not a single empty table, Luo Chen looked around, feeling sheepish. It was his own fault for not checking beforehand.

"Ling, over here!"

Just as Luo Chen was feeling awkward, Zhao Qianqian spotted Yuezheng Ling and waved her over.

Dai Xinhua, following Zhao Qianqian’s gaze, saw Luo Chen and Yuezheng Ling standing at the entrance. She frowned slightly, wanting to say something, but as she watched the two walking side-by-side, her mood inexplicably plummeted, and she swallowed her words.

Luo Chen and Yuezheng Ling exchanged a look, both seeing the embarrassment in the other's eyes. Neither had expected to run into acquaintances at a time like this, but since they had been spotted, they couldn't just turn around and leave.

"Ling, Luo Chen, are you here for the Moe God’s fan meetup too?" Zhao Qianqian asked, casting a strange look at the pair before glancing at Dai Xinhua with confusion.

"Fan meetup?" Yuezheng Ling looked at Luo Chen, bewildered. *Weren't we just here for dinner?*

"It’s just a coincidence..." Luo Chen explained with a bitter smile. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way; he blamed himself for not letting Li Hua finish talking earlier.

Just as Zhao Qianqian was about to pry into their business, the surrounding patrons erupted in excitement. Some fans began cheering loudly.

"Moe God, you're the best!"
"Great Master Hongtian!"
"Love you, mwah!"
"Ruan Hongyi, I love you!"

...

At the entrance, a young man of about twenty-two or twenty-three pushed the door open and strolled in. He was of average height but possessed a fair and handsome face.

It was Ruan Hongyi.

Inside the restaurant, Ruan Hongyi smiled faintly, greeting fans as he walked. Some bold female fans swarmed him, and he didn't seem to mind, enjoying the attention as he reached the center of the room. He occasionally made unrefined gestures, drawing coquettish squeals from the women.

Luo Chen watched Ruan Hongyi, shaking his head. When Li Hua had described Ruan as having poor character, Luo Chen had assumed he was just greedy for money. Now, he seemed even worse than described. It was no wonder he resorted to live-streaming "cuteness"; Ruan clearly preferred exploiting his looks over relying on actual talent.

Yuezheng Ling and Dai Xinhua frowned, clearly repulsed by Ruan’s behavior. Zhao Qianqian, while also dissatisfied, seemed to blame the "obnoxious" female fans instead.

After chatting for a while, Ruan Hongyi dismissed the fans. They were nothing special to look at, and he had no interest in those who threw themselves at him.

The interactive Q&A session followed, and Ruan easily whipped the crowd into a frenzy. As a master of "kitsch" on the Stardust platform, manipulating emotions was second nature to him.

It was this combination of skill and appearance that had made him the youngest platinum master and popular streamer on the Stardust platform.

Too bad that seemed to be a thing of the past.