9:07 a.m. the next day
Location:Lin Wan's apartment.
The living-room light's on, but the curtains are still shut, keeping the room dim.
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Cold Open: Trending Hangover
Lin (sitting on the couch, eyes glued to her phone)
…The trending topic dropped from first to fifth, but the comments section's still blowing up.
Gu (sitting opposite her, holding a cup of coffee)
The faster it drops, the better. Means people are moving on.
Lin: Moving on to what?
Gu: "Next-door cat's live stream made the trending list. Human attention is weird."
Lin (laughs)
"Maybe I should get a cat."
Gu: "If you get a cat, it'll be more famous than you."
Agent Call
Agent (on the phone)
"Lin, the trending's dying down, but the media's still waiting for your response
Lin: "Respond with what?"
Agent: "The "truth" you mentioned in last night's live stream. They want details.
Lin: "Details like I was hungry and ate chicken wings?"
Agent: "They're not buying it."
Lin: "Then say I'm tired and going to sleep."
Agent: "Okay, I'll send a press release."
Lin: "Send it, and include a photo of me sleeping."
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Weibo Comments Section
Lin (scrolling through comments, eyes wide)
…These comments are giving me a headache.
Gu (leaning over to look)
"Most are "seeking the truth," and some are asking if you were really bullied."
Lin: "Maybe I should write a long memoir."
Gu: "A memoir's fine, but keep it short, or no one will read it."
Lin: "Then I'll write a short one, just two lines.
Gu: "Two lines are fine, as long as it's real."
Fan Messages
Lin (going through private messages, all filled with fans' concerns)
"Fans are way too enthusiastic. I don't even know how to reply."
Gu (taking the phone and starting to reply)
"Thanks for your concern. I'm fine, just hungry."
Lin: That simple?
Gu: Simplicity is key. Fans want sincerity, not a novel.
Lin: Then I'll let you reply to all my private messages.
Gu (laughs)
"Then I'll be your personal secretary."
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Media Interview Request
Reporter (on the phone)
"Lin, we'd like to interview you about last night's live stream."
Lin: "Interview what?"
Reporter: "Your real story. Fans are really concerned.
Lin: "My story's long. I don't know where to start."
Reporter: "Start from the beginning."
Lin: "The beginning… I was hungry.
Reporter (laughs)
"We'll wait for you to finish eating, then."
Lin: "Sounds good. I'm starving."
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Breakfast Time
Lin (sitting at the dining table, a bowl of steaming noodles in front of her)
…This bowl of noodles smells amazing.
Gu (sitting opposite, holding a cup of soy milk)
Everything smells good when you're hungry.
Lin: Do you think I was really bullied?
Gu: You got replaced as a kid. Doesn't that count as bullying?
Lin: That's just the industry.
Gu: What about the online attacks now?
Lin: "That counts, but I don't care."
Gu: "As long as you don't care."
Lin (laughs)
"What I care about is this bowl of noodles. They're delicious."
Live Stream Replay
Lin (opening the live stream replay, watching herself eating chicken wings)
"Was I really that hungry last night?"
Gu (leaning over to watch)
"You looked very hungry, and very real."
Lin: "Being real is good. I hate fakeness."
Gu: "You're never fake."
Lin (laughs)
"That's because I can't act."
Gu: "You can, you just choose not to."
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8. Fan Offline Support
Fan (shouting outside the door)
Lin Wan𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐨, we love you!
Lin (walking to the window, seeing a crowd of fans gathered below)
"…They really came."
Gu (standing beside her)
"Fans are powerful."
Lin: "Why do they like me so much?"
Gu: "Because you're real, because you're brave."
Lin: "I was just hungry."
Gu (laughs)
"Being hungry is also very real."
Reporter (interviewing face-to-face, camera in her face)
"Lin, could you share your real story with us?"
Lin (smiling at the camera)
"The real story's long, but simply put, I was hungry, I ate chicken wings, and then I slept.
Reporter (laughs)
"That's it?"
Lin: "That's it. Truth is often simple.
Reporter: How do you deal with the online attacks?"
Lin:"Haters are just a type of fan, they just show their love in a special way."
Reporter (laughs)
"You're really wise."
Lin: "I'm just hungry."
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Lin (turning off the camera after the interview)
"…Finally over."
Gu (sitting beside her)
@Over's good. You can rest now."
Lin: "I'm not tired, just hungry."
Gu (laughs)
"I'll go get you something to eat."
Lin: "Don't leave, I'm not done."
Gu: "What is it?"
Lin (looking at him, eyes serious)
"Thank you, for always being here."
Gu (eyes softening)
"I've always been here, and I always will be.
Lin (smiling)
"Then I'm not scared."
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11. Monologue
Lin (voice-over)
The trending's over, but my heart's still beating.
She looks at her phone screen, Gu's name still at the top.
Phone lights up:
Gu:" What do you feel like eating today?"
Lin: Text back, "I feel like eating the chicken wings you make."
Gu:" I'll make them right away."
Lin:" Don't forget the sauce."
Gu: "Got it."
She puts down the phone, a smile playing on her lips.
The fan squeaks once, like saying: Don't be afraid, I'm here.
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