Chu Tian's rambling left the fan utterly confused. The adjacent security guards still firmly grasped his arm, yet he remained motionless. This left the two security guards unsure of what to do next. Escort him out? He hadn't actually done anything. Stop him? They were already holding him; they couldn't just shove him back, could they?

Although dazed, his confusion was brief; the fan quickly collected himself.

"I don't want to get sidetracked by these random topics. I just want to ask Xu Qingqiu, have you made up your mind?"

Xu Qingqiu hadn't expected the focus to snap back to her so abruptly.

Actually, she was very clear about her own feelings, unlike some other popular stars. In her view, only two things truly brought her happiness: singing, and being with the people she loved—Chu Tian, Yiyi, Sister Hua, and her family. Of course, fans were included too. Broadly speaking, fans who enjoyed her songs could be considered companions on her musical journey. But the prerequisite was that they genuinely shared her love for music, joining her in savoring the music and the journey itself, not fixating on a particular person or getting entangled in obsessive fan culture. As for fans like that, Xu Qingqiu believed if they drifted away, so be it. People with different paths don't need to travel together; there was no need to force it.

So, when the male fan posed his question, she had an immediate urge to clarify her stance. However, Chu Tian quickly intervened. Some things could be said, others couldn't. Even if one was entirely reasonable, certain statements could still invite criticism. Besides, he was there. He wasn't a celebrity, so he didn't fear public speculation. This was precisely the moment for him to step forward and protect Xu Qingqiu. Those words would be far more appropriate coming from him than from her.

"My friend," Chu Tian began, addressing the fan, "and to all the fans present, since we still have some time today, why don't we have an open, heart-to-heart chat?"

"Does anyone know what Qingqiu's dream is?"

After Chu Tian posed this question, the venue quieted for a moment before a few scattered voices piped up.

"Singing!"

"Pursuing music!"

"Becoming a celebrity!"

A cacophony of answers mingled, some from genuine fans, others from onlookers simply enjoying the drama. Chu Tian's expression, however, remained unchanged. He smiled, listened to the surrounding voices, and then continued,

"I've heard all your responses, and there's quite a variety."

"Some of you may not know me well. I've known Qingqiu for nearly ten years. Throughout this journey, I've seen firsthand, more clearly than anyone, how incredibly difficult it has been for her."

"Of course, I'm not here to solicit pity for her. Let's get back to the main point: Qingqiu has only one dream, and that is to sing!"

"She loves music, enjoys music, and wants to share it with more people, offering them joy and emotional connection."

"So, do you like her for her music, or do you like her as a person?"

This time, the crowd below the stage was far more enthusiastic. More people joined in, their voices much louder, though just as clamorous.

"Okay, okay, I think I understand. As her fans, some of you love her music, while others love her as an individual."

"But have you ever considered this: just because someone is a celebrity, does that mean they can't fall in love?"

Saying this, he turned to the male fan who had earlier tried to interrupt him and calmly asked,

"My friend, what are your thoughts on this?"

The fan was visibly impatient and blurted out without thinking,

"But she's a celebrity! If she's dating, she at least has to let us fans know, right?"

Chu Tian asked directly,

"Why is that?"

"What do you mean, 'why'? We're her fans!"

The fan's reasoning was already bordering on irrational.

"So, my friend, do you have a girlfriend?"

"I don't, and I won't have one!"

Seeing his adamant expression, Chu Tian realized he was dealing with a difficult case. This is clearly an obsessive fan, practically a stalker.

"Alright, so you're saying you don't have a girlfriend and don't want one, yet you're online every day calling Qingqiu 'wife'?"

"Let me ask you, do you think that's realistic? Or, to put it another way, does your fantasy align with reality?"

He spoke mildly, but his implication was crystal clear.

In both his past and present lives, he detested such obsessive fans more than anything—bar none. These individuals were not only irrational but also had no boundaries; they were capable of anything.

Ignoring the fan, Chu Tian raised his head and addressed the dense crowd below the stage,

"I know many of you like Qingqiu. But let's all think rationally for a moment: are some of your ideas realistic?"

"There's only one Xu Qingqiu. She can't clone herself, nor is she some fictional character who can satisfy everyone's desires."

"Celebrities are human beings too, just ordinary mortals like anyone else. When you follow celebrities, you should focus more on their work rather than fixating on the individual."

"Besides, haven't many celebrities had scandals or fallen from grace over the years? Whose fault is that, ultimately?"

"Is it because their private lives were so unsavory they couldn't withstand public scrutiny? Or did they meticulously hide everything just to drain their fans' wallets?"

"In my opinion, for an ordinary singer, the most important job is to create better work."

"Then, the singer performs on stage, and the fans enjoy the music from below—that's the ideal situation."

"When the song ends and the crowd disperses, fans can return home to savor the emotions stirred by the performance, or the warmth of sharing the experience with fellow enthusiasts."

"Meanwhile, the singer can return to their family, become one among the countless ordinary people, enjoy life, and find inspiration to create even better works."

"I don't agree with what our friend here just did, but I can understand his feelings to some extent."

"Perhaps society has mythologized celebrities too much. This makes everyone subconsciously feel that celebrities are lofty beings, while fans are like servants, groveling in desperate adoration."

"Alternatively, perhaps some view being a celebrity as an inferior profession, treating them like pets to be coddled. Then, if the celebrity doesn't meet their expectations, they erupt in anger, abandoning their support, becoming critics, or even actively hostile."

"Both of these perspectives are wrong."

"Celebrities are ordinary people, and fans are ordinary people. We simply have different roles in society."

"Instead of awkwardly chasing after such vague, ethereal fantasies, why not adopt a more grounded perspective and enjoy the simple beauties of everyday life? Watch a good movie, listen to a moving song."

"Artists should create with dedication. The public should engage thoughtfully—praising good work, critiquing shortcomings, or offering constructive suggestions. It should be a process of mutual exchange and learning."

"If you happen to meet them on the street one day, say hello, chat briefly about your lives, or even share some of life's burdens. Wouldn't that be a healthier kind of relationship?"

Holding the microphone, knowing no one could easily rebut him, Chu Tian spoke at length. These were thoughts he had accumulated over two lifetimes, words he had long wanted to say but never had the chance to express.

In fact, he desperately wanted to unleash a vehement, thorough tirade, because in his view, the so-called 'fan economy' was an absolute cancer!

But he couldn't. Reality didn't permit it, nor did the current situation, especially since this was Xu Qingqiu's concert. He didn't want to ruin it, so he had chosen his words very tactfully.

His words left the audience in silence.

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