Celebrity Neighbor: My girlfriend is a big star?
Chapter 102. Li Chenglu, whose defenses have been broken (thanks to the great Alliance Hierarch, Yang Yi’er! 2/10)

Chapter 102: 102. Li Chenglu, whose defenses have been broken (thanks to the great Alliance Hierarch, Yang Yi’er! 2/10)

"Stop messing around, with your current identity, going with me to such a crowded award ceremony, what if you get discovered?"

Just as Kang Seulgi had predicted, as soon as Liu Xin’an learned of Bae Juhyun’s true identity, his first reaction was to negate the idea of having Bae Juhyun accompany him to the Top 100.

Before he knew Bae Juhyun’s identity, he just thought that Bae Juhyun was a beautiful ordinary person, nothing more.

But now it’s different, he didn’t think this event would keep Bae Juhyun’s identity well concealed.

If it really got leaked, it would definitely impact this person’s work.

Moreover, Bae Juhyun’s current situation is already awkward.

Exposing the relationship, offending the company, no matter how he thought about it, he wouldn’t agree to Bae Juhyun’s request.

That is, her request to accompany him to Magic City.

"If we don’t get found out, it’ll be fine, right? Isn’t this a very important award for you? I want to be there to celebrate with you at the venue!"

"How could we possibly not get found out? You’re so beautiful, if any of your fans are there, they’d recognize you in a heartbeat."

The beautiful Bae Juhyun frowned, evidently reluctant.

"Can’t I just wear a mask and a hat?"

"...At the event, when no one else is wearing them and you are, don’t you think that would be even more strange?"

"But I want to go!"

"No!"

Liu Xin’an wouldn’t refuse Bae Juhyun in other matters, but when it came to something as major as her work, he couldn’t neglect it.

Being outright rejected made Bae Juhyun unhappy. She withdrew her legs from Liu Xin’an’s and sat cross-legged on the sofa, pouting. Then, she forcefully threw the pillow in her arms at him.

"I’m not scared, what are you afraid of!"

"Hey, hey, hey, I’m worried about you. It’s just a Top 100 award ceremony. There might be another next year, but if your fans find out you’re dating me now, what about your work?"

"Just don’t let them find out."

"...Alright, alright, when your teammates come over later, we can ask them for advice, okay?"

Bae Juhyun frowned but also knew she couldn’t persuade Liu Xin’an just by herself, so she nodded and agreed.

Compared to convincing Liu Xin’an, persuading her sisters was much simpler for Bae Juhyun.

———

The taste of sweet and sour pork ribs was far superior to any other sweet and sour dish.

The sweet and tangy flavor made Bae Juhyun, who had a childlike palate, constantly express her contentment.

She declared it to be her favorite Chinese dish.

Liu Xin’an curiously watched Bae Juhyun until she gave him a puzzled look, then he laughed and said, "Is this what they call ’variety show-style reactions’ on the internet?"

Bae Juhyun paused with her chopsticks mid-air, glaring unhappily at Liu Xin’an.

"I’ve noticed you’ve become very curious about the entertainment industry ever since you found out about my identity."

"Of course, after all, my girlfriend is the universally acknowledged ’God of Beauty’. The more I know, the prouder I feel."

"Don’t flatter me, that’s just a marketing gimmick, there are many artists more beautiful than me."

"Really? Name two, I’ll look them up."

"Ah!"

Bae Juhyun slammed the table. This guy was doing it on purpose!

She could be modest about herself, but Liu Xin’an should not agree.

And he certainly shouldn’t think about searching for other artists in front of her, that was an insult!

"Cough cough, I’m just asking... Oh right! Since you’re a celebrity, you must know a lot of celebrity friends, right?"

Bae Juhyun nodded; there was no issue with admitting that.

However, after nodding, she still felt the need to clarify, "But most of the artists I know are women."

She wasn’t particularly outgoing. Apart from the friends in her own company, there were very few others in the industry she had good relations with.

It was just those girl groups that debuted around the same time as her. Because they often met at various music performances, they had better relationships.

"That... do you remember my childhood friend?"

Bae Juhyun was taken aback, "The one who called last time?"

"Yes, that one who said she wanted to go to the Top 100 awards with me. Do you remember her?"

Bae Juhyun nodded. How could she not remember? Childhood friend, girl, a girl next door!

Suppressing the bitterness that kept rising in her heart, Bae Juhyun acted nonchalant, "I remember, what about her?"

"She wanted me to help her get some autographs or something from her favorite groups when I came here last time. If you know them, could you help me get an autographed photo?"

Bae Juhyun shrugged, indicating she had no objections, but she secretly resolved to say she didn’t know any group, no matter which one it was.

Help her boyfriend’s girl next door get something?

She definitely didn’t want to help!

"Sure, what does she like?"

Liu Xin’an frowned, trying hard to recall Li Chenglu’s words, but he couldn’t remember no matter how hard he thought.

"Um... I’ll ask her."

"Then I’ll be quiet for a moment."

Bae Juhyun put down her chopsticks, rested her chin in her hands, and curiously watched Liu Xin’an playing with his phone incessantly.

Soon, the call connected, and Li Chenglu’s sweet voice filled the quiet living room.

It was the moment her voice sounded that Bae Juhyun realized she had made a mistake.

She had forgotten she couldn’t understand Chinese!

But she’d already spoken up, so she couldn’t back out now, thus she maintained her smile, inwardly cursing Liu Xin’an for his lack of perception.

Liu Xin’an’s conversation with the other party continued. Even though she couldn’t understand well, Bae Juhyun couldn’t hide her irritation at the sight of Liu Xin’an’s amused expression.

Rather than keep trying to focus on the incomprehensible conversation, she picked up her chopsticks to continue indulging in the sweet and sour pork ribs that she had put on her list of favorites.

But the next second, a familiar "Red Velvet" stopped her in her tracks.

Right after, she looked up at Liu Xin’an to see him also staring back at her with an incredulous look.

Bae Juhyun could guess what was up. She pointed to herself and mouthed a question to the man in front of her.

’Us?’

Liu Xin’an understood and nodded with a smile.

The animosity that Bae Juhyun harbored in her heart towards this childhood friend of her boyfriend, whom she had not yet met, vanished in an instant.

She’s actually one of their fans?

Oh my... Liu Xin’an’s childhood friend is a fan of theirs.

And she didn’t reveal her identity under these circumstances?!

It’s just like her!

Now that she knew the person on the other end of the phone was most likely a fan, Bae Juhyun became a bit restless. She stood up and approached Liu Xin’an, her small hand grasping the man’s arm.

"I want to meet her, let’s meet her, please."

She pressed her lips to Liu Xin’an’s ear and whispered.

The seductive whisper made his ears itch; he had no choice but to press the mute button first.

"Do you really want to meet?"

"Yeah, I’m curious. I haven’t met any of your friends yet, but you’ve met Seulgi and the others, we need to be somewhat fair."

"That’s true, but... she won’t understand."

"Don’t we have you!"

Liu Xin’an paused, giving it some thought, it seemed he indeed had a point.

He stopped overthinking and pressed the mute button again to turn off the mute function.

"Hello, hello? Liu Xin’an?"

Li Chenglu thought it was a bad signal and was calling out repeatedly on her end.

Liu Xin’an cleared his throat: "Are you available right now?"

"Me? Um... why are you asking?"

"Can you just tell me if you’re up for a video call? I want to introduce someone to you."

"You’re going to introduce me to... your girlfriend?"

Li Chenglu first snorted dismissively out of instinct, but then she seemed to realize something and asked in surprise.

After receiving a nod from Liu Xin’an, she started to get excited.

"I’m free, I’m free, let sister see what your little girlfriend looks like."

"Are you sure?"

"Stop talking nonsense and just open it up."

Without waiting for Liu Xin’an to start the call, Li Chenglu turned on her video.

The next second, Li Chenglu’s bare-faced little face appeared on the screen.

Although she didn’t have the astonishing beauty of Bae Juhyun, in the traditional sense, she could be considered a pretty beauty too.

"Wow! She’s pretty," Bae Juhyun praised subconsciously.

The words Li Chenglu didn’t understand only made Li Chenglu more excited.

"Was that your girlfriend talking just now? She has a nice voice."

"... You didn’t recognize it?"

"Recognize what?"

"Never mind, it’s nothing. You sure you’re available, you’re alone at home?"

"What’s with all the questions, eh? What, your girlfriend’s too ugly to show her face?"

"... I’m going to ask you later to beg me not to translate that sentence."

Liu Xin’an joked and then, without waiting for Li Chenglu’s response, clicked the camera button.

The next second, his face appeared before Li Chenglu.

Seeing the familiar Liu Xin’an, Li Chenglu first curled her lips disdainfully; she wasn’t scared at all. This kid was actually using this little thing to threaten her?

Just about to mock her old pal, the next face that appeared on the screen caught her off guard and made her eyes widen in shock.

On the phone screen, Li Chenglu’s changing expressions were witnessed by both Liu Xin’an and Bae Juhyun.

Liu Xin’an openly laughed heartlessly, while Bae Juhyun was amused by Li Chenglu’s rapid change in expression.

This person reminded her of that girl Seungwan.

Um... Her face-changing skills indeed resembled hers.

"Crap!!"

The classic curse echoed from the phone and filled the entire living room.

Liu Xin’an’s mouth twitched, about to tease, but Bae Juhyun, curious, repeated softly after Li Chenglu:

"Crap?"

Liu Xin’an was now terrified; he quickly reached out to cover his girlfriend’s mouth, not forgetting to explain, "Hey, Juhyun, don’t learn that kind of word, it’s a swear word!"

But as his voice rang out, so did Li Chenglu’s high-pitched scream.

"Crap! Liu Xin’an you jerk, get your hands off my wife!!!"

Now Liu Xin’an was amused. He took the opportunity to wrap his arm around Bae Juhyun’s slender waist, ignoring his girlfriend’s confused expression and provocatively raised an eyebrow at the woman who was about to explode with anger on the screen.

Bae Juhyun felt a bit embarrassed; she gave Liu Xin’an a reproachful glance, but didn’t resist. Perhaps... she wanted to assert her claim in this way?

A fan is a fan, a childhood friend is a childhood friend.

She would not drop her guard until she was certain this childhood friend had no romantic intentions towards her boyfriend.

What Bae Juhyun didn’t know was that at the moment on the other side of the screen, Li Chenglu didn’t just have no thoughts about Liu Xin’an, she was about to explode with anger because of his frivolous actions towards Bae Juhyun.

The straightforward northern woman stood up angrily and hung up the phone.

With a "thud," the video call ended.

Liu Xin’an and Bae Juhyun looked at each other awkwardly.

"Your childhood friend is mad?" Bae Juhyun asked nervously, after all, this was Liu Xin’an’s friend.

"Uh..." Liu Xin’an grinned sheepishly. In a way, Li Chenglu was definitely angry, but it was for an odd reason, "She’s definitely angry, but it seems she’s mad because the person with you is me."

"Huh?"

Bae Juhyun didn’t quite understand, but soon she frowned.

What did that mean?

Did Liu Xin’an’s childhood friend think that Liu Xin’an wasn’t good enough for her?