⭐ If you're enjoying the story, please vote, comment, and add it to your library to support it! ⭐
Lin Xiaoyu didn't step into the entertainment world.
The entertainment world brushed against her.
And once it does that—
It never lets go completely.
It started with something small.
Too small to feel dangerous.
Yueyin wanted another video.
Not a new song.Not a performance.
"Just something simple," she said, pacing the living room. "People keep asking what I'm like in real life."
I frowned. "They don't need to know that."
"They do," she insisted. "It makes them feel closer."
That was true.
And that was exactly the problem.
"We'll keep it controlled," I said finally. "No live streams. No personal info."
She nodded quickly. Too quickly.
That should've warned me.
Xiaoyu was the one who ended up holding the camera.
"I've done photography for the club," she said lightly when I hesitated. "Nothing serious."
She stood behind the lens calmly, adjusting angles, giving Yueyin quiet cues.
"Turn slightly.""Don't force the smile.""Just breathe."
Yueyin relaxed instantly.
She always did with Xiaoyu.
I watched from the side.
This wasn't a fan helping an idol.
This was a friend helping a friend.
That authenticity showed.
Too clearly.
The video went up that night.
Nothing flashy.
Yueyin talking about music, laughing softly, sunlight brushing her hair.
Xiaoyu's framing was gentle. Intimate without being invasive.
I approved it.
I shouldn't have hesitated.
⭐ If you like how things are unfolding, please vote, comment, and add the story to your library! ⭐
The response was immediate.
Not explosive.
But different.
Comments shifted tone.
"She feels real.""Who's the girl behind the camera?""Her friend seems nice."
I stared at the screen.
"…Too nice," I muttered.
Yueyin was thrilled.
"They like it! They like me talking!"
"They like the atmosphere," I corrected. "And atmosphere includes people."
She shrugged. "Isn't that good?"
I didn't answer.
Xiaoyu noticed first.
She always did.
"The comments changed," she said when we met the next day. "They're more personal."
"Yes."
"And some are asking about me."
I nodded. "That's the line."
She looked uneasy. "I didn't do anything special."
"That's why it's dangerous."
She laughed weakly. "You're exaggerating."
I wished I were.
Two days later, it escalated.
Someone clipped a moment from the video—Xiaoyu's reflection briefly visible in the café window.
Just a second.
Enough.
A post appeared.
"Is the cameragirl her manager's girlfriend?"
I felt my stomach drop.
Yueyin stormed into my room.
"Why are people talking about Xiaoyu?!"
I turned the screen toward her.
She read it.
Her expression darkened.
"…They're dragging her into this."
"Yes," I said quietly. "And they won't stop on their own."
Xiaoyu didn't panic.
That worried me more.
"I'm sorry," she said when we spoke that night. "I didn't think—"
"This isn't your fault," I interrupted. "But it's my responsibility now."
She studied me. "Why?"
"Because I let you get close to the spotlight."
Silence.
Then she asked, softly:
"Do you regret it?"
I didn't answer immediately.
"No," I said finally. "But I'll fix it."
That night, the system spoke again.
[Risk Detected:]Secondary individual exposure increasing.
I stared at the notification.
Not angry.
Focused.
"Don't touch her," I said under my breath.
[Acknowledged.]
Good.
The next day, I made a decision.
We posted a clarification.
Short. Clean.
No drama.
"The person filming is a private individual and not part of the industry. Please respect her privacy."
No names.
No explanations.
Some fans apologized.
Some ignored it.
A few pushed harder.
That was fine.
I was ready.
Xiaoyu stood beside me as I hit upload.
"You didn't have to do that," she said.
"I did," I replied.
She looked at me differently then.
Not as Yueyin's brother.
Not as a manager.
But as someone who chose to protect her—without being asked.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
I nodded.
And in that moment, I understood something dangerous.
If she stayed near us…
She would change.
And so would I.
⭐ To support the story, please vote, comment, and add it to your library! ⭐