Backing Him Up

He Zheng is a twenty-eight-year-old actor in the Chinese entertainment industry whose career has declined significantly. Once known for his striking appearance and ability to play female roles, he now struggles to find work after refusing to engage in the sexual favors often expected by industry brokers. Facing financial hardship, he begins livestreaming to make ends meet. His apartment, which he returns to after eight years, is filled with memories of his former life and a foster mother, He Linlin, who raised him. He also recalls Xiao Wei, a boy he found in a garbage bin years ago, who once lived with him but left without explanation, maintaining only annual written contact that He Zheng never reads.

During one of his early livestreams, a viewer with the username DirtyBallMommy appears and begins sending an excessive amount of virtual gifts, including a recurring animation of a hair dryer. This user, later identified as his Top Supporter, spends lavishly until he hits his platform limit, then requests He Zheng’s WeChat ID. Their initial interactions are cautious; the Top Supporter is shy and avoids voice calls, but eventually, they establish a routine. He Zheng learns the man is based in Mexico, where he watches He Zheng’s streams in the early morning hours. Despite warnings from his agent, Li Ru, about the dangers of online relationships and the potential damage to his career, He Zheng maintains a polite distance while accepting the financial support.

The core conflict arises when He Zheng auditions for a small role in a new film directed by an arrogant newcomer. The director dismisses him for a male lead role, offering only a background extra part. On set, He Zheng is subjected to physical abuse by the male lead, Huang Chen, who slaps him repeatedly during a scene, causing injury and humiliation. Huang Chen then posts a misleading narrative on social media, framing He Zheng as the aggressor and inciting his fans to harass He Zheng during his livestreams. The online mob attacks He Zheng’s appearance and character, creating a crisis that threatens his livelihood.

A key turning point occurs when the Top Supporter intervenes. He uses his influence to contact the director, demanding surveillance footage and an apology from Huang Chen. He Zheng discovers that the Top Supporter is connected to Huazhou Group, a major corporation, though the exact nature of this connection remains unclear. The Top Supporter’s intervention forces Huang Chen to retreat, but the public narrative remains contested. He Zheng is invited to appear on a talk show alongside Huang Chen to discuss the incident, marking a shift from passive endurance to public confrontation.

As the story progresses, He Zheng travels to Beijing for the interview. He reconnects with his foster mother, He Linlin, and encounters the Top Supporter’s friend, a mixed-race man who reveals glimpses of the Top Supporter’s private life. The Top Supporter sends He Zheng a white dress as a birthday gift, deepening their emotional bond. He Zheng begins to question the Top Supporter’s true identity and intentions, suspecting he may be a wealthy individual seeking a casual relationship. However, the Top Supporter’s consistent support and emotional vulnerability suggest a deeper attachment. The narrative ends with He Zheng preparing for the televised confrontation, uncertain of the outcome but no longer alone in his struggle against industry exploitation and public defamation.