~ "When the light fades, who stays awake with you in the dark?" ~
A few months ago, due to a critical misstep during filming, Chu Zhi collapsed on set and was rushed to the hospital in front of the entire crew. In the end, he only managed to recover with the help of his legendary-tier "Medical Leave" title.
The doctors advised him to avoid antidepressants if possible, warning that the long-term side effects were no joke.
This incident was never made public. Only a few devoted "mama fans" like Wang Yuan were aware. So, most of Chu Zhi's fanbase—nicknamed the "Little Fruits"—had only one impression: severe depression requiring medication.
When the latest episode of Journey Among the Stars aired, explosive hashtags like #ProductionTeamAbusedChuZhi and #RealityShowEthicsBottomLine stormed into trending topics within thirty minutes.
This wasn't the kind of publicity the team expected. The marketing department had planned a carefully curated rollout, but now they were scrambling. Calls were made to Chu Zhi's agency, urging them not to issue a statement just yet. Let the fire burn a little longer.
Meanwhile, the program showed Chu Zhi helping Cai Jia and Zhang Ning carry their luggage, a moment that made it into the final cut. Viewers were touched.
"He's so gentle."
"What a gentleman."
"I was just thinking how exhausted I'd be climbing three flights with no elevator, but Chu Zhi thought about how tired the others must be."
A reality show would struggle if it relied on a single cast member for momentum, but thankfully, Journey Among the Stars had both Chu Zhi and Jeongbae. Their self-introductions and group interactions were smooth, and even the occasional conflict—like room assignments—felt harmless.
The first real conflict came over whether to use the emergency assistance token. Cai Jia insisted on rotating night watch duties.
The audience was split.
"After a whole day on a plane? Of course they should rest."
"But this show's about pushing celebrities to their limits, right? It'd be too soft without a few challenges."
It was a clash of perspectives, with neither side convincing the other. Most of the debate came from casual viewers, not the Fruitlets, who were firmly in their idol's corner.
It was often said that Journey Among the Stars was Chu Zhi's first true reality show. His earlier project, Dream of the Red Chamber, hadn't been edited much at all. Too raw, too real, more like documentary than variety.
Post-production quickly helped shape the group's dynamics:
Chang Ning was the laid-back senior.
Luo Jian-hui was the silent doer.
Min Jeongbae brought energy and laughs.
Cai Jia, assertive and meticulous, took planning seriously.
And Chu Zhi? The kind-hearted leader everyone could trust.
That night, the narrative flipped.
Chu Zhi said he was going out for a smoke and left the dorm. But viewers remembered—the producers had confiscated cigarettes and alcohol. His suitcase only had books and spare clothes.
The footage showed Chu Zhi in the common room, reading silently. Of course, they couldn't show him reading for hours, so the editors used fast-forward effects, an on-screen clock, and some clever text overlays.
One hour. Two hours. Three. Four...
It became clear—Chu Zhi had chosen to stand watch alone, saving the token for emergencies.
"I did not see that coming."
"I thought Min Jeongbae would make a better leader, but now? I'm impressed."
"Dude's solid. Carried the whole team."
"Reading for hours? That's hardcore."
"Okay maybe I'm broken, I see someone reading and I get dizzy."
Fans were worried about his health. Even if it wasn't a big deal at first, the more people talked about it, the more serious it seemed.
Who hasn't pulled an all-nighter? Especially among post-90s and Gen Z kids raised on grind culture.
The next day, the task segment began. Chu Zhi shared the white milk candies and chocolate he'd earned in a side quest.
No doubt about it—Journey Among the Stars was also Chu Zhi's Journey to Win Hearts.
In the next challenge, Chu Zhi casually broke out fluent Japanese, effortlessly bypassing the language puzzle. Task completed. Thanks to his leadership and Tsai Chia's strategy, the team advanced smoothly with barely a hiccup.
Some viewers were confused. If Meituan Preferred reportedly spent over a hundred million to sponsor the show, why wasn't their name everywhere? Even minor sponsor Tianmei had a whole martial arts-themed bit.
Turns out, the team was literally called "Mei Daxia Preferred"—Meituan Preferred Heroes. The show added a cheesy, over-the-top subtitle:
[In a world of wanderers, five heroes banded together. Kind and righteous, brave and bold, and—let's be honest—way too good-looking. Thus, the Jianghu named them Mei Daxia Preferred.]
Viewers cringed hard. Some probably dug a hole with their toes. But since the joke didn't drag on, it stayed within tolerable limits. After all, everyone knows, money is money. No shame in making it.
That night, the night-vision camera captured something unsettling. Chu Zhi sat up suddenly in bed, clearly jolted from a nightmare.
Then he was seen biking. At dawn. More than twenty kilometers of insane pedaling until he reached central Sapporo, marking the end of episode one.
InvincibleScarBlade:"Okay, I wasn't a fan before, thought the hype was overblown, but this episode changed my mind."
NextUpStar:"He's responsible and kind, but... this kid is kinda wild. Why bike when you've got a support token?"
Lele200510: "Is Chu Zhi a squirrel? Hoarding his help tokens and title buffs like treasure. Kinda adorable though.
"GoodKid9631:"If you're about to pee, hold it. About to fart? Wait. Mid-bite? Put down your chopsticks. I have an important announcement—I've officially become a fan!"
Many casual viewers—who tuned in for Tsai Chia or Min Jeongbae—unexpectedly found themselves falling for Chu Zhi.
~ "Even if I stand in shadow, I'll run toward your light." ~
Little Fruits, however, had their eyes on something else. Chu Zhi didn't bring any medication. No cigarettes. No alcohol. He woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night. It was all too much.
The trending discussions kept heating up.
The next day, a long, emotional post went viral, accusing the production team of mistreating him.
"Our Jiuge shined in the show. He was the respected team leader, chosen by all. The episode was a hit, over 50 million views in just two hours, topping the charts. His chemistry with Min Jeongbae was delightful.
But! That success doesn't excuse how the show treated him.
Jiuge would never say he was mistreated—he's too considerate. But the crew took away everything except basic necessities, including his wallet and snacks.
People know why Jiuge needs certain things to sleep. Without them, he gets insomnia. Nightmares.
In the behind-the-scenes clips, he never sleeps before 2 a.m., often not until 3. Up again by 7. Even my cram-school days weren't this bad.
I'm not asking for special treatment. But if others can bring makeup and skincare, why can't Jiuge bring what he needs for his health?!"
The post came from Ni Xia, a mama fan in her 40s. Divorced, a survivor of domestic violence. Her relatives back home still muttered things like, "If you hadn't divorced, at least there'd be a man in the house," as if blaming her for everything.
She became a fan of Chu Zhi after watching him on Little Mango Tea Talk. She resonated deeply with that silent pain. The kind that's hard to put into words.
Her favorite song was Against the Light. Saying Chu Zhi was her "light" might sound dramatic, but he truly was one of the reasons she kept going.
So when she watched that episode—she cried, then typed out that post in a flurry of passion.