Idol Chapter 105

-1-

When Wei Jie was brought over to this side, he was also taken aback. “Are you guys shooting a movie?”

Now that Boss Pei had become a special guest lecturer, Wei Jie had become SPF’s dance director. Over the past few years, they had trained numerous trainees, and their salaries had improved significantly.

Most of the stage designs were still being adjusted, and since the set for the uncompleted “Idol’s Code” was not far from here, they had decided to move to the outskirts for the concert rehearsal.

This time of year, in late spring and early summer, was when they focused on developing their physical fitness and adjusting their condition.

Outdoors, the heat was gradually rising, while indoors, there were only the rhythmic beats of the lights and the mechanical sound of several treadmills.

Before leaving, Boss Pei had already prepared the stage plan for them.

Long Jia had previously written “Morning Star” as a duet, converting many emotions into body language, with movements that were filled with unspoken thoughts.

In the chorus, six members needed to form three pairs, each kneeling down on one knee and kissing their partner’s hand.

 

“—You are pure white, clear, like the mist after rain—”

 

After the first attempt, Director Bai called for a cut.

Wei Jie looked at him with fan-like eyes. “Director Bai, do you see any issues?”

“You’re all doing fine,” Director Bai tilted his head. “What about Xiao Chi?”

During the moment when he kissed the hand, only Chi Ji turned his head away and didn’t dare to make eye contact with his partner.

Xie Lianyun, still kneeling, pondered, “Is Chi Chi shy? Should we change partners?”

Chi Ji blushed and said, “I’m sorry.”

Then, it was Ren Ren’s turn to come over and dance with him for the second attempt.

 

“You are pure white, clear, like the mist after rain—”

 

At the moment when he lowered his head to kiss the hand, Director Bai called for a cut again.

This time, Yao Yao came over to dance with him.

Before Director Bai could stop them, everyone was already trying to stifle their laughter.

After being kissed three or four times this time, Chi Ji’s cheeks were crimson, and he looked embarrassed.

Xie Lianyun crossed his arms and said casually, “You must have been a shy violet in your past life…”

Beside him, Bo Jue rubbed his temple and came over to help wipe the dust off Huo Ren’s clothes.

“I’ll take his place.”

“Don’t start dancing just yet,” Director Bai reassured, “Chi Chi, relax a bit. How about taking a break and having some water first?”

Chi Ji whispered, “I’m not used to it…”

When he was sixteen or seventeen, he didn’t have this kind of awkward shyness. However, after spending a long time in China, he had gained a bit of knowledge about various matters, which made him somewhat unsure of how to act.

Fortunately, after a few more rehearsals, they got used to it.

So there were two groups, one led by Long Ren and the other by Mei Yun. After all, Long Jia and Xie Lianyun had been straight male buddies for too long, so it would have seemed a bit strange for either of them to kiss the other’s hand.

“Brother, I’ll kiss you! I want to be the ‘dominant’!”

“Mei Shengyao, can you please stay away from those weird online forums?!”

After several rounds of practice, the two groups managed to get it right.

They had three stage performances to prepare for, and each member had to perform a solo act for three to five minutes, allowing their teammates to rest and switch out.

As the concert rehearsals continued to progress, the recording of the variety shows was also ongoing.

“Crown Hunting Battle” was nearing its end, while “The Idol’s Code” was still in the middle of production.

Activities such as basketball, gymnastics, and wall climbing had already been completed one by one, and more and more viewers were joining in to watch the fun and enjoy the laughter. Everyone had gotten used to spending their weekends in the live broadcast room.

Who would have expected that this week’s broadcast would take place outdoors, in the Pale Court of the urban center of the capital city.

The Pale Court was a large historic architectural complex with a long history and complex structure. It was still the number one popular attraction in the capital city, thanks to the various legends associated with it. The derivative stage plays and movies based on these legends were also very popular.

With its peacock feather-shaped magnificent side courtyards, the galloping white horse on the thousand-light shadow wall, the suspended walkways, and the flying eaves, every part of the Pale Court showcased the ancient city’s elegance.

When it was time to clear the stage at six o’clock in the evening, the production team had them change into staff uniforms and began distributing work tools.

The Green Team had already been eliminated, leaving only the Red Team, the Blue Team, and the Corona.

“Each of the three teams is responsible for one of the three major areas. Check the instructions for details. The areas have equal areas, but the number of palaces and gardens varies. The success will be determined after the referees have inspected them.”

No one had expected that this labor would require such thorough effort.

To be honest, it was understandable when idols required intelligence and physical strength, but which idol would go around with a broom to empty trash bins?

With over ten thousand visitors leaving the area in a wave, almost every trash bin was packed to the brim.

The friendly supervisor grandma handed out equipment such as rags and buckets and explained the cleaning requirements.

From fruit peels and packaging in the grass, to the areas around public trash bins, to corners and benches where fallen leaves and flowers had to be swept away…

By the second hour, some of the amateur participants had started sitting in corners for twenty minutes at a time, attempting to procrastinate and avoid work.

Before the show was recorded, the production team had already done a round of cleaning.

From cleaning windows to sweeping leaves and emptying trash bins, it took at least two and a half hours to complete the work in one of the major areas.

However, the summer nights were long, and the air was fresh and the scenery beautiful, so it could also be seen as a way to experience life in a different way.

The Corona had a much faster pace of work.

The older brothers worked efficiently, and Chi Ji could still remember picking up mint leaves and wisteria flowers to use as bookmarks in a small notebook, planning to sign them later as a small gift for a lucky draw.

They chatted and sang while they worked, occasionally making funny faces at the camera. Their voices were cheerful, and their expressions were warm, making the viewers both delighted and moved.

 

[It’s such a boring physical activity… but it feels so happy and joyful to see the six brothers doing everything together. I’m really happy for them.]

[The team next door is already arguing, go check it out!! They’re fighting and throwing shade at each other, and it’s all muted hahaha—]

[The Red Team and the Blue Team basically work for twenty minutes and then take a long break, and they even eat snacks… My brother’s self-control and self-discipline are really strong oao.]

 

One of the obvious differences between idols and regular people was their stronger emotional management skills and their ability to maintain their state even when fatigued.

Regular people would often come home exhausted after work, lying down in various positions without caring about their posture or expressions.

But idols worked all year round without the concept of weekends. After TV recordings, there were photo shoots in studios, magazine cover shoots, and countless other tasks lined up in a queue. There was no such thing as Saturdays or Sundays for them.

Moreover, there was always someone with a camera ready to capture any inappropriate behavior or expression at any time.

The Corona members had long been accustomed to this lifestyle and even performed better than the company’s requirements.

Even after completing physically demanding work such as a concert, they would still thank the staff sincerely, speaking clearly and with genuine smiles on their faces.

They had to shine like stars and never stop burning.

Their mission was to bring happiness to everyone and illuminate a corner of the world with their works and their presence.

Maintaining a cheerful state of mind was part of their professionalism.

They made rapid progress, efficiently completing their tasks while taking turns interacting with the audience behind the camera. Compared to the other two live streams, their performance was clearly superior.

As they were sweeping the courtyard, Long Jia suddenly exclaimed and called the others over.

“Look here—”

“What’s going on?” Huo Ren quickly walked over. “Huh?”

It was a small white dog curled up in a corner.

The Pale Court had many gardens and ponds, and stray cats and dogs often hid there. Occasionally, even red foxes from the royal gardens would come here for a vacation.

The small white dog appeared to be less than two months old, with weak breathing and sparse fur. It seemed to have been left behind by its mother.

Chi Ji quickly took off his jacket to wrap the dog in it and looked around. “Do you think we can find its parents?”

“I don’t think so,” one of the staff members said hesitantly. “Recently, they’ve been clearing out stray animals in the park. Many cats and dogs have been driven away.”

Xie Lianyun quickly checked the dog’s breathing and body temperature and signaled an assistant to take it to a pet hospital for treatment.

Chi Ji waited nearby for a while but didn’t see any more stray dogs. He turned to Xie Lianyun and asked, “Can we keep Snowball?”

“Don’t give it a name so quickly…” Xie Lianyun sighed and rubbed his temples. “Uncle Jiang has reminded us several times that pets are not allowed on the seventeenth floor.”

One reason was the risk of being scratched or bitten, and the other was the risk of skin-transmitted diseases, such as ringworm, which could affect even pets with pedigrees.

Chi Ji tried to act cute, saying, “Xie—”

Xie Lianyun interrupted him, “We can’t keep it. We’ll find a good home for it later and maybe give it some canned food on special occasions.”

Huo Ren was cleaning the sauce stains on the trash cans with a bucket of clean water, and Long Jia was helping him put on a mask.

“It’s all bacteria, be careful,” Long Jia reminded him.

Huo Ren nodded and continued to clean. Suddenly, he realized that Long Jia had also changed his ways. He had been roommates with him when they first started living together, and back then, Long Jia would eat cotton candy after playing the guitar, regardless of these things.

It seemed that he didn’t know when Long Jia had changed his habits. He now chewed potato chips quietly, sat more upright, and even had disinfectant wipes in his bag…

Long Jia immediately understood the look in his eyes and coughed to change the subject. “Huo Huo, you’ve worked hard today.”

“It’s not hard,” Huo Ren continued to look at his big brother, his tone subtly different. “I learned well from my brothers.”

Love was truly magical.

 

-2-

After the broadcast of “The Idol’s Code,” the reputation of Corona continued to rise, and the entire industry was constantly adjusting and correcting itself.

Corona had been in the industry for four and a half years, and their trophy-winning works were solid and powerful, making them role models and examples for many juniors in the industry.

They were humble and hardworking, maintaining their sincerity and respect for their profession, and in a subtle way, they were changing people’s perceptions of idols.

Before the live broadcast program aired, most of the negative rumors and insults, whether hidden or explicit, had already been quietly resolved.

As “The Idol’s Code” progressed, more and more people began to speak up in support of them.

 

@Commentator-Asong: I was really surprised when the program initially said that artists would be commentating on basketball games. But the longer I’ve been in contact with Corona, the more I’ve come to appreciate their quality and abilities. It’s an honor to work with them—invite me for a friendly match next time!

@RuleFollower-BoxBox: When they first entered the final round, I was part of the trend of criticizing them, and I have to admit, I was really ignorant and foolish. Meeting them in person made me realize how biased I used to be, and I’ve been reflecting on and learning from my mistakes. Progress comes from self-reflection and self-improvement. I hope everyone can calmly and open-mindedly understand and accept this world. My New Year’s wish this year is to get tickets to Corona’s concert haha [fist bump][fist bump]

@ListeningToRain: People should have the inherent freedom to choose their makeup and clothing styles. The concept of “masculinity” itself is a false proposition. Before watching this program, I wasn’t really interested in idols or the entertainment industry. Unexpectedly, after watching this live broadcast program, I have many feelings. I really hope the program can continue for several more episodes. 😭😭😭

 

When Huo Ren returned to the practice room to play the piano again, he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

The incident with Xiao Chi should be considered resolved.

During their recent live broadcasts, the wardrobe team intentionally showcased his perfect compatibility with different styles. Whether it was a salt-based, cold-based, or oxygen-based style, Chi Ji had great modeling versatility. These appearances had attracted the attention of several advertisers.

Some malicious rumors had been intercepted and blocked, and the truth had been fully revealed. Regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, they were not allowed to cause any more waves.

Huo Ren casually played a chord, but the black hood of his hoodie was quietly pulled up from behind, and the cat ears on the sides of the hat were gently pinched.

“Back early?” Huo Ren asked without turning around.

“Didn’t want to disturb you,” the man replied insincerely as he continued to pinch the cat ears on Huo Ren’s head. “How’s the whip dance practice going?”

“Pretty smooth, but there are a few spots where my footing isn’t stable enough,” Huo Ren replied, realizing that something was amiss as he played. He turned his head to look at the man and asked, “Where’s Uncle Jiang?”

“He went to a meeting,” Pei Ruye also held a bowl of oatmeal and stirred the okra inside with a spoon. “Lately, SPF’s information database has been under attack frequently, and there have been quite a few incidents of black PR campaigns. The company is looking for reinforcements.”

“But,” he scooped up a spoonful of hot porridge and naturally brought it to Huo Ren’s lips, “you just focus on your singing.”

Huo Ren looked up at him and slowly accepted the spoonful of porridge. He held onto the spoon and didn’t let go, his eyes somewhat unruly.

“I don’t like okra.”

Pei Ruye tried to pull the spoon back, but Huo Ren refused to let go. He even had a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

Pei Ruye maintained his posture, feeling like he was playing with fire.

Using their teacher-student relationship to maintain a safe distance was completely ineffective now.

“Eat a little, it’s good for your skin.”

Huo Ren released the spoon, leaned forward, and touched Pei Ruye’s hand with his cheek, his voice low and steady.

“My skin is already smooth, isn’t it?”

When they were too close, all their concerns, reservations, and barriers were subconsciously cast aside.

Getting close to someone of the same kind was like an instinct that had been suppressed for too long.

To feel the other person’s breath and heartbeat, to touch each other with fangs and long tails, and it would be even better if there was a scent of roses…

Pei Ruye quietly used the back of his hand to feel Huo Ren’s cheek.

It was as soft and smooth as white rose petals.

“Behave,” he whispered softly. “Just wait a little longer.”

Huo Ren snapped out of it, realizing he had been too audacious.

But he said… “Just wait a little longer.”

They briefly locked eyes again for a second.

It was as if they were exchanging all their emotions and known information in that moment.

“Some gifts are meant to be unwrapped at the right time,” the man fed him another spoonful of oatmeal, his voice steady. “I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line.”

For whatever reason, he shouldn’t have said those words.

But if he didn’t give this possessive promise, he feared losing control.

Your finish line can only be me.

Don’t fall in love with anyone else.

Huo Ren’s breath caught, and he instinctively swallowed the okra hidden in the oatmeal.

In that moment, he was tempted to kiss him.

“See you downstairs later,” Pei Ruye stood up straight, his faint smile giving no hint that anything had happened. “Keep practicing your piano.”

“Okay,” Huo Ren responded softly, his voice filled with lingering desire. “See you later.”

“Finish your okra.”

“Fine…”

I’ll listen to you.

As long as you’re waiting for me at the finish line.

After Pei Ruye left and closed the door behind him, Huo Ren closed the piano lid before taking a sip of his oatmeal.

After just a couple of sips, he stopped, his face flushed as he held the bowl against his cheek.

Some things needed time to settle after all the chaos.

Huo Ren finally came to his senses, and it felt like his blood was rushing in reverse.

He couldn’t believe he had just rubbed his cheek against the back of Pei Ruye’s hand.

And the teacher had actually said those words.

But there’s still… there’s still a dance class later, and they’ll meet their teammates.

The few minutes of interaction overloaded his brain with information, and hormones were burning as they tangled with all reason.

If only they had kissed just now.

If they could have kissed…

Huo Ren took a deep breath, abandoned his porridge, and buried his face on the table, not saying a word for a long time.

What on earth had they been doing just now?

Huo Ren spent fifteen minutes preparing himself mentally before heading downstairs for class, checking his expression in the mirror four times during that time.

He could vaguely understand that dangerous sense of delight.

The closer he got to the dance studio, the faster his heart raced.

Even without mentioning romantic relationships, their interactions had been so limited in terms of personal space.

But it felt like they were having an affair whenever they met again.

The door suddenly swung open, and it was Bo Jue wearing a brocade robe.

“Ren… Ren Ren!” Bo Jue nervously asked, “Do you think I look good in this outfit?”

Huo Ren blinked, instantly switching back to his role as the team captain, and took a step back. “Is this for the concert? How come we don’t have one?”

“Mr. Pei is planning to arrange a solo performance for him,” Xie Lianyun drawled, “Old Bo, with his hair all disheveled, probably looks like a coconut dancing on a pole.”

“You dog, Xie, you can be quiet—”

Huo Ren carefully examined Bo Jue from head to toe and gave his sincere approval, “Qin Jie has excellent taste.”

The long robe exuded an ethereal and elegant aura, and the pearlescent silver silk fan perfectly complemented his graceful appearance. The final touch was the white jade hairpiece, which was delicately placed on his forehead, enhancing the charm of the long-haired beauty.

Black hair, white jade, golden silk robe, silver silk fan.

The robe was embroidered with flowing clouds and chasing phoenixes on the front, and the sleeves were adorned with a delicate pink chiffon that fluttered gently in the wind. Even without makeup, it was already brilliantly magnificent.

Meanwhile, Bo Jue was trying to twirl in front of the mirror. Long Jia walked in while holding a piece of toast and asked, “Did I arrive too late?”

Bo Jue blinked and said, “Do I look good?”

Long Jia instantly froze in place, took a deep breath upon realizing the situation, then retreated to his original position and closed the door.

“Very handsome,” Chi Ji said absentmindedly, “Why isn’t Long-ge complimenting Jue-ge today?”

Xie Lianyun, with an expressionless face, replied, “Wait another half a minute.”

From the room opposite came faint howling sounds, “Ahhh—”

Bo Jue spat, “Idiot.”

Long Jia entered the room again, his face flushed. He cautiously reached out to touch the hem of Bo Jue’s robe and gently adjusted his collar, as if afraid to ruin it.

“You two have been in a relationship for almost a year. Why are you still so polite?” Xie Lianyun wondered. “It’s not necessary to be so formal.”

“Long-ge treasures Jue-ge,” Mei Shengyao said, cupping his face. “He treasures him deeply.”

Long Jia didn’t refute and continued to carefully adjust Bo Jue’s sleeves. Then, he stepped back, his smile tinged with youthfulness.

“Xiao Jue, you look exceptionally handsome today.”

He couldn’t help but stare for a while.

“Back when we used to dance street dance, I had to tie up my hair. I’ve missed it for a long time…”

Bo Jue said leisurely, “Now you can kiss me.”

Xie Lianyun quickly covered Chi Ji’s eyes.

“Thank you for—”

They had just shared a kiss when Pei Ruye also walked in, holding a folder. “It’s time for class.”

Bo Jue’s face turned red, and he quickly returned to his spot.

Huo Ren always felt nervous when he saw the teacher and discreetly moved to a corner.

“Today, we’ll mainly go through each person’s solo performance,” Pei Ruye said, glancing at everyone and tapping the schedule with his finger. “This week, we need to perfect all the routines, and next Monday, we’ll familiarize ourselves with the stage once it’s set up.”

“Bo Jue, how did your dance practice go yesterday?”

“It’s all good.”

“Alright, your solo is a slow dance, emphasizing grace and light footwork. Technique is less important than performance.”

After Pei Ruye had systematically confirmed the individual performances of the others, he gestured for Huo Ren to return to the center and start dancing.

“Go through both your solo and the group dance. Sing along with the microphone on. Everything else should be treated as if it were a live performance.”

Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue observed Pei Ruye’s expression as he watched the team captain.

Huo Ren felt like he was being publicly executed.

After three songs were performed, Pei Ruye gestured for Bo Jue and Mei Shengyao to practice separately in their respective corners.

He then crouched in front of Huo Ren, his tone gentle.

“Captain, your performance in this song isn’t captivating enough.”

Huo Ren, panting and sweating as he rested his hand on the floor, was momentarily dazed and surprised. He thought he had misheard.

“Didn’t Teacher Zhong already teach you?” The man’s hand brushed past his jawline, and he continued his lesson with a genteel demeanor.

“When expressing **, you need to deliberately emphasize your breathing, and your gaze should be filled with a mist.”

He lowered his gaze and smiled, as if everything at this moment was only about teaching the student.

“Why are you so distracted during dance practice, Captain? Who are you thinking about?”

---

Author’s Note:

Good morning! Enjoy the combined two updates!