Idol Chapter 113 Part 1

Walking out of the office, the time was precisely February 15, 2016, 00:01.

Huo Ren cast one final glance at Pei Ruye, feeling a sense of relief and relaxation.

“I should continue moving forward.”

The man nodded with a light smile.

Hearing those murmured words, Pei Ruye’s heart melted completely, leaving no room for any unease or anxiety.

Let alone waiting another year, waiting ten more years to get married would be fine.

When Huo Ren softly confessed, he had already started to ponder whether the wedding should follow Chinese or Western traditions.

They both had more important matters to attend to; the temporary end of their romantic relationship didn’t matter much.

Before Huo Ren turned to leave, his gaze returned to the pure calmness of his teenage years.

“Teacher, do you have any advice?”

“Before playing the game, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the rules repeatedly.” Pei Ruye nodded slightly: “You are an outstanding leader.”

Huo Ren’s expression changed slightly, as if a certain understanding had been unlocked.

He fell into a deep sleep thinking about this advice, and still pondered it upon waking the next day.

Uncle Jiang had said in his debut year that the OSC’s annual selection looks at three criteria.

First, the precision of the content of the annual album, and whether the originality exceeds eighty percent.

Second, the song’s innovation, leadership, and natural dissemination power.

Third, the official promotion of the song and the stage performance at concerts.

For the first and third criteria, Huo Ren believed that they had already reached the pinnacle, actually leaving not much room for improvement.

But the second…

Natural… dissemination power?

Producing a song already costs a lot, and naturally, the company would spare no effort in widespread promotion, advertisements, charts, variety shows, etc., all are common methods of promotion.

Now that the rules of the charts are gradually becoming chaotic, with excessive manipulation damaging the industry’s ecology, but OSC seems to have its own set of evaluation systems, possessing an incredible insight.

After letting go of his concerns, Huo Ren’s mind became much clearer, following Pei Ruye’s guidance to trace back, trying hard to find the essence of the problem amidst complicated thoughts.

In fact, most music charts serve the fans, and passersby do not pay much attention, nor will they lose sleep over voting.

Natural dissemination power… Could it be more focused on the audience beyond the star’s fans?

How to subtly promote so that this segment of the audience also listens to their songs?

As Huo Ren stirred his oatmeal porridge and pondered for a long time, the doorbell rang through the entry system.

“Mr. Huo,” the receptionist asked through the built-in speaker on the wall side: “An unannounced visitor wishes to see you, Jiang Jue from Minghuang Entertainment.”

Huo Ren snapped back to reality and quickly invited the visitor upstairs.

Jiang Jue had become an overnight sensation with “Star Path” at the end of last year, becoming a hot contender for this year’s Best Newcomer Award.

While the low-budget film unexpectedly broke out of its circle, his own popularity soared, yet he delayed opening a Weibo account, choosing to maintain a distance from fans like a traditional actor.

Huo Ren noticed he had become much thinner than before when opening the door, thinking the life on set must also be tough, and bent down to find a pair of slippers for him to come in.

“Captain Huo,” Jiang Jue thanked him with a smile, though shallow: “If you’re free, I’d like to talk.”

This time, Jiang Jue came for Chi Ji.

Huo Ren was aware of their mentor-mentee relationship and didn’t hide much about Chi Ji’s condition.

“Chi Chi has been physically detoxing from the internet,” Huo Ren spoke very vaguely: “He’s not very clear about some details online.”

“But the doctor warned, it’s crucial to avoid repeated trauma.”

Chi Ji has been attacked and insulted too many times due to his delicate and gentle traits, causing his inner scars to be repeatedly torn open. Now, being able to enjoy a simple and peaceful life is already quite precious.

He is sensitive and delicate, able to see the playful looks of people when dancing in high heels, and even when attending public events, he can sense the malice and mockery from some people.

Even wearing headphones and hearing nothing, he inevitably knows what he is facing.

Jiang Jue took a sip of the Pu’er tea he poured and said, “I came here after asking Uncle Jiang.”

“I just finished shooting ‘Dragon Blood Seal’ and have nearly half a month of rest,” he looked at Huo Ren, his voice calm and gentle, his pupils as deep as ink jade: “If possible, I’d like to take my senior brother to the United States for a while, to travel and take a vacation, away from the entertainment circle.”

Huo Ren hesitated for a moment, prioritizing safety concerns.

He first called Jiang Shu, then called for Chi Ji.

During the wait, Jiang Jue remained relaxed.

He, too, comes from a musical theater background, his identity hidden for the first seventeen years of his life, experiencing the world as an ordinary person.

After debuting last year, the attacks and insults against him intensified.

“Never hyped Jiang Bai Lian x crazily trashing drama king Jue” — This seems to have become a common treatment for popular stars.

Fortunately, he has a genius-like magical roommate who can guide him in the right direction.

Therefore, seeing Chi Ji nearly swallowed by the dark tide of the internet, Jiang Jue hastily ended unnecessary promotions and came back early to find him.

Chi Ji wasn’t fully awake yet, hearing his junior brother came to find him, he hurried over in slippers.

“Jue Jue—did you finish filming?”

“Want to go to the US for a few days?” Jiang Jue smiled: “I asked Uncle Jiang, he said it’s okay.”

Chi Ji usually keeps in touch with him through text messages, suddenly thinking of something, his ears turned a bit red: “But, but your…?”

“He,” Jiang Jue didn’t hide in front of Huo Ren: “Qi Lin is preparing for the ‘Fairy Painting’ audition, busy every day—don’t worry, you won’t be a third wheel.”

Huo Ren’s mind seemed to break: “You and Qi Lin?”

Jiang Jue blinked: “College roommates, currently dating.”

Huo Ren: …!!

“He went to your concert last year and even recorded a video for me,” Jiang Jue smiled: “You sing very well.”

Chi Ji hasn’t gone out to play for a long time, his ears perked up, hesitantly said: “Will we, will we go to Broadway?”

“Listen to ‘Hamilton’ again, and ‘Matilda’,” Jiang Jue smiled: “Play for a few days then fly to Los Angeles, how about a trip to Disney?”

Chi Ji looked at Huo Ren in a second, his face screaming ‘I really want to go, Huo Ren, please agree’.

“Be sure to pay attention to safety.” Huo Ren pondered: “Accompanying doctor and driver…”

“My dad has a professional security team,” Jiang Jue calmly said: “Don’t worry, senior brother and I have gone out to play several times when we were kids.”

Chi Ji started bouncing on the spot: “Out! To! Play!!!”

After Huo Ren confirmed several times, he invited other teammates and Jiang Jue for lunch at noon, feeling much more relaxed.

He originally intended to take Chi Chi out for a breather, but was too busy to accompany him more.

That night, Chi Ji and Jiang Jue left SPF together, dragging their suitcases to board Jiang Jue’s father Bai Ping’s private plane back to the US.

Mei Shengyao hugged a little white dog, waving their paws: “Have fun, Brother Chi—I’ll take good care of Snowball until you come back—”

Xie Lianyun breathed a sigh of relief: “This came just at the right time, Jiang Jue is reliable, don’t worry.”

Mei Shengyao curiously asked: “Are you and Brother Jiang close?”

Huo Ren diverted the topic: “Let’s go, it’s windy outside, time to head back.”

Long Jia pressed the elevator button and suddenly remembered something, casually said: “Huo Huo, help me apply some ointment later.”

The usually silent Bo Jue’s gaze suddenly swept over.

Huo Ren instantly recalled, trying to divert the topic under the scrutinizing gaze of his third brother: “I have a meeting tomorrow, remember at noon…”

“The doctor said, it needs to be applied twice a day, morning and evening,” Long Jia said casually: “It’s inconvenient for me to do it myself.”

“You’re injured?” Xie Lianyun instinctively protected Huo Ren: “Where are you injured that he needs to apply it? Your butt?”

Huo Ren struggled to say: “Long-ge got a tattoo yesterday.”

Xie Lianyun, Mei Shengyao: ???

“It’s a tattoo, a tattoo,” Huo Ren was already prepared for Bo Jue to pinch his face, trying hard to gloss over it: “I’ll apply it later, try to eat lighter these few days.”

When they returned to the 17th floor, Long Jia sat directly in the middle of the sofa, openly.

Bo Jue had been avoiding him all day and wouldn’t have come out to eat if it weren’t for sending off Chi Ji. He now sat next to the small sofa on the left.

He, like Huo Ren, felt a moment of relief when breaking off a wrong relationship.

Then, immediately entangled by heavy emotions, feeling both distressed and conflicted, originally wanting to avoid Long Jia, the further, the better.

The other two, with the mentality of timely mediation and watching the excitement, sat on the right, holding a cup of digestive barley tea in their hands.

Long Jia methodically unbuttoned his shirt, fully revealing the black swan on his chest.

Xie Lianyun let out a long “tsk,” while Mei Shengyao started to whistle directly.

Huo Ren thought his two foolish teammates were not helping but fueling the fire, bracing himself to twist open the cap, ready to dab the ointment with a cotton swab.

“Ren Ren, you go rest,” Bo Jue said with a smirk: “I’ll apply it for Young Master Long.”

Huo Ren tried to smooth things over: “It’s okay, I can do it, it’s not difficult…”

Long Jia had already unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his tight chest muscles and collarbones, smiling at the suggestion.

“Alright, then let Mr. Bo do it.”

Xie Lianyun decisively pulled Huo Ren out of the storm, also stuffing a bag of five-spice broad beans into his arms.

Huo Ren: ???

Bo Jue took the anti-inflammatory ointment, the cotton swab hovered in front of the black swan on his chest for a long time without landing.

Long Jia looked down at him, breathing lightly.

“Can’t you think before you act?” Bo Jue coldly said: “You’re an artist, you’ll have to shoot ads, movies, TV shows in the future, wearing a tattoo as if you’re afraid the whole world doesn’t know?”

“There’s concealer,” Long Jia stretched his arms on the sofa’s edge, tilting his head to look at him: “Not covering it is also fine, is there a problem?”

Bo Jue was on the verge of exploding, suppressing his anger: “Do you think this looks good? Proud of such an ugly swan?”

“It looks good.” Long Jia’s eyes smiled, no longer carefully guarding Bo Jue’s feelings: “I drew it myself, it’s very beautiful.”

Bo Jue threw the cotton swab, grabbed his tie in one hand, and dragged him towards the bedroom, pushing Long Jia in with a few steps, tying the tie on the doorknob and slamming the door shut.

“Long Jia, are you sick? I say something, and you retort, think it’s fun??”

“Angry now?”

The argument continued.

After a few minutes, sounds of clothing and belt buckles falling to the ground came from the room.

“Shh… sit down gently, Teacher Xiao Bo, what are you doing…”

“Didn’t ask me a word when getting the tattoo, now you know to ask me???”

Then, the sound of books being knocked off the bedside table scattered.

“You—mmh—”

The arguing voices gradually became indiscernible, with faint suppressed gasps heard.

Huo Ren was still holding the medicine, stupefied when he saw the tie tied to the doorknob.

“Yun-ge,” he stiffly turned his head to look at Xie Lianyun: “Doesn’t the tie mean—”

“Finally getting the hang of it, buddy,” Xie Lianyun said with a face full of relief: “Previous relationships were like child’s play, too straight-laced.”

Mei Shengyao nodded along: “Learned something new.”

Huo Ren, with a string of question marks over his head, was still a bit nervous: “I thought they were going to fight?”

Xie Lianyun pushed up his glasses, deciding to swallow his witty remarks.

It’s just a fairy fight.

Huo Ren, with a blank expression, pressed on: “But didn’t they… break up??”

“Breaking up doesn’t stop them from developing feelings,” Xie Lianyun, perpetually single but with top-notch analytical skills, said: “Now that they’ve both let go of their burdens, their relationship is likely to improve, which is very beneficial for our team’s cohesion.”

“???”