In the end, Huo Ren was ranked second.
The first place went to Qiu Yu, as his literary style was too distinctive, easily recognizable by both the public jurors and his peers.
Before leaving, Huo Ren exchanged phone numbers with two new friends and added a watercolor family portrait drawn by Han Yang to his suitcase.
He had dinner with the leaders of Hong Lu Platform accompanied by Jiang Shu, and then returned to the presidential suite to stay alone, planning to leave by plane early the next morning.
The presidential suite was spacious and lonely, big enough for seven or eight people to throw a party, yet also suitable for him to lie alone in the quiet darkness, listening only to his own breathing.
Huo Ren intended to calculate the time difference, but several glasses of red wine slowed down his thought process.
He lay with his eyes open, looking at the light spots on the ceiling’s side arches, and then made a call to Pei Ruye.
The call was quickly answered.
[Haven’t you gone to sleep yet?]
Huo Ren responded sluggishly.
Then, in a half-awake state, he talked about various recent domestic events.
Previously, he and Pei Ruye had talked mostly about official business, attracting each other purely through their personal charisma.
Now that their work had paused for a moment, they could finally chat about trivial matters like ordinary friends.
Keyboard typing sounds could be heard from Pei Ruye’s side.
Huo Ren knew he was still working overtime but also knew he could multitask, so neither small talk nor work would be affected at this moment.
“After the show was broadcast, I went to ask Uncle Jiang a few times,” he paused for a few seconds, speaking with a bit of pride, “It turned out just as I expected.”
[The sales of both new and old albums soared again. This indirect promotion worked very well,] Pei Ruye said with a light laugh. [Those old leaders at the TV station didn’t expect Hong Lu to explode this year.]
“Yeah.”
Huo Ren momentarily forgot what he planned to say next and lay on the large bed in a daze.
Pei Ruye did not urge him, continuing to type and wait for him.
After five or six minutes, Huo Ren finally snapped back from his reverie and continued to chat groggily.
Huo Ren slowly analyzed the odds of winning the OSC Crown Award this time, talked about his plans for the next few years, which song in the concert never achieved the desired effect, and how it was distressing to change.
Pei Ruye couldn’t help but laugh.
Hearing the faint laughter, Huo Ren paused for two seconds and asked, “Think I’m cute?”
[I think you’re wonderful.]
Huo Ren shrugged noncommittally and continued talking about his analysis of the next variety show and how he had dumplings with shepherd’s purse last night, which seemed to open a new world for him.
“Not delicious, but interesting.”
Pei Ruye was his perfect listener.
When advice or guidance was needed, there was no delay, and the approach was always insightful.
When comfort and a hug were needed, it was as if he always knew what Huo Ren wanted to hear, allowing him to fully relax even through the phone.
Their relationship now was quite special.
They were teacher and student, directors of the same company, old friends who witnessed each other’s transformations.
Tonight was just a peaceful coexistence, unrelated to love.
They had agreed to start dating at the finish line, thus tacitly enjoying the relationship of traditional roles, undisturbed by excess greed.
At least on this point, they were perfectly compatible.
“Sometimes I feel like my life is walking on a bridge made of scales.”
[Scales?]
“Yes, one scale after another.”
On one side is rationality, on the other is emotion.
One side is exposure, the other is privacy.
One side is fame and fortune, the other is power and position.
If one walks to the end of one side, both the scale and the bridge will be overturned and destroyed, plunging into the abyss.
He has been walking on scale after scale for five years in the darkness where he cannot see his hand before him, holding hands with his brothers.
There are howling north winds in his ears, countless eyes hidden in the deep forest, and the steady heartbeat of every family member.
He deeply understands what carelessness implies.
“Teacher…” At the end of his talk, Huo Ren was already drowsy, mumbling as if in a dream.
“Teacher, I’m walking safely, right?”
Pei Ruye stopped typing, adjusted his Bluetooth headset, his voice low and tender.
[You are the best guide.]
[And the brightest light in the night.]
You illuminated many people’s paths ahead, and you are the dream of many.
Huo Ren vaguely heard the affirmation and finally hugged the pillow to sleep peacefully.
He curled up in the blanket, breathing lightly, occasionally letting out a whimper like a young wolf.
Pei Ruye didn’t hang up the call, continuing to work while listening to his breathing, feeling warmth in his heart.
As soon as April arrived, Xiao Chi ended his vacation and rushed back to the seventeenth floor with a big box of gifts.
According to the schedule, he was the first to return, followed by Yao Yao and Jia Jia, and finally the captain after the program recording was completed.
Jiang Shu drove to pick up the kids with the white fox and black swan that stayed behind to guard the house, recognizing Chi Ji’s two suitcases from a distance.
And the excited screams of the fans.
“Chi Chi has grown taller, wuwuwu, baby why have you become thinner!!!”
“I—love—you—ah!!”
Xie Lianyun clicked his tongue and nodded as a greeting. Bo Jue quickly stepped forward to help carry the sun hat and small suitcase.
“Thank you! You saw me but didn’t greet me!”
“Alright, alright, did you have fun?”
“Super—fun!”
On his way back, Dr. Zhai accompanying him confirmed his condition.
—It had shifted from moderate to mild; as long as he is well taken care of and doesn’t come into repeated contact with trauma, PTSD, and anxiety depression will greatly improve.
“Where’s Xue Tuan?”
“It’s getting groomed, coming back after a haircut.”
With Chi Ji gone, the task of taking care of the snowball naturally fell to Xie Lianyun.
The guy really doesn’t move enough, always daring to skip gym class; he should be walked by the dog more often.
After confirming the situation at home and the health of the dog, Chi Ji rushed back to find his two brothers and earnestly said, “This new variety show is very physically demanding. Ren Ren has instructed me, after coming back, I will take you to exercise every day.”
Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue: ???
Bo Jue instinctively took three steps back: “Isn’t the concert still far off? As for physical fitness, we didn’t specifically train for the Chase Battle recording before.”
“This time it’s different, we need to train in advance,” Chi Ji said with a beaming smile. “Starting today, we need to run at least five to eight kilometers a day, I’ll accompany you.”
Xie Lianyun covered his head with both hands: “Are we—possibly—going to join the army??”
“Not really!”
Soon, Long Jia and Mei Shengyao also finished shooting, returning home triumphantly with a bunch of local specialties.
Chi Ji gathered around Mei Shengyao to whisper and look at the phone album for a long time, even spending a lot of time on the stray cats and dogs in the crew.
Seeing Chi Ji in good spirits, Long Jia knew the summer concert was basically secure, relieving both younger brothers.
Before long, Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue also came over to look at Mei Shengyao’s phone.
“This trumpet flower is so countryside… are you a pig? Use a filter next time, I’ll teach you if you don’t know how.”
“Yao Yao, there’s no need to take so many pictures of one flower—hiss, those two dragonflies, are they—nevermind, forget I said anything.”
On April 17th, Huo Ren finally dragged his suitcase back to Shidu.
This time, the fans who came to pick him up filled the place, mostly new fans attracted by the program’s explosion in popularity, with most of the group’s fans staying on the sidelines trying to catch a glimpse of Uncle Jiang and the others.
Seeing his teammates almost overwhelmed by fans at the exit, Huo Ren handed his suitcase to an assistant and quickly ran over to them.
Then he gave them a big hug.
Everyone had been apart for too long, now hugging each other tightly, messing up hair and rubbing faces, not caring about what the cameras were capturing.
Outside, the fans’ screams rose wave after wave, fainting from shipping love and team affection.
The five teammates messed up Huo Ren’s hair until it was all puffy, and his face turned red. They surrounded him and walked back together.
When they returned to the seventeenth floor, the house was filled with sunlight, and the air carried the scent of grass seeds from the end of spring, everything peaceful and joyful.
“So—” Huo Ren sat next to his suitcase, tilting his head to look at the big family of people: “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, any news?”
Everyone looked at each other, and Mei Shengyao was the first to speak: “Xie Lianyun almost went to play eSports!”
Xie Lianyun held his forehead with one hand and said, “They just asked if I wanted to go to a training camp—I’m in my twenties, what eSports would I play.”
His hand speed is so fast that playing a C minor Revolutionary Etude only takes four minutes, and his keyboard skills are unmatched, leaving him with many options after graduating from being an idol.
Huo Ren: “…!”
“Jue-ge participated in the Hai Guang Cup national competition,” Chi Ji smiled and said, “He originally wanted to register anonymously with a mask, but everyone recognized him by his long hair.”
Bo Jue said softly, “It was just for fun.”
Huo Ren knew he had been practicing the piano steadily over the years and instinctively said, “Jue-ge has always been strong.”
Mei Shengyao pointed to a glass trophy filled with goldfish plants: “He made it to the hot search on the day of the finals.”
Long Jia looked down with a faint smile, nodding slightly.
Bo Jue was still looking at Huo Ren, saying instinctively, “You’ve also lost weight, let’s all go out to eat tonight.”
“Sure, what are we eating?”
“Guangdong cuisine? Roasted suckling pig, gold sand buns, Wenchang chicken, and herbal tea?”
Hearing his favorite food, Long Jia’s eyes lit up, and he smiled, nodding again.
Bo Jue, feeling shy, avoided his gaze and continued to chat idly with Chi Ji and the others.
He felt he had been capricious and foolish right after breaking up, and after Long Jia went out to film, they both had time to cool down but didn’t communicate much.
Huo Ren knew everyone’s preferences and tastes in the group, and after thinking, he said, “We can also stop by Long Si Road to buy crepes on the way, Yao Yao hasn’t had them for a long time, right?”
“Ren-ge is the best to me!! Love you!!!”
“By the way, about the variety show in May, Chi Chi has been mysteriously silent about it,” Xie Lianyun finally remembered the main topic, squeezing next to Huo Ren to inquire: “What are we filming this time? Sending us to Russia to hunt bears?”
“Um, it’s called ‘Crown Warrant’.”
Huo Ren sat up straighter, saying seriously, “The six of us need to simulate bank robbers, escaping together for seven days—and it’s at the national S-level wanted status.”
Xie Lianyun was instantly stunned: “What???”
Long Jia immediately raised his hand: “Can we carry guns??”
Mei Shengyao curiously asked, “So, do we have to hide in the mountains?”
Chi Ji nodded obediently: “All bank cards will be frozen, and all phones will be tapped.”
Bo Jue already lay down hugging a pillow: “This is too thrilling…”
Author’s note:
The variety show idea comes from the British/American show “Hunted,” but the competition and plot will be original, mainly serving the story and characters.
ohhhh such an interesting show