Huo Ren rarely finished a whole plate of desserts with a huff.
However, the next day arrived, and he still had to lead the team for concert training.
Boss Pei, who usually worked by their side, rarely switched back to loose practice clothes and led them in warm-up exercises.
Wei Jie followed the six little idols in stretching and leg stretching, thinking to himself that the god was indeed a god, managing to make even stretching exercises look as stylish as an international competition.
Huo Ren stood in the first row, hard-headed, not making any eye contact with a certain person.
After so many years of trials and tribulations, the close relationship was ruined over a plate of blueberry pancakes, now unilaterally cold-warring for five minutes.
Pei Ruye also saw this, smiling without teasing, leading them through the whole process of the old dance routine.
For the needs of filming the MV, many dances had been practiced early on, now it was just daily cultivation of muscle memory.
Besides the usual old songs, concerts always need to add new elements and creativity, this time’s opening was a tango for two.
SPF, having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, with the rise of fan culture, was constantly learning and listening to comprehensive opinions, and had early on explored the gems’ opinions.
—If Corona were to dance the tango, would you like to see them collaborate with top dancer ladies or interact with other guests?
The gems’ reactions were very consistent.
“What do we need a lady for!! Aren’t our rivals enough?!!”
“The six of them digesting internally is enough, don’t pull anyone else in, Corona is Corona!!”
“A blood-written petition for Long-Jue Yun-Ren Mei-Chi to dance the tango! The three pairs dancing the tango round up to a group wedding scene!”
“The one above, what nonsense! Isn’t Xie-Chi Long-Yao good to ship??”
“Those who ship Yun-Ren as the top are cults—”
SPF staff quietly withdrew from the suddenly erupted CP battle.
Then, they faithfully reported the survey results to Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu, in his fifties, usually browses Weibo hot searches and middle-aged and elderly health encyclopedias on his phone, believing in a series of old Chinese medicine doctors and old Taoist sayings.
So, he wasn’t very clear about what excited these girls.
“Alright, then let them form three pairs themselves.”
Boss Pei, always keeping his word, wore an oversized hoodie again and said he would personally teach and did so.
“Huo Ren, come here.”
The other six turned their heads in unison, Huo Ren tensed up, freezing in place, and said, “What for?”
“Tango.” The man opened his arms in front of everyone, indicating him to fall into the trap: “Let’s demonstrate.”
Mei Shengyao looked curiously and couldn’t hide his gossip, sneaking closer to watch their interaction, but was quickly pressed back in place by Xie Liányún.
The tango, originating from the central and western Americas, has a strong sense of staccato and is very exotic, demanding high rhythmic continuity skills from the dancers.
Both ears must sway and stop in sync with the music, steps must respond to the dance partner, and dancing requires mobilizing all emotions and strength.
When Huo Ren approached Pei Ruye, there was a hint of reluctance and amusement.
He inexplicably found this teasing childish.
—Teacher would never do such a thing before.
He wrapped his arms around Pei Ruye, their eyes meeting for a moment.
Without waiting for Huo Ren to ask another question, Wei Jie slapped the sound system button, and the bright and lively music of Argentina flowed out, the brisk and fervent grace notes as if urging flames, forcing the two to close the distance and dance intimately.
They almost instinctively tightened the embrace of each other’s arms, spinning and stepping to the aggressive and uplifting violin sound, looking at each other as all tango dancers do.
The rhythm, like a drunken wanderer from a foreign land, uncontrollably rises and falls chasing a sudden stop.
And the two graceful figures seemed to dance on the waves on flat ground, fitting together as if they had rehearsed countless times.
Every step and side turn seemed as free as they wished, and the two were like in a contest yet restraining each other.
The strength and resilience of men were cleverly showcased, and the tension between the same sex swelled to a point of recklessness.
The air began to grow hot and dry.
The combination of force and speed was perfected, with clean lines so fast there was no excess stagnation. In just a few seconds, countless trajectories and arcs intertwined and entwined, demonstrating the unique aspects of the tango like a textbook.
When the final clap sounded, Pei Ruye executed a stable lift and side turn, then lightly set down.
Huo Ren hadn’t yet adapted to this sudden stop, the person who had taken full advantage had already officially waved his hand: “Well danced, back to your team.”
Wei Jie, with a face full of fanboy admiration, clapped vigorously: “Good!”
The other five teammates: …!!
Huo Ren was still catching his breath, the feeling of being tightly embraced still vivid in that second.
They had danced as passionately as if on flames.
The little white wolf vaguely felt he had been tricked again, and looked up at someone’s expression.
The other party innocently shrugged his shoulders.
What’s the problem with teasing a bit more since dating is out of the question?
Huo Ren: …!!
Why am I always led by him!!
The teammates knew all too well, their faces reading ‘we understand everything, you don’t need to explain’, and then they began to split up into groups to practice the rhythm on their own.
Among the six members of Corona, only three had yet to have their first kiss. After breaking up, Long Jia and Bo Jue gradually reduced their contact, becoming friendly and polite ordinary friends in each other’s lives.
Therefore, when faced with a dance like the tango, which has a strong flirtatious meaning, the teammates would tacitly help them share the awkwardness.
Huo Ren silently went with Long Jia to dance a brotherly march, Mei Shengyao and Chi Ji played together like a bear and a little prince dancing, leaving Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue staring at each other.
“I won’t dance the female steps!”
Bo Jue looked at him disdainfully and extended his hands.
“Okay, first group, one two three four, two two three—”
“Ouch!” Xie Lianyun was painfully stepped on and hissed: “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”
Bo Jue calmly said: “You still don’t know how much we weigh?”
“Continue, three two three four, four—”
“Ouch—” Bo Jue’s face crinkled in pain: “Xie Lianyun, where are you stepping?!”
“Five two—”
“Xie Lianyun!!”
“Six two—”
“Long Hair Freak, let go of me!!”
Mei Shengyao, holding Chi Ji unsteadily, tilted his head to observe the chaotic scene in the center: “Senior brother, why do they seem to be fighting each other…”
“Normal,” Chi Ji calmly said: “It’s always like this when you first learn tango.”
Huo Ren, due to his height, always appeared very youthful in the arms of Pei Ruye and Long Jia.
Although he was somewhat displeased about this, his current attention was all on the frequent mishaps of his second and third brothers.
Long Jia pursed his lips while watching those two, occasionally missing steps without correcting, somewhat distracted.
Xie Lianyun, overwhelmed, turned his head to see Chi Ji coming over with a smile to rescue, leading him to dance again.
Normally a clever and insightful silver-haired fox, he became clumsy and passive in this situation, being led by Chi Ji and accidentally stepping on several times.
“Sorry, sorry…”
“Let’s try again~ You’re almost there.”
Bo Jue stood alone on the side, his lips pursed in silence.
Huo Ren softly comforted him: “Brother Jue, come over here.”
Bo Jue quickly approached, thinking he was going to teach him how to dance.
“Why don’t you dance with Brother Long,” Huo Ren stepped aside, lowering his voice: “This year, the Long-Jue CP is really hot… you two ranked first in the fan preference survey, they all want to see you together.”
Wouldn’t it be better if you two hugged each other a bit more… maybe you would change your minds?
Bo Jue instinctively looked up, finally noticing Long Jia silently watching him.
He opened his mouth to refuse but couldn’t find more reasons.
Long-Jue, the hot CP on the internet, seemed both related and unrelated to them.
They were clear about it at this moment.
Now, thousands of people are savoring all the bits and pieces of their past interactions, finding one proof after another of true love.
Then tirelessly writing various love scenarios in parallel universes.
Every plot belongs to them, yet none of them does.
Bo Jue had almost instinctively wanted to escape the #LongJue# tag this year, even hoping everyone would think they were unrelated.
Broken up, it’s over, unattainable, shouldn’t think about it anymore.
Both he and Long Jia didn’t want to leave this family but were also bound, unable to take another step closer to each other.
This is the basic rule of being an idol.
What the future holds, no one knows, no one dares to believe.
Seeing Bo Jue’s delayed response, Long Jia said, “Never mind, it doesn’t matter much.”
Huo Ren, feeling somewhat awkward, nodded and went over to embrace Bo Jue.
“It’s okay, Brother Jue, I’ll teach you…”
They embraced another person in the music, quietly dancing back to back.
Silent for a long time.
“Crown Warrant” was finally completed and broadcasted simultaneously in neighboring countries and Shi country.
This variety show sparked many discussions when it was announced, with fans both looking forward to and worrying about it, rushing to each member’s Weibo to remind them to stay safe.
@CoronaShiShi: With escapes and warrants… I hope it won’t be used against them by the haters.
@AllRenToTheTop: …Going to the wilderness?? What if they fall off a cliff? What if there’s a flood? My baby Renren is only three years old, why does he have to face these things tut
@SunnyDayWithPlumBlossoms: Hurry up!! I want to see them kiss amidst gunfire!! See them in the stormy weather doi!! In the desperate end of the world, I only have you, you are my only, this is the best plot for shipping CP!!!
The trailers and highlights were released one after another, stirring waves of attention. Black fans from rival factions also started to get restless.
Then on July 10th, the show premiered online, and it was explosive.
So explosive that three platforms experienced slow playback and technical glitches, the barrage of comments crashed servers, and almost everyone was asking their friends at work, school, or online the next day.
“Did you watch that variety show?!”
“Holy moly, yesterday’s variety show!!”
“Want to rewatch it together during lunch break?!”
“Let’s go, one more time!!!”
This show—was simply too explosive!
Author’s Note:
Jinjiang was glitching just now, couldn’t open it for the life of me… scared me to death = =
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Wishing everyone a smooth and fulfilling new year!
Love you all!!