February 27th, in Los Angeles, USA, at 4:30 in the morning.
Huo Ren had already fallen asleep after taking painkillers, lying hazily on his thighs, still relying on the sense of security transmitted through bodily contact.
Pei Ruye was also sitting at the head of the bed, still browsing stock price trend charts, when a message popped up.
ใLong Jiaใ: POW36 handled, AW21 still coordinating with them.
ใLong Jiaใ: Just took over area F, not very familiar, need time to confirm.
ใPei Ruyeใ: Just started a few months ago, not bad.
They maintained business contacts, using codes very proficiently.
The return of the Third Young Master of the Long Family to the Xuan Yu Group shocked the entire country and was widely anticipated.
After Chi Ji’s death, this year has been anything but peaceful. With no leader in the entertainment circle, everyone wanted to seize the opportunity to dominate, but they only managed to scramble for some benefits in haste, unable to fill the sudden void.
The fans among the jewels could hardly accept this outcome and situation. Even seeing Corona finally reach the top, they still feel heartbroken to this day.
Many directly deactivated their accounts, refusing to face the reality of Corona’s disbandment and unwilling to follow anyone else.
Anyone who has ever pursued with genuine feelings could not bear such pain again.
Being a fan is about family harmony and flourishing beauty; missing any part is like killing their passion and expectations.
Many major fan sites did not deactivate, just temporarily ceased operations.
They always felt that the crown would reunite and Xiao Chi would appear again.
It will get better, it must be so, no matter what, they wanted to keep hope alive.
Corona was the most brilliant legend in the transition from the 3G to 4G era.
The youngest and strongest lineup, deeply empowered and honed over the years, was the youngest boy band ever to win the OSC Crown Award.
Their excellent works were sung by everyone, and their popularity transcended age gaps, even elderly grandparents would hum their songs with eyes squinted.
Now with the mountain collapsed, no one could take advantage of the situation to match Corona’s glory.
When the situation related to depression was disclosed, Huo Ren’s withered appearance, Bo Jue’s pale sickly complexion, and Jiang Jue, who arrived in haste and knelt in front of the tombstone without getting up, all these matters kept amplifying the public’s emotions.
The inflated public opinion once again targeted those who had mocked and ridiculed Chi Ji, questioning whether they were happy eating bread soaked in human blood, and questioning who would take Chi Ji’s place in death.
“Joking? Such follow-the-crowd jokes are not funny at all!”
“If you were really a fan, why did you repeatedly tag Chi Ji asking him to leave Corona? Does stabbing the heart feel good?”
“Damn, I found another idiot who sent car accident images to Chi Ji in private messages and boasted about it; have these people lost their minds?!”
Some were vehemently defending themselves, unwilling to admit their mistakes even now.
“Blame me? He himself is too sensitive, saying jump then jumping. Being an idol and earning so much money, he deserves it!”
“No psychological quality at all… Who asked him to enter this industry? Which star hasn’t been scolded? Others haven’t jumped, only he did, who’s fault is that?”
“Please, you brain-dead fans, open your eyes and see, the pink hair was dyed by himself, the high heels were worn by himself, did anyone force him to do these things with a gun? No, right? This is self-inflictedโ”
Some gradually gave up arguing and changed their profile pictures to black.
The company had already announced the death news and the disbandment, like the last gunshot that awakened people from a prosperous dream.
“Never chasing stars again.”
“A year has passed, and I still haven’t gotten over it.”
“Why have several people disappeared? Are they doing well, or did something happen to them too?”
“The other brothers must need psychological help after such an incident… Ah, leaving SPF, that dog company, is good, they are finally free.”
“I’m not any kind of fan, I don’t chase careers, don’t ship CPs, I just hope they can still keep in touch with each other, not become strangers.”
For the entire year, everyone only dared to confirm Huo Ren’s situation through Pei Ruye.
Among them, some were clear about the onset mechanisms of depression and PTSD, some, even after reading many books, were still worried and even had nightmares about Huo Ren disappearing.
Everyone was branded deep inside with guilt and fear due to this incident.
Just thinking about the past could pierce and pain them.
Long Jia sent over a few more documents.
Considering the current situation, Xuan Yu Group was in the stage of industrial transformation and upgrading, and should not have gotten involved in this muddle.
Long Jia was just the third son of the Long family, and the company could not possibly leave tens of thousands of employees to fend for themselves, making a desperate move against anyone.
The larger the capital, the more it resembled a dense nerve-flesh giant beast, where pulling one hair would affect the whole body.
This was true for the Longs, and even more so for the Hans.
Pei Ruye briefly skimmed those documents and sent voice messages to guide this newcomer in the industry on how to find deeper flaws.
He never avoided talking to Huo Ren and his old friends.
Some things, if Huo Ren wanted to listen and know, he could tell him at any time.
The work exchange lasted twenty minutes.
During that time, files from different branches kept coming in, and the computer’s bottom right pop-up notifications never ceased.
It was already getting light outside.
Huo Ren moved uneasily in his sleep beside his leg.
The man covered his ears with his palm, speaking gently, “Sleep a little longer, it’s still early.”
The young man opened his eyes, sleepiness not yet faded from his gaze.
“Aren’t you sleeping?”
“Mm, there’s a video conference soon. If you’re tired, you can wear noise-canceling headphones.”
Huo Ren instinctively rubbed against his palm, hiding his still aching left hand deep under the covers.
This animal-like behavior always had an inexplicably intimate feel.
He actually liked it.
Another message popped up on the computer.
ใLong Jiaใ: How has Huo Ren been lately?
ใPei Ruyeใ: Healing, returning to the country in May.
ใLong Jiaใ: Xie Lianyun and Xiao Bo will pick him up, we can have a video call in advance to help Huo Ren adjust.
ใLong Jiaใ: But Huo Ren… may not want to see me, we’ll find another opportunity later.
ใPei Ruyeใ: Mm, focus on what’s most important for now.
The other side paused for a long time.
Long Jia, who used to chat with anyone in a carefree and teasing manner, not too restrained even with teachers and elders, had now shed his artist identity, put back on his watch, tie, and cufflinks, and his personality was unknowingly settling.
The existence of Corona itself was a bond as well as a restraint.
It united the six of them in their struggle for their goals and dreams, but also restrained each of them as if they had signed a permanent contract with this identity.
The fans, obsessed with the light and happiness they provided, were like believers hoping their gods would never leave their throne, wishing the revelry would never end.
But they are not gods, they are living people.
Aside from work and glory, they originally had their own life plans and couldn’t always live on stage.
Long Jia was not accustomed to being a businessman, with daily lessons as numerous as cow’s hair.
But sometimes, taking a breath in the office, he felt an anachronistic sense of freedom.
The Long family always gave him rational support. Although they had hoped for years he would return to participate in family affairs, they never forced him.
Now, without private fans, no need for endless signings and photos, no longer having to win the liking and love of a crowd of strangers like a commodity, life seemed to suddenly shed many burdens.
He shouldn’t feel these were burdens, but the fact remains.
Long Jia glanced at the unfinished data analysis, finally sending Pei Ruye one more message.
ใLong Jiaใ: Thank you for taking care of Huo Ren, we didn’t do enough.
ใPei Ruyeใ: You’re welcome.
Huo Ren had not fully recovered yet, he knew a lot but did not touch on it.
His wounds had not yet healed.
According to the therapist’s judgment, these were old, chronic conditions.
“Actually, according to his personality, going to a relatively peaceful and stable environment, engaging in academic research, or craft design, are all very good choices.”
“He was abused for too long during his adolescence. According to your description, around fifteen, he already had emotional dissociationโmeaning, as a child, to survive, he had to seal all fear and pain deep inside, so when facing his own difficulties, he could appear indifferent beyond what’s normal.”
“But many harms have always been there, never fully treated.”
“Now, he’s at the stage where the emotional switch is damaged, both ‘on’ and ‘off’ very unstable.”
Pei Ruye, after listening to all the analysis, thanked the doctor as usual and continued to care for Huo Ren’s rehabilitation training.
Guiding him to stretch his ligaments again, accompanying him to jog beside the coastal road, or playing various musical instruments, gradually bringing back his sense of music and rhythm.
Huo Ren realized he actually didn’t know his teacher that well.
He knew Pei Ruye had the same abilities as himselfโbut previously, they were manifested in precision calculation and coordination.
Pei Ruye had many labels: founder of a unicorn company, the current head of the Pei family in San Francisco, founder of XV global dance troupe, an excellent dance teacher.
Now, there was one more.
An elegant and handsome man playing the violin, exuding a quiet charm.
The little white wolf, rarely curious, sat quietly watching him play “Violin Concerto in E minor,” unconsciously wagging his tail a couple of times.
Pei Ruye glanced at him: “Surprised?”
“Quite beyond my understanding.”
Huo Ren pointed at the piano: “How about singing a song?”
Pei Ruye also glanced at the piano, and it was quite a while before he began to refuse: “No, thank you.”
Huo Ren was rarely refused by teacher, so he blinked in agreement.
“Let’s continue practicing,” he proposed. “This time, let’s stretch it to ten minutes.”