Idol Chapter 150

Han Yang grew up in a single-parent family, accustomed to hard times.

His mother first worked as a property manager, earning a monthly salary of two thousand yuan, then got a job as a fast-food restaurant clerk, and eventually worked her way up to manager, gradually improving their financial situation.

—However, at critical moments, like when the music teacher personally came to persuade him to learn piano, or when he needed to be hospitalized for pneumonia, the family always managed to scrape together just enough money.

Han Yang was accustomed to frugality, folding a tissue six times before throwing it away, and after starting his studies, he was diligent and self-taught, never causing his family any worry.

As his grandmother used to say, with his father passing away early, he had to help support the family.

Each month, he would bring home the money he earned from tutoring, and his mother would help him manage it, planning how to use every penny for the future.

“The Chosen by the Gods” was rich in salary and bonuses, with most of the recording taking place during the summer holidays.

On his way home from work, Han Yang casually auditioned. Despite being only 166cm tall, his pleasant voice and baby face immediately won him a ticket into the training camp.

Upon discussing it with his family, his maternal grandparents and mother panicked.

The entertainment industry was a dangerous place.

Not to mention the unwritten rules, what would they do if their precious child was bullied for the sake of earning some money?

While they were frantically worrying about how to stop him, he had already packed his suitcase.

“I’ll be staying there during the summer holidays, and the school has been notified. They’ve given me an internship leave, and I just need to go back for the final exams!”

“Wait! Come back here!”

So they pulled the kid aside by the shoe rack and told him the truth.

“Actually… your father is still alive.”

“Huh?”

“And he’s been sending you alimony every month, amounting to over three million yuan. The extra money went towards your tuition and buying a house.”

“What???”

“Yang Yang, if it really comes down to it, we can pay the penalty fee and not go!”

“That’s not the point—”

After a thorough discussion, the old story was finally clarified.

His mother, due to their poor family background, had to work as a teller after high school despite being admitted to a top university.

His biological father was his mother’s high school classmate and secret crush. Although he attended a less prestigious university, his wealthy family background ensured his success in life.

That man had married a well-to-do young lady according to his parents’ wishes, but after a few years and unable to bear the constant nagging and turmoil, he divorced, leaving behind a large portion of his wealth.

His ex-wife, a fierce and jealous woman, took the money and left, leaving their child behind to live a carefree life.

Later, at a class reunion, the two reconnected and shared a fleeting moment, but they couldn’t offer each other a future.

“Who would have thought…” Mrs. Huang sighed, covering her forehead: “Ah.”

Back then, information wasn’t as accessible as it is now, where a simple Plan B could solve everything.

Han Yang was shocked, petrified on the spot.

Was this dramatic, soap opera-like storyline for real??

So, I’m actually a rich second-generation?? Just yesterday, I spent a long time searching for a fifty-cent coin I dropped on the street??

“Your dad had just lost a large part of his fortune and needed to start over from scratch. It probably would’ve taken him a decade or two of hard work to recover financially.”

“I only have a high school education. Marrying into their family would mean being looked down upon every day. It’s better to raise you on my own.” Mrs. Huang patted his shoulder, earnestly saying: “Think about it, with your dad’s busy life, when would he have time to care for and raise a child? If you were brought up in a wealthy household as a young master, who knows how spoiled you might have become!”

Han Yang touched his neck, feeling relieved: “Has my dad never asked about me?”

“He did, even looked up your school records,” Mrs. Huang said coldly: “I told him not to think about taking you. If he kept looking, I wouldn’t be polite.”

Maybe he was just showing concern…

Han Yang wondered why he had been working part-time in all weathers, and asked softly, “Then why don’t I have your surname, Huang?”

“Money,” Mrs. Huang sighed deeply: “You know how expensive it is to raise a child.”

After weighing all factors, they still sent him off to the company building.

“You’re twenty now; it’s time to make your way in the world. We’re telling you this so you don’t go down the wrong path or get deceived by unsavory characters,” Mrs. Huang repeatedly admonished: “We have money, so don’t make rash decisions out of impulse. Follow the right path, understand?”

“What’s my dad’s name?”

The woman rubbed her forehead and said: “His name is Han Gaozhi. Don’t tell others, just keep it in mind.”

Han Yang nodded silently and dizzily went to the company to record the show.

Just a few hours ago, he was an ordinary person, and now he suddenly had a father and brother he’d never met, along with several million yuan in bank assets.

Several million… No need to freelance anymore…

How much paint could that buy? Enough to bathe in it!

The trainees, bustling and bustling, took their places, following the program team’s arrangements for practice and supplemental lessons.

Once their phones were handed in, the turbulent world outside had nothing to do with them anymore.

—It was rumored that subsequent rankings would be determined by popularity votes, which seemed not too optimistic.

With everyone having standout appearances, securing camera time to win audience favor would be challenging.

Not only during the recording of the current program but also in the dorms, classrooms, and practice halls, every word and action could potentially be captured on camera. The youths were all consciously cautious in their behavior, daring not to make any slip-ups.

After much anticipation, the first episode (Part 2) finally aired over the weekend.

Even before the program officially started, the online viewing numbers had already soared to over eight million, with the accumulated views of the previous episode reaching a hundred million. Both advertisers and the TV station made a fortune, setting a benchmark in the industry for the year.

When the list of trainees was first released, sharp-eyed viewers spotted a few familiar names.

For instance, Bo Huan and Gu Shaochu.

The former is the younger brother of Bo Jue, a member of the legendary group Corona, while the latter is a godly-looking athlete who once ranked first in the national men’s singles tennis.

Bo Huan comes from a privileged background and is multilingual, bringing his own aura.

Gu Shaochu, having been admitted to the chemistry department of Shidu University on account of his excellent achievements, remained highly sought after for photos due to his striking appearance, even after retiring due to injury. His athletic build and deep voice are very recognizable.

As the saying goes, “The early bird catches the worm.” As soon as the list was released, many set their sights on these two, creating support posters and making calls of support.

Gu Shaochu had accumulated many fans, both career and girlfriend types, when he was still competing at the age of sixteen or seventeen. Now at twenty-one, having retired due to injuries, he remains a top figure in his field, and people from Shidu University mention him with pride.

However, after the first episode aired, neither of them had any close-ups, and it was only through frame-by-frame analysis by netizens with magnifying glasses that they were spotted.

Fortunately, they both chose to undergo instructor assessments, securing some individual screen time.

At the start of the next episode, the trainees entering all seemed to have a natural talent for comedy.

“Hello, teachers, I’ll tell you a stand-up comedy routine—”

“My act is a magic show… wait, where’s my pigeon? My pigeon??!!”

Huo Ren struggled to hold back his laughter, occasionally sipping water to regulate his emotions.

These kids, reliable or not, were indeed quite cute.

Feng Jin maintained a poker face, wishing she could fast-forward the live performance.

Following the magician, who exited the stage bowing with a score of minus twenty, a handsome young boy entered.

“Hello, teachers… I am… Ma Lu.”

“Hello.” Mei Heng said kindly, “You seem a bit nervous?”

“I naturally… speak… quite… slowly.” The boy was a bit embarrassed, handing over his application form to them: “Ma Lu in other countries… means idiot…”

His voice was gentle, and his appearance gave off a vibe similar to a cute alpaca, seemingly having potential to win over the audience.

Outside, some trainees were already imitating his slow speech, sharing laughs with their friends.

“But… my parents think… I’m not stupid…”

“Just that… I start off… a bit slow…”

Huo Ren was somewhat concerned.

This type, by conventional standards, was not suitable for becoming an idol.

Idols need quick reflexes and agility, not only to keep up with the intense beats in performances but also to provide quick responses during interactions with cameras, hosts, and fans.

He didn’t express his disagreement, instead signaling for the boy to start his performance.

Ma Lu nodded nervously and diligently performed a jazz dance.

It’s rare for boys to choose jazz dance, but he managed the rhythm and beats well, showing through his body’s bounce and movement that he had practiced hard.

After the music ended, Pei Ruye kindly said, “You got all the moves right, it’s clear you’ve put in the effort.”

The young man breathed a sigh of relief, his speech finally becoming more coherent.

Yet, he still resembled a soft, squishy alpaca made of cotton candy.

“Thank you, teachers… I will work hard.”

“No, effort alone is not enough.” Pei Ruye slowly shook his head, “In your current state, what you lack is direction, not effort.”

Ma Lu hadn’t expected the instructor to be so direct. Due to his lack of experience, he became somewhat flustered at this moment.

Unsure of how to respond, he hurriedly bowed again to express his thanks.

“Ma Lu, when you dance, you lack a sense of relaxation; your whole body is tense, which also makes your dance moves lose their charm,” Pei Ruye patiently explained. “Learn to relax first, then study how to exert effort.”

“Your appearance and temperament are very approachable, and you might be very popular with girls.” Mei Heng smiled and encouraged him, “If you speak slowly, you can practice specifically for that. The teacher has high hopes for you.”

Considering his decent performance, he was finally awarded an additional five points.

After Ma Lu left, the four instructors briefly exchanged a few words.

“Nowadays, it’s hard to grasp the audience’s taste. I think he shouldn’t change his speech speed; being himself could become a unique trait.”

“But in a competitive situation, this could be a disadvantage.”

“Yeah, indeed…”

Suddenly, a commotion was heard from outside.

Huo Ren glanced at the broadcast screen and noticed a group of boys standing up to welcome someone’s arrival.

Although many trainees had come in to make up points before, none had received this kind of treatment.

Adolescent boys most recognize strength and achievements, and the spontaneous welcome and encouragement from so many people indirectly highlighted the specialness of that contestant.

“Hello, teachers.”

A young man, nearly 1.87 meters tall, stood in front of the camera, his vitality and spirit shining brightly.

Standing upright, his spine straight as a sword.

His eyes sparkled as if harboring flames, yet his voice was like a cold spring, clear and slightly cold.

“My name is Gu Shaochu, coming from the ‘Upper’ group, ranked 41st.”