Han Yang once again chose Huo Ren for his group division, feeling a constant pressure.
He now dreams of making a misstep on the public performance stage or doing something silly in the practice room and being seen by Teacher Huo.
โAlthough he had previously recorded a program with Huo Ren, they were neighbors then, which was much more relaxed than now.
Han Yang is not a fan, but he has been listening to all of Corona’s songs since high school and felt both reverence and joy upon seeing Huo Ren.
For this reason, he dared not show weakness during practice with everyone and made extra efforts to keep up with others’ daytime progress by reviewing late into the night.
The matter of the person with depression was delayed for three or four days before it came to mind again.
Han Yang found an excuse to borrow a phone and searched the internet again for information about Han Qu.
Owners of several entertainment companies, the future successor of Eshan Venture Capital, the behind-the-scenes boss of the popular boy band FALSE.
…His net worth was already at an absurd level.
From the perspective of fans, Caibi Media has been completely suppressed by SPF in the past few years. It was only after Chi Ji’s death, Corona’s disbandment, and Huo Ren’s disappearance from the public eye that it rose prominently and is now considered a leading company.
As Han Yang scrolled through his phone, he vaguely felt these two matters might be related but also found it too far-fetched.
After all, that step-brother, no matter what, was unlikely to harm Chi Ji.
Business competition was between SPF and Caibi, and there was no need to involve unrelated people.
He tended to think of problems using the bottom line of normal people. After browsing through the information several times, he still felt uneasy.
Asking Teacher Huo about these issues might provide more meaningful clues.
Han Yang’s gaze lingered on a news photo from February 20, 2017.
That day, when Chi Ji was buried, the remaining four members of Corona were accompanied by a crowd of friends and family, only their blurred back views visible.
And Huo Ren’s profile was visibly filled with grief and despair.
Han Yang took several deep breaths, feeling it inappropriate to bother Teacher with such unrelated matters.
It was as if mentioning Chi Ji and the disbanded Corona would inadvertently press on the wound once more.
The youth repeatedly compared several timelines in the phone’s memo app, eventually deleting all browsing history and returning the phone to the director after leaving the contact room.
There was no need to trouble Huo Ren with this matter.
He decided to arrange a meeting between Xu Le and Han Qu over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Pei Ruye was also organizing a summary report submitted by the executives.
The information about Chi Ji’s depression was very secretive, with little of value heard by other entertainment companies.
This season’s “Chosen by the Gods” has become a traffic booster, with its high profits and growth potential making it a top investment project. Advertisers and collaborators eager to join are numerous.
SPF’s six core executives subtly engaged in talks, gradually gathering key information about the Han family.
The first part concerned Eshan Venture Capital.
The financial aspects could be handed over to Long Jia and his subordinates, with a meticulous layout.
The second part involved the scandals of FALSE and Han Qu.
Many were eager to extend a helping hand on this matter.
Now that “Chosen by the Gods” is not even halfway through, the core “50 to 30”, “30 to 10”, and “10 to 6 finals” stages will skyrocket the ratings to peak values. Many media predict DIVINE will become the next traffic powerhouse.
For this reason, the companies behind the trainees share common interests, unwilling to see FALSE occupy much limelight.
Some of them didn’t even hope to see their people reach the semi-finals, gladly sharing details with SPF executives to get on their good side.
Suspected of bribing OSC judges, suspected of abusing banned substances.
Suspected of forcing female artists to accompany drinks, suspected of luring underage fans.
All incidents related to Han Qu and FALSE were organized into a web of cross-references, waiting for further verification and evidence collection.
Pei Ruye browsed through several pages, noting that his former executives had clearly and detailedly categorized the collaborators.
Some had likely held Han Qu’s leverage for a long time, just waiting for a sufficiently attractive price.
He pondered for a long time and responded to all inquiries.
Time swiftly moved from six in the morning to three in the afternoon.
During this, Huo Ren came by several times, as if taking his regular medicine, lying by his side or leaning against his back to read for half an hour.
Sometimes, he would gently rub his elbow with his nose, like an extremely subtle kiss.
Pei Ruye focused on processing the complex information, noting these small movements in his heart.
He has always been a patient caretaker.
After responding to most documents from three companies, the coffee had long gone cold.
The man feigned a sip, then stood up to see what Huo Ren was doing.
The little white wolf, while taking care of his students, also rushed to finish the new album, only coming to him for contact during his anxiety attacks.
Pei Ruye watched the focused profile by the desk from the doorway for a long while, then took out his phone to reply to a few messages.
Then, with a flick of his finger, he opened Weibo.
The topic “Night Fire as Sharp as a Blade (YeHuo Ru Ren)” has recently become very popular.
Being attuned to all directions in the entertainment industry is something Jiang Shu of the old era found increasingly difficult, but for Pei Ruye, it was as easy as turning his hand.
He could see a lot.
When CP (Couple Pairing) fans start shipping, their IQs seem to skyrocket to 200, employing deduction skills comparable to Conan Doyle’s to find various fragments and clues.
But not shipping is impossible. They would never not ship in this lifetime.
It started with Huo Ren publicly calling him “Teacher” on the show, coquettishly asking Pei Ruye to dance for him.
Then, whenever the two appeared together, their interactions were abundant and they didn’t avoid suspicion at all.
There were moments of leaning on each other when ill, and even dancing a waltz together.
Don’t even start with “looking into each other’s eyes is confessing love, appearing in the same frame is giving out candy”!!
If this isn’t love, I’ll never use a fork to eat instant noodles again!!!
The four-leaf clover pendant made by Pei Ruye himself, the smiles they had when talking about each other during media interviews, and every performance they did together, were all romantically compiled by the girls.
But earlier on, Pei Ruye was more behind the scenes, and the material bank mainly came from various interviews Huo Ren had given from the age of seventeen to the present.
Old magazines, old shows, and even old variety shows were turned over and over, uncovering quite a few fragments.
**ใSTYLE Magazine Interviewใ**
Q: What do you usually do in your free time recently?
A: I go to XV dance group to learn URBAN. Teacher is very gentle and kind, and besides dance, I also ask a lot about academics and life.
Q: You’re studying even in your rest time… Don’t you find it tiring?
A: Not at all, being with someone very outstanding, I feel very motivated.
Q: It seems you’ve found a teacher to your liking.
A: Hahaha, I guess that’s something I can admit.
**ใCorner of the Times Interviewใ**
Q: Any regrets on your twentieth birthday?
A: There are some… My teacher used to give me a birthday gift every year, but this year, probably because he saw my coming-of-age ceremony, he didn’t prepare one.
Q: So, Ren Ren also has a childish side? Did you always like Teacher’s gifts?
A: Actually, the gift itself isn’t that important. Feeling cared for and encouraged by someone who minds you, makes me feel very lucky.
**ใWall Street of the Sea Interviewใ**
Q: I heard Mr. Pei used to work at SPF and has always had a good relationship with Corona. Now, as the founder of a unicorn company, he has started a new era of media with Night Fire Live and Moment Short Video. What’s your opinion on him?
A: Mr. Pei is a very charismatic person. He is meticulous and precise in his approach to business and very sharp and unique in creation, fully deserving of the praise he receives now.
Q: You rarely publicly praise others.
A: Actually, I should say more. I’m running out of adjectives, sorry…
Page by page, their impressions of and praises for each other were unhidden and revisited, so real it was as if one could feel the warm breaths and smiles.
CP fans were already in tears.
This isn’t just some teacher-student affection!
This is clearly love that has weathered storms together!!
They have seen each other at their highest and most tired, openly praising each other’s charm and strength more than once. How could this not be love!!!
[Before clicking on this compilation post, I was thinking ‘how could these two possibly be in a relationship’, but after reading it, my mind is full of ‘why aren’t they married yet’ TAT]
[The eye contact in the recent episodes has gone beyond the norm… I even feel like they’re going to come out after the show ends…]
[I’m already dragging all my besties to watch that waltz. If you ship Night Fire as Sharp as a Blade (YeHuo RuRen), we are sisters from different fathers and mothers!!!]
Pei Ruye silently turned off his phone, leaning against the wall to adjust his breathing for a while.
He always felt that his pursuit of Huo Ren was one-sided.
Huo Ren, surrounded by so many auras, seemed approachable and genuine in private, yet Pei Ruye always consciously maintained a slight distance in his heart.
Their mutual admiration was always so, even in their most intimate moments.
It was a torment that was also addictively sweet.
Yet, as a youth, Huo Ren had openly talked about him in such a straightforward manner.
Expressing care, expressing fondness, even quietly complaining about not receiving a gift that year.
The feeling of being praised and admired by someone he had liked for many years was palpable, as if he could feel the actual weight of his heart.
It pulsed beneath his skin and flesh, expanding and contracting with each breath.
It heated all his blood, making dopamine embrace every heartbeat.
The man found it hard to digest this love-like joy.
It surged and scattered, making him feel as if he had returned to his youth, back when he was still in university.
No need for restraint or composure.
Pei Ruye stood against the wall for several seconds before turning again to look at Huo Ren in the study.
The latter was humming a tune, the staff paper half-filled with neat and beautiful notation.
He didn’t want to disturb him, yet he longed to be close to him.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally walked up behind the young man.
Bowing his head, he rested it against Huo Ren’s and embraced him from behind.
Suddenly embraced, Huo Ren felt an inexplicable happiness, turning his head to call out “Teacher.”
Before confessing his feelings, he always felt that seeking physical contact again would be too willful and selfish, and he had tried to restrain this need in the past few days.
Today, he couldn’t hold back any longer, fidgeting and lingering for a long while, yet still feeling it wasn’t enough.
The scent of Teacher today was especially pleasant.
It was the deep sea mixed with roses, a sense of safety filled with complete trust.
The young man, with a smile held in his lips, reached out to grasp the fair and slender right hand on his shoulder, unable to resist kissing the back of the hand.
Pei Ruye lowered his head, burying his face in the nape of his neck, and took a long while before he responded.
He realized he couldn’t quit him anymore.