Idol Chapter 167 Part 1

Thursday is the recording day, and Wednesday there’s one last official rehearsal, making the performance stage both bustling and joyful inside and out.

Huo Ren didn’t get to meet Xie Lianyun last time; today, while he’s lining up with the trainees waiting to go on stage, he catched a glimpse of a familiar figure.

The bespectacled young man also stopped in his tracks, immediately quickening his pace toward him.

Then, in front of a group of kids, he hugged him tightly.

“Huo Huo—” He’s still trying hard to hide the secret he’s discovered, so much so that his voice wavered at the end: “Ren Ren, long time no see—”

The surrounding youths: Wow…

Huo Ren was momentarily choked by the hug, guessing that his best friend had finally let go of some of his guilt, and understandingly patted his back.

“Relax, it’ll all get better.”

Zhu Xizhi whispered from the side, “Aren’t they afraid of being caught on camera?”

Gu Shaochu was still looking at his friend in the neighboring group, “It’s more convenient with cameras around.”

“Eh…”

Xie Lianyun used to be teased by Jiang Shu as being two-faced, indeed the one with the highest mental fortitude among his teammates.

He hadn’t experienced his mother’s infidelity causing a nationwide storm, nor did he have a huge family business to be responsible for, and he didn’t have a second child brother whose existence brings constant anxiety.

The only thing that could hurt him was guilt.

Back when Huo Ren nearly got his eye slashed, Xie Lianyun had been brooding over it for years, even deliberately losing in games, not willing to win by even a fraction.

Later, when Chi Ji’s life and death were uncertain, he hardly slept well.

Now, as things gradually got back on track, he finally felt a minimal sense of inner peace.

Now that “The Chosen by the Gods” had become a hit variety show, Xie Lianyun, as the chief producer and sponsor, naturally played an indispensable role, often respectfully and warmly addressed as Director Xie by other companies’ executives.

In the next two days, both overtly and covertly, responsibilities were being transferred.

Mei Shengyao was finally about to get some air and see a psychologist, and he’s about to hand over the core affairs to Director Su and his other subordinates.

At this moment, looking at the seventeen or eighteen-year-old trainees around, there’s a sense of time shifting.

The indicator lights scrolled through the performance order, Huo Ren gestured to the trainees to start their warm-up exercises, turning his head to ask, “How does it feel?”

Xie Lianyun, still looking at the neon-rolling luxurious stage, muttered after a while, “Oh…”

“Ren Ren,” he said, turning his eyes: “I always feel like we’ve just debuted.”

“Yeah,” Huo Ren smiled: “Still can’t help calling others seniors, even though we’ve long passed that stage.”

Now, wherever they go, they were either called “CEO Huo,” “Director Huo,” or “Teacher Xie,” “Senior Xie.”

Gone were the days of feeling insignificant when they first entered the entertainment industry.

Huo Ren and Xie Lianyun appearing together again was undoubtedly a hot topic, causing several groups of trainees in the waiting area to become restless.

“Really, it’s Brother Xie—”

“He’s even more handsome than in photos!”

“Why do I feel they are somewhat… hmm… well-matched?”

Shi Jianian glanced at Bo Huan, who was leaning on his shoulder, dozing off: “Huan, aren’t you going over to greet them?”

“No need,” Bo Huan, who had been practicing core steps until 3 a.m., said groggily: “They’re probably going to talk for a long time…”

Zhu Xizhi happened to come over for the sign-in sheet, pausing to joke with them, “Bo Huan probably sees him every day, but speaking of which, when is your brother coming?”

“Brother?” Bo Huan instantly becomes alert, sitting up straight: “My brother is here?”

“Just an example,” the little snow leopard shook its tail: “I really like your brother, the first is Director Pei, the second is Bo Jue.”

Bo Huan bristled: “You actually ranked my brother second!”

Shi Jianian continues to provoke slowly: “Maybe during the mentor and trainee collaboration stage, we might have a chance…”

“Right,” Zhu Xizhi laughed: “What if we could dance together.”

Bo Huan’s face turned red, puffing up: “No, no, no, no!”

The usually harmless-looking little white swan suddenly revealed its claws and beak, catching its teammates off guard.

“Protecting your brother like this…”

“Didn’t see that coming, Huan~”

Chen Yuanqing waved them over: “They’re just teasing you.”

Bo Huan decisively: “Just no!”

“No what?”

“Nobody’s allowed to touch my brother—Brother?!” Bo Huan was stunned for two seconds, from being articulate to suddenly speechless, feeling like a little kid being watched by an older brother: “Bro… you… why are you here…”

Bo Jue raises an eyebrow upon hearing this, casually loosening his pure black tie: “Not welcoming me?”

Around twenty trainees were all dumbfounded, thinking this show was too thrilling with all the heavyweights appearing.

Bo Jue just happened to sit on a high stool by the door, deterring anyone from slipping out at this crucial moment.

Bo Huan became completely tongue-tied when mingling with a group of friends, his emotional intelligence usually off the charts, but now he’s turned into a stammerer.

“Brother… do you, do you want to see me… see me dance?”

“Hm?” Bo Jue glanced at him sideways: “Not prepared?”

Zhu Xizhi looked at Bo Huan’s earlobes.

They’re blushing red.

“I, um, I’ll dance well,” Bo Huan, rooted to the spot, said in an increasingly quieter voice: “I’m just a bit nervous.”

Bo Jue stood up, and a group of trainees including Bo Huan all took a step back, visibly intimidated.

Huo Ren happened to enter the room and couldn’t help but laugh: “It shouldn’t be like this.”

Xie Lianyun muttered: “That’s something else.”

This stage would feature two of Corona’s hit songs, a normal occurrence for a meeting of the three giants.

As they moved between backstage and the set, connecting with the program, almost everyone couldn’t help but look their way repeatedly.

The scene of the six of them together now existed only in fading light and shadow.

Yet even now, as Corona was incomplete, their brilliant light still far outshines all the younger generations who have yet to undergo their transformation.

This feeling was extremely evident when Huo Ren appeared alone; now, it has reached a bewitching level.

Even a few words whispered between Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue caused a makeup artist nearby to nearly grab the wrong powder.

With their handsome appearance, exceptional conversation skills, from their personal charisma to external honors, their mere presence is luminous.

Fu Mingnian was still helping a teammate check if their makeup powder was correct, while Gu Shaochu was entranced by the three people ten meters away.

People were whispering.

“Do you think we… could become like the three of them someday?”

“If only by a peanut’s worth—”

“Fu Mingnian will for sure.”

At this, everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

Zhu Xizhi blinked: “He’s already quite charming tonight.”

Gu Shaochu withdrew his gaze, looking at Fu Mingnian.

Silver-blue fragmented hair, clear golden eyes.

An appearance that carried an almost mythical beast-like unreality, yet his gaze and demeanor remained calm and restrained.

Like a flamboyant predator, yet also the most eye-catching prey.

Fu Mingnian, catching his look, smiled with a curl of his lip: “Do you find my eyes attractive?”

Gu Shaochu raised an eyebrow.

“Teacher Huo has good eyesight.”

The distant sound of the stage starting came through, the thumping beat of British rock seemingly uncontrollable.

Lights and cameras were getting into position, all temporary groups took turns dancing.

They’ve been practicing for days, now on stage singing and dancing, moving and posing according to their roles. Despite having practiced many times, they still appear somewhat green.

After the rehearsal ended, Bo Jue stayed behind to have a meeting about tomorrow’s recording with Huo Ren and the others.

Xie Lianyun, as part of the production team, has further discussions with the sponsors and has to leave early.

He pushed up his glasses, bidding goodbye to Bo Jue with a restrained demeanor.

“Leaving now, see you later.”

Actually, among the people at home, Bo Jue has the worst social skills.

But ever since Bo Jue entered the high circles of the city, he became the one who gathered the most secret information, even obtaining indirect evidence of Han Qu using banned substances.

Xie Lianyun could hardly imagine how many psychological barriers this guy has overcome.

In recent times, the five of them have seldom used social media, yet they seem to always maintain a subtle sense of connection and bonding.

Also breathing and beating in unison with the sleeping sixth person, never broken.

Bo Jue casually responded, pointing to the opposite room: “Ren Ren is in that makeup room.”

The youth with fox-like eyes said emotionlessly: “I know.”

“I think you really need to hug him.” Bo Jue tilted his head to look at him: “You’ve watched a night’s performance, feeling a lot, right?”

Xie Lianyun turned his head and left.

“Definitely not.”

He walked straight out, taking three or four steps, then turned back on the same path, heading back to the diagonally opposite makeup room.

Huo Ren was sipping kiwi juice through a straw: “Brother Yun?”

Xie Lianyun took a deep breath for a second, rubbing his head: “I’ll be leaving in a bit, I might not come to the recording tomorrow.”

“Those kids dancing today… not too bad.” He said half-heartedly: “Although not as good as we used to be, their moves are at least standard.”

Huo Ren paused for two seconds, then put down his juice and walked towards him.

And then hugged him seriously and firmly again.

“These past few years have been tough for us.” He whispered: “Brother Yun, you’re carrying too much on your shoulders.”

“It’s not,” Xie Lianyun was still somewhat stubborn, but he buried his head into Huo Ren’s shoulder, muttering: “I just really miss those days we had…”

Even though work was suffocating and every year brought its own set of troubles.

But back then, it was us who danced “Night Fire” and “Cold Light,” all of us were there.

Those kids didn’t dance well at all, just not good.

He knows his mentality has been off balance for too long, feeling awkward and irritable now.

“Do you know how many times I got hit and stood as punishment just to practice these few songs?” He murmured: “Back then, Bo Jue danced until his ankles were covered in blisters, and I was the one who helped him deal with them.”

Huo Ren reached out to stroke the back of his head, gently patting a few times.

“How’s Yao Yao doing lately?”

Xie Lianyun took a deep breath, slowly shaking his head.

“Yao Yao has borne the most. He’s always missed you, but he has to wait until I hand over my duties before he can get a breath of fresh air.”

Huo Ren pondered for a few seconds, then remained silent for a long while.

Xie Lianyun lifted his head, slowly letting go of him: “Don’t worry too much, I’ll help take care of it.”

“It’s not that,” Huo Ren said with a helpless smile: “I’m wondering which area we should buy houses in after all this mess is over, to make it convenient for the six of our families to visit each other.”

Xie Lianyun stated flatly: “Just get Long Jia to build a building, one floor per person, and that’s it — you and Boss Pei remember to keep it down, I’m still single, don’t provoke me.”

“Me and him—” Huo Ren suddenly choked, coughing a few times and quickly waving his hand: “Nothing, it hasn’t reached that stage yet!”

Xie Lianyun blankly: “Hasn’t it been a year already—”

Huo Ren covered his mouth: “No, no!!”

Xie Lianyun’s eyes asked ‘is it you or Boss Pei who’s not making it happen’.

Huo Ren tried to explain: “Right now… it can’t be considered an official relationship yet.”

Xie Lianyun: !!!

After all these years, you two could have a kid nearly in first grade by now, what exactly are you playing at if it hasn’t officially started??!!

“Anyway,” he rubbed his head: “There are many outstanding men in Shidu — if it really doesn’t work out, we’ll find someone else.”

Huo Ren shook his head quickly: “I’ll confess when I’m ready.”

Xie Lianyun gave up trying to understand their game.

Before leaving, he wrote down an address.

“Snowball is currently being taken care of by Uncle Jiang, the five of us have been too confused and chaotic these past two years to properly look after him.”

“When you have time, go see Uncle Jiang, or the five of us can find a time to go together.”

Huo Ren earnestly agreed.