Idol Chapter 168

The new generation’s version of “Night Fire” was released, and the entire internet seemed to be suddenly struck by a thunderbolt.

At once, there were all sorts of comments—nostalgic, sentimental, excited, and agitated words mixed together, with hundreds of comments whizzing by with each refresh.

The boys and girls who have just grown up did not witness the era related to Corona, and were even more excited about the dazzling performance at this moment, watching it with great joy.

Every trainee is so amazing, I don’t even know who to vote for!

They were able to project themselves into the various roles of this talent show, feeling full of fighting spirit after each episode, as if they were about to debut with the trainees, filled with happiness and excitement.

Old-time viewers suddenly saw a real contrast today, and many people suddenly had teary eyes.

[Before, I didn’t think Corona was so extraordinary. Seeing this video today, I suddenly found that the kind of blood-boiling feeling can only be given by Crown. Chi Chi, I miss you so much, why were you so thoughtless, TUT]

[Next door, there is already an UP master who has uploaded a comparison video of the two versions. The rhythm and pause of such a large group dance actually test the team’s tacit understanding and integration. Ah, it’s not in vain that a legendary group won so many awards…]

[The second generation still needs repeated tempering to catch up. Although there are several kids who are very eye-catching, the soul of the group is not yet felt.]

[If only Chi Chi had been more optimistic about life and the world at the beginning, Corona would still be the top myth today. Suddenly, I feel he was too naive, not cherishing life at all, nor caring about the other brothers.]

People didn’t know that it was a murder covered up as peace, still attributing various regrets to Chi Ji’s cowardly actions.

On the other side of the screen, four groups of trainees performed their programs in turn, presenting each work in the style of a boy band.

When they introduced themselves as the ‘main dancer’ or ‘main singer,’ their expressions were still a bit unnatural.

Mei Heng belonged to the gentle and accommodating type, even if one of the groups was a disaster in the second half, he was still able to soothe the mood inside and outside the venue with a few words, and then guide the trainees to start over in the right way to win back some sympathy.

Huo Ren felt too much empathy for “Night Fire” and “Cold Light,” pausing several times while speaking.

When he adjusted his breathing, Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue both looked back at him, their eyes complex yet warm.

They were all gradually coming back to life.

Every time it came to the mentor segment, demonstrating dance moves was always a part.

In the first few episodes, Boss Pei and Mei Heng had shown their skills. This time, just after Bo Jue led a group of youths in a dance, the audience started to clamor again.

“Huo Huo, do one too!”

“Teacher Huo, dance!”

Huo Ren gave a wry smile, stood up, and walked towards the group of students.

“Actually, here, there was originally a floor movement in the MV,” he explained: “Later, during a live performance, the stage was slippery due to rain, almost causing Mei Shengyao’s wrist to fracture. After discussing, we decided to remove this movement.”

Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue exchanged glances, both smiling nostalgically when they looked at Huo Ren on stage.

The trainees stepped aside, leaving the center of the stage to him.

The moment the upbeat rhythm started, Huo Ren’s movements were as fluid and agile as a silver chain swirling, with a Z-shaped floor spin supported by his wrist, flawless despite not having danced like this for a long time!

He merged into the explosive music as if he was a white wolf released into the wild, freely light to the point that even his gaze carried the wind.

Zhu Xizhi was dumbfounded.

Was Teacher Huo’s dancing so fierce—was the speed of joint opening and closing too abnormal??

Fu Mingnian was fully focused on following every core detail, clapping in time with the rhythm.

So strong, it would take him many years to reach Teacher Huo’s level.

After Huo Ren finished the three floor movements, he was so lively that his cheeks were flushed.

He turned around smoothly like a white egret folding its wings, the top button of his collarbone just came undone, and the four-leaf clover pendant also suddenly leaped out due to inertia, caught squarely by the camera.

The audience was instantly alerted: Isn’t that the four-leaf clover said to be handcrafted by Boss Pei!!!

The trainees were stunned: Teacher Huo, you dare to wear this while dancing without fearing being strangled!!!

Bo Jue and Xie Lianyun struggled to control their emotions: This is playing big, it’s not easy to gloss over this time—

The silver-green pendant drew an arc in the air, caught by the young man in a backhand, and then kissed in front of thousands of people.

He kissed the four-leaf clover while staring directly at Pei Ruye from ten meters away, his provocative smile seemed like a challenge.

The man’s gaze fell on the moist lips next to the silver ornament, his Adam’s apple moved.

This striking and seductive finale, with the music not yet stopped, caused the screams from below the stage to surge like a tsunami, almost capable of flipping the roof.

Huo Ren stuffed the pendant back into his collar with a calm face, walked back to the mentor’s seat, and took a couple of sips of water as a cover.

He rarely indulged like this, and when he really sat back next to Pei Ruye, he felt a bit guilty again.

Xie Lianyun suddenly coughed several times, forcibly changing the topic: “I forgot to say, that violin was not bad—”

“Yes, and the bass harmony was very stable,” Bo Jue quickly followed: “You can tell they’ve practiced for a long time, a big improvement compared to the previous behind-the-scenes.”

Huo Ren listened to the others’ conversation, his cheeks still hot.

He wondered if it was because the dance was too hot, or because he was a bit nervous after flirting.

Pei Ruye, resting his chin in his hand and listening to the other mentors’ suggestions, didn’t exchange glances with him for ten minutes.

Huo Ren hoped he hadn’t seen it, yet worried he hadn’t taken it to heart, feeling uneasy for a while.

Until the recording of the program was finished, Pei Ruye gave no feedback on it.

The program team, however, didn’t have much psychological burden, broadcasting the dancing segment without cuts.

#HuoRenKissesFourLeafClover skyrocketed to the top of the trending search list.

And it stayed there all day.

Night Fire fans went absolutely wild.

@GuGuJustFailedLevelSix: What is this!! Coming out openly is just like this ah ah ah!! President Pei, you’re not human for not proposing right now!!

@HanDaoCaiHongPu: Ren Ren, show some restraint!! Flirting with Boss Pei in front of your teammates, are you afraid others won’t know?!!

@YeHuoSZDSZD: At that moment, Boss Pei’s gaze changed, they will definitely * after the next episode! @JH￥GJ1u6%#——

Media reporters swarmed, blocking and questioning guests one after another.

Bo Jue, flaunting his sapphire ring, was however picked up by a luxury car owned by Long Jia right after leaving the program group’s backstage, never even considering responding or hiding.

More reporters and self-media crowded Huo Ren and Pei Ruye, energized as if injected with adrenaline, hoping to secure a big scoop for their year-end bonus.

“Director Huo, is the pendant you kissed the one handcrafted by Boss Pei?!”

“The internet is rampant with rumors that you two are dating, is this true? Do you have anything to explain about the ‘Night Fire Sharp Like A Blade’ topic?”

“Mr. Pei, please answer! How do you view your relationship with Huo Ren?!”

“The rumors about your romance have been circulating for several months, does no response mean you’re acknowledging it??”

Surrounded by reporters at the airport, Huo Ren habitually stepped aside to sign autographs for fans, pausing when he heard the reporters’ questions.

Dozens of flashes aimed at him clicked away furiously, the glare converging into a blinding beam.

“Director Huo—please answer the question—”

“Boss Pei, as the president of one of the three major companies, took on the role of an agent to accompany him, is this also considered—”

Huo Ren glanced at Pei Ruye.

The latter, hands in pockets, casually checked the time.

“There’s still a bit of time before boarding. Want some coffee?”

The shutter sounds were like a summer night’s downpour against the window.

“Let me answer one question.” Huo Ren casually grabbed a microphone, speaking leisurely: “I’ve seen some of the online controversies.”

As soon as he spoke, all reporters and fans instantly quieted down, as if lifting their ears to catch every word clearly.

“Some viewers question if we are hyping up our ambiguous relationship.”

Huo Ren lowered his eyes and smiled gently, his tone sincere yet slightly helpless: “In fact, during my vacation, I pursued Teacher and even confessed to him actively.”

“But he rejected me.”

Just these two sentences caused the reporters’ brains to explode.

What does it mean he pursued him?! How exactly did he confess?!

Boss Pei, you left everything including the Night Fire live stream and short video companies to accompany him, and you actually rejected his confession?? Are you even human for rejecting him???

The fans present at the scene of the gossip were also dumbfounded.

What??

Did I actually get it right??

But is this true or false???

Pei Ruye’s expression shifted slightly: “I rejected you?”

“Didn’t you?” Huo Ren glanced at him sideways: “Teacher, I hold grudges.”

Pei Ruye’s memory flashed back to that night in Los Angeles.

And a few nights of confusion and passion.

…How could that invitation be considered a confession?

The reporters were almost dying of curiosity: “Can Boss Pei explain?!”

“So, is Director Huo pursuing you now? What’s the progress?”

“Mr. Pei, you rejected him and now you’re inseparable, does this count as typical playboy behavior—”

Huo Ren turned and walked away, his tail wagging: “Today I want to drink Furui White, buy it for me.”

Pei Ruye closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, signaling his assistant to follow.

Kissing the engagement token in front of the camera in the afternoon, suddenly taking a gossip interview at night, complaining and then publicly acting coquettishly.

So wild that he’s stirring up trouble everywhere, not afraid of burning his own tail.

This public interview was so shocking that when it was posted online, many people still thought it was a fake video made in post-production.

However, various angles of the incident shot by bystanders also surfaced, with clear audio and steady footage, each word hammering the point home.

[What year is 2018 exactly? It started with Lin Jiu Guang being photographed in a relationship, then Qi Lin Jiang publicly came out, and now Huo Ren is openly acknowledging a romance?? Are all the good men being snatched away by wild ones??]

[This isn’t acknowledging a romance at all, hello—Ren Ren said he had actively pursued, but Boss Pei rejected him—Boss Pei, you have no heart!! Where else can you find another little brother as outstanding as Huo Ren!!!]

[So my Ren is the type who takes the initiative to attack?? Wait, am I supporting the wrong side?? What the hell is going on???]

Both devoted fans and career-oriented fans exploded, feeling a sudden shock as if their house had just collapsed.

Huo Ren wasn’t like this before, right??

Among the six members of Corona, wasn’t Ren Ren the most abstinent and self-disciplined?

Previously, many detractors mocked the Night Fire Sharp Like a Blade pairing, saying these two were deliberately promoting their relationship and playing up the BL angle to climb up the ranks, stopping at nothing to gain fame.

Many fans, still trapped in fan circle mentality, fiercely defended them and engaged in endless arguments with detractors, refusing to give any ground.

Now, Huo Ren himself spoke openly with a smile, actually unraveling some long-standing prejudices.

First, he openly explained just before the release of the new album, not after swindling money from fans pretending to be in a relationship.

Second, he had clearly stated upon his return that he was now fulfilling his previous statements, no longer playing into anyone’s fantasies.

He would act spoiled like a child with the seniors on the show, seriously and strictly discuss the stakes with the trainees, every facet different from the rigid and stereotypical perfect idol of the past.

He had his own temper, a mutable personality, and didn’t hide his exhaustion or sickness, becoming more and more like a real person.

—Rather than an endlessly pleasing commodity for the world.

So, the shock for many inside and outside the circle wasn’t about the revelation of his sexuality but about the current progress between Huo Ren and Pei Ruye.

What is actually going on between you two?!

If Huo Ren was unrequitedly in love and rejected, it would be quite embarrassing, potentially tarnishing his reputation.

But Boss Pei has been giving gifts year after year and has been by his side for nine years; if this isn’t love, what is??

But if Huo Ren seriously confessed, it means he’s open to all orientations—Boss Pei, how could you dare to reject such a handsome and cute Ren Ren???

So, while a small portion of fans were wailing, threatening to unfollow or turn against him, or even start spreading negative hashtags, most shifted to speculate how much the Night Fire CP’s combined wealth would be worth if they got married, as well as what might have happened between them over the past two years, or even the last six or seven years.

Fanfictions of tortured love and daily life flooded the internet, speculating from every angle.

Tags like ‘Hard to Marry into Wealth’ and ‘Happy Enemies’ immediately shot up in popularity among CP fans, with some imagining Huo Ren encountering a wicked mother-in-law from the Pei family leading to a misunderstanding and tears at the airport, some speculating the brothers were reluctant to let him go and repeatedly warned Boss Pei, leading to the confession being rejected, and there were even theories that Boss Pei was actually terminally ill, spending his last days with Ren Ren—

After dealing with the new song release process, Huo Ren didn’t finish his meetings until two in the morning, finally able to return to his hotel for some rest.

The man leaned back on the sofa, lightly patting the space in the middle of his long legs.

“Come sit.” He said softly.

Huo Ren swallowed.

“Teacher, it’s quite late… I should go back to sleep.”

“Explain first,” Pei Ruye looked up at him. “Was the Furui White good?”

Huo Ren stated seriously, “I’m not the kind of person who casually sits on someone’s lap.”

The man laughed: “I’ll count down from three.”

“Three.”

“Two.”

Before the last count, the young man quickly nestled into his embrace and even kissed his face.

“Teacher, are you mad?”