Jiang Shu hadn’t contacted Huo Ren for a long time.
Although he had made a phone call when he returned to the country, and some secrets were gradually learned from Qi Ding, the downfall of Corona had been too heavy for him.
To the extent that during the funeral days of Chi Ji, Uncle Jiang’s hair and beard had all turned white, as if he suddenly fell from his fifties into his seventies.
He had too much regret and guilt in his heart, and after quitting his job, he stayed alone in the countryside for a long time, unable to let go.
Later, Xie Lianyun drove for six hours, got lost a few times on small roads, and went to see him several times.
The old man was stubborn and obstinate, and during their meeting, he didn’t want to talk much, and soon sent him away asking him to leave early.
Xie Lianyun saw through it but said nothing, and continued to visit regardless, subtly conveying news of Chi Ji’s recent situation.
Jiang Shu was still preoccupied with many concerns.
Hearing good news, he only shook his head, continued to flip through financial magazines, and checked how Long Jia was doing recently.
When Huo Ren returned to the country again, he took the initiative to call Jiang Shu and also invited him to see the new kids when he returned.
After all, there was a layer of scars, and both of them spoke cautiously, daring not to touch on certain topics.
Having stepped into the entertainment industry, it was impossible not to care about news trends.
Over the past few months, Jiang Shu, having nothing else to do, not only became more skilled in using smartphones and tablets, but also acquired a wealth of bizarre fan circle knowledge from an outsider’s perspective.
However, he always thought that things like “Night Fire as Sharp as a Blade” were just kids messing around.
The workaholic nature was too apparent in Huo Ren and Pei Ruye, especially since Huo Ren had been Pei Ruye’s obedient student as a child; they didn’t seem like the type to fall in love.
No matter how much Uncle Jiang didn’t believe it, he couldn’t deny the several classic scenes in variety shows, and Huo Ren’s ambiguous ‘chasing’ comment, whether it was a joke or serious.
When today’s public hugging photos came out, he really couldn’t sit still anymore.
It was as if he was suddenly smacked on the head by a carp tail, and something clicked with a whoosh.
Jiang Shu first repeatedly looked at those photos, then for the umpteenth time watched the clips compiled by the Night Fire as Sharp as a Blade CP fans from interviews and historical data.
The more he watched, the more it seemed real, incredibly so.
Having witnessed many major events in the entertainment industry in his lifetime, he never thought this time the fire would burn up to his own company. After pondering for a long time, he still called Huo Ren.
The good kid admitted it outright.
At that moment, Jiang Shu felt the half can of beer he just drank rushing to his head, and he stuttered for a while: “You, you, you guys, when did it start??”
Huo Ren thought for a moment: “We had secretly been in love for several years, and had sneaked contacts in the last two years before the dissolution.”
Huo Ren was now sincerely happy, completely like a good student who suddenly turned rebellious.
Jiang Shu thought this was some crazy news, and after holding it in for a long time, he asked again: “Are you… not joking?”
Huo Ren touched the pendant on his chest and whispered, “Actually… Teacher and I… are already engaged.”
“Uncle, you must come on our wedding day.”
Jiang Shu flatly said, “Give me a moment to process this.”
With a snap, he hung up the phone.
Huo Ren rubbed his hair a few more times and walked towards Pei Ruye, who was waiting at the door.
The latter probably heard a few words and casually said, “Jiang Ye?”
“Yeah,” Huo Ren replied cheerfully, “He said he needs a moment.”
It was uncertain whether he was shocked that the most obedient student in the team had eloped with the teacher, or that Pei Ruye had finally succumbed to temptation this time.
When they returned to the car, the unread messages in Corona’s chat group had already accumulated to 99.
Jia: I’m about to have a holiday!! Wait for me to come back from Germany!!!
Mei Shengyao, you are silly: I know you are longing for it, keep it cool.
Xie Lianyun, you must be dumb: Bro, get me beer, ten boxes!
Chi Chi: What should we eat to celebrate our first reunion…
Jue: Be safe.
…
Huo Ren scrolled down and just then Xie Lianyun posted a new video.
It’s a holographic simulation of Chi Ji.
This was made possible by today’s advanced 3D scanning and modeling technology.
Since green screen movies and dramas have become widespread, scanning actors’ bodies to simulate dangerous moves is nothing new.
The challenge is using holographic technology to let viewers see a nearly lifelike illusion with their own eyes.
Huo Ren clicked on the video, and the production team’s conversation could be heard off-camera.
Xie Lianyun always has a kind of cold sexiness when he speaks English, so much so that several people nearby couldn’t help but watch him throughout.
Mei Shengyao are you stupid: It’s almost there, but don’t make it too real, later on stage we need to pull back and raise the height, use smoke and lights for cover.
Jia: It’s best to mix real and fake in a few songs.
Xie Lianyun, you must be dumb: We could leak some stuff first, gauge the reaction, then refine it.
Chi Chi: That looks quite like me…
They all know, Corona was the hero dream of their youth, also a past still waiting for a formal farewell.
Long Jia and Bo Jue are now in their late twenties, with very different, clear, and free life plans.
Qi Ding has already arranged a foreign identity for Chi Ji, waiting for the storm to end, he might go abroad to study for a while like Huo Ren.
The six of them cannot stay forever in the dream of youth, always being perfect idols shrouded in glory, always restricted by public opinion and entertainment rules.
They will have new and bright paths, and a future where all six are still together.
These days, Chi Ji has been accompanied by different friends, working hard on rebuilding, the distance he can walk with crutches is getting longer every day.
The holographic image is also being rapidly produced, to give a sufficiently real excuse for this brief reunion.
The afternoon Mei Shengyao made the suggestion, a few untraceable clips leaked out, showing the simulated laughter and antics of Chi Ji.
Marketing accounts are always tactically safe, layering real and fake together.
Some say this is a tribute by a foreign tech genius, some say SPF is preparing a farewell concert for a full comeback.
In the comments, someone disclosed that the video was completely fabricated, some say Chi Ji really came back, others say it was special effects commissioned by the Sunny Sisters.
The video quickly got tens of thousands of shares, but because it’s just a few seconds and not very clear, it sparked more nostalgia than discussion.
Too many people are missing Corona.
Once gloriously topping charts, the unmatched Corona with an unresigned fate.
First, FALSE dominated headlines for a year with aggressive marketing, with mediocre business ability.
Then came trainees grouped in variety shows, most appearing too immature.
People have realized what they lost on February 17, 2017.
The Crown Six with super fun variety shows every year, the popular boy band whose albums were more stunning one after another.
The top idols with incomparable looks and skills, a real legend that won countless awards and topped the charts.
The other five can still be seen in different news, like unforgettable old friends.
But Chi Ji, with his gentle smile, voice like a siren, always dancing so beautifully…
[When I saw that video today, I suddenly couldn’t stop crying, I miss him so much, I really hope he could come back and dance one more dance, I really miss Chi Chi.]
[Even without being a fan, it’s heartbreaking, even though I’ve never seen a concert, I always listened to Corona’s songs on my way home from school, I could recognize Noah’s voice in an instant, it was truly wonderful.]
[What struck me the most was that in 2016, he was subjected to cyberbullying for almost a whole year, but at the last concert, Chi Ji still went forward to embrace the audience—despite how harshly the world had treated him.]
[I’m sorry, Chi Chi, I apologize on behalf of those who slandered and insulted you, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Some things can’t be salvaged anymore, but actually, there are still so many people who love you, even though you’ve been gone for a long time, we really miss you.]
[It must have hurt when you fell, I’m sorry, I really wish I could have hugged you that day.]
At this juncture, suddenly an anonymous user logged on and posted a piece of audio without any explanation.
@User20985192: [Weibo Video] @Han Qu
This user follows 0, has 0 followers, and has no prior posts.
Yet, shortly after he posted about Han Qu, someone from the Weibo Square discovered the video, listened to it from beginning to end, and was almost scared to tears.
With no major accounts involved, this audio was massively shared and saved, hurriedly listened to and hurriedly preserved, reopening a past chapter.
If this audio is real.
If this is true, then Xu Le being kidnapped, Han Qu being investigated, the collapse of Eshan, and the death of Chi Ji—
“What’s going on??”
“Isn’t this the Han Qu who has been in trouble all year? Did Han Qu really say these things?”
“It’s terrifying, does he mean to kill Xu Le?”
“No wonder the Han family secretly left the country, is it because of this?”
More people, afraid this post would be deleted, urgently saved and shared it to their own spaces, friends’ circles, short video platforms, cloud storages, and all possible places to leave a trace.
This matter absolutely cannot be silenced like that kidnapping case, it must not be covered up again.
That was Chi Ji.
That was their beloved Crown.
How dare you touch someone we hold dear to our hearts, how dare you ruthlessly destroy him??
How dare you???
“Wait, so he actually admitted that during those years with Crown, all the unrest was orchestrated by his team?”
“Damn, that father-abuse scandal with Huo Ren during the New Year, I was genuinely upset for a long time, I even told my sisters we must boycott such a morally corrupt star!!”
“Who leaked this audio? Why does such a thing exist? This is too dark…”
“So all these incidents can be connected… Han Gaozhi, for the sake of monopolizing the star-making industry’s huge profits, could actually condone his son to this extent.”
Countless voices are discussing, countless angers are rising rapidly.
They can no longer pay attention to anything else.
Over these two months, the multitude of scandals exposed have made almost everyone in the country aware of Han Qu.
Now, with the audio exposed, personally admitted by Han Qu, it undoubtedly delivers the final blow.
Countless voices urgently inquire, converging in countless corners of the night into a devouring tide.
Han Qu, did you kill Chi Ji?
Han Qu, how many filthy deeds have you actually done?
Han Qu, where are you hiding now?
Han Qu, come out and pay for your deeds!!!
ah they finally released the audio..