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Even with the time difference at an international award ceremony tonight, many fans stayed up together to watch the live event.
They saw Pei Ruye personally present the award, and the two of them laughed for a long time after stepping down from the stage; they even blew kisses to each other from a distance due to their far-apart seating.
Fans who had been neglected all winter were now instantly energized.
“Ship them!! Just because he’s got a husband, how annoying!!!”
“Are you two this cheesy now? Award organizers, you’re luring us in to kill us!!!”
“The person he loves giving him the award he most desires! What is this if not a fairytale for adults! Night Fire like Huo Ren is real!!!”
In the following six months, one good thing after another continuously occurred.
Within a year after winning the award, Huo Ren surprisingly released two albums.
One album was unbridled rock, and another was a pure English jazz album played in a lazy and luxurious style, both in terms of efficiency and quality that were incredibly high.
Long Jia was originally supposed to take annual leave to have a wedding early, but because someone insisted on having a grand and full ceremonial experience—Chinese and Western styles, and only the best church— it had to be postponed until 2020.
Professor Bo was quite troubled by this.
DIVINE had already become a rising boy group, officially releasing their first album in the spring of 2019.
Six of the twelve songs were primarily created by Fu Mingnian, with the other six being collaborations by everyone. Both sales and reviews were quite favorable.
Han Qu was captured by multiple cameras, apparently still desperately fleeing.
First, he was found in a slum, completely filthy and dressed in rags, looking like a total vagabond.
Before the photographer could put down his phone, the man had already jumped into the river in a panic, clutching half of a sandwich given by a passerby.
Later, he was caught on a surveillance camera under a bridge, curled up in a garbage shed during a storm, sleeping like a pile of mud.
If not for the distinct facial features and the terrified trembling when his name was called, no one would believe this was the same once-arrogant CEO.
After Chi Ji could walk more freely, he went out for several breaths of fresh air.
He and Jiang Jue went to see “Rock Barbie” again, and afterward, they took a long walk together along the seaside road.
The six of them gradually returned, planning to practice two dances together again.
Just speaking of condition, Huo Ren and Mei Shengyao were effortlessly ready, Long Jia could keep up with a bit of practice, but the other three were still slightly behind.
Luckily, the chosen dances were not too difficult, having been practiced many times before by everyone.
They simply decided to move back into the 17th floor together.
Every day on his way to work, Long Jia would conveniently drop Bo Jue off at school, while Huo Ren spent his time writing songs and, once everyone was gathered, rehearsing dances with them.
Professor Bo hadn’t exercised his arms and legs for two years, and his face turned pale when stretching and pressing his muscles again.
“Ouch—hurts—”
Xie Lianyun was somewhat better, though he was panting like a bellows on the treadmill.
Their physical fitness was actually much stronger than ordinary people, but they still needed a period of intensive training to readapt to a nearly three-hour long concert.
Chi Ji initially lacked agility in his movements, but after dancing a few songs, he seemed to regain his muscle memory, not even out of breath as he sang and danced, thoroughly enjoying himself.
After two hours of training, he still had the energy to tease someone collapsed beside him, bending over to poke.
“Xie Xie, your glasses fell off.”
Xie Lianyun looked utterly despondent: “I… just… need to rest for a while…”
Mei Shengyao quickly hopped over: “Senior brother! Wasn’t I the best dancer just now?”
“What’s with this competitive spirit…”
Huo Ren, having nothing else to do, spent his days dancing with them, and his evenings enjoying life with his fiancé.
Bo Jue had a last-minute class in the afternoon, so he just happened to go two hours early to Qin Lu’s studio to pick someone up.
Pei Ruye had mentioned earlier that he needed to pick up a contract and wanted to catch up with old friends while he was there.
Huo Ren bought a bunch of bellflowers on the way to give to Sister Qin, feeling a familiar warmth when he arrived.
Sister Qin’s girlfriend saw him coming, smiled as she opened the front door, and said they were inside chatting, with newly brewed Dongding oolong tea ready.
Just a few steps in, Qin Lu’s voice came out.
“Are you feeling better now?”
Pei Ruye, with his back to the door, responded lazily while sipping tea.
“What are you talking about?”
“Separation anxiety.” Qin Lu laughed, sparing no face for her old friend: “You had severe symptoms these past few years.”
“Ren Ren is calm leading the group in China, and you get restless even if he’s cold to you for a moment, not to mention the countless times you came here to complain about it.”
Huo Ren paused outside the curtain, thinking he must have heard wrong.
Hadn’t it always been him clinging to Pei Ruye?
Previously, due to illness and a sense of disconnection, he couldn’t bear to be apart from Pei Ruye for too long until things slowly improved after everything was resolved.
When did—his teacher also have these troubles??
The man absentmindedly sipped his tea.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“Really never heard of it?” Qin Lu cleared her throat, ruthlessly digging up the past.
“Back then, you were stuck in the role of a teacher, saying Ren Ren was just too dependent on you, worried that frequent messages might expose you, so you only checked in during holidays, waiting anxiously for Lantern Festival or Dragon Boat Festival, remember?”
“…”
“Later, when Ren Ren and their group went to the neighboring province for a show and you couldn’t attend because of a meeting in ShiDu, you nearly couldn’t resist calling him in the middle of the night. Instead, you came here and shelled sunflower seeds for Kui Kui all night, causing it to burp for three days straight. Are you responsible or not?”
“…”
Qin Lu had been Huo Ren’s sole fan initially and had watched her friend and her idol’s relationship fluctuate over the years, now reflecting on it all with a touch of wistfulness.
Joking aside, her feelings were mostly of blessings and amazement.
“Now… you finally seem to have cured your heartache, which is good.”
Pei Ruye was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, “Yes, I still have separation issues.”
While Huo Ren was openly dependent on him, Pei Ruye realized he wasn’t in much better shape himself.
Qin Lu let out a sound.
“Strange, isn’t it?”
The man sighed as if to complain, yet his tone was pleasant.
“Never had a relationship in my early twenties; everyone thought there was something wrong with me, but really… it’s just too hard to find someone who fits and suits my taste.”
“Once I fell for someone, it was like being possessed; I didn’t even know what was going on with me. Even with so much work to do, I just wanted to see him, to talk a little more.”
Whenever Ren Ren encountered trouble, he would also feel distressed and agitated.
One person undergoing trials and tribulations, the other as if amidst fire and water, suffering day and night.
Already deeply immersed.
Huo Ren hid not far away, now hearing every word clearly, his ears burning hot.
“Is it still going on?” Qin Lu was a bit puzzled: “You kissed at the concert, got engaged, everything’s settled, and you still can’t let him go?”
“Addicted too deeply.” The man candidly admitted: “Being too clingy can seem immature, so I came to have tea with you instead.”
“Ha—do you know how expensive my tea is—”
Huo Ren’s heart pounded as he listened; suddenly, the sunflower parrot nearby squawked loudly.
Both turned their heads to look, their gazes meeting.
Qin Lu reacted swiftly: “Ren Ren is here! I’ll go check the accounts! You two chat first!”
With a gesture, she scooped up the parrot and ran off.
Pei Ruye had not expected him to come so early; his expression briefly stunned, then he murmured: “Heard everything?”
Huo Ren was about to help him find a way out, but before he could speak, he couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably.
The man coughed dryly, turning away to sip his tea.
Huo Ren knowingly sat next to him, his smile particularly brilliant.
“Pei Ruye.”
“Look at me.”
The other was intently studying how many leaves were in the tea.
“Teacher—” Huo Ren softened his voice, leaning in to look at him: “You actually won’t admit it.”
“Admit what?”
“That you really like me.” The triumphant little white wolf boasted unabashedly: “And you’ve liked me for a very long time.”
“I was wondering, just wished me Merry Christmas, then Happy New Year’s again, it’s only been a few days.”
“If you miss me so much, why don’t you call me, hmm?”
The man, poked at a past secret, turned his head and pressed a heavy kiss on the corner of his lips, almost as a warning.
Huo Ren stretched out his hand, hanging on him, first rubbing their cheeks together, then whispering into his ear.
“Teacher… I actually thought before… that I was fantasizing too much…”
“I was thinking back then, when you sent those messages, if you were also thinking of me.”
His body carried a scent of musk and wine, soft and fragrant to embrace.
“Those days… I felt the same.”
“I missed you so much, I even dreamt of you.”
“Back then, I dreamt we got married, and the next day when I went to class on the sixteenth floor, I was too embarrassed to look you in the eyes.”
Pei Ruye was easily coaxed, letting him kiss him several times, then he glanced aside: “Really?”
“Uh-huh…” Huo Ren’s ears were red: “I even dreamt of going to the movies with you, and getting caught kissing…”
They were now openly in love, even doing things they had neither dared to do nor fantasize about before.
Pei Ruye managed to find a shred of composure.
“Next week is your birthday, there are three or four events, but I can cancel them.”
“Really? Can we?” Huo Ren felt something stirring, looking up at him.
The man kissed him seriously on the lips, then as if to leave a mark, gently kissed his forehead.
Then slowly stood up, stepped back, and knelt on one knee.
Like a deity willing to offer all his care, and also a devout follower who had long pledged his loyalty.
“Ren Ren, will you marry me?”