Idol Chapter 200: [YeHuo Extra]

-1-

Huo Ren thoroughly enjoys his current college life.

He has now completely retired to become a musician, no longer needing to continuously expose himself for fame, nor participate in dispensable shows that bring nothing but trouble.

He has often told the fans that there’s no need for vote manipulation or data boosting.

“Everyone should have their own life, many obsessions are actually… mere illusions.”

Initially, the fans were quite reluctant to accept this.

They felt that since Huo Ren came from a top-tier boy band and had won major awards in his first year back, he should cherish his current status.

Having come this far, why not continue to dominate and pursue the highest glory?

[Brother, please start working again TAT, if you don’t, the newcomers will surpass us!!]

[My idol!! Besides releasing albums, you can also act in dramas!! All the top celebrities are acting now, won’t you consider it!!!]

[He barely takes on endorsements, doesn’t appear on variety shows, releases two albums a year and then vanishes; concerts only happen when school breaks for Christmas—Heaven, please give us some sustenance and save your children!!]

Huo Ren doesn’t point out their utilitarian motives, letting many fans eventually leave as they fail to see their desires projected onto him. He continues to write songs, study, and peruse academic papers in the US, occasionally cooperating when recognized on the streets, still professional with photos and autographs.

He lives by the Charles River, sometimes spends weekends in Los Angeles and New York with music producers, and spends most weekdays in the library.

Pei Ruye, as always, stays by his side, accustomed to remote work and enjoying the peace.

They have been married for over half a year, both very satisfied.

Many things were paused during their youth, indirectly leading to a honeymoon phase that nearly caused back injuries, but fortunately, they recovered quickly due to their resilient physiques.

Having fully experienced the charms of different levels, their appreciation for each other grew.

Passion fading was out of the question; having barely dated in the previous ten years, the next decade could feel like a continuous honeymoon.

Pei Ruye, after being seen as vulnerable by Qin Lu in the US, indulged himself and decided to pursue all his degrees again.

The US has a well-established system for nurturing prodigies, so Boss Pei had completed his degrees at a young age. When he returned, he was often underestimated in business discussions.

—Of course, those people were thoroughly educated by reality later on, which was to be expected.

Huo Ren kept his registration in the finance department at Shidu University and naturally continued his studies in the US.

Pei Ruye had already completed this field, occasionally accompanying him to lectures, and casually enrolled in a classical literature course to explore medieval romances, writing essays almost effortlessly.

Both studying abroad, the frequency of paparazzi shots around them gradually decreased until almost none.

The couple, blending into crowds of varying appearances, held hands wherever they went, open and honest.

If life were a movie, their story would be hard to define.

The first half involved the glamorous and tumultuous world of entertainment, the middle was mixed with personality repair, financial warfare, and revenge, and later they both reversed their roles, shedding their business suits and donning casual hoodies to enjoy campus life.

As classes progressed, their classmates started to sense something was off.

It wasn’t about their marital status or personal issues, but these two were… quite exceptional.

So, do all Asians study this well?

Do you not need time to read literature? What’s with the computational speed akin to cheating? And how come each of you knows several languages?

From the beginning, Huo Ren had no intention of hiding his light under a bushel. Since dropping out in middle school, he had always been eager to study, now fully embracing his nature to rapidly absorb knowledge, still with a childish competitive streak.

Photographic memory depends on talent and subsequent training and mastery.

Most members of the Mensa Club possess this trait, simply because it’s not particularly difficult.

For professions like Jiang Jue and Jiang Yanzi, training in techniques like memory palaces from a young age is helpful. Later on, memorizing scripts and settings becomes a breeze, and even card counting and music notation in leisure activities are easy.

Pushing a few levels deeper, for Huo Ren and Pei Ruye, using this powerful storage ability in research and thesis development is naturally suited for dominating the academic and industry hierarchies.

When working on big data simulations and integrated project research, their brain efficiency is naturally unleashed to its full extent.

Consuming mental energy too quickly can often lead to symptoms of low blood sugar, so the household often found its stock of fruit candies insufficient. The servants decided to simply stash several boxes of assorted brands and flavors in the warehouse.

When Huo Ren worked on his homework or programming, he usually kept his computer to himself, not letting Pei Ruye see. Pei Ruye, undisturbed, leisurely continued reading his copy of the “Aeneid.”

Often, while working, the little white wolf would bring over the laptop, squeeze in next to him, and show him his newly written results.

It had a bit of a show-off vibe, akin to flaunting one’s hunting skills.

Pei Ruye would briefly skim through, nod in appreciation, and then continue reading.

“Just praise me a little,” Huo Ren muttered discontentedly. “I sent that assignment to the professor, and he was absolutely amazed.”

Suppressing a laugh, the man continued reading, his eyes on the Latin text, speaking calmly, “The structure is a bit rigid. It would be better to dismantle the section from line six to thirty-two and introduce a new framework.”

Huo Ren’s breath hitched.

“There’s some redundancy in part of the algorithm. The loops could use some interface adjustments; check the email I sent you this morning while I was having coffee.”

The young man kissed him forcefully, then took his laptop back to continue revising his homework.

We’re classmates now!! Teach me less so I can learn on my own!!

Listening to the clattering of the keyboard, the man laughed again.

“Don’t laugh!”

“Alright, I won’t laugh,” he said, relaxing against the sofa, glancing sideways, “Don’t you think I’m also sexy when I’m smart?”

Huo Ren gave him a quick look and went back to refining his algorithm, “Ask me that in bed.”

Pei Ruye wasn’t satisfied with such delayed responses, coaxing him softly, “Praise me more, baby.”

“Both charming and handsome, unbelievably so,” the young man said expressionlessly. “Give me five minutes, and we’ll do it right here.”

The man, satisfied, got up to fetch a fleece blanket for the sofa.

Their life was both complex and simple.

Pei Ruye remained the chief decision-maker of many companies, but this did not prevent him from accompanying his newlywed spouse in designing music stages, listening to finance lectures while tweaking the composition of MVs.

Huo Ren continued as a freelance creator and singer. Others may take holidays during Christmas, but he would return home for concerts, inspecting sports arenas for lighting and props, then returning to the hotel to hammer out a few thousand words for a thesis.

There was a moment when Huo Ren became curious about Pei Ruye’s past.

His EQ had been polished to perfection by his husband during his youth, avoiding any rash probes into private matters. He casually brought it up after a particular event, as if offhandedly.

His lover, massaging a faint red mark on his side in the bathtub, spoke lazily.

“Look if you want, there’s nothing to hide.”

He fully preserved the curiosity of investigation.

Huo Ren, as if given a new game, canceled his weekend plans with friends and flew to San Francisco to delve into the old Pei family affairs.

After spending over two days, meeting six or seven old relatives still haunted by memories, and visiting his husband’s grandfather’s grave again.

Some questions could finally be relentlessly answered.

Like what Pei Ruye did to certain people around the age of nine, when the old Pei family erupted in disputes over inheritance and his parents were driven from the ancestral home to the streets.

Or how, after settling down, the real control of the Pei family fell into the hands of a puppet, that boy with a ponytail… once had a rebellious look in his eyes.

Returning to the mainland in his teens to start a business, commanding respect through power despite the geographical and social distance, paving and conquering new markets—it sounded like a novelistic journey.

From nine to nineteen, those ten years were as spectacular as every second after they met.

Only, the young man had struggled alone, neither indulging in romance nor mundane affairs, like a mannequin devoid of sentiment.

Huo Ren carefully captured photos of his lover’s youthful handsomeness, admiration and adoration burgeoning within him again, wishing he could find him at that moment and entangle in a kiss for another ten minutes.

The feeling of being profoundly attracted to someone of the same caliber was truly marvelous.

He gradually began to understand many things that he had not grasped at fifteen or sixteen.

Intelligent people are not always cold and aloof, nor always fiercely independent.

Integrating intelligence into social interactions can make everyone present feel as if they are enjoying a spring breeze, subtly delineating all speech and distances by those in power.

“Still reading?”

A cup of coffee was placed beside the table, and the man gently stroked his tousled hair.

“…I’ve taken all the photos back.”

Huo Ren flipped another page of his notes, contemplative. “I didn’t understand before why you would bring me a cake on my sixteenth birthday.”

Love at first sight didn’t quite fit the scenario, and it seemed excessive for a teacher-student relationship that wasn’t yet close.

Now, it seemed more like a fierce beast wandering in the wilderness, suddenly sensing the presence of its own kind.

Even if that counterpart was temporarily as muddy as a stray dog, sleeping in an underground parking lot like a wild dog.

“A small gesture of goodwill.” Pei Ruye circled his neck, bending down to catch a fruit candy fed by warm fingers. “You were too young then, lacking that kind of intuition.”

Huo Ren flipped another page, feeding himself a blueberry-flavored candy.

The man turned to kiss him, their lips mingling the sweet scents of lychee and blueberry, offering a special relaxation in the relentless downpour of a deep night.

Huo Ren focused on revisiting memories, his judgments cautious.

“You were a bit world-weary then.”

The man neither confirmed nor denied.

“A bit arrogant towards others.”

Although he hid it well.

“…Arrogance lasted a long time.” Pei Ruye’s gaze was nostalgic. “Until I met you.”

For someone like him, it was hard to be attracted or conquered by the ordinary.

Looks, wealth, knowledge—all of it.

If the gap was too great, no amount of physical allure mattered once stripped away.

Pei Ruye had been introduced to suitable matches in his teens, but he resigned himself to a lonely fate, compromising with the world.

But if there truly was someone, someone whose edge and resilience matched his own.

If there truly was someone whose brilliance could dazzle him…

Then surrendering and falling would actually be the best reward heaven could give him.

 

-2-

During the promotional tour for his new album back home, the old members of SPF gathered once again.

Jiang Shu was now dabbling in antique collectibles, Qi Ding continued to toil day and night for his company, rarely finding time for a meal out.

Mei Heng had sung for a few years before moving to acting, and Feng Jin’s new album had just won several major awards.

The six of them frequently met for leisure and fun; missing someone just meant easily skipping work or class to meet for hotpot, or spontaneously deciding to skip everything to go fishing or surfing on an island was common.

With so many people today, the venue was particularly lively, and after dinner, it seemed Mei Shengyao casually mentioned something, and the group thundered off to find a KTV booth to continue the fun.

Huo Ren, protecting his voice, didn’t drink and chuckled as he drove, hearing the group in the back singing “Han Mang,” arms over each other’s shoulders.

Pei Ruye sat in the passenger seat, his posture slightly stiff.

“By the way, Teacher,” Huo Ren adjusted the rearview mirror a bit, casually speaking, “Have you ever been to places like that before? Might be a bit noisy.”

“Not often.”

“We’ve been married so long and you still call him ‘Teacher’,” Director Su laughed. “You two are too polite.”

Jiang Shu snorted. “You don’t understand anything, that’s their kind of affection.”

Huo Ren smiled, steering the car through the VIP entrance to park.

This place was later purchased by President Long.

Paparazzi in China were like flies, buzzing everywhere, making it necessary to be cautious about surveillance and eavesdropping wherever they went.

Initially, Long Jia still had the patience to have Xie Lianyun drive around in circles before settling down, but eventually, he grew tired and simply wrote a check.

Want to have a dinner gathering? Buy the entire restaurant! Arrange for chefs of every cuisine, it doesn’t matter if it’s not profitable normally!

Want a spa? Buy one! Make it even more luxurious than Uncle Jiang’s place! My wife always complains of aches in his arms and legs!

Want to sing karaoke? Buy the place! Clear out! Renovate everything from scratch! Set up branches nationwide, so it’s convenient to gather anywhere!

As they drove in this time, the five floors of the venue had already been cleared, and a row of waitstaff bowed in unison, creating an almost imperial gathering vibe.

Huo Ren and Pei Ruye walked in the middle, listening to discussions about what songs to sing later.

“Wait, haven’t we never heard Boss Pei sing?”

“That’s right,” chimed in Uncle Qi. “With such a soothing voice, Boss Pei, how about singing a love song for Brother Ren today, haha—”

The man laughed and agreed without hesitation.

Huo Ren was slightly surprised but laughed off the suggestion.

They proceeded to a large VIP room for fun and singing, maintaining a lively atmosphere.

The venue was bustling not just with assistants but also with at least seven or eight professional singers. Several vocal coaches they had worked with long-term were also invited to join the fun, and the song queue was packed.

Everyone there was an old friend who had competed for the OSC Crown Award, and now, fueled by high spirits and wild antics, the KTV session felt like a grand finale of a singing competition, with operatic, flowery, and high pitches, and even dolphin tones all being showcased.

If tickets were sold for this concert, they would have fetched an astronomical price.

As the news spread, friends from various circles also started to join in.

Jiang Lu and Su Chen, who had collaborated with them a few times and lived nearby, brought several bottles of his home-brewed fine wine.

Su Chen, having won three Golden Actor awards, had greatly transformed, now appearing more clear and bright, his smile like a gentle breeze brushing against willows.

Wearing his signature pop-art tie, he moved so smoothly that one couldn’t tell he had ever suffered a fracture.

Jiang Lu, now a well-known commercial film director with a total box office surpassing three billion at this year’s Spring Festival box office, had quickly become a formidable newcomer in the industry.

Still wearing earrings in his left ear, his gaze as untamed as a black hound.

Mei Shengyao, upon seeing him, touched the long-empty piercings on his own earlobe, thinking that perhaps maintaining that edgy look was better.

“Almost got inflamed and pus-filled back then,” sighed Su Chen. “If I had been more like Brother Lu back then, it wouldn’t have been so exhausting afterward.”

Jiang Lu kissed him and sat down among the crowd, laughing.

As Huo Ren opened the door to greet them, he laughed as he accepted the wine and leaned in curiously.

“That ruby in the middle of your tie… it’s not the one from the drama set, is it?”

Su Chen nodded quietly.

“Really??!!”

“How could it be,” Su Chen whispered. “The one from the set… was actually fake all along, this is another one Brother Lu found later.”

Huo Ren, who had just made up his leave for “Night of Reillumination” last year, instinctively reached out to touch it.

“It doesn’t feel like a gem?”

“Of course not.” Su Chen squinted and smiled. “He ruins things too much; it pains me just to talk about it.”

Qi Lin arrived late due to finishing up a scene with Jiang Jue, and the moment he entered, his father Qi Ding was already belting out “A Spray of Plum Blossoms” on the microphone, creating a slightly awkward encounter.

Long Jia, hugging Bo Jue, poked at the screen, trying to get Professor Bo to sing him a love song.

Zhong Fengyu, having drunk too much, slapped Xie Lianyun’s shoulder and asked, “Didn’t you once laugh during a test song, singing ‘I Offer Petroleum to My Country’?”

Xie Lianyun kept a straight face: “When have I ever been that foolish…”

Several women were present in the room, and with no one smoking, it was actually quite comfortable to stay.

Huo Ren opened the night with two symbolic songs, then spent the rest of the time leaning on Pei Ruye, peeling grapefruit and watching as the songs queued up for their loved ones drew closer.

Pei Ruye sat upright throughout the evening, speaking very little, and merely smiled politely when cued.

Four songs left, then three…

Chi Ji and Han Yang sang a duet of “Dear Theodosia,” their harmonies clashing like dueling spirits.

Then Bo Huan pulled his brother up to sing a sweet song, eliciting whistles and applause from many.

Huo Ren glanced at Pei Ruye and rubbed his nose, “It’s getting a bit stuffy here, I’d like to get some air. Will you join me?”

Someone nearby laughed, “It’s almost Pei Ruye’s turn to sing, why not wait till after? It’s a rare occasion.”

Pei Ruye looked at him questioningly.

“I’ll cue up his song later,” Huo Ren said with a smile, “I’ll remember.”

He stood up to go to the terrace outside, bringing Pei Ruye along. They leaned against the railing together, quietly watching the flickering lights of the city from their high vantage point.

After a moment of silence, Pei Ruye turned to him.

“You’ve seen through it already.”

Huo Ren blinked, “Seen through what?”

The man looked slightly troubled, as if unable to hide a flaw in his perfect aura.

Huo Ren drank half a bottle of water and comfortably nestled into his embrace, squinting contentedly, “It’s nothing, if I don’t say it, they won’t know.”

“Besides, it’s actually more appealing to me that you have something you’re not good at—satisfies my competitive spirit a bit.”

Pei Ruye rested his chin on Huo Ren’s soft hair and murmured softly, “Even if it were my turn, I’d still go up there.”

The young man was surprised, “Performing off-key in public could wreck your image.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Pei Ruye looked down, “If you want to hear it, I’ll sing. Any number of songs.”

Huo Ren smiled and rubbed his face.

“You.”

When they returned to the KTV room, the party was still in full swing.

They continued until after four in the morning before calling it a night, making plans to play Werewolf together the next day.

“Invite Jiang Huang too!”

“Qi Lin, what about that handsome doctor you used to talk about—I’m still single, introduce me—”

True to form, the embrace on the terrace was captured by a long lens from 800 meters away in a neighboring building.

After the frenzy of the night, the paparazzi’s performance plummeted; they were tired of capturing anything and everything.

“XXX accidentally exposed,” “XX seen entering a hotel with a man at night,” “XXX cried,” “XX cried again…”

Please? It’s 2020 already? If you’re going to feed the paparazzi, can’t you come up with a better script???

Damn, the old generation in the entertainment industry got tired of these antics twenty years ago. What’s with today’s celebrities? Spice up the CP and romance rumors with something new, why don’t you?

During the year Huo Ren came back from retirement and got married, the entertainment industry blossomed wildly, with too many fun events to capture.

Now, when paparazzi captured him, there was a hint of nostalgia, perhaps also for the large bonuses they used to get for such encounters.

The photo of the two embracing on the terrace was quickly posted online, and as usual, the company did not plan to pay for PR.

Instead, the Nightfire as Blade super topic unexpectedly buzzed with activity, a hard-earned treat for the fans.

Huo Ren occasionally recorded daily life snippets and shared warm moments with Pei Ruye on a low-profile account with few followers.

But after getting married, between academic papers and albums, enjoying marriage left little time for meticulously managing a social media presence.

It’s indeed unnecessary to sensationalize private lives for public amusement.

In the photo, the two of them were nestled together under the starlit sky, whispering to each other. Although the outlines were not very clear, they indeed seemed well-matched.

Even from just a few blurry paparazzi shots, it was evident that the couple shared a deep affection, sticking close even for a simple breath of fresh air.

[2020 and my OTP is delivering sweetness again, I’m dying, I’m literally rolling on the floor—]

[They’ve been married for over half a year! How come they still have that fresh love vibe? How do they look even younger than before? Do celestials age backward???]

[You’re the worst paparazzi ever!! Just a few photos?? Where are the gifs?? The videos?? The follow-up?? Give! Me! More! I have the data to burn!!!!]

At this juncture, an anonymous account posted on a forum.

 

[Let me tell you a story, I’m almost blinded by the dazzle.]

Posted by “Eating Ramen in the USA”:

1L: I couldn’t help but spill everything in one go.

When I first went to register at the school, I was fully prepared to be outshone by the academic gods and goddesses, considering it’s an Ivy League school, so being metaphorically beaten up was expected.

But just a few days after arriving, while I was daydreaming in class, I suddenly realized that my long-adored idol, whom I’ve followed for many years, was sitting three rows away, not only attending the class but also diligently taking notes.

Just mentioning this makes me want to cry, mom, in high school I studied hard, acing tests so I could afford concert tickets, winning contests to buy more albums and collect shiny cards.

And now, studying abroad!! My idol is right here in this classroom, and he’s even more handsome than on album covers!!!!!!

My blood rushed to my head, I almost jumped up in front of the professor, and I had to cover my mouth desperately to check if it was really him, it would be so embarrassing to mistake someone else.

But it wasn’t just him, his partner was there too!! And man, he was damn handsome!!

Who could stand this, I ask you???

 

-3-

[2L]: Feels like this is going to blow up, saving my spot.

[3L]: So OP is also a top student, so envious TT

…

[65L]: Wait, your dog isn’t… I suddenly have a bold guess…

[78L]: It is!!! Aaah my ultimate bias really did go there to study!! Please, tell us more, even make it up, just a little more!!!!

[614L “Eating Ramen in the USA”]: Holy shit, I just went to make some ramen, and it turned over almost ten pages?? Am I going viral?? It’s all fake, all made up, scared to get caught TAT

 

The thread was bustling with users clamoring for more stories, as if they could reach through their screens and shake the OP by the shoulders.

Not long after, the OP added quietly.

 

[812L “Eating Ramen in the USA”]: So one day, I went to a new bubble tea shop in a nearby commercial area. The place was oddly located but the tea was delicious, Americans like it overly sweet… but I digress. While I was buying the tea, I saw my ultimate bias in line with his partner, leaning on him and playing with his phone!!

I was nearly blinded by the dazzle again, thinking I should at least bring back a cup for my roommate, so I stayed in line.

A few minutes later, his man spoke, his voice so seductive I blushed just hearing it.

He said, “If you want these, let me make them, and sleep more in the afternoon when you’re home.”

Holy cow?? You two have a net worth of how many billions and you’re here debating this mundane stuff in front of a pleb like me??

Do you not see any problem with this???

[1002L]: Exactly!!!! Aaahhh!!! I’ve shipped it again!!!

[1013L]: He wasn’t like this before!! He’s turned into a pampered darling!!! Is this kind of celestial love even real??

[1211L]: _____ is real!! Sisters, let’s cry together it’s too real damn!! I’m going to rush to take the TOEFL and SAT right now!!

[1548L]: So what? What happened next???

[2020L “Eating Ramen in the USA”]: Your spamming is terrifying…

I’ll tell you a bit more about what happened next, a few days later we bumped into each other in class again, and my idol, he really had a translucent thermos.

Inside, there was not only milk tea, but also milk cream and burnt fairy grass…

After that, I quietly watched for several days, and every day his drink was different.

Mr. X, you really are so idle!!

Mr. X, if you’re not running to Wall Street, who are you showing off these milk tea recipes to!!

My eyes, I’m being blinded by the show!!!

[2145L]: Holy crap… I’m going blind too… Are they this sweet after getting married??

[2204L]: Ahhhhh I’m the screaming mole rat tonight, let me go, I can still scream out three thousand more words!!!

[2521L]: It’s over, I already have the picture in my mind, that guy probably wearing an apron making milk tea for his little white wolf at home, adding mint leaves while kissing him… damn, you actually tricked the dog into coming to die!!!

 

This post only survived about thirty minutes amid all the screaming and rolling, and then was timidly deleted by the original poster.

However, many people had taken screenshots beforehand, then wiping away their tears as they devoured another bowl of dog food together.

Huo Ren returned to school still holding his thermos, blowing on it as he drank and listened to class, happily feeling the reactions of nearby classmates being tantalized by the aroma.

Teacher also tried a few sips and figured out the recipe, feeling warm and comfortable in the stomach.

Happy.

When he got back home, Pei Ruye was washing cream cups in the kitchen, signaling him to wash his hands and come eat strawberries.

Huo Ren went over to help tie his polka dot apron, and as he bent down to bite a strawberry, he suddenly thought of something and quickly went upstairs to get his computer.

Pei Ruye thought they were going to discuss some academic issue and turned around to tidy up the table while waiting for him to come down.

A burst of laughter came from upstairs.

Pei Ruye: …?

It was rare for Huo Ren to be in this kind of mood, he was upstairs browsing web pages for almost twenty minutes, remembering his husband was waiting in the kitchen, he came down holding the computer, nearly laughing into a cough.

“I have something to show you,” he said, rubbing his sore cheeks, “you… cough… don’t be mad.”

Pei Ruye couldn’t guess what he was looking at.

It was seeing the apron that Huo Ren suddenly remembered a night many years ago when he was shocked by fan fiction.

Back when he was in Corona, the official forum not only had various omnivorous CP factions but also frequently clashed over pictures and fan fictions about who was more authentic.

Later, the moderator simply set up a CP leaderboard, letting everyone revel in their fandom BATTLE.

At that time, he had just been introduced to novels and inadvertently read all the chaotic pairings and circle-defining treasures, which for a time overturned his understanding of the world.

Later, his and his teammates’ CPs took turns exploding in popularity, even catching Pei Ruye’s attention a few times, to the point that Xie Lianyun felt chills down his back.

“It’s just… you and I also have a TAG, called ‘Night Fire Like a Blade.'”

“I know about that,” Pei Ruye’s mood brightened: “They even set up a CP super topic and made it to the hot search.”

“Well… it’s not just that…” Huo Ren chose his words carefully, pushing the screen in front of the rightful owner: “With a CP… there must be fan fiction.”

The marvelous works within the ‘Night Fire Like a Blade’ TAG were already quite numerous.

Some were set in an ABO scenario, saying something about Huo Ren suddenly entering heat during his coming of age ceremony, needing his teacher’s mark to live normally, so the two got married first then fell in love.

There were ballet and streetwalker settings still in serial publication.

As for Xianxia PARO, court PARO, school-teacher PARO, etc., it seemed to encompass many parallel universes.

Pei Ruye was also somewhat surprised for a moment, silently opening a few pieces to read, his expression growing complicated.

“Teacher, look at this.” Huo Ren, suppressing his laughter, pointed to a page on the side, his voice teasing: “Someone wrote about you going to the streets.”

The man expressionlessly looked directly for the key phrases.

“Five hundred.” He repeated: “First time five hundred, the next day one thousand, triple the third night?”

Huo Ren nodded, wrapping an arm around his shoulders in unrestrained amusement, and continued reading the dialogue: “Pei Ruye, WeChat or Alipay?”

The man took a deep breath and after a long pause said, “Why am I the one being solicited?”

“Should I be the one then?” Huo Ren leaned in to kiss his cheek, coaxing very adeptly, “Mr. Pei, how much would you like to pay for the first night?”

Pei Ruye glanced at him sideways: “Pay now?”

“Ah… wait a minute??”

“Put me down, I have a thesis to write…”

“Hold this black card, and don’t let go midway.”

“—!!”

 

-4-

Before the Christmas concert, Huo Ren drove Pei Ruye to their old home once more.

His parents had both passed away, and there had been rumors of demolition in that neighborhood for several years, but nothing had happened yet.

Probably because it was too old and rundown, even the commercial vehicle parked at the entrance seemed out of place.

Huo Ren hadn’t visited this place in years. Only upon returning did he realize the area had been reconstructed; the path leading to his home had turned into a long stretch of shantytown, with people pushing carts selling spicy hot pot and fried potatoes.

Accustomed to a life of abundant resources, reentering such a place felt like reaching through a veil to touch a pile of dusty memories.

It felt detached and unreal.

“When I used to get out of school, I would often buy roasted cakes from that corner,” Huo Ren looked around, not sure if he was talking to himself: “It’s been so long, and it’s still open.”

This was the first time he had brought Pei Ruye here.

Pei Ruye came from a well-off background, quite detached from this messy civilian life.

Huo Ren pointed out the chaotic elements one by one, explaining them to him, and he listened intently, occasionally asking for details.

“If we’re being honest… we can’t really say we’re a match,” Huo Ren clicked his tongue, clearly aware of his former status: “If I had gone through high school and university normally, I might not even know who you are now.”

Pei Ruye gave him a calm look and continued walking deeper without responding.

The residents of the nearby neighborhoods had gradually moved out, Aunt Lu and Chen’s parents had also moved far away, maintaining contact only through WeChat during holidays.

The area had just experienced a light snowfall, making the roads muddy.

Someone had written a large ‘Demolish’ on a mottled wall, but a string of flashy underwear still hung inside the protective bars next door.

“I lived… oh right, here.” Huo Ren fumbled for the keys, leading him upstairs, half-jokingly saying: “Do you remember the day I went for that interview, with paint still on my shoes?”

“That day, debt collectors were kicking at the door, and paint was splashed everywhere.” Huo Ren sighed, bumped the door lock a couple of times before the old door opened, entering with a hint of nostalgia: “Aunt Lu came by a while ago, she cleaned it up nicely.”

This house had undergone several cleansings.

It started when his parents moved in as newlyweds, where he was born and the family spent over a decade in peaceful simplicity.

Back then, the living room wall was covered with certificates, which every visitor praised.

Later, when he was just in junior high, his father developed a gambling addiction, and the number of debt collectors kicking at the door increased.

The doorway was constantly splashed with paint and chicken blood, the words ‘Pay Back’ sprayed glaringly and fiercely.

Later on, after he joined Corona, he got a new home and visited here one last time during a variety show recording with his teammates.

Brothers from different backgrounds sang songs and cleaned the rooms, turning the old house into a bright and tidy home once more, making it warm and cozy again.

“After I went to America, I also asked Aunt Lu and others to come by and clean occasionally.”

Huo Ren showed Pei Ruye his childhood graduation photo, whispering: “Although it’s impossible to live here again, for some reason, I still want to keep it as a memory, and I can’t help coming back to look every few years.”

Pei Ruye took the notebook he handed over, flipping through the arithmetic he wrote as a teenager, and then examined the neatly kept textbooks.

All were pure and naive memories, as if through these old things, one could see him before they had met.

The cassette tape was still in the cassette player, both slightly dusty.

Huo Ren carefully wiped the cassette player with a tissue, plugged in the power, and pressed the play button, listening to the old song from when the story just began.

**”Better Not to Forget”**.

Mei Heng’s voice was clear and gentle, touching enough to make one’s nose tingle.

Huo Ren’s emotions rose slightly as he saw Pei Ruye watching him quietly. He smiled and said, “No need to feel sorry, everyone has to go through their trials in this world.”

Pei Ruye breathed softly, his head bowed as he carefully placed each book and workbook back, smoothing out old creases with his fingertips as if caressing the face of his lover in times past through the veil of time.

The gentle melody spread through the air like aged wine, warming the listener in the deep winter.

Huo Ren remembered something and went to the closet to take out a neatly folded school uniform, shaking it out and draping it over his shoulders.

“Pei Ruye, look at this.”

He approached him slowly, draped in the old school uniform.

“Kissing me now is like comforting the me from the past.”

Pei Ruye gently opened his arms, enveloping him in an embrace.

Then, he tightened his hold inch by inch, silently nuzzling his cheek with his nose.

“Actually, when I think about it, I’ve despaired so many times before.”

“Many times, I didn’t even want to resist anymore, thinking I might just rot away in those days, and it could never get better.”

Huo Ren’s smile was like the first thaw of a spring river.

It was like the frost had completely dissipated, and the light transformed in his eyes.

“But you were still there at the end, waiting for me.”

“Thinking about that, I feel as if the night lights up, as if there’s a wildfire burning, lighting up the path at the endpoint.”

“Ruye, the endpoint is really wonderful.”

Pei Ruye leaned in to kiss his lips, embracing him tightly once more.

He interlocked his fingers tightly with Huo Ren’s, wishing at this moment to exchange all his breaths and heartbeats for expressions of love.

“Ren Ren.”

“Actually, you… are my destiny.”

It was countless coincidences tightly knitted together by fate, an instinctual moment of soul awakening.

Time, distance, and social class are all trivial; a decade of waiting is also sweet.

As long as I can love you.

Forever love you.

-End of Text-

---

Author’s Note:

New romance series featuring an ABO boy band “C Position Pheromones” is being serialized steadily~ Follow for updates~

=================

Thanks to my friends, my editor, and all the readers for their support and inspiration.

I had some regrets during its creation, related to my own lack of resolve and capability.

I’m grateful to everyone who accompanied me and this book for six months, offering me much tolerance and motivation.

If you liked it, consider following my author column or leaving a favorable review.

I will continue to strive to bring more complete and appealing works to everyone.

Love you all, bowing here.

The first 1314 comments on this chapter will receive red packets, to be distributed in early April.

Weibo (@谁为东君掌青律) will also hold a giveaway soon, with gifts like CORONA’s individual badges, although it’s not yet planned.

**Jinjiang allows mentioning of Weibo; auditors, please do not lock, thank you.**

There are many things I can’t say out loud, and it’s hard to say goodbye.

I really don’t want to let go; it feels like a dream now.

I just hope that everyone’s future is bright, through ups and downs, unshaken by the eight winds.

And then to meet the dreams and crowns in your life.

————-

End Note Easter Egg:

1. **Origin of the Group’s Design**: Initially, when deciding Xie Lianyun’s name, I couldn’t quite capture the essence, feeling as if he was a “buy five, get one free” character. However, once the first character design sketch was completed and I saw the aloof, bespectacled man, it instantly clicked, feeling like remembering an old friend. This sparked a rapid flow of insights into his character, which was quite intriguing.

2. **Xie Lianyun’s Unrequited Love Story**: Initially, there was a plan for an uneventful BG (boy-girl) unrequited love storyline. The plot involved him, while being an idol, having a crush on a secretary in the company. He would just watch her from a distance, never speaking to or asking her name. Xie Lianyun’s character is such that he sees through things too clearly, never making mistakes, and thus, he never gains anything personal.

3. **Real Existence of the Fanfic**: The fan fiction about President Pei standing on the street mentioned in this chapter actually exists. Hhhhh

4. **About the Names**: Initially, Pei Ruye was named Yin Ru, and Huo Ren was Huo Ran. Long Jia was often called Long Qie until the end, and Bo Jue was also referred to as Bo Que. Actually, one should be pronounced “jia” and the other “jue” haha.

5. **Extra Chapter Fun**: Originally, there was an idea to have Ren Ren jokingly wear a school uniform, but wearing the old school uniform felt more sentimental.

6. **Original Setting of the Story**: Initially, it was set that Long and Bo would break up and only reunite after many years, and the relationship between Long and Ren would be strained for a long time before finally thawing. The indirect interactions in “Mr. Shark” were meant to hint at their improving relationship. At the beginning of their relationship, the six individuals did not have such deep emotional ties. But as the writing progressed, the emotions deepened significantly, leading to the original outline being crumpled up and tossed aside.

7. **Songs in the Text**: All songs with lyrics in the text are originally created for the Chinese version, while the English ones have corresponding real songs you can listen to. Thanks to the little angel who created a playlist for this book.

8. **Original Character Development for Huo Ren**: Initially, Huo Ren’s downfall and return were meant to be more tragic, but adjustments were made considering he’s the beloved protagonist.

9. **Story Planning**: Before the writing began, the general plot and ending were pretty much set. This includes the songs “Nameless Moments” and “Night Fire,” and scenes like Huo Ren dancing in front of a six-sided mirror, all hinting at the challenges he would face later in life.

10. **Chi Ji’s Presumed Death**: Chi Ji was indeed planned to be a fake death, meant to be clarified only in an extra chapter, with his character silently exiting the main story. When he and Huo Ren first met, the song sung was a funeral song for the protagonist’s best friend’s suicide.

11. **Chi Ji’s Suicide Scene**: Many readers felt a lack of empathy and thought it came abruptly. Actually, this was a spontaneous reaction; Chi Ji himself never really had thoughts of suicide. Huo Ren also repeatedly said that Chi Ji was murdered.

12. **Character Development**: Initially, Chi Ji was sexy without being aware of it because he lacked a sense of shame. Since his debut, various experiences with his teammates have been continuously teaching him what shame is.

This aspect is explicitly linked and reflected at the beginning of the story and in “Spring Awakening.”

12. **A Quote by Ni Zhan Ge**:

“Who still believes

that transplanting palms to the cold zone

can make it seem like the deceased died of fate

rather than the stupidity executed by authority”

13. I used to write drafts in memos, it seems that they were never used.

“The reward you give me, is to let me witness the deity with my own eyes.”

Huo Ren lowered his eyes and kissed him.

“The deity only wants to love you.”

In the final chapter of the main text, after much consideration, I still wrote, “I am yours, dreams and crown.”

For someone like Huo Ren, admitting his own importance and worth is much harder than admitting the other’s.

And this is also the lesson that Pei Ruye eventually taught him.

14. Mei Shengyao actually never had a complete and independent life.

He was confined in a villa at birth, sent to the Red House as he grew older, then fostered on the seventeenth floor for six years.

So in the extra story, Chi Ji will take him to England for university to experience the mundane life.

The daily life of a therapist brother saving people (what?

15. About Xie Lianyun’s chaotic evil times.

Xie Lianyun is easily captured by guilt, which is also the original motivation for creating Xie Ren & Xie Chi.

High mountains and flowing waters are more likely to develop into pure □□ relationships, although compatible in interests but incompatible in personalities, true love would take many torturous years, a standard cruel romance script.

16. Some drafts that were unused & forgotten.

– How many fans are needed?

A hundred thousand is not enough, a million is not enough.

They must have the purchasing power for albums and concerts, to gather into a mighty stream of light, lifting you to higher peaks.

– On stage, feeling oneself becoming a luminous body, and the companions are roaming twinkling comets.

– The endless red carpets, endless advertisement interviews, and photo shoots.

Huo Ren longs to return to SPF to continue songwriting, during promotional periods he is entirely a machine and a tool.

– Pei Ruye also brings a cake, partly because he thinks this kid is too skinny and should eat more sweets.

– The second year after Chi Ji’s death.

An idol became famous for cross-dressing, Huo Ren saw this news video and said nothing, went downstairs to smoke for a long time.

– The blade itself is lethal, but even more so is the blade that is disguised and feels no threat at all.

– Chi Ji takes him out to watch musicals on weekends.

Watch them all.

Smiling, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the tab, you remember to pay it back.”

– Long Jia as a trainee was a human scale, hugging each teammate and reporting the exact weight.

– Long Jia teaches Xie Lianyun and Huo Ren to rap.

Little Xie mispronounces and spits until his mentality explodes.

(This was abandoned because the rap was too awkward.)

– Bo Jue singing with both hands releasing flying doves, this draft was noted three times in the memo, in the end, I don’t even remember if it was written.

17. Chi Ji’s birthday November 6, Bo Jue August 8, Xie Lianyun July 22.

Long Jia/Mei Shengyao both on Valentine’s Day, the birthdays of YeHuo are completely symmetrical.

719, 917, Long Seventeen.

Love you all.

Goodbye.