Idol Chapter 46

As a guest, Pei Ruye was unlikely to be included in the main episodes of the variety show. There were too many optional materials, and the production team was already in urgent meetings discussing whether to add more episodes.

After living in an unfamiliar environment for several days, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw a familiar face. They gathered around, offering fruits, pouring tea, chatting, and having a lively time. The kitchen lights turned on again.

“I want a bowl of egg-fried rice.”

Pei Ruye had just arrived after getting off the plane and decided to drop by and see them before going to SPF. He hadn’t eaten much since the afternoon until now.

“Teacher, I can make many dishes.” Huo Ren refused to comply with his simple request. “We have a pressure cooker and an oven here. It’s quick to cook anything.”

Pei Ruye smiled as he watched him. “Shop manager Huo is quite confident.”

Huo Ren didn’t hesitate and spent fifteen minutes making two quick dishes.

Fragrant Mushroom Three-Cup Chicken, with stir-fried lettuce on the side, accompanied by a cup of lemon tea. They were visually appealing and delicious.

The others sat around the table, continuing to eat salad to control their calorie intake.

They were well aware that these dishes exceeded the recommended oil and sauce limits. Normally, they would only take a few bites during taste testing, discreetly enjoying them as part of the show. They definitely couldn’t eat too much.

Outside the window, light rain fell gently, and the little lamb curled up on a soft cushion, dozing off. Inside, it was warm and quiet.

Pei Ruye leisurely finished the whole bowl of rice, wiping the corners of his mouth with a tissue.

“As expected of the captain’s cooking.”

Huo Ren pressed his lips together and smiled, feeling a little proud.

“Jiang-ge said the results may be announced early this weekend, but you don’t have to feel pressured.” He looked directly at the teenager and spoke calmly, “SPF has always had strong public relations capabilities. Just focus on what you’re doing now.”

“Yes, teacher, I understand.”

“I have a meeting at the company at midnight, so I’ll be leaving.”

The six of them walked him to the bridge, holding umbrellas, and feeling a bit reluctant to part.

“See you later, Teacher Pei.”

“Come back next week for a meal!”

Pei Ruye waved at them with a smile. “Take care and remember to practice dancing.”

Huo Ren watched as he disappeared into the night, feeling somehow that their time together had been too short.

…They hadn’t even talked much.

The teenager didn’t carefully discern this sense of reliance. He turned around and walked back to the small cabin, a smile still lingering on his lips.

The Monday program was scheduled to be recorded at the Fox Pavilion.

Coincidentally, there was a large box of fox cubs that had completed their isolation period and were about to be released back into the larger group.

The six of them changed into protective sterile suits and entered the venue through a side door, carrying two transparent boxes toward the vibrant red foxes.

First, they had to clean up the corners of the venue, giving the foxes, both big and small, some time to familiarize themselves with each other through the boxes and ventilation holes.

The smell of food scraps and feces wasn’t pleasant, so Xie Lianyun and Long Jia took the lead in cleaning up the dirt. Xiao Chi and Bo Jue stood by with masks on, using water guns to wash the corners and crevices.

Mei Shengyao’s attention had been completely captivated by those fluffy creatures.

“They’re… so adorable!”

The staff handed them iron buckets filled with chunks of meat and small fish, explaining with a smile, “Foxes are very intelligent animals. You can interact with them more and play with the little balls.”

Just at that moment, the nearby large-tailed fox caught a whiff of the meat and quickly lifted its head, emitting a few calls.

“Ying-ying!”

Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue turned their heads simultaneously. “Did the little fox make a sound?”

“The big fox,” Huo Ren pointed to the furry mass completely surrounding Mei Shengyao, “they’re begging for food.”

Wait a minute! Aren’t foxes supposed to be elegant and cool animals?

Why do they sound like baby chicks when they call!

Once one started, the others followed suit, their calls rising and falling, instantly filling the venue with a chorus of sweet and coquettish voices, devoid of any sense of seriousness.

Huo Ren took the mop and helped clean up the water stains, observing Bo Jue as he sprayed disinfectant carefully in the corners.

After they put on gloves and came out again, it was time to open the boxes.

The staff made room for them and said friendly, “Who wants to try first? It’s a very interesting experience.”

Chi Ji was the first to raise his hand, holding the box filled with fox cubs that were around a month and a half old in his arms.

The larger foxes immediately gathered around him, their fluffy tails brushing against him.

“Get ready… Open the box!”

The moment the plastic cover was lifted, the little red furballs surged out eagerly, with several of them mindlessly nuzzling against Chi Ji’s arms.

Mei Shengyao, who was squatting nearby, was unexpectedly stuck by a few of the fox cubs that came his way. He nervously and seriously urged them, “Your mom and dad are over there! Go over quickly!”

The sound of baby foxes calling filled the air. Chi Ji was almost overwhelmed by the bundles of fur, unable to express his happiness.

Huo Ren swiftly protected his cheeks and neck, preventing the tiny foxes’ paws from scratching and leaving marks.

Beside them, Long Jia casually held a fox and wiggled its tail. “They’re so gentle, and it seems like they’re even smiling?”

The staff smiled and taught them how to feed the foxes and how to help clean their paws. Bo Jue avoided the camera and washed all the cleaning tools, emanating the smell of disinfectant.

“Teacher Bo! Hold it!” Long Jia quickly handed another little fox to him, urging, “Feel it!”

Bo Jue was about to refuse, but he was caught off guard as the little fox rubbed its face against his at close range.

The fox had just weaned and was still emitting the scent of milk, making it unexpectedly pleasant.

It didn’t even smell bad.

Long Jia smiled at him. “Isn’t it soft?”

Bo Jue furrowed his brows, intending to stay firm, but his hands instinctively started stroking the fox’s tail.

The little fox turned its head and grabbed his finger, tentatively giving it a small bite before playfully licking it twice.

Canine tongues don’t have barbs. They’re soft, smooth, and warm.

Bo Jue panicked instantly. “No! Long Jia, come and take it away! Take it away!”

The little fox licked his fingertip with relish and then let out another whine.

Mischievous Long Jia didn’t respond. “It likes you. How about holding it a little longer?”

Bo Jue held the fox cub in his hands and rushed over to Huo Ren. “Huo Huo, help me get it off!”

Huo Ren also held a fox cub in his arms and used one hand to pry open the tiny mouth, freeing Bo Jue’s finger. He glanced at it and asked, “Did it break the skin?”

“No.” Bo Jue looked complicated as he ruffled the fox’s fur once again.

“It’s… quite cute.”

The program usually scheduled three to four venues each week for them to help clean the environment, feed the animals, and experience various exciting and interesting tasks.

For example, feeding live chickens to lions and tigers.

Feeding them chunks of meat all the time could easily make the kings of the forest lose their wildness and become sluggish over time.

They were raised in an enclosed area with double iron gates, with well-preserved grasslands and vegetation in the forest, attracting wandering wildcats and birds.

Manager Cui carried four cages of live chickens and loaded them onto the jeep. Upon entering the lion and tiger field, he opened the top window of the car and signaled the members of Corona to open the cages from above and release the roosters and hens.

Mei Shengyao and Xiao Chi refused to handle live animals, so Xie Lianyun and Huo Ren took turns releasing one.

The roosters started screeching in panic as soon as they smelled the scent of the beasts. They became completely disoriented when rolling off the car roof like balls, running aimlessly with their short legs.

The lazy sunbathing tigers perked up their ears and swayed their tails. Finally, they stood up and began chasing the chickens.

The six youths sat in the jeep, watching the animals chase their prey at lightning speed through the wire mesh.

Before Manager Cui could continue driving the car forward, suddenly, one tiger caught the scent of the live chickens inside the vehicle and stretched its body like a big cat, leaning against the car window.

Bo Jue and Xie Lianyun both protected the two children in the group, while Huo Ren reached back and securely locked the top window with a metal latch.

“Don’t panic,” Manager Cui reassured them. “As long as we keep the windows and doors closed, it’s actually very safe.”

The beautifully patterned tigers circled the car a few more times before reluctantly walking away upon hearing the honking of the horn.

Long Jia noticed that Huo Ren showed no signs of fear on his face and reached out to help him relax. “Not scared?”

“A little,” Huo Ren sighed with relief as he looked outside. “Luckily, the window isn’t big.”

After taking care of the lions, tigers, fawns, and zebras one by one, Huo Ren gradually immersed himself in the work and almost forgot that he had just finished the college entrance examination.

They had singing and dancing practice in the morning, took care of the animals in the afternoon, played the piano, and wrote songs together in the evening. Their schedule was always packed.

–So when it was Friday night, his first reaction was to wake up early tomorrow and prepare breakfast. By 10 p.m., he was already fast asleep, leaning against Xie Lianyun.

Uncle Jiang hurriedly returned to China two days earlier. He contacted all his old friends and classmates from the Education Department and No. 1 High School. He couldn’t close his eyes and sleep the entire night on Friday.

At around 2 a.m., he received a call from a friend.

Uncle Jiang had just dozed off and almost dropped his phone when he heard the ringing.

“How did it go? Did the results come out?”

“They did! That kid from your company scored 708 points. He should be the top scorer in the liberal arts!” The excited friend reported the good news. “It’s almost impossible to get such a high score in the liberal arts these days—-plus, the kid got a perfect score in math and English!”

Uncle Jiang’s blood pressure skyrocketed in the middle of the night. He tremblingly poured himself a glass of water and took some medicine while anxiously asking, “Are you sure there isn’t another kid with higher scores?”

“At this hour, no teacher or parent of a senior dares to sleep. Everyone is busy checking the results!” the friend replied.

After hanging up the phone, Uncle Jiang received calls from teachers at the Education Department and No. 1 High School, and they all confirmed the outstanding result.

It was indeed 708 points. Currently, someone at No. 1 High School scored 702, and there were high scores at the Experimental School and Shi University, but none of them surpassed 700.

At this moment, Uncle Jiang didn’t dare to call and inform Huo Ren and the others. He simultaneously exchanged information with SPF and other contacts through three phones, running up and down the administrative building in his pajamas.

Finally, at 3:30 a.m., there was confirmation: “We’ve checked several universities, and your kid is the top scorer. There’s no escaping this.”

Supported by Pei Ruye and Zhong Fengyu, Uncle Jiang’s legs trembled a bit, and he suddenly jumped onto the table.

“Our company has a damn top scorer!”

In the brightly lit office, everyone was tossing manuscripts and papers in excitement. “Amazing!”

“Truly a little genius!”

“It’s really the top scorer! Review the draft of the press release a few more times!”

“I’ll contact one of the directors at Xinghong TV!”

“For now, hold off on posting anything on Weibo!”

Pei Ruye supported Uncle Jiang as he slid down from the desk and casually asked, “Does the kid know?”

Uncle Jiang hurriedly took back his phone from his assistant. “I’m going to tell him now—-earlier, the information might have been incorrect, and I didn’t want to get his hopes up for no reason.”

Pei Ruye nodded with a smile. “Now, it’s truly a reason to celebrate.”

Indeed, Huo Ren was asleep, and the phone rang several times without anyone picking up.

Uncle Jiang decisively hung up and dialed Xie Lianyun’s number, knowing that the kid usually stays up late playing with his phone.

Sure enough, the call was answered after just one ring.

“Uncle?” Xie Lianyun lowered his voice. “Do you realize what time it is?”

“What the hell does the time matter?” Uncle Jiang shouted in a coarse voice. “Do you know that your team captain topped the exam! Quickly tell him!”

Xie Lianyun was dumbfounded for a couple of seconds, then his hand trembled as he hung up the phone.

He didn’t even bother to turn on the light or wake anyone up. He lifted Huo Ren out of the covers and planted a big kiss on him.

Bo Jue, who slept lightly, groaned, “Why are you acting crazy in the middle of the night?”

“Huo Huo scored 708!” Xie Lianyun turned his head and shouted, “He’s this year’s liberal arts top scorer! Corona has a top scorer!!!”

As soon as this scream came out, the other five woke up.

Mei Shengyao rushed down to turn on the lights while still wrapped in a blanket, and Bo Jue reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Wake up, sweetheart! You really became the top scorer!”

Huo Ren mumbled sleepily, as they hugged and kissed him. “I thought I overestimated… but it’s about that score.”

“Let’s celebrate! We must celebrate!” Long Jia was so excited that he couldn’t sleep at all. “This is huge! What will Uncle Jiang and the others say?!”

Chi Ji leaned over and scrolled through his phone, checking the notifications in the group chat.

“No need to cook for lunch tomorrow. The evening program will continue as planned. There might be media interviews at noon, so we’ll follow Uncle Jiang’s arrangements.”

“What should we do now? Pop champagne? Go sing at the Swan Lake and take a swim?!”

Huo Ren, wrapped in a blanket, wanted to lie back down. “Got it… let me sleep first.”

“Sleep? No, wake up and be happy!”

The six of them, still in their pajamas, quickly made a decorative cake and placed candles in a circle for him to blow out. “This is a celebration cake. Later, everyone will have a piece. Forget about controlling sugar intake today—-just be happy!”

At 7 a.m., the news couldn’t be concealed any longer, and it started circulating in various parent and teacher groups for high schools.

Throughout the year, they had been busy helping their children study and prepare for exams. They hadn’t paid much attention to celebrity gossip, but they knew the exact scores for every mock exam, the cutoff scores for different universities, and which kids were being recommended for prestigious schools.

The top contenders for the liberal arts top scorer this year were expected to come from No. 1 High School and Shi University, so everyone let out a sigh of relief when the news finally came out.

Indeed, the champion remained from No. 1 High School. The school’s reputation remained unshaken, having produced top scorers for numerous consecutive years.

When they asked who the top scorer was, whether it was the studious girl with freckles and glasses from Class 1 or the child from Class 2 who won first prize in the Olympiad, everyone shook their heads.

“No, it’s a student named Huo Ren.”

Parents of students from No. 1 High School and nearby competing schools were simultaneously puzzled. “Who is Huo Ren? Huo Ren is from No. 1 High School??”

Following that, even the fangirls were stunned. “Huo Ren? Is it the Huo Ren I’m a fan of? What the hell is going on????”

By 8 a.m., it was trending as the top search topic.

#HuoRenLiberalArtsChampion#

Weibo exploded instantly, and it took at least ten minutes just to load.

Not only Weibo, but Tieba, Douban, official forums, parent groups, high school exam groups, and teacher groups all exploded with discussions.

Entering “Huo Ren” as the search keyword was followed by a long list of related terms.

[Huo Ren, the top scorer in the college entrance exam]
[Is Huo Ren’s top scorer title real?]
[Is Huo Ren the same person as the top scorer?]

…

No. 1 High School’s graduating seniors were bombarded by fangirls. “You guys are classmates with Cain? I’m transferring to No. 1 High School! Is it still possible?”

The students were also perplexed. “We don’t have anyone like that in our grade.”

Somehow, someone managed to obtain the college entrance exam results, with the examination admission ticket photo clearly visible.

Huo Ren: Mathematics 150, Chinese 142, English 150, Comprehensive Liberal Arts 266.

Before the haters could attack him, accusing him of cheating, using connections, or creating hype, SPF released the press release they had kept hidden for the whole night, precisely at 8 a.m.

The great news was announced brightly.

Yes! It’s our company’s Huo Ren!

He debuted this year and happened to become the liberal arts top scorer!

Though each sentence is modest, giving face to every school, the top scorer is our company’s Corona’s team captain. Ask if it’s awesome or not!

When SPF and Corona simultaneously released their press releases, the trending topics exploded once again.

Previously, some people insisted that it was just a small rumor and fan-made hype, but now that the official announcement was out, it was like a slap on their faces.

The fangirls in the fan circle had been following stars for so many years, and they had seen many studious character setups.

There were those who had won national competition prizes and went to Berkeley or Yale University. Indeed, the entertainment industry was never lacking in studious characters.

But Cain was different!!

He didn’t debut after finishing the exams and attending a prestigious university. He has been a trainee at SPF for the past three years, practicing singing and dancing. This spring, he was busy with endorsements, commercials, and music promotions!!

We witnessed the birth of a living top scorer and the explosive leader of a boy group at the same time. What the hell is this probability? Even Schrödinger’s cat would break out of the box and start tap dancing. Can you believe it?

On the Little Pink Forum, thousands of posts were made, and the haters couldn’t even engage in a proper battle because as soon as they posted a reply, it would instantly be drowned out, and the search keywords were flooded with so many results that they couldn’t be found.

1st Comment: Damn, he actually did it. I made a bet with my roommate that if he could get into a top-tier university, I would buy him a fan. Which fan is better? It won’t hurt my body, will it??

2nd Comment: I can’t accept this. How did he do it? It’s impossible, right? How did he achieve those scores? Even if SPF faked his schedule, they can’t possibly hire a substitute actor to go to Xinghong Typhoon and Cloud stage for him, right? Where did he find the time to study and do exercises?

3rd Comment: Do you know what a genius is, the person above? They don’t need to rely on drilling tactics, understand?

4th Comment: LMAO, what’s happening? This guy is amazing. Can someone enlighten me on what Captain Ren’s fans are called? I want to join their fandom and get a Love membership card, TAT.

5th Comment: I can answer that question! Captain Ren’s fans are called “Blades”! Blade means a knife, and Captain Cain is the edge. Translated phonetically, male fans are called “Blade,” and female fans are called “Blei.” It’s sweet and easy to remember! I, as a knife, will accompany my edge, clearing the way and walking to glory together!

6th Comment: Damn, getting slapped in the face hurts. This dude is awesome. I won’t hate on him anymore.

7th Comment: What the hell??? Why??? Why??? Why???

…

Then, on the Tieba forum, people started posting their scores one after another.

【Sparkling Gem】Friends, before the college entrance exam, I only bought one album, and I pulled out a card with Ren Ge’s picture. My scores were sixty points higher than the mock exam (see image on the second floor).

【Sparkling Gem】I really want to know how the other members are celebrating with my baby now. Are there any sisters forming a group to tour Swan Lake??

…

Huo Ren’s past middle school exam scores were dug up, followed by screenshots of him winning multiple Olympiad gold medals and the pre-selection notice for the Youth Class at Shidu University.

There was solid evidence and reasoning, and it was impossible to deny.

@ShiningGem: Suddenly, I feel that if my idol dedicates himself to scientific research, he would definitely be the coolest person…

@ZhaoCiBaiYun: No. 1 High School just picked up the top scorer for free this year!! Why didn’t they directly admit him into the first year?!

@SpicyTaroStewRedBean: Honestly, it’s not easy to get into the Youth Class at Shidu University. Ren, at the age of fourteen, getting the offer is already proof enough. The company even stepped forward to celebrate the lottery, and there are still haters insisting that the company paid to cheat and hype this up. They should calm down and try solving a couple of elementary-level math problems before talking about this.

Huo Ren’s Weibo followers immediately skyrocketed to over five million, and all of them changed their profile pictures at once.

His black-and-white exam admission ticket photo was colorized and enhanced, even though he was completely bare-faced, his features were sharp and full of vitality. It soon became the profile picture of choice for those preparing for postgraduate entrance exams, third-year students, and high school seniors.

“Don’t call him a study god! The words ‘study god’ are not enough to describe his abilities! He and his teammates composed and produced an album, and within a month, it sold over two million copies, setting a national record!!!”

“May the Huo God bless me with a successful postgraduate entrance exam. Once I pass, I vow to buy ten albums and spread the gospel!”

“Now, we just need to see which TV station will be the first to get Captain Ren’s study experience for a feature. This Blei and honorary high school senior are waiting online, waiting qaq.”

“After finishing the tour of restaurants, let’s organize a tutoring class tour, Captain, consider it, okay?”

When Uncle Jiang rushed to the zoo, he had only slept for a total of three hours.

Damn it, he couldn’t sleep at all. Even after lying down for ten minutes, he still wanted to go to the square and dance to some upbeat music.

SPF had originally planned to make Huo Ren’s Weibo the number one trending topic for the whole day. Now, not only did they save nearly 70% of the budget, but the online users also spread the buzz naturally, causing several other trending topics to rise as well. The highest one reached the third spot.

#Huo Ren, the Top Scorer in Liberal Arts#

#International Movie Queen Jiang Yanzhi Mysteriously Returns#

#SPF Announces Huo Ren’s Results#

#Qi Lin’s New Album to be Released on August 12#

#The Most Handsome Surgeon in Shidu#

#Retweet Huo God and Receive Good Luck in July#

#How Did Huo Ren Study?#

…

When they arrived at the entrance of the zoo, the driver of the nanny car took a deep breath instinctively.

It was jam-packed.

Luxury cars, journalist vehicles, private cars, and electric scooters were all stuck in a traffic jam in this area, and none of them were there to see the animals.

The leader of the neighboring educational channel’s vehicle became anxious. “Who is Huo Ren’s teacher? Why is he at the zoo? Has he finished the high school entrance exam and come here to relax?”

“It’s not really relaxing,” a subordinate whispered. “He’s an idol, here to record a show.”

“An idol? Say that again???”

Author’s note:
In the next chapter, the excitement continues! Stay tuned for more!