Author’s Note:
[Please do not post novel content in the comments section of the musical and related song discussions. Thank you for your respect.]
1. Xiao Chi sings the emotional song “Wicked Little Town” from the musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”
2. The main couple’s name is Ye-Huo or Ru-Ren.
Thank you for your support and comments. Enjoy the three updates and love you all.
-1-
February 14, 2013, 11:30 a.m.
Yao Yao stood by Mei Heng’s side, bowing deeply to everyone amidst the noise and flashes.
Huo Ren stood at the door, raising his eyebrows as he met the gaze of Pei Ruye, whose fingers were interlocked.
He knew his teammates were waiting backstage.
Regardless of the process and outcome, they would be each other’s support and never let go.
“The situation is not optimistic.” Director Xu pulled up the current data with her stylus pen, her voice stern. “This year, apart from second-tier and third-tier entertainment companies, there are four boy groups that have already debuted or are preparing to debut.”
Lang Mu Bai, Light Boys, FOX, and CEKO.
“If CORONA suspends work for two months for buffering,” she glanced disapprovingly at Uncle Jiang, “while the exposure drops drastically, we will offend many partners because it would be a breach of contract.”
Artists’ schedules are usually arranged six months to a year in advance. Even with reserved time slots, two months is too long.
There are countless artists who skyrocket to fame overnight, but many of them disappear within a year or two.
She emphasized again, looking at everyone.
“Even if we just have Mei Shengyao cry in front of the cameras a few times, his career will be much safer than evaporating from the industry!”
“Two months is indeed too long.” Uncle Jiang originally planned to use this point as a bargaining chip, but then he suggested, “One month, at least one month.”
Today, news about Wen Feng’s affair and divorce will continue to explode, but Yao Yao won’t feel the blunt pain for a while.
The feeling of separation and being torn apart only becomes clear once the emergency state is over.
Breakups, lost loved ones, parents’ divorces, sudden falls from grace—-it’s all the same.
Uncle Jiang is an experienced person and knows this matter all too well.
“Give Yao Yao a little more time,” Uncle Jiang emphasized repeatedly, “He just turned seventeen today.”
The executives looked at each other, discussing the pros and cons and the crucial points.
Huo Ren knew he didn’t have much say at the moment; he was merely representing CORONA in this meeting.
He looked up at the pale spreadsheet displayed on the PowerPoint, pursing his lips without uttering a word.
More people were waiting for Pei Ruye’s statement. As one of the shareholders, he held more authority and foresight.
Finally, the man spoke.
“Huo Ren, what’s your take on this?”
The young man raised his gaze and looked at him with a composed expression.
“One month,” Huo Ren said, looking at everyone around him. “Move the album production and vacation time forward, and cancel some activities.”
This choice didn’t bring anything new. Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing it, but they still weren’t reassured.
“But during this month, SPF can release a special program in collaboration with the TV station and official website,” Huo Ren said, stretching his fingers on the table, his gaze focused. “All the temporarily disrupted endorsements and sponsorships can be compensated through advertisements and title sponsorships of this program, effectively doubling the compensation.”
Pei Ruye remained still, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
Huo Ren was not yet twenty and it was his first time speaking in front of the board of directors. Naturally, he felt nervous and uneasy.
He sensed the silent approval from his teacher, which gave him much more confidence.
“Where are we going to get a program from now?!” Another middle-aged man frowned. “That’s just wishful thinking.”
“We don’t need additional investment or expenses; we have ready-made program material,” Huo Ren took a deep breath. “Today is also CORONA’s first anniversary since debut, so we should have prepared a gift.”
“We can release the selection process, formation of the group, and training videos of each member’s different stages, making it a fan-oriented behind-the-scenes program.”
Pei Ruye looked at the other two high-ranking executives, who were hesitating, and handed them a USB drive.
“This is the proposal my assistant wrote earlier.”
Not only did it include the editing design of the program, but also the minute details and the authorized access to the database.
—-They even have a proposal?!
Directors Shu and Zhang exchanged glances, immediately taking the USB drive and examining its contents.
“You’ve been prepared for this a long time ago?” Director Shu exclaimed in surprise. “Why didn’t Uncle Jiang tell me anything?”
She still had some concerns about this idea coming from a young boy.
But Pei Ruye had already made the entire plan, and things were basically in the bag. It might even be a turning point.
Uncle Jiang hadn’t expected this move at all and he raised his hammer to strike Huo Ren’s head. “You little brat, you and Boss Pei conspired without telling me? Do you know how nervous I was just now?”
Huo Ren had never expected things to turn out this way.
He used to attend these meetings as a representative of the employees without having any say. Today, everything happened in an emergency, and he came up with a temporary solution—-which happened to align perfectly with Pei Ruye’s plan.
To avoid disputes and for future reviews, SPF had kept a lot of video material archived for their trainees. They would occasionally use it for public relations classes and interview simulations.
—-Now it just happened to become a free, large-scale resource library. It was definitely the best choice to save money and make a big splash.
The instructions inside the USB drive were detailed and vivid, clearly outlining the target audience and expected outcomes.
“Make the promotional posters by noon today. Use the group photos of the six members that we prepared earlier,” Pei Ruye assumed that everyone present had already agreed to this plan and started delegating tasks without hesitation.
“We’ll only delay by a month, and the concert schedule won’t change. We can speed up the filming of the variety show during the reduced time, and the itinerary won’t be significantly affected.”
“This program can coincide with a popularity survey and chart ranking. We can compare the appearance of the six members from three years ago to now and also hold a ticket giveaway for pre-promotion.”
“All the affected sponsors can participate in this program at a discounted rate, ranging from 40% to 80% off. However, we need to renegotiate the title sponsorship.”
Qi Ding was handling a higher-level group meeting, so Pei Ruye had complete control of the situation here.
“All decisions must come through me and Director Shu. Company employees are not allowed to accept any personal interviews without authorization.”
“Captain,” Pei Ruye raised an eyebrow and looked at Huo Ren, his cold voice finally revealing a hint of a smile. “You’ve done well.”
“Take care of them and I’ll be waiting for your third album.”
Huo Ren quickly bowed and left after receiving confirmation from Uncle Jiang.
He walked alone through the underground passage, retracing his steps in the silence.
He suddenly realized that he hadn’t grown enough yet.
Being the captain meant being the pillar for the six members, including himself.
He couldn’t be weak, couldn’t hesitate, and certainly couldn’t waver.
Huo Ren stopped in front of the elevator doors, subconsciously took a deep breath, and felt his shoulders and neck relax.
It was a good thing that Pei Ruye was also here.
Normally, everyone called him Boss Pei, but when he wore loose outerwear and danced, he looked more like a teacher.
Only during weekly meetings and occasions like today did Huo Ren see the other side of this man.
He was a mature and thorough businessman.
And also an insightful leader.
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened. The young man stepped inside and pressed the 17th floor, leaning against the wall and slowly closing his eyes, feeling tired.
It was a good thing that his teacher was also here.
At the same time that Mei Heng’s divorce statement was released, CORONA’s official announcement of their latest activities went live.
The official website forum would be hosting a program in collaboration with Star Rainbow TV—-“The Birth of the Crown”!
Many fans were still in a state of uproar, ready to vent their frustrations.
Why would they let Yao Yao do a program at a time like this?! Have you even considered his feelings!!
Celebrating the team’s first anniversary at a time like today was too harsh, wasn’t it?! Don’t you know how miserable he must be feeling?!
However, as soon as the posters were revealed, everyone instantly entered a state of excitement.
—-The six immature trainees from four years ago stood in front of the camera, looking nervous yet obedient.
Behind them stood six proud young men who had undergone a complete transformation in their aura, exuding a sense of control even through the screen.
“Is that the twelve-year-old Yao Yao?!! So cute and tiny!!!”
“What?! Can we see the selection process of the trainees?! Let me see how Huo fought his way through and secured the TOP spot!!!”
“Fifteen-year-old Chi Ji is so soft, I want to hug him! What’s the point of releasing teasers? If you have the guts, release the full episodes today!!!!”
CORONA’s official blog obediently started sharing their photos from four years ago.
One picture every hour, all filled with youthful memories.
Bo Jue, clumsily practicing dancing alone in the late night; Xie Lianyun, sleeping next to a glass of lemon tea; Huo Ren, jumping rope in the fire escape; and Chi Ji, still lingering on the Broadway stage—
By 9 PM, SPF urgently announced the program’s title sponsorship, and the teaser for “The Birth of the Crown” was simultaneously released on Weibo.
@CORONA: Want to uncover the complete process of Crown’s auditions, hear the manager’s behind-the-scenes evaluations and memories, and witness the pure white boys who shed sweat for their dreams four years ago?—-Retweet this Weibo for a chance to win concert crown tickets! – Video link
As soon as the video started, it showed Mei Shengyao during his individual assessment in black and white footage.
The ten-year-old boy stood in front of the judges, his arms open, and his quick spins capturing the same lively posture as today.
He had a special identity, protected by his father behind the camera since childhood.
At the same time, he had also undergone the cruel training that ordinary people wouldn’t experience.
Then he received a perfect score in the first assessment.
Soon after, Xie Lianyun, Bo Jue, and Chi Ji followed suit.
Four years ago, they were scattered all over the world, and Uncle Jiang found them one by one, both domestically and internationally.
An internet café room filled with snacks, the backstage of the Vienna Golden Hall, and the rehearsal hall in London’s West End.
“At that time, Old Qi asked me to manage a boy group,” the manager in the footage held a cigarette and waved his hand. “How could I handle that kind of ghostly thing? Those bunch of half-grown boys would drive me crazy.”
“I refused, I refused. If I had that much free time, I’d rather go fishing.”
With the core members established, nationwide recruitment began.
Long Jia got a perfect score in the opening round, and the judges had to find an empty registration form to ask for his name.
“What? Long Jia? The same Long Jia from the news ten years ago??”
Then fifteen-year-old Huo Ren appeared in front of the camera.
He was wearing a worn-out and dirty school uniform, completely oblivious to the presence of the camera.
“I can’t dance,” the boy said, lowering his head.
“Do you know the radio calisthenics routine?” a magnetic voice came from off-screen. “Let’s do that.”
The boy silently performed the forward bend exercise, with green paint stains on the cuffs of his school uniform pants.
When he raised his head again, the footage suddenly switched back to color, and he was standing in the center of the concert stage as the unparalleled idol, captivating the entire audience with his mesmerizing gaze and dance moves.
“I… am… your—”
“The… one… and… only… Crown!!!”
In just a minute and a half, the teaser video exploded on Weibo.
The buzz around Wen Feng continued to soar, and a large number of onlookers began to dig deeper to find out what her son looked like.
Then, marketing accounts started posting comparisons, editing together photos of twelve-year-old and seventeen-year-old Mei Shengyao to showcase the different appearances of the same person.
—-Mei Shengyao in the press conference, with a determined look in his eyes and gradually maturing features.
He was handsome and extraordinary, already shining with brilliance as a young man.
The reputation of Crown began to rapidly recover.
Earlier this morning, malicious speculations were still binding the team to that scandal, subjecting them to collective humiliation. But now, the situation had reversed once again, and bystanders began to voice their opinions.
The short video provided enough information for them to understand a lot.
“I didn’t expect them to prepare for their debut for so long… Training for three and a half years continuously, is it true? They seem so dedicated!”
“I never used to be a fan, but after watching the teaser, I suddenly felt a strong attraction. Is it this enjoyable to have a little idol to support?!”
“Huo Ren looked so good when he was fifteen, crying out for the show to start airing, I’m even willing to pay for it!!”
“I initially thought this was just a joint publicity stunt by the Mei family, but now I genuinely feel sorry for them… Training and auditioning at such a young age, and facing such a situation on their first anniversary… sigh, Wen Feng should be more considerate.”
Major sponsors stepped up their efforts and added more prizes for retweeting, causing the number of video shares to jump from five thousand to thirty thousand and then to over a hundred thousand. The trending topics also skyrocketed to the top three rankings.
Mei Heng openly retweeted this news, expressing his relief and blessing his son with a bright and open future, hoping that things would get better and better.
The name Wen Feng, overnight, became completely disassociated from them, severing any connection they had.
CORONA’s anniversary celebration events were flawlessly executed, with album photo books, idol merchandise, concerts, and variety shows all promoted together. Taking advantage of the negative situation today, they shifted the entire flow of attention, successfully washing away the negative state and turning it toward a positive and sunny direction—
Who could resist these handsome and hardworking boys?
Not only did they not suffer any losses, but they also made a huge profit.
Two second-tier and third-tier brands had resolutely decided to terminate their endorsement contracts with Uncle Jiang in the early morning. But when they saw the trend shifting, they shamelessly tried to come back and re-collaborate.
Before hanging up the phone, Uncle Jiang gave them three words: “Go f*** yourselves!”
As the episodes continued to air, retaining the exposure, the Crown Six returned to the seventeenth floor to continue the discussion phase of album production.
They explored various ideas but couldn’t settle on one.
Mei Shengyao’s condition improved a lot after returning, but he spoke very little.
Huo Ren noticed it, but there was nothing he could do to help.
Some wounds could only heal slowly with time.
Huo Ren entered a creative state but couldn’t find the right inspiration. He slept lightly at night.
When he came out of the piano room at three-thirty in the morning, the southern living room was quiet and without lights.
Moonlight spilled onto the wooden floor, elongating the shadow of the boy leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window.
Huo Ren stood in the dark corridor, gazing at Mei Shengyao by the window, but he didn’t approach him for a long time.
He remembered experiencing such dark nights himself.
Emotions disrupted his sleepiness, and his thoughts felt like an abyss devouring and expanding.
Perhaps this was the path of growth.
The sound of a door opening came from nearby.
Chi Ji yawned and walked out, holding a transparent milk cup in his hand.
“Yao Yao?” He didn’t see Huo Ren and was startled by Mei Shengyao’s figure.
“Chi-ge,” Mei Shengyao turned his head and looked at him, his voice tired. “I… can’t sleep.”
Chi Ji put down the cup and walked over to gently rub his soft hair.
“You’re still thinking about those things?”
“Yeah,” Mei Shengyao replied, hugging his knees and continuing to gaze at the night sky, his cheek pressed against the cold glass.
“Chi-ge, it feels like I’m trapped by something.”
Chi Ji crouched next to him for a while and suddenly said, “Let me sing for you.”
There happened to be a pure white grand piano next to the floor-to-ceiling window. Bo Jue used to practice here often.
He wiped his hands clean and sat on the piano stool. After exchanging another glance with Mei Shengyao, his fingers began to produce a melodious sound, flowing like a spring.
The clear voice accompanied the music.
“You know the sun is in your eyes.”
“You know the sun is in your eyes, and hurricanes and rains, black and cloudy skies.”
Huo Ren’s breath caught, reminded of how long it had been since he last heard Chi Ji singing alone.
He felt like he was back in the year of being a trainee, hiding in the darkness, listening and feeling.
It was like a chant, like a confession, each word reaching deep into his heart, embracing his melancholy, melting away all the suppression and sorrow.
“And if you’ve got no other choice, there’s nothing here to thrill or bring you down.”
There’s nothing left here to frighten or torment you.
Mei Shengyao leaned against the window, holding himself tightly, unknowingly gazing at the rising and falling black and white piano keys, gradually succumbing to drowsiness.
One by one, the doors of the other dormitories quietly opened. Bo Jue asked silently with his eyes what was going on, and Huo Ren smiled lightly as he walked back to their side, searching for a suitable blanket.
He wanted to hear more.
Every time he heard Chi Ji singing, it felt like his own inner self was being embraced.
“Oh boy, luck has led you here, I fear they’ll turn truths and falsehoods, might put you in harm’s way, the pious.”
The hypocritical piety and hatred, making you constantly disguise yourself.
Huo Ren approached with the blanket in his arms.
Mei Shengyao hadn’t slept well for many days. When he saw his brother coming over, he obediently made room for him.
Huo Ren wrapped both of them in the blanket, leaning against the window under the moonlight, falling asleep together within the tranquil sound of the piano.
All weariness was dissolved and forgiven.
“And if you’ve got no other choice, you can still follow my voice through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town.”
“Through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town…”
Chi Ji gazed at them with a soft smile as his gentle singing voice repeated, guiding them away from the darkest moments in their memories, towards a more peaceful and warm dreamland.
Bo Jue walked over quietly and added another thin blanket over the two boys.
Chi Ji played the piano repeatedly, his voice gradually becoming hoarse before finally coming to a stop.
Huo Ren and Mei Shengyao slept soundly, their breaths even, leaning against each other for warmth, sheltered and caressed by the gentle moonlight.
Chi Ji carefully closed the piano keys and walked back to the other three.
“That was beautiful,” Long Jia whispered, “You should rest too.”
The four of them embraced each other, bidding each other goodnight.
When the morning sun woke Huo Ren again, Mei Shengyao was nestled by his shoulder.
“Brother, let’s sleep a little longer,” the boy murmured, holding onto him, “I love you all.”
Huo Ren kissed his forehead.
“Sweet dreams.”
-3-
A total of fourteen concepts were proposed for the third album, and in the end, everyone unanimously approved the joint idea of Huo Ren and Chi Ji.
And they named it “Wei Liu” (Only Remain).
The character “Liu” sounds like the number six, representing each one of them.
The first two albums were mostly interpreted and performed using a traditional model, with most songs centered around Huo Ren’s vocals, and the six members singing and dancing together based on different themes.
“But the center position can also be taken by different people,” Huo Ren wrote different names on the whiteboard with an ink pen, “Each person should have their shining moment, while the other five support them.”
“So, in this album, each of us can have two songs to showcase ourselves?”
“Yes,” Huo Ren smiled, “Isn’t that how Uncle Jiang designed our variety show as well?”
When the six of them come together, they become a brilliant source of light to share.
But individually highlighting each person can also bring out unique charm.
“How about assigning a color to each person?” Bo Jue raised his hand, “I want blue!”
Long Jia let out a long sigh, “Little Bo, why are you competing with me?”
Bo Jue stared at him expressionlessly.
“I want deep coffee color,” Long Jia raised his hand as well, “Deep coffee color suits me, a handsome man, perfectly.”
Xie Lianyun chose silver, and Mei Shengyao chose gold.
When it was Chi Ji’s turn, the young boy felt a bit embarrassed as he leaned on the table.
“Can… can I use pink?”
“Of course, you can. It must be pink,” Bo Jue responded without hesitation. “Cherry blossom, dolphin ice cream, all of these suit you perfectly!”
Xie Lianyun murmured softly, “A color enthusiast speaking so refreshingly.”
“Captain, I choose pink,” Chi Ji’s cheeks turned slightly red as he smiled. “Thank you, Jue-ge.”
They each went to the music room or study to write songs and play the guitar, trying to find resonances that could connect between the team and their individual selves.
Huo Ren remained at the table, writing a planning document. After a while, he rubbed his forehead.
Lately, he had been unconsciously anxious about many things.
The past, the present, the future.
Will the current album win awards? The number of competitors keeps increasing. When will they be able to win an award in the future? What else can he do for CORONA…
Once the captain’s awareness became clear, the burden on his shoulders suddenly became much heavier.
He prioritized accompanying them in songwriting and vocals, but his own two songs remained unwritten.
Every time he took out the sheet music, his mind went blank.
Gradually, he couldn’t find peaceful sleep at night either.
The floor-to-ceiling window on the 17th floor was reserved for Mei Shengyao.
The young boy often went there to dispel his worries and occasionally slept with a stuffed shark.
Huo Ren quietly opened the door and went to the 16th floor.
His mind was in chaos, with many things lacking direction, only accompanied by floating anxieties and restlessness.
It was now 1:30 in the morning, and the lights on the 16th floor were still on.
– And it was very lively.
Huo Ren felt somewhat suppressed and downcast before entering the elevator, but when he came out, it was as if he had suddenly entered a nightclub. The booming music reverberated through the ceiling and floor, with people cheering and screaming, creating an incredibly vibrant atmosphere.
The young boy tilted his head and looked towards the glass-walled dance studio, curious about what they were doing at this hour.
The dance studio was packed with people, and Teacher Wei was whistling loudly, swinging a jacket around. In the middle, two people were engaged in a dance battle.
Wait, isn’t that Teacher Pei’s jacket?
Huo Ren froze for a moment and took a few steps forward.
Then, he saw Pei Ruye wearing a tight black T-shirt.
The man was engaged in a dance battle with a young black guy, fully immersed in the exhilarating state of the dance. Sweat outlined his defined physique in every detail.
Huo Ren had been learning from Pei Ruye for almost three years but had never seen him without a jacket before.
Then his heart started racing, and his throat became dry.
Too desirable.
Pei Ruye was tall and handsome, with a well-defined body, sculpted muscles, and perfect abdominal and shoulder lines that would make any fitness trainer praise him endlessly. His long legs and collarbones were weapons of temptation.
And he completely merged with the dance.
The freedom and precision of Locking, the elegance and charm of Popping, and the unrestrained wildness of Hip-hop were all displayed to the fullest amidst the sounds of the wind and drums. His entire body exuded a raw sensuality, revealing his every curve shamelessly.
This man had an aggressively sexy aura.
His gaze was like strong liquor, and his features were sharp like a blade.
He swayed and spun, and the male and female dancers in the room cheered and whistled loudly, completely caught up in the excitement.
As the explosive drumbeat ended, the black guy next to him stood up, shrugging his shoulders to indicate his defeat.
“Yooooooo—”
Pei Ruye turned around, sweat trickling down his neck.
At the angle where he stopped, he could see Huo Ren.
Huo Ren instinctively took a step back, feeling that he had come at the wrong time.
Pei Ruye waved his hand, signaling everyone to take a break. He took the ice water thrown to him by Teacher Wei and walked out.
The male and female members of the dance troupe gradually dispersed, but many people couldn’t help but turn their heads to gaze at his slender waist from behind.
The man approached him, his breath still carrying the post-exercise hormones.
“Why did you come here?” Huo Ren tried to control himself from looking at the deep lines of his chest muscles.
“Teacher,” he disguised his voice to sound calm, “you should put on your clothes first and avoid catching a cold.”
He used to find it strange that Pei Ruye never took off his clothes easily, but now he genuinely hoped he would put them on before speaking.
After all, he was young and inexperienced in love, and his self-control was practically nonexistent.
Pei Ruye didn’t respond, instead, he unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and lightly iced Huo Ren’s face with the outside of the bottle.
“Wait for me here, ten minutes,” he said, turning to take a shower and change his clothes, leaving Huo Ren standing there alone.
The young man, who hadn’t slept well for several days, was momentarily stunned by the icy touch, taking him about half a minute to regain his senses.
Wait for you? Where are you going?
You said wait for me, so I wait?
On what grounds?
So he stood there quietly, not even touching his phone, holding his breath for ten minutes.
He didn’t even know why he was angry.
When Pei Ruye came out after changing his clothes, exactly ten minutes had passed, and he was back to his previous oversized attire.
“Let’s go,” he said, towel-drying his hair, in a good mood. “I’ll take you to have some late-night snacks.”
“But Uncle Jiang—”
“Uncle Jiang has no control over me,” Pei Ruye said as he entered the elevator. “Come.”
Huo Ren stood beside him, with a senseless little temper. “I’m not hungry.”
“You’re not tired, nor are you bothered,” Pei Ruye went along with it. “Anything is fine, so you’re wandering downstairs at two in the morning.”
Suddenly, Huo Ren realized that he was still wearing a big T-shirt and shorts. He reached for the 17th floor button. “I can’t go out of the company like this.”
But the elevator had already descended to the 9th floor.
“Calm down.” The man casually iced his cheek again, as if teasing a little wolf cub. “What do you want to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Then let’s have soup dumplings.”
The elevator was brightly lit, and Huo Ren glanced sideways at his jacket again, only to be caught by the man’s gaze.
“You didn’t see it clearly earlier?”
The little wolf cub turned his head, refusing to utter another word to him.
The elevator stopped on the underground floor, where the parking lot belonged exclusively to SPF’s high-ranking members, filled with luxury cars.
Huo Ren instinctively looked for the place where he used to sleep, while Pei Ruye stood in front of a long row of sports cars, pulling out a set of keys and illuminating a bright red Bugatti.
“This isn’t the one you usually drive,” Huo Ren pointed to another car on the right. “You’re not driving that one today?”
“All the cars in this row are mine,” Pei Ruye said leisurely, swinging the car keys. “Did you like that one?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Huo Ren remained expressionless. “I can afford either one anyway.”
“No showing off,” he said.
Sure enough, they encountered paparazzi tailing them when they drove out, but Boss Pei was accustomed to speeding and drifting in the middle of the night, taking detours and using overpasses, leaving no car behind.
“Boss,” the young man held onto the handrail with one hand, his hand lines neat and beautiful. “If you can’t drive, leave it to me.”
The man turned the steering wheel half a circle with one hand and casually tousled his tousled hair.
“You’ve become quite stubborn this year.”
When they arrived at their destination, it was already 3 a.m.
It was a remote suburban night market street, bustling with nearby construction workers who had just finished work. The scent of oil and meat mixed together, exuding a down-to-earth and lively atmosphere.
Huo Ren had spent two and a half years in closed training at SPF, and after his debut, he had never really separated from the role of Cain. His contact with Chen Xiaoyan, Auntie Lu, and the others had become less frequent.
Indeed, there was no time. He was constantly flying on planes, shooting magazines, and filming shows. Occasionally, a few caring words were already considered attentive.
Once again, he stepped onto this muddy path, immersed in the bustling smoke and aroma, feeling as if he had suddenly returned to the illusion of the past.
The aunties were taking care of the spicy hot pot on one hand and the iron grilled squid on the other. The workers sat at small tables eating garlic chive dumplings. In the distance, the lightbox advertising fried soup dumplings and meat-filled rice balls was a bit shabby, flickering with light.
Here, no one recognized who he was, and no one would give them a second glance.
Pei Ruye led Huo Ren through the muddy alley and sat down at a table next to a fried noodle stall, ordering a plate of shrimp dumplings for him.
Huo Ren had gotten used to suppressing his appetite, but on this journey, he ended up feeling incredibly hungry. He bowed his head and drank a bowl of ice green bean soup without saying a word.
“You’re still so stubborn,” Pei Ruye supported his chin and glanced at him, then ordered a plate of beef fried noodles for himself.
The soup dumplings arrived first, served with ginger and vinegar, piping hot and flavorful.
Huo Ren hadn’t eaten late-night snacks for many years. Before picking up his chopsticks, he cautiously glanced at Pei Ruye.
“I promise not to tell Uncle Jiang,” the man raised his hands. “I’m an accomplice.”
The young man breathed a sigh of relief and tentatively took a small bite of the dumpling, dipping it in vinegar and sipping the soup.
The buns were very hot, so he ate them slowly, tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead from the steam.
His esophagus and stomach had been controlled by chicken breast and protein powder for too long, so the taste of the soup dumplings brought him a happiness that he wanted to sing praises for.
Soon, the steaming hot fried noodles arrived, accompanied by a bowl of radish and tofu soup as a side dish.
Pei Ruye asked for an extra clean plate and pushed the tofu soup towards Huo Ren, opening a can of Budweiser beer for himself.
“Want some fried noodles?” he asked leisurely.
The young man looked at him slowly.
The man chuckled and shared most of the plate with him.
Huo Ren had already decided to finish eating and then go back to jump 8,000 times. Gradually, he forgot about these burdens and focused on savoring the tender and chewy beef.
“I always feel that you are different from other teachers.”
“In what way?” he asked.
“Age, status, manner of speech,” Huo Ren responded with poise, his mind clear and calm. “You don’t seem like someone in their mid-twenties.”
Uncle Jiang spoke directly with most people, but he showed a certain level of respect in front of Pei Ruye and Director Qi.
Although Uncle Jiang appeared materialistic, he wasn’t greedy for money or power. Being polite to the executive director was only a way to pave the way for CORONA.
“Well… it’s a long story,” Pei Ruye said leisurely. “One filled with clichés and vulgarity.”
Huo Ren paused his eating, sensing that he knew what was coming.
“I knew it,” he said.
“My grandfather was an old overseas Chinese in Los Angeles,” the man didn’t evade the topic. He took a sip of his drink and glanced at the lights deep in the alley. “His family was wealthy, and in the old days, he married four concubines and brought them all along.”
As he mentioned these things, his tone was playful, as if telling a joke.
“When my grandfather passed away, there were over a dozen uncles, relatives, and cousins who wanted to fight with my father for the inheritance.”
“My father was simple-minded and only liked being a screenwriter. He never expected that one day he would be kicked out of the house by his own younger brother.”
“The three of us were standing on the street at that time, dressed head to toe in brand names, but still trembling from the cold.”
Huo Ren slowly put down his chopsticks and asked instinctively, “How old were you at that time?”
“Nine years old,” Pei Ruye supported his chin and continued nonchalantly, “Later on, I accompanied them in reclaiming the family property and gradually started learning about investments and doing business, and here we are today.”
Huo Ren felt that something was off about this story.
“How did you manage to do it?” he asked.
Pei Ruye raised the back of his hand and wiped away the beads of sweat on Huo Ren’s forehead. The fragrance of the ocean lingered subtly.
The young man didn’t dodge it; instead, he felt the fleeting warmth of the touch.
He thought he smelled nice.
“Yes,” the man gazed at him and chuckled softly. “Perhaps just like you.”