Idol Chapter 65

Author’s Note:
[Please do not post novel content in the comments of musicals and related songs. Thank you for your respect.]

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The live streaming platform of SPF experienced intermittent paralysis.

Over 600 customer service complaint calls were in queue, with occasional screen freezes while the barrage of bullet comments continued to flow rapidly, as if tens of thousands of prairie dogs had launched an online riot.

“This is either a concert or a crime scene for my heart!! I’m crying uncontrollably in front of my computer screen, wishing I could press my head and teleport to the venue!!”

“I’m fine now, I can scream until ‘the light boat has passed a thousand mountains, beyond the green hills and the tall towers!!’ This live performance has injected me with so much adrenaline that I could sprint from the first floor to the eighteenth floor, do three hundred push-ups, and then swim across the Pacific Ocean to the United States to help elderly ladies cross the road!!”

“Enough talking, I’m going to buy tickets to the concert. I’ve been infected with the ‘Corona’ poison. If I don’t see all six of them, I’ll suffocate and die!” (covers heart)

When the live video resumed its smooth transmission, it coincided with the end of the guest performance, and their silhouettes reappeared in the darkness.

The six glass chairs arranged in a triangle suddenly lit up, like stained glass made from watercolors.

The light and ethereal sound of a clarinet played the prelude, and the first beam of light fell on the frontmost young man.

Clad in a deep black suit that accentuated his straight back, with a bold and eye-catching bright red tie.

The sound of a French horn intertwined, and Huo Ren rested his chin on his hand, sliding his fingertips lightly up from the end of the tie inch by inch until they reached beside his Adam’s apple.

His gaze was cold, his movements gentle, and he pursed his lips as if waiting to be pleased.

The oboe danced to the beat, and he rose, lightly caressing the curve of the chair back. Suddenly, his limbs and joints accelerated in sync with the music, and when he lifted his head, a glimpse of white appeared on his neck.

His slim waist was undeniably revealed as he bent down and swayed his hips, while the violin carried the main melody, its trailing bow tie flickering in the air like the flamboyant tail of a wolf.

Set, wave, accelerate.

The four chimes embraced the cello’s accentuated notes, propelling the emotions forward, and the chair slightly swayed like an alluring presence.

Huo Ren tilted his head, holding the tie in his mouth, looking toward the audience, seemingly deaf to the roaring screams that burned like a tsunami.

The dance he performed was both forbidden and indescribably exquisite, even causing the audience to feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.

He was pure, innocent, and clear.

Yet he was also wild, untamed, and rebellious.

The violin teased with a decorative note, and his waist, hips, and long legs moved in unison like a chain, while the tie traced an arc, hooking the breath of anyone who saw it.

The young man aimed at the void and pulled the trigger, and the deep bass of the double bass rang out like gunshots.

All the lights were unleashed once again as the five members suddenly stood up and performed a chained dance, five dark ties simultaneously accentuating that hint of bright red.

Let’s be even more rebellious.

The atmosphere was so icy and emotionless, yet every move they made exuded a tantalizing charm.

Make it even more intense.

Even if the entire audience was already screaming like tidal waves engulfing the moon, they could continue greedily seeking more.

Since the beginning of the concert, the fans in the venue couldn’t sit still. The security guards were busy maintaining order, resembling shepherds herding sheep. Still, thousands of people wished they could stand on the backs of their chairs to get closer to the star-like young men on stage.

Outside the venue, the barrage of comments overlapped to the point where it was impossible to see clearly. If the comments weren’t blocked, it would be impossible to see the face of their beloved idol.

“I’m in love!! I’m the captain’s girlfriend today!! No one is allowed to snatch him away from me!!!”

“Ahhhh, don’t play with the tie like that, you’re still a child!!!”

“I’m here in person, I am that chair!!!!”

“Which teacher taught these kids to rub their knees against the chairs? It’s so unfair, don’t do that!”

The concert was originally scheduled to last two and a half hours, but it couldn’t withstand the fans’ relentless encore. They returned to the stage and performed “Clouded Sky” and “I Wish.”

The staff turned off several large lights, but the fans still huddled in the audience seats, unwilling to leave.

“Encore!! Encore!! Encore!!!”

“If we perform another song, we’ll exceed the time limit,” Uncle Jiang rubbed his forehead and said, “How should we handle this?”

“Sing one more,” Huo Ren handed tissues to his teammates and his voice was already hoarse, “They came all the way here, it’s not easy for them. Let’s sing one more.”

“Alright, I’ll pay the fine, and the company will reimburse me. You guys go up and sing,” Uncle Jiang flicked his hand while holding a cigarette, “Have fun, you little brats.”

After the last song, “Your Crown,” they bowed deeply in each of the four directions of the stage, urging the fans to go home early.

“Be safe, it’s late, go home.”

“No!! I won’t go!!”

“I love you, ahhh, I love all of you!!!”

“Brothers, take me with you, sob sob sob, I can’t bear to part with you—”

The two concerts combined exceeded the scheduled time by more than 40 minutes.

During the celebration banquet, all six of them were starving. After hastily toasting with the leaders, they rushed back to fill their stomachs.

To reduce risks before the performance, the food had been replaced with light meal replacements, and the amount of water they drank was carefully controlled.

Now that the two concerts were over, the restraints on their bodies were instantly lifted, and even munching on cucumber peels brought them immense pleasure.

Uncle Jiang crossed his arms and watched these brats devour their food crazily, teasingly saying, “With your eating habits, how many fans do you think you’ll lose if I take a couple of pictures and share them?”

Huo Ren, while helping Xie Lianyun peel the shell of an Australian lobster, cautioned, “Eat slowly, don’t overeat, or you’ll get a stomachache.”

Mei Shengyao’s radar immediately lit up, “Captain, you’re biased! You’re helping Xie Xie peel the shell but not me!”

“I want… Captain, feed me too!!”

“Huo Huo, open your mouth! Have a bite of this abalone!”

And so, this meal unknowingly turned into a feeding session with the captain.

Chi Ji’s soup, Bo Jue passing around fruits, Mei Shengyao leaning against him, helping peel shrimp with swift and precise movements.

Xie Lianyun held a lobster in his hands, looking complicated. “Did I fall out of favor so quickly?”

Uncle Jiang had a disgusted look on his face, but even after having their fill of food and drink, he still took them to his privately owned clubhouse, where each person was treated to a spa session to fully reward the victorious team and allow them to relax and rest.

After taking a shower, the six of them collapsed on the soft bed, rubbing their bellies. Despite being exhausted, they still had the energy to throw pillows at each other.

Xie Lianyun and Bo Jue were both physically weak. After a couple of shoulder and neck massages from the spa staff, they fell asleep almost immediately, clutching their pillows silently.

Huo Ren was in a good enough mental state to join the rest of the team, but whenever someone touched him, he instinctively recoiled.

“I haven’t even started working on your joints yet,” the spa staff sighed helplessly. “Are you very sensitive to pain?”

“N-No… You don’t have to.” Huo Ren awkwardly said.

“You can go ahead.”

Seeing Uncle Jiang’s meaning, the spa staff bowed and cheerfully left.

Huo Ren was indeed exhausted. Although he wanted his arms and legs to be massaged to relax, his sensitivity was too high to tolerate it.

He lay next to his pillow, continuing to listen to his brothers’ casual chatter and gossip, gradually succumbing to drowsiness.

Another pair of hands pressed on his shoulders, with just the right amount of pressure through the towel.

Huo Ren initially wanted to evade, but he was so tired that he couldn’t be bothered to move. He let those hands ease his joints.

Neck, shoulders, wrists, and spine.

The overstrained physical strength slowly recovered, and the sore muscles finally received some care. The relaxation was so comforting that it made one want to sigh.

The warmth from the palms, transmitted steadily through the towel and clothing, brought an unexpected sense of peace and closeness.

The chattering voices unknowingly ceased.

Huo Ren dozed off for more than ten minutes. Worried about keeping the others waiting, he opened his eyes to check the clock and see how far they had gone.

Then he saw Long Jia and Chi Ji trying hard to hold back their laughter.

Are… are they laughing at me?

Huo Ren was slightly more awake now, and finally turned to look at the new masseur beside the bed.

Pei Ruye, dressed in a bathrobe, had a smile on his lips. “Are you satisfied, sir?”

“Hahaha, Captain, you didn’t even notice!!”

“Huo Huo, you’ve been lying there looking so blissful—”

“Teacher?!” Huo Ren hastily sat up, feeling like he had done something wrong. “I didn’t know it was you…”

“You’ve been working hard leading the team during this time,” Pei Ruye took a sip of hot tea, raising an eyebrow. “The pressure was just right, hm?”

Huo Ren’s face turned red as he turned to Uncle Jiang and said, “Uncle, why didn’t you call me either?!”

Uncle Jiang, bewildered, replied, “No one else has received this treatment yet, so why are you nervous?”

It’s… it’s just really embarrassing, okay!!

The others didn’t make a big deal out of this little incident. They continued singing together on the way back, and Uncle Jiang was annoyed and covered his ears to block out the noise.

Huo Ren leaned against the car window, feeling his face still burning. He discreetly touched the area where he had been massaged a moment ago.

He had a mild strain in his lower back muscles, a minor issue caused by frequent dance practice.

Boss Pei’s techniques… they were on a professional rehabilitation level.

How did he not figure it out when Boss Pei massaged his shoulders…

This whole ordeal lasted until around 2-3 a.m. After resting for a while in the clubhouse, everyone’s energy was replenished. They strolled through the dormitory corridor, talking to their families on the phone.

Huo Ren entered his bedroom and turned on his phone. He opened Boss Pei’s Moments on WeChat.

The latest post was made just ten minutes ago.

Teacher: Rest well.

Huo Ren’s breath hitched, feeling inexplicably that this post was meant for him.

He rarely had private conversations with his teacher. They usually met on the 16th floor and the last time they communicated through WeChat was four days ago.

Huo Ren opened the chat window, wanting to send something to him. His fingertips hesitated for a while beside the keyboard, but eventually he pressed the back button.

It was already 2:30 a.m., and he didn’t want to disturb his teacher’s rest.

Despite not being particularly obedient or tame in his personality, when it came to Boss Pei, he was inexplicably cautious.

It was as if he was afraid of saying something wrong and appearing foolish in the teacher’s eyes.

Huo Ren sighed, closed WeChat, and opened the Crown icon app.

After the live broadcast of the concert ended, the CP (couple pairing) rankings on the chart were once again dominated by the influx of new fans.

Huo Ren was at the top of the list, firmly establishing his position as the total top. The long-hidden Mei-Chi CP suddenly turned red and rose to second place. They even received new CP names like “Double Crane” and “Black and White.”

“I knew that as long as I waited long enough for my underrated CP, this day would come!”

“Isn’t the Double Crane couple easy to ship?!! Cranes are birds that dance to court each other, you know!!”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Huo Ren was already used to it. “Jue-ge, come in.”

Bo Jue entered with a hot towel in his hand. “Let me apply it to your neck.”

Huo Ren reached out and took the towel, obediently wrapping it around his neck, while keeping his eyes on Bo Jue. “Is there any new development?”

He vaguely felt like he was malfunctioning as a priest. Lately, his thoughts kept lingering on Boss Pei.

… Hearing about love and romance too much isn’t good. He had never encountered such a situation before.

Bo Jue skillfully hugged the pillow, muffling his voice. “Long Jia looked so handsome tonight, ahhh—”

Huo Ren’s mind inexplicably synchronized with his brother’s thoughts.

Boss Pei also looked handsome in a bathrobe.

“When he walked towards me through the crowd, my breath almost stopped—”

Huo Ren tapped his temples twice with his fingertips, trying to ignore the thoughts in his mind, rolling along with Bo Jue’s voice.

Just seeing him smile made Huo Ren’s breath stop too.

Bo Jue was completely unaware that he had indirectly led their team captain onto the path of enlightenment. He complained with a pout on his face for a while and then sighed.

“Huo Huo, why is your face still red?”

Huo Ren forced a cough. “It’s nothing. I just think you two are quite romantic.”

Bo Jue snorted. “I’m also deluded.”

Feeling quite content after saying these words, Bo Jue hugged his younger brother tightly before leaving. “Captain, rest well and have sweet dreams.”

As the door opened again, Long Jia happened to be standing there.

Bo Jue’s smile instantly disappeared from his face, and he spoke expressionlessly, “Move aside, keep your distance.”

Huo Ren thought that people who were done with their anonymous confessions spoke with a tough attitude.

Bo Jue and Long Jia waved goodbye to each other and sat opposite Huo Ren.

“Your wrist got scratched just now, right?” Long Jia took out disinfectant wipes and an adhesive bandage. “Roll up your left sleeve.”

Huo Ren paused for a moment. “Brother, did you see it?”

He accidentally bumped into a prop backstage earlier and grazed his wrist, causing a small scrape.

“Yeah.” Long Jia helped him apply the bandage, then stood up and said, “I’m leaving. Sleep well.”

Huo Ren suddenly spoke up, “Brother, wait.”

“What is it?”

“I… I have something I want to ask you.”

Long Jia sat back down, patiently waiting for the continuation.

Huo Ren lowered his head and thought for a while, feeling that no matter how he phrased the question, it sounded a bit perverse.

Boss Pei was his teacher.

How could a student possibly develop feelings for their teacher?

I don’t have the qualifications for love, and even if I do… it’s really strange to have these feelings.

If the teacher finds out, they would feel uncomfortable, right?

“Sorry,” he whispered, “I can’t put it into words.”

Long Jia made a sound of understanding and asked, “Do you want big brother to give you a hug?”

He knew that Huo Ren had been under a lot of pressure.

Huo Ren opened his arms and hugged him tightly, burying his head as he spoke in a low voice, “Brother, I can’t make a mistake either.”

I’m the team captain. I can’t afford to make mistakes.

Long Jia gently stroked his hair, just like when they had first entered SPF.

“If you have something on your mind, tell big brother. I’ll bear it for you.”

“Okay.”

There were still two concerts scheduled for the end of the year, and it was still early.

Being an artist always involved three types of social events—-negotiating with brand partners, attending various dinners for different reasons, and attending awards ceremonies with different titles.

The highest award in the domestic music industry was called the “Tianxiao Award” and was usually held at the end of November.

There were countless other second-tier and third-tier awards, which were also opportunities to build relationships with brand partners and ask artists, big or small, to show up.

Last year, they had just been nominated for the OSC Asia New Artist Award and won the New Artist Award. They were in a soaring state.

They hadn’t received the invitation for this year’s OSC yet, but the Tianxiao Awards had already sent over the nominations, with a total of four categories.

“It’s still early for this matter,” Uncle Jiang led them into the banquet hall of the Covers Intercontinental Hotel. “I’ve already set the donation amount for tonight’s charity event. If you encounter any interviews, stick to the pre-written script and pay attention to the situation, Captain.”

Political figures, wealthy businessmen, and various celebrities were gathered here, and everyone was dressed elegantly, creating another world of fame and fortune.

Uncle Jiang and Xie Xie were called away shortly after they entered by the high-level executives. Long Jia and Bo Jue went to chat with old acquaintances while holding wine glasses, leaving Huo Ren and Chi Ji at the table.

Mei Shengyao had just experienced an incident this year, so it was inevitable for him to be probed and questioned in a place like this. Uncle Jiang didn’t let him come.

Chi Ji sighed softly as he looked at the cake and sweet soup. Huo Ren maintained his professional demeanor, constantly dealing with the wealthy and influential people who came over to toast.

Zheng Lu and a few other CEOs also made a round, although their eyes were still on Chi Ji, when they saw Huo Ren blocking the way, they casually exchanged a few words before leaving.

Half an hour later, the charity banquet officially began, with a series of tacky performances taking the stage as the host tried to liven up the atmosphere with clichéd remarks.

The scent of egg tarts made Chi Ji feel annoyed, so he leaned over and said, “Captain, I’ll go to the restroom. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay,” Huo Ren instructed, “Let me know if you need anything.”

Chi Ji nodded with a faint smile and got up to leave.

He wandered between the oil paintings and sculptures on the second floor and stopped by to wash his face.

Suddenly, a young artist rushed in and bent over the sink, vomiting heavily.

“Cough cough cough—”

“Are you okay?” Chi Ji just turned on the tap and paused, looking at him. “Do you need me to call a doctor?”

“I’m fine, no need.” The young artist was still retching, wiping his mouth and speaking hoarsely. “One of the CEOs forced me to drink, and I almost couldn’t handle it.”

Chi Ji looked at him sympathetically and patted his back. “Drink a little less. When you get home tonight, you can have some honey water.”

The young artist rinsed his mouth, tilted his head back, and gulped down half a bottle of water. Leaning against the wall, he let out a long sigh. “Much better. I’ll leave soon.”

He saw Chi Ji washing his face and handed him a thick tissue. “Wipe yourself.”

“Thanks,” Chi Ji replied.

In the moment when Chi Ji was wiping his face, he suddenly felt that something was off about the tissue.

Instinctively, he sniffed it and immediately his mouth and nose were covered.

“Take a good sniff,” the person said, their features beginning to blur. “It’s a good thing.”

Chi Ji tried to break free from the hold, but his body involuntarily gasped for air due to lack of oxygen.

“Relax…”

His pupils dispersed uncontrollably.

Everything in his field of vision began to dissociate, with all the lines and colors bouncing and escaping.

Chi Ji reached out to support himself on the sink, holding his breath as he tried to walk back.

But the ground had twisted and distorted, merging with the ceiling, making it impossible for him to even distinguish which was up and which was down.

“What’s the matter, feeling loose?” the person asked.

Chi Ji weakly tried to crouch down, but at this moment, he couldn’t even find the center of his own body.

What was more terrifying than an anesthetic was a large dose of a substance that could distort one’s senses.

He reached out to find something to hold onto, but the tiles and walls seemed to run away like hunting dogs, and he couldn’t grasp anything.

“Have some of this.” The blurry voice coaxed, “Just have a little, you’ll feel much better.”

“Indeed, even prettier than a woman.” The mocking tone of the person was no longer concealed. “And your clothes are pink.”

Huo Ren waited for ten minutes but didn’t see Chi Ji return.

He quickly sent a text message to Uncle Jiang and politely excused himself from the conversation with the wealthy woman next to him. He went outside to find out where Chi Ji had gone.

The restroom was empty except for a waiter cleaning up the vomit.

“Excuse me, did someone come here just now?”

“Yes,” the waiter sighed. “Clearly drunk, couldn’t even stand properly.”

Huo Ren’s gaze changed abruptly as he took out his phone and showed the waiter a group photo of six people. “Is this him?”

“Yes, that’s him, but his friends helped him out,” the waiter said, confused. “There was a short guy with them, still giving him water.”

“Where did they go?”

“How would I know…”

Huo Ren dashed out, his first instinct to check the positions of different elevators.

This floor was entirely conference rooms, so it wouldn’t be possible for them to act here.

The four elevators on the east side were stopped on the first floor and the fourth-floor conference levels. On the west side, one elevator had already reached the nineteenth floor and was still going up.

Then it stopped on the twenty-fourth floor.

Huo Ren quickly caught up, explaining the situation to Uncle Jiang in a matter of seconds. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he rushed out at full speed.

Two men in the distance were supporting Chi Ji, preparing to enter a private room, leaning in to insert a keycard and turn on the lights.

Huo Ren raised his hand and hurled his phone at one of them, using brute force to push the other person aside. He grabbed Chi Ji and barged into the room, quickly closing and locking the door with a security chain.

Chi Ji’s body temperature was abnormally hot.

“Brother…” He couldn’t even stand steadily, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. “Is it you?”

“It’s me. Brother Long and the others are coming soon. They’re almost here.”

“I…” Chi Ji struggled. “I don’t believe it. My hearing is already distorted…”

He looked up at Huo Ren, intermittently saying, “An… andante, what is it?”

Huo Ren had already used four chairs to block the entrance, carrying the music theory examiner horizontally and heading toward the bathroom. “Moderate tempo.”

“Allegro…”

“It’s a fast tempo.”

Chi Ji’s phone rang immediately.

“Hello—”

“It’s me. Have you arrived?” Huo Ren put Chi Ji into the bathtub and turned on the cold water, frowning. “Those two men didn’t expect me to come. They’re locked outside the door right now, probably still in shock.”

“The elevators and emergency exits have been sealed,” Long Jia quickly said, “Uncle Jiang is also on his way. How’s Xiao Chi?”

“He’s drugged, not in a stable state.”

“Don’t respond to anyone knocking on the door except for me and Uncle Jiang,” Long Jia’s voice came through the elevator music, “That damn Zheng Lu, I’ll break his legs—”

The phone was snatched by Bo Jue. “Huo Huo, we’ve already called a doctor. They’ll arrive in about fifteen minutes. Take care of Xiao Chi, don’t let him fall asleep.”

“I know.” Huo Ren saw Chi Ji huddled in the bathtub, head down, tears streaming down his face. He suddenly felt a bit flustered. “I’ll take care of him for now. I’ll contact you later.”

Chi Ji was immersed in icy water, his gaze vacant.

His world was disintegrating and inverting, plagued by endless hallucinations and auditory illusions.

He held himself tighter, feeling helpless. “Huo Huo—”

“You can’t sleep, Xiao Chi. Talk to me,” Huo Ren held his reddened palm firmly, his other hand increasing the flow of cold water. “The doctor will be here soon. Stay awake a little longer.”

“I’m not feeling well.” Chi Ji’s tears fell steadily. “I just want to sleep for a while. Turn off the water, it’s so cold.”

“Just wait a little longer.”

“You can’t do this,” Chi Ji reached out and grabbed him, taking a breath. “Why can’t I stand steadily? Am I sitting or lying down?”

Huo Ren leaned down and held him tightly, both of them getting their clothes wet from the icy water.

Outside the door, Uncle Jiang’s angry shout could be heard, along with security guards chasing after someone.

Long Jia rushed in the opposite direction to intercept the person, while Bo Jue stayed at the door, making a call to the team doctor, urging them to hurry.

“Xiao Chi, do you remember what we sang when we first met?” Huo Ren supported Chi Ji, allowing him to cling to him as if he were a lifeline. “Think back to that day when I stood by the wall and listened to you sing—”

“It was ‘Spring Awakening.’ I’m so sleepy, I want to sleep for a while…” Chi Ji held onto his neck tightly, his skin scorching while the clothes were freezing cold. “Brother… I don’t want to cry anymore…”

“Chi Ji, sing for me. Don’t fall asleep.” Huo Ren scooped up a handful of cold water and poured it onto Chi Ji’s back, causing the person in his arms to shiver once again.

Chi Ji acquiesced weakly, like a mermaid trapped in a watery dungeon.

“Just too unreal, all this, watching the words fall from my lips…”

Everything felt too surreal, and all the words fell from his lips.

He sang halfway through, trembling as he looked into Huo Ren’s eyes.

“Don’t sleep,” Huo Ren emphasized, “Keep singing.”

“Oh… I’m gonna be wounded.”

…I might get hurt.

“I’m gonna be your wound…”

I will become your wound…

Huo Ren sensed that Chi Ji was on the verge of falling asleep again, so he held his right hand tightly while using cold water to wipe his face.

“I’m here, Xiao Chi. Don’t be afraid.”

“The other brothers are here too. We’re all with you.”

“Xiao Chi, don’t sleep. Sing a few more lines.”

Chi Ji took a deep breath in Huo Ren’s embrace and continued singing, shivering from the cold.

His hallucinations had transported him back to Broadway, as if he were standing on an empty dark stage, the dome engulfed in raging flames.

“…I’m gonna bruise you.”

…I might hurt you.

“You’re gonna be my bruise…”

You will become my bruise…

The doctor finally arrived and provided emergency treatment, supporting Chi Ji.

Only after Huo Ren confirmed the situation multiple times did he release Chi Ji, his shirt and jacket already soaked through.

He knew exactly what Zheng Lu was scheming.

Once an artist’s reputation is destroyed, it’s difficult to fully recover. In such situations, it’s nearly impossible to publicly report the incident or file a lawsuit.

Even the victim would be questioned and distorted, labeled with accusations like seeking attention. They could even be labeled as the instigator.

Chi Ji’s parents were overseas, with virtually no connections in China. For Zheng Lu, he was a newly emerging artist he could easily manipulate.

Even if the truth came to light, it would be suppressed, and all rumors silenced.

Bo Jue entered with the doctor. He tenderly wrapped a towel around Xiao Chi’s head, drying his hair, and coaxing him to take his medication near the ventilation vent.

Uncle Jiang walked in, his face tense, confirmed Chi Ji’s condition before stepping outside to smoke.

Huo Ren closed the door behind him and asked, “We can’t go to court, can we?”

The manager let out a long sigh.

“The water runs too deep.”

Zheng Lu had a web of connections behind him. Pulling one string would affect the entire network.

While the entertainment and investment circles intersected, Uncle Jiang’s influence was limited to the former.

These wealthy businessmen wouldn’t even consider such matters significant. They might even throw a card at them as a customary way of resolving the issue.

Zheng Lu had already received Long Jia’s call and stumbled upstairs, intoxicated.

“This matter…” He glanced at the two bodyguards being interrogated in the next room and waved his hand. “It’s because my underlings have grown too audacious, daring to touch someone under your protection, Jiang Ye.”

Xie Lianyun’s face turned grim as he took a big step forward, but Uncle Jiang held him back by the shoulder.

Zheng Lu didn’t seem bothered and even found time to light a cigarette for himself. “Later, I’ll discuss a few resources with you. How about acting in a movie?”

Huo Ren felt a sudden tightening in his heart.

He hadn’t felt this sense of disdain for a long time, as if he had returned to the depths of the most despicable bottom rung.

It was utterly nauseating.

Long Jia walked out with a cold expression.

“Mr. Zheng, there’s no need to discuss such trivial matters with my manager.” He put on a polite smile. “I’ve reserved a room across the hall. Shall we go there for a drink and catch up?”

“Young Master Long, you’re still as magnanimous as ever.” Zheng Lu laughed heartily. “You’ve been playing in the entertainment industry for several years now, and I haven’t even seen you when playing golf with your father.”

Long Jia draped his arm over Zheng Lu’s shoulder and walked forward, signaling Xie Lianyun and Huo Ren to follow.

“As for you, why don’t you go abroad to study at a prestigious university and inherit your family’s business? Why bother with singing, dancing, and all those showy things?” Zheng Lu followed him into the depths of the living room, feeling smug. “I have several clients who would like to get to know you, you know…”

Huo Ren expressionlessly closed and locked the door, securing the bolt.

Xie Lianyun made sure there were no signals from listening devices nearby and exchanged a glance with Long Jia.

“Mr. Zheng, is that a new phone?”

“This?” Zheng Lu took a drag of his cigarette, a hint of regret in his voice. “It’s an old one. I should have replaced it.”

Long Jia swiftly snatched the phone from him with one hand and threw it out the window.

“What the hell are you doing—”

He lifted his leg and kicked the middle-aged man, sending him sprawling to the ground, then pressed his foot against his face, speaking coldly.

“You dare touch my younger brother?”

Xie Lianyun closed the soundproof door between the living room and the corridor and used his portable computer to check for any other wireless devices nearby.

Huo Ren took a step forward but was halted by Long Jia’s command.

“Don’t touch him. I’ll handle this.”

Huo Ren took a deep breath and nodded, standing guard outside.

Zheng Lu, still intoxicated, was suddenly kicked to the ground and was initially bewildered. “He… He’s just a small-time artist, isn’t he? Even if he’s popular, it’s only for a year. Why are you so anxious?!”

Long Jia let out a sigh, rolled up his sleeves, and began to beat him directly.

Huo Ren carefully listened for any movement from different directions and took the opportunity to deliver a few kicks amidst the chaos.

Both he and Long Jia underwent strength training every day without fail, and their blows were precise and ruthless.

Initially, Zheng Lu cursed and spat vulgarities, but as the beating continued, he ended up screaming and begging for mercy, like a pig being slaughtered.

Long Jia’s movements were agile and efficient, not giving the other party a chance to resist or fight back.

He lifted his foot and stepped on the middle-aged man again, who now resembled a beaten-up drum, while Huo Ren quickly gagged him with a cloth.

“Listen.” Long Jia wiped off some sweat and leaned down to look at the man who had been beaten into a pig’s head. “What you’ve done to my younger brother, whether you admit it or not, is no longer important.”

“If you remember our deal, I’ll go back to the mansion tonight and take over the business in my brother’s hands, dismantling your family’s monopoly until it crumbles.”

Zheng Lu was suddenly shocked, shaking his head wildly while feigning innocence.

He was fully aware of how much the old master of the Long family spoiled his three grandsons.

When the four of them walked out, Uncle Jiang had already ordered the deletion of the surveillance cameras on this floor.

Zheng Lu, with a swollen and bruised face, walked out and slapped one of the bodyguards across the face.

Xiao Chi had finished taking the medication and had fallen asleep. Neither his nerves nor his body were seriously injured, and the hallucinations would gradually fade away in a few hours.

Xie Lianyun went over and sat by Xiao Chi’s side, while Huo Ren fetched band-aids and alcohol to clean Long Biao’s hands.

He knew that his elder brother had been too brutal in the beating, as his own knuckles were scraped in several places.

“Brother.” He spoke softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t protect Xiao Chi well.”

As Long Jia winced in pain from the alcohol-soaked cotton, he let out a long hiss. “Gently, be gentle…”

Huo Ren nodded, his head lowered, and slowly tended to the wounds on Long Jia’s knuckles.

“The top level of the entertainment industry is still about capital.”

Long Jia rubbed his head with his free hand, his tone gentle. “After we claim the crown, you can finish your university education, and I’ll help you start a company. After we finish our busy schedules, we can invite Teacher Bo and Xiao Chi to have a special music concert. It’ll be great.”

Bo Jue silently wrapped Huo Ren in a dry and warm blanket, reaching out to embrace both of them.

Huo Ren paused for a moment, his actions frozen.

One of the signs of adulthood seemed to be suddenly starting to consider the future.

The six of them chose this path for various reasons, but in the end, they all shared a deep love for everything related to Corona.

No one should get hurt, and no one should be left behind.

Corona had long become an entity that touched each of their souls.

He suddenly understood why Pei Ruye treated dance teaching as a side job, flew over from abroad early on to compete in the market, and tirelessly established companies as an industry.

He didn’t know how much wealth and business Pei Ruye still possessed, but even Qi Zong would address him as Boss Pei and look at him with admiration and approval.

To protect the things they cared about, they needed to understand strategy, be able to assess the situation, and rise above capital.

Perhaps one day, Corona would reach its end, and he would dedicate the rest of his life, along with Jia-ge and the other five, to continue safeguarding it.

This was their only home, the only place where they could find solace for their souls.

There was nothing that could replace it.

“Don’t think too much about it. With me by your side, any old bastard that comes our way will get beaten up,” Long Jia reassured his younger brother, feeling the texture of his head getting better and better. “Things will continue as they should.”

The album hadn’t even reached its full potential, and there were still many concerts waiting to be held. There was no way they would stop because of one scumbag.

“I promise you,” Huo Ren suddenly spoke up. “We’ll go and claim that crown.”

Fame, fortune, reputation—-only the last one was yet to come.

The balance in his bank account had reached a point where it was difficult to count the number of zeros. Corona had been on a hot streak for two years, and their popularity showed no signs of diminishing. They were already considered the guiding light of the industry.

They were only one crown away from their final coronation.

Uncle Jiang remained silent throughout, finally speaking up when they reached this point.

“It will take at least three more years.”

Other awards in the country were one thing, but the OSC award was the highest honor in the industry, and it wasn’t something they could simply obtain.

Several boy and girl groups had already risen to fame this year, and there were countless strong competitors across Asia.

He looked at them, his brow furrowing. “You’ve entered the industry too recently. Your skills and state of readiness aren’t at the level to win awards yet.”

“No matter how difficult it gets, it will pass,” Huo Ren took a deep breath. “I am the captain, and I won’t retreat.”

“Brother, let’s keep moving forward.”