Huo Ren’s description of the situation was too transparent, breaking the subtle understanding among the six of them.
But in some ways, this was a good thing.
The two elder brothers now know that they have new options, and they don’t have to stick to the defense line to avoid contact.
Without addressing it, they might even refuse to get close to each other.
Furthermore, only by making things clear with the younger brothers can they lead them to cooperate with each other and avoid many misunderstandings.
— The last on the CP (couple pairing) list right now is Huo Yao Fire.
Mei Shengyao has always been cheerful and generous in variety shows, and he has never concealed his affection for Huo Ren.
The fans are committed to this pairing, loving them unconditionally.
“Young and tamed is the true king’s way! It’s great to ship the younger with the elder!”
“Every time Yao Yao calls him captain, doesn’t he feel something? Even I’m moved!”
“Huo Yao Fire is reversible but inseparable! Yao Yao’s affection for the captain is as thick as strawberry syrup!”
Huo Ren, with the intention of testing the waters, shared his thoughts with Yao Yao.
The young boy was full of energy: “Bro! I will chase after you!”
“I like you the most!”
He had been clinging to Huo Ren since he was twelve or thirteen. Five years have flown by, and he has grown from a tearful little boy to a vibrant teenager.
If they hadn’t clarified things earlier, Huo Ren might have thought Mei Shengyao was serious.
“No need to chase openly.” Huo Ren coughed, handing over the plan he had written.
· Wear matching pendants once when going out
· Smile and look into each other’s eyes for five seconds when recording at the Lu Yang platform
· Pat each other on the head once when leaving
· Sneak a glance at each other’s profile during an award ceremony
· Shoot a joint magazine cover together
After reading, Mei Shengyao felt it wasn’t enough: “Only five items?”
Huo Ren quickly took out the pendant box: “I picked these for you. You wear the black fish, I’ll wear the white bird.”
“Okay~!”
Xie Lianyun always had a poor memory but was incredibly observant. Halfway through the checklist, he felt something was off.
After the recording of the music program was over, the six of them bowed together in gratitude and exited stage right together.
Before they even stepped out of the camera frame, Mei Shengyao suddenly tiptoed up, playfully ruffling Huo Ren’s hair.
Huo Ren: ——!
Shouldn’t I be the one ruffling your hair?
The surprised and amused expression on Huo Ren’s face was captured by the camera and seen by hundreds of fans. Mei Shengyao brazenly winked, openly teasing.
“Ah—!!”
“Yao Yao, you’ve gotten bold!!”
“What did I just see? I’m gonna flip out!!!”
The three at the front had already rushed backstage to eat and hydrate. Witnessing the interaction between the two, Xie Lianyun felt utterly perplexed.
Are you two being serious??
Does this not seem like a business act???
By the time they were done with makeup removal and back in the car, Xie Lianyun prodded Huo Ren.
“You can’t possibly,” he whispered, nodding towards Yao Yao, “have feelings for him, right?”
Mumbling about increasing competition, needing more exposure, and expanding popularity…
It looked a lot like his genius younger brother had taken a liking to Yao Yao, right??
What kind of roundabout strategy was this???
Huo Ren was still writing lyrics on his phone, while their teammates were dozing off, oblivious to their hushed conversation.
“It’s impossible. I’ve already informed Uncle Jiang.” Huo Ren said earnestly, “This is a mutually agreed upon act. Don’t overthink.”
Xie Lianyun held his head in his hands.
Great, my intuition is malfunctioning.
You guys are playing too much; the elderly like me can’t keep up.
That night, a slightly blurry fan-taken gif was posted on Weibo.
At first, dedicated fans lit up their caution signs, clarifying that this was just teammates joking around and not to overthink.
Soon after, long-time fans of the couple pairing dug up old photos from five years ago—
Back then, Huo Ren and Mei Shengyao were still trainees, eating ice cream together at a street corner, waiting to cross the road.
On New Year’s Eve, the wide streets were cold and empty. Their silhouettes were closely overlapped.
The captain’s hand was resting on the blonde boy’s forehead.
Comparing the images from five years ago to now, the story seemed to write itself—
Five years ago, a sweet little boy; five years later, a spirited young wolf!
When he was young, he would always call out “Captain”. As he grew up, he still clung to him, seeking affection daily!
Both had heartbreaking pasts that kept them from their families, relying on each other for warmth on New Year’s Eve!
If this wasn’t genuine!! Which couple could possibly score higher!!
Without any intentional promotion from Huo Ren’s side, and the SPF group busy with variety show preparations, their popularity on the trending list slowly climbed, reaching the twelfth spot.
They knowingly continued with their tasks.
One had a deep black dolphin pendant, and the other a pure white bird.
They wore the matching pendants at fan meetings and airport greetings, showcasing them as a pair within four days.
At the Golden Sound Awards red carpet, all six members smiled and nodded to the cameras.
Yet Mei Shengyao subtly turned to look at the central figure, his captain, his lips curving in a contented smile.
Progressing step by step, their timing and chemistry were almost perfect.
Once fans are invested, their investigative skills rival that of a golden armored pangolin. They could uncover every detail of a couple’s relationship, only stopping short of consulting the Matchmaker Deity about their destined red threads.
Mei Shengyao, pure-hearted, genuinely adored the captain since childhood. Seeing the rise of “Huo Yao Fire” in the CP ranking, he felt a sense of pride.
“I am indeed the best!!”
Xiao Chi, playing with his phone nearby, turned with curiosity, “I want to join in. Who’s next in line for the task?”
“It’s still early,” said Director Huo, quickly analyzing data on his computer. “Let’s wait.”
First, the official website forum showed rapid progress. In just three days, official content piled up, and their tag soon entered the top 3.
Soon, fans started promoting spontaneously. Platforms like Old Ford and AO3 saw an influx of content, with their popularity soaring.
“Sisters, invest in Huo Yao Fire!”
“Huo Yao Fire, let’s surge!! They deserve the top spot on the CP ranking!!!”
“The story of a lonely boy and his childhood sweetheart, I can go on shipping them for another ten thousand years. They’re so real!”
Eight days later, the new cover of “Star Era” magazine was released, featuring three pairs: Long-Xie, Bo-Chi, and Huo-Yao.
The sales for the third pair skyrocketed, with both the digital and physical editions nearing sold-out status.
Uncle Jiang never expected this kind of outcome.
“What are young people chasing after these days?? Your love stories???”
Huo Ren waved it off, “It’s team camaraderie, all just team camaraderie.”
There was no need to explain the details.
It’s healthier for the middle-aged and elderly to spend less time online.
While keeping an eye on online trends from various regions, Huo Ren also quietly observed his two elder brothers at home.
His initial understanding of romance mainly came from them. He was also quite curious about the results after introducing this plan.
The Long-Jue pairing’s popularity dropped to fourth, but fan-made illustrations of them were still abundant.
However, nothing compares to witnessing something firsthand.
But the distance between the two elder brothers seemed to have grown even further.
After being pushed away, Bo Jue, in a daze, retreated to his room to reflect.
He suddenly felt that he didn’t understand Long Jia at all.
“You’re too willful.”
Bo Jue knew very well how willful he was.
He acted on his instincts: if he wanted to snap at someone, he would; if he wanted some closeness, he would approach.
Long Jia always looked relaxed and cheerful in daily life, never taking any occasional chiding to heart.
But his sudden statement, and pushing him away…
Maybe he was serious.
Bo Jue was talented in playing instruments and writing lyrics but was utterly clueless in matters of the heart.
He had spent his first seventeen years immersed in his piano career, leading a pure and simple life.
Most of what he knew about romantic relationships came from exploring the vast world of the CP rankings.
— In this regard, he wasn’t much different from his younger brothers.
Bo Jue couldn’t figure out how to handle the situation, so he put it behind him and spent his days with Huo Ren and Xiao Chi.
Long Jia wasn’t in a hurry either. He behaved as if that episode never happened, his demeanor indifferent.
However, he hadn’t tied Bo Jue’s long hair for him in a long while.
The show’s production team was still confirming the schedules of various guest stars, leaving them ample time to prepare for their fourth album.
Initially, Xiao Chi proposed naming the album “Twelve”.
“Friend is written with twelve strokes, so is lover. Spouse and family are also written with twelve strokes.”
Huo Ren pondered for a few seconds, feeling unsure, “Tears, sorrow, and letting go are also written with twelve strokes.”
Xie Lianyun, spinning a pen beside him, suddenly suggested, “How about ‘Seventeen’?”
All three elder brothers came here when they were seventeen, and all six members lived on the seventeenth floor.
“Youth is written with seventeen strokes,” Huo Ren smiled; “That’s a good one.”
None of them had been in a relationship, so writing love songs was challenging due to the lack of personal experience.
Huo Ren, familiar with this issue, shared his technique of crafting stories during their meeting.
After listening, the group pondered for a while before Xie Lianyun raised his hand, “I thought of a plot—”
The song would be named “Him.”
There were six members in Corona, each could play a role.
“The girl in the story had feelings for six different people throughout her life.”
One was a shy crush, ambiguous from the start, and eventually faded away.
One was unrequited love, chasing with joy and hope, then despairing and letting go with regret.
“I’ll take the first role,” Xie Lianyun scribbled on an A4 paper, “For the MV, I’ll only contribute a silhouette, the other scenes will feature you guys.”
“The second role should go to Brother Long,” Huo Ren looked at the categorization, “The next few fit Yao Yao and Xiao Chi well.”
One was a sweet and pure first love, filled with joy and openness.
One was a sudden infatuation, being enticed and yet feeling lost.
“Passionate love and marriage should be played by Bo Jue and Huo Huo,” Xie Lianyun looked at the others, “What do you think?”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Who wouldn’t want to marry Huo Huo!
The captain was undoubtedly the best choice for marriage within Corona!
“When filming the MV, the female lead will interact with each of us in turn,” Bo Jue astutely pointed out, “If we bring in a model or an actress, would the fans get jealous?”
“We can just film her silhouette,” Huo Ren decisively suggested, “To preserve ample room for imagination.”
The first filming location for the show was in the neighboring province’s Lu Yang city.
Zhu Ning, as the first lucky fan to be selected across the network, had an upcoming major life event: a postgraduate interview.
She entered the program’s studio at nine in the morning and was startled to see hundreds of clothing racks.
Before she could catch her breath, six handsome figures, both older and younger, bowed in unison.
“Welcome to the Crown’s Makeup Room—”
Zhu Ning covered her mouth and stepped back, momentarily speechless.
It’s the real-life Corona!!! And they’re moving!!! Oh my gosh!!!
Seeing them in person, they’re so tall and slender— when the captain smiles, I feel like my heart will melt!!!
“Hello,” she said, still a bit timid, giving a bow in return, “I have an interview at 2 pm today. I’ll leave my makeup and outfit choices to you.”
Zhu Ning always felt she was too chubby.
She rarely took selfies and seldom looked in mirrors. When seeing handsome boys, she would shyly avoid eye contact.
But now, she was surrounded and accompanied by superstars…
It felt like a dream.
First, Huo Ren and Mei Shengyao brought her to a full-length mirror.
As the girl saw her round face in the reflection, she instinctively turned away, her fingers intertwined nervously.
“I…”
“Your body proportions are very good,” Huo Ren smiled, “You’re tall, and you’d look great in a trench coat.”
It was early spring. Although the sun was warm, it was still a bit chilly outside.
“My proportions… are good?”
Mei Shengyao quickly fetched clothes, darting between the mirror and the hexagonal clothing rack like a courier.
“Yes, and you have big, bright, expressive eyes,” Huo Ren said, handing her six jackets, indicating for her to choose a style she liked, “How about trying this blazer, or this knitted sweater?”
“Okay, sure!”
The show itself was sponsored by affluent fashion and beauty companies, ensuring the quality and design were top-notch on an international scale.
When the girl emerged after changing her outfit, her aura was instantly elevated by the clothes.
Xie Lianyun was responsible for serving tea, pouring water, and showering praises: “You look great! It fits perfectly! Wearing this, you look like a fairy!”
Bo Jue gave him a glance and then provided his suggestions in front of the mirror.
“Letting your hair down can help contour your face. Would you like to try this piece of clothing?”
Zhu Ning, with a flushed face, nodded and quickly grabbed the garment to try it on.
This is too surreal!
Why is Bo Jue’s boyfriend energy so strong?! The captain’s gaze is so gentle; I’m going to fall for him!
Her close friends were frantically texting to inquire about the progress. Zhu Ning, caught up in the moment, didn’t have time to respond and quickly tried on the next outfit.
“It looks good,” Bo Jue complimented with a smile. “Long Jia will style your hair, and we’ll help with your makeup.”
The khaki trench coat was well-tailored, visually enhancing her waistline. The white shirt paired with an A-line skirt gave off a studious yet relaxed vibe. Agate earrings on her right added a mature touch.
Bo Jue and Chi Ji took care of the aesthetic combination, while Xie Lianyun and Long Jia engaged in chit-chat.
Huo Ren stood by her side, like a butler, with a calm and gentle gaze.
Zhu Ning felt dazed throughout.
Happiness popped all around her like popcorn; just being close to them was overwhelming. And now, spending half a day with them…
During the makeup session, her voice turned slightly bitter.
“I never imagined I’d experience such a joyful event.”
Chi Ji, while blending her makeup, laughed, “Your boyfriend can also help with that, right?”
“Him,” Zhu Ning sighed, “He often says I’m fat.”
“He thinks I look unkempt because of my postgraduate exams and finds me repulsive.”
Bo Jue paused in his actions.
Xie Lianyun frowned, “That person always puts you down?”
“I’m used to it,” the girl said shyly, “I don’t look good, I’m not articulate, and I’m quite dull.”
“I actually feel that my chances of being admitted through this postgraduate interview are slim,” she looked at them with a forced smile. “I’m so terrible… there’s probably no chance.”
Meeting her beloved idols due to this event was already a delightful surprise in her life.
“Do you think he loves you?” Xie Lianyun asked straightforwardly.
“…Probably not,” Zhu Ning replied slowly. “He hasn’t left me for so long, probably just because he’s bored.”
“That’s not the case,” Bo Jue suddenly spoke. “Do you know about leeches?”
“Leeches?”
“There’s a possibility,” Huo Ren brought out a jewelry box, and Mei Shengyao expertly picked earrings and rings.
“That he’s seeking joy by belittling you.”
“Have you ever considered that you, and the ‘you’ he describes, are not the same person?”
Zhu Ning stared at them, uncertain.
“Isn’t it?”
Huo Ren gripped the back of her chair, speaking calmly, “Look at the mirror.”
“You’re not fat, not ugly, and not detestable.”
“You are a lovely girl, deserving of better love and care.”
His voice, always profound, sounded like a hypnotic charm at the moment, making Zhu Ning’s eyes well up with tears.
“When we saw you, we thought your eyes were bright, and you spoke like a lark.”
“We really like you, so please… could you like yourself a little more?”
Bo Jue chose cherry makeup for her.
Youthful and lively, it exuded freshness and vitality.
The sheer base makeup concealed all blemishes and uneven skin tone, and the eye and brow makeup appeared natural, making her retain a bare-faced look. However, her lips and eyes had an added touch of springtime moisture.
Bo Jue did her eye makeup, and Chi Ji did her lips.
When the two of them got close to her, Zhu Ning’s face turned beet red.
“It seems we can skip the blush,” Long Jia laughed. “This shade looks good too.”
The girl stood in front of the mirror again, staring at her reflection for a long time.
She looked both studious and bright, just as a twenty-something should.
She whispered, “I… I don’t seem to be fat at all.”
“I actually feel that my chances of being admitted through this postgraduate interview are slim,” she looked at them with a forced smile. “I’m so terrible… there’s probably no chance.”
Meeting her beloved idols due to this event was already a delightful surprise in her life.
“Do you think he loves you?” Xie Lianyun asked straightforwardly.
“…Probably not,” Zhu Ning replied slowly. “He hasn’t left me for so long, probably just because he’s bored.”
“That’s not the case,” Bo Jue suddenly spoke. “Do you know about leeches?”
“Leeches?”
“There’s a possibility,” Huo Ren brought out a jewelry box, and Mei Shengyao expertly picked earrings and rings.
“That he’s seeking joy by belittling you.”
“Have you ever considered that you, and the ‘you’ he describes, are not the same person?”
Zhu Ning stared at them, uncertain.
“Isn’t it?”
Huo Ren gripped the back of her chair, speaking calmly, “Look at the mirror.”
“You’re not fat, not ugly, and not detestable.”
“You are a lovely girl, deserving of better love and care.”
His voice, always profound, sounded like a hypnotic charm at the moment, making Zhu Ning’s eyes well up with tears.
“When we saw you, we thought your eyes were bright, and you spoke like a lark.”
“We really like you, so please… could you like yourself a little more?”
Bo Jue chose cherry makeup for her.
Youthful and lively, it exuded freshness and vitality.
The sheer base makeup concealed all blemishes and uneven skin tone, and the eye and brow makeup appeared natural, making her retain a bare-faced look. However, her lips and eyes had an added touch of springtime moisture.
Bo Jue did her eye makeup, and Chi Jie did her lips.
When the two of them got close to her, Zhu Ning’s face turned beet red.
“It seems we can skip the blush,” Long Jia laughed. “This shade looks good too.”
The girl stood in front of the mirror again, staring at her reflection for a long time.
She looked both studious and bright, just as a twenty-something should.
She whispered, “I… I don’t seem to be fat at all.”
“You’re also very special,” Xie Lianyun said slowly. “Your impression score in today’s interview will definitely be high.”
Throughout the lengthy makeup session, Xiao Chi had practiced her English self-introduction with her twice.
Huo Ren sat next to her, helping her review common interview questions as if he were a professional trainer.
She spent a dazed three to four hours in the makeup room and even had lunch with them.
When she was about to leave the studio to head to the interview site in a private car, a distant shout reached her ears: “Zhu Ning—”
A disheveled male student ran over, the collar of his plaid shirt stained with sauce.
“You—” he gasped for breath, “how did you become so beautiful?”
Just as Zhu Ning was about to explain to her boyfriend, he didn’t give her a chance, “A’Ru said you were going to see celebrities today? How could you afford such fancy clothes? Just a few days ago you said you were running out of money, didn’t you?”
Zhu Ning suddenly choked up, instinctively glancing at the idols who had just boarded the car, feeling utterly embarrassed and lost.
“Nice car,” her boyfriend commented, then continued, “You’re meeting celebrities, right? Bring me along. I can get some autographs and sell them.”
“Those sissy boys with their flashy outfits, I don’t even know what you see in them…”
“Excuse me,” Huo Ren interjected calmly, “She doesn’t want to be late for her interview.”
He seemed to have ignored the derogatory comment, offering his hand to Zhu Ning. “Let’s go. It’s time for your interview.”
The boyfriend was taken aback, realizing the celebrity legends were right in that car. He tried to straighten himself up, hoping to appear presentable, but it was in vain.
Even without a mirror, the vast difference between him and Huo Ren was apparent. From Huo Ren’s jawline to his calm demeanor, everything about him seemed perfect, as if from another dimension.
The stark contrast was blinding.
Zhu Ning didn’t wait for her boyfriend to speak again, and holding onto Huo Ren’s hand, she gracefully stepped into the car. A realization settled within her.
I am a worthy person.
The idols I love are all dazzling, like the North Star beyond the horizon.
I can’t waste my time and life on someone like this anymore.
“Wait—” the boyfriend suddenly shouted, “You can’t just leave with them— you’re my girlfriend!”
“I see you still remember.” Mei Shengyao leaned out the window and said, “She’s so beautiful, well-educated, and has a great personality. How could you have the heart to treat her that way?”
“This… this is between her and me, Zhu Ning, come down! You can’t get in another man’s car!”
“Really? If I don’t go for the postgraduate entrance exam, how will I get my own car in the future?” She suddenly laughed, “Are you waiting for me to become someone so worthless under your oppression that I can’t even afford a bicycle?”
“You?!!”
Huo Ren signaled the driver, and the car sped off.
Sitting among them, Zhu Ning looked down, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
“Actually, every time I finish my evening study session and walk back to the dormitory from the library alone, I’m afraid of the dark.”
“Last year, when I was preparing for exams, I kept listening to the songs you wrote on loop. Listening to them while walking made it feel like the world was lighting up.”
She had so many exams to prepare for and was constantly overwhelmed by the university’s myriad tasks, frequently falling into exhaustion and confusion.
But listening to “Night Fire” or “Nameless Moment,” it felt as if more people understood and were walking with her, propelling her forward.
All her insecurities and fears were met with comfort and encouragement, turning into cheerful melodies that kept her company.
“I’ve always wanted to say… thank you.”
Zhu Ning took a deep breath, looked at all six of them, holding back tears with a radiant smile.
“You guys are my light.”
She sounds like a wonderful person!