Idol Chapter 72

Upon parting, Zhu Ning gifted them a set of wool felt figures and also passed on several love letters from classmates who were fans.

“This was made by my roommate and me,” the girl said with a youthful smile, “You will surely get the crown! See you at the concert!”

Mei Shengyao took the glass box and looked at Xie Lianyun, “Lianyun, look, you’re holding a bag of chips!”

Xiao Chi’s eyes lit up, “So cute! And there are glasses!”

Xie Lianyun turned his head away, “Not at all.”

This gift was heartwarming and adorable, the wool soft and squishy, pleasant to touch.

They took several instant photos together, smiling as they bid her farewell.

The next stop was Su City.

The distance between the two places was considerable, requiring a two-and-a-half-hour flight.

Uncle Jiang had been working late every night and was exhausted. As soon as he boarded the first-class cabin, he fell asleep, with Yao Yao buckling his seatbelt for him.

The others, less exhausted from their work, took out their computers to compose and write songs after the plane took off.

When the flight attendant first approached, the six were engrossed in their tasks, typing away as if they were in an internet cafe.

Five minutes later, Huo Ren plugged in his tuner and handed the headphones to Bo Jue, “Jue, listen to this flow I made.”

Ten minutes in, Xie Lianyun raised his mixer and tossed the other end of the cable to Mei Shengyao, “I brought the equipment. You can use this.”

When the flight attendant returned, the six had transformed their seating area into a chaotic studio. Even Long Jia’s lap had a foldable keyboard on it.

Cords crisscrossed everywhere. Xiao Chi, trapped deep in his seat, struggled, “I— I can’t get out!”

“Um—” The flight attendant looked puzzled, “Would you like some drinks?”

Five of them spoke in unison, “Just water, please.”

Xie Lianyun glanced at the still-snoring Uncle Jiang and ventured, “What do you offer here?”

Huo Ren immediately shot him a warning look.

Oblivious to the tension among the young idols, the flight attendant kindly smiled, “For alcohol, we have red wine, white wine, and champagne. For beverages, we offer orange juice, milk, Sprite, and Coke…”

Sitting up straight, Xie Lianyun seriously replied, “I’ll have a Coke, thank you.”

He’d dispose of the evidence after drinking it, making sure Uncle Jiang would never know.

As long as I drink it fast enough, the calories won’t catch up with me.

Huo Ren cleared his throat.

But the flight attendant had already handed over the paper cup.

After she left, Xie Lianyun looked at the captain seriously and said, “This, of course, has to be shared among the six of us.”

Bo Jue pretended to sleep, choosing not to participate in this team-building activity.

Mei Shengyao, having just finished his water, hesitated for a few seconds. He sneakily glanced at Uncle Jiang and then passed his cup forward.

“Just a little bit!”

Long Jia and Xiao Chi also willingly offered their cups, dividing the remaining sips of the cold Coke from Xie Lianyun’s glass.

Huo Ren pursed his lips, choosing to ignore the situation.

“Captain—” Xie Lianyun swirled the bottom of his cup and said, “Come on, there’s just a little left.”

He adjusted his glasses and offered the drink, “Want a taste?”

Caught off guard, Huo Ren instinctively took a sip.

The bubbly sensation, accompanied by a cold rush, was addictive as it flowed down his throat.

“You see? You said no at first.” Xie Lianyun proudly finished the last drop, commenting, “Who on earth came up with the idea of quitting sugar?”

Five people sharing such a small serving wasn’t enough; just a taste and they were hooked.

Mei Shengyao grew restless, “I want more! Another sip!”

“It’s all gone,” Long Jia, flipping through a financial newspaper and casually adjusting the blanket around the sleeping Bo Jue, replied, “When the flight attendant comes by again, ask for another glass, but drink less.”

“Captain, do you want more?”

“…No need.”

Before long, the flight attendant came by with her cart again.

“Hello, can I get you anything else?”

Uncle Jiang, half asleep and feeling a parched throat, heard the voice but was too groggy to open his eyes.

Sitting beside him, Mei Shengyao cheerfully said, “I’ll have another Coke, and one for the captain too!”

Huo Ren hesitated for a moment but didn’t decline.

The flight attendant, with a knowing smile and trying hard to push away the trending fan theories she’d just seen online, quickly handed them their drinks.

As soon as she exited the first-class cabin, she texted her friend over Wi-Fi.

“I’m truly shocked!! Yao Yao even proactively got him a Coke!!”

In the private group chat, a bunch of girls were excited, “Yao Yao is so cute! So obedient when chasing after big brother—”

Huo Ren held the paper cup, staring at the bubbling soda for a while, deciding to take another sip.

Just one sip, definitely no more.

As he was about to take a sip, a stern voice from up front questioned, “What are you drinking?”

Mei Shengyao choked immediately: “Co-co-co-coke!!”

Uncle Jiang calmly repeated, “Coke? Is this the second can?”

Xie Lianyun quickly hid his cup underneath him.

The manager took a deep breath, his face full of disappointment.

“Such degradation — is Coke something you should be touching??”

“You’re throwing away your bright future, taking such a risk for this?”

“Do you know how addictive this thing is, and once addicted, how hard it is to quit??”

Xie Lianyun whispered, “How risky can this be…”

“You’ll gain weight!” Uncle Jiang snapped back, “Gain a pound and your jawline will blur. Gain five pounds and fans will turn on you in an instant. Don’t you keep up with the internet? Don’t you know?”

A celebrity gaining weight is a career destroyer!

Mei Shengyao had already finished his drink.

And then, he couldn’t hold back.

“Burp—”

Uncle Jiang rubbed his temples, “I should retire.”

The older these kids get, the more troublesome they become. They’re uncontrollable, unteachable. Maybe their parents should be called.

“We won’t drink it next time.” Huo Ren sneakily took another small sip, contentedly saying, “After we return to the hotel, I’ll have them skip ropes.”

Uncle Jiang, with a stern face, grunted in response and cracked open a can of Coke himself, “Good to know. You’re not to touch it again.”

Everyone: …

“What are you looking at? Old folks can have some sweetness, mind your own business!”

The boy in the next city had just started his junior year in college and looked rather worn out.

“I’d like to introduce myself,” he said politely, shaking hands with each of the six of them. “My name is Lu Jie. I broke up with her just two months ago.”

The young man had slightly long hair, and due to chronic sleep deprivation, his forehead was oily with prominent blackheads.

He had certainly made an effort to present himself, donning his best attire to meet the celebrities.

— A clean checkered shirt paired with neat sports trousers.

Lu Jie hadn’t been a fan of celebrities before. He secretly did this to please his ex-girlfriend.

After receiving the call, he approached Corona’s new songs with an open mind and unexpectedly found them quite good.

It was only when he met them in person that he genuinely appreciated why these individuals were stars.

Their manners, appearance, physique, and fashion sense were all outstanding.

Even someone of the same gender might feel a tinge of envy.

“Get in the car first. We can chat on the way.”

Lu Jie’s story was both simple and poignant.

He had secretly admired a girl for a long time and spent all his savings for four consecutive months to win her over. When he succeeded, it felt surreal.

They dated for a year and a half. He believed he had found the right person and looked forward to their shared future.

That was until a roommate saw her entering a hotel with the popular guy from the neighboring department, hand in hand.

“When we broke up, she told me… she had been with that guy for half a year,” Lu Jie said with a bitter smile. “What could I say?”

“It’s easy to handle,” Huo Ren had already thought of a plan. “Tomorrow, near your school, the six of us will have a meal with you.”

They didn’t need to do anything excessive.

As long as the news got out in advance, that girl would surely come.

“But there’s one condition. You have to promise me.”

“No matter what she texts or calls you tonight, don’t respond.”

Lu Jie looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry to bother you all.”

He did want some form of closure, but after the heartbreak, his self-confidence was shattered.

The support and companionship of six strangers sounded almost too good to be true.

The next morning, Lu Jie arrived at the makeup room on time.

Then, he was taken aback.

“Is there really this—this many clothing options for men?!”

He thought only women had dozens of outfits and still felt it wasn’t enough. What was happening here?!

“Come, let me show you around.” Long Jia patted his shoulder and leisurely led him deeper into the room.

The dressing area had been set up overnight, with a layout resembling a snowflake.

“This area is for suits. Yes, there are over a dozen different styles and sizes for you to choose from.”

“This side is for streetwear. Why not try on some baseball jackets and denim jackets?”

The young man, in a daze, tried on one outfit after another, looking at himself in the mirror in awe, “Wow…”

Xie Lianyun adjusted his glasses and handed him an aviator jacket.

The navy blue made him look fairer, and when paired with slim pants and a baseball cap, he looked quite stylish.

“Not bad.” Huo Ren chose a pair of sleek sneakers for him, stepped back, and contemplated, “Maybe add a pendant?”

Before their debut, the six members of the “Crown” had received rigorous training, from fashion and makeup to even their walking posture, for well over half a year.

Combined with their refined aesthetic sense cultivated from luxury brands, they were more than equipped to handle such everyday challenges.

After changing his clothes and looking in the mirror, Lu Jie sincerely said, “I used to dress so poorly…”

He didn’t usually shop and never really paid attention to fashion.

But comparing his old style with his new look, he felt like he had transformed from a laborer to a street-style icon, looking much more refined.

“Let’s move on.” Huo Ren gestured for him to go to the adjacent makeup area. “I’ll help you trim your eyebrows.”

Lu Jie hesitated, a blush of embarrassment crossing his face. “Do men really need makeup?”

Realizing how his words sounded, he quickly added, “I don’t mean you guys, I just think I don’t need eyeliner or blush or anything…”

Chi Ji looked puzzled, “Why would we give you blush?”

Lu Jie: ?

He was led to a mirror where Long Jia took charge of styling his hair, Xie Lianyun picked out a fragrance, and Huo Ren skillfully shaped his eyebrows.

Being so close to such an attractive person of the same gender, Lu Jie felt his ears turning red.

He identified as a straight male but could tell the difference between someone who was genuinely good-looking and someone who wasn’t.

This guy was really handsome… no wonder so many girls were crazy about him.

Lu Jie fidgeted, rubbing the fabric of his pants, as Huo Ren steadied his hand and calmly said, “Stay still; I’ll shave the edges for you.”

The young man’s face flushed immediately, “Okay—okay.”

Damn, that deep voice is too powerful.

Am I really straight??

Bo Jue, suppressing a laugh, took the perfume handed over by Xie Lianyun and taught him how to use it.

Long Jia stood behind him, skillfully styling his hair with hair clay, creating volume and texture in just a few strokes.

Lu Jie, having a good impression of this sporty-looking senior, whispered, “What’s this?”

“Hair gel.”

“This is hair clay, and that is hair wax.”

Lu Jie: ???

“Come on,” Long Jia said, shaping the ends of Lu Jie’s hair, laughing helplessly, “To become handsome, you’ve got to put in some effort.”

Xie Lianyun steadied Lu Jie’s neck and used a trimmer to define his hairline.

With the subtle adjustments, Lu Jie suddenly looked leaner.

After the transformation, when the young man looked at himself in the mirror, he no longer felt like the ordinary college student he was before. His attire and demeanor made him look like a young rich man.

Damn, isn’t this hairstyle quite dashing?

Are my eyebrows really this good-looking after being trimmed?

“In the future, remember to use face wash and toner.” Xiao Chi advised while holding a wooden box, “Avoid staying up late; your dark circles are a bit prominent.”

“Alright… I’ll buy them as soon as I get back.”

They used foundation to cover his pores and acne, emphasized the texture of his hairstyle with a fine-tooth comb, and refined every detail of his facial features.

From being a 3 out of 10 ordinary guy yesterday, today he shot up to a 7.

Staring at his reflection for a long time, Lu Jie suddenly felt much more confident.

Who needs love when I look this good?

By the time the six of them arrived at the restaurant, many students had already gathered around the perimeter.

The production team was well-prepared, having booked the entire western restaurant the night before, with security pre-arranged to monitor the surroundings.

The seven of them sat at a long table by the window, with delicious dishes being served one after another.

Lu Jie, seated amongst them, instinctively looked out the window at the screaming fans.

So many girls are looking at them.

“There’s no need to turn your head.” Xie Lianyun poured wine for him, his eyes slightly lifting, “Who you perceive yourself to be, is who you become.”

Are you a backup, a pursuer with no standing, or a mature man deserving of respect and cherishing?

Although the words sounded like a clichéd motivational quote, when Lu Jie was fully immersed in the aura of the six of them, his demeanor began to change unconsciously.

The waitstaff spoke to them with care and politeness, and there was even a violinist playing in the distance.

Bo Jue sipped his wine expressionlessly, while Huo Ren propped his chin, listening to others chatting.

Sitting among them, Lu Jie zoned out for a moment, suddenly feeling that he wasted his three years in college and had achieved nothing.

If he had worked a bit harder, and put more effort into internships and academics, could he become as dazzling as them in the future?

Midway through lunch, there was a sudden commotion outside the window.

His ex-girlfriend had finally arrived.

Mei Shengyao, seated closest to the window, subtly raised his glass to Huo Ren.

Everyone got the message, and they continued laughing and chatting about college life with Lu Jie.

Lu Jie remembered what they had discussed earlier.

“You can look at her, but only with a sidelong glance.”

He didn’t turn his head.

His ex-girlfriend received the news the previous night, frantically calling him twenty times, sending apologetic messages repeatedly.

She was already mentally broken.

She had been a fan for so long, and after breaking up, she missed such an opportunity—

How many people get the chance to dine with their idols in their lifetime?

Out of seven million raffle entries, the winner just happened to be someone who wasn’t even a fan, who couldn’t even differentiate among the six of them. Why did he deserve this privilege? Had he ever listened to their songs??

Unable to reach Lu Jie, she knew that appearing on camera the next day would be extremely embarrassing.

But she couldn’t resist this temptation.

She couldn’t even resist a wallet gifted by the college heartthrob back then. Now, hearing about the chance to see her idols up close, reason simply wasn’t in the equation.

— Corona had become so popular today that even tickets to fan meetings were being scalped at sky-high prices. Their concert tickets for a 150,000-people show sold out in a second.

The six of them not only came to the city, but they were also dining with her ex-boyfriend!!!

Why? That ticket was originally drawn for her by him, so why wasn’t she the one sitting in the restaurant?

At this moment, Lu Jie suddenly had an epiphany.

He could hear the screams and discussions of those girls outside the window, and he knew his ex-girlfriend had rushed over to seek an explanation.

Huo Ren raised his wine glass and stood up to propose another toast to him.

“To your future.”

The young man took a deep breath, toasting with each one of them in turn.

“To my future,” he repeated, “… my future.”

Lu Jie’s ex-girlfriend had initially thought she had a chance to join them. She was used to being pampered unconditionally by him, even having him pick up deliveries for her after they broke up.

But at this moment, though they were only separated by a window, it felt as if there was a massive wall between them.

How did such a dull and uninteresting man suddenly become so stylish?

Was he always this good-looking?

She waved frantically, hoping they would all notice her.

But no one turned their heads; they continued to chat and laugh.

Occasionally, Mei Shengyao would smile and wave to the outside, but his gaze never lingered on her for even a second.

She stood frozen in the crowd, and the next moment was overwhelmed and pushed aside by other fans, like a gray side character in a story.

It seemed she had made a mistake.

She shouldn’t have treated him like that.

It’s too late now.

Before parting, Lu Jie hugged each of them again, having undergone a significant transformation.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, “I wasn’t really a fan of Corona before, only having heard two or three of your songs.”

“But now, I’m officially a fan,” Lu Jie laughed, “I promise I’ll be a fan for life.”

Huo Ren waved with a smile, “Farewell, and may our paths cross again.”

Lu Jie left with renewed vigor, bowing deeply before turning to leave.

“Wait a moment.” Bo Jue suddenly followed him quickly, stopping him at the exit, “If I may ask, it seems you… still seem a bit sad?”

“Do you… wish to reconcile with her?”

“I won’t.” Lu Jie shook his head, a wistful smile in his eyes.

“I’ve just been thinking, if those things hadn’t happened back then, maybe today she and I could be sitting here together.”

He sighed and continued slowly.

“She’s just so foolish.”

Bo Jue stood still, clenching his fists.

Lu Jie noticed that the cameras had been moved away and spoke more freely.

“I had figured it out a long time ago, but I always wanted to give her a chance, thinking she still loved me.”

“We even had a plan before, to save up and dine at this restaurant, ordering the most expensive steak.”

“It’s too late now… Let’s just let it be.”

On the way back to the hotel, Bo Jue shared this conversation with the others.

Xie Lianyun’s mind suddenly lit up, and he pulled out his phone to scribble down lyrics.

Mei Shengyao snuggled next to Yun-ge, saying languidly, “That’s how relationships are.”

“That’s why you should cherish the one you love.”

Huo Ren took a pause, keeping silent.

It had been a long time since he last saw his teacher.

Did the teacher… ever think of me?

If he did, how come I haven’t even felt a sneeze?

After returning to his room, Bo Jue sat for a while and then picked up a blank sheet, sitting opposite Chi Ji and began to write lyrics.

Chi Ji was coloring a coloring book to relax. Seeing Bo Jue approach, he turned up the lights and smiled sweetly.

“Thanks.” Bo Jue paused for a few seconds, uncertainly saying, “For a love song… as long as the sentiment is written out, it’s right, isn’t it?”

“Exactly, write it any way you want.” Chi Ji leisurely replied as he colored an intricate geranium, “Genuine feelings are the best.”

Bo Jue’s cheeks turned slightly red, nodding quickly.

He finished the lyrics in about ten minutes and whispered, “I’ll be out for a moment, and will be right back.”

“Okay~”

Standing in front of Long Jia’s room, the long-haired young man suddenly hesitated.

He could hear his heart racing.

He knocked on the wooden door twice.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Long Jia had just taken a shower, and came out wrapped in a towel, steam still rising from his upper body.

Bo Jue dared not gaze at the contour of his chest muscles, handing over the lyrics, “I wrote these… if you have time, can you help me revise them?”

He lowered his head, and his long hair cascaded down like black wings, exuding an unconscious beauty.

Long Jia glanced at the paper for a few moments and softly said, “Okay, give me a moment.”

The young man walked deeper into his room, retrieving his own set of lyrics he had previously written.

“You’ve been working hard too, little Teacher Bo.”

Bo Jue paused, murmuring, “You wrote some too?”

Long Jia, with a smile, took the crumpled draft from his hand, gently smoothing Bo Jue’s long hair with his palm.

“You’re so adorable.”

Returning to his room, Bo Jue sat down, touching the spot on his head where Long Jia had caressed.

Chi Ji paused in his activity, clearly intrigued.

“Did you guys kiss?”

“No, we didn’t.” Bo Jia laid his head on the table, admitting defeat, “He smells so good.”

Fresh from the shower, he was warm and his hair was still dripping wet.

Chi Ji took a sniff of himself, “I actually smell pretty nice too.”

“It’s just that Long Jia is… like a large wild beast, the kind you really want to hug.” Bo Jue tried to explain, burying his face back into his arm, muttering, “I think it’s puberty hitting, I get all flustered whenever I’m near him.”

Chi Ji leaned over, “So, you want to kiss him?”

“… Yes.”

“Just a peck or a passionate one?”

“Chi Ji!!”

Chi Ji’s parents happened to call from abroad at that moment. Bo Jue hesitated for a few seconds before finally opening the lyrics.

Bo Jue was eager to see… what had Long Jia written?

After reading just two lines, Bo Jue quickly folded the paper, burying his face next to the table, his cheeks flushed.

Writing these darn lyrics, you bastard, are you passing me a love letter?!

Where am I cute? Don’t say I’m cute!

On the other side, after reading the lyrics, Long Jia was rolling on his bed with joy.

Huo Ren, fresh from his shower, saw the elder, who was behaving like a playful dog, messing up the bed. He effortlessly caught a pillow that was about to fall off the bed.

“So happy?”

“A love letter!” Long Jia suddenly sat up, “Teacher Bo personally wrote me a love letter!”

Writing a piano piece for Huo Ren is nothing, I have something better! And more words too!

“Bro,” Huo Ren tilted his head looking at the lines, “From the formatting… it seems like lyrics.”

Long Jia quickly shook his head.

He passed the paper to Huo Ren and continued to roll around gleefully.

Reading through, Huo Ren felt like he was dragged into the antics of his two older brothers.

His cheeks heated up, and he returned the paper, “I shouldn’t have looked.”

Long Jia smoothed the paper under his pillow and playfully tousled Huo Ren’s hair. “Oh, my genius little brother—you have no idea how happy I am right now.”

I know. Huo Ren silently thought.

I truly know… and so do the three pillows thrown on the floor.

With still time before sleep, Huo Ren, initially planning to write songs and practice piano, suddenly felt bittersweet seeing the two of them expressing their affection.

Maybe… try calling teacher?

Find an excuse, perhaps ask about the concert process?

Sighing, Huo Ren relented to his wavering feelings.

He went to the balcony, dialing the number in the midst of the night.

The phone rang four or five times without an answer.

Quickly, Huo Ren turned off the screen, walked back to his room, and casually placed the phone on his desk.

“Calling Uncle Jiang?”

“Yes, indeed.”

Right after Pei Ruye finished his meeting, his phone rang.

He quickly instructed a few subordinates, answering the call just before it could hang up. “Huo Huo?”

His colleagues were still at the conference table, sorting out documents and softly discussing data.

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Pei Ruye instinctively gripped his phone tighter. “Huo Ren? What’s happening on your end?”

From the phone, he could vaguely hear muffled conversations.

And the intermittent sound of guitar strings being plucked.

It seemed the call hadn’t been disconnected, but the phone was left to the side.

Pei Ruye motioned for his team to handle the follow-ups and headed back to his office, putting on his Bluetooth headset as he continued his overtime work.

He didn’t hang up either. While going through a thick stack of registration documents for the new company, he listened to the soft noises from a distant city.

His boy was practicing the guitar.

The sound wasn’t smooth, perhaps it was a newly written piece.

There were occasional pauses to modify the melody, with the rustling sound of paper discernible in the background.

After about four or five minutes, the sound of pouring water could be heard, drawing nearer to the phone.

Unbeknownst to him, the call was still active.

Pei Ruye sat alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the office dimly lit.

It was as if in the darkness, he could visualize that little white wolf, roaming around, sharpening its claws and licking its tail.

The sounds were intermittent and lacked any coherence.

The guitar strings sounded messy, suggesting a distracted mind.

As Huo Ren composed and played the guitar, Pei Ruye slowly reviewed the documents.

When Huo Ren wandered around his room fetching things, Pei Ruye would raise his head, quietly listening to his footsteps.

The night was serene.

Huo Ren practiced for a long time but couldn’t find calm. There was a peculiar sense of competitive discontent.

While his elder brothers received love letters, he couldn’t even hear his teacher’s voice.

Even if it’s an unrequited love, it shouldn’t be this distant, right?

He picked up his phone again, only to realize that the call was never disconnected and had been ongoing for seventeen minutes.

Huo Ren felt a sudden rush to his head, panic setting in.

He tentatively called out, “Teacher?”

“Teacher, are you there?”

Pei Ruo lowered his gaze towards the distance, using the back of his hand to cover his breathing.

Feeling disappointed, Huo Ren hung up the call.

Maybe it was an accidental connection, and the person on the other end was unaware.

He sat silently for a moment, holding his phone, and then sent a WeChat message to explain.

“Sorry, Teacher, I accidentally dialed your number.”

Five minutes passed, and a reply came: “Mm.”

While still immersed in the feeling of having done something foolish, Huo Ren didn’t ponder why the call wasn’t disconnected for such a long time.

Suddenly, his phone lit up again.

“Looking forward to your new song.”

Holding his phone, Huo Ren’s spirits lifted.

Unable to find an appropriate topic but still wanting to converse more, he wrote, “Teacher, I accidentally bumped into a railing today. It hurts.”

The other side was silent for a moment.

“Pat on the head.”

“I just came back to the country. Brought you some orange gummies.”

“Come back soon, young master.”