Idol Chapter 80

His feet gently tapped on the drumhead, and the silver anklets on his wrists jingled crisply.

The drum’s surfaces were adorned with scarlet dragon tooth flowers, and wherever his steps took him, the drumbeats resonated like a cascading rain shower.

Two ornate lanterns hung high on either side, while Bo Jue, with bowed head, swept the strings of an ancient qin, producing a cool, flowing sound like a gentle stream passing through the ears.

Xie Lianyun played a melodious tune on the jade flute with a smile in his phoenix-like eyes, his graceful notes echoing and harmonizing with the drumbeats.

Clouds and mist silently drifted and spread, while the drumbeats rose and fell, with each bell ringing perfectly in time.

Huo Ren, draped in golden chiffon, danced gracefully. He resembled a longsword bathed in moonlight and a proud and unrestrained mythical bird, with a skillful fusion of beauty and iciness.

The magnificence and coldness intricately intertwined, with no sense of discord.

With hands clasped together and a light side jump, Huo Ren’s feet struck the ground five times, creating a continuous ripple of drumbeats.

The flute’s melody soared and descended, the ancient qin resonated with depth and expansiveness, and when the two combined, it was as if phoenixes were entwined in flight above the peak of a phoenix tree.

The ringing of the drums, accompanied by the tinkling of silver bells, surged and fell like a playful yet alluring heartstring.

As Huo Ren danced, his neck and shoulders stretched, and the tassels on his earrings swayed back and forth. His slender waistline gleamed in the night, forming an arc of white.

With his feet arched and taut, he stood on the nimble flute music. The drumbeats were like a sudden rain, sharp, fine, and powerful. The golden chiffon floated and spun in the wind as the dance steps quickened, and the sounds of the ensemble rose and swayed—

Suddenly, a heavy beat struck, and it felt like it opened up the hearts of everyone in the audience!

The barrage of comments during the live broadcast was filled with praises and cries.

“What kind of unearthly beauty is this!! How can my boyfriend look so good tonight, wuuu, the golden chiffon with silver bells is just too intoxicating!!!”

“Huo Ren’s body is really amazing. He’s got the curves where he should, and he’s slim where he should be. His wrists and ankles are like the standard for a male protagonist in a manga!”

“The wealthy canary literature should set something up—this canary with a fierce nature and a sense of fragility is just too extraordinary—”

Huo Ren gracefully leaped from the drum surface and bowed in different directions.

The shouts from the audience were incessant, but the content of their cheers varied.

“I—love—you!!!”

“Want—to—see—more!!!”

“Wear!!! More!!! Costumes!!!”

As the grand finale came to a close, Xie Lianyun sang the final part solo.

Without wearing his glasses, his smoke-purple eyes matched his half-shoulder white fox fur, giving him an otherworldly appearance.

Due to the stark contrast of this look, when the fans first saw the person on the screen, they were collectively stunned for a few seconds.

He was—who again??

Thankfully, he has always portrayed himself with silver-framed glasses and an aloof and distant demeanor, so his fans had grown accustomed to that image over the years.

Seeing him in this new attire, simultaneously alluring and sexy, it left people’s imaginations in disarray—

Is this the same guy who shared game strategies a while back??

Is this the birthday boy of the top-notch wordplay???

Xie Lianyun looked into the camera, and his amethyst-like eyes blinked, captivating enough to make hearts skip a beat.

Fan comments flooded in:

– “I’m in love!! Stop talking, I’m in love!! Xie Fox, you’ve locked me in, no one else can snatch you away!!!”

– “OMG… Can removing and putting on glasses really change someone’s level of suaveness this much? No wonder they use glasses as transformation props in TV dramas…”

– “Happy birthday, Xie Lianyun!!! You’re an invincible presence, both refined and seductive, with a scholarly aura—From now on, let’s walk the flowery path with your brothers!!”

As they finished singing, their teammates pushed forward a three-tiered birthday cake, adorned with sparkler candles that twinkled like stars.

On top of the cake, there was even a cream-made white fox.

And then, they all playfully smeared each other’s faces with cake, turning everyone into something resembling a calico cat.

As the concert came to an end, the six of them returned for three encores, conducted media interviews alongside Manager Jiang, and followed the usual routine of removing makeup and hair accessories.

Pei Ruye was leaning against the doorway when he saw Huo Ren coming back. He smiled, pursing his lips, and then turned around.

Huo Ren’s face flushed instantly, and he quickly greeted his brothers before following their teacher into the temporary space cordoned off with curtains.

The scarlet Wind tattoo on his back was meticulously drawn by their teacher, stroke by stroke.

Temporary tattoos use a special plant-based dye, not only for their vibrant colors but also for their ability to change color under different lighting.

Huo Ren hadn’t thought much of it when he first heard that a Wind totem would be painted on his back.

That was until he saw Pei Ruye holding a brush, sitting behind him.

“Don’t be nervous,” the man said in a calm tone.

Huo Ren, still wearing his flowing robe, pretended to remain calm and collected while facing his teacher. Inside, his emotions were coiled into a thousand knots.

Why did it have to be the teacher painting it?!

The teacher’s fingertips, slightly cool, pressed onto his spine, making him tense even more.

“The design is somewhat complex, it’ll take about twenty minutes.”

Huo Ren had intended to say something like “Thank you for your hard work, teacher,” but when he felt the teacher’s fingertips move to his scapula, both his gratitude and his words choked into a low note.

After that, he no longer dared to utter a word.

The brush was soft, and the dye was wet.

Drawing and painting on his back felt like an endless kiss, long and passionate.

Sometimes, Huo Ren could be too competitive, wanting to catch up with his brothers in everything.

Whether it was piano, guitar, music theory, French, or even the progress in Jia and Jue’s relationship, he wanted to excel. He knew there was no possibility with their teacher in this regard, but when he saw his brothers hugging affectionately, he couldn’t help but have a silent hope and restlessness.

All that sense of loss had been compensated today, turning into a small happiness that could last for a long time.

This gift was something that none of his brothers had.

—Teacher favors me the most after all.

The two of them walked back into the isolated area, and Huo Ren turned his back to his teacher, his breath a little uneven.

He slowly untied the strings, exposing his entire back.

Pei Ruye sat quietly for a few seconds, adjusting his mindset and his breathing. He spoke softly, “I need to clean it with alcohol; it might feel a bit cold.”

Huo Ren nodded quickly, feeling too embarrassed to speak again.

He berated himself for not being able to speak at times like this. He had a rare opportunity to spend more time with their teacher, and he couldn’t even find words to say. It was too stifling and not enjoyable at all.

Pei Ruye also soaked a cloth in alcohol and began gently wiping away the Wind’s fangs and sharp edges.

“Your dance tonight was precise with the timing,” he said.

The sensation of coldness shot up Huo Ren’s spine like an electric current, but he trembled due to the praise.

“…Um.”

Pei Ruye seemed to notice that Huo Ren’s ear tips were turning slightly pink. He continued to casually compliment him while wiping.

“The control of your strength was excellent, your eye expression was on point, and your movements were clean at the end.”

“I liked your… performance tonight.”

Huo Ren almost misheard that and hastily said, “Thank you, Teacher.”

He even hoped that the teacher wouldn’t praise him any further. When someone you like praises you, your heart races along with their words.

He never had this feeling when facing his brothers, fans, managers, or anyone else. It was both frantic and joyful.

As the alcohol evaporated, it took away some of the heat, and Pei Ruye was concerned about him getting cold, so he worked quickly.

At times, he applied a bit more pressure, leaving a red mark on Huo Ren’s back.

Huo Ren endured the slight stinging sensation in silence.

Pei Ruye let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

My young master…

Huo Ren thought he had not sat up straight and tensed his shoulders. He quietly said, “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Hmm,” Pei Ruye said slowly. “It’s a bit painful, and we’re about one-third done.”

He seemed to lose his focus while speaking, and his hand applied a bit more pressure.

Pei Ruye quickly withdrew his hand and used his palm to cover it, gently massaging Huo Ren’s butterfly bone.

“Sorry, sorry…”

Huo Ren held his breath and nodded gently. At this moment, he clearly felt the texture of his teacher’s palm.

A faint smile remained on Pei Ruye’s lips.

The concert was a huge success, and album sales soared once again.

Even though the promotional period had ended, due to the buzz on Weibo and the circulation of breathtaking gifs, as well as the reality and live broadcasts dispelling rumors, the popularity of Corona reached new heights.

Advertising endorsements and filming offers came pouring in like snowflakes, and the business department at SPF Entertainment was inundated with phone calls.

August arrived, and the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) celebration was right on schedule.

Every year, on Valentine’s Day, Qixi Festival, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, idol stars worked diligently, often working overtime.

This time, Corona partnered with the luxury perfume brand Seru to launch a special Qixi Festival event. At the venue, six three-dimensional oil painting frames were set up, allowing fans to take photos with their favorite idols through glass.

This special event lasted for two hours. The six of them had to sit inside rectangular spaces of nearly ten square meters each, dressed in costumes inspired by classical oil painting characters. They retained a classical aesthetic while also exuding the delightful fragrance of a new perfume through the glass.

The walls of their prop compartments were entirely transparent, enabling them to greet and chat with their nearby teammates.

The six rectangular compartments were placed together in a fan shape, allowing each person to see the appearance of their fellow companions.

Huo Ren portrayed a knight with a long sword, guided by a parrot through the mountains and forests.

Long Jia portrayed a king, his scepter held high, with a stag head symbolizing glory hanging in the distance.

Chi Ji took on the role of a woodland elf with semi-transparent butterfly wings that fluttered and changed shape, with a murmuring brook running beside a grove of birch trees.

Pei Ruye led his assistant on a twirl and stopped in front of Huo Ren’s glass wall, leaning down to smile at him.

Huo Ren was watching Jia-ge when he stumbled on his velvet robe. When he turned his head to look at his teacher, he seemed a bit dazed.

“Jiang Shu has taken on too many film projects lately and has to accompany a producer and a famous director for a drink to make amends. He’s gone back early,” Pei Ruye said with a smile. “Little knight, do you need a guide?”

Next to them, Assistant Zhang held up a camera and aimed it at them. “Come on, say cheese!”

Huo Ren hadn’t expected that his first Qixi Festival photo would be taken with his teacher, even though it was part of a promotional event. Nevertheless, it held a special meaning.

He feigned composure, smiled, and said, “The pose in the previous one wasn’t right. Let’s take another one.”

Then, he confidently made a heart shape with his hands.

Pei Ruye turned sideways to look at him, and Assistant Zhang took a perfectly timed shot.

“Great! Two handsome guys standing together are such an eyeful!”

Outside the venue, fans had formed long queues, ready to rush in. The event organizers were still checking every detail of the set and the advertising posters.

“Xie Lianyun, your cross is upside down,” Bo Jue said leisurely. “Holding it upside down means you believe in Satan.”

Father Xie glanced at him. “I did it on purpose.”

Yang Yang held a bow and arrow and was still touching his pure white wings.

“They look like swan feathers.”

As soon as the time arrived, the security guards at the six entrances began to let people in. Fans rushed in with excitement.

The idols, who had seen everything, couldn’t help but take a step back together.

This… this was like a zombie apocalypse!

The brand had accurately estimated the idols’ popularity and had tightly controlled the ticketing system in collaboration with SPF Entertainment. They also increased the number of security personnel to maintain order and ensured that each fan’s photo session didn’t exceed twenty seconds.

For Huo Ren and the others, their task was simple. They posed for heart shapes or did scissor-hand gestures with fans while smiling for photos.

During these moments, the feeling of being an idol became incredibly real.

Almost every fan appeared in their best form when meeting them, like they were meeting a boyfriend they had been in a long-distance or even international relationship with for three years.

Wearing traditional Chinese clothing, the fans had meticulously prepared their outfits, makeup, and accessories. Their wrists and ears were adorned with crowns.

The closer they got in line, the more nervous and gentle their expressions became. When they finally saw their idols in person, they covered their mouths in awe, unable to say anything.

The circular screen in the air played the new product advertisement on one half and random interactions between the six idols and different girls on the other.

Xie Lianyun, who rarely showed his serious side, nodded gently when a fan prayed with her hands together and lightly touched her forehead through the glass.

The screams in the venue were deafening.

“Thank you for daring to flirt with other girls in front of me!!!”

“Father in Crimson is too ascetic, so incredibly suave, ahhhh!” A fan gushed.

Huo Ren let a parrot climb onto his shoulder and interacted with fans who formed a long line, posing for photos and laughing.

He could feel the thoughtfulness behind this design. Even if they were close, there was always a thick layer of bulletproof glass between them and the fans. They needed to feel close, be understood, and respected, but safety was also a priority.

Because it was the Qixi Festival, many fans came with love letters and roses. While most gifts were stopped at the security checkpoint at the entrance, the company had strict rules against accepting gifts. However, fans still brought love letters and roses.

Gradually, there were small mountains of white and red roses next to each glass box. Some fans even dressed in wedding gowns to take photos with their idols.

“This might be my only chance to get this close to my idol in my life. Taking a wedding photo with my idol is my dream!”

Huo Ren knelt on one knee, kissed the back of a fan’s hand through the glass, and projected this romantic moment onto a large screen, making him and the fan look like a knight and a bride, a perfect match.

The girls in the venue followed suit, exclaiming and taking pictures with their phones.

“I wish I had worn my wedding dress!”

“Look how tall the roses next to Huo Huo are! My arch-nemesis has so many fans!”

“Why are there people putting huge bouquets of champagne roses and blue enchantress flowers next to the frames?”

Pei Ruye sat in the rest area, absentmindedly stirring his iced water, deep in thought. Fans were queuing up to give gifts to Huo Ren right now.

When he matures a bit more, how should he pursue him to make his heart flutter?

Huo Ren was a bit shy in front of the lively girls, but he displayed tenderness and thoughtfulness, earning praise.

On the neighboring booth, Cupid Yang Yang and the Fairy Ji Ji team were progressing very slowly. The girls were so enamored that they insisted on taking more photos, even if it meant getting scolded by security.

Bo Jue sat beside a silver harp, dressed as a troubadour, interacting with fans. The fans had prepared support items in advance and placed large bunches of gorgeous black lilies and black roses beside him.

He posed and took photos with them, smiling and expressing gratitude for their long-time support.

Suddenly, he looked up and his gaze passed through the crowd to the other side, where Long Jia held a rose in his mouth.

Long Jia was dressed in a deep blue velvet robe, forming half a heart shape with his fingers, perfectly matching the other half heart shape made by the fans outside the glass barrier.

With his scepter in hand, his eyes and brows as dark as ink, he radiated an unrestrained charm.

The young man held the red rose in his mouth, smiled, and blinked his eyes. A long line of girls snapped photos with one hand while trying to cover their screams with the other.

“This is Qixi Festival!! How can my husband be so charming!!!”

Bo Jue was taken aback for a second but immediately regained his composure, continuing to take photos with the fans while smiling.

However, he felt a bit lost and bewildered inside.

The Qixi Festival event was a great success, and both online and offline reviews were excellent.

Some wealthy fans agreed to sponsor the high-end holiday gift boxes for the entire company, signing a six-figure deal on the spot.

“Please do this again for Christmas!”

“Will there be a similar event for New Year’s?”

“Waiting in line for two hours was totally worth it. Finally, I’ve seen them, and my heart is melting.”

The delighted organizers went to the dressing rooms to thank the members personally, praising their professionalism and outstanding performance.

Yang Yang aimed Cupid’s golden bow at each of them and playfully shot an arrow before getting his feathers plucked by Chi Ji, who was all smiles.

“Give me a massage,” Chi Ji said.

“Chi-ge, your wings are beautiful too,” Mei Sheng Yang blinked. “How about we try different wings for photos?”

The event photos quickly circulated on social media and forums, leaving fans of ships, CPs, fangirls, fanboyfriends, and mothers feeling delighted.

Corona’s marketing and business capabilities were off the charts!

The official app’s CP ranking, which usually changed every three to five days, had already gone through several cycles as various photos were shared online.

Meanwhile, the members of Floor 17, who had been busy all day, had no idea about the online turmoil.

After a long day of work, they had just returned home and collapsed on the couch.

Bo Jue was lying beside Huo Ren, half-asleep and half-awake.

When Long Jia wanted to help him tie up his long hair, Bo Jue suddenly sat up, avoiding his touch.

Long Jia’s expression shifted slightly, and he instinctively reached out his hand, wanting to stroke his hair.

Bo Jue, not wanting to argue with him, quickly got up, put on his slippers, and headed for the music room.

“…Bo Jue?”

Long Jia hurriedly followed him and intercepted him at the end of the hallway.

“Are you angry?”

Bo Jue tried to turn and walk in a different direction but was once again blocked by Long Jia.

Long Jia, tall and athletic, had a clear advantage in terms of physical fitness and speed.

“Yes,” Bo Jue replied, keeping his head down. “I’m not happy.”

Long Jia frowned. “We haven’t really talked today. What happened?”

Bo Jue turned back to walk away but was blocked once more.

He glanced at Long Jia’s collar and smiled faintly. “You don’t have the right to ask, and I don’t have the right to say.”

“That’s it then.”

Suddenly, Long Jia sensed a hint of jealousy and fell silent.

Bo Jue’s heart sank, thinking that Long Jia was backing down, and he tried to move around him to go back.

“I like you.”

“What?”

“I like you, Xiao Jue.”

“Are you kidding?”

Bo Jue was taken aback, but in the next moment, he was pulled into an embrace, and their lips met.

“I… I’ve liked you for a long time,” Long Jia mumbled, burying his face in Bo Jue’s neck and holding him tightly. “You know it. You’ve always known.”

Bo Jue’s mind went blank.

I… I was kissed?

What should I do now? Push him away? Scold him and walk away?

“What were you doing just now?” he whispered.

Long Jia blushed even more but, with a serious expression, kissed him again.

They had never kissed before, and they both struggled to find the right angle.

But their lips were so soft that in just half a second, their hearts were on fire.

Bo Jue allowed himself to be held and looked up at those gentle eyes.

Long Jia wasn’t sure if he had done the right thing or not, so he continued to hold Bo Jue cautiously.

“Do you know how to French kiss?”

“Um… not too sure,” Long Jia whispered. “Do you want to try?”

Bo Jue nodded slowly.

They held their breath and drew closer to each other, their distance decreasing.

“Xiao Jue,” Long Jia spoke a second before their lips met. “When I was holding the rose, I actually wanted to show it to you.”

Blushing, Bo Jue kissed the corner of his mouth.

“When you were sitting next to the harp today, I really wanted to come over and hug you,” Long Jia continued to kiss him, intermittently sharing his feelings. “Don’t be mad at me… I can’t stand seeing you frown sometimes.”

“Muah.”

“Xiao Jue,” he lightly chuckled as he caressed Bo Jue’s forehead. “You’re so soft.”

Bo Jue was too embarrassed to speak and kept his eyes down as Long Jia continued to kiss his forehead and the tip of his nose.

Long Jia gently cupped the back of his head and started with tentative kisses on the side of his lips. Gradually, their lips and teeth interlocked in a gentle and tender embrace.

Both of them were experiencing their first crush and their first love, and during their deep kiss, they even made sure to leave a few seconds for each other to catch their breath. Then, they continued their unending kiss.

It was sweet, prolonged happiness that knew no end.

The youthful affection that had been suppressed for years awakened and spread like ivy, binding their hearts and pulses together.

Then, they resonated with each other.

Meanwhile, Huo Ren and Chi Ji were sleeping soundly on the left side, looking like two hamsters cuddled together. On the opposite side, Xie Lianyun was playing games on his phone.

“Hmm,” Huo Ren whispered, half awake. “Where’s Jue-ge?”

Xie Lianyun, still absorbed in his game and not fully processing the question, pointed toward the far end of the room.

“Oh, okay. I’ll go find him.”

Once Huo Ren had walked away, Xie Lianyun suddenly snapped back to reality.

Wait a minute—he can’t go there!!

Huo Ren retrieved the sheet music from the bedroom and, following the hallway, went to look for Bo Jue.

And then, at a glance, he saw Jia-ge pinning down his third brother against the wall, passionately kissing him.

Huo Ren: !!!

“Hmm? Is Huo Huo coming over?” Long Jia, in front of Huo Ren, gave another kiss and asked, “Are you here to talk to your brother, Jue-ge?”

Blushing, Bo Jue replied, “Huo Huo, please go back first. I’ll finish talking with your older brother, and then I’ll come find you.”

Huo Ren instinctively glanced at their position, leaning against the wall.

“Then… you two continue talking…”

And with that, he quickly fled the scene.

Once Huo Ren was out of sight, Long Jia kissed Bo Jue again in front of him.

“What are we going to talk about?” Bo Jue, with a satisfied look on his face, spoke with a voice that carried a hint of laziness.

Bo Jue’s ten fingers were still gripping Long Jia’s waist tightly as they leaned against the wall. He muttered, “Kiss me one more time.”

Long Jia chuckled and kissed his forehead.

His hands glided up to Bo Jue’s back, and their fingers intertwined silently.

“Getting addicted, aren’t you?”

Bo Jue whispered, “Mmm.”