Idol Chapter 90

The OSC venue erupted with waves of cheers, and they were collectively embraced by the crowd as they took the stage to accept their award.

At this point, Huo Ren’s mind was completely blank. When he went on stage, he didn’t even take the microphone, just gave a customary bow.

They had been on stage three times today, and it felt like they were playing a prank on everyone.

The elderly gentleman kindly handed the microphone to Huo Ren.

“Uh,” Huo Ren made a short and hurried sound, scanning the audience before saying, “Thank you very much.”

The audience burst into laughter.

The other five team members also had dreamlike expressions, feeling like this was all too unreal.

The camera specifically scanned the faces of people like Mei Heng, Uncle Jiang, Feng Yi, and Feng Jin before returning to focus on Huo Ren.

They didn’t need to express their gratitude to the seniors’ companies and fans for the fourth time. All they needed to do was to take a photo with the trophies.

The elderly gentleman smiled and said, “Each of you should hold four trophies; it will be very memorable.”

Outside the screen, fans, fan clubs, and shipper fans were all in a frenzy. The topic board was flooded with posts and comments, and the prizes ranged from luxury cosmetics to 6666 yuan in cash. Even bystanders couldn’t help but take notice.

 

@UnrivaledBladeOfRen: How does it feel for those who were speculating that they wouldn’t make it this year since they weren’t nominated? Get slapped in the face, did it hurt? Take a closer look, all the nominees for the Crown Awards are seniors in the industry with over twenty years of experience. Let’s not block the way for the gods. Carrying all four trophies, we’re not too busy, are we? [Smile][Smile][Smile]

@OrangeForCorona: I let out a tsunami-like scream in front of the TV and got a deathly stare from my mom! Forget about it, Corona deserves it!! Forget about the four trophies, I think they can take home all the trophies without any problem!!! Corona, please stay famous for ten thousand years!!!

@RubyCallsZhaZha: When is the new album coming out? I’ve prepared all my New Year’s money, pocket money, and scholarship money—Hurry up and release posters, albums, and concert merchandise for me to buy in bulk!!! Today is a good day, and everything I wish for can come true!!!

 

Corona had already entered its fourth year since debut and had become extremely popular in China. They were a top-tier boy band, loyal to original content, and excelled in instrumental music and dance, making them a superlative presence in the industry.

They were phenomenally popular, not only in China but also in the international music scene.

Corona had won all four awards, and all the members were just in their early twenties. Their future looked incredibly bright.

After completing interviews and attending a celebratory banquet, it was already past 2 a.m. when they returned to their rooms. They went through the whole routine of showering, removing makeup, and getting ready for bed.

The six of them were wearing robes and gathered in front of the twenty-four trophies, taking a group photo. Just as they were about to finish, there was a knock on the door.

“It’s me,” Uncle Jiang lazily said. “Open the door.”

Huo Ren smelled a familiar fragrance a split second before opening the door.

He thought his nose was playing tricks on him.

Uncle Jiang walked in with a takeout bag and waved. “Come over here.”

The second person to catch a whiff of the aroma was Xie Lianyun, whose expression changed dramatically. “Uncle, you actually—”

The bag was opened, and three pieces of fried chicken were perfectly intact.

“Honey mustard flavor, black pepper sea salt flavor, and Thai sweet and spicy flavor,” Uncle Jiang said as he took out three large bottles of cola and handed them paper cups, playfully scolding them, “This year, you’re only allowed to eat fried food this one time.”

Xie Lianyun cheered and rushed over to give him a tight hug.

“My dear old bones—”

“Mwah!”

The six of them formed a circle around the coffee table, happily snapping pictures of themselves with the fried chicken and their phones.

“I haven’t had fried chicken in two years…” Chi Ji cradled a golden chicken wing and said, “I almost don’t want to eat it now.”

“Fried foods are like calorie bombs, and the heavy sauces can make you bloated,” Uncle Jiang said, propping up his chin. “I don’t usually let you eat them because I see how hard you work on your figures. Having it occasionally won’t hurt.”

Bo Jue politely ate a chicken leg and left the rest for Long Jia.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Jue Jue?” Yao Yao had honey mustard sauce on her lips. “The taste is amazing.”

“I’m not interested,” Bo Jue replied calmly. “I’ve always had a preference for light flavors.”

“That’s true,” Uncle Jiang laughed. “Your Southeast Asian taste, no spice, no oil, it really keeps your skin in great condition.”

Long Jia chose to share half of it with Huo Ren.

“You should eat more, Ren Ren. You’re too thin,” Xie Lianyun said while gnawing on a bone.

“When I dream tonight, I’ll look absolutely peaceful.”

Uncle Jiang then slowly said, “About the Hundred Family Surnames we talked about before…”

Everyone responded in unison, “Hundred what? We’ve never heard of it!”

 

This year’s OSC Awards were held on February 10th, and they arrived in London on February 13th. After hastily freshening up, they were getting ready to shoot indoors the next day.

Fewer and fewer people were watching music videos these days, but it still counted for award nominations, so they couldn’t afford to be careless.

After completing the music video shoot, they had an afternoon and evening fan meeting in London, which was part of a joint Valentine’s Day event with the brand partners.

Huo Ren was currently helping his roommate, Bo Jue, with his hair when his phone suddenly lit up.

The message was from Pei Ruye.

“Are you busy?”

Huo Ren paused in his movements and quickly replied.

“Not busy, just arrived at the hotel.”

There was a brief pause before the other person sent another message.

“That’s good. I’m in the parking lot on the second floor. Want to grab a late-night snack?”

When Huo Ren saw the message, his breath caught, and his mood instantly brightened.

Bo Jue glanced at him and asked, “Who are you chatting so happily with?”

Huo Ren quickly finished tying Bo Jue’s hair and replied cheerfully, “Boss Pei is in the parking lot. I’m going to meet him.”

“Huh?” Bo Jue looked surprised. “He came to the UK without telling Uncle Jiang?”

“Probably. Maybe it’s related to the dance troupe?” Huo Ren realized he was sounding overly excited and cleared his throat. “He’s probably here to discuss something about the dance troupe with me.”

 

Pei Ruye was waiting by the elevator.

As the elevator doors opened, he raised a hand and put a silver-blue baseball cap on Huo Ren’s head.

“Do you have your mask?”

“Yes.”

Another car of the same model was parked nearby, with a London license plate.

The UK follows left-hand driving, so sitting on the left side of the car felt a bit unusual.

The last time they had met was during their vacation in September, and now it was already February.

Five months had passed since they last saw each other, and even the subtle changes seemed magnified in their absence.

Pei Ruye had come to see him in a hurry, and his eyebrows hadn’t been groomed. The minty scent of aftershave lotion hadn’t completely dissipated.

Huo Ren had grown a little taller since last year, and his face now carried a more mature and handsome charm of youth.

They exchanged a glance and smiled, without saying a word.

Pei Ruye had wanted to see him for a long time, but he had been swamped with work, one task after another, with no end in sight.

At first, he had planned to return to China with them, but there was a sudden work matter that required him to stay in Europe for a meeting.

In October, the Jue-Ren pair had gained a lot of popularity, and their interactions and photos together were everywhere.

However, in October, most of Corona was traveling abroad, leaving him alone to handle meetings with the company. He could cope with any lingering thoughts on his own.

When he visited the Qin Design Studio in November, the couple was there, taking care of their pet parrot together.

“Kui Kui has been a bit melancholic lately and is still molting!”

“Boss Pei, why don’t you get a cat? Cats don’t cause hair loss!”

Pei Ruye had no intention of getting a cat.

He felt like he was enduring something endless, as if he were constantly being slowly roasted over a small flame, experiencing repeated torment.

Back in September, during their vacation in Belgium, Huo Ren had gotten drunk and leaned on him, repeatedly confessing his feelings, saying how much he liked him.

Pei Ruye had an exceptional memory and remembered every word and every second of that time very clearly.

He considered himself composed and mature, so during the rest of the vacation, he had remained polite and distant, not allowing their relationship to get closer.

But after they parted, it had been five months.

Either he was busy with his work abroad, or Corona was constantly traveling.

The WeChat chat window was opened and closed repeatedly. He wanted to send a few greetings but ended up with just the routine “Merry Christmas.”

Merry Christmas, I love you.

The other person was completely unaware and replied politely, “Thank you, teacher. I also wish you a happy holiday.”

Pei Ruye gradually began to be grateful for every holiday.

“Happy New Year.”

I’ve missed you a lot lately. I hope everything goes well for you in the new year.

“Happy Chinese New Year.”

What have you been busy with these days? You haven’t even posted on Weibo.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.”

…I’m just here to see you today.

They couldn’t see each other in person, but they were always on the hot topics, with paparazzi capturing every moment, each photo highlighting their charm.

His student danced beautifully, sang beautifully with closed eyes, and looked captivating whether he pursed his lips or smiled or didn’t smile at all.

Sometimes Pei Ruye would work late into the night and, when he felt a headache coming on, he would quietly scroll through entertainment news for a while. All his negative emotions would dissipate, and he would feel comforted.

But he still missed him.

The longer it went on, the deeper his feelings became, and it became increasingly difficult to control them.

“I happened to be on a business trip over here this time,” Pei Ruye said as he steered the car. “I decided to drop by while I was in the area.”

He had only rescheduled four meetings and two negotiations to make this trip happen.

I’m just here to see you tonight, and then I’ll head back to the United States.

Huo Ren nodded, his eyes sparkling. “Teacher, we won four awards this time.”

“Yes, I’ll reward you for that.”

They remained silent for a while before Pei Ruye finally looked at him, making sure to remember all the details and then averting his gaze. He didn’t allow himself to stare for too long.

“How about having wonton soup?”

Late at night wasn’t suitable for complicated meals, and for people of their status, simple and inexpensive food was considered a luxury.

The restaurant was located in a small alley, run by a Guangdong immigrant. The old lady was wiping the signboard in her apron.

The aged wooden door was weathered and worn, and inside, Teresa Teng’s old songs were playing.

When she saw Pei Ruye, she waved and greeted him with a smile, gesturing for them to come in and sit.

It was already half past midnight, but there were still British and French patrons sitting at the counter, enjoying their late-night snacks. The fried wontons and pig’s trotter bamboo noodle soup were garnished with scallions and emitted a fragrant aroma.

Huo Ren ordered a bowl of the signature wonton noodles and listened as Pei Ruye chatted about recent trivial matters.

The bamboo noodle soup was chewy and delicious, with a broth that incorporated pork fat, along with fresh shrimp and pig brain, giving it a milky fragrance.

Pei Ruye offered him a plate of pickled radishes, but he didn’t eat much himself.

The current distance between them was already satisfactory.

Being able to see him in person, to pour a cup of hot tea and exchange a few quiet words, made him feel as if he had been embraced, providing him with endless motivation to return to the business world and continue his battles.

Huo Ren was enjoying his soup when he noticed Pei Ruye’s gaze.

It was gentle and polite, just like it used to be when he was his teacher, without any hint of ambiguity.

There was no other feeling between them anymore.

He held his soup bowl for a moment, unsure whether he should be relieved or disappointed.

“Teacher,” he hesitated for a moment before saying, “I just remembered, I have a gift for you.”

It was February 13th today, and giving it away… it shouldn’t have any special meaning.

Pei Ruye took the small box and asked, “May I open it?”

Huo Ren, not knowing how to respond, pretended not to hear him and turned to taste the pickled radish.

It shouldn’t be returned, right?

He wished he had given it to him when they parted ways.

The box was opened, and inside was a rose-shaped brooch with a bright red ruby that shimmered in the warm light.

It was bright, warm, and pure in its beauty.

Pei Ruye’s gaze lingered on it for a long moment, and he briefly regretted that it was just a single brooch.

If it had come in a pair…

Well, it didn’t matter.

“Today is Valentine’s Day,” he said calmly. “I won’t reciprocate, to avoid any misunderstandings.”

Huo Ren almost choked on his soup, realizing that it was already past midnight.

Teacher, you probably haven’t misunderstood…

I… I’ve liked you for a long time.

 

-2-

When Huo Ren returned to the hotel room, he opened the door cautiously, being as quiet as possible.

Bo Jue was still reading and waiting for him.

“Back?”

“Yeah,” Huo Ren nodded slightly, feeling somewhat awkward as if he had done something wrong.

Bo Jue tilted his head, observing him for a moment, then suddenly spoke, “Actually, I’ve known for a while that you like Boss Pei.”

Huo Ren’s breath paused for a few seconds, reluctant to lie to his brother, so he nodded.

“…How did you find out?”

Bo Jue froze for a moment, unable to believe it. “I was just teasing you? You actually really like Boss Pei?”

Huo Ren: …

Feeling suffocated by keeping it all to himself for so long, he decided to confide in Bo Jue, treating him as a confessor. He recounted everything from the beginning to the end.

The room had been thoroughly checked for listening devices twice, so there was no need to worry about recording issues.

“I absolutely haven’t had any physical contact with him,” Huo Ren swore, raising his hand. “I’ve avoided the paparazzi every time we went out, and I’m sure I haven’t been caught.”

“Not that… you…”

Bo Jue, who had originally just had some doubts, now found himself unable to believe the wild guess. He was speechless for several minutes.

“I ask you, tell the truth.” Bo Jue thought of something, and his expression suddenly became stern: “Did he do anything to you when you were fifteen?”

Huo Ren was stunned for a few seconds, then belatedly realized that his brother had misunderstood. He quickly waved his hand and said, “Brother, it’s not like that—”

“Did he take advantage of his position as a teacher to do something inappropriate?”

“Brother!”

Huo Ren smiled wryly and said, “Boss Pei doesn’t even know that I like him. Right now, you’re the only one who knows.”

Bo Jue came to his senses and breathed a sigh of relief. “If you ever feel something’s wrong with your health, you must tell me, and I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

“I really don’t.” Huo Ren blushed and said, “I still have my first kiss intact.”

Bo Jue suddenly realized that he had kissed in front of him many times, and he blushed a little.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

He hadn’t expected his seemingly workaholic younger brother to have feelings for someone.

And the person he liked was… Boss Pei?!

“I was worried about whether Yao Yao or Chi Chi would start dating someone,” Bo Jue rubbed his forehead. “But it turns out…”

Huo Ren whispered, “I know my limits, I won’t do anything reckless.”

Bo Jue’s mind was in turmoil for a moment. After calming down a bit, he bent down and hugged his brother, trying to convey warmth and a sense of security.

“The feeling of unrequited love… is also quite agonizing.”

Missing someone when you don’t see them, having to restrain yourself when you do, feeling like you’re always being tempted.

Huo Ren remained silent for a few seconds. “Brother, how long did you secretly love Long Jia?”

“Don’t change the subject,” Bo Jue said seriously. “What are you planning to do in the future?”

“I’ll just focus on my work and not do anything foolish,” Huo Ren pretended to relax. “If Boss Pei falls in love and gets married, it has nothing to do with me. I’ll give the wedding gift money according to the usual amount.”

He had thought about this question a thousand times before. When he heard from Uncle Jiang that they were planning to arrange a blind date for Boss Pei, he couldn’t sleep all night. He even dreamed that he was giving flowers at his wedding.

The bride next to him was wearing a white veil, and he couldn’t see her face.

When he woke up, he combed his hair calmly, prepared his congratulations and expressions in advance.

“It’s probably not possible in the short term,” Bo Jue shook his head. “People in the early stages of entrepreneurship don’t have time for dating and marriage. Boss Pei has been single for a reason.”

When he first joined the team, he heard gossip about this matter from Uncle Jiang, and he could understand the difficulties involved.

Pei Ruye had come alone when he was in his teens, developed connections, expanded the market, and continuously built his company from scratch. Now in his twenties, he was young and promising. Occasionally, he would also work as a dance teacher or manager, which was a waste of his talents.

Strictly speaking, Huo Ren had a good eye for choosing people, and the individuals he selected had excellent backgrounds, abilities, and character.

Huo Ren heard this and remained silent for a moment before saying, “…That makes sense.”

He felt a somewhat untimely sense of happiness.

Bo Jue held a pillow and thought for a few seconds before something else struck him.

“Did Boss Pei come to London on a business trip today?”

“It seems so.”

“Is he still here tomorrow?”

“He’s flying back to the United States tomorrow after a one-night stay.”

Bo Jue quickly checked the flight schedule, going through several lists before his tone changed.

“Based on the information he gave you, there is no such flight.”

Huo Ren instinctively replied, “He has a private jet.”

“You’re being silly,” Bo Jue showed him his phone. “Can’t you guess that he came specifically to see you?”

“Besides, if he only came to see his students, he could have come directly to the hotel for a chat without staying overnight.”

Huo Ren was stunned for a moment as the logic clicked into place.

“You mean…”

“Why is my little brother getting slower and slower?” Bo Jue teased, but in reality, he had been up at 3 AM analyzing the situation for him.

“Think about it, Boss Pei didn’t go upstairs, but he specifically drove you to have a late-night meal. You also gave him a gift on Valentine’s Day, and it was a red rose. What does that indicate?”

Huo Ren was suddenly triggered and said reflexively, “He said today was special, so he didn’t give me a gift in return to avoid any misunderstandings.”

Bo Jue tapped his brother’s head with his knuckles, much like when he used to supervise his piano practice, and said, “You fool! If he really didn’t want you to misunderstand, why would he specifically tell you that today is Valentine’s Day?!”

Huo Ren, with his head in a fog, couldn’t quite grasp the situation. In the past, when his older and third brother were in a relationship, he had always played the role of a polite priest, mostly listening.

Now, after Bo Jue had analyzed the situation for him, he was left feeling utterly perplexed, as if he had been kept in the dark for an entire year.

“Teacher… he couldn’t possibly like me.”

Huo Ren tried to find evidence for his argument, saying, “Even when I was dirty and unkempt at the beginning, he saw me, and we’ve always had a teacher-student relationship, and we’ve both been very polite to each other.”

Bo Jue had already entered the state of breaking down the situation and spoke with increasing calmness.

His younger brother was adored by everyone in the team, and who wouldn’t like him when they saw him?

“That four-leaf clover pendant, did he make it himself?”

“Yes,” Huo Ren defended himself, “Teacher said it’s not very difficult, and it’s quite simple to make.”

“You’ve done crafts before,” Bo Jue picked up the silver chain around his neck with his fingertip, showing him the intricate patterns and gemstones on the four-leaf clover.

“The precision required for this craftsmanship would take at least five hours, even for a professional artisan.”

“Boss Pei is managing at least four companies all by himself, and he’s busier than us every day.”

“Such roles are never short of money; what they lack is time.”

“Huo Ren, if he doesn’t like you, then Xie Lianyun can quit online gaming.”

Huo Ren sat in stunned silence for a while, his hands covering his head as he tried to focus his thoughts.

“If that’s the case,” he whispered, “why didn’t he tell me?”

They locked eyes for a second, and both of them knew the answer, then they fell into silence simultaneously.

Because Huo Ren was the captain of Team Corona.

Corona was at a critical stage in its career, with a promising future to pursue, and he couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

“Perhaps because if he kept his feelings hidden… it would be harder for both of you to endure,” Bo Jue whispered.

Huo Ren was taken aback and asked softly, “Have you been unhappy recently?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Bo Jue shook his head. “Once you’re in love, you’ll inevitably become greedy.”

At first, you just want to hug, but then you want to kiss, and then you want to hold hands openly with your partner.

The happiness of being in love can be addictive.

Huo Ren realized that he and Long Jia had been very restrained, even maintaining a kind of mutual distancing to avoid suspicion.

Even on the plane, they rarely slept together if there was a seat to block their view. In the car, they never sat in the same row.

They tried to avoid wearing matching accessories and clothes and rarely mentioned each other openly.

He dared not entertain this speculation, but there was a kind of anxious joy in his heart.

“If you’re in unrequited love, it can indeed be difficult to endure,” Bo Jue softened his tone. “But if you both like each other, this kind of love can become a source of support, accompanying you on your journey together.”

Huo Ren quickly caught on. “Like you and Big Brother used to be?”

Bo Jue pressed his palm against his forehead, trying to forget his embarrassing past.

“Uh, let me use an analogy.”

“We each seem like sailboats sailing in the sea,” Bo Jue recalled their past experiences, his voice low and calm. “Along the way, there may be storms, rain, hidden reefs, and even whales.”

“The love we encounter is like the wind that guides the sailboat.”

As long as you see the wind, you know the direction to navigate out of trouble.

“If, and I can’t be entirely certain, if you and Boss Pei share the same feelings.”

“Having affection for each other, respecting each other, while also maintaining a healthy distance, all while waiting for a new beginning after everything ends.”

“…Then you will become each other’s wind.”

Huo Ren took a deep breath and spoke softly, “I will maintain a healthy distance.”

“Not just that,” Bo Jue shook his head, “you also need to learn to trust.”

“Trust?”

“I made an agreement with Long Jia on this.” Bo Jue’s expression softened as he continued slowly.

“No matter what the circumstances, you must unconditionally trust each other and trust in our feelings for each other.”

If love is free from suspicion and doubt, it becomes a pure and unwavering source of strength.

Then it will shelter them as they continue to move forward in the stormy night, like an eternal, unquenchable flame.