Translated by juurensha
Edited by Noks
Lots of Weibo and barrage comments, don’t like, don’t read
After seeing the Hot Search list, Pei Tingsong’s face suddenly collapsed. He snatched Fang Juexia’s cellphone and opened up the Hot Search list. The screen full of ‘hahaha’s’ almost flew out right into his face.
[@Eating grapes without spitting out the grape skin: Hahahahahahahahahahaha (takes a breath) hahahahahahaha]
[@Source of happiness Kaleido: It’ll be hard for Little Ge in the next episode hahahahahaha, PTS has a really fragrant mouth when he’s scared of ghosts, the whole way he’s like, “Ahhh!! Beep—Beep—” Hahahaha]
[@Angel brand roasted chicken wings: Hahaha, so afraid that he starts reciting the names of atheists hahaha, what a peculiar instinctual reaction]
[@Has Kaleido become explosively popular today: The comparison video next door is even funnier! The whole group really only has 01 and the little devil prince who are afraid of ghosts, jxgg’s situation is too difficult]
[@The CP I ship is the most real in the world: I laughed when I watched it for the first time, but I found it sweet when I watched it for the second time ah. He’s so afraid, but he’s holding Gege’s hand the entire time, not like some people who go in, shriek, and just leave hahaha]
[@I’m still studying hard today: How is this group so silly ah?! The little Gege wearing the hat is really polite, but did he bow at the wall on purpose to scare the ghost x]
[@Today I’m still a deaf girl: Ahhhhhhhhhhhh did you all watch this episode’s preview at the very end? High energy ah, there are two people bungee jumping while hugging each other, and looking at the clothes, it’s our TingJue!!! I’m going to defend the next episode to death!]
[@Hahahaleido: What makes a bass rapper sing in falsetto? It’s fear.]
“No way, is it that funny?” He looked at Fang Juexia with an expression of complete bewilderment.
The hair colorist little Ge laughed loudly. “Very funny ah, hahaha, I started laughing so hard that even wrinkles appeared on my face!”
“What to do?” Fang Juexia took back his cellphone with a smile. “Your persona has collapsed.”
“Do you think it’s too late to spend money to get rid of this Hot Search entry?”
Fang Juexia looked at him and laughed again.
Seeing his persona of being the main aggressor in the group collapse so quickly, Pei Tingsong’s whole person turned absent-minded and dazed. The hairdresser blow-dried and trimmed his hair, and the final silvery effect was quite good. “Wow, all of a sudden, there’s a bit of a manga feel to you.”
Fang Juexia looked at him from the side and also thought that he was good-looking. Pei Tingsong originally had pale skin and well-defined facial features, and now, with his hair dyed silver, he gave off more of a mixed-blood feel. He would definitely be very eye-catching on the stage.
The hairdresser poked Pei Tingsong’s forehead. “Your hair was very stiff before, and just now, I was worried whether dyeing you like this would make your hair completely frizzy. Now, it seems to be okay.”
Would his hair soften a little after bleaching? Fang Juexia was curious and reached out to touch a lock. Who knew that Pei Tingsong would notice. He had thought that the little devil king would reach out to slap his hand away, so Fang Juexia reflexively started to pull his hand back while ducking away from his reach, but before he could even try to do so, Pei Tingsong caught his wrist. He just held onto Fang Juexia’s hand like that and guided it to the top of his head.
Fang Juexia froze and heard Pei Tingsong say with a laugh, “If you’re going to rub it, then rub it well.”
“Oh.” Fang Juexia stretched out his fingers in a very well-behaved fashion and rubbed his hair twice. It was really soft and felt nice to touch.
Pei Tingsong asked, “Do I look good with my hair dyed this color?”
Fang Juexia nodded, removed his hand, and also shifted his gaze away while seriously replying, “You look good.”
In order to cover up his new hair color, Pei Tingsong left the salon wearing a baseball cap, along with the hood of his white hoodie drawn up, for double protection. The two of them headed back to the company by car, where they recorded songs with the other members. Once they started recording, the session ended up lasting through the afternoon.
These days, besides dancing, they would record songs, and they pretty much lived at the company. Fortunately, since everyone’s voices were in good condition today, the recordings sounded very good. In addition, the period of time until their comeback had been amply arranged this time, so everything was in order, and there was no need to rush their work. The company didn’t want their throats to get too fatigued, so they let them head back early to rest.
Cheng Qiang sent them back to the dormitory. “The previous door lock for the dormitory was attacked, and we suspect that it was because the address got exposed on the group ensemble livestream in previous episodes, which attracted stalker fans. We’re already investigating the issue. Safety comes first, so the company has removed the camera in the dormitory, and the group ensemble show from now on may focus more on shooting at outside locations.”
“They removed it ah.” Ling Yi was elated. “Before they took it down, I didn’t even dare to sneakily eat things! I was afraid I’d be filmed.”
“You’re still eating! You guys will have to sing soon, and I’ll have to report your weight daily to the higher-ups.” Cheng Qiang knocked on his head. “You guys rest ba, the livestream will start in a while, at seven o’clock. You’re on the Hot Search list right now, so we can’t just waste the traffic.”
“Okay—”
Fang Juexia had gotten up at six that morning, and now he was so sleepy that he couldn’t even keep his eyes open. He refused Ling Yi’s invitation to watch a movie, instead going straight to bed and falling asleep. Pei Tingsong watched the cooking competition between Jiang Miao and Lu Yuan in the kitchen for a bit before leaving with a slice of watermelon to stroll to the sofa and ask Ling Yi, “Where’s your roommate?”
“He fell asleep,” replied Ling Yi, staring at the screen, not looking back at all. “Went to sleep as soon as we got back, too tired ba.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
“What are you doing going to look at someone sleeping ah, pervert?” Ling Yi glanced at him and said, “You little white-haired devil, you’ve been sticking close to our Juexia every day recently… don’t think I don’t know.”
Pei Tingsong was like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. “Who’s sticking close to him every day?” He turned around and made to leave. However, after taking not even two steps, he stopped and threw the watermelon rind in the garbage can beside the sofa, while adding a retort, “Weirdo.”
Pei Tingsong went back to his room and slammed the door shut.
“So angry, who provoked you?” He Ziyan took out a mini-broom to sweep the floor, just like a community master.
“No one.” Pei Tingsong pretended that nothing had happened and went back to his desk, where he randomly flipped open a book. He Ziyan brought the broom over to his side, helping him sweep the area around as he said, “Pei Small Six, I’m sweeping away all these paper balls in this corner for you ah.”
“Oh.” Just after Pei Tingsong uttered that, he acted as though he had received a sudden electric shock, and then immediately rescued a paper ball that he had forgotten in the corner from being swept away by He Ziyan. “This one I still want.”
“What ah, why are you this nervous?” He Ziyan smelled the scent of gossip. “Show Ge? It can’t be a smutty little poem you wrote ba?”
“No, they’re lyrics…” Pei Tingsong’s heart felt weak; if these lyrics were seen by He Ziyan, then this misunderstanding would grow much larger.
However, He Ziyan really didn’t let this go, placing the broom in his hands next to his bed. “Lyrics? What lyrics am I not allowed to see?”
“They’re just…” Pei Tingsong didn’t know what to say, when the door suddenly opened, and Lu Yuan howled from outside, “Come out to eat!”
“Right away!” He Ziyan answered, before winking at Pei Tingsong and teasing, “Do you have a girl you like at school?”
“How can that be?!”
“Then what else are you getting so worked up about?” He Ziyan sat down beside his bed. “Xiao Pei, you and Juexia are the only two remaining members of our group who have been solo since birth, yes? Now you want to abandon your Juexia Ge and open up your own house ah.”
“I don’t,” Pei Tingsong didn’t know how to explain it to him. “I really haven’t started dating anyone.”
“I know you haven’t, if you really had, it’s not something your face can hide.” He Ziyan looked at him for a while before speaking, “I just feel like you’ve been strange recently, you always randomly start giggling by yourself.”
What ah? Exactly where and when did he start randomly giggling?
Pei Tingsong recalled his past behaviour carefully, but he was completely lost on the kind abnormal behavior he had displayed previously. He Ziyan patted his shoulder. “It’s okay, don’t think about it, go out and eat ba. Oh, right, we’re going to livestream in a bit, so remember to find a wool hat to hide your new hair color.”
Knowing that Fang Juexia was asleep, Jiang Miao specially left a sandwich for him and didn’t wake him up. In order to manage their body weight, none of them could eat too much, and their menu was full of light and healthy fitness meals.
Fang Juexia slept in a daze and had a dream. In his dream, he was back at the small house, where he had grown up. He was back in the South, where the walls were all wet, and the certificates stuck to them had also gotten wet, with the corner of one such certificate gradually curling off. He went over and tried to stick the certificate back onto the wall, but he couldn’t reach it.
He had changed back into a child.
Leaving the bedroom, Fang Juexia caught sight of the food on the table that had gone cold. He felt a little hungry, but he couldn’t stomach anything right now, for he smelled the smell he feared very much—the smell of alcohol that was too thick to disperse. Hesitating to step out, he left the kitchen and walked step by step towards the room that frightened him. The smell of alcohol grew stronger and stronger as he got closer, making it difficult for him to breathe.
The quarrel happening currently in the room was clear and audible. Through the crack in the door, he saw his mother get grabbed by her hair and then shoved to the ground. His heart suddenly seized, and he fiercely pushed the door open, and waiting for him was an ashtray that hit him.
The moment the glass ashtray smashed into him, it turned into a gray fog before his eyes.
“Get the fuck out! Everyone get the fuck out!”
A hand stretched out from the thick fog and grabbed his collar. “You look at the birthmark on your face, how ugly it is, you can’t be the lead, you know? You’re just like Dad, you won’t be able to succeed all your life!”
Can’t I succeed….
The hand pushed him away, and he fell to the ground. When he stood up, darkness surrounded him all over. Only a spotlight hit his small, thin body, illuminating it from top to bottom. He was pushed onto the stage to be displayed like an inferior and incomplete exhibit.
His father’s hysterical voice sounded from all directions, deafening him, and he had nowhere to hide.
“What’s the use of going blind as soon as you get onto a stage? A cripple on-stage! Do you know what a cripple is?”
“Look at me, your dad! This is what a cripple is!”
“There will come a day when you turn into me, do you know that?! You’ll turn into trash just like me.”
The last light also went out completely. Fang Juexia covered his ears in desperation and shook his head frantically. He didn’t want to be the person his father was talking about, didn’t want to become the second him.
He wanted to dance, he wanted to be the center of the stage. Fang Juexia stood up and kept practicing in the dark. He fell down, crawled up, and started again. He fell down again and again, until he simply couldn’t stand up ever again. From the beginning to the end, all he had was darkness and injuries.
A cripple.
Trash.
A person born to fail.
Could this be his life?
His breathing grew more and more rapid, and Fang Juexia wanted to find an exit; he didn’t want to be trapped here any longer. He had to admit that even after so many years, he still hadn’t gotten used to it, and that he was still afraid of the dark.
[ I know no matter how scared you are, you will still jump. ]
Suddenly, Fang Juexia heard a familiar voice. He looked back, but there was no one behind him.
Who was it?
Why do you know that?
[I just know.]
[Because you are Fang Juexia.]
He suddenly woke up from his dream, like resuscitation after drowning.
“What’s the matter with you?”
That familiar voice from the dream appeared again. Fang Juexia opened his eyes and looked at the source of the voice.
Pei Tingsong placed the sandwich on the cupboard at the head of the bed and touched Fang Juexia’s forehead. “What’s the matter with you? You’re covered in cold sweat. Were you dreaming of bungee jumping again?”
Fang Juexia’s inflamed nerves finally relaxed. He shook his head, then nodded once, before retracting into his quilt. “I had a not-so-good dream.”
“You’ve been sleeping for nearly two hours, aren’t you hungry now ah.”
Fang Juexia once again shook his head, covering his face with the quilt. Only now did he feel his heart pounding; it was fine to dream of past events, but he had even heard Pei Tingsong’s voice in his dream. And then, as soon as he woke up, the person from his dream appeared in front of him. This kind of experience made it difficult for him to open his mouth or face Pei Tingsong.
Clearly, he had good intentions in coming here to give him the sandwich, but forget about being thanked, it seemed that he wasn’t even going to get a look from Fang Juexia. Pei Tingsong’s heart felt small and tight. “Then I’m leaving, when you wake up, you eat it yourself.”
He said he would go, but Pei Tingsong didn’t actually leave at all. Looking at how Fang Juexia seemed to be just now, he was still a little worried. His feet remained stuck to the ground, he couldn’t move a single step. He just stood by the bed, unmoving, as he looked at him.
Not long after, Ling Yi and He Ziyan ran in with their cellphones in their hands.
“We started the livestream!” Ling Yi suddenly fell on the bed and hugged Juexia from across the quilt. “Ah, my baby Juexia! Are you awake?”
Seeing Ling Yi pounce on him like a wolf, the barrage immediately boiled up.
[AHHHHHHHH JUEXIA!!!]
[The Roommate line is too sweet!]
[jxgg nestling in that quilt is really too cute ah!]
[Why is Pei Tingscared in Gege’s room? What are you doing?]
[Hahahahahaha, Pei Tingscared! Sisters give full marks for current affairs!]
Pei Tingsong grew even angrier as soon as he saw Ling Yi behave like this, and so directly pulled him away. “Get off, you’re pinning him.”
Ling Yi refused, “Juexia didn’t even say anything to me, so what are you saying? I’m not pinning him, this is called a hug!” Saying that, he became more unbridled and directly lifted up Fang Juexia’s quilt to wiggle inside it. “Wow, it’s so warm in this quilt.”
He really was something. Pei Tingsong opened up the other end of the quilt and also wormed his body in, as if he was demonstrating a move.
[Hahahaha, Pei Tingscared, how are you not scared now? So willing to fight]
[Doing that is not allowed, I’m the only one who is Gege’s number one I vow]
Suddenly, there were two more people on the bed, and the quilt was being pulled from side to side. Fang Juexia, who had nearly fallen asleep again, looked muddled. He peeked his head out and blinked, and then saw He Ziyan sitting by the bed with his phone pointed at him.
“Are you making a video?” Fang Juexia asked dazedly. Ling Yi hugged his back inside the quilt as he exclaimed, “We’re livestreaming!”
“Livestreaming…” Fang Juexia’s mind was confused, and he soon shrank back into the quilt. His view inside the quilt was very narrow and dark, and his eyes blinked slowly. He seemed to be able to see a person lying in front of him. He didn’t know what was going on, but seized by an odd impulse, he stuck out his hand and poked this person, and whatever it was that he poked, it felt hard.
He happened to have poked some abs.
His hand was caught suddenly, and Fang Juexia instantly realized what was going on. This was Pei Tingsong; besides that person, no one else would grab him like this. He immediately pulled his hand out of his grasp and hid at the other end of the bed.
“Juexia, you’re going to squeeze me out!”
Upon seeing that he was hiding from him, Pei Tingsong grew even more unhappy. He pulled Fang Juexia over in one move and stuck up right against him. “You’re about to squeeze him out, didn’t you hear?” With that, he fished Fang Juexia up. “Don’t cover your head when you sleep, your breathing will get blocked.”
[AHHHHHHHH XIAO PEI IS SO GONG!]
[As long as there are no ghosts! Pei Tingsong is still the number one gong in K!]
He didn’t know if it was just a psychological effect, but Fang Juexia’s breathing really was a bit blocked. Fortunately, Ling Yi quickly changed the topic and began to read the questions appearing in the barrage.
“Ah, the ensemble show’s preview,” Ling Yi clapped his hands as he explained, “Because we went on a lot of rides in the amusement park this time, there was a lot of material, so we cut it into two episodes. The key point is that next episode, I, K’s number one big boss, am bungee jumping! Super exciting, you must remember to go watch it!”
He Ziyan added, “Only those people who lost went bungee jumping. We later went to play bumper cars.”
[I like bumper cars, too!]
[It turns out bungee jumping is a punishment ah! Ahhhhhh, I’m so looking forward to the next episode!]
[I watched the haunted house special while eating, and I didn’t think it would be so funny when I started it! I even spat out my food and almost got beaten up by my mom]
[jxgg is still dazed, so cute]
After they chatted for a while, Fang Juexia suddenly felt a little hungry, so he turned to Pei Tingsong and gave him a meaningful glance, wanting him to help him bring the sandwich over. Pei Tingsong raised his eyebrows, with an expression of ‘beg me’. Fang Juexia reached into the quilt and pinched his arm.
Pei Tingsong stared at him and even more didn’t want to help him get it. Seeing him be like this, Fang Juexia could only soften his stance by rubbing his fingers twice on the spot he had just pinched. Only then did Pei Tingsong let the matter drop, and handed him the sandwich lying on the bedside table.
Pei Tingsong really was like a little dog; if you pet him, he’ll be nice and obedient and listen to you. Fang Juexia took a bite of the sandwich on the plate, and Pei Tingsong put the plate in front of him to avoid crumbs falling down onto the bed.
[Hahahaha, Ling Yi is so funny]
[Ah, what are these two slyly doing?! So cloying!]
[PTS’ expression just now, so sweet!]
[CP fans, don’t dance in front of the actual people involved, okay]
[Fire Ge was so hot when he got up close just now! I want to slide on the bridge of Fire Ge’s nose!]
[Why haven’t Miaomiao and Yuanyuan come yet ah?]
[Question, question! Geges, what is your ideal type like?]
“Ideal type?” Ling Yi saw this question in a glance. “The ideal type as in the type you like?” He turned to look at He Ziyan and asked, “Can we say this, Fire Ge?”
“Why not? Do you like men ah?”
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha He Ziyan is awesome!]
[Hahahahahahahaha, Fire Ge is just your Fire Ge!]
[Hahahaha, do you like men]
[01 is suddenly out of the closet]
“Go to the side.” Ling Yi stretched out a foot, kicked He Ziyan, then solemnly cleared his throat before answering, “My ideal type…. Let me think ah. Because I’m from Sichuan, and all the girls there are fair and clear-skinned, I prefer the fair and clear-skinned, small and lovely type.”
“He Ziyan, it’s your turn!” He clenched his fist and put it in front of He Ziyan like he was holding a microphone, then asked, “Please tell us, what’s your ideal type?”
[It’s uniform allure]
[Hahahahaha ah hahaha, enough uniform allure! My whole head is full of ghost nurse Jiejie!]
“The type I like is the kind-hearted type.”
As soon as he finished saying that, Pei Tingsong clicked his tongue and retorted, “Quit that. I’m kind-hearted, so do you like me?”
He Ziyan immediately followed that up with— “I like you ah!”
[Hahahahahahaha why is the main gong seducing the other main gong?!]
[All the melons in this group have a myriad of relationships, PTS and FJX, HZY and PTS]
Fang Juexia took a bite of the sandwich and asked more specifically, “What about the appearance?”
He Ziyan looked at the camera. “I don’t ask for much, as long as they’re beautiful, and best would be if they have long, straight black hair and long legs.”
[That’s called not asking for much????]
[Ge??? You’re making fun of me??]
[Alright, next.]
Ling Yi clenched his fist and put it in front of Fang Juexia’s mouth. “Four Ge, your turn.”
“Me?” This was the first time Fang Juexia had ever faced this type of question. Let alone an ideal type, he had never even imagined what he would be like in love.
Ling Yi started to rescue him from siege. “Please note that this is not a still picture.”
Surprisingly, Pei Tingsong realized that he cared about Fang Juexia’s answer. He was just curious about what kind of answer this guy, who avoided falling in love, would state, and what kind of person he would like.
After hesitating for a long time, Fang Juexia finally said, “En…. I might like confident people ba.”
[I’m confident ah, Ge! Look at me! My ID is Fang Juexia’s only wife online, see how confident I am!]
[Hahaha, enough sisters!]
“Just the kind of person who can do very well in their field of expertise. I find such people very attractive.”
He Ziyan couldn’t help teasing, “Juexia’s description here doesn’t sound like that of a girl, but more like that of a big boss.”
[Big boss in women’s clothes??]
[Hahahahahahaha what is going on with the barrage for this group’s livestream!]
Fang Juexia felt that he had also gone a bit off track in his answer, and he was even beginning to suspect that he hadn’t woken up properly and was talking nonsense. In order to not cause any misunderstandings, he went ahead and casually added some descriptions, “Just, appearance isn’t particularly important to me. Someone who looks nice when smiling, and is gentle and cute, it’s all very good. I’m not very picky.”
Gentle and cute. These two words ran into Pei Tingsong’s heart like two bees buzzing around here and there, stinging painfully. He thought it over and over again, and thought that that was as different from him as the heavens are to the earth.
No, wait, why was he comparing himself to that description?
“What about Xiao Pei?”
Pei Tingsong was still distracted, but Fang Juexia pulled on his sleeve, and he realized what was going on. “It’s my turn now?”
What kind of person was his ideal type?
He was still immersed in the impact of Fang Juexia’s answer just now, and was a little out of state. “Similar to Fire Ge ba, I haven’t thought about it.”
“This guy, and you were actually saying stuff about me?”
“What did I say about you? Did I say you like people in uniforms?”
Fang Juexia lowered his head and saw the half remaining sandwich gripped in his hand. For no reason at all, he recalled the description of He Ziyan’s ideal: beautiful, long and straight black hair, long legs. He thought about it, and a girl who fit all these requirements actually appeared in front of him. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but when she stood beside Pei Tingsong, they seemed to be very well-matched.
It was so sour.
He chewed the pickles in the sandwich, and the stimulation of his taste buds poked at his heart.
Seeing him frown, Pei Tingsong reached out and gave him a glass of water. “Here.”
Fang Juexia took a look, shook his head, and forced himself to swallow the pickle that he didn’t like one bit. He didn’t know what the matter with him was, but he didn’t want to drink the water Pei Tingsong was offering. Pei Tingsong suddenly lifted up the quilt and left without saying a word. Ling Yi and He Ziyan didn’t know what was going on, and after glancing over, they simply continued to livestream and chat with the fans about other things.
With the bedside becoming suddenly empty. Fang Juexia also didn’t speak any more; he felt that he had eaten in a bit too much of a hurry just now, and the food stuffed in his esophagus didn’t seem like it would go down, so his heart also felt blocked, while he felt bad. He lowered his head and patted himself on the chest.
Just a little while later, a well-defined hand appeared in front of him, holding a glass of sweet orange juice.
When he looked up, he saw Pei Tingsong awkwardly raise his hand and tug at the brim of his woolen cap as he handed the cup directly into Fang Juexia’s hand. “If you don’t want plain boiled water, this one should be good ba.”
The glass that was in his hand was cold and icy, with glistening golden fruit juice wobbling around in its interior.
“It’s sweet, quickly drink it ba.”
Translated by juurensha
Edited by Noks
Lots of Weibo and barrage comments, don’t like, don’t read
After seeing the Hot Search list, Pei Tingsong’s face suddenly collapsed. He snatched Fang Juexia’s cellphone and opened up the Hot Search list. The screen full of ‘hahaha’s’ almost flew out right into his face.
[@Eating grapes without spitting out the grape skin: Hahahahahahahahahahaha (takes a breath) hahahahahahaha]
[@Source of happiness Kaleido: It’ll be hard for Little Ge in the next episode hahahahahaha, PTS has a really fragrant mouth when he’s scared of ghosts, the whole way he’s like, “Ahhh!! Beep—Beep—” Hahahaha]
[@Angel brand roasted chicken wings: Hahaha, so afraid that he starts reciting the names of atheists hahaha, what a peculiar instinctual reaction]
[@Has Kaleido become explosively popular today: The comparison video next door is even funnier! The whole group really only has 01 and the little devil prince who are afraid of ghosts, jxgg’s situation is too difficult]
[@The CP I ship is the most real in the world: I laughed when I watched it for the first time, but I found it sweet when I watched it for the second time ah. He’s so afraid, but he’s holding Gege’s hand the entire time, not like some people who go in, shriek, and just leave hahaha]
[@I’m still studying hard today: How is this group so silly ah?! The little Gege wearing the hat is really polite, but did he bow at the wall on purpose to scare the ghost x]
[@Today I’m still a deaf girl: Ahhhhhhhhhhhh did you all watch this episode’s preview at the very end? High energy ah, there are two people bungee jumping while hugging each other, and looking at the clothes, it’s our TingJue!!! I’m going to defend the next episode to death!]
[@Hahahaleido: What makes a bass rapper sing in falsetto? It’s fear.]
“No way, is it that funny?” He looked at Fang Juexia with an expression of complete bewilderment.
The hair colorist little Ge laughed loudly. “Very funny ah, hahaha, I started laughing so hard that even wrinkles appeared on my face!”
“What to do?” Fang Juexia took back his cellphone with a smile. “Your persona has collapsed.”
“Do you think it’s too late to spend money to get rid of this Hot Search entry?”
Fang Juexia looked at him and laughed again.
Seeing his persona of being the main aggressor in the group collapse so quickly, Pei Tingsong’s whole person turned absent-minded and dazed. The hairdresser blow-dried and trimmed his hair, and the final silvery effect was quite good. “Wow, all of a sudden, there’s a bit of a manga feel to you.”
Fang Juexia looked at him from the side and also thought that he was good-looking. Pei Tingsong originally had pale skin and well-defined facial features, and now, with his hair dyed silver, he gave off more of a mixed-blood feel. He would definitely be very eye-catching on the stage.
The hairdresser poked Pei Tingsong’s forehead. “Your hair was very stiff before, and just now, I was worried whether dyeing you like this would make your hair completely frizzy. Now, it seems to be okay.”
Would his hair soften a little after bleaching? Fang Juexia was curious and reached out to touch a lock. Who knew that Pei Tingsong would notice. He had thought that the little devil king would reach out to slap his hand away, so Fang Juexia reflexively started to pull his hand back while ducking away from his reach, but before he could even try to do so, Pei Tingsong caught his wrist. He just held onto Fang Juexia’s hand like that and guided it to the top of his head.
Fang Juexia froze and heard Pei Tingsong say with a laugh, “If you’re going to rub it, then rub it well.”
“Oh.” Fang Juexia stretched out his fingers in a very well-behaved fashion and rubbed his hair twice. It was really soft and felt nice to touch.
Pei Tingsong asked, “Do I look good with my hair dyed this color?”
Fang Juexia nodded, removed his hand, and also shifted his gaze away while seriously replying, “You look good.”
In order to cover up his new hair color, Pei Tingsong left the salon wearing a baseball cap, along with the hood of his white hoodie drawn up, for double protection. The two of them headed back to the company by car, where they recorded songs with the other members. Once they started recording, the session ended up lasting through the afternoon.
These days, besides dancing, they would record songs, and they pretty much lived at the company. Fortunately, since everyone’s voices were in good condition today, the recordings sounded very good. In addition, the period of time until their comeback had been amply arranged this time, so everything was in order, and there was no need to rush their work. The company didn’t want their throats to get too fatigued, so they let them head back early to rest.
Cheng Qiang sent them back to the dormitory. “The previous door lock for the dormitory was attacked, and we suspect that it was because the address got exposed on the group ensemble livestream in previous episodes, which attracted stalker fans. We’re already investigating the issue. Safety comes first, so the company has removed the camera in the dormitory, and the group ensemble show from now on may focus more on shooting at outside locations.”
“They removed it ah.” Ling Yi was elated. “Before they took it down, I didn’t even dare to sneakily eat things! I was afraid I’d be filmed.”
“You’re still eating! You guys will have to sing soon, and I’ll have to report your weight daily to the higher-ups.” Cheng Qiang knocked on his head. “You guys rest ba, the livestream will start in a while, at seven o’clock. You’re on the Hot Search list right now, so we can’t just waste the traffic.”
“Okay—”
Fang Juexia had gotten up at six that morning, and now he was so sleepy that he couldn’t even keep his eyes open. He refused Ling Yi’s invitation to watch a movie, instead going straight to bed and falling asleep. Pei Tingsong watched the cooking competition between Jiang Miao and Lu Yuan in the kitchen for a bit before leaving with a slice of watermelon to stroll to the sofa and ask Ling Yi, “Where’s your roommate?”
“He fell asleep,” replied Ling Yi, staring at the screen, not looking back at all. “Went to sleep as soon as we got back, too tired ba.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
“What are you doing going to look at someone sleeping ah, pervert?” Ling Yi glanced at him and said, “You little white-haired devil, you’ve been sticking close to our Juexia every day recently… don’t think I don’t know.”
Pei Tingsong was like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. “Who’s sticking close to him every day?” He turned around and made to leave. However, after taking not even two steps, he stopped and threw the watermelon rind in the garbage can beside the sofa, while adding a retort, “Weirdo.”
Pei Tingsong went back to his room and slammed the door shut.
“So angry, who provoked you?” He Ziyan took out a mini-broom to sweep the floor, just like a community master.
“No one.” Pei Tingsong pretended that nothing had happened and went back to his desk, where he randomly flipped open a book. He Ziyan brought the broom over to his side, helping him sweep the area around as he said, “Pei Small Six, I’m sweeping away all these paper balls in this corner for you ah.”
“Oh.” Just after Pei Tingsong uttered that, he acted as though he had received a sudden electric shock, and then immediately rescued a paper ball that he had forgotten in the corner from being swept away by He Ziyan. “This one I still want.”
“What ah, why are you this nervous?” He Ziyan smelled the scent of gossip. “Show Ge? It can’t be a smutty little poem you wrote ba?”
“No, they’re lyrics…” Pei Tingsong’s heart felt weak; if these lyrics were seen by He Ziyan, then this misunderstanding would grow much larger.
However, He Ziyan really didn’t let this go, placing the broom in his hands next to his bed. “Lyrics? What lyrics am I not allowed to see?”
“They’re just…” Pei Tingsong didn’t know what to say, when the door suddenly opened, and Lu Yuan howled from outside, “Come out to eat!”
“Right away!” He Ziyan answered, before winking at Pei Tingsong and teasing, “Do you have a girl you like at school?”
“How can that be?!”
“Then what else are you getting so worked up about?” He Ziyan sat down beside his bed. “Xiao Pei, you and Juexia are the only two remaining members of our group who have been solo since birth, yes? Now you want to abandon your Juexia Ge and open up your own house ah.”
“I don’t,” Pei Tingsong didn’t know how to explain it to him. “I really haven’t started dating anyone.”
“I know you haven’t, if you really had, it’s not something your face can hide.” He Ziyan looked at him for a while before speaking, “I just feel like you’ve been strange recently, you always randomly start giggling by yourself.”
What ah? Exactly where and when did he start randomly giggling?
Pei Tingsong recalled his past behaviour carefully, but he was completely lost on the kind abnormal behavior he had displayed previously. He Ziyan patted his shoulder. “It’s okay, don’t think about it, go out and eat ba. Oh, right, we’re going to livestream in a bit, so remember to find a wool hat to hide your new hair color.”
Knowing that Fang Juexia was asleep, Jiang Miao specially left a sandwich for him and didn’t wake him up. In order to manage their body weight, none of them could eat too much, and their menu was full of light and healthy fitness meals.
Fang Juexia slept in a daze and had a dream. In his dream, he was back at the small house, where he had grown up. He was back in the South, where the walls were all wet, and the certificates stuck to them had also gotten wet, with the corner of one such certificate gradually curling off. He went over and tried to stick the certificate back onto the wall, but he couldn’t reach it.
He had changed back into a child.
Leaving the bedroom, Fang Juexia caught sight of the food on the table that had gone cold. He felt a little hungry, but he couldn’t stomach anything right now, for he smelled the smell he feared very much—the smell of alcohol that was too thick to disperse. Hesitating to step out, he left the kitchen and walked step by step towards the room that frightened him. The smell of alcohol grew stronger and stronger as he got closer, making it difficult for him to breathe.
The quarrel happening currently in the room was clear and audible. Through the crack in the door, he saw his mother get grabbed by her hair and then shoved to the ground. His heart suddenly seized, and he fiercely pushed the door open, and waiting for him was an ashtray that hit him.
The moment the glass ashtray smashed into him, it turned into a gray fog before his eyes.
“Get the fuck out! Everyone get the fuck out!”
A hand stretched out from the thick fog and grabbed his collar. “You look at the birthmark on your face, how ugly it is, you can’t be the lead, you know? You’re just like Dad, you won’t be able to succeed all your life!”
Can’t I succeed….
The hand pushed him away, and he fell to the ground. When he stood up, darkness surrounded him all over. Only a spotlight hit his small, thin body, illuminating it from top to bottom. He was pushed onto the stage to be displayed like an inferior and incomplete exhibit.
His father’s hysterical voice sounded from all directions, deafening him, and he had nowhere to hide.
“What’s the use of going blind as soon as you get onto a stage? A cripple on-stage! Do you know what a cripple is?”
“Look at me, your dad! This is what a cripple is!”
“There will come a day when you turn into me, do you know that?! You’ll turn into trash just like me.”
The last light also went out completely. Fang Juexia covered his ears in desperation and shook his head frantically. He didn’t want to be the person his father was talking about, didn’t want to become the second him.
He wanted to dance, he wanted to be the center of the stage. Fang Juexia stood up and kept practicing in the dark. He fell down, crawled up, and started again. He fell down again and again, until he simply couldn’t stand up ever again. From the beginning to the end, all he had was darkness and injuries.
A cripple.
Trash.
A person born to fail.
Could this be his life?
His breathing grew more and more rapid, and Fang Juexia wanted to find an exit; he didn’t want to be trapped here any longer. He had to admit that even after so many years, he still hadn’t gotten used to it, and that he was still afraid of the dark.
[ I know no matter how scared you are, you will still jump. ]
Suddenly, Fang Juexia heard a familiar voice. He looked back, but there was no one behind him.
Who was it?
Why do you know that?
[I just know.]
[Because you are Fang Juexia.]
He suddenly woke up from his dream, like resuscitation after drowning.
“What’s the matter with you?”
That familiar voice from the dream appeared again. Fang Juexia opened his eyes and looked at the source of the voice.
Pei Tingsong placed the sandwich on the cupboard at the head of the bed and touched Fang Juexia’s forehead. “What’s the matter with you? You’re covered in cold sweat. Were you dreaming of bungee jumping again?”
Fang Juexia’s inflamed nerves finally relaxed. He shook his head, then nodded once, before retracting into his quilt. “I had a not-so-good dream.”
“You’ve been sleeping for nearly two hours, aren’t you hungry now ah.”
Fang Juexia once again shook his head, covering his face with the quilt. Only now did he feel his heart pounding; it was fine to dream of past events, but he had even heard Pei Tingsong’s voice in his dream. And then, as soon as he woke up, the person from his dream appeared in front of him. This kind of experience made it difficult for him to open his mouth or face Pei Tingsong.
Clearly, he had good intentions in coming here to give him the sandwich, but forget about being thanked, it seemed that he wasn’t even going to get a look from Fang Juexia. Pei Tingsong’s heart felt small and tight. “Then I’m leaving, when you wake up, you eat it yourself.”
He said he would go, but Pei Tingsong didn’t actually leave at all. Looking at how Fang Juexia seemed to be just now, he was still a little worried. His feet remained stuck to the ground, he couldn’t move a single step. He just stood by the bed, unmoving, as he looked at him.
Not long after, Ling Yi and He Ziyan ran in with their cellphones in their hands.
“We started the livestream!” Ling Yi suddenly fell on the bed and hugged Juexia from across the quilt. “Ah, my baby Juexia! Are you awake?”
Seeing Ling Yi pounce on him like a wolf, the barrage immediately boiled up.
[AHHHHHHHH JUEXIA!!!]
[The Roommate line is too sweet!]
[jxgg nestling in that quilt is really too cute ah!]
[Why is Pei Tingscared in Gege’s room? What are you doing?]
[Hahahahahaha, Pei Tingscared! Sisters give full marks for current affairs!]
Pei Tingsong grew even angrier as soon as he saw Ling Yi behave like this, and so directly pulled him away. “Get off, you’re pinning him.”
Ling Yi refused, “Juexia didn’t even say anything to me, so what are you saying? I’m not pinning him, this is called a hug!” Saying that, he became more unbridled and directly lifted up Fang Juexia’s quilt to wiggle inside it. “Wow, it’s so warm in this quilt.”
He really was something. Pei Tingsong opened up the other end of the quilt and also wormed his body in, as if he was demonstrating a move.
[Hahahaha, Pei Tingscared, how are you not scared now? So willing to fight]
[Doing that is not allowed, I’m the only one who is Gege’s number one I vow]
Suddenly, there were two more people on the bed, and the quilt was being pulled from side to side. Fang Juexia, who had nearly fallen asleep again, looked muddled. He peeked his head out and blinked, and then saw He Ziyan sitting by the bed with his phone pointed at him.
“Are you making a video?” Fang Juexia asked dazedly. Ling Yi hugged his back inside the quilt as he exclaimed, “We’re livestreaming!”
“Livestreaming…” Fang Juexia’s mind was confused, and he soon shrank back into the quilt. His view inside the quilt was very narrow and dark, and his eyes blinked slowly. He seemed to be able to see a person lying in front of him. He didn’t know what was going on, but seized by an odd impulse, he stuck out his hand and poked this person, and whatever it was that he poked, it felt hard.
He happened to have poked some abs.
His hand was caught suddenly, and Fang Juexia instantly realized what was going on. This was Pei Tingsong; besides that person, no one else would grab him like this. He immediately pulled his hand out of his grasp and hid at the other end of the bed.
“Juexia, you’re going to squeeze me out!”
Upon seeing that he was hiding from him, Pei Tingsong grew even more unhappy. He pulled Fang Juexia over in one move and stuck up right against him. “You’re about to squeeze him out, didn’t you hear?” With that, he fished Fang Juexia up. “Don’t cover your head when you sleep, your breathing will get blocked.”
[AHHHHHHHH XIAO PEI IS SO GONG!]
[As long as there are no ghosts! Pei Tingsong is still the number one gong in K!]
He didn’t know if it was just a psychological effect, but Fang Juexia’s breathing really was a bit blocked. Fortunately, Ling Yi quickly changed the topic and began to read the questions appearing in the barrage.
“Ah, the ensemble show’s preview,” Ling Yi clapped his hands as he explained, “Because we went on a lot of rides in the amusement park this time, there was a lot of material, so we cut it into two episodes. The key point is that next episode, I, K’s number one big boss, am bungee jumping! Super exciting, you must remember to go watch it!”
He Ziyan added, “Only those people who lost went bungee jumping. We later went to play bumper cars.”
[I like bumper cars, too!]
[It turns out bungee jumping is a punishment ah! Ahhhhhh, I’m so looking forward to the next episode!]
[I watched the haunted house special while eating, and I didn’t think it would be so funny when I started it! I even spat out my food and almost got beaten up by my mom]
[jxgg is still dazed, so cute]
After they chatted for a while, Fang Juexia suddenly felt a little hungry, so he turned to Pei Tingsong and gave him a meaningful glance, wanting him to help him bring the sandwich over. Pei Tingsong raised his eyebrows, with an expression of ‘beg me’. Fang Juexia reached into the quilt and pinched his arm.
Pei Tingsong stared at him and even more didn’t want to help him get it. Seeing him be like this, Fang Juexia could only soften his stance by rubbing his fingers twice on the spot he had just pinched. Only then did Pei Tingsong let the matter drop, and handed him the sandwich lying on the bedside table.
Pei Tingsong really was like a little dog; if you pet him, he’ll be nice and obedient and listen to you. Fang Juexia took a bite of the sandwich on the plate, and Pei Tingsong put the plate in front of him to avoid crumbs falling down onto the bed.
[Hahahaha, Ling Yi is so funny]
[Ah, what are these two slyly doing?! So cloying!]
[PTS’ expression just now, so sweet!]
[CP fans, don’t dance in front of the actual people involved, okay]
[Fire Ge was so hot when he got up close just now! I want to slide on the bridge of Fire Ge’s nose!]
[Why haven’t Miaomiao and Yuanyuan come yet ah?]
[Question, question! Geges, what is your ideal type like?]
“Ideal type?” Ling Yi saw this question in a glance. “The ideal type as in the type you like?” He turned to look at He Ziyan and asked, “Can we say this, Fire Ge?”
“Why not? Do you like men ah?”
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha He Ziyan is awesome!]
[Hahahahahahahaha, Fire Ge is just your Fire Ge!]
[Hahahaha, do you like men]
[01 is suddenly out of the closet]
“Go to the side.” Ling Yi stretched out a foot, kicked He Ziyan, then solemnly cleared his throat before answering, “My ideal type…. Let me think ah. Because I’m from Sichuan, and all the girls there are fair and clear-skinned, I prefer the fair and clear-skinned, small and lovely type.”
“He Ziyan, it’s your turn!” He clenched his fist and put it in front of He Ziyan like he was holding a microphone, then asked, “Please tell us, what’s your ideal type?”
[It’s uniform allure]
[Hahahahaha ah hahaha, enough uniform allure! My whole head is full of ghost nurse Jiejie!]
“The type I like is the kind-hearted type.”
As soon as he finished saying that, Pei Tingsong clicked his tongue and retorted, “Quit that. I’m kind-hearted, so do you like me?”
He Ziyan immediately followed that up with— “I like you ah!”
[Hahahahahahaha why is the main gong seducing the other main gong?!]
[All the melons in this group have a myriad of relationships, PTS and FJX, HZY and PTS]
Fang Juexia took a bite of the sandwich and asked more specifically, “What about the appearance?”
He Ziyan looked at the camera. “I don’t ask for much, as long as they’re beautiful, and best would be if they have long, straight black hair and long legs.”
[That’s called not asking for much????]
[Ge??? You’re making fun of me??]
[Alright, next.]
Ling Yi clenched his fist and put it in front of Fang Juexia’s mouth. “Four Ge, your turn.”
“Me?” This was the first time Fang Juexia had ever faced this type of question. Let alone an ideal type, he had never even imagined what he would be like in love.
Ling Yi started to rescue him from siege. “Please note that this is not a still picture.”
Surprisingly, Pei Tingsong realized that he cared about Fang Juexia’s answer. He was just curious about what kind of answer this guy, who avoided falling in love, would state, and what kind of person he would like.
After hesitating for a long time, Fang Juexia finally said, “En…. I might like confident people ba.”
[I’m confident ah, Ge! Look at me! My ID is Fang Juexia’s only wife online, see how confident I am!]
[Hahaha, enough sisters!]
“Just the kind of person who can do very well in their field of expertise. I find such people very attractive.”
He Ziyan couldn’t help teasing, “Juexia’s description here doesn’t sound like that of a girl, but more like that of a big boss.”
[Big boss in women’s clothes??]
[Hahahahahahaha what is going on with the barrage for this group’s livestream!]
Fang Juexia felt that he had also gone a bit off track in his answer, and he was even beginning to suspect that he hadn’t woken up properly and was talking nonsense. In order to not cause any misunderstandings, he went ahead and casually added some descriptions, “Just, appearance isn’t particularly important to me. Someone who looks nice when smiling, and is gentle and cute, it’s all very good. I’m not very picky.”
Gentle and cute. These two words ran into Pei Tingsong’s heart like two bees buzzing around here and there, stinging painfully. He thought it over and over again, and thought that that was as different from him as the heavens are to the earth.
No, wait, why was he comparing himself to that description?
“What about Xiao Pei?”
Pei Tingsong was still distracted, but Fang Juexia pulled on his sleeve, and he realized what was going on. “It’s my turn now?”
What kind of person was his ideal type?
He was still immersed in the impact of Fang Juexia’s answer just now, and was a little out of state. “Similar to Fire Ge ba, I haven’t thought about it.”
“This guy, and you were actually saying stuff about me?”
“What did I say about you? Did I say you like people in uniforms?”
Fang Juexia lowered his head and saw the half remaining sandwich gripped in his hand. For no reason at all, he recalled the description of He Ziyan’s ideal: beautiful, long and straight black hair, long legs. He thought about it, and a girl who fit all these requirements actually appeared in front of him. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but when she stood beside Pei Tingsong, they seemed to be very well-matched.
It was so sour.
He chewed the pickles in the sandwich, and the stimulation of his taste buds poked at his heart.
Seeing him frown, Pei Tingsong reached out and gave him a glass of water. “Here.”
Fang Juexia took a look, shook his head, and forced himself to swallow the pickle that he didn’t like one bit. He didn’t know what the matter with him was, but he didn’t want to drink the water Pei Tingsong was offering. Pei Tingsong suddenly lifted up the quilt and left without saying a word. Ling Yi and He Ziyan didn’t know what was going on, and after glancing over, they simply continued to livestream and chat with the fans about other things.
With the bedside becoming suddenly empty. Fang Juexia also didn’t speak any more; he felt that he had eaten in a bit too much of a hurry just now, and the food stuffed in his esophagus didn’t seem like it would go down, so his heart also felt blocked, while he felt bad. He lowered his head and patted himself on the chest.
Just a little while later, a well-defined hand appeared in front of him, holding a glass of sweet orange juice.
When he looked up, he saw Pei Tingsong awkwardly raise his hand and tug at the brim of his woolen cap as he handed the cup directly into Fang Juexia’s hand. “If you don’t want plain boiled water, this one should be good ba.”
The glass that was in his hand was cold and icy, with glistening golden fruit juice wobbling around in its interior.
“It’s sweet, quickly drink it ba.”
