After seeing the trending topic, Pei Tingsong’s face instantly fell. He snatched Fang Juexia’s phone and tapped on the trending topic. Screens full of “hahaha” seemed ready to leap out and smack him in the face.
[@Grape-Eater-Who-Doesn’t-Spit-Out-Grape-Skins: Hahaha ahahahahaha (breath) hahahahahaha]
[@Joyful Source Kaleido: Poor post-production guy, hahaha. PTS really spewed poetic fear—it was all “Ah!! Beep—beep—” the whole way, hahaha]
[@Little Angel Roasted Chicken Wings: Hahahaha, scared enough to recite atheists’ names, hahaha. What kind of magical instinct is this?]
[@DidKaleidonExplodeToday: The comparison video next door is even funnier! Only 01 and the little demon are scared of ghosts in the whole group. jxgg has it so rough]
[@MyCPIsTheBestEver: First watch I was too busy laughing, second watch I realized how sweet it is. Even scared like that, she kept holding her brother’s hand—unlike someone who squealed and bolted the moment they entered, hahaha]
[@StudyingHardToday: How is this group so ridiculous?! The guy in the hat is so polite, but bowing to the wall—was that to scare the ghosts? x]
[@Today’s Deaf Girl: AAAAAH DID YOU GUYS SEE THE FINAL PREVIEW FOR THIS EPISODE? SPOILER ALERT—TWO PEOPLE ARE HUGGING WHILE BUNGEE JUMPING! AND BY THEIR CLOTHES, IT’S OUR HEARING!!! I’M DEFINITELY WATCHING NEXT EPISODE!]
[@KKKaleido: What makes a bass-voiced rapper sing in falsetto? Fear.]
“Seriously, is it that funny?” He looked at Fang Juexia, utterly baffled.
The hair-dyeing guy burst out laughing. “It’s hilarious! Hahaha, I laughed so hard I got wrinkles!”
“What do we do?” Fang Juexia stifled a laugh as he retrieved his phone. “Your persona just imploded.”
“Do you think it’s too late to pay to remove the trending topic now?”
Fang Juexia looked at him and burst out laughing again.
The team’s top-tier persona crumbled too quickly, leaving Pei Tingsong in a dazed state. The stylist finished blow-drying and trimming his hair—the silver-white effect looked surprisingly good. “Wow, suddenly he’s got this manga vibe.”
Fang Juexia watched from the side and thought it looked great too. Pei Tingsong already had fair skin and sharp features, and now with his silver-white hair, his mixed-race look was even more pronounced. He’d definitely stand out on stage.
The stylist flicked Pei Tingsong’s bangs. “Your hair was really coarse before. I was worried it might frizz up after the dye, but it looks fine now.”
Would bleaching make it a bit softer? Fang Juexia wondered, reaching out to touch a strand. Unexpectedly, Pei Tingsong noticed. Thinking this little devil might swat his hand away, Fang Juexia instinctively pulled back to dodge. But he wasn’t fast enough—Pei Tingsong grabbed his wrist. He held Fang Juexia’s hand like that, placing it on his own head.
Fang Juexia froze, hearing Pei Tingsong chuckle, “If you’re going to touch it, touch it properly.”
“Oh.” Fang Juexia obediently spread his fingers and stroked it twice. It really was soft and felt wonderful.
Pei Tingsong asked, “Does this color suit me?”
Fang Juexia nodded, withdrew his hand and gaze, and answered earnestly, “It looks good.”
To conceal his new hair color, Pei Tingsong deliberately wore a baseball cap when leaving, then pulled the hood of his white hoodie over it for double coverage. They rode back to the company together and recorded songs with the other members, spending the entire afternoon in the studio.
These days, they practically lived at the company, alternating between dance practice and recording sessions. Fortunately, everyone’s vocal condition was excellent today, yielding great results. Combined with the ample time allocated for this comeback, everything proceeded smoothly without the need for overworked rush jobs. The company also didn’t want their voices to become too fatigued, so they were allowed to return early to rest.
Cheng Qiang drove them back to the dormitory. “The locks on the dorm doors were tampered with earlier. We suspect it’s because the group variety show aired in previous episodes revealed the address here, attracting stalker fans. We’re currently investigating. Safety comes first, so the company has removed the cameras from the dorms. Future group variety shows will likely focus on outdoor locations.”
“They took them down?” Ling Yi was overjoyed. “Before they were removed, I didn’t even dare sneak snacks! Terrified of getting caught on camera.”
“You still eat! With promotions starting soon, I have to report your weights daily.” Cheng Qiang tapped his head. “Rest now. We’ll go live at 7 PM. We’re trending—can’t let that traffic go to waste.”
“Got it—” “
“He’s asleep,” Ling Yi replied, eyes glued to the screen. “He crashed as soon as he got back. Must be exhausted.”
“I’ll go check on him.”
“Why would you want to watch someone sleep? Creepy.” Ling Yi shot him a glance. “You little white-haired brat’s been glued to our Juexia lately. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
Pei Tingsong jumped like he’d stepped on a dog’s tail. “Who’s been clinging to him every day?” He turned to leave, but stopped after two steps. He tossed the empty watermelon rind into the trash can beside the sofa and muttered, “What a mystery.”
Pei Tingsong stormed back to his room and slammed the door shut.
“What’s got you so worked up? Who’s been bothering you?” He Ziyan swept the floor with a miniature broom, looking like a neighborhood uncle.
“No one.” Pei Tingsong pretended nothing had happened, walking back to his desk and flipping open a book at random. He Ziyan swept around him as he worked. “Little Six, I’ll take care of that crumpled paper ball in your corner for you.”
“Oh.” As soon as Pei Tingsong spoke, he snapped back to reality as if electrocuted. He snatched the forgotten paper ball from under He Ziyan’s broom. “I still need this.”
“What’s got you so worked up?” He Ziyan sensed gossip in the air. “Let me see? Not some dirty poem you wrote, is it?”
“No, it’s lyrics…” Pei Tingsong felt uneasy. If He Ziyan saw these lyrics, it could lead to a huge misunderstanding.
But He Ziyan wouldn’t let it go. He set his broom aside near the bed. “Lyrics? What lyrics can’t I see?”
“It’s just…” Pei Tingsong was at a loss for words when the door suddenly swung open. Lu Yuan bellowed from outside, “Come eat!”
“Coming!” He Ziyan called back, shooting Pei Tingsong a knowing look. “You little guy, got a crush on someone at school?”
“No way!”
“Then why the overreaction?” He Ziyan plopped down beside his bed. “Little Pei, you and Jue Xia are the last two perpetual singles in our group. What? Now you wanna ditch your bro Jue Xia and go solo?”
“I’m not,” Pei Tingsong didn’t know how to explain it. “I really am not dating anyone.”
“I know you don’t. You couldn’t hide it if you were.” He Ziyan studied him. “You’ve just been acting weird lately, smiling to yourself for no reason.”
What? He didn’t just smile for no reason.
Pei Tingsong racked his brain but couldn’t recall any unusual behavior. He Ziyan patted his shoulder. “Alright, stop overthinking it. Let’s go grab something to eat. Oh, and remember to wear a woolen hat during the livestream later to cover your hair color.”
Knowing Fang Juexia was asleep, Jiang Miao deliberately saved him a sandwich without waking him. To manage their figures, everyone ate lightly—nothing but light, healthy fitness meals.
Fang Juexia slept fitfully, drifting into a dream. In it, he returned to the small house where he grew up. It was humid season, the walls damp. The framed certificates plastered on them had gotten wet, one corner sagging limply downward. He walked over, wanting to rehang the certificate, but his hands couldn’t reach.
He had reverted to the form of a child.
Leaving the bedroom, Fang Juexia saw the cold leftovers on the dining table. He felt a bit hungry, yet couldn’t bring himself to eat. He caught the scent he dreaded—the thick, lingering smell of alcohol. Hesitating, he stepped away from the dining room and moved toward the room he feared. The smell of liquor grew stronger, making it hard to breathe.
The shouts from inside the room were crystal clear. Through the crack in the door, he saw his mother’s hair being grabbed, her body shoved violently to the floor. His heart clenched. He flung the door open, only to be met by an ashtray hurled at him.
The moment the glass ashtray struck him, his vision blurred into a hazy gray fog.
“Get out! All of you, get out!”
A hand emerged from the fog, yanking his collar. “Look at that birthmark on your face. It’s hideous. You’ll never be the star, you know that? Just like your father, you’ll never amount to anything in this life!”
I can’t succeed…
His father’s hysterical voice roared from every direction, deafening and inescapable.
“You look like a blind man on stage! What good are you? A cripple on stage! Do you even know what a cripple is?”
“Look at your father here! This is a cripple!”
“You’ll end up just like me someday, you know! A useless piece of trash like me.”
The last beam of light faded completely. Fang Juexia desperately covered his ears, shaking his head frantically. He refused to become the person his father described, refused to be a second version of him.
He would dance. He would stand at the very center of the stage. Fang Juexia rose to his feet, practicing relentlessly in the darkness. He fell, got up, started again, fell once more, until he could no longer rise. From beginning to end, all he possessed was darkness and a body covered in wounds.
Disability.
Useless.
Born to fail.
Is this really his life?
His breathing grew increasingly ragged. Fang Juexia wanted an escape, to break free from this prison. He had to admit that after all these years, he still hadn’t grown accustomed to it. He still feared the darkness.
[I know you’ll dance no matter how afraid you are.]
Suddenly, Fang Juexia heard a familiar voice. He turned around, but no one was behind him.
Who is it?
How do you know?
[I just know.]
[Because you are Fang Juexia.]
He jolted awake from the dream, as if reborn after drowning.
“What’s wrong?”
The voice from his dream appeared again. Fang Juexia opened his eyes wide, searching for its source.
Peitingsong placed the sandwich on the bedside table and touched Fang Juexia’s forehead. “What’s wrong? You’re drenched in cold sweat. Did you dream about bungee jumping again?”
Fang Juexia’s tense nerves finally relaxed. He shook his head, then nodded, burrowing deeper under the covers. “Just had a bad dream.”
“You’ve been asleep for nearly two hours. Aren’t you hungry?”
Fang Juexia shook his head again, pulling the blanket up over his face. A wave of palpitations washed over him belatedly. Dreaming about the past was one thing, but dreaming about Pei Tingsong’s voice? And then, upon waking, the very person from his dream was standing right before him. This experience left him speechless and unable to face the situation.
He’d come with good intentions to bring sandwiches, yet not only did he receive no thanks, he wasn’t even acknowledged. Feeling stifled, Pei Tingsong said, “I’ll leave then. Eat when you wake up.”
Though he claimed to leave, Pei Tingsong hadn’t actually departed. Seeing Fang Juexia’s earlier state, he still couldn’t shake his unease. His feet felt glued to the floor, unable to move a single step. He stood motionless beside the bed, watching him.
Before long, Ling Yi and He Ziyan rushed in, phones held high.
“We’re live!” Ling Yi pounced onto the bed, hugging Juexia through the covers. “Ah, my precious Juexia! Are you awake?”
Seeing Ling Yi’s wolf-like pounce, the chat exploded.
[Aaaaaah Juexia!!!]
[Roommate line is too sweet!]
[jxgg snuggled in the covers is so adorable!]
[Why is Pei Tingsong in Brother’s room? What’s he doing?]
[Hahahaha Pei Tingsong! Full points for sisters combining current events!]
Pei Tingsong grew even angrier seeing Ling Yi like this and shoved him aside. “Move it, you’re crushing him.”
Ling Yi protested, “Juexia didn’t say anything, so why are you? I’m not crushing him—this is called hugging!” With that, he grew even more brazen, yanking back Fang Juexia’s blanket and burrowing in. “Wow, it’s so warm under here.”
He really was something else. Pei Tingsong pulled back the other end of the covers and crawled in too, clearly making a show of defiance.
[Hahahaha Pei’s usually such a wimp, but now he’s all tough? So bold!]
[Good for nothing at everything, but always number one at stealing brothers]
With two extra people suddenly on the bed, the covers being tugged back and forth, Fang Juexia—who’d almost drifted back to sleep—was utterly bewildered. He poked his head out to peek and saw He Ziyan sitting on the edge of the bed, filming him with his phone.
“Filming a video?” Fang Juexia asked groggily. Ling Yi hugged his back from under the covers. “Live streaming!”
“Live streaming…” Fang Juexia’s mind went blank, and he retreated back under the covers. The view from inside the blankets was narrow and dim. His eyes blinked sluggishly, and he vaguely thought he saw someone else lying in front of him. For some inexplicable reason, his hand moved of its own accord, reaching out to poke something. It felt hard.
Right on the abs.
His hand was suddenly grabbed. Fang Juexia instantly realized it was Pei Tingsong—no one else would grab him like that. He yanked his hand away and scrambled to the other end of the bed.
“Juexia, you’re pushing me off!”
Seeing him dodge like this only made Pei Tingsong more annoyed. He yanked Fang Juexia back to press him against himself. “Didn’t you hear me? You’re pushing me off the bed!” With that, he pulled Fang Juexia up. “Don’t cover your head while sleeping. It’ll make it hard to breathe.”
[Ahhhhhhh, Little Pei is so dominant!]
[As long as there are no ghosts! Pei Tingsong is still the top dominant in the group!]
Whether it was psychological or not, Fang Juexia did feel a bit short of breath. Fortunately, Ling Yi quickly changed the subject, starting to read questions from the live chat.
“Ah, the group show preview,” Ling Yi clapped his hands. “Since we tried so many rides at the amusement park this time, we have a lot of footage. So we’re splitting it into two episodes. Here’s the highlight: next episode, I, the top dog of the group, will be bungee jumping live! It’s super thrilling—make sure you tune in!”
He Ziyan chimed in, “Only the losers had to bungee jump. We went to play bumper cars afterward.”
[I love bumper cars too!]
[So bungee jumping was a punishment! Ahhh I’m so excited!]
[I watched the haunted house special while eating dinner. Never expected it to be this hilarious! I spit out my food and almost got beaten by my mom.]
[JXGG still looks so clueless and adorable]
They chatted for a while, and Fang Juexia suddenly felt a bit hungry. He turned to glance at Pei Tingsong, giving him a meaningful look to get him to fetch a sandwich. Pei Tingsong raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly saying, “You’re kidding, right?” Fang Juexia reached under the covers and pinched his arm.
Pei Tingsong glared at him, even less inclined to fetch it now. Seeing this, Fang Juexia relented, rubbing the spot he’d pinched a couple more times. Only then did Pei Tingsong concede, bringing him the sandwich from the nightstand.
What a little puppy—just stroke him the right way and he obeys. Fang Juexia took a bite from the sandwich on the plate. Pei Tingsong placed the plate in front of him to catch any crumbs.
[Hahahaha Ling Yi is just too funny]
[Ah, what are those two sneaking around like little puppies doing?! So sickening!]
[PTS’s expression just now was so sweet!]
[CP fans, please don’t dance in front of the real deal, okay?]
[Fire Brother leaning in to grab it just now was so cool! I want to slide down Fire Brother’s nose!]
[Where are Miao Miao and Yuan Yuan?]
[Question time! What’s your ideal type, guys?]
“Ideal type?” Ling Yi spotted the question immediately. “You mean the kind of person you like?” He turned to He Ziyan. “Can we talk about this, Fire?”
“Why not? You like guys, right?”
[Hahahahahahahaha He Ziyan is awesome!]
[Hahahahahaha Fire Brother is the real deal!]
[Hahahaha likes guys]
[01 Suddenly outed]
“Get lost.” Ling Yi kicked He Ziyan with his foot, then cleared his throat solemnly. “My ideal type… let me think. Since I’m from Sichuan, girls back home are all fair-skinned and delicate. I prefer fair-skinned, petite, and cute types.”
“He Ziyan, your turn!” He cupped his fist near He Ziyan’s ear like a microphone. “Please state your ideal type?”
[Uniform fetish]
[Hahahaha ahahaha Uniform fetish is enough! My mind is filled with ghost nurse sisters!]
“The type I like… is kind-hearted.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Pei Tingsong snorted, “Cut the crap. I’m the kind-hearted one. Do you like me?”
He Ziyan immediately chimed in, “I do!”
[HAHAHAHAHA Why is the top seducing the top!]
[This group’s drama is all interconnected—PTS and FJX, HZY and PTS]
Fang Juexia took a bite of his sandwich and pressed for more details, “What about looks?”
He Ziyan looked into the camera, “I don’t ask for much—just pretty. Preferably dark hair, long legs, and a tall figure.”
[You call that not asking for much?????]
[Bro??? Are you kidding me??]
[Alright, next.]
Ling Yi clenched his fist toward Fang Juexia’s mouth. “Fourth Brother, your turn.”
“Me?” Fang Juexia had never faced this kind of question before. Forget an ideal type—he’d never even imagined what his own romance might look like.
Ling Yi stepped in to defuse the tension. “Please note this isn’t a still image.”
Pei Tingsong found himself unexpectedly curious about Fang Juexia’s answer. He was just wondering what kind of response this love-averse guy would give, what sort of person he might like.
After hesitating for a long while, Fang Juexia finally spoke up. “Um… I guess I’d probably like someone confident.”
[I’m confident, bro! Look at me! My ID is Fang Juexia, the only wife on the entire internet—see how confident I am!]
[Hahahaha, sis, enough!]
“Someone who excels tremendously in their field. I find people like that very attractive.”
He Ziyan couldn’t resist teasing, “Juexia, that description doesn’t sound like a girl at all—more like a boss.”
[A cross-dressing boss??]
[Hahahaha what’s up with this group’s live stream comments!]
Fang Juexia realized things had veered off course. He began wondering if he was still half-asleep and babbling nonsense. To avoid misunderstandings, he hastily added some qualifiers, “Well, appearance isn’t super important. Someone with a nice smile, or gentle and cute—those are great too. I’m not picky.”
Gentle. Cute. Those two words buzzed into Pei Tingsong’s mind like bees, flying around and stinging him uncomfortably. He repeated them silently, feeling they were worlds apart from himself.
Wait, why was he comparing himself?
“What about you, Little Pei?”
Pei Tingsong, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality when Fang Juexia tugged his sleeve. “My turn?”
What kind of person is your ideal type?
Still reeling from the shock of Fang Juexia’s earlier answer, he was a bit out of it. “Someone like Brother Huo, I guess. I haven’t really thought about it.”
“Then what were you saying about me just now?”
Fang Juexia lowered his head, noticing the half-eaten sandwich in his hand. His mind inexplicably drifted back to He Ziyan’s ideal standards: beautiful, long black hair, long legs. As he pondered, a girl who perfectly matched those criteria suddenly appeared before his eyes. He couldn’t make out her face, but standing beside Pei Tingsong, she looked surprisingly well-matched.
How bitter.
The pickle in his sandwich crunched under his teeth, the tangy sting shooting straight to his heart.
Seeing his frown, Pei Tingsong reached for a water cup and handed it to him. “Here.”
Fang Juexia glanced at it, shook his head, and forced down the pickle he disliked. He didn’t know why, but he simply didn’t want the water he’d offered. Pei Tingsong suddenly pulled back the covers and left without a word. Ling Yi and He Ziyan, equally puzzled, exchanged glances before resuming the livestream, chatting with fans about other topics.
The bedside felt suddenly empty. Fang Juexia fell silent too, realizing he’d eaten too hastily. Food stuck in his throat, making his chest feel tight and heavy. He lowered his head and patted his chest.
Before long, a hand with clearly defined knuckles appeared before him, holding a glass of sweet orange juice.
Looking up, he saw Pei Tingsong awkwardly tug at the brim of his knit cap before handing the cup directly to Fang Juexia. “You don’t want plain water? This should be fine.”
The glass felt cool and smooth in his hand, the golden juice inside swaying gently.
“It’s sweet. Drink up.”
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