As a highly acclaimed satellite TV variety show, the premiere of Escape from Heaven successfully propelled Fang Juexia and Pei Tingsong into the national spotlight. At the very least, Fang Juexia and Pei Tingsong leveraged their outstanding performances on the show to break out of the relatively niche idol sphere and enter the mainstream audience’s consciousness. Endless video edits flooded platforms, while Escape fans’ signature essay-style program analyses and enthusiastic recommendations revealed just how formidable these two new guests truly are.
A prominent influencer published a lengthy analysis detailing how Kaleido navigated potential pitfalls during their comeback, dissecting the key factors behind their rise as a positive case study. The most upvoted comment under the post read:
[@Yuanxiao Eats Tangyuan: Star Map played the auditory CP card perfectly—that alone secured half the battle. The moment airport footage hinted at chemistry, they launched strategic promotions. They paved the way with resources for the CP, sweetened the deal on group shows to win fans, landed magazine features, and later appeared on Escape Room. It all seemed subtle, but it was meticulously planned. Plus, these two are exceptional—visually striking and powerful. Separately, they might balance each other out, but together they’re unstoppable. They’re the quintessential, standout “trailblazers” within the group, drawing all the attention. If the other members deliver, they’ll retain the fans. Clearly, Kaleido’s entire group is solid, so their explosive comeback was inevitable. I can confidently say that once this group breaks through, they’ll stay relevant for a long time.
The rollercoaster of events that unfolded within this small group over just one week is nothing short of breathtaking—even a brief recap sends shivers down your spine. Yet it’s precisely Kaleido’s tumultuous journey that has imbued this comeback with a tragic, legendary aura, drawing increasing attention to the album for all sorts of reasons. On music platforms, “Breakthrough” has dominated the monthly streaming charts for thirty consecutive days, while digital album sales continue to climb steadily.
The dark horse Fang Juexia surged ahead, dominating all three comeback stages with a commanding lead, becoming the fastest idol to consecutively achieve three million views on live streams. Pei Tingsong’s rap segment also garnered astonishing views and comments on another video platform, topping the entertainment charts. Within days, both artists’ Weibo followers nearly doubled, with over a hundred new fan sites popping up, countless CP sites forming, and their CP super topic dominating discussions. Each member’s popularity skyrocketed like a rocket, attracting countless new fans.
Kaleido became the talk of the town, with discussions everywhere about their album, talent, and the members’ silly antics. “Digging Kaleido’s past” became a massive grassroots movement. Each member’s digging revealed completely different tragic points, cementing “the most tragic boy band” as Kaleido’s defining label.
Being strong doesn’t necessarily win fans, but being both strong and tragic multiplies that appeal exponentially.
Yet the two protagonists remained oblivious to these staggering numbers. Before dawn, Fang Juexia awoke. He hadn’t slept well all night—not because he felt unwell, but because he was restless. Each time he woke, seeing Pei Tingsong lying beside him brought a sense of relief, and he’d drift back to sleep leaning against his shoulder. This happened several times. At six in the morning, he rose quietly, washed up, and sat back down beside Pei Tingsong.
Resting his chin in his palm, Fang Juexia leaned over him, staring motionless at Pei Tingsong. It felt surreal. The word “lover” was something he’d never even considered before, yet suddenly one had appeared—and it was the person he’d deemed most unlikely.
Pei Tingsong looked so gentle asleep, all his usual fierceness gone. Seeing the bruises on his face, Fang Juexia couldn’t help but feel a pang of pain. He reached out, gently stroking his cheek, then brushed away the hair that had fallen over his forehead.
Why was his nose bridge so high?
His fingers instinctively traced his bridge, following the line downward to the dip at his philtrum, then to the edge of his lip, where they gently brushed against it.
Suddenly, though clearly still asleep, Pei Tingsong reached out his right hand, captured hers, and pulled it toward him. He kissed it, smacking his lips from his palm all the way to his fingertips.
“You’re awake?” Fang Juexia quickly withdrew his hand. “You were pretending to sleep.”
Pei Tingsong rubbed his eyes. “I woke up the moment you got up. I don’t know why.” He rolled over to face Fang Juexia. “I dreamt all night.”
Fang Juexia handed him the warm water from the table. “What kind of dream?”
“Hmm…” Pei Tingsong took a big gulp, swallowed, and handed back the cup. He lifted Fang Juexia’s chin with his fingers. “I’d rather not tell you. Might scare you.” With that, he climbed down from the hospital bed, supporting himself with his left hand as he made his way to the bathroom.
Fang Juexia froze for a few seconds before suddenly snapping out of it, feeling like he’d been toyed with. “Pei Tingsong!”
Pei Tingsong, standing in the bathroom, poked his head out with a toothbrush in his mouth. His hair was tousled, and he grinned at Fang Juexia like a child.
He couldn’t stay mad at him, nor could he refuse.
Fang Juexia buried his face in the hospital bed’s quilt.
After the doctor arrived and conducted a thorough examination, confirming everything was in order, they processed their discharge. The company car was waiting at the private hospital’s side entrance. Fully dressed, they slipped past the crowd and got in. Xiao Wen excitedly shared the ratings for the first episode of Escape and the sales figures for their new album. Fang Juexia was genuinely happy—more than his own growing fanbase, the fact that their music reached so many people was what truly made him proud.
“Oh, right. There’s a signing event tomorrow afternoon,” Xiao Wen said, turning the steering wheel. “The boss said Xiao Pei doesn’t have to go. He can rest in the dorm.”
“I’ll go.” Pei Tingsong supported his right hand with his left. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s not my writing hand that’s injured.”
“We’re worried you’ll get tired. Signing sessions are exhausting, and it’ll be crowded. What if you bump into something?”
Pei Tingsong glanced at Fang Juexia, who returned his look before quickly averting his eyes.
“No, I’m going. I’m not some fragile thing that shatters at the slightest touch.” Pei Tingsong was stubborn. “I also have a presentation at school this afternoon. I need to be there by 2 PM. Xiao Wen, if you’re free, could you give me a ride?”
Fang Juexia was astonished. “A presentation? Have you prepared?”
“I’ve already reviewed all the literature. I’ve been reading a bit every day after returning to the dorm these past few days.” Pei Tingsong shrugged. “It’s just a presentation. I’ll improvise.”
True to a rapper’s style.
As soon as they arrived at the company, Cheng Qiang summoned them to his office. He’d been so swamped these past few days that he’d been sleeping at the office. The room was a complete mess, and Fang Juexia felt an urge to tidy it up just by looking at it.
“The response to this episode of Escape has far exceeded our expectations. And I never imagined so many things would erupt all at once—it’s gotten a bit out of hand. But you two have really made me proud.”
Pei Tingsong listened, tapping his casted left hand lightly with his uninjured right hand in a makeshift applause. Fang Juexia, however, was completely fixated on the disorganized documents scattered across the desk, not hearing a word Cheng Qiang said.
“Anyway, after the premiere of Escape, tons of brands, production teams, and platforms have been reaching out to you guys, wanting to collaborate with us. “Cheng Qiang pulled out an electronic file. ”That hip-hop show Xiao Pei mentioned earlier is also showing promise. They’re still in the planning stages, but they’ve already reached out. Oh, and there’s also an invitation for the entire group to appear on the nation’s most popular variety show. It’s perfect timing since we’re in the middle of promoting our album. We’ve cleared our schedules and plan to prioritize recording that variety show first.”
“Juexia, several music and dance shows have invited you, plus some scripts. I’ll send them to you later for you to review.”
Acting…
Fang Juexia instinctively countered, “Someone like me could act?” He gestured toward his birthmark.
Just as Cheng Qiang opened his mouth to respond, Pei Tingsong erupted in a sharp tone, “What the hell are you talking about?!”
“Hey, Pei, don’t—” Cheng Qiang hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“Don’t you know how good-looking you are? ‘Can someone like me even act?’ You’re better-looking than all those actors put together—by a mile. Your self-awareness is way off. You say such infuriating things day after day.”
Fang Juexia was completely flustered by Pei Tingsong’s rapid-fire tirade. Cheng Qiang, however, was laughing uncontrollably. “Hurry up and apologize to the youngest! Look how upset you’ve made him.”
Fang Juexia could only reach out and pat Pei Tingsong’s shoulder. “I’m not upset, I’m not upset.” He explained, “What I meant was, I have birthmarks. I can’t act.”
Pei Tingsong grew impatient again. “It’s beautiful! The birthmark all over your body is the most beautiful thing.”
“Fine, fine, it’s beautiful. Beautiful.”
“Oh, right. With all this commotion, I almost forgot something important.” Cheng Qiang suddenly remembered. “The guy who attacked you guys was caught. Normally, following standard legal procedures, he’d have to be on the run for a while. Once he’s brought back, you’d have to go to the police station for statements, injury assessments—it’s a pretty complicated process. In the end, he might just get detained for a couple weeks and have to pay for a meal.”
He was right. Even if the victim was a celebrity, the legal outcome would likely be similar. Fang Juexia thought, maybe the mastermind behind this hired someone who wasn’t afraid of jail time, offering a hefty sum just to get them injured—that would be considered a win.
“But guess where I caught him?”
Seeing his reaction, Pei Tingsong knew it wasn’t that simple. “Surely not at the company building?”
“How did you know!?” Cheng Qiang was startled, but quickly tapped his index finger in the air. “You’re my real son after all—you really get it.”
Fang Juexia looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“This morning, I told Xiao Wen to pick you up in my car, and it scared the crap out of him,” Cheng Qiang explained. “My car was parked in the underground garage under the company building, right? When he got there, he found someone lying on the ground near the car door and immediately called me. When I got there, holy cow—the guy had been beaten so badly he was unrecognizable, his face all bruised and swollen. They’d tied him up like a package and dumped him by my car.”
“He was beaten up…” Fang Juexia instinctively looked at Pei Tingsong, but before he could react, Pei Tingsong blurted out without hesitation, “My sister, right?”
Cheng Qiang nodded. “They really went all out. I had to get four big guys to carry him away. He had a voice recorder on him—it’s full of his confession.” He pressed play on the recorder. “Listen.”
He confessed everything, matching most of Fang Juexia’s suspicions. The mastermind was Jin from Astar. They’d snatched this gambler who’d lost everything at the casino, paid him fifty thousand to find an opportunity to cripple Fang Juexia.
The interrogator on the recording was a man with a calm tone. He repeated the other’s choice of words, “Crippled?”
The man’s voice trembled. “Yes, they said it’d be best to blind him or break his legs, so he could never sing or dance again. I planned to push him off the stage, but it didn’t work out. There were too many people. When I tried to act, I realized I’d grabbed the wrong guy.”
Pei Tingsong let out a cold laugh. Coincidentally, the recording also emitted a cold laugh—a woman’s voice. She spoke in English, ordering someone to take the man away.
Cheng Qiang tucked away the recorder. “Our Star Chart is just a small operation. Holding onto recordings like this is only for insurance—we can’t post them online. Honestly, if Juexia had gotten hurt this time, similar incidents would keep happening. He has no backing. If someone wants to hurt him, it’s impossible to guard against such hidden attacks.”
He chuckled. “But who knew that bastard would pick the wrong target? No matter how big Astar is, it’s still just an entertainment company. They’ve kicked a tycoon’s iron plate. Hmph, karma. Miss Pei called the boss first thing this morning and talked for an hour. I bet they won’t let Jin Xiangcheng off this time. Just wait—As’s stock is going to take a dive tomorrow.”
He pulled up photos on his phone to show Pei Tingsong. “Check out the beating—so satisfying.”
Pei Tingsong frowned at the images. “Hmph. Suddenly defending me now? Where were you earlier?”
Fang Juexia’s lips curved upward. “Is that how you talk about your sister?”
“Just the truth.” Pei Tingsong raised an eyebrow. “She’s pretty intimidating, huh?”
Fang Juexia chuckled. “Both of you are pretty intimidating—the big demon and the little demon.”
Pei Tingsong thought for a moment and didn’t argue. “True. If I had to do this, I’d handle it the same way.”
“By the way, Miss Pei hired a nurse for you. She’ll be here soon. She wants you to stay at the apartment for now, stop working, and have the nurse take care of you 24/7.”
Rest was necessary. But Fang Juexia thought, then he wouldn’t get to see Pei Tingsong.
“Nope.” Pei Tingsong leaned back in his chair with a couldn’t-care-less expression. “I’m going to work. I’m going to school. I’m a model young professional who loves their job.”
“I can’t control your stubbornness. You’ll have to explain it to Miss Pei yourself.”
“Don’t worry, Qiang,” Pei Tingsong stretched lazily, leaning his right arm across Fang Juexia’s shoulder. “How many times have I listened to her since I was born? She doesn’t even believe I’ll stay put. She’s just venting.”
Emerging from Cheng Qiang’s office, the pair joined several other members in the practice room. Knowing he’d still need to perform later, Pei Tingsong began adjusting his movements based on the current state of his cast.
“If it doesn’t work, just sit down during the performance. Sing your part from the sidelines.” Jiang Miao watched with genuine concern. “Your health comes first. What if you aggravate it?”
“This choreography looks terrible without one person,” Pei Tingsong rejected the suggestion. “I’ll get used to it with practice. Having one less hand for the moves actually makes it easier.”
“Tsk tsk tsk,” Ling Yi couldn’t believe it. “Is this really our lazybones? You’re getting more diligent by the day. Someone might think you and Juexia swapped souls.”
Fang Juexia, sitting on the ground changing shoes, chuckled too. Feeling lighthearted, he leaned against Ling Yi. “So should I start slacking off now?”
“Yes!”
Pei Tingsong flared up the moment he saw Fang Juexia leaning against Ling Yi. “Agree with what?” He strode over, yanked Fang Juexia toward him, and—taking advantage of his injury that deterred others—forcefully wedged himself between the two.
“You little brat! Always trying to steal Juexia from me!”
“Why would I need to compete with you?” Pei Tingsong shot back immediately. “I’m the official pairing, got it? The kind where they hold hours-long meetings just for our CP.”
Ling Yi wiped his face. When he couldn’t win an argument, he called in reinforcements. “Lu Yuan, he spit all over my face.”
Lu Yuan played it safe, pushing He Ziyan forward. “If you’re arguing with a rapper, you should get a rapper to help.”
He Ziyan shrugged. “Who’s the rapper? Sorry, I’m a bar DJ. Which record do you want me to spin today?”
“None of you will help me!”
“Give it up, dash.”
Watching everyone bicker together like this, Fang Juexia felt a sense of security. Though he often remained a quiet observer, as long as the six of them were together, it felt like there was nothing to fear.
After all, when they couldn’t reach the sunlight, they could at least hold each other’s hands.
That afternoon, Pei Tingsong went to school for a presentation, while the other five spent the entire afternoon in the practice room. Come evening, Jiang Miao, He Ziyan, and Ling Yi had other commitments, leaving only Lu Yuan and Fang Juexia behind. The two picked a different song to practice dancing to. Xiao Wen happened to be there and, finding it incredibly cool, recorded it on her phone.
Fang Juexia paused and sent a WeChat to Pei Tingsong.
[Pretty as ever: Finished? I’ll drive over to pick you up.]
Lu Yuan watched the video and loved it too. “It is pretty cool. Xiao Wen’s got a good eye for filming. Juexia, I posted it on Weibo.”
Fang Juexia had been waiting for a message and agreed before fully processing Lu Yuan’s comment. “Mm.”
[@Kaleido Lu Yuan: Daily life of the lead dancers [Cool][Cool]]
The video showed them performing an urban dance routine—one with exceptional control, the other flowing like water. Their completely different stage styles were equally eye-catching. Fans enthusiastically cheered for the two lead dancers, comments and shares skyrocketing.
[@Domino111: AAAAAH fjx’s hip thrust killed me! Take my life now!]
[@ThisIsMyAccountDeletionCard: I’ll praise Teacher Yuan’s control a million times! Jxgg is just too gorgeous—those long legs dancing with such cool sensuality]
[@domino111: AAAAA look what I just discovered! Grandpa, your favorite dance blogger posted!]
Lu Yuan browsed Weibo with keen interest. “They’re asking if you can perform it again at tomorrow’s signing event?”
Fang Juexia nodded. “Sure.”
Xiao Wen sat cross-legged on the floor, hugging her feet. “That’s great! The signing event is basically a fan appreciation party. I need to pick out a cute mask—otherwise it’ll be awkward if I get photographed tomorrow.”
After waiting and waiting, her phone finally buzzed once.
[Injured Guide Dog: Just wrapped up, totally wiped out… Saw your message after I’d already booked a ride. Just when you finally showed some awareness and thought to pick up your boyfriend, I missed my chance. Gotta make it up to you when I get back.]
Make it up… How exactly?
The phone buzzed again.
[Injured Guide Dog: Miss me?]
Seeing that question, Fang Juexia felt flustered even through the screen. He typed a line, then deleted it character by character. A new message had already popped up.
[Injured Guide Dog: Let me say it first—I miss you so much.]
Fang Juexia’s fingers froze.
He was completely outmatched.
“Juexia? What are you doing?”
Fang Juexia had just tapped a heart emoji, but Xiao Wen’s question made him accidentally send it. “Huh? Nothing. It’s getting late, I think I’ll head back to the dorm.”
“Go ahead,” Lu Yuan said. “Bei Zi just asked me to drag him out later.”
So Fang Juexia returned to the dorm alone, escorted by security. Before leaving the company, he’d ordered the pizza Pei Tingsong loved, and it arrived just as he got back. Pei Tingsong was writing something in his bedroom with headphones on, completely unaware of Fang Juexia’s return until he appeared behind him and tapped his shoulder.
Turning his head, Pei Tingsong, seated in his swivel chair, swung around and wrapped his arms around Fang Juexia’s waist. “You’re finally back.”
Fang Juexia wasn’t quite used to such intimate gestures yet, but he hesitated to push him away for fear of hitting his hand. He could only let him hold on. “Be careful of your wrist.”
Pei Tingsong clearly regarded his injury as a free pass. He rubbed his face against Fang Juexia’s stomach, biting the hem of his shirt. Lifting his eyes to meet Fang Juexia’s, it seemed like he was deliberately showing off.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Fang Juexia pushed his forehead away, but Pei Tingsong wouldn’t let go. He spread his legs, pulling Fang Juexia closer, trapping him between his thighs so he couldn’t escape.
He released his grip, raising an eyebrow at Fang Juexia. “Lower your head. I have something to tell you.”
Fang Juexia hesitated, then complied. Unexpectedly, Pei Tingsong leaned in and kissed him on the lips before leaning back, satisfied. “You’re too easy to fool.” Fang Juexia, unable to contain his anger, tried to leave, only to be grabbed by Pei Tingsong’s pitifully clutching arm. “Just kidding. I really do have something to tell you.”
Fang Juexia stopped and looked down at him, his expression clearly saying, “Go ahead, tell me what you have to say.”
Pei Tingsong gazed at him. “I’m so tired. I want to take a bath.”
“Go ahead. I ordered pizza. Eat, then go wash up.”
After he finished speaking, Pei Tingsong feigned weakness, carefully supporting his casted left hand with his right. Without a word, he looked at Fang Juexia pitifully.
Right.
Fang Juexia had been so preoccupied with sulking that he’d forgotten about Pei Tingsong’s injury. Forget bathing—even washing his hair would be difficult for him alone.
“Then what should we do? Should we skip bathing today?”
“No, I can’t stand it.” Pei Tingsong gave up on subtle hints and got straight to the point, “You help me wash.”
Fang Juexia suddenly recalled the image of Pei Tingsong taking a bath alone after getting drunk earlier. He felt a sudden wave of embarrassment wash over him. “Help? How exactly am I supposed to help…”
Even now, Fang Juexia wasn’t used to the word “boyfriend.” He recalled what he’d overheard in the office that morning: “You should’ve agreed to your sister’s offer—move into your apartment, have a 24-hour caregiver at your beck and call, do whatever you want with them.”
“I don’t want a caregiver. I just want you. You can at least wash my hair for me, right? I don’t need help with the bath. I’ll give you a little stool to sit on. It won’t tire you out at all.”
“Bro,” Pei Tingsong tugged his hand back and forth, “Juexia, have mercy on me.”
Author’s Note: As everyone knows, “brother” is meant to be bullied.
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