Fang Juexia finally realized he could never beat Pei Tingsong.
This guy was cunning and confident, fearless in everything—a pure natural talent.
“Impressive,” Fang Juexia pushed him away, snatched the towel, and flung it at his face. Turning his back, he muttered, “Should I just give you a diploma?”
Pei Tingsong dried his hair. “Right. “ he stepped out of the tub, wrapped himself in the towel, and embraced Fang Juexia from behind. ”Forget it. I’m applying for a combined master’s and PhD program.”
Pei Tingsong clutched his ice cream, walked to the dry area of the master bathroom, turned on the hair dryer to blow-dry his hair, and opened the bathroom door a crack. He glanced out before turning back to Fang Juexia. “He really is in the living room.”
Sure enough. Fang Juexia knew them too well.
“I know what to do.” Pei Tingsong leaned close to his ear and whispered a plan. Fang Juexia felt like he was dating a high schooler and hiding from the principal, but he had no choice but to go along with it.
Pei Tingsong turned off the hair dryer, cleared his throat, and pulled open the bathroom door to call out, “Brother Yuan.”
“Yeah?” Lu Yuan craned his neck, eyes still glued to the screen. “What is it?”
“Well… could you grab my bathrobe? I forgot it. I’ve been soaking forever—it’s freezing out here.” Pei Tingsong peeked out halfway. “It’s in my closet, far right, dark gray.”
“One minute! Just one minute, I’ll be right there,” Lu Yuan stood up, his head still hanging down, completely absorbed in the final battle until the game ended. “Got it.” He dashed down the bedroom hallway without even putting on his slippers.
Fang Juexia, hiding behind Pei Tingsong, seized the chance to slip out.
“Hey, wait!”
Seeing Lu Yuan turn back, Pei Tingsong swiftly blocked Fang Juexia. “What?”
Lu Yuan scratched his head. “What did you just say? Get what?”
Pei Tingsong felt both exasperated and amused. Gamers really were like deaf people. “The bathrobe. The dark gray one. It’s in my closet.”
“Oh, right, right, right! My brain!” Lu Yuan turned around. “Wait, don’t go out there. You’ll catch a chill.”
Hearing his footsteps fade, Fang Juexia hurried out of the bathroom and tiptoed like a thief toward the living room. Just as he reached the entryway, Lu Yuan’s voice startled him—his shoulders jerked, and he pressed himself against the wall.
“Why can’t I find it?”
Pei Tingsong broke out in a cold sweat. “Just grab any one.”
“Ah, found it!”
Hearing this, Fang Juexia sprinted to the front door, flung it open, and slipped out. Leaning against the doorframe, he exhaled a long breath of relief.
He’d finally escaped—more thrilling than any escape from prison.
Fang Juexia looked down at his slippers and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. How pathetic was he? He’d planned to calm himself outside, but then he saw the ascending symbol light up on the display screen of the entrance elevator not far away.
Was someone coming back?
Caught between two fires, Fang Juexia dared not linger. He quickly unlocked the front door with facial recognition and pushed his way inside, pretending nothing was amiss.
Thankfully, Lu Yuan wasn’t at the entrance. Seeing him in his slippers would have been awkward.
“Who’s back?”
Hearing Lu Yuan’s voice, Fang Juexia replied, “Me.” His heart skipped a beat as he walked toward the living room, just catching sight of Lu Yuan emerging from the bedroom holding a white bathrobe. “Juexia, didn’t you get home before me? Why are you just coming back now?”
Watching him take the robe to the master bathroom, Fang Juexia explained, “I… I went out again later.”
“Oh.” Mission accomplished, Lu Yuan looped back around. He’d already collapsed onto the sofa, but somehow managed to flip himself upright again. He stared at Fang Juexia. “Why are you all wet? Is it raining outside?”
Only then did Fang Juexia notice his shirt clinging to his body, his hair damp and plastered to his face. Not one for lies, his words stumbled out, “Ah, well, I just…”
“You’re soaked through after your run? Go take a shower.” Pei Tingsong emerged from the bathroom in a bathrobe, glanced at Fang Juexia, and tossed the rope in his hand to Lu Yuan. “Brother Yuan, help me tie this up.”
Seeing Pei Tingsong bail him out, Fang Juexia hurriedly climbed down the ladder. “Right, I need to take a shower. I’m drenched in sweat.” ” Fang Juexia stood alone in the bathroom, tossing Pei Tingsong’s changed clothes into the washing machine before stripping off his own damp shirt and throwing it in too.
For some reason, just seeing their clothes piled together made Fang Juexia’s mind wander wildly, his face flushing and heart racing.
So this was what falling in love felt like.
After his shower, Fang Juexia was dragged into a game by Ling Yi. Though he rarely played games, he was actually quite skilled at them, often carrying his teammates. After all, he had solid technique, rock-solid mental fortitude, and laser-focused concentration—the type who let his actions speak louder than words.
Ling Yi kicked his legs excitedly. “Juexia, we’re gonna get the chicken dinner again this round!”
Fang Juexia, headphones on, didn’t respond, nor did he let his guard down.
He Ziyan opened a can of soda and sat beside Ling Yi. “Again? How many rounds have you won?”
Ling Yi twisted his hips smugly. “Two rounds. Pretty awesome, huh?”
“Juexia’s seriously on fire. Last time he refused to stream for fans,” Lu Yuan remarked. “Why not stream and cheer them up? It’d be great.”
Fang Juexia was too focused on the game to catch much of their conversation, nor did he respond. He sensed footsteps approaching and was turning his camera to check when Pei Tingsong’s voice suddenly reached him.
“Really? That strong? Let me see.”
As he drew near, Fang Juexia caught the familiar scent of his own shampoo on Pei Tingsong. Pei Tingsong sat beside him, resting his chin on Fang Juexia’s shoulder.
Fang Juexia’s heart skipped a beat. In that split second of distraction, the last remaining enemy squad fired several shots at him. Seeing the green liquid splattering on the screen, Fang Juexia reacted instantly, ducking behind a tree. After pinpointing their location, he unleashed a fierce counterattack, quickly taking one down.
“Wow, you’re really good.”
His warm breath tickled Fang Juexia’s ear, sending a flutter through his heart. He instinctively shifted away. “Move closer. Don’t hurt your hand.”
All because of you, I nearly died.
The last enemy gave himself away, and Fang Juexia took him down immediately. He even let Ling Yi fire a few shots to claim the kill.
“Yay!” Ling Yi was overjoyed, tossing his phone aside to hug Juexia and plant several kisses on his forehead. “Juexia, you’re my hero!”
Suddenly kissed multiple times, Fang Juexia’s first reaction was to look at Pei Tingsong with a completely bewildered expression.
Pei Tingsong felt green light shooting straight out of his head, as green as a box lying on the grass after death. He pushed Ling Yi away with one hand. “Get off. What’s with all the kissing and hugging every single day?”
“What’s wrong? Not happy about it? Are you homophobic?”
A completely unfounded accusation landed squarely on his head, making Pei Tingsong’s eyes widen in shock. “Who’s homophobic? Who do you think is homophobic?”
The two elementary school kids were at each other’s throats. While Fang Juexia awkwardly tried to break up the fight, the others, long accustomed to this spectacle, had already split into teams and started a new game.
“Hey, Yuan, move over a bit.”
“Sānshuǐ, pass me that bag of chips.”
“This flavor? Or that one?”
Pei Tingsong pressed down on Ling Yi’s head, but his mouth kept chattering, “Let me tell you, homophobia means you’re in the closet!”
“You can say I’m in the closet, but you can’t call me homophobic.”
At this remark, the others paused their work and turned to stare at Pei Tingsong.
Fang Juexia desperately wished he could leave the group chat right then.
Early the next morning, they rushed back to MLH for another live performance recording. This time, their outfits were white Tang-style robes, evoking the look of martial artists from the Republican era. Pei Tingsong’s sling surprisingly complemented the look, and his injured performance only fueled the fans’ fervent cheers.
Originally, during the line [Sword light chills ten steps, slays one man], Pei Tingsong’s choreography called for him to grab Fang Juexia by the collar, pulling them suddenly close. But with his injury, Fang Juexia improvised this crucial moment, turning passive into active. He advanced with a folding fan, lightly sweeping its tip across Pei Tingsong’s arm before flicking his chin.
The new move sent the cheering fans into a frenzy of excitement. The tension between the two amplified on stage, a powerful collision of energy. Compared to other boy groups, chasing Kaleido offers an extra little thrill—you never know how many reinterpretations and improvisations this group will bring during their live performances. True to the original meaning behind Kaleido’s formation, this boy group truly lives up to its name, ever-changing like a kaleidoscope.
What Kaleido experienced in just one week became an internet sensation. Before that, the top spot on every major music show was almost always dominated by Seven Stars, a status that had become the norm for this “supergroup.” Yet a week later, six boys who had seemed utterly unworthy of challenging Seven Stars now stood among the award nominees, awaiting the host’s announcement under the spotlight.
Fang Juexia caught Liang Ruo out of the corner of his eye. Standing at the edge of the lineup, he kept glancing in his direction.
It was an indescribable feeling. Fang Juexia’s emotions were complex. He could finally compete openly on the same stage with friends he’d once trained and fought alongside, free from prejudice or the burden of past glory.
He had waited far too long for this day.
“The winner of this week’s Music Live House will be decided between Seven Stars and Kaleido! Now, let’s announce the scores for both groups!”
This was their first time as alternates. Ling Yi was too nervous to watch, but Lu Yuan studied the screen intently. “Wow, are our streaming numbers really that strong?”
The gap in album sales between the two groups was minimal, with Kaleido slightly ahead due to casual buyers. However, in streaming, they were dominating. The streaming performance of “Breakthrough” was already double that of Seven Stars’ new album. With just these two categories, Kaleido held a commanding lead.
“Finally, let’s look at the voting results!” Voting reflected the strength of die-hard fan bases. Seven Stars’ fan count had always been their strong suit—the reason they dominated music show awards. This category gave them a chance to overtake.
As the host finished speaking, two numbers appeared on the large screen—Seven Stars with 89,987 votes and kaleido with 87,092 votes.
“Congratulations to kaleido!”
While many anticipated kaleido might win, no one expected the rookie group to garner such a high vote count, nearly matching the established top-tier group Seven Stars.
Even Fang Juexia himself hadn’t anticipated that this comeback would truly gain them so many new fans.
Seeing all six members of Kaleido looking stunned, the host quickly handed the trophy and microphone to Jiang Miao. “Congratulations!”
This small trophy was insignificant compared to many major awards. Some singers and groups could win seven, eight, or even ten trophies during a promotional period. But for Kaleido, who had never secured first place before, this was incredibly rare. It signified a brand-new beginning.
Jiang Miao’s eyes stung slightly. For some reason, the past two years flooded back before his eyes. Yet he maintained the composure expected of a leader. “Thank you to every Domino who supported us. Thank you to Mr. Chen and our manager, Brother Qiang, for never giving up on us. Thank you to all the staff who poured their hearts into this album. Thank you.”
Standing in the corner backstage, Cheng Qiang felt a lump in his throat. It wasn’t so much that they hadn’t given up on these six kids—it was more that they had never given up on themselves.
After Jiang Miao finished, he passed the microphone to Fang Juexia, who rarely spoke. When Fang took the mic, he momentarily lost his words. After a pause, he began, “Thank you all. Everyone has worked so hard during this time.” He looked down at the sea of crying fans below, finding them both endearing and heartbreaking. “Please don’t cry.”
Fans below cried out, “Ling Yi is crying!”
Fang Juexia turned around and saw Ling Yi indeed sobbing uncontrollably, trying to hide behind He Ziyan before being pulled out again by Lu Yuan. “How embarrassing.”
The microphone shifted from Fang Juexia to Pei Tingsong. “I’m usually not the one to speak at official events.”
His opening line made everyone laugh. He continued, “Winning this award makes me incredibly happy. It’s the first time all six of us have received an award together, and it’s far more joyful than I ever imagined. Thank you all for letting us keep standing on this stage. We might not be everyone’s idea of the perfect idols, but we’ll keep striving to be the best versions of ourselves.“ He then feigned annoyance, ”Ling Yi, stop crying—you’re ruining my emotional speech!”
“Hahahaha!”
In the end, Ling Yi was caught by the others. Lu Yuan shoved the mic to his mouth for a public execution. He sobbed in gasps, hiccuping uncontrollably, his words slurred. “Thank… thank you all… hic.”
He Ziyan joked, “Sorry, Ling Yi ate too much breakfast.” The moment they let go, Ling Yi darted away from the mic and dove into Fang Juexia’s arms, where Jue Xia ruffled his hair.
At their first award ceremony, the group alternated between tears and laughter. Other singers and groups on stage came over to thank them, including Seven Stars. Liang Ruo approached Fang Juexia, extending a hand. “Congratulations.”
He looked much thinner than before, likely exhausted from the comeback.
Fang Juexia offered a friendly smile, briefly clasping his hand before releasing it. “Thank you.”
The instrumental for “Break the Formation” played again on stage. It was encore time, and only the six members of the group remained on stage. They sang casually while playing rock-paper-scissors. The losers did push-ups on the floor, while the injured Bae Heungsong crouched beside them, timing the push-ups and rapping along. The scene was hilariously chaotic.
After filming wrapped, the six members immediately changed outfits and rushed straight to the autograph session.
Autograph sessions were among the events fans cherished most. They could get up close to their idols, lining up one by one to shake hands, chat, and even engage in more interactions. Following the signing, an extended period of conversation and games unfolded—exclusive perks unavailable during regular events.
Star Chart ranked fans based on album sales, selecting the top 1,000 to enter a lottery. The lucky 500 winners would gain entry to this signing session.
Kaledo’s previous signings had always been sparsely attended. Even at their debut, fan turnout was low, and by their second mini-album release, signings were canceled altogether. Thus, fans had waited a full two years for this comeback signing.
With the sudden surge in fans, Star Chart feared potential incidents and moved the signing from a semi-outdoor venue to an indoor arena, deploying additional security personnel—especially around Pei Tingsong.
When the six members appeared in the arena, screams mingled with the rapid clicks of camera shutters. Everywhere one looked, fans stood holding DSLR cameras.
Jiang Miao glanced around at the crowd. “Let’s greet everyone first. One, two, three…”
“Hello everyone, we are Kaleido!” The six members bowed in unison, then straightened up and waved to the entire audience.
The outfits for the signing event were comfortable and casual. Pei Tingsong sported a distinctly American look. He wore a black headband, a loose white T-shirt layered under a blue jersey, paired with baggy basketball shorts and limited-edition AJ sneakers. Fang Juexia’s long hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. He wore a white shirt layered under a lead-gray knit sweater, with light blue ripped jeans below.
Following the official seating arrangement, the six members sat left to right at the long signing table. Xiao Wen, sporting an especially flashy laser-printed fabric mask, handed them a large stack of pens, distributing them like snacks to kindergarteners.
“Hey, Pei, you only have one hand—what do you need so many for?”
Ling Yi teased without mercy. “Hahahaha, yeah, what’s the point of grabbing so many with just one hand?”
Pei Tingsong leaned over Fang Juexia and tossed a small paper ball at Ling Yi. “Shut up.”
“Alright, are you two kids?” Fang Juexia pressed down on Pei Tingsong’s shoulder, looking almost like a teacher.
Songs from the album Breakthrough played in the venue. Cheng Qiang picked up the microphone. “Thank you all for coming to Kaleido’s autograph session. Please proceed to the stage in the order arranged by the staff.”
The first person to come up was surprisingly a male fan—red hair, wearing two strands of sparkling, flashy earrings. When he reached He Ziyan, he excitedly hopped up and down with his little feet together.
“Brother Ziyan, I’m your super die-hard fan!”
He Ziyan nearly spit out the drink he’d just taken a sip of. His eyes locked onto the oversized T-shirt the guy wore, emblazoned with a photoshopped “collaboration photo” of himself and the fan.
“Holy crap,” He Ziyan couldn’t help but whisper to Lu Yuan beside him, “I actually have a male fan!”
Lu Yuan was already laughing uncontrollably as he signed autographs for his fan. “You bet! And matching hair color too.”
“I dyed my hair just for Brother Ziyan!” the fan exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. “I really, really like you! Here’s a gift for you, Brother Ziyan! And a letter I wrote to you!”
“Wow, thank you. I’ll read it carefully.”
“Congrats on winning first place! Our little idol finally has one too!”
“You guys found out so fast?”
Coincidentally, while He Ziyan was surrounded by a crowd of girls passionately confessing their feelings, another rare male fan appeared among them. Meanwhile, one also approached Fang Juexia, heading straight for him.
Fang Juexia had been focused on signing autographs, having signed for several girls in a row. His voice had softened considerably. “Hello, what would you like…”
Before he could finish, a bouquet of roses was thrust in front of him. Fang Juexia looked up in surprise, seeing a tall, well-built guy. He was still processing the moment. “This is…?”
“For you. I’m a huge fan!”
Pei Tingsong witnessed the scene, the pen spinning in his hand clattering onto the table. The fan before him shyly pushed an album forward. “Little Pei, could you sign here for me?”
“Thank you…” Fang Juexia, rarely encountering male fans, felt a bit flustered. He reached out to take the bouquet and set it aside. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.” He kept a smile on his face. “Any special requests for the autograph?”
This male fan appeared to be a very earnest young man. “Yes, my name is Youwei—as in ‘accomplishing great things at a young age.’ I’d like Juexia to write, ‘Happy 20th Birthday to Youwei, Love You.’ And, um, if you could draw a heart for me too, that would be absolutely perfect.”
Love you???
Upon hearing this, Pei Tingsong’s pen slipped, leaving a diagonal line on the album cover. He looked up and shared an awkward glance with the female fan. “Sorry,” he explained, “I only have one hand, so it’s a bit shaky. No worries, I’ll draw you an arrow piercing the heart instead.”
True to his word, he redrew the line into an arrowhead with a large heart in the center.
Pei Tingsong turned the album toward the fan. “See how perfectly I drew this arrow through the heart?”
The adorable young fan immediately clapped enthusiastically. “Perfect! So beautiful!”
Fang Juexia, signing next to him, felt a bit odd afterward. “Shouldn’t you add your surname? Just writing ‘Youwei’ might seem a bit strange.”
“No need,” the male fan replied, his face beaming with happiness. “This way feels more intimate.”
Intimate…
Pei Tingsong handed the album to the fan with a kind smile. For some reason, the fan felt uneasy, the smile making her skin crawl. “Thanks, Xiao Pei. You gotta get better soon, okay? Get well fast.”
Pei Tingsong waved his uninjured hand at her. “Sure thing. I’m doing just fine…”
A male fan took the album from Fang Juexia, his smile impossible to hide. He clasped Fang Juexia’s hand and wouldn’t let go. Pei Tingsong leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat.
Ling Yi crouched down and glanced at Pei Tingsong.
“My throat feels awful. This weather’s too dry.” Pei Tingsong offered a half-hearted excuse, seizing the opportunity to grab the Wangzai milk carton from Fang Juexia’s side. With one hand, he laboriously peeled off the wrapper and struggled to insert the straw.
Only then did the male fan release his grip. “Thanks, Juexia! You’re so kind!”
Of course he is. Need I say more?
It won’t go in. Aim again.
“Juexia, I love you!”
Slap. The straw slipped out again. Pei Tingsong tossed it aside in frustration.
Seriously? Are all male fans this frivolous nowadays?!
Fang Juexia nodded repeatedly in thanks, watching the boy reluctantly move away from his seat to Pei Tingsong’s.
Forget it, forget it. Pei Tingsong straightened his posture, picking up his pen to prepare for signing. After all, he was an idol—how could he hold a grudge against a fan? Even if angry, he still had to sign properly for them. He was Mr. Gentle Gentleman Pei after all—staying true to himself was one thing, but he had to maintain his professional image for fans.
So, mentally prepared, Pei Tingsong lifted his face and flashed a fake smile of the highest order at the die-hard male fan who’d just come over from Fang Juexia’s spot. “Hello, what would you like signed?”
But the fan instantly turned cool. “Oh, no thanks. I only want Juexia’s signature.”
Author’s Note: 【The vote count is correct. Read the original text carefully—the award is based on the total score from three parts: music streaming, album sales, and fan votes. Kaleido and Qiyao had similar album sales and votes, but Kaleido’s music streaming was way higher.】
【The autograph skipping was just for fun, paused here for comedic effect. Signing resumes at the next chapter’s start—please don’t take this seriously, don’t take this seriously, don’t take this seriously! Keep it fictional, I beg you.】
Kaleido Signing Event, aka 【Major CPs’ Sweet Moments & Kaleido’s Comedy Show】
——————-
Below is the eavesdropping exchange between CP stan sisters lurking in the audience.
“Juexia is just so gorgeous, waaah, crying over Juexia’s beauty again today.”
“Aaah look, isn’t Xiao Pei looking annoyed? Check out that fake-nice smile!”
“Giving red roses at a signing event is totally unfair, Xiao Pei should learn from them!”
“Seriously, this jealousy is so sour, so sour.”
“Ah, that male fan actually skipped Xiao Pei! Hahaha, what a battlefield!”
“Rivals meeting face-to-face are extra red-eyed!”
“We’re so dramatic, hahaha, like we’re actually serious.”
“Right, hahaha, fake, fake, it’s all fake.”
