Chapter 40
Ling Rong looked at the girls, shorter than her, carrying hefty cameras. She spoke words of care: "You are working so hard everyday waiting here, carrying these things. Plus you're all such cute girls. Please pay attention to your safety. Don't wait too late into the night. This is a suburb; it's safer to go home early with your companions."
Their beloved idol was just within reach, and he was being so tenderly concerned about them. Joy filled their minds, leaving them no room for anything else but screams.
The fans of Ling Rong called themselves 'Lian Rong,' a nickname that perfectly accented his name. (Note: 莲蓉 [Lián róng] = lotus seed paste)
"It's not hard at all! As long as we get to see you, Ling Rong. It's worth waiting a little longer!" They felt as if it was New Year's Day. Not only had they spotted their favorite idol, who rarely appeared publicly, they had contact at such a close distance and received concern directly from him!
A sharp-eyed girl noticed the medicine bag in Ling Rong's hand. Out of concern for her idol, the girl quickly asked, "Did you come out to buy medicine because you're sick, Ling Rong? You must take care of yourself. Don't work too hard!"
"Oh, this is for someone else. I'm fine; you don't have to worry." Ling Rong avoided mentioning Gu Ning Yan's name to prevent unnecessary trouble.
However, she couldn't linger too long. "I have to go now. You should go home, be careful on your way." After saying this, Ling Rong waved to the girls and finally started to walk away.
"Ah! Ling Rong, please take care of yourself! We will always support you!"
They got a smile and another wave from the handsome teenager in return. "I will. Thank you."
When Ling Rong's figure finally disappeared, the group of 'Lian Rong' fans couldn't help but scream, hugging their cameras.
"Oh my God! Ling Rong looks so much more stunning in person! He's 100 times more beautiful than he is on camera! Heavenly beauty! I'm astounded!"
"Wow, he was so considerate, warning us about our safety. This is so heartwarming. That moment when Ling Rong smiled at us, I will remember it forever! It's worth it! It's so worth it, admiring Ling Rong! I will be his fan for the rest of my life!"
Meanwhile, the other standing fans were green with envy, lamenting why they didn't have such good fortune. More importantly, Ling Rong was simply too beautiful!
They muttered, "This is the end Jing Xing/Yue Yue... I'm going to jump ship for a few seconds... But promise… promise to jump back later."
Upon returning to the dorm with the bag of medicine, Ling Rong felt relieved to see Gu Ningyan obediently resting on the bed as she had suggested before leaving.
"Ning Yan, are you awake? I got the medicine. Let's get you up and take it."
As Ling Rong spoke, she poured a cup of water and unwrapped the medicine, then brought both to Gu Ningyan’s bedside.
"Hmm... Thank you," muttered Gu Ningyan, waking up to see his beloved first thing was indeed a delight.
Accepting the water and medicine from Ling Rong's hands, Gu Ningyan felt that even missing a night's training was worth it due to being sick. These precious moments he shared with Ling Rong were stolen, and he wanted to silently enjoy them a little longer.
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After taking the medicine and sweating through the night, Gu Ningyan indeed felt much better the next day and was able to resume his regular training.
Time flew by, and the second performance had arrived. In the end, both Gu Ning Yan's and Ling Rong's groups successfully earned a chance to perform on stage, providing a satisfying conclusion to their hard work during that time.
Before the start of the third performance, the trainees from the talent agency received another task, or rather, a great opportunity for them. The renowned fashion magazine "Star-Struck Fashion" decided to feature these trainees on their cover and inside pages, which represented an excellent chance for exposure.
Of course, the magazine was not running a charity. They were willing to feature these trainees as cover models to attract more readers with their popularity. Thus, the magazine determined the choice of cover models.
Based on current online popularity, the magazine ultimately chose the four most popular trainees for the cover. These four were Gao Jingxing, Gu Ningyan, Hu Yue, and Ling Rong.
Upon seeing this exceptionally good-looking group of four, the photographer felt an endless stream of inspiration.
"Quick, my darlings, go change your clothes. I've prepared suitable outfits for you. Come out and show me," said the photographer, who had already thought of a theme upon seeing their photos. Due to the sheer number of talented trainees, this was the first time the photographer personally selected all the outfits.
Some time passed, and the four individuals emerged one by one, finished changing and applying makeup. Upon seeing each other's ensembles, the group shared a synchronized moment of surprise.
Hu Yue and Gu Ningyan's outfits were the most similar, as their styles were identical, aside from color. Both wore white shirts, black ties, and tailcoats on their upper bodies, with tight-fitting trousers below, wrapping their long legs snugly.
The two formed a striking black and white duo, with Gu Ningyan dressed in black and Hu Yue in white. Gold patterns adorned the lapels of their tailcoats, preventing the outfits from appearing monotonous.
If Gu Ningyan and Hu Yue's outfits resemble those of steward knights, then Gao Jingxing's attire leans more towards a noble style. His clothes consist of a medieval-style, gray-toned retro coat, accompanied by a shirt and gray waistcoat inside, emanating an aura of austerity.
Ling Rong's attire, on the other hand, stands out even more. The magnificent red and black noble suit he wears doesn't come across as tacky. Instead, it enhances the refinement of his youthful face significantly. Paired with a red bow tie, he looks like a young prince.
Each of them can't help being astounded by the others' appearances, not to mention the photographer who carefully selected this attire for them.
"Oh, you look simply stunning. Come here, darlings; I will explain the poses to you," the photographer said.
With that, the photographer walked over to the group and pointed to Hu Yue and Gu Ningyan. "You two stand behind our little prince here. Remember, you're his most loyal knights, offering everything to him."
Upon hearing the photographer's explanation, both looked at Ling Rong with twinkling eyes. Then, Hu Yue replied with a playful smile, and Gu Ningyan didn't object either.
"Now, my young prince, you stand in front of them. With your left hand, hold onto both of their ties, and with your right, make a gun gesture towards the front," the photographer instructed Ling Rong. Upon seeing Ling Rong's face up close, the photographer couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, darling, you indeed are God’s favorite."
"Thank you," Ling Rong responded with a smile. Following the instructions, he held onto the ties of the two behind him tightly. As a result, both men leaned forward, looking as if they were submitting to him.
"Now, it's your turn, darling."
The photographer positioned Gao Jingxing directly facing Ling Rong, whose hand gesture resembled that of a gun. From the front, it appeared as if Ling Rong and his knights were declaring war on another nobleman. Gao Jingxing's hand was holding scattered rose petals, and more petals were sprinkled around his feet as if they had fallen from his hand. The bright red roses seemed like droplets of blood, harmonizing perfectly with the man's reserved yet proud expression, producing a sense of mysterious beauty.
"OK, stay in this pose, don't move; we're going to start shooting now," the photographer said after setting up the scene. He quickly returned to his camera to capture this stunning shot, pressing the shutter continuously.
"After this shot, you can feel free to improvise," the photographer instructed from behind the camera.
Throughout several subsequent poses, the photographer's praise hardly ceased. Whether it was Ling Rong putting his hand on his lips and flaunting a challenging look, or the two men behind him embracing Ling Rong possessively, all elicited an admiration from the photographer.
"Trust me, darlings, this issue is going to sell out because of you guys."
The cover shoot lasted a little over an hour. The inner cover still needed to be shot, although this was no longer relevant to Ling Rong and his ensemble. They had several other interior shoots to do next, which would be individual portrait sessions.
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Inside the President's Office at Shengyue.
"Mr. President, the young master's agent wants to speak with you. Should I let him in?" the secretary inquired respectfully after knocking on the door.
In the entire company, apart from the president and Ling Rong's agent, only this secretary knew the rumor about Ling Rong — who allegedly entered the program through nepotism at their company. Ling Rong, the much-admired young master of the Ling family, was actually the president's younger brother.
Ling Yue, who was reviewing documents, immediately looked up when he heard that it was related to his beloved younger sister. "Let him in," he said.
"Understood."
After leading a man in his thirties into the room, the secretary retreated, leaving the agent alone with Ling Yue.
The agent assigned to his baby sister was naturally the best in Shengyue. At this point, Ling Rong hadn't received too much attention. If the public found out that her agent was a gold-standard professional who had guided many to become successful movie stars at Shengyue, they would indeed be stunned.
"Is there something up with Rong? Does she need investment or resources? Whatever she needs, you can give it to her directly. You don't need to go through me," Ling Yue said. He was incredibly protective of his younger sister. (Note: The pronouns she, he, and it sound the same in spoken Mandarin, which is why Ling Yue could get away with saying this without the agent suspecting. Anyway, just disregard the pronouns for Ling Rong in this novel. They're confusing as hell T_T)
Even though the agent was aware of his boss's protectiveness over his brother, he couldn't help but admire the recklessness that came with wealth. Moreover, for someone from a wealthy family, the kindness the older brother showed to his younger brother was excessive, without any sign of the expected cunning or trickery.
"No, Mr. Ling, the young master is doing well. It's just that the show's crew has contacted us. They want the parents of the young master to record a video as it's needed for the show," the agent replied.
In talent reality shows, recording videos of the contestants' parents for trainees to watch has become standard practice. These videos are often recorded and presented as behind-the-scenes extras during the show, providing more insight about the trainees to the audience.
Therefore, the show approached Shengyue about this. However, the crew probably couldn't even begin to guess who Ling Rong’s parents really were.
The crew may not know, but the agent knows who the young master's parents are. They are members of the Ling family, one of the most powerful families in the country. It seems unlikely that these influential figures would really record a video or even appear on TV.
So naturally, the agent had to consult with Ling Yue.
Ling Yue furrowed his brows. If he let his parents know about this, they might get excited and agree to it immediately out of sheer excitement for their beloved daughter. After all, he had witnessed their love for his sister from an early age. When she insisted on participating in a talent show, they hesitated for a long time before agreeing. After only a month, they were already constantly missing their daughter and longing for her return. If they knew of the opportunity to record a message for their daughter, they might very likely agree to it.
However, Ling Yue remembered his sister's prior instructions not to reveal her identity. Naturally, he would respect her wishes. So without the knowledge of the Ling couple, their son blocked the opportunity for them to express their longing for their daughter.
Having made up his mind, Ling Yue instructed the agent, "Don't tell them about this. Simply find an excuse to refuse, saying it's inconvenient. If the negotiation fails, tell them to come to me directly."
Negotiate with you directly? The agent silently commented, knowing that reality might intimidate them. However, he immediately replied, "Yes, I will communicate with them right away."
"Good. You go first. Also, whatever Rong requests, attend to her directly without wasting time going through me."
"Understood."
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Meanwhile, Gu Ningyan also learned about the show's request for parents to record videos. Once a happy family of three, only he and his mother were left. He couldn't help but clench his fists in silence, thinking of the past.
"Why are you clenching your fists so tightly? Don't you fear the pain?" During rest time, Ling Rong saw the silent man and immediately understood his thoughts. She calmly walked up to him to offer comfort.
Gu Ningyan looked up and saw the small silver lock hanging around Ling Rong's neck that he had given back to her after recovering from his illness. Thinking of her concern for him, his mood improved, and his clenched fists gradually relaxed. He forced a smile and said, "It's fine. I'm just a bit tired."
Before, when the PD told him to improve his facial expressions and smile more, Ling Rong had advised him to focus on happy thoughts and keep a cheerful disposition. Therefore, Gu Ningyan did not want Ling Rong to see his gloomy demeanor.
In front of her, he only wanted to show his best side.
"You," Ling Rong could tell what he was hiding in his heart but wouldn't say. She sighed and firmly tapped his forehead with her index finger before pressing down with mixed feelings, "If you're tired, why don't you stop and take a break? Don't push yourself too hard."
Gu Ningyan was too mature and independent, shouldering everything by himself, unwilling to trouble anyone.
"Aren't we friends after knowing each other for so long? You can rely on me if you need anything."
The pain from his finger tapping his forehead didn't bother Gu Ningyan. He only saw his worried eyes and tender promise, feeling his once empty heart filled to the brim with warmth and a bittersweet sensation.
His delicate white wrist was right in front of him, and Gu Ningyan stared at it for a long moment, momentarily forgetting his inner bitterness. A strong thought grew in his heart.
Grab it, hold it tightly, and it will be his, along with its owner.
However, reason was also influencing Gu Ningyan. He shouldn't hold it; after all, he was a man, and so was Ling Rong. Two men together wouldn't have a happy ending; Ling Rong might even hate and distance herself from him if he knew. Doing so would be sabotaging his own future.
"Ningyan?" A clear, ringing voice entered his ears. It was a sound he loved, especially when it was calling his name. Guided by the magical allure of Ling Rong's voice, Gu Ningyan felt his heart captured.
Forget about reasoning. If he could stay rational forever, he wouldn't be human but an emotionless machine.
Unusually indulgent, Gu Ningyan couldn't control his impulses and grabbed Ling Rong's wrist still lingering before his eyes. Although fast and forceful — as if afraid she would retract — once he held his wrists, Gu Ningyan became even more cautious, exerting a force as light as possible. He was terrified of hurting him.
His Ling Rong was a little prince who should be pampered. How could he not take care of him gently?
Now that he held him in his grasp, Gu Ningyan felt fulfilled. If possible, he would never have let go of this hand.
"What's wrong? Feeling uncomfortable? It's okay, just let it out." Ling Rong pretended not to notice his little idea, allowing him to hold her, while patting his back gently with her other hand to console him.
"Thank you." The gratitude was stifled in his throat. Gu Ningyan felt a mix of relief that Ling Rong hadn’t discovered his hidden desire, but also disappointment for the same reason.
"Are you bothered by the video recording of your parents? No worries, look at me. My parents couldn't participate at all. The production team is pulling their hair out."
The production crew was anxious about how to explain to netizens why only Ling Rong’s parents were absent among so many others. Of course, even if they were worried, they would never really go to ask Ling Yue to bring Ling Rong's parents to film.
"You... How come?" Gu Ningyan was surprised by Ling Rong’s words. He had thought that his family situation was like his father's.
How could such a wonderful person like Ling Rong bear the pain of losing his parents?
The man's sympathetic gaze nearly overflowed from his eyes. Realizing he had misunderstood, Ling Rong had no choice but to clarify, "It's not what you think. They're still around, just unable to participate for specific reasons. Even if I could debut later, they wouldn't be able to come to the venue."
If the Ling couple were to show up at the final round of a talent show, it would probably cause a media frenzy.
"Oh." Even with this explanation, Gu Ningyan wouldn't speculate that Ling Rong's parents live the life of the ultra-rich. He merely assumed he had his difficulties, with parents not able to show up in support.
With these thoughts, his heart ached for him more than it did for himself. Gu Ningyan gently squeezed his wrist as if to comfort, "It's okay. No matter what, you're the best."
Ling Rong could only offer an innocent smile without further explanation. She just hoped that when the man found out later, he wouldn't be too astonished.
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The task for the third performance was announced. The remaining 50 trainees had to find their roles.
In fact, from the beginning, each person had already made a positioning for themselves. Like Gao Jingxing, Hu Yue, and Ling Rong all opted for dance roles within their groups. Qi Haoran and Gu Ningyan were assigned vocals, while Zhang Tianqi took on rap.
The task this time was to choose from nine songs, each set of three favoring a different skill. For instance, those who favor dancing have three songs to choose from, with the same principle for vocals and rap. The 50 trainees can choose their favourite song according to their proficiency and automatically team up with other trainees who picked the same song. They would then perform this song on stage.
The order of song selection will proceed according to the rankings from the last round, and each song has a maximum capacity. Once it's full, the subsequent individuals will not be able to choose it and will have to consider other options.
After glancing at the nine song titles on the board, Ling Rong knew that Gu Ningyan wouldn't be in her group this time. She is a dancer, while Gu Ningyan is more of a vocalist. Even though Gu Ningyan is also adept at dancing, if his bass voice is not used for singing, it would be considered wasted.
Ling Rong would not forcibly demand that Gu Ningyan stays in her group. The choice matters to his future, so she respects all of his decisions.
Just like the last time, Gao Jingxing, who was ranked first, chose his song first. By the time Ling Rong, who was ranked fourth, made her selection, she unsurprisingly saw Gu Ningyan in a different position.
Looking at his choice, Ling Rong chuckled lightly, “I thought you'd pick this one. It suits you very well. Good luck.”
Gu Ningyan picked a song called "Reverse". Although the original version is largely sung by a female voice, there is no doubt that Gu Ningyan's bass will create a unique rendition.
Ling Rong, on the other hand, chose a more vibrant dance song. Gu Ningyan hugged him saying, "Best of luck to you as well."
If the performers rank first in both their teams and the main sub-categories in this stage performance, they will receive a substantial voting reward. Luckily this time, Gu Ningyan and Ling Rong are not in the same group or category, avoiding any potential competition.
With all 50 individuals finally picking their songs, they once again plunged into intense training.
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Since the pleasant meeting with the fans last time, Ling Rong would sometimes take a longer route and walk around the company gate if she had a bit of spare time. This was to satisfy the wishes of the fans without making them make a wasted trip in the increasingly hot weather.
This gesture made the fans adore Ling Rong even more as a role model. Out of the remaining fifty trainees in the company, which other fans were as fortunate as they were?
Well, apart from the fans of Gu Ningyan. They gradually noticed that every time Ling Rong appeared, Gu Ningyan was almost certainly with her. Riding on Ling Rong's coattails, Gu Ningyan's 'Yanhuo' fans also received quite a few benefits.
'Yanhuo' is the name Gu Ningyan's fans gave themselves. (Note: 焰火 [Yànhuǒ] = Fireworks)
The next set of fans that benefited were those of Hu Yue, who named themselves 'Yueliang'. (Note: 月亮 [Yuèliàng] = Moon)
Hu Yue loved to tag along with Ling Rong. Consequently, the fans of the three ended up being the biggest winners. The 'YueJiZheRong' and 'Rongyan' fandoms on Weibo were the happiest, basically celebrating every day.
What's more, 'Rongyan's' fans recently had another treat. In the latest episode, eagle-eyed fans noticed the small silver lock that Ling Rong had always worn around his neck appeared on Gu Ningyan's neck for a brief period before returning to Ling Rong's days later.
The program also mentioned Gu Ningyan's recent illness. When fans connected this to photos of Ling Rong carrying a medicine bag, the implications were clear.
'Rongyan' fans were getting almost sick of repeating the phrase: "Rongyan forever! I'll swallow the key!"
However, something unexpected happened today when Ling Rong, as usual, took Gu Ningyan to meet her fans.
"Be careful!"
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Author's note:
Finally, I've reached 300 collections. I'm pretty happy and I've added more to today's post, an amazing 10,000 words. Happy Labor Day! (Whispers: I'd be happier if my collections increased. I have three more days off for Labor Day and I can write more! Implicitly hinting.)
The song "Reverse" is originally sung by CORSAK and Ma Yinyin. It's not an original piece.
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