PHM chapter 2

Yan Xi froze for a second and instinctively asked, “Why is he here?”

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone in the room turned to look at him. Even Ji Zhou, the group’s least talkative member and a talented songwriter, looked up at him.

Lin Yi: “Brother, the way you said that makes it sound like you’re really familiar with Pei Yuxing.”

Yan Xi paused. “No, it’s just that Teacher Pei never participates in variety shows, so I was a little surprised.”

Pei Yuxing had achieved remarkable success in the entertainment industry, but he himself was extremely low-key and reserved. Even when promoting his works, he only participated in offline events held at cinemas. He had never appeared on trendy variety shows or livestreams, seemingly to avoid excessive exposure that might pull audiences out of his roles.

Even so, production teams from all sides continued to send him invitations. Once, Yan Xi had used the computer in Pei Yuxing’s study to look up some information and accidentally clicked on his work email. Seeing row after row of “unread” variety show invitations, he had secretly marveled at the sight. Among them were opportunities that even many A-list celebrities were fighting to get, including a music variety show that their team could only dream of appearing on.

Pei Yuxing had debuted in his teens. He hadn’t started out as an actor; instead, he had formed a band with several friends. Although it had originally been just a hobby, they had actually achieved quite a bit. Yan Xi had seen the trophies and certificates in the study—achievements that the media would still boast about today.

Back then, the man had placed a glass of plain water beside him. His gaze followed the computer screen, and when he saw the email Yan Xi had opened, he said calmly, “Want to go? I can contact them for you.”

Of course he wanted to, but that music variety show had a very high bar. Everyone who appeared on it was a big name with both hit works and popularity backing them. Right now, NEVER couldn’t even get their foot in the door.

Although the production team would certainly show Pei Yuxing some respect if he asked, Yan Xi didn’t want his teammates to be questioned by the audience.

Pei Yuxing was very supportive of his career. After they registered their marriage, he had asked whether Yan Xi wanted to make their marriage public. After careful consideration, Yan Xi chose to refuse.

Making their marriage public would undoubtedly be a shortcut for him. The three words “Pei Yuxing’s partner” alone would be enough to make many shows send him invitations, but Yan Xi didn’t want Pei Yuxing to receive criticism because of him.

Besides, the confidence that came from building your own success was always stronger than what others could give you.

NEVER was a talented team. Sooner or later, they would create music that listeners could believe in and love. Yan Xi had absolute confidence in his team.

Brother Feng helped them carry their bags and said, “No matter how amazing Entertainment, Life is, they couldn’t possibly get someone like him to appear on the show. Pei Yuxing is here to visit the set.”

“Visit the set?”

Lin Yi sounded sour. “VIC is so lucky. Yu Mei and Cen Lang never got this kind of treatment when they joined a production.”

Yu Mei and Cen Lang were this year’s newly crowned Best Actress and Best Actor.

“Who could’ve expected this?” Brother Feng muttered. “Looks like Stairway is going all out to promote them… Yan Xi, come on. What are you standing there for?”

Yan Xi came back to himself. “Coming.”

This morning, when they had left the house, the man had reminded him that they would see each other later.

At the time, Yan Xi hadn’t paid much attention to those words. They didn’t have many scenes in Entertainment, Life. They only needed to act as useful background characters at the appropriate times, and there was even a chance they wouldn’t have any filming that evening.

If they finished work early, they would naturally be able to see each other that night.

This was the first major variety show Yan Xi had participated in. Even though he was only a background character, he was still very happy about it. Before going to sleep, he had rambled on and on to the man about his excitement.

Pei Yuxing had sat on the edge of the bed and listened attentively, occasionally responding while also reminding him, “You can know someone’s face but not their heart. Don’t get too close to people you don’t know well.”

He was clearly very worried that Yan Xi would be bullied.

Yan Xi smiled gently. “If anyone bullies me, I’ll fight back. Anyway, I’m not famous. There’s nothing for me to lose face over.”

Pei Yuxing gave a gentle “Mm.”

At the time, Yan Xi had only said it casually to reassure the man and keep him from worrying.

He hadn’t expected Pei Yuxing to follow him all the way to the filming location.

When they returned to the rest area, the previously quiet set had already become lively. Almost all the guests had arrived, a sea of black umbrellas filling the area.

The young idol who had taken over their lounge earlier was there as well. Although he was very popular, he wasn’t considered particularly special on this show. Moreover, his seniority was still shallow, so he could only stand toward the back. Several times, he had tried to squeeze forward, only to be subtly blocked by others.

Yan Xi finally remembered his name, Su Zhi. He had debuted as the center of a certain survival show two years ago.

The reason he remembered was because seeing Pei Yuxing reminded him that Su Zhi and his groupmates had performed one of Pei Yuxing’s songs during the finals, and their polished performance had landed them on several trending searches.

Blocked from moving forward, Su Zhi seemed somewhat furious. Yan Xi saw his lips move and thought he was calling, “Teacher Pei.”

The man was standing outside, and only his tall, straight back could be seen. A simple T-shirt and athletic shorts looked like a runway model’s outfit on him, making him especially conspicuous in the crowd. Even when people greeted him, he merely nodded politely in response, without any further interaction.

The chief director stood in front of Pei Yuxing, his face crinkled with wrinkles as he eagerly chatted with him.

VIC stood beside him like students whose parents had come to visit. Although they were doing their best to contain themselves, the excitement on their faces was impossible to hide, and their bodies were slightly stiff from nervousness.

Suddenly, Pei Yuxing seemed to notice something and turned his head.

He wore a black baseball cap and sunglasses that hid his eyes, but Yan Xi knew he was looking at him.

He couldn’t help feeling a little delighted. He pressed his lips together, suppressing the corners of his mouth that were about to lift.

As they drew closer, he could hear the conversation between the director and Pei Yuxing. Every word revealed the director’s hope that Pei Yuxing would make a short guest appearance.

“Pei Yuxing’s variety show debut” was a gimmick capable of exploding onto the hot searches.

The man said nothing, a calm and polite smile remaining on his lips.

The chief director was only trying his luck. Someone who couldn’t even be invited through an official offer couldn’t possibly agree just because of a few words from him.

Seeing that Pei Yuxing had been looking to the side, the chief director followed his gaze and smoothly changed the subject. “This is a guest who was added to our program at the last minute.”

He didn’t even bother mentioning the group’s name, clearly not taking them to heart.

The man was still looking in this direction and didn’t respond to the director.

Half a minute passed. The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward, and the expression on the chief director’s face was almost impossible to maintain.

“NEVER. Our group is called NEVER.” Yan Xi stepped forward half a step and looked seriously at the man. “It’s our first time meeting. Please take good care of us, Teacher Pei.”

The smile at the corners of Pei Yuxing’s lips seemed to deepen slightly, his meaning unclear. “It is indeed our first time meeting.”

After saying this, he took off his sunglasses, revealing his deep-set eyes, and looked at the chief director. “Sorry for the intrusion. I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”

The chief director was flattered. “Not at all…”

Pei Yuxing continued, “As for your suggestion just now, I think we can give it a try.”

He was talking about making a guest appearance.

The rest of the chief director’s words caught in his throat. His mouth fell open dramatically, clearly stunned.

Because of Pei Yuxing’s sudden addition, the production team hurriedly held a meeting.

Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity naturally had to be seized properly. However, Pei Yuxing had never participated in a variety show before, so they didn’t know where his boundaries lay. The production team cautiously asked for his opinion, and the man still wore his gentle expression.

“Just follow your usual process. There’s no need to give me too much screen time. The future of the entertainment industry belongs to the younger generation.”

Several of the guests present silently breathed a sigh of relief.

They were all somewhat famous, though none of them were particularly high-profile celebrities. There was only so much airtime in a variety show. With Pei Yuxing joining, the amount of screen time for everyone else would definitely decrease, and those affected first would be people like them, who seemed important but weren’t really that important.

The chief director immediately understood and quietly added several interactions involving VIC to one of the segments.

The meeting would take a while, so Pei Yuxing simply sat in the production team’s lounge. He didn’t step into the other artists’ territory, carefully avoiding any possible scandals.

The production team’s lounge was a temporary shed. It wasn’t as comfortable as the artists’ lounges, but several portable air conditioners were running at full strength, making it far better than the scorching sun outside.

Yan Xi saw the man quietly look around twice, and the smile on his lips faded.

He was unhappy.

Yan Xi knew that Pei Yuxing had already noticed how the production team had deliberately made things difficult for them.

Most of the guests hadn’t left yet. Two more senior guests were casually chatting with Pei Yuxing, while the other artists listened quietly.

Yan Xi was the farthest away. His gaze unconsciously fell on the ring finger of the man’s left hand.

The wedding ring had been removed and replaced with a black ring that was obviously just jewelry.

He saw Pei Yuxing instinctively touch it before seemingly remembering something and withdrawing his hand.

Actually, even now, thinking about his marriage to Pei Yuxing still felt unbelievable. They had known each other for less than three months before registering their marriage. When he had held the red marriage certificate in his hands, he had still been in a state of extreme confusion.

It wasn’t that he regretted anything. It was just that he had always been very clear about his plans for his life. From his very first dance class, his goal had been to attend the best dance academy in the country. Later, when he wanted to debut, he even had a plan for what kind of group he wanted to form.

A whirlwind marriage brought on by a moment of emotional impulse was completely at odds with his personality.

The first time he met Pei Yuxing in person was in his grandfather’s study.

He had received a call from his grandmother saying that his grandfather had accidentally fallen at home.

There had been no one else at the Yan family home at the time. His grandmother had taken her students to an out-of-town competition, while Yan Xi’s parents were researchers who spent all year immersed in the laboratory and were difficult to reach. Terrified, he immediately booked a flight home after his mall performance three thousand kilometers away.

Yan Xi had been raised by his grandparents, and they were exceptionally close. He had been deeply worried on the way home. Fortunately, after landing, he received a call from his grandmother saying that one of his grandfather’s former students had happened to be passing through Jincheng, stopped by to visit, and taken him to the hospital.

By the time Yan Xi arrived home, the two of them had already returned from the hospital. His grandfather was perfectly fine, and the doctor hadn’t even prescribed any medicine.

The reason for the fall was that the old man had insisted on climbing a ladder to clean. His foot had slipped, but fortunately, he had been very close to the ground, and there was a thick, soft carpet underneath, so nothing serious had happened.

Yan Xi was both shocked and angry. His usually gentle face was uncharacteristically dark as he pushed open the door, ready to give the old man a good talking-to.

Instead, he came face-to-face with a gentle yet strikingly handsome man.

The man wore a gray casual suit. His jawline was exceptionally well-defined, and his nose was impossibly high and straight. Hearing the noise at the door, his deep-set eyes turned toward him.

Although he was sitting, he still had an overwhelming presence.

It was his grandfather’s student.

All the words Yan Xi had prepared were swallowed back down. He stood there blankly, looking disheveled after rushing home, his hair a mess and his clothes wrinkled.

Looking back now, he was certain he must have looked incredibly silly at the time.

Old Mr. Yan Peili looked delighted to see his beloved grandson return, his usually stern face blooming into a smile, but his tone was another matter entirely. “What kind of behavior is that, rushing around in such a panic? Where did all the etiquette I taught you go?”

He then introduced him to his former student. “This is my grandson, Yan Xi. I’m afraid he’s made you laugh.”

The smile at the corners of the man’s lips deepened. “Not at all. Young people should look like young people. In fact, I’m rather envious.”

Yan Xi’s face reddened slightly. His grandparents were strict with him, and he rarely behaved so improperly in front of guests.

“Hello, my name is Yan Xi. Thank you very much for taking my grandfather to the hospital.” He took the initiative to greet him.

The man across from him remained gentle and gentlemanly, smiling as he said it was only what he should have done.

Yan Xi thanked him twice more, but in the end, he couldn’t help asking, “Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Pei Yuxing?”

Then he heard a short laugh, low and gentle, like a little hammer tapping against his heart again and again.

“I’m being rude. I haven’t introduced myself.” The man stood up, and Yan Xi discovered that he was actually a full head taller than him. He had to tilt his head up to meet the man’s eyes.

“My surname is Pei. Pei Yuxing. I was Teacher Yan’s student.”

Yan Xi’s eyes widened. He stood there like a wooden post, completely forgetting that his out-of-control expression might earn him a scolding from his grandfather.

After a long while, he finally found his words. “H-Hello, I… I’ve seen many of your movies… Of course, your television dramas are great too. I watched some of them with my grandmother…”

He had absolutely no idea what he was saying anymore.

His grandfather was a professor at the School of Culture of Tianjin University, and his students were scattered across the world. Many of them had gone on to become highly accomplished figures.

Yan Xi had never known that Pei Yuxing was also one of his grandfather’s students.

How should he put it? His grandfather had casually mentioned once that he had a student who worked in the entertainment industry, but it had only been idle conversation after a meal. Yan Xi had listened out of curiosity, but he had never once thought that person could be Pei Yuxing.

Faced with his incoherent rambling, Pei Yuxing was very tolerant. He didn’t interrupt and even patiently listened until Yan Xi had finished.

Old Mr. Yan Peili glanced at his grandson and took the conversation back, chatting with his student about a few recent trivial matters.

Yan Xi couldn’t help glancing at the man again. Pei Yuxing still looked gentle and polite, nothing like the distant indifference shown in entertainment news or on television.

Sensing his gaze, Pei Yuxing even turned his head slightly. While listening to his grandfather, he smiled at Yan Xi.

Yan Xi’s ears turned red too. He was utterly hopeless.

Fortunately, he wasn’t his fan, so he could barely keep his expression under control.

Old Mr. Yan Peili said, “I mentioned some time ago that I wanted to introduce the two of you. I should have waited for your teacher’s wife to return so we could properly host a banquet, but I didn’t expect things to work out today.”

Pei Yuxing said, “It doesn’t matter when we meet. I caused you quite a bit of trouble back then, and I should have come to visit you sooner.”

The two of them still had things to discuss, so Yan Peili sent his grandson away. “Go get yourself cleaned up first and put your luggage away.”

Back in his room, Yan Xi finally noticed that his palms were sweaty. Apparently, even if you weren’t a fan, meeting someone this famous could still make you uncontrollably nervous.

He then remembered why he had wanted to join a boy group in the first place. In high school, his deskmate had been a very cute girl who was a huge fan of Pei Yuxing. She had watched all of Pei Yuxing’s film and television works and then gone digging through the man’s old activities with his boy band.

During a break between classes, the girl played a concert on her phone. The image quality from back then wasn’t very clear, giving the footage a strong sense of its era. In the video, a four-member band was performing passionately.

Pei Yuxing had been extremely young back then, only seventeen when he debuted. He was youthful and immature, with pride and unruliness still lingering in his features. Holding a microphone, even the simplest gesture sent the audience into screams. The atmosphere was heated, and the man laughed recklessly as sweat ran down his jaw and dampened his exquisite collarbones.

He seemed completely unaware of it, the light in his eyes brighter than the stage lights.

He looked completely different from the man he was now.

Looking at the lyrics at the bottom of the screen, Yan Xi couldn’t help singing along. He had never deliberately learned the song, but those songs had been so popular when he was young that they had already been deeply engraved in his mind.

His deskmate looked at him in surprise, then generously handed him one of her earphones. The two of them watched a short segment together.

Later, after returning home, Yan Xi couldn’t get that scene out of his mind. It was the first time he had secretly stayed up late, finishing the entire concert.

A seed had been planted in his heart, and he suddenly wanted to form a band.

Later, he met Brother Feng, and NEVER was born.

Unfortunately, the group’s development had not gone smoothly. The moment when Yan Xi could laugh freely on stage had yet to arrive.

Yan Xi took a quick shower and changed into clean clothes. When he returned to the study, his grandfather and Pei Yuxing had already finished talking. The man stood up, seemingly ready to leave.

His grandfather said, “Yuxing rarely comes by. Take him out for a simple meal.”

Yan Xi asked, “What about you?”

“I’m not going. I’m going to take a nap. Besides, I have nothing much to talk about with you young people.”

Yan Xi vaguely found it strange. In this kind of situation, his grandfather should have been the one to entertain the guest personally. Asking him to go instead seemed somewhat improper. It wasn’t like his grandfather to do something like that.

Pei Yuxing looked at him and gave a slight nod. “Sorry to trouble you.”

Yan Xi no longer had time to think too deeply about it.

Thinking back to that meal, Yan Xi couldn’t help smiling.

The two of them went to a restaurant his family often visited. There were private rooms on the second floor with very good privacy.

Pei Yuxing wasn’t aloof in private. He was extremely knowledgeable and could pick up any topic that came up. Yan Xi rarely talked much while eating, yet without realizing it, he ended up saying quite a lot, until his mouth even became a little dry.

Pei Yuxing casually refilled his water without drawing attention to it, his fingers long and slender, his movements elegant.

“Actually, back in middle school, I even bought a DVD of The Silent One, which you starred in. I really loved that movie.”

It was a film about family affection. Pei Yuxing played a person born deaf and mute, following his life from birth to old age. His life was full of hardships and twists, but fortunately, he eventually received a warm ending. It was an extremely inspirational story.

That year, Pei Yuxing won the Golden Bear Award for Best Actor for that film, becoming the youngest Best Actor in the country.

Pei Yuxing was somewhat surprised and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t even have a copy of that DVD. If I have the time, I’d like to watch it again.”

Yan Xi felt a little embarrassed. “But I accidentally lost the DVD.”

Pei Yuxing laughed, a genuinely delighted smile appearing on his face. “That really is a pity.”

There was no mockery in his expression. To him, it seemed like something rather amusing.

Yan Xi relaxed his shoulders, becoming a little bolder.

The two could barely be considered colleagues, so it was inevitable that their conversation touched on the entertainment industry.

Although Yan Xi was already an entertainer, he had few work activities and hadn’t met many people in the industry. Most of the time, Pei Yuxing did the talking while he listened.

Pei Yuxing was very good at telling stories. He didn’t talk about gossip or scandals, but rather amusing things had happened while filming, embarrassing incidents involving directors, and which actors had good tempers and were easy to work with. He talked about a little of everything.

He also mentioned that when he used to make music, there was a certain musician who loved taking on newcomers, although his temper was a little strange. Very few newcomers could endure it.

Pei Yuxing generously offered his contact information. “Your team can give it a try. If you need anything, I’m willing to help as well.”

Yan Xi couldn’t believe it. “How could I trouble you with that?”

“You’re my teacher’s family. Teacher taught me so much. This little favor is nothing.”

It was a very pleasant meal. Afterward, Pei Yuxing tried to pay the bill, but Yan Xi quickly stopped him and insisted on playing the host.

He was a very gentle person by nature, but his temper was extremely stubborn. Once he agreed to do something, he had to see it through no matter what. His grandmother always teased him that this particular trait was exactly like his grandfather.

Pei Yuxing put away his black card. After Yan Xi received the receipt, he offered to drive him home, but Yan Xi politely refused. “I can walk there. It wouldn’t be good if you were photographed.”

“There’s no need to call me ‘you.’ If you don’t mind, you can call me by my name.”¹

Yan Xi opened his mouth, a little embarrassed to actually say it. In the end, he merely worked up the courage to say, “Thank you.”

Pei Yuxing smiled and didn’t mind. “I was worried you’d feel awkward, so there’s something Teacher didn’t tell you.”

Yan Xi: “Hmm?”

The man looked at him, his tone gentle. “Teacher hopes that the two of us can get to know each other in another way.”

Yan Xi: “Another way?”

Pei Yuxing said, “He hopes we can get to know each other better.”

He paused.

“As partners.”

Yan Xi stared blankly at him, unable to react.

Pei Yuxing continued, “Can I look forward to seeing you again?”

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