Chapter 78: A Family of Three
Rong Xingyi tried to process this, then tried again.
His brother’s love story was far more shocking than his brother’s cooking…
“Together?” Rong Xingyi, still clinging to a sliver of hope, asked, “What do you mean?”
Xi Leng rubbed his temples and said: “You’re still young, I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you, but I like men…”
“Or rather, I like him.”
Min Zhi’s eyebrows practically shot up to his hairline.
Rong Xingyi’s, however, furrowed, his gaze shifting to his trusted neighbor, his worshipped idol.
“I don’t like men.” Min Zhi’s tone was certain, “I just like him.”
Rong Xingyi: “…”
Good heavens.
And to make matters worse, these two, completely disregarding the 15-year-old’s feelings, forcefully dropped such explosive news on him, then demanded he keep it a secret!
He felt like he was being eaten alive by ants.
“What do you want for lunch?” Xi Leng tried to change the subject, asking both of them.
Unfortunately, no one cared about lunch, not even him.
“You confessing to someone is even more bizarre than you being gay…” Rong Xingyi muttered to himself, his little face crumpling, “Ge, aren’t you frigid?”
“I’m not frigid.” Xi Leng said calmly, but he put on a scarf in the heated room, completely unnecessarily.
Beneath the scarf was undeniable proof of his… not being frigid.
“…” Rong Xingyi could only struggle to process this on his own. After a while, he decided to ignore them, walking away awkwardly, “I’ll go pack my things…”
After a while, Rong Xingyi cautiously poked his head out, finding that the two outside had maintained a polite distance, arranging flowers together, bright red berries, quite festive for the New Year.
Don’t be ridiculous, his brother actually arranging flowers?
Confirming there was nothing he shouldn’t see, Rong Xingyi took a step out, calling out, “Min Zhi-gege…”
Both of them turned around, but Rong Xingyi only addressed Min Zhi: “Min Zhi-gege, can you come over for a moment? I suddenly have an idea about how to change the lyrics.”
Xi Leng looked at Min Zhi, puzzled.
Min Zhi smiled mysteriously, saying nothing, only agreeing, then left him and went to Rong Xingyi.
These two actually had secrets from him now?
Xi Leng frowned. Although extremely curious, he couldn’t bring himself to ask. He simply went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Rong Xingyi emerged from his room to witness an even more horrifying scene, his brother was cooking again.
Min Zhi, leaving the now distressed Rong Xingyi, went to the kitchen to help Xi Leng. In just half an hour, not enough time for Xi Leng to create a full table of culinary disasters, he had only made two bowls of noodles, plain broth with eggs and chopped green onions.
Rong Xingyi frowned, walking over considerately, “Only two bowls? Then you two eat, don’t worry about me.”
But Xi Leng said, “I didn’t expect you to be back, these longevity noodles are for you.”
Rong Xingyi’s birthday was at the end of the year. Xi Leng left home in autumn, missing his 11th birthday, and all the subsequent ones.
Although they hadn’t celebrated birthdays before, this was his first birthday after they reunited after so many years.
Unfortunately, Rong Xingyi was at the training camp in Nandao on his birthday. Xi Leng saw from the “Shining Boys” dorm diary spin-off show that Liang Zhun and his roommates bought him a birthday cake.
The 15-year-old Rong Xingyi received many birthday wishes, just not from his brother. Xi Leng didn’t know if he even needed his.
Anyway, he made the longevity noodles, whether Rong Xingyi ate them or not was up to him.
Longevity noodles? So, these were longevity noodles.
Rong Xingyi, looking at the two bowls of culinary disasters, still couldn’t quite believe it.
“Then why are there two bowls?” Min Zhi, playing along, asked, “Is one of them for me?”
This was ridiculous, even volunteering to eat the culinary disaster.
Rong Xingyi’s expression was a sight to behold.
Come to think of it, Min Zhi celebrated his 25th birthday on July 4th this year, shortly after their first encounter at the airport, but they were practically strangers then, not even having each other’s contact information.
“I made too much.” Xi Leng lowered his eyes slightly. “If you want to try… you can, just a taste, no need to finish it all.”
So biased, and he clearly knew his own cooking skills… Rong Xingyi thought silently.
But Rong Xingyi still obediently took a bowl of longevity noodles, sitting opposite Min Zhi, the two eating together.
Xi Leng naturally sat next to Min Zhi.
Min Zhi ate two mouthfuls of noodles, his expression unchanged, not even flinching, while Xi Leng, on the other hand, anxiously watched him.
After they almost finished eating, Min Zhi took out his phone, “I’ll order a cake, ask them to deliver it quickly.”
“!” Rong Xingyi looked up from the culinary disaster, his world instantly brightening.
Min Zhi, operating his phone, turned to Xi Leng and asked, “What flavor do you like?”
Rong Xingyi: “…?”
Xi Leng was stunned, tilting his head, “Me?”
“How about mint chocolate? I see it’s a new flavor.” Min Zhi asked again, “Seems a bit strange, but there might be a surprise?”
Xi Leng smiled: “Mm-hmm, you decide.”
Min Zhi: “Then it’s decided… delivery before seven o’clock tonight, not bad.”
The good thing about being open with Rong Xingyi was that they didn’t have to hide anything from him anymore, after overcoming the difficulty of telling the truth, Rong Xingyi was the only one left suffering.
Rong Xingyi: “…” Just end me now.
The next day was the second day of the Lunar New Year. Rong Xingyi received red packets from both his older brothers. Late at night, the three of them went to set off fireworks.
His long journey home wasn’t in vain after all, his wounded little heart healed by the large red packets.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, they took a flight to Nandao together, preparing for the “Shining Boys” finals.
Each trainee could bring two family members or friends to the finals. Rong Xingyi brought his mother, Ye Nan, and his best friend, the bespectacled student.
Xi Leng, with his boyfriend’s help, planned to watch the show backstage. This way, he wouldn’t have to appear in front of the national audience and could also spend time with Rong Xingyi during breaks, to ease his nervousness.
New Year’s Eve was the last rehearsal.
All the trainees first performed the theme song together, then their new songs in groups, followed by performances from eliminated trainees, and lastly, the finalists’ individual performances, either singing or dancing.
Xi Leng didn’t get to see the end, Min Zhi took him and left early, claiming they should save some surprises for the official performance tomorrow.
Xi Leng, thinking that he wasn’t part of the staff, watching the whole show in advance would be breaking the rules, so he naturally agreed.
Rong Xingyi’s individual performance was a song, a well-known ballad, not exciting or explosive, and also having been covered countless times, it wouldn’t give him any advantage, it might even expose his weaknesses.
Rong Xingyi was currently ranked eighth, just within the debut spots, and was Ren Xu’s biggest competitor. Ren Xu was now ninth, with the annoying Liang Zhun right behind him.
He had been under a lot of pressure recently, easily angered.
Even with his agency’s backing, he was still worried that these two independent trainees would cause trouble and jeopardize his secured debut spot.
Fortunately, their choices for their individual performances were quite ordinary.
During the final live broadcast, the number of votes wasn’t limited, and the final performance could be a game-changer. Of course, this also made it much easier for agencies to manipulate votes for their own trainees.
On the night of the finals, the family seats were arranged on one side of the stage. The family members of the 15 finalists, holding various support items, cheered for their children.
The viewers in the live stream were also very excited, marveling at the power of genetics. Especially a certain trainee who had been accused of plastic surgery since the beginning of the show, his mother and sister, who arrived to support him, were even more beautiful than him.
The screen was filled with comments praising their beauty.
The camera focused on Rong Xingyi’s family members in the back corner, Ye Nan, attending such a large-scale event for the first time, was nervous, her companion, the bespectacled student, equally so, holding a poster with a blank expression, like a robot forced to work.
The fans, seeing Rong Xingyi’s support team, watched even more intently, the mysterious gege they had been curious about, he finally had to appear today, right?
【Is that boy with glasses Yi Yi’s gege?】
【He looks like a senior from our school, a top student! Third year】
【Same grade as Yi Yi? His classmate?】
【Although the bespectacled didi is quite handsome, I think our ge should be breathtakingly beautiful [/Doge]】
The host considerately went to the family section to interview them, satisfying everyone’s curiosity. When it was the bespectacled friend’s turn, he gave a disappointing answer: “I’m Ye Xingyi’s classmate, his best friend…”
Rong Xingyi used his mother’s surname for the competition, his bespectacled friend remembered this, not revealing anything in the impromptu interview.
Liang Zhun, waiting backstage, immediately nudged Rong Xingyi, looking slightly indignant, “Aren’t I your best friend?”
Rong Xingyi: “…” You, so ordinary yet so confident.
The camera quickly captured their interaction, they were the most popular CP of this season. Rong Xingyi, lively, cheerful, and talkative, only this silly Liang Zhun could make him speechless, and roll his eyes.
“I’m about to die from nervousness! Don’t bother me.” Rong Xingyi pushed Liang Zhun away. “You’ll forget your lyrics later.”
The comments section was still discussing Rong Xingyi’s brother.
【Did Yi Yi’s gege come?】
【Aaaaah, so curious!!】
【Why is his gege so mysterious…】
【Is it because he’s too popular, afraid his life will be affected if he shows his face?】
Liang Zhun, equally curious, asked, “Right, where’s your ge? Why isn’t he here to watch the show?”
Rong Xingyi, however, said, “He’s here, he just cheered for you, wished you luck in debuting.”
“…Huh?” Liang Zhun was confused, thinking for a while, “Wait, did I miss something? You said I’ve met your brother before? Your brother… could he be…?”
Rong Xingyi quickly covered his mouth, “You should be memorizing your lyrics instead of gossiping!”
Regarding his relationship with Xi Leng, Rong Xingyi was secretive.
For two reasons.
His ge had become famous from “Unlimited Escape Room,” and was close to Min Zhi, one of the mentors of “Shining Boys,” if he revealed that he was Xi Leng’s younger brother early on, it would definitely lead to criticism, accusations of clout-chasing, entering the entertainment industry together to make money, it might even implicate Min Zhi.
He also wanted to see how far he could go with his own skills. Reaching the finals today had already far exceeded his expectations.
Besides that, he was waiting for the right moment.
He wanted to announce his brother’s name to the world when he was ready.
And at this moment, Xi Leng was in the backstage lounge.
The trainees were preparing to go on stage, the mentors were already seated, while he stayed in the lounge, watching the live broadcast on the big screen with Zhu Minglang.
Speaking of which, Min Zhi had even specifically asked his manager to stay with him, who knew what he was so worried about.
With Zhu Minglang there, the lounge wasn’t too quiet. For the third time, he said to Xi Leng, “Don’t be too nervous, there are only two outcomes, debut or not…”
Xi Leng couldn’t help but smile wryly, “I’m not nervous, you should sit down too.”
Zhu Minglang chuckled and sat down.
The performance on stage went smoothly.
Xi Leng had seen the rehearsal yesterday, and with the styling and costumes, the quality of the stage had improved significantly, the trainees now looking like future stars, shining brightly, the audience cheering and screaming below.
And his didi was among them.
In the sea of lights, Rong Xingyi’s name occupied a sizable area, orange-yellow signs, Yi Yi, Yi Bao, Ye Xingyi. And the phrase Min Zhi used earlier to describe him, now his fans’ cheer, “Shining brightly, a promising future.”
Xi Leng watched attentively, the corners of his lips unconsciously curving upwards.
“They’re about to leave the stage, coming back to change and prepare for their individual performances.” Zhu Minglang reminded him.
Xi Leng nodded, and as the trainees left the stage, the camera focused on the mentors. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, only Min Zhi, as usual, looked impatient and sullen.
Just as the mentors had a short break, the camera turned to the host on stage. He seized the opportunity to sneak away, Xi Leng couldn’t see him on the big screen, but he heard the boos from the audience, complaining about him running off again.
Min Zhi, despite his busy schedule, rushed backstage.
Seeing him, Xi Leng wasn’t surprised, a smile appearing in his eyes as he looked at him and said, “Your hair is messy.”
Min Zhi’s hair was carefully styled today, his short black hair slicked back, a few strands casually framing his face, softening his sharp features, accentuating his high nose bridge and thin lips, a hint of a playful smile on the corners.
“Is it?”
There was a mirror nearby, but he didn’t look at it, walking straight towards Xi Leng, seemingly wanting to see through Xi Leng’s eyes.
Xi Leng reached out and fixed his hair, fluffing up the slightly flattened back.
Xi Leng, focused on fixing his hair, his lips were suddenly captured.
A faint helplessness appeared in Xi Leng’s eyes, while Zhu Minglang not far away tactfully looked away, pretending to be invisible.
The break was short, and after a brief moment of intimacy, Min Zhi hurriedly pulled Xi Leng, saying, “Let’s go, go see Xiao Yi.”
The trainees’ lounge was large and lively, several cameramen filming from all angles, the live stream still ongoing.
The two maintained a polite distance before entering.
Min Zhi and his unexpected guest, Xi Leng, their arrival instantly set the already lively live stream on fire!
【Aaaaah it’s Leng Leng!!!】
【I was wondering why Leng Leng wasn’t watching the performance, he actually snuck backstage??】
【Hahahaha Leng Bao always does big things quietly】
【Is Leng Leng here as a family member of a mentor today? (Just asking, no offense)】
【Air Conditioner CP fans are so lucky aaaaah】
【Even coming together… they’re not even trying to hide it anymore?】
【Afraid the trainees will be hungry on stage, so feeding them dog food first (】
【Seriously, my CP radar is never wrong, shipped a real couple last time, this one must be real too】
Xi Leng was chatting with the finalists, wishing his didi good luck for his last performance.
“Just do your best, regardless of the outcome.”
Although he didn’t have high hopes for Rong Xingyi’s debut, Rong Xingyi didn’t know the future, and this was his hard-earned spot in the finals, it would be a pity if he couldn’t debut, Rong Xingyi hadn’t experienced many setbacks in this life; Xi Leng was worried he wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Rong Xingyi, however, scoffed, saying loudly: “You’re saying that because you think I won’t debut, right? It’s fine if I don’t, even making it to the finals is pure luck, let me tell you…”
Rong Xingyi leaned close to his ear, whispering that except for him and Liang Zhun, the other 15 finalists were all from big agencies, their chances of debuting very slim.
Xi Leng was surprised by his brother’s perceptiveness, but before he could say anything, Min Zhi rushed over and pulled them apart, whispering to Rong Xingyi, “We’re being filmed.”
Rong Xingyi: “…”
He didn’t say it out loud, but he was probably thinking: You two are the ones who should be avoiding suspicion!!!
Xi Leng smiled.
Their interaction, like a family of three, once again set the live stream ablaze.
【????? Something feels strange? Is Min-shen jealous of Yi Yi??】
【Leng Leng and Yi Yi seem so close… have they met before?】
【What’s the relationship between Leng Leng and Yi Yi? I think they look a bit alike, is it okay to say that?】
【Although their features are different, their proportions, expressions, aura… they do look similar】
【Sisters, I have a bold theory…！】
