Chapter 24: Caught Kissing Part 1

Solaron-X’s official Weibo formally announced that the new format of the group show would be live streaming. Each stream would last eight hours, each member had a fixed camera position and a personal live room, and the main selling point was “revealing” and “real.”

—Revealing the true private lives of idols.

There was a popularity ranking among the group’s live rooms. Viewer counts and the number of fan light boards added would both affect their rankings.

As soon as the format was announced, controversies immediately erupted.

[This is actually the format of Solaron-X’s group show? Morning Star, have you lost your mind?]

[Morning Star isn’t crazy. I found out that when Morning Star went public overseas recently, they also bought shares in the short-video platform Solaron-X will be streaming on. They’re planning to milk fans for money, right?]

[Calling it milking is a stretch. At most they’re using the platform for mutual promotion. A fan light board only costs ten cents.]

[This dynamically changing popularity ranking is hilarious. Is Solaron-X trying to completely kill off group fans?]

[Group fans of Solaron-X actually still exist?]

[What do you mean? Group fans may be small in number, but that doesn’t mean there are none. All four are good kids.]

[Eight straight hours of streaming, with every move in front of the camera and subject to judgment from passersby and anti-fans. I feel like Morning Star also wants to kill Solaron-X.]

[Exactly. Solaron-X has anti-fans by the handful right now. Say one wrong sentence in the stream and they’ll criticize you for a lifetime. Morning Star is roasting Solaron-X over a fire.]

[But that’s Solaron-X’s job. They’re idols; of course they have to face the audience’s scrutiny.]

[Whoever came up with this plan really needs to consult a master.]

[After the livestream, it’ll be edited into show episodes and released on the platform. I bet it’ll still require a membership like their previous group shows. Morning Star Entertainment really knows how to play the money game.]

[Doesn’t anyone think live streaming is actually a blessing for fans? Solaron-X will record eight hours. How is that different from spending a whole day with them?]

[It’s pretty normal to be against it, right? I didn’t get into fandom to watch “revealing the private lives of a boy group.” What is this concept even trying to do? Did some gross guy think it up with his feet?]

[Actually, you’re overthinking it. It’s just a gimmick. How would Morning Star actually show Solaron-X’s real lives?]

[Anyway, I support Morning Star Entertainment making Solaron-X pander to solo fans. Only solo fans are willing to throw money at you for nothing, you know?]

[Those who disagree probably have lame faves. Whoever ranks last in this stream is probably going to be nailed to the pillar of shame and mocked.]

[Support. Eight straight hours of streaming—even an ox would die of exhaustion. But the more exhausted they are, the more real it is. I really want to see how my precious married couple gets along.]

[For everyone’s information, all four Solaron-X members are male. Where’s your “married couple” coming from?]

[Only anticipating Solaron-X’s one and only overwhelming TOP here. Don’t know the others, don’t cling, don’t leech.]

[Whatever, 4299]

[Whatever, 4199]

[Whatever, I’ll take a bite of 12—rivals to lovers.]

[? The person above is crazy.]

[Aren’t you afraid shipping this will make Duan Qiong die of anger? He really looks like he can’t stand Xi Xingheng.]

[You think Xi Xingheng likes Duan Qiong either, bro?]

[Are you sick? You manage everything under heaven and even manage what others ship? I’ll go ahead and say the reason those two can’t stand each other is because they’re exes. Hey, that could be a “reunited after broken mirror” ship.]

[Lunatic.]

…

The Solaron-X group show hadn’t even started, yet it was already stirring up heated discussion online. But no matter how loud the voices, no matter how much opposition or support, Morning Star Entertainment still let Solaron-X begin recording the group show as normal.

“Good morning, dear viewers. It is now 5:09 in the morning. The spot I’m standing at is the entrance to Solaron-X’s dorm.” The host Morning Star had specially brought in raised his phone and smiled at the camera: “Although the official stream starts at eight, for now, let’s be the ones to wake them up. Let’s go see if they’re out of bed…”

[Solaron-X makes big moves in secret. Night owls are blessed.]

[The 6 AM workhorses are blessed too. Just woke up and saw the special-follow notification.]

[The stream’s starting already?]

[Didn’t they say it was eight o’clock before?]

Perhaps because it was still early, the number of people in the live room wasn’t large.

“Solaron-X’s stream starts at eight.” The host opened the dorm door with a smile: “What’s happening now is just a little pre-stream Easter egg. To ensure the members’ reactions are genuine, we won’t tell them that the stream is live.”

For the livestream, quite a few hidden cameras had been set up in the Solaron-X dorm, but none of them were on yet.

“Hey? Solaron-X’s dorm looks very clean.” As the host spoke, the camera panned around with him. “Then let’s go check the master bedroom first.”

The host knocked twice gently. After two seconds, the door slowly opened a crack.

It was Yu Huaili who opened it.

The room’s lights were off. Yu Huaili’s hair was sticking up a bit, his eyes squinting with drowsiness, his expression looking somewhat dazed.

“…Teacher Ding?” Seeing the man at the door, most of Yu Huaili’s sleepiness instantly cleared. He tilted his head in confusion: “Good morning, Teacher Ding. Has the stream started already?”

“Good morning, Little Li.” Ding Bing had an extremely kind face. Chuckling, he told a small lie: “No stream. We’re just recording some material for the group show… Can we go in and film a bit?”

Yu Huaili switched on the dim warm light in the room and opened the door fully: “Sure. But Brother Duan Qiong isn’t—” He paused. “—hm, Brother Duan Qiong is awake too.”

Although Duan Qiong would occasionally lie down on Yu Huaili’s bed and hug him while he slept, he’d been quite well-behaved these past few days.

Tonight, Duan Qiong had slept properly in his own bed.

Nothing unspeakable had been caught on camera.

Duan Qiong shuffled out of bed in his slippers. Seeing Ding Bing and the camera operator behind him, he froze for a moment: “Is it live already?”

Ding Bing’s expression was all smiles, still using the same line: “No, no. Just recording material for your group show on the video platform.”

Then he glanced around the room twice: “Little Li, you and Little Duan share a room?”

“Mm.” Seeing Duan Qiong awake, Yu Huaili turned on the room’s fluorescent light. He curved his eyes and explained: “The dorm has three bedrooms and a living room, but there are four of us in Solaron-X. Brother Duan Qiong and I happened to be trainees together before, so we share a room now too. We’re used to it.”

“I see. It’s clear Solaron-X really values cleanliness—even the two of you don’t look messy at all.” Ding Bing looked around the room and nodded: “Xi Xingheng and Jiang Qing probably aren’t awake yet, right?”

Hearing this, Yu Huaili was about to turn and grab his phone to check the time, but Duan Qiong lightly touched his shoulder, tugging up his collar: “It’s 5:20.”

Yu Huaili nodded: “Teacher Ding, then they’re probably still asleep.”

Ding Bing smiled: “Then let’s have Little Li and Little Duan come wake them up with me! I heard you all finished recording around eleven last night. I thought waking you would take some effort, but Little Li really did open the door very quickly.”

Yu Huaili just smiled.

[I’m speechless. Does Morning Star really want to destroy Solaron-X? Why not tell them it’s live?]

[It’s been said over and over that the Solaron-X group show focuses on realness. If you told them, wouldn’t they start performing?]

[But the living room is really clean, yet you can tell Solaron-X has definitely lived here for a while.]

[Of course they’d clean before going on camera. Why make a big deal?]

[I see the curtains my bro showed in his last photo, and that table where Duan Qiong had midnight snacks.]

[Oh, I see Mi Tuan. Why is he snoring hahaha.]

[Such a happy little dog.]

[But if I’m not mistaken, there are only three bedrooms, right? Who’s in the master bedroom?]

[Feels like Xi Xingheng?]

[Why, because he’s the company favorite?]

[Damn, it’s actually Yu Huaili.]

[When Yu Huaili’s face appeared on the screen, I literally launched out of bed. I can’t handle it—how is he this handsome even bare-faced?]

[He actually looks dazed… Cute enough to make this old lady’s heart skip.]

[My bro cares so much about his image in front of us. Thank you, Morning Star. Thank you, Ding Bing. Otherwise, how would I ever see Little Bad Pear talking to us with bedhead?]

[Yeah hahaha. The sisters who picked him up at the airport all said the necklace he wore that day was gorgeous. That smug king not only wore it three days straight but also posted a selfie.]

[With the caption “You said it looks good ^ ^”. Little Bad Pear just naturally panders to fans like this…]

[Because he really cares about us. Praise Bad Pear more.]

[Bro, your pajama collar is really too open!]

[Any deeper and we’d see Bad Pear’s—]

[I was wondering how four people fit in three rooms. So Yu Huaili and Duan Qiong live together?]

[Yu-Duan!! I don’t believe you two haven’t slept together.]

[Let’s see who still says our Yu-Duan’s relationship is bad!]

[They’re such a sweet little couple in private.]

[Yu-Duan shippers, stand up! Bad Pear said Brother Duan wasn’t awake, so he only turned on the warm light, right, right, right?]

[Oh my god, the moment Brother Duan woke up, his hand uncontrollably went to Little Pear. His possessiveness is so strong. Nobody’s going to take him from you, okay?]

[It’s not that nobody’s going to take him.]

[Brother Duan’s face was so displeased as he pulled Bad Pear’s collar up hahaha. I can smell the jealousy through the screen.]

[Is Duan Qiong saying “5:20” a relationship announcement?]

[Yu-Duan shippers finally held on until the day of resurrection.]

[All I see is Yu-Duan going delulu again.]

[The other ships were told not to mooch, yet you shamelessly stick to it anyway.]