Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Chapter 98 – Low Tide Ebbing Away

Translated by juurensha

Edited by Noks

He liked after the rain.

With this kind of thing happening, it was difficult to calm down public opinion within a short while. The PR team that Pei Tingsong had invited followed up at all times to make sure no new problems cropped up unexpectedly.

Unexpectedly, the number of endorsements Fang Juexia had now grown uncountable. Many anti-fans organized groups to go and make trouble on the brands’ official Weibos, demanding that they replace such a “tainted artist”. However, this behavior also caused many online passers-by to be disappointed with them. In the eyes of the public, the stain that Fang Juexia’s father bore was one that couldn’t be grafted onto him; this had also been the root of his many-years-long miserable life. Although he had many anti-fans, it was impossible for them to number more than the supportive passers-by or his already colossal number of fans.

The scene that the anti-fans were looking forward to watching never happened.

On the second day after the letter was published, Fang Juexia went along with his business as before, behaving like someone who didn’t have anything going on. He shot an advertisement based on a previous agreement. Although the brand had told him that he could postpone the shoot, he knew that the preparation of an advertisement shoot required the team to start preparing for more than a whole day beforehand, and he would not drag others down like this.

Everyone on set was quite professional, showing no real difference from a regular day. Xiao Wen followed Fang Juexia the entire time. Fang Juexia was also as usual, gentle and silent, but dedicated enough as well.

The makeup artist doing his makeup specifically consoled him, “Today’s shoot was quite smooth.”

Fang Juexia showed a smile. “Yes ah, it went smoother than I thought it would.”

“What about your other members, are they all working today?”

Fang Juexia nodded. “En, there’s also one at school.”

“Then, when you get back, rest up early oh.”

“Okay, I will.”

It was only when Fang Juexia came out of the building where the shoot was taking place that he discovered the large number of journalists that had gathered outside the door as their cameras flashed frantically.

“Fang Juexia, troubling you to spare us a few words?”

“Did you not know about your father’s drug addiction this entire time? Have you ever seen him take drugs with your own eyes?!”

“Recently, Astar’s stock has fallen sharply, and it’s said that there have been some shifts in their upper-level management. All of these goings-on, Fang Juexia, do you know about it? Are you not a pawn that has been pushed out to block this big melon?”

“Some people have questioned that you have fabricated the night blindness you wrote about in your letter. What do you think about that?”

“Fang Juexia, have you seen the AIDS rumor online? Can you explain a bit as to why there is such a rumor floating around?”

Fang Juexia, wearing a mask and glasses, was almost completely surrounded by bodyguards. He managed to squeeze out of the horde of locust-like journalists to finally reach the van parked outside.

The moment the door closed, Fang Juexia finally let out a breath.

Various hands and lenses were stuck to the windows, looking just like a monster’s tentacles, and they were so close that they couldn’t be thrown off no matter how they tried.

Xiao Wen, who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat, turned around and handed him a bottle of water. “Juexia, going back to the company or to the dormitory?”

Fang Juexia took the bottle of water, but didn’t drink it. “They’re both fine.”

His cellphone vibrated, and he opened it up to see a message from Zhai Ying.

[Zhai Ying: Juexia, I’m afraid you’ll be worried, so I’m reporting it to you first. Your trainee videos were published online by me, and my brother-in-law transferred  them over to me on my request.]

Trainee videos?

Filled with doubt, Fang Juexia opened up Weibo. Cheng Qiang’s call came at the same time, and he picked it up.

“Hello, Juexia? What’s with that monthly Astar review video?”

“I don’t know, I’m still watching it.” Fang Juexia opened Weibo, and there was an entry of #Fang Juexia trainee video# on the Hot Search list. He clicked on it and took a look; many influencer accounts had posted the video, with the title of [Fang Juexia trainee monthly review video, super strong ability!]

“It seems like it’s… it’s something Zhai Ying did.” Fang Juexia replied to Cheng Qiang, “I don’t know what exactly though.”

“Zhai Ying?” After a pause, Cheng Qiang suddenly realized, “She’s helping you.”

It really was a collection of videos from his trainee period. Astar used to conduct a group assessment of the trainees once a month, and they would grade them. Trainees who got a lower grade three times in a row may need to leave the company.

And Fang Juexia was the only trainee who maintained an A grade for two consecutive years, while his overall ranking had always been first place.

Although he was only a teenager in the videos, still being a green youth, his singing and dancing skills had already surpassed those of too many active idols and singers. It wasn’t too much to call him the “ceiling.”

This video was the proof of why Fang Juexia had been called Astar’s trump card back then.

Due to the recent public discussion, there were many comments on the video.

[@Tottering meteor: WTF, the high note at the very beginning shocked me….he actually didn’t make his debut at Astar??]

[@Just 998 just 998: I finally understand why they say that Fang Juexia is the ceiling for idols. His looks and ability as a trainee were indisputable ah, the standard pitiful beauty script.]

[@Today I’m also going to go dundundun: Holy crap, that last scene was amazing, the only person in the company to get an A for two years in a row ah, that’s a real trump card. How could he have become an abandoned card?]

[@I, 3, am still a widowed king today replying to @Today I’m also going to go dundundun: Who knows, anyway, with this extent, if there was really a big boss behind him, he would have been popular to the point of overturning the skies, why would he have been obscure since his debut?]

[@Time is running out: Holy shit, I also want to chase FJX, I already look up to strength.]

“The release of this video has suppressed a lot of the public talk about the hidden rules rumor. Now, a lot of people online are cursing Astar for their lack of vision, which is also interesting,” said Cheng Qiang from the other end, “Astar is in a mess now ba. They say a storm is brewing over there.”

“En.” Fang Juexia could probably guess what was happening.

The direction of public opinion was always changing, faster than the time it took to flip pages of a book. Fang Juexia already didn’t have much interest in these matters, but he was sincerely thankful to Zhai Ying for doing this to help him at this time, so he replied very seriously to her on WeChat, thanking her for coming forward.

After driving for a long time, the road was a bit jammed. Fang Juexia hadn’t slept in too long, but he didn’t feel sleepy. His eyes just felt a bit sore, so he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the window. In a trance, he heard Xiao Wen answer the phone and say something, but he already didn’t have any attention to spare for that.

When he closed his eyes, Fang Juexia thought of Pei Tingsong and the feeling of lying on the bed with their heads against each other, as he listened to him talk or tell stories that he had never heard before. Pei Tingsong had never said a single comforting sentence, but each of his sentences had nonetheless comforted him.

Every moment he spent with Pei Tingsong was well stored in a hidden niche by Fang Juexia. He was like a child who secretly collected beautiful candy wrappers. Every time he got one, he would lay it flat and put it in a place only he knew about.

Then, whenever he was sad, he could take it out for a look, and he could even smell a bit of that sweet scent. This would then make him happy, it was just as easy as that.

He didn’t even need the person who gave him the candy to be around him all the time.

“We’re here, Juexia.”

Xiao Wen’s voice was very light, probably because he thought that Fang Juexia had fallen asleep. Fang Juexia opened his eyes, but the moment he opened the door, he realized that they weren’t at the company, nor was it the residential area where the dormitory was located.

It was the parking lot of the condominium that Pei Tingsong had lived in before.

Fang Juexia turned and asked Xiao Wen. “How did we come here?”

“Just now, Xiao Pei called me and said he had something he wanted to find you for. Perfectly, since your work was done, we drove directly over.”

Something to find him for?

Fang Juexia was a little confused and said that he would go up with Xiao Wen, but he didn’t expect Xiao Wen to get back into the car. “Juexia, they just announced that there’s a meeting, so I have to go back. If I’m late, Qiang Ge will scold me. I’ll have the chauffeur come back to pick you up later.”

“No need.” Fang Juexia shook his head. “I can take a taxi back.”

After Xiao Wen left, Fang Juexia headed upstairs while dialing Pei Tingsong. The first time, he got a busy signal, and the call only connected when he called again for the second time. However, just as the call connected, Pei Tingsong was already opening the door.

“You’re here?” Pei Tingsong, with a smile on his face, stretched out his hand and pulled Fang Juexia in. He turned around and busily went to the shoe cabinet to get slippers. As soon as he bent down, Fang Juexia saw the admission ticket for an exam stuck in his pants pocket.

“You’re done with your test?” Fang Juexia asked.

“En, the questions were simple, I came out half an hour early.” Pei Tingsong put his slippers in front of him and was about to crouch down to untie his shoelaces for him. Suddenly, as if he had remembered something, he stood up and whispered to him, “You should change them yourself first ah.”

Fang Juexia felt that this was strange, but he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what was strange. He just felt that Pei Tingsong was flustered and travel-worn. He changed his shoes and followed him from the front porch to the living room, where he smelled some soup being stewed.

“Auntie, Juexia Ge is back.”

Auntie??

Fang Juexia didn’t react immediately, but unexpectedly, in the next second, his mother appeared in front of him. She didn’t even take off the apron she had on, directly rushing up and hugging him.

“Juexia, you’re back.”

Fang Juexia, who was being hugged by his mama, opened his eyes wide. This was like a dream. He looked blankly at Pei Tingsong who was standing beside him, smiling at him, and then even pulling on his arms to get him to hug Mama Fang back.

“Mom…” Feeling his mother’s shoulders shaking, Fang Juexia hugged her tightly and patted her on the back. “How did you suddenly come here? I didn’t even know about it.”

Mama Fang let go, raised her head, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said with a smile to her son, “It was Xiao Pei who specially invited me to Beijing. He said a lot of things.” Mama Fang also looked at Pei Tingsong and said, “Mama also missed you very much. I didn’t want to wait for you at home like before, I wanted to come see you.”

Fang Juexia’s nose stung.

Every single day since the letter was published, he hadn’t been able to sleep, not because he was afraid of the public opinion attacks online, nor because he was worried about his uncertain future, but because he was afraid of his mother being all alone in Guangzhou. Just thinking of her sitting at home, witnessing her wait over these more than ten years turn into ash with her own eyes, and then having to watch the overwhelming news about him, with every line filled with exaggeration and unfounded slander, what would she think, and how sad would she be?

Would she not be able to eat or be able to sleep?

But Fang Juexia was always timid when facing his mother. He didn’t know the best way to take care of this and clean up their family, which had already been broken up like this.

But, Pei Tingsong had gone ahead and done it for him.

He always knew what Fang Juexia dreaded the most and what he needed the most.

“Mama has stewed some chicken and fish maw soup for you, and I added safflower, scallops, and sea cucumber. It’s very nourishing.” At this point, Mama Fang frantically went to go watch the stove again. “Hey, wait a minute, let me check the stove. Take a seat first. Xiao Pei also just picked me up from the airport, both of you take a rest ah.”

Fang Juexia watched as his mother plunged back into the kitchen, even throwing him to Pei Tingsong. He felt helpless, but also wanted to laugh. Pei Tingsong turned his head and took a peek. When he was sure that Mama Fang was no longer there, he quickly kissed the corner of Fang Juexia’s eye.

Witnessing this bold move, Fang Juexia’s heart was about to leap out of his chest. He twisted Pei Tingsong’s arm and went to the sofa by himself to sit down. Pei Tingsong also sat down next to him, laughed at him and did not speak.

“How come you didn’t tell me?” Fang Juexia turned his face and questioned him.

Pei Tingsong clicked his tongue. “No, who, when preparing a surprise, would inform you in advance ah? Do you think this is 11/11, where before the event, the merchants all start crazily texting you— ‘Everyone, quickly come in ah, there’s a surprise at the start itself.’”

What kind of weird metaphor was this?

“How did you find my mother? Do you have her contact information?”

“No ah, I asked someone to find it for me,” Pei Tingsong said in a matter of fact way.

He was actually also a little afraid that Fang Juexia would blame him for overdoing things. After all, he had fought against everything by himself so far, seeming as if he never needed anybody’s help. However, Pei Tingsong really felt very sad. He lay in bed every day, thinking of the phone call Fang Juexia had made standing at the corner of the stairs that day, thinking of how he had cried in his arms, when he was so afraid of making his mother sad

Pei Tingsong just felt that he had to do something. He couldn’t bear for Fang Juexia to be sad, and he couldn’t bear for him to worry, even suffering this way for one extra day was too much.

So he made a quick decision to find Mama Fang’s contact information and tell her that Fang Juexia actually really missed her and needed her company.

Mama Fang was also having trouble sleeping and eating at home. She checked the online news every day, but she didn’t dare to go find her son. Mother and son obviously had the same thoughts in their hearts, but neither one spoke first. As soon as she heard Pei Tingsong describe her son’s situation, she took the flight he had arranged and flew to Beijing at the first possible moment.

It was true that when it came to their lover, one would become hot-blooded, but Pei Tingsong found that he would actually also get worried, whether he had acted just for his own desires. After all, he was quick to make decisions, and doing whatever needed to be done was a part of his innate personality, but Fang Juexia wasn’t that kind of person at all.

Doubt at Fang Juexia’s reaction surged up. Pei Tingsong didn’t want to overthink it and immediately changed the topic, “Let me tell you, today’s essay topic ah…”

Halfway through his sentence, he noticed his hand on the sofa being covered by another pale hand. Fang Juexia drew closer, his eyes gentle, his tone soft, and he said in a quiet voice, “Thank you.”

Pei Tingsong was stunned,all of his previous words cast out of his mind at this moment.

“Thank you.” It was Fang Juexia’s habit to always repeat himself if what he was saying were important words. The warmth in the palm of his hand transferred over, and the smile on his face was the most real one Pei Tingsong had seen in many days. This was no longer a disguised “I’m fine”, but a real Fang Juexia smile.

“Seeing Mama here, I’m so happy.” Fang Juexia’s fingers gently twined with Pei Tingsong’s fingers, and his eyes had turned a little red.

Pei Tingsong’s heart immediately clenched. He held Fang Juexia’s face in both hands and threatened him in a low voice, “You’re not allowed to cry.”

Fang Juexia’s cheeks were squeezed out of shape by him, and he sniffled a bit. “Didn’t you say you like watching me cry?”

Just during certain times… Pei Tingsong didn’t say that out loud, and upon hearing Mama Fang come out, he immediately let go and stood up nervously.

“Xiao Pei ah, do you have any small stove type things here?”

“Stove?” Pei Tingsong didn’t know what she was talking about, and he searched around the apartment like a headless fly. Fang Juexia knew the state of his home better than he did. “There isn’t one, Mom, don’t prepare for a hotpot, let’s just drink soup and eat the dishes ba.”

Pei Tingsong was surprised. “How did you know what your mom wanted to do? I didn’t even understand.”

“Nonsense, I’m her son ah,” Fang Juexia whispered.

They helped Mama Fang serve the dishes and set out the bowls and chopsticks, after which they sat down and partook in the good meal that Fang Juexia’s mama had made. After everything that had happened in the recent days, Fang Juexia could never eat much, but with his mama here, he ate more than usual and drank an extra bowl of soup.

This was Pei Tingsong’s second time having dinner and chatting with them, experiencing the ordinary daily life that every family had. But this time, Pei Tingsong had something else he was looking forward to. If one day, he confessed everything to this mother, would she accept him as tenderly and enthusiastically as she did now?

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After dinner, Pei Tingsong helped Mama Fang put the bowls back in the kitchen. Standing at the table, Fang Juexia thought of something and took out his cellphone. “Mom, I still have to book you a hotel.”

“No need!” Pei Tingsong shouted towards the outside, “I’ve arranged everything, it’s next door.”

“Next door?” Fang Juexia went to the kitchen and saw two people, who looked more like mother and son, washing dishes side by side. “How can you make this apartment complex feel like a hotel every time?”

“Ah, that one, rented it.” Pei Tingsong came up with a reason.

“Xiao Pei was very attentive, he prepared everything for me early on.” After washing the last bowl, Mama Fang turned to Juexia and said, “He said that living here will be convenient and also safe. There might be reporters at the hotel, Mama didn’t even think of that at first. And here, you can also live with Mama.”

Fang Juexia nodded. “En.”

After finishing washing the dishes, Pei Tingsong came out of the kitchen and was caught by Fang Juexia again. “You could rent it as soon as you wanted to? And it’s even next door?”

Pei Tingsong laughed guilty. “You are so smart.”

Fang Juexia stared at him without moving, and without saying a word. Upon being watched like this, Pei Tingsong felt that he had no other way; he wanted to hug him, but he couldn’t do so right now, so he could only draw closer and confess to him in a low voice, “Actually….This entire building is all mine.”

Sure enough.

Fang Juexia remembered that when he had first come here, Pei Tingsong had said that he was different from other rich young masters, that he was rich but only lived in two bedrooms.

It was him being too naive.

Coincidentally, all the other members had events to attend recently, so he would have been the only one living in the dorms anyway. Fang Juexia could now stay here with his mother for a few more days. While they were eating, Pei Tingsong had already arranged for someone to clean up the apartment next door. When he took his mother over, as soon as they walked into the living room, Fang Juexia saw a big bouquet of white eustoma on the coffee table.

The corners of his mouth couldn’t help rising up.

Being surrounded by events and flashing lights, it had been a long time since Fang Juexia had lived such a life. He was now being taken care of by his mama, listening as she gossiped about her daily life at home and her neighbors, the students she couldn’t teach no matter how much she tried, and the troublemakers in her class.

Just listening to her made Fang Juexia feel very safe.

He closed his eyes and felt himself lying under the full strength of the daylight.

There was no darkness, just warmth everywhere.

The outside world was stormy, and Fang Juexia, the one suffering at the center of the storm, in his mother’s company, slept as the orange sunset at dusk escaped from the horizon.

This time, dreams also let him be at peace, not disturbing him.

The period of low tide was like the rainy season. When it came, it seemed to suffocate the whole population, leaving them completely breathless. His life these past few days had been filled with cold rain, and he was not able to breathe at all.

But the sunny day that came after the rain was so beautiful, with the bright blue sky that shone after a disaster and the smell of grass filling the air.

He had always liked the scenery d after it rained, and for that reason alone, he could endure the heavy rain.

He slept until 12:30 in the night. For some reason, Fang Juexia suddenly woke up and felt thirsty. He got up from the bed and went to the room next door. Seeing his mother sleeping deeply, he quietly closed the door and went to the living room.

He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water, but before he could unscrew it, Fang Juexia stopped moving.

His arm hung in mid-air for a few seconds, then lowered.

Pei Tingsong was sitting in his study, reading some articles when he suddenly heard the doorbell ring, and after checking the time, found it very strange. It was only when he came to the door and saw the monitor screen that he realized Fang Juexia in his pajamas was outside.

His mood ignited, becoming just like a sky lantern about to take off.

“What’s the matter?”

Fang Juexia stepped into his home. Although his tone was still as lukewarm as usual, he had a smile on his face. “Thirsty, want to drink some water.”

It was like he was being flirty.

Pei Tingsong shut the door as he stepped closer. He looked very refined with glasses, but when he raised his eyebrow, the air of a young master seemed to surround him. “You just want to drink some water?”

“En.” Fang Juexia looked at him, his eyes absolutely sincere.

“Okay.” Pei Tingsong turned around and left, and soon came back with a cup of sweet orange juice. It was Fang Juexia’s favorite juice, and it was in the frosted blue mug Pei Tingsong always used.

“Drink it ba.” Pei Tingsong handed it to him.

Fang Juexia lightly said ‘thank you,’ then he took it with both hands and gulped it down. Afterwards, he raised his head and asked solemnly, “Is it because I just woke up? I feel like the juice tastes a little strange.”

Pei Tingsong raised his eyebrows and didn’t speak. He took hold of the mug to have a look. Fang Juexia had drunk all the juice in one gulp.

He really was thirsty; it tasted funny but he still drank it all.

“What taste?” Pei Tingsong, who was very curious, was about to go and pour himself another cup to try, to see if he bought the wrong brand. Unexpectedly, his hand was held at this moment. As soon as he turned his head, Fang Juexia held him by the shoulder and kissed him.

The taste of orange juice entered with his soft tongue, just like moonlight breaking in at 12:30, tasting both sweet and cold, yet not icey, but still carrying an ice-cream-like thrill as it melted in his hot and humid mouth, brewing up a sweet heartbeat.

This kiss was very short, but it was the first time Fang Juexia had taken the initiative.

He retreated to a safe distance, looked at Pei Tingsong, and asked calmly, “Did you taste it?”

Pei Tingsong stood in a daze and nodded when he heard the question, still holding the same empty mug in his hand.

“Then I’ll go back.” Fang Juexia blinked. “Good night.”

He should have been an even more decisive thief.

After his bad act of stealing his heart, he was seizing the next moments to slip away. If he stayed too long, there would be too many reluctant-to-part emotions that would arise, and his final result would be to get caught.

Fang Juexia was bodily picked up by Pei Tingsong, and there was no place to run after that. He was thrown onto the bed and then pressed down under Pei Tingsong, while his heart beat like a real criminal’s, as guilt and desire intertwined.

“You’re really getting stronger and stronger these days.” Pei Tingsong’s dark pupils reflected his face.

He knew to come find him as soon as he woke up, and he had even learned how to flirt.

The corners of Fang Juexia’s lips carried a smile, and he accepted Pei Tingsong’s insincere praise. “I was influenced through close association.”

Moonlight fell across the gap of the curtain, spying on the lovers who melted into each other, before finally falling on the glasses abandoned on the bedside table and casting a mottled light.

Early morning was always the most vulnerable time for Fang Juexia. It was at this time that he needed a tight embrace, and he needed blazing love the most.

Everything he needed, Pei Tingsong had.

Fang Juexia was the coastline at night, being repeatedly soaked by the rising and ebbing tides.

“Thank you.” He hugged Pei Tingsong and repeated.

This kind of thanks would seem a polite gesture to many people, like it was just etiquette, but Pei Tingsong understood what it truly was— love.

Because he also felt like this, being grateful day after day, grateful for the fact that Fang Juexia had appeared in his life.

Fearing that his mother would wake up too early, Fang Juexia didn’t stay too long. He took a shower at 3 a.m., then came out and went into Pei Tingsong’s closet to pull out some clothes to change into.

Pei Tingsong sat beside the bed with a resentful face, and pulled at Fang Juexia’s sleeve while complaining, “Living in my house, wearing my clothes, and sleeping with me, then running off after sleeping.”

Fang Juexia held back a smile and didn’t quibble with him, instead turning his head back to kiss his lips. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you.” Pei Tingsong finally pulled at his hand and kissed the back of it.

Over the next two days, as long as he finished his work, Fang Juexia would go back to the apartment early to accompany his mama, making snacks and stewing soup with her. Pei Tingsong was afraid that she would be bored, so he took advantage of Fang Juexia’s absences to take her sight-seeing at P University. Anyway, it was also a must-see tourist spot in Beijing.

Public opinion online continued to ferment, but Fang Juexia, one of the main parties involved, was already no longer anxious about it. Even if he closed his eyes, he knew how those people would curse him out and talk nonsense about him. These were all known, so he was no longer afraid.

On the day when the six of them were doing a magazine shoot together, Fang Juexia had just appeared in the studio when he heard a female photo assistant say something to the person standing next to her—

“God, is that true? There have been too many melons recently.”

Fang Juexia just felt weary at heart upon hearing this, but unexpectedly, the next sentence made his heart come to a sudden stop.

“When I was just scrolling through, I thought I misread it at first. Liang Ruo is actually leaving Seven Luminaries!”

—

Juurensha : !!! The truth finally comes out??! And hahaha, flirty FJX is the best!