Rebirth could be considered as having been popular before, while Rebirthâs Apple was currently rapidly gaining popularity as a newcomer to showbizâŚstill, it was even more remarkable this time. Perhaps it should be said that this was Rebirth shooting into prominence overnight in the truest sense of the term.
They were so popular that the media and the internet were filled entirely with discussions about them.
Firstly, this was an unexpected performance. From the sudden announcement to the choice of locale, Rebirthâs first ever public performance had left everyone feeling incomparably surprised.
Then, they had displayed a self-absorbed attitude that bordered on âarroganceâ at the scene, seemingly not caring about othersâ evaluation of them as well as their image and style at all as they had just treated it like entertainment and self-leisure, an expression of their selves.
Other than those two deep bows and that âgoodbyeâ at the end, they hadnât even bothered with a greeting at all, not even having dispensed with the most basic of pleasantries.
They had been in cool, dazzling attire, yet had performed a dance that was stiff and wooden to the point that everyone had been laughing at them, dancing till the laughter eventually turned into popularity. This dance was currently spreading at the greatest possible speed, going viral.
They had produced a virtually irreproducible performance, taken out Rebirthâs deepest, most emotional song to date, . They had moved countless people to tears with their singing, sighing as they questioned themselves, yet had just thrown down two totally random sentences before leaving.
Whilst not having revealed their faces, they had easily broken the rumour of the âugly bandâ.
It was even to the extent that while they hadnât even officially recorded and uploaded those two songs, not even having provided ringtones to download, just the songs alone with the great amount of background noise from the live performance were already sufficient to easily reign at the top of the music charts and downloading lists as well as air on the major television stations.
If this had been a promotion activity intended to stir things up before Rebirth entered showbiz, it was unquestionably an incomparably successful one. Whether it was the sense of mystery, the topicality or the music itself, they had all been perfect, being sufficient for them to announce their debut amidst a wave of anticipation before coming out to take the world by storm.
Yet, everyone waited for a few days only to discover that there would be no continuation to this matter at all. Rebirth had just suddenly popped out and about before vanishing soundlessly into thin air once more.
The media was unresigned, and those self-proclaimed âfansâ of Rebirth were even more unresigned. Through various channels, they incessantly continued asking about whether Rebirth would be officially entering showbiz.
Finally, as such questions continued on the small Rebirth webpage, a reply came to a simple, innocuous post:
âIâll clarify. Stop asking. Rebirthâs other members apart from Apple will never enter showbiz.â
âNever? Why?!â An unresigned âfanâ asked.
âHavenât the time.â
It really was because of âhavenât the timeâ. People remembered Appleâs earlier words: âHe hasnât the timeâ. Being a star and earning big money-there was actually someone claiming not to have the time for even the likes of that?
âWill you still be performing in public then? When will that be?â
âWill there still be new songs? Will there be underground albums?â
ââŚâ
No further replies were forthcoming to the questions that followed. Still, Rebirthâs stance could not have been any more obvious.
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To Xu Tingsheng, aside from celebrating Little Xiang Ningâs birthday, there was actually also an unexpected gain from this.
They had performed on the pretext of gratitude towards their former school, pretending to have graduated from Xinyan Junior High in the past. This having been reported on by the media, it had greatly diverted the efforts of those who were searching for clues as to their identities.
As long as youâre a member of Rebirth, youâve got to first fit the condition of having studied in Xinyan Junior High in the past. Following this track of thought, it was impossible for them to get their hands on Xu Tingsheng and Fu Cheng. However suspicious they were, they would also be automatically excluded from suspicion.
With this, it was not just the media and the âfansâ who were misled. Even those friends and classmates of Xu Tingshengâs who had suspected him before now felt that perhaps he really only knew Rebirth.
An old classmate who had heard Xu Tingsheng singing in senior high called, asking, âXu Tingsheng, it looks like you really arenât a member of Rebirth! Still, you definitely know Rebirth, right? Because of that, you listened to their song even before itâd been officially released.â
âOh, I just happen to know them by chance.â
âThatâŚhow about it? Can you introduce them? Or give some hint?â His old classmate pressed.
âSorry, they want this to remain a secret. I canât help it, I canât betray my friends,â Xu Tingsheng said troubledly.
Not being bothered by anything, one would feel weightless and relaxed.
Hucheng was still developing rapidly following its implementation in the nine cities. It had gained initial profits, the hiring of personnel for the training institute nearly being complete as well as it would officially begin recruiting students on a full scale when the summer holidays arrived.
Xu Tingsheng maintained that same living rhythm. Every day, he would go to class, leave class, go to Hucheng and sleep in his dorm. Then, he would also go to tutor Xiang Ning on Saturdays.
âUncleâ felt rather regretful that after his identity as a member of Rebirth had been learnt by Xiang Ning, there really seemed to be none of that awaited admiration and adoration at all.
To Xiang Ning, the incomparably mysterious Rebirth member whom she had originally liked and been full of curiosity aboutâŚhad suddenly become âUncleâ whom she was the most familiar with. Like this, only the identity of Uncle remained. Rebirth or whatnot-it was not worth a mention.
âIf only I didnât know about it. How boring. Uncleâs not like a celebrity at all. Heâs more like a chef, because his cooking is delicious.â
Little Xiang Ning occasionally complained about how her expectations of idols had been broken. When mentioning Rebirth afterwards, there was only Apple whom she would ask about.
Xiang Ning liked Apple. Xu Tingsheng didnât know whether he should tell her: Actually, youâve seen her before. Sheâs the one you saw holding onto my arm on the street, and she can be considered your love rival as well. How can you possibly like her?
Still, Xu Tingsheng was worried that if he were to say this now, Little Xiang Ning might reply, âHurry up and get together with Big Sis Apple then! Like this, I would be able to see her.â
As for the kiss from that day, Xiang Ning did not feel shy or embarrassed over it at all. Her explanation back then had been: I was kissing you for Big Xiang Ning. Uncleâs very pitiful.
Afterwards, even more outrageously, in order to emphasise that she really hadnât had any other intentions, she had even kissed her pet Golden Retriever in front of Xu Tingsheng a few times when at home before saying, âThat kiss was just the same as this.â
âSo, youâre saying: Take it that this Miss kissed a dog?â
Uncle felt like he was going crazy, yet there was really nothing that he could do. He could only be stricter and more severe in his lessons. The end of the semester was nearly upon them, and people were never easily satisfied. Mr and Mrs Xiang had been feeling incomparably moved over Xiang Ning having ranked fifth in class in her midterms just recently. Now, they had already set their sights on third place as well as an overall ranking in the entire year.
Yet, Xiang Ning really wasnât cut out for attaining exemplary results. The goal of Xu Tingshengâs efforts was merely to help her get into a first-tier senior high school of Yanzhou. As for why she definitely had to get into a first-tier schoolâŚneed it still be said?
âŚâŚ
Yanjing, Tianle Media Agency.
Apple left the bossâs office.
In the joint office region outside, everyone, including artistes, managers, assistants and clerical personnel, was looking at her. It was just that there were different emotions within their gazes. Some were worried for her while some didnât even bother feigning goodwill, their minds just full of wanting to watch her fall and make a joke of herself.
Apple did not evade them, not uttering a sound. In the bossâs office just earlier, she had been like this for the entire half hour, not uttering a sound all.
The boss had called Apple in on the pretext of creating her album for her. Yet, as soon as he had opened his mouth, he had only mentioned one thing, having shamelessly urged Apple to ask Rebirth for the copyrights of their two new songs.
Apple suddenly felt that it was very laughable. The boss was very laughable, and she herself was even more laughable.
The words she had said to Xu Tingsheng that snowy night forever remained beside her: âI want to hold up an umbrella of my own, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with you.â Song Ni had told her afterwards that choice Xu Tingsheng had made during the Xu Familyâs predicament nearing the end of the previous year. That was eternally etched within her mind as well.
Therefore, this time, Apple would definitely maintain her final persistence. Her resistance, was silence.