Unaware that his younger brother at home was hopping mad with anxiety, Shen Xingshuo was still leisurely unpacking.
Though the boy lived rather roughly, he was something of a clean freak, and he wiped the already clean bedboard three whole times.
"It's not like grass is growing on it." Jiang Can couldn't stand Shen Xingshuo showing off, and watching him wipe the bedboard over and over made his hands itch.
"No one will think you're mute if you keep quiet." Shen Xingshuo couldn't be bothered with him either, only laying out the sheet once he was sure the bedboard was clean.
"You..."
"We're all roommates. Fate brought us together!" Qiao Luo, the peacemaker, stopped Jiang Can from swearing just in time. His smiling face made it hard to say anything harsh.
"More like ape shit!" Shen Xingshuo raised an eyebrow at Jiang Can, his cocky expression seeming to say, what can you do about it?
"Fuck, you two are in this together!" Jiang Can slammed the door on his way out in a rage, only to slink back shortly afterward.
The production team had just announced that they weren't allowed to go out during the designated period.
They had barely managed to calm their hot-tempered roommate before Shen Xingshuo started provoking him again. Caught in the middle, Qiao Luo had a headache and helplessly looked toward the roommate quietly unpacking in the corner.
"You guys..." Receiving Qiao Luo's pleading look, Lin Yan opened his mouth almost despite himself, then quietly swallowed his words after meeting the hot-tempered Jiang Can's eyes.
"Oh my god! These two are sharing a room? The auditions are going to be quite a show."
"Hugs for my Little Luoluo. Where else could you find such a sunny, adorable, sweet boy? He's absolutely my darling!"
"Eight people will debut, and I reckon only Qiao Luo has a chance. Of the others, two are hotheaded and one is silent. They'll probably be eliminated in the first round."
"The comment above makes sense, but there are plenty of talented people in the other rooms too. Don't forget Qiao Luo can't dance."
"But Shen Xingshuo's temper is way too bad! Imagine if he debuts. Won't he offend every director out there?"
"I think so too. Jiang Can had clearly stopped talking, but Shen Xingshuo still had to insult him."
The online discussion was raging, while Shen Yu was howling at home.
Although Shen Xubai had agreed to let his younger brother go in person, the doctor had instructed him to spend two days recovering after having his stitches removed, so Shen Yu could only recuperate at home.
Pouting on the sofa, Shen Yu felt as though his backside had grown teeth; no position was comfortable. When he saw Shen Xingshuo's reputation taking a hit, his fingers typed at a blinding speed.
"Everyone has a different personality. Shen Xingshuo is great too."
Shen Yu viewed his brother through an endlessly flattering filter. Although the two were always battling at home, he still had to give his brother plenty of respect when they were out.
"Shen Xingshuo is so handsome. You can tell at a glance he's not someone who likes making trouble, and he even takes the initiative to protect his companions from being bullied."
Though that was the protagonist, a man brimming with luck! Even if his second brother hadn't spoken up to help, nothing would have happened.
Shen Yu posted that comment with a guilty conscience, then immediately blocked Shen Xingshuo on Weibo, not daring to let that narcissistic man discover he was singing his praises.
Although the comments flew by quickly, some people still noticed Shen Yu's words, and there were even faint signs of support.
"Exactly. Jiang Can provoked him first, and the two of them didn't even really get into an argument. People online shouldn't overreact."
Only when the comment section stopped revolving around Shen Xingshuo did Shen Yu quietly breathe a sigh of relief and sneakily give himself a thumbs-up.
Who was the best at protecting his second brother? Look no further than Shen Xiaoyu.
Having successfully protected his brother, Shen Yu kicked off his slippers and bounced back and forth on the sofa in excitement, then found himself staring at Shen Jun, who had left the study to get a drink of water.
"What's going on?" Shen Jun spoke first, his tone unruffled. Clearly, he was used to Shen Yu's various antics.
"Boosting Second Brother's ranking." Shen Yu didn't know why, but seeing his younger brother's faint smile made him feel a little guilty. He quietly put his feet on the carpet before lifting his face and answering with a smile.
"It's already started?" Shen Jun was surprised. Although he knew Shen Xingshuo was going to participate in a talent competition, he hadn't expected to be able to watch it already.
"Yep! It's even livestreamed! On White Peach TV!" Shen Yu enthusiastically filled him in, not forgetting to add, "Second Brother is number 120."
"Okay, got it." Having had the recommendation pushed on him, Shen Jun paused as he poured his tea. Meeting Shen Yu's big, expectant eyes, he quietly added, "I'll watch when I have time."
"Yay!" Having successfully sold him on it, Shen Yu clenched his fist, quietly added an entry to his ledger of Second Brother's debts, then flipped through its pages with loud slaps.
When the time came to collect, he would have evidence.
After drawing lots, they would perform their specialties in order. Everyone's allotted time was squeezed to under four minutes, forcing those who had planned to show off their skills to change their plans at the last minute.
Shen Xingshuo glanced at the number 120 in his hand, dredged up a song he knew from his brain, then lay down to sleep as though it were only natural.
"Shen Xingshuo, Shen Xingshuo!"
Still half asleep, Shen Xingshuo narrowed his eyes and glared at Qiao Luo, who had woken him before seven, with nowhere to vent his morning grumpiness.
"We need to go practice. We only have one day to prepare."
Qiao Luo had drawn number 115, putting him among the first to perform on the second day. He wanted to take advantage of the time while the others were being assessed to practice and review properly.
"Not interested." His eyelids, which he had been struggling to keep open, closed the next second. Shen Xingshuo's voice was thick with sleep. "I need to protect my voice."
Qiao Luo: ?
Their roommate Lin Yan had already left to practice at six. Jiang Can's assessment was today, and he was already preparing in the waiting room. Only the two of them had stayed in the dorm sleeping until seven.
"What if you forget?" The worried Qiao Luo couldn't relax. Seeing Shen Xingshuo about to fall asleep, he quickly shook the boy awake.
"You're my only friend here. I don't dare go if you don't!" Knowing that Shen Xingshuo had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, Qiao Luo brought out the wheedling routine he used at home and looked at Shen Xingshuo pitifully.
"All right, let's go!" Shen Xingshuo really couldn't stand people acting cute with him. Shen Yu usually relied on this to get away with his mistakes, and now that someone else was doing it, Shen Xingshuo declared that he was still helpless against it.
With a cold expression, he pulled out the shirt he had accidentally tucked into his trousers. Still a little dazed, Shen Xingshuo looked both cocky and cute, instantly drawing viewers to the livestream.
"Our Luoluo really is such a cutie. He's super considerate of his roommate, okay! Qiao Luoluo, beautiful and kind! Qiao Luoluo, warm and adorable!"
"Am I the only one who thinks... Shen Xingshuo is kind of doting? He stood up for Qiao Luo yesterday, and today he got up right away when he heard Luoluo was scared."
"Hahaha, although... still... Shen Xingshuo looks like a big, hotheaded boy without a heart."
"Everyone else is either competing or practicing, and these two are dawdling in their room. What's this? They haven't even debuted and they're already pushing personas? Their livestream has more viewers than the people practicing hard."
"Exactly. Isn't this way too deliberate?"
"Hahaha, looks like he comes from a pretty well-off family. Of course he has nothing to fear with connections to get him in through the back door."
The comment section suddenly took a turn for the worse. Shen Yu jolted on the sofa, finally realizing something was wrong!