[Aaaaah! The livestream I've been waiting for! I'm back again and again and again and again! I hope this one goes smoothly all the way to the end, instead of suddenly freezing and disconnecting halfway through like last time, then stopping altogether. Please, please...]
[I'm here! Let me get a look at Shang Shujue first, that arrogant bully who still has someone protecting him behind the scenes. How is he still as badass and shameless as ever? The Songhui Aristocratic Family's precious darling took a fancy to him. He must be over the moon, huh?]
[Aaaaah! Zhang Zhichen, baby, who's that person next to you? Why does he look a little like you? Why am I suddenly a little scared?! ∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll)]
By the time the survival show's livestream officially started, Shang Shujue still hadn't managed to get Song Yanqing to explain why he was angry before being dragged off to the makeup room for styling.
The professional stylists from Jinyuan Media whom Chen Jiarui had brought could not only give him a flawless look, but even design individual looks for Xu Jiaqiao and Zhang Yunchen.
"All right, all right, this will do. I'm not the priority here. Xu Jiaqiao and Zhang Yunchen are."
Seeing that the makeup artist still intended to fuss with his face, Shang Shujue immediately raised a hand to stop her and sent her to do Xu Jiaqiao's and Zhang Yunchen's hair and makeup.
After all, he wasn't going to debut, and his stage performance would only be a song. How many chances would he have to show off, anyway? Even if the haters voted him out later, he could get back in some other way. He wasn't afraid.
So Shang Shujue pointed at Zhang Yunchen, who needed special attention now, and raised his brows slightly, directing the makeup artist's attention away from himself and toward Zhang Yunchen.
"Especially Zhang Yunchen. He's going to perform onstage. The stage lighting and everything are pretty intense, and they can easily magnify flaws. Give his look some serious thought. We can't waste such a good opportunity for his first appearance."
As soon as Shang Shujue finished, the trainees nearby who had heard him couldn't help giving Xu Jiaqiao and Zhang Yunchen several looks. Xu Jiaqiao happily accepted the attention, baring his teeth in a grin like an idiot.
"Brother Jue, I've already performed. It's better to focus on Zhang Yunchen now."
Zhang Yunchen rubbed the back of his head a little sheepishly, his tone modest when he spoke, but he didn't refuse Shang Shujue's decision. If he wanted to break out of his current circle now, he needed resources directed his way.
"Thank you, Brother Jue. I won't disappoint you with this performance. I won't forget what you've done for me. I'll prove to you that you made the right investment."
Hearing that, Shang Shujue's lips curved involuntarily. He didn't tell him that he hadn't signed him with the intention of having him debut in the group. Picking up his phone and standing, he encouraged him.
"I'm glad you think that way. Do your best. I'll see it. Hurry up and get your hair and makeup done."
"Xiao Qi, your stylists are stuck in traffic. If they still aren't here in ten minutes, come get your styling done over here. I'm going out to make a call."
After giving Zhang Yunchen those instructions, Shang Shujue looked at Yu Zeqi. No matter what, this boy was Yu Yang's own son. As the nephew of his father's friend, he had been entrusted with an important responsibility. It was only normal to look after him a little.
"Okay, got it."
Yu Zeqi froze briefly at being singled out, but quickly recovered and nodded obediently. Shang Shujue said nothing more and walked out of the makeup room.
After Shang Shujue left, the makeup room, which had still been a little stiff and restrained, suddenly filled with chatter as the lively, restless, and mostly talkative boys gathered to talk.
"If you're done with your styling, come to the studio with me first. The livestream is already up for the warm-up, but the video and audio aren't on yet. The viewer count is still climbing. There'll probably be even more people watching today than last time. Do your best, everyone."
Zhang Zhichen had finished his hair and makeup. He stood up and noticed that plenty of others were ready too, so he spoke up, intending to take everyone to the studio to sit down first.
Those who had finished their hair and makeup were fairly willing to listen to Zhang Zhichen. They handed their phones to their assistants or managers and followed him to the studio.
Before leaving, Jian Yichen unconsciously glanced at Zhang Yunchen, who was happily chatting with Xu Jiaqiao and the others inside. Something seemed to flicker through his deep eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
If the people who could hear Shang Shujue's thoughts were all kind people with their own difficulties, then why hadn't "good was rewarded and evil punished" happened before Shang Shujue appeared? Everyone was so kind, yet they were all in so much pain...
Did kind people really never come to a good end? Did they really have to be saved by someone else? Why couldn't they save themselves? What exactly was all that luck? Mysticism and feng shui?
Jian Yichen lowered his eyes, his curled lashes trembling slightly. He couldn't understand why, nor could he make sense of the current situation. He was like a little blade of grass nobody wanted. The goodwill he extended always turned into barbs that wounded him.
"ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh..."
I'm so tired... If there really are gods in this world, could they save me... or save that person... Could Shang Shujue... save him?
"Jian Yichen, what's wrong? You don't look too good. Are you feeling unwell? Want something hot to drink? I'll go buy you something."
The blond boy walking at the very back was Jian Yichen's roommate, as well as a meal buddy and dance-practice partner he was fairly close to. His name was Qi Tianlin.
He had come out chatting with his other roommates, but when he didn't see Jian Yichen, he told the others to go in first. He waited there a while before finally seeing him approach. Noticing his distracted air and pale face, he went up to ask in concern.
"Tianlin, there's no need. I'm just not quite used to the full makeup. I brought candy. I'll be fine after I have some in a bit."
Jian Yichen hadn't expected Qi Tianlin to wait for him. After a moment of mild surprise, he accepted it, smiled faintly at him, and pulled a candy from his pocket after explaining the reason.
"This isn't you not being used to full makeup. Isn't it your blood sugar running low? Did you have dinner?"
Qi Tianlin knew Jian Yichen had low blood sugar and might faint if he skipped even one meal, so he always carried various candies with him. Only now, seeing him like this, did Qi Tianlin realize something was wrong. The director had called him away that evening, so he hadn't been with him.
"Uh... I was so focused on practicing that I think I really did forget to eat... I was wondering why I felt kind of tired..."
At Qi Tianlin's words, Jian Yichen blinked several times. It took him quite a while to realize that he really didn't seem to have eaten dinner that evening. No wonder he felt tired. So it was because he was starving? ⌯'ㅅ'⌯
"...You airhead. Since the livestream hasn't officially started yet, go get a takeaway meal from the cafeteria. Dancing in a bit will take a lot of energy. Don't faint onstage. That would be a serious livestream incident."
Qi Tianlin was speechless. Of all the friends he knew, none was as much of a natural airhead as Jian Yichen. If nobody told him to eat or ate with him, he would forget, like a little bot.
"Oh, okay..."
"Pfft..."
Just as Jian Yichen's dazed reply ended and he was about to turn toward the cafeteria, a very soft laugh came from behind them. They both turned at once and saw Shang Shujue leaning against the wall with his arms folded, smiling at them. Both grew embarrassed.
"Brother Jue, you're here."
"Hello, Brother Jue."
Only after they had both greeted him did Shang Shujue walk over to them. He was carrying two paper bags.
A sweet, softly glutinous aroma wafted from the bags, stirring Jian Yichen's hunger until it became a little uncomfortable.