Shen Xingcan died.
But not completely. At his funeral, he saw his former brother, now his sworn enemy, crying his heart out.
Shen Xingcan came back to life. Convinced the other man was provoking him, he decided to take revenge by joining a variety show the man was on.
Under a clear sky and a gentle breeze, a variety show was being livestreamed aboard a pure-white cruise ship.
Even though the broadcast time did not suit modern people's body clocks, the number of viewers in the livestream kept climbing rapidly.
The reason was two of the show's guests-Shen Xingcan and Xie Linchuan.
Shen Xingcan, the former leader and lead vocalist of TS Boy Band, had independently written numerous widely loved songs, won more music awards than he could hold, sold out every concert, and ranked near the top of all the major music charts.
Xie Linchuan, the former visual of TS Boy Band, had already starred in the year's highest-grossing film when he had only just graduated. His career had soared ever since, making him the youngest actor in the country to win Best Actor at all three major film awards.
By rights, these two former colleagues, whose careers had taken completely different paths, should not have had any deep-seated grudge. But common sense clearly did not apply to Shen Xingcan and Xie Linchuan's relationship.
The day after Xie Linchuan won an award, Shen Xingcan would go on Weibo and heave sighs about how even someone like that could win awards, and how the film industry was utterly doomed.
Xie Linchuan, meanwhile, would frequently "accidentally" like posts digging up dirt on Shen Xingcan, helping him earn disparaging nicknames like Crown Prince Shen and Young Master.
And now, these two top stars, who all but had "sworn enemies" stamped on their foreheads, were going to appear on the same variety show. It would have been strange if it had not caused a sensation.
[I set a hundred alarms because I was so scared I'd miss this show!]
[...I still think Apple TV is messing with us. They only said that to trick people into watching. These two trade jabs from afar even when they don't meet. Putting them on a variety show together... what a beautiful sight. I don't dare imagine it.]
[It should be real. Neither side's legal department is a pushover, after all. I don't think Apple TV has the guts to go that far.]
[What kind of astronomical appearance fees did Apple TV shell out? I really want to know what Xie Linchuan's and Shen Xingcan's fans are thinking right now, hahahaha. Ah, we drama lovers just love watching the fun.]
[It's just a work commitment. Nothing to be surprised about. If you're interested, please support our Xingcan's new song~]
[Everyone is welcome to watch "Clock" in theaters.]
[Waaah, you two finally made up, right? Waaah, waaah.]
The sweet-looking host smiled warmly at the camera. "Good morning, everyone! This is 'A Fruit,' jointly presented by Apple TV and Kuaikan. I'm the show's initiator, Song Tiantian. Our show aims to help agricultural products reach new markets. We'll travel to different places and immerse ourselves in the daily lives of people working in agriculture. Now, let's welcome our guests!"
Amid everyone's eager anticipation, the guests appeared one after another.
"Hello, everyone. I'm actor Lin Cen."
"Hi, everyone! I'm Jiang Yifeng~"
"Hello to everyone watching. I'm singer Shen Xingcan. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
When it was the last guest's turn, the barrage of comments first fell silent, then promptly exploded.
The young man who appeared on the livestream stood tall and elegant. His light-blue denim outfit accentuated his slender figure without making him look frail. His medium-length black hair was tied loosely behind his head with a dark-green silk scarf, revealing a cool, pale face as lovely as a beautiful woman's.
His brows resembled washes of pale ink, and the corners of his eyes tilted upward. Beneath long, thick lashes were light-colored peach-blossom eyes that seemed suffused with spring water. Though he had done nothing at all, he exuded a limpid, reserved elegance.
Shen Xingcan greeted the people who had boarded before him one by one.
When he reached Jiang Yifeng, Jiang Yifeng exclaimed theatrically, "Wow, look who it is! Our very own great beauty Shen!"
Shen Xingcan raised a brow slightly. "If you knew I'd arrived, why didn't you hurry down to welcome His Majesty? Is this how you act as a simp?"
"Shen Xingcan, could you have a little shame?" Jiang Yifeng cried.
Shen Xingcan corrected him. "It's called knowing I'm beautiful."
Jiang Yifeng mimed throwing up.
Everyone else burst out laughing.
Shen Xingcan glanced at the seats on the deck and asked with apparent casualness, "Is there still one guest who hasn't arrived?"
He had not seen Xie Linchuan's car before boarding, either. Had Xie Linchuan found out in advance that he was coming and run away?
"Yeah. Brother Xie just told the production team that something unexpected came up, so he might be a few minutes late."
Before Shen Xingcan could say anything, a low, pleasing voice sounded behind him.
"Sorry to have kept everyone waiting."
Shen Xingcan turned to look at the newcomer.
The man stood 1.9 meters tall, straight as slender bamboo. The neckline of his light-colored knit top lay slightly open, and the fabric skimmed his shoulders without pulling tight, further accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His black cargo pants were tucked into combat boots, giving him a particularly sharp look.
His phoenix eyes tilted upward, their ink-dark irises fathomless. The slight lift at their outer corners did not look seductive; instead, it made his eyes and brows strikingly handsome. His nose was high and straight, his lips thin.
His jawline was sharp and finely sculpted, and an invisible pressure seemed to surround him. Even dressed casually, his presence was enough to turn heads.
The moment Xie Linchuan saw Shen Xingcan, his brows furrowed. "Why are you here?"