After that variety show episode officially aired, its popularity burned for half a month, and then it was over.
Discussions and buzz surrounding Qiguan Yuan have gradually subsided online.
The guests in later episodes became increasingly high-profile, and someone was securing resources for each episode. The show became a lucrative opportunity in the industry, and everyone wanted a piece of it.
Occasionally, a comment like "Where's that silver-haired guy from before?" would appear in the live chat, only to be quickly scrolled past by other names.
Only a few scattered entries remained by the second month.
In the third month, apart from the supertopics for Xiao Yuan Grains and Taro Balls, and the occasional mention in the Imperial Fans group, the name Qiguan Yuan completely disappeared from the trending searches.
Even though Qiguan Yuan was already incredibly popular before.
The entertainment industry can't remember so many people, let alone someone Qiguan Yuan who isn't even considered an artist.
Pei Yubai's side was also quiet.
After the previous film crew wrapped up shooting, the studio's schedule remained blank for several weeks.
At first, the Imperial Fans didn't believe it and analyzed it in the super topic every day. Some people said that Teacher Pei was choosing a big book, some said that he was taking a break, and some guessed that he had a conflict with the company.
Days passed by, and nothing happened.
Some people refreshed Pei Yubai's Weibo homepage dozens of times a day for almost two months.
Imperial Fans are starting to wonder if Pei Yubai is planning to retire from the entertainment industry.
I live in constant fear.
I'm afraid that one day I'll see his announcement of retiring from the entertainment industry.
That afternoon, Pei Yubai suddenly updated his Weibo.
The caption reads, "Power on."
Tens of thousands of comments flooded the comment section within a second, and those who had been anxious for months finally felt relieved.
As long as it's not a retirement from the entertainment industry, that's fine.
The opening ceremony was held at the film studio, and a cordon was set up around the venue early in the morning.
The fans arrived even earlier than the staff. Two rows of flower walls were set up, and roll-up banners lined the cordon. People were clutching the banners tightly, some so tightly that the edges were wrinkled.
Several boxes of coffee and snacks were stacked on a folding table by the roadside, with a note attached that read, "Teachers from the film crew, please take as needed." The handwriting was crooked and messy, probably written by a fan who quickly found a pen to write it.
The crew's cars arrived relatively early, driving in one after another, and each time someone got off, there was a commotion on the outside.
People called out the names of those they recognized, and those they didn't also joined in, creating a lively atmosphere.
Pei Yubai's car was the last one.
The screams had been going on all morning by the time the car door opened, and the people were hoarse, but the screams still erupted the moment the person stepped out.
He wore a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and a black baseball cap pulled low.
After getting off the bus, he didn't go straight inside, but stood by the door without moving.
The fans looked at each other, holding their phones, wondering what he was waiting for.
Someone whispered, "Is there anyone else on the bus?"
Before he finished speaking, another person got out of the car.
Dressed in red with silver hair, she slowly stepped out of the car, one hand on the door. After her feet touched the ground, she raised her face, squinting slightly in the sunlight, her eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids.
There was silence for about a second outside the police line.
Then the shouts grew even louder.
The Imperial Fans were shouting, the Taro Balls were shouting, the double-fans were shouting, and even passersby who came to watch the excitement couldn't help but shout along when they saw that face.
Qiguan Yuan was clearly still half asleep, and the noise made his ears ring. He took a half step behind Pei Yubai.
Pei Yubai turned his head and said something in a very low voice, so that no one else could hear him.
Qiguan Yuan shook his head, stepped out from behind him, and stood up straight.
A strand of his silver hair was blown up by the wind, and he raised his hand to press it down.
Even before the opening ceremony was underway, the photos had already spread far and wide.
The photos of Pei Yubai standing in front of the car door waiting for someone, Qiguan Yuan leaning half his body out of the car, and the two walking side by side towards the entrance of the film set have been shared countless times in the super topic.
The hashtag for Xiao Yuan Grains suddenly surged from its silence, with someone posting just four words: " Yuanyuan is here!"
Someone saw the post while at their workstation, stared at the photo of Qiguan Yuan getting out of the car for ten seconds, stood up, told their supervisor there was an emergency at home, and rushed out without even grabbing their coat.
Those who live near the film studio only needed five minutes from seeing the news to buying their tickets.
In a neighboring city, someone hailed a taxi and, after getting in, pleaded with the driver to hurry, his voice trembling.
At the high-speed rail station, several windows were simultaneously filled with people buying tickets for the same destination.
When the first group arrived at the film studio, the opening ceremony was still underway.
They were stopped outside the cordon. They could see the incense table set up in the distance across a large open space, but they couldn't see the faces of the people. They could only hear someone shouting "Good luck with the start of the show" through a megaphone, followed by a sparse clapping and cheering.
The girl running in front had a fine layer of sweat on her forehead, and her bangs were all stuck to her skin. The banner in her arms was a screenshot from that variety show episode. In the picture, Qiguan Yuan was smiling at the camera, and the corners of the banner were curled up. She had kept it all this time.
Someone nearby was watching a live stream on their phone, and the streamer's voice was trembling. "I saw him, I really saw him," before the screen shook several times.
After the ceremony, the crew members dispersed.
The set crew carried equipment inside, while the production assistants ran around with walkie-talkies.
Outside the police line, all was quiet; no one spoke, and all eyes were fixed in the same direction.
After a while, Pei Yubai came out from inside, accompanied by Qiguan Yuan.
He held Qiguan Yuan's hand, loosely holding a few of his fingers, not interlocking them, just a loose grip.
Qiguan Yuan followed him, raising his other hand to cover his mouth as he yawned, a little water glistening in the corner of his eye after he finished yawning.
The silver hair was dazzlingly white under the sunlight, and the red dress stood out starkly against the gray set and equipment, making one's eyes sting.
Someone outside the police cordon started crying.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and chin first, followed by a choked sob. " Yuanyuan..."
Those nearby heard this, their mouths twitched, and their lips also fell.
Someone shouted " Yuanyuan " loudly, their voice trembling violently.
That sound was like turning on all the faucets; cries immediately filled the air. The Xiao Yuan Grains, with red eyes, looked at the person they hadn't seen for months.
Qiguan Yuan heard it.
He stopped and turned to look at them. His gaze swept over the faces that were a mess of tears.
Then the Xiao Yuan Grains saw his eyes crinkle into a smile, the same smile as a few months ago, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.
Goodbye, my Xiao Yuan Grains.
The voice was exactly the same as I remembered.
Lazy and listless, even the slight upward curve of the last syllable remained unchanged.
The people outside the police line were crying as they answered him, their voices overlapping so that it was impossible to tell who was who.
" Yuanyuan, Yuanyuan, may you be well!"
We're fine!
"I just miss you..." The last sentence was shouted out by several people at the same time, and it clearly penetrated into their ears amidst the noisy crying.
Qiguan Yuan tilted his head. Looking at the faces outside, their makeup ruined by tears, he replied, "I've been here all along."
Four words.
Those who were just sobbing suddenly started crying even harder.
Someone was live-streaming on their phone, the camera was shaking terribly, and the streamer was crying while shouting into the microphone, "He said he's been... did you hear that, Yuanyuan said it, he's been..."
Pei Yubai stood next to Qiguan Yuan, neither urging him nor interrupting him throughout the entire process.
That loosely clasped hand never loosened its grip from beginning to end.
Qiguan Yuan waved to the outside, then turned and said something to Pei Yubai. Pei Yubai nodded, and the two got into the car together.
Before the car door closed, Qiguan Yuan poked half his head out of the window again, waved to the Xiao Yuan Grains, and moved his mouth, but what he said couldn't be heard through the glass.
It's probably to let them go home earlier.
Then he shrank back, and the car slowly drove away.
That evening, the two topics were trending side-by-side on the hot search list.
# Qiguan Yuan #
Xiao Yuan Grains cried#