When the contestants were called to the cafeteria in the afternoon, many of them were quite excited when they saw Jian Zhi. After asking around, they found out Jian Zhi had come here in advance for a special program. For them, Jian Zhi was a relatively big senior, and a popular one at that. He was someone that many people wanted to befriend to benefit them.
As Jian Zhi walked into the cafeteria, he was greeted with warm cheers and enthusiasm.
Many trainees became sycophantic and said, “Jian-ge, I’ve heard many of your songs before. They are all so good!”
There were many sweet voices calling out to him as Jian Zhi stood beside Anran. To tell the truth, Jian Zhi didn’t want to be as low-key as Fu Jinxiao, and he would fulfill these trainees’ requests to appear nice in front of the camera. He also didn’t dress casually, instead wearing a black suit with a slender, sleek tie. His hair was styled to perfection, not a single strand strayed. He looked immaculate.
Jian Zhi smiled and said to everyone: “This time, I just want to cooperate with everyone for the stage performance, so don’t be too restrained, just treat me as a friend.”
The trainees replied, feeling touched, “Jian-ge is really kind”
“He may be famous, but he’s so down-to-earth!”
Only Jian Xingsui knows that Jian Zhi was actually a very stinky person. If he really meant what he said about befriending the trainees, he wouldn’t be dressed in a such fancy suit. He wasn’t low-key at all, and he certainly wasn’t a down-to-earth, humble person. When Jian Xingsui brought his friend to the Jian Family’s house, he was scolded by Jian Zhi, the older man fussing about not wanting Jian Xingsui to tell everyone their brotherly connection.
When many trainees saw Jian Zhi coming, they warmly greeted him and wanted to say hello. Jian Zhi glanced across the lobby and found that only Jian Xingsui and Shen Xingchen who were sitting in the corner ignored him. His expression immediately changed, and he deliberately took Anran’s hand and raised his voice, “This time, I’m here mainly to help my younger brother. Anran usually causes trouble for everyone, so I’ll ask for forgiveness on his behalf.”
Anran liked being protected by his famous brother like this, and he immediately smiled shyly.
The other trainees hurriedly said: “Jian-ge, you are really polite, Ranran is very nice, you don’t need to apologize to us.”
Anran clearly enjoyed everyone’s envious gaze towards him, but he was good enough in acting shy.
Some trainees plucked up their courage to ask for autographs, to which Jian Zhi agreed. So many people gathered around to ask for autographs and even WeChat contact, but for some reason, Jian Zhi looked at the other side of the cafeteria with some concern.
On the other side of the room, Jian Xingsui not only didn’t pay any shred of attention to him, but he and Shen Xingchen straight up went over to get their meal, as if they were too bored and just decided to continue their meal.
It was a very subtle and strange feeling. In the past, Jian Xingsui always regarded Jian Zhi as the whole world. No matter the occasion, wherever Jian Zhi appeared, Jian Xingsui would follow him around and couldn’t be shaken off. He used to be so clingy, and that pissed Jian Zhi off. He always thought Jian Xingsui was just a useless younger brother who could only cling to their family’s good name.
On the way here, he watched the latest performance, of course not for Jian Xingsui, but just to see Anran. The Internet was praising Jian Xingsui’s superb composition ability, but he sneered at it. However, he was really attracted to “Shimmer”. Looking at the shining performers on the stage, Jian Zhi suddenly felt that… he didn’t know this youth anymore.
Was this really Jian Xingsui?
His worthless brother?
Since when did he compose songs? He never knew that.
With a somewhat doubtful mind, Jian Zhi came to the gymnasium ahead of time. He guessed that Jian Xingsui should have known the news that he would not debut. After seeing him coming, Jian Zhi thought he might come over to lick his face1another synonym would be “licking dog”. Describes someone sycophantic. like before, or begging him to help fend off the program’s crew not to eliminate him. Jian Zhi had already thought about how to refuse such disgusting requests.
But…
Anran poked Jian Zhi: “Ge, what are you looking at?”
Jian Zhi recovered from his thoughts, and said with a guilty conscience: “No, I didn’t see anything.”
Anran’s smile was a little forced : “Really?”
He’s lying.
He was obviously looking at Jian Xingsui.
Anran felt a little unhappy in his heart, but still smiled gently, “Ge, shall we go to eat too?”
Jian Zhi nodded.
Anran just saw Jian Zhi staring at Jian Xingsui just now. He felt unhappy – he lost2clarity: Anran lost compared to Jian Xingsui because Jian Xingsui is the Popularity King. to Jian Xingsui at the latest performance, so he thought of getting some of his dignity back by deliberately dragging Jian Zhi to show off. He sat opposite of Jian Xingsui, and he even bought shrimps for his meal. When he was at home, his second brother would peel the shrimps for him.
After they sat down, Anran said softly: “Second brother, do you like shrimp? May I peel them for you?”
Jian Zhi didn’t really like shrimps, but he still said: “No, Ranran, I know you like it. Just eat, second brother will peel it for you.”
Anran showed a shy smile: “How embarrassing.”
Jian Zhi gently patted his head: “You are my younger brother, why are you being polite to me?”
As if deliberately trying to attract Jian Xingsui’s attention Jian Zhi also acted like a caring big brother, treating his younger brother with gentleness and consideration. This made other trainees envious, and Jian Xingsui also noticed. Although he no longer cared about such things for a long time now… remembering how different Jian Zhi treated him… Jian Xingsui’s heart still felt dull and sore.
Shen Xingchen next to him hated this nasty scene the most.
The haughty Young Master Shen put down his chopsticks: “I’ll get some shrimp too.”
After returning with a plate of shrimp, Shen Xingchen sat down, acted coquettish, hugged Jian Xingsui’s arm as if deliberately disgusting the other side and said: “Come on, second brother, do you like to eat shrimp? Ge will peel it for you.”
“…”
Jian Xingsui was dumbfounded by him.
After taking the shrimp from Shen Xingchen’s hand, Jian Xingsui said softly: “No need, I don’t like to eat it very much, and you don’t touch it too much, you are allergic to seafood.”
Shen Xingchen, a fool, was puzzled: “How do you know? “
Jian Xingsui said helplessly: “Because you didn’t touch any seafood when you ate hot pot last time, and besides, didn’t you said you couldn’t eat it?”
Shen Xingchen curled his lips into a shy smile and put down the shrimp helplessly.
Jian Xingsui saw his shriveled appearance, and gave him a chicken leg from his own bowl: “Eat this instead.”
Shen Xingchen angrily took the chicken leg back, thought for a while, and then gave him the chicken leg in his own bowl, “Second brother, since shrimps can’t be touched, we will settle on chicken legs.”
Jian Xingsui was dumbfounded by his nonsensical behavior, but his previous depression was also swept away, and a smile appeared on his eyebrows and eyes.
On the opposite side, Jian Zhi was inexplicably lost in thought.
He never told Jian Xingsui that he hated shrimps, but when eating, Jian Xingsui never let him eat shrimps. Every time he went home, the dishes on the table… were also almost all of his favorite dishes. Jian Xingsui sometimes cautiously said, “Second brother, I made this, it’s a bit mushy, but the taste should be good…”
At that time, he only thought that his younger brother was a clumsy idiot, only knowing how to make trouble.
Anran was good at cooking, so he was moved by Anran’s carefully prepared dishes, but he would never be moved by Jian Xingsui’s clumsiness. From the beginning to the end, there has never been a moment when he gave this clumsy younger brother a chance to shine.
Anran said from the side: “Second brother, I peeled the shrimp for you.”
His gentle voice was still as sensible as ever.
Jian Zhi recovered, but felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. In the past, he would feel that Anran was caring, but now he didn’t have such thoughts. He just said lightly: “No need, I don’t have appetite now.”
The smile on Anran’s face suddenly froze.
Holding the chopsticks in disbelief, he looked at his second brother who suddenly turned cold towards him for some reason. He was filled with endless doubts – why, what was wrong? It was fine before, right?
In order to prepare for the shooting of Anran’s birthday party, many trainees were decorating the cafeteria in a festive atmosphere. The program’s crew also purchased cakes and other things.
After returning to the training room, Jian Xingsui was a little tired, so he took the lead in going to the bathroom to take a shower.
Although Shen Xingchen was usually careless, today he also felt that something was wrong. He pulled Ning Ze and said, “Don’t you think that Comrade Little Jian is not right today?”
Ning Ze usually doesn’t talk much. After a while, he nodded.
“Why?” Shen Xingchen asked stupidly, “Is he still sick?”
Ning Ze was silent for a moment, and finally opened his lips and said, “Probably not, I think it might be because it’s his birthday in two days.”
“!!!”
Shen Xingchen almost jumped three feet high: “What did you say?”
Ning Ze still looked calm: “I guess it should be because of this.”
Shen Xingchen asked: “How did you guess?”
“When we first came here to register our information, I was the one behind him. I glanced at the identity information he filled in at that time. Because it was a fairly close date, just about two months, I remembered it.” Ning Ze said calmly, “It should be on the same day as Anran’s birthday.”
Shen Xingchen was shocked: “Then why didn’t this kid say anything?”
Ning Ze sat down beside him: “I think it’s because of embarrassment, after all, other people belong to the royal family and have capital, plus it’s a show invested by his father, so he can celebrate his birthday blatantly and give him special attention. If he said that today is also his birthday, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”
In fact, this mentality was understandable.
Shen Xingchen didn’t understand: “Birthdays can’t be not celebrated, it happens only once a year!”
In the Shen family, every birthday was celebrated grandly, and he would receive many gifts. That’s why he always looked forward to it. In his mind, someone’s birthday was a very special day and it must not be ignored. But… Jian Xingsui’s birthday… was ignored?
The most important thing is that the program crew actually didn’t mention it, just so that there was only Anran as the protagonist of that day. This was deceiving people too much, and Shen Xingchen, the envoy of justice, was not happy.
Ning Ze said: “There is no way… Where are you going?”
Shen Xingchen wandered out of the dormitory. Those who have good conditions at home like them will hide their back-up mobile phones. They usually don’t dare to play for fear of being caught. It was a special situation, so he still had the courage to use the phone.
He had to buy his second brother a birthday present.
He had to ask his family to bring a cake, preferably a bigger one than Anran’s.
Shen Xingchen called his elder brother first, but it turned out that he couldn’t get through. Thinking about it, it might be because he was on a business trip or a meeting, so it was understandable. He could only call home. After dialing for a while, a gentle female voice answered – it was his mother, Xu Enzhen.
Shen Xingchen yelled: “Mom, you haven’t slept despite being so late?”
Today was a cloudy, rainy day. The torrential downpour was loud enough to be heard over the phone.
Xu Enzhen replied, “I’m about to sleep, why? Is everything alright?”
Shen Xingchen was a little worried: “Is Dad at home?”
Xu Enzhen nodded: “He is, don’t worry.”
Only then did Shen Xingchen heave a sigh of relief. Speaking of it, this was considered a taboo in the Shen family. The reason was almost twenty years ago, Mrs. Xu was also frightened by the heavy rain at night when her youngest son was born – and that same day, that child also died. Since then, every rainy day, especially when there was thunder, Mrs. Xu always had nightmares and couldn’t sleep all night. She said that she would dream of the child when she fell asleep, and she would cry even more when she woke up.
Xu Enzhen asked softly: “What’s the matter, Chenchen?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.” Shen Xingchen said, “Mom, do you know Jian Xingsui? Two days from now, it’s his birthday, and I want to prepare a birthday present for him. But I’m here for closed training, you know, so I can’t prepare. I’ve inquired before, Jian Xingsui’s parents don’t love him very much, and then the program crew pretended to not know of his birthday, so I thought…”
His mother was suddenly silent.
The year when the accident happened, Shen Xingchen was only three or four years old, and he didn’t remember anything. Later, because Mrs. Xu suffered from postpartum depression and mental problems, it was strictly forbidden to discuss that matter at home, so Shen Xingchen didn’t know the exact death date of the younger brother he never had.
The thunderclap roared, as loud as an explosion. It roared and echoed inside Xu Enzhen’s ribcage, making her heart pound in an erratic fashion. Her body tensed up, and she failed to fully understand what her son was saying.
Shen Xingchen suddenly had a bad premonition, and hesitated, “Mom?”
In the Shen Family’s house, the woman sitting on the sofa was completely stiff. Her beautiful face showed sadness, her body trembled uncontrollably, and finally, two lines of tears fell. She covered her lips, trying to stifle her sobs. Finally, amidst her shaky voice, she said, “Is it the day after tomorrow? Is that child’s birthday really the day after tomorrow?”
Shen Xingchen didn’t know why her mother suddenly behaved like this, so he could only nod honestly: “Yes, yes it’s the day after tomorrow, so I figured…”
“Okay, mom will help you prepare.” Xu Enzhen’s voice was trembling, she seemed a little at a loss and said, “What should I prepare, what does he like, what does he lack? Ah, I need to go to the mall tomorrow… Oh, by the way, does he want to eat a cake? He should be twenty years old this year, I don’t know what kind of cake he likes to eat, I…”
Shen Xingchen held his mobile phone, watching the rain marks on the glass outside the window. He softly asked, “Mom, why are you crying?”
1another synonym would be “licking dog”. Describes someone sycophantic.2clarity: Anran lost compared to Jian Xingsui because Jian Xingsui is the Popularity King.