Yi Xing looked at the boy standing in front of him, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. It was rare to meet an acquaintance here. He responded,
“Oh, isn't this Qian Xi? Long time no see! You’ve grown so much in a few years. I’m here to record a show. Are you and these two younger brothers behind you also here for that?”
The other two boys who were cued also walked over and stood behind Yi Yang Qianxi. That's right, this trio was the most popular mainland boy band today — TFBOYS.
Director Xu Ke had really put a lot of thought into this show, even inviting them to be 'accelerators.' What a grand gesture!
“Yes, Xiao Xing Ge, you just returned to the country, so you probably don’t know much. Let me introduce you. This is Wang Junkai, the leader of our group, and he is Wang Yuan.”
After Yi Yang Qianxi finished speaking, he turned to face his group members and introduced the identity of the 'Xiao Xing Ge' he mentioned: “This is my cousin, Yi Xing. I usually call him Xiao Xing Ge.”
“Hello, Xiao Xing Ge!” x2.
“Hello to you too. I’ve long heard of the famous TFBOYS. When I returned to the country, I saw your overwhelming promotions. Your popularity is incredibly high! I never expected to be able to record a show with you all today. I guess I’m riding on your coattails.”
Yi Xing smiled and extended his hand to the people in front of him, saying enthusiastically.
Wang Junkai and Wang Yuan were still too young and didn't know how to handle such polite pleasantries. Suddenly being praised like this, they felt a bit embarrassed. One hand rubbed the back of his head, while the other shook the hand extended in the air.
After greeting these two popular stars, Yi Xing put his arm around Yi Yang Qianxi's shoulder, pulled him aside, and chatted about family matters, asking about the changes back home.
After all, he and his father hadn't returned for several years. As they chatted, the topic suddenly shifted to other things.
“You should be a high school student now, right?”
“Yes, I’ll be in my third year of high school after this summer vacation.”
“Then you’ll be taking the college entrance exam next year! Time flies so fast. I remember you were just a little kid following me around, and in the blink of an eye, you’re almost an adult. How are your grades now? Do you need a copy of my study materials?”
He didn't know why, but once he discovered someone younger than him was still in school, he would instinctively care about their test scores. Whether they were good or bad, if he didn't ask, it felt like something was stuck in his heart, but asking made him feel much better. Perhaps it was because he couldn't find a topic to chat about, so he could only start with a common topic like grades.
“Barely passing, but yes, I need them!”
Yi Yang Qianxi answered decisively. Ever since he joined the group, he was either releasing songs or appearing on variety shows, either rushing to announcements or on his way to them.
He rarely had time to study seriously, let alone organize notes. So, he really needed Yi Xing’s study materials, which would save him a lot of trouble.
“Alright, let’s exchange contact information. Give me an address then, and I’ll have someone mail them over. You should go get your styling done now.”
Yi Xing patted his shoulder, then walked to a corner and sat down, waiting for the makeup artist and stylist to touch him up.
No wonder it was called a big production; judging by the styling techniques, it was quite different from the shows he had participated in before. It felt particularly meticulous.
It was so meticulous that every strand of hair was exceptionally unique. The styling wasn't even finished yet when Liu Xuhui appeared in the makeup room and sat beside him.
This person had just arrived at the recording venue when his stomach suddenly started hurting. He quickly told his companions and ran to the restroom.
Yi Xing stared at the receding figure, momentarily speechless. This wasn't the first time he had seen him like this; there had been several similar experiences before.
He had also asked the other person why, and the answer he got was 'I don't know,' after which the matter was dropped.
“This seems to be the first time I’ve seen you getting makeup done, right? How does it feel? Do you feel completely refreshed?” Liu Xuhui asked curiously, his gaze fixed on the mirror, not moving for a long time.
“I don’t have that feeling you mentioned. Instead, I find it to be a very novel experience. Hey, teacher, is my face a bit too white?”
Yi Xing asked the makeup artist next to him. His original skin tone was already very fair, and with this layer of makeup, he looked a bit unnatural, like an ancient eunuch.
The makeup artist heard him, looked at the effect in the mirror, and indeed, it was as he said—too white. So, she removed it and started over.
She applied a new makeup look, this time being much more careful. She chose a more suitable foundation, adjusted the shade and amount, and gently applied it to his face.
“Come, take a look yourself. Does it still feel unnatural?”
Yi Xing cooperated with her words, opened his eyes, looked into the mirror, and nodded with satisfaction, saying,
“As expected of a professional! You immediately achieved the effect I wanted.”
For him, a natural makeup look was the most fitting for his face. It was like getting a haircut: looking the same as before was the best.
Once he was done, it was Liu Xuhui’s turn. He wouldn't just sit inside waiting foolishly, so he opened the makeup room door and walked around outside.
The three little ones who were inside earlier had disappeared, but this didn't stop him from walking around and looking. When he reached a corner, something bumped into his chest. He looked down and saw a girl.
He quickly reached out and grabbed her hand, apologizing, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going. Did I hurt you?”
The girl looked up at his words, revealing a somewhat familiar face, with a hint of panic in her eyes, and said,
“I should be the one apologizing to you. I accidentally bumped into you. You…”
She trailed off, staring intently at Yi Xing’s face.
“What about me? Is there something on my face? If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll get shy!”
“You don’t remember me?”
The girl's expression was a bit lost, and she muttered very softly, “Saying he would pay attention to the announced list, it was all a lie after all.”
Yi Xing didn't hear the last part of her sentence. His mind was constantly trying to recall where he had seen her before. Seeing her face indeed gave him a sense of déjà vu. He awkwardly said,
“Uh, I’m sorry, I can’t quite remember. Can you give me a hint?”
“Hongqiao International Airport, one year ago.”
“Oh, oh, oh, I remember now! You’re Ju Jingyi?”
Ju Jingyi’s small face bloomed into a beautiful smile. Besides the members of her group who were with her, she had finally seen an acquaintance. Although it was only a fleeting encounter, it was at least much better than those she had never met. She had personally given him a 'good person card' before.