Chapter 1 He had a crush on Jing Yitong for seven years, and now…
Shanghai, Changhu Central Stadium, Nebula's farewell concert.
The venue, which can hold tens of thousands of people, was packed with people. Screams rose and fell from the audience, while the singing and booming sound system on stage made people's hearts race.
Just as Nebula's last song was about to end, a tall man arrived late, sitting discreetly in a corner of the venue, attracting no attention.
It wasn't until the girl sitting next to him accidentally hit him with her glow stick that she realized there was someone next to her, and she quickly apologized, "I'm sorry."
The man responded in a low voice, "It's nothing."
Despite the noise around her, the girl froze the moment she heard the voice. She looked at the man, and although his hat brim was pulled low, she recognized his face all too well.
The girl blurted out a name: "Jing Yitong?"
The man didn't deny it, but pulled up his mask and made a shushing gesture: "Shh."
It's truly a scene of perfect harmony!
The girl was clearly still in a daze, and she nodded blankly—how could Jing Yitong be at Nebula's concert?
At this moment, the lights in the venue dimmed, and Nebula waved goodbye on stage and left. Now the girl no longer had time to care about Jing Yitong. She turned her head and shouted towards the stage: "Ahhh, Fang Xin Gu! Encore! Encore!"
Hearing the cheers, Jing Yitong turned to look at her: "You like Fang Xingu too?"
“Yes! I’ve liked him ever since ‘Starry Night’,” the girl said, turning her attention to Jing Yitong. “Why are you at Nebula’s concert? You…you like them too?”
Me?
Jing Yitong's gaze slowly turned to the stage, where Fang Xingu's face was being projected on the huge screen. As Jing Yitong watched, a smile unconsciously crept into his eyes.
He said softly, "I guess so."
Four years ago, the Nebula group officially debuted through China's first idol boy group talent show, "Star Journey". In the past few years, Nebula has become incredibly popular, but the seven members are, after all, a limited-time group from different companies, and there will eventually be a day when they disband.
Just like today's concert, it's time for the music to end and the audience to leave.
As the curtain fell on the stage, the fans of the various groups who had once fiercely fought over the stage briefly put aside their past grievances, and the venue resounded with shouts of "Encore!"
Backstage, the seven members of Nebula returned to the dressing room, panting heavily. After singing and dancing for several hours straight, even an ironman needs to catch his breath.
The group drank water, changed their outfits, and discussed the encore song to come. Amidst their laughter and conversation, Fang Xin Gu, the most popular member of the group, stood silently against the wall, as if he had been forgotten by his teammates.
Makeup artist Zhao Yi glanced at Fang Xingu furtively before quickly looking away.
She had just returned from abroad and had never been in contact with Nebula before, but Nebula was so popular that they even had many fans overseas. Zhao Yi had been forced to hear a lot of rumors about them, such as... Fang Xingu was arrogant and looked down on other members because of his popularity. He had deep conflicts with his teammates, to the point that they hated each other.
Zhao Yi initially thought these were all rumors, but after spending the day with Fang Xingu, he realized that Fang Xingu was indeed aloof and rarely communicated with his teammates. Now, looking at the relationships within their team, it seems there's no smoke without fire.
At this moment, Fang Xin leaned against the wall, and the frequency of his chest rising and falling was significantly more intense than that of the others when he was panting.
The atmosphere was tense when the door to the dressing room was suddenly flung open. Fang Xin's manager, Qi Qiu, stormed up to him, his voice low and menacing as he said, "Trying to avoid me because of the concert, huh? When are you going to give me an answer?"
Fang Xingu looked down at his toes: "...Let me think about it some more."
Qi Qiu got angry at his expression: "How long have you been thinking about this? Is it that hard to decide? Give me a straight answer, whether you're renewing the contract or not!"
Just as Qi Qiu was about to lash out, Fang Xingu's phone started vibrating repeatedly. He immediately picked up the phone, his expression serious and earnest: "Something urgent has come up. We'll talk about it later."
After saying that, Fang Xingu grabbed his phone and quickly turned to leave. Qi Qiu stared at his departing figure, and could only swallow back the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.
Meanwhile, Fang Xin's so-called "urgent matter" was just a pretext. He opened his phone and found that it was a barrage of messages from his friend Xu Subo, who was not in the entertainment industry.
Xu Subo: Do you know about Jing Yitong's situation?
Xu Subo: The Jing family's financial crisis has become so severe that they have to resort to marriage to solve it?
Xu Subo: This world is so surreal, so Jing Yitong is getting married?
Perhaps because she hadn't received Fang Xin's reply, Xu Subo cautiously asked: "...Are you alright?"
Fang Xin held his phone tightly, his expression unchanged, but he stared at the word "marriage" on the screen for a long time before replying: I know.
How could he not know?
The Fang and Jing families are old friends, and he and Jing Yitong grew up together. Even though he deliberately kept his distance from Jing Yitong in recent years and tried not to pay attention to Jing Yitong's news, they always lived and worked in the same circle, and news about Jing Yitong would always come to him.
The same thing happened this time. The news of Jing Yitong's marriage alliance reached his ears a few days ago, and he couldn't avoid it.
When Fang Xingu first heard the news, he was completely unable to accept it. Although the Jing family had indeed encountered some crises, as far as he knew, they were still under control. Moreover, Jing Yitong was a public figure after all, so how could he easily agree to a marriage alliance?
Unfortunately, no matter how much Fang Xin inquired, he always got the same result.
Yes, Jing Yitong is getting married.
He had a crush on Jing Yitong for seven years, and now they were getting married.
On the day the news was confirmed, Fang Xin felt a bittersweet sense of relief—this day had finally come.
Perhaps he had long anticipated this day, so Fang Xingu did not show any excessive pain. He felt more of an empty sense of bewilderment, as if a very important part of his life was being stripped away, and he was powerless to stop it.
But what could he do? Not all affections are reciprocated, and besides, he was just a cowardly admirer who never even dared to tell Jing Yitong that he liked her.
Jing Yitong was ultimately not meant for him; they would drift further and further apart one day, if not today, then tomorrow.
Since we're destined to be apart, let's just leave it at that.
So Fang Xingu composed himself and continued to maintain his normal routine, leaving no trace of his true feelings.
Xu Subo, on the other side of the ocean, was utterly shocked, especially when she saw Fang Xingu's message, "I know," she felt like her eyes were about to pop out.
Who can remain so calm knowing that the person they have a crush on is getting married?
Even Xu Subo, an outsider, seemed to be in a state of shock: Is this all you're going to do?
She even began to doubt whether Fang Xingu truly liked Jing Yitong.
Fang Xingu remained calm: "What else? It's just a breakup. Are you going to cry, make a scene, or even threaten suicide after a breakup?"
Xu Subo: ...
Xu Subo: Big brother, the only time I've ever been heartbroken was when I confessed my feelings to you, and you said you liked Jing Yitong [smile].
Fang Xin Gu, whose boomerang had pierced his own body: ...
Fang Xin quickly slid to his knees: I'm sorry, I deserve to die [kneeling]
Xu Subo didn't argue with him, but was instead puzzled: What is it about Jing Yitong that makes you like him for so many years?
Fang Xin Gu: ...What did Jing Yitong do to offend you? After all these years, you still hate him so much?
Jing Yitong was very popular, but Xu Subo disliked him.
Xu Subo: That guy, I've disliked him since high school. If it weren't for the fact that you used to like him, I would have killed him long ago. But anyway, now that you're heartbroken, I don't have to put up with it anymore. From now on, we'll both curse him out [hehe]
Just as Xu Subo was about to launch into a long tirade against Jing Yitong, Fang Xin felt a headache coming on and quickly interrupted: "Let's stop talking now, I'm still at the concert."
Xu Subo paused, then replied after a while: ...Okay, if you're sad, don't bottle it up. You can vent to me about any emotions you have. No matter what, I'll be on your side. [cat wink]
Xu Subo was unusually understanding, but Fang Xin felt there was nothing to say; he couldn't even begin to describe his emotions.
Who hasn't experienced heartbreak and sadness at some point in their life? He just needs a little time to process it.
Fang Xin politely declined: "I'm fine... I'll go now."
Xu Subo: Go, big star.
Fang Xin leaned against the wall and turned off his phone, a sense of loneliness surrounding him, even more silent than before.
Makeup artist Zhao Yi hesitated when she saw Fang Xingu. It was time to touch up Fang Xingu's makeup, but he looked unapproachable and not someone to mess with. Zhao Yi thought she had seen a lot, but she was still a little scared.
But time was of the essence, so she still mustered up the courage to call out, "Teacher Fang, it's time to touch up your makeup."
Fang Xingu nodded and sat down in front of the vanity mirror.
Zhao Yi breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, he hadn't been made to suffer.
Before touching up her makeup, she habitually glanced at the makeup mirror to check the lighting, but was still captivated by her face, both new and old, reflected in the mirror.
It was a face that possessed both bone structure and skin beauty. The smooth and distinct facial lines and the high nose bridge made him quite handsome, but his eyes were particularly bright and sparkling, giving him a lively and gentle quality. One glance at them would make you fall deeply in love.
Unfortunately, Fang Xingu always had a cold and indifferent expression, and his slightly lowered brows made his beautiful eyes look even more sharp. Especially for this concert, Fang Xingu dyed his hair platinum blonde, a color that suited his skin tone, but also made him look even more aloof and distant.
Zhao Yi thought to himself, "This guy is really good-looking, no wonder he's so popular... It's just a pity his personality is a bit off."
Seeing Zhao Yi standing there motionless, Fang Xin looked up and called out to her, "Teacher?"
Zhao Yi then came to her senses. She awkwardly pushed up her mask and shook the brush in her hand: "Sorry, Teacher Fang, please close your eyes first."
Fang Xin closed her eyes, and Zhao Yi secretly stared at her a few more times before starting to touch up her makeup.
While touching up her makeup, Zhao Yi suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark figure creeping towards her feet. Looking down, she saw Ye Wenlian, a member of Nebula, squatting beside Fang Xingu, holding something that looked like a gun.
Ye Wenlian noticed Zhao Yi's gaze and quickly waved her hand to signal her to be quiet.
Just as Zhao Yi was wondering, Ye Wenlian suddenly raised her hand and shoved the "gun" in front of Fang Xingu's forehead.
"Beep—beep beep—"
The sudden warning startled Fang Xingu. As he opened his eyes and saw Ye Wenlian, he leaned back, trying to create distance between them.
Ye Wenlian's attention, however, was entirely focused on the thermometer in his hand. He stared wide-eyed and shouted, "40.2 degrees!"
Fang Xingu frowned and covered his mouth and nose: "Why are you getting so close? Stay away from me."
Ye Wenlian was shocked: "Is that the point? Don't worry about whether it will infect us, you should worry about yourself first!"
Team leader Lu Changning looked worried: "Xin Gu, can you hold on? Maybe An Ke shouldn't go on later."
Several other teammates chimed in, "Your health is the most important thing."
Fang Xingu shook his head: "It's nothing."
This was the last song of Nebula's final concert, the theme song of the same name from the drama "Star Journey". It was only about ten minutes long, but it was very meaningful. At this moment, whether for the fans who had come from afar or for Nebula's perfect farewell, he had to persevere.
Lu Changning said helplessly, "Don't be stubborn."
But some people shouted in support of Fang Xin Gu's decision: "Xin Gu has to go on stage, in case someone sings off-key later, Xin Gu will have to save the day!"
His teammates jokingly scolded him, "Are you risking your life for the sake of a good performance?!"
Over the past three years, no matter how fiercely the fans of each group have fought, and no matter how much the outside world has described the relationship within Nebula as extremely tumultuous, the seven members actually get along quite well.
Watching their interaction from the side, Zhao Yi tentatively asked, somewhat uncertainly, "Is Teacher Fang running a fever?"
Fang Xingu asked in confusion, "You didn't know? I saw you wearing a mask the whole time, so I thought you knew I was sick."
Zhao Yi: ...
Wearing a mask is just a professional habit of hers!
At this moment, Ye Wenlian, who was on the ground, suddenly pounced and hugged Fang Xingu's leg without any regard for his image: "Brother, you can't burn your brain out. I'm still hoping to sing songs with you in the future."
Fang Xingu was already feeling unwell, and he had no energy to do anything right now. He said impatiently, "Stop bothering me."
Watching their interaction, Zhao Yi finally glimpsed a glimpse of the truth: "You two seem to have a pretty good relationship?"
It turns out that Fang Xin Gu wasn't isolated; he was just sick and didn't want to infect his teammates, so he'd been hiding alone in a corner for the past two days.
"That's right, this is our golden thigh," Ye Wenlian patted Fang Xingu's leg twice without any politeness and teased, "Look at you, you're just too good at pretending, making the makeup artist misunderstand, right?"
Fang Xingu ignored him and tried to pull his leg out of Ye Wenlian's grasp. However, even with all his strength, his leg did not budge.
Ye Wenlian chuckled sinisterly, "Don't even think about getting rid of me!"
Fang Xin closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and sighed deeply: It's one thing to be unlucky in love, but to have such a lenient teammate at work is another.
This is really too much to bear.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Fang Xin Gu: The sky has fallen.
At that moment, Jing Yitong, who had come all the way to see the concert, was quietly devastated: ...It feels like my world has collapsed.
Author's note: It won't collapse at all; everyone should have both love and career success!
(Nebula, which means nebula in Chinese, is abbreviated as Nb~)
——
Here's a pre-order for a contemporary BL novel. I'll be writing this next book. Readers who are interested are welcome to add it to their favorites!
"Mr. Xie, how could you fall in love with a body double!"
A seemingly respectable but actually ruthless and controlling top (Xie Sui) × A hedonistic, reborn bottom who doesn't care what kind of play you play as long as he's happy (Lu Mingwei)
(Main character is the receiver; the text and title are still being worked on.)
.
Ever since he hired a new assistant, Xie Sui has noticed that the way his colleagues look at him has changed.
Every day as he walks around the company, he can hear the employees whispering amongst themselves, even though they think it's being discreet.
"How could President Xie find a substitute for President Lu to keep by his side?"
"This stand-in looks so much like President Lu, from appearance to personality. Could this be a scam?"
"I really misjudged President Xie. President Lu has only been gone for a few years and he can't hold back anymore? No, it's been eight years."
"Sigh, men really are all fickle."
Xie Sui turned a deaf ear and only showed great care for the "stand-in" assistant.
Not only did he let the stand-in move into his home, but he also personally took care of the stand-in's daily life. He even became so infatuated with love that he wanted to give his shares to the stand-in.
Upon hearing the news, Mingsheng employees erupted in a shrill outcry: "President Xie, how could you fall in love with a body double!"
Mingsheng is President Lu's life's work, and now you actually want to use Mingsheng to curry favor with the substitute? How can you face President Lu?
Xie Sui stubbornly insisted: "Stop arguing, I can tell whether he's a stand-in or not."
staff:……
Oh no, Ming Sheng is really doomed now!
.
In his previous life, Lu Mingwei worked diligently for the company, but died of illness at the age of twenty-eight, only to be met with countless cries of "Heaven is jealous of talent" at his funeral.
When Lu Mingwei opened his eyes again, he found himself eight years in the future.
This time, he was reborn as a penniless man who looked very similar to his original self. However, he was unloved by his parents, owed a huge amount of money to loan sharks, and was even coerced and lured by his creditors to become someone else's substitute.
Creditor: "As long as you infiltrate Mingsheng Group and become Xie Sui's stand-in for Lu Mingwei, stealing Mingsheng's internal secrets, our debt will be wiped clean."
Lu Mingwei: ?
Mingsheng, isn't that my company?
Xie Sui, isn't that my student?
Lu Mingwei... isn't that just me?!
Lu Mingwei is not suitable as a typical stand-in.
But he definitely wants to see how outrageous it is that someone would infiltrate his own company and act as his student's double. :)
.
In order to find out the details of the creditors, Lu Mingwei disguised herself and rejoined Mingsheng, becoming Xie Sui's assistant.
However, Lu Mingwei believed he knew Xie Sui very well and thought that Xie Sui would never be deceived by the so-called "stand-in" trap.
However, upon returning to Mingsheng, Lu Mingwei discovered that Xie Sui's attitude towards him, his "stand-in," was becoming increasingly strange.
She not only tricked him into living with her at home, but also took care of his food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and even tried to lure him into bed.
Lu Mingwei fell into deep thought: Something's not right. Does Xie Sui want to sleep with the substitute or with me?
Lu Mingwei sensed something was wrong and packed her bags, preparing to flee Xie Sui's house that very night.
As soon as he opened the door with his suitcase, he was blocked at the door by Xie Sui, who looked like a ghost.
Xie Sui looked at him with a gloomy expression: "Teacher, are you going to leave me alone again?"
Lu Mingwei's Adam's apple bobbed. Before he could even think about when he had been exposed, he felt a chill creep up his back.
Wait... so Xie Sui wants to sleep with me? ???
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