Chapter Twenty-Four: Teen Idols
Wei Ye and Zhang Yang met at a coffee shop not far from Kaidi Entertainment. The coffee shop was quite charming, with partitions set up in all the private booths on the second floor, giving customers a relatively private space. The shop played the owner's collection of blues music.
Wei arrived at the coffee shop designated by Zhang Yang ahead of time, looking around the shop with great interest.
"Good taste," Wei nodded to himself, his rubbing fingers betraying a hint of nervousness.
He didn't state his purpose on the phone, but rather tentatively asked Zhang Yang if he would like to go out for a meal, since trainees from various companies were on vacation and he should have time.
Zhang Yang accepted the invitation more easily than he had expected, only specifying the location and subtly indicating that he hoped the time wouldn't be too long, as he still needed to practice.
His personality seemed to have softened a bit, but he remained diligent.
Not long after, Zhang Yang arrived on time for the appointment.
Zhang Yang is still handsome, his hair is a bit shorter, and he is dressed in all black. The black down jacket looks very high-quality on him, and he has his own unique style, as if he is isolated from the noise.
"Brother Ye." Zhang Yang's lazy voice rang out on the relatively quiet second floor, his casual yet unique temperament attracting glances from those sitting next to him.
"Ahem." Wei Ye rarely heard Zhang Yang call him "Brother Ye," and seemed to choke for a moment. He quickly stood up and pointed to the seat opposite him, "You're here. Sit down. I ordered a few plates of dim sum. You can order whatever you like."
A variety of snacks were laid out on the table, which Zhang Yang enjoyed with ease. Wei, on the other hand, carefully chose his words, picked up his drink to moisten his throat, and began to reminisce, "I went to Kai Di Entertainment a while ago."
Zhang Yang remained silent, showing no change in emotion, but simply looked at Wei Ye, indicating that he was listening.
“That place isn’t right for you.” Wei Ye concluded, his eyes serious. “You love music and the stage, and you might be able to do well anywhere, but I still hope you can avoid some detours. Your talent shouldn’t only be showcased in E-Station’s videos.”
He watched all the videos posted on the Young&Rich channel. Every song he performed had a unique vitality that touched people's hearts. What was frightening was that he never stopped and kept improving.
“But I haven’t seen any clear plans from Kaidi Entertainment for you. You’re not young anymore, Zhang Yang.” Wei also pointed out the problem incisively. “If your goal is just to become an online blogger, then never mind what I said.”
An account run by two people, with only Zhang Yang putting on a show to create a mysterious persona for the other person, is a waste of resources. Using Zhang Yang to drive traffic to another member is not worth it for him.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Zhang Yang's eyes, but it vanished quickly. However, Wei Ye immediately noticed the emotion he felt at those words.
Wei intensified his attack, calling out, "Zhang Yang." He felt he had never called out the other's name so solemnly before, not even when he was trying to win him over. Now he knew he carried a heavier burden than before, and there was no turning back.
He extended an olive branch, sincerely saying, "Come back to the company. I'm building a team that needs your touch, and it will definitely shine with a dazzling brilliance that will captivate you as well."
Wei stared intently at Zhang Yang, not missing a single hint of movement in his eyes. His domineering gaze left Zhang Yang no room to look away. "You know, I know what you want."
Wei also did a lot of research on Zhang Yang and spent a long time getting to know him. He understood the boy in front of him very well. Others said he was strange and aloof, but Wei knew that what he wanted was very simple.
Zhang Yang wavered. Just moments ago, he was casually tasting the pastry with a small spoon, but now he lowered his head and remained silent, the spoon gripping tightly in his hand, motionless.
Wei's confidence surged. He lowered his voice, but his words were firm and resolute: "We need you, and you need us." He promised: "As long as you come back, we'll work together to figure out the termination fee. Other problems won't be a problem."
"We are a team that can face storms together."
Although he hasn't faced many challenges yet, Wei still has this kind of confidence.
Zhang Yang remained silent, his beautiful eyes beneath thick eyelashes calm and aloof, carrying an undercurrent of tranquility. Wei patiently gave him ample time to think.
The other guests on the second floor seemed to be affected by the atmosphere, and they all lowered their voices, creating an eerie silence for a few seconds.
Wei didn't want to put too much pressure on Zhang Yang, so while Zhang Yang was sorting out his thoughts, he tried to keep busy, changing the position of the plates, flipping through the menu, and looking around at the decorations, even though he had already looked at them all once.
Zhang Yang seemed to have made up his mind. He leaned casually against the sofa and naturally brushed his hair back. His smooth hair fell in all directions with his movement, but it was not messy at all. Instead, it created a special atmosphere.
“Brother Ye,” he looked up slightly at Wei Ye, his eyes sharp and his simple gesture exuding an aura, “thank you for thinking so highly of me.”
Wei Ye's heart skipped a beat; this was not a good sign. Sure enough, the reserved and composed young man in front of him said, "Do you still remember what I asked of you back then?"
His mood plummeted. "You mean..."
"Bring your friend, Jin Ziran?"
"Cough cough..." It seemed that someone sitting next to me choked on their water and couldn't stop coughing, causing a small commotion, which actually dissipated the tense atmosphere.
Wei snapped out of his daze. He was in a bad mood and didn't want to worry about the other person's feelings anymore, so he asked directly, "You left Will with him and signed with Kaidi. Where is he now? Is he hiding behind your video account and not even willing to show his face, or is he trying to use you to get back to Will?"
“Brother Ye,” Zhang Yang’s voice carried an unshakeable force, “no one can slander my friend.”
He glanced at his phone, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and said, "It's getting late, I have to go practice, I'm leaving now." He turned to leave.
"Zhang Yang, go back and think it over." Wei didn't try to stop him; he knew Zhang Yang was determined, just as stubborn as a mule.
Zhang Yang paused, without turning around, leaving only the words: "My conditions remain unchanged."
As he walked toward the stairs, his gaze calmly swept over the corner of the adjacent seat, which was hidden by a partition, and he let out a barely audible hum.
The few figures sitting there didn't see Zhang Yang's expression when he was backlit. They only felt that the air seemed to freeze wherever he went. Several small heads huddled together, lowered their bodies, and pretended to be nonchalant.
Only after confirming that Zhang Yang had left did the group dare to step out from their seats and sit down in front of Wei Ye.
Wei was in a state of extreme agitation. His fingers subconsciously reached for a cigarette, but remembering that he had quit for a long time, he impatiently tapped the table instead.
This was the first time Meng Fanxi had been so close to Zhang Yang, and he felt that Zhang Yang's aura surpassed that of many celebrities he had seen in his previous life.
He, Xu You, and Gu Huailang originally planned to go home to adjust their state and prepare for the team building activity, leaving Wei Ye to persuade Zhang Yang alone.
Perhaps because the campfire that night was so wonderful, Ren Yuchen packed his bags overnight and returned to the capital with them the next day. Perhaps because they were well prepared, they were not as tired as when they came. In the end, everyone decided to go and meet Zhang Yang together.
Of course, Wei Ye was the main force, while the others sat nearby to probe Zhang Yang's attitude and assess whether he was suitable to be one of them.
After all, apart from Xu You and Wei Ye who had dealt with Zhang Yang, the others present, including Meng Fanxi from his previous life, did not know much about Zhang Yang.
"It failed." Xu You was even more devastated than Wei Ye, especially when he heard that Zhang Yang still wanted to drag Jin Ziran along. He felt a sense of disappointment and frustration.
"Or we could consider putting the gold..."
"Impossible." Xu You angrily interrupted Wei Ye. He would never agree to let this person, whom Zhang Yang valued so much but who was trying to destroy his CDs, return to Weir Company and become part of his team.
Indeed, Xu You was even less composed than Meng Fanxi was when facing Jin Ziran. When he heard Jin Ziran mentioned in their conversation, Xu You choked on his water in disbelief, causing a moment of panic.
Meng Fanxi was also preoccupied, but he didn't show it too much.
Gu Huailang suggested, "Give up and focus on Lin Ruohe." He didn't have any obsession with Zhang Yang. Was he a good singer? In his opinion, Xu You, Meng Fanxi, and Ren Yuchen all sang well.
Moreover, he didn't seem easy to get along with. To be honest, the look that swept over him was intimidating. Although there was no hostility, it carried a sharp aura.
Xu You hoped not to agree to Zhang Yang's conditions and to persuade Zhang Yang alone, but Gu Huailang suggested giving up directly.
Wei Ye was, after all, a mature young man. He had calmed down and looked at the two who hadn't spoken yet. "Yu Chen, Fan Xi, what are your thoughts?"
When Ren Yuchen came over from the next table, he didn't forget to take his iced Americano. His eyes were fixed on the stairwell, and his fingertips were tracing the inside of the cup. "Let's try again. He is indeed very strong."
Even without performing anything, he exudes star quality in every gesture. What would it be like if he were teammates? He was just a little curious.
Only Meng Fanxi remained silent.
He was torn. Zhang Yang and Xu You, two people who had clashed in their past lives, would they be able to avoid the crisis of their past lives by not being in the same group?
Xu You might be disappointed that Zhang Yang didn't join the group, but not that disappointed, since everyone was mentally prepared for Zhang Yang to refuse.
Zhang Yang is dazzling. Even though he joined VIER after their debut, his strong adaptability and influence on the group's musical style were praised by everyone. Even though the group had a lot of controversy and haters, their music always topped the charts.
In his previous life, he was also one of Zhang Yang's listeners. In terms of musicality and the color of the combination, they needed him.
Meng Fanxi analyzed, "He is indeed very strong. If he joins us, it's not just about adding a great vocalist; it will greatly enhance the diversity of our group."
However, he changed the subject and stated clearly: "Adding Jin Ziran is not an option."
Wei nodded, having recovered from the blow Zhang Yang had dealt him. "I had assessed Jin Ziran before, and there was something strange about him that I couldn't accept, and it's even more so now." He sighed and said with a wry smile, "Let's think of another way."
**
The temporary dormitories at Kaidi Entertainment are single rooms, located upstairs from the company's offices.
KaiDi does not provide accommodation services. Students who usually attend school live in dormitories at school. KaiDi has rented two large practice rooms near the company. If a student practices too late, they can stay in the temporary dormitory for one night.
However, this situation is rare, and some of the flute students always maintain the attitude that they should just do their best in practice.
Of course, Zhang Yang is an excellent student who can balance studying and practicing. One of the temporary dormitories for the flute is basically his, and he practices until late at night almost every night.
During the annual holiday, most of the trainees went home. Zhang Yang carried his bag and walked into the floor where the flute practice room was located. One of the practice rooms had its light on and the door was locked from the inside, indicating that someone was using it.
Zhang Yang was a little surprised, but didn't think much of it and went straight to another room. He didn't lock it, so that other trainees wouldn't have nowhere to use it if they wanted to.
When he left the practice room, the lights were already off. Zhang Yang went back upstairs to take a shower and happened to see Jin Ziran returning after washing up. Both of them were surprised.
Zhang Yang, in particular, has never been this diligent before. He even came to train during his annual leave without telling him.
Zhang Yang temporarily put aside his plans, and the two went to Jin Ziran's temporary dormitory to chat. As Jin Ziran spoke, she naturally tidied up the things scattered on the table, saying helplessly and embarrassedly, "Look at me, I've thrown things everywhere."
Suddenly, Jin Ziran's phone rang. The takeout had arrived. To avoid revealing his information, he usually didn't fill in a specific address. He hurriedly went downstairs to pick up the takeout and asked Zhang Yang to sit and wait a while.
Zhang Yang did not sit down; instead, he walked to the table where Jin Ziran had been standing.
Jin Ziran practiced all afternoon. He's a young man, and even though it was the dead of winter, he opened the window a hand's width wide to let in some fresh air as soon as he got back.
A sudden gust of cold wind blew by, scattering the miscellaneous items that Jin Ziran had just piled up, with some papers being blown directly to the ground.
The stray hairs on Zhang Yang's forehead fluttered slightly in the wind, and his furrowed brows betrayed his current mood. As his indifferent gaze fell, a novelly designed promotional leaflet lay quietly on the ground. The date on the paper was carefully marked, and some information was emphasized with five-pointed stars, showing the owner's care.
The slogans on the page are eye-catching and inspiring.
"A talent show that will sweep across China is about to be born!"
"A super S-level plan shakes the thrones of several established idol companies!"
"The next center of attention could be you!"
At this moment, Zhang Yang's dark eyes, as deep as obsidian, were fixed on the most prominent words on the promotional page—"Teen Idol."
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