Chapter 47: Speculations from Former Friends
It is not known whether red rain is about to fall from the sky, but Xu Hexuan's fan circle was shaken at this time.
No one would have thought that their aloof and taciturn actor Xu, who never liked to participate in any variety shows, would actually take the initiative to participate in a show, and it was even a talent show!
Fan circles have always been known to spread the word about any small change, and Xu Hexuan's guest appearance on "Youth Project" wasn't a secret to begin with. So, it didn't take long for the news to spread all over the internet.
With such immense popularity being offered to them, the production team naturally wanted to capitalize on it. They took the opportunity to announce on Weibo that Best Actor Xu Hexuan and OST queen Yan Xiaoya would be guest performers for the third round of "Youth Project." Lian Cheng, the CEO of the star-making company, would also be the special guest.
As soon as the news came out, it caused an uproar on the Internet.
Compared to Lian Cheng, the entertainment company boss who has been retired behind the scenes for many years, and Yan Xiaoya, who is a star-making entertainment artist herself, Xu Hexuan's performance is the most shocking.
After all, didn't this big shot say years ago that he would not participate in any variety shows in the future in order to maintain his acting mystique? And now he's doing this again.
Could it be that the program team gave too much money?
Regarding this statement, some netizens said:
"How much money can a talent show pay? I heard that 'The Indomitable Brother' is in contact with actor Xu recently. Maybe he's trying to get used to the stage in advance for the show and learn from professionals!"
Of course, there are also people who hold opposing views.
"The artists who participate in 'Brothers Who Keep Going Forward' are all outdated celebrities who are only on the show to regain their popularity. Does someone of Xu Hexuan's status really need to participate in such a show? He doesn't even know how to make up a complete lie."
Just when the two sides were arguing with each other, an unknown netizen provided a new idea for the truth of the matter -
"Xu Hexuan and Mo Bei are friends, Lian Cheng and Mo Bei are teammates. And in 'Youth Project' there's a Jiang Monan who looks like Mo Bei. What do you think is the reason for this (doge)?"
All of a sudden, the onlookers below understood what was going on.
Oh my goodness! So this is why?
The CP fans who smelled the sweetness immediately started to fight——
"Holy crap! The 'tacit consent' CP is real!"
"No! Our 'North City' is the real one!"
Even after so many years, CP fans will still argue about whose CP is more real.
Because Lian Cheng and Mo Bei were once teammates, their CP has existed for a longer time.
After Mo Bei returned to China, Xu Hexuan became friends with him due to their acting experience, and their "Tacit Approval" CP became the newcomer. There were even signs of competing with the "Beicheng" CP, which made the "Beicheng" CP fans very dissatisfied.
On the other hand, the "tacit" CP party also can't stand the overbearing personality of the "Beicheng" CP fans who force passers-by to eat their own sugar.
Of course, in addition to these two clearly defined factions, there are also the "All Bei Party" who are all about everything. This means: no matter who it is, as long as they are related to Mo Bei, they will get some sugar.
Of course, after so many years, fans have grown up and no longer argue over trivial matters like supporting a couple. The so-called arguments are just playing with memes and reminiscing about youth.
After all, the person they once truly loved and pursued has long been sealed deep in their memory like a faded graduation photo.
The shocked contestants on the Internet were completely unaware of this. At this moment, they were shocked by the approachability of actor Xu.
After all, they had heard rumors before that Xu Hexuan was a loner and didn't like to deal with the outside world, but now they couldn't help but doubt the truth of the rumors.
"Are these prepared for us?"
Looking at the table full of food, Zheng Xingye swallowed subconsciously.
Although they were in the program crew's cafeteria, what was placed in front of everyone was not the usual boxed lunches but meals that Xu Hexuan asked his assistant to pack from a well-known restaurant.
"Yeah." Xu Hexuan nodded and said concisely, "The food in this restaurant is delicious. You should try it."
"Thank you, Teacher Xu!"
After expressing their gratitude, the contestants started to eat with their chopsticks.
Xu Hexuan did not eat with the other contestants, but instead ate the fat-reducing meal prepared for him by his assistant.
In preparation for the upcoming filming of his new drama, Xu Hexuan has recently started to manage his body. He can no longer touch the food he used to love.
Treating the contestants to delicious food is both to build a closer relationship with them and to satisfy one's own selfish desires. Even if one can't eat the delicious food, it can still satisfy one's own eyes.
While the contestants were enjoying the food, Xu Hexuan chatted with them intermittently, but his eyes never left Mo Bei.
This also left the contestants who had originally wanted to chat with the actor speechless. Only Sheng Yanyu's eyes flashed with understanding.
As the protagonist being noticed by the movie emperor, Mo Bei did not show any embarrassment or shyness at all, and remained as generous and calm as usual.
This made the contestants sigh: Brother Mo Nan is worthy of being Brother Mo Nan. He remains calm in the face of important figures. Such a calm attitude is really admirable!
Not only the contestants, but even the assistants were a little surprised that their boss, who seemed aloof and taciturn but actually had social anxiety and didn't like dealing with people, would take the initiative to participate in this variety show and take such good care of the contestants in front of him!
Especially towards Jiang Mo Nan, the kindness in his eyes was almost overflowing!
Yes, it was kindness. It was like an elder looking at a younger one...
Thinking of this, the assistant was stunned.
Could it be that Jiang Monan is related to their boss?
But the two don't look alike.
Jiang Mo Nan, on the other hand, seemed to be cut from the same mold as Mo Bei...
!!!
Is it true, as some online rumors say, that Jiang Monan is actually Mo Bei's illegitimate son?
The more the assistant thought about it, the more he felt that this was possible. Otherwise, how could he explain the boss's attitude?
It is precisely because he is friends with Mo Bei that he takes care of his friend's children on the show. There is nothing wrong with this logic!
The assistant, who felt he had discovered a big secret, was immediately filled with shock.
However, Mo Bei and Xu Hexuan were completely unaware of the other's intentions.
Seeing that Mo Bei stopped eating after a few bites, Xu Hexuan couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?"
Mo Bei's heart moved, but he didn't show it on his face. He shook his head and said, "No, the food is delicious. It's just that I have to train in the afternoon, so I can't eat too much. Otherwise, it will be difficult to digest."
Upon hearing this, the others who were still enjoying their meal suddenly froze.
Since they couldn't leave the park on weekdays, the contestants had to eat in the cafeteria every day. Even though the food there was decent, it was hard to stop eating there every day.
They finally had a good meal, and since Actor Xu looked so approachable, they forgot about their reservations for a moment and just ate to their heart's content, completely forgetting about the training they had in the afternoon.
For a moment, the contestants put down their chopsticks.
I can’t eat anymore. If I eat too much, I will vomit while dancing.
Seeing this, Xu Hexuan was stunned for a moment, and then he also put down the fat-reducing meal in his hand. Mo Bei couldn't help but say, "You...you won't continue eating?"
"No. After all, I have to train with you guys this afternoon."
After the lunch break, the instructors and guests went into the practice rooms of each group.
When the contestants saw Actor Xu standing in the same dance studio as themselves, they had a deep feeling that they were not dreaming.
They actually became teammates with Xu Hexuan.
However, compared to the fact that the actor became the guest performer in their third round of performances, what the contestants did not expect was that Lian Cheng would suddenly appear in their classroom in the afternoon.
Facing the contestants' surprised looks, he calmly waved his hands and said, "Don't mind me, just keep going. I'm just taking a look around."
Xu Hexuan's brows knitted together, then relaxed. In front of the camera, he ultimately didn't say anything to Lian Cheng, who was so persistent, nor did he even glance at him.
Lian Cheng seemed to realize that he was not very popular, so he did not try to make his presence felt. He just sat quietly in the corner of the practice room and watched them practice.
Although it was called training, the group’s first task was actually to assign lyrics.
Since Xu Hexuan was only a guest performer and also an actor, the task of dividing the lyrics fell to the contestants. Sheng Yanyu, an experienced team leader, knew each person's preferred vocal range and timbre, and quickly distributed the lyrics.
Considering that Xu Hexuan is a layman who knows nothing about singing and dancing, in order to ensure the quality of the stage, the singing segment assigned to him is not difficult, but has certain highlights in the choreography.
After that comes the choice of C position.
The contestants were choosing the center position, and Xu Hexuan, as a guest, naturally couldn't intervene. He could only watch silently from the sidelines.
Sheng Yanyu twirled the pen in his hand and looked at everyone: "Now let's vote. Who do you think is suitable for the C position?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Xingye raised his hand, "Me!"
“…Puff.”
Seeing him recommending himself without any shame, Cui Junxi couldn't help laughing out loud.
Of course, this move was quickly met with Zheng Xingye's disapproving eye roll: "What's so funny? I'm already suitable!"
"Such a strong song is perfect for a strong man like me."
Cui Junxi suppressed the corners of his mouth that wanted to twitch wildly, "...as long as you are happy."
Lei Lie, having already held the center position in the "Hot" group, had no intention of competing for the center position this time. He rubbed his chin and said seriously, "Actually, I think both you and Brother Mo Nan are quite suitable."
But Sheng Yanyu waved his hand and said, "I'll let it go."
While this song has rap, the core is still the vocals. The center position also has more vocals. But in terms of vocals, he really isn't the standout in this group.
Whether it's Jiang Mo Nan, Zhong Gao Yi, or Cui Jun Xi, their voices are more suitable than his. His advantage is stability.
Thinking about it, Sheng Yanyu looked at the three of them and said, "I think all three of you are suitable. How about everyone sing a part and then we can vote?"
Zhong Gaoyi was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected Sheng Yanyu to exclude him and let the three of them compete for the center position. However, faced with such a good opportunity, he couldn't say no.
To be honest, he really wants to be the center.
Who doesn’t want to be the center?
Although he's currently in the debut position, this isn't stable. He's already dropped one spot from the previous round to ninth. If he continues to fall in the third round, he might even be out of the debut position by the finals.
He definitely doesn't want this!
The same is true for Choi Jun-hee.
Although his ranking finally rose to 10th this time, as he is at the bottom of the debut circle, his ranking is actually not stable.
Competition is like rowing against the current, if you don't move forward, you will fall behind.
He had to climb as high as he could. Even if it was difficult, he had to find a way to try.
Compared with the high morale of these two people, Mo Bei seemed very indifferent.
Whether he plays C or not is not important to him now.
In fact, at this point in the competition, the fan circle has become almost fixed and there will not be much change.
He is already in first place by a large margin, and the C position is just the icing on the cake. He does not have much obsession with it.
Besides, he had already been in the role in the previous round of performances and had even taken first place in the popularity vote. Rather than competing with others and ruining the group, it would be better to help others who needed it more.
After thinking about it, Mo Bei raised his hand and said, "I'll let it go. Let them both try."
So, Choi Jun-hee, Zhong Gaoyi and Zheng Xingye, who wanted to compete, tried to sing this part respectively.
Zheng Xingye's voice is rough, with a unique abrasive feel.
Choi Jun-hee's voice is deep and rich in texture, and the low-frequency accompaniment of "Tornado" is like a cave that absorbs all people's attention.
Zhong Gaoyi's voice is relatively high among male voices. Although it is not as impressive as Cui Junxi's bass, it also has its own charm.
After listening to the three people's singing, Sheng Yanyu looked at everyone——
"What do you think?"
Zheng Xingye looked conflicted: "Although I don't want to admit it, based on the performance just now, Lao Cui is more suitable."
Lei Lie: "I agree."
Zhao Xi: “+1.”
The others expressed the same opinion. Although Zhong Gaoyi was unwilling, he could not say anything to refute it.
Because even he had to admit that Choi Jun-hee was indeed more suitable than him.
After the lyrics and dance center positions are all determined, we can practice independently.
First dance, then vocal, and then combined singing, dancing and movement practice.
Compared with the contestants who were already accustomed to singing and dancing, Xu Hexuan, who was singing and dancing for the first time, was somewhat uncomfortable.
Not only can the movements not keep up, but because the body coordination is not good enough, many of the movements look weird. Not only lacking in beauty, but also looking a bit funny.
Seeing Xu Hexuan's dance steps like an old man on crutches, Lian Cheng, who was sitting at the back of the practice room watching the fun, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Hearing this, Xu Hexuan's expression darkened and he glanced at him: "Can you?"
The practice room suddenly fell silent. As if sensing tension, the contestants exchanged glances and subconsciously retreated.
"certainly."
Lian Cheng stood up with a calm expression and performed the part that Xu Hexuan had not danced well just now.
Seeing this, not only Xu Hexuan, but also the contestants were surprised.
Wow, it's exactly the same as the choreographer's version! This is amazing!
Only Mo Bei's face did not show much surprise.
Although Lian Cheng had no background when he first participated in the overseas talent show, he did have over three months of training and five years of practical experience after his debut. The overseas idol market is inherently competitive, and in that environment, even someone with a lazy personality and no background like Lian Cheng would be forced to grow.
I remember that when Lian Cheng was practicing, he complained to him countless times that dancing was too difficult and painful. But even though he said he hated dancing, he practiced more seriously than anyone else.
Mo Bei originally thought that he should have lost his past dance foundation after retiring behind the scenes for many years, but he didn't expect that things were not what he thought.
Mo Bei had not expected this, and Xu Hexuan was even more surprised.
Although he didn't show it on his face, he couldn't help but feel shocked inwardly: Didn't Lian Cheng stop being a singing and dancing idol a long time ago? He hadn't even performed on stage in all these years, so how could he still dance so well?
Little did he know that the reason why Lian Cheng was able to stand out in the competition as an overseas trainee with no foundation and language barrier was not only because of his appearance and unique personality, but also because he had a great talent for stage performance.
Although he himself does not take this talent seriously, he is indeed very good at learning and imitating. He can imitate most dance moves almost perfectly after watching them a few times.
Xu Hexuan, who was unaware of this, was deeply shocked at this moment.
Lian Cheng raised his chin slightly and smiled smugly at Xu Hexuan: "How is it? Do you need me to teach you?"
Xu Hexuan didn't say anything, just looked at him deeply, then turned his back with a dark face as if he was angry and continued to practice silently.
Seeing this, Lian Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly.
The suffocating feeling of having the opportunity to compete in a collaboration snatched away by Xu Hexuan disappeared without a trace in an instant.
Does Xu really think it's so easy to be on stage? Back then, he also put in a lot of effort to catch up with trainees like Mo Bei who have years of training experience!
Although he had defeated his mortal enemy, Lian Cheng soon fell into a state of melancholy.
Since the show started, he'd been so caught up in his feud with the old boss, Xu Hexuan, that he hadn't even had a chance to speak to Jiang Mo Nan. Because the opportunity to collaborate had been snatched away by the guy named Xu, he could only sit in the corner and observe him silently.
Even though Lian Cheng knew from the beginning that Jiang Monan and Mo Bei were two completely different people, he still inevitably saw Mo Bei's shadow in the other.
At first he thought it was just his own psychological factors, but as time went on, the familiar feeling did not diminish but became stronger.
Whether it's the little unknown habits when dancing, the highly self-disciplined personality, or the fact that he doesn't like garlic, coriander, and chili peppers, they are all exactly the same as Mo Bei.
If it's true, as some people online say, that Jiang Monan is simply imitating Mo Bei, then his acting is too good. Even the movie star Xu Hexuan couldn't have acted for so long.
You have to know that this program has been recorded for nearly two months. For such a long time, the contestants eat and live together every day, and it can be said that their lives have been exposed to the camera all the time.
Although the program footage can be edited, many of Jiang Mo Nan's actions were performed unconsciously.
For example, he'd subconsciously touch the back of his neck when embarrassed or ashamed, grab the armrest of his chair when nervous or worried, and crumple up a tissue when upset. Even Mo Bei's fans might not know these little details, and only teammates like him, who'd spent time with him day and night, would understand them.
The more he observed, the more frightened Lian Cheng became.
The degree of similarity has reached this level, which is no longer achievable through deliberate imitation alone.
Could it be that Jiang Monan really has some kind of inseparable kinship with Mo Bei as rumored online?
Or maybe... the other party is actually Mo Bei's reincarnation?
Even Lian Cheng himself was shocked by such a fantastic idea.
After being stunned for a moment, he smiled and shook his head.
How could this be possible? This isn't a TV show.
Although his reason told him to be more realistic, this thought still lingered in his mind like a curse.
Looking at the figure dancing to the music in the distance, the familiar feeling came over me again.
Lian Cheng narrowed his eyes upon seeing this.
To this day, there are still many things in this world that cannot be explained by science.
Perhaps...his illusion wasn't just an illusion. What seemed impossible might actually be the truth?
Thinking about it carefully, since the show aired, many people online have tried to uncover Jiang Monan's identity and background. However, apart from a few high school students who claimed to be his friends, the outside world has been unable to find any information.
It was the high school student who first spoke out and posted the photo. Some people found out that he was a student of Yuehai International High School and even the youngest son of the president of Shiqiang Construction.
It is precisely because of this that some people speculate that Jiang Mo Nan's identity and background are definitely not simple. Otherwise, how could there be no information to dig up?
However, some people disagreed. After all, the youngest son of the CEO of Renshiqiang Construction had already said that Jiang Monan was in dire financial straits. He lost his phone and couldn't afford a new one, and the clothes he wore on the show were borrowed. How could he have such a powerful background if he was so broke?
Maybe they came from a remote and backward mountainous area, so nothing could be dug out.
Some netizens immediately raised new questions about this statement. If he was a poor boy from the mountains, how did he know the youngest son of the CEO of Shiqiang Construction?
This question was quickly answered by some netizens who claimed to be "insiders".
The other party claimed that he had seen Jiang Mo Nan and the three high school students at the audition site. Among them, the youngest son of the CEO of Shiqiang Construction once said that Jiang Mo Nan was his father's friend when introducing him to his friends.
As a result, the matter became more and more confusing.
Some passersby expressed their anger: "He's friends with the CEO of Shiqiang Construction. How can he be just an ordinary person? And he's still pretending to be poor!"
But some netizens also saw another possibility through this incident——
The CEO of Shiqiang Construction is very enthusiastic about public welfare. When he's not working, he either practices in seclusion in a temple or does volunteer work. Over the years, he has donated countless amounts of money and supplies to children and elderly people in impoverished areas. Perhaps this is how he met Jiang Monan?
This statement undoubtedly gained the support of the majority. After all, there was no need for the youngest son of the CEO of Shiqiang Construction to lie on Jiang Monan's behalf.
Besides, these days, most entertainers in the entertainment industry like to hype up their status as second-generation rich kids. Who would deliberately hype up their difficult family circumstances? Wouldn't that be blatantly exposing their shortcomings to outsiders?
As the saying goes, "Don't air your dirty laundry in public," and this is especially true in the entertainment industry. Throughout the entertainment industry, celebrities from disadvantaged backgrounds have often been subjected to verbal attacks about their backgrounds.
They are either called unfashionable, criticized for being uncultured, or asked how they can enter the entertainment industry if they are not worthy of their position.
Respect the clothes first and then the person. In this society where people laugh at the poor but not at prostitutes, ordinary people know how to package themselves to the outside world, not to mention these artists who face public scrutiny.
But even so, Lian Cheng still felt that things were not as simple as netizens speculated.
Because he had also looked up Jiang Mo Nan, but like everyone else, he found no information.
The other party seemed to have appeared out of thin air in this world, without any past.
So the question is, what kind of people will not be able to find any past?
Thinking of this, Lian Cheng had already made up his mind.
No matter how unbelievable the truth is.
Lian Cheng's gaze was like a thorn in his back. No matter how hard Mo Bei tried to ignore it, that gaze still followed him like a shadow.
Mo Bei knew Lian Cheng, and he must have doubted his own identity.
Perhaps, the other party will find him soon, test him or even take the initiative to reveal his identity?
If so, how should he respond?
With an emotionless face, Mo Bei pretended to be calm and continued to practice dancing.
Although his movements were still in place due to muscle memory, Lian Cheng still sensed his absent-mindedness.
Seeing this, Lian Cheng was stunned and the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
It's still the same.
Lian Cheng suppressed his smile and looked at Xu Hexuan who was practicing in the distance. He thought to himself: Even he could see it, so Xu Hexuan, who claimed to understand Mo Bei best, should have noticed something too, right?
However, Lian Cheng overestimated Xu Hexuan, because from beginning to end, he never doubted that Jiang Mo Nan was Mo Bei.
As a 100% materialist, he would rather believe that Jiang Monan is Mo Bei's illegitimate son and never thought that the two are the same person.
The reason why he came to participate in this program, in addition to missing his old friend, was mainly to verify the relationship between Jiang Monan and Mo Bei.
According to online information, Jiang Monan is 23 years old this year. If we convert the time, Jiang Monan was only 3 years old when Mo Bei died 20 years ago.
If the two are really father and son, it means that Mo Bei is a 20-year-old child.
But as Mo Bei's friend, he knew nothing about the existence of this child.
But think about it carefully, if an idol has a child at the age of 20, the consequences will be absolutely unimaginable if this matter gets out.
In order to protect the child and the child's mother, it is understandable that Mo Bei hides some things from the people around him.
After all, the fewer people who know about this kind of thing, the better.
Although there is no actual evidence to prove that there is a blood relationship between Jiang Monan and Mo Bei, Xu Hexuan already has a sense of being an elder.
If Jiang Monan is really Mo Bei's son, then as a friend of the child's father, he naturally has to help him more.
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