"The faces of the 'Wings' group are really super handsome!"
"Ji Yan and Fang Yu are fighting again. Are you two over 8 years old?"
"Their combined age is probably no more than 8 years old lol~"
"Xiao Ji is getting better and better, and the style of the Wings group is becoming more and more natural. It feels like I'm witnessing their growth."
At the beginning of their formation, "Wings" had not yet found their own position. Although Xie Mingxuan, Lu Wei and Fang Yu were all strong individually, Ji Yan was a drag on the team. "Wings" performed no differently from other idol groups.
The turning point came with the album "Mist," in which the members' talents were fully showcased, transforming them from an ordinary idol group in the public eye into an idol group with their own works.
Changes in popularity have a huge impact on the members.
At the "I, Nameless" fan meeting, even with many big names present, the members of "Wings" remained composed. Whether it was their styling or their ability to handle interviews, they had shed the artificiality they had in the early days of the group.
However, the casualness surrounding them only made them more noticeable.
At that moment, the camera panned to several members of "Wings"—Lu Wei looked up and revealed a gentle smile. He was the first to notice the camera, so he gently nudged Xie Mingxuan. The latter looked somewhat bewildered, but after noticing the camera, his eyes curved slightly, and his tense expression instantly relaxed.
"Ahhhh, my idol smiled at me!!"
"Absolutely stunning!"
Fang Yu and Ji Yan were playfully bickering when they noticed the camera. They grinned and made peace signs, their radiant smiles enough to dazzle the viewers watching the live stream.
Before the release of "I, Nameless", Ji Yan kept a low profile. However, due to the influence of the real and fake young master incident, his popularity and attention continued to grow. Various details about him were also dug up. For example, he was known for his "playing dumb" during the "Idol Century" period. However, he never used the power of the Ji family to bully anyone. On the contrary, when he heard that others were in trouble, Ji Yan would always step up to help solve the problem.
His aesthetic sense when he participated in "Idol Generation" was heavily criticized. However, netizens with microscopes rewatched "Idol Generation" and found that most of the contestants had worn Ji Yan's clothes.
—Although the fans of those contestants later complained about Ji Yan many times, saying that Ji Yan stole their idols' debut spots.
Ji Ruan is the opposite of Ji Yan. Known for his gentle and kind personality, he has not a single negative comment on Weibo. As netizens gradually discovered the truth, they couldn't help but complain: "His online army works around the clock to delete all the negative news. If his reputation is bad, who is good?"
After the press conference, Ji Ruan's studio no longer had the energy to maintain Ji Ruan's image, and netizens who had previously been blocked on Weibo finally had the opportunity to speak out.
"I only complained once that his songs were bad, and his fans chased and cursed me all day. That was a truly tragic past. Now, no matter what I post, I always add a sentence—I didn't offend any of you."
"Don't even mention it. I remember I counted how many times he was on Weibo's trending topics. He was on them 35 times in one month, and each time it was a trending topic with only a few hundred reposts, likes, and comments. I just don't understand how he could have the nerve to take the 'gentle and aloof' route?"
"According to the common practice in the entertainment industry, those who take a low-key and unassuming approach often have some real talent."
"It's a simple matter of logic. Would someone who is truly as serene as a chrysanthemum tell others every day that they are as serene as a chrysanthemum? Chrysanthemums don't have that much free time."
In terms of appearance, Ji Ruan's face is the kind that is naturally approachable. His tone of voice is also gentle and soft, like the older brother next door in a campus novel. Fans already love this style. In addition, his deliberately hidden identity as the "Fourth Young Master of the Ji Family" is completely different from the image of a rich young master in the public's impression. This makes fans even more convinced that Ji Ruan is the embodiment of being low-key, kind and gentle.
Even now, the post titled "Let's talk about a certain idol who pretends to be the young master of the Ji family and the real young master of the Ji family, Ji Ruan" is still on the homepage of a certain forum. Netizens come back to criticize it from time to time. After all, the post's heartfelt praise of Ji Ruan's nine-figure high-end clothes and the comments mocking Ji Yan for being unsophisticated are just too embarrassing and ironic. Moreover, the post cannot be deleted, and the netizens who posted it can only watch helplessly as they are repeatedly criticized.
In comparison, Ji Yan's appearance is much more aggressive, with deeper features, and he doesn't seem like the harmless type. Coupled with the constant stream of negative posts about him and the tireless fans of Ji Ruan who spread the word about his glorious deeds, even though Ji Yan later salvaged some of his reputation with "The Voice of China," in the minds of many people, Ji Yan's image is still not as good as Ji Ruan's.
If there hadn't been that press conference, or rather, if Ji Wei hadn't appeared at the last minute, what kind of treatment would Ji Yan have received in the entertainment industry?
Even a fool would know it would be terrible.
Fortunately, the truth was revealed at the last moment, and netizens finally had the opportunity to understand Ji Yan. The more they learned about him, the more they couldn't help but like him.
Whether it's his increasingly powerful singing skills or his daily interactions with the other members of "Wings", this person has so many endearing qualities. Like a dusty stone, once the mud and sand are blown away, his clean and beautiful side will naturally emerge.
Ji Yan is a treasure.
...
Midway through the meet-and-greet, classic clips from the film "I, Nameless" were played.
The duel between Wei Zheng and Noda was a battle of wits and strength. In the end, Wei Zheng prevailed, ending Noda's life with the last bullet. The thrill of their confrontation was unforgettable, and every second of the plot development hit the audience's heart hard.
And there was He Tang's sacrifice.
When his face flashed on the big screen, Ji Yan didn't react at all. He didn't expect that Director Li Xiang would include this scene in a classic clip from the movie "I, Nameless".
Ji Yan hasn't had a chance to see "I, Nameless" in the cinema yet, and this is the first time he's seen the part where He Tang sacrifices himself.
—Just like how he felt when he watched the trailer.
He had forgotten how he completed that scene, but looking at He Tang on the screen now, he could deeply feel the brilliance emanating from the character. Compared to the other characters in the movie "I, Nameless", He Tang was relatively weak. He had no commendable martial arts skills and was just a scholar who couldn't lift a finger. But the sense of conviction that this character displayed surpassed everything, and that kind of strength could even overcome physical force.
He was so steadfast, like a flame, warming himself and those around him.
Director Li Xiang used a long take to depict this scene, seemingly to deliberately show the audience how something beautiful is shattered.
Having watched "I, No Name" five times in theaters, I can say that every time I see the scene of He Tang's sacrifice, my heart breaks again.
"+1+1+1, this is so painful."
"Look at Ji Yan!!"
At this moment, the camera lingered on Ji Yan's face for a long time—the calm young man blinked gently, and beneath his long eyelashes, there seemed to be a glimmer in his eyes, or perhaps tears.
The audience didn't even want the camera to move away at that moment.
"Director Li really made the right choice in casting Ji Yan for this role."
He Tang's experience might even remind viewers of Ji Yan's own experience. Both came from wealthy families, but He Tang chose to die for his beliefs, while Ji Yan suffered too much unfair treatment, yet he also chose to prove himself through his abilities.
...
After the actors finished sharing anecdotes from the filming process, the members of "Wings" took to the stage as introduced by the host.
As the box office of "I, Nameless" gradually climbs, the song "Fly" has become well-known to countless viewers. Tonight's meet-and-greet will be the first time that "Wings" will sing this song in public, and fans are looking forward to it.
The stage was given to "Wings," and the lights immediately went out.
Duan Yiran was waiting backstage. After the performance of the song "Wings", "Blue" was to appear as an invited guest after "Wings". But before he knew it, Ning Wei, who had just been next to him, had disappeared.
Where are the others?
Du Jian pointed to the audience seats: "Look, the first row."
Ning Wei had somehow gotten into the chair next to Li Xiang, and not only that, he was holding up his phone, as if to film the "Wings" performance. But... even when he was "chasing after a star," Ning Wei maintained his cold and indifferent expression, and the way he held up his phone looked like—
This is something even your teammate, Duan Yiran, has to say!
Ning Wei held up his phone like he was holding a grenade, and his expression seemed to be telling the "Wings" group that if they didn't sing well, he would blow them all up.
Duan Yiran understands Ning Wei; Ning Wei isn't that kind of person, she's just a little shy.
He responds to things he's not good at with silence and a cold expression. This doesn't mean he's annoyed, but as his teammates, he and Du Jian understand this. To outsiders—
It really looks like it's going to blow someone away!
Du Jian succinctly revealed the truth: "If I were a security guard, I would really ask him to leave."
This person's expression doesn't look like they're chasing a celebrity; it looks like they're chasing a ghost.
...
After going on stage, Ji Yan and the others realized that Ning Wei was also sitting below, and they couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
But the moment the accompaniment to "Fly" started, the group had already regained their composure.
When they recorded this song, they only knew the outline of the movie "I, Nameless". They hadn't seen the footage or knew what kind of story the movie would tell. But now, every scene presented to them has something that moves them.
The song "Fly" is not only for the audience who love this movie, but also for those whose names are engraved on tombstones and who are always waiting for the light.
On the large screen at the back of the stage, white birds flew through the rain, flapping their wings and revealing their pure white feathers in the lightning.
Ji Yan closed his eyes, and a series of deep and gentle voices slowly rose up. With just one sentence, he poured all his emotions into it.
While singing, he thought of the script for the movie "I, Nameless", the character He Tang in the movie, and the smile on He Tang's face at the moment of his sacrifice.
—It wasn't a spectacular event, but it was a moment worth remembering.
He leaped down like a bird.
"No name, no tombstone."
Ji Yan's singing style is not fancy. When he sang "Fly," it was more like he was telling a story that had happened in the past. But because he sang so passionately and selflessly, the audience's emotions seemed to be stirred by him at that moment.
"The night records his shadow."
"Freedom is etched in his soul."
From the very beginning, he conveyed the profound weight of the entire song.
Following him was Xie Mingxuan's voice—the song "Fly" itself possesses power, and when Xie Mingxuan sang it, especially in the low register where he excels, the emotions he displayed were no less than Ji Yan's. They had sung this song countless times, and they knew exactly how to interpret it.
Especially now that they have a deeper understanding of the film "I, Nameless", they are better able to distribute their emotions when singing this song.
During the final chorus, when the "Wings" sang together, they could clearly hear the audience singing along, starting from the last row of the theater. The singing swept to the front rows, growing louder and louder. Scenes from the movie "I, Nameless" appeared on the big screen, and the final image was He Tang's smile. In the song, He Tang's smile was gentle, like spring flowers in bloom.
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