Chapters 41 & 42 (Combined) part 1
When Fan Hongyi’s mother returned that evening and heard about the incident, she insisted that his father bring the boys home for dinner.
Unable to refuse, Bai Sinian and Bian Rui returned to Fan Hongyi’s house.
On the dining table, dishes possessing excellent color, aroma, and taste were arranged like works of art, emitting enticing scents that made one’s mouth water.
In the center of the table, a stewed fish radiated a rich, savory fragrance. The golden fish skin was sprinkled with emerald green scallions and bright red chili threads, with steam gently rising from the broth. Beside it was a plate of braised pork, the alternating layers of fat and lean meat stewed until soft and juicy, glowing with a glossy red hue. There were also jade-green vegetables accented with bright carrots and golden corn kernels; the color combination was perfect, pleasing to both the eye and the appetite.
Bai Sinian stared straight at the food; clearly, this culinary skill was even better than his own mother’s!
“Uncle, when do you plan to clarify things?” Bian Rui suddenly cut straight to the chase.
“After we eat,” Fan Hongyi’s father replied.
Bai Sinian had been torn about whether to seize this opportunity to let people dig up the fact that Fan Hongyi was part of “Dazzling Star,” thereby using the situation to let more people know about the band.
However, Fan Hongyi’s father’s next words touched him deeply: “The internet society is like this nowadays; people go to extremes, seeing things as either black or white. I want more people to know about this matter first, and then execute a complete reversal. It can serve as a lesson for those who blindly follow the herd.”
“Furthermore, only when the heat of the incident is high enough will that girl possibly apologize to Hongyi. Regardless of whether she is willing, she will be pressured by public opinion to apologize. I just want my child to receive an apology.”
Fan Hongyi was already tearing up as he listened. His life with his family was usually ordinary and plain; if this hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t have felt just how much his father loved him.
Bai Sinian dispelled the thought of using this incident to hype up “Dazzling Star.” After all, the parties involved just wanted fair and reasonable treatment; adding his own selfish motives would be crossing the line. Besides, even without relying on this wave of attention, “Dazzling Star” would become very popular in the future.
“Also, I want Hongyi to study hard for the coming year and stop messing around with that band,” Fan Hongyi’s mother said suddenly.
Bai Sinian and Bian Rui exchanged a glance but remained silent.
His mother explained, “Senior year is the most critical year. I think it is for you all as well. Put your hearts solely into your studies for this year. Later, if you are lucky enough to still be in the same school or the same city, I won’t object to you forming a band then.”
Fan Hongyi wanted to fight for it: “Mom, it won’t take up much time. I can balance it well.”
Fan Hongyi’s mother shot him down: “You aren’t a genius. Ordinary people like us have to take one step at a time and keep our feet on the ground to do the task at hand well. Right now, there is only one task, and that is the Gaokao.”
Throughout the meal, the atmosphere gradually became heavy. Bai Sinian ate very quickly; staying at the table for even one extra second felt awkward.
Soon, he and Bian Rui finished eating. Fan Hongyi’s father came over with his phone, asking them for help to register an account and then edit the content as he dictated.
They gathered around the sofa, revising the wording repeatedly, and finally posted it after checking for errors.
They posted the police case acceptance receipt, but blacked out Fan Hongyi’s name. In the surveillance video from the bus, they also blurred Fan Hongyi’s face to protect his privacy.
After Bai Sinian and Bian Rui went to their respective homes, Bai Sinian curled up on his sofa, constantly refreshing the trending topics that night.
Sure enough, once this explanation came out—coupled with the fact that Cui Yeyi had spent money behind the scenes to buy trending spots—this information kept rising and instantly became the hot topic of discussion for the night.
Especially the surveillance video from the bus; it was a slap in the face to that girl.
Netizens overwhelmingly turned to scold the girl, flooding the comments section of her video to demand an apology.
[I Only Reply to Read Messages]: Thank you guys, I’m cleared.
That night, Bai Sinian received a message in the group chat.
[Tears Ripped Open My Aorta]: I didn’t expect this farce to end so quickly.
[Male Model Cried for Me]: Did you want it to drag on for a long time?
[Tears Ripped Open My Aorta]: It’s just a pity we didn’t seize this opportunity to properly drive a wave of popularity for “Dazzling Star.”
Bai Sinian ignored Cui Yeyi’s reply and instead tagged Fan Hongyi.
[Male Model Cried for Me]: @I Only Reply to Read Messages, do you really not plan to come to the rehearsal room with us during senior year?
[Tears Ripped Open My Aorta]: What! Bro, what are you doing!
After a long time, Fan Hongyi finally sent a paragraph of text.
[I Only Reply to Read Messages]: My mom explicitly required me to cancel all extracurricular activities during senior year and only focus on studying. She has already planned out my university life and studies; now all that’s left is for me to get in.
[Tears Ripped Open My Aorta]: So, are we going to disband?
No one replied in the group after that.
Bai Sinian felt terrible. He silently turned off his phone, got up, returned to his bedroom, closed the door, and lay on his bed in the dark, his gaze empty.
The Gaokao is a hurdle, a watershed moment in everyone’s life; its importance is self-evident. He couldn’t interfere with anyone or influence their decisions.
Looking back at when he chased “Dazzling Star” in the past, could he really be considered a hardcore fan?
He didn’t understand their past at all, nor did he know how they had come together back then. Perhaps a talent agency had signed the four of them and formed the band, or perhaps they really had hung out together in high school.
He only remembered that when “Dazzling Star” appeared in his vision, it was during his most difficult moments. At that time, he was busy with various school activities and striving to publish papers in top journals, all to fight for a guaranteed postgraduate recommendation during his senior year of college.
Whenever he wanted to give up, listening to the inspiring lyrics of “Dazzling Star” always gave him a bit of motivation to persist. Later on, in his spare time, he began the hobby of chasing stars.
And now, was “Dazzling Star” going to disband before they even debuted?
Bai Sinian lay on the bed, his eyes empty and confused. His breathing gradually became steady and deep; unable to bear any more pain, he could only choose to escape through sleep.
In the following days, Bian Rui came to find him on time every day to study at the community library. However, neither of them mentioned the band again until two days before school started, when Cui Yeyi returned from his trip and invited everyone to dinner.
They met at an inconspicuous barbecue stall. The night was inky black, dotted with stars, and a breeze brushed past the city’s neon lights, bringing a hint of coolness. Their table was near the street, under a lush, large tree.
Bian Rui gripped an ice-cold Coke in his hand, silent, seemingly deep in thought.
“I say, Old Fan, are you really planning to quit the band?” Cui Yeyi hooked his arm around Fan Hongyi’s shoulder and patted it.
Fan Hongyi looked solemn and hung his head: “At least not for this year.”
“What about after the exam?” Bai Sinian asked impatiently, his eyes filled with expectant light.
Bian Rui’s gaze also shifted to Fan Hongyi, seeming to wait for an answer as well.
Only Shen Bei kept his head down, eating on his own. After stuffing his mouth with roast beef, he shoved in roasted potato slices—it was so delicious! He rarely ate barbecue, and certainly never any that suited his taste this well!
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