Part 2
Wu Hengyao took a bite of his hamburger and mumbled, “Actually, I wanted to say this a long time ago. When we first debuted, your safety wasn’t important to me—”
He suddenly realized something and choked, coughing violently.
Han Yuzhe disdainfully lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.
Wu Hengyao’s wheat-colored ears turned slightly red: “Cough, anyway, there are cameras everywhere. It’s easy for us to escalate things if we intervene; having a human follow you will also be reassuring.”
Since his teammates agreed, Berlin didn’t say anything else, nodding: “Oh.”
Today’s recording was in a studio, an indoor shoot. “Challenge the Impossible” was a prime-time variety show, and the indoor segments were filmed at the local broadcasting building.
The shooting time provided by the program team indicated that the challenges in the second episode would most likely rely on innate talent that was difficult to overcome through effort, as the official recording started at 1 pm, leaving the guests with significantly less challenge time than yesterday.
Berlin had watched several episodes; the challenges could be broadly classified into three categories: testing physical fitness/mental fortitude (like yesterday’s archery), intelligence, and reaction speed/skill.
Obstacles difficult to overcome even with effort were probably related to brainpower development. These are harder to master quickly through repeated practice compared to sports-related challenges, requiring the grasp of a knack or pure IQ.
Berlin didn’t rest in the hotel that morning. He went to the gym downstairs and worked out for an hour. After his workout, he went back to his room, showered, and felt refreshed.
After his workout, he worked on composing music on his laptop; he participated in the production of two songs for the new album.
Two days had passed since SKYE’s arrival in Mong Kok, including their late-night arrival. The news had already spread online, with quite a few people lurking around the hotel.
The fandom strictly prohibited going to the hotel, but those calling for restraint online and those chasing them offline weren’t the same group; there were always people who ignored the prohibitions.
Before leaving, the manager signaled for the members to wait a moment.
He made a phone call; a few minutes later, an exceptionally tall and burly man with a strong, intimidating presence emerged from the elevator, his gaze falling on their location.
The manager smiled and waved: “Teacher Min, over here.”
The man nodded slightly, striding toward them.
Berlin looked at him in confusion as he approached, vaguely guessing that he might be the bodyguard the manager had hired. But considering that they had only talked about hiring someone that morning, he wasn’t sure how he could have arrived so quickly.
Also, for a bodyguard, he seemed a bit too intimidating, not very restrained.
A typical tough guy look, with tattoos on his neck and the visible parts of his arms, a very neat and clean buzz cut, and dressed in black casual attire. He removed his sunglasses, revealing deep and handsome eyebrows; his lower face wasn’t as stunning but added a touch of a cold, masculine feel. His strong shoulders and back made his casual clothes look like the expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
He was a man who was both threatening and reassuring, depending entirely on his attitude toward you.
His height was conservatively estimated to be over 195 centimeters.
His gaze was calm but sharp. While SKYE was observing him, he quickly scanned the faces of each member.
Manager: “Let me introduce you, this is Teacher Min Yuzhi, the bodyguard who will be protecting Berlin from now on.”
The other members remained impassive, not showing much reaction, except for Wu Hengyao, who inexplicably felt a sense of territorial violation: “Wasn’t it decided this morning? How did he arrive so quickly and start working?”
The manager laughed: “Oh, what a coincidence! I saw a photo Teacher Min posted on his Moments and decided to invite him to be Berlin’s bodyguard. We happened to be in the same place; isn’t that fate?”
He had worked with Min Yuzhi a few years ago; at that time, it was temporary work for one of his artists for three days. The other party had a good reputation in the industry, a top figure, and didn’t need a probationary period.
After receiving the invitation, he readily agreed without hesitation and agreed to start work immediately today, making the manager delighted and relieved.
With Min Yuzhi around, no danger could approach Berlin.
Since they would be spending time together in the future, Han Yuzhe and the others were polite but distant at their first meeting, not wanting to say much.
Min Yuzhi only nodded briefly to them, then focused on Berlin.
“Hello,” he spoke first, his first words since the meeting, extending his hand to Berlin. “I’m Min Yuzhi.”
Min Yuzhi was tall and broad-shouldered, standing in front of them like a dark mountain. He looked to be in his thirties, his voice particularly low and husky, and with the flamboyant tattoos on his neck, and a thin gold chain, he didn’t look like a good guy.
Veins were visible on his outstretched hand; tattoos were hidden under his black sleeves, making them indistinct.
If it were anyone else, meeting someone as intimidating as Min Yuzhi would probably make them feel restrained, nervous, and at a loss.
Berlin was different. He wasn’t stage-frightened or shy; he could greet people of all ages and classes in an open and friendly manner.
Berlin had an innate talent for making people feel relaxed and comfortable.
He happily stepped forward, shook the other party’s hand, and shook it up and down: “Hello, I’m Berlin, just call me Xiaolin.”
Berlin tilted his head curiously and looked at the top of Min Yuzhi’s head—[65].
Well, after a long time, Berlin could probably figure out some patterns. People with strong wills, people with faith, supernatural beings, and people who genuinely liked someone would have a lower impact on their initial impression.
Min Yuzhi likely belonged to the strong-willed type.
He didn’t say much; his lips were tightly pressed into a straight line as he nodded curtly and seriously to Berlin.
Manager: “Let’s go.”
The sudden addition of someone made SKYE uncomfortable, especially Wu Hengyao.
He hadn’t opposed the company hiring a bodyguard before, but now he had a clear aversion.
Werewolves could adjust their human form; he could have transformed into a taller form, but because he was entering the entertainment industry, and there couldn’t be a “giant” in the boy group, he set his height at tall but not too excessive—188 centimeters.
188 centimeters was already very tall among ordinary people, far exceeding the average, and it was considered top-level height among idols, because anything taller wouldn’t be suitable for the industry.
Therefore, Wu Hengyao had never experienced the feeling of being overshadowed—Min Yuzhi, as the manager had said, was only responsible for Berlin; he stood between Berlin and the others, firmly guarding him, like a silent iron tower.
The feeling of his territory and possessions being violated returned, making Wu Hengyao feel restless. He lowered his head slightly and slowly licked his emerging fangs.
His hand, hanging at his side, in the blind spot of the elevator camera, his sharp long nails suddenly extended a bit, then forcibly retracted.
Min Yuzhi kept his eyes fixed on Berlin, without giving Wu Hengyao a glance, as if he hadn’t sensed the unpleasant, warning gaze.
“Ding—”
The elevator doors slowly opened.
Before Berlin could make a move, Min Yuzhi stepped forward, blocking the elevator door with his arm, and looked down at Berlin, gesturing for him to go first.
Berlin: “…Ah.”
He felt a little uncomfortable and embarrassed, scratching his head, tilted his head, smiled at Min Yuzhi, and quickly walked out of the elevator.
Min Yuzhi immediately followed, skillfully spreading his arms to block the crowd of whispering and swarming fans, creating a safe distance.
The other four members, who remained in the elevator, paused for two seconds before slowly walking out.
Han Yuzhe was still wearing the same coat from the morning; the March temperature seemed just right.
He took his time to stride forward, his long arm stretching out from behind to put his arm around Berlin’s shoulders, pulling him closer.
His light and lazy voice was drowned out by the noisy surroundings; the retreating girls vaguely heard him saying: “Berlin, wait for me.”
The girls holding their phones instantly let out excited exclamations: “Aaaaaaaaaah——!!”
Min Yuzhi paused, confirming that the person who suddenly put his arm around Berlin was his teammate, and didn’t react, continuing to diligently block the crowd of screaming people.
Berlin, being led forward with his shoulders being held, turned his head; Han Yuzhe brazenly rested his chin on his head, lazily hugging him like a koala.
Berlin raised his hand to push his head: “Hey, what was the second rule of our agreement?”
Han Yuzhe pretended not to hear: “Mmm, I don’t remember.”
Berlin: “…”
Outside the hotel, there were fans peeking around; they didn’t wait in the hotel lobby or take pictures with their phones; they were simply locals who wanted to catch a glimpse from afar.
Those living in the neighborhood knew that SKYE was staying at this hotel without having to deliberately look for information online.
Seeing the crowd gathered in the hotel from afar, they couldn’t help but sigh and couldn’t do anything. The sasaengs were too rampant; the company had sent out several lawyer’s letters, but it didn’t seem to work.
“I’m really fed up with these sasaengs… Can’t they just stay away from SKYE?”
The business car was parked at the entrance; the fans watched the members walk out of the hotel, and only then did they see a very tall and noticeable man next to SKYE.
Han Yuzhe put his arm around Berlin’s shoulder as he walked out, whispering something to him. The man, who looked very socially experienced, opened the car door and used his hand to prevent the car frame from hitting Berlin’s head.
“Wow, seeing him in person for the first time, is that a real human face?”
“Holy crap, SKYE has a bodyguard?!”
“Oh my god, it’s true! Why did the company suddenly act human? I always thought it was the most bizarre and incomprehensible thing in the entertainment industry that SKYE didn’t have bodyguards…”
“Wuwuwu, the tropical rainforest is real!! Why do I feel like I haven’t seen my baby in a long time…”
The excitedly whispering fans soon saw Berlin get into the car first.
Han Yuzhe followed closely, but the man who looked like SKYE’s bodyguard… actually retracted his hand. And when the other members of SKYE got into the car, this man just watched, and after they all got in, he turned and calmly got into the passenger seat.
“…”
The fans looked at each other, seeing bewilderment and confusion in each other’s eyes.
What does that mean, isn’t this man SKYE’s bodyguard? Why did he only block the car frame for Berlin??
______________
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