Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

Chapter 51: 51 The Old House on Fire

Xu Qingyan had thought the other person was somebody, but the more he listened, the more something felt off.

He had heard of the Xiliang band before, as a younger girl at his previous company was a die-hard fan of Xiliang, always energetically recommending the band to people around her during breaks.

At first, he was puzzled. Xiliang? Reminisce the past with tears unchecked?

It was only later that he found out Xiliang was short for "Xidan's Good Citizens." The original name, "Xidan Thugs," had been adjusted after getting a severe crackdown, prompting a name change.

This was a new boy band launched by Neptunus Music, which had been on fire for four years since their debut thanks to their attractive looks and muscular displays, attaining status almost equivalent to top-tier stars.

He had seen live footage of Xiliang's performances, which were wildly intense. With heavy metal rock and intense light shows, the atmosphere would ignite the moment the guitar chords struck.

The lead singer, once he opened his mouth, it was hot rock and roll, gripping the microphone, frenziedly energizing the crowd. The onrush of heavy metal, combined with the roaring chorus of fans, was like a tsunami.

With their rock style and outstanding rap skills, the Xiliang band not only created a significant profit for Neptunus Entertainment within a short time but also garnered a large group of fanatics.

They not only stirred up a rock wave in a music scene dominated by soothing love songs but also boldly proclaimed on social media that love songs were dead.

This was another way they shot to fame, in addition to releasing albums, holding live concerts, and frequently appearing on various variety shows – they sold controversial statements!

Compared to Xiliang band's controversial statements, the ones Xu Qingyan made yesterday were nothing on the same scale.

Xiliang had been spouting explosive comments every other day a few years ago; things like "love songs are dead, rock rules" were just the tip of the iceberg. The most influential instance was probably their long video post on a blog declaring that folk music was trash.

That year, Xu Qingyan was still in college when he witnessed a guy from the next dorm who always played folk songs on the guitar in front of his computer turn red with rage and smash his computer with a hammer.

This was how the Xiliang band rose to infamy – sure, they offended many, but their hardcore talents also cultivated a group of brain-dead crystal fans.

Once Xiliang tossed out another explosive remark, a swarm of crystal fans would rise in revolt. Their fans were almost crazily obsessed with Xiliang, bordering on pathological.

In each round of verbal brawls, they could always scatter the opposing fandom like mad dogs, indicating that the only bottom line for fans was the law.

In recent years, as the Xiliang band's career took increasingly bold strides, their fans became more and more irrationally fervent. They were even warned by a "strong fist" the year before and had only recently started to act more subdued.

There were also people in his previous company who disliked Xiliang band, often saying things like, "That garbage group is practically a cult," "Day in and day out they fry fans, those garbage scum still shamelessly whitewash themselves," "Doesn't Neptunus have anyone to beat Xiliang," "How come that idiot group doesn't just die."

Back then, Xu Qingyan would join in the cursing, but he never imagined that one day he would actually encounter the lead singer of the notorious Tieba killer group from Xiliang band.

In the band, there was only one person with the surname Ji, Ji Chen.

A good-looking, rugged rock man, also quite popular within the band.

Xu Qingyan disliked him, whether it was his reputation or personality. Or perhaps from the tone he took speaking to Pei Muchan on the harassing phone call a moment ago, he didn't like it.

Watching Pei Muchan about to hang up the phone with resignation, he almost instinctively reached out and grabbed it. Xu Qingyan's palm was large, perfectly covering the back of her hand.

She was stunned, staring blankly at Xu Qingyan.

He was too lazy to explain; he certainly couldn't admit that he was an anti-fan. Besides, Pei Muchan's gentle approach wouldn't work, there were many non-offensive ways to reject someone, possible but unnecessary.

Pei Muchan's hand was completely pulled over by him, and in an instant, they were close to each other, their bodies almost touching.

At that moment, Xu Qingyan wasn't paying attention to this. He simply said "hello" into the phone. There was a moment of silence on the other end before a voice asked.

"Who are you? Where is Muchan?"

"Her?" Xu Qingyan looked down at Pei Muchan in front of him and deliberately slowed his tone, "You mean Chanchan? She went to take a bath."

Upon hearing this, Pei Muchan's pupils dilated slightly, staring at him in disbelief. But then she thought about it; she seemed to really be planning to take a bath, so there was no issue.

What really concerned her was not the mention of a bath, but what he had just called her... Chanchan? Her mind became hazy as she thought that he hadn't followed others in calling her "Sister Pei" and wondered if he had been waiting for this moment.

The person on the phone also fell silent, followed by a burst of serious warning.

"I don't care who you are, please don't make such impolite jokes! My name is Ji Chen, the lead singer of the Xiliang band; you should have heard of my name!"

"Heard of it, Chicken Chen, I'm well aware," Xu Qingyan said calmly, "I've heard you're good at hyping yourself up. Could you reveal where your stall is located?"

"Who are you? Don't go too far. Give the phone back to Muchan now, and I might overlook your behavior just now." Ji Chen's breathing was rushed on the other end, seemingly angered.

Hearing Ji Chen's stern words, Pei Muchan became somewhat panicked. She wasn't afraid of Ji Chen.

She simply ignored him most times to avoid unnecessary trouble. She had already decided to retire from the circle, and the online lynching tactics of Xiliang band's fans had no effect on her.

But she worried about dragging the layperson Xu Qingyan into this. He had already offended many people on this show. If he was attacked online by Xiliang band's fans because of her, she would feel very guilty.

Her right hand was completely grasped in Xu Qingyan's palm, and she couldn't break free. In her panic, she tried to snatch the phone with her other hand, but Xu Qingyan blocked it with a backhand.

To prevent Pei Muchan from making any rash moves, he simply pressed her hand down with his body. Seeing how Pei Muchan quietly asked him not to say his name, he remained unmoved.

"You may not have heard of me, but you will know in the future. My name is Xu Qingyan."

"Little thing, you're pretty sharp-tongued. Don't be so aggressive when you talk, as if you won't live until tomorrow. Take some time to do more checkups. Chanchan doesn't have the time to bother with you. You can call me directly in the future."

"Take a pen and note this down, 10086."

After that, the call was disconnected.

Xu Qingyan let go of her hand and smiled at her, and only then did she realize they were too close. She was almost pressed against the door, which was open just a palm's width.

Pei Muchan was still somewhat dazed, breathing slowly and picking up a bit of his scent, her heart pounding.

That feeling was indescribable, almost instantly making her face heat up.

It was like on a sweltering day in June when her heart was thrown into the brine of pickled cucumbers, exuding a thick sourness. Every pore of her body was trembling, like a 26-year-old house catching fire after years of silence.