“This is what you meant by breakfast?” Mu Li looked at the shop in disbelief. Four large characters, “"Fresh Meat Tangyuan"”, were written on the shop’s sign.
“That’s right! This is it.” Fu Peiyao nodded, “This shop has been open for a long time. I’ve loved their "Fresh Meat Tangyuan" since I was a child. It’s salty and savory, simply too delicious!”
“How did you know I also like savory Tangyuan?” To Fu Peiyao’s surprise, Mu Li seemed quite happy.
“You also like savory Tangyuan?” Fu Peiyao asked, somewhat astonished.
“Of course! "Fresh Meat Tangyuan" feels a bit similar to the ones in our Yangcheng. Tangyuan in Yangcheng are also savory, but most of them don’t have fillings; they just rely on rich broth for flavor,” Mu Li explained.
Fu Peiyao was hearing this for the first time: “So that’s how it is! I’ve hardly ever seen outsiders who like savory Tangyuan, especially Northerners. You wouldn’t believe it, last time I brought Qingqing here to eat this Tangyuan, she complained for ages. She said it was no wonder we were in the Demon City, our cuisine was all dark-style.”
“Haha, but Qingqing is from the North?” Mu Li asked curiously, “I always thought she was a local of Demon City.”
“Qingqing was a child star and moved to Demon City when she was very young,” Fu Peiyao explained, “We’ve just known each other since childhood.”
While they were talking, the Tangyuan were already cooked.
“They look pretty similar to our Tangyuan!” Mu Li carefully examined the "Fresh Meat Tangyuan", then took a bite, splitting it in half. A rich, meaty juice instantly flooded his mouth, accompanied by intense heat, making Mu Li involuntarily open his mouth.
“So hot!” Mu Li couldn't help but exclaim, but he was reluctant to spit out the Tangyuan.
“Slow down,” Fu Peiyao quickly handed him a tissue. “These Tangyuan have filling inside, and the broth is very hot. It’s best to eat them like Xiaolongbao: bite a small hole first to let the broth flow out.”
With the experience of his first failed attempt, Mu Li directly used Fu Peiyao’s suggested method, biting a small opening in the Tangyuan. The rich broth flowed out from the meat filling, mixing with the soup the Tangyuan were cooked in. Drinking it in one gulp, the freshness of the soup and the richness of the broth blended together, as if performing a duet on his tongue.
“Mmm! Delicious!” Mu Li couldn't help but praise, “So savory and fragrant.”
“As long as you like it.” Fu Peiyao seemed very pleased with Mu Li’s praise for the "Fresh Meat Tangyuan". As she spoke, she also took a bite, “Mmm… after all these years, their taste is still just as good.”
“When I was little, my dad often brought me here to eat "Fresh Meat Tangyuan"," Fu Peiyao recalled, “But ever since they divorced, I’ve rarely come here to eat.”
“So, your parents? Do they still live in Demon City?” Mu Li inquired.
Fu Peiyao shook her head and sighed: “After my mom divorced my dad, she went abroad and started her own family; we rarely contact each other. My dad also found his own happiness a few years ago.”
Fu Peiyao forced a smile: “So, now I’m just all alone.”
Mu Li nodded, remaining silent, as he didn't know what to say.
“What about you? Your parents?” Fu Peiyao inquired.
“Actually, I’m pretty similar to you,” Mu Li explained, “Although my parents aren’t divorced, they’ve been abroad for years. I’ve lived by myself since I was very young.”
“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen them in several years; they’ve been traveling all over the world,” Mu Li sighed. “Actually, many people around me think they’re very loving and good to me, but only I know that growing up alone isn’t that easy.”
Fu Peiyao asked curiously, “Did you also live alone very early on? I was sent by my family to participate in vocal training since I was little, and I often boarded at my teacher’s house when I was young.”
Mu Li shrugged: “I’m pretty much the same. I underwent professional Pokémon battle training from elementary school until I finished high school.”
“I didn’t expect our experiences to be quite similar,” Fu Peiyao couldn’t help but laugh.
“Indeed,” Mu Li also laughed, “But speaking of which, it seems like we haven’t played games together in a long time.”
At this, Fu Peiyao pouted: “Don’t even talk about it! Ever since you said you wanted to be a singer, we haven’t played games at all, which makes me get stuck playing solo and always getting dragged down.”
Mu Li gave an awkward laugh: “Wasn’t that because I was busy? I promise, I’ll make more time to spend with you in the future.”
Fu Peiyao’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she hummed in a very low voice, “Who wants you to accompany her…?”
As time passed, more and more people came to dine at the shop, so to prevent their identities from being revealed, the two left early.
“I originally wanted to spend the day with you, but I suddenly have an appointment this afternoon,” Mu Li said, feeling a bit dejected.
“What kind of appointment?” Fu Peiyao asked curiously. What she didn’t tell Mu Li was that she also had an appointment that afternoon.
“You know Idol Project, right?” Mu Li explained, “I wrote the theme song for them, and they said they wanted me and the other mentors to perform the dance for the theme song for the trainees.”
Fu Peiyao almost burst out laughing: “You? Can you dance?”
“It’s precisely because I can’t that it’s such a headache!” Mu Li sighed, “Only half a day, it’s truly overwhelming.”
“It’s okay, you’ll definitely learn it,” Fu Peiyao suppressed her laughter. “I happen to have work this afternoon too, so it works out perfectly.”
Mu Li retorted testily: “Thank you, but I’m not comforted at all.”
“I never expected you to go to Idol Project. I’m quite looking forward to your appearance,” Fu Peiyao looked at Mu Li, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
“Hehe…” Mu Li looked at Fu Peiyao’s expression and retorted, “That’s not anticipation; that’s schadenfreude.”
The two bantered all the way back to the front door of Fu Peiyao’s house.
“Go on in quickly, get some good rest. You still have work this afternoon,” Mu Li said, bidding her farewell.
Fu Peiyao said nothing, simply walking straight into her house.
After seeing that beautiful figure disappear, Mu Li couldn't help but murmur, “Seriously, not even a word of goodbye.”
What Mu Li didn’t know was that the reason Fu Peiyao acted that way was because they would meet again very soon.
There are four trainee mentors for Idol Plan 1075: Xu Yunyi, Fu Peiyao, Wang Yijia, who is in charge of dance, and Yin Nan, a new-generation singer.
From this mentor lineup, one can see the importance of Jiayu Company in Idol Project. Two of the mentors are from Jiayu Company, and the other mentor, Wang Yijia, is one of the artists who returned from overseas early on to develop his career in China.
Although he doesn't have many classic works in China, he was incredibly popular abroad. The program team invited him, partly valuing his experience participating in an idol boy group abroad, and partly to attract international traffic.
This information was not a secret; Liu Yun already knew it, but as an invited guest of the program team, Mu Li himself was unaware of the identities of these mentors.
The only thing he knew was that Xu Yunyi was one of the mentors for this Idol Project.
That afternoon, the original meeting time was two o'clock, and he specifically arrived an hour early to avoid being late and to leave a good impression on others.
However, it was almost two o’clock when everyone finally arrived, late.
The first to arrive was Wang Yijia, whom Mu Li was least familiar with.
Unexpectedly, once the two started chatting, they discovered that Wang Yijia had also participated in Pokémon battle competitions in high school, even world-class events. Although he was a youth division competitor, there was no doubt that Wang Yijia’s strength had indeed reached the Gym level.
This gave the two of them common ground.
In no time, the two were arm-in-arm, looking like best friends for life, which startled Yin Nan, the third to arrive.
Unlike Wang Yijia, Yin Nan is a typical 'I' person, introverted and not fond of talking, especially when facing strangers.
Mu Li and Wang Yijia, both unfamiliar with Yin Nan, simply exchanged brief greetings. Then they split into two groups—Yin Nan was emo by himself in a corner, while Mu Li and Wang Yijia, like two silly kids in a middle school class, occasionally let out inexplicable bursts of laughter, making Yin Nan even more emo.
Teacher Xu! Where are you? If you don’t come soon, I’m going to die of embarrassment!
Yin Nan prayed frantically in his heart for Xu Yunyi’s arrival.
Despite this, Yin Nan still recognized Mu Li in front of him as the one who had recorded songs at Jiayu Company a few weeks ago and caused a ruckus there.
Perhaps it was this layer of understanding that sparked Yin Nan’s curiosity about Mu Li, but Yin Nan hadn’t expected to encounter Mu Li here.
Compared to Yin Nan’s emo state, the two people beside him were simply beyond description.
Although Wang Yijia has been an artist for a long time and has many fans overseas, his popularity in mainland China can only be described as average. If one had to compare, his popularity is mainly among teenagers and young adults.
And his understanding of mainland celebrities should be on par with Mu Li’s.
Mu Li at least watches variety shows and recognizes some faces that frequently appear in them, while Wang Yijia knows nothing.
However, fortunately, after Wang Yijia returned to China, he collaborated with He Lin on an indoor variety show, which helped him build some connections. Plus, since he came from an idol boy group, many music programs also invite him to participate, which is much better than Mu Li.
After Mu Li and Wang Yijia got to know Yin Nan, their first reaction was to hide and search for Yin Nan’s information. Unexpectedly, this action was discovered by the other party.
Some say that the prerequisite for two people to become good friends is that they share a common secret, and Yin Nan became the secret between the two of them.
Finally, Xu Yunyi arrived at the scene, after Yin Nan’s repeated calls.
Xu Yunyi, after all, was a celebrity who had been famous for many years. Wang Yijia had also collaborated with him before, so they weren't strangers, but Xu Yunyi showed a surprised expression when he saw Mu Li.
“Why are you here?” Xu Yunyi clearly didn't know about the program's arrangements.
Mu Li twitched the corner of his mouth, helplessly saying, “Didn’t the program team drag me here to work? They said I had to dance the theme song with you all.”
“You…” Xu Yunyi laughed impolitely, “You, dance? Do you even know where to put your limbs?”
As the two became more familiar, Xu Yunyi’s sharp tongue gradually began to show its power.
Mu Li, however, retorted indignantly: “What’s wrong? Can’t I be a dance prodigy? Learn it in an instant?”
“A dance prodigy?” Xu Yunyi couldn't help but burst into laughter. “Among the four of us, you’re probably only slightly better than Yin Nan.”
“Huh?” Mu Li’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Yin Nan as if he were looking at a savior. “There’s actually someone to be my bottom line?”
“Aren’t you a dance prodigy?” Xu Yunyi scoffed, “You should guide Yin Nan well later, don’t let him surpass you. He’s known by netizens as the founder of human limb domestication practice.”
Hearing Xu Yunyi’s words, Mu Li and Yin Nan exchanged a silent glance, both seeing the awkwardness in each other’s eyes, and silently reached a consensus.
“Brother Yin Nan, we must work hard to learn to dance and show this person who looks down on us that we can do it too.” Mu Li extended a hand and placed it in front of Yin Nan.
At this moment, Yin Nan’s expression had frozen: I only reached a consensus with you through eye contact, don’t say it out loud, hey! How is this any different from social suicide?
But under Mu Li’s fervent gaze, Yin Nan still tremblingly extended his hand and placed it on Mu Li’s.
“That’s right!” Mu Li smiled brightly, “Let’s cheer each other on!”
Yin Nan could only force out a smile.
Xu Yunyi, on the side, was almost dying of laughter. Xu Yunyi couldn't have understood Yin Nan's personality any better.
How to describe it?
One could only say that in front of Mu Li, Yin Nan was merely his toy.
Unable to bear it any longer, Xu Yunyi couldn't help but say, “Let this child go; he still wants to live well in this world.”
Mu Li looked at Yin Nan with some confusion, and seeing that Yin Nan’s expression wasn’t very good, he asked, “Brother Yin Nan, what’s wrong? Do you dislike this way of cheering? I can change it to something else. I have 36 different ways to cheer; there’s definitely one you’ll like.”
Just as Mu Li was about to demonstrate his 36 cheering methods, the last mentor for Idol Project arrived.
Upon seeing the figure of this mentor, Mu Li, who was about to demonstrate his cheering poses, completely froze and blurted out, “Why are you here?!”