...Description ...

Ye Zexi has transmigrated into the role of the infamous villain from a danmei novel and discovers that everyone views him as a mere imaginary enemy. His principle is simple: don’t compete—just let them take whatever they want.

During a boy band reality show:

The secondary male lead wants to compete with Ye Zexi for the top spot. Ye Zexi, to avoid suspicion, deliberately withdraws.

The secondary lead, smug with the assumption that Ye Zexi is nervous and he’s bound to win, is stunned when Ye Zexi takes first place after the performance competition.

Secondary Lead: ?

When the mentors ask about their goals, the other contestants say they are here for their dreams and passion. Ye Zexi responds: “To go home and inherit my family’s fortune.”

Others: ???

Unexpectedly, Ye Zexi not only avoids laziness but also becomes a massive sensation.

#A shockwave in the boy band audition!#

#Straight to fame, no debut needed!#

•

On the day the competition ends, just as Ye Zexi thinks he can finally relax, a three-time Golden Award-winning actor tags him on Weibo, directly asking for collaboration.

Ye Zexi: I don’t—

The actor: I owe billions and need this film to turn things around. Only by collaborating with you can it become a hit.

Ye Zexi: ???

Once the film is completed, the actor tags Ye Zexi again: “I was separated from my mother when I was young. She really liked you after seeing this film. I hope you can meet her with me. She might consider coming back to me.”

Ye Zexi: …

...****************...

The Villain Just Wants to Be a Slacker

[Transmigration]

[Before reading this, please mention or comment if you come across “Times Idol” without “The,” “Era Idol,” or “Famous Generals.” I intend to change “Famous Generals” to “The Great General,” so if you find any of these, kindly notify me in the comments. Thank you!]

[Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Thank you. :)]

...****************...

Update on 23/09/2024 from Chapter 133.

This information is found in Chapter 133. I’m sharing it here for new readers.

I think I should share this information. Every language has its own slang, including Chinese. Honestly, the translation I did is already refined because if I were to follow a direct translation, I’d probably need to include a lot of glossaries, and well, I’m too lazy to do all that haha.

Alright, this is related to the title that has something to do with salted fish mentioned above.

*Title:** 反派只想咸鱼[穿书]*

*Direct Translation:** The Villain Just Wants to Be a Salted Fish [Transmigration]*

*English Title:** The Villain Just Wants to Be a Slacker [Transmigration]*

What does “咸鱼” (Salted Fish) mean?

In Chinese slang, “salted fish” (咸鱼) is a humorous term that refers to someone who lacks motivation, drive, or ambition—a person who prefers to be lazy and take it easy, like a “slacker.” The term originally comes from Cantonese, where a salted fish is literally dried and preserved, no longer active or “alive.” Over time, it became slang for someone who doesn’t strive for much and is happy just getting by.

Why “The Villain Just Wants to Be a Slacker”?

The phrase “咸鱼” perfectly captures the essence of the protagonist in this story. Unlike typical villains who are often power-hungry or filled with ambition, the main character here has no interest in following the usual villainous path. After being transported into the world of a novel, where he takes on the role of the villain, his only goal is to live a peaceful, low-effort life—much like a “salted fish.”

...****************...

"Ye Zexi?"

Jiang Ran flicked water droplets from his hand, his expression full of disdain. "What kind of formidable opponent is he? He's just a good-looking rich second-generation, nothing but an airhead."

The man beside him nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Didn't you all see their group rehearsal yesterday? Ye Zexi’s singing—ugh, I thought a crow had flown in, scared me to death!"

Thinking back to the rehearsal, the people around couldn’t hold back their laughter.

The laughter wasn’t quiet, and Ye Zexi, who was sitting in the stall, raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

The conversation outside continued.

Jiang Ran sneered, "What does Ye Zexi have besides his looks? There's no need to worry about him. If you ask me, the only person worth watching in their group is Tang Jing."

"Speaking of Tang Jing, I heard he and Ye Zexi might have a thing going on?"

"Really?"

Jiang Ran quickly chimed in, "You haven’t heard? I overheard some staff talking. Apparently, Ye Zexi joined 'The Times Idol' just to chase after Tang Jing!"

A chorus of gasps could be heard from outside.

They say gossip thrives where women gather, but Ye Zexi thought it wasn’t much different with men.

"He's a rich kid, and he joined the competition just to chase a man?"

"I heard he even snatched a trainee's spot from Star Entertainment to get in."

"Do rich second-gens really think they can do whatever they want just because they have money?"

"So what if he's a rich second-gen? Can he even compare to Tang Jing? The assets of Tang's family are—"

Clank. The sound of a door opening interrupted the discussion. Ye Zexi pushed open the stall door.

Upon hearing the noise, everyone turned to look, and they froze when they saw Ye Zexi's expression.

Ye Zexi had a faint smile on his lips, revealing no emotion.

Getting caught gossiping by the subject himself instantly made the atmosphere awkward.

Just as Jiang Ran was about to pretend nothing had happened and signal his group to leave, Ye Zexi began walking slowly towards him.

Ye Zexi was tall, and his expensive clothing highlighted his figure well. Standing beside Jiang Ran, he was a head taller.

Glancing at his striking pink hair in the mirror, Ye Zexi curved his lips into a smile and turned on the tap to wash his hands. "I heard you say I can’t compare to Tang Jing?"

The faces around him changed in various shades, and a few with thinner skin even flushed red with embarrassment.

They realized Ye Zexi had heard everything they said!

Unbothered, Ye Zexi calmly washed his hands, dried them with two paper towels, and, without changing his expression, said, "Sorry to disappoint you, but Tang Jing really can’t compare to me. My company’s daily cash flow is in the millions. As for the Tang family's... If I’m not mistaken, theirs should be around a few hundred thousand."

No one responded. The restroom fell into complete silence.

Ye Zexi didn’t feel awkward at all. Suddenly, he turned and looked directly at Jiang Ran. "Oh, by the way, what did you just say?"

Jiang Ran's face turned pale, but he hated Ye Zexi’s arrogant attitude, so he gritted his teeth and said, "I said, 'So what if you're a rich second-gen?'"

"No, not that. The one before," Ye Zexi interrupted.

Jiang Ran paused, then instinctively said, "I said, 'Do rich second-gens think they can do whatever they want just because they have money?'"

Ye Zexi’s smile deepened, his enchanting peach blossom eyes glittering. "The stage for 'The Times Idol,' all the staff, and the mansion where all the contestants live—those are all properties of my family, including this very restroom you’re standing in."

Jiang Ran’s face stiffened, his eyes widening in shock. He wasn’t the only one; everyone else had expressions filled with surprise.

Ye Zexi tossed the paper towels into the trash and smiled leisurely. "Sorry, but yes—having money means I can do whatever I want."

With that, Ye Zexi turned and left the restroom, leaving everyone stunned.

Once in an empty area, the faint smile on Ye Zexi’s face broke into excitement. He jumped in place twice, wiggled his waist, and nearly broke out into a tango.

He was ecstatic!

That show of arrogance was too cool!

So awesome!

As expected of him, Ye Zexi!

His acting was flawless!

This was the first time in his life he had flexed his rich second-gen status in real life. Ye Zexi was so excited that he could hardly contain himself.

That’s right, it was indeed the first time Ye Zexi had shown off his rich second-gen identity. Before, it had only been for roles in shows, and even then, he couldn’t go all out. It wasn’t satisfying at all.

This time, the reason he could flex so hard was simple: Ye Zexi had transmigrated into a book.

Just last night, Ye Zexi found out that he had transmigrated into the body of a villain with the same name in a novel.

Ye Zexi had died on the night of the Best Actor award ceremony. Right after receiving the trophy, he passed out before he could even take a good look at it. Though his consciousness was fading, he could still hear everything around him clearly.

After his agent hurriedly rushed him to the hospital, Ye Zexi clearly heard the doctor say it was sudden death caused by overwork. They had done everything they could.

Ye Zexi couldn’t help but complain inwardly: How could anyone not collapse from exhaustion after staying awake for three days and nights?

When Ye Zexi opened his eyes again, he had become the Ye Zexi from the novel.

Lying in bed, Ye Zexi quickly pieced together his identity.

The original Ye Zexi, aged twenty, was the novel’s biggest villain. He competed with the main character for the love interest, fought with his stepbrother over the family inheritance, and oppressed anyone he didn’t like—a spoiled rich kid through and through.

In stories, those who oppose the main characters never meet a good end, and the original Ye Zexi was no exception. In the end, his company was taken by his stepbrother, he was kicked out of the family, and everyone turned against him.

But none of this concerned Ye Zexi. He only cared about two words—“rich family.”

The original Ye Zexi was a spoiled heir, well-known in elite circles as a wealthy second-generation heir, and incredibly rich!

Incredibly wealthy!

Ye Zexi’s eyes lit up.

Why should he even bother fighting? Compete with the main character for the love interest? Fight over the inheritance? Why not just sit back and relax, live off his shares, and collect dividends from the comfort of his home?

In his original world, he had worked so hard every day to climb to the top, and wasn’t it all just for money?

Now that he had everything he could ever want, why should he keep working?

Excited all night, Ye Zexi planned to find the director in the morning to discuss quitting the show.

However, after searching all morning, he couldn’t find any trace of the director, who must have been busy.

Ye Zexi wasn’t in a rush. Since he didn’t know much about this world yet, he headed to the bathroom and sat on the toilet, scrolling through his phone. Unexpectedly, he overheard a group of people chatting outside.

A villa large enough to house several hundred people was no small place; calling it a castle wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Although the original Ye Zexi had come to participate in the program, he stayed in a private luxury suite, separated from the other trainees.

So today's events were truly an accident.

But so what?

Things were different now. Ye Zexi was no longer the struggling actor who took ten years to win Best Actor without any backing. Now, he had both resources and connections. Was he afraid of offending anyone?

Absolutely not.

Ye Zexi didn’t even want to stay in the entertainment industry anymore.

All he wanted was to experience the joy of being a rich man.

After the excitement passed, Ye Zexi straightened his clothes and flashed a satisfied smile before continuing his search for the director.

What Ye Zexi didn’t know was that He Jinyun had witnessed the entire scene from around the corner.

Watching Ye Zexi's departing figure, a faint smile tugged at the corners of He Jinyun's lips.

A voice in his ear kept going: "…Are you even listening to me?"

He Jinyun responded softly, "Sorry, something came up just now. Could you repeat that?"

The other person was annoyed but had no choice, saying, "…Fine! I'm used to it anyway. I've already spoken with Director Li, and you'll be a guest star for two episodes. I've sent the contract to your email."

He Jinyun nodded, exchanged a few more words, and then ended the call, striding towards the rehearsal space.

Recalling Ye Zexi's wild dancing in the hallway, He Jinyun raised an eyebrow slightly. Perhaps there was no need to look for someone else; the way Ye Zexi twisted himself into a knot wasn’t bad at all.

Though, the chance of him agreeing was probably close to zero.

Shaking his head lightly, He Jinyun thought he’d better take another look.

Ye Zexi spent the whole morning searching for the director and finally found Li Changjian—the chief director of ‘The Times Idol’ and also a close friend of Ye Zexi's late father—in the rehearsal hall.

Otherwise, there was no way the Ye family’s vast estate would be offered to the show’s production team for free. It was all because of Li Changjian.

Ye Zexi wasn’t joking when he said even the restrooms belonged to the Ye family.

The Ye family was wealthy and influential, and Ye Zexi, the original character, had indeed been born with a silver spoon. However, for the sake of the novel’s plot, he grew up to be an insufferable brat who ultimately destroyed himself.

Earlier, Jiang Ran and the others were right when they said that the original Ye Zexi had joined the competition to pursue Tang Jing, the novel’s main character. That part was true. Tang Jing was the protagonist’s love interest, and Ye Zexi’s pursuit was a necessary part of the plot.

However, the rumor that Ye Zexi had stolen a trainee’s spot to participate in the show was completely fabricated.

The final rehearsal before the competition was about to start. Li Changjian, who had been busy all morning, immediately dropped everything when he heard Ye Zexi’s name and rushed over.

"What’s the matter, Zexi?" Li Changjian asked as he approached. "Still not familiar with the song from yesterday? Should I ask the vocal coach to help you again?"

Ye Zexi smiled. "No need, Uncle Li. Actually, I came here to—"

"No need?" Li Changjian cut him off, frowning deeply. "Your father asked me to look after you. Tomorrow might just be your debut performance before the official debut, but it’s still your first time on stage. You need to leave a good impression on the audience to gain fans."

Ye Zexi smiled again. "That’s exactly why I’m here, Uncle Li. I want to withdraw from the competition."

"What?" Li Changjian paused, but his expression was far from surprised, as if he had anticipated this. "You want to quit?"

Ye Zexi’s expression was firm. "Yes, Uncle Li, I’ve made up my mind. You don’t need to try to convince me."

Li Changjian: "Not chasing after little Tang anymore?"

Ye Zexi nodded. "No."

Li Changjian: "Not planning to debut?"

Ye Zexi: "Nope."

Li Changjian: "Want to head back home?"

Ye Zexi: "Yep, yep."

Li Changjian spread his hands. "Well, that's not happening."

Ye Zexi: "Uh… what?"

[Write a comment or something, I’m getting bored just translating but there are no comments…]

[Write a comment or something, I’m getting bored just translating but there are no comments…]

Looking at his oblivious nephew standing before him, Li Changjian sighed, his tone unexpectedly tinged with a hint of affection as he explained the situation to Ye Zexi. “Your father called me last night. He’s furious this time and decided to freeze your card for a year.”

Ye Zexi’s expression froze momentarily. Instinctively, he asked, “Why… Why would my dad freeze my card for a year?”

Li Changjian glanced around at the people nearby before pulling Ye Zexi aside. In a lowered voice, he asked, “Why didn’t you answer your dad’s call last night?”

Ye Zexi, surprised, pulled out his phone to check the call log. “But I don’t have any missed calls on my phone!”

He then looked up at Li Changjian, bewildered. After a brief pause, Ye Zexi nervously opened his blacklist, only to see his father’s number calmly sitting there.

Ye Zexi: “…”

Damn it! On my first day in this new world, I already messed up!

Li Changjian gave Ye Zexi a sympathetic look. “It’s okay, don’t worry. Your dad is only mad for now. He also mentioned that if you manage to place well in this competition, he might consider unfreezing your card early.”

Unconvinced, Ye Zexi asked, “Uncle, do you know how much money I have left?”

Li Changjian’s gaze softened even further. “Zexi, on the first day of the competition, you argued with your father, and he froze twenty of your cards. Yesterday, he froze your last card.”

Ye Zexi: “…”

Li Changjian continued to comfort him. “Don’t worry, though. The competition offers a salary. The longer you last, the more money you’ll earn. Plus, for the next two months, your living expenses are covered by the show. If you work a little harder, maybe you won’t even need to win a spot in the final group—just reaching the top ten might be enough to make your dad happy and get your card back early!”

Ye Zexi, seeing his dream of a carefree life as a spoiled rich kid coming to an abrupt end, couldn’t find it in himself to smile.

But right now, competing was his only option. After all, he was truly broke. The original owner’s digital wallets on Alipay and WeChat combined had only 5,000 yuan in them—he had checked just last night.

[Alipay: A popular digital payment platform and mobile wallet developed by Ant Financial, an affiliate of Alibaba Group. It allows users to make online payments, transfer money, and manage financial transactions using their smartphones. Alipay is widely used in China for both online and offline transactions.]

[WeChat: A multifunctional messaging, social media, and mobile payment app developed by Tencent. WeChat integrates various features including text messaging, voice and video calls, social networking, and mobile payments. The payment function, known as WeChat Pay, enables users to make transactions, transfer money, and pay for services directly within the app.]

Seriously, don’t these rich kids know not to put all their eggs in one basket?!

Ye Zexi’s smile grew stiff. Fine, whatever. He would treat this as a challenge on the road to a better future.

Besides, Ye Zexi had originally debuted through a boy band talent show and had clawed his way through the entertainment industry to the top, eventually earning the title of Best Actor.

So this was just like returning to square one, leveling up again. Was he really going to be stumped by his old profession?

More importantly, this was a boy band competition!

And where there’s a boy band, there are handsome guys!

Ye Zexi was definitely into guys, but in his past life, he had been too focused on making a name for himself in the industry. Not to mention, the world he came from wasn’t as accepting of same-sex relationships, so those feelings had been fleeting, quickly brushed aside.

But now things were different. If he remembered correctly, this was a BL (Boys’ Love) novel, and the author had designed the world so same-sex marriage was legal to make the romance flow more naturally.

In other words, Ye Zexi could actually date someone now!

Cough cough.

With that thought, a genuine smile finally crept onto Ye Zexi’s face as he interrupted Li Changjian, who was still going on and on. “Uncle, how much does the show pay?”

Hearing Ye Zexi’s words, Li Changjian thought his persuasion had worked. His face lit up with joy as he smiled and said, “Since you’re all trainees who haven’t debuted yet, the base salary for everyone participating in the talent show is 20,000 yuan. Your final earnings will depend on your performance, capped at 200,000 yuan.”

In other words, if Ye Zexi were eliminated in the first round, by tomorrow night, he’d only have 25,000 yuan to last him for the year.

That would be tragic!

“And what about the top ten?” Ye Zexi continued.

“100,000 yuan,” Li Changjian replied.

Ye Zexi gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll aim for the top ten then!”

Li Changjian’s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. He was pleased that Ye Zexi had such ambition, but he still didn’t have much faith in his nephew’s chances of making the top ten. Smiling, he said, “That’s the spirit! You need to have more confidence in yourself. Sure, your singing and dancing might not be the best, but this show isn’t just about those skills. With your looks, do you really think you won’t get fans voting for you?”

At worst, Li Changjian could simply edit more flattering shots of Ye Zexi. The viewers would surely eat it up.

Of course, he didn’t say this aloud. He’d make sure to have a good chat with the post-production team later!

After exchanging a few more words with Li Changjian, the man went off to handle his duties. Rehearsals would start soon, so Ye Zexi headed toward the rest area.

But before he could reach it, a man suddenly stepped out from the side and blocked his path.

The man wore a simple white T-shirt and beige trousers that hugged his long, straight legs. He was tall, standing just a little shorter than Ye Zexi.

Ye Zexi’s gaze landed on the man’s face. With fair skin and finely sculpted features beneath a head of chestnut hair, he was undeniably handsome.

Unfortunately, the attractive guy in front of him had almond-shaped eyes filled with anger, glaring at Ye Zexi with obvious irritation.

Ye Zexi, who had been careful to keep a low profile since transmigrating, was sure he hadn’t made any enemies, especially not with someone this good-looking.

From the way things looked, this handsome guy must have had a grudge with the original Ye Zexi.

Ye Zexi didn’t want someone this handsome holding a grudge against him, so he curved his lips into a pleasant smile and softly asked, “What’s the matter? Did you need something from me—”

"Ye Zexi, stop pretending!"

The word "but" was still on the tip of his tongue when the handsome young man interrupted. His eyes were reddened with barely contained anger, his fists clenched as though he had used all his strength to suppress his rage. "It's been a year since last year. Can’t you stop harassing me? Many people saw what you sent yesterday..."

At this point, the young man, clearly embarrassed and furious, turned his gaze away.

The information in his words quickly made Ye Zexi realize the identity of the person before him—Tang Jing.

Tang Jing was significant in the novel. The original Ye Zexi had entered the ‘The Times Idol’ competition solely to pursue Tang Jing.

However, Tang Jing was the love interest of the novel's protagonist. Not only did he not reciprocate Ye Zexi’s pursuit, but he didn’t even spare him a glance throughout.

This led Ye Zexi, in a fit of humiliation and anger, to use his family's influence to systematically suppress Tang Jing.

This was the beginning of the original Ye Zexi's downfall.

Having recalled the plot, Ye Zexi now understood Tang Jing's expression.

No wonder Jiang Ran and the others knew about Ye Zexi's pursuit of Tang Jing. It was clear now.

If a stranger were relentlessly pursuing him and disrupting his career without success, Ye Zexi could certainly understand the frustration.

Ye Zexi's fists clenched.

Seeing Tang Jing’s furious expression, Ye Zexi could fully empathize with his feelings.

Having understood the situation, it was time for Ye Zexi to make his stance clear.

Suppressing his emotions, Ye Zexi looked at Tang Jing with an unusually sincere tone and said, “I’m sorry.”

Tang Jing was visibly taken aback.

What had he just heard?

Before he could respond, Ye Zexi continued, “It was my fault for bothering you before, and I owe you an apology. I also want to assure you that it won’t happen again in the future.”

Ye Zexi added, “I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I hope you won’t feel troubled by my past mistakes any longer. This will be the last time. Once I’m eliminated, you won’t have to see me again.”

“But until then, I’ll have to ask you to bear with me a little longer.”

After all, what would happen if such a handsome guy got too worked up and fell ill?

Ye Zexi’s gaze was sincere, his expression unusually serious. As he spoke, he kept his eyes locked on Tang Jing’s, showing no sign of dishonesty.

Tang Jing was momentarily dazed. He never would have imagined that Ye Zexi, the notoriously arrogant second-generation rich kid, would apologize to him and promise not to pester him anymore.

It felt like a dream.

Tang Jing shot a suspicious glance at Ye Zexi. The man in front of him had eye-catching pink hair, making his porcelain-like skin appear even more striking. His almond-shaped eyes, when not smiling, were slightly narrowed, adding a rebellious touch to his already intimidating demeanor.

But at this moment, though Ye Zexi’s eyes were curved in a smile, all traces of defiance had faded, leaving only a calm and gentle expression.

Tang Jing found it strange and couldn’t help but glance again.

Noticing his gaze, Ye Zexi flashed him an innocent, harmless smile.

Ye Zexi had always been handsome, but people were usually too intimidated by the cold arrogance in his eyes to appreciate it.

Now, it was different. This gentle expression was something Ye Zexi had never shown before.

Looking closely… he really was kind of handsome.

Realizing this thought, Tang Jing’s expression shifted.

“It better be like that!”

With those words, Tang Jing turned away without another glance and walked off.

Watching him leave, Ye Zexi let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

Tang Jing hadn’t noticed anything wrong, so it seemed his performance had been flawless.

No surprise there—after all, it was him!

Ye Zexi’s eyes brightened with amusement as he walked in the direction Tang Jing had gone, toward the lounge.

In recent years, boy group talent shows had become wildly popular, and Times Idol was riding that wave of success.

Li Changjian aimed to create the top boy group in the country, selecting only four out of one hundred contestants, which made him particularly meticulous in choosing the participants.

Most of the 100 trainees were carefully selected from various top talent agencies across the country, with some being long-time artists who debuted years ago but remained relatively unknown—like Tang Jing.

However, selecting only such promising trainees was difficult, so naturally, there were also some participants who had nothing to offer beyond their looks—like Ye Zexi.

This mix of 100 trainees with varying levels of skill formed the basis of today’s ‘The Times Idol’.

Unlike other talent shows, ‘The Times Idol’ took a different approach. Before revealing the list of trainees and mentors, they first announced the news of the debut performance.

The moment the news broke, the audience and fans who had been silently following ‘The Times Idol’ became incredibly excited.

After months of quiet preparation, ‘The Times Idol’ had finally delivered something big.

By mid-morning, topics related to ‘The Times Idol’ were already trending on social media.

Later in the day, the official ‘The Times Idol’ account released a two-minute video, riding the wave of excitement.

When viewers clicked on the video, they were surprised to find rehearsal footage of the contestants! Beyond the array of stunningly handsome faces, a few familiar ones stood out.

Eagle-eyed netizens quickly spotted Tang Jing from a fleeting shot.

“Isn’t that Tang Jing?”

“Third place from last year’s New Singer?”

“It’s him!”

“He actually joined a boy band competition? No wonder we haven’t heard anything about him recently! His voice is still as amazing as ever!”

“What song are they performing? It sounds great!”

“…”

“Wait a second, why does it seem like the person on the far left is lip-syncing?”

“He really is! Who’s that with the pink hair? Lip-syncing during rehearsals?”

“My excitement for this show just took a nosedive.”

“He’s in the same group as Tang Jing? Poor Tang Jing, looks like the show paired him with a liability. Was this arranged on purpose?”

“Who is this guy? Is the production team trying to sabotage our favorite by bringing someone like him into the mix?”

“Hope Tang Tang doesn’t get affected! Let’s cheer him on for tomorrow!”

“Tang Tang, we’re rooting for you! I heard the live show starts tomorrow and voting will open as well, so don’t forget to vote for him!”

“…”

This situation didn’t stir much attention at first.

After all, Tang Jing was still a newcomer in the entertainment industry, having only debuted a year ago, and his fanbase wasn’t very large yet. More importantly, Ye Zexi himself was an unknown rookie, barely making waves in the industry, so discussions about him were even less prominent.

But no one expected that later that night, the hashtag #Ye Zexi Chasing Tang Jing# would suddenly explode on the trending list, with the word “viral” tagged beside it.

[Write a comment or something, I’m getting bored just translating but there are no comments…]

At four in the morning, Li Changjian knocked on Ye Zexi’s door with a staff member, waking him from his sleep.

After listening to Li Changjian’s explanation, Ye Zexi was still groggy and unsure. “I’m trending?”

Li Changjian nodded worriedly.

“And it’s with Tang Jing?” Ye Zexi’s confusion was clear in his eyes.

Li Changjian nodded heavily again.

The assistant beside Li Changjian handed a phone to Ye Zexi. Taking it, Ye Zexi saw that his and Tang Jing’s names were sitting at number five on the trending list.

Clicking into the trending topic, the first thing Ye Zexi saw was a video, and the stars of that video were none other than himself and Tang Jing. The scene was all too familiar—it was from earlier that day when Tang Jing had confronted him in the hallway, and Ye Zexi had spoken to him.

But at the time, apart from him and Tang Jing, there hadn’t been anyone else in the hallway. So, who had recorded this video?

Li Changjian, who treated Ye Zexi like his own nephew, wouldn’t allow the program’s crew to release such a video.

Then, who else could it be?

Tang Jing?

No, while Tang Jing could use this to gain some sympathy, as a rookie who had just debuted, being associated with the label of homosexuality right off the bat wouldn’t be beneficial for his career in the long run. Chasing short-term attention like this would do more harm than good.

So then—

Li Changjian must have discovered something if he brought his assistant to find Ye Zexi in the middle of the night.

Ye Zexi looked up at Li Changjian and asked, “Uncle Li, what do you think?”

As expected, Li Changjian met Ye Zexi’s gaze, his eyes filled with guilt. “Zexi, this matter is a result of my oversight.”

The moment the online leak surfaced, Li Changjian had received the news. After the staff of ‘The Times Idol’ wrapped up for the day, they were immediately called back to investigate the issue.

Finally, about half an hour ago, they tracked down the employee who leaked the information to a marketing account.

Li Changjian had come to wake Ye Zexi to get his input on how to handle the situation.

“I know Tang Jing well, and this has nothing to do with him. In fact, he’s been very cooperative and willing to clear things up since the leak surfaced. My suggestion is that the production team releases a statement, explaining it was a scene rehearsal. That way, neither you nor Tang Jing needs to respond further. Tang Jing has already agreed. What do you think?” Li Changjian added.

Ye Zexi remained silent, his gaze lowered as he briefly scanned through the comments under his Weibo post.

The teaser for ‘The Times Idol’ had just been released, and the comments were already filled with accusations of Ye Zexi lip-syncing. Now, with this newly surfaced video, netizens wasted no time mocking him.

Some even claimed to be insiders, alleging that Ye Zexi only joined ‘The Times Idol’ to pursue Tang Jing.

Suddenly, rumors began to flood in.

Even Ye Zexi’s background was exposed, revealing that he was the heir of Starlight Entertainment and had been infatuated with Tang Jing for some time, with the two supposedly having a prior connection.

When falsehoods appear true, and truths seem false, even the neutral bystanders started to believe the rumors.

The most enraged were Tang Jing’s fans. They already harbored a strong dislike for Ye Zexi, viewing him as an unwelcome tag-along. Now, learning that Ye Zexi had the audacity to cling shamelessly to Tang Jing, they flooded the Weibo comments with insults.

In general, the online sentiment heavily favored Tang Jing, with very few voices speaking up for Ye Zexi.

The criticisms were harsh—terms like “bootlicker” and “disgusting” were thrown around, with some even accusing Ye Zexi of lip-syncing during rehearsals. Many speculated that ‘The Times Idol’ had few talented contestants, and that the show was simply a money grab.

“Zexi?” Li Changjian called out, worried by Ye Zexi’s prolonged silence. “Don’t look at the comments. Don’t let what’s online affect your performance today.”

Ye Zexi heard this, curved his lips into a smile, and reassured him, “Uncle, don’t worry. I won’t let it get to me.”

Having been through the ups and downs of the entertainment industry for so many years, Ye Zexi had grown accustomed to insults and criticism. The comments he saw today were far from the worst he had encountered.

Li Changjian, still uneasy, suggested, “How about you leave this matter to me? Don’t get involved. These netizens blow things out of proportion all the time. Once we issue a clarification statement—”

“There’s no need, Uncle,” Ye Zexi interrupted, handing the tablet back to his assistant. “This time, the rumors are true. No need to clarify anything.”

Li Changjian was alarmed at this. “That won’t do! You haven’t even debuted yet, and they’re already dragging your name through the mud. What will happen when you actually debut?”

Ye Zexi blinked, keeping the fact that he had no intention of debuting to himself. Instead, he said, “I have a plan, Uncle. You don’t need to worry about me. It’s still early, why don’t you go rest for a bit?”

But Li Changjian wouldn’t leave. For the next half hour, no matter how much he tried to persuade him, Ye Zexi refused to clarify the situation. He insisted that he had everything under control and urged Li Changjian to go rest early.

How could he possibly sleep?

He was worried to death!

Seeing Li Changjian’s anxious expression, Ye Zexi knew his concern was genuine. His heart warmed slightly, and after a moment of thought, he said, “If that’s the case, why don’t you agree to one request of mine, Uncle?”

Li Changjian paused. “What request? Just tell me!”

Raising an eyebrow, Ye Zexi calmly stated his request.

After hearing it, Li Changjian’s eyes were filled with disapproval, but Ye Zexi was quicker to respond. “Uncle, trust me, I’ll handle this.”

With Ye Zexi’s firm stance, Li Changjian had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

Before leaving, Li Changjian glanced at Ye Zexi once more. His face was visibly paler than before, and those beautiful eyes of his were glistening with unshed tears, even the corners reddened. The sight made Li Changjian’s chest tighten again.

He says he’s fine?

With red eyes, he calls this fine?

He couldn’t control the online gossip, but those who betrayed him from within—he would definitely teach them a lesson!

Look at how they made his nephew cry!

Li Changjian stormed off with a dark expression.

If Ye Zexi knew what Li Changjian was thinking, he would have immediately explained.

He wasn’t crying!

It was completely normal to tear up when you’ve just woken up!

However, at that moment, Ye Zexi was genuinely too exhausted to even keep his eyes open, so he didn’t notice Li Changjian’s expression at all.

When Ye Zexi was finally woken by the alarm, it was already 7 a.m. After a quick wash, he headed straight to the makeup room.

The moment Ye Zexi stepped into the makeup room, there was a brief silence in the large space. Countless glances swept over him, some intentionally, some not, filled with scrutiny and curiosity. Among them were a few looking on with schadenfreude.

Following these gazes, Ye Zexi unsurprisingly spotted Jiang Ran among the group of handsome men.

Ye Zexi flashed a friendly smile in his direction.

Jiang Ran’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. This guy could still smile now? He was eager to see if Ye Zexi would still be smiling after today’s performance.

Ye Zexi paid no attention to the ridicule in Jiang Ran’s eyes, quickly shifting his gaze to scan the crowd for Tang Jing.

In the novel, the author described Tang Jing as the “epitome of beauty and grace.”

Tang Jing’s face spoke for itself—when silent, he exuded warmth and elegance; when speaking, his almond-shaped eyes sparkled with life, adding a hint of playfulness.

Privately, Ye Zexi had to admit he had a fondness for this handsome young man. Despite the heated confrontation yesterday, Tang Jing had shown remarkable composure and, on top of that, was incredibly good-looking!

This only made Ye Zexi more eager to befriend him.

Ye Zexi hadn’t done what they were accusing him of, and he felt it was necessary to explain things to Tang Jing.

Tang Jing, having noticed Ye Zexi approaching, displayed no obvious expression, only furrowing his brows slightly.

The people in the makeup room were all seasoned observers. Sensing the tension in the air, they paused their work, ears pricked, ready to catch every detail of the unfolding drama. Live gossip? How exciting!

Tang Jing had already finished his makeup by this point. His skin took to makeup well, and even with the smoky eye look applied by the makeup artist, it didn’t seem overly dramatic. Instead, his features appeared even more animated and lively.

As someone who appreciated beauty, Ye Zexi couldn’t help but sneak a few more glances before he cleared his throat and spoke, “Good morning. I’m sorry about the whole Weibo situation.”

Tang Jing didn’t look at him, his brows still furrowed as he pressed his lips together. “It’s fine, I know it wasn’t you. I just hope you keep your promise.”

Though Tang Jing didn’t elaborate further, Ye Zexi understood exactly what he meant.

Ye Zexi nodded, “You can count on me.”

Tang Jing gave a slight nod in return, saying nothing more.

But how could he truly feel reassured? After being pursued relentlessly for a year, now Ye Zexi suddenly claimed he was giving up. Tang Jing feared this might just be a temporary phase, and that in a few days, Ye Zexi would be back, trying again.

However, despite his doubts, Tang Jing’s good manners wouldn’t allow him to lash out at Ye Zexi.

And after all, the trending topic last night wasn’t entirely bad. This morning, when he checked his Weibo, he had gained hundreds of thousands of new followers overnight!

Remembering his manager’s advice, Tang Jing decided to be patient for a little longer.

Besides, by the end of tonight, there was a good chance Ye Zexi would be eliminated and leave.

Not wanting to linger in the makeup room with Ye Zexi under so many watchful eyes, Tang Jing found an excuse to slip out.

Watching him leave, Ye Zexi felt a twinge of regret. It was clear that Tang Jing still harbored some reservations toward him.

But that was fine. There was plenty of time. Ye Zexi was confident that one day, Tang Jing would genuinely accept him.

Following his memory, Ye Zexi made his way to his private makeup room. After he left, the onlookers in the hall gathered together to gossip.

“Tang Jing really is a saint! If it were me, I would’ve punched Ye Zexi a long time ago!”

“Exactly! If you ask me, Tang Jing is bound to become a star. He has a great temperament and solid talent. By the time this show ends, he’ll probably be entering his golden era, and then he won’t have to worry about being entangled with people like Ye Zexi anymore.”

“But I’m still a bit puzzled. Ye Zexi isn’t lacking in looks, and he comes from a good family. If Tang Jing were to be with him, his career might progress even more smoothly. Why hasn’t he agreed?”

“Ah, you don’t know? Word has it that Tang Jing already has someone he likes, which is why he’s been rejecting Ye Zexi all this time.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“It’s… Film Emperor He!”

“You mean He Yingdi, the guest mentor for this episode?”

[He Yingdi (賀影帝) — The title “Yingdi” (影帝) translates to “Film Emperor” or “Best Actor” in English. It denotes a highly esteemed male actor who is recognized for exceptional achievements in film acting, often having won major acting awards or being regarded as a top-tier actor in the industry.]

“No way! So, they’re rivals in love facing off on set? I doubt Ye Zexi has really given up!”

…

As the live broadcast drew closer, the atmosphere backstage grew tense.

The door to the mentors’ lounge was pushed open, and Shan Zeyu immediately spotted the tall figure of a man seated on the sofa.

“Still going over the script?” Shan Zeyu handed over a cup of coffee.

At the sound of his voice, the man finally looked up. The soft, warm light from above softened his sharp features. His intense eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the person before him.

He Jinyun’s lips curled into a slight smile as he accepted the coffee. “Filming starts in a month.”

Shan Zeyu, knowing his friend’s reason for being on ‘The Times Idol,’ raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Still haven’t found your target?”

He Jinyun took a sip of his coffee, his Adam’s apple moving slightly. After a pause, he said, “There is one preliminary candidate, but the chances are slim.”

Shan Zeyu showed interest, “Oh? Is there someone who might refuse your invitation?”

He Jinyun mentioned a name.

Shan Zeyu’s expression immediately became thoughtful.

The reason was simple: this person was currently a hot topic across the internet.

With half an hour left before the live broadcast, the official channel for ‘The Times Idol’ was opened, and countless viewers quickly flocked to the livestream. The bullet comments were now bustling with activity.

Many fans were cheering for their favorite idols, while others tuned in to see the attractive contestants.

However, these were the minority. The majority of the comments were focused on waiting for Ye Zexi to make a fool of himself.

After a day of spreading, the news about Ye Zexi lip-syncing during rehearsal had circulated widely. To vent their frustrations, fans of Tang Jing had aggressively publicized the claim of Ye Zexi’s lip-syncing.

The comments were filled with anticipation and tension, almost like a storm was brewing.

At nine o’clock in the evening, the broadcast officially began.

The vocal coach Shan Zeyu and the dance instructor Qu Xiao were the first to appear before the audience.

It was noteworthy because Shan Zeyu was a three-time winner of the Best Male Singer in Mandarin Pop, and Qu Xiao was known as the leader of the top domestic girl group. When did they come to ‘The Times Idol’?

How come there isn’t any news at all?

Countless fans had just received the news and hurried over.

The comments section erupted into a frenzy of activity.

But that wasn’t all. When the three-time Golden Actor He Jinyun appeared as the guest mentor, the livestream nearly crashed.

[Golden Actor: A term used to refer to an actor who has won prestigious acting awards, specifically in the Chinese-speaking entertainment industry. The term “Golden Actor” typically denotes winners of major awards like the Golden Horse, Golden Rooster, and Hundred Flowers Awards, which are considered top honors in the field.]

He Jinyun, who had never participated in a variety show before, had chosen to join a boy band audition show!

Fans were beyond excited!

Fortunately, the technical team managed to stabilize the broadcast, quickly resolving the lagging issues for many users.

With the excitement of the veteran guest, the atmosphere became lively. It was now time for the newcomers to take the stage. The mentors wasted no time and announced the first performance of the night—“It’s Heartthrob”.

Sharp-eyed viewers noticed that the first performance would feature Tang Jing and Ye Zexi!

Were the show producers bold or simply fearless? They started with a major act!

The comments were flying fast.

“Damn, I just enjoyed seeing my idol’s handsome face, and now I have to watch these kids?”

“I’m leaving; I’ll come back later if there’s a whale!”

“Don’t go! I think the next part will be even more exciting. Let’s see how Ye Zexi manages his lip-syncing today!”

The crowd continued to grow, and the camera shifted to focus on Ye Zexi’s face.

The young man’s fair complexion was lightly made up. The lighting made his peach blossom eyes even more captivating. He even gave a quick wink at the camera.

“? Is this Ye Zexi?”

“Damn, he just winked at me! I need to go wash my eyes!”

“Is he the first one to sing?”

As the prelude ended, a clear, slightly magnetic male voice pierced through the clouds of silence and rang out—

“The wind chime on the street corner, tinkling with the breeze.”

The comments section was momentarily blank, followed by an overwhelming flood of exclamation marks.

Oh?

Why does it sound so good?