Rebirth from the Ashes

Shock.

For a moment, it was pin-drop silence in the vast cafeteria.

The trainees thought their ears were playing tricks on them. Who was Mr. Xixi? Where was Mr. Xixi? Was Mr. Xixi the show’s mystery guest?

The news was too much for their hearts to take!

Mr. Xixi and Mr. Qi Xiu were best partners who made a name for themselves in showbiz recently. Mr. Qi Xiu kept a low profile and turned down all invitations to variety shows.

However, Mr. Xixi was more unassuming and mysterious than Mr. Qi Xiu. Up until now, everyone was still debating about his basic information – Was Mr. Xixi a man or woman? How old was he? What did he look like?

The trainees followed Mr. Qi Xiu’s line of vision to the cafeteria entrance. Standing there were all six of their mentors. There was no one else.

Like the trainees, the mentors were caught in a daze by Qi Xiu’s sudden greeting. Out of reflexes, they looked behind to see if there was someone they might have missed.

The production team did mention something about mystery guests, but the number was not specified. Perhaps two guests were invited. The hit combo of Xixi’s song and Qi Xiu’s voice had them dubbed the Dynamic Duo in showbiz.

Between the pair, one was an artist and music director of Cosmos Entertainment while the other never announced his allegiance to any company. Nevertheless, people in the circle speculated that he must also be from Cosmos Entertainment. It was not surprising that the production team was able to invite him to the show.

The program was funded by Cosmos Entertainment after all. In the interest of maximum profit, they must be counting on the program to be a hit. Hence why they tried to stir sensation by sending the Dynamic Duo over.

Yet.

There was not a soul behind them.

Two trainees were walking out of the elevator. They were Han Yan and Ye Weiyang.

Su Muyan was the first to get a grip. He realized Qi Xiu was looking at Yun Xiao past Gu Yang. With his heart sinking to his stomach, Su Muyan tried to convince himself that it was not what he thought it was!

Impossible!

How could it be?

The repulsive and disgusting Yun Xiao could not possibly be the Xixi he was looking for!

After the brief shock, Gu Yang and the rest followed Qi Xiu’s gaze to Mr. Yun Xiao. They were mind blown.

No way! No way! No way!

As thousands of question marks popped inside their heads, the answer had become apparent.

Qi Xiu drew close and gave them the affirmation. He stood before Mr. Yun Xiao and smiled. “This is my first experience in a show. Please show me the ropes, Mr. Xixi.”

Su Muyan’s pupils dilated while his hands by his sides clenched tightly into fists. The reality was overwhelming for him to accept.

That was right.

The person he despised the most and tried to make a fool out of was the same person he had been seeking for two months to collaborate with!

Gu Yang and Xia Mi exchanged a glance. They saw the same shock in each other’s eyes. It was a moment of revelation for these guys.

Fang Yao, on the other hand, was the bubbliest among the mentors. Her friendly nature helped her to hang out with the trainees. Not one to hide her emotions, she excitedly gazed at the person next to her and asked the question on behalf of the stunned crowd. “Mr. Yun Xiao, so you’re Mr. Xixi?”

Shen Xi faintly hummed as a reply to the question.

Fang Yao shrieked and stamped her feet repeatedly in enthusiasm. Like a fan meeting an idol, she held her chest and uttered in a shaky voice. “F*ck me! It’s Mr. Xixi in the flesh. Can I touch you?”

Never in her wildest dreams would she dream of meeting the most talked-about and sought-after Mr. Xixi. They had been shooting the show side by side for a week, and yet nobody suspected a thing.

Shen Xi took a step back.

He Sumo gave Fang Yao a tug and cleared his throat. He tipped her the wink so she would recompose her public image. As a mentor, she should behave like one in the presence of the students.

Gu Yang and Xia Mi were hot with emotions, but as mentors, they had to watch their manners. Keeping their thousand questions and delight in check, they calmly greeted Mr. Xixi.

Dumbstruck, the trainees had their eyes widened and jaws dropped to the ground. Of course, they were in shock. Most of them were filled with regret.

Mr. Yun Xiao who they labeled as irresponsible and repulsive was Mr. Xixi!

Oh gawd. If only they could turn back time. Had they known, they would never have acted in that manner toward Mr. Yun Xiao. They would instead scramble for his attention, begging for him to teach them!

Su Ruowan, who was collected and unconcerned by Qi Xiu’s presence, clutched the spoon tightly in her hand. The trembling spoon revealed her inner turmoil.

Mr. Xixi.

Yun Xiao was Mr. Xixi.

Why was she so dumb to not pick up on the details?

Her mind flashed back to the day when Mr. Xixi arrived. She was the first to extend a friendly hand to Mr. Xixi and the latter appeared nice to her.

What happened next?

Why did she not continue with the gesture? Had she continued, Mr. Xixi would have warmed up to her.

With the support of Mr. Xixi, Su Ruowan could have gotten a chance to work with him, and like Qi Xiu, she would be famous with a hit album and become a superstar overnight.

No.

She still had a chance.

Time was on her side. There were still a lot of chances, and as long as she seized the opportunity for Mr. Xixi to see her good, brilliant, and hard work; he would definitely fall for her. Su Ruowan was confident in her ability.

Colors drained from He Lu’s face as the weight of regret and frustration piled onto her. Why did she have to be all mouthy and take a dig at Mr. Yun Xiao?

Great. Now that Mr. Yun Xiao turned out to be Mr. Xixi, he must be hating her guts. What should she do to cozy up to Mr. Xixi now?

Compared to the other groups, Group F was over the moon after the initial shock subsided. They proudly held their heads up and showed off the joy on their faces. Their mentor was Mr. Xixi!

He taught them for three whole days, spending almost every waking minute with them. Mr. Xixi was the one who coached them patiently and reversed the fate of Group F.

They relished the look on everyone’s faces. No one was going to doubt or question Mr. Yun Xiao’s capabilities now.

Yes.

The composition and choreography of the theme song were created in the hands of Mr. Yun Xiao. Who was to say he knew nothing about dancing and singing!

Everyone on site seemed to have forgotten the mystery guest Qi Xiu’s existence with all eyes on Mr. Yun Xiao.

Mr. Yun Xiao remained chill as he brushed off the mentors’ inquiries with “ah”, “oh”, “uh-huh”.

Then as always, he proceeded to serve himself breakfast and sit down to eat, oblivious to the intense stares and admiring looks from the trainees.

Gu Yang noticed the trainees’ wandering eyes and said, “Eyes on the food, please. Enjoy your meals. I hope everyone will do well at the group match.”

His words stirred a wailing fit among the trainees. Tension saw a rise in the air with the first round of group matches commencing at nine in the morning. Sure, they may be on tenterhooks, but they wanted to have an interaction with Mr. Xixi.

At least now the trainees turned their attention away from Mr. Yun Xiao to their breakfast. Shedding tears of regret, they bore resentment against the proud former members of Group F.

Over at the mentors’ table.

It was rather quiet with no one talking. The mentors were at a loss for words. Anyone and everybody in the entertainment business would be dying to collaborate with Mr. Xixi, and this was especially the case with Gu Yang. He had openly let the media know of his intentions to work with Mr. Xixi.

It was the same with Su Muyan. He had been asking around for Mr. Xixi but returned empty-handed. However, he was currently in turmoil as the person he looked down on and pushed aside on the show was Mr. Xixi. Su Muyan was unwilling to accept the reality yet had to.

The expose of Mr. Yun Xiao’s identity led the group to be awkward around him, except Qi Xiu who was still very much himself. Qi Xiu sat beside Mr. Yun Xiao, looking back every now and then to share private words.

As usual, Mr. Yun Xiao aloofly gave brief replies. It was hard to see any passion or familiarity coming from the one-album-wonders Dynamic Duo.

It was a stifling atmosphere as the mentors observed one another. They wanted to be the first to engage in a conversation with Mr. Yun Xiao and yet had no idea where to begin. As Mr. Yun Xiao was unapproachable in the first place, they had not fostered much of a relationship for the past few days. They felt awkward in case they failed to hold up the conversation while at the same time afraid others might beat them to chatting Mr. Yun Xiao up.

The identity revelation threw the mentors a curveball. Yun Xiao and Mr. Xixi carried different weights in roles in their minds.

Yun Xiao was insignificant to them since the role of a mentor only put Yun Xiao as their equals or even their lesser counterparts in the show. Mr. Xixi, on the other hand, was in the big league they wanted to get into.

The mentors were all lost in their thoughts.

The trainees also had plans of their own. He Lu was an example. At present, she was carrying a bowl of congee in her hands. Hiding the slyness in her eyes, she made up her mind and made a beeline towards the mentors’ table.