Chapter Text
When the first chord rippled through the speakers, the crowd erupted into a chorus of screams, causing the grounds of the stadium to tremble and the catwalks above it to rattle. Tensions were high in the arena, with countless fans screaming until their lungs gave out and their shouts turned into a discordant symphony of croaks, vocal cords torn to shreds by carnivorous passion. Just one strum of the famous guitar riff was enough to have barricade blue in the face.
Then, the stadium was plunged into darkness.
A susurrus of hissing eclipsed the stadium as fog machines – stationed like sentinels on either side of the stage – whirred to life. The mist they ejected blanketed the stage in a sheen of pearlescence, and in their wake, the stage screens started to pull back to expose a silhouette standing between them.
Phosphorescent floodlights swivelled onto the cryptic figure, illuminating the man whose face was obscured by lustrous locks of inky hair.
The fog sashayed upstage, submerging the steps in a layer of heady musk.
Glistening through the translucent veil were a myriad of silver rings, winking when the spotlights caught their reflections as they pinched together the dignity of a dark figure's trousers. A singular sterling chain snaked along soft flesh and coiled tightly across a perfectly dimpled waist, skin as white as ivory and twice as fine exposed tantalisingly out of reach.
His corded muscles were embraced by a stygian leather vest, its plunge so shamelessly deep it was almost obscene, highlighting the defined ridges of his chest.
The mist began to clear, revealing an incarnadine bass guitar clutched in his grasp. It was after this that he lifted his gaze from the floor and swept it languidly across the stadium, a wolfish smile spreading across his lips.
Another round of shrill screams ruptured from his adoring acolytes.
The cacophony of noise blurred into a crescendo as he leisurely prowled towards the microphone, depraved, ecstatic yells amalgamating into a singular intelligible chant:
“HUA CHENG! HUA CHENG! HUA CHENG!”
A ripple of anticipation travelled up the idol’s spine as he breathed in the energy that surged up from the crowdline, taking in the sea of crimson lightsticks, all of which thrashed fervently for him.
He sensually curled his fist around the handle, one slender, manicured finger landing neatly after the other, before he leaned in and grazed his plush lips against the mesh.
“Hey,” Hua Cheng whispered, a single breath in the sea of reverence, before the bassline riff slammed down like a tsunami, drowning out the crazed screams of the crowd.
His sultry siren’s call sliced through the stuffy atmosphere like a scimitar as he performed his opening number, muffling desperate sobs of his name and occasional raucous barking. His voice undulated amidst jumping bodies and tangled with their cheers, wrenching their hands up to the sky and seizing their minds with passionate admiration.
As Hua Cheng’s smooth cadence melted from one song into the next, the night devolved into a rhapsodic blur; the flurry of lights, blood-red confetti and electric melodies swirled together to create a pulsating backdrop of energy and fervour. Droplets of exertion beaded on his milky skin as his body arched and rolled in time with the rhythm, coating his flesh in a shimmering layer of desire.
Hua Cheng had undoubtedly enchanted the audience, enveloping himself in an addictive display of sex appeal. The music was truly commendable, but it was his devilish charm that had undeniably bewitched every man and woman in the arena.
---
“Hello WeiWeiTV viewers and followers of The Heaven's programme! Thank you for tuning in to our broadcast!” The host’s flamboyant, cheerful voice announced, an equally dazzling smile plastered on his lips.
“My name is Heaven’s Eye and I will be your host for the evening. As you loyal fans all know, this week we’ve been interviewing several artists who are preparing for the upcoming WeiWei TV Concert next summer!
For those not in the loop, this concert will be a spectacle unlike anything WeiWeiTV has produced before, with all actors under the Wei name coming together for three whole days of music, revelry and entertainment! Last livestream, we spoke to esteemed members Xuan Zhen and Nan Yeng, and today, another special guest has joined our podcast.”
With a flourish of his hand, Heaven’s Eye gestured to the man sitting unassumingly across from him. “Xie Lian, thank you for making time to come speak with us!”
Xie Lian was poised in a cushy cream beanbag with his calm gaze settled on the camera, and he nodded minutely when he was addressed.
“No, of course, thank you for inviting me,” responded Xie Lian easily, a modest smile settling on his lips. Despite this being a relatively small stream with a sparse viewing, there was a professional setup consisting of microphones on comedically long boom arms and sweltering studio lights that beat down upon his nape, causing small droplets of sweat to bead beneath the soft linen collar of his shirt.
“Hello everyone! My name is Xie Lian and I’m a solo artist under WeiWeiTV,” he spoke warmly. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be here today, and to share my plans for attending the WeiWeiTV concert. I hope everyone can come and support me on the day!”
Heaven’s Eye chipped in persuasively, “How very, very exciting! For any interested fans, tickets are available on ticketsthereandlater.com. Please come and support our country’s talented artists!" He said with a conspiratorial wink, before pivoting the conversation back towards the man across from him.
“So, Xie Lian, tell us more about yourself and your new single – “800 Years Running” – that you released at the beginning of this year! It placed second on the charts and hit a million views on MeTube in just a fortnight! What an achievement!”
Xie Lian folded his hands in his lap, laughing courteously at the appraisal. “Yes, I was very surprised at its success. I saw a lot of excitement across Chirper, especially when the music video first released. I couldn’t have done it without my Blossoms’ support!”
“Ah yes, the music video! Am I correct in saying that Ban Yue, your junior from WeiWeiTV, featured alongside you? I know some fans have been obsessing over your visual chemistry…”
Xie Lian laughed coyly, giving a polite nod of acquiescence.
“I suppose our visuals do complement one another, in a sense. In fact, I was very honoured to work alongside her on set. She’s a very hardworking individual and we managed to finish filming very quickly as a result. We put all our effort into creating a unique and enjoyable video together for the Blossoms and I’m glad to see everyone enjoyed it so much.”
“And oh, the harmonies!” Heaven’s Eye gasped dramatically, glancing not-so-subtly at the screen beside the camera, on which an explosion of chatters buried the stream in hearts. “What do you all think, Blossoms? Should Xie Lian and Ban Yue produce more strikingly sensational singles together?”
XIELIANSBAMBOOHAT227: Xie Lian and Ban Yue really have the best visuals!! WeiWei please bring us more content of them T-T
LELEFAN888: Wowww~ Xie Gege looks so handsome in today’s stream~~
HEAVENLYPRECEPTS1000X: This is an interview with Xie Lian. Why are you bringing up Ban Yue?? Please give our idol the attention he deserves!! QwQQ
GREENLANTERN: HIS DIMPLES WAAAA, SO PERFECT! HIS NATURAL AEGYO IS SO REFRESHING !!! X3
GREENLANTERN: XIE LIANNNNN I LOVE YOU
GREENLANTERN: NOTICE ME
XIELIANNO.1ANTI: lmao is this guy serious? Who does he think he is lolol, banyue wouldn't work with him if she wasn't forced to. Maybe make some actually good music?
GREENLANTERN: XIELIANNO.1ANTI DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEEEEEEEEEEEEE GO TO HELL!!!! /KILLXIELIANNO.1ANTI /SRS
ANON: guys i think greenlantern might like Xie Lian
GREENGHOST127: YESYES GREEN LANTERN IS CORRECT MY XIEGEGE LOOKS SO PERFECT TODAY YYYYY YY EEEEEEY
GREENGHOST127: @XIELIANO.1ANTI FUCK OFF
X1EL1ANSUS3DT0W3L: Is Xie Lian going to the concert next week? >ww<
LELEFAN888: Uhmmm,,, why is this guy always in these live chats?
HEAVENLYPRECEPTS1000X: Wasn’t GreenLantern that one guy who got exposed for having 1000 Xie Lian cutouts in his house? Lololol :skull emoji:
Heaven’s Eye laughed emphatically as he scanned the messages flitting rapidly down the screen. “It seems the Blossoms are quite fired up by this collab! But, Xie Lian, would you mind telling us a bit more about the backstory behind 800 Years Running?”
Xie Lian shifted in his beanbag, crossing one long leg over the other as he leaned more comfortably into the plush fabric. “Well, this single was actually quite personal to me,” he explained softly.
“Last year, during my hiatus, I… was going through quite a rough patch,” he said with a rueful curl of his lips.
“A lot of people helped me and supported me through it, and I wanted to make something to commemorate my comeback and mark the start of this new chapter in my life.”
“Mm, yes, how touching,” Heaven’s Eye commented. “Hopefully, we can see the single rise to the top of the chart by the end of the week!” He exclaimed, clapping his hands together in a display of jollity.
“Thank you very much,” Xie Lian replied as he dipped his head.
“Well then, I think that’s about as much as we have time for tonight!” Heaven’s Eye beamed. “Thank you for your time, Xie Lian. And Blossoms - remember to buy those tickets at ticketsthereandlater.com! Grab them before they’re gone!”
Xie Lian and Heaven’s Eye waved goodbye to the camera, the live chat bursting with hearts and sobbing emojis as they bid farewell to their beloved idol. Among them, one last line of text briefly appeared.
GREENLANTERN: ILL SEE YOU SOON MY GLORIOUS PRIN-
At that, the camera shut off, and the hum of the crew burst to life as they began to pack away the recording equipment. Xie Lian rose from his resting position, politely clasping his hands together in gratitude and bidding his own farewell to the host and crew.
As soon as he was outside the eyeline of any wandering staff members, he sighed heavily and mopped the sweat that had beaded on his brow, grimacing at the moisture left behind on his palm as he drew his hand back. The promise of cool, fresh and clean air waiting outside the studio walls had been the only thing on his mind, and that same goal directed his steps forwards.
He made his way down the staff hallways, offering smiles and waves in passing.
“Xie Lian! Come, come,” piped up his personal makeup artist - Li Hua - a mischievous smirk on her face as she eagerly beckoned him over.
“Have you seen clips of Hua Cheng’s concert? It’s all over Chirper! Ye Xiao went last night and look at what she just sent me! SO cool!” she squealed, holding up her screen to show a blur of movement.
Xie Lian leaned down to get a better view, his eyes fixing onto the captivating man who had just wrapped up his dance routine. A sharp spotlight illuminated him, highlighting his heaving ribcage and hair clinging to his neck. For a second, his sharp, storm-grey gaze met the camera, eliciting a guttural scream from the fan behind it. Xie Lian raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the man who was now panting heavily on the screen.
The crimson idol raised the microphone to his mouth, tipping his head back to regain his composure for a moment, a smile hiding in the corners of his mouth as the sculpted arch of his neck was accentuated.
“Hello, Ghost City,” he purred.
A symphony of yells and “I LOVE YOU HUA CHENG”s followed suit, the clip shaking vigorously as excitement flooded the arena. The phone was then whisked away, just as quick as it had emerged.
“Hua Cheng is so charismatic! He sold out his entire concert in Yong’an and he’s performing here in Wuyong next Tuesday! I hope I can buy a ticket!” Li Hua gushed, positively buzzing whilst rewinding the clip on her phone to watch it again.
Xie Lian smiled engagingly, but in truth, his eyes lingered on the empty space where the screen once was.
Hua Cheng…
The name echoed in the back of his mind as he left the building.