Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Shen Yuan vs the world.
Shen Yuan, a self-proclaimed anime and manga enthusiast (some might say a "weeb"), prided himself on his diverse interests. From web novels to Western masterpieces like Lord of the Rings, his geeky passions spanned the globe. So yes, his nerdy vernacular was well travelled.However, domestic or international idol culture never quite piqued his interest. Of course, this was the biggest lie he had ever had the gall to believe. But after all, denial is a river in Egypt!
Sure, he enjoyed the music of a few groups and maybe that other girl band, too (but that was different, right?). But beyond that, Shen Yuan considered himself far too sophisticated for idol fandom and its drama.
A rule which often remained in place, except for one exception. The exception is his 5 foot 4 inches sister.
Today's "mandatory socialising" involved visiting his sister's apartment. After dominating 8-1 in Mario Kart and a pizza refuel pit stop. Shen Yuan found himself sprawled on her impossibly plush, faux-fur throw rug. The TV, disguised as a framed painting (because apparently, functionality was passé), now displayed his sister's favourite gossip idol YouTube channel.
Shen Yuan felt like he'd fallen into an "MTV Cribs" episode gone rogue. Everything was millennial pink, with rose gold accents and enough throw pillows to build a fort – a far cry from his haven of anime figurines and movie posters.
He sighed, a martyr to sibling bonding.
The video on the TV served as white noise, drowning out the symphony of questionable life choices from both idol stans and fans. He shovelled another slice of his volcano jalapeno and pineapple pizza (don't judge) into his mouth.
Glancing over at his sister and seeing her slight frown at his "slobbing", he shifted his position to ensure he didn’t cause a mess. He had to maintain a grease-free zone on his sister's furniture, or his life would no longer be worth living. After performing feats of Olympic-level pizza acrobatics to avoid rogue cheese shrapnel contacting the velvet throw pillows, Shen Yuan relaxed again.
The video by the channel Idol-buzz (10/10 for the name) needed to be more robust. The topics included but were not limited to idols caught on dates, someone licking an idol's elbow, and a suspicious number of protest vans for... things? (Shen Yuan mentally shrugged.)
To be honest, the Google Translate voice made it hard to focus on the stories. It was just so inhuman, which, as a robotic voice, made a lot of sense.
"Is this like, how the idol stans communicate now? Vans, what a waste of money," The text-to-speech voice droned on, lacking any inflexion whatsoever.
"Moving on, brace yourselves because Xtra Boys are back ", The voice announced. "They’re adding another conga line of new members to their line-up."
Shen Yuan snorted. "Didn't they just hit 26 members last month?" he said, his eyes sliding to gauge his sister's reaction.
His sister, Jinni, gasped dramatically around a slice of her meat feast pizza, nearly choking. In turn, she came dangerously close to running her own plush pillows. She fumbled with the remote, button-mashing to increase the volume.
Xtra Boys is her ultimate bias group—or it had been. Shen Yuan needed clarification on this. But back in middle school, she declared to anyone who would listen (including herself and her two older brothers) that she would marry the whole group.
At the age of 24, no longer a middle or high school student, Shen Yuan could now point out many flaws in this plan. Firstly, the new members debuting are teenagers. Second and third, the legalities of being married to more than one person and the practicality! And third, no way is his little sister being shipped off with any egotistical idol asshole!
However, there is very little scarier to high school boys than a preteen with a passion. Teenaged Shen Yuan had to listen to all of 11-year-old Jinni’s passionate monologues on Xtra Boys and weddings. Rather than bursting her bubble, he supported her obsession by humouring her by listening to her and watching the group's MVs.
Shen Yuan supposed there were probably worse fates out there than being known as the "cool brother," a fact backed up by the mug Jinni had brought him for his 16th birthday.
The TV, now slightly shaking from the buzz from the robotic voice, continued. Shen Yuan continued eating his pizza and lovingly rolled his eyes at his sister's antics.
Knowing of this group (and being a sucker for his sister), he would, as they did as children, humour Jinni.
The robot voice continued, "Look, I love Xtra Boys, but maybe it's time to rethink their concept. They're coming up on their seventh year, you know. While I doubt disbandment would happen, many original members won't renew their contracts. Unless some serious money is offered! We all know how it goes with larger groups: the more members, the less-"
Jinni slammed the red button off with enough force to make Shen Yuan flinch. He considered pointing out the glowing standby light on the TV, a clear sign that her beloved YouTube was still active, but he then analysed his situation a little more. Did he look this annoyed when he dissected web novels point-by-point?
Shen Yuan chewed on some stingy cheese, pulling away from his current slice. This allowed him to fully appreciate the anger and power that came with a fan girl’s passion. If Shen Yuan had ever dated, he would have assumed it was similar to not taking out the trash or washing the dishes when asked. He shivered. How scary.
"Yeah fuck that!" Jinni declared. Shen Yuan offered a silent yet supporting nod and another bite of his pizza.
"The management is so crap, the group haven't done anything in years", she continued. Shen Yuan agreed, but saying they hadn't done anything of note worth in the past few years was a tad harsh. Did they not promote that crappy energy drink last year?
"No decent brand deals, no acting gigs, just a load of crap. Why bother adding new members? It's just a ploy to sell more photo cards. Some of these guys probably have mortgages and wives, yet they're still singing and skipping in music videos about crushes and school." She gestured, hands flying around with no target, clearly lost in the void of idol fandom.
Shen Yuan idly wondered how many protest vans or even limos an idol in a relationship would be worth. He guessed it would depend on how many girls and boys were willing to admit their parasocial relationships had been a little too stalker-like.
Now finished with his pizza, Shen Yuan started eyeing the abandoned slices of meat feast. Could you reach over? He was sure no one would notice, but could he get away with a sneaky snag?
Finished with her ranting, Jinni stood up and grabbed the pizza box, and dropped them into her adjoining kitchen; damn.
While his sister shared his love for geeky things, she didn't get her busybody personality from him. There is no way he would have cleaned up right after finishing. Those tasks often were a problem for future A-Yuan or A-Jiu when he visited to yell at him. Or the cleaning staff his parents employed to make sure that Shen Yuan was still alive.
As if reading her brother's mind, Jinni asked, "A-Yuan, what time did you say A-Jiu was picking you up?"
"Oh... yeah...hmm."
He remembered! Hahaha.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Exhausted and grumpy after an afternoon of overpriced medical poking at the hospital, Shen Yuan yearned for a sugary escape. The drive back stretched before him like an eternity – especially since it was Shen Jui's turn for chauffeur duty. Shen Jui's electric car hummed smugly beside him, an eco-warrior chariot that mocked Shen Yuan's sugar cravings, starkly contrasting with the gas-guzzling glory of their eldest brother Kai's classic car. Which at least made him feel cool when pedestrians would point at it. This car just made him feel like an asshole... like A-Jui.
"Aw, come on, A-Jui! Just one sugary drink?" Shen Yuan whined, his voice laced with the desperation of a man facing a sugar apocalypse. "They come with Miku cards! The ones with the holographic foil."
Shen Jui, ever the voice of reason (and occasional violent outbursts), slammed his hand on the side of his door before returning it to the wheel. "Look, while I couldn't give one shit about these cards," he said, "there is one thing I care about. But it seems like you forget even when the doctor mentions it. We talked about this: your health is more important than shiny paper-”. Yuan found that debatable, but he listened to his brother continue. “You already had pizza for lunch, and honestly, between me, Jinni, and Kai, we chauffeur you around more than you walk. (Maybe a little less pizza next time, traitorous stomach. A man needs his priorities.) It's not like you can even use the stairs in your apartment building without a break. A little exercise and diet wouldn't hurt."
Ouchie, his feelings!
Shen Yuan slumped in his seat, feeling like a deflated balloon. The injustice! Did pizza negate a sweet treat AND a cool (yet suspiciously neon) soda with a Miku card?
Betrayal!
This was a travesty of epic proportions. Shen Jui wasn't wrong, not really. It just sucked that sometimes the voice of reason sounded suspiciously like his asshole brother.
Ping!
A sign, a message from the gods to distract him from this icy hellscape! Shen Yuan grabbed his phone from his pocket and swiped up on the notification. In fact, rather than a message from any gods, it was simply a WeChat notification.
Jinni: Hey, how was the hospital?
Yuan: 😔
Jinni: Aww. Well, how’s A-Jiu?
Yuan: If you don't hear from me later, you know who did it 😞.
Jinni: Rough! Anyway, you know that group I showed you a few weeks ago? The girl group? They are live at the moment. They just did a show, but guess what? They announced they are doing a gig near us! [Watch Stream].
Yuan: I'll go with you if you help stop A-Jui from convincing Mom and Dad to force me to become a health nut.
Jinni: Health nut? I'm sure he wants the best for you. But I'll make them not agree to anything over the top. Deal?
Yuan: 👍
Shen Yuan shoved his phone back in his pocket with a disgruntled huff. Glaring out the window, he attempted a brooding movie protagonist pose. Leaning his forehead against the glass, he imagined the scene playing in slow motion, complete with a dramatic soundtrack.
Except his face just wasn't built for smouldering intensity. Stuck somewhere between "mildly annoyed" and "excited puppy about to see a squirrel," it wasn't precisely villain origin story material.
A defeated sigh escaped his lips as he slumped back in the seat. The silence in the car was deafening to his ears. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the door, drumming out a nervous rhythm. A glance at A-Jui earned him a withering stare that could curdle milk.
"Alright, alright," Shen Yuan mumbled, his bravado shrinking under his brother's laser gaze. He fumbled for his phone again, pulling out his Sailor Moon Bluetooth earbuds for company.
Instead of scrolling through social media, he checked out the livestream Jinni had sent earlier.
He guessed he should start getting to know the group, as Jinni would no doubt drag him to another fan sign. While he was not a fan of idol groups, it was just common courtesy to at least know who was who!
The idols appeared to be in an industrial waiting room. Their voices echoed in the vast space, bouncing off the bare concrete walls. Shen Yuan closed his eyes, the sound strangely calming.
Was this what they called ASMR?
As he listened to the chattering between the idols and the commenter, he zoned out, watching the stream of people shuffling past in the background: showrunners, stylists, and other idols walked by in a whirlwind of activity.
Suddenly, a broad-shouldered figure caught his eye. Unlike the others in their flashy stage outfits, this person wore all black, complete with a bucket hat pulled low and mirrored sunglasses.
What.
The.
Heck.
Poser alert!
There was always one idol who thought they were too cool for school and hid away from everyone else. The figure seemed familiar, but Shen Yuan couldn't quite place it. He whipped out his phone and snagged a screenshot, vowing to investigate later.
Twitter (he refused to call it X) would have a field day with this one. He could practically see the retweet notifications flooding his phone already. A triumphant smirk spread across his face as he envisioned his upcoming internet fame.
So lost in his daydreams of online glory, he completely missed the ever-increasing volume of his brother's voice as A-Jui tried to get his attention.
"Yuan!" A-Jui barked, his voice tight with barely contained frustration.
Shen Yuan ripped an earbud out, startled by the sudden yell. "Whoa, the noise cancellation on these is sure something."
"I said," A-Jui repeated, enunciating each word carefully. Do you need help getting out of the car, or are you joining me for my six p.m. spin class?" He finished with a playful smirk.
Shen Yuan blinked, momentarily confused. "Spin class?"
A-Jui sighed dramatically. “I have better things to do than watch you watch... whatever that weeb shit is."
"Hey! It's not weeb shit!" Shen Yuan protested, even though he wasn't entirely sure what to call it himself. With the lack of fictional people, could it be called weeb shit? Well, Shen Yuan was putting his foot down firmly and saying not under my watch!
But there was a distinct difference between his interests and Jinni's idols. Shen Yuan even ventured to say the overlap could have been more prominent.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced: the disastrous family cruise on which A-Jui spent most of the time clinging to the nearest railing, looking distinctly green. A mischievous glint lit up Shen Yuan's eyes.
"Spin class? Isn't that, like, a recipe for disaster? Remember that time on the cruise with all that rocking? You practically turned into a human sprinkler!"
A-Jui's smug expression vanished, replaced by a look of bewilderment. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to decipher some alien language.
Oblivious to his brother's growing confusion, Shen Yuan continued to prattle on about the ill-fated cruise, each exaggerated detail more outrageous than the last.
A-Jui finally roared, his voice laced with exasperation "Shut it."
The sudden outburst silenced Shen Yuan mid-sentence.
"What exactly do you think a spin class is?" A-Jui asked, his voice dangerously calm.
A cold dread settled in Shen Yuan's stomach. Maybe it wasn't what he thought. A nervous giggle bubbled in his throat, but he forced it back down. It emerged as a small, squeaky "Eek?"
Shen Yuan's cheeks started to morph into the same shade as his beloved Sailor Moon earbuds.
"A class, huh?" Yuan mumbled, the question barely audible.
A slow, sardonic smile spread across A-Jui's face. "A class, you say? That's an adroit observation. Indeed, it appears my spin class falls under the category of... classes." He stretched out the last word for emphasis, his voice dripping with mock seriousness.
"Spin?" Yuan repeated, his voice small and uncertain.
....
...
..
.
"Spin?" A-Jui echoed, his smile morphing into a pure shock upon realising. "You think I just stand and spin? Like a fucking Beyblade?!"
The realisation dawned on Shen Yuan's face like a sunrise—slow, horrifying, and completely illuminating. His mouth gaped open like a landed fish. A-Jui knew precisely what image his mind had conjured.
Heat flooded Shen Yuan's face, creeping up his neck and turning his ears scarlet. His brain scrambled to defend itself, sputtering, "W-well, it is called spin class! And Beyblades spin, so..." His voice trailed off into a whimper. This was worse than accidentally calling his teacher "mom" in middle school. This was nuclear meltdown levels of humiliation.
A-Jui's lips twitched, but he managed to maintain a straight face. Shen Yuan could practically see the gears turning in his head, calculating the most effective way to deliver the coup de grace to his wounded pride.
"Out. Now." A-Jui barked, the playful smirk replaced by a tight grimace.
Shen Yuan didn't even dare to look at his brother. He mumbled a strangled goodbye that probably sounded more like a strangled cat, scrambled out of the car, and practically tripped over his own feet in his haste to put as much distance between himself and A-Jui as possible.
As he landed on the sidewalk, the car door slammed shut behind him with a resounding thud that echoed in the otherwise quiet street. Shen Yuan hung his head low.
He offered a feeble wave that looked like a drowning man's last attempt to stay afloat to A-Jui's shaking head, visible through the rear window. His brother, now muted to him on the pavement, mouthed something before pulling away, leaving Shen Yuan standing alone on the curb.
Shen Yuan let out a long, exaggerated sigh. He turned towards his apartment building. Two siblings in one day, with the hospital, to top it off, was too much for such an introvert. His social battery needed to recharge.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Shen Yuan spent the weekend cultivating his inner sloth. His old pain meds left him feeling like a deflated pool toy, but the new ones the doctor prescribed were more like a lukewarm latte – dulling the ache but keeping him vaguely functional. Perfect for his well-deserved social media and web novel binge. He scrolled through Twitter with the enthusiasm of a sloth spotting a particularly juicy leaf, dissecting the latest web novel chapters with the critical eye of a grumpy emperor reviewing court jesters. Productive? Debatable. Entertaining? Absolutely.
By Saturday afternoon, the silence had grown thick enough to slice. Fourteen glorious hours of uninterrupted "me time" – a personal best. Then, his phone buzzed, shattering the quiet like a rogue squirrel flinging acorns at the window. It was Mom, on speakerphone as usual, with Dad humming a suspiciously off-key tune in the background.
The speakerphone always meant one thing: Dad was doing some very dad-coded tasks, but he still wanted to listen in on his little A-Yuan. Of course, it was not like he would ever admit that.
Shen Yuan pictured him wrestling with the lawnmower, its engine sputtering its last breaths against Dad's valiant, tone-deaf attempts at mowing. More likely, though, Dad was hunched over his business papers, brow furrowed in a way that suggested he was either deciphering ancient Sumerian or simply trying to remember his lunch order. Knowing Dad, it could be either.
"A-Yuan?" Mom's voice filtered through the phone, a touch too high-pitched. "How are you feeling, darling?"
He stifled a groan. "Fine, Mom. Just… resting." Resting was putting it mildly. He felt like a particularly sluggish panda after a bamboo bender.
"The doctor didn't say anything scary, did he?" she prodded, a tremor in her voice betraying her usual bravado.
Shen Yuan rolled his eyes, a movement that sent a dull throb through his head. "No, Mom. It's just a new prescription. No brain transplants or anything."
A strangled snort from the phone – Dad. "Don't be cheeky, A-Yuan. Your mother worries."
"I know, I know," he mumbled, picturing Dad sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. Despite himself, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Weekends of solitude or not, some things never change.
Mom hummed thoughtfully. "Now, A-Yuan, we did chat with A-Jui. He mentioned the doctor's recommendations. So, I took the liberty of researching some specialised dietitians who cater to your condition…" Her voice trailed off, gauging his reaction.
"Hold on a sec, hold on a sec," Shen Yuan interjected, picturing a parade of overly enthusiastic nutritionists armed with kale smoothies and inspirational posters. "Not. Dietician death squad – vetoed."
He imagined Shen Jui pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose like an anime villain. His brother would be getting a very strongly worded-message later! How dare he talk to their parents! Who did he think he was? Their son!?
"But A-Yuan," Mom persisted, her voice adopting a gentle, coaxing tone, "A-Jui also suggested a personal coach. Someone to, you know, get you out of your apartment and moving a bit."
Jinni! You fool. How did you fail this interception mission so miserably?
"Moving?" Shen Yuan scoffed. The mere word sent a sympathetic ache through his ever-present low-grade pain. "Like I haven't perfected the art of the strategic fridge raid. Besides, personal trainers are, like, obscenely expensive."
It's not like money mattered. But he still liked to point out how frivolous his parents could be.
"Darling," Mom chirped, "I found one who makes house calls! He's very convenient, professional, and even works with celebrities—your father's assistant recommended him!"
Shen Yuan choked on a laugh. "Celebrities? So I guess you paid them ten times more to stoop as low to consider working with my sickly ass?".
His mother sighed, a long-suffering sound that spoke volumes. But she could only blame herself for how her child was raised. Such a difficult child!
A beat of silence followed, followed by a low chuckle from his father. Oh boy, Plan B was about to commence.
Plan A, the Mom-pleading offensive, sometimes worked. But Plan B, the Dad-negotiation manoeuvre, was a whole different beast. especially considering their family motto, which seemed to be "money is no object… when it comes to getting our way with A-Yuan." Shen Yuan, a connoisseur of expensive nerdy things, knew precisely what ammunition his father was about to deploy.
"Such a shame," his father began, his voice smooth as silk, "because I just happened to order a limited-edition cherry blossom Miku figure to be delivered… the same day we scheduled those consultations with the dietician and trainer." He paused for dramatic effect. "What a rotten turn of events. I guess I'll have to return it. You see, it was supposed to be a little celebration for your new health kick."
Shen Yuan could practically hear the smug smirk radiating from his father's face. It was uncanny how much it resembled Shen Jui's—just 40 years older. Seriously, the audacity of these three! Who knew his family plotted against him so much? What was this—a game of thrones?
A cherry blossom Miku figure? Limited edition? His dad knew him too well. It was like facing a boss battle in his favourite game, and the only way to win was to… ugh, acceptable. Maybe a few sessions with a trainer wouldn't kill him, especially if it meant that a beautiful figure was gracing his shelf.
"Alright, alright," he grumbled, the image of the cherry blossom Miku already replacing his mental picture of the dreaded trainer. "Fine. I'll come to the consultations. And maybe, just maybe, I'll consider starting the whole… healthy lifestyle thing."
His mother released a relieved sigh, the tension finally leaving her voice. "Aww, honey, that's wonderful! We appreciate you wanting to make some changes for your health."
"Don't get too excited, Mom," Shen Yuan countered, a hint of a smile on his lips. "It's not a guarantee."
But before his playful jab could land, his father cut in, his voice smooth as ever but laced with a steely undercurrent. "There are no 'maybes' in this, A-Yuan. You'll be coming over for your first consultation with the dietician on Wednesday evening, and we'll discuss the trainer's schedule then. Consider this your official welcome to the world of adulting, complete with responsible health choices."
Shen Yuan's smile vanished. "Come on, that's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
"Perhaps," his father conceded. But then again, if you weren't so busy doing nothing and reading, you may have noticed or remembered who pays for your internet and other bills." His father paused before adding, "Just a friendly reminder and some motivation."
Shen Yuan groaned, sinking back into the cushions. He'd been outsmarted, outmanoeuvred, and ultimately, out-financed. "Alright, alright," he conceded, defeat colouring his voice. "Wednesday evening it is. … try not to make the dietician cut out all my treats?"
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
The microwave beeped, a harsh counterpoint to the monotonous blaring of Shen Yuan's rhythm game. This was his piece of paradise. After a weekend of siblings of different varieties and overbearing parents, this was what he needed.
The weather outside spat hard and relentlessly against his floor-to-ceiling apartment window. Shen Yuan briefly considered how grateful he was for not having any prior commitments or responsibilities. Today was miserable. However, it meant he could hide away. Introverts needed darkness, like his cave of a room, not the blinding sunshine of forced socialisation.
He shoved a steaming cup of instant noodles aside, the brown broth a mockery of real food. A candy bar the size of a toddler's fist sat accusingly next to it, its sugary scent a siren call to his sugar crash. A forgotten latte, cold and neglected, threatened to congeal on his desk. Doctor's orders be damned; today was a cheat day. Maybe tomorrow, too. The thought of Wednesday's looming family intervention, a social execution in his mind, fuelled his rebellion. Besides, his mother, the grocery-swapping ninja, would probably stock the pantry with enough tofu to make him gag.
Back at his shrine of glowing rectangles, Shen Yuan, the king of overgrown iPad kids, scrolled mindlessly through Douyin. Cosplay transitions. Fun for the first ten loops, then just... meh. He glanced at his phone game – 0 HP. A cheery message chirped: "Please return tomorrow for your additional energy boosts!" Whelp, that was his excitement quota filled for the day. Now, onto the next best thing – staring into the abyss of glowing screens.
He'd tried other apps and games, but nothing could pierce the fog in his brain today. Not even the most mind-numbing puzzle or side-scrolling space shooter held his interest.
He scrolled through his phone gallery, his personal meme museum filled with treasures guaranteed to elicit groans from his friends but bring a self-satisfied smirk to his face.
Then, his thumb snagged on a screenshot. Zooming in, he felt like a detective in a cheesy movie. The figure was toned, sure, but the face remained a blur. What caught his eye was a glint of green nestled between the zipper pulls of a black hoodie – a necklace. Maybe this gym rat just liked sparkly rocks, like all those "aura-sensitive" jade necklace people who rubbed him the wrong way. Their judging stares and earthy vibes made him feel like a greasy french fry at a health food convention. Not exactly heartthrob material – let alone mysterious idol!
A snort escaped his lips. Breaking his self-imposed socialising detox, he sent the picture to Jinni. Maybe she'd find it as funny as he did.
The message was delivered.
Silence.
He checked the time. Five minutes had passed. He knew Jinni had a life, but come on, a little sisterly love for your youngest older brother!
He sighed.
Delivered.
He should be productive. Like everyone else on a Monday? Even his brothers were out there conquering the world - Kai, the COO of Shen Entertainment, and Jui, the music critic for some fancy magazine, he didn't care enough to remember. Even Jinni, a busy second-year Master's student in Public Health.
But... didn't everyone scroll through their phones in lectures? At least, he did in undergrad.
Delivered.
Right. Class, work, life—all foreign concepts bathed in the flickering neon purgatory of his rhythm game menu. He should probably see his therapist again. Shen Yuan shoved the thought aside as he was soon interrupted.
A notification buzzed, a lifeline thrown into his self-made boredom pit.
Jinni: Hey, he does look familiar! It's the necklace—I can't remember who, though. Talk later; I am in class!
Shen Yuan sighed and turned off his phone—It was 2:46 pm. The day he stretched endlessly before him, already devoid of entertainment. With a heavy sigh, he made an executive decision. Earbuds in, blasting a Final Fantasy iceberg video in a futile attempt to fight off the itching boredom, he shuffled towards his bedroom. Even this early, a nap was the only thing that appealed to him.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Shen Yuan's breath gasped as he reached the top of the grand staircase. The house, more mansion than anything, loomed before him. The ridiculously long driveway and entrance stairs mocked his public transport journey and subsequent trek. He wouldn't waste money on a cab for this... intervention. They were lucky he even showed up.
He pounded the oversized knocker, the sound echoing through the silent house. There was no answer. With a huff, Shen Yuan retrieved the spare key from its hiding place in a potted plant and unlocked the door himself.
A loud slam announced his arrival as he flung the door shut behind him.
Sniff
His eyes darted to the source of the disapproving sniff – Shen Jui, perched at the top of the stairs, looking down at him like a disappointed emperor.
Shen Yuan's face contorted in a familiar mask of disgust. Of course, Jui would be here. Dressed in clothes that screamed "overdressed", Jui descended the stairs, each step measured and deliberate.
A perfectly arched eyebrow shot up at Shen Yuan. "Lost, were we? Took you long enough."
Shen Yuan rolled his eyes, now face-to-face with his infuriating brother. "And you? Why the get-up? Afraid the nutritionist might judge your usual fashion choices?" He couldn't help but sneer at the black slacks, expensive shirt, and perfectly layered cardigan.
A-Jui snorted, "Hardly. I'm just reminding everyone how much more put-together I am than a certain someone who thinks a graphic tee and sweatpants are appropriate attire for a consultation."
Shen Yuan frowned. Jui wasn't referring to him, considering his decent jeans and favourite VTuber merchandise. Before he could retort, their mother appeared, a whirlwind of silk and disapproval. It seemed letting himself in wasn't considered "timely" enough by her standards.
Her mid-fifties demeanour screamed "ex-trophy wife." Flawless Hollywood waves framed her face, and subtle makeup hinted at the small fortune spent on skincare and salon visits. Her smile, however, faltered slightly when she saw Shen Yuan.
"Ah-Jui, you let Ah-Yuan in. Such a good boy," she cooed, patting Shen Jui's arm.
Shen Yuan scowled. "Why is he even here?" This wasn't part of the deal!
His mother, the drama queen, swatted him playfully on the shoulder. "Don't be dramatic, Shen Yuan! These… health professionals… have been waiting. Now stop brooding and come into the lounge!"
Shen Yuan winced, rubbing the spot. "Mom, it wasn't my fault! The bus was late."
A stifled snort escaped Jui, earning him a withering look from their mother. "No excuses, young man! Besides," she leaned in conspiratorially, "A-Jui got here on time, and he lives twice as far!"
Shen Yuan rolled his eyes internally. Jui had a car and a driver's license, unlike him. With a sigh, his mother looped her arm through Jui's and led them towards the room that held his fate.
The lounge resembled a scene from a futuristic film—all sharp edges and sterile white furniture. His father sat amidst two unfamiliar men, talking happily, no doubt boasting either about Shen Entertainment or golf.
One, sporting a welcoming moustache, smiled warmly. "Hello there, you must be Shen Yuan. I'm Mu Qingfang, and we'll discuss your… well-being today."
The other man, perpetually scowling like he was battling a particularly prickly cactus, finally tore his gaze away from Jui (who looked like he was locked in a silent contest with said cactus). "You do resemble your brother," he said, his voice flat.
Suddenly, Shen Yuan realised his earlier joke about Jui being overdressed was aimed at this man. He had to admit, Jui had a point. But it didn't make this Jui any less of an asshole.
Before Shen Yuan could reply, Jui swooped in, his voice dripping with something far from friendly. "Astute observation, Liu Qingge."
A tangible tension crackled in the air. Jui and Liu Qingge's history hung unspoken, heavy, and full of unspoken battles. A morbid curiosity sparked within Shen Yuan—the animosity between these two was palpable. 'Wow,' he thought, suppressing a smirk, 'they don't like each other.'
Their mother shot Jui a look that could curdle milk. Taking his cue to take over as the good son, Shen Yuan plastered on his most charming smile (which admittedly wasn't very lovely, but it would have to do). "As you no doubt have been told, I'm Shen Yuan. Apologies for the delay; public transportation seems to develop a… unique hatred for me."
Mu Qingfang chuckled, the sound disarming. "Yes, it can be a nightmare. But no worries, we just arrived ourselves."
The consultation began. Mu Qingfang, with his friendly moustache, was all pleasantries and medical talk. "So, Shen Yuan, tell me about your exercise routine. Do you frequent the gym?"
Shen Yuan, whose definition of exercise peaked at climbing the stairs to his room, puffed out his chest in a valiant attempt to look athletic. "Sure? I mean... not really, but it's not like I'm that bad."
Shen Jui snorted, a single, well-timed burst of air that spoke volumes.
Undeterred, Mu Qingfang continued, “And how about sleep? Aiming for eight hours a night?"
Shen Yuan, whose sleep schedule revolved around the whims of the latest game release, shrugged vaguely. "More or less? Eight hours sounds...optimistic."
Shen Jui, unable to contain himself any longer, chimed in with a saccharine voice, "Oh, he aspires alright. Aspires to be a nocturnal creature."
Their mother swatted Jui on the arm with a playful roll of her eyes. "A-Jui!"
Shen Yuan, desperate to regain control of the narrative before things got too personal, interjected, "Look, I function perfectly well on minimal sleep. It's all about efficiency. Conserve energy during the day, be awake at night for... reading, of course." He finished with a forced nod that wouldn't have convinced a five-year-old.
Mu Qingfang, ever the diplomat, smiled. "Well, perhaps we can tweak that efficiency to encompass a wider range of activities. Now, onto your diet..."
As they delved into dietary habits, the room transformed into a battleground. With the precision of a seasoned sniper, Jui fired off barbs about instant ramen and questionable takeout. Shen Yuan countered with a passionate (slightly exaggerated) defence of his meticulously researched virtual cuisine. Through it all, the tension between Jui and Liu Qingge simmered beneath the surface. Jui's barbs, delivered with a studied nonchalance, were met with stony silence from Liu Qingge. Shen Yuan, for once, found himself strangely captivated by the unspoken animosity.
Their parents gave well-meaning but slightly outdated advice about "needing more vegetables" and "building strong bones with milk." Shen Yuan countered with (somewhat exaggerated) claims of already possessing the iron stomach of a seasoned adventurer (courtesy of his questionable food choices).
Shen Jui, ever the voice of reason (or at least snark), occasionally threw in a dry comment like, "Don't worry, Qingfang, he's just preparing for his next expedition. I hear the Land of Eternal Ramen cuisine is particularly… unique." This only fueled the chaos, earning him a glare from his mother and a flicker of amusement from Mu Qingfang.
Finally, they reached the topic of a schedule. Shen Yuan baulked at the proposed wake-up time. "Before 10 am? Seriously?"
Jui, ever helpful, suggested, "Think of it as extra time for those pre-dawn gaming sessions."
Shen Yuan glared. Daily walks were also met with resistance. The gym membership was a hard no until Jui, with a mischievous glint, piped up, "Actually, a follow-up session with Liu Qingge after the gym could be beneficial. You know, to ensure proper stretching form and all."
Shen Yuan's jaw clenched. Jui knew him all too well. The image of meticulously crafted Photoshop edits documenting fake gym visits danced in his head. Liu Qingge, who had been glaring at Jui a moment ago, snapped his attention towards Shen Yuan.
"That is an option, but I can do some sessions with you from your house. Or you can come to our company's studio. It's up to you..." He shrugged, saying he didn't care as long as he did his job.
"Wow, a lot to think about..." Shen Yuan mused, a sarcastic smile tugging at his lips. This intervention turned out to be more entertaining than he anticipated.
"Well, don't think too much. If you do, Lui Quingge will struggle with his comprehension," Shen Jui said, his stony eyes fixed on the health coach. With that, the health coach lunged over the small coffee table at Shen Jui.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
The lingering echoes of Captain America's dramatic declaration still hung in the air as Jinni's shrill voice crashed into the peaceful living room like a rogue wave. "It's Luo Binghe!" Her eyes, twin beacons of disbelief and excitement, danced wildly. A wide grin that threatened to split her face in two stretched across her face as she bounced on the sofa, her laptop precariously perched on her lap.
A week had passed since their mandatory sibling bonding session at Jinni's place. It was Shen Yuan's turn to be the host, but before he could open his mouth, Jinni had stormed in, armed with a dietician's email and a map of the local hiking trails. Today's torture had involved a gruelling hike and a culinary experiment that would make Gordon Ramsay weep. The resulting "salad" was more of a textural challenge than a taste sensation.
To appease their mother, Shen Yuan had sent her a carefully staged selfie of them looking like the epitome of healthy living. Despite his growing resentment towards his new, virtuous lifestyle, the accusing glare of his Miku figure kept him in line. He was convinced his father had cast a magical 'obey your parents' spell on her because the moment he even thought about a cheat meal, she seemed to grow three inches taller.
The selfie had earned him a heart-shaped Hello Kitty GIF from their mother, which he was sure would end up framed and hung in their parents' house.
Midway through his questionable meal, Shen Yuan blinked at his sister, his gaze still locked on the epic superhero showdown. "What?" he managed, his mouth full of... whatever.
Luo Binghe.
The name was like a cold shower on a hot day. It was irrelevant to the superhero drama unfolding on screen, but it piqued his interest. When Jinni failed to elaborate, he sighed, abandoned his culinary disaster, and flopped beside her.
She switched tabs, revealing a grainy screenshot. "Look," she urged, zooming in on a pixelated blob.
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?" He doubted even the FBI could identify anyone from that image.
“No way you figured that out from... that", he snorted.
Jinni snorted back, amused. "Of course not, you idiot. I was at Kai's office, and guess who was there?"
"Luo Binghe?" Shen Yuan ventured, trying to hide his excitement with a bored tone. His heart was pounding like a jackhammer. Either Jinni had taken a masterclass in suspense, or he needed to invest in blood pressure medication.
The name brought back a flood of memories. Once a bright-eyed twelve-year-old fighting for a spot in his group on a survival show, he'd captured the nation's heart with his raw talent, cute face and unwavering spirit. But the pressures of fame, coupled with the predatory nature of the industry, had taken their toll on the young idol. The death of his mother, a scandalous (and illegal) relationship and a subsequent car accident marked the end of his meteoric rise.
A wide grin spread across Jinni's face. "Nope."
Shen Yuan shrugged. "Who else could it be?"
Jinni's exasperated sigh cut through the air. "It was Shang Qinghua," she revealed. "Xtra Boys' first manager. He was practically licking Kai's boots." She launched into a detailed account of the ex-manager's groveling.
Shen Yuan sat up straighter. "Did he sign him? As an actor?" Luo Binghe as an actor? It was like turning a racehorse into a show jumper.
Jinni shook her head. "I don't know. I asked Kai, but he told me to mind my business."
Still, it was strange that Shen Entertainment only signed actors. They were known for their dramas and movies, after all.
Shen Yuan chuckled. "Fair enough." He leaned back, studying the screenshot, and his eyes moved to the figure Jinni's curser now pointed out. "So that's Shang Qinghua?"
Jinni nodded. "Yup, same plaid jacket and everything. Looks like he raided the bargain bin."
Shen Yuan winced. "Classy."
Curiosity piqued, he asked, "Why were you even at Kai's office?"
Jinni giggled. "I heard a rumour about Shen Entertainment partnering with Demon Records. Sha Hualing wants to do some artsy video teasers."
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow. Sha Hualing and artsy? It was like pairing chocolate and fish.
"You're turning into a stalker," he teased.
Jinni swatted him playfully. "Says the guy who's used Shen Entertainment connections more times than he can count."
Shen Yuan grinned. "It was one comic con pass, and it was to meet Hatsune Miku's voice actor!" he defended himself.
Jinni rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but you didn't need a press pass for that."
Shen Yuan grumbled but couldn't argue with the logic. He returned his attention to the screenshot. "How do you know it's Luo Binghe? The guy could be anyone. Just because it was his ex-manager... that could mean nothing."
Jinni laughed. "Twitter, my dear brother. I posted the screenshot, and someone recognised the jade pendant he was wearing. It's a match made in heaven. Of course, the fact that I had met Shang Quinghua just confirmed it for me."
Shen Yuan's eyes widened as he studied the blurry image. How did he not add two and two together?