"Huh?! What?"
"Wait, wait. My ears must not be working properly. Did I just hear that Sian said... he's an idol?"
"What the hell... No way. An idol? I mean, sure, his face fits, but his personality? His strength, movements, words..."
"Impossible."
The live broadcast chat exploded with comments as viewers refused to believe that Sian was an idol.
As for the people around Sian at that moment...
Well, they didn't seem to believe it either.
Zhao Ling was the first to speak, his voice trembling. "Hey, you must be joking, right? You're an idol? No way, that's impossible."
Sian glanced at the towering man—nearly two meters tall—who was still acting like a child.
He wasn't lying, though. The original owner of this body was an idol, so technically, he wasn't making anything up.
It wasn't just Zhao Ling. Everyone was stunned for a moment, though they didn't display the same level of disbelief. After all, with Sian's face and figure, he did look like an idol.
"Are you... really an idol?" Tong Xiao couldn't help but ask again. To him, this man was strong, had helped him multiple times, and seemed more reliable than even the soldiers they were with.
Sian looked at the blond-haired man with a flushed face. Honestly, he didn't understand why Tong Xiao's face turned red every time their eyes met. He replied in a calm, indifferent tone, "I really am an idol. Though I'm not exactly famous or popular, that was my job—or at least, it used to be."
Liang Zhou chimed in, "Kid, did you quit or something? And, seriously, how did an idol like you end up in such a dangerous survival broadcast?"
"Not exactly. You could say I was fired. I even signed the termination papers with my agency. As for why I'm here... I guess I offended someone important," Sian said nonchalantly. The information was all he had learned from Manager Su. Since he didn't have the original Sian's memories, he couldn't elaborate further. Still, he was grateful for the little details Manager Su had provided; they were enough to avoid any suspicion.
Lan Qisheng listened quietly to Sian's explanation. He was surprised to learn that Sian was an idol, but when he heard that someone had forced Sian into this dangerous situation, anger bubbled up inside him. If Sian weren't as strong as he was... Lan Qisheng's sharp brows furrowed, and he silently vowed to make whoever was responsible regret ever touching what belonged to him.
The revelation didn't cause much chaos among the group. Aside from the initial shock, everyone accepted Sian's identity as an idol rather smoothly. Liang Zhou even joked and asked Sian to sing for them. Of course, Sian refused through gritted teeth, barely holding back the urge to knock Liang Zhou over the head.
The atmosphere in the cave grew much lighter, alleviating the suffocating tension and fear from earlier. The sixteen people rested their heads on their backpacks, trying to sleep a little, knowing that tomorrow would bring another race for survival.
But while the cave was peaceful, the live broadcast was far from it. Sian's identity as an idol had been leaked, and the audience quickly figured out who he was. The internet was flooded with articles, photos, and trending news about him for hours that night and even throughout the following week.
The news about Sian was overwhelmingly negative. As a member of the "Angels", which is an idol group consisting of five members.
Sian was labeled the worst singer with the worst personality imaginable for an idol. He had been photographed at various bars, involved in multiple scandals, and was rumored to be jealous of his fellow member, who was his childhood friend. The media claimed that Sian copied everything this friend did and even dyed his hair white to emulate the "angelic" aura of this friend. Fans mocked him, saying, "With a heart as black as his, he doesn't deserve to be human, let alone an angel!" Rumors even suggested that Sian had gone so far as to harm his friend out of jealousy. Yet, this "angelic" childhood friend had supposedly forgiven Sian for everything, further cementing his image as the victim.
If Sian had heard this nonsense, he would've burst out laughing and rolled on the ground. Angel? Forgiving Sian?
The truth was that Sian's agency CEO had pressured and smeared his name, then finally forced him into this dangerous live show against his will. And it was all thanks to that "angelic" teammate, the original body's so-called friend.
But all of that changed the moment Qing Xia arrived in this world. Those who wronged the original owner would soon regret ever being born.
...
The survival show Sian participated in wasn't part of the entertainment industry. It was a program designed for athletes, Olympians, and thrill-seekers, not idol fans. This explained why no one had recognized him earlier. Additionally, Sian now had dark black hair, a stark contrast to his iconic silver-white locks that had been his trademark since childhood.
"What's this? How is that villain being treated like a hero?"
"Yeah, yeah. He's just a jealous loser with no personality."
"I'm a fan of Angels, and I've always hated Sian. He caused so much trouble for the group."
"Did he say he got fired? Serves him right! I can't stand that freak."
"Exactly. He doesn't deserve to be on screen. If this wasn't an international problem and innocent lives weren't at stake, I wouldn't even watch anything with him in it."
+1
+1
...
The internet was filled with all kinds of insults and hateful comments. Though some admired Sian's actions and didn't care about his past, they didn't dare defend him. The public's fury was terrifying, and no one wanted to become the enemy of rabid fans.
Meanwhile, in the top-floor office of Hangyu Entertainment, Jiang Hangyu sat in his chair, staring intently at the computer screen. His dark eyes flickered with complex emotions.
On the screen was a clip of a teenager with long, beautiful black hair fluttering in the moonlit night. The boy had amber eyes, which glowed red under the dim light, and a delicate, stunning face. Tears like crystals slid down his cheeks, making him look heartbreakingly vulnerable.
As Jiang Hangyu felt the sudden urge to embrace that fragile figure, the boy collapsed, closing his shimmering eyes. A cold light flickered in Jiang Hangyu's eyes as he realized Lan Qisheng had caught the boy before he hit the ground.
Slamming the laptop shut, Jiang Hangyu clenched his fists. This was the tenth time he'd watched that clip, yet it still affected him deeply.
[No. Impossible. This boy isn't as innocent as he looks. He's just a wolf in sheep's clothing. I won't forget what he did to Song Zijian.]
"What about Sian's movements before he joined the survival program?" Jiang Hangyu asked his secretary, who stood across from him.
"Nothing unusual. Sian didn't leave his apartment after the last incident. When he was notified about joining the variety show as his final task post-contract termination, he didn't argue and left quietly."
"And his hair?" Jiang Hangyu didn't know why, but seeing Sian with black hair made him feel as though he'd lost something precious.
"He dyed it the day before entering the show."
Dismissing his secretary, Jiang Hangyu reopened his laptop and watched another clip: Lan Qisheng taking care of Sian while he slept. Gritting his teeth, Jiang Hangyu seethed with rage, though he couldn't even explain why he was angry.
...
Morning came, the forest was alive with the sounds of chirping birds and vibrant nature. Xian stretched his arms, inhaling the fresh air as he listened to the world awakening around him.