Chapter 116: An Encounter with the Idol Boy Band

Zhai Yunsheng and Jian Yiling stepped out of the car with an air of calm and proceeded towards the nearby apartment building. It seemed that the "punching bag" Zhai Yunsheng had arranged for Jian Yiling was waiting inside.

Yu Xi let out a sigh of relief, feeling his heart rate normalize. He resigned himself to the situation and thought to himself, *I'll make sure these two take me on a training session in *Master!* I need to soothe my wounded spirit!*

As Jian Yiling and Zhai Yunsheng approached the apartment, they passed by a hotel that was bustling with activity. A large crowd had gathered outside the entrance, with fans eagerly waving their phones and cameras, snapping pictures with flashes going off like fireworks. Even from a distance, Yu Xi could feel the fervor radiating from the group.

Moments later, a squad of men emerged from the hotel, escorted by security personnel. They were impeccably dressed and exuded a high level of charisma, looking every bit like the stars they were. 

Jian Yiling paused to look toward the throng, and Yu Xi, sensing her interest, followed her gaze. 

"That's a boy band holding a fan meet," he said, squinting to get a better view. "What's their name again? It's on the tip of my tongue but just won't come to me." He never followed boy bands closely, so their names were more like passing whispers—he rarely retained them.

Jian Yiling was fixated on one particular member of the boy band. Though the distance made it hard to see their features clearly, she recognized one person instantly: it was Jian Yumin—Jian Yujie's older brother and the eldest son of Jian Shuhong and He Yan.

He Yan was a well-known actress, and her eldest son, Jian Yumin, had inherited her talent for performing and boasted a fantastic singing voice. After reaching adulthood, he had aspired to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, but He Yan had strongly opposed this path. She wanted her son to take over the family business and compete with Jian Yunchen.

However, Jian Yumin was determined and resolute in his pursuit of acting and singing. He Yan declared that if he chose to enter the entertainment circle, she would cut off all support. Undeterred, Jian Yumin signed with a talent agency on his own, starting from scratch without any assistance from the Jian family or He Yan. Through sheer perseverance, he had climbed the ranks to where he was today.

A couple of years ago, after participating in a talent show, he gained popularity and officially debuted as a member of the boy band. The group had skyrocketed in fame over the past two years and was currently on a nationwide concert tour.

Noticing Jian Yiling's unwavering gaze on the idol group, Yu Xi couldn't resist teasing her. 

"Wow, I didn't know you had such a sweet, girlish heart, Ling Shen! Are you getting all flustered seeing these cute boys? Are you itching to go to their fan meet or concert? Come on, tell me! Your Yu Xi gege can help you score some tickets!" 

In Hengyuan City, getting tickets would be a piece of cake for Yu Xi. 

He remembered seeing Jian Yumin when they were younger, but after growing up, they had all gone their separate ways and rarely visited the family mansion, making it hard for them to stay connected. Jian Yumin had also changed his name and hidden his family background to break into the entertainment scene, resulting in long periods of not returning home. This meant Yu Xi hadn't even recognized the idol in front of them as Jian Yumin.

"Not interested," Jian Yiling replied, retracting her gaze from the crowd and addressing Yu Xi directly.

"Hey, no need to be so formal with me! Just consider it a reward for taking me up a rank in the game!" Yu Xi thought Jian Yiling was simply being shy.

"I'm not being formal," she responded curtly.

With that, Jian Yiling took quick strides to catch up with Zhai Yunsheng, who was already walking towards the apartment. Yu Xi stood behind for a moment, slightly bemused by her disinterest. *Wasn't she at least a little curious about her cousin?* But he shrugged it off, thinking perhaps she had her reasons. 

As they reached the apartment building, the excitement of the encounter began to fade, but Yu Xi couldn't help glancing back one last time at the boy band. Maybe one day, he'd get to experience that kind of thrill. For now, he felt content to be on this little adventure with his friends.