From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL)-Chapter 99: Caught Off Guard

Lan Qisheng finally emerged from his trance, jolted back to reality by the weary sound of Sian’s exasperated sigh—a blend of frustration and impatience that loomed in the room like a tempest on the horizon.

Who could blame him, really? What rational adult would entertain the idea of superheroes and fairy tales?

Yet, he felt a flicker of concern for Sian, not wanting to dismiss his feelings outright.

"My love," Lan Qisheng said gently, his voice wrapping around them like a soothing balm. "Even if it defies logic, I promise to keep your warning in mind. I’ll do my best to believe you. Just give me some time. It’s a challenge for a man who has devoted his entire life to the immutable principles of physics to suddenly accept the existence of individuals who can wield fire and ice as if they were playing with toys."

Sian: "..."

"Pfft—Lan Qisheng, are you really that naive? Who in their right mind would buy into tales of people manipulating fire and water? Hahaha! You absolute fool."

Despite the playful mockery lacing his tone, a deep, genuine gratitude resonated in Sian’s words. The sincerity in Lan Qisheng’s response was palpable, radiating an openness that invited further discussion. Rather than dismissing Sian’s extraordinary claims as mere folly, he leaned in, his curiosity piqued, ready to explore the depths of Sian’s unusual revelations.

For now, that willingness was more than enough.

Even though Sian teased him, he couldn’t help but appreciate Lan Qisheng’s candid nature. The man wasn’t pretending to accept his claims outright; instead, he expressed his intent to cautiously explore the truth, seeking evidence to back up Sian’s assertions.

Just then, a deep, steady voice cut through the atmosphere like a warm knife through butter.

"I won’t lie to you either," Jiao Liangchen stated, his gaze steady and sincere. "I find your assertions about supernatural powers difficult to fathom, but I won’t disregard your words either. They will stay with me."

A faint smile creased Sian’s lips as he stood up from his chair, buoyed by the unexpected support.

"It’s time for today’s competition! Let’s make our way to the stage. I’d love to see how well Agent 01 sings today."

Jiao Liangchen raised an eyebrow, his expression was nonplussed. "..."

"Ahem, I’ve been scheduled for the last day. This gives me ample time to investigate. Besides, I’m not here to sing. My participation in this competition serves merely as a cover."

"What a shame," Sian replied, relishing the playful banter. He knew Jiao Liangchen was far from a natural performer, yet he savored the thought of provoking him just to witness his reactions.

"My love, wait for me! I’m joining you! Did you forget I’m also a guest on the show?" Lan Qisheng chimed in, his tone feigning innocence.

"I’d prefer to avoid any unnecessary attention. If you want to come along, go ahead. Just find the director and ask him where your seat is. And for heaven’s sake, don’t sit next to me—I’d rather not see my face splashed across tomorrow’s headlines."

"My love, how cruel of you! Do you really detest the thought of being seen with me? My heart is shattered..."

"Get lost..."

With the air thick with camaraderie, the trio exited the room. As usual, the colonel played his part to perfection, grumbling melodramatically, while Sian booted him playfully aside. Jiao Liangchen walked in silence, yet the faintest hint of a smile told a different story—he was in good spirits.

Whatever awaited them, they would confront it when the moment arrived. There was little value in fretting over what might happen. Whether supernatural beings truly walked among them was a question that would soon demand an answer.

Deep down, both men silently acknowledged they believed at least a fraction of what Sian claimed. They didn’t view him as a mere lunatic. Considering Sian’s background, it wasn’t far-fetched to believe he might possess knowledge of organizations involved in illicit human experiments. Perhaps his mission was to bring that shadowy operation to light.

But whether those experiments had borne fruit—whether superhumans existed—was a revelation they could only grasp through firsthand experience.

Some truths... simply can’t be accepted without witnessing them unravel in front of your eyes.

When Sian arrived at the competition hall, where the live broadcast would take place for the second consecutive day, almost everyone was already present. He didn’t waste any time getting to know or talking to the people there. He wasn’t blind, and he could sense the distaste and animosity directed at him by those people. This was probably orchestrated by Song Zijian and his friends, but what did it matter to him? On the contrary, he should thank them for keeping the annoying pests away from him. Sian was not the type to form friendships easily, and this was evident in his previous world. Many worshiped him and wished for his favor and friendship, but Sian only had a select few people close to him. Each of them was willing to tear out their hearts for him, and Sian would do the same.

Such love, brotherhood, and friendship were emotions that no one could possess, especially in a peaceful world where there was no reason to trust anyone fully—not even your life, your wealth, or your possessions.

And Sian... he didn’t need those fake, forced relationships.

Sian sat in his seat with Jiao Liangchen. As for the poor puppy, it was clear it had been abandoned. Sian had told it to head to the exit, find a seat, or leave.

Yes, with that tone and those words.

Anyway, the live broadcast began, and after the host greeted the contestants, the judges, and the audience, cracking a few jokes, he dramatically and excitedly announced the names of the participants for the day. Of course, the excitement was for the audience, as all the contestants for today had prepared their performances and knew their roles by heart.

Well... except for...

The host enthusiastically said, "And today we have the five contestants: Shi Long, Jin Ruohan, Lu Yan, Song Zijian, and finally, we have Sian. Let’s wish them all the best of luck..."

Sian didn’t hear the rest of the commentator’s words. How could he focus and pay attention to anything after suddenly realizing that he had to perform today?

"Jiao Liangchen..." Sian gritted his teeth as he spoke the other’s name, who had an empty expression at this moment.

"I swear, I didn’t know about this. I wasn’t here when the contestants were selected today. I was doing something important and wasn’t interested in registering for this..."

"I’m not interested, I’m interested. You...," Sian sighed, forcing his anger back into his chest, cutting his words short. Anyway, what’s done is done, and this was partly due to his own negligence. He should have paid more attention to his responsibilities.

Sian wasn’t angry because he was afraid of singing or because he lacked confidence in himself. On the contrary, Sian had always been confident in his musical abilities and his voice. But he hadn’t chosen his song for the day yet. He had several original songs and had recorded the music and everything, but he hadn’t decided what to perform today. Besides, he didn’t have the CDs with him, as they were in his room.

Sian was about to get up, ask for permission, and head to his room to fetch the music CDs. Then, he would think about which song he could perform that day.

But from a distance, he saw Lan Qisheng running towards him, holding a small black leather bag. It was the same bag in which Sian had placed the CDs.

Finally, a faint smile appeared on Sian’s face. He had always appreciated how this silly puppy seemed to care for every big and small detail. It was likely that Lan Qisheng somehow knew he was included in today’s performances, so he had rushed to bring him his things.

"I’m sorry, please let me pass... Excuse me..." Lan Qisheng squeezed through several seats to reach Sian, then handed him the bag, his voice filled with apology and regret, his blue eyes dim and sad as if he had committed an unforgivable crime. "My dear, I’m sorry. I’ve been sleeping next to you all day and didn’t notice your name on the list of participants today. But it’s okay, don’t worry. You’re the best singer, and your voice is the most beautiful I’ve ever heard in my life. You’ll be fine—no, you’ll always be number one, forever."

"Oh? Where did the great colonel learn such sweet words?" Sian enjoyed the guilty expression on Lan Qisheng’s face, but he didn’t tease him for long. After all, they were still in a public place, and there were cameras everywhere around them.

Sian took the small bag, thanked Lan Qisheng simply, and then let him go. Lan Qisheng’s seat was beside the judges, as an honored guest, not placed with the contestants in the audience.

And so, the round began. Sian was so busy thinking about which song he should perform that he paid no attention to his competitors, including Song Zijian and his friend Jin Ruohan. Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared.

However, his indifference didn’t mean that others weren’t paying attention.