The next day, the members of Xing Yu returned to their training room after a few days away filming their new MV. Energy was high, but Wu Chen—the youngest —was, as usual, the last to arrive. On his way up, he had lingered to tease the janitor auntie, offering a cheeky grin and a playful bow. He might have been chaotic, but everyone—especially the older staff—knew he meant no harm. Respectful, fun, and charming, Wu Chen had a way of making even chores entertaining.
Finally, he burst through the training room door, slightly out of breath. His eyes immediately caught something shiny in Huang Rui's hands: a gold-glimmering book, the sunlight bouncing off its intricate cover.
"No way… what's that?" Wu Chen practically leaped toward Huang Rui, stretching out his hands to grab it.
Huang Rui, calm but dramatic as ever, held it just out of reach. "Wu Chen… patience. It's the book Liang Ze and Xiao Tian have been obsessed with. You'll get your turn."
Wu Chen's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "My brothers, please… tell me what this is. Why are you all staring at a book like it's the holy grail?"
Liang Ze leaned back, smirking. "It's… a story, dear lil bro. Five Princes Under the Red Moonlight. Everyone's been reading it. Very… intriguing."
Wu Chen crossed his arms, eyebrow raised. "Intriguing? Please. Don't make me laugh."
But curiosity gnawed at him, and during the next break, he couldn't resist. He grabbed the book, flipping it open and quickly getting absorbed in the story. The princes' personalities were so exaggerated, so chaotic, that Wu Chen couldn't help but laugh at their antics, imagining his brothers in the same situations.
Hours passed unnoticed as the group drilled their choreography, muscles burning, sweat dripping—but no one seemed to care. Between every break, Wu Chen's eyes were glued to the pages, turning quickly. Time flew, and the room's brightness shifted subtly, though the members didn't notice.
By the last break before the final rehearsal set, Wu Chen was so engrossed that he suddenly screamed, startling Liang Ze and Huang Rui.
"The f**k! I can't believe the fifth prince is that stupid! And everyone's using him like a puppet!"
Liang Ze raised an eyebrow, suppressing a laugh. "Don't you think the fifth prince… reminds you of yourself a little?"
Wu Chen slammed the book down, glaring. "No! Absolutely not! I am definitely not that stupid. What a ridiculous book!"
Huang Rui, holding back a dramatic gasp, smirked knowingly. "Well… it is amusing to watch you get so worked up."
Wu Chen threw his hands up, pacing slightly, gesturing wildly. "I mean… seriously! How can anyone let themselves be used like that? Fifth prince… pfft. Stupid."
As he ranted, flipping another page, the room's attention was still fixed on their own training, but outside, the sky had turned a deep crimson, faintly glowing over the city. None of them noticed yet—too absorbed in their practice, too engrossed in the story—but the red moon had quietly risen.
And in that quiet, crimson light, Wu Chen's chaotic energy mixed with curiosity, laughter, and disbelief, setting the stage for something that would soon pull all five brothers into the story completely.