my whole life I shall be running

The full translation of all birthday letters written to Jun by his childhood friend, Liao Wenshi. Every full translation can be found under the cut, and the link to the original letters will be attached below.

The letters are best read in their original form, and my translations may contain inaccuracies. Should you spot any or find yourself disagreeing with any of my translations, please let me know on Twitter, CuriousCat/Retrospring, or in the comments, and I would be happy to discuss them! Do not repost, and please take out with full credit.

🔗 The original letters, compiled and posted by Doublesweet人生 on Weibo

Ten years of Liao Wenshi’s letters to Junhui

Afterwards, we gradually became closer. I never thought that this was a friendship I would be able to have–a friendship that was so full of devotion. I would come to you to tell you anything, no matter how small or trivial…In class, we would often talk about everything and nothing, and you would often maturely teach me many things.
An excerpt from The first letter to Junhui
Author: Liao Wenshi

I remember when I first entered Buji Senior High in 2011, my friends had mentioned you. Back then, I didn’t pay much attention to it, I was only focused on being the best version of myself.

Seemingly, it wasn’t until the school displayed your information on its electric screen in the latter half of the semester that I learned about you for the first time.

As if by coincidence, we were assigned to the same class the following semester, with your group being assigned to the spot next to my group. I’d wanted to come up and talk to you many times, but didn’t muster up the courage in the end. Maybe this was my stoicness that you would always talk about (T/N: I’m not sure if 闷骚 is directly translatable to ‘stoicness’ or at all, even. It means to be outwardly cold and reserved, but harboring passion inside).

I don’t know what the reason was for your seat being changed to the one in front of me. Because I was preoccupied with finishing up my manuscript at that time, I paid my surroundings no mind, and only noticed that you changed seats to the one in front of me after a long while.

I recall our first real conversation being one we had after class, while I was immersed in writing my novel, you who sat in front of me turned around and asked me what I was doing. At that time, I was wondering if telling you that I was writing a novel would make me seem too conceited, and I was relieved when someone around us came over and answered that I was writing a novel. This way, the situation would neither turn awkward, nor would it make me seem too unapproachable.

After that initial conversation, the two of us started chatting. At first, the conversations would revolve around actual concrete topics, but after a while, we would talk about anything and everything endlessly. Perhaps art students are indeed more dynamic in their thinking, and have a lot of ideas too.

Afterwards, we gradually became closer. I never thought that this was a friendship I would be able to have–a friendship that was so full of devotion. I would come to you to tell you anything, no matter how small or trivial. After a while, the seating plan changed again, and we were assigned seats next to each other at the same desk. This caused us to become endlessly more noisy, as we argued (T/N: used playfully in this context) and chatted while we simultaneously worked hard and powered through. In class, we would often talk about everything and nothing, and you would often maturely teach me many things.

A child’s heart will always be impetuous. I remember, at that time, I would feel miserable working on my novel day and night. And that I also wanted to play and have fun at times. Every time when I would forget to get back to working on my novel amidst the playing, you would unexpectedly tell me “ah, you should go and write your novel.” And upon hearing those words, I would return to my unfinished work and finish it bit by bit with full motivation.

Sometimes, it felt like our bond was so close that we felt inseparable. Even when you were just off to buy school supplies at the supply store, you would give me a call and ask me to come with you, and I would respond to that by immediately clearing my schedule for the day and coming with you to have fun. In all honesty, there was never a dull moment while playing with you. I remember that on my way home from the bookstore, I visited your home for the first time, and also met the cute and sensible Yangyang.

When I came to your house, I experienced the feeling of a warm and big household–I experienced this feeling ever since I arrived at your doorstep. Witnessing such a joyful and playful conversation between mother and son was deeply memorable to me.

I was also very lucky to mooch (T/N: used playfully) a meal at your place (Hehe… Mother Wen’s cooking is very delicious), and during the meal, Mother Wen told me many things, [she told me that] amidst the playing and having fun, I should put my studies at the top of my priorities, which has been deeply memorable to me.

Something I couldn’t imagine was that there was also a fan of yours living at your house, who was a fan of Yangyang too. She was a really good person. When Yangyang cried and exclaimed that he wanted to fly a kite, this auntie took him downstairs to fly his kite. Another thing I couldn’t imagine was that the kite would be flown from your rooftop, with Yangyang pulling onto the kite from the ground. Yangyang was still little and couldn’t run fast, and asked a random uncle to help him pull the kite. This uncle agreed without a second thought, and following the sound, many kids from the same residential community (T/N: 小区 in Chinese often means a residential community of multiple apartment buildings built in close proximity to one another) came out to play. At once, I felt like your community was very warm (T/N: kind, welcoming).

Not long ago, there was a filming opportunity for a public service advertisement, and we went to the filming site very early in the morning that day. At the site, I witnessed a very sensible Yangyang, and I could see the earnestness in his eyes. I cherished his cuteness, and simultaneously adored his chastity. I’m thankful to Junhui for teaching me things while chatting with me at the scene, and I’m also thankful to Mother Wen for this opportunity–I couldn’t be more grateful. I will answer Mother Wen with a grateful heart and achievements that will make her proud for these days from the past!

I recall not long ago, on your birthday, I gifted you a novel by Guo Jingming. Because I am an [upcoming] author of a novel myself, I gifted this to you as a tribute. But, after receiving the novel, you told me “I want a novel written by you, not this one, and remember to sign it for me too, eh?” Oh, kid, your loveliness moved me immediately, and you have taught me many things along the way–regardless of the topic, as long as it was something you understood, you helped me with it all.

At times, we would also enjoy talking about everything and nothing. Every Wednesday we would take specialized classes, and eat together in the afternoon. While eating, we would habitually talk about worldly happenings endlessly, and fantasize about the beautiful days of our future.

The people around me would occasionally mention you. Some would praise you, some would hold you in high regard, some would admire you, and some would be envious of you–I’ve heard it all. At first, I was considering stepping forward and clearing up the situation in your stead, but then I reconsidered it and thought never mind, because they would never understand the hard work and effort that you had put in, and that they were unaware of. There is an abundance of opportunities, but one has to seize them themselves. People who only know how to speak will never have a bright future. Following this, I continued to do my own thing, and didn’t spare them a word anymore.

After a spontaneous thought I had, I came up with the idea to film a movie to make a film adaptation of my novel, and also to document my youth. I remember clearly that I started this process on April 27th, 2012, and that you had taught me many things throughout the process, too, and I gradually became more and more interested in filmmaking. You taught me how to use the camera crane, about production, about angles, and some professional knowledge. Merely half a month later, on May 12th, the poster for this movie was shot already. At first, I thought you were unable to come, but Mother Wen ended up agreeing to let you come, which made me extremely happy. I would like to express my gratitude to Mother Wen again for this.

On the day before filming, I only went to bed at three in the morning after finishing preparing everything, and was awoken again by the alarm clock at six in the morning before quickly washing up and going to the meeting spot to wait for everyone to come. Usually, I would feel lethargic after only getting three hours of sleep, and would be in a state where I don’t feel like talking nor joking around. But, because of your (T/N: Jun and his mother) presence, I had a lot of fun that day and felt very happy, the exhaustion not bothering me at all.

Recently, we participated in a competition where the Korean company JYP came to China to hold auditions. You’d reminded me about this event many times, and we went there together with a playful attitude (T/N: 抱着玩的心态 means doing something for the fun/experience of it, and not necessarily for whatever the outcome might be). Amidst the wait [for our turn at the audition], I looked over at you, and blurted out “monkey (T/N: said jokingly), you should really gain some weight, you’re too skinny right now, like a monkey, but you still haven’t lost any of your handsomeness.”

I recall the first song you learned how to sing was one by Xu Song. This semester, you started taking a liking to singing, which was a great improvement. As someone who is not a complete professional myself, I genuinely think you sing quite well, and your voice color is also really great.

Next semester, we won’t be able to go crazy (T/N: used quite synonymously for playing, kids having a lot of fun together) anymore together. I will always support you, who decided to leave the country to pursue your further education. I hope that in the years to come, you, who is full of high spirits and energy, can stand in front of me once again and tell me all about the novelties in the world, and I will be all ears. When you return [to China], you must tell me as soon as possible. May we sit together in the same room, drink tea together, and reminisce about the crazy years of the past and anticipate the bright and beautiful days of the future together in the years to come!

The little brat (T/N: used jokingly and endearingly) who wrote this letter in tears,
Liao Wenshi

Late November, I posted a picture of us wrapping up the filming process on Weibo, to which you commented “What did I miss this time?” in early December. When I saw your comment at that time, I felt a sense of heartache…You didn’t miss anything–It’s me who missed your presence. We will always be waiting for you, and we will always be right by your side.
An excerpt from The second letter to Junhui
Author: Liao Wenshi

More than half a year has passed already since I wrote to you last, time really does go by quickly.

I remember clearly that the last time I wrote to you was on July 7th, 2012. The reason I wrote to you at that time was because you had sent me a private message, telling me you were going to leave China to go study in Korea. Back then I really did not know how to respond to you appropriately, and I felt like I was at my wits’ end, and ended up writing you a letter amidst the turmoil of conflicting feelings.

As you were scheduled to leave for Korea not long after the start of the academic year, the two of us who usually go crazy playing had gone even crazier than usual when playing during summer break. We would often make plans to meet up and hang out, and would often lose track of time amidst all of the fun we were having.

I remember the last Friday before you left for Korea, I rushed to class the moment school ended. As we took the same way home, I thought I would try to get in as much chatting with you as I still could, but who would’ve thought that I was still too late in the end, and you had already left. At that time I was thinking about how it was regrettable that I had missed the last opportunity to see you.

As I walked home from school absentmindedly, I heard an ever so familiar voice while I was walking downhill. I got excited instantly, and that day we walked back together and chatted the whole way home.

Not long after you left us for Korea, I couldn’t help but think to myself that something was missing by my side every time I got a moment to myself. Turns out, the very thing that was missing was you, you little monkey kid (T/N: said jokingly and endearingly, in reference to his previous letter).

The days are passing by slowly, and it has been a while since you left us. The workload for your studies in Korea is slowly increasing, too. I keep wondering to myself about how to contact you during your time off to have a brief chat with you, and that’s when I remembered that you told me that you could still use WeChat in Korea. As someone who didn’t use WeChat frequently in the past, I also picked up my phone and started familiarizing myself with the app. I would often catch you at really late hours and chat with you for a bit, which gave me insights into bits and pieces of Korea.

In the period of time right after you left school, I was suddenly inspired to film my very own work. Through the experience you had taught me and the help of my friends, I succeeded in doing so. Late November, I posted a picture of us wrapping up the filming process on Weibo, to which you commented “What did I miss this time?” in early December.

When I saw your comment at that time, I felt a sense of heartache. Firstly, because I didn’t think you would have any downtime [to rest] as the workload for your studies in Korea was getting heavier and heavier, so I thought you must be getting less and less downtime. Secondly, you didn’t miss anything–It’s me who missed your presence. We will always be waiting for you, and we will always be right by your side.

I remember the first time you came back from Korea was around Christmas last year. I saw you on the second day of your return. It was a Friday and we had just finished our midterms, and you thought we were already on break that day. You’d called me and asked me if I was on my way home from school, and I told you that we had to attend make-up classes because of our time off on New Year’s Day. After a while, you came to school moodily (T/N: used in a playful way).

That evening, the school was holding the rehearsal for our New Year’s Eve party. In the afternoon that day, we made plans to go watch the rehearsal together.

In the evening, I waited for a long time, and you still hadn’t shown up. I sent you a text message, because there was no data coverage at the venue of the rehearsal, and after a long time you replied to my message asking “Do you need me to go and save you -_-#”. At that moment I thought, this kid really is only growing younger and younger over time, perhaps having a good mentality is also quite important.

When you came up to look for me, you didn’t even know the way to your old classroom anymore, perhaps it was because you hadn’t come here in such a long time. Our classroom was on the fifth floor, and you walked to the fourth floor, and had even checked the two classrooms on the fourth floor and asked if I was there. In the end, you managed to find the classroom I was in with a lot of effort. This incident left me speechless and I laughed about it for a long time…

When you returned to school, your Korean had gotten pretty fluent, to the point where you were able to hold basic conversations with Korean people, and you even taught me some commonly used Korean phrases.

While we were chatting leisurely, I would every so often check up on the “homework” you were doing while studying in Korea, by asking you to sing a Korean song or two for me, or to show me the choreographies you’d learned. Even though I couldn’t understand [the Korean lyrics], I thought your singing was quite good, and you danced with a lot of style too (T/N: 有范 is slang for doing something well/stylishly/with swag etc., used as a compliment).

Not long after this, you were scheduled to return to Korea again, and I assumed that the intensity of your workload would increase yet again this time.

During this time, I noticed that Mother Wen had also opened a Weibo, where she was continuously keeping track of your whereabouts and activities, and through Mother Wen’s Weibo account, I was also able to keep up with your whereabouts and activities. The interactions between Mother Wen and your fans felt like those between a mother and her children, and the kindness of a mother was present everywhere therein–I felt like you, who was physically so far away abroad, must have felt it too.

In February, I posted a picture that was related to my work. I was surprised to find Mother Wen’s comment on my post: Fighting! You (T/N: “you” plural) are the best, at the age of chasing dreams, you are your biggest authority, let yourself be the one who is in charge of your own destiny.

And after I expressed my gratitude to her, Mother Wen replied to me saying: No need to thank me! As long as you (T/N: “you” plural) continue doing your best, we will be able to continue seeing your hopes.

In that instance, I was thinking about how grateful I am to have you (T/N: “you” plural, referring to both Jun and his mother). Throughout this rocky journey, the only person who truly knows how much effort you’ve put in is yourself, and Mother Wen’s understanding and encouragement filled me with even more motivation.

After that, I reposted a Weibo post about you, and I didn’t think that after a while, you would leave me a comment–Your words of encouragement filled me with motivation, and my heart felt full, too.

Due to your Weibo account having limitations, certain worries and burdens couldn’t be communicated through there. But on [Chinese] New Year’s Day, you reposted a Weibo post of mine.

This left me very pleasantly surprised, because you monkey (T/N: said jokingly and endearingly, refers back to his previous letter) child never say it out loud when you care about someone, but always decide to express it in a witty way instead. Perhaps this was you giving me a big New Year’s gift, perhaps you really missed me.

When Mother Wen saw your Weibo repost, she reposted your repost and interacted with you, most likely because she was able to guess your thoughts. And when you saw your mother’s interaction with you at a late hour when you had time to yourself to rest, you deleted your initial repost and reposted it once again in response to your mother.

When I saw this, I found it difficult to convey the emotions it made me feel. There will always be such a sense of happiness between mother and son, the mother is so youthful, and the son is so joyful.

It’s been a while since you left for Korea, and I’m sure you’ve gotten accustomed to the Korean way of life. When you update us on your life, you’re the type to always share the joyful parts and never the burdensome parts–Perhaps it’s just like what Mother Wen had told me once, that this kid (T/N: Jun) will overcome whatever comes across his path by himself. Perhaps your attitude to never give up nor admit defeat will be the very thing that leads you down your path to success. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed to any of us, and we are always keeping you company.

No matter how far you go, we will always be by your side. When you will be shining on dazzling stages soon, the crowd underneath the stage who will be cheering you until our voices go hoarse will never not have us present. You have already overcome so many hardships in the past, and there will be no hardships or difficulties that you will not be able to face.

Today is already the day after [Chinese] New Year’s Day, I should still be in time to wish you a belated happy new year. You, who shines under the spotlights so brightly, will forever be the person we love the most. No matter how long the journey will be, we will always be here. May you continue to keep telling me the most mundane little things for many years to come like you always have–Despite these themselves being so ordinary, you are always able to bring so much life to them through your vivid storytelling, making us feel like we’ve been surrounded by love all along.

A good brother who will always stay by your side:
Wenshi
2013.2.11

You’ve always been like this–You’re not very talkative yourself, and whatever others have to say, whether good or bad, you have always chosen to silently accept, and have never gone out of your way to explain yourself. Instead, you work hard in silence, in hopes to show the best side of yourself to your fans who support you. Your hard work will undoubtedly lead to your success in the end, and your success has not come without reason. While standing by your side, I can see this very clearly.
An excerpt from The third letter to Junhui
Author: Liao Wenshi

As of today, you’ve left us almost a year ago now.

I remember around June last year, a Korean company came to China to hold auditions, and we had gone there with an attitude to just have fun, but now you’ve taken the challenging route and gone [to Korea] to work hard.

You briefly came back last year on Christmas and this year in April, and every time we meet up when you come back, I make sure to never forget to ask you when you’ll be leaving again–That way, I can calculate to myself when you’ll approximately be coming back again.

In June of last year, we spent your birthday together. Back then, I was in the midst of writing my own novel, and therefore I also gifted you a novel [as your birthday present].

When I gifted you a novel by another author, you told me something that I am still unable to forget until this day.

You very playfully told me “I don’t want this novel, I want a novel written by you, and don’t you forget to sign it too.” Perhaps on one’s journey towards success, a small word of encouragement from another can be a great source of motivation, too.

Last July, you, who is usually unaffected and never externally expresses his emotions explicitly, messaged me privately and told me that you were leaving us to work hard abroad.

It had been early in the morning, and I wasn’t fully awake yet, and I wasn’t able to properly react to this message for a long time. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t sure how exactly to respond to you, so I wrote the first letter to you back then. Come today, I am already in the process of writing my third letter to you.

Last September, after the beginning of the academic year, you stayed at school for a short period of time.

We should be the pair who shared a desk for the longest time. From the very beginning, to the time you left, to the time you came back, we had always been sharing a desk. We must’ve also been the noisiest pair, there wasn’t a single topic we wouldn’t talk about. Whenever I didn’t understand something, I would always turn to you and ask you, and I was lucky enough that you never got annoyed with me as you happily explained everything to me bit by bit, not stopping until there was nothing left for me to be confused about anymore.

Last October, you left us and flew out overseas to train. Back then, I really couldn’t get accustomed to it (T/N: Jun’s absence), I would always check your Weibo whenever I was bored, and, at times, I would be able to chat with you briefly on WeChat late at night.

Last December, on Christmas, you returned home for the first time after leaving China. I remember back then, our school was preparing the New Year’s Day party, and we had to attend make-up classes on Saturday after finishing our exams on Friday. After finishing school on Friday, you called me and asked me whether I was on my way back home from school. When I told you we had to attend make-up classes, you moodily (T/N: used playfully) walked to school from home not long after.

This was the first time you’d returned back to China after going abroad to train, and the first impression I got from you after you returned was already different from the impression I had of you three months ago, it felt like you were more stylish (T/N: carried himself with more style/swagger) this time.

You only came back for approximately two weeks, and after that, you’d returned to Korea again to continue training. At that time, it was January of this year (T/N: 2013).

At the end of November last year, a number of factors fortuitously coincided and stirred up the passion I held in my heart, which led me to produce my very first work.

I remember this year’s [Chinese] New Year’s Day very well, it was February tenth. On that day, you reposted one of my Weibo posts. I figured that since your Weibo posting activity was restricted, it must not be easy to post on Weibo. I figured you must’ve asked your manager very nicely (T/N: literally translates to “did a lot of aegyo to your manager”) to be allowed to repost that one Weibo post of mine.

Later on, your mother reposted your Weibo post, and late at night you deleted your initial Weibo post and reposted your mother’s Weibo post. Your mother commented “[Kiss emoji] You miss your classmate.” And you’d replied to your mother: “I do [Winking emoji].” I was moved by your mother’s kindness again here too, and I also want to tell her: “Mom, you’ve worked hard.”

Because you left China in January this year, you didn’t get to spend Chinese New Year at home. I figured that this must’ve been tough on a kid who is training in a foreign country and also still underaged, and that there are a lot of things you must be bearing in your situation.

In March this year, after you’d trained for three more months, you returned to China for the second time.

When you left us back in January, I was already calculating to myself when you might come back next time.

Around that time, a coincidence occurred. On a Friday evening, I coincidentally bumped into your father at the subway station on my way home. I greeted him, and I remember the first thing I asked him was: “When will Wen Junhui come back again?” He answered me: “Very soon, [he’ll return] at the end of this month.”

Time passed quickly, and the end of the month arrived soon after that. You came to visit our school again on the second day of your return.

It was a Thursday, and I hadn’t seen you yet [after you returned]. When school ended that day, the first thing some friends asked me when they saw me was: “Do you know that Wen Junhui came back?” When they could tell that I intended on going back [to school] to look for you, they told me: “He already left!” All I could do then was thank them with a sorrowful smile.

When we got out of school on Friday, you called me when I was still at school, and I waited for you at the school gate.

When I saw you from afar, I thought that this kid had grown up more once again, has even more style now, and has also grown taller. Your hair was longer now compared to the last time I saw you. I took off your hat and saw that it had indeed grown, but I thought there must’ve been a reason for it, so I didn’t press for further details.

I only saw you twice during the second time you came back, and you were scheduled to return to Korea for training again in April, but this time you would be gone for a full year.

While we were chatting leisurely, you mentioned to me that you had to go for a full year this time you returned to Korea, and that you didn’t want to go anymore. Later on, I also read in your mother’s Weibo post that you would repeatedly mention the fact that you would be gone for a full year when you were getting ready to board the plane.

All I could do was to sympathize with you. You also told me before that we’re still young, and that we would have to go through many more things as life goes on. This bit of hardship, whether it’s mentally or physically, is not that much in the grand scheme of things. We must keep on walking the path that we have chosen for ourselves, even if we have to put up a fight in the process.

After staying in China for about two weeks, you returned to Korea once again to train, and this time, you would only be able to return to China around April next year.

When you appeared on Yin Yue Tai’s (T/N: a Chinese music television channel) TV show a while back, I had also gone there to watch you. You seem to be getting more and more comfortable with performing on stage, which is amazing.

To someone like you, who doesn’t have an extensive pre-existing background in dancing, your performance on stage is getting more and more stylish (T/N: meaning that he performs with more style/swagger/confidence etc.), and I imagine you must’ve worked very hard every day to stay on par with the rest.

The number of fans who like you is also increasing, and I’m very happy for you. Many of your followers on Weibo have followed me too, and now we have a lot of mutual followers.

Through our Weibo followers, I also discovered that there have been many discussions about you online. The fans who support you are working very hard to clear up any misunderstandings that passersby (T/N: non-fans) might have about you.

Many people have been discussing you in real life too, and I would unintentionally catch a word or two about you every now and then. I haven’t stepped in to clear things up to anyone, the ones who understand you will understand you thoroughly, and the ones who don’t understand you will not understand either way, so there is no point in justifying your actions to try and make them understand.

You’ve always been like this–You’re not very talkative yourself, and whatever others have to say, whether good or bad, you have always chosen to silently accept, and have never gone out of your way to explain yourself. Instead, you work hard in silence, in hopes to show the best side of yourself to your fans who support you.

Your hard work will undoubtedly lead to your success in the end, and your success has not come without reason. While standing by your side, I can see this very clearly.

On today’s special day, I wish that you will be nothing but happy in the future, and that you will be free of any frustrations and disappointments. May you always have your ever so radiant smile on your face, and never have to cry. May you always get along well with others, and always be kind to yourself and treat yourself well.

Whenever you feel exhausted, don’t forget to turn around and take a look at how far you’ve come on your journey and all the things that you’ve dreamt of since the beginning, and don’t forget that there will always be a crowd of friends who support you and have your back.

Never give up, the strongest group of supporters will be backing you up and supporting you.

Don’t be afraid to explore (T/N: I’m not sure if 折腾 is directly translatable in this context, but it can be best described as “doing various things/engaging in and exploring various activities” which is in this case used for everything Jun is doing and everything Jun has gone through in order to fulfill his dream) during your youth.

Wishing you a happy birthday!

Liao Wenshi
2013.6.10

In other words, I’ve gotten more courageous, and in other words, my skin has gotten thicker. In other words, I should do a 90 degree bow to you to show my gratitude, because if it hadn’t been for you, I might still be the same stoic boy you once said I was. I thought to myself that those who understand gratitude will never be at a disadvantage.
An excerpt from The fourth letter to Junhui

It’s been a year since I last wrote to you on your birthday last year.

Indeed, a year passes by very fast. Within this year, your movie has been screened, your singing and dancing skills have improved, and, of course, your features have gotten even more handsome, and we’ve only been able to see each other twice.

This birthday might be more meaningful than previous birthdays, you turned eighteen, which comes with the implication of being responsible, of growth, and of maturity.

We are all growing up, and we are all learning, and we are all growing in the process of learning.

I remember when you gave me the opportunity to join a production team and learn from them for the first time, it was for a public service advertisement shoot. A group of people from all walks of life came together to form a circle hand-in-hand, and a camera crane that could reach up to a peak height I can’t even remember was recording us from mid-air.

Unbeknownst to me, I was either graced by an abundance of good fortune in the romance department or a plenitude of peach blossoms (T/N: 艳福不浅 is a phrase used to describe some as having a lot of good fortune when it comes to love affairs, and 桃花太深 is a metaphor which literally translates to “a deep/thick patch of peach blossoms” and uses this image to symbolize a situation of an abundance of romantic opportunities), and the person next to me, whose hand was intertwined with mine, was a girl who was a graceful dance with a great figure. Of course, you can imagine the state I was in at that moment.

At that time, the very shy me who was holding onto her hand was trembling uncontrollably. Of course, trembling once or twice isn’t too big of a deal.

But we were recording non-stop, and we kept holding hands the whole time, so I was trembling repeatedly too.

In an attempt to stop myself from trembling, I kept squeezing the girl’s hand, and held onto it tightly, but I still kept trembling… I think the girl also realized what was up with me, and she also held onto my hand tightly. At the end, both of our hands were holding onto the other very tightly, and when we let go of each other’s hands after we finished recording, both of our hands were covered in sweat.

And then the following conversation took place.
Girl: Why is your hand trembling like that?
Me: (Doing my best to cover up for myself) I wasn’t trembling!
Girl: (Speaking loudly to counter me) You were!!
Me: ……Okay.

Of course, the current me wouldn’t embarrass myself like that anymore. In other words, I’ve gotten more courageous, and in other words, my skin has gotten thicker. In other words, I should do a 90 degree bow to you to show my gratitude, because if it hadn’t been for you, I might still be the same stoic boy you once said I was. I thought to myself that those who understand gratitude/know how to be grateful will never be at a disadvantage.

In the process of growing up, we slowly but surely distanced ourselves from the cowardly and immature boys we once were, and gradually grew up to become the kind of men we have always wanted to become.

We are always welcoming the presence of positive energy, and are always chasing after it without reservation.

During the period of our college entrance examinations, I would often post random things on my WeChat Circles to relieve stress, I guess you could call this unrestrained behavior.

However, you and Mother Wen would respond to my behavior in a way that was full of positive energy, the two of you would reply to my posts with: “Are you still not reviewing?” “Good luck/fighting on your college entrance exams” et cetera, and leave us motivational words.

Later on, your fans gradually came to know me too. From the small number of fans in the beginning to the ever increasing number of fans as time went on, we ended up with a lot of mutual friends. Rather than saying that women who are idol fans tend to be masculine (T/N: 汉子 here is used to describe a person with traits that are traditionally considered “manly” or “masculine”, such as being tough, brave, and reliable, etc.), I would describe women who are idol fans as being utterly genuine, without a trace of an ulterior motive or insincerity.

In other words, we can also say that women who are idol fans are all propagators of positive energy. They bring a sense of joy with them, as well as an uplifting spirit that motivates people to keep striving for improvement. Just like when the movie was released, a crowd of women showed up and crowded around tightly, while the men just stood to the side… A while ago, you told me that you wanted to try out [applying to a] Korean university that is renowned for their film studies department, and, without thinking, I replied to you: “That’s amazing!” Humans all strive for improvement, and I thought to myself that there would be no person who would reject a good opportunity, and even less so would anyone be able to strike down someone who was so successful in their improvement.

Slowly but surely, we are growing up.

Once again, I’m reminded of our first encounter, of our first conversion, of our first time hanging out together, our first time trying out for an audition together, my first time writing a letter to you, the first time going to your film screening, and the endless times of sharing the whole spectrum of human emotion (T/N: literally translates to “happiness, anger, grief, joy”) together…

I think that on our journey, no one will get lost, and no one will be separated from one another. Eighteen marks a division for us, and it marks the beginning of an era in which we will shine brightly. We will continue to pursue our goals and go crazy without being restrained by our concerns, and we will achieve glory as a result thereof.

I think that we can do it!

Little Wen the commoner
2014.6.10

The light at the end of the tunnel of the years of struggling finally seems to be in sight, and it also brings a beautiful conclusion to the decision you made full of determination years ago…A good man will excel in all aspects, and those who are destined to meet will eventually fulfill this destiny.
An excerpt from Your initial dream, it’s bound to be fulfilled

(The song Liao Wenshi attached to this letter is The Outside World by Chyi Chin)

There is a guy in the world so beautiful, with refined features and a beautiful face, and it just so happens that I know him too, which is the greatest delight in the world.

Time flies really fast, and I’m realizing that we’ve known each other for three years already.

We experienced a lot of things together, from you taking me out to play in the beginning, and gave me the fortunate opportunity to gain experience on a filming set, which ignited my interest in my current dream.

And after that, you introduced a friend of yours to me, and it made me realize that it was really possible for this many clowns to gather together in this world (T/N: referring to Jun, him and their friends being silly whenever they’re together).

I remember how lively our conversations were when we sat at the same desk together, which wouldn’t even cease after class had started, as we always talked about everything and nothing in particular. Thankfully, you never thought of me as a bother, as I would repeatedly ask you questions, and you would repeatedly respond to me, and you taught me a lot of things.

Being noisy together at school wasn’t even enough, and I’m thinking about how we would continue our endeavors in our downtime after school too. I was thinking about asking for your number. On the one hand, I was thinking about how convenient it would be to get in touch with you when we weren’t together. But on the other hand, I was pondering about it a lot, and I figured that maybe it would be an inconvenience for you if I asked for it, as you were a celebrity, so it might’ve been inconvenient for you to give out your number.

After more careful consideration, I braved myself and went up to ask you whether you could give me your number, and I didn’t think you would tell me to hand you my phone for you to put in your number without another word.

Until the moment I saved your number, I couldn’t believe that you gave it to me with such ease. I felt like the whole world was in my hands at that moment.

Coincidentally, a Korean entertainment company came to Shenzhen to hold auditions, and I remember you telling me that we should go and try out.

On the day of the audition, our group of friends gathered and left for the audition together, and you were the star that shone the brightest at the audition site without a doubt.

There, you were selected (T/N: passed the audition) due to your outstanding performance and your earnesty. When you returned to school not long after that, you told me that you were going to leave for Korea to further develop your career there.

That was when I wrote my first letter to you, and it had also been the first time I wasn’t able to control my tears from falling at the departure of a friend…

At the beginning of this year, I asked you when you would be back to celebrate Chinese new year, and you replied to me that you wouldn’t be able to come back.

Coming from you who usually likes to sugarcoat (T/N: in this situation used to downplay unpleasant situations) things, I thought you were joking when you said that, but it turns out that my wish to be reunited with you during this time of unity remained unfulfilled.

In March this year, the company granted you some leave, and you returned to China. While we were chatting leisurely one day, I asked you when you were going to debut, and you responded that it could be as soon as in the next couple of months.

And sure enough, not long after you returned to Korea, I heard the good news that you were going to debut soon. You also said on WeChat that you were going to debut soon, and that you were so excited.

Us, your supporters who have always loved you deeply, as well as your fans, were equally as excited.

Your fans have always been guarding over you behind your back, and I’ve always been under the impression that your fans have always been very kind hearted, and are full of sunshine and positive energy, and are welcoming your future group with a full embrace.

Just like in instances where there is controversy over you online, your fans will speak up without hesitation and stand up for you in cases of injustice. I feel like all of these actions will not only be seen by you, but will also be remembered and cherished.

Just like the song lyrics go, “Even a plain rock will become a shining diamond after polishing,” indeed, you will be the diamond that shines the brightest.

The light at the end of the tunnel of the years of struggling finally seems to be in sight, and it also brings a beautiful conclusion to the decision you made full of determination years ago.

I believe that there is no such thing as being separated by physical distance for like-minded individuals who share the same aspirations. A good man will excel in all aspects, and those who are destined to meet will eventually fulfill this destiny.

Despite being physically apart, I believe that working towards our goal together will remain our unchanged objective, and I also believe that our ruthlessness in breaking free is merely representative of our refusal to settle for mediocrity.

When I heard about the fact that you were debuting soon, I unconsciously started paying attention to everything I would come across in the city that was related to the number 17.

Because my friend whom I love so much is about to face even more unknown things and receive even more honor, I feel so much pride for you.

As you’ve chosen to pursue your career in a foreign country, you’ve gone through struggles (T/N: literally translates to “going through wind and rain”) in foreign land, and I imagine that the moments when you were missing home must have been the hardest, like when you told me about that one time you sat in a corner all alone, listening to ballads and crying bitterly.

You should go all out and go through struggles as early as possible–You can be the most daring and courageous while you still have nothing. In such a restless period of your life, being able to remain calm on the outside and peaceful within is not an easy feat.

Sending you off a thousand miles, we must eventually part. Just as the saying goes, this time’s parting is only for the purpose of a better reunion next time.

The future is long, and the present moment is just right. Since you’ve chosen a career far away, you might as well go all out, and pay no mind to fanciful distractions (T/N: 风花雪月 literally translates to “the wind, flowers, snow and the moon” and is often used to refer to literary works with beautiful prose but a lack of actual meaning–used here to describe matters that seem remarkable but are actually meaningless).

Take off against the wind, and return with the wind (T/N: 逆风起飞 (take off against the wind) is used metaphorically to describe a process of overcoming challenging situations and achieving success despite difficult circumstances, whereas 顺丰而归 (return with the wind) is used metaphorically to describe a journey that concludes smoothly, void of any obstacles). Regardless of how much criticism or speculations there will be, staying true to your own conscience and standing by your own beliefs unapologetically is the greatest solace, and let the rest be proven over time.

I’m waiting for your next return when it will be time for us to sit down and have a heart-to-heart again, and talk about our bright future together.

Your initial dream, it is bound to be fulfilled.

You will bloom during the most beautiful time of your life, and spread your blossoms far and wide.

It’s not the end, it’s just the end of the beginning.
(T/N: written by OP in English, then translated into Chinese between parentheses).

Little Wen the commoner
2015.6.10

When we meet again, I want to give you a big embrace, and, without any reservations or ulterior motives, tell you that I’m thankful to have you, that I’m thankful for your companionship, that I’m thankful for growing and growing up together with you, and that I’m thankful for everything that has happened between the two of us.
An excerpt from《A love letter》

(The song Liao Wenshi attached to this letter is the 2015 live version of 山丘 by Jonathan Lee)

At the age of twenty, when coming of age (T/N: 弱冠之年 refers to the age of twenty when a young man comes of age and starts wearing hats in ancient China), you are full of ambition.

There is this beauty from the south, so unparalleled and unique, just the thought of it alone is already wonderful.

Although we met at a young age, the time we spent together continued to enchant me throughout my entire youth.

Your youth is like water, and your song is like the wind. Your beauty hangs from the corners of your eyes, and there is a delicate beauty to your features.

The years are seldom silenced (T/N: it is hard for him to not think about the time he spent with Jun), and the sunset refuses to clear out and leave me alone, hanging on the wall instead as it remains reluctant to part with me (T/N: “赖着不走” means to cling onto/linger around someone no matter what that person does. Here, he uses the sunset as a metaphor for the beautiful time he spent with Jun, and refers to being unable to forget about their time together, and how he realizes that he feels like he didn’t treasure them enough in the moment).

It’s hard to believe that I’m using such vocabulary to describe a beautiful man, and it’s making me feel demure to a degree.

Time has given us a stimulus, it made us get up on our feet, get to know each other, and develop an intimate friendship, which has been the honor of a lifetime.

I view you as an older brother, and you treat me like your own younger brother. Although we’re not related by blood, this [relationship] is even better than being related by blood.

You’ve guided me along this journey, and given me countless opportunities.

You have achieved brilliant successes in your career; whether in your journey as a singer or in your interpersonal relationships, you have achieved milestones to be proud of.

I am happy for you, and I also feel proud because of you.

Time is flying and the years are passing by, and although we might grow too exhausted to continue going forward, you and I both know that forward is the only direction to head towards.

As you’re working hard abroad, you must feel exhausted, too.

Even though you’ve fulfilled many of your goals and dreams, there is barely anyone you can talk to about them (T/N: can be understood as “it’s lonely at the top”).

The value of an idol is to provide others with the strength to overcome burdens and difficulties.

And despite the battle wounds that this world has given you, you still keep going forward unapologetically.

Youths of these times are floating on the river of time, yearning over how the years have passed, disturbing the flow of time (T/N: reminiscing about the fleeting nature of time and how it waits for no one), reminiscing about all the hardships they have been through, and all the fortunate things they have experienced.

Accompanied by the starry sky at your departure and stepping on the moonshine on your way home, constantly being on the move under the canopy of the moon and the stars (T/N: referring to the fact that Jun worked from before dawn until after dark), my child, you truly have suffered too much.

You bear too much of the burden of other people’s expectations (T/N: literally translates to “hopeful gazes”), and you could never bear the thought of disappointing them.

Your experience is overabundant (T/N: idiom for being very learned), and you accept comments and criticism lightheartedly (T/N: I’m still thinking of a way to convey this well, but it basically means that Jun is so talented and experienced, it doesn’t matter to him how others speak about him, because those words will not affect the talent and experience that will continue to belong to him).

After many years of being away, you will always eventually return home.

It is fortunate that your youth was not wasted, but a regretful matter is that one can always come back to the place of origin, but will never be able to return to a certain point in time.

Your journey ahead is still long, but the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight, and that is enough.

During the most beautiful period of my youth, I am honored to have gotten to know you, and to have loved you like a brother although we are not related.

Congratulations on boarding the train of your youth at twenty years old today. Not only are you an example for youth, you are also a symbol for passionate ambition.

As time has passed, everyone has settled into their own brand new lives, and are working hard to live the lives they want to lead.

To me, the best and most beautiful of friendships are the ones where everyone leads their own busy lives, but are always thinking of each other amidst it.

No matter how big the distance is between us, and no matter how many years have gone by, it feels like everyone remains by my side and watches over me, not forgetting our initial dreams (T/N: literally translates to “initial heart”), feeling content [with what we have], and being grateful.

Men who have suffered through hardships become charming, and their charm lies in their strength, and the indignities they’ve suffered only fuel their ambitions.

When we meet again, I want to give you a big embrace, and, without any reservations or ulterior motives, tell you that I’m thankful to have you, that I’m thankful for your companionship, that I’m thankful for growing and growing up together with you, and that I’m thankful for everything that has happened between the two of us (T/N: literally translates to “thankful for everything that took place and existed in the past”).

A good judge of potential (T/N: 伯乐 means a legendary connoisseur of horses, someone who was able to recognize a talented horse when they saw one. This is now often used as a person who has a good eye for recognizing talent and someone’s potential) is hard to come by (T/N: he is referring to Jun, who saw the potential in him), and his benevolence and nobility (T/N: he is referring to Jun who gave him many opportunities and taught him many things during their time together) should be cherished and treasured. To have become someone who is worthy of others’ high regard [thanks to you] is something that I will be grateful for for the rest of this lifetime.

One conversation with you is more valuable than ten years of studying (T/N: literally translates to “reading”). I know the extent of what you have done for me, and I intend to repay your kindness with gratitude.

What I hold dear transcends the unclimbable mountains and uncrossable seas that separate us.
(T/N: the phrase often used is “所爱隔山海，山海不可平” and he replaced the 爱 in 思 here. The literal translation of the original phrase is “what I love is mountains and seas away, and these mountains are unclimbable and these seas are uncrossable,” indicating that despite the great physical distance between the author and their loved one, the author will still be able to find a way to cross it in the name of love)

Even if I stop to think about it for just one moment, I will be overcome with tears.

Little Wen the commoner
2016.6.10

We are willing to become the candle in your lantern, willing to burn up and sacrifice our lives just to light up a part of the road ahead of you, no matter how small, and to take risks with you on your journey in this universe.
An excerpt from The seventh letter to Wen Junhui (2018.06.10)

Hehe, Mister Wen, this is the seventh letter I’ve written to you, although people like to tease me and say that I’m writing love letters to you.

I’ve been writing you letters because we haven’t been able to meet for a long time, and before you know it, we’ve known each other for six years already, time really moves fast and waits for no one. We grew up together, and grew up into the big boys we are today from the little guys we were back then.

The two of us haven’t been able to see each other for a long time, and you who works overseas also don’t have specific dates you can return home on. From 2016 to March of 2018, you didn’t have a single opportunity to return to Shenzhen, and there was only this one time in August of 2017 when you held a concert in Hong Kong.

That was my first time attending a concert, and it was also my first time seeing you who shone so brightly [on stage]. The moment the spotlight hit you, I thought that you had been absolutely right in the decisions you’ve made for your career, and I also felt like you had finally made it through (T/N: the hardships he had to endure to get here).

After the concert, we had the opportunity to meet for a short while, and were able to have a chat and catch each other up on our whereabouts and the things that have been happening around us. It’s very unfortunate that after we grew up and are constantly on the move all over the place to make a living, that we had also missed out on many opportunities to meet up with each other.

After two years of not being able to meet up and catch up, you very fortunately came back [to China] this year, and slowly started getting more opportunities in China as well. It’s really such an amazing thing that you get to participate in more schedules in China now too, and this way, more people can get to know about Mister Wen who is so hardworking to the point that it makes him radiant with light.

Throughout all these years, more and more people have slowly but surely noticed your hard work and your efforts. More and more people have started liking you, and have made positive changes because of your words, your deeds, and your energy.

[Your impact is so powerful] to the extent that currently, I keep promoting you to the friends around me, introducing you as “this is our outstanding and handsome young man from Shenzhen, please give him lots of support.”

I believe that having a friend who strongly promotes you to his friends without any reason in particular must also make you really happy. But I also know that behind the pride, there must also be sweat and tears and hard work, and that you must also be under a kind of pressure that you’re unable to talk about.

Throughout your journey, you have overcome obstacles and gotten used to new things bit by bit as they come, which led to you growing into the competent person you are in the end. Regardless of what decisions you make, I will always be happy for you, and cheer you on and support you.

We are willing to become the candle in your lantern, willing to burn up and sacrifice our lives just to light up a part of the road ahead of you, no matter how small, and to take risks with you on your journey in this universe.

It’s been many years, and I’ve been silently writing letters all this time, making sure to commemorate the important moments so we will have records of these things in the years to come too. Over time, a lot of people who like you have also started to follow and show interest [in these letters], and this group is slowly but surely growing, too.

I’m glad that they (T/N: Jun’s fans) are polite and know their limits, and they have been a great example. Not only do I want to praise them (T/N: literally translates to “like/upvote” in the context of social media), but I also hope that they are able to keep up this good work in the future too!

Although you’ve long grown up and achieved success and recognition for yourself, in our memory, you still look the way you did back when you were chasing after your youth (T/N: indicating that to him, Jun doesn’t look like he lost his youthful energy from back then at all).

In the current day where information services are so advanced, I’m still using letters as a means to record memories. I wonder if I’ve already successfully become the “odd (T/N: used affectionately) brother who loves to write letters” that everyone is talking about?

Sometimes I’m not quite sure what to say, and sometimes I don’t get to say the things that I want to say to you in person. I think that, for our kind of friendship, you’ll understand me thoroughly without me having to speak.

Wen Junhui, the dream-chasing young man, may your journey be filled with prosperity, and may we stay on this journey together. Happy birthday!

As an artist who has excelled in all three fields of acting, television, and singing, I think that the phrase “please look forward to it” must carry many pleasant surprises with it when it’s used for little Huihui.
An excerpt from The eighth letter to Wen Junhui (2019.06.10)

Year number seven!

We’ve already known each other for seven years now. Who would’ve thought that in this journey of life, I would be able to have someone like you to have fun with, and that I would be able to accompany you for such a long time.

Over the years, a lot of things have changed. For example, during your journey of hard work, there are more and more people who started liking you and have gotten to know about you. There are more people now who support every decision you make and understand you.

From the young boy you were before to the man you are today, there are more and more people who support you and care for you now. There are many people who have watched you grow up throughout your journey, and have accompanied you throughout many experiences.

Compared to before, we have fewer opportunities to meet each other in person now, and the time we have to sit down and have a heart-to-heart is also much less abundant than before. On the bright side, every time we get to meet feels particularly treasurable now.

The amount of times you’ve come back to China for schedules and the opportunities you’re getting in China now all feel like they’ve improved from before. The little Huihui I knew from back then has become a hardworking and earnest performer now.

As an artist who has excelled in all three fields of acting, television (T/N: appearing on different kinds of schedules that are broadcasted), and singing, I think that the phrase “please look forward to it” must carry many pleasant surprises with it when it’s used for little Huihui.

Everyone, please keep supporting Feifei (T/N: Jun’s nickname in Cantonese) a lot, and he will continue to pleasantly surprise you!

Wen Junhui, happy birthday!

The ninth letter to Wen Junhui (2020.06.10)
Feifei, year number eight! Happy birthday! Wishing you great fortune!

The tenth letter to Wen Junhui (2021.06.10)
Feifei, year number nine! Happy birthday! Wishing you great fortune!

(2022.06.10)
Happy birthday! [We’ve] known each other for ten years, and I [still] love you the same way I did in the beginning!
(T/N: Liao Wenshi added the caption above to a repost of the first letter he wrote Jun ten years ago)

The full translation of Jun’s interview with 会火 Huihuo is under the cut, I’ve divided it up in the first, second, and third part, which are all linked here! The thread will no longer be updated, and this post will be updated accordingly if any other inaccuracies are found. Should you spot any, please let me know on Twitter, CuriousCat, or in the comments! Do not repost, and please take out with full credit.

🔗 Part 1 (上)
🔗 Part 2 (中)
🔗 Part 3 (下)

JUN 230906 会火 Huihuo Interview [ENG]

Part 1 (上)
(Before the start)
🐱: This place really makes it look like a fan call hahaha
👩‍🦰: Right?
🐱: Because our fan calls are also taken in this room

(Small talk begins)
👩‍🦰: Have you eaten yet?
🐱: Ah, me? I ate a little bit
👩‍🦰: Your fans were all telling me to tell you to eat some more
🐱: Ah? I feel like I’ve been eating quite a lot lately, haha
👩‍🦰: Really?
🐱: Um… I don’t know what the exact standards are for “eating a lot” or “eating a little”, but I feel like I’ve been eating quite a lot (Question is answered)
(Mini fan call has ended, for more content please watch the Easter eggs)

👩‍🦰: Before we start (the interview), can you play a warming-up game with me? A brain teaser game (T/N: literally translated to “rapid brain twister games”)
🐱: Ah, I have a hole in my mind, bring it on
👩‍🦰: Ah? (Is affected by his cuteness)
🐱: I’m scatterbrained

👩‍🦰: First question, do you know what your nose is?
🐱: A slide
🐱(The crown of his head is facing the camera)
🐱: (The cat is shy) No, but, during our fan calls, fans would also joke with me like this
👩‍🦰: Do you have any other ideas?
🐱: My nose is… My nose is just my nose, haha, what else could it be?
👩‍🦰: Your nose… Is my baby (She finds it awkward herself too)
🐱 (I need to get out of here)
🐱: Ah, so when you say this phrase, you also have to [hand gesture] your nose is my baby?
👩‍🦰: Yeah
👩‍🦰: Did I make you cringe too much?
🐱: Um… Uh… Not really, it’s okay, it’s okay
👩‍🦰 (Too embarrassed to face anyone)

👩‍🦰: Now, let’s try a serious one
🐱: Are you sure it’s a serious one? (Doubtful)
👩‍🦰: It should be a serious one
👩‍🦰: When I went out today, I received a letter. Guess what kind of letter it is
🐱: There must be something to this
🐱: Received a letter…
🐱: Is the letter… I believe you? (T/N: “letter” and “believe” use the same character) 🎶I believe🎶 (Broadcasting the crown of his head) (It sounds so nice)
👩‍🦰: I received a letter, interviewing you is my honor (T/N: the last character of “honor” almost rhymes with the character used for “letter”)
🐱 (I can’t manage to escape)
🐱 (The cat is speechless)
👩‍🦰: He has gone silent
🐱: Interviewing you is my honor, ok ok

👩‍🦰: So yesterday, I read a book, and my eyes got completely swollen from reading
🐱: Wait, are you talking about something that actually happened, or? (Doubtful again)
🐱: Ah, still the brain teasers, right? Ok, ok
👩‍🦰: Guess what kind of book I was reading
👩‍🦰: This one is kind of interesting
🐱: Eyes were swollen (Frowning heavily)
👩‍🦰: Ah, really, I’m going to cry myself to death. He’s really thinking about it so seriously
👩‍🦰: That book is called “(if it’s for) meeting you, I’m ready to take a chance”
(Background audio: Please save me, please save me)
🐱: My head hurts a little bit

The screenshot:
A fan in the comment asked Huihuo channel to
1 Make Jun do a set of three cute poses
2 Make him shy
3 Tell him to eat more
4 Ask him if he can be our proxy seller(?)
The caption says: Uncle (Huihuo) is spoiling you all

(Interview starts)
🐱: Go on Huihuo, and you’ll be famous. Hello friends of Huihuo, I am Wen Junhui
🐱 (Korean boy group SEVENTEEN’s member, singer, actor)
👩‍🦰: Wah, I got the opportunity to interview Jun
🐱: Jie (T/N: Chinese equivalent for “noona”) when you clapped just now, did the audio automatically turn off, or did the audio disappear because it was too loud?
👩‍🦰: Oh, so to you, I just [clapping without any audio] looked like this?
(Everyone, don’t worry about Jun’s ears/hearing)

👩‍🦰: We warmly welcome Jun to be our guest on Huihuo. Actually, before (this interview) we’ve met once, do you remember?
🐱: Oh, I remember, your hair color is quite conspicuous haha (Macau TMEA fancam)
👩‍🦰: Really? If you say that, I’ll want to dye my hair this color for the next ten years
🐱 (Got scared)
🐱: [stuttering] Ten years would do too much damage to your scalp
(MBTI S-type energy off the charts)

👩‍🦰: Back then, when we did a group interview, you seemed very shy. Why were you so shy at that time?
🐱: Because… I won an award, so I have to be a bit humble. It’s not shyness in particular, it’s more like the happiness you feel when you’re being praised

👩‍🦰: Alright, now we’re starting the real interview part
🐱: (Finally starting) Ah, so (just now was) a warming-up session of ten minutes, right?
👩‍🦰: Correct, that’s the way we do it at Huihuo
🐱: Ok, ok, ok (Getting used to it…)


👩‍🦰: You held concerts not long ago, right?
🐱: Yes
👩‍🦰: Do you know what your fans mean by “withdrawal symptoms”? (T/N: a phenomenon akin to what is referred to in English as “post-concert depression”)
🐱: Like, for example, when you finish reading a novel and you’re left with lingering emotions/afterthoughts (T/N: literally translates to “aftertaste”), maybe a feeling akin to that
👩‍🦰: Yes, indeed, like the kind of emptiness they feel when they return home after attending a grandiose concert with an audience of tens of thousands of people. Do you also experience such withdrawal symptoms? When you return to your hotel (after your concert) and you’re alone, do you feel deeply disheartened?
🐱: I wouldn’t call it “deeply disheartened” but I do feel unfulfilled, and feel some small/slight disappointments. I would think about opportunities in the future to showcase even more different styles of performances

👩‍🦰: What do you like to do to relax after a concert?
🐱: Take a bath, haha. I also quite like to listen to live (music) by other singers, and eat delicious food
(Burst into laughter)

👩‍🦰: Do you usually consume a lot of short-form content?
🐱: Not really
👩‍🦰: But when you do, what kind of short-form content do you like?
🐱: For example, summary videos of movies and TV shows. I’m the type of person who likes to watch all the spoilers first, and if I find those interesting, I’ll go and watch the full thing (Finding my kind (of people))

👩‍🦰: Have you seen those movie commentary videos recently? Where they use Kuaiban during the commentary (T/N: Kuaiban is a style of Chinese traditional storytelling, where they combine spoken word with rhythmic patterns. I didn’t pick this up at first, credits to svtranslation on Twitter for this!)
🐱: (I don’t get it, but I respect it) Once upon a time, there was a boy who… (T/N: he is doing Kuaiban that the interviewer was talking about)
👩‍🦰: Ah, he’s self-taught

Part 2 (中)
👩‍🦰: This time (through Exclusive Fairytale), you have also shown a new identity to the audience. Do you have any further developments in mind for your acting career?
🐱: Actually, I hope to be able to star in more special roles in the future. For example, something that is quite similar to my actual personality, like a role with a supervillain vibe. I feel like those types of roles would be very interesting. One with a mischievous/quirky vibe

👩‍🦰: Are there any other types of roles you would like to try out?
🐱: I would like to try out a historical drama role. Actually, when I was learning wushu when I was younger, I was also hoping to use those skills towards acting in martial arts dramas later. It’s sort of like I’ve been paving a path for myself/my future from a young age? Yeah, haha
👩‍🦰: The process of preparing for your life path started at a young age (T/N: literally translates to “the gears of your fate have been turning since a young age”)

👩‍🦰: A while ago, we recorded a reaction video (to EFT) with the Performance Team. Have you gotten any other reactions (to EFT, from members) after that too?
🐱: Please let there be no more reactions
🐱: Don’t react to it in my presence, yeah, I still feel a bit embarrassed, you know? It’s like a college dorm, even in a space with four people there is already a lot of chatter (T/N: 叽里呱啦 is onomatopoeia for chatter), and we have more than ten people.
🐱: Usually, at times like those, I’ll quietly tell our manager I’m excusing myself to the bathroom (Disappearing on the spot)

👩‍🦰: If you had the opportunity to act in a movie or TV production with the Seventeen members, who would you like to co-star with?
🐱: I feel like all of our members would do well. Even just from watching Going Seventeen, you can tell that everyone has the desire to act.
(Team of professional lawyers, but Xu Minghao does not say a word)
🐱: When we were still trainees, we went to Super Junior sunbaenim’s concert. We watched their VCR, which had a comedy film vibe, and I was completely stunned. Woah (There’s something about it), after watching it I was thinking to myself quietly that I hope that our own VCR will also show some improvement hahaha
👩‍🦰: Raise it to your company

👩‍🦰: So if SJ’s theme is humor, what would your (Seventeen’s) theme be?
🐱: Maybe a comedic horror film vibe?
👩‍🦰: Comedic horror film?
🐱: Like getting possessed by a ghost

👩‍🦰: There are a lot of people who joined your fandom through EFT, and they don’t understand idol culture at all. Many of them are asking you why you need to post the same dance 16 times in a row? How would you respond to that?
Screenshot:
Ge (T/N: hyung) I’m begging you to upload some other Douyins! Your actor fans are going to think all you know how to do is dance to Psycho! Ahhhhh
> @ Jun Please show our new fan babies something nice
> Hahaha, I just saw an actor fan who was confused as to why he keeps dancing to Psycho, and even has to dance to it 16 times. I don’t think they understand what a challenge is.
🐱: (Let me explain it) Our way of promoting is through the help of (recording the challenge with) various friends in the entertainment industry

🐱: Can I ask a follow-up question? Could you teach me some promotion methods used in China? Hahaha
👩‍🦰: Promotion methods in China? Go on Huihuo
(🐱: Go on Huihuo and you’ll be famous)
🐱: But will they find it weird if I upload it (the consecutive challenge videos) like that?
👩‍🦰: If there are people who truly don’t understand (the concept of challenges), then they will actually find it really weird, because this one thing is repeated 16 times. But, as a fan, they will be happy
👩‍🦰: 16 times, 36 times, 56 times, 66 times, are all ok, even 72 times is ok
🐱: Ah, 72 times, then I’ll have to ask Sun Wukong (T/N: Super’s 손오공) himself to come film it with me, hahaha
(PSYCHO Sun Wukong version)
🐱: Just kidding, just kidding

👩‍🦰: For EFT, it was your first time working with Zhang Miaoyi, how did it feel?
🐱: Actually, I felt very relaxed/comfortable. I felt thankful to her, because from the first meeting, she gave off a very relaxed vibe. (Interacting with her) naturally came to feel like interacting with an old friend

👩‍🦰: Do you know that your fans call you a Guangdong spicy person? (T/N: it’s stereotypically uncommon to eat a lot of spicy food in Guangdong province)
🐱: Huh? Actually, for me it’s because of my environment, I think. Because I grew up with my grandmother and mother, who are both from Chongqing (T/N: a city known for spicy food and dubbed as China’s hotpot city).
🐱: For example, when I went to school, I might eat Guangdong food in the morning. But when I return home to eat lunch, I will probably eat Sichuan food. I also really like adding spice/making things extra spicy

👩‍🦰: Since your fans know you like spicy food, do they ever recommend you mala (T/N: numbing spice flavored) snacks?
🐱: (They do that) a lot! Actually, I’ve been wanting to go to its place of origin (Liuzhou) to eat luosifen there. I want to add so many bamboo shoots at once, and eat them until I feel full

👩‍🦰: Next time when you’re filming, we’ll send you a luosifen truck. We’ll make luosifen fresh on the spot for everyone on the crew
🐱: I’ll ask what everyone else thinks of this idea first
(🐱: My head hurts a little bit)

Part three (下)
👩‍🦰: Seventeen has a tradition of holding monthly meetings, right? Could you share a fun TMI about the July meeting?
🐱: A fun TMI is that a long time ago, back when we were still trainees, there was a fried chicken place we would often go to, one of those traditional style fried chicken places. After all, the time between that trainee period and now is almost 10 years. Back then, we would all save money together and buy fried chicken with it. When we went in July and I tasted that flavor, I felt nostalgic about that time

👩‍🦰: So, was the theme of the July monthly meeting “a journey of nostalgia” then?
🐱: Actually, we don’t necessarily get together to eat during our monthly meetings. After all, everyone’s interests and hobbies are all different. For example, if we would ask Woozi, he would probably be like “should we meet at the gym then?”
🐱: And when it comes to Wonwoo, we would be like “why don’t we rent out a PC bang so we can have our meeting while playing games” haha
🐱: If we did that, we would have to spend about one to two hours just borrowing/logging into each other’s accounts

👩‍🦰: Have the members invented any new games lately? Except for the new [hand gesturing] throwing darts game
🐱: For now there aren’t any yet, but our games are not very limited to rules and things like that. Really, we might even just start playing around in the middle of the street. Or there might be games that are incomprehensible to others when they watch it. Simply put, it’s actually a sort of “Going (Seventeen) illness” from filming too much variety

👩‍🦰: Now let’s talk about your musical works, which fans are quite curious about. Because the October comeback is so near, can you give us some spoilers as to what we can anticipate this comeback?
🐱: Actually, this comeback… Wait, let me think about what I can spoil. Because it’s still so early now, so it’s like (Scratches head)
👩‍🦰: Prof (T/N: said jokingly), it’s August, August is not too early, there’s only one more month left (Inquiring)
🐱: August, but then there are two more months left

👩‍🦰: Then can you tell us about your anticipations for this comeback? For example when it comes to rankings or album sales, et cetera?
🐱: Actually, rather than talking about those kinds of anticipations, I would like to thank our fans. We were only able to achieve such results thanks to everyone’s love and support. Secondly, I hope that everyone will like our works this time, and I hope that we can bring you Seventeen’s energy. I hope we can create an autumn that radiates energy from an autumn that is otherwise rather bleak

👩‍🦰: With that, our interview this time has come to an end.
🐱: We ended so suddenly, haha (Things still left unsaid)
👩‍🦰: Is there anything you feel regretful about then?
🐱: Anything I feel regretful about… Actually, I feel like an in-person interview would be more fun
(MBTI S-type energy off the charts)
🐱: Perhaps this time I might seem a little more audacious, because last time when it was in person I was a bit more shy than now
🐱: In the future, if I get the opportunity, I hope to attend more in-person schedules and I hope to get the opportunity to be interviewed by Huihuo in China in-person
(👩‍🦰 Anticipating the in-person interview)
🐱: Jie, your audio disappeared again, haha
(👩‍🦰 The sound of muted applause)

👩‍🦰: With regard to our warming-up game earlier, you lost, right?
🐱: If I lose, then…
👩‍🦰: There is a punishment. The punishment is that we will send you a package full of super spicy snacks
🐱: Ah, and what would be the reward if I won?
👩‍🦰: Ah, if you won, you would get the opportunity to promote EFT using a quatrain
🐱: But then I feel like neither winning nor losing is very interesting? Hahaha
🐱: It doesn’t really feel like a punishment, rather, it feels like a reward
👩‍🦰: That’s because of our bias towards you

👩‍🦰: Could you use a special way to conclude interviews, for example, a sequence of three cute cat poses? (T/N: the 打板 da3ban3 here refers to the clapperboard used to conclude filming)
🐱: Oh, so create a thumbnail by doing [cat pose] this?
👩‍🦰: Yes yes, just like that

👩‍🦰: Prof, we didn’t see it well, can you hold each pose for two seconds, is that ok?
🐱: Ok, ok, two seconds, right?
(Please prepare to take screenshots)