Zhan and Ella are sitting together in the lounge of Zhan's gallery, drinking tea and talking. After Zhan had let Ella tell him why she didn't tell him about this gag contract from the beginning, and Ella even admitted to having received money from the agency just to keep quiet, and she bought her apartment from it, Zhan was first really mad at her.

After all, by doing so, she sold the honor of a good friend for an apartment. But Zhan had also calmed down quickly and could even understand Ella. In her place, he would also have been anxious if he had been threatened and blackmailed. And so he quickly forgave her.

"Does Yibo actually know now when he will be back? How long has he been gone now?" Ella asked curiously.

"Mhhh, I think it should be 10 days now since he had to leave again. And when he called me two days ago, he didn't know when he would be back. He didn't say anything about it, anyway, and I didn't ask."

"Well I would have asked him."

"Yes you would Ella. I'm not like that though."

"How are things between you now? I mean, have you decided yet if you want a relationship with him or not? I mean, he said you could think about it while he's gone."

"No, I haven't decided anything yet. And don't come to me now and say it's easy. Because it isn't. The time Yibo and I spent together was very little so far, and I still hardly know him. Besides, I keep asking myself if I really want to have such a relationship. I mean look now. He's been gone for 10 days, calls briefly every two or three days and still doesn't know when he'll be back. He was away for Christmas and I know that he will present a show on New Year's Eve. And after that he flies away to visit his parents for a day. After that, the filming of the series continues."

"Mhhh, so it doesn't look like you'll be seeing him anytime soon."

"Exactly. And that's also a reason why I can't make a decision. I like him, I really do. Very much in fact. But I can't imagine a relationship when he's hardly ever around."

"Mmm, I understand that. And are you still mad at him?"

"You mean because he hired a manager to replace him at the gallery in his constant absence, without asking me first if that was okay? Sure, I'm still mad about that. This guy suddenly stood in front of me and tells me he is the substitute for Lan Zhan. I had no idea what that meant. And then I couldn't reach Yibo, I was so mad. Well, and then Seungyoun showed me his employment contract and I couldn't do or say anything against it."

"Where is he right now?"

"Seungyoun? He's getting some artwork. At least he knows about art."

"Well, he seems quite nice, too."

"Still, Yibo should have told me. I stood there like a fool, not knowing what to say. When Yibo called me back then, he told me he had a talk with his agent and realized he couldn't be any help to me at the gallery, and so Gene and I wouldn't always be alone, he was looking for a replacement."

"Well, Yibo probably never would have been able to work here properly anyway. He's way too busy and eventually a fan here would have discovered him for sure and then all hell would break loose."

"Mhm, that's what he said too. But that makes it even harder to get to know him. When he calls, it's always very briefly, he does write to me, but only about what he's doing or what's next. It's hard for me to decide for or against a relationship. So far anyway. But if this keeps up, I'm against a relationship. Besides, there are already new rumors about him and some young actress."

"Really? What kind of rumors?"

"Well, Yibo and that actress have been photographed eating at a restaurant. The rumors say that the two of them had a lot of fun, laughed a lot and there was physical contact every now and then. So that their hands were on each other and they are said to have hugged several times."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I don't think there's anything going on between them, it's not like that. But it bothers me that there are these rumors."

"Well tell him that then."

"Yes very funny. As if he could stop rumors from starting. You had been shocked yourself when you saw the pictures from the set on the internet where Yibo and his actress colleague were hugging."

"That's right. He looked so happy doing it that I was really shocked. But Zhan, like you said, it's just rumors. And Yibo asked you for an honest chance. You guys did become close when he was here, didn't you?"

"Ella, he was only here for three days and we didn't spend much time together in those three days. His parents came to visit him and he could only ever be with me for a short time."

"Oh, I didn't know that. I thought you guys worked together here and then spent time together in the evenings."

"That was the plan. But then his parents showed up. And he said until I decided to be in a relationship, he didn't want to tell his parents about me. That was a really ugly feeling when I ran into Yibo and his parents in the elevator and we pretended we didn't know each other."

"Why did you guys pretend? It's not like he couldn't have said you were his neighbor and you were friends."

"Could have, could have. But he didn't. He just told me he wasn't going to say anything about me or to his parents until I made a decision."

"Well, that's dumb too."

"Mhm. Like I said, right now I'm still unsure. I know I have feelings for him and would like to try. On the other hand, I don't want to have a long distance relationship where I can rarely see my boyfriend and if I do, I can never do anything with him in public. I can't tell anyone about him."

"Take your time with the decision. Not that you'll regret it later. Now tell me, has your brother contacted you again?"

"Yes, he seems to have calmed down and invited me to dinner tonight. I guess he has a problem he wants to talk about."

"I'm sure he needs money again. Because whenever he needs money, he contacts you. Then you're his big brother ZhanZhan again."

"I know. I assume it's about the down payment for an apartment. Mom and our stepfather told him that when he's done with his studies, he should move out. And since it's better to buy an apartment than rent, I think he wants to ask me about the down payment."

"Why do they want him to move out of home?"

"Mhhh, my mother would like to travel with my stepfather. They want to sell the house and use the money to travel all over the world."

"I understand. Only, Cheng hasn't even found a job yet, and yet they want him to move out?"

"Yes. Right now I'm thinking about letting him move in with me. At least until he finds a job. Anyway, our big sister would be in favor of it."

"Yanli is always very concerned about her little brothers. Only, why doesn't she take him in at home with her?"

"How could she? She and her husband only have a small apartment and only one bedroom, where their child also sleeps. They're saving up for a house of their own right now."

"Mhhh, I see." Replied Ella.

When a customer came into the gallery, Zhan and Ella ended their conversation. Ella had to go back to her job anyway and Zhan had to take care of his customer.

In the afternoon when Zhan came home, he was sitting in front of the computer and just wanted to quickly check his social media accounts for new messages, when again there was a new flood of rumors about Yibo. Again, pictures of him and this actress. This time, however, there were slightly blurry pictures where it looked like Yibo was touching this actress' hand.

There were also several more pictures and a GIF of a hug. Even though Zhan kept telling himself that there was nothing between them and he kind of knew it, seeing those pictures made him angry.

"How are you going to stop rumors like that if you're not even careful not to be secretly photographed somewhere?" Zhan asked angrily as he glanced at one of the pictures of Yibo.

When his doorbell rang shortly after and Zhan looked to see who was at the door, he was almost shocked to realize that it was Yibo's parents. He opened the door and Yibo's father looked at him darkly. Before Zhan could ask what they wanted from him, Yibo's father cleared his throat and said, "Our eldest son has informed us that you are trying to get close to our youngest son. We are here to warn you. Keep your finger off our son. You won't ruin his reputation just because you have a hankering for fame and money!"

"Get in here, right now!" Shouted Zhan, opening the door wide.

Yibo's parents came into Zhan's apartment, Zhan angrily threw the apartment door shut and said, "What do you think you're doing just showing up here and insinuating crap like that? Did you ask Yibo's opinion before coming here? Besides, I don't need to get fame and money through Yibo. I can get all that on my own. And if you don't believe me, type my name into a search engine on the Internet!"

"We know who you are! And we don't care. We just want you to leave our youngest son alone. He's not into men, and he's certainly not into older men. So leave him alone. Stop calling or writing him all the time. Don't make a fool of yourself by trying to win over a young idol." Replied Yibo's father.

Zhan laughed and shook his head. "Oh sure, like I need that! You know what? Talk to Yibo about it, I have nothing more to say about it. And I advise you, don't ever come here and make such a fuss in the hallway again if you don't want the next rumors about Yibo to spread on the internet just because the neighbors here could hear you. Now go!"

Zhan opened the door and directed the two of them out of his apartment. He had only brought them in so that none of the neighbors would hear. Zhan's parents grumbled some more, which Zhan couldn't understand because he was way too angry. He threw the apartment door shut as soon as they left his apartment.

He then went to his studio, where he began to work furiously on a new painting. When his cell phone rang half an hour later and Yibo called him, Zhan took the call and, before Yibo could say anything, said, "Don't ever call me again!" Then he hung up.

Zhan was so angry that he was in tears. Again and again Yibo tried to call him, but Zhan had enough. He turned off his cell phone, changed his clothes, and went downstairs to Ella to tell her what happened.

"Zhan, calm down first. And then sleep on it for a night. Talk to Yibo tomorrow and explain to him what happened."

"I don't see what else there is to talk about."

"Zhan, you can't blame Yibo for this. I know you're pissed and you have every right to be. But don't take it out on Yibo and talk to him. It was his big brother who spread such lies, not Yibo."

"Well okay, you're right. I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"And turn your phone back on. Don't act so childish and if he calls, just tell him you don't want to talk today."

"I have to leave in a minute anyway to meet with my brother." Replied Zhan. Zhan turned his phone back on and got several text messages from his voicemail. Zhan listened to them together with Ella.

In one of the messages, Yibo said, "My parents called me and told me they were at your place. What's going on? What did they say? I don't understand why they were at your apartment! Please talk to me. Explain it to me because my parents wouldn't tell me why they were with you. They just said they didn't want me to have any more contact with you. Please call me."

Zhan was about to call Yibo when his cell phone rang again and Yibo called him again. "Funny that he suddenly has so much time to talk." Murmured Zhan before taking the call and telling a stunned Yibo what his parents said to Zhan.

Yibo who was shocked then just said, "I'll sort it out Zhan! I swear to you, I'll sort it out today! I'll call you tomorrow at the latest and tell you more then. Right now, I need to talk to my parents and brother first. Don't worry, this will never happen again. I promise you that. I love you and I'll be calling you." Then Yibo hung up.

Zhan and Ella looked at each other with wide eyes. But because Zhan had to go to the meeting with his brother, they couldn't talk about it at the moment. But he was feeling better now that he had heard Yibo and that he promised to take care of it.