7. the truth why Zhan doesn't like Idols.

Zhan was sitting with Yibo in his living room and the two were talking about the gallery's grand opening celebration. There is still a lot to prepare and especially at this stage, Zhan had wished to have a business partner he could count on and rely on. But since Yibo has to leave very early the next morning, since the filming for the series continues, Zhan will still have to take care of everything on his own.

On top of that, he doubts that they can both sing together on the night of the gallery opening and explained it to Yibo as follows. "The problem is, we couldn't rehearse together at all. You heard your brother just now. On the grand opening day, you wouldn't be back until late afternoon, and then you'd just have time to freshen up and change. But there wouldn't be time to rehearse before then."

"Would it be enough if everyone rehearsed separately and then we rehearsed it together once briefly in the evening?"

"No, Yibo. That's not enough. For one thing, I don't know the song you've chosen, and with one rehearsal, we can't really adjust to who's singing when."

"I would have been really happy Zhan. And actually, they said I'd be back a day before, not a few hours."

"It doesn't matter. We'll do it another time then."

"But there's only this one grand opening ceremony."

"I know. Do you think you won't be too tired that night? I mean, because of your performance. If you have to stand in front of the camera until noon, then have the trip back to Beijing ahead of you, you'll be tired in the evening, right?"

"Don't worry Zhan, I'll be fine. There are only three songs. And since they're ballads, I'll be fine."

"Alright, if you say so." Replied Zhan.

The two had already spent the whole day together now, and since they had arrived at Zhan's apartment, Yibo had not yet tried to kiss or hug Zhan again. They just spent the time together talking. Zhan was even present when the idol called his brother and manager to talk about upcoming dates.

Zhan was almost getting a headache with all the appointments Yibo has coming up and that's despite the shooting days. He didn't think Yibo's big brother was really a good manager if his brother didn't even get a little time to himself. Zhan even approached Yibo about it and asked him when he would get some time to himself with all these schedules and commitments then.

Yibo laughed and replied, "That's not how it works in this business. The more you have to do, the better it is. And if you want to be big, you have to cut your personal life down to practically nothing, even if it's hard sometimes."

"But that also means you won't even have time to see your family, right?"

And although Yibo smiled as he answered, Zhan could see his sadness in his eyes. "Well Zhan, I would like to see them more often. But that's not always possible. And I'm used to it already. I do call them regularly, though."

Zhan was at a loss for words at this answer from Yibo. He himself could not imagine not seeing his parents regularly. Even though they are divorced and have new spouses, he still meets them at least 2 times a month and spends a few hours with them. While that's not much or often either, it's more than Yibo, who hasn't seen his parents in over 6 months.

Around 8 pm, the two ordered something for dinner from a delivery service, ate together and then Yibo had to say goodbye so that he can still pack and then punctually come into bed, because he already has to get up at 03:30 am again.

Even if Zhan would not admit it of course, he found this day with Yibo very nice and got to know the idol also from another side. A side that Zhan liked much more than this pushy and obedient. Zhan had brought Yibo to the door and Yibo asked Zhan quite shyly: "May I hug you again as a farewell? After all, we won't see each other for two weeks."

Struggling with himself, Zhan pondered whether to agree and finally replied. "Alright, but just for a short moment." Yibo was happy and hugged Zhan, not briefly, but long. And Zhan once again did nothing against it. Maybe because he noticed that Yibo cared about it? Or maybe Zhan liked it too by now?

After saying goodbye, Zhan went to his studio and devoted himself to his painting again. He sat in front of it and began to work on it, but his mind was somewhere else. Namely with Yibo. Until he shook his head and said to himself, "Xiao Zhan, that's enough. Concentrate on your work and not on this idol. You can't start liking him, because then you'll end up in a relationship where you can only see your partner every few weeks or months. You don't want to have something like that. So stop your thoughts about him and forget about what was. He's just your business partner."

Zhan worked on his painting until 3 am, then went to take a shower and almost fell into his bed from tiredness. He thought he would fall asleep immediately. But instead he lay awake in his bed and could even hear Yibo leaving his apartment around 4 am.

Zhan turned on his side and looked at the picture on his nightstand. He and a good friend of Zhan's at the time are on it. They are both laughing at the camera. "Everything was still good then wasn't it? That was before you took your life. I promise you, I won't make your mistake and fall in love with an idol." Whispered Zhan.

Over and over again, Zhan couldn't help thinking about how his good friend took his life three years ago. Pit had started a secret relationship with an idol then. He and this idol could not see each other often and most of the time Pit suffered from it, but because he could not turn off his feelings for the young man who was very famous at that time, the relationship went on and on.

The two had already been a couple for two years when the secret relationship was exposed. They were seen together as a couple and when this made the rounds on the Internet, it quickly became known in the media as well. But the agency of the idol reacted immediately and announced that the idol is neither gay, nor knows this man and it was a purely coincidental meeting.

Pit tried to understand it, because it was about the career of the then 24 year old young man. But for him it became really difficult. Because everywhere pictures of him were spread, his name was announced. The idol did not report any more, while Pit was verbally and physically attacked by angry fans. Journalists chased him, he lost his job, was thrown out of his parents' house and ended up on the street.

When Pit finally, after more than four weeks of no contact, got a message from his boyfriend this idol, the message only said it would be better if they end their relationship, because the career was more important to the idol than the love for Pit.

Pit, who had lost so much and gone through so much by then, had jumped off a bridge that same evening. He had only previously written a long statement in a social network, but it had been deleted by the operators of the social network, already after an hour.

Nevertheless, Zhan remembered the words. Desperate words of a desperate man, 25 years old at the time, who had simply been in love. He wrote in his statement, "I fell in love with an idol and thought our relationship was special for 2 years. But when the relationship came out, the idol talked his way out and I was labeled a liar. I was stalked, spit on, punched, kicked and threatened by his fans. I received letters and messages advising me to kill myself before they did. The media made me a scapegoat and a liar. I lost everything I ever cared about. You have won! I give up. I advise all those who have not turned away from me, never fall in love with an idol. Because they will rip your heart out of your chest, throw it on the ground and trample it with their feet."

Zhan read the full statement then, which was so incredibly long, and tried for hours to reach his good friend. Until he heard about his suicide on the news. And the idol's agency announced, "We regret what happened to the young man. But must emphasize again that our idol had no personal relationship with this man. Apparently he was in love with the idol and only imagined this relationship. We suspect that the young man was suffering from psychological problems."

From then on, Zhan began to hate all idols. And he didn't tell the truth to anyone else only because he didn't want his good friend to be dragged through the mud again. Because at that time there were very few people who believed Pit.

And for Zhan, this was also a lesson and he vowed never to fall in love with an idol. And in the past 3 years, he met several idols. Because of his fame, he was often invited to events where idols were also. And he always kept a polite distance from them.

Until he met Yibo, who immediately pounced on him. A young idol, even more famous than the idol Pit was with, that stole his first kiss and showed Zhan that he is more than a product and he even managed to do that in less than 24 hours. And it is Wang Yibo, of all people, the most famous idol and superstar of that time, that made his heart beat faster.

Fearing that the same thing could happen to him as happened to Pit, Zhan decided not to listen to his heart. And who knows, maybe he is just impressed by Wang Yibo because he has achieved so much so young. Maybe he admires his talents and maybe that's why his heart beat so much faster when he kissed Zhan.

With these thoughts, Zhan finally fell asleep and did not wake up until noon. He still felt tired and was glad not to have to go to the gallery today.

He went to his studio and looked at the sketch he had drawn while still in his mind during the night. Astonished, he looked at the sketch because it was Wang Yibo whom he had drawn unconsciously. Is the idol already deeper in his mind than Zhan assumed? Did the idol perhaps mean something to him after all?

However, he could not think about it further because there was a knock at his door. A handsome man, slightly taller than him and perhaps two or three years older, stood at his door and introduced himself as Wang Yibo's big brother Hai Kuan. "What can I help with?" Zhan asked politely.

"I'd prefer if we could discuss this inside rather than here in the hallway." Replied Hai Kuan.

Zhan let him into his apartment and Hai Kuan immediately explained why he was there, "I know my brother is your business partner now. I also know he has feelings for you. But I ask you to maintain a professional attitude towards him. He can't afford to get into a relationship now and should be able to concentrate fully on his work."

"Now listen to me very carefully. As Wang Yibo's manager, I can well understand your concern about his career. As his brother though, I would expect you to support him and respect his feelings. And just so you know, you're doing a shitty job as a manager. Your little brother hardly ever has a day off to breathe and relax. Yes, of course, presence in the media is important to keep Yibo in the conversation. But I just feel sorry for Yibo. Because he doesn't even have enough time to visit his parents. So before you tell me anything here, about a professional attitude, you should first think about your own!"

"I know that Yibo has been too busy for a while. But those were appointments made by the agency."

"I don't care who makes the appointments. As his manager, you represent his interests. A professional knows that and also makes sure that his client's interests are protected. And just so you know, Yibo's feelings for me don't change just because I have a professional attitude toward him. As his brother, you should know him well enough to know that Yibo won't give up until he gets what he wants. What do you think I'll be able to do about that?"

"So that means you like my brother and would even be willing to have a relationship with him?"

"I'm just saying that when Yibo sets his mind to something, he doesn't give up. That's all I can and will say about that. And I think we'll end the conversation here now, too. Because if it's about Yibo, he should be there too. Since I don't like to talk about other people who are not present."

Zhan opened his apartment door and pointed his hand outside. Wang Hai Kuan seemed so surprised by this that he left without saying another word. Zhan closed the door and shook his head. "Who does he think he is, telling me what to do?" He asked himself.