9. Explanation

When Zhan stepped out of the elevator tired and exhausted, wanting only to go to his apartment and then immediately to bed, he was shocked heavily when he saw Wang Yibo sitting outside his apartment door. "Oh damn Yibo, what are you doing here in front of my door? And if you're already in Beijing, why weren't you at the opening ceremony?" Zhan asked him.

Yibo stood up and held Zhan in his arms, crying. "My grandfather died and today was the funeral." He said crying bitterly.

"Oh god, I'm sorry to hear that. Come on, come inside with me first." Replied Zhan. He took Yibo with him into his apartment and they sat down on the sofa in the living room. Zhan let Yibo calm down before asking him what happened in the first place.

"I arrived on the set and got a call from my mother, she told me that my grandfather died in the hospital in Shanghai. The next day she called again and told me when his funeral was. And it was today."

"I see. And so no one would know why you were really in Shanghai, you claimed it as a photo shoot?"

"Yes, the agency did."

Zhan had no idea what to say to that, except that he was sorry. When Yibo started crying again, Zhan wrapped his arms around him and held him tightly in his arms. He was so incredibly tired and exhausted. But he also didn't want to throw Yibo out in his grief and leave him alone.

It was only after more than an hour that Yibo felt better and said on his own that he would now go to his apartment and go to sleep. "I'll contact you later and you can tell me about the opening ceremony then." Said Yibo before finally leaving.

Zhan locked the door, took a quick shower, got into bed and promptly fell asleep. It was a deep and heavy sleep, as he always called it when he was so exhausted that his body felt twice as heavy once he was in bed. As if his body was trying to prevent him from getting up again.

When he woke up later, the first thing he thought of was not this confusing dream he had, but Wang Yibo, who was crying in his arms yesterday. He wondered if Yibo had been able to sleep last night and if he was feeling better today.

His question was about to be answered when there was a knock at the door just as Zhan was about to eat a slice of bread with cheese and a yogurt. Zhan opened it and in front of him stood the idol holding a bag of freshly baked rolls in front of his face. "Let's have breakfast together yes?"

"Well, come on in." Replied Zhan.

Zhan set the table for himself and Yibo and then they both sat there, each eating a bun in silence, until Yibo said, "About yesterday, I'm sorry. So, that I couldn't keep my promise."

"Well, you had good reasons for it."

"Yes I did. But still, I'm sorry. That was really the absolute worst day for me yesterday."

"Were you very close to your grandfather?"

"Well something like this. "Let's have breakfast together yes?"

"Well, come on in." Replied Zhan.

Zhan set the table for himself and Yibo and then they both sat there, each eating a bun in silence, until Yibo said, "About yesterday, I'm sorry. So that I couldn't keep my promise."

"Well, you had good reasons for it."

"Yes I did. But still, I'm sorry. That was really the absolute worst day for me yesterday."

"Were you very close to your grandfather?"

"Well it went like this. I think what had really blown me away was seeing my parents again. My mom had been crying with joy that she was finally going to see me again and then she was ranting incessantly that first someone had to die, before she and my dad would see me again."

"Oh, well they miss you a lot, don't they?"

"Mmm they do. They think it's good that I'm pursuing and realizing my dreams. But they fear that I'm taking on too much and they worry a lot. And they hate that I hardly visit them. They were both really disappointed when I had to fly back yesterday."

"Can't your brother somehow arrange for you to have a few days off at a time and then visit your parents during that time?"

"Don't get me started on that one. I found out he was here trying to cause you trouble. I'm pissed as hell at him."

"He's worried about you."

"That doesn't give him the right to show up at your apartment behind my back and stress you out. He's crazy."

"He's acting in the best interest of the agency."

"Yeah right, that's why they didn't know about it or what? No, they're not worried about you, so they know how I feel about you. And they know that you are also very well known in the art scene and have a lot of contacts with very well known celebrities. So they also know that you are trustworthy, because you have never said or written anything about any celebrity. And you take care yourself not to get involved in any scandals."

"I guess your agency had me investigated,"

"Maybe. They just told me they weren't worried about you. And I was told they don't mind if we get close."

In order not to make Yibo sad again, Zhan did not tell him that he does not plan to get close to Yibo. He likes the idol, as he found out in the last two weeks. But the fear it might end up like Rin's was greater. That's why he only said, "One thing at a time Yibo. Now we'll have breakfast and if you have time, we'll go to the gallery, we'll pick out some new art and put it up for sale and then we'll see what comes after that."

"I, I have three days off now. My agency informed me about it two hours ago. They postponed the dates that were scheduled so I can get some rest."

"Oh wow, you'll have some time for the gallery then."

"Mmm, I can drive us again."

"Or we can take my car. I finally have it back and your fans don't know that. That way we can drive undisturbed."

"Okay. And Zhan?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks. So I mean that you understand why I couldn't keep my promise. But I promise I'll make it good. And thank you, too, for listening to me."

"Sure. Now finish your tea and we can get going."

An hour later, the two were at the gallery. Since it's Saturday and the gallery doesn't open until Monday, Yibo and Zhan are alone. Yibo watched Zhan as he sorted some papers in the office. It seemed to him that Zhan was avoiding his gaze and intentionally keeping him at a distance. Like earlier when they were standing in the elevator and Zhan was pretending to look for something in his oversized bag. Or again, when their hands accidentally touched in the car when they both buckled up.

Was Zhan suddenly afraid of him? Was he perhaps mad at him after all? Could it have had something to do with his brother? Or why was Zhan suddenly so unusually distant? "Zhan? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"Why are you so different to me than you were two weeks ago?"

"I'm different? I was the same when we last saw each other, right?"

"That's not true Zhan. I sense that something is bothering you and you're deliberately avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Yes you are. Even earlier when I talked about us getting closer, you acted like I didn't say that. I had a really weird feeling about it, like you were hiding something from me and just not telling me for fear of hurting me. Have you met anyone else?"

"No I haven't. It's all good. I'm just still exhausted from yesterday. It was a very long and tiring day."

"I see." Replied Yibo. He now truly knew that Zhan was hiding something from him.

Together, the two prepared the gallery for Monday and then headed back home. Yibo told Zhan that he had to make a few more calls and then come to Zhan's apartment.

But the truth was that he couldn't get Zhan's strange behavior out of his mind and there was only one person who might be able to provide him with answers. Ella.

He took the elevator to her floor and then knocked on her door. She looked at him in confusion and was already almost dragging him into her apartment. "There are some of your fans living on this floor, you need to be careful." She scolded as she closed the door.

Without answering, Yibo explained to her why he couldn't come to the grand opening night and then asked Ella, "You as Zhan's best friend know him better than anyone. Can you tell me why he's acting so strangely toward me?"

"Strange in what way?" She asked, but could actually guess.

"Well, he talks softly all the time. But as soon as I get close to him, he starts looking for random things that suddenly seem more important to him."

"Mhhh, well. To be honest, yeah I know what's going through his mind."

"Like what? Please tell me. Because I don't like that kind of him at all."

"How much do you like Zhan?"

"I love him and I want to be with him."

"Wow Okay. Um, should you become a couple and your fans catch you, what do you do?"

"Stand by Zhan, that's for sure. I wouldn't let anyone tell me not to."

"And if your agency or your mean brother won't let you?"

"My mean brother oh yeah, that fits. But actually my brother is a very nice one. To your question, my agency knows about my feelings for Zhan. They also know that I want to be with him and won't stand in my way. Should Zhan and I become a couple, which I really want to be, they wouldn't stop me. And should it come out, they would stand behind me and work with me and Zhan to find a solution. Why do you ask?"

"Because Zhan doesn't want to end up like our good friend Rin."

"Who is Rin?" Yibo wanted to know and Ella told him the whole story. And she didn't leave out that she was forced to sign a gag contract by this idol's agency.

Yibo was completely shocked, he also knew this story. In the media, this Rin was portrayed as a stalker and mentally ill. And he had also heard about his suicide. But of course he didn't know the truth and said at that time that he didn't believe that the idol and this guy didn't know each other. To him, it seemed like the agency was just trying to save their cash cow's ass at the expense of the other guy.

Only, Yibo would never let something like that happen. If he and Zhan were caught, no one could stop him from standing by Zhan and his relationship, his love for him.

Now that Yibo had the answer he wanted, he thanked Ella and returned to Zhan. As soon as he got to Zhan's apartment, he took him in his arms and said, "No matter what, you will never end up like Rin. I would never let the same thing happen to you."

"How do you know about Rin?" Zhan asked in shock, who was still in Yibo's arms and felt comfortable in it.

"Ella told me everything. But she didn't tell you everything." Replied Yibo, telling about Ella's encounter with the idol and the gagging contract she had to sign. Or rather, signed ignorantly and out of fear.

"She should have told me." Said Zhan, wondering how Ella could keep this from him.

"Zhan, what's important to me first is that you know that I would never let anyone hurt you. And one more thing. My agency knows that I want to be with you. And if we get caught, they will stand behind me and find a solution with both of us. They know that I love you and that I would never let them oppress me. So please don't be afraid that you'll end up like Rin. Zhan, please ok? I really love you and the same will not happen to you." Said Yibo.

Yibo looked Zhan in the eyes and said again, "I love you Zhan. I love you so much." And then kissed Zhan. And Zhan believed him and returned the kiss.