We didn't have to wait much for the food to arrive. Within half an hour, we were done not only with lunch but dishes as well.

Thanks to Junjun's quick and efficient handy work.

Bunny and he must be hella close if he was so comfortable and casual around me. Somehow that fact didn't sit well with me.

As we sat with our stomachs full, I decided it was finally time to deal with the 'phone and SIM' situation. I sent a silent prayer to anyone up there who would listen, cleared my throat, and bit the bullet, "Junjun, I was wondering, would you be okay with a second-hand phone and a SIM to go with it?"

I had been giving this phone thing a lot of thought since Junjun had first mentioned it. From my experience, I concluded that there were two ways it could go.

1. He would refuse the offer outright and ask me why I hadn't gotten him his *insert make and model of the phone*.

In which case, I would know which one he desired, and I could buy him one even if it broke my credit limit.

2. He would accept and ask for his money back (if he had already paid Bunny for it).

In that situation, I hoped to return the exact amount from him.

In both cases, I would have clarity. If I was going to pretend to be Bunny, I was determined to play it to perfection.

However, instead of sticking to the answers I was prepared to deal with, the idol threw a question at me.

"Why?"

I shrugged casually, panicked internally and in an attempt to buy time, asked stupidly, "Why, what?"

The boy rolled his eyes and huffed. "Why did you suggest I make do with a second hand... " he trailed off, his eyes lit up with realization, "Ohhhhh."

And just like that, the last straws of calm I was holding on to disappeared.
I didn't like that look even a little bit.
I felt stressed as if I had suddenly entered enemy territory l, and all of them had their weapons trained on me.

Keeping my voice from betraying my present internal condition, I widened my eyes as if impressed, "Care to share your conclusion with me? Let's see if you are as smart as you look."

The idol's brows crawled closer. "I am smart. Do you know how much planning and foresight it takes to get away from a hoard of screaming girls who somehow almost always know your schedule and who won't stop following you till you give in and make an appearance!?"

His statement threw me for a loop. Of course, I knew that he was a K-pop star, but had he shared that with Bunny too!? If yes, then why had he shown me his original identity card?
Junjun put his hand over his mouth. His eyes caught mine, and he went absolutely still, like a deer in headlights.

'Zhao Laoshi, it looks like he has backed himself into a corner.' The Bastard preened.

So, they were not that close after all.
I cocked my head and looked at him questioningly, "Why does it seem like you know way too much about me, but I know nothing at all about you?" I injected a bit of venom into my words. I needed to juice the situation and make it work in my favor.

"Zhao Laoshi, it's not like that. Everything I told you about myself is true. I.. I.. "

"But you lied to me." I accused him.
I watched the boy's shoulder slump. The downward turn of his lips made me feel like a ruthless villain.

"I didn't. I really didn't. I just didn't tell you the whole truth." Junjun's eyes shone with unshed tears, making me contemplate if it was necessary to keep this facade up.

"Do you hate me now? Do you not want to be my friend anymore?" The tears threatened to spill.

Code red. Abort. Abort.

I shook my head, patted his shoulder, and changed my track immediately, "Hey, I was just kidding."

The boy cocked his head. "You were?"

"Yes. It doesn't matter if I don't know things about you. I guess you were insecure about revealing too much about yourself. After all, we hadn't met. I could be a pervert." I smiled nervously.

I hope you remember the (generous) way I forgave you and don't hesitate to return the favor when the time comes.

The boy nodded and left a relieved breath, "Thanks, Zhao Laoshi." and glanced up. "And, I would never think of you as a pervert."

The Bastard huffed, 'It's too soon to trust Zhao Laoshi, boy.'

I cleared my throat, more to drown out the Bastard's thoughts than anything else, "So Junjun, are you a big shot?"

The smile that lit up the idol's countenance flooded me with joy.
Junjun bobbed his head excitedly, and for the next hour or so, he enlightened me about his journey from Ysichuan to South Korea. I already knew most of it from the file my boss had handed me. However, some details were more private in nature.

By the end of it, I had my answer about the mysterious 'Them' Junjun had mentioned earlier.

Apparently, the idol had gotten threatening letters in his fan mail. Someone had even sent a bloodied photo of one of his friends who had committed suicide a year ago with a 'you are next' caption in it.

The way Junjun had spoken about his 'lost' friend pained me. Not wanting to drag it any further, for now, I led the conversation away from that topic. "So, why do you think I suggested you go in for a used phone?"

"I think you want me to use your phone cause that way you won't have to get it registered. The same goes for the SIM. Am I right?"

I nodded. This time, I was sincerely impressed, but more than that, I was happy. There were many other perks of Junjun using my phone. None of which he could have guessed.

"So, when can I have it?"

"Soon," I replied and retreated into my bedroom, only to return with half a dozen or so phones that I had used, altered, and enhanced over the years.

"These look ancient." The idol said, holding one up. "This one is about seven years old," he guessed accurately. Then, "How come all of them are over five years old?"

I shrugged. The truth was that as our agency got more and more recognized, our clientele doubled, which didn't leave me with any time to pursue my other interests.

"I went through a lot of them as a youngster, but now I just want something that can take care of my simple needs."

The idol seemed to understand where I was coming from. "Ya, I get it. I guess they are like souvenirs now, there to remind you of time gone by."

"You got it." I agreed. "So, do you have souvenirs as well?"

"My old games are like your relics here." The idol pointed at my coffee table and held up my favorite phone.
"I like how this feels in my hand. It looks sturdy like it can take a hit."

"Good choice. You must be tired. Why don't you take a nap? I promise, when you see me next, your phone will be waiting for you."

"Sounds like a plan." The young man threw a thumbs-up sign at me and made himself comfortable on the couch even before I could offer my bedroom to him.

Alright then.

I got working on the phone right away, inserting one of my 'valid-for-lifetime' SIMs I kept handy; I left it to get charged.

I wrote a note for Junjun informing him that I was stepping out for a few minutes and left it on the coffee table where he wouldn't miss it. Yet when it came time for me to leave the house, I couldn't do it. Though the idol didn't seem to realize it, Bunny sounded suss as fuck. If I were to guess, I would bet my money that the man knew, exactly, who Jun was before contacting him. Apparently, Junjun and Bunny had first become acquainted about five months ago while playing a popular online game: The untameable warriors. An ardent gamer myself, I knew how easy it was to lie and fake your credentials and earn the trust of young adults like him, especially ones who led stressful lives.

Posing as an IT professional, who lived alone, Bunny had given the young man an impression that he empathized with models/idols since they lived a hard life. The two had bonded over the tragic death of Junjun's bandmate and best friend, all the while pretending that he didn't know who the boy really was. The two hadn't exchanged real names or pictures during that time, but then again, Bunny didn't need it. He already knew who he was trapping.

I felt for my charge, yet I couldn't understand how this seemingly intuitive guy like him had let his guard down. It worried me that he was even willing to cheat his brother for this almost stranger who had refused to disclose anything about himself except for vague, useless details.

Nonetheless, I was sure that Bunny was either a pervert, a sexual predator, or someone much worse.
What worried me was that I still wasn't sure about his motives or what he was up to, now that he had missed the opportunity to get his hands on Junjun at the airport.

What if I was tailed on my way here? I don't think I was, but what if I am wrong? Could I afford to leave Jun here, all by himself?

No. Absolutely not.

Nonetheless, I had to talk to my laoban; sighing, I returned to my room. With the boy right there on the other side of the thin wall, where he could hear me if he so wished, I would have to talk using codes distinct to our organization to avoid rousing suspicion.

Hoping that Haoyu would be quick on the uptake, I called him; he picked up on the first ring.

'What the hell happened!?'

I couldn't believe how unnerved the 'always' calm and composed man I had come to know and respect sounded. The concern in his voice was tangible.

"Hi, umm, this is Zhao Zhan. Could I talk to my ma*, Mrs. Zhao, from room number 112, please?" I paused.

'Is he around?'

"Yes."

'Do you suspect foul play?'

"Yes, that's correct. C Ward. Block S."

'He was supposed to meet someone, and he mistook you for them?'

"Yes."

'Damn it. Where are you at? I will come over right now.'

"No. That won't be necessary. If ma is not in the mood, it would only agitate her more if you force her."

'Okay, I won't... for now. What do you need from me?'

"Could you check her ward? I think she has nicked someone's phone. She called me a few hours ago."

'You want me to check his dorm for his phone?' Haoyu asked, confused.

"Yes. Please."

'Did he leave his phone in his dorm!?'

"It would appear so."

'Do you think they contacted him?'

"Yes. Please apologize to the respected parties on my behalf."

'I will send for his phone asap. You will have the list by midnight.'

"Please be careful; I don't want her to know that you are aware of it."

'Fuck! You think they know who he is. I mean, they know he is related to me!?'

"Yes, that's a possibility. By the way, I would like to talk to Doctor Gu. The reports he sent seemed lacking. I would like a second opinion."

Sweetheart didn't reply immediately, and when he spoke, his voice was restrained, 'It doesn't concern you. Leave it be.'

"That's disappointing. Could you do me a solid and ask your boss to reconsider? I think I am entitled to it."

'I will get back to you on that later.' He replied, sounding pissed.

I couldn't understand what had upset him. Was he aware that the file he had given me was full of lies? If he was, then why had he not fixed them?
What was he hiding from me?

I concluded that I wouldn't be able to get anything out of him at that time and moved on to other matters. "Fine then. I won't be available for the next couple of days, but you can message me in case of an emergency."

'Don't worry. I will be discreet. This is between us.'

"Oh, she is here! Great. Please put her on." I paused for a few seconds before smiling brightly, "Hey, ma, Listen, I am sorry that I couldn't talk earlier. I told you I am taking a few days off, remember?"

'Go on.'

"I will call you once a day to check in with you."

'What time?'

"Yes, I will call by eight, but if I don't, don't worry. I am a grown man. I can take care of myself. It's not like I can get lost, is it?"

'The details will be ready and at your disposal by ten tonight.'

"That's like a good mom. Love you. I have requested nurse GuMeng to take you out for walks. Please cooperate."

'I will run a background check on those who knew about his schedule.'

"Mn."

'And Ah-Zan?'

"Yes."

'Keep him safe.'

"I will. Trust me. I got to go now, mom. Bye!"

I disconnected the call and tried to recall whose unlucky face I had seen the first thing that morning to find myself in the Huang family mess.

'You looked in the mirror on the way to the loo, you dumbass,' my memory supplied unhelpfully.

Why am I not surprised!? My face is the unluckiest thing to ever come into existence. I should have just looked at the pot instead.

My gut, which was almost always right, was telling me that there was a storm coming my way, and I was going to be right in the middle of it, whether I liked it or not.

Fuck my life!

It was not even four in the afternoon, and I was feeling like I had just returned after a forty-eight-hour high octane rescue mission.

Every part of me buzzed with restless energy, and I had nowhere to channel it.

[Chapter word count: 2417;
Word count so far: 10615]

Glossary:

Ma- mother