The Superstar’s Autograph
_Chapter Four

I knocked once and his assistant opened the antique wooden door for me to his luxurious office. My father occupied the whole floor of the high-rise building for it. The atmosphere of the CEO’s workplace was still the same from that time I’ve been here, two months ago. Smell of orange and milk lingered in the air. Dad’s still the same…

“Good thing, you’re here, how's school?” his voice was joyful, as always. He was in his early fifties but still looks like in his forties. Maybe because he laugh and smile a lot, being angry was natural but my dad was a person who listens to every reasons and weigh things fairly. He is optimistic in dealing with complications. Hate never reach him. “I’ve been expecting you since this morning. You’ve been ignoring my calls,” he was seated on a huge wing-backed chair, reading a book with the blazing soft light from a lamp.

I glanced to his desk, there were bundles of papers waiting to be organize and his laptop was turned on with visible data’s all over its screen.

I walked to his electric massage recliner chair and quietly sat on it, switching it on. “Yeah, something came up,” I closed my eyes, feeling the chair kneading my muscles.

A fire was beginning to burn nicely and theres a crackling sound in the hearth, adjacent to where I am. Dad preferred to choose outdated interior designs and kept on using that old ways he mastered for 30 years in dealing with employees. He cared for the well-being of our workers, the reason why he was loved by everyone. The easy-going boss that always intensify my annoyance when he complains and demands me to do something for our business.

Truth to be told, I am the one who do half of his job being the Chief Executive Officer, if Atlas was condemned to hold heaven, I am destined to hold up our company that my dad created ever since I was young. I juggled these two worlds on my palm, being a medical student and being a CEO to be precise.

I heard he close the book he was reading with a low thud, “Girlfriend issue?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I never wanted to talk about it ever with him because I know if I’ll do the opposite, I will end up breaking that thin thread that binds the two of us as a family and I am not programmed to take that risk. It’s not his concern anyway, my love life. “Other than that, I’m stuck with loads of course works. Studying too, I need to ace my exams or grandma will kill me.” I continued.

“You study all the time, son. Why don’t you take a break and enjoy your youth for a bit?” He suggested with a huff.

I knew what sentence come after that, “Don’t tell me to play any instruments for you again, I am not a kid anymore,” I gave him a sharp look.

He stood up and blinked his eyes in front of me, beckoning for me to realize that he was about to cry, “Aww, pity please only for tonight? Remember that violin I bought for you from France when you were eight? The first instrument you taught yourself how to play? It’s in here inside my office, my valuable possession…” he sniffed.

That old, slightly warped brown violin... He can’t really admit that his beloved little boy is full grown-up now.

“Play it for me, please…” He’s too childish.

First Zoey, now him. Why am I surrounded with this kind of people? No wonder I can stand Zoey because literally my dad and her were from the same alien planet.

“No, I won’t do it. Stop being dramatic. I don’t play violins anymore. Dad, I am an adult man for Pete’s sake!”

“Do I know this ‘Pete’ guy?” he smiled gigantically, tears flowing from his eyes.

I shook my head and rose up from the recliner, “Really dad? It’s an expression.”

He pulled a piece of tissue from the Kleenex box on a shelf, wiped the fluids on his cheeks and loudly blew his nose. 

“Geez dad, learn some manners,” I muttered under my breath.

He threw the garbage to the bin and grudgingly crossed his arms, “All right. Let’s talk about business,” My father stripped off his frivolous character and put his corporate and responsible CEO self. He looked stern and wise for his own good. “I want to know what you have to say about this celebrity we’ve chose to be our brand ambassador. And it seems like you were interested on this proposal, usually you just send messages or call me to say what your opinions but now you are here in person…”

After receiving that email and knowing the name of the idol my father wanted to work with us, my blood pressure upsurge in the hummer and I am so closed to call a therapist.

“No, I want to hear what you have to say after analyzing my side because as far as I am concern, we don’t need a brand ambassador. Our product is a high demand in the market, every day people wash their hair two to three times and buy our shampoos each month, giving their trust to us. Our brand is the best-seller. Have you seen the revenue and stats yesterday? I believed it came from your office, I’ve read it, the sales were at its ultimate number. We’ve acquired the top one rank, there are four thousand companies that manufactured shampoo and hair-care products in China but we got the first place. You are just wasting your money trying to hire an ambassador.”

“Give it to him,” he nodded to his assistant who was writing in his black leather notebook, jotting the things that were important in our conversation.

The young man named Suho handed me a paper, “That came out four hours ago, two novice companies beat us down, sir. They got the number one and two spots; we drop away to three. These two brands were favored by young Chinese consumers now. Our popularity decreases and our loyal clients? They started to buy three different brands for daily use, none of it was ours.”

“Our dying brand paves the way for other entrants to enter the market,” dad finished.

I crumpled the paper with my hard grip to it, “Goddamn it.”

“Yes, my son we badly needed a brand ambassador,” he mumbled dryly, “Someone who can help us encourage and influence the customers to buy our products once more.”

“AND YOU WANT WANG YIBO?! TO BE OUR BRAND AMBASSADOR?!” I narrowed my eyes at him and I felt my jaw turned into concrete.

“Heyyy, why are you shouting? You know him? I’m sorry, I’m not the only one who decided this, the board agreed to it,” he sounded like a second grader being scolded by the teacher for not doing his homework’s.

“NO! I AM NOT SHOUTING!” Obvious ice and strength in my voice.

“You are shouting…” he sucked in air. 

“I AM NOT! FIND SOMEONE ELSE BUT HIM!” Irritably the words stormed out.

“Wang Yibo is the only suitable candidate for this, nobody else. Every person in this world loves him. He can charm anyone,” He didn’t charm me.

I groaned, “I attended his concert this evening and you are right; he has fans in all ages but most of them ranges from thirteen to twenty-five years old…” I announced, not pleased “They were our main consumers, our target, if we’ll use him and his undeniable popularity it is safe to assume that our sales will increase…”

“Quite right, Zhan,” he smiled grimly and clapped his hands, “So, it’s settled that Wang Yibo will be our brand ambassador then. That’s all you have to say?”

It seemed that my dad, the only human alive that was capable to drew my wrath. I stared at him straight, trying very hard to keep my voice normal and not coated with anger, “Update me when he accepts the offer.”

“Yes, my son.” he solemnly nodded his head. “And please take your meds regularly...”

“I don't need them.” I bowed to my father goodbye and went to my flat.

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The flat was located few blocks away from the university and two-hours’ drive from father’s company. I unlocked my door and took off my sneakers. I looked at the mirror that was hung on the back of my door, I left my leather jacket to Zoey…

I trod to the kitchen and drank fruit juice from a carton. The room was dark, silver moonlight from the half-open window flooded the vinyl floor. I’ve never seen this kind of view before in my place, the calm and silent winter night was unspeakably comforting…

After checking the time, three in the morning…I took a shower and brush my teeth. Lying in bed, I stared at the empty ceiling.

That guy…his lips in mine…what was he thinking? Why did he ask me to do such senseless thing like that? My first kiss with a man…

I touched my lips with my fingers. Aughhh! He’s too weird.

Still…He tasted…Sweeter than Zoey...

SHUT UP, ZHAN!

I tossed and turned, wishing that what happened to me with the freak was a dream that I’ll soon forget but I know I cannot…

I laid in my stomach and cover my head with my pillow, I forced myself to sleep.

Someone’s yanking my blanket way from me made me open my eyes, “Zhan…baby…” Zoey was wearing her uniform and standing beside my bed, she looked dazzling.

“What time is it?”

“Seven thirty... come on I’m hungry let’s eat breakfast outside” she cutely puckered her lips with red lipstick.

“Yeah, I’ll change my clothes first,” This was not one of her habits to go to my house early in the morning but whatever her reasons, I’m glad.

“Okay, hurry,” 

And we drove to her favorite Italian restaurant.

Minutes passed and I found myself to my first class, listening to my professor’s lecture but somebody interrupted me by tapping my shoulders. I turned to the girl next to me.

“Can I help you?”

“There’s a guy outside, waiting for you,” Oh, must be Jia Cheng, what’s his problem this time?
“Thank you for notifying me.”

I excused myself and sauntered out.

“What are you doing here?” Seeing him in my school never occurred to me even in a daydream, hell I don't dream... but he’s here, in flesh.

He was wearing an eye-catching pink hoodie with disposable black face mask and black jeans, he pulled the mask down “Come with me,” and he placed it again to cover half of his face he held onto my wrist and hauled me to the schools parking area.

“Get in,” he motioned to an old rusty dark blue Chevy.

“Seriously? You badly want your fans to slaughter me, huh? What you are doing right now is completely asking for attention from them or from reporters!” Eyes popping wide, I probed him.

“What? I’m camouflaging to the environment,” he reasoned as he rapt on the door of the truck. 
 
“Camouflaging my foot! People will surely turn their sight on you!” What am I doing? Why didn’t I protest to this? I don’t skip lectures.

“Zhan, come with me,” his voice was pleading, yet sexy. 

“Why would I do that?” I clenched my teeth together.

A trace of pain touched his perfect features, “Uhm, because we’re friends? I’m not hazardous to your health, don’t worry.”

“What?” My pulse was thudding in my ears.

Heart hold your brain. You don't like this guy. You do not!

“I’m your friend,” There was an unfamiliar glint on his eyes as he arrogantly used the 'friend' term.

“You drive,” I piqued as I lifted myself up to one of his props in 'camouflaging' to the environment.

“Okay,” he smirked.

“Can I ask something?”

He waited circumspectly.

“Do you have complete heterochromia? Your irises have different colors,” People with that condition have eyes that are completely dissimilar with each other in colors. One eye may be green and their other eye brown, blue, or another colors.

“Yes, but really I am not lethal,” his voice expressed a bored tenor, “Where to?”

“Anywhere”

“You're cute,” he said trying to hide his satisfaction because his plan worked out by abducting me from school.

“That's a lie,” I whispered, more to myself. “You should see my girlfriend.”

Then he laughed, dang that laugh, a throaty sublime kind of laugh, I would battle thousand soldiers or more just to hear it again…

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Wrong grammars and errors, yes I'm sorry. I'll edit this soon.
Thank you for reading!

-Bishounenhow111