Select City Mall
Chen Lisheng and Shen XiaoLi were standing outside the mall. 'I knew she would be impressed' 'What the actual heck? Why are we at a mall? What's wrong with his head?'
XiaoLi's face twitched while Lisheng had a proud expression on his face.
"Why are we here? I thought we needed to buy stuff related to collage making."
"We're here to shop ofc" Lisheng said as a matter of factly.
"These things are most likely not available here. We'll find them in a stationary."
"Is that so? I think I got it all wrong. I'm sorry, I wasted our precious time."
Lisheng's face was flushed and he was rubbing his neck out of embarrassment.
'Oh Lord! How can he be so cute? Is he the Chen Lisheng I know?'
Shen XiaoLi grabbed his hand and pressed it to reassure him.
"It's ok. Shit happens. I know a stationary that's quite close. Let's go there, shall we?"
Lisheng was taken back when XiaoLi suddenly held his hand. The shocked and flushed look on Lisheng was worth the world for XiaoLi.
'This feels like a date. The best date of my life. hehe.'
CCD
Chen Xixi was waiting for her order in the café. The café was sparsely crowed and had a soothing feeling to it.
"Chen Xixi"
The barista called her to indicate that the coffee was ready. She waited for the person to finish paying, so that she can take hers.
"Hey the person in the front! Move faster! We don't have the whole day!"
Some high school girls who were behind Chen Xixi, shouted rudely. The person in the front didn't seem to either hear her or chose to ignore her. But Xixi noticed that he was hastily trying to gather his purchase.
'These seems a lot for himself. May be it's for his whole group. But why has he covered himself?' The man was wearing a hoodie and a mask along with eyeglasses.
The girl who has shouted seemed impatient as she moved forward and turned the guy around by his hoodie.
"Hey you punk! Can't hear me? Who do you think you are? Can't you see you're wasting everybody's time."
The man quickly held his mask tightly and bowed to the girl but didn't say anything. Other girls also came and stood by their friend's side. One of them exclaimed.
"XiaoYu don't you think he's a little familiar? Look at his eyes and hands. They're way too familiar. Hey mister! Remove your mask. Why are you hiding your face?"
The girls were pressuring the now trembling man into revealing his identity, thus creating a scene. Chen Xixi watched the situation in front of her numbly. She wasn't even able to react and the situation already seemed out of control. She suddenly felt someone hold her hand tightly and saw the man was clenching her hand with a terrified expression, sweating profusely.
"I believe he his Joy of B.O. Don't you think HuaMi?"
"Yeah he's awfully similar."
Now that someone has probably guessed his identity, the girls became violent and started shoving the man.
"Stop it! Go back otherwise I'll report you all. Even if he's a celebrity, you can't invade his privacy like this. The artist and company can sue you for this with the CCTV footage as the proof. Get lost before I ruin you all."
Chen Xixi has stepped in between the girls and the man, acting as a human barrier. 'This is not good. I need to get him out of here. He's showing the signs of a panic attack.'
"Who's this bitch? Who do you think to order us around? Move aside before we smash you to death. I can't meet my oppa¹ this close in my life again. Oppa marry me!"
"Yes girls. Maybe she's his secret girlfriend. She's the reason oppa can't date us. Let's show her where she belongs."
"Call for the security you! We're in trouble! Can't you see?!" Chen Xixi urged the staff, while attempting to distance the man and these raging girls as much as she can.
Only then everyone seemed to be pulled out of their trance and the security rushed to escort the couple out of the café.
"Bitch! You can't snatch my oppa from me. I'll take him back! I'll follow you till your death!!!"
Chen Xixi felt chills as she exited the café along with the man. He was still holding her hands tightly as if his life was dependent on it.
"Ma'am you think you would be okay from here onwards? Although we'll make sure that the girls can't follow you both, we can send you both home in our car." The cop sounded apologetic.
"No officer. We'll be okay. Don't sue those girls but make sure to scare them real bad. They wasn't able to cause any harm anyway. Thank you."
Chen Xixi took the man inside her car and drove to the nearby park to make sure no one followed them. She helped the man breathe deeply and made him drink some water.
"Are you okay now? I think you'll feel better in the open air. Shall we sit inside the park?" The man nodded and the both sat on a bench in the park.
"So Mr. Stranger. How do you feel?"
"I'm okay. Thank you very much." The man spoke for the first time since Xixi saw him. 'His was is so deep'
"Don't mind me but are you really some celebrity?"
"Umm.. Yes... They were able to guess me correctly, but I think you're not aware of me". Joy scratched his head in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry but I didn't had anytime for following any artists."
"No no, it's completely ok. I'm thankful for your help."
Chen Xixi hesitated for a little before speaking. "If you don't mind, can I say something?"
"Yes ofc!"
"How long have you been in this industry?"
"Huh? I was a kpop idol for 4 years but my band disbanded and I came back to China to continue as an actor last year. Why?"
"And were you aware about your panic attack triggers?"
"...Yes.. but why are you asking me all that?"
"Ha! Where's your manager? Are you guys gone nuts? Sending you in public area for buying snacks knowing the fact that it can cause you a panic attack if you were recognized? You know how stupid decision it is? If not for me, the outcome would've been worst. You could have gotten a heart attack or coma and in worst case it could've caused your death!"
Chen Xixi was so angry that she thought she can pass out due to anger. How can people be so casual about their lives? We doctors work our asses off to save them and they just don't value our hard work.
"Hey Miss. I know you've saved me and I'm very grateful for that. But you can't curse me to die like that. Why are you blowing things out of proportion? Don't exaggerate it so much."
"What? What did you just say?" She must be hearing things. How can someone be so ungrateful?!
"I said stop overreacting. You're creating a scene here. It's no biggie." Joy seemed upset too.
'Is she bipolar or what? Right now she was as calm as water and suddenly blasted off like a volcano.'
"You ungrateful brat! Is this how you talk to your savior? You even seem younger than me. Is this what you learned?."
Joy now became angry too. "This woman... look, I know I'm very handsome and doesn't seem like it but I'm actually 25. Don't tell me you're actually my fan and are doing this to gain my attention."
Chen Xixi threw her hands in air out of frustration. Just talking to this man makes her lose some IQ points.
"Honey, look at that young couple. Looking cute even when they quarrel. Ah! Reminded me of our dating days." An old woman in her 60s commented.
"Yes honey. They're are lovely couple. Young man reconcile quickly. A happy wife means a happy life. Hahaha."
The old couple left, leaving both of them shocked.
"His girlfriend? I must look very ugly today for them to think that."
"Hey! Did you forget I'm a celebrity? You saw those girls back there fighting for me. Consider yourself lucky you were called my girlfriend twice today."
*puke*
Chen Xixi puked at the thought of dating this narcissistic man. She would rather die than be with him.
"Seriously woman? You literally puked at being called my girlfriend? Let me show you my angelic face. You'll faint this time with a nosebleed."
Joy was about to take his mask off when Xixi held him.
"No thanks. I had enough trouble today thanks to you. I can't handle another mob right now. I'll leave this moment. You can brag your face after I leave."
"Who said that I want to stay here with you then? It's suffocating me."
"I hope you die then"
"This woman! What's with wrong you, cursing me to die so many times?"
Chen Xixi ignored him and called her brother. "Chen fengju where the hell are you?!"
Joy on the other hand called his P.A. too. "Miss Su. Pick me up from XYZ park right now!"