Gu ShenMing stared at the familiar face of HaoRan who was gulping down the meal he had ordered for him as though he hadn't had a decent meal for ages.
They were in a restaurant. A pretty classy restaurant where ShenMing had taken him to talk after they had met outside.
ShenMing was still in his sunglasses, hoping to avoid being recognised by people. While HaoRan was unconsciously eating up the meal.
"When was the last time you ate?" He asked after a while of watching him eat.
He slowly stopped eating and looked up at him "Yesterday? I think" he said and continued eating.
He had eaten for a while longer before he let out a loud sigh and then leaned backwards. Looking at ShenMing "How long has it been since we last saw each other? Years probably?" He raised an eyebrow.
ShenMing sat there quietly for a while "Who cares about how long it was. We met again didn't we, and I'm treating you to a grand meal right now aren't I?" He finally spoke.
HaoRan nodded with a smile "Sure sure. You're a good bro. Even after getting that famous you still never forgot about me. That's good" He nodded while cleaning his mouth with a napkin.
"Of course I wouldn't. But it's surprising... Why are you here instead? Didn't you and your family travel like years ago? Or so?" He questioned him.
HaoRan didn't say anything for a while. He had cleared himself as he looked up at ShenMing. Quiet for awhile before he said "It's a long Story that I don't even know about. No one would tell me. All I know is that mum suddenly announced that we're heading back home. And we all left and came back to this place. And it really sucks" He ran a hand through his spiky hairstyle which seemed pretty tough.
"What about your sister?" ShenMing asked trying to hide the curiosity he was dying from "Did she return as well?"
"Of course she did. We all did"
"Where is she now?" He asked.
"I don't really know... She hardly comes back home" He said while sipping through the drink before him "But then again..." he paused as he looked up at him "Why are you asking about her? I thought you two hated each other back then in school? She was supposed to be the last person you'd get curious about" he stared at him.
"Who says I'm curious? I'm just asking " he folded his hands.
HaoRan shrugged "Can I order more?"
He stared at HaoRan "Sure. Go ahead"
*******
While LinYing walked down from the taxi that brought her to Blue Sea entertainment, she was on a call with One of her employers at a shop where she was working. She was informing LinYing that she'd need her to take up the night shift. And LinYing had agreed to do so.
LinYing had called YuFen and informed her that she'd be coming over that morning. YuFen was free so she had asked her to come meet her at the office.
LinYing was on a black facemask, hoping to hide the shame she had met the last time she was here. She didn't wish to be recognised while she made her way into the company. She had gone to meet YuFen at her office.
"I'm so sorry about the last time...I really didn't see it coming. I didn't expect him to come looking for me. It was rare for him to come to the company" YuFen expressed while serving to LinYing.
"How is it even possible that this is his company...I knew he was famous but I never knew he worked here.." She ran a hand through her hair "If I knew then I wasn't sure I would have agreed to work here because... That would mean meeting him everyday"
YuFen said "You've already promised to work here and have also signed the deal...you can't step back now. You can't leave"
LinYing stared at her dear friend "But I can't..."
"You will. I'll make sure you comfortably work here. If it's about meeting him.. then I'll make sure you two never meet at work. I'll do something about it.. so please, keep to your words" she pleaded with LinYing. She already knew that both were basically rivals in school. So she understood she wouldn't feel comfortable meeting him here. But at the same time, she couldn't lose LinYing.
LinYing didn't seem like she wanted to continue. But YuFen persisted in convincing her. And within some time, LinYing didn't think it was a good idea to drop such an amazing opportunity just because she met someone she knew from the past. She needed all the money and support she could get. So she was willing to continue.
"I already told him the previous time that you weren't the one. And he's probably still confused about it. So you could play dumb about being the one he knows. Maybe after a while he'll believe you're just a lookalike or something" YuFen casually suggested.
But LinYing had already long thought about that. And it seemed like that was a better option at hand.
"I'll have to think about it" LinYing said.
YuFen Smiled happily " That's great. Now to the reason I wanted to meet you here today" She said as she handed her some files.
LinYing took the files and flipped through it "And what's this?"
"This final episode of the survival show airs Live today. And the boy group will be created. So you'll be welcoming them in their new apartment. So take this file and study the boys and it'll also serve as a guide to know what to do" she smiled.
LinYing stared at the files "Does this mean I'll be staying in the same apartment as them?" She questioned, shocked.
"Oh dear! No no no! How could I... no. You will be welcoming them when you get there at their apartment. And after welcoming and chit chatting with them, you'll go to an apartment that I'll keep specially for you" she Smiled at LinYing.
"Huh? You..." She was rather speechless. "I don't really need that..."
"Don't try talking to me about it. Just get going. Someone will be waiting for you outside to take you to the apartment. So run along" She expressed with a smile. Not even giving LinYing the opportunity to say no.
*******
ShenMing sat down before the mirror in the makeup room. He was staring at himself being made-up in the mirror as the make-up artist stood beside him.
The paintbrush ran through his delicate face struggling not to touch his sparkling blue eyes nor brush-up his curly black hair. He was looking dashing tonight. Of course he would, he was attending and also performing tonight at the finals of the boy group survival show.
While he sat there getting ready, his manager walked in and approached him. His manager whispered something to his ear. And he did, his lips curled into a smile.