Chapter - 13

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The plot of the story is purely fictitious, any similarity to the reality is purely coincidental.

The December night enveloped everything in a bone-chilling cold, a stark reminder that seeped even deeper into Xiao Zhan's thoughts. The desire to protect someone unfamiliar stirred within him, intensifying the coldness within. Seeking solace, he approached his sliding window and eased it open. Lianshui, the river outside, flowed with a sluggish grace, resisting the urge to freeze entirely. The cold weather couldn't halt its persistent journey.

As he gazed at the river's surface, he marvelled at the reflection of the moon. The river, a silent carrier, bore the moon's reflection wherever it roamed. Did the moon, he wondered, acknowledge that its mirrored image journeyed with the river?

A realization struck him - even if his endeavors remained hidden from his metaphorical moon, even as the weather grew colder, he couldn't afford to halt his steady flow. He needed to keep moving, advancing to a level where he could be acknowledged by his moon.

Faster, he thought. It was time to accelerate his journey.

Deciding to take the plunge and attend the audition at FH Entertainment, Xiao Zhan retired to bed, filled with gratitude for the fortuitous encounters with the right people at the right time – the kind room service, his grandmother, Jia-ge, Zheng Lei, the roadside vendor, little Yin, Xiao-Ji, and ChunXi's manager. It seemed as if fate had chosen him as its favored child.

Waking up early, he made his way to the dance studio. The night loomed ahead, and by 4:30, he joined the team. The red carpet event was scheduled for 5:30, with the main event commencing at 6:30 and concluding by 11:30.

As he approached the stadium, the distant hum of the crowd reached his ears. A sea of people adorned with lightsticks, their voices echoing support for their idols. Amidst the vibrant atmosphere, the dominant green hues stirred a surge of emotions within him.

The practice room buzzed with activity – some were engrossed in rehearsals, others engrossed in perfecting their costumes. In a quiet corner, Xiao Zhan sat, fixated on the live broadcast of the red-carpet event. Wang YiBo made a grand entrance, adorned in a Chanel dress resembling a little prince.  A sly smirk adorned his face as he gracefully autographed, perfectly captured by the onlookers.

As a traffic star, Wang YiBo's slot was strategically placed towards the end of the event, following Ke ChunXi's earlier appearance. In the intervals between events, Wang YiBo underwent quick costume changes. Upon receiving awards – Most Popular Actor, Idol of the Year, and Allrounder Artist of the Year – he donned a sophisticated Chanel blouse. The black attire boasted a high neck and full sleeves, adorned with a golden feather brooch. 

The choreographer tasked Xiao Zhan with fetching Ke ChunXi, and off he went. In ChunXi's dressing room, there was pacing – ChunXi walked, walked, and walked. Spotting Xiao Zhan, he exclaimed, "Ge, I'm so nervous. Please reassure me I won't miss a single step."

"You won't, and it's time. You'll be called on stage in 15 minutes," Xiao Zhan assured.

"Oh God, Oh God," ChunXi murmured anxiously. A quick touch-up from his makeup artist followed, and he walked alongside Xiao Zhan, guided by his manager and assistant. Xiao Zhan, on his mobile, watched ChunXi's flawless performance, acknowledging its perfection while understanding it could never be compared to Wang YiBo's.

Awards after awards, performances after performances, the night unfolded. Like the audience, Xiao Zhan patiently awaited that one particular performance.

Smirking mischievously, his choreographer instructed Xiao Zhan to fetch Wang YiBo. Excitement pulsed through him at the prospect of seeing YiBo. As he approached the dressing room, the door wide open, YiBo sat in his chair, head tilted backward. His makeup artist, in the meantime, was painstakingly picking up dropped items.

With an impatient tone, Wang YiBo shouted at her, "Make it faster, I want to go now." Her sluggish pace frustrated Xiao Zhan as she picked up items one by one. The makeup artist's slow progress transformed YiBo's urgency into audible frustration. The makeup artist responded with a hum that sounded more like a moan to Xiao Zhan as she tediously picked up the items.

After a deliberate process, she provided Yibo with a touch-up. At that moment, Xiao Zhan knocked on the door.  The makeup artist, resembling a deer caught in headlights, turned towards YiBo's assistant at Xiao Zhan's entrance, a figure Xiao Zhan hadn't noticed until then. Permission granted, Xiao Zhan entered and informed her that it was time.

Guided by the entourage, Wang YiBo didn't spare a glance for Xiao Zhan. However, Xiao Zhan seized the opportunity to indulge in the visual feast that was YiBo in Fendi Roma's shiny off-white slim-fit suit – an image so surreal.

Having witnessed YiBo's dance style, always imbued with a touch of sensuality, Xiao Zhan now understood the fervor of the audience, especially the passionate women in YiBo's fandom. Although he had seen YiBo's dance in videos, this was the first time witnessing it live, and it set his body ablaze with an unexpected intensity.

Recognizing his less-than-respectful gaze, he smacked himself mentally. The realization struck him like a heavy dumbbell – his obsession with Wang YiBo had transcended mere admiration. Over the past months, he had harbored deep respect for YiBo, but after yesterday's performance, a new and intense emotion had taken root, one that felt inappropriate yet undeniable.

Aware of the wrongness of his wishful thoughts, Xiao Zhan found himself at a crossroads. Yet, these are the desires that pushed him to this point. Why not try a little more?  It wasn't solely driven by lust, instead, it was a blend of respect, desire, and... an unidentifiable emotion lingering beneath the surface.

He yearned to exhibit his unwavering loyalty to YiBo, he was a homeless pup, wandering a nameless city without shelter or sustenance. YiBo had tossed him a piece of bread – a simple act that may have faded from YiBo's memory, but for Xiao Zhan, it served as a guiding light, sparking a hunger for more.

His sole desire was to make YiBo acknowledge his existence. Every effort concentrated on finding ways to gain recognition from YiBo. He is a devoted pup, willing to go to any length to capture the attention of the star he admired so deeply revered master  –  Wang YiBo.

The night concluded with Wang YiBo delivering a concise acceptance speech for the VIP Star awards, standing among other A-list celebrities.

In contrast to the usual lengthy addresses by the other celebrities, YiBo's words were brief "Thank you Tencent for the awards. I'll continue to work harder in 2019 too. Thank you."

He returned home around 2:30 that night after a party hosted by the dancers, who, despite his non-dancer status, treated him as an equal. He was satisfies, very satisfied with the day's events, Xiao Zhan checked Wang YiBo's itinerary, finding that it was his day off.

Reflecting on the night, Xiao Zhan wished it could have been a bit longer. He wished to see YiBo in person, to talk to him, and... to see all his wishes to come true.

Perhaps, someday, they would indeed come true.

That night, contemplation about his parents filled Xiao Zhan's thoughts. During his time in Tianjin, caring for his grandmother and working alongside her, he had pushed his past aside, almost forgetting he had parents.

However, upon arriving in Beijing, the memories resurfaced more frequently. He felt the pangs of loneliness, realizing there was no one waiting for him when he returned home.  The emptiness that awaited him at home only intensified these feelings.

He pushed aside the pangs of loneliness and closed his eyes, determined to take the first step toward reaching his star.

When he awoke, the clock already displayed nine. Stretching his limbs, he reached for his phone and scrolled through Weibo, indulging in images of YiBo dancing and receiving awards, captured by his dedicated fans which was filled in his feed.

#WangYiBoHarassingHisFemaleStaff# was discussed by 781,000.

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