Weakness (Zuodeng)

Sixteen

After morning practice and having their showers, the boys gathered for breakfast. Zuo sat with Jiaxin and his friends, while some other trainees sat with Zhixin and Xinhao.

“Guess what everyone is talking about on social media,” Zeyu suddenly said.

“What?” the other boys on the table asked him.

“Zuo,” Zeyu looked in his direction and smiled. “Everybody thinks you’re so handsome, there’s like a media storm over your looks.”

“Really?” he asked a bit excitedly.

“Yep,” Zeyu nodded. “You’re trending right now.”
All the boys who were sitting on the table looked at him with a smile.

“Oh,” he looked down slightly. “I guess that’s cool. Thanks.”

“See? You’re so amazing. When you debut, you’re going to be so popular!” Jiaxin told him.

Suddenly, Zuo got more interested in being an idol. Maybe this was really the path that was meant for him. He didn’t feel it when he had gotten in the company, but maybe it was fate. “Well I…”

“Zuo Hang!” John’s voice rang throughout the dining area.

“Yes?”

“Follow me.”

With surprise marked on his features, Zuo got up from where he was sitting and followed John.  John led him away from the dining area into the more executive part of the building where most offices were. John stopped in front of an office and indicated for Zuo to walk it.

“Oh okay.” Zuo said and walked inside the office. He hadn’t been there before, and at the table was a woman he had never seen before.

“Hello Zuo,” she greeted him. “Have a seat.”

Zuo nervously sat down, somehow her face and voice scared him. She didn’t look particularly friendly. 

“Have we ever met before?” she asked him.
Zuo shook his head.

“Good, because I rarely meet trainees,” she explained. “When I meet a trainee, it’s not a good sign.”

Zuo nodded nervously.

“My name is Mrs. Wang, I’m in charge of the discipline around here. And you, Zuo, got yourself into a bit of trouble.”

“Trou…trouble?” Zuo wondered.

“Your fellow trainee complained to me, Zhixin.” she told him. “According to him, you’re showing ‘stalker tendencies’? Sometimes you follow him around and yesterday you went as far as waking him up from his sleep and refusing to leave his room?”

When Zuo heard the story, his heart broke into more pieces. How could Zhixin go this far? Why would he tell someone about what was going on and possibly get him in trouble? It showed how Zhixin really didn’t care at all. He didn’t care about how Zuo would feel about this.

“No it’s not that…” Zuo tried to deny the accusations.

“Listen, the company has to make sure every trainee feels safe, well-protected and have the best training environment. And Zhixin doesn’t feel safe and he feels bothered, he says what you do disturbs his practice. He hardly slept last night so he was tired this morning, it’s not right.”

“I’m sorry ma’am.” he apologized.

She nodded. “Now look, if you cause more trouble, the company might have to let you go. Which will be sad because you’re such a promising trainee despite being new. But we need trainees who can behave as well, because when they become idols, we can’t handle having any scandals. You understand?”

Zuo nodded pitifully.

“So stay away from Zhixin. You’re really being a nuisance.”

“Understood.” he slowly got up from the chair. He was heartbroken, but it wasn’t anything new lately.