Carried in by the Gentle Wind

CHAPTER 7

*(My apologies, this is a uh, half chapter. You don't need to read it at all, it's more like a filler to get me personally in the mood to write again. Also, you may or may not want to read this anyways if you haven't done Yun Jin's hangout yet because minor, very minor spoilers(?) and possible confusion as a result. Either way, thank you for being here, even though I don't know what I'm personally doing here at 1:50 AM)*

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     Boyi was this close to ripping out his own hair. Perhaps he wouldn't have been in such a predicament if that interview with Miss Yun had gone splendiferously. Having almost faced the end of his career and the end of the whole publication he was working for, his superior was kind enough to demote him. Though he was once an editor, he was now tasked as one of the lowly paparazzi, having to shamelessly beg for even the smallest whispers of gossip-worthy snippets. A small handheld digital camera attached to a strap around his neck, he decided to take a little walk at a nearby park to cool off his head. He had stood days in the sun in an attempt to find some sort of scandal, to no avail. Finally. A moment of peace... 

     He started grumbling. Why were the celebrities all so quiet nowadays? They should all be caught doing drugs, or at the very least start dating people. He kicked a rock as he stuffed his hands into his blue jacket, smiling rather cruelly when the rock hit a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest. The sun had already set all the way, taking with it all the mellow shades of red and orange which were replaced with a sea of dark blue, peppered with pinholes of light. Strange. It was definitely a park within the city, yet light pollution didn't seem to affect this pocket-like universe, with its ever-swaying treetops. He happily took a long, carefree walk through the park, marvelling at the rich colours, and enjoying the rest his eyes were getting from the camera lens he had been staring through the whole day. 

     Wait.... 

     Nearing midnight, Boyi stopped walking as he groaned in frustration. Now was not the time to admire the park. If he didn't find big news any time soon, he was going to risk losing his only source of income. Getting down on his knees, he stared up at the sky. Please.... Anyone, please just drop Xiao here from the sky with any random girl... 

     Though he was planning on pleading with the universe for hours longer, he stopped short when he heard a few, faraway rustling noises. He didn't know why, but he had the sudden urge to sit still, to hide. A few barely audible soft clacks of clasps opening later, his ears were soon met with several strums of a guitar. The first half were clearly for tuning purposes, and though they all sounded the same to Boyi's inexperienced ears, he would agree that the last final chords sounded with much higher quality than the first. 

     This... is definitely a professional. 

     Trying not to make a sound, Boyi fumbled as he got his camera ready. Indeed, there was no rule that newsworthy information had to be scandalous. Sure, scandals grab more attention, but adorable life crumbs do their job, especially if the celebrity in question had a great fandom. 

     I can't recall... Has Xiao ever mentioned knowing how to play the guitar...?

     Boyi quickly brushed a few bush leaves away from his lens, laying down excitedly as he tried to get a good angle. Ensuring that his flash was off, he focused his camera, only to look away in confusion. He had never seen this guitarist before, but the man definitely had rather attractive features. This won't do... 

     Was this boy some sort of idol trainee? Boyi frowned. Can.. can he even sin-

     Right on cue, the young lad on the bench began singing a few phrases Boyi had never heard before, but found that he rather liked. Well. That's my question answered. Hm.. to take a picture for his evident future successes, or to brush him off... If he took this picture now and sent it to his superiors, there was a big chance that he would be scolded for taking a picture of some nameless, better-than-average civilian. However, if this somehow ended up being a pre-debut photo of a would-be star, Boyi could win big. What to do, what to do...