STEP

CHAPTER 12 PART II

Returning backstage, the manager is expectedly fuming mad, the stylist and coordinators lean against the makeup station, speechless and not far from them sits the CEO present to sign contract papers for the overseas album production.
The atmosphere stiffens, the manager looks at Kris and then points at Chanyeol's nose, "we settled at 10 minutes! With every one minute delayed, are you aware of how much money you've hindered!"
"Don't yell at him, he was simply following me." Kris says, pushing the manager's finger down as the person sitting in the distance watches Kris with interest.

Looking at Kris' face, the manager frowns, "a further one second shouldn't be delayed anymore, proceed with the recording this instant." The manager gestures as he swipes past the painful expressions written on Yixing's face, Jongin walks towards the kneeling Yixing before looking towards Luhan, "what happened to Yixing?"
Luhan's expressions darken, Jongin has words at the tip of his tongue but a voice suddenly echoes through the door, "what are you procrastinating about, get on stage now!"

"He can't dance, at least not today." Luhan says.
"Really can't dance?" The manager walks over and clutches Yixing on the shoulder, "just bear with it for a while more, the contract is signed, the plane tickets for tomorrow are booked, you'll receive proper treatment back in Korea."
The crowd immerses into a piece of silence, with sweat beaded against his forehead, Yixing shuts his eyes and nods.

"You've been saying that for more than a year now," Kris says, "he is a dancer, if he injures himself permanently, are you taking the rap? Have you got insurance for him?"
"Dancing is his choice," the manager looks to Kris, "no one is forcing him."
"That's right, no one's forcing him, he's forcing himself." Kris walks over and points at Yixing's immobile waist and the layers of towels wrapped above, "in the future, if he is every disabled, it's because he asked for it!" He rips the towel off and throws it to the ground, "how much money is this performance worth, how many percentage does he get, is it even enough for him to get healed?"

"Kris." the CEO seated at the suddenly stands and approaches, "if you have any intention to question the contract, now isn't the right time and place. Contrastingly, if you refuse to perform as per scheduled, you would be infringing on the contract." He looks to Kris.
"Stop talking, I'm fine." Yixing lifts his head, speaking to Kris.
"You're popular now, you're a big star, you have wings to fly already, don't you?" Says the person opposite as he strides towards Kris, smiling and lifting his head as he exchanges gaze with this teen much much taller than him, his expressions however, seem tiny like an ant, "with the stage, your world is at your command, without it, you are nothing. This stage was given to you by the company, the company can; at any time, revoke this privilege."

Looking at his face, Kris remains speechless for some time.
"A similar advice applies to you." He opens his mouth, "the wealth allowing this company to function is given by the artistes, one day, when they quit, you can all just sing and dance yourselves."

Indeed, humans grow, their thoughts expand and lesser control can be held, the manager crosses his arms, "Kris, you've said too much, and you will regret it."

Kris laughs and looks through the window. Outside, the crowd flows as usual, the daily entertainment news get discarded, just like the overdue newspapers.

"Probably." Kris flashes a smile, "however, I won't be going on stage today, that way, we probably won't get to perform, am I right." He sits down and wraps an arm around Yixing's shoulders.

"Alright, you won't dance today, that's great." The person opposite smiles, "however in the future, there'll be chances for you to dance." He looks to Kris, and exits, the manager eyes the entire crowd and follows suit.
Yixing places his arms on his knees, Luhan lifts his head, both looking at Kris having his head hung down, silent.
The entire location plunges into silence.