Off-Screen (무대아래에서) | Haobin

Parties (여러 파티)

Author Note:

Given the contents of this chapter, it seems like a good time to post a reminder that while this story follows real events for ZB1, and I try to include as many real details as possible, I don't know anything about the private lives of the people in this story. This is all a fictionalization based on their public lives. I just hope they are happy and healthy <3.

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Their comeback is mostly a happy blur for Hanbin.

They're on music shows almost every day, in interviews, taping variety shows, and Hanbin's still emceeing on M Countdown. He's happiest when he's performing -- and the number of costumes they have and the beautiful, intricate stages they get to perform on still blows his mind. He's floating on a cloud for most of their comeback, enjoying the explosion of opportunities while trying to manage his never-ending exhaustion.

His schedule is a horrifying mess that makes his chest tight just to open, but he tells Hao Hyung he still wants to come to the exclusive parties that Hyung thinks will help him fix his career from the intentional sabotage of his rejected sponsor. So Hao Hyung invites him to the first one halfway through their comeback season. Hanbin moves his schedule around with Manager Cho so he can attend. She seems happy to help him with this particular task. Hanbin has a feeling he would have been asked to attend this sooner rather than later.

Hao Hyung dresses them both in the designer suits they had fitted for an awards show next month. Hanbin is adjusting Hao Hyung's tie and brushing some sparkle off of Hao's cheeks when Hao asks him softly, "Hanbin, what's prostitution like here?"

Hanbin freezes with a few sparkles still stuck to his fingertips. Hao Hyung did his own makeup tonight, and he likes to put glittery dust under his eyes. It has the effect of making him look ethereal and fairy-like, but it also gets everywhere. Hanbin frequently brushes it off Hao Hyung's cheeks after Hao Hyung does his own makeup. Somehow the professional makeup artists can get it to stick properly.

Hanbin takes a deep breath and dusts his fingers off on his pants.

"It's illegal."

"I read... about some famous cases of idols who were exposed for their sponsors."

"Yes." Hanbin had done more research on his own about sponsors after Hao told him about the man pursuing him. Sponsorship is such a shadow practice in the entertainment industry that there's hardly anything officially reported about it. The most public case was the suicide of Jang Ja Yeon, who named a huge list of top executives she was forced to sleep with in her suicide letter. He remembers hearing about it as a kid, but he didn't know the details at the time.

"You know more than what you're telling me," Hao prods him, searching Hanbin's expression. Hanbin swallows and adjusts Hao Hyung's suit jacket so it sits straight on his shoulders.

"Yes." Hanbin takes another deep breath. He's uncomfortable talking about this, and the man pressuring Hao Hyung makes him even more uncomfortable with this subject. "Prostitution is illegal, but it's common here. A lot of men visit prostitutes on their leave from the military. I knew people who did it in the military."

"So it's common with young men? In China it's more for old men. I've been approached by older men in China before..."

"I've never done it," Hanbin clarifies quickly. "I'm very uncomfortable with the idea. Sex is about love to me, and I can't separate the two."

"I get it." Hao Hyung is smirking at him slightly. "I know you're good at abstinence, Hanbin-ah. I've seen that myself."

"I've only seen it when I was in the military. When guys go out together on their leave and go to karaoke late at night... that can be code for visiting a prostitute."