Love Director [ENG]

Chapter 37: Valentine's Day crash

"Paint, you need to be very careful. People these days can be scary," a phi said.

"Uh, yes." Paint replied.

"Hey, Paint, I heard you got attacked. How are you? Want me to get the guys to beat them up?" another friend offered.

"No, it's okay. I don't want to trouble you," Paint said.

"Paint, do you have a boyfriend? It's not true, right? I don't believe it." someone else asked.

"Um, where did you hear that from?" Paint asked.

Ever since that day he was yelled at, Paint had been asked countless questions about information he had no idea where it came from. Everyone, whether phi, juniors, friends, or even some professors, all said the same thing.

"From Plerng." they replied.

Paint sighed loudly. When he was being yelled at, Paint was worried about what direction the rumors would take. At worst, he thought people might gossip that he had stolen someone's husband and he'd get called in by professors. But the next morning, everyone swarmed him with concern, asking questions. After much questioning, it turned out the rumor had spread far and wide, but not in the way Paint had feared.

Everyone thought he was a heroine who had been attacked!

The first time he heard it, Paint was stunned. He listened as everyone recounted different details. Some said he was ambushed and slapped in the university. Others said he was harassed by a crazy woman. Some claimed he was dating a celebrity, causing upset fans to attack him. The story had spiraled out of control, but one thing was clear: he was someone worthy of sympathy.

Upon investigating, he found out that Andrea had spread a rumor that he was seeing a famous person, who happened to be Plerng's uncle. And a crazy woman, scorned by the man, took out her anger on Paint, harassing him multiple times, slapping and cursing him. But Paint, with his great love, did not give up. It turned into a melodramatic plot that made Paint go, "Huh!?" loudly.

And given that they were studying communications, everyone was adept at finding news. Someone even dug up a photo of Phi Aphros holding his hand while entering a building where a drama was being filmed and distributed it. The more gentle and caring Phi Aphros looked in the photo, the more everyone talked about how much Paint must have been hurt.

Some friends even commented that if the man wasn't serious, he wouldn't be holding hands so openly for photos.

So, from just being in a budding relationship, after a week, he became the beloved wife of a man who adored him. Paint didn't know whether to admire his friends' special talent for spreading (false) news. They asked him...

"Isn't this better?"

Paint had to admit that being seen as a pitiful protagonist was easier than being seen as a gay man stealing someone's husband.

When Paint told Phi Aphros about that, he looked pleased and asked if he should pick Paint up from university. Luckily, Paint thought quickly and firmly said no, not wanting to bother him. It seemed like Phi Aphros wanted to reinforce the rumor that... Paint had a husband who loved him very, very much, rather than clearing it up.

Moreover, his two friends took turns driving him, making it impossible for Phi Aphros' ex to do anything to him. As for his relationship with Phi Aphros... nothing much had progressed, if you didn't count that...

"Phi, you're heavy." Paint said.

"I'm tired. My legs are too weak to stand." Aphros replied.

"There's a chair. Why don't you sit?"