A Good Addiction - Volume 1

Chapter 28 - Strange Places

"Jingyu?" Weizhou was at the table on his laptop. Jingyu was laying on the bed on the iPad.

"Hmm?"

"Those fans that recognized you in LA. What did they have you sign?"

Jingyu thought for a moment, then shot straight up.

Weizhou's face had the look of someone hating to tell a loved one about bad news. He lifted his laptop and turned it so that Jingyu could see from the bed.

It was an online fan forum, one of the large ones. Someone had posted a picture of the bar coaster with Jingyu's autograph.

Jingyu flopped back down on the bed, staring straight at the ceiling. "FUCK!" he shouted.

Weizhou continued, "Before we talk with Li Hao and Zheng Ge, I think there's two ways we can go here. One, ignore it and let it be hinted that it's a forgery. Two, admit you signed it and not divulge any more than necessary."

Jingyu sat up again. "Yeah, you already know which choice I want."

Weizhou nodded and fired off an email to Li Hao and Zheng Ge. He and Jingyu had never really been fond of outright lying, especially to their fans. It was difficult to avoid questions from interviews, but they were both proud at having never blatantly lied.

---

Li Hao and Zheng Ge decided that a press release that stated their respective clients were taking an extended vacation in the U.S. They felt that as long as there weren't photographs of them together or official appearances, then the authorities back in China weren't really having their hand forced. It was still dicey grounds, and they urged the boys to be more careful.

Weizhou could see that Jingyu was internalizing it all. "Jingyu, listen to me. You have to stop beating yourself up over it. It was bound to happen. You were trying to please your fans."

Jingyu nodded, still holding a stern face and his jaw muscles flexing from the gritting of his teeth.

Weizhou sighed. It's like I'm talking to a rock. He walked over and crawled onto the bed behind Jingyu and started massaging his shoulders. Jingyu noticeably relaxed and leaned back on Weizhou, resting his arms on Weizhou's legs.

Weizhou's hands worked around to the front of Jingyu's chest, and he hugged him. Jingyu dropped his head back onto Weizhou's shoulder and sighed.

"When do you leave, again?" Jingyu asked.

"Tomorrow. I come back Sunday." There was a new super hotel and casino complex opening in Las Vegas, the developer was a construction tycoon in China. They approached Li Hao about Weizhou attending the opening events, so this was a perfect dovetail into their new lives. The pay was lucrative, and it allowed Weizhou to establish connections with the Chinese talent in America.

Jingyu started gritting his teeth again. He hated that he was so idealistic, thinking they could run off to America and live as themselves. Yet here they were, having to be careful and unable to appear at public events together. That feeling of being a puppet on a string was returning, unable to control their lives as they wanted.

"I know what you're thinking, and I feel the same way. But I also know that I love you, and as long as we're together, I'm okay."

Jingyu smiled at the words, gripping Weizhou's legs in agreement.

---

Weizhou had only been in Vegas for a couple of hours before he understood the reputation. The whole point of the town was to make you lose track of time, and feel good doing it. All to separate you from your money.