Holding On [Nine Percent/ Idol Producer]

Chapter Eleven.

Yanjun has his head lowered, the blazer being held loosely in his grip, eyes closed as he takes one deep breath. And exhales.

It has started raining, the droplets working down his hair, seeping through his shirt. He places his other hand on the back of his neck, letting his fingers rest for a moment before gripping it firmly.

Yanjun opens his eyes, his right foot stationed on the back of the man on the ground, groaning mildly in pain, his right arm twisted, his jaw visibly hurt. "Why would you attack a man when he's all alone," Yanjun drags his foot back before resting it on the man's left hand, "while you have others on your side?"

He presses down.

"Don't you think that's pretty unfair?"

The man lets out a more prominent groan.

"You get punished if you don't follow the rules," Yanjun adjusts his stance properly on the ground before lowering himself down, "you know that, right?"

Yanjun gets up, taking a step back before saying, "let your owner know," and turning around, "that they need to play fair."

--

Justin sits on the couch, his mind going around and round, not being able to draw a conclusion, because of which, he starts with the basics.

"How do you know him?"

The clinking of a spoon against porcelain continues as Nessa replies, "we just happened to have bumped into each other a couple of times."

"Be more specific."

She places the spoon on the side of the tray before bringing two cups of tea to the living room where Justin is seated. "That's exactly how Lin Yanjun and I know each other."

Earlier when Jiayi had called Justin to tell him about Ziyi's condition, he was rushing to his parked car while his phone continued to ring, the caller being Lin Yanjun.

"Don't go to the hospital," Yanjun had said, "pick up the phone when Nessa calls." Which he did when Nessa called, eventually ending up at her place.

"You," Justin looks at the framed pictures lining the wall, "expect me to believe you?"

"My answer is not going to change even if you don't," she smiles before picking up her cup, "believe me."

"Why don't you answer me in a straight, clear way whenever I'm asking you something?"

"Woah wait, I always answer your questions, alright?"

"Uh," Justin drags the syllable, "no. You don't."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"How do you know Yanjun?"

"We bumped into each other multiple times."

"Damn it."

Nessa smiles as she looks at him sighing defeatedly. "It's the truth. You either believe me or don't. I'm not going to force you."

The ringing of her phone sounds from the kitchen as she excuses herself and goes to pick it up. Justin takes a sip of tea from his cup, slightly relaxing down on the couch.

The moment Nessa walks into the room, Justin's phone starts ringing, the caller ID of Yanjun being displayed. He picks it up, his eyes locked on Nessa as he says, "hello?"

"Come to the hospital."

He gets up, his eyes still on Nessa. "Is everything fine?"

There's a moment of silence, anticipation hanging in the air around Justin as Nessa takes a step and then another, towards him.

Yanjun still doesn't say anything.

Something about this entire situation sets Justin off. Nessa places her hand on his shoulder gently, in a very consoling manner.

"Tell me, what happened?"

Justin can make out the sharp intake of breath on Yanjun's part.

"Ziyi is dead."