Chapter Text
"Face your body to the right"
The man in a white suit turn his whole body to the right as the photographer asked.
"Turn your head sideways, look at the camera fiercely"
Again, the man did as he was told.
"Okay cut! that's it, very good!"
Everyone claps their hands including the man that was being photographed earlier. He smiles at the staff and slowly unbuttoned his suit while his staff assists him.
"Good job, it's really nice to work with you, Mr.Xiao Zhan"
The said man shows his charming smile that could light up the room. In which almost everyone stared in awe. How could this man have such a beauty that even guys fell for him.
"Thank you very much, director, I hope to work with you again"
The director laughs and gives Xiao Zhan a playful pat on the back.
"Silly, I should be the one saying that, kid"
As everybody was busy collecting their stuff and cleaning the place, Xiao Zhan moved closer to his makeup artist for her to remove his makeup. He doesn't really like to wear makeup that long, it caused itched to his skin the longer he had it on his face, but as long as it is a light makeup, it's fine. But right now, her makeup artist put quite a lot of foundation on his face than it used to, her reason is for him to look flawless and as beautiful as ever, which he makes a face.
He always wonders why people around him even his fans called him cute or pretty or beautiful, he's a man for whatever sake, he should be called handsome instead of those. He unconsciously pouted that didn't go unnoticed by his makeup artist who laughed at him.
"What are you even pouting for?"
Hearing what his makeup artist said, he pouted even more. Aside from those thoughts he had earlier he is also very hungry now. He just remember he forgot to eat lunch earlier because they were running late for this shoot. In addition to that, he forgot to bring his favorite snack, potato chips. He sigh.
"I want to go home now and eat whatever I could find edible"
The staff closer to them laughs at his remark.
"Okay, your face is clean now, go get your things and let's get you home"
Hearing his manager, a sweet smile immediately form on his face as he excitedly grab his things and said goodbyes to everyone before following his manager and other staff outside, his bodyguards following closely.
Shouts and screams can be heard the moment Xiao Zhan exit the building he was shooting at earlier. His fans and some paparazzi are everywhere and shouting his name and taking pictures. He forgot to wear his caps and facemask so he wave his hand and smiled at his fans who scream even more, gosh, he even heard someone shouts to marry him and give him a baby!.
He doesn't know if he should be scared at that comment by his fans or be happy about it, either way, it makes him laugh, his fans are something else. His bodyguards were doing their job seriously, they have their arms protectively wrapped around him all the way to his car.
The moment he sits comfortably inside the car, he opens his window to wave at his still screaming fans. He gives them his signature smile and blows a kiss which made his fans jump at the sudden attack from their idol. Well, who could blame them, their idol rarely did that.
He closes his window when he is out of sight and sits back comfortably and looks outside. It's calming looking at the city moving past you. Taking sight of the busy street and the people who are still doing their work and some who are going home. other people were just chilling around and others are laughing together with their dates or friends.
Sometimes, he really wished he was not the Xiao Zhan most people know, not the actor Xiao Zhan, not the singer Xiao Zhan, not the former X-nine member Xiao Zhan, but rather a simple human being Xiao Zhan, one of those ordinary people, who can do whatever they want without being afraid by what the people might say.
He wanted that kind of life, he sometimes wonder if the path he chose is right, or what if he just pursued being a graphic designer before, will he be able to support his family and lived his life comfortably, buying the things and food he likes, like he can now?
Thinking of those, he always comes up with the same answer for himself, no matter how many times he can go back to the past, he would still chooses the kind path he chose now. Although he barely has time for himself and to spend quality time with his family, he enjoys every second of it, he enjoys showing different emotions on camera, enjoys being on the stage showing people his capability, and he likes being someone's inspiration. He can't ask for more.
"We are here, Zhan"
He was brought back to reality when he hears his driver speak. He smiles and grabs his things and said farewell to his staff before going inside the building he was living in. His bodyguards live a few blocks away from this building and his manager as well.
"Good evening. Mrs.Chou"
He greets the receptionist and walks to the elevator. He was respected by the people working in here not because he is an actor but because of his kind act. Always greeting people on his way which made them like him.
He punched in his code and swipe his identification card before opening the door and locking it. He took off his shoes and put them near the door and tossed his coat on the couch before making his way to the kitchen. He opens his kitchen cupboard and looks inside for whatever it is that is easy to cook, finding nothing in there, and then opens his refrigerator. He heaved a sigh, unfortunately, nothing inside that is easy to cook and nothing can be eaten without cooking either, not even a juice!.
Pouting, he makes his way to his bedroom and changes clothes that is not too eye-catchy. He changed into a black hoodie and ripped black jeans and wears a black cap and black mask. He just hope no one would mistake him for a thief or a bad guy. He gets his car key and wallet before heading outside once again, he's just going to buy a few groceries for him to consume tonight. He looks at his watch, it was almost past midnight, hopefully, no one would recognize him.
With a 'ding' the elevator opens and he enters, he taps the underground floor where the cars are parked. He patiently waits for it to open once again and when it does, he rushed outside and walked to his car, open it and start the engine before running off the road.
He parked at the nearest 24/7 supermart and enters to buy what he needs. He was thankful only a few people are there, mostly college students who are too sleepy to even noticed who was standing behind them holding chocolate bars and potato chips. He saw a cup of ramen and get three of it and goes to the right corner to get orange juice and green tea.
After making sure that's all he needs for tonight he goes to the counter to pay. After paying he goes back to his car and drove off to his apartment again. He was happily humming to a song he heard recently, he didn't even know if what his humming is the correct lyrics or not, he doesn't care, he is alone anyway. He was a few blocks away from his apartment building when suddenly there was a white dog in the middle of the street barking at his car, he got scared so much that he immediately stand on break and caused his body to send forward.
He touched his heart and feel his fast heartbeat and look towards the white dog who is still barking at him, and as if that dog is not contented with scaring him and almost sending him out of his car without using the door, the white fur dog jumps onto his car and look straight to his eyes. Still holding his heart, Xiao Zhan scaredly looks back at the dog in front of him.
He relieves a sigh when the dog didn't do anything aside from staring at him for a whole minute, still creepy but at least it didn't scratch his car yet, well he didn't give a shit about his car, at least it didn't eat him!. This dog is bigger than the dogs he has seen and it's so white. Where is the owner of this dog, anyway? Why are they letting this kind of dog wander around the street, in the middle of the night?
He was about to reach for his phone to call his manager or bodyguard when the dog once again bark at him causing him to jump in his seat and look once again at the dog, he was sure the dog just rolls its eyes at him. Or maybe it was just his imagination, maybe his seeing things because he still hasn't eaten yet.
"I just wanted to eat, Why is this happening to me?"
He saw the dog motion its head behind and jumps off the car and look back at him and moved his head once again behind as if asking him to follow which Xiao Zhan did. He doesn't want the dog to bark again. He was about to walk in the direction the dog took but then he remembers he parked his car in the middle of the road, so he does back to his car and starts it again. He was debating whether to drive home and leave the dog or park his car properly and follow the dog but even before he can make a decision the white dog is back again and staring at him. And this time he swears his not imagining anymore, he literally saw the dog impatiently tapping its foot on the pavement!. He looks at the dog for quite a while and he is really seeing it right.
'OH MY GOODNESS!, WHO IS THE OWNER OF THIS ATTITUDE DOG!'
After parking his car properly and locking it, he follows the dog who walks elegantly. He is losing his mind, can a dog even walk elegantly?
They walk for about three minutes before he spots another dog lying on the cold pavement of the dark alley behind the trash can. He can't quite see the dog as he was still a little too far from it and his eyesight is not good. He walks past the white dog and takes a closer look at the dog lying on the ground. And what he saw scared him even more than he is already.
The dog lying on the ground is a little larger than the white dog beside him, it has a thick black fur and is breathing slowly. It was covered in its own blood and has a wound on its neck and back. He doesn't have any idea of what to do and so he slowly moved the black dog to his arms and tried lifting it. Take note, TRIED.
He have no idea a dog could be this heavy, he didn't even manage to lift it off the ground even for a second!. This is embarrassing, he should really eat now to gain strength.
What is this dog eating to be this heavy and big? and again, where are their owners?!
He once again tried to lift the black dog when it suddenly opens its eyes. Xiao Zhan got so scared he can't move, he didn't dare to move because the dog is literally glaring at him with its red eyes, and when the dog growled, Xiao Zhan almost run away from there. He should have just driven home and not followed this white dog who happens to be out of his sight anymore!. Where is that white dog, anyway? he was sure that the attitude dog was beside him when he was doing his best to lift this heavy dog glaring at him.
He searches the area but he can't find the white dog anymore. Now, he was left alone with this scary big dog, he look down on the dog again only to find it glaring at him even more intensely than before. He gulps and shifts his arm a little to make the dog's head lies on him comfortably. He just hopes it won't bite. The dog still did not lower its guard on him but didn't do anything to hurt him which he was quite grateful for and thanked all the goddesses who are watching for him. He can't afford to be bitten by a strangely big-looking dog.
"I'm not going to hurt, just I'm going to take you to the vet"
He can't believe he's talking to a glaring dog. Xiao Zhan did not expect in his entire life he would get in a situation like this. But he heard talking to animals can somewhat make them trust you though. He shifts once again and put his arm around the body of the dog to lift it again. After trying several times and almost half a minute, he gives up. He stared down at the dog apologetically. The dog seems like expected it since it just closes its eyes again.
"You can't sleep like this, I need to go home too, and I'm hungry, help me lift you"
After like a whole five minutes, Xiao Zhan finally said. He can't think of anything to do to bring this dog to his car. And to add to this heavy being, he needs to walk for three minutes to get to his car. He can't call for help from his manager as well because he forgot to bring his phone with him. Xiao Zhan sighed and unconsciously pouted, soon after his stomach grumbled. He's too hungry for this.
Should he shout for help? But it's almost 1:30am and he can't see anyone walking around nearby.
"What should I do now?"