Chapter 24

Trembling, they brushed against Sheng Chi's face.

Sheng Chi felt something tickling him. He looked down and saw Gu Zhijing's ear.

His skin was naturally very fair, with fine, soft little hairs on it, but the tip of his ear was pink now, making his earring look even brighter.

Sheng Chi stared at the part of his earring he could see for a long while.

Gu Zhijing held his breath and concentrated, but his eyelashes wouldn't stop trembling. Their brushing stirred a strange, restless heat in Sheng Chi.

Sheng Chi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

A moment later, he spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

"Don't move."

Author's note: Three chapters in one! See that?! Ten thousand words! In one day! My hands are about to fall off from writing!

Thanks to all the cuties who stuck around after the story went VIP. Kisses for each and every one of you!

Ah, I forgot to mention! An update to the note!! Tomorrow's update will also be in the early hours. I've temporarily changed the schedule these past few days to get on the recommendations list! Thanks for accommodating me, everyone QAQ

-

Sasaengs are really terrifying. This is just the tip of the iceberg; the real thing is ten thousand times scarier than anything in a novel. Sigh.

Also, the idea that two-character CP names tend to become the dominant ship was probably a saying from a couple of years ago. It's outdated now, but I'm having a little renaissance and going back to basics, so don't take it seriously.

(Probably no one's going to ask what "dominant ship" means﹌

Anyone would be frightened by a terrifying incident of harassment out of the blue.

As the captain, Sheng Chi felt it was important to check on his teammate's mental state.

So after the meeting ended, he walked up behind Gu Zhijing, who was slowly packing his things and getting ready to leave. "Unhappy?"

Startled by the sudden question, Gu Zhijing jumped.

But once he turned and saw who it was, he abruptly shrank back before saying, "N-no. What is it, Brother Chi?"

His movement away was far too obvious.

Sheng Chi paused, then assumed as a matter of course that it was a post-traumatic stress response caused by the sasaeng. He rubbed his head reassuringly. "Don't be scared. Brother Fei said they'd tighten security and release a statement."

He glanced at Gu Zhijing.

The little guy pulled away from him again and shook his head, saying he was fine. But his ears were bright red, and he really did look badly frightened.

Sheng Chi: "..."

He began to wonder whether he should find him a therapist or something.

-

Gu Zhijing was actually having a breakdown of his own.

Although he had always known his sexual orientation, he really hadn't had many impure thoughts about Sheng Chi before.

At first, it had been appreciation from someone who loved a pretty face.

Later, it had been a teammate's acknowledgment and gratitude.

Using an alt account to cheer him on had actually been more out of curiosity.

He had posed as a Sheng Chi fan because he hadn't thought he would be able to debut at the time. He had only wanted to serve in peace as the head of the fan club for Brother Chi, who had helped him so much.

There were many ways to be a fan, just as there were many kinds of liking.

Until now, he had thought he was a pure-minded teammate, friend, and fan club president.

But unexpectedly, things had developed to the point where they had veered slightly off course.

Gu Zhijing repeatedly used the suspension bridge effect to convince himself, only to suddenly remember the three rules Sheng Chi had told him in the washroom when he first arrived.

He had delivered the last one in his firmest, coldest tone.

-"Any behavior unbecoming of an idol is forbidden."

-"The worst thing is dating while you're an idol."

-"An idol who dates deserves to be beheaded."

Gu Zhijing: "..."

Gu Zhijing wilted on the spot.

He remembered how displeased Sheng Chi had sounded when he came out to find him and brought up the sasaeng.

Maybe it wasn't just because Sheng Chi feared the sasaeng would harass him. Maybe it was also because, if the sasaeng really found him and successfully contacted him privately, Sheng Chi would consider him an idol who had utterly failed to live up to the role.

The captain is so strict.

Gu Zhijing let out a long sigh, then buried his head in his pillow. After a long while, he gave a quiet whimper.

It was like a fish blowing bubbles deep in the sea.

Blub blub blub.

Blueblueblue.

Gu Zhijing felt that he was a little melancholy grass carp now.

There happened to be no one else in the dorm, and no one paid him any attention. He let himself lie there listlessly for a while, then remembered he hadn't fed the cat today and got up to fill Color's bowl with cat food.

Color was a little male cat who had already been neutered when they brought him home. As Gu Zhijing fed him, he gave him a little shake and suddenly had a curious thought. "You've been neutered, so does that mean you won't ever have someone you like?"

"That's nice."

"Then you'd be a perfect idol if you became one, right? You're pretty and well-behaved, and your fans wouldn't have to worry about you doing anything unbecoming of an idol except eating too much and getting fat."

Gu Zhijing, who had fallen out of love on the very first day of his crush, began to ramble. "International superstar Color-zi, breathtakingly beautiful Color-zi, gorgeous Guozhi Color-zi, boy group visual Color-zi, how about considering debuting with me?"

"Mm, with you holding down the fort, maybe we wouldn't even need Brother Chi."

Colo