Heyo, update time!😎

But before that, how am I going to thank you all for the overwhelming outpour of love and support you guys showed me since the last chapter?!🤧 I am incapable of expressing myself. The love, the kindness you have given me through your comments, messages cannot be appreciated by mere words. No amount of reads or votes can measure up to this. Thank you so much.🤧😭

Also, I'd like to share a gift that has been given to me by darling, LINALOUICE.❤️ She made a painting of me!😭 This was her effort to put a smile on me.🤧 Well, it did more than that. It has put a mark on my soul, which I will cherish for a long, long time, if not forever.❤️ Can you imagine putting so much effort, being so kind and thoughtful just to make a stranger happy? How big of a heart must you possess, my little drop of Sunshine!😭 You have always been so very supportive, warm and encouraging!❤️

This is the Artist's perception of me. Her rendition of Abbie and it's perfect. I absolutely love it.❤️ My soul trapped inside the crystals of memories, eternally pining for the light, for a way out, trying to reach, to have, to hold. Oh, this described my inner persona so well! I love it so much. Thank you, LINALOUICE❤️🤧

She is an amazing and talented artist that serves MDZS/Untamed arts along with other beautiful stuff on IG. (I can't disclose her ID without permission).❤️

I don't know what more to say. My heart is so full!

Off ya go with the read!

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Chapter-31

The minute Talu's studio released the statement, the entire Weibo went abuzz. The fan forums almost crashed from the traffic.

"I knew it! I knew Talu could never do such a thing! Home wrecker? My baby can't even hurt a fly!"

"Now that one suspect is out of the equation, the question still remains. What is that baby's identity and what's Wang YiBo's relation with him?"

"Who are you calling a suspect, you asshole? Our idol is not on a same level as that jerk."

"Did you just call my baby Bo a jerk? How dare you? Just because he was holding a baby he became a jerk? How does that logic even work?"

"Then why hasn't he released a statement yet? Talu has cleared his side of story. Why hasn't YiBo denied the affair or clarified about the child?"

"Are you fucking serious? Isn't it enough that Talu has denied the affair? It's officially confirmed that there is no affair! And about the baby, YiBo is not obligated to disclose the identity of a child that is not involved with his work! Do you think just because you're a fan you're entitled to every information regarding his personal life?"

"Like hell we are! We spend our money, our time, our resources for them, on them! We make them who they are now. They sign up for this when they join the entertainment industry. First they want our attention and the moment they're famous they start having problems with us?"

"Umm...I don't mean to start another fight but what if that's YiBo and Vanessa's child?"

"Are you nuts? They met barely a year ago!"

"No no, I think she has point! We know that they had met a year ago but what if the actual relationship began way before than that? Maybe they publicised it only a year ago."

"If that's their child then why the silence? Shouldn't they right out say that?"

"That's because the child is born out of wedlock. That's not something you can parade around proudly."

"Holy shit! That must be it! So, that's their kid!"

"Oooooor that can be YiBo's child. You know, his own? Like, he birthed it?"

"You mean....Wang YiBo is a Carrier? Dafuq?!"

"Guys, I have a theory. What if YiBo and that mysterious Yiling Patriarch hooked up and had a baby? I mean, that way we can explain Talu's involvement."

"Take your deluded theory and fuck outta here! We don't even know if that Yiling dude is real!"

"People are going batshit crazy here, I see! Lemme grab my popcorn."

XOXOXOX

YiBo's threw his phone away in abject frustration. He knew he should not read these crap but could not help it. Public opinion was all his life had become lately. Every place, every site he went, this was all he could see. People dissecting every aspect of his life to know about his son.

He envied Talu. Envied the easy way his life was going even now. Envied the way he could recognize Xing, whereas YiBo could not give his own son his name without pissing off thousands of meaningless people.

God knew how much he wanted to tell the whole world that Xing was his child, his baby, that he made something so perfect, that he was worthy of something so pure and precious. But even if the heart was willing, the fate was not.

"Boss," Xiu Ying said in a mild voice, "Ms. Huang is on the phone."

YiBo made a face before taking the official line. Only a handful of people now could contact him on his personal number.

"Vanessa," he said in a greeting tone.

"How are you?"

"Fit as a fiddle."

"That bad, huh?"

YiBo did not answer.

"I talked to my agency again today. They aren't budging. So, I told them to hurry up the album release. And after much bargaining we have decided to release it next week by Thursday."

Today was only Tuesday. So, more than a week to go. A week of listening to people's wild speculations, taking all kinds of trashy accusations and more waiting.

"All right, thanks."

"I'm sorry, YiBo-"

"No, don't be, please. I know you're trying your best."

"Only it's not really the best."

"I doubt anything will be, at this point."

They stayed quiet for a moment.

"How is- how is the other father of your son doing?" Vanessa asked.

"You mean my family?"

When Vanessa answered, a faint smile could be heard in her voice, "Yes, your family. How are they doing?"

"My son was to start his pre-school this week but now he can't even go outside and doesn't understand why. He is only two and half, you know."

"From the two published pictures it will be hard for anyone to recognize him."

"You're forgetting the reporters," YiBo reminded her, "Public might see the blurred pictures but the publication, the pap who sold those photos know how my son looks like. Do you think they have stopped snooping just after releasing one article?"

"............You're right. Those vultures are still on the lookout and unlikely to stop till you start talking. How is...your partner taking all this? Must be tough on him as well."

For the first time, there was a ghost of genuine smile on YiBo's lips, "He is ever so supportive. Never accusing me, never complaining, standing by me like a rock. I don't know how he can tolerate all this without blaming me for once!"

"Maybe because his IQ is higher than yours?" Vanessa teased. "That's love, you silly man."

Every validation, every proof that Zhan Ge loved him was like little treasures for him. Even though he had yet to hear those magic words, he was not oblivious to the man's feelings. And the more he received the more he craved.

That love was the only thing that kept him going these days.

"Sometimes I wonder how did I get so lucky..."

"Mmm, accidents happen," Vanessa replied casually, eliciting a chuckle from YiBo.

He was about to retort back with something witty when his assistant interrupted him.

"Boss, the PR's calling."

Sighing, he went back to his own call, "Vanessa, I'm sorry but I'd have cut this call short for now."

"Sure. Go on and YiBo?"

"Yes?"

"I know you're a proud man but don't hesitate to ask for it when you need help, all right? I'll be happy to assist any way I can."

In these days of chaos, every little kindness meant a lot. "Thank you, Vanessa. I know you wish me well."

"I do. Talk to you later."

"Absolutely."

Turned out the thing his PR team wanted to talk to him about was a children's charity YiBo was involved with.

"What kind of clarification they want? And why? This has nothing to do with them!"

"As a children's institution they think they should have an explanation why one of their associates was seen with an unknown child."

"Associate? For fuck's sake! I donate my bloody hard earned money to their bloody institution! People like me help them pay their bills! And they think they are entitled to demand an explanation?"

"They said-"

"I don't fucking want to know what the utter crap they're spouting. I pay you to deal with such bulls."

"Yes, Sir, we understand."

"And know this that no one will get any explanation till I decide so myself. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

YiBo cut the call.

He wanted to punch something...or someone.

People only see the glitter and glamour. The price with which they had to pay for their fame went unnoticed and unappreciated by everyone. He was seen with someone outside the industry and now everyone wanted an explanation, a piece of his life. As if his right to privacy did not exist in the twisted mind of these people. Thankfully, his endorsements hadn't started any fuss....yet.

Feeling bruised and alone, YiBo did the only thing that could give him a semblance of peace.

"YiBo?"

That voice, for some reason, made YiBo's eyes burn but he could not, must not let his pain show.

"Ge, how are you?"

"I'm all right, how are you? How are the things now?"

"I'm fine, Ge. You worry too much. Have you spotted any reporters yet? How is Peanut? Have you eaten?" YiBo sounded overtly casual.

"We are okay but how's the situation there? The reporters still camping outside? Is Xiu Ying with you? Why don't you go and live with your parents for a few days? They have a big compound to stave off those hounds-"

"Ge, you really worry too much! I'm perfectly safe and fine. In fact I have a commercial shoot in about-mm- three hours and once that ends-"

"YiBo?"

"Hm?"

"I know. I know that you are not okay and it's okay not to be. You don't have to pretend when you are with me."

YiBo's façade crumbled like a house of cards. "I'm tired, Zhan Ge. My office phone won't stop ringing. Those bastards are camping outside everywhere I go, flocking me, following my car, demanding answers. And I want to slap them with those damned answers! I want to stand in front of the whole world and scream that Xing is my son, my, mine. But I can't do that either. So, every day I wake up to see a new theory regarding my own child's parentage. A new slander on my character. I'm tired and I'm angry and I'm impatient. "

"Only a few more days, just a few and then you can give your statement and people will know the truth," said Zhan and the guilt and pain in his voice made everything ten times worse for YiBo.

He wanted to run to his Zhan Ge, to touch him, hug him, hide inside his chest. "I miss you," he blurted out, startling both of them. By some unsaid rules, they never spoke of affections openly. The few times it happened it was only from YiBo's side and he had made a promise to himself not to run his mouth about his confessions till Zhan felt more comfortable.

But sometimes, when the days were too long and the night was too dark, when life seemed particularly lonely, the emotions spilled out.

"I'm sorry, I should-" in the following silence he started to apologize but Zhan cut him off again.

"Can you come here? Or- or maybe I can go to your house? For half an hour, maybe?"

How long he had waited to hear those words? That Zhan would voluntarily want to spend time with him? That Zhan would miss him too? It was the only thing that YiBo wanted right at this moment and it took him everything to refuse. "Now is not the right time, Ge."

"Oh-uh- yes yes, of course. I should have understood-"

"You understand nothing. At least nothing that I want you to understand," YiBo replied, not unkindly.

When Zhan kept quiet, YiBo spoke more softly, "I would like nothing more than to go to you. I feel like I haven't seen you in months....and I'm so tired, Ge, so very tired. But we can't risk it. Not now. I am being followed everywhere I'm going and I can't risk disclosing your location."

"I know. I'm sorry for even suggesting that. That's was really thoughtless of me."

"Never thoughtless. I'm just more accustomed with this shit storm."

"Reason why I can never handle being in the public eye."

"I support your decision."

"I know the situation is hard but," Zhan seemed to hesitate and when YiBo urged him to go on he said, "but try not to get angry at the reporters, all right? I know it's easier said than done but that's exactly what they're aiming for. Getting a rise by provoking you. No matter what they say about you or Xing, do not react negatively or at all."

YiBo rubbed a tired hand all over his face, "I'm trying, constantly. You don't know how hard it is not to turn and punch a hole in their heads for the vile things they hurl at me only for the sake of having some gossip material but I'm tongue tied. Xiu Ying is so paranoid that I think he is contemplating taping my mouth shut while we go out. I'm trying my best."

And he really was. Some of the headlines he had read these past few days, calling him a cheat, a promiscuous bed hopper, a predator along with the offensive, intrusive questions the reporters shot at him were enough to summon one's murder instinct.

"I know you are. I am not saying you're not doing the best you can. I'm just worried. I worry that-.....I'm worried about you."

"Don't be," YiBo said with a fondness he could only feel when being with this person, "All you need to do is to stay with me."

"I promise."

Their talk, then, went on towards less serious topics, both wanting to forget the stress even for a few minutes.

But it lingered in the background of every joke they made, of every laugh they had, of every sigh they suppressed.

And two days later Zhan's fear came true.

XOXOXOX

YiBo had a meeting with the producer of the drama for which he had auditioned previously. His selection had been finalized unofficially and when he received the call for the meeting he thought it was for the signing of the contract.

Well, it was not. Instead, he was told, in polite terms, how the production might suffer if YiBo did not make his stance clear in this situation. How they were expecting a statement from the actor to clear the air before the shoot began.

Expectation. All this bloody expectation. He wanted to take it and shove down the throats of all these people who thought their expectations of him should be fulfilled. They caged him, suffocated him.

Already under unbearable stress, mental composure rapidly deteriorating, YiBo could feel himself trembling while being escorted out of the building. While the security guards pushed and shoved a way through the thronged reporters, Xiu Ying kept murmuring in his ear to stay calm and quiet while dragging him away towards the waiting car.

"Mr. Wang, who's the child?"

"Wang YiBo, why aren't you denying the affair? Does it mean it's true on your end?"

"Did you cheat on your fiancée?"

"Mr. Wang, have you lost the role? Are you planning early retirement?"

"Mr. Wang, what are you hiding?"

"Is that your child? You've had multiple affairs throughout the years."

"We've heard the child is an orphan that you're planning on adopting. Can you confirm it? Have the birth parents really died?"

It was the last straw for him.

Ripping open his mask, YiBo snapped towards the direction that last question came and yelled, "HE IS NOT AN ORPHAN! HE IS MY SON! My son! His parents didn't die-"

Before he could finish, Xiu Ying physically grabbed him from behind and almost threw inside the car.

But by then the damage had been done. Everyone present there heard it loud and clear.

Heard it. Recorded it. Shared it.

The time it took for his car to reach his office, that clip had been shared close to a few hundred thousand times.

And when his PR team was almost in tears, splitting their heads as to how could they turn things around this time, YiBo told them not to do anything.

Theoretically he knew just how big of a blunder he had caused today, but what he actually felt was a sort of relieved detachment from everything, as if it did not matter anymore what happened to him, to his career. As if he was just a spectator of this whole situation. But he was not a fool; he knew this wouldn't last and fear would set in soon. Hence, he would have to do what he had planned while this delusion of calm remained.

Shocking the country for a second time that night an official statement had been posted from the actor Wang YiBo's personal social media account.

"I apologize for the way I conducted myself in front of you today. However, I stand by my statement. The child I had been photographed with is my own son. I am his biological parent and he is my life. This has nothing to do with Ms. Huang, whom I hold in high regard, nor does it have any involvement on Mr. Wang Talu's part, apart from the fact that he is my son's Godfather. I know you have questions and queries, which will be answered when the time is right. But for now, I will request you to respect the privacy of my family. Thank you all for being so concerned about me. I appreciate your support and will need it in the future as well. I wish you all well."

Within hours of this post another statement was released from Vanessa Huang's agency, stating that they had no prior information regarding this child or the obvious affair the actor must have had with the other parent of the said child. That their client had been kept in the dark since the beginning and thus, should not be blamed for breaking something that she had no idea existed in the first place.

Everything went to hell after that.

XOXOXOX

Confined inside a dark, unlit room, a cell phone vibrated, breaking the breathless rhythm of the silence.

YiBo....why did you do it? Why didn't you tell me before doing it? –XZ

Don't worry, Ge. I should have done it earlier. This is the only way. I need to take this fall. –WY

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Uh-oh! Lemme stay on the tree for a few days more, 'kay?🙃 👉👈