90 An Even Bigger Mess

What did she say? She used it well? Was she really showing off?

He heaved a long sigh and felt like someone was staring at him. He slowly turned his head around and found four pairs of eyes staring at him intently. Surprisingly, today all of his group members were present at the dorm. They were all gathered at the dining table and were currently waiting for him.

"Why is everyone gathered here?" questioned Hyson as he stepped over and took a seat beside the group leader.

The group leader, Lin Zhen crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the member sitting with his head lowered as he said, "Pei Zi Hong has something to say."

Everyone looked at the one called Pei Zi Hong.

The one sitting opposite Hyson who had a head full of red hair yawned lazily and said, "Then say what you have to say, I have to get back to my sleep."

And the one beside him who had silver hair said, "And I have to get back to my game."

"Wen Ge, are you playing so early in the morning?" questioned Hyson as he looked at the silver-haired man.

"Aiyo, our innocent youngest," began Lin Zhen. "Your Wen Ge didn't even sleep last night."

Hyson stared wide-eyed at his Wen Ge. Although he had known all of them for seven years now, he still couldn't get used to his Wen Ge's gaming obsession. He'd spend every possible free time of his playing. He was the true embodiment of a homebody.

Hyson gave him a thumbs up, "Wen Ge, I admire your passion." Then he turned his attention back to the one who was sitting like a convict while they seemed like the members of the jury who were waiting for a statement from the said convict. "Hong Ge, usually you're the most talkative one. How come you're so quiet today?"

Pei Zi Hong stood up and gave them all a deep bow saying, "Everyone, I'm extremely sorry for the trouble I've caused you all."

The four of them shared a look but none of them said a word. The one who had been recently got caught in a scandal was Pei Zi Hong. And he was feeling extremely guilty since then. It was his matter and yet, because of him the rest of his group members had to suffer. He really didn't know how to face any of them.

"What are you apologizing for?" questioned Lin Zhen. "Are you sorry for dating?"

Pei Zi Hong looked up and shook his head, "No, I'm sorry but it's true that I love her. I can't apologize to you for dating." He took a pause before adding, "I'm just sorry that because of my matters you all have to go through this. I know my apology won't fix anything but I promise I'd do my best to fix everything."

Pei Zi Hong bit his lip and thought about it before saying, "Even if I have to ask my family for help, I'll make sure none of you have to suffer from the consequences of my decision."

The rest of them again shared a look. Every one of them knew that Pei Zi Hong came from a wealthy family but he had given up on his family business to chase his own dream and passion. He hadn't even gone home for years to protect his pride. But now to make sure that his members who had become like a family to him won't suffer, he was willing to bow down and ask his family for help.

Lin Zhen stood up and went up to his side. He patted his shoulder saying, "Zi Hong, none of us is blaming you. Not even for a minute. You have the freedom to fall in love. And no one can take that right from you." Pei Zi Hong was left staring at his face as Lin Zhen continued, "In fact, the thing we had been upset about is that all of us had to learn about you dating someone through those stalker reporters. You call me Ge but is it alright to hide something like this from your Ge?"

"Zhen Ge is right," began the silver-haired guy. "We should have been the first one to know about it. Even if falling in love is your personal matter, we thought we are a family. It just strange knowing that you didn't trust us enough to share something like this with us."

"I'm not good with words," said the red-haired guy. "So, I'll let our youngest talk on my behalf."

Hyson stared at him as he dropped the ball to his court and said, "Hong Ge, didn't you leave your family to prove your worth? If you went back to ask for help now, wouldn't it be akin to proving your mother right? And none of us want you to do that for us. It could have been any of us. The problem is not that you're dating, the problem is why is it considered an issue? Our fans are allowed to date whomever they want but we are not? Do they expect us to stay celibate for life?"

"Says the guy who hasn't even had his first kiss yet," the red-haired guy piped in making Hyson give him a look.

"Ge!"

The red-haired guy raised his hands in defense, "Sorry! I wasn't supposed to say that." Just as he had earlier said, he was really not good with words. He'd always say the wrong thing at the very wrong time. And that's why the rest of them even had to keep an eye on him during their interactions with fans.

Hyson could still remember a fan sign event where a fan told the red-haired guy that she was gonna marry him one day and he deadpanned in reply, 'Sorry, kiddo! But I don't like young girls.' That one comment made all of them want to tape his mouth.

However, currently, his remark made everyone chuckle and the mood lightened. Hyson glared at them all, "You all don't have to add insult to injury. One person in my life is enough to throw jabs at me." He was obviously talking about Raelle who also found a new interest in jabbing him with the fact that he hadn't even had his first kiss. Why was everyone doing this to him?

Hyson shook his head and continued, "Anyway, my point is that Hong Ge, you don't have to worry. It's not just your issue, it's all of us. We are a team, after all. So, don't worry, we'll get out of it together." He might have felt down when he first learned about it, but he had gotten over it now.

"We are not even bothered by it, you shouldn't be as well," said the silver-haired guy. "In fact, I have already planned what to do with all this free time. Since it's a luxury to have this much free time, I'm gonna cherish every minute of it."

"By playing games?" questioned Lin Zhen.

"Ge, don't say it like I'm wasting my time," argued the silver-haired guy.

"Why not?" retorted Lin Zhen.

"Because I'm not just going to play games, I've signed up at the leading live streaming platform. I'm gonna do a gaming broadcast. Of course, I'll remember to wear my mask while doing so."

"I also have it all planned," the red-haired guy also chimed in. "I've signed up myself for a mental cleansing therapy session."

"You mean you're going to some secluded place to sleep it off?" said Lin Zhen again. He had been with them for long enough to understand each of their personality well now.

The red-haired guy coughed a little before saying, "Well, sleeping is the best therapy for both mind and body. Besides, I have worked so hard for years just so that I can sleep peacefully in my later years."

"I have an audition," stated Hyson and everyone looked his way. "My fans found a striking resemblance between me and a comic book character. The comic is being made into a live-action and because of how enthusiastic my fans had been to see me play that role, the casting director contacted the company. I just received the message this morning."

"I always said our youngest is gonna be at the top," said the silver-haired guy. "Ge is proud of you!"

"I didn't get the role yet," said Hyson.

"We believe in you!" said all of them in unison and Hyson felt great listening to them.

Lin Zhen looked at Pei Zi Hong and said, "See? We all have it figured out. We are not kids who need you to run back to your family to ask for help. We are adults and we should be cleaning our own messes."

"But how can we get out of this mess?"

"By creating an even bigger mess!" said Hyson earning himself strange gazes from everyone. Hyson grinned at them, "That's what my best friend advised. Although she is eccentric, she is always right. The best way to get out of this mess is to create an even bigger mess. For instance, we need to make sure to do something that overshadows your dating scandal and makes it seem insignificant."

"I agree!"

"Me too!"

Everyone agreed with his advice and Pei Zi Hong felt really touched and blessed to have this group of people in his life. Lately, he had received so much hate online that he began to question himself whether he had taken the right decision by becoming an idol. He did his best to show his best side to his fans but they still turned their backs on him at the first chance they got.

But now looking at this group of friends, he realized why he had been able to do his best for years now. It wasn't because his fans helped him. They did encourage him somewhat but mostly it was because of these people around him. His fans saw the best side of him but they knew the worst of his side as well and yet didn't turn their backs on him.

If this wasn't the biggest blessing than he didn't know what else was.