Zeno decided to sleep in for today. For some reason, he couldn’t sleep well yesterday after his ‘argument’ with Eli. In the end, he had slept past 2 AM.
The last thing he monitored was his meter, which had gone down to 15%. It was surreal how such baseless rumors could ruin someone’s career.
If he was a human who actually wanted to be famous in the industry, he would be devastated!
Fortunately, Minseok and his company had chosen the right person to mess with.
Just then, his door burst open, revealing Doha in his classic workout gear. He still had sweat dripping down the sides of his face and running down his body, staining his teal leggings with the droplets.
He was out of breath, like he had run from the old gym where he taught at into their apartment.
Zeno rubbed the sleep away from his eyes. “What?” he asked.
“You—”
Zeno sat up from the bed. Was he truly canceled now?
Just then, Doha ran to where he was, encasing his friend in a warm hug.
Zeno was startled. He felt Doha’s sweat on his skin, and he wanted to push him away. However, Doha was probably the strongest person he had met in this life. He didn’t budge at all!
“Zeno,” he started off. “You’re truly a good person.”
“Huh?” Zeno asked.
However, when he realized he still hadn’t checked his latest stats, dread filled his stomach.
Fuck.
***
In Saliva, Ollie, J-Slick, Minseok, and the others had partied until the morning. How could they not after bringing down Zeno Han’s career?
J-Slick was the first to wake up, rubbing the boogers from his eyes. The room smelled atrocious after everything that had happened yesterday night, making him curse. However, he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world.
It was one of the best nights of his life, and it made him even greedier to get into the elites’ circle.
Then, he checked his phone, where he had received quite the notifications—even more than he was usually used to.
He clicked his tongue and read the one on top. It was from Minseok’s manager, and it was a series of text messages that already made his head hurt just by looking at them.
His vision was still blurry from the lack of sleep and yesterday’s shenanigans, but everything cleared when he finally comprehended what Minseok’s manager had sent.
“Zeno Han… is innocent?” he exclaimed.
His loud statement managed to wake the others inside the room. Minseok, who still appeared out of it, looked at his CEO with wide eyes.
“W—what happened?” he asked.
J-Slick’s phone fell to the ground, hitting the corner of the glass table, causing the screen to break.
Minseok’s eyes widened, and he quickly kneeled to retrieve the phone like a beggar. Then, he began reading his manager’s text messages.
His face paled, making Ollie even more curious. He grabbed the phone from Minseok and read the latest news, too.
He choked on air, and he found himself stumbling back before hitting the wall.
“T—this can’t be,” he muttered.
Zeno Han was an ordinary guy.
Zeno Han didn’t have any connections!
But why the heck are so many stars coming to his aid?
Meanwhile, in their small apartment unit, Zeno felt like he had swallowed a whole tank of acid.
“Can you believe it?” Doha exclaimed, walking back and forth in front of Zeno, adding to the former’s dizziness.
“Risa Park was the first to post something! She said you’re a good person and that she found some statements online. Those statements are from the people you’ve helped,” he excitedly said.
“I didn’t know you were close with Risa.”
“I’m not,” Zeno whispered.
“After that, the video blew up, and it’s all over Sigmoid! You trended at the fifth spot this morning when I had just finished my beginner Zumba class.”
“Those were truly touching videos,” he said, patting Zeno’s shoulder. “You’re one of the reasons why a family is complete, and why an addict had stopped taking drugs.”
“I’m not,” Zeno whispered once more. He just gave them money and basil! How the heck did he change their lives?
“After that, Ian Seo came to your aid and said that you’re one of the most talented actors he has met, and it would be a waste if your career went downhill for untrue rumors,” he continued.
Not that guy, too!
“And of course, Selina also posted on her group’s account that she admires your acting skill very much and that you saved her life! It garnered a lot of support from her fandom?”
“Who… else?” Zeno said, slowly losing energy.
Maxie went up to him and laid on his lap, teasing him. However, he didn’t even have it in him to gently push her away.
“There’s Chaewon PD, Manshik PD… Jisoo. Oh, and the cast and staff of ‘Stars in My Ordinary Sky!’
“Jaehyun said you were a decent guy. Shelly did a livestream for her followers, telling them that you were the most respectful out of everyone. Sammy posted something on Tick regarding some of the touching moments with you on set.”
“Oh, and that Birdie guy said he admires you.”
“Jordie?” he exclaimed, unable to hide his surprise. That kid who hated him? How could he betray Zeno like this? He thought he was a real hater!
“Yes, yes,” Doha nodded. “I investigated it before I came here, and it seems that everything has been debunked. Rex and Minseok are being criticized along with ‘Stars Among Us.’ They think it’s a ploy to bring your series down because it had surpassed theirs.”
Zeno let out one chuckle. A singular laugh.
And it was out of disbelief.
Just then, the door burst open, revealing Minji, who appeared like she ran to their unit, too.
Doha’s eyebrows raised. “Minji? What are you doing here? Don’t you have work?”
“I heard about what happened… and it’s my lunch break,” she said, catching her breath. Then, a wide smile appeared on her lips.
“Zeno!” she exclaimed, running toward him and giving him a hug, too. Minji snuggled closer to him, genuinely proud of her friend.
“I knew it,” she muttered. “You wouldn’t do any of those.”
“I’m so glad you’re so loved by everyone that people with huge influence decided to help you.”
Then, she broke away from the hug and looked into Zeno’s eyes.
“At this point, your stardom is inevitable!”
It felt like a punch to his solar plexus.
“It is your destiny!”
Now, a kick.
“Something you cannot escape from!”
A stab.
[New meter unlocked!]
[Fame Meter: 0%]
[-100% away from your end goal.]
[Strayed too far from goal.]
[New Penalty System: The Pain Trial]