System! This Prince Doesn't Want To Be An Idol Popstar!

Star smiled and relaxed a bit. She looked over to Kola, who was currently chatting with Jenell. Neither one looked worried, so that relaxed her even more. Kola glanced over with her midnight blue hair and silver eyes, the rapper of the group. A quirk of her blue brows were aimed at her and she blinked confused. Jenell, the pretty princess with long dark hair and bright blue eyes, looked over and a slow grin appeared on the pretty face. Star already knew what Jenell was thinking.

Put her and Kola together and things could go wild.

“Star,” Jenell cleared her throat, “Taemeng is quite handsome,” her blue eyes turned to golden ones, “Are you single?”

“…”

“A quiet one,” Jenell giggled into her palms and glanced at Kola to see the girl was also grinning.

“Kaiden,” the midnight haired female blinked innocently at the raven-haired male, “You are so sweet, you know. Our baby Star is also very sweet… and single.”

Star covered her face and shrieked in embarrassment. Quickly rushing to her groupmates, she slapped their arms. They laughed and soon, Star was pulled to sit on the laps of the girls, hugging her as they calmed their laughter.

They heard a relieved sigh from the only female who remained standing. She was on the phone for awhile and when she hung up, she smiled over to everyone.

“Ah Jin says Shun is ok, but he would need to be there for awhile. His fever is pretty bad, but he will recover.”

“Thank you, Lisa,” Kaiden bowed in thanks and Taemeng nodded. Mikey and Heeang just stared with slightly narrowed suspicious eyes. Why? Heeang loves to read the articles and remembered reading about Lisa and Jin.

‘Why was this leader of Shinny Dolls dating that meanie Jin?’ Heeang stuck out his bottom lip with furrowed brows.

‘Why is Lisa so pretty?! I can’t stop staring at her!’ Mikey frowned and sidled closer to the youngest boy there, holding Heeang like an anchor.

The leader of Shinny Dolls, long black hair and warm brown eyes, glanced over at their manager. Letting out a sigh, Lisa crossed her arms and bit her bottom lip in thought. This whole mess was ridiculous. That image of Jenell crying with Star and Kola was originally for a meme the girls had seen, but the reporters had somehow taken the picture as well. It was a long day, so by the time they even thought of something to caption the picture, it already spread across the web.

“Lisa, don’t be mad,” Star hugged her friend.

“I’m not mad at you, any of you,” she smiled patting the young girl, “Just feel bad for Manager Bon and Assistant Gong.”

The poor assistant was in his office answering unending phone calls.

Kola and Jenell sighed and joined their members. All four girls stood with one another smiling, before that smile slowly went into a frown with furrowed brows. They were looking at Lisa’s phone, since the female was already looking through the internet. What they came across…

“I think… Manager Bon is going to have grey hairs soon,” Kola mumbled.

“Jin and Shun?” Jenell almost squealed thinking of the handsome men together, but she quickly remembered her friend was in love with the pinkette. Noticing the blank stare, she quickly held her friend tightly.

“Pssh, I’m sure this is nothing, Lisa. Rumors and gossips. Yuck!”

Heeang, the gossip machine, turned away from talking to Mikey to look at the girls. He got up and went over to try to look at the phone, but Kola had stepped before him.

“Heeang, something you need?”

“What are you talking about? What gossip?”

Kola, being taller than Heeang, looked down her nose at the troublesome boy. Yes! She definitely watched the idol show! She had no shame in saying it. She also had seen this sneaky monkey and being sneaky means bad and bad means she would be cold. Freezing if needed. No one was going to mess with her or her family.

“Nothing.”

“It isn’t nothing.”

Kola crossed her arms and quirked her brow, as if to challenge the boy into battle. Brown eyes narrowed at her and she watched the monkey huffed, before stomping back to his seat. She turned to see 3 pair of eyes staring at her with different expressions. A frown on Star, a straight face and quirked brow from Lisa, and an amused grin from Jenell.

“It’s probably about that no good Suu Jin,” Heeang spoke out, a bit loud and upset, “He probably cheated on Lisa.”

“What… Did you just say?” Kola spoke coldly.

“I said-”

“Enough!” Kaiden spoke up sternly. The man took a deep breath and bowed lightly to the girls, “I apologize for Heeang. He is still young and we shall work on his respect. Heeang, apologize.”

“What? Why should I?! She was-”

Heeang quickly shut his mouth when he saw such a stare, so deadly it was like an icepick stabbing him in his chest. He had never seen that look before and he felt the squeeze from Mikey on his arm. Swallowing his pride, he apologized meekly.

“Sorry.”

“Louder,” Kaiden stated and Heeang fisted his hands and spoke louder.

“I apologize for being rude.”

“It… is alright. I accept your apology, Heeang.”

The young brunette quickly sat up and turned to stuff his face into Mikey’s shirt. Kaiden felt his face fall. Did he just… Did he yell at the boy? He reached out and it was smacked away by the lanky, but hungry member of the group. Mikey was glaring at him and Kaiden pulled his hand back, staring at the boy hiding his face.

“Heeang, I apologize for yelling. Please forgive me.”

He didn’t get a reply and he knew he screwed up.

‘It was happening again, wasn’t it?’

Kaiden, kind with an abundance of leadership quality was not this way before. He rode his anger of an unsupportive father and a community that cared little for him. He was mean, he was ruthless, he cared for only himself.

Just like now.

He was trying to save face, but all he did was hurt his friend.

Rubbing his face, Kaiden covered his eyes for a moment, trying to think of what to do to gain forgiveness. They’ve been working for so much with barely any sleep. He wondered if it was due to his sleep deprivation or if this was who he really was.

‘No.’

He was not that boy anymore. He grew up, didn’t he? Shun had said if he accept his failures, his flaws, and wish to change, then that is growth.

‘But how far can I grow before I lose control again… like now. Maybe… I am a bad person.’

A hand landed on his shoulder and he looked over at the dancer. Taemeng didn’t say anything, only kept his hand on his shoulder and he nodded with a smile. He was thankful the dancer was there and even more when the man didn’t leave his side.

“The rumor…” Lisa started, “Says Jin and Shun has feelings for one another.”

“…”

“…”

“WHAT?!”

They all turned to the side to find both Producer Wang and Manager Bon. The experienced idol was red in the face, shaking with anger and Taemeng stood up, preparing for a fight. It wasn’t that the dancer wanted to fight, but he had seen that look on people who started them, so he would protect the others if he must.

“They’re just rumors,” Manager Bon stated as she looked at her tablet, “Don’t worry about it.”

Manager Bon looked at the children and she felt proud to see them together. This would do good for their publicity and their music. Shinny Dolls had debuted a year ago and would be working on their comeback album. Star- the cute sweet one, Kola- the pretty tomboy, Jenell- the photogenic visual, and Lisa- the well rounded one. Their first album sold millions in their country and their single- Baby Dolls were top of the charts.

Although with popularity comes all the pitted dramas. The girls would always explain or say the rumors were wrong, but it kept coming. Soon, the boys would start to feel the same and Manager Bon, she was prepared. Yet, right now, with this so called exclusive on Jin and Shun’s relationship… she was not ready to diffuse this situation. It was a sticky one that she might need to call for help.

“Since your manager really want both groups to collab,” Producer Wang mumbled with a scowl, “We’ll have to change up this song. You, here. Look it over with the others.”

“Where are you going?” Manager Bon questioned the experienced idol rolled his eyes and held up his cigarette.

With the door closing behind him, she slouched onto the seat and rubbed her temples. She waved off the concerns and told them to practice before Producer Wang returned. Skimming through the flurry of articles, she sighed and tapped her phone to her head. What should she do this time? It shouldn’t be an issue if neither boys liked one another but…

Flashbacks of Shun being flustered with Jin and practically falling into the idol’s arm, nuzzling him even! Manager Bon was not stupid. She was close enough to see it was no accident the boy fell against the idol… twice.

‘Ah, what to do Bon Bon, what to do…’

‘Got it!’

Quickly scrolling through her contacts, she came to the name she was looking for. Smiling, she placed a call and waited.

“Manager Ling here.”

“Ah Mei, it’s me, Bon.”

“…”

“…”

“Bon Bon?”

“Ah! You remember?”

“Ha! How can I forget! You literally grabbed my face and confessed your love, before puking all over me.”

“…”

“What is it? Something wrong?” Ling Mei asked after she calmed her laughter.

Manager Bon had not heard that voice in awhile nor hear that laughter. Smiling, she remembered their early days in college. Things were so much easier then, before they went into different managing companies.

“Did you see the articles?”

“Yeah… Oh, hold on,” Bon could hear Mei speaking aloud to her trainees, “Yes. What are you going to do? We’ve already received so many reporters, I feel like killing myself.”

“It only took reporters to defeat the beautiful tough Mei? Who are you?”

“Hah hah!” Ling Mei rolled her eyes, “We’ll be putting out a statement soon. Even the kids are getting stalked by those stupid reporters. Thank goodness Shun’s best friends know nothing right now. They are currently busy with preparing for the debut.”

“Oh, Wen Dong and Ping Ping, right?”

“Mmhmm,” Ling Mei paused hearing singing filter through the reciever, “Oh, you got Shinny Dolls singing with Symmony? Wow. Can’t believe you convinced that ego maniac.”

“I’m gonna go bald soon,” Bon whined and she heard the chackle on the other line.

“I’ve seen you bald. Still a beautiful bald eagle.”

“…”

“Eh, it was a compliment.”

“I miss you,” Bon sighed, “Seriously, I have to squash this. What is your statement?”

“Mm,” a pause as she listened to her old friend instructing someone, “Xiong Shun is a great asset to Zhi and Mei Studio. He is determined, kind, and strong in body and mind. What he does outside of his training or practice, we have no rights and at no liberty to make assumptions. All trainees, former and past, are not at liberty to discuss anything with reporters of all type. If reporters continue to harass anyone part of Zhi and Mei studio will be taken to court for breach of privacy and business.”

Manager Bon laughed and thumbed up her clients, as she shook her head at her friend.

“Straightforward as always.”

“Damn right! I got kids to protect.”

“That is why I love you!” Manager Bon picked up her tablet, “Alright, I will go speak with Shun and Jin before I put out a statement, but I have an idea of what to say. Thanks Mei Mei.”

“Always stealing my stuff,” she could hear the amusement and it felt nostalgic hearing it, “Alright. Bye then.”

“Bye. Oh! Hey, if you need anything, reach out, Ah Mei. I’ll make time.”

“Sure, sure. Later!”

Feeling energized, she stared writing down a draft of a statement that could be used. Producer Wang returned smelling of cigarette, but the girls and boys were ready to start recording. Giving them encouragement, she watched and listened to how their voices blends in so nicely. Glancing at the old idol, even the man’s sunglasses was pulled away to watch the magic.

“I don’t like to compliment,” Donny Wang stated, “But damn.. You have good ears.”