Stay With Me

Ch 13. Number One Fan

Or, Feng He is jealous because he thinks he is just like every other groupie...with benefits.

People were starting to come up to Cheng Qing more often. Some would take candid photos when they thought he wasn't looking. Others would come up to him and insist he sign something of theirs; one or two crazy fans insisting he sign something a little more intimate.

Feng He had tried his best to ignore it but every time someone pushed him aside or acted like he wasn't there, it reminded him that Cheng Qing had a career that would never allow him to declare that he was in a relationship with a man.

It didn't matter that Feng He wanted nothing more than to see him succeed and rise to the top. Cheng Qing deserved that more than anyone he knew. He just didn't know how to be in love with someone whom everyone loved as well.

All the attention had coincided with the shows debut. But it had become increasingly hard to avoid his fans as both he and the show gained popularity. Cheng Qing was well on his way and there was no limit to what he could do...if he just played along with the fans idea of him being single, willing and available.

Unfortunately, Cheng Qing didn't like the attention any more now than he had before. He'd taken to wearing a disguise even when he came to school – Feng He's wardrobe providing the necessary camouflage when he's designer clothes stood out too much.

There were still some diehard fans who followed him around but most people respected his desire for privacy after his earlier reaction to a few overzealous students had found its way around the grapevine. They said he preferred giving offence rather than giving in and disappearing rather than dealing with unreasonable demands. Everyone was trying to be polite and understanding so they only ever came up to him between classes.

That was not the case when he left the school.

He had been followed around and harassed on more than one occasion and although they had pulled the trick of trading clothes with Feng He on the spur of the moment a few more times, some fans had caught on to the trick and were no longer as easily fooled.

They took to following Feng He some of the time because they had realized the two would probably meet up and he was as good as gauge of Cheng Qing's presence as any spotter. If they could not keep track of Cheng Qing, then his 'brother' was fair game.

"I think you should just lay low for a while." Feng He said as the crouched down behind a pile of carton boxes. The cardboard cubes were piled high in the alley they were hiding providing adequate cover. Perfect for avoiding the mob of fans that had followed them from the restaurant where they were eating dinner.

"I thought we were safe in a place like this?" Cheng Qing answered frustrated by the fact that he couldn't even get a meal without people giving him a hard time.

"Maybe next time you should wear a better disguise." Meng Meng offered unhelpfully.

"Or you should go out alone and the rest of us will just stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet." Feng He said not hiding how upset he was about the whole situation.

"I thought you wanted to try out the new restaurant?" Cheng Qing asked softly. His voice a complete contrast to Feng He's belligerent tone. "You were so happy when I got complementary passes to their buffet because of the show and I just wanted you to enjoy it. You wanted to try everything this chef could cook because he's supposed to be the best."

"I know what I said. You don't have to repeat all of it to me. I just didn't think I would be hiding behind these cartons after the meal instead of getting home so I can get some studying done."

Meng Meng watched the back and forth between them like it was a high speed ping pong game. She did not speak a word, she just observed them. It was the perfect conversation to incorporate into her current story idea and she really didn't want to miss a thing.