Chapter 78
Press Conference Day
We park the motorcycle in front of the Fame Hotel. While waiting for Kai to answer the interview, vultures swarm around the bait that is already boring to the throat. But that was a few days ago.
Every time they have smelled this dish, they have frowned. Just by looking at it, they have feared their faces would turn blue. They have been so tired of eating it that their throats have choked and they have felt nauseous.
If they throw it away, it breaks their hearts because... today... it is no longer extremely bad, but the fragrance is so intense it stuffs their noses. Especially at this time, the specialty is accompanied by a fragrant and sweet appetizer.
A specialty is still a specialty. No matter how tired they are of it, it is still so expensive that it must be cut into pieces[1].
Appetizers attract customers more than specials. Owls cling to the specials… one, crows gather around the appetizers… ten. They fly around in a scattered, jubilant manner, beaks open and cawing, feasting on the appetizers:
"Are you two officially dating?"
"Who confessed first?"
"Sam is a world-famous superstar who often leaves home for competitions. He is also the star most envied. Countless people fear him when present but hate him when absent. I really admire you because you have to…"
The bastard deliberately omits this sentence and pauses for a few seconds before sarcastically complimenting:
"So the rose is the bravest girl in the world! Excuse me, the rose of the guard…"
If I continue to yell and scream as usual, the press conference will be ruined. I suppress my anger and walk into the hotel with Rose, interrupting them:
- I am in a good mood and don't want to be turned off by sensational, distorted headlines in the media!
Rose almost laughs out loud when she hears me laugh softly:
- Open all your nitpicking eyes and watch my eyes shining like "the shooting star's glance crosses through your eyes". Don't let them change color!
Everyone is stunned. They don't expect me to answer in a funny way, contrary to my "don't provoke me mad" personality. Kai signs autographs and takes selfies with fans. He is not surprised when I scare the vultures with my funny voice.
He laughs happily and winks gracefully, congratulating Rose. The younger sister's radiance and joy embellish the rose into a bright red.
The sister doesn't need to hide her slightly pursed lips as she smiles at someone—someone who fears his own fierce panther‑tiger temperament will affect his brother's reputation. The vultures and a group of idle groins have an excuse to disturb the family… pruning, picking leaves… roses.
The flower's will walks alongside someone's intention...
But the vultures still have an appetite and a thirst for the most unpalatable specialty of all delicacies. That specialty is the old prey made new. Today that old bait becomes a new and exotic food… like an original item with its stamp still intact.
The vultures don't ask questions incessantly, nor do they pounce on the prey to eat it without leaving any bones. The herd enjoys the fine feast leisurely, with a gentle attitude, just like their father — that old bastard JK. My eyes itch, but I still endure it.
Previously, when going with my sister-in-law, Rose got angry many times and poked the hungry leeches with sharp thorns. Now, facing life with a new identity, she must protect the image of everyone she cares about… just like someone protects her.
Rose imitates her boyfriend, trying to be a polite gentleman. The feisty girl smiles and answers the most anticipated question:
- Who wants to know who confessed love first… ask… - She pauses for a moment and smiles - Silk old man and Moon old woman!
Rose calmly ignores the numerous compliments on her tactful answer. I smile quietly as she secretly praises me:
- If you live truly, they hate you. If you are different, they despise you. If you have talent, they try to crush you. Neither man nor god can cure the chronic disease of envy.
I grin widely, 'admiring' the vultures plucked bare. None of the flock wants to hear any more sarcastic curses, so they deflect by shifting their target to Kai.
That prey is even more delicious than a pair born in heaven – is the steel rose covered with sharp thorns, mouth and tongue sharper than any pen tip... and... the rude guy curses until the point of swinging the dog leash, countless threats cause the vultures to wet all their "feathers", the fans are so scared that the toad's butt turns green.
The species of tigers, leopards, foxes and minks... no comparison with the man god who is kind to his fans, polite to a bunch of people who didn't study since childhood, and grew up to be reporters.
He is gentle every second and every minute with their own kind — those who call themselves fanatical fans for ten years and the girls who idolize talent as an excuse, but in truth it is all about obsession with the handsome guy.
All it takes is one smile from the handsome guy, not to mention a voice so warm and sweet that it melts the heart, the girls of the "kingdom of a hundred eggs hatching a hundred children" ovulate all the baskets again. They openly compete with each other to open their crotches, each desire, giving birth to a bunch of Kai children for the world's most handsome man god.
Tsk, suddenly bullshit again. It seems that ever since I have been tortured by the girl, I have suffered from random short circuits and half‑crazy. If I say these words, I will definitely be ridiculed by a group of idle groins loathsome... I am eating a huge gato cake.
Forget it, let's ignore their mother. The most important thing right now is to hold the press conference smoothly. At the same time, learn from his brother's unchanging style in the ever‑changing flow of life. I must watch him suppress his emotions and calmly deal with the obstacles in block life.
- Well... if the fans are disappointed in protecting younger sister, the movie will not have an ending. - The older brother shrugs with a half‑smile - Real fan is not worthy of an ordinary fan!
The younger brother smiles and gives a thumbs up. Kai laughs until his eyes close. The older brother listens attentively to the next question:
"Recently, netizens have spread rumors and spread your shocking statement: JK's offspring are not princesses. Is this true or false, Mr!"
The vultures always want to ask this question, but they are afraid of the anger of the ferocious god. The crowd who are addicted to fame but dare not suck it can only silently make an altar and pray for rain in their hearts.
The prayer moves the heavens, God sends down thunder to make trouble for the national brothers and sisters. A bunch of people who follow the trend immediately splash water in the rain, pushing the story to a place 18,000 miles away from reality, roughly:
"Netizens have criticized you because you have said that JK's offspring are not worthy of being princesses!"
Everyone immediately starts to fuss:
"Countless people have accused you of being arrogant because you have thought Mr. JK's offspring are not worthy of being compared to your younger sister!"
"This story has been at the center of public attention, and the online community has been buzzing with discussion. Anti‑fans have taken advantage of the situation and have attacked and discredited you in the virtual world. Countless people have defended you, but many fans have turned around and have criticized you. Mr, how are you explaining and dealing with this scandal?"
The herd pretends not to hear my frantic screams and curses, all playing the game of flies sticking to honey with the opportunity God has given them.
A bunch of animals bark human voices, open their mouths and squawk, spewing dozens of indirect and off‑topic questions to... disturb the sharp mind, plot to make the eloquent person's brain confused, to expose loopholes for rodents to pick at the corpse.
Ten years of art activities have been ten years of living with floods, with violent storms rumbling down on the head, and evil intentions sweeping everything away.
Kai nods, enjoys the tsunami of distortion and concert with the storm that stuffs words into his mouth. The older brother half‑closes his eyes like an artist... appraisal... the score makes the audience sensational.
I am mad but still burst out laughing, he is sluggish with lament as the song ends with a suffocatingly quiet low note… to… wait… explode at maximum volume one time… the man god speaks carelessly.
The older brother does not rush to respond, but calmly turns to his brother and sister. He shrugs his shoulders, and replaces his words with the appropriate expressions:
"Why are you getting mad at a bunch of people who have nothing except cultural illiterates, causing a migraine!"
The guy shakes his finger, pouts, and "criticizes" my tiger-and-leopard attitude:
"Tsk, it's not always tigers and leopards who can solve the problem, bro!"
He poses politely:
"Sometimes you have to be calm, very calm, calm creates a gentleman! Only damn politeness can lock the dog's mouth!"
I chuckle at the criticism:
"The risk is that your relatives haven't ripened yet but are already stinking in this block life!"
Recharges me to full battery, the older brother turns to his beloved sister. I laugh until I cry when he contemplates tenderly at Rose at every moment.
That horrible nightmare is just a startle compared to... the beast part of the wild herd that takes over the human part.
The girl is at a loss, dizzy in the barbaric atmosphere, waiting to tear the prey into pieces, burying the victim and everything related to it in the mud of right and wrong.
The brother laughs like someone driven to the brink of madness by this damned block life, but still has to endure... endure... and endure, has to open a fresh smile that does not need watering in the apocalypse of human nature:
"This crazy, fake, jealous lump of life that is called being a public figure life. Condolences to you for coming into my world and... someone..."
Rose is not shy, does not blush, is not timid, and is not afraid. She covers her mouth, blinks her eyes, giggles, teases her brother and... teases... her someone:
"My brother is thinking too far ahead, as if I will... regret... because... someone... ah!"
The girl glances at me, I become listless, exhausted by the unique pair of siblings. The two enjoy it, smile until their eyes narrow, watch me express "attitude":
"Well, I know that you brothers and sisters are the second person, and no one dares to identify themselves as Sunday!"
Rose laughs to the point that her shoulders shake. Kai ignores the whole world waiting for his answer. He talks to his brother and sister like a pantomime until he has nothing to say, then he answers life:
- A long time ago, I always questioned whether my younger sister was a pure flower in your eyes before she appeared as a benefactor to save Hoang Kim's life and reveal her true identity.
Not only the vultures, but the entire world understands what Kai is alluding to. But the herd of animals feeding on the rotting corpse still bite forever and do not let go:
"Oh, it seems you are off topic, Mr!"
"Yes, Mr, we are talking about Mr. JK's descendants and you!"
"Everyone is eagerly waiting for your reply!"
The whole group is in a commotion again, asking Kai to get straight to the point. Kai smiles slightly, in that way of his:
"You all don't want to talk about Hanna. I really like this!"
Sam and Rose giggle, watching the crowd dazed as Kai leads them by the nose like a cow, from hunters becoming prey, falling into the trap of a skilled fox. The shrewd man half-smiles:
- When Lan and Suong were unfairly treated by the referee, did anyone call them princesses, or were they all devious, scrutinized, praised, belittled, offensive, and criticized?
The vulture swarm interrupts:
"You shouldn't bring up other people's past..."
"I repeat, we should only talk about the right topics!"
Kai smiles faintly at the pretense of nobility:
- You all always like to bestow, like to give, like to praise someone as a man god, a handsome guy like in a romance novel, be infatuated because of the beauty given by God, and praise someone as a princess... which... don't you all care whether others like being "called" with fancy words?
The older brother shows a calm expression, opens the water bottle and takes a few sips, smacks his lips and continues:
- If anyone dares to assert that Mr JK's descendants like to be called princesses, speak out... and...
A vulture interrupts:
"Please don't speculate, answer the core of the question. We just want to know that reason!"
The press conference turns into a ridiculous comedy of bullshit. Kai is still unmoved about the "what's so strange and surprising" incident in the entertainment industry. He maintains his smile and asks:
- Oh, you mean I'm a wool-seller who knows a wool buyer?
That guy tries to suppress his disdain:
"Yeah, how can you be more certain than a nail driven into a pillar that the descendants of Mr. JK don't like it?"
That guy says nothing. He sees many people shaking their heads and pinching their foreheads. He realizes that he has made a mistake. Many people see that Kai is satisfied, triumphant.
They secretly mock your 'triumph' in trapping a so-called wise guy. That kind of 'cleverness'? Where I'm from, it's chained up all over the streets. Nothing to be proud of.
It turns out that the wisdom and eloquent man god is just a trivial cunning guy. Kai ignores the superficial people but thinks they are deep. The older brother clears his throat, teases:
- I have not interacted with Mr. JK's descendants. But through their behavior toward the media and the audience, every expression, every word, especially the most prominent event of the reunion night, the kids have already grasped the character of Mr. JK's descendants, but there have still been people who have deliberately not understood. Could it be that they aren't even on the same level as the kids? I am very naive; now I know it!
Rose and I laugh until our whole bodies shake, watching him lift his head and then exhale downward like the same icon that "I am helpless and speechless with you".
That guy is speechless, not daring to cough a single word. But many people are not afraid of being ridiculed as stupid, still express a willingness to risk danger to suck fame, ask Kai to explain clearly and stop beating around the bush to save face. Kai still uses a sarcastic tone:
- Tsk, it seems a bit of a waste of time. Let's end it like this. - He suddenly turns solemnly to the largest camcorder in the press conference room - Every girl wants to be a princess in her family, but that is for family members. From an outsider's point of view, if Mr. JK's descendants "really" also like the public to call them princesses, do they "deserve" such worship?
Kai emphasizes "really and deserve" to make it possible for those whose brains are slow to load like those with network lag to pine brain. The Internet crowd—healthier in stubbornness than bodybuilders are in muscle—still deliberately don't understand:
"We just want to know if you say they aren't worthy of being princesses after all?"
"That's right, you're being long-winded again, wasting time for anyone to watch!"
Kai turns to me immediately after hearing the next sentence. I see him raise his eyebrows and smile, as if to say that your older brother wastes time doing tricks from beginning to end because of you.
I am stunned for a few seconds, then show a touching face, almost crying because of the... great heart... sacrifice everything... even reputation, to give the younger brother a lesson in responding wisely to life.
Rose shakes her head and laughs. She is speechless because of the two super naughty gods. Kai touches his neck, says he is thirsty, takes a long sip, and then takes out the recording of the entire interview in the woods until he answers about JK's offspring:
"Mr. JK's descendants reunite with their family, and I reunite with my sister. They are not princesses, but people who share the same joy as me!"
The older brother shrugs and says:
"Are you all satisfied?"
The last skill already squeezes the vulture's mouth tightly, no one dares to show the nature of the dead dog herd biting people. Each animal drives the story back to the theme of the press conference:
"Music night "affection" tomorrow!"
From then until the end of the press conference, all questions revolve around the music, no one is thick-faced enough to dare to be a disturbance or cause trouble to the anti-damage master.
Only a bunch of people who are horny 365 days a year are still ovulating, asking all kinds of coax questions, taking a boat[2], and flirting with the man god.
Luckily, the older brother is very considerate and anticipates this, so he lets Rose and me go on the date continue, he does this in front of everyone to prevent badmouthing and put a bunch of words into our mouths. Rose and I nod thankfully.
He waves his hand as if telling us: Treating your own family with such formality—are you guys so much in love you've gone crazy?
I laugh and glance at Rose, who is blushing. The girl pats my shoulder and urges me to hurry up to avoid embarrassment. I look miserable and frown, saying OK, OK, got it. The girl giggles and pats my back. Before she can say the classic words, I swing my arms and legs and imitate the girl's voice:
"Stupid!"
Rose laughs, puts on her helmet, and jumps onto the motorcycle. The girl is about to hug me, but I pull her hands and put them on my waist. The girl lets out a loud cry because she doesn't expect me to be so cheesy, as if we are in a romance novel. I heh heh:
- I am afraid that before my second elder sister hugs me, I accidentally press the accelerator of the motorcycle! Although it is a bit corny, it is for safety, so that second elder sister does not fall on the street. I have to do my best to hold my second elder sister to the clinic!
I guess that the girl's face is red and smoke is rising. The girl pats my shoulder vigorously; this classic habit confirms that my guess is correct and does not need to be corrected. The girl smiles slyly:
- You don't like me calling you Lang, so from now on just call me elder sister; I call you younger brother!
I happily continue teasing:
- Tsk tsk, why do I feel my back is as soft and smooth as velvet only now?
Rose pauses for a few seconds before she understands what is meant. She chuckles, disparaging ê words prolonged [3]:
- Horrible, very rude to flirt with girls, but someone loves it!
I laugh hoh hoh:
- Rudeness also has its own charm! And who is the person who likes?
The girl pretends to be stunned:
- Who are you? Where is Sam? I don't know you! Sam is stupid with girls and doesn't have a mouth like a jumping shrimp like you!
I heh heh:
- Idiot to others, but no longer an idiot to… someone… is… winter is not cold, lah!
The girl laughs so hard at the voice of the handsome guy's romantic voice, she suddenly changes her voice and threatens:
- If you dare to boast with a side chick like this, die with me!
I laugh out loud in the street and drive fast:
- No girl likes to hear sweet talk from a rude guy… except… someone!
Happy laughter echoes everywhere. She demands I take her around the city all night long; I keep nodding:
- Okay, I know, second elder sister, actually… well… if you didn't nag me, I would volunteer to be your guard as with the qualification to be your boyfriend.
I wait until the girl gets excited and squints her eyes with laughter, then I pretend to remember:
- Oh, but today is Sunday and tomorrow is Monday and you have school, so how can we have a good time all night, second elder sister?
I think the girl will be disappointed. I eagerly wait for her to sulk. Unexpectedly, the girl giggles again; I raise my mouth and raise my lips:
- Say you have no charm, you will be touchy, what are you laughing at?
The words are interrupted by lights that flash like fireworks. The ancestor of it. That weird discotheque building, always shines brightly every weekend night to greet the new day.
Today it suddenly changes and shows a group of female dancers with long legs reaching their armpits, dancing and singing:
Saturday is not over yet, Sunday is coming
I wish you a new day of fun and enjoyment.
I am stunned; my jaw goes slack and I can't close my mouth. Every time I am deceived by the girl, my ears have hot flashes and I hear her smug laughter.
This time, the mother of someone of hers also joins in teasing me. The girl is even more pleased. I pat my forehead and sigh:
- Tormented by a girl until your mind is muddled, your life is officially finished. Sam ah Sam!
That whole night, that laughter disturbs my mind, just like the girl torturing me all day long.
No upset. No pain.
Only the laughter that makes me forget all my worries lulls me to soothing sleep.
Note
[1] (colloquial) expensive but delicious food, good stuff (worth the money spent)
[2] It means a flirtatious girl who is skilled in using tone of voice and gestures to seduce men.
[3] This is the original word for chê (disparaging), pronounced with the sound ê extended when used to tease or mock someone.