10 It's Useless (2)

Setting the phone down, Zach can only sigh exasperatedly. "You know these rumors are not true. You know the truth more than anyone else. You should understand why I'm doing what I'm doing."

"It's useless even if I know the truth. Yes I understand, but what of it? I'm just one person. Probably you can end these rumors if you get married? Just kidding! As if someone would dare marry you." Donny offhandedly suggested thinking that Zach would just brush his suggestion off.

But contrary to his expactations, Zach's eyes brightened. "Right! If I get married they would naturally realize that I am serious in denying the rumors. Anyway Alice's influence is already strong enough to protect herself. She doesn't need me as a her sheild. And I'm old enough to start a family." He said with full of enthusiasm.

Hearing his boss taking his suggestion seriously, Donny's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Hey! Hey! Zach Lu! Are you serious?"

"You were the one who suggested it. Why are you asking?" Zach answered while side eyeing his assistant.

"No! No! I'm just kidding. Have mercy to whomever you want to marry. Have you forgotten what had happened to the last one who got linked with you? That politician's daughter. The way I see it you seem to like this person you want to meet. Would you want her experience what that politician's daughter experienced?!" Donny frantically added to discourage Zach's careless decision.

"I only had dinner with her once because mother wants me to. We weren't dating. It was different." Zach still reasoned out.

"That's the point! You just went out for dinner once and got photographed while two meters apart yet that poor young miss suffered for months. She was stalked, her car was wrecked and she received death threats almost every five minutes. If she didn't come from a powerful family with tons of bodyguards she would have been murdered. Even I got nightmares hearing the details of what that lady went through. What would happen if you get into a real relationship then? Even I can't bear the thought of it, and I don't even know who that girl you are aiming for is. Yours and Alice's CP fans are toxic. Probably because they see your supposed love story as a fairy tale. You should reconsider." Donny said, his face shows how horrifying that experience was.

Having been reminded of that certain incident, Zach felt like he was doused with a barrel of ice cold water. That was a rough time for him as well. His mother and that young lady's family almost had a fall out. Which was a serious issue since his mother is a diplomat and a politician herself. At that time she even almost tried to ruin Alice's life in anger if not for him pacifying her. His motheer already hate Alice's existence as is. That incident was like the final nail to the coffin.

As an act of goodwill and to gain the young lady's family's forgiveness Zach had to mobilize everything in his hands to find all the culprits in the harassment. There was a massive arrest campaign at that time. Even those who harassed online was tracked down and apprehended. Court trial happened almost every hour. Some even said it was excessive but they can only swallow their opinion.

As if his his previous words didn't stab Zach deep enough, Donny even added salt to the wound. "In addition, you make it sound like you are selecting a wife like some emperor choosing a beauty to enter his back palace. Do you think you can marry someone just because you want to. You haven't met the other person yet you're already thinking about marriage."

Zach could only glare at his assistant yet he can't refute his words. However he is confident that as long as he makes an effort he could get the one he wants. But he chose not to say it out loud hence Donny would give him an earful of sarcastic remarks.

"I get your point. But it's my marriage and future happiness. Should I give up on it just because irrelevant people wouldn't agree?" This time Zach's tone is laced with irritation. He didn't mean to lash out at his assistant but he can't help his temper from flaring.

Seeing Zach's grave expression, Donny realized the importance of the matter for him. "It's not like there is no solution to this. I suggest that you tell Alice the truth."

"You know I can't." Zach replied almost immediately.

"But that's the only way. I know you are not that stupid to not realize how Alice feels about you. That she is not denying your rumors because she believes in 'fake it until you make it' motto. As long as she acts like a real girlfriend in public, you would never clear this misunderstanding. You should think about it seriously." Donny continued but Zach only returned it with silence. "It's not impossible to start befriending that girl you like first though. I suggest you build a connection with her first. But don't cross the boundaries until you haven't cleared things up with Alice."

In fact, Donny has other thoughts about Alice. He find it odd how the pairing between her and Zach became so huge to the point of being like a cult. Even the ordinary people who didn't have an intererst in business and music knew about their CP. It is only right to assume that someone is fueling the rumor. And he thinks it was Alice's work. After all she is the only one who would benefit on it.

He told Zach about his speculations before but Zach brushed it off by saying that Alice is not a manipulative type. But he though otherwise. For some reason he could feel the yandere vibes on her everytime she and Zach are together. Especially the way she latch on him in some gatherings. Maybe if she could she would put a tag on Zach saying 'Alice Han's property'. Honestly it's scary.

Finally hearing a suggestion that he can do, Zach perk up. "That's right. We should start as friends first."

"Anyway can you tell me who this unfortunate soul is? How did you come to know about her?" Donny asked curiously.

"I've known about her for a long time now. But we didn't get a chance to get acquainted. The last time I saw her was before I went abroad to study. She was still too young back then so i didn't dare to approach out of nowhere." Zach said with a nostalgic smile.

"Oh? How young?" Donny asked. In his mind he is guessing that it should be around sixteen to seventeen since Zach was eighteen when he went to study abroad.

"Thirteen." Zach answered calmly.

But Donny was far from being calm. "Thirteen?! Are you a beast?!"

"It's just a five-year gap." Zach retort with a frown.

Regaining his wits, Donny realized that it wasn't actually that bad. It's just hearing that her age was thirteen while Zach was eighteen makes it sound bad. But thinking about it, she should be twenty three now. A bit young but at least at legal age. "Who is it then?"

"Lin family's young miss and heiress. Eunice Lin. Eugene's sister and Alice's cousin." Zach said with a smile, his fox eyes dripping with gentleness while saying her name.

This time Donny lost his voice and just dropped his jaw in shock. In his mind he's screaming 'How complicated!'