Rock's Side
" Why are you so tense?"
Didi the buff salon owner and Rock's old friend sighed when he caught Rock frowning yet again at the tiny figure beside him. They were here for the launch of the new models, and where there was a creditor, there was also a little debtor tagging along like a shadow.
The small one had been transformed by Didi himself. The fierce white hair, the slim frame looking healthier and softer than before every detail from head to toe had been polished.
The house servant who usually shuffled around Rock's mansion was now standing beside the king of the luxury-car scene like a glittering little prince.
They looked so good together that people kept asking if they were dating, if they were engaged, if they were about to announce something.
Everyone was full of compliments… except Rock, whose expression stayed sour as if he'd swallowed a whole hive of wasps.
"You're seriously trying to make him look as wild as you, aren't you, Didi?" Rock snapped.
"What? I'm just making sure your companion doesn't embarrass you. You're Rock Coco's boss your follower can't show up looking plain, babe~"
"I told you to dress him properly, not to make him compete with the damn models!"
"Oh, please. Standing out is better than blending in. Who knows people might check out the company because of Star."
"Why would they care about a person? They're here to buy cars, not the guy standing next to them!"
But before he could finish complaining, a crowd was already forming at the Rock Coco booth much thicker than anywhere else. Countless eyes sparkled as they stared at the small figure, thinking he looked like a top-tier model placed beside the luxury car impossible to ignore.
"Excuse me, how long is the wait if I place an order for this model?"
A tall, affluent-looking man older but refined walked straight toward the small figure by the luxury car. His eyes sparkled with clear intent as he addressed Star, making someone nearby grit his teeth so hard he nearly charged into the conversation… if Deedee hadn't grabbed him to hold him back.
Star never really liked cars. His first lover adored them so much he always forgot Star existed. And because of a certain supercar, he'd ended up buried under a mountain of debt. But hatred eventually turned into familiarity. Being around a car-obsessed boss meant getting lectures every single day. Even the details about which model would arrive when had been drilled into him so thoroughly that the information rolled off his tongue without effort.
"Uh—right. This one doesn't take long," Star answered politely. "About seven days after signing the contract, the car will arrive at the company's inspection center."
"Oh my god, look at our little Star finally lifting his head when talking to people!"
Deedee practically squealed. "Rock, look so cute! Star looks the best when not staring at the floor mumbling!"
The sweet, naive thing was suddenly surrounded people asking for photos, asking about specs, asking everything. He looked completely overwhelmed.
"What the hell did you teach him, Deedee?" Rock hissed. "If one day he wakes up wearing a wig, a strapless dress, and tries to jump me, what am I supposed to do?"
"Why not? You sneak glances at him all the time," Didi teased. "Wouldn't it be nice if he becomes the glamorous little madam of Chairman Rock Coco~?"
"Nice my ass!"
"Look at that he's walking them over to sign the contract. Tell me that isn't the perfect future spouse of Rock Coco~"
"Hey that's an imported car worth nearly twenty million! How the hell is he doing that?"
Rock's eyes almost popped out.
"Wanna bet?" Didi grinned. "If Star actually closes a sale, you need to consider making him your partner."
"Partner? Don't be stupid. He already has a lover. They didn't break up."
"Oh please that kind of boyfriend? You'd send Star back to that guy? Don't you feel even a little sorry for him?"
"Why should I? He was dumb enough to get fooled by him."
"And didn't you fool him too, Mr. Rock?" Didi shot back. "Don't think people don't notice. Driving drunk, no license, bad eyesight, crashing a test-drive car with VIP insurance that could be claimed unlimited times… yet you still made the kid pay the full amount. Poor little Star… why must someone so innocent meet nothing but awful men?"
Didi clasped his hands together dramatically.
"May the heavens punish every no-good man who takes advantage of him… especially the one who fell for the little thing so hard he can't crawl back out. Amen smite them all!!"
"Argh! Why the hell are you looking at me?!"
Rock snapped at his best friend, but Deedee ignored him completely, focusing on the small figure chatting easily with another group of customers calm, confident, not a hint of shyness.
"Look, look someone else is asking Star about the car again."
And the event hadn't even officially begun.
Yet the person Rock had dragged along had already closed three deals one of them paid in full, in cash.
The kid everyone used to treat as worthless, lower than dust, was now speaking naturally with high-profile buyers people with wealth, taste, influence. And doing it as if he'd belonged in that world all along. It was the first time Rock saw him lift his head and speak so clearly, so steadily.
A stark contrast to that day he talked about his ex shoulders drooping, eyes downcast, hugging his knees as if he'd grown used to holding himself because no one else ever did. Soon after, the opening ceremony began. Rock was invited to cut the ribbon.
His parents arrived separately always separately and stood beside him like the official "family heads." His mother, a notoriously fierce businesswoman from the countryside, arrived in loud colors and a streetwise posture, hands in her pockets like some glamorous thug, earning disapproving stares from the crowd.
But envy followed right after.
Rivals whispered how Rock's wealth and dominance in foreign car imports were all thanks to his parents' backing. Rumors always found their way to his ears.
And then the ceremony ended.
"I heard you brought a celebrity today, Rock. Won't you introduce him to Mother?"
his mother asked, intrigued.
"Celebrity?" Rock frowned.
"That one the white hair, white top, red pants. Very striking. Whose child is he?"
She whispered while eyeing Star, who was confidently walking a customer through the contract.
"Uh… that's—"
"This is the first time I've ever seen you take interest in romance," his father cut in warmly. "I'm glad you're finally maturing."
"N-no, it's not like that.."
The usually sharp, eloquent Rock was suddenly flustered, making both parents smirk proudly. For thirty years, their son had cared about nothing except cars. Hearing from their own staff that he had arrived with someone "special" today was the happiest news they'd heard in ages. Before Rock could explain, his face which had been flushed with embarrassment darkened instantly as a man in a black suit approached.
Handsome.
Polished.
And someone Rock absolutely loathed. Because that man was walking straight toward his little stray.
"Excuse me, Father, Mother I'm leaving."
Whether they stayed or not was their choice. Rock, however, was done watching another man smile at Star.
This was supposed to be a grand opening event yet here Star was, the tiny troublemaking debtor who somehow got close to Deedee. That devil of a friend dressed Star up, transforming a fallen star into a rising one: outfit, makeup, hair everything. The tofu-soft face somehow turned into the queen of the supercar showcase, shimmering under a million imaginary spotlights, perfectly living up to the name Star.
The cropped top showed off a slim, S-shaped waist unbelievable considering Star used to be all bones, flat as a board. Now there was softness, fullness everywhere. Must've been the supplements and good food Deedee kept stuffing into that small body. With a change of clothes and makeup, the little debtor looked almost like a seductive stray cat begging to be ruined.