Valkyrie85: Hey guys! Thank you all for reading and reviewing for the other chapters. It was really a bless to read your reviews! They help me a lot in improving my story. Anyways, here's the 4th chapter. Please enjoy and review!
Chapter 4
Eriol stared at Syaoran gravely. Any trace of casualness from their short conversation about Syaoran's dinner with Sakura was erased completely from his face. Now, it was time for serious business.
"What's going on?" Syaoran couldn't help but ask the obvious. He sat up straight on the sofa, looking at Eriol with equal solemnity.
His friend took out a folded newspaper and handed it over to him. As he unfolded it, big bold letters began to form the title.
"Best Actor of the Decade Award Nominee List Coming Out on the 1st of August," Syaoran read the title out loud.
"Exactly, and you have to be on it," Eriol declared. "But so far with your problem, this goal is a long way to go."
Syaoran stared at his friend for a very long time. Eriol didn't need to explain the 'problem' and Syaoran already knew. "How do I do that?" he finally asked, uncertainly.
Eriol said as he leaned back against the back of his sofa, "You need to drop your playboy title, or at least in front of the public. The shorter time it takes the higher chance you'll be on the nominee list."
Syaoran gave a confused look that matched his feelings inside. "How is that going to help me?"
"Human beings are easily convinced," Eriol explained. "You read the comments I showed you last time didn't you? Almost every criticism in there was related to your playboy attitude. Once one person, and unfortunately a very influential one, brings up the consequence of your playboy lifestyle to your acting, the other people begin to look for it in your acting."
Eriol crossed his arms over his chest and continued, "Then, they will notice it and blame it all on your love life just because one person had said it, even though they really aren't sure if that's the reason for your bad acting."
Syaoran understood the basic idea of Eriol's words. He repeated his words in his head.
"So now I have to act like I'm not a playboy anymore. Then, the public gets the delusion that my acting will also have an improvement?" Syaoran asked in conclusion.
Eriol nodded sternly. Syaoran might act stupid sometimes, but when it came to serious matter, he was quick to catch on.
"This industry is bullshit," Syaoran cursed. "At first when I began, you trained me to become a player because you said the public liked that type of personality. Now that I've reached this level, I have to drop it and turn into another type of person." He sighed mockingly. "Why can't I just simply act?"
Eriol rose from his seat and replied with a lighter tone, "Because that's how this field works. By simply acting won't get you far in this career. You need to be scandalous at times. But since you are already a successful actor and model who no longer needs the single reputation, it's time for you to alter your image."
Seeing Eriol, Syaoran quickly got up from his seat as well. "Leaving already?" He asked and yawned.
"Yes. In the mean time, think of some ways for you to achieve that. I've still got some things to work on at the company." With a wave of his hand, Eriol left.
After the door closed, Syaoran entered his spacious bathroom and turned on the water in the standing shower. As the warm water ran down his body, he thought over the conversation he had with Eriol.
To him, it was a complete joke. He remembered when he had first joined the film industry after a few years as a model, Eriol asked him a very simple question. "Do you want to be at the top of the world?"
Without really knowing what it had meant, Syaoran answered, "Yes." Ever since then, Eriol told him that his life was going to be changed forever. And it sure did.
In order to turn the answer into reality, Eriol helped him to transform from his old quiet and shy self into someone entirely different, someone like who he was today, a playboy. Eriol had told him that fans fancied scandalous stars rather than the boring ones. So, he started attending exclusive clubs and parties to upgrade his status.
At first, everything seemed so weird to him. He was never the sociable type back in the States, though he may have hung out with some of the popular socialists in the school. He didn't enjoy being in the spotlight, nor did he enjoy living as an irresponsible person. Then, as time passed, he gradually got used to that type of care-free lifestyle.
Naturally, his reputation in those types of events increased. People became more aware of him, and he was nicknamed as a "playboy" by everyone because he started to openly flirt with girls in public.
How he had achieved his current success was all thanks to both his scandalous personal life and his passion towards acting. He wasn't sure which of the two was more prominent. Right now though, maybe the second one. That was why Eriol told him to alter his image to save his career.
Did that mean he had to go back to the old Li Syaoran, who was quiet, shy, and nerdy? That thought seemed very unattractive. But then something even more unattractive came to his mind…
He remembered the way Sakura had described him last night. She said he was self-centred, immature, and arrogant; he had never possessed any of these back when he was just a normal person.
Suddenly, he felt troubled. Was it insecurity he had towards his new self? Did he feel irritated that Sakura didn't react to his appearance last night, unlike the other girls in Asia? Or was he just pissed off that Sakura hated the new him but liked the old him?
He considered these possibilities and realized that the source of his troubling feelings came from the combination of all three. He quickly turned off the water and wrapped his body with a towel. Then, he went back to the living room to retrieve his cell phone and punched in a few numbers before it began to beep.
"Hello?" a cloudy voice muttered into the phone on the other line.
"Hikari, can you give me Diadouji Inc.'s number?" Syaoran asked.
"What would you like to drink, mister?" a waitress in her mid-twenties asked Syaoran with a polite bow. He looked up and smiled charmingly at her. "Just an espresso, please."
The waitress blushed furiously but didn't let it to affect her job. "Sure," she said with another bow. As she collected the menu in front of Syaoran, he quickly added, "Also, please give me a strawberry crème milkshake."
The tall waitress nodded and left.
Syaoran stared out the French window lazily, watching the passer-bys come and go on the sidewalk. He liked this café and came often because it was one of the few in Tokyo where the most publicized figures, like celebrities and politicians, could freely hang out without the risk of being eavesdropped.
Looking out the window, he noticed a familiar auburn-haired beauty, wearing a white blouse and black shorts, quickly approaching the café. Her hair was slightly blown backwards due to wind. He watched her enter the café and was stopped by a waiter at the front podium.
At that moment, a mixture of emotions flew into him. He convinced himself that he was just nervous about what he was going to discuss with Sakura, and nothing more; he no longer had feelings for her. That was a done-deal a long time ago. After he dropped every aspect of his old personality behind, he dropped his feelings for her, as well.
"Miss, do you have a reservation?" the young waiter asked. He looked at her in non-obvious awe, but Syaoran still noticed it.
Sakura surveyed around the cafe and recognized Syaoran's messy chestnut hair. "I'm here to see Li Syaoran," she said politely, her face plastered with a warm smile.
As if on cue, Syaoran approached them loftily. "That's okay. She's my friend," he said to the waiter. He led Sakura to his table and returned to his original seat. Sakura sat into the chair across from him.
"How about you order something to eat?" he asked, handing the menu to her.
"How about not," she replied dryly, the previous warm voice she'd used towards the waiter long gone. She wasn't in a good mood to sweet-talk Syaoran. After the things that had happened last night, Tomoyo and Sakura hadn't talked much because she was so sad that she got rejected by Syaoran. "What is your purpose for asking me to come?"
Syaoran leaned in closer and said lowly, "Shall we make a deal?" Sakura's eyebrows raised.
"I reconsidered the offer from last night and I decided that I want to model for Daidouji Inc…"
He was cut short when the waitress from before approached them with two drinks on a tray.
"Here are your drinks," she said as she placed the espresso and milkshake on the table. Both Sakura and Syaoran thanked her at the same time. The waitress bowed and left.
Syaoran pushed the milkshake towards Sakura. "Strawberry Crème Milkshake." She looked at it and quickly pushed it away. "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't drink milkshakes." She knew she was being a bitch but who gave a damn about someone who had insulted her best friend so badly last night?
Syaoran shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't know what you like, so the waitress recommended this." He took a sip of his espresso to collect his thoughts. Of course she wouldn't like it. That was so many years ago. He thought and mentally slapped himself.
"So where were we at? Ah yes. I think I was wrong about making such a reckless decision last night," he continued, looking into her mesmerizing emerald eyes.
"Your friend has the potential. I want to help her out." His declaration received a cold suspicious look from Sakura.
"You look like you don't believe me," he spoke her mind.
"I don't," she agreed. She believed there must have been some ulterior motive. He ignored her commentary with a lazy smile. "In order for this to work, I need your help."
At that moment, he leaned even closer towards Sakura, arms resting on the table. Sakura smelt an intoxicating scent from him as he neared. "I need you to be my fake girlfriend." He grinned.
Sakura's eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind, Li?"
Interesting remark, he thought, even though he had been expecting something like this because Sakura was just so different. If she were some other girl, the answer would have been an automatic "Yes."
Syaoran's lazy expression suddenly became very serious. "No, I'm dead serious," he spoke with solemnity. Sakura wondered if this sudden shift in mood was due to his acting or simply because he was serious.
She studied him before asking, "How is that even related to you wanting to model for my friend?"
Surprisingly, he began with the same easy tone as he had used before he turned serious. "The public will not believe my simple reason to help her-"
"Neither do I," Sakura interrupted but Syaoran continued as if she hadn't spoken.
"That's why if we pretend to be going out, they will think that I'm modelling because of my love for you." Sakura shuddered at the thought of having any love for this arrogant, immature man.
"But why does it have to be me? You could just go ask Tomoyo to pretend dating you. It works that way too," Sakura asked without thinking. She cursed herself for ever bringing that up. What if he took it for a good idea? It would be a torture to see Tomoyo going out with Syaoran, even if it was pretentious.
"If I do, then it will be bad for your friend," he explained patiently. "The public will assume that she seduced me into modelling for her. It will ruin her reputation."
Sakura didn't want to admit he was good at planning things ahead. Regardless, she still thought he had an ulterior motive and she spoke her mind.
"I think there are ulterior motives." She looked at Syaoran suspiciously.
Syaoran sighed. Suddenly, he felt like talking to Sakura was exhausting. He spoke with less patience. "Say if I do. It's still a win-win situation. I help out your friend and you help out me. There'll be no harm done, especially since you don't like me that much. There's not much you have to do in this act. The most we have to do is go on a few dates and that is enough for the paparazzi to write things about. Once we persuade them, they will accept my reason to model for your friend."
He added, "Besides, you wouldn't want to see your friend sad, right?" Sakura knew he had a point. If he did have an ulterior motive, he would still be helping out Tomoyo. It wasn't like he was going through all this trouble to ruin Tomoyo's company.
Her expression gave her in.
"I know you know I'm right. So just agree to it," he said confidently with a half-crooked smile.
Sakura grabbed the napkin in front of her and took out a pen from her bag, while Syaoran watched her amusingly. "Fine. I agree to it but only under two conditions."
Syaoran's eyebrow raised in fascination. "One, we cannot have any sexual interactions." He smirked.
"What?" Sakura asked dangerously at seeing his smirk.
"I just find you so close-minded compared to your American counterparts," Syaoran said with a small chuckle.
She retorted coldly, "What, you think everyone's like you?"
"And two," Sakura continued, "This fake relationship will end the minute your contract with Tomoyo is over." She wrote down what she said on the piece of napkin, rapidly. Syaoran nodded.
"Aren't you afraid that if you demand too much, I will call off the contract?" Syaoran asked with pure curiosity.
"No," Sakura replied honestly. "Because I still believe that there's an ulterior motive to this deal and it's very important to you."
He smiled. "Fair enough. Add two more to it while you're at it." He tapped on the napkin as he said that.
"One," he said, holding up a finger, "No one else other than my two managers, you, and I can know about this deal." Sakura looked at him accusingly. "Why your managers can know but Tomoyo can't?"
"Do you think she would sign the contract with me if she found out that her friend sacrificed herself for this, especially when she knows that you don't like me?" Syaoran asked matter-of-factly. It surprised Sakura that he was so…smart about these things.
"Okay, fine." Sakura wrote down the third rule onto the napkin. "What's the second one?"
"Anyone who exposes the secret will have the following punishment: for you, I will make sure that your friend's company will never again have a future in this industry—"
"What is this? Don't you think this is too harsh?" Sakura interrupted angrily.
He sneered. "Do you know what the consequences for me and my career will be if the world knows about this lie?"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "What about you? What if you accidentally or willingly expose the deal?"
"Then, you get to ruin my career. You can spread any rumour about me and I will agree to it," Syaoran spoke with such diligence that it was impossible for Sakura not to believe him.
Once Sakura wrote down all four rules, she signed the agreement napkin as did Syaoran
"Nice doing business with you," Syaoran said with a grin. He stretched out his hand towards Sakura. She unwillingly extended her arm towards him and he wrapped his larger hand around hers.
"Yeah," she said.
"You what?" Eriol and Hikari exclaimed in unison, though they were experienced enough to not catch other people's attention in the busy restaurant.
"I said, I will be going out with Sakura, and then I will sign the contract with Daidouji Inc," Syaoran replied lightly, never looked up from his plate of food.
Eriol and Hikari looked confused. Why, all of a sudden, he wanted to model for the small company, after declaring so many times that his celebrity status did not allow him to model for anyone? Why was he going out with Sakura after the uneventful encounter he had with her?
"Didn't you tell me to drop the playboy title?" Syaoran explained when he saw their confusions. "Well, if I go out with Sakura for a very long time and act like I'm committed, then people will no longer question my attitude towards love." Syaoran explained.
Eriol's expression turned from confusion to disgust. "You must be out of your mind!" he exclaimed, unbelievably.
Syaoran smirked. "Funny. That's exactly what she'd said."
Hikari placed a hand on Eriol's shoulder to calm him down and added in a motherly tone, "You're using her, Syaoran. It's not good."
Syaoran sneered. "Talk about using! She agreed because I said I would sign the contact. Dating the famous Li Syaoran is a very lucky thing, you know."
Eriol and Hikari rolled their eyes.
"I think this is a horrible idea," Eriol said with a slightly calmer tone of voice. He placed his knife and fork on the table and completely stopped eating.
Normally, Syaoran would have listened to Eriol because he was always right but today, he felt like doing it, despite his opposition.
"I don't think it's that bad. She gets to help her friend, and I get to be on the nominee list," Syaoran shrugged.
Eriol warned, "Whatever you do, don't hurt her."
Eriol suspected there was more than just trying to put up an image as a committed lover when he signed the contract with Sakura. If he wanted to act committed, he could have just found any girl in the world, one who was less stubborn than Sakura, to help. Syaoran must have had something in mind to choose her out of everyone. Whatever it was, he promised to find out discreetly and then decide on whether or not to discontinue the deal.
Right now, things didn't seem at their worst. So, Eriol dropped the subject, for today.
"So, what do you have in store for this deal?" Eriol asked curiously.
Syaoran gave him a huge childish grin. "I'm going on a date with my wonderful girlfriend tomorrow and show her off to the world!" he proclaimed, excitedly.
Valkyrie85: Now that Syaoran and Sakura tied their 'knot,' what will happen? Thanks for reading! Please review to tell me what you thought about the chapter. Chapter 5 will most likely be uploaded sometime next week. There might be a chance it will be a few days late because I'm leaving the country for my summer vacation in a few days. BTW, everyone have an amazing summer!
