Kris was good at lying.

Good enough to make a living out of it.

But, he was moved and warmed up by a crazy guy called Park Chanyeol.

So he couldn't hide anymore.

Now even when he lied, he said the truth.

Chapter 1

Wu Fan stared at his reflection on the building window and fixed his tie. He looked good in a suit, he noted. He felt good in it too. Like it gave him a sense of authority he otherwise lacked.

Wu Fan knew that whoever saw him today could never guess he was a broke, college drop-out, living in a tiny apartment with bad plumbing. And that knowledge made him happy.

He entered the building, fully aware that all eyes were on him. Not that he wished to brag, but he never passed unnoticed.

The young guy with the black hair and the not that expensive suit cleared his throat at a blushing secretary who seemed too mesmerized to speak at the moment.

“Excuse me.” He said pointedly.  “I’m here to see Seo Inseok-sshi for a job interview. I believe this is his office.”

The secretary looked at him and then at the door behind her blankly for a while before whispering a timid and dazed ‘yes’.

Wu Fan thanked her politely and entered the office to meet with his future employer, or so he hoped.

“Kris-yah!” A middle-aged man who looked more like a local market seller or a noodle-shop owner than a business manager in a big corporation, called out from a leather desk-chair.

Wu Fan bowed slightly and greeted his mother’s old friend. However, as the young man scanned the room someone else caught his attention.

A second man was waiting for him in the room, a man who actually looked like a businessman. He was around sixty, with short grayish hair and the best-fitting suit Wu Fan had seen in his life.

“Oh! Let me introduce you. Here, come in my boy. Sit, sit!” Seo Inseok-sshi pushed him inside the office and practically landed him on a chair that was rather comfortable.

“This is the main shareholder and president of Sang Cha Rim, one of the biggest food companies in the country, Park Sukjin- Hwejangnim (A/N: Hwejangnim means President).” Seo Inseok-sshi explained and Wu Fan had to try very hard to hide that foolish surprise and admiration that common men show towards rich and successful people even without knowing them.

“And this is my friend’s son, the guy I was talking to you about. His name is Kris Wu.” At this the young guy bowed and shook a hand the President was offering him.

“You speak English, Korean and Mandarin fluently and you used to study in one of the best colleges in Canada. On a scholarship. You’ve also won various awards in high school. In the Vancouver science convention you got the first prize, the golden medal in the National Math Competition and the first prize in the Business Strategy Contest. And there is more I believe.” Park Sukjin- Hwejangnim said in a professional tone, which made Wu Fan actually blush and feel self-conscious.

He had almost forgotten of those days- the days he was considered a prodigy with a bright future, yet it seemed that this well-dressed man in front of him had not discarded them.

“So my question to you is: Why did you give up on such a life?” The President continued in the same business-like voice that fitted his challenging expression.

Wu Fan was brought back to reality in that blunt and harsh way that always managed to hurt his pride. He felt like a child, unwilling to explain his actions, simply because he was scared to be punished. However, he did his best to cast away that narcissism that made him lose so many other good jobs.

“Personal circumstances I’m afraid.” He replied and mentally patted himself at the back in a congratulatory fashion.

“I see you don’t want to talk about it. I like your self-restraint.” The President smirked knowingly.

“Kris is a serious boy. I’m sure he’ll do great at the job you have in mind.” Seo Inseok-sshi put in reassuringly.

And that was when Wu Fan began suspecting, this might not be just a typical office job interview.

“Actually, Park Sukjin- Hwejangnim is looking for a ‘special employee’. Not really someone with exceptional qualifications, but rather a serious young man with common sense and restraint.” It was the second time someone mentioned ‘restraint’ in the past ten minutes and Wu Fan sat up on his chair curiously.

“You, my boy, look like the perfect future businessman. You’re solemn, polite, sensible and clever.  Also, you pay attention to whatever I say and reply diplomatically. Honestly, if you were to become my heir tomorrow, I wouldn’t have to worry again for the rest of my life.” The older man stated seriously, making Wu Fan feel a tug of sadness simply because a complete stranger was saying something his parents never managed to say.

“But that is not the case. So why do you need me?” The young man asked trying to push the other two to finally explain what this was all about.

“Well, Park Sukjin-Hwejangnim, happens to already have an heir. However, this boy, well, he’s not very… accommodating-” Seo Inseok-sshi’s careful tone was interrupted by the President.

“He’s a real pain in the .” He did not beat around the bush.

“In what way?” Wu Fan asked more interested now.

“He’s not the rebellious kind, if that what you’re thinking. My son doesn’t drink. He doesn’t smoke or go to clubs a lot or sleep around. No! I mean, I wish he was, because being rebellious indicates having ambition and strong desires, but he just doesn’t…” The President rubbed his temples and suddenly looked tired.

“I see.” The tall, young guy nodded in comprehension.

“Instead he stays in playing with model cars and misses classes. Or he takes off during exams to go see the sea or something irresponsible like this. When you talk to him he ignores you and just throws a cheeky joke back. He laughs like an idiot all the time and acts retarded even though he’s not.” As the old President spoke Wu Fan tried to create a mental picture of Park Sukjin’s son.

He imagined a dark, messy-haired guy with small eyes and big spectacles. Not very tall or well-built. Someone who had his mouth open a lot and giggled unnecessarily. Baggy clothes, a T-shirt with a stamp and a pair of torn jeans over converse shoes.

The young guy barely stopped himself from smiling at the image he had made in his head.

“He sounds like a difficult kid.” Wu Fan commented without emotion in his voice.

“That’s the problem! He’s not a kid anymore. I put up with his ways this entire time thinking it was puberty. I thought he’d grow out of it. But he’s 21 now and he still hasn’t changed.” The older man sighed deeply, completely letting go of his business-like demeanor.

“So where do I come in?” Wu Fan asked more impatiently.

The two men who were there to interview him looked at each other carefully before blurting out the truth.

“I want my son to start acting serious and responsibly like an heir should. But he won’t listen to me or any of the tutors I got him. That’s what I need you to do. Turn him into the perfect businessman.”

For his part the young foreign guy blinked in surprise. What sort of request was this? It sounded unethical, didn’t it? Besides, was this something someone like him could do?

He hurried to voice these concerns to the two businessmen.

“I know it sounds crazy but I’m getting desperate. I’m growing older and this stupid, always smiling boy is going to be eaten alive by our competitors if he comes in the company like that. I’m worried for his future.” The Canadian boy saw the fear and love in the President’s eyes. Without really wanting to, he was starting to understand the father’s point of view.

Wu Fan knew all about controlling and hateful parents and he could tell Park SukJin- Hwejangnim was not one of them.

“Even if I were to agree to this ‘job’,” He started cautiously, “what makes you think your son would listen to me, when he hates your tutors so much?” The businessman’s nonchalance made the young guy feel he was still missing some part of the plan.

“That’s easy; you just have to keep it a secret that you work for me. Go to his college and be friends with him. You can advise him like that.” Hearing those words the young Canadian felt his brain blacking out, while his feet started shaking without his permission.

“Lie?! You-you want me to lie about who I am… Lie a-about everything!” The cool exterior that he was praised about was now fading.

“Not about everything.” The President corrected him. “You only have to lie about your connection to me. I’ll put you in the college as a scholarship student from abroad. You can study business administration like you used to and finish college. I’ll even pay you a certain sum of money to cover your expenses. Just befriend my son and make him a little more like you.”

Wu Fan felt his heart stop. ‘Study like you used to’. There was no doubt. That was what Park Sukjin-Hwejangnim had said. He had said it with confidence, as if he knew these words would make him waver.

And Wu Fan wavered. He trembled and was ready to fall to that bottomless pit that would lead him to success, guilt or possibly a pathetic mix of both.

He was fully aware of that and yet he wavered.

Had he been able to lie to himself, he would have persuaded himself he did it only to help the President’s son.

Unfortunately, Wu Fan had always been honest.

So he knew that this agreement was just a deal to save himself while betraying a person he hadn’t even met.

“I’ll do it.” He said boldly. “In exchange, though, I want to ask one more thing from you.” Two pairs of eyes focused curiously on him.

“Please tell me. I’ll make sure you have it.” The President agreed easily.

“Your son has one year left in college, right?” Wu Fan inquired and the other confirmed it.

“Good, I only have one year left too. I’ll be his friend and I’ll try to turn him into the heir you want. Calm, serious, diplomatic and cordial. However, when this year is over, if this plan has worked, please have a plane ticket to China prepared for me.” The young man requested.

“I can do that, but why would you need a plane ticket for? I can make you a proper employee of this company, give you a real salary and-”

“No, thank you. I’ll just take the plane ticket. Just prepare me the plane ticket, please.” The Canadian insisted, his voice almost pleading.

“I understand.” The President nodded seriously. “Seo Inseok-sshi will give you all the information you’ll need for my son, as well as your scholarship papers.”

Wu Fan shook his head. “I won’t need any information about your son.” He declared and got up.

His mother’s old friend provided him with all the papers he needed to fill in to enroll in college and bid him goodbye.

“One thing though,” It was only when Wu Fan had reached the door that he thought to ask, “What’s his name?”

The old man smiled faintly.

“Park Chanyeol.” He said and Wu Fan nodded.

Park Chanyeol.

It took him, with his slightly foreign accent, a while to pronounce it correctly. He had to say it slowly, let it fill his mouth and then let his voice trail off,

“Park. Chan. Yeol.”

And then nothing more, because that is as far as he knew.