Chapter 117: Young Idol

Wendy held the decorations in place while Chase began affixing them.

"It's okay, you've had enough meetings. I can handle these little decorations. Are you hungry?"

Wendy nodded. She'd been in meetings since waking, had only a bowl of noodles for lunch, and was starving. However, with senior executives from Fenon International still on the video call, she didn't want to delay for a meal.

"Forty minutes to go. Let's eat together afterward."

Chase glanced at the clock. "Alright, I'll cook. You keep going with the meeting." He leaned down, kissed Wendy's cheek, and left with scissors and tape.

Lemon, leaning on her hand at the other end of the screen, shook her head. "Ugh, can you two stop showing off your love? Spare a thought for us single folks, will you?"

Wendy sat back, glancing at Lemon. "Single? If I remember correctly, weren't you trending with Noah last week?"

Noah, a returning idol from an overseas boy band now pursuing a solo career, had a strong fanbase domestically but lacked his own studio. He was very handsome; no wonder Lemon was interested.

At the mention of Noah, Lemon quickly waved her hand. "Don't even bring it up. I was just riding the publicity wave. His concert at Gennemont was exclusive to us, and our company handled the venue promotion. It's all hype."

"Really?" Zynn looked skeptical. "I remember the trending topic was you two checking into a hotel together."

Lemon pointed at Zynn. "Exactly! And that's why my brother lost it. He called me at six in the morning and woke me up with a scolding. Come on, I'm an adult; this kind of thing is normal, right?"

The Fred family was prominent in the entertainment industry and generally open-minded. But Waylon wasn't like that. Anyone close to his sister risked a broken leg.

"Noah gives off a really masculine vibe. I've seen his old group; they're not exactly mainstream here. Do you think it would work if I signed him?" Wendy asked.

Lemon gave her a sideways glance, sensing the deliberate question. "As long as the offer is good. His concert cost a fortune, and he seriously needs a financial rebound. With the right price, he has no reason to say no. I think we can throw in an endorsement too, solidify his presence here." Wendy understood.

During dinner, the television remained on the entertainment news channel, and the top headline featured Lemon.

"That's really Lemon? They actually went to a hotel?" Chase reacted like Waylon.

Seeing Chase's expression, Wendy laughed. She glanced at the screen; the video and photos were incredibly clear. Noah and Lemon were in full view, even the hotel name visible. There was no mistaking it.

"You're just like Waylon. Lemon's not a kid anymore. At her age, we were already married. Why is it such a big deal if she went to a hotel? Noah's pretty good-looking. He just got back—I'm seriously thinking about signing him."

Chase didn't know much about Noah. From the photos, he looked good, but looks weren't everything; compatibility mattered.

When Chase fell silent, seeming about to call someone, Wendy intervened. "Don't you dare call Lemon. She's shy. Besides, it's probably just publicity—likely a suite, nothing more."

"And if it's not? They're not really together?"

"Two consenting adults… even if they're not together, it's not a big deal. Stuff like this is nothing in our industry."

Chase frowned. "Other people, fine. But not Lemon. I practically watched her grow up. Does Waylon know?"

"Waylon? The guy who never follows celebrity gossip? He probably has Lemon set as a keyword alert on his phone. The moment she started trending, before she even knew—Waylon had already called and yelled at her first thing in the morning."

After dinner, Chase, instead of returning to his plans, sat on the couch, watching the entertainment news and researching Noah's background. He'd recently returned from overseas, his team was unstable, and he seemed five years younger than Lemon—basically still a kid. Good looks weren't enough. Wendy sat beside him with her tablet, already discussing signing Noah with Sammy.

"You don't need to overthink it. Lemon's not serious. With her personality, no one can really hurt her," Wendy said.

But Chase kept his eyes on his phone, practically memorizing Noah's biography. "He's so young. What does he even know? And… Lemon's still a girl, you know? Scandals like this don't do her any favors in the long run."

Apparently, Chase still had no idea Lemon used to have a crush on him. Wendy blinked and lowered her head. Honestly, it made sense. Chase was so straight-laced; for someone who cared for others so thoroughly, he could be painfully oblivious.