14. Popularity Threat

"Have you two lost your minds? Look at yourselves! After I've given you so many opportunities to perform, you're like this?!" This was where Axel and Joshua were, Mr. Hans' special room. Mr. Hans had told them to come after seeing the fight a few moments ago. Of course Axel and Joshua couldn't continue the fight. Just getting caught by Mr. Hans was already a big risk. Now, Axel and Joshua couldn't say anything. They were only half bowed but the sharp glint in their eyes had not faded. Both of their hearts were still heated and their hearts hadn't stopped beating. Axel repeatedly took a deep breath and let it out. He didn't want the anger welling up in his chest to make him lose control. "Axel, Joshua, my goodness. You guys even just performed on the high fashion stage!" Mr. Hans was still grumbling, regretting the behavior of the two of them. "Sorry, Mr. Hans, I didn't mean to start a fight. Mr. Hans knows I never start trouble," Joshua replied, evading his mistake. Axel turned around quickly, glaring at Joshua. "Hey, are you saying I started the trouble?" "You're the one who started hitting me first," Joshua snapped back, looking at Axel just as sharply. Jonathan and Joshua's manager, who were standing not far from them, panicked again. They had both been summoned by Mr. Hans to this room. And they were deliberately there with each artist to accompany them. "I would never have started if there wasn't a cause," Axel quipped, his tone getting more and more irritated. Mr. Hans closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. His ears perked up as he heard Axel and Joshua almost seem to be fighting. "I was never the cause," Joshua retorted, provoking Axel's anger. Axel was about to reply, but his voice trailed off. Mr. Hans was heard speaking. "How long do you two want to fight?" Axel closed his mouth again with a snorting breath. He looked sharply at Joshua, who was also staring at him. "Do you want to continue fighting? Please go outside my room," Mr. Hans added as he pointed to the door of the room. "You can come back in after the fight, and bring out my contract termination warning letter." Axel and Joshua widened their eyes in unison. "No, Mr. Hans, we quit." Somehow they both said it in unison. While Axel and Joshua exchanged confused glances, Mr. Hans was stunned. But his shock didn't last long. After that, Mr. Hans walked around the desk behind him. He picked up a document folder and took out a paper of some kind. Mr. Hans held up the paper as he pulled out a chair and sat down. "See that paper in my hand? I will not hesitate to cut off the cooperation with your sponsor..." "No, Mr. Hans!" Axel and Joshua shouted in unison. The second time they looked at each other, the frown deepened. Unfortunately there was no time for them to utter a word of protest. Instead, Axel and Joshua turned their faces back to Mr. Hans. "Don't cut off my sponsorship," Joshua was the first to plead. "The chairman knows that I struggle to crawl. There's no way you would do that, right?" "Chairman, it's very difficult to get sponsors. It's the result of years of hard work." This time it was Axel who said his plea. Mr. Hans looked at Axel and Joshua in turn. Axel's manager and Joshua's manager sighed in resignation. They couldn't stop thinking about their behavior. Although it was undeniable that they both hated each other, as managers, of course they were afraid. Cutting off cooperation with a sponsor can have an impact on good name. Later, if the sponsor cooperated with another sponsor, Axel and Joshua's good names would also be tainted. "Alright. I will not give you this contract termination letter. You know what the simple conditions are, right?" Axel and Joshua nodded their heads quickly. They both had a pleading look in their eyes. Mr. Hans took the paper down again and put it into the document folder. Only then could Axel and Joshua breathe a sigh of relief. "Joshua, you can leave my room. Axel, you stay in my office. I have something to talk to you about." Jungkook frowned, while Sungho smiled widely. Sungho immediately bowed his head, making a saluting gesture. "Thank you very much, Chairman Han," Joshua said. Mr. Hans did not reply. Elsewhere, Joshua's manager looked over at Jonathan and gave him a mocking expression. As if satisfied that Joshua was sent out ahead of Axel. Similarly, Joshua grinned smugly at Axel. It provoked annoyance in Axel, but he didn't say anything. Joshua stood up before walking away followed by his manager. Leaving the room with Axel, Axel-the-manager, and Mr. Hans. Axel already felt his heart pumping fast. His mind was already imagining what Mr. Hans would say now. "What... did Mr. Hans want to say?" asked Axel who had the courage to speak up. Mr. Hans cleared his throat briefly to neutralize the atmosphere. Even so, his serious glare made Axel uneasy. Not only Axel, but also Jonathan. "Axel," Mr. Hans called out. "Do you know what's going on?" Axel actually thought of one thing after Mr. Hans asked that. "Is it about me?" "Of course it's about you," Mr. Hans replied. "Who am I talking to besides you here?" Axel's head was bowed, fiddling with his fingers. His hands were interlocked on his own thighs. "Axel, is it true about your closeness with one of those make-up artists?" Mr. Hans asked through his serious tone. Axel's heart instantly stopped beating. Axel sighed very slowly. "Do you not understand professional work at all?" Mr. Hans added. Axel swallowed saliva, his throat constricted. He knew where Mr. Hans was going with this. Therefore, his heart was now throbbing with pain. Axel didn't have the courage to speak up at all. More precisely, Axel didn't dare to listen if his guess about what Chairman Han was going to say was correct. "Already, Chairman," Jungkook squeaked softly. Chairman Han took a deep breath as he leaned his back against the back of the chair. His beady eyes did not leave Jungkook. "Then how are you going to deal with the rumors?" Chairman Han asked the question again. "Look at me, Jungkook." With his guts slightly deflated, Axel raised his face. He saw the sharp look in Mr. Hans' eyes. "I don't know, Mr. Hans," Axel replied, regret in his tone. "Actually, I don't have any special relationship with Olivia." For a split second Mr. Hans just looked at Axel. Intense. "Are you going to lie to me?" asked Mr. Hans. Axel unconsciously squinted his eyes and frowned. But a second later he was back to normal. "Why... would I lie?" asked Axel, including an awkward-sounding chuckle. Mr. Hans laughed dismissively. "Axel, what's been spread is very telling about your closeness. Who would think you and Hyun-a weren't close after seeing your pictures?" Jonathan realized that Axel was backed into a corner. So, he took two steps forward, and defended. "Wait, Mr. Hans, sorry to interrupt. As someone who is closest to Axel, I can guarantee that they really don't have any special affinity," Jonathan deflected. Mr. Hans looked back at Jonathan. "Really? And as someone who is closest to Axel, why did you let them meet?" Jonathan frowned. He laughed, and was just as clumsy as Axel. "Why can't friends meet? After all, the two of them are used to going everywhere together. As long as Axel is performing, Olivia will always come along." Axel nodded approvingly. "Yes, Mr. Hans, that's true." Mr. Hans' face looked uncertain as he looked at Axel and Jonathan in turn. Neither of them showed any doubt. Unfortunately, Jonathan and Axel secretly felt their hearts racing. "Are you serious that there is no special closeness?" Jonathan and Axel nodded their heads. There was a pause for Mr. Hans to wait, wondering if they were both lying or not. But seeing the seriousness in Axel's gaze, he finally exhaled. "I don't believe you, Axel, but I decided to say yes. You have to remember something. Don't let your popularity fade these days."