MJ, Part 5

The MTV crew originally planned to just shoot some casual backstage footage to capture the atmosphere. But while they were filming, Michael, who had just finished the main set and returned to prepare for the encore, spotted Sion. That changed everything.

Drenched in sweat and swept up in inspiration, Michael saw Sion and suddenly reached out, inviting him onto the stage.

Naturally, everyone on set was stunned. But Sion Lee just coolly shrugged, "Sure, why not?" and walked out.

A torn white t-shirt, a leather jacket, and jeans. Sion's look perfectly fit the encore song, Bad.

On stage, Sion didn't dance with Michael, but he instantly commanded the crowd's attention, acting exactly like the male lead of a music video.

Thanks to Michael Jackson's sudden whim, he ended up on a stage he had never planned to stand on.

Afterward, he naturally accompanied Michael to a brief, thirty-minute visit to a children's hospital.

Sandy Gallin, Michael Jackson's manager, who found out that this hospital visit was actually scheduled by Sion Lee from the very beginning, became convinced: He's the one.

What was the point of an actor who was only famous in America visiting a children's hospital here? He must have used the fact that they were staying in the same hotel to cajole Michael into participating.

But why?

There was no reason to. A children's hospital visit wouldn't bring him any obvious benefits.

Sandy, who had spent the entire flight to Hungary pondering the reason, requested MTV to separate Sion and Michael's hotels as soon as they arrived in Budapest, and then went to find Sion himself.

"Ah..."

Inside the lounge bar, Sion, looking visibly exhausted, said, "I thought I was going to die of stage fright."

Hearing this, Sandy felt a wave of absurdity and asked, "Nervous? You?"

"I'm human too. Anyone would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be nervous in that situation."

Sandy didn't believe a word.

As soon as a highly excited Michael shouted, "Come on stage with me!", Sion had walked out as if he'd been waiting for it, completely commanding his side of the stage.

All of Europe was in an uproar over the news. People were still buzzing, asking, "Who is that Alain Delon-style handsome guy standing next to Michael Jackson on the encore stage?!"

...Ah, wait. Is that his goal?

"Did you want to get your name out there in Europe and the rest of the world?"

"Think whatever you want. That I tricked Michael to get some unfair advantage."

"...This could lead to legal trouble."

"I don't want to cross Michael Jackson's legal team either. But you're going to interpret it however you want anyway, aren't you? Just like the media does to Michael."

"Then... what on earth are you thinking?"

"For the kids."

"Don't give me that nonsense. I heard you even brought 'toys' to give to Michael. What is it? It's not some shady Hollywood trend item that only people like you enjoy, is it?"

"..."

Sion, momentarily dumbfounded, pulled something out from his jacket.

It was a baseball card—something usually collected, but also used for games.

"It's just this. A toy is a toy. What kind of weird things are you imagining?"

"...Is it really just a toy?"

"Yes."

"You really just wanted to visit a children's hospital with Michael Jackson?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"..."

"...?"

A long silence ensued.

Sion Lee visiting a children's hospital. It was more absurd than a cow ordering a steak.

Even though they were in different industries, Sandy Gallin had been in the American entertainment business for a long time and had heard all kinds of rumors. That was why he couldn't find any other explanation for why Sion Lee was doing this in far-off Europe, of all places, rather than his home country.

Sion sighed and spoke honestly.

"It's also 'business'. I'm going to take a few photos of this and run articles back home. What kind of person is Michael Jackson? He's an angel who stands on stage with children at the end of his concerts and sings Heal the World. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ride his coattails a bit this time."

"And while you were at it, you thought it'd be nice if Michael joined the hospital visit, so you brought toys on purpose? Though I have no idea how you knew Michael had 'that kind of personality'..."

"I didn't do anything. Just like you wanted."

Sion smirked and waved the baseball card.

"It just so happens that I like kids' toys too, so it was a 'coincidence' that we clicked."

"...You are a very different person from the rumors."

"What do the rumors say about me? You work with Michael and you still believe rumors?"

"Everything except the ones about Michael. Everyone said you changed. But they were wrong. You're still a toxic, spoiled brat."

"Thank you for the high praise."

Even though the man in front of him was spitting out insults, Sion only replied with an easygoing smile.

Sandy, unable to hide his irritation, glared at him and prepared to leave the bar. Sion, as if waiting for this moment, added:

"Mr. Gallin."

"...What?"

"In the end, the day will come when you'll thank me."

"Ha! As if!"

Michael Jackson? Thanking Sion Lee?

"When that time comes, you'll apologize to me, right?"

Sandy left the bar without even answering the last question. Sion just smiled leisurely in front of his cup of coffee.

Afterward, MTV aired Dangerous: The World Tour Experience with Sion Lee every week.

It spotlighted the concert venues in Hungary, Vienna, and Munich, featuring music videos filmed by Sion Lee, interviews, and his personal impressions.

Starting from the Hungary broadcast, Michael Jackson himself even began appearing on the show.

"Oh, it's fine. We can do it together."

Since Michael, who had already taken a massive liking to Sion, said so himself, MTV was overjoyed, while the tour management team turned pale.

Thus, the broadcast focused heavily on showing Michael visiting hospitals before or after his concerts to care for children alongside Sion.

The impact of those scenes on the American audience was slightly different from what the world had expected.

Michael Jackson was a singer of 'mythic' status. Before he revealed a lot of his human side on The Oprah Winfrey Show earlier this year, he had maintained a highly mysterious persona. Because of this, the public couldn't help but feel a strange discomfort alongside their worship.

To them, Michael was like an untouchable icon or a monarch.

That was why, when ridiculous rumors about him cropped up, everyone couldn't help but pay even more attention and react to those absurd stories.

It was the result of the public's desire to drag down a mythic figure, combined with resentment toward those in high positions.

The clashes with the media that had occurred up to now—and would continue far into the future—were the result of these feelings accumulating and depositing over a long period.

But now, he was joined by a star who could dilute his 'mythic' image.

It was Sion Lee, the self-proclaimed Hollywood brat, active as an actor and showman.

"Write an article highlighting the relationship between Sion and Michael right now!"

"W-what should I write? There was absolutely no connection between them before this tour!"

"Do you think anyone else knows what we don't?! Squeeze something out and write it! It has to be published tomorrow!"

Sion was currently one of the actors most familiar and friendly to the Hollywood public.

The reason was simple. He had chosen that path himself.

The 'Sion Lee' that the public remembered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from recent media and broadcasts was famous for throwing away the typical hypocrisy of a Hollywood superstar, even in interviews, and saying whatever he wanted.

Furthermore, since Sion had built up a friendly image through the sitcom The College Player just a short while ago, the public didn't think Sion was riding Michael's coattails. Instead, they felt like Michael was being brought down to earth by Sion.

If The Oprah Winfrey Show had revealed Michael's human side, Sion had become the catalyst that granted Michael a sense of approachability to the public.

MTV, which was highly sensitive to viewer reactions through various ratings and postcards, actively capitalized on this.

When Sion offered, a hesitant Michael took a piece of Skittles, the national snack.

Conversely, Sion was dragged along by Michael.

In this way, the two showed an unexpected and entertaining chemistry.

Since his debut with the Jackson 5 and subsequent solo career, Michael Jackson had strictly managed his image. In fact, he loved sweet snacks, but he completely abstained from them in public.

Nevertheless, due to the mounting rumors, he was currently in a position where he had to abandon much of that mysterious, regal approach.

However, because of his established way of doing things, Michael Jackson's agency was also agonizing over how to naturally break away from the old image and establish him as a more public-friendly star. Then, this change began to happen in the blink of an eye.

"...That kid is quite something."

At a meeting where the 'Emperor's servants' gathered to analyze the public's reaction, Michael Jackson's main manager, Frank DiLeo, muttered his impression as he looked at Sion Lee's image projected onto the wall.

Michael's management, which had been carefully calculating how to bring the mythic star closer to the public, gained an unexpected harvest from this tour and MTV's documentary broadcast.

With a teen star like Sion Lee by his side, Michael Jackson's image was expanding and improving at the same time.

"Maybe we should propose that he join us on the project that just came in?"

"Yes. He seems to have a much deeper understanding of 'broadcasting' than we thought. He doesn't act his age."

"Contact Sandy. Tell him to sound the kid out."

Those who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had no idea what had transpired in Europe could only make judgments based on situational analysis. And as is usually the case with the world, they were quite accurate.

A few days later. The final week of tour filming.

"Ah~."

Sion was sitting arrogantly with his feet propped up and crossed on the table.

Sitting opposite him, Sandy Gallin, the manager of this tour, couldn't swallow his pride.

At first, hearing the news from back home, he had been nervous, wondering, H-how do I say this? But as soon as he opened his mouth, he was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠met with Sion Lee's arrogant attitude, which immediately made him grind his teeth in frustration, unable to hide his emotions.

"See, why couldn't you just trust me?"

"...How did you predict it would turn out like this?"

"Before that, shouldn't you apologize first? We had a deal."

"S-so..."

"So?"

"...I'm sorry, Mr. Lee. I was too emotional to see clearly."

"Sigh, I told you if you just trust me and follow my lead, I'll make everyone a star."

Sion was saying things that a street-casting manager would usually say.

"How long has it been since Michael changed his image strategy? Keeping him hidden like that only stimulates the public's imagination. You have to show them what needs to be shown! Right? That's how the charm of his friendliness can truly shine! It's the 90s now! Even a kid on the street knows pro wrestling is fake. What people want these days is for stars to approach them warmly!"

"But the image Michael has built up all this time..."

"And that image got even better thanks to me, right? Admit it."

"...Damn it, how is this even possible? The difference in status between you two is astronomical!"

"Astronomical is a word you use when counting money. Spoken like a true businessman."

Sion smiled, pleased with the expected result, and added:

"Just like Icarus fell because he flew too close to the sun, Michael would have ended up like that without me. It's been thirty years since the Jackson 5. If he keeps acting the same way, he'll stagnate. Besides, it's not like I asked him to go to some club. We visited a hospital with kids, doing something he wanted to do anyway. Isn't that a win-win?"

"...That's true."

Sandy, who had jumped up, slumped back into his chair. Looking at him, completely defeated, Sion smiled.

With this, the biggest hurdle is cleared.

Now, if he used the right people around him, the 'Michael Jackson false child abuse allegations' would naturally be buried. It would still take time, and it wouldn't be a simple task, but he was willing to keep helping if necessary. By doing so, he would build a solid network with Michael Jackson.

While Sion was humming to himself:

"...Damn it."

Suddenly, Sandy let out a bitter laugh and began to pour out his feelings.

"It's been... a really long time since I've seen Michael look that happy. He's always been happy around children, but because of his schedule, he couldn't do it often. He only truly smiled when Macaulay or other child actors came over to his house."

"..."

"To be honest, I'm human too, so my apology earlier might not have been entirely sincere... but what I'm about to say is. Mr. Lee, thank you. Michael has been having a hard time lately because of all kinds of rumors, but he looks much better thanks to a 'good person' like you."

"...Damn it, in the end, isn't it all about money?"

Sion scratched his head and looked away.

"No need to thank me. I'm also someone who suffers from various rumors while living in Hollywood, so I figured it'd be fine as long as we could have a positive influence on each other. Thanks to this, my superstar image has become even stronger... so I'd say it's not a bad result."

Strong against the strong, soft against the soft.

Watching Sion, Sandy realized he had truly misjudged him. He was indeed a decent person, just as the whispering 'industry rumors' had recently started to claim. He felt that they could work well together.

Remembering the words of the main manager, Frank—If you see him in person and think he's good, sound him out—Sandy made up his mind and asked:

"By any chance, do you have a next project lined up?"

"...That's a bit sudden."

"There's a project currently underway with Michael's music as the main theme. It's going to be produced by Warner Bros., a blockbuster superhero movie."

Hearing those words, Sion's eyes gleamed with interest.