S#8

Casual Talk | Y’all watch the My Manager trailer????

Anonymous https:https://www.todayspring.com/jihyeon/2394391002

If you haven’t seen it, go watch it first

https:https://www.wetube.com/watch?vX5lxP-1oM18

Did you watch it?

Holy shit I was so shocked as soon as I saw it- 01:37 What’s with the atmosphere here?;;

577 comments

1 Panting running over └ Huh? I watched it quickly and came back… Why is the atmosphere really like that?

2 Whoa the trailer’s out watched it └ …? What’s going on?

3 ???? 4 What… 5 Are they fighting? 6 The manager is pissed as hell???? 7 What the fuck?? 8 Why won’t it play for me;;;; What came out that’s making everyone like this??? └ Next week’s My Manager Actor Ji x Manager Gwak trailer came out and the atmosphere between them is fucking terrible The manager has a completely serious face and Ji Hyeon is looking super nervous… They suddenly leave the filming set and from that point Actor Ji looks totally intimidated └ Huh???? Why is Actor Ji being cautious?? What??? Why?? └ I can’t imagine Actor Ji being intimidated… └ Watch 01:24 └ Everyone… It won’t play for me either, is that really what the trailer content is?? └ No no there are drama filming scenes and drinking gatherings and some interviews too but the manager’s serious face in the middle has such impact… 9 What’s with the atmosphere I thought oh are they filming We Got Married again kk (sauntering) went in and came out completely washed out What’s really going on? └ Fuck me too… Went in with a big smile and came out with a completely serious face └ 33 Instantly became someone who can’t read the atmosphere └ -d Confused like the burning pizza meme 10 Crazy so scary 11 Wow.. what is this really… 12 Everyone’s so naive Is this your first time with this kind of thing? When the actual episode airs it probably won’t be anything (hands trembling) └ kkkthat’s rightkkk Shouldn’t we stop getting fooled by this kind of thing by now? (tears streaming down) 13 God Hye-seon doesn’t do evil editing └ That’s a bit much to call evil editing └ If it’s not evil editing?? Does that mean the manager being angry like a dog is just fact?? └ No why are you taking it so twistedly– I meant that since she doesn’t do evil editing, there must be some other reason └ What reason would there need to be for the manager to make that serious face at the actor? └ How should I know fuck └ Why are you cursing; I was just asking; └ Why are you asking me that 14 More than anything, the actor being cautious around the manager doesn’t look good. No matter what, the actor is the client. └ They said they’re friends └ Is it okay to be like that even if they’re friends? └ No matter how close friends they are, if it’s a contractual relationship, the client is the client └ ??… These comments are fucking heartless kk Friends can fight too └ We’re not even sure if they fought in the first place 15 But… Can I say something inappropriate…? He looks hot when he’s angry… └ kk I thought that too └ mj… My heart just started racing └ Fuck he’s so handsome do it more oO(No matter what, this isn’t something to say in this situation) └ Student your speech bubble changed 16 No the manager’s voice being censored makes it look even more serious What did he say?? └ Was he cursing..? └ No way he’d curse on broadcast… └ 22Even if he cursed, there’s no way that would air └ His mouth is blurred too so you can’t see what he’s saying 17 (This comment has been blind processed.) └ This is a bit… └ Stop talking nonsense └ You’re cursing this much based on speculation that’s not even certain???? 18 mch From 01:10 his expression hardening is no joke; I’m being cautious along with him └ Scarier than when my mom scolds me └ I was half lying down watching and suddenly sat straight up 19 Oh? I went and watched it and the angry part was just brief, why is everyone making such a fuss?? I thought the atmosphere was bad throughout the whole trailer. └ I thought it was just passing content. └ It’s just being diluted. └ It’s because they specifically focused on Won-ik’s angry part. └ Seems like it’s nothing. └ Isn’t it because the serious face has a big impact like the nested comment said? └ Serious ‘face’ └ kkkkkkkkkkkk>face< 20 Anons don't be so serious~~~ It's variety anyway, what can he do even if he gets angry └ yyAnd it's not too late to get angry after watching the actual broadcast 21 Whatever just look at this (Gwak Eun-ho's expression gradually hardening.gif) └ . └ Wow └ Crazy.. └ Insane └ Ripped └ ktttkkkttkk Did someone already make a gif in that time? └ Ha └ My heart stopped here └ Really...... Why do you work as a manager with that face? └ He could film a drama with Actor Ji right now... └ That's just one scene from a movie └ And a noir film at that └ Is this kind of talk inappropriate? He looks like someone jealous seeing his girlfriend with another man...(cautious) └ Whoa... └ Holy fuck instantly created a novel └ "Anon, what are you doing there." └ Michelin three stars └ This is why people eat Yusa └ If he's angry with that face, I probably did something wrong first └ Right Manager-nim is not at fault └ mjThere must have been circumstances 22 Look at this too (Gwak Eun-ho closing his eyes tightly then opening them.gif) (Gwak Eun-ho nodding his head.gif) (Gwak Eun-ho frowning.jpg) └ rl Extreme bliss... └ Watching it slowly drives me even crazier... └ Is this edited?? └ yyJust filters └ Picking up^^ └ Is it because his facial features are so intense...? When he makes that expression, the presence is insane └ The force is crazy └ I wish he'd curse at me... └ kkqㅠㅠㅠDon't wish for him to curse at youㅠㅠ 23 Everything's good but let's not forget the manager is a civilian... Just because his face is somewhat handsome doesn't mean we can consume him like a celebrity └ Speak properly Is that just somewhat handsome?? └ yd Sorry I'll correct myself Even if his face is incredibly handsome, it would be better to avoid consuming him like a celebrity └ kkkkkkkkkThe original comment apologizing is fucking hilarious └ I was going to say something after seeing the nested comment but the original comment corrected itself ㅠㅠkkkkkkkkk └ kkkkHe is incredibly handsome though... └ I accept all these comments... People keep saying not to eat Yusa as a civilian but it seems to be gradually crossing the line └ mjmj... We need to be careful about this kind of thing 24 Is a trailer that's barely 5 minutes long something to analyze this much...? The madness toward My Manager only keeps growing... └ 22I want to see Actor Ji acting └ 333Where else would you see Off the Record if not at times like this └ I immediately put on the previous My Manager after watching the trailer kkkqqㅠㅠ └ You too? Hey me too...^^ └ Looks like I'll be licking this trailer clean until next Saturday └ Please notice during weekdays ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 25 Whoa that filming location is the alley near my house So the noise from a while ago was because of that ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I should've gone to watch ㅠㅠㅠㅠ └ Wow I feel regretful for you ㅜㅜ └ But there were probably lots of people so even if you went to watch you might not have seen anything └ And honestly watching outdoor filming is a nuisance... 26 Looking at these comments I think I understand why they edited the trailer like this kkkkkkkk First of all, even I think I absolutely have to watch next week's My Manager kkkk ㅠㅠ └ mjkkkkkWhether they fight or not, honestly I know it's probably nothing, but anyway I'm super excited and curious 27 FuckㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠIn this situation I'll hold my breath until the main episode airs! · · · 277 Hmm... I don't think it's a serious enough situation to cause this much controversy. Either he's not actually angry at Actor Ji, or he's angry for Actor Ji's sake, or if not that, something he said out of worry just came out seriously. Actor Ji hasn't been fully recovered from his injury for long, so it's most likely the manager said something because he was overdoing it. (From watching the previous My Manager, I think Actor Ji wouldn't dislike the manager acting like that) If the atmosphere was really that bad, they would've edited it out themselves, but there must be a reason Yoo Hye-seon deliberately put this in the trailer. Anyway, that's my UPDae. └ 22 If it was problematic content, there's no way it would appear in My Manager... └ Whoa is this it? └ This seems like it... └ rl Nothing else explains it └ Genius └ You're UPDae right · · · └ Holy ground dd └ Came running breathlessly as soon as I saw the main broadcast interview; └ I came from the future. This was really it... └ Future22 Isn't this person Yoo Hye-seon herself? └ Future333 Or the academic consensus is that it's Manager Gwak himself └ I was impressed at the part about Actor Ji probably not disliking it └ Future44 Anyway UPDae master;;; └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage. Please let me get into university. └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage I want to get promoted └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage! Please let me pass my exam! └ (This comment has been deleted.) └ Don't mention other idol concerts └ Whoops made a mistake I'll delete it └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage Please let me pass my interview └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage Please let me become a rich unemployed person └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage.. Please cure my allergies └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage~~~ Just came for pilgrimage~ └ Please let me win lottery first prize └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage Please don't let Monday come └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage Please make my family happy♡ └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage Please open Actor Ji's fan signing eventㅠㅠ └ I came for holy ground pilgrimage. Please make My Manager a huge hit!! * * * Sunlight streaming through the window settled in one corner of the living room. Though it was a starkly spacious living room, the warm sunlight made it appear somewhat cozy. A long shadow lay across the fabric light gray sofa, and below it, two pairs of indoor slippers were carelessly scattered. Ji Hyeon lay on the sofa wearing only a robe, covering his eyes with one arm. The cheek visible from the side bore a bruise mark, and his tightly closed lips even had a small blood clot. He appeared to be asleep at first glance, but his chest rose significantly as if he were occasionally sighing. "......" How long had he been like that? His slightly chapped lips parted a little. Twitching and moving lightly, they trembled before he closed his mouth again and firmly bit his lower lip. Faint tooth marks remained where his straight front teeth pressed down firmly. "......You fucking pervert." The softly uttered curse was ambiguous as to whom it was directed. Ji Hyeon let out a long sigh and this time turned his body to lie facing the TV. As his posture changed, the front of his robe gaped open, causing the loosely tied waist belt to slip smoothly to the floor. If Gwak Eun-ho had seen this, he would have told him to wear his clothes properly. It was certain that from the moment he came out with wet hair, Eun-ho would send disapproving glances, then turn his gaze away upon seeing the carelessly worn robe. Ji Hyeon knew that Eun-ho would sometimes even frown, as if finding the sight of his bare body unpleasant. Yes, just like yesterday...... "......" Startled, Ji Hyeon, who had frowned, tightly shut his eyes. Because the moment he thought of him, the voice he had been ruminating over all night brushed past his ears. The voice of reproach directed at him that he had heard just last night. '......You crazy bastard.' "Ah......" He couldn't even manage to spit out the stream of profanity that had risen to his throat. Though it was a perfectly justified thing to say, he thought it was fortunate he hadn't heard something worse. The way Eun-ho looked at him, his face gradually hardening, and even the rare outburst of anger—all of it clearly showed that Gwak Eun-ho had been angry. 'Do you think I'm a joke?' I wish you would think I'm a joke. Though it was something Eun-ho would find absurd if he heard it, Ji Hyeon genuinely thought so. If that were the case, he wouldn't be repeating the same thoughts all night like this. And the Gwak Eun-ho in his head wouldn't keep endlessly spouting the same words. 'You're gay, you fucker, do you think this is okay?' "......" Bzzz, it was then that a vibration sound seemed to come from somewhere. Ji Hyeon, with his brow heavily furrowed, picked up the phone lying on the table. On the phone with barely any battery left, there was one message from a familiar person. Gwak Eun-ho [Get ready and come down] 07:00 AM It was a message, just a message. Not him coming up himself, not a phone call, just a single message. The guy who would normally open the front door and come in to wake him up was now acting as if he were some outsider. "......Damn it." Ji Hyeon sighed and unsteadily got up. His head throbbed painfully, but more important than that was Gwak Eun-ho waiting in the underground parking lot. He didn't know what to say when he met him, or what expression to make—he couldn't figure out any of those things. 'Even if you take someone lightly, there should be limits......' I'm telling you I've never taken him lightly. Even if he protested internally, there was no way it would reach him. Perhaps he might not even listen if he spoke in front of him anymore. Who knows, he might just dismiss it as nonsense and ignore it completely. "Fuck, really......" The curse he had been holding back finally burst out. It was a sigh filled with self-disgust and self-blame directed at himself, not at the possibly angry Gwak Eun-ho. He thought he was truly fucked now, and Ji Hyeon covered his face with one hand. * * * There had been many incidents in his relationship with Gwak Eun-ho, but recent events were incomparable to the past. Eun-ho's bombshell declaration, the abruptly severed relationship, and the repeated mistakes that followed. 'Go back.' '......' 'Don't contact me until everything is sorted out.' Since that day, Ji Hyeon had not contacted Eun-ho at all. No, to be precise, he couldn't. Because he had picked up his phone countless times only to put it down, and even when he impulsively thought of going to his house, the words Eun-ho had spoken abruptly held him back. 'Let me ask you instead. What do you want me to do?' Yeah, what exactly do you want me to do? That was also why he couldn't properly answer the question of whether he wanted Eun-ho to return as his manager. Just as Eun-ho didn't understand Ji Hyeon, Ji Hyeon himself didn't clearly know what he wanted. It was true that he wanted Eun-ho to return as manager, but going to find him wasn't to beg him to come back. Suppose Gwak Eun-ho returns as manager. Still angry, not even glancing at Ji Hyeon, just handling manager duties before heading home—that kind of mechanical attitude from Gwak Eun-ho, as if he had no expectations whatsoever. Just imagining it made his chest feel cold and damp, and what Ji Hyeon wanted was never that kind of scene. If he were to return as manager like that, it would be much better to argue face-to-face as they were now. ......No, it's not that I want to argue, it's just an expression. Anyway, sharply, Eun-ho had accurately discerned Ji Hyeon's inner thoughts. Seeing him issue what amounted to an order to leave, saying he didn't know what Ji Hyeon wanted, asking if even Ji Hyeon himself didn't know. Even while being roughly chased out the front door, that single remark telling him to go to the hospital was so utterly ridiculous. 'You're really......' Anyway, he's a weird guy. It's already the umpteenth time he's thought this, but there were no other words to describe him. The fact that despite being plenty angry, he still let him into the house, and even put a hat on a guy with nothing pretty about him, and ultimately drawing a clear line at the critical moment. He was firm yet soft, dull yet meticulous. When he did affectionate things with that indifferent face, a feeling of satisfaction as if his stomach were full and an unquenchable thirst arose simultaneously. It was clear that this weird guy made him feel weird, and the years of comforting himself with that thought had already passed over a decade. '......You probably don't know this, but the things you demand and expect from me aren't things you do in ordinary friendships.' But overnight, all of that was denied. Because I'm not your family, nor your lover or spouse. Because I can't be your only existence—because Gwak Eun-ho shook his head. 'You're just...... obsessed with me because I'm your only friend.' The words spoken in an uncertain voice lacked persuasiveness even to Ji Hyeon's ears. The surge of unfairness was brief, and soon one fundamental question arose. Then you. You who have no friends but me, why aren't you obsessed with me? Even Gwak Eun-ho, who said friends are originally many, when you shook out his human relationships, only Ji Hyeon came out. That he had no other friends was something Ji Hyeon, more than anyone else, knew best. Not because he had personality flaws like me, but because he was just inherently busy and blunt. But you never know. Those sophistical words might really be true. Gwak Eun-ho could form other relationships anytime, but for me, even such options felt burdensome. If that were the case, Ji Hyeon was willing to try making other friends. '......You're coming to the after-party?' That's why he stubbornly attended the drama drinking gathering. Acting out sociability that wasn't in his destiny, steadfastly enduring boring drinking sessions—the reason was the same. The desire to mimic normalcy by filling that void if this abnormal urge stemmed from a lack of relationships was as firm as a chimney. 'No, Ji Hyeon-ssi, you're good at drinking.' 'Sunbae-nim, please accept a drink!' Kwak Eun-ho told me not to drink. Even while thinking that, he didn't refuse the offered drink. He wasn't Manager anymore anyway, and if he didn't do this, he felt like he'd go crazy. No, actually, there was also a childish part of him that wanted the guy to know and get angry. He ate tasteless alcohol and meat, keeping his place for several rounds. He barely managed his expression in front of others, and when he returned home, he repeatedly vomited. Unable to watch any longer, CEO Byun begged him to rest, but he pretended not to hear and pulled his hat down low. 'Isn't that Manager Kwak's hat?' So that's why Kwak Eun-ho wears a hat. He thought that several times. The sense of security the black hat gave him was similar to how he used to calm him down when he had panic attacks. Because his vision was obscured, his patience didn't wear out as quickly, and it was good for hiding his expression when he lowered his head. Around the time the atmosphere on set noticeably improved, his relationship with Shin Yi-chan became close enough that he would even look over his script. Even if it was one-sided intimacy, he even uploaded Ji Hyeon's picture on social media. Would Kwak Eun-ho praise him if he saw it? He even secretly thought about that. 'Until…… to you…….' '…….' 'Until I become your only one.' But no matter who he met and talked to, it wasn't like Kwak Eun-ho. He wasn't as curious as Kwak Eun-ho, he wasn't as comfortable as Kwak Eun-ho, and he didn't keep thinking about him like Kwak Eun-ho. New people were always burdensome, and new relationships were as uncomfortable as wearing ill-fitting clothes. You're wrong, Kwak Eun-ho. He wished he could tell him that. Unfortunately, Ji Hyeon couldn't even find the words to refute him. It's not just because you're my only friend, but then, why, why, do I feel this way? At first, he at least smoked, but later he couldn't smoke because he kept thinking about him. He threw the remaining cigarettes in the trash, and even let out a hollow laugh at the feeling of futility. To quit smoking, which he started to comfort himself, like this. The fact that Kwak Eun-ho was the beginning and the end was absurd. 'Aren't you going to quit smoking?' He should have quit then. If he had, he could have at least acted like he was doing him a favor. Even though he knew it was just for show, Kwak Eun-ho would have gladly smiled and said he did a good job. 'Hyeon-ah, let's get counseling.' The reason he couldn't ignore CEO Byun's words was because Ji Hyeon had been thinking something similar. Why, didn't Kwak Eun-ho say it? That he couldn't solve it, so he should go to the hospital. He was sick of taking medicine, so it might be time to find another way. 'At this rate, something really bad will happen to you.' He didn't know what 'this rate' meant, but anyway, Ji Hyeon obediently headed to the hospital that CEO Byun had found. To meet someone who had appeared on TV, someone whose appointments were booked for years, someone who charged so much per hour, and get counseling. They were all renowned experts, but in reality, they had no effect. 'The counseling contents are kept secret, so…….' He knew. That these people were different from the doctors he had met as a child. That the mental hospital he had entered after his mother passed away was practically a prison. But knowing it in his head and acting on it were completely different matters. He had been so busy hiding his flaws, there was no way he could open up and tell everything overnight. It had been almost 20 years since then, but the memory of being silenced so as not to tarnish his father's reputation was still vivid. He hated being a celebrity at times like this. The whole nation knew about his family history, but he didn't have the confidence to confess all the behind-the-scenes stories to someone he was meeting for the first time. There were often cases where he couldn't say a word because he thought that his current remarks would come back to haunt him someday. 'Uncle will look into it more.' Seeing Ji Hyeon like that, CEO Byun's face became serious day by day, not knowing what he felt. The emotion in his sunken eyes was something in the vicinity of guilt and responsibility. It was a worry as an uncle, not as a President, but there was nothing Ji Hyeon could say. 'When filming ends today, go home and get some sleep…….' On days when he couldn't fall asleep, which were repeated countless times. That day, too, Ji Hyeon inevitably stayed up all night with his eyes open. The sleeping pills he always took had no effect, and when he opened the cupboard pretending to be crazy, there wasn't a single bottle of alcohol. It was all because the unnecessarily thorough Manager Kwak had removed all alcoholic beverages. He wished he could just pass out. He remembered getting his makeup done with that thought. Ignoring CEO Byun's nagging, standing in front of the camera according to the staff's instructions. The brightly shining lights were particularly dazzling, but he just dismissed it as a trick of the mind and blinked blankly. 'Huh? Oh, there……!' That's why his reaction was particularly slow. In the moment when the light poured down on his head, he thought he was hallucinating from lack of sleep. Even while reflexively raising his arm, he couldn't accept this whole situation. If it hadn't been for the screams piercing his deafened ears, he probably would have just laid there blankly. '……Hyeon-ah!' When he came to his senses, he was being transported to the hospital in an ambulance. His arm was twisted and a terrible pain surged, but every moment felt unreal, as if he were dreaming. While his mind was vaguely blurred, the only thought that came to mind was this. If Kwak Eun-ho finds out, will he curse me as a madman? He would definitely scold him, asking why he didn't avoid it and just stood there, and if he was out of his mind. After raising his voice in anger, he would carefully examine his condition with those black eyes. It was sweet just imagining it, and terrible because it was just an imagination. The fact that it could never become reality seemed more painful than any injury. If he knew that he was looking for an excuse to contact him even while bleeding, what kind of disgusted expression would he make? The endless stream of stray thoughts ended only after he entered the operating room. As soon as they caught a blood vessel and gave him an injection, the noisy thoughts in his head went black. With a feeling like his mind was being sucked in, Ji Hyeon quickly fell into a deep sleep. He doesn't know how the surgery ended. When he opened his eyes, he saw an unfamiliar ceiling, and CEO Byun was sitting next to him with an uneasy expression. While he vaguely opened and closed his eyes, CEO Byun said in a sighing voice. '……You got 8 weeks of recovery.' Saying 8 weeks, but he'll be able to go about his daily life as soon as he takes off the cast. Nevertheless, CEO Byun mentioned an unnecessarily generous period. 'First, rest for three months…….' 'One month is enough.' 'Hey.' The coldly lowered voice was no threat to Ji Hyeon. Ji Hyeon forced his heavy body up and deliberately cleared his cracking voice. 'How can I rest for three months during filming? You have to say something that makes sense.' In three months, the season would change, and if the season changed, the scenes that could be filmed would also change. Even if they sprayed snow or rain with machines, they couldn't hide the sense of the season that nature showed. No, in fact, Ji Hyeon also knew. That most things could be solved with CG, so it was half an excuse. 'I'll return as soon as I take off the cast. There's no need to rest for long.' '……Hyeon-ah, please.' CEO Byun reacted in a voice that could barely be heard after a long time. The expression he vaguely showed was similar to the one he had seen when he woke up in the hospital after taking alcohol and medicine together and falling asleep. 'Have I ever used you like a disposable item while raising you as an actor?' '…….' It was a rather self-deprecating question, and Ji Hyeon couldn't bring himself to say anything. It was true that he was anxious about the hiatus, but that was only when he was healthy. As an uncle and as the President of the agency, he wasn't a ruthless businessman who would drive a sick person to their death. 'If you get into the habit of overdoing it, you'll never fix it for the rest of your life. Don't you remember being carried away every time when you were young? Are you going to do that again this time?' When was it. Was it when Kwak Eun-ho disappeared for no reason? If he stayed still, he would have random thoughts, so he deliberately scheduled himself more heavily. The managers who worked at the time couldn't break Ji Hyeon's stubbornness, so in the end, he was carried away from overwork without CEO Byun knowing. 'I thought you got better while working with Manager Kwak…….' CEO Byun, who had muttered unconsciously, quickly closed his mouth after confirming that Ji Hyeon's expression had changed. He probably also knew that Eun-ho's influence was behind Ji Hyeon's strange behavior. So it wouldn't be long before he changed the subject. 'I may not be qualified as an uncle, but I have to say one thing as the President of the agency. Not this time. If you do this, the company will get criticized too.' In reality, when Ji Hyeon collapsed, the damage was borne entirely by the company. They couldn't blame the sick actor, so the fans' anger was directed entirely at external factors. Ji Hyeon also knew that fact, but as an actor, this was all he could say. 'What can I do. That's something the company has to bear.' 'You, you little……!' Isn't it enough to work hard and get good results? Even if he said this, he would be the one to seize the victory in the end. As the President of the agency, as the person who had to consider the life of the actor, there were also one or two things he had to calculate. The only person who could put everything aside and think only of Ji Hyeon was…… at best, Kwak Eun-ho. 'Anyway, I can't rest that long. Just thinking about being hospitalized makes me sick of it already.' 'Then who told you to wander around with your mind elsewhere?' The words he spat out with a nonchalant face finally made CEO Byun angry. As if he had never had a troubled expression, CEO Byun began to shout and nag. While ignoring the angry voice and occasionally giving perfunctory answers, Ji Hyeon's consciousness finally reached Kwak Eun-ho again. 'Even if he contacts you, tell him not to come.' A guy who's unnecessarily soft-hearted. If he hears about the accident, he'll show his face again, unable to resist. Even if he doesn't intend to come on his own, he knows that he will eventually listen if CEO Byun asks him. 'It's not settled yet.' But Ji Hyeon knew best what the end of that pity would be. They, who had already created a rift in their emotions, were destined to eventually go through the same process. And this time, Eun-ho would never look back. 'I want too much from him.' If he doesn't know the reason for his desire, Ji Hyeon could never go to Eun-ho. He told him not to contact him until everything was settled, so he shouldn't reach out with this excuse. Getting hurt isn't a one- or two-day thing, and his broken arm will heal soon. In the end, isn't this also an excessive demand? 'And please bring me my hat from the set.' While asking why he keeps looking for that hat, CEO Byun received the hat from the set without complaint. He was thinking of going to find it if he didn't bring it, but he probably instinctively read that will. When he put the black hat in a visible place, his uneasy heart seemed to calm down a little. 'Please, just stay still this time.' Half worry, half nagging. After hearing the plea filled with complex feelings about three times, CEO Byun couldn't handle the flood of calls and went to take care of the remaining work. If he had time, he would return to the hospital room, but he probably wouldn't have any time left even if he tried to make it. '……It's quiet now.' When he lies still in the empty hospital room, he feels a distant sense of floating, as if time has stopped. He's not the type to get lonely, but in the moment when he's left alone, an inexplicable sense of solitude washes over him. Of course, that was only temporary, and soon various noises were heard in his hazy mind. 'Ji Hyeon-ah, it's only been two days since we fought.' Now it's not two days, but a month has passed, and at this rate, it might soon be two months. The fleeting time seemed fast and slow, so it felt like more than a year of waiting for Ji Hyeon. 'I still don't want to see your face very much.' Does he even know? That he had hope in that word 'still'. If he waited a little longer, would it be okay to see his face, and if so, how long would that be? He even had the confidence to wait quietly, scraping together his lacking patience. But the condition that Eun-ho set was something that Ji Hyeon couldn't achieve even if he invested his whole life. Until Kwak Eun-ho becomes his only one. If he was going to demand something like that, he should have told him how to do it. '…….' His vaguely closing eyelids felt heavy. He wouldn't have been able to fall asleep normally, but his body, exhausted from overwork, had long since run out of battery. He had already run out of energy, and he had even undergone surgery, so it wasn't unreasonable to fall asleep intoxicated by the medicine. For the next few days, Ji Hyeon stayed quietly in the hospital room as CEO Byun had requested. It wasn't that he was trying to be nice, but because he kept falling into a deep sleep when he closed his eyes. As if he was going to get all the sleep he had missed in his life in the hospital room, time changed quickly every time he opened his eyes. He didn't get out of bed unless it was time to take his blood pressure or eat. He occasionally washed with CEO Byun's help, but even when he regained consciousness, his mind was still hazy. It seemed to be because of the medicine and injections, but for Ji Hyeon, who had been suffering from insomnia, it was rather fortunate. '……I can't breathe without you.' But the problem started when his unconsciousness sought Kwak Eun-ho. When he closed his eyes, a familiar face came to mind, and that monotonous voice of his lingered in his ears. Ji Hyeon-ah, after repeatedly hearing that call, he couldn't even distinguish between dream and reality from some point on. '……Could you turn off the camera?' The Eun-ho in front of him was watching Ji Hyeon with his hat pulled down low. While examining his face with a worried gaze, he took off the hat he was wearing and put it on Ji Hyeon's head. Then, he covered his ears with both hands and said in that calm voice. 'Ji Hyeon-ah, look at me.' He told him to say three things he saw. The ceiling, the IV line, and finally the arm with the IV needle. When he closed his eyes, things like his black eyes and his seriously changed expression. 'What do you hear?' And what he hears is……. '……Your voice and your breathing…….' The answer that came back wasn't from Ji Hyeon's mouth. Unless it was the answer he had once whispered like a breath while holding onto Eun-ho. Before he could even move his lips, Kwak Eun-ho asked the familiar question again. 'And what do you feel?' '…….' His sleep-dazed mind slowly returned to reality. The wrist he had been holding was nowhere to be found, and all that touched his palm was the rustling blanket. Blink, blink, when he closed and opened his eyes, a hollow voice flowed out instead of the answer that had risen to his throat. 'Nothing…….' He couldn't hear any sound, and he couldn't feel any warmth. Even if he laughed at the feeling of emptiness, there was no longer a chest to collapse into. The hospital room, left alone, was so quiet that it was desolate, and he even thought that this might be a dream. He seemed to realize on his own that it was abnormal. Not that he had ever been normal, but even considering that he was mentally ill, this was a bit strange. The sense of crisis he had never felt even when his parents passed away was more serious than when Kwak Eun-ho disappeared around the age of twenty. He would rather be mindlessly busy, but patients who needed rest had terribly nothing to do. It was even worse because there was no one visiting the hospital room except CEO Byun, because he had told everyone not to come. Well, if every Tom, Dick, and Harry had barged in, that would have been even more chaotic. For several weeks, from removing the IV to taking off the cast. Ji Hyeon's day was repeated similarly every day. As his wounds healed and the time he was awake increased, it didn't mean that his thoughts of Eun-ho disappeared. When he closed his eyes to sleep, a low voice invariably rang in his ears. 'Ji Hyeon-ah.' So he put on his hat and left the hospital room as if possessed. His bones were all healed, and he would be discharged soon. If he just lay still, it felt like his head would break down instead of his body. If he became more of a mess here, he might even lose all the excuses to hold onto Eun-ho. As a last resort, he wore a half-cast and told the security guard guarding the entrance that he was going to see the President. His life as an actor wasn't a one- or two-day thing, so it wasn't too difficult to shake off the reporters who were lingering around the hospital. 'Isn't that the actor on TV?' 'I get told I look like Shin Yi-chan a lot.' The taxi driver's words were received with the same indifferent tone as always. Whether he didn't recognize Ji Hyeon, who had his hat pulled down low, the driver rambled on about how his daughter liked Sunshine or whatever, pointless chatter. He was probably talking about Shin Yi-chan's group, Sunset, but there was no need to acknowledge it. 'My daughter likes the leader of that group...' Letting the driver's words wash over him, Ji Hyeon stared blankly out the car window. It was just a meaningless action, but somehow he found himself thinking of Kwak Eun-ho whenever he saw anyone pass by. That person had black hair, or was wearing a hat, or was tall, or was wearing similar clothes. All sorts of ridiculous reasons kept popping up endlessly, trapping him there, unable to escape. 'What? Hyeon-ah, how did you get here?' That was why. The moment he opened the door to the President's office and stepped inside, he thought the guy standing before him was a hallucination. Even as he stared blankly at his face, he was thinking thoughts like this with an indifferent expression. '...' Ah, I'm really going crazy now. Beneath thick eyebrows, a neat pair of eyes gazed steadily at Ji Hyeon. The pupils, so dark they were indistinguishable, were so realistic they felt like reality. It was the guy he met in his dreams every single day. Now, he was even seeing him sober. 'I asked how you got here?' If CEO Byun hadn't said that, Ji Hyeon would probably have stood there all day. Maybe he would have unconsciously muttered the name he hadn't been able to say all this time. If that had happened, he would have ended up in the hospital in a different sense this time. 'How else would I get here? I took a taxi.' He made an effort to look away and replied to CEO Byun in a nonchalant voice. He ignored the near-real hallucination and slumped his tired body onto the sofa. Hoping that no lingering feelings were contained in the shallow sigh that escaped him, he forcibly suppressed the urge to turn around one more time. 'Being in the hospital was so stifling, I couldn't stand it...' A lifetime of acting came in handy at times like this. Pretending not to be flustered, pretending not to have seen anything, feigning a blank expression wasn't that difficult. Hiding an anxious state and acting normal was nothing difficult for Ji Hyeon. 'Hey, you, even if you fought...' But CEO Byun's reaction was strange. Tsk, he clicked his tongue and muttered softly, then glanced around unnaturally. Wondering why he was acting like that, Ji Hyeon lowered his gaze and frowned slightly when he spotted a piece of paper on the table. '…?' It was a resignation letter. Kwak Eun-ho's name was written on it, probably the resignation letter he had submitted when he quit as Manager. And next to it were two coffee cups. Why is this here? As Ji Hyeon thought this, he suddenly turned his head and looked towards the door. '...' '...' Their eyes met. Embarrassment clouded the face looking at him, and shapely lips parted as if to speak. The guy he had thought was just a hallucination let out a dumbfounded laugh, and at that moment, a trembling voice escaped Ji Hyeon's lips. '…Kwak Eun-ho?' It was the real Kwak Eun-ho. The Kwak Eun-ho he had seen in his dreams, the Kwak Eun-ho he had only met as a hallucination. The habit of running his hand over the back of his neck, the way he lowered his gaze while quietly clearing his throat, it was the Kwak Eun-ho that Ji Hyeon knew. '…Um.' It felt like he had been hit in the back of the head. Or maybe it felt like cold water had been poured over him. For a long time, he couldn't think of anything. The moment he realized that he wasn't a hallucination but real, his mind was completely emptied. It felt like time had stopped, and it felt like he had stopped breathing for a moment. 'Then I'll head in first.' But the moment his gaze left him, Ji Hyeon frantically got up and approached him. He grabbed his arm with a firm hand and pulled him towards him with all his might. If he hadn't had a cast on his right arm, he might have used his injured hand to exert force. '...' '...' There had been a time like this before. In front of a dazzlingly bright billboard, he had finally caught the hallucination he had seen in his dreams every night. That day, he hadn't been able to let go, afraid that it would all disappear like a mirage. 'Why.' '...' He didn't know what to say, so he just moved his lips without saying anything. He was afraid that if he stayed still, he would just turn around and leave, so he forced out a voice that wouldn't come out. '…Where are you going?' He knew it was a stupid question. It was something he had blurted out without thinking, and he didn't really expect an answer. Even as he let go of him at the word 'pain,' he was racking his brains about what to say next to hold him back. 'Ji Hyeon-ah.' When he called his name, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as if electrified. The name, which he hadn't heard in a long time, wasn't as awkward as the gap. It was just more choked up than that, and it resonated with his heart more than he had imagined. 'I...' Who knew that a name he had heard so many times would be so poignant? The title that had only bothered him was now at the point where he would be upset if it wasn't called. 'I… I got hurt.' He wasn't trying to act weak. It was just that, if he had been his Manager, he would have known that part already. He wasn't at all upset that he hadn't come to visit him in the hospital, but he felt like it would be unfair if he misunderstood that he had done it on purpose. 'I'm glad you're okay. I was worried, but I'm relieved.' The words 'I was worried' tasted sweet in his mouth. The way he calmly examined the cast was so welcome. Even though he knew it was a strange wish, he even had the desire for him to worry a little more. It had only been a little over two months, but Kwak Eun-ho had changed in various ways. For example, his face had become a little sharper, he never looked back while walking, or he had started smoking again, which he hadn't done before. He wondered why he had started smoking again, which was bad for his health, but the answer he got was just this. 'I guess I wasn't as tough as you thought.' Who doesn't know that Kwak Eun-ho is soft-hearted? The word 'tough' was no different from a passing joke. Of course, he knew that he was a guy who could be firm at the last moment. Yeah, so he thought he would simply reject the My MaeSo fixed offer. 'I said I would do it.' '...' He sometimes felt it. That the existence of Kwak Eun-ho was so different from him. It was natural since they weren't the same person, but he couldn't guess his behavior patterns at all. He felt like he knew everything about him, but sometimes he thought that everything he knew was too trivial. 'I'm not making a full comeback.' That's right. He seemed to feel relief rather than disappointment. If he had had unnecessary expectations, he would have wanted too much from him without end. It was more comfortable to set a period and wait. 'And there are conditions.' Ji Hyeon also guessed the conditions he would present. The actions that his Manager had told him not to do until his mouth was sore, the mistakes he had made several times in his absence, all the things he had vaguely counted while recalling the irreversible beginning. But this time, unexpected words popped out of Eun-ho's mouth. It was calm advice, like the soft guy to go to the hospital. He never moved as he wanted him to. In the end, the last thing he wanted was an action for him. '…I know I shouldn't rely on you for this.' Actually, he didn't want to know. He wanted to throw away all that stuff and rely on him as he had been doing so far. It would be nice if he could hold on to him, hold on to him because he couldn't sleep, and then rely on that moment's touch to barely breathe. But didn't he say it before? Ji Hyeon knew best what the end of that pity would be like. So he shouldn't kick away the chance he had been given again. He had his hat stolen by him and another few days passed. Time passed without him knowing when he would return. The drama filming was soon, but there was still a long time before the My MaeSo filming. Kwak Eun-ho would probably return around that time, so he thought there was no need to wait for the guy who wasn't coming. '…' But why was he so resentful of the vaguely flowing time? Why did he think of him on nights when he couldn't sleep even after being discharged from the hospital and returning home? There were many days when he stayed up all night with his phone in his hand, wondering if he would get a call. He didn't spend time lying on the sofa like before. In the first place, he was in the living room because the living room was the first place Eun-ho would see when he came in. Now it was a house that only CEO Byun entered, so there was no need to wait anxiously in an uncomfortable place. While trying to fall asleep all night, he frowned slightly at the sound of someone opening the door. He was annoyed that morning had finally broken even though he hadn't slept a wink. He was about to swallow a sigh, expecting Hyeon-ah to say something like, 'How long are you going to sleep?' 'Ji Hyeon-ah.' It wasn't a loud voice, but he was so startled that his heart dropped. It was a completely unexpected call and a person he hadn't even hoped for. The figure standing tall in the dark room felt more like a dream than the sleepless nights. Even while washing his face, he couldn't believe that he had come, so it took him a long time to go down to the first floor. He felt like there would be no one in the kitchen, and he was afraid that all of this was a hallucination he had created. 'Sit down, you haven't had breakfast, have you?' '…' Is this a dream? Or am I finally crazy? Or is it a miracle that has happened? There was no special reason to call him 'dear.' If it was a dream, he would answer 'why,' and if he was crazy, he would show a kinder reaction. Like when he hadn't fought with him, when he hadn't quit being a Manager yet. 'Why am I your dear?' But Eun-ho defied Ji Hyeon's expectations and answered in a firm voice. Ah, this is really reality. At the same time as he realized this, a sense of futility washed over him. '…I thought.' I thought I was really crazy. Well, it wasn't bad. If all of this wasn't a dream, he wouldn't have to endure the emptiness that would rush to his throat the moment he woke up. If it wasn't a hallucination that would disappear faintly, it was no different from avoiding the worst situation anyway. He talked casually and finished the meal that he had prepared cleanly. He got a little nagging, but fortunately, he didn't raise his voice or get angry. However, all the situations were uncomfortable. If he asked if Kwak Eun-ho was uncomfortable, he would say no. He had never been disliked, even if he had been wary, and he had never been uncomfortable, even if he had been difficult. So this was an awkwardness about the given situation, not his existence. When he said he would return as a Manager, there was one thing he decided. He was determined to do everything the other way around, encompassing the past he had gone through. If he wasn't confident in doing well, he should just stay still, just like the words that he had once advised as a Manager. He didn't want to show his sick appearance, so he barely ignored the indigestion he had felt since morning. He didn't say anything in the car, and he quietly followed Kwak Eun-ho around the hospital. 'We're here, so go up.' But after enduring it for a whole day, the conclusion he came to was terrible. He would come to pick him up again tomorrow anyway, but the fact that he had to send him away like this made him want to vomit. The nausea that he had been holding back all along came out on its own the moment he saw his back. '…Ugh.' He familiarly handed him a plastic bag, but all of this was nothing more than humiliation to him. He would rather pretend to be sick, but he was ashamed to show him that he was really sick. Even though he knew that he wouldn't look at him strangely, he couldn't help but feel ugly. Yeah, what if he gets tired of me? To a guy who doesn't have a single healthy part, to an actor who is so demanding that he is sick of it. Even if he is a person, he can't help but think that it's annoying. It was similar to the feeling he felt when he washed his hands until his skin was chapped and he applied hand cream. The attention that was poured on him was so sweet that it was painful, and there were times when he felt anxious because he wondered how long this would last. If he couldn't stand this dirty psychology and got angry, he would feel thirsty as if he was burning at the attitude that Kwak Eun-ho showed. You're still angry at me. But why are you being so nice to me, making me confused? What if I keep doing that and then I don't know my place and reach out? If you're going to draw a line, draw it clearly, or accept it endlessly. '…Even if you're not a Manager, we're friends.' Maybe it was the words he wanted to hear the most. He always said that you're not my Manager, you're my friend, so it was definitely the best answer for Eun-ho. He wanted to be a friend, not an actor, to him. 'Of course I'm worried if a friend is sick.' '…' But surprisingly, the feeling he felt at that moment was unpleasant. He was upset that the reason he cared about him was just because he was a friend. He was so upset that he attached the word 'just' to the relationship he had desperately wished for someday. He said that friends are originally many. Then would he show this kind of interest even if other friends were sick? He would act so kindly as if he would give everything, and then if he grabbed his pants and begged, he would firmly harden his expression. 'I think you've forgotten, but I'm gay.' It was true that he had forgotten that he was gay. It wasn't because he had forgotten, but because he thought it wasn't a part that he needed to be aware of. Whether he was gay or not, the fact that he was Kwak Eun-ho didn't change. 'Would you be able to sleep in the same house with a man?' He knew it was a ridiculous excuse. It was obvious that he was just saying whatever he wanted to scare him in order to get rid of him, who kept telling him to sleep over. He was a guy who didn't seem to have any sexual desire. He was indifferent to any bed scenes on TV, so there was no way he would be aware of being in the same house with someone else now. But what reason is there not to be able to sleep over just because he likes men? Ji Hyeon spent the whole night, the whole night, chewing over all his words. He felt strange, so he took another shower, and this time he changed into comfortable clothes instead of a gown and sat on the sofa. He didn't think about taking sleeping pills or trying to sleep, and he just let the dawn break endlessly. 'Eun-ho-ya.' But as he thought and thought, he started to get angry. He went over all the men he had contact with, thought about the reason why he had given up on the other person, and thought of a few reasons why the other person would reject Kwak Eun-ho. A sense of injustice welled up from his stuffy chest. 'The person you like is a man?' I'm a man too. You said you can't sleep in the same house because I'm a man. Kwak Eun-ho, who sees me as a man, who the hell are you liking? 'You said you wouldn't ask that.' Honestly, he couldn't hear the words he was saying in a firm tone. It was obvious that he had a lot of lingering feelings, but if the other person didn't like Kwak Eun-ho, there was no possibility of it happening. Kwak Eun-ho wouldn't even think about expressing his feelings, so it was clear that it was a relationship that couldn't even start in the first place. So if that's the case, 'Then…' Can't you like me instead? The thought hit the nail on the head and made his head tingle as if cold water had been poured on it. The moment he realized what he was about to say, his expression hardened. '…' It was a relief that he didn't say it out loud. If Kwak Eun-ho had heard it, he would have cursed him without hesitation, telling him not to say crazy things. He might have looked at him as if he was looking at a guy he couldn't associate with this time, telling him to say nonsense in moderation. '…So are you going to sleep or eat?' Fortunately, Eun-ho didn't seem to want to talk about this topic anymore. He had always been like this whenever he talked about the person he liked, from before until now. Until now, he had been annoyed by that attitude, but that day, he was very relieved. He left Kwak Eun-ho and went up to the second floor, and lay on the bed and chewed over his conversation with him for a long time. He thought he would be able to sleep deeply just because he was at home, but on the contrary, his head was full of complicated thoughts again. '…Like me.' Frankly speaking, it was a presumption that deserved displeasure. The situation of someone liking Ji Hyeon was always troublesome and bothersome to him. Especially if the other person was another man. He had no interest in guys, and was rather closer to disliking them. It wasn't that he liked women, but that was simply because he didn't like people in general. However, the fleeting thought momentarily brushed past, excluding all those reasons and making him have vain lingering feelings. Even while making excuses that he must have been momentarily insane, he had to suppress the surging resentment once again. 'A male actor around our age…….' When it came to actors around his age, they were all just terrible guys. Either they were ugly, couldn't act, or had extremely nasty personalities. Occasionally, there were actors who had everything, but most of them were either already seeing someone or had no connection to them. So, that meant there was no one among them that Kwak Eun-ho would like. He wouldn't mind if he liked a woman, but the thought of the other person being a man made his blood boil. 'I've never seen anyone more handsome than you.' Even though he had said that. Hadn't he said that you were the best among the actors, flattering him like that? But why, why don't you like me and like some other bastard? He knew it was a childish desire, but he couldn't shake it off at all. The more he thought about it, the more things angered him. 'I gave up a long time ago anyway…….' If he had given up, why did he make that kind of expression? Why hadn't he told him during all those years of liking him? Damn it, Kwak Eun-ho, what were you lacking that you gave up on the other person with such a lack of confidence? '…….' The dissatisfaction that continued until just before falling asleep eventually led to the assumption, 'Wouldn't it be better if he liked me?' It was closer to a half-baked wish, but it was still not a bad fantasy. Of course, he knew it was something that wouldn't happen, so he ended up feeling empty in the end. 'Honestly, if he had contacted me when I was resting, it would have been nothing but a nuisance.' When he said that about Shin Yi-chan, two emotions conflicted within him. He was relieved by the emotionless voice, but he also flinched at the word 'nuisance.' 'Are you going to meet him?' 'Well, if he contacts me, I'll meet him…….' He had an attitude as if he had nothing to lose. He didn't seem to have any lingering feelings, and it didn't seem like he was interested either. The guy who didn't even show the slightest curiosity replied carelessly, as if he didn't care. 'I roughly know what he's going to say anyway, so why bother.' What if he hadn't been in the same class as this indifferent guy? What if he hadn't sat next to him and talked to him, or needlessly acted up or showed him his sick self in front of him? No, what if he hadn't gone to that billboard on his twenty-second birthday? '……You have a really bad personality too.' There were many who lingered around him, but he was the only one who remained by his side. So perhaps, he should be satisfied with the amount of attention he was showing him. Because he was a friend, he was worried, because he was a Manager, he stayed by his side, and in this situation where he looked at him with an upright gaze. 'Don't overdo it, ever.' He was sick and tired of showing his sick self, but his heart wavered every time he checked his injured arm. The touch of bandaging him and stroking the injured area was so subtly erotic that his throat tickled. 'If it hurts even a little, just call NG. Got it?' '…….' Wouldn't he continue to be his Manager if his injury didn't heal? He was a guy with a lot of affection without realizing it, so he might not be able to turn his back on him coldly. In the end, just like he had returned to film "My MaeSo," he might stay by his side out of pity. Even if the ending he faced wasn't what he wanted. 'Kwon Min-hyuk, you son of a bitch, I'm going to kill you today!' Getting injured while doing action scenes was already a familiar occurrence in his acting life. It wasn't exactly because he had a spirit of sacrifice, but it was better to endure the pain than to reshoot. It was a habit that Kwak Eun-ho hated terribly, but it was also a part that couldn't be easily fixed. 'Cut!' But he wouldn't make excuses. He couldn't deny that he had pushed himself harder this time. If it healed slower, he couldn't help but think that. Spraining his wrist was a mistake, but enduring that pain was definitely an action conscious of Kwak Eun-ho. 'You're crazy.' He would never forget the moment he uttered those words in a low voice. His expression was colder than ever, but his tone, as he chewed out swear words, was extremely agitated. Apart from feeling self-conscious when his low voice rang out loudly, he seemed to feel uplifted. 'I told you not to endure it. Where do you keep your mind? How long has it been since you hurt your arm, and you're pushing your body like that!' He was a cold guy. No, to be exact, he should be called lukewarm. When it came to temperature, it was always similar, but he liked the moment when sparks flew in those dark eyes. He liked the fact that he was the reason why the guy, who was always cautious, acted recklessly without thinking. If there hadn't been a camera, he would have continued to receive his anger on the spot. He didn't want to stop him, as it felt like he was being compensated for the awkward few days he had spent. However, he cut him off at the right time because he thought the responsible Kwak Eun-ho would be flustered. As for being caught on camera, well, he was confident enough to handle it. 'Stay still.' His hands were as big as his height, but Kwak Eun-ho's fingertips were delicate. He carefully took out the pin he didn't even know was there, then chuckled and softened his voice. Unlike his blunt face, his affectionate gaze went well with his playful voice. 'What were you going to do with this?' He was strangely conscious of his face that had come closer. The distance that had narrowed in an instant was enough to stiffen his neck momentarily. The part that had touched him felt hot, and his accidentally entangled gaze made his throat tighten. '……I didn't know it was there.' Was it a sense of crisis? He felt like he was falling somewhere. It was a slightly different feeling from anxiety, but he couldn't figure out why he felt that way. Even while watching his back as he headed to the stylist, his chest felt queasy as if he had indigestion. Even after the filming was all over and he went to the company dinner, the queasy feeling in his chest showed no signs of improving. When their eyes met, he felt thirsty, so he glanced at the beer, only to receive a stinging glare for no reason. He thought he wouldn't be allowed to drink until the end, but Eun-ho, who had been outside for a while, even kindly poured beer into his glass. 'Go in. I'll pick you up tomorrow.' '…….' He had gone to the company dinner because he didn't want to send him away. But the mercilessly flowing time finally came to an end of the day. Even though he knew he had to send him off obediently, the words that came out of his mouth were these. '……Come up for a bit and be my acting partner.' 'Acting partner?' Kwak Eun-ho probably knew it too. How ridiculous this request was. It was also unreasonable to suddenly make this excuse when he had been doing well on his own until now. '……Where are you having trouble?' That's right…… The problem is that he keeps accepting it. Because he gives in as if he can't win, with a face that looks like he's about to sigh at any moment, isn't that why he keeps wanting more? In an inexplicable tension, he took a shower and even paid attention to his clothes, which was rare, before coming out to the living room. He couldn't help but feel defenseless wearing only a gown as usual. Kwak Eun-ho wouldn't care, but he felt like he needed to be wary of something. Not wariness towards Eun-ho, but wariness towards himself. 'So, where do you want me to look?' He opened the script anywhere and casually handed it to Kwak Eun-ho. He had memorized all the lines anyway, so it didn't matter what scene came out. While he was thinking about what excuse to make next after this scene, he realized that Kwak Eun-ho was already next to him. 'Start when you're ready.' Sitting side by side wasn't a new thing. It wasn't a particularly special situation that he was looking at the script either. But why was he so nervous? '……Are you really not going to talk to me?' He deliberately immersed himself in the role to hide his uneasy state. He recited the lines with all his heart, dragging out the ends of his words and even acting cute. While he was thinking that it was a childish love scene, Kwak Eun-ho showed an even more amazing performance. 'You always just say that. Don't you think about how worried I'll be?' Kwak Eun-ho can't act. He's not just bad, he's extremely bad. Seeing him speak in a stiff tone with that good voice made him chuckle even though it wasn't a funny situation. He even read it all carefully without showing any signs of embarrassment, which made it even more so. If he had debuted as an actor, wouldn't he have taken on a character who only carried weight without any lines? He might have become famous for his face at first, but later become even more famous for his acting controversy. No, he's a guy who's good at everything, so if he practiced, his skills might improve drastically again. 'I'm really sorry. I won't worry you again.' '……Really?' 'Yeah, really.' 'Can you promise?' 'Shall we pinky swear?' Asking him to be his acting partner was just an excuse, but he felt good as they exchanged lines. The ticklish lines coming out of his mouth felt funny and even cute. The act of hooking pinkies was insincere, but shaking it a couple of times was quite professional in its own way. 'I should give our Darling's instep a "ho" treatment.' 'You're always good with words.' What was the next instruction? While Ji Hyeon was thinking that, he inadvertently looked at Eun-ho's profile. From his calmly lowered eyelashes to his half-covered eyes, and his slightly closed lips. Ah, there was a kiss scene. By the time he realized that, their eyes had already met. '…….' '…….' Since when had they been this close? He clearly thought he was looking from afar, but when he came to his senses, they were close enough to feel each other's breath. Kwak Eun-ho, who belatedly looked at him, was surprised and twitched his eyes. Ji Hyeon's face was reflected in his dark eyes. The color was so dark that the pupil and iris were indistinguishable, but if you looked closely, the boundary line was clearly visible. The gaze, so deep it felt like he would be sucked in, trembled slightly and stared at Ji Hyeon. '…….' His mind went blank, and he couldn't even think about the script. His fingertips trembled, and his eyelashes fluttered. Without turning his head or taking his eyes off him, the only thought that filled his mind was one thing. He wanted to touch Kwak Eun-ho. More closely, without any gaps, he wished he could never be separated again. He closed his eyes and very carefully overlapped his lips. He pressed down on his soft lips and stayed like that for a long time. He had done a lot of kissing as acting, but. That soft touch snapped the thread of his reason. '……!' If he hadn't swung his fist, he would have definitely stuck his tongue in on the spot. He would have forgotten about acting and done everything he wasn't supposed to do. Without knowing exactly what he wanted, he would have acted recklessly according to his instincts. '……Crazy bastard.' The cheek he was hit on was incredibly painful, but the other shock was even greater. The changes that had occurred in him were more shocking than the words he blurted out in anger. While he was frozen, unable to even breathe, Eun-ho didn't notice Ji Hyeon's abnormality and left the house. '…….' Bang! The front door closed. It was such a loud noise that Ji Hyeon belatedly covered his mouth and blushed. As reason returned to his dazed mind, he could no longer ignore the parts he had barely been ignoring. 'Ah…… fuck.' His gaze inadvertently fell on his bulging crotch. The outline that bulged out over his thigh was not something he could ignore at all. His lower abdomen was tight, and it was even painfully stiff. Thinking that he couldn't leave it like this, he headed to the bathroom in a daze. He casually took off his indoor slippers on the way, and stood in the shower booth without even taking off his clothes. As soon as he turned on the shower, cold water poured down from above. '…….' It was a temperature that made him come to his senses, but nothing changed. His head was still very complicated, and the wet clothes just stuck to his skin annoyingly. His heavily erect penis clearly revealed its shape over his wet pants. 'Haa…….' Ji Hyeon pressed his forehead against the bathroom wall and swallowed swear words while gritting his teeth. If he let go of the tension even a little, the touch that had touched his lips would float up in a haze. That softer than he expected, that soft and warm warmth. He wasn't a pubescent high school student, and he had even been far from such things during his puberty. It was an extension of his mysophobia, he just didn't like touching someone, and he didn't feel any emotion in such relationships. He had experienced wet dreams when he was young, but he had only ever jerked off with his own hand a handful of times. '…….' He slightly pulled down his wet pants and grabbed his erect penis in one hand. As he grabbed the shaft and stroked it down, a suppressed groan escaped his lips. He was aware that he was doing something perverted, but only one thought came to his mind. 'Heut…….' Fuck, Kwak Eun-ho. Since when was it? Since when was touching Kwak Eun-ho no longer unpleasant? When did he habitually look for him, and become extremely sensitive when he wasn't in sight? He always thought he would be by his side, but he was vaguely suffocated by the anxiety that he might leave at any time. It was a simple story. Blinking his eyes, breathing, even the position of the tongue in his mouth. Once he started to be aware of it, he couldn't ignore it, and once he couldn't ignore it, he was bound to be swayed. He may not have known it until now, but once he realized it, it meant he could never go back. 'Haa…….' The stream of water pouring from the showerhead no longer felt cold at some point. By the time his breath was flushed, he even felt a faint taste of blood from his lips that had eventually burst. As his hand tightened, the feeling of ejaculation rose, and the area below his navel was tightly constricted. 'Eut, Eun-ho-ya…….' In the end, Ji Hyeon reached his climax with the rush of pleasure. The dirty splattered semen ran down the bathroom wall. The way it left a hazy mark and fell to the floor was similar to the feelings he felt when he looked at Kwak Eun-ho. A dense and damp, not at all normal, tenacious heart. '…….' Why hadn't he known? That wanting him to like him meant that he was ready to accept that heart. That the reason he was curious about the person he liked was resentment towards an unknown opponent. The heart he finally realized was not sweet like he had seen in the media. Only a terrible sense of despair and vague fear rose to his throat. He was in love with Kwak Eun-ho. Ji Hyeon was an actor who received love from many people, but he rarely had the experience of receiving love from someone close to him. A prime example was his parents, but it was ambiguous to blame them after reaching this age. It may have started that way, but he couldn't claim to be innocent in the process. How could he love if he didn't know how to love? Giving is something that people who have received it can do, but if you suddenly ask them to do that, there's nothing they can do. Well, he didn't really yearn for it because it was a castrated heart in the first place. Anyway, for that reason, Ji Hyeon had never dated anyone until now. There were consistently people who expressed interest (even of the same sex), but it was only natural since his heart didn't move. He didn't regret that fact, and he never thought it was a flaw. Of course, as an actor, he was curious about the emotions he hadn't learned. How good was it that they couldn't even live their daily lives, saying they would rather die, how much did their hearts beat that their faces turned red and they couldn't come to their senses, how lovely was it that they smiled just by looking at their face. When playing a student who smiled aimlessly while holding his girlfriend's hand, when playing a man who cried loudly in the street after being notified of a breakup, or when playing a husband who longed for his dead wife and followed her to death. In all those processes, he felt both disbelief and curiosity at the same time. He couldn't believe that a person could like another person this much, that they could like someone so much that the world looked beautiful, that such emotions existed in the world. He had mechanically studied love, dismissing it as an emotion he would never understand, treating it purely as work. For fear that his inexperience might be visible to fans, he read romance novels and the like, playing the role of ‘a man in love.’ Even if he didn't understand everything 100%, he was confident in putting on a plausible act. He thought he would never know it. No, he didn't even try to know. He had always thought it was an emotion far removed from him, as there wasn't even anyone to feel it for. ‘Am I a joke to you?’ ‘…….’ ‘I said I’m gay, you fucking… is this okay?’ But no matter how much of an idiot he was, he wasn't a pervert who felt sexual desire for an unspecified number of people. He hated contact with others to the point of disgust, and he had never felt the desire to touch someone. He had countless memories of filming kiss scenes out of obligation, never even understanding why people liked such things. All his common sense crumbled overnight. The fact that he had done that kind of thing while thinking of him made him feel both self-loathing and a sense of emptiness. Was the fact that he thought Kwak Eun-ho was cool actually excitement? Maybe the thirst he occasionally felt was a more fundamental desire than he knew. What he had dismissed as mere friendship was clearly an abnormal longing, as Eun-ho had said. But if that were the case, then wouldn't it be a little strange? The love that Ji Hyeon had portrayed wasn't such a dirty and gloomy emotion. It wasn't the kind that made you feel wronged, sad, and burst into anger as if you had been betrayed. Maybe a more ticklish and gentle, in some ways even repulsive, pure feeling. ‘I told you, you make me out to be too bad of a person.’ He heard that when you like someone, you smile, but from some point on, there were more times when his smile faded. He often hardened his expression due to uneasy feelings or unintentionally got angry. If emotions had to be classified as positive or negative, his feelings towards him were closer to the latter, even if by a subtle difference. Is it okay to hate someone you like? Shouldn't you just be happy and joyful when you like someone? He hadn't told anyone, but sometimes he genuinely hated Kwak Eun-ho. In the moments when he disappeared without a word, the guy who tried to endure alone without showing any signs of hardship, even the sight of him going home, leaving him who had told him to stay over. ‘Just mind your own business. That's not Manager’s job.’ He hated him so much that he even wished he didn't have to see him. He had acted tough, saying he wouldn't rely on him anymore, but then he would habitually follow him and pay attention to him. When he waited for him endlessly, his pent-up feelings would fester and make him feel miserable. Even beautification should be done in moderation. He didn't remember any script ever telling him that love was like this. ‘Ji Hyeon-ah, hello.’ As he vaguely recalled the beginning, the last thing that came to mind was his first meeting with him. More precisely, the day he first recognized ‘Ji Hyeon’ as a person. ‘You’re a really weird guy.’ At first, he just thought he liked being called ‘Ji Hyeon-ah.’ Then he liked the conversations he had with him, and after some time, he even cherished the time they spent together. But now that he thought about it, he just liked Kwak Eun-ho himself. The series of realizations, ridiculously, led in a completely unexpected direction. Not to excitement or joy, but to a sense of emptiness accompanied by a slight powerlessness. He likes Kwak Eun-ho… Yeah, so what was he going to do about it? Realizing his feelings didn't change the relationship, and the relationship being turned upside down didn't mean the world would be turned upside down. The fact that he couldn't do anything after realizing his feelings for him tormented Ji Hyeon. Even if he knew the reason for his thirst, it wasn't a proper solution if he couldn't quench it. He couldn't help but think that it would have been better not to know. Awareness was poison, and there were too many mistakes he had already made to turn back. Since he dared to harbor presumptuous feelings, all he could do was denounce himself as a lacking bastard. Well, in the end, even that was already too late. “……” “……” On the way to the set for the ‘My MaeSo’ interview. The car driven by Eun-ho was truly silent. Eun-ho concentrated on driving without a word, and Ji Hyeon pretended to look at the script while stealing glances at Eun-ho. While he was conscious of every breath he took, the car stopped slowly in front of a crosswalk when it was caught in a traffic light. They had been in this atmosphere ever since they got in the car in the underground parking lot of the apartment. Eun-ho waited for Ji Hyeon without turning off the engine, and even after he got in the car, he started the car without acknowledging him. He would rather he got angry, but the fact that he was just driving silently made him even more conscious. “Kwak Eun-ho.” In the end, it was Ji Hyeon who broke the silence. He would have kept his mouth shut as usual, but since he had committed a sin, he had to ease the atmosphere first. No, in fact, he had to say something because he felt like he was going to throw up if he endured the silence any longer. “Yesterday……” But after he started, no words came out of his mouth. If there was something he should say, it would be an excuse for last night's accident, but he couldn't just say he did it because he liked him. To be clear, he swore it wasn't intentional. It was just that he was intoxicated by the atmosphere, or perhaps by the emotions in the script, or maybe the few glasses of beer he drank had confused his reason. It was an act that deserved to be beaten, and since he had actually been beaten, it was now his turn to explain. “……I did it because I was drunk.” At the sudden words, Eun-ho paused and frowned. Even so, it was a little strange to say that he was drunk after three glasses of beer, and his eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, were full of suspicion. He knew it was an unconvincing reason, but this was the only excuse Ji Hyeon could make. “I was too immersed in the alcohol……” “……” “That's why I did it. I'm sorry.” The clumsy apology was something he had learned from Eun-ho in his school days. It was the best sincerity he could show and the first expression of apology he had ever learned. Because he only knew this way to apologize for his mistakes, he had given the same apology when Eun-ho quit being his Manager. Instead of answering, Eun-ho looked at Ji Hyeon in the rearview mirror. He twitched his eyes as if he was about to say something, then slowly lowered his eyes. Eun-ho, who had been resting his wrist on the steering wheel, let out a low sigh after a while. “……It's okay. I shouldn't have raised my hand to an actor's face either.” That was the end of it. Kwak Eun-ho, who was unnecessarily cool, didn't even say sorry this time. He just asked in an extremely blunt voice. “The medicine.” There was no way he would have applied something like that. There was definitely ointment at home, but only Kwak Eun-ho would know where it was. So he just didn't answer, and he added nonchalantly as if he knew. “There's ointment in your bag. Look in the mirror and apply it roughly.” When he turned to the side, he saw a black backpack neatly placed. The fact that he had kindly packed ointment in the midst of all this was also like Kwak Eun-ho. He was angry, but he must have been worried. Thinking that, a strange spite welled up. “……You're good with your fists.” “……” At the words he spat out, Eun-ho flinched and shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't a big difference, but he could tell because he had been watching him so intently. Ji Hyeon, who was looking at his round ears and neat sideburns, deliberately continued indifferently. “It hurt like hell.” It wasn't a joke, it really hurt like hell. If he had been hit in the nose, his nose would have collapsed. He was so good with his fists, why did he get beaten up when he was working part-time? He felt frustrated again just thinking about it. “……You deserved to be hit.” “Who said anything?” Knowing that he was being mean, he felt good to see him waver. He liked the moments when the guy who rarely lost his poker face showed a bewildered expression from time to time. Like when he found out that their first meeting wasn't in the second grade. “I'm asking just in case……” Towards such Ji Hyeon, Eun-ho started to speak in a very slow and low voice. Wondering what he was going to say, he stared at him, and a difficult question popped out of his mouth. “Did I do that to your lips too?” “……” It's because of you, but would it be a problem that the wound was caused by doing something terrible with him as a side dish? He just bit his lip at the moment of reaching his peak, and the thin skin was slightly torn. “It's chapped from being dry.” “What has to be dry for it to……” Eun-ho, who was about to retort in an absurd tone, closed his mouth again. Anyway, since he said it wasn't his fault, he seemed to have given up on arguing. “There's lip balm in the front pocket, so apply that too.” Manager Kwak is also thorough in his preparations. Maybe the backpack also contains hand cream and a handkerchief. Most of them would be for Ji Hyeon, and his belongings would be at most a wallet with a corporate card. “……” What should he call this feeling? His throat tickled, and his stomach tingled. For no reason, he was at a loss for words, and all that came out of his mouth was this kind of whining. “……Apply it for me.” “Do you not have hands or feet?” A sharply cold reply came back to the lightly thrown request. It was the same answer as some time ago, but he knew that he wouldn't apply it for him this time. He wasn't expecting it in the first place, so he was just about to reach for the backpack. “I'll apply it for you when we get there.” “……” Ji Hyeon paused and stopped the hand he had reached out. As he looked at Eun-ho, he shifted gears and slowly started the car. “I'm driving now. I'll apply it for you when we get there.” “……Lip balm?” “No, the medicine.” With that, Eun-ho pointed out Ji Hyeon's stubbornness, saying that he should at least do the lip balm himself. He wasn't expecting that much in the first place, but even so, it was clear that it was an unbelievable answer. “You're going to apply medicine for me?” “If you don't like it, look in the mirror and apply it.” The words that he didn't dislike it rose to his throat, but he barely swallowed them, thinking that it was too obvious. Seeing Ji Hyeon, who had quickly become quiet, Eun-ho spoke in his unique calm voice. “It's like giving medicine after causing the disease…… Anyway, it's because of me.” In short, he was saying that he would treat the wound he had caused. It was literally giving medicine after causing the disease, but he wasn't in a position to be picky about that now. “Then apply it for me. ……I can't do it well alone.” The last words flowed out very quietly. What do you mean you can't do it well alone? What great skill is needed to apply medicine? Eun-ho also knew that it was whining, but Ji Hyeon also knew that he would accept it. “You're not a kid……” As expected, the words he muttered slowly were by no means a refusal. Ji Hyeon still fixed his gaze on Eun-ho and blinked slowly. This is why he keeps reaching out. He felt a thirst for that soft kindness. After arriving at the set, they had a brief meeting before the interview. This time, the schedule was tight, so they didn't receive the expected questions, so it was a time to adjust and match the answers appropriately. They were mainly basic things such as whether they had seen the viewers' reactions to the last broadcast and how they felt about filming ‘My MaeSo’ again. “And we're also going to ask about the scene that was filmed in the car at that time……” The day Eun-ho got angry at Ji Hyeon, who was injured. Questions related to that day's events, which were filmed as they were, were naturally prepared. As promised, PD Yoo had even prepared a simple script for them so that problems wouldn't arise as much as possible. “I wrote this temporarily just in case, so if you have a better answer, you can use that. I'll edit it to make you look as friendly as possible.” PD Yoo said that there wouldn't be any problems since they were actually on good terms, but added that the trailer might be a little provocative. He said he would adjust it if it was uncomfortable, but Ji Hyeon answered without changing his expression. “No, it's okay.” Eun-ho's gaze turned to Ji Hyeon. It was obvious that he was thinking, 'What is this confidence?' He seemed worried about the viewers' reactions, but Ji Hyeon had his own confidence. “You can just talk well in these situations.” Originally, the aftermath was important in everything. It wasn't difficult to package Eun-ho's actions well, even without the script prepared by PD Yoo. And in order to do that, he had to draw so-called ‘aggro’ to get a more dramatic effect. “Of course. Don't worry too much.” PD Yoo quickly nodded, following Ji Hyeon. It seemed to be to reassure Eun-ho, who was expressionless, but unfortunately, it all became useless due to the words that followed. “But what happened to Ji Hyeon’s face? Are you okay?” “……” Eun-ho, who had been standing quietly, narrowed his brows with a flinch. It seemed natural at first glance, but the action of subtly avoiding his gaze was not. For some reason, his stomach tingled again, so Ji Hyeon just pretended to be calm and made up an indifferent voice. “I just bumped into something.” If he got hit once and it's this much, isn't it cost-effective? If it's that soft-hearted Kwak Eun-ho, he'll feel sorry and take care of him until the bruise disappears. Even now, he was making a guilty expression as if he wasn't, and the promise he made in the car was clearly an extension of that. Anyway, he's conscientious. It may be a little malicious, but Ji Hyeon didn't dislike the debt that Eun-ho occasionally felt towards him. To be exact, he liked the fact that Kwak Eun-ho, who felt guilty, couldn't go anywhere. He wanted to give him a debt that he couldn't repay even if he devoted his whole life to it. “Ji Hyeon, please come this way.” They had made a promise in the car, but unfortunately, Ji Hyeon couldn't ask him to apply medicine for him. He had to get makeup right after the meeting. Since he couldn't put skin makeup on top of the ointment, he had to postpone the treatment until later. While Ji Hyeon was getting his makeup done, Eun-ho changed into a T-shirt that he had prepared in advance and returned. Since he wasn't wearing a hat today, he could clearly feel the gaze that was looking at him through the mirror. Ji Hyeon also looked at him through the mirror, and Eun-ho, who had his arms crossed, spat out bluntly. “What.” Instead of answering anything, Ji Hyeon first looked at his clothes. The T-shirt with ‘Ji Hyeon Manager’ written on it was the same as the one he wore during the last ‘My MaeSo’ filming. It was as if he had written his name on it, so he had laughed for some reason from the moment he first saw it. “Nice clothes.” It was a word to tease him, but it was half sincere. The clothes that looked ridiculous when others wore them didn't look so bad just because the clothes hanger was Kwak Eun-ho. But Eun-ho, who took the story in a different way, replied annoyingly as if he was doing that again. “If it's so pretty, you can wear it.” “You're the Manager, what's the point of me wearing it?” “You can change the wording.” “‘Actor Kwak Eun-ho’ like that?” Because Ji Hyeon said it with a smirk, even the stylist who was doing his makeup laughed along with him. It didn't seem like he had said anything particularly funny, but sometimes when he talked to Eun-ho, people around him would show similar reactions. What's even more funny was that he himself felt better every time that happened. “Be quiet and get your makeup done.” Instead of saying anything more, Ji Hyeon just made a deflating sound. The bruise on his cheek had already been hidden without a trace. In the first place, it wasn't that unsightly, and it wasn't a serious injury that required applying medicine. ‘It's better than I thought.’ Yeah, it was better than he thought. The wound on his face, and his feelings for Kwak Eun-ho. He thought he would be incredibly nervous if he faced him, but it wasn't as bad as he thought. It wasn't awkward to talk, and his heart didn't beat all the time. He was briefly conscious when they were alone in the car, but even that disappeared cleanly the moment he arrived at the set. He was sure that it was a beautified emotion, Ji Hyeon thought as he looked at himself in the mirror. His expression was fine, and his face didn't turn red. At this point, he was confident that he could pretend to be indifferent without showing it. “Oppa.” But at the moment he thought that, a familiar voice pierced his ears. It was the youngest of Ji Hyeon's stylists. What was her name…… Yeonju, or Yeonji? He remembered her flirting with Eun-ho while doing his makeup during the ‘My MaeSo’ interview. “I’ll do your makeup. Please sit here for a moment.” “……” His good mood began to sink rapidly. The calm he’d felt was now rippling with unease. Meanwhile, Eun-ho just stood there looking awkward, fiddling with the back of his neck. “You’re doing my makeup again?” “We did it last time, so we should do it this time too.” “Is it really necessary…?” “No. Actor-nim told me to do it for you.” Right, Actor-nim? He pretended not to hear that question. He was regretting having told her to do it in the first place. While it was unavoidable to assign tasks to the junior, seeing her so cheerful and beaming kept making thorns sprout inside him. ‘No, he’s gay, so…’ Ji Hyeon, who had unconsciously thought that, furrowed his brow and closed his eyes. Ah, fuck. He inwardly cursed as well. He tried to calm himself by clenching and unclenching his fists, but all his nerves were already focused in that direction. “Did you not sleep well? The makeup isn’t going on as well as last time.” “Ah… I was a bit restless.” “Your skin condition changes drastically depending on your sleep. Make sure to get plenty of rest.” “It’s not like I’ll need to get my makeup done anymore anyway.” Following the chattering voice, Eun-ho naturally continued the conversation. In reality, Kwak Eun-ho only gave one or two-word answers, but for some reason, the junior stylist was laughing cheerfully by herself. He knew full well she had no ulterior motives, but he couldn’t help the irritation that welled up nonetheless. “But for someone like you, Oppa, your skin is good so it’s fine. Look at this. It’s become smooth here, right?” “……I think it’s just that you did a good job, Yeonju.” Yeonju, my foot. He’s calling her so damn affectionately. Kwak Eun-ho wasn’t exactly a warm personality, but when you looked around, everyone seemed to treat him comfortably. Like the junior stylist who called him so familiarly, while addressing me meticulously as ‘Actor-nim.’ Come to think of it, Eun-ho also quickly dropped formalities. Didn’t he start calling the most senior stylist ‘Noona’ after just a few encounters? Even though he was never the type to approach first, he never refused when others acted comfortably around him. ‘I shouldn’t have told her to do his makeup.’ It was just showing minimal consideration, worried that clueless people might start making evaluations. Even so, it was just his skin and eyebrows, but even that would make a big difference when filmed. Of course, even then, he thought he looked much more handsome in person. ‘He’s handsome enough without it anyway…’ Frankly, Ji Hyeon had never seen anyone as handsome as Eun-ho. People with such distinct facial features were rare, and people who maintained a neat appearance without any grooming were also rare. In a world where there are guys who get professional care daily and still look like that, wasn’t he the type who could pull off even a roughly cut hairstyle? The one and only reason Kwak Eun-ho hadn’t become famous with that face was because of the hat he always wore. With his large frame and that pitch-black hat pulled down low, he gave off an intimidating feeling before anyone could even register his handsomeness. Moreover, the clothes he wore were all black, black, black. When he first started working as his manager, he didn’t wear so much black. Wondering if he just liked black, he jokingly bought him pink indoor slippers, and Eun-ho wore them without any issue until now. The slippers with the bear design were very cute, but it was true they were a bit of a cheeky design for Kwak Eun-ho to wear. He only found out later, but it seemed he used to just pick moderately cheap clothes and wear them any which way when he was younger. After his income stabilized, he seemed to consider quality too, but ultimately, that indifference led to him wearing black clothes. He felt, for the first time in his life while watching Eun-ho, that a person could be that undemanding. “All done.” Hearing the stylist’s words, Ji Hyeon lifted his eyelids. He glanced sideways and saw that this time, Kwak Eun-ho had his eyes closed. With plenty of time, it seemed she was getting greedy, even adding shadow around his eyes. “Oppa, don’t squeeze your eyes shut so hard.” Perhaps the brush grazing his eye area tickled, as Eun-ho’s eyelids twitched. Finding that incredibly cute, Ji Hyeon unconsciously cleared his throat and averted his gaze. Kwak Eun-ho and cuteness—they were two words that didn’t match at all. “Is it that ticklish?” “……Yeah, a little.” Not just the junior, but the other stylists also giggled upon seeing Eun-ho like that. The way they exchanged glances, it was clear they were thinking similarly to Ji Hyeon. While it looked like a warm, friendly scene to others, conversely, Ji Hyeon’s mood began to sink again. Who gave them permission to find him cute? All the stylists he had fired so far were those who subtly crossed the line. They were just behaving nicely because Kwak Eun-ho told them to, but they didn’t know their limits and messed up their work attitude. Kwak Eun-ho probably thought he was being capricious, but there were clear standards. ‘I can’t even fire her…’ But as luck would have it, the new junior who joined this time was passionate and even diligent. Though she acted unnecessarily friendly, since Eun-ho didn’t seem displeased, it would be overstepping for him to intervene. In the past, he would have snidely remarked that they seemed close, but now he couldn’t even do that. “Actor-nim, please get ready!” Following the staff’s direction, Ji Hyeon rose from his seat and secretly let out a sigh. Anyway, since Kwak Eun-ho is gay, I shouldn’t care. Repeating that to himself, he sometimes scowled sharply, unable to bear the self-disgust that surged up. Damn, his mood had become annoyingly fickle. Once Ji Hyeon sat in front of the lights and finished preparing, Eun-ho, who had gotten his makeup done, naturally stood next to the staff. He didn’t look drastically different from usual, but he did seem much cleaner and neater. After a moment of making eye contact with Eun-ho, who had his arms crossed, PD Yoo, sitting cross-legged, spoke in a loud voice. “Alright, then I’ll ask the questions.” The interview that began like that didn’t require much deep thought overall. They were the expected questions he’d heard during the meeting, all easy ones he could answer without even looking at the script. As always, Ji Hyeon answered in a gentle voice, but he closed his mouth briefly upon hearing the next question. “It seemed Manager-nim was really angry about your wrist injury—do you get scolded like that often?” The day Eun-ho raised his voice in the empty car. A question related to that day had finally been asked. It was undoubtedly the question Ji Hyeon had to be most careful with in today’s interview. “I don’t get scolded often…” Ji Hyeon slowly drew out his words and looked toward where Eun-ho was. He knew he should be looking at the camera, but he found himself wanting to see what expression he was making. Eun-ho was looking at Ji Hyeon with his usual expressionless face. “Sometimes, yes.” A small laugh escaped him. For no particular reason, it just seemed like concern was flickering in those blunt eyes. The very angry Kwak Eun-ho from that day seemed to overlap with the calm Kwak Eun-ho of now. “It’s unprofessional behavior, but when I focus on acting, I tend to neglect my physical condition.” He knew what kind of reaction viewers would have after the broadcast aired. For those who expect people on TV to be flawless, Eun-ho’s actions might seem objectionable. So, to quell any such controversy, his answer now was crucial. “He was just worried.” At the sudden remark, PD Yoo’s eyes widened. It was different from the script he’d written, but it probably didn’t matter much anyway. “He was upset.” He repeated exactly what President Byun had once said to him, even winking apologetically as if it were the most natural thing. “When someone close to you gets hurt, anyone would get angry and sad, right?” ‘When something unfair happens to someone close, anyone would get angry and sad. That’s natural.’ At the time, he hadn’t understood those words, but now he thought he vaguely did. Because whenever something happened to him, that calm guy would get furious and spit out harsh words. Seeing him pour out such intense anger made him feel reassured that the emotions he himself felt weren’t abnormal either. “Maybe it’s because I’ve never been scolded by anyone, even when I was young…” He considered saying ‘parents’ directly, but thinking it might get edited out, he chose his words carefully. Fans would roughly understand even with just this much. “It didn’t seem bad. Because it means there’s affection, enough to get angry on my behalf.” His voice almost trembled. Even though he had prepared the words in advance, the word ‘affection’ almost carried his hidden feelings. Ji Hyeon glanced at Eun-ho and playfully curled up the corner of his mouth. “So sometimes I deliberately do things to get scolded.” Eun-ho, who had been expressionless, soon made a face like he’d eaten something rotten. It seemed he didn’t like the idea of deliberately doing things to get scolded. Because of that, his mood finally genuinely improved, and a thin laugh escaped through his parted lips. “Ah… I’m going to get scolded again when this airs.” As he closed his eyes gently and laughed, the staff in front stirred briefly. Ji Hyeon turned his gaze to the camera with an exceedingly radiant smile. Again, follow-up was important for everything.