By Zephyria 
Choi Hong-seo did not escape Lee Hae-sung’s gaze the moment <Cream Mansion> was announced as the winner.
Revealing his emotion and ecstasy without reserve, the young actor leaped from his seat. He applauded with such passion that one might wonder if his palms would hurt, watching the director and senior actors exchange fervent handshakes and hugs with eyes full of respect. He also shared embraces with Park Dong-ha and Kim Yi-jung, who were seated next to him. His honest, raw expression of emotion had a way of touching the hearts of those watching. Lee Hae-sung’s own chest tightened with heat.
Even while Director Kang Woo-hyun was delivering his acceptance speech, the camera occasionally cut back to the <Cream Mansion> team. Not knowing when the camera might turn toward Choi Hong-seo, Lee Hae-sung remained glued to the screen, unable to take even a single sip of water.
Tears welled in Choi Hong-seo’s eyes as he looked up at the stage with a dreamy gaze. His expression held a complexity that went beyond mere joy or ecstasy.
For both Choi Hong-seo and Lee Hae-sung, it was a work brought into the world after an eternity. A film that had connected their fates at the very end of a past life and finally reached its conclusion in this life.
Lee Hae-sung’s emotions, as he watched Choi Hong-seo on the screen, could not remain entirely peaceful. While keeping his eyes fixed on the display, Lee Hae-sung reached for the beer on the table and accidentally knocked the glass over. However, he didn’t even think to wipe it up or set the glass upright, regardless of who might call out to him.
Why was it that he couldn’t be completely happy, even while watching Choi Hong-seo taste the pinnacle of his career as an actor?
Interest in this year’s Palme d’Or winner continued even after the closing ceremony, extending outside the grand theater. Because excitement had swallowed his nerves, Choi Hong-seo behaved more brightly and candidly than when he had first arrived at the theater.
He posed for the press gathered from all directions and blew hand kisses to the fans shouting his name beyond the barricades.
From start to finish. The attitude ‘Hyeon-seo’ displayed tonight was the unique essence of ‘Choi Hong-seo’ that Lee Hae-sung knew all too well.
‘Leader Hong-si,’ who never lost his smile regardless of the moment and never forgot his consideration for fans and the press. The kindness and professionalism that fans had loved so much—and that had once caused Lee Hae-sung to observe the idol member Choi Hong-seo with such intensity.
It felt to Lee Hae-sung that it was only a matter of time before everyone became captivated by this charming actor with rose-flushed cheeks of excitement and eyes that sparkled like early summer sunlight.
The features that once belonged to Yoon Hye-an now exuded a completely different impression. Even with the same face, the feel of it changed entirely depending on the expression, the look in the eyes, and the words spoken. It was almost understandable why ‘Hyeon-seo’s’ anti-fans tirelessly and consistently pushed the theory that he had undergone full-body plastic surgery.
Neither Lee Seo-kyung nor Myeong Do-hoon existed in this world anymore. Choi Hong-seo, freed from the shackles that had bound him in his past life and unleashing his talent to his heart’s content, was dazzling.
Lee Hae-sung was infinitely proud of him, and at the same time, he felt anxious.
The nature of that anxiety was a feeling already familiar to Lee Hae-sung.
A dark, possessive desire that used to stir whenever he looked at Choi Hong-seo on stage back when he was in ‘Layered.’
It had been the same since then. The desire to give him wings and cheer him on, and the possessiveness that wanted to clip those wings and keep him grounded by his side, had always coexisted within Lee Hae-sung.
When the <Cream Mansion> team completely disappeared from the screen and the camera shifted to the studio hosts, Lee Hae-sung turned off the screen without lingering. As he wiped his face with both hands in a sense of frustration, a familiar scent brushed against his olfactory nerves. It seemed to have rubbed off when he applied perfume to Choi Hong-seo. The fact that he was connected to him through this scent provided a thin sliver of comfort.
[Hyung-nim, about the neighbor’s cat I mentioned before.]
“Ah… the cat. Right.”
At the sound of Yi-han’s voice over the phone, Lee Hae-sung took a drag of his cigarette and focused again.
The elderly couple living next door to the apartment where Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han resided. He knew from Yi-han that the cat they raised had quietly passed away in its owners’ arms recently.
Since the cat had visited Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han’s home every day, they had grown very fond of it, and both seemed deeply heartbroken.
[Because of that, both that person and I are struggling with the emotions longer than expected. Especially Hyung… he’s not recovering easily.]
“Ji-in is an actor. He’s an emotionally sensitive person, so it’s only natural.”
[We were really looking forward to the event of you and that person visiting, but I’m worried the atmosphere might be a bit dampened.]
“Why worry about that? I understand.”
[I’m just afraid that person might feel we aren’t welcoming them. Please let them know in advance. That person worries a lot.]
“That’s such a kind concern, so typical of Ji-in,” Lee Hae-sung replied.
Over the phone from Paris, Yi-han spoke with a light trace of laughter.
[I’m telling you, he’s someone worth betting your life on.]
Lee Hae-sung could picture Yi-han’s characteristic smile—the way he would beam and puff out his chest as if he were the one being praised whenever Jeong Ji-in was complimented.
“Don’t worry about this side. I’ve already told that person about the cat, and if anything, that person is worrying about you two. They’re worried that visiting while you’re grieving might be a nuisance.”
[Not at all. It would be a great time for Ji-in Hyung if you came. He says he’s just not in good condition lately, but how can you deceive the person you share a bed with? It’s obvious to me that it’s because of that incident…]
Yi-han’s voice trailed off into a sigh.
Looking out over the deep black sea that resembled the universe beyond the beach bright as day, Lee Hae-sung took a deeper drag of his cigarette. The exhaled smoke scattered quickly in the sea breeze.
“Han-ah.”
[Yes, Hyung-nim.]
“There’s something I need to tell you in advance, too.”
[Go ahead.]
“That ‘person’ you’re talking about… is in Cannes right now.”
[I know. You said they were accompanying you to Cannes and would head straight to Paris from there.]
“That’s not what I mean. They’re the actor who appeared in <Cream Mansion>.”
[Ah…]
“I’m telling you now so you won’t be surprised when you meet tomorrow.”
[Telling me now isn’t exactly ‘in advance,’ is it?]
Lee Hae-sung laughed awkwardly at Yi-han’s voice, which sounded resentfully playful.
“Were you surprised?”
[I was.]
“Aren’t you going to ask which actor it is?”
[Hmm… I have a guess as to who it is.]
Lee Hae-sung nodded.
“Right. It’s probably the person you’re thinking of.”
Both Lee Hae-sung and Yi-han were silent for a moment.
Even to the two people he was closest to, Yi-han and Jeong Ji-in, he hadn’t been able to reveal who his romantic partner was. No, because they knew the story of Choi Hong-seo, it was even harder to say. The fact that the actor Hyeon-seo, who looked so much like Choi Hong-seo, was his lover.
“Tell Ji-in in advance, too. So he’s not surprised.”
The call with Yi-han ended there. After hanging up, Lee Hae-sung leaned against the railing and gazed at the sea for a while.
He simply missed Choi Hong-seo.
He didn’t care if he had to eat a few overcooked eggplants; he wanted to call him ‘Baby.’ He wanted to embrace and tease the body that smelled like him. He felt that only then would he be at peace. His dignity as the elder was completely gone.
Knock, knock. At the sound of Manager Kang’s knock, signaling that the party preparations could be delayed no longer, Lee Hae-sung finally left the terrace.
In the meantime, the dressing room had been tidied up again. The stylist spoke.
“Vice Chairman, let’s go with this one, the fourth tuxedo you tried on.”
“Shall we?”
Lee Hae-sung responded with a smile, as if he were finally being liberated.
Unlike the suit, shirt, and shoes, the tie had been decided from the start. It was the black silk bow tie that Choi Hong-seo had gifted him for today’s party. There could be no other option.
Because every tie that wrapped around Lee Hae-sung’s neck belonged to Choi Hong-seo.