LS Ch 94

Jewoo directly met his father, the company representative, and requested that an official company statement be issued regarding the current situation.

“Please release it as is.”

He handed over a pre-written piece of paper. His father read through it carefully, then set it down and looked at Jewoo.

“I can feel your determination to protect Kang Yiwon no matter what happens.”

It was exactly as his father said. The statement Jewoo had written asked people not to spread speculative rumors since the police were still investigating, expressing hope that no one would be harmed by false rumors. It also noted that if such a thing happened, Jewoo himself could unintentionally become a perpetrator to someone else, so he hoped fans would refrain from doing so.

There wasn’t a single explicit mention of Kang Yiwon, but anyone could tell that this statement was written out of concern for the current situation where Kang Yiwon was being criticized because of Jewoo. At the same time, it was also an expression of Jewoo’s unwavering trust in Kang Yiwon.

“Do you really think it’s not one of their fans?”

Given the prior incidents, it seemed his father also suspected Kang Yiwon’s radical fans.

“I can’t say for sure. But there’s no evidence pointing to them either. I don’t want to blindly suspect anyone. If possible, I hope it’s not them.”

At Jewoo’s response, his father let out a small hum.

“If it’s not them, who do you think could be the culprit?”

Jewoo didn’t answer and simply met his father’s gaze. A certain face flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud. As he stared silently, his father’s chest heaved as if he were taking a deep breath.

“If, by some chance, it’s your mother, the fallout would be even bigger than if it were Kang Yiwon’s fans. Since the police investigation is already underway, there’s no hiding it either.”

At his father’s words, Jewoo slowly lowered his gaze. Jiho had adamantly denied that it could be their mother. Jewoo also didn’t want to believe their mother could go that far, but there had been cases where parents, estranged from their celebrity children who later took their own lives, showed up belatedly to claim inheritance rights. Because of that, he couldn’t completely rule out the possibility.

“You settled the money issue, I heard.”

When Jewoo brought up what Jiho had told him, his father frowned.

“I thought I gave her what she needed, but human greed knows no bounds.”

His father didn’t seem certain either, but he was leaving the possibility open.

“I didn’t mention that part during the police investigation.”

No matter how much it was Jiho, he wouldn’t have been able to say that Jewoo’s mother might be a suspect. Pointing that out, his father let out a long sigh.

“I’ll contact the police.”

At his response, Jewoo let out a small chuckle. His father had clearly said that the situation would escalate more if it were their mother rather than Yiwon’s fans. Yet, he didn’t try to hide anything about her. Even though Jewoo knew that their mother’s involvement would cause a bigger scandal, his father didn’t consider covering up the truth to protect his son—or rather, an actor under his agency.

For the first time, Jewoo felt glad that his father was this kind of person. As a child, he had resented his father’s current coldness, blaming it for their mother leaving. But looking back now, he realized that because his father was fair to everyone, he would never selfishly suggest framing Yiwon’s fans to minimize the damage to their side.

If someone asked Jewoo right now who he wanted to protect—his mother or Yiwon—the answer was already clear. His father’s decision wasn’t about protecting Yiwon either. It was simply about accepting the truth as it was. Maybe, Jewoo thought for the first time, he resembled his father more than he realized.

🎞️✮⋆˙

Jiho sighed as he unloaded a large suitcase from the car. He had already said more than ten times that he wasn’t sure if this was okay.

“Find me a place to move into.”

Instead of persuading Jiho, Jewoo asked him to look for a house.

“I’m glad you’re finally moving, but…”

Jiho trailed off, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Jewoo.

“You’re not asking me to find a place for you to live with Kang Yiwon, are you?”

“Maybe.”

Jewoo smirked and avoided giving a straight answer.

“Hey! Be clear about it!”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll talk to Yiwon more. If I bring it up, that guy will definitely say we should live together.”

“So in the end, it’s up to you.”

“Perhaps.”

At the vague response, Jiho frowned.

“What am I supposed to do then? Find a place for you alone? Or for both of you?”

“Is there a difference?”

“Of course there is. The number of bedrooms and closets would be different.”

“Wouldn’t three rooms be enough? One bedroom each, and we could share a closet.”

“You’re still not saying you’d share a bed.”

Jewoo just laughed off Jiho’s comment. He had a feeling Yiwon would suggest sharing a room, but he thought it’d be better to have separate bedrooms. When their schedules got busy and sleep was scarce, it’d be more comfortable to sleep alone.

“It’s late. Go rest. Looks like someone’s come out to get you.”

Jiho nodded toward Jewoo’s back. Turning around, Jewoo saw Yiwon standing at the entrance connected to the parking lot.

“Just sleep already.”

It was past 1 a.m. Yiwon had nagged him relentlessly to bring his stuff over right away, and though Jewoo agreed, stopping by the company to meet his father and confirm the statement’s release before packing had delayed him. He’d told Yiwon not to wait since he had filming tomorrow and that he’d let himself in, but Yiwon kept asking every 30 minutes when he’d leave. After Jewoo told him before departing, it seemed Yiwon had come out to meet him right on time.

After sending Jiho off, Jewoo dragged his suitcase toward Yiwon. As if he’d been waiting, Yiwon grabbed the suitcase handle. Jewoo instinctively glanced around.

“There’s no one here.”

Yiwon answered as if he’d guessed what Jewoo was worried about. Even entering the parking lot required a resident’s confirmation for visitors, and the elevator operated with a card key. Plus, with separate elevator lines and only one unit per floor, it was optimized for privacy.

“Instead of making Jiho hyung go through the trouble, maybe it’d be better to just move in here.”

At Jewoo’s muttering, Yiwon turned to look at him. Jewoo shook his head, saying it was nothing. Everything was fine, but if he moved into Yiwon’s place, they’d have to share a bed. Though the apartment had three rooms, one was filled with clothes, and another with bags, accessories, and shoes. Thinking about it, Jiho was right—three rooms wouldn’t be enough if they lived together.

🎞️✮⋆˙

Choosing to stay home by one’s own will was entirely different from being stuck at home because you couldn’t go out. Even though Jewoo wasn’t someone who enjoyed wandering around much, the thought of being unable to leave made him feel suffocated. On top of that, though he occasionally visited Yiwon’s place, the fact that it wasn’t his own home kept him from feeling at ease.

Even after they started living together, seeing Yiwon’s face wasn’t easy. Yiwon usually left at dawn and returned late at night, so they naturally didn’t eat together, and the most they saw each other was briefly before bed. During the day, Jewoo was alone the whole time. At first, he played games and watched movies, but after nearly a week of that, it got boring.

The only thing he could do was visit the gym for residents in the apartment complex, but after going once, he realized some people recognized him. During the daytime, it was mostly older women there, and they approached him, saying they’d seen him in ads or dramas. It started with them saying they didn’t know he lived here and ended with offers to introduce him to their daughters if he didn’t have a girlfriend yet. After that, it felt too awkward to go back.

Have you eaten lunch?

Even amidst all this, Yiwon diligently checked on Jewoo’s meals. Despite often missing his own meals due to filming, he’d find a moment around mealtime to call.

“I’m eating now.”

Switching to a video call, Jewoo showed the kimchi fried rice he’d just cooked in a frying pan, and Yiwon’s relieved smile appeared on the screen.

“What about you?”

I ate with the other actors.

Seeing that he’d eaten with others, it seemed he hadn’t just grabbed something quick today.

Still no news?

At Yiwon’s question, Jewoo nodded. Jiho called once a day without fail, but there was no word of progress in the police investigation. It was the same every day—don’t go outside, don’t open the door for strangers—just repeated warnings.

“I’m frustrated.”

Maybe because it was Yiwon, Jewoo let his honest feelings slip out.

“If it weren’t for this situation, I’d have gone to watch you film.”

Even if it’s frustrating, just hang in there a little longer.

Normally, Yiwon would’ve told him to come right over, but this time he sternly told him to stay put. Shaking his head at how oddly in sync Yiwon was with Jiho in moments like this, a call waiting tone interrupted.

“Jiho hyung’s calling. Let’s talk later.”

After ending the call with Yiwon, Jewoo picked up Jiho’s call.

They found the culprit!

Skipping any greeting, Jiho shouted. His voice was unusually agitated. Hearing that the culprit had been found, Jewoo’s heart instantly started racing.

“Who…?”

He asked cautiously. Whether it was Yiwon’s fan club or his mother, neither would sit easy with him.

It’s…

At Jiho’s answer, Jewoo felt the blood drain from his body.