MDQ Ch 8

Since the day Park Chungrim and I first became acquainted, he had always treated me warmly.

“Ah… alright, Chungrim-ssi.”

However, calling him hyung still felt awkward. I gave a sheepish smile.

“Don’t be like that. Why don’t we step outside for a bit? I don’t think this is something to talk about here.”

I nodded and followed Park Chungrim out.

It wasn’t until we reached the composing studio that he finished what he hadn’t said earlier.

“To get straight to the point, I like it. Hyunseok-ssi’s lyrics are, how should I put it… they carry sincerity? They’re not just words mimicking emotions without feeling, and that’s what I like.”

I was relieved he had spoken well of my lyrics again.

Every time Park Chungrim acknowledged me, I felt like I was truly alive.

Not a tool moving according to my father’s or the members’ expectations, but a living person with my own will.

“Given is being called an ‘emotional idol group,’ and I think that’s largely thanks to you, Hyunseok-ssi. What do you think?”

“Well… isn’t it because the Given members sing them well? You know how even a raw stone needs someone to recognize its value to become a gem. Of course, Mr. Composer—no, Chungrim-ssi’s producing also played a big part.”

Especially the main vocal, Jung Yohan. I believed he contributed the most. He blended his mysterious aura beautifully into his singing.

Jung Yohan had a unique talent that made even an ordinary song feel extraordinary.

“Hyunseok-ssi, you’re great in every way, but you really lack confidence.”

Tilting his head slightly to the right, Park Chungrim brushed my fingertips. Startled by the sudden warmth, my eyes widened—only to realize the subject had shifted.

“What are you doing this evening? Let’s talk about the new song.”

“Well, I have to take Seoho to his photoshoot later. But I don’t think I have any schedule after dinner… though, couldn’t we just talk about the new song here right now?”

Park Chungrim gave an answer that didn’t match.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

What kind of conversation was this supposed to be? I tilted my head, staring quietly at him.

The moment our eyes met, his smile deepened.

He was smiling as always, but this smile felt different. There was an inexplicable intensity in it, a heat I couldn’t name.

It was because of moments like this that I couldn’t call Park Chungrim “hyung” and treat him casually despite his kindness.

From time to time, he looked at me too emotionally. Almost as if there was another intent behind it.

And sure enough, like a devil skilled in temptation, Park Chungrim whispered softly, “You’re seducing me right now, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Have dinner with me.”

* * *

“Hyung, why are you so late?” Seo Seoho, in the middle of getting his makeup done, complained irritably.

“Sorry, I left early, but the traffic was bad. Plus, I stopped to buy drinks, so it took longer. I won’t be late next time.”

Glancing at the clock, I saw I was about five minutes behind the promised time.

Still, late was late. Without arguing, I set down the overly sweet coffee Seo Seoho liked in front of him.

His expression immediately softened at the sight of the coffee piled high with whipped cream. What a relief.

“Next time, you have to come on time. Got it?”

“Okay.”

No one ever criticized Seoho’s prickly tone.

Thanks to his strikingly handsome face, his complaints didn’t come across as rude, but more like a younger brother pouting at his older one.

Perhaps that was why the editor-in-chief of N Magazine, who had cast Seoho, was looking at us fondly.

“You two have worked together for a long time, right? You’re just like real brothers. It’s so nice to see.”

Real brothers, huh… Having a sharp-tongued younger brother like Seoho was something I’d rather pass on.

Since I couldn’t say that aloud, I only smiled politely.

“Thank you. Well then, Seoho, I’ll go do the final check on your outfits.”

“Mm.”

Leaving Seoho to finish his makeup, I inspected the outfits prepared for him one by one.

Since I had checked them beforehand, nothing looked problematic.

Still, to be safe, I decided with the stylist to exclude a few with heavy embellishments.

If Seoho fiddled with uncomfortable decorations, the clothes might get damaged.

‘These are luxury pieces from brand D, no less. Please, let’s just get through this smoothly.’

By the time Seoho finished his makeup and walked toward me, he was eyeing the outfits with a sharp gaze.

“Seoho, I already excluded the ones you might dislike. Still, if anything feels uncomfortable, just tell me, okay?”

I reached out, meaning to pat his shoulder reassuringly. But before I could touch him, he swatted my hand away with the back of his.

“Don’t touch me.”

He growled the words before turning his back.

I grabbed my stinging hand, glancing around. Thankfully, no one had seen how Seoho treated me.

The editor-in-chief was conveniently absorbed in her phone. I exhaled in relief.

Just then, the stylist, who had briefly stepped out, returned to help Seoho change outfits. The shoot was nearly ready to begin.

Soon, the session started.

As though he had never been testy, Seoho focused entirely on the photoshoot. He smiled at the right moments, hardened his expression at others, and guided the mood of the set.

Watching him immersed in his work was genuinely impressive.

It was so striking that “impressive” felt too cliché a word to use. That was my objective impression, separate from any personal feelings I had toward him.

Contrary to my worries, the shoot went smoothly.

Whenever Seoho looked even slightly tired, I fed him chocolates I had prepared in advance.

“Okay, let’s take a 30-minute break and then resume.”

By the halfway point, the photographer announced a 30-minute break.

As soon as we returned to the waiting room, I handed Seoho water and candy. Since he never ate much during shoots, I had brought them especially.

Popping the candy into his mouth without a word, Seoho sat for a touch-up.

I sank into a sofa off to the side. It was the first time I’d sat since arriving, and my legs trembled with fatigue.

As I watched Seoho’s back during his makeup fix, the editor-in-chief entered the waiting room again.

“I checked the photos, and they’re wonderful. My staff love them too.”

“Thank you.”

She sat beside me naturally and started chatting.

“By the way, Chief Lee, are you really not interested in acting?”“

“Huh? Me?”

Now that I thought about it, she had suggested acting to me at a previous shoot, too. She really seemed to like my face.

“Yes, it would be such a waste otherwise. You’re not only handsome, but you also have this sorrowful aura… I think you’d do amazingly if you switched to acting.”

Acting, huh. I didn’t like to boast, but ever since working in the entertainment industry, I had heard that suggestion multiple times.

Of course, not from my own company, but from staff I’d met accompanying shoots or other company contacts.

It wasn’t like I’d never considered it.

I wasn’t hoping to become a famous actor, but I did think it would be nice to play even a small role, to live as “Lee Hyunseok,” not just “Manager-nim” or “Chief Lee.”

I wanted to do something that was solely mine.

But even so, I shook my head.

“No, thank you. I appreciate your kind words, but I’m satisfied with my current work.”

At least until my father could survive without Jung Yohan, I had to continue managing.

I didn’t want my father to take his own life like my mother had. Maybe that wish was why I couldn’t let go of Given.

Still, the editor-in-chief seemed reluctant to drop the idea and tried again.

“If acting feels burdensome, you could start with modeling. How about a shoot for our magazine?”

Modeling… maybe, just once, it could be fine? Given’s album promotions were over anyway, and if possible, I’d been planning to take some time off.

“Would it really be okay if I—”

Before I could finish, a loud noise broke out.

Seoho’s coffee had fallen from the table.

The spilled coffee spread across the floor, creating a mess. I immediately jumped up to check on Seoho first.

“Are you okay?”

“…”

Seoho, unable to lash out harshly with people around, only shot me a chilling glare.

‘What on earth upset him this time?’

I didn’t know. Given’s members were so sensitive, so difficult, and so opaque that I could never pinpoint what had set them off.

In the past, I would have at least tried to figure it out. However, with experience, I learned it was a waste of time.

In moments like these, the best thing was to quietly soothe them. That was the quickest way to settle things.

I couldn’t forget I was firmly in a subordinate position.

“I’ll clean it up right away.”

I grabbed a wad of tissues and began wiping the floor. Watching me, the editor-in-chief sprang up from the sofa.

“I’ll bring a dry cloth.”

Only then did Seoho lower himself slightly and mutter an apology.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hey, it happens. Don’t worry. You two, just wait here for a bit.”

The moment we were alone, Seoho lashed out at me. His voice was chillingly cold, “Do you want to be an actor?”

There was a faint sneer in his tone.

It was an unmistakable provocation.