“Are we definitely going to the afterparty together today?”
“Of course, Chief Manager. I’m looking forward to it.”
Yoon Jooho appeared in Song Hyunsoo’s view as he sipped water from a straw instead of coffee.
Having finished his hair and makeup before Song Hyunsoo, Yoon Jooho was in a gown, watching him intently from behind the mirror.
“Chief Manager, please don’t make Hyunsoo’s makeup too heavy.”
“Of course not. His skin is so good there’s no need for anything heavy.”
“His lips are naturally quite red, so if you’re not careful, he’ll look like an idol. Please go light on the lip as well.”
“True. I’d love to try an idol makeup look on Hyunsoo sometime.”
“Chief Manager.”
At Yoon Jooho’s voice, which had a hint of firmness, the Chief Manager, who’d been tapping a puff on Song Hyunsoo’s cheek, clicked their tongue and shook their head.
“You’ve been so overprotective since yesterday.”
“Me?”
Yoon Jooho looked completely puzzled, as if he didn’t know what the problem was.
“I’m not going to eat Hyunsoo, so please stop being such a helicopter, CEO.”
CEO…
Now that he thought about it, it was true.
Yoon Jooho, who was preparing for the shoot here with him, was not only his lover and Sunbae, but also the CEO of his agency.
To others, he might look like an agency CEO being extra meticulous with a rookie actor… To me, he’s just my hopelessly smitten boyfriend.
Song Hyunsoo, feeling grateful that they had the actor and agency CEO positions to lean on, glanced sideways at Yoon Jooho in the mirror.
Even after the Chief Manager’s complaint, he stood behind Hyunsoo with a worried expression, his hand stuffed in the pocket of his gown.
Then, called by the stylist, he walked away with a reluctant air.
“I noticed it yesterday too, but you two are really close, huh?”
As the Chief Manager prepared to add some contouring over the puffed face, they glanced at Yoon Jooho’s retreating back.
“You mean Sunbae and me?”
“Jooho’s always talking about ‘Hyunsoo this, Hyunsoo that,’ and he really dotes on you.”
“Haha…”
“I’ve known him for ten years, but honestly, he’s never been the friendly type to his juniors.”
“I think it’s because we’re at the same agency. He takes good care of me.”
“Are you the only rookie at Look Planning? Jung Sungwon is with Look Planning too, but you don’t hear nice things about him from Jooho.”
“R-Really?”
Awkwardly, Song Hyunsoo took another sip from his straw-stuck water bottle. That straw felt like the only lifeline he could rely on.
“We were all really surprised to see you two smoking together yesterday.”
“Why…?”
“Yoon Jooho, smoking with a green rookie? That just doesn’t happen. It’s fine if you’ve built up some experience and gotten close, but he’s strict with the newbies. He grew up in showbiz, so Jooho’s a bit of a stick-in-the-mud. These days, they call that a ‘young-kkon’ or whatever, right?”
Song Hyunsoo knew well that Yoon Jooho was a strict Sunbae with some old-school tendencies. He wasn’t the type to gently teach you everything and say it’s all okay.
But to think he’d never smoke with a rookie actor…
But I smoked with him from the very start at the ‘Kkuline’ lot, didn’t I?
“By the way, Sungwon said he’s leaving Look Planning, you know?”
Checking Song Hyunsoo’s face in the mirror, the Chief Manager brought up Jung Sungwon’s name again.
Hyunsoo pretended not to know, bringing the straw to his lips once more.
“Really?”
“Haven’t you heard anything?”
“No, I…”
“I heard rumors that the contract renewal didn’t go through.”
During the investigation, it was revealed that Jung Sungwon had been threatened by Yoon Jooho’s parents.
Though Sungwon was involved in the incident, all he did was hand Song Hyunsoo a business card, and even that was considered the result of coercion by both CEOs, so fortunately, he was spared from becoming a household name in the Press.
However, he couldn’t manage to renew his contract with the top-tier agency, Look Planning.
The incident wasn’t over yet, but Yoon Jooho had already regained his rights as the sole, real owner of Look Planning.
And that owner didn’t want to extend the contract with Jung Sungwon.
One day, after visiting the Look Planning office, Yoon Jooho spoke while washing his hands in the Master Room’s bathroom.
‘Jung Sungwon, he’s leaving the agency.’
‘Leaving the agency?’
‘His contract was up this year. I won’t be extending it.’
Turning, Yoon Jooho leaned against the sink, looking at Song Hyunsoo, who was standing at the bathroom entrance.
‘You feel uneasy?’
‘Uneasy? Why?’
‘Maybe you think, ‘Yoon Jooho, blinded by jealousy, is kicking Jung Sungwon out of the company.’ Don’t you think that?’
Petting Monroe, whom he was hugging, Song Hyunsoo let out a short laugh.
‘That’s ridiculous… Sunbae wouldn’t do that…’
But Hyunsoo’s words slowed as he watched Yoon Jooho’s expression.
Those tightly pressed lips and stubborn set looked exactly like someone who would do just that.
‘Wait, are you serious?’
With a weary gesture, Yoon Jooho moved away from the sink and walked toward him.
‘Whether he handed you a card because he was threatened or not, that bastard was really trying to hit on you.’
He stopped in front of Song Hyunsoo, patted Monroe’s head, and cupped one of Hyunsoo’s cheeks. His freshly washed palm was cool.
‘I guess I’m not as broad-minded as I thought.’
Yoon Jooho kissed Hyunsoo’s other cheek, took off his top over his head, and walked through the dressing room.
He said it was because Jung Sungwon made a move on Song Hyunsoo, but Song Hyunsoo knew that, for Yoon Jooho, Jung Sungwon was never a ‘real actor’ but just a star.
And Song Hyunsoo didn’t feel uneasy at all.
No matter the coercion, the fact remained that Jung Sungwon helped put Yoon Jooho in danger.
.
The team, having finished preparations, moved to the 5th District, where today’s filming would begin.
Starting at the 5th District, they planned to continue the outdoor shoot as they moved into the 6th District.
It was an area dense with Sorbonne University, the Latin Quarter, old streets, and historic cafés—a region with an artistic, intellectual atmosphere, yet vibrant at the same time.
It was a different charm from the 7th District where they’d shot yesterday.
The two changed outfits in the parked Sprinter. It doubled as a makeshift waiting and fitting room during shoots.
Wearing only briefs, Song Hyunsoo pulled on his pants and grumbled as he looked down at his body.
“I think I gained two kilos on the plane.”
“Well, you did eat everything they served.”
“I usually don’t gain weight, no matter how much I eat!”
Song Hyunsoo nudged Yoon Jooho’s upper arm with his fist, making him chuckle as he grabbed Hyunsoo’s arm and pulled him closer.
“Come here, let me see.”
Facing the ceiling of the Sprinter with narrowed eyes, Yoon Jooho ran his hands over Hyunsoo’s waist, back, and arms, gauging his figure.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m the one who hugs this body every night. My hands remember it.”
“Ugh, what are you saying, seriously?”
“It’s fine. You haven’t gained any weight. You’re just the same.”
“Are you a pervy old man or what?”
Song Hyunsoo pushed at his chest, then lifted his arm to hide his reddening face.
“Whenever I try to touch you, you call me an old man, you know?”
“Does it hurt your feelings?”
“It does.”
“Really? That much?”
Song Hyunsoo, eyes wide, sidled up behind Yoon Jooho as he buttoned his shirt.
Through the mirror, Jooho watched Hyunsoo standing behind him, eyes full of mock resentment.
Buttoning up with his large but beautifully shaped hands, he complained,
“It’s like my boyfriend doesn’t like me touching him.”
“That’s not it…! Come on, you know that’s not it.”
Song Hyunsoo hooked his chin over Yoon Jooho’s shoulder, a gesture meant to cheer him up.
“I’m just shy, that’s all.”
“You snuggle up to me naked every night, and now you’re saying you’re shy about this?”
“That’s totally different…”
“You’re not shy in bed, though?”
“I mean, when we’re actually doing it, it’s fine, but…”
With all the buttons done, Yoon Jooho turned to face Hyunsoo.
“So you’re fine with sex, but everyday physical affection makes you embarrassed?”
He was being far too direct, but it was true.
Scratching his neck, Song Hyunsoo nodded.
Hmm. Breathing out thoughtfully, Yoon Jooho pulled his lover closer by the waist.
He pressed a kiss to those burgundy-tinted lips.
“Then I guess we’ll just have to do it more often until you get used to it.”
Song Hyunsoo giggled.
“You’ll smudge my lip.”
Yoon Jooho looked up at the ceiling, his face twisted like he’d taken a punch to the stomach, and muttered,
“Ugh, now I’m turned on by that.”