He didn’t just send comments or emails—he called every other day using the number he’d tracked down through a private investigator.
At first, Taeyoung reacted to Manager Choi like he was insane, shuddering in disgust.
But what made him start to take things seriously was money.
A signing bonus over a hundred million won, royalties if the song sold, and even additional income from side deals—it was more than enough to pique the interest of someone as young as Taeyoung.
Riding that momentum, Manager Choi brought Taeyoung to the company, and with the president—who had already rehearsed what to say—joining in, they successfully signed a contract with him.
From the company’s perspective, there was no reason to interfere as long as Taeyoung handled the composing, lyric writing, and producing all on his own.
They were thrilled to have landed a golden goose for at least the next few years.
After Taeyoung wrapped up today’s successful performance, they popped open the champagne early.
“Let’s head upstairs and say hello to the hotel’s president before we go. I’ll treat you to some premium beef!”
Manager Choi was beaming as he kept refreshing real-time charts and social media stories.
Seeing him like that, Taeyoung’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
With his looks paired with that guy’s voice, there was no way they could fail.
“Can I get some water?”
“Oh, oh! Yeah, here you go.”
Taking a sip of the bottled water Manager Choi quickly handed over, Kim Taeyoung started thinking.
Now that he had properly started putting his face out there, it was time for a new song.
It was also time to unblock the number he’d playfully cut off earlier.
As he thought about Kang Hakyung—who was probably wandering all over Seoul, having fallen for his lies—
Taeyoung’s eyes narrowed in amusement.
Stupid Kang Hakyung.
The only decent thing about him was his voice, and even that got taken away from him…
Ah, poor and foolish Kang Hakyung.
Kim Taeyoung’s pale, slender fingers glided smoothly across the phone screen.
***
Meanwhile, where were all the performers heading after the stage?
Hakyung had charged blindly toward the backstage area but came to a halt.
Muheon, who had been following him, stopped too.
“Still can’t find the bathroom?”
He knew Hakyung wasn’t really looking for a bathroom, but he teased him anyway.
As expected, Hakyung reacted with a visible shudder.
“Now that I think the president might be watching… I don’t want to go to the bathroom anymore.”
“Oh? So can a Kang Dolphin even control when he needs to pee now?”
“Are you going to keep teasing me?”
“So you did know.”
The president’s dazzling smile made Hakyung’s poor heart skip a beat.
Why did even his mischievous expressions have to be so handsome?
Hakyung clutched his chest where his heart thudded wildly, glancing around the area.
He was hoping to find some kind of restricted-access hallway, maybe something only staff could use.
But no matter how hard he looked, nothing related to the concert stood out.
A soft sigh slipped through his small lips.
“If you’re not going to the bathroom, how about we just head back to the room?”
“Uh, well… Huh? Wait a sec!”
Just as Muheon reached out to gently guide Hakyung’s hand, worried he’d be searching around all night otherwise, Hakyung checked his phone and went pale, as if he’d seen a ghost.
His complexion turned so blue, it was like he’d just been pulled from a lake.
Muheon furrowed his brow.
“H-Hello?!”
Oblivious to Muheon’s concern, Hakyung harshly pulled his hand away and shouted into the phone.
“Where are you?!”
He shouted so loudly that Muheon’s ears rang.
Muheon silently watched the fuming Kang Dolphin.
At least the pale face had turned a flushed pink again.
Whether that was a good thing or just a result of rising blood pressure from his anger was another matter.
Breathing heavily, Hakyung listened in silence for a moment, then asked again.
“I said, where are you? Yeah, I’m at that hotel too. I saw… I saw you singing my song.”
After a few more exchanges, Hakyung finally seemed to remember Muheon was still there and started lowering his voice.
Muheon wasn’t sure if he should feel thankful that Hakyung finally acknowledged him or annoyed that he didn’t get to hear the important parts.
Muheon, feeling Hakyung’s anxious gaze on him, subtly turned his body and took a few steps back.
He didn’t want Hakyung’s phone call to be disrupted because of him.
Realizing the consideration, Hakyung gave a small nod.
Even so, his gaze clung to Muheon as if unwilling to let go, making it impossible for Muheon to move any farther.
What should he do with that adorable guy?
He couldn’t exactly eat him up…
While Muheon was lost in his own thoughts, Hakyung seemed to have finished his call and awkwardly stepped over to his side.
“Who was that, making you so upset?”
“Uh… It’s nothing. It’s my, uh, privacy!”
“You only care about privacy at times like this.”
Hakyung let out an awkward cough at the pointed remark.
The boss was great in every way, but his inability to sugarcoat his words was a slight flaw.
Deciding it was a minor enough fault to overlook, Hakyung gently poked Muheon’s arm.
“What?”
“Boss, I really need to go to the bathroom. I’m sure I won’t get lost, so could you go up to the room and rest first?”
“Can’t you just use the bathroom in the room?”
Ah, I guess that was an option!
His expression screamed that realization.
It was such a weak excuse it gave him away instantly…
Muheon inwardly clicked his tongue at the clumsy dolphin trying to fool him.
“Fine. I’ll go up first, for your privacy.”
Even to the very end, the boss was serious about teasing him by repeating his words back.
Still, he was so handsome it didn’t make him angry—instead, he wanted to cling to his pants leg and beg him not to go.
Hakyung admitted to himself he was a total looks-driven fool, at least when it came to the boss.
Maybe he read the longing written all over his face, because the man asked sweetly, “Should I stay?”
Hakyung barely managed to stop himself from nodding instinctively and shook his head as if to say it was okay.
No one could hear what he was about to say to Kim Taeyoung.
Not even someone he liked as much as the boss.
With that, Muheon turned away with no hesitation this time.
Watching the rapidly shrinking figure, thanks to those long legs, Hakyung let out another deep sigh.
Meanwhile, Muheon, pretending not to notice Hakyung’s sticky gaze on the back of his head, turned cold eyes to the alley.
He erased his presence and followed after Hakyung.
There was no way he’d just head up as told.
He couldn’t bear the thought that something might happen to Hakyung in his absence.
And he had a hunch about who he was going to meet…
Hakyung, wearing a tense expression, slipped quickly through the alleys like he knew them well.
Hands in his pockets, Muheon silently followed behind, keeping his eyes locked on the retreating figure.
***
The meeting place with Kim Taeyoung was a small lounge, far from the hotel concert hall.
After checking to make sure no one was around, Hakyung knocked on the door.
Not long after, it opened to reveal a small, pretty face.
Hakyung knew all too well just how much mischief had come from that lovely face.
And since he already knew the most handsome face in the world, he was confident he wouldn’t be shaken by any expression Kim Taeyoung made now.
“What the hell? What are you doing here?”
Sure enough, Kim Taeyoung reacted with entitled irritation at the sight of Hakyung actually being in the hotel.
His disbelief turned into open annoyance.
Just like Hakyung had done earlier, Kim Taeyoung glanced around quickly, then roughly grabbed his arm.
Bang!
The door slammed shut with a force that shook the hallway, followed by a distinct click as it locked.
Now alone together in the lounge, Kim Taeyoung’s voice grew even more irritable.
“You country bumpkin. Do you even know where this is? Get the hell out!”
“Oh, so now you want me to leave? You’re the one who told me to come!”
“When did I ever?”
Even though they were face to face for the first time in months—and even though he clearly knew Hakyung had come to Seoul because of his lies—Kim Taeyoung shamelessly denied everything.
This wasn’t the first time he’d done this kind of thing.
But Hakyung was tired of trying to understand him.
If the boss hadn’t come to his aid, who knows what kind of trouble he would’ve gotten into…
His eyes welled up with emotion.
Unbothered, Kim Taeyoung continued to rant, demanding Hakyung return to the countryside immediately.
“Honestly, how is this my fault? You’re the idiot who believed it wasn’t a joke!”
“You said it was real when I asked—several times.”
“Ugh, whatever! Your face pisses me off. Swear you’ll go back home by the end of the week.”
As if Hakyung was the one in the wrong, Kim Taeyoung piled on even more blame.
The way his words pressed down on his shoulders made Hakyung squeeze his eyes shut.