Chapter 68: Dissolve: His Last Choice

“Have you been with a man before?”

“Well, yes. I’ve always had a bit of a weakness for pleasure, ever since I was young…”

“I figured as much.”

“What do you mean, ‘figured as much’?”

The curt question was met with an immediate reply, as if he’d been waiting for it.

Yoon Jooho tilted his chin toward the car ceiling, shifting his posture as he kept rubbing the back of his neck, the filter of his cigarette caught between his teeth.

“When a neighborhood hyung asked to see your thing, you probably just pulled your pants down and showed him. That’s the kind of kid you strike me as.”

“……”

Noticing Song Hyunsoo’s silence, Yoon Jooho glanced over and moved his cigarette between his fingers.

“Ha, you really did?”

Song Hyunsoo shrank back a little at Yoon Jooho’s shocked expression.

“It wasn’t exactly like that. Something similar, maybe…”

But then he realized he had no reason to feel ashamed.

“It’s not like I was completely clueless and just let it happen! Was it the winter before I started high school? This hyung from the neighborhood came over, and honestly, I didn’t hate it…”

“Was he good-looking or something?”

“…How did you know?”

Staring at Song Hyunsoo’s genuinely curious face, Yoon Jooho shook his head.

“You were a little wild, weren’t you?”

“Says the guy who didn’t exactly live a life of chastity and virtue himself.”

Hmph. This time, Yoon Jooho nodded, admitting it.

“That’s true.”

The car sped smoothly down the quiet night road, drawing closer to the Comprehensive Sports Complex.

On both sides of the street, rows of high-rise apartments stretched endlessly.

From the eighty-first floor, they’d looked like miniatures, but from the ground, their towering size was almost overwhelming.

Flicking the ash from his now-short cigarette, Yoon Jooho spoke in a tired voice.

“You’d know, since you’re a guy. After you do it once, you can usually get some sleep.”

Then he turned his head, showing off his face from a good angle.

“Will you let me sleep tonight?”

Bringing the filter back to his lips, Yoon Jooho didn’t avoid Song Hyunsoo’s gaze.

“Is that your pick-up line, sunbae?”

“Pick-up line?”

“Are you trying to lure me into bed?”

He wasn’t trying to be sarcastic; he was genuinely curious.

Yoon Jooho leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes lightly. He let out a short sigh and answered in a flat tone.

“I’ve never really needed one.”

And it wasn’t a boastful tone, either.

Of course. Someone like him wouldn’t need to scheme or try hard to get someone he liked into bed.

People would always want Yoon Jooho first, and all he’d have to do is read their feelings and subtly let them know he was interested. That would be enough.

Whether it was a light temptation or something heavier, Song Hyunsoo had never lived his life aiming for unwavering chastity, either.

If the person was Yoon Jooho, he would have agreed, even if he’d never had any experience with men.

He wondered what kind of sex Yoon Jooho had, what his face looked like at the moment of climax. Who would turn down the chance to find out?

But before that, there was something else he wanted to clear up.

“But, weren’t you only sleeping with Top Stars?”

“That’s right.”

Yoon Jooho slowly lifted his eyelids. His eyes, framed by long lashes, stared straight at him—the very look Song Hyunsoo had admired since childhood.

“So hurry up and become a Top Star.”

If there was one thing Yoon Jooho was obsessive about, it was managing his career as an actor. And yet, here he was, breaking his own rules and trying to take Hyunsoo to bed.

Even if he said it’d be fine as long as Hyunsoo became a Top Star later, it was a strange logic…

But in Hyunsoo’s ears, it sounded like he was saying:

You’re the exception.

“If you don’t think you can become a Top Star, I’ll just take you back to Bogwang-dong.”

Yoon Jooho reached out to call Cha Chief in the driver’s seat.

As he moved to press the button to lower the privacy screen, Song Hyunsoo grabbed his wrist, holding it tightly.

He couldn’t tell if the pounding in his palm was Jooho’s pulse or his own.

“Let’s go to your Mansion, sunbae.”

“……”

“I’ll do it. I’ll become a Top Star.”

■

Once again, Song Hyunsoo stood in front of the huge window.

The city was still passing through the night, but the view beyond the glass was different from the one at the hotel.

His own reflection in the window had changed, too.

Gone was the crisp tuxedo and the perfect hairstyle crafted by the best professionals; now he wore only a bathrobe, damp hair falling over his forehead.

He’d just finished showering in Yoon Jooho’s guest bathroom.

The nightscape from here was far more vibrant.

The uneven skyline, the unpredictable movement of cars, the mix of lit and unlit windows all came together like music, with rhythm and melody.

“What are you staring at so hard?”

Even when a voice suddenly sounded behind him, Song Hyunsoo wasn’t startled.

He’d already seen Jooho’s reflection in the glass.

“I think your view is even better than the one from the bar earlier, sunbae.”

“Is that what you came to see?”

Hyunsoo knew what Jooho meant, but he played dumb and changed the subject.

“It’s nice being with another guy. It’s comfortable.”

“What’s comfortable?”

“Even if I come up to your place, Cha Chief doesn’t think anything weird.”

Bang Manager probably knew all about Jooho’s bedroom affairs, but Cha Chief didn’t seem to.

Lately, he just thought Jooho was quietly having a drink with a close junior to wrap up his birthday—nothing unusual about that.

“Have you already forgotten why you came here?”

“……”

As if. How could he be so clueless about men’s feelings? Then again, he probably didn’t get women’s hearts either.

In the reflection, Yoon Jooho cocked his head to the side.

“I’m half-naked, you know. Aren’t you interested?”

Slowly, Song Hyunsoo turned around.

Under the soft, indirect lighting, Yoon Jooho stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, wearing nothing but a large towel wrapped around his waist.

He was reminded of the first time he’d come here.

Since then, Jooho’s body had only gotten better.

His deltoids were thicker and rounder, his biceps shaped like peanuts, and even just crossing his arms made his forearms look sharply defined. His bulk-up had been a success.

Almost as if he’d noticed where Hyunsoo’s gaze lingered, Jooho slowly swept his hand down his torso.

“Are you just going to stand there and look after coming all the way here?”

The towel was slung so low that a hint of hair rising from his groin was visible.

The shape of something beneath the towel was awkwardly obvious—the wet fabric clung to it, making its size easy to guess.

Hyunsoo swallowed dryly.

That’s what real Sexy Dynamite looks like.

Leaning against the doorframe, Yoon Jooho gave a barely-there smile from beneath his lowered eyelids.

“Miss Sexy Dynamite, why don’t you come over here and show me some of that so-called sex appeal?”

An actor isn’t just someone who acts.

At least, not someone like Yoon Jooho. What’s demanded from actors like him is something beyond acting.

They have to captivate people with their charm. And if Yoon Jooho was a Top Star, how good must he be at that? It’s not my fault I was drawn in.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his robe, Hyunsoo walked toward Jooho, admitting defeat.

“I’m a knockoff, you know.”

“Knockoff?”

“Compared to you, I’m just a BB pellet.”

Snort. Jooho hunched his shoulders, laughing as if he’d been caught off guard.

“Is it that funny? My pride’s completely shattered here.”

Hyunsoo playfully punched Jooho’s chest. It wasn’t a real punch, but it wasn’t just an affectionate tap, either. Jooho caught Hyunsoo’s fist in his hand, the smile never leaving his face.

“Whether you’re a BB pellet or dynamite, I’ll be the judge of that.”

The door that was always locked with a digital lock now stood wide open.

Beyond Jooho’s shoulder, another hallway was visible, and to the right, he could see a glimpse of the bedroom.

The familiar scent of Yoon Jooho wafted thickly from the bedroom.

Hyunsoo wet his lips with his tongue. Taking that as a sign he was ready, Jooho took Hyunsoo by the wrist.

At the bedroom entrance, Jooho, who was leading the way, turned back.

“You’re the first one to go in here.”

“You know how to do lip service, too?”

“Lip service?”

“You know how to flatter the person you’re about to sleep with. You’ve grown, sunbae.”

Hyunsoo reached up and ran his hand over Jooho’s wet hair. The wavy locks were soft and damp.

He’d expected Jooho to bare his teeth at the bold gesture. But for once, Jooho quietly let him, his broad shoulders shaking as he chuckled.

Then, all of a sudden, he grabbed Hyunsoo’s arm tightly, enough to leave yellow marks.

Through the strands of wet hair, Jooho grinned up at him.

“Believe it or not, that’s up to you.”

Then, baring his teeth, he bit down gently on the inside of Hyunsoo’s wrist.

“How long do you think you can keep acting cocky?”

“Looks like you’re the one getting impatient, sunbae.”

“What?”

Hyunsoo felt a jolt in his lower stomach as he watched Jooho furrow his brow. He pulled his arm free, pretending to be nonchalant.

“I know you’re dying to roll around with me, but at least show me your room first.”

Top Star Yoon Jooho’s bedroom was simpler than he’d expected.

The first thing that caught the eye was a huge bed. On the wall opposite stood an enormous TV, and between the bed and TV was a long sofa.

The room was that spacious. Above the headboard hung a large poster from the film “Abyss of Passion.” The only things hinting at his personality were that poster and the scent of candles.

Wow…

Even from the bedroom, the breathtaking night view was visible. In front of the large window were two single armchairs and a table set, perfect for sitting across from each other.

“……”

Hyunsoo walked over as if entranced. On the table were a book, a notebook, and a pen scattered about.

They were gifts from Hyunsoo.

He flipped open the notebook with the cat illustration on the cover.

Neat handwriting filled the pages with passages from the book he’d given Jooho.

Yoon Jooho who dutifully copied down lines from a book he’d received as a gift, out of Hyunsoo’s sight.

He had a knack for moving people in the strangest ways, at the oddest moments.

Now, Hyunsoo was the one who felt desperate.

Tonight, no matter what Yoon Jooho did to him, he didn’t think he’d mind.