One day, I woke up and found myself a star.
Such things still happened occasionally in the entertainment industry.
Overnight, one could plummet from top star to the nationโs most hated personโthose stories, too, werenโt all that uncommon.
If anything, the latter was even more frequent than the former.
And it was this kind of fall that drew even more fervent reactions than any meteoric rise.
The higher and more dazzling the place someone once occupied, the more thrilling the pleasure for onlookers when they watched that person crash down.
The Sleep Clinic introduced by Jeong Sungwon.
A few weeks had passed since Yoon Jooho started frequenting that hospital.
Yoon Jooho and Song Hyunsoo worked diligently on the filming of <Dissolve>, and Yoon Jooho visited the hospital regularly.
The counseling sessions were nothing specialโjust boring.
Following the Directorโs recommendation, he would nap for an hour or two in the hospitalโs sleep room, where the optimal conditions for quality sleep were prepared.
To be precise, he just pretended to sleep.
Life went on, tranquil and uneventful.
But that tranquility was shattered in an instant.
The bait finally revealed its poisonous true nature.
โ
Yoon Jooho, habitual Propofol injections, and even Barbiturates?
Hello, this is โKaying.โ Ah, itโs really been a while since I landed such a scoop. A lot of you probably clicked in, shocked by the thumbnail.
You think this is just clickbait?
Do you know who the target is?
If I tried to bait the nationโs actor Yoon Jooho like this and got it wrong, not only would my channel be gone, but my life would be over too. You think I donโt know that?
No need to drag it out. Iโll share the evidence video weโve obtained right away.
Itโs not from long ago. Itโs footage from this afternoon.
Look, hereโs a man entering a hospital room and lying down on the bed.
Heโs tall, small-headed, and even with the camera shooting from above, his face shape and nose bridge are just something else.
At a glance, his Wakku is definitely not ordinary.
If youโre Korean, even if you watched from a KTX speeding by while doing a triple twist, youโd knowโitโs Yoon Jooho.
You might be thinking this is a hotel, but itโs not. Itโs a hospital, for real. This is the VIP Sleep Room at a sleep center in Seocho-gu.
Wow, the facilities are incredible. Even insomnia patients would probably fall right asleep here.
About ten minutes later, a nurse enters. She prepares an IV.
According to hospital records, the Propofol administered today was a 50ml dose.
Thatโs an enormous amountโeven for a healthy man in his twenties, they usually donโt give more than 20ml. That means heโs already addicted.
Letโs look at another piece of evidence. These are shots of Yoon Jooho frequenting this suspicious center.
He comes and goes on different datesโlook, see how frequent it is?
Usually every four or five days, but here he came back after just two days. Looks like addiction.
Was it just Propofol? Nope.
Criminals never stop at just one thing, right?
Weโve detected evidence that he also took illegal sleeping pills containing Barbiturates.
What are Barbiturates? After serious side effects came to light, in the US itโs only used under the strictest prescription by doctors.
In our country, itโs classified as a narcotic and isnโt used in sleeping pills at all. But heโs been taking sleeping pills with Barbiturates illegallyโฆ
โคทCrazy, is that really Yoon Jooho?? Is it really him???
โคทโคทWhโฆ what did I just hearโฆ.
โคทโคทPlease say itโs not trueใ ใ ใ Say Kaying is just acting crazy for attentionใ ใ ใ ใ I was just waiting for the movie release, what the hell is thisใ ใ ใ ใ
โคทYoon Jooho never had a single controversy until now, would he really do Propofol and drugs all of a sudden? I canโt believe itโฆ..
โคทโคทBelieve it or not, Yoon Jooho is a junkie nowใ ใ ใ
โคทโคทThereโs been family drama lately, maybe life got so tough he wanted to rely on drugs
โคทIf this was some trashy lecca channel I wouldnโt care, but Kaying is trustworthyโwhat will happen to Yoon Jooho
โคทโคทPut your hand down, youโre smiling right now, arenโt you?ใ ใ ใ
โคทโคทKaying talks like heโs so righteousใ ใ ใ In the end, he makes money off exposing peopleโs private lives just like the rest
โคทโคทDigging up this dirty private life is the right thing to do! Justice for Kaying!
โคทโคทYeah, a guy like that shouldnโt get the publicโs love or big money
โคทWhy are you worshipping Yoon Joohoโs Wakku in the middle of all thisใ ใ ใ ใ Kaying, pick one: bash or praise, some of us are busy, just do one thing at a timeใ ใ ใ ใ
โคทHospitals that give out Propofol usually pretend itโs for a medical procedure, like at a plastic surgery or dermatology clinic, but what kind of sleep center openly prescribes Propofol??ใ ใ ใ Theyโre just dealing drugs, the hospital needs a full investigation too
โคทโคทPeople donโt care about punishing the hospital, theyโre just excited to see Yoon Jooho fallใ ใ
โคทPrince, really? What era is that, Prince Yoon Jooho, just retire, youโve been at it long enough
โคทโคทYeah, even the way he stabbed his parents in the back proved what kind of person he is
โคทEveryone said he was handsome, but I never saw it. His gaze was off or something? I always said heโd cause a big scandal somedayโguess my instincts were right
โคทโคทAnd here you are gloating, amazing, really
โคทPeople are getting all excited thinking theyโre about to bring down another celebrity. Itโs disgusting seeing people panting over some YouTuberโs word like Kayingโs the police or prosecution. Your miserable life isnโt Yoon Joohoโs fault, stop taking it out on the wrong person
โคทโคทOf all things to defend, you pick a junkie? Are you brainless or what? These Yoon Jooho fans are worse than most idol stans
โคทโคทIs โwait until itโs confirmedโ your idea of a defense? Whoโs the real brainless one here?
โ
The parking garage of the Jusang Bokhap where the West Sea Bar and Pilates Studio were located.
The third row of seats in the Escalade.
Yoon Jooho, resting his head on Song Hyunsooโs lap, had his eyes quietly closed.
But Song Hyunsoo knew he wasnโt asleep.
Unlike usual, Yoon Jooho was dressed in a crisp black suit, his hair neat and controlled, looking more like a young prosecutor or lawyer than an actor.
He had taken off his jacket and draped it over the seatback in the second row, now lying down in just his shirt and tie, arms folded.
The world was hurling everything it could at Yoon Jooho.
But as if it were all lies, the surroundings remained peaceful.
Only the occasional noise of cars entering or leaving the garage could be faintly heard outside the Escalade.
Song Hyunsoo gazed quietly down at Yoon Joohoโs exhausted face.
Yoon Jooho, always appearing composed and confident no matter what, must have moments of tension even when he was sure of victory. This was just too big.
Bzzz.
Song Hyunsooโs phone vibrated softly.
At that small sound, Yoon Joohoโs eyelids fluttered.
โIs it Sangho?โ
โYes.โ
โIs he coming down?โ
โYes.โ
Upstairs in the West Sea Barโs apartment, Bang Manager was meeting with Yoon Joohoโs Legal Team.
Since the contents had already been thoroughly prepared and this was just a final review, Yoon Jooho had chosen to spend time alone with Song Hyunsoo in the parking lot instead of joining the meeting.
Yoon Jooho raised his left wrist to check the time.
He wore a watch with an ice-blue dialโthe very watch Song Hyunsoo had recovered and personally put back on him.
โโฆโฆโ
Still lying down, he looked up at Song Hyunsoo.
Even in moments like this, Yoon Joohoโs face seemed to glow.
Song Hyunsoo wanted to crack a joke and make him laugh, but couldnโt bring himself to speak.
Instead, he just fiddled with Joohoโs right ear for no reason.
โAre you okay?โ
โWhy wouldnโt I be?โ
โYou look like a wife sending her husband off to war.โ
A light laugh escaped. Playing with that perfectly shaped ear, Song Hyunsoo replied,
โWhy wouldnโt I be? Everythingโs going according to plan. Itโs justโฆโ
โJust?โ
โI just donโt like letting Sunbae go alone.โ
Yoon Jooho slowly sat up and reached out to wrap his arms around Song Hyunsooโs neck.
โIโm not going to my death. Iโm going to live.โ
โRight. Who said otherwise?โ
The fingers stroking his neck tickled, and yet felt so tender.
It felt like he wouldnโt be able to live without these hands anymore.
โSmile for me. Let me see you smile once before I go.โ
Up until now, heโd been able to stay strongโtheyโd carried out the plans and strategies together.
But from here on, it was a road Yoon Jooho had to walk alone.
He asked for a smile, but tears threatened to spill instead.
So he leaned in and kissed him first. Then he hugged him tightly so their faces couldnโt be seen.
โCome back to me just like you are now. Youโre mine, so donโt let there be a single scratch on you.โ
Yoon Joohoโs low laughter sounded in his ear.
His arms wrapped so tightly around Song Hyunsooโs back, it felt like he might burst.
โHow am I alone? Iโm not alone. Until I met you, that was when I was alone.โ
โโฆโฆโ
โOtherwise, this fight wouldโve been lonely as hell.โ
Yoon Jooho released him and cupped Song Hyunsooโs face in both hands.
โWe havenโt even had proper makeup sex yet. No way Iโm dying out of spite.โ
Yoon Jooho kissed Song Hyunsooโs smiling lips.
Tears from Song Hyunsooโs eyes mingled between their lipsโ a kiss as if they were sharing each otherโs sorrow and solace.