Kwon Isoo looked down at Kang Heejeong indifferently and answered.
“We’re filming a variety show, with him.”
Despite his insincere answer, Kang Heejeong smiled brightly.
“Then I can say hi for a bit, right? I’m already on camera, so it’d be awkward to just go back in.”
When Kwon Isoo nodded roughly, she waved cheerfully at the camera. Following that movement, her hair tied up high swayed back and forth.
“Hello, I’m singer Kanghee. I was in the middle of recording a new song, but I didn’t expect to run into Isoo. What a coincidence!”
“We don’t have time. If you’re going to promote, go back inside.”
At Kwon Isoo’s indifferent scolding, Kang Heejeong pouted. The way she tapped his arm seemed quite intimate.
“You can’t even do this much? You don’t remember the favor of personally choosing you as a partner back when you were a newbie. You’ve gotten all grown up now, is that it?”
Wonder appeared in Do Yeonjae’s eyes as he listened quietly from the side. So she personally picked Kwon Isoo back then. Well, a high-seniority singer would have that level of choice.
Do Yeonjae recalled Kanghee’s stage that he’d watched dozens of times.
Kanghee wearing a pink dress and opera gloves, breathing in sync with Kwon Isoo on stage. He remembered being impressed by his perfect shirt fit. His hair was black back then…
He’d thought they looked quite good together even on stage, and seeing them again like this, he could tell that thought wasn’t wrong. The height difference looked about 30cm, and Kang Heejeong’s petite body was completely hidden and more by Kwon Isoo’s tall physique, while her sharply upturned cat-like eyes harmonized well with Kwon Isoo’s face.
He suddenly remembered what he’d overheard Choi Taeon say in passing.
“…That noona too, she’s been like that since before debut. Just because hyung was her partner dancer once, from then on she’s been persistently…”
And he also remembered when he happened to see Kwon Isoo’s phone, he’d spotted Kang Heejeong’s name in the notification list. It seemed to be something about eating together… He wasn’t the type to remember other people’s messages, so the memory was hazy.
Actually, even without thinking about such things, he could tell. That Kang Heejeong’s eyes looking up at Kwon Isoo right now were brimming with affection.
While it wasn’t right to speculate about others’ feelings, Kang Heejeong seemed to be interested in Kwon Isoo. Six years age difference is fine. Do Yeonjae lowered his gaze. He knew he was popular, but seeing it right before his eyes like this…
“…….”
Before he could finish the thought, Yeonjae grimaced and clenched his hand tightly. The feeling of his heart rustling was quite unfamiliar. What’s this, why am I like this? Just a moment ago I was fine… When he tilted his head, puzzled by how his mood was strangely sinking, he heard Kang Heejeong’s words.
“He still seems not fully grown. Seeing how he’s tied up with his friend, going around hand in hand.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Do Yeonjae’s head shot up. When he explained with an embarrassed expression how they ended up going around like this, Kang Heejeong grinned.
“Hmm… I think I can help with that?”
“Pardon?”
“You mean the person wearing a mask, right? I saw them going into that room earlier. It was unusual so I remember it.”
Kang Heejeong pointed out a specific room down the corridor. Do Yeonjae’s complexion brightened. To have time shortened with her help—it really was unexpected good fortune.
“Thank you!”
“Sure, take care~ Bye, Isoo too.”
Do Yeonjae expressed his gratitude to Kang Heejeong. He felt her gaze filled with laughter lingering long on Kwon Isoo, which made his head confused again, but now wasn’t the time to think about such things at length.
When they opened the recording studio door, this time a bulky masked man was inside the recording booth pretending to sing. Do Yeonjae approached confidently. If he’s inside the booth, he can’t run away anywhere.
The moment he went straight to open the door,
“Huh?”
The door didn’t open, as if caught on something. What’s this?
“Move aside.”
Kwon Isoo, who had been clicking the doorknob several times, looked through the window and said crookedly.
“He’s blocking it with his body.”
“Ah…”
Blocking the door with his body… Do Yeonjae lightly scratched his furrowed brow. Running away and locking doors—he had a rough idea why they’d been doing this since earlier.
Because the hints are too decisive and easy, they’re trying to stall for time as much as possible.
Ah, my mood wasn’t that great to begin with…
Do Yeonjae, who had lived simply and easygoingly, didn’t really like confusing and unfamiliar emotions. Because thinking deeply is just bothersome. However, when the mission hit a snag on top of his mind becoming complicated knowingly or unknowingly since a little while ago, Do Yeonjae got a bit heated.
I don’t have time for this right now.
After quietly pondering something, he gestured to Kwon Isoo.
“Come out for a moment.”
“What for?”
“Just for a second.”
When Kwon Isoo moved his body back slightly, Do Yeonjae took a deep breath for a moment. Whew… After slowly steadying his breathing, he began pushing the door with his left shoulder.
He could feel them frantically pressing hard on the door from the other side, as if flustered for a moment. He put more strength into his shoulder and pushed calmly. Forces clashed tightly from both sides of the door.
Though he himself wasn’t particularly aware of it, sometimes Do Yeonjae revealed this kind of macho side.
Kwon Isoo, who was dumbfounded on the side, asked if he should help, but Do Yeonjae shook his head. It seems like I can do it with just a bit more… When he bit down firmly and applied more force, the door finally began opening little by little.
“Done.”
Inside the opened booth, the masked man who had been pushed back stood there dazed. He approached him with large steps and asked.
“What kind of challenge do I have to do?”
“…….”
“…Um, are you okay?”
“He’s out of it.”
Worry crossed Do Yeonjae’s face as he looked at him, too stunned to say anything. Did I push too hard? I did it slowly so he wouldn’t get hurt as much as possible…
However, he wasn’t dazed for the reason Do Yeonjae was thinking.
Since childhood, he’d grown up eating five bowls of rice with two ramen as dessert, completing this physique. Though he now worked as a filming staff member, in the past he used to receive offers to be a ssireum wrestler as routinely as eating. And yet… perhaps because this was the first time in his life someone had physically pushed him back, his shocked heart wouldn’t calm down.
So shocked was the masked man that he inadvertently blurted out the line he’d practiced and memorized dozens of times.
“Oh no. I’m in the middle of recording but I drank too much water because I was nervous.”
Uh… Hearing that, Do Yeonjae rolled his eyes and answered.
“You’re giving the hint right away? Thank you. Kwon Isoo, let’s go.”
“W-wait…”
The masked man came to his senses belatedly.
Wait, things aren’t supposed to flow like this?
According to the original scenario, when the flustered cast members came to confront him through the recording studio window because the door was blocked, he was supposed to immediately start the ‘Shout in Silence’ game. He was supposed to mouth sentences, and when they guessed the answer from outside the window through talkback, then he’d open the door and give the hint.
To think they’d just push their way in like this…
The masked man watched with an incredulous face as Yeonjae’s back disappeared out of the recording booth after thanking him once more.
Isoo and Yeonjae, who headed to the bathroom, were able to find the For Rhythm Card under the hand dryer.
When they peeled off the sticker, the letters ‘Keyboard’ were revealed. After obtaining the second card and checking the time, 57 minutes had already passed.
Oh no… We wasted too much time changing pants.
We’ll have to find it faster on the 7th floor practice rooms.
By now, he’d gotten fairly used to matching stride without holding hands. When they entered the largest practice room, 701, together, a masked man was standing there conspicuously.
There were no particular doors here, and he didn’t seem to show signs of running away either. Strange, they’re spoon-feeding us too much… As he approached him, Do Yeonjae felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
The masked man was standing holding some paper and a tablet. The words written on the paper were as follows:
[❤️ Friendship Challenge Time!! ❤️ ->]
…Friendship Challenge? With an inexplicably ominous feeling, he pressed the play button on the video on the tablet screen. Immediately, along with cute, lively, cheerful background music, the image of two people simultaneously doing aegyo-filled actions like winks and hand hearts played.
– Lovely lovely boy ♬♩♪ Funny funny day ♬♩♪ Oh my joy! ♪ Shiny shiny star ♬♩♪
Do Yeonjae’s pupils shook violently as he watched the screen. He covered his mouth and watched the two people on screen intently with a serious face. My god, how many times are they winking…? Are they magnesium deficient?
No, and how is this a ‘friendship’ challenge by any stretch?
Kwon Isoo’s expression was rotting just the same. After checking the entire challenge with his face scrunched up in disgust, Kwon Isoo began earnestly spouting sophistry at the masked man.
“If I do this, all my advertisements will be cut. It violates the dignity maintenance clause.”
“…….”
From the side, Do Yeonjae made a sound and laughed quietly. At that sound, Kwon Isoo’s head whipped around.
