The filming had ended successfully, but Director Na, along with several staff members, the assistant director, Dohyeong, and Yuchan, could only let out heavy sighs.
The place where they were sitting was a small conference room in the hotel, mainly used as a seminar room.
“This is really…”
Director Na shook his head as if troubled and covered his face with both hands. He leaned back, tilted his head backward, and let out a groan.
“These bastards…”
It was all because of one photo that ran with a malicious article.
It was a photo of Yuchan and Dohyeong walking affectionately with their arms linked, but it was far from the “secret romance” the article claimed.
It was merely a publicity poster photoshoot that captured Yehyun and Onyoung’s appearance in one shot.
“Where and how exactly did this leak? What kind of security management allows this kind of article to go out!”
Director Na, gripping the tablet, raised his voice before pressing his forehead.
He knew that public attention was focused on them.
Of course, he wasn’t unaware that they had to endure all of this.
From the moment he decided on casting Kim Dohyeong and Jung Haesung, he had been prepared for the possibility of noise.
But this was too much. It seemed like someone was persistently tormenting Dohyeong.
“…I have nothing to say to you two.”
Director Na sighed and looked at Yuchan and Dohyeong.
He roughly rubbed his face, then wildly tousled his hair.
“Ugh, I swear… when I get back to Korea, I’m going to turn all those media outlets upside down.”
Dohyeong looked at Director Na, the staff, the assistant director, and Yuchan in turn.
And he recalled Haesung’s voice from the brief phone call they’d had just moments ago.
‘Actually, this worked out well.’
He’d almost felt a little hurt by that calm response.
‘It’s anticipation. Anticipation for you. Whichever way it goes, it means people are paying attention to you. It means Kim Dohyeong is worth that attention.’
Dohyeong, who had been firmly pressing their clasped hands under the desk, took a deep breath.
And looked at Director Na again.
‘Use everything you can exploit. What kind of person you are, what you’re preparing, what you’re going to show them. Jump into any arena where you can promote yourself without discriminating between means and methods.’
Haesung was right.
Now wasn’t the time to be picky about cold rice or hot rice.
It wasn’t even a negative article anyway, and wasn’t it an article that ended in doubt with a question mark?
It could arouse everyone’s anticipation.
Even if their relationship with Yuchan wasn’t that of lovers as written in the article, they just needed to show a relationship comparable to that in the drama.
‘You just need to grab that arena and shake it.’
Pouring out all his abilities and potential to grab and shake that arena.
That was clearly the maximum effort he could make right now.
“It’s okay, Director.”
That’s why he could be even calmer.
Yuchan, who was sitting beside him, also looked at Dohyeong with a surprised expression.
Because he seemed like a different Dohyeong than the one he knew.
If it were before, Dohyeong would have been more worried than he was.
“There’s a reason why the term ‘noise marketing’ exists.”
At his words, which showed not the slightest waver, Director Na straightened his posture and quietly stared at Dohyeong.
“Noise marketing?”
“We can just leave the articles as they are. The way they think.”
“May I ask why you think that way, Dohyeong-ssi?”
“It’s an arena they’ve laid out for us. Everyone will focus their attention on Yuchan and me. They know we’re filming, so they’ll listen to the gossip. Then they’ll become even more interested in the picture of us two.”
Everyone present focused on Dohyeong’s words. Director Na, who had been nodding and listening to the story, stroked his chin with one hand.
It was a habit that came out when he was thinking deeply. The reverberation of positive thoughts often emerged through hand gestures.
“Mm. And?”
“Anyway, there’s only about two months left until the drama airs. After enduring that time, who will end up looking like a fool?”
Dohyeong’s eyes shone clearly.
Seeing the corners of his mouth curl up slightly, Director Na let out a hollow laugh.
“We need to grab and shake the arena in reverse. We just need to make people want to watch the drama somehow.”
“If they find out that the romance rumors about you two aren’t real…”
“We’ll have to act so well that they’ll wish it were real. So well that they won’t have time to be disappointed. So it turns out the two of them weren’t lovers, and it was a photo taken during the drama poster shoot. It’s disappointing that it’s just that. With that feeling, won’t they be able to be even more enthusiastic about the drama?”
Of course, he knew how cruel these words might be to Yuchan right now.
But if it were Yuchan, he would be able to accept this proposal.
It was no different from saying they should move for public gain, apart from private feelings.
“But Director, I think it’s a gamble. The risk is too great.”
At the assistant director’s words, Yuchan shrugged his shoulders and added,
“I don’t know. Either way, it’s a gamble. Actually, it’s ridiculous, isn’t it? Refuting each and every article like this, it’s like a thief’s feet hurting. They say great undertakings are always accompanied by gossip. As Dohyeong says, it seems more… advantageous for us to grab and shake this arena.”
With even Yuchan agreeing with Dohyeong’s words, Director Na seemed to be solidifying his thoughts in that direction as well.
It seemed he quite liked Dohyeong’s words that “we become the ones who grab and shake the arena.”
He probably accepted it even more positively because it was a story he heard from a completely unexpected person.
“Then, let’s do that.”
At Director Na’s words, Yuchan and Dohyeong smiled broadly.
“When you two return to Korea, you’ll have a lot of headaches. You’ll have to be prepared for that. Will you be okay?”
“For me, well, I’m not worried. I’ll deflect appropriately.”
At Yuchan’s answer, Director Na’s gaze turned to Dohyeong.
Actually, the one he was worried about was Dohyeong’s side, not Yuchan’s.
“It should only be once or twice. Would it be sad to say I’m used to it?”
At his joking appearance, eventually, loud laughter burst out.
They could feel the atmosphere that had sunk seriously just moments ago gradually loosening up.
“And I’m sorry.”
Dohyeong bowed his head toward Director Na, the assistant director, and the staff.
As they startled and stirred, Dohyeong raised his head.
“Because I receive so much attention, I keep creating things that worry you. I should have been less famous. Right?”
At his cheeky words, the faces of the staff that had been stiffly hardened softened gently.
Well now, with a mutter close to reproach, Director Na also drew a bright smile once more.
“I’ll finish the remaining filming well. That way we can sneer at the articles that came out now.”
“Just sneer? I’m going to post it on SNS as if to show them. Huh? Who saw us as lovers? You saw correctly. It’s Onyoung and Yehyun.”
Laughter bloomed in the small conference room.
Dohyeong, who had been giggling, took a deep breath and thought of Haesung.
A guidepost. It seemed like a word that suited him perfectly right now.
He wanted to see Haesung quickly. Thinking he wanted to be held in his embrace, he clenched his fist tightly.
***
The week of filming had ended.
Someone had said. Even snow falling from the sky is only pretty once or twice, if you keep seeing it, you get sick of it and tired of it.
The phrase “pretty garbage falling from the sky” didn’t come about for nothing.
The plane was delayed until the very end because of the snow, so now people were starting to emerge saying they were sick of even hearing the word snow.
I want to return to Korea quickly. Or, I want to stay a little longer and sightsee while I’m at it.
When people’s opinions split one by one, Dohyeong only waited desperately for the time to return.
“Hyung, it’s not going to be delayed again, is it?”
At the same question repeated for more than the tenth time, Wootae let out a deep sigh.
“There’s nothing we can do. With snow pouring down like this.”
“But we can’t… we have to go to Korea.”
At Dohyeong’s anxiously muttering appearance, Wootae snorted.
All of this restlessness is because of Jung Haesung.
Really, even if relationships change, can they change this much, he thought.
Rather, isn’t now better than before? He ended up trapped at that crossroads of thought.
“Hyung, there wasn’t any separate contact from Manager Do, was there?”
“What contact?”
“No, well…”
Like Haesung’s schedule.
Or Haesung’s current situation.
Or about whether he was in a situation where he could come pick him up.
He swallowed the words that came up to the tip of his throat and shook his head.
Wootae dismissed it with a snort saying it was bland.
But shortly after, an announcement came on informing them that boarding for the delayed flight would begin, and not long after, everyone boarded the plane.
He closed his eyes with a pounding heart. With just the expectation that if he slept soundly and woke up, they would arrive in Korea.
But didn’t they say things never flow the way you decide or plan?
“…I can’t sleep.”
Never mind sleep, it was hard to even sit still with his excited heart.
Please arrive in Korea quickly, I want to get off the plane.
He chewed over all kinds of wishes and waited only for the moment of landing.
They finally arrived at Incheon Airport, and all the actors came out through the VIP-only passage. It was to protect the actors from reporters.
They came down to the underground parking lot without anyone knowing.
As expected, Haesung hadn’t come to pick him up. No, he couldn’t have come. He knew the circumstances, but he couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
No contact even when coming back. He grumbled inwardly and grabbed the car door handle at that moment.
“Dohyeong-ah.”
He heard Wootae’s grinning voice.
“This is my gift to you.”
What do you mean? Dohyeong tilted his head in confusion.
“Just open it first.”
He must have put a gift in the car or something.
His mood immediately lifted. Smiling broadly with anticipation, when he opened the door wide, an unexpected person was looking at him.
“Hello, Kim Dohyeong-ssi.”
A low voice, a gentle smile.
And black eyes sparkling brightly that only Dohyeong could see.
“I’ve become your gift, what do you think about that?”
It was so sudden and surprising that Dohyeong could only open and close his mouth without being able to say anything.
What is this? He looked back at Wootae with a flustered expression, but he was already in the driver’s seat.
“Aren’t you going to accept it? This gift is really special and expensive. A top star named Jung Haesung.”
And then he burst into loud laughter.
Just the fact that the two of them had secretly prepared this for him alone made his heart start pounding wildly.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d hurry and come be held.”
Dohyeong didn’t wait any longer and quickly got in the car. And he fell into Haesung’s embrace.
He immediately felt at peace in the scent he had longed for so much and the familiar warmth.
“I missed you.”
The lips touching his forehead and cheeks were soft.
“Thank you for coming back safely.”
The words uttered like a whisper were sweet.
Dohyeong smiled happily and burrowed into Haesung’s embrace.
“Yes, I’m back. Haesung hyung.”
Haesung, who had been stroking his head, glanced at the driver’s seat, then quietly looked down at Dohyeong nestled in his arms.
He approached Dohyeong’s ear, still frozen red, and whispered. So that Wootae couldn’t hear, so that it would remain embedded in Dohyeong’s ear without disappearing.
“…I’m solidly crazy about you, so let’s hurry home and see.”
