Chapter 2
Jaei meticulously applied hand cream to his well-maintained, long, slender fingers and the backs of his hands before the fan signing event began. On dry days, the signing paper would occasionally brush against his hand, causing tiny scratches. If he got a paper cut on his finger or a hangnail appeared, it would distract him all day.
Like many successful actors, Jaei was quite tough, so he could endure greater pain through mental strength. When his arm was torn during a film shoot and he bled profusely, it was Jaei who foolishly giggled and joked, “I need a blood transfusion right away. RH+ AB~” to keep the mood on set positive.
After putting down the hand cream, he said “RH+ AB~” in front of the mirror, naturally smiling to check his expression one last time. Since he was often misunderstood as cold and callous, he paid special attention to his expressions. He’d been told that when he didn’t smile, he looked like he was looking down on or ignoring others. Though he hadn’t particularly intended to live as a star, his talent and effort had inevitably attracted a lot of attention, so he had to be more mindful of his conduct.
The first impression that was difficult to change sometimes became a spear that attacked Jaei, and at other times a shield that protected his gentle nature. He thought that without his natural aura, he might have lived with even greater wounds.
He offered greetings filled with gratitude and apology to female fans who had purchased one million won worth of men’s suits to attend the signing event. Feeling indebted, he lavished fan service worth more than one million won to give them their money’s worth. The actor personally extended the signing time to more than double the scheduled duration.
In the midst of the signing event, a white, large hand suddenly appeared before Jaei’s eyes. It was clearly a man’s sizable hand at a glance. The bones were firm and large, but the skin was so pale it was almost transparent, with a subtle reddish tint. This made the prominently visible veins even more noticeable. And the hand emitted the same fragrance as the hand cream Jaei used.
Jaei raised his head and opened his eyes wide to confirm the face of the person who had appeared before him. A high school student wearing a neatly pressed uniform stood there. With a kind face that would appeal to anyone, he looked down at Jaei with sparkling, large eyes.
Despite his small, round head and clear, innocent features, his straight nose and sharply angled jawline—as if carved with a knife—made him undeniably handsome. Moreover, his height and build were so large that they completely blocked Jaei’s view. In summary, he was a boy handsome down to his bones. He would probably be accepted even if he submitted an X-ray to an audition.
The boy knelt on the floor to bring Jaei’s upward-facing gaze downward. Meeting eyes with Jaei at the same level, he spoke respectfully, making his post-puberty voice sound as deep and mature as possible.
“Hyung, if you open your eyes upward like that, you’ll get bad photos taken like last time and negative reviews will spread. What if people say Lee Jaei cursed at a male fan with his eyes?”
It was truly a concern full of affection. Jaei didn’t doubt his fan’s sincerity for a moment, but that didn’t mean he could welcome him with one million won worth of fan service. Jaei, who had been staring at the boy’s large black pupils as if to pierce through them, immediately changed his expression and smiled softly.
Beyond the boy’s round head, crowds were gathering like a flock of sheep, taking photos and videos with their phones. Jaei brought his face closer to the boy with a lovely expression and asked sweetly and kindly.
“How did you know I was cursing with my eyes?”
“Really? I’m glad I read your gaze correctly.”
It wasn’t that there were no men among those who came for autographs today. Department store luxury men’s clothing brand section, Friday 4 PM, autograph session tickets given to customers who purchased over one million won, first come first served. As described, there were a few ordinary men who had come for autographs today after buying clothes at the department store and unintentionally winning tickets to the signing event. However, this boy kneeling before Jaei’s eyes was a high school student who should have been attending classes at this very moment.
As Jaei wrote “To delinquent Doha” on the signing paper handed by the boy who had neglected his student duties, he asked:
“Seeing you’re here instead of at school, I guess you must be an elementary school student. You look about third grade. Did you take the bus by yourself after school?”
“I am in third year, but not elementary school. I didn’t take the bus, I walked. I can walk well for a long time. I’m sturdy.”
“Still, it’s quite far from school to here. The little kid must have been tired walking all the way here.”
“I’m not exactly not a kid, but I’m not that much of a kid either. I left school early and came because I had something I really wanted to tell you.”
The little kid who had been called a little kid by Jaei in public was slightly indignant. In fact, Jaei, who had insulted the boy at just the right moment, glanced at him while signing his autograph with a flourish. When the boy named Doha met Jaei’s eyes, he asked directly.
“I saw your new interview. How long are you going to talk about wanting to die young? That concept isn’t cool at all. It’s extremely harmful. What will adolescents growing up watching you think?”
Doha clenched his fist on the desk and warned firmly. Those who couldn’t hear the conversation would think the two were having a pleasant chat. Jaei, who had carefully written a postscript below his signature, looked at Doha’s large fist and asked kindly, as if he were the boy’s guardian.
“How long do you think our Doha will be curious about this?”
“I’m so worried about you that I can’t study at all. The other day, during a test at school, I dreamed that an article came out saying you died. That’s why I decided to come here.”
“Is it because you’ve been worried about me that you haven’t been able to study well since middle school?”
“You’re just realizing that now? If you hadn’t made me worry, I could have studied well too.”
“What can I do, I’m sorry. I really feel responsible for your grades. What should I do?”
Doha, who felt sincerity in Jaei’s apology, provided a clear solution that could relieve the guilt he was carrying.
“If you feel that responsible, you can take responsibility for me. I may not be good at studying, but I cook well and I’m good at housekeeping. Wouldn’t it be worth keeping me for life? I’m strong and I’ll do everything you ask.”
However, Jaei avoided answering and gently caressed Doha’s reddened eyes with his finger.
“Did this little kid spend one million won on an adult suit he’ll never wear just to say this? Though our Doha is ranked 230th in his school, he has a lot of money.”
“I’ll be an adult next year anyway. And I bought it with the card my brother gave me to use.”
“One payment? Installments?”
“One payment. My brother has a lot of money.”
“I’m envious you have such a wealthy brother. I don’t have such a brother. I only have a younger brother who uses my card.”
“My brother is also into stocks these days. He’s lost more than half, but someday it’ll work out.”
“Our Doha has the liver of an elephant. You’ve done well. Good boy.”
As he sent off the young and pretty liver thief, Jaei gently waved his slender hand. The postscript he left for Doha was [You’re handsome, so it’s okay if you can’t study well. But you should still go to school].
After finishing the signing event, Jaei uploaded a fresh selfie along with his thoughts on completing a fan signing after a long time to his SNS in the van on the way home. After checking fans’ reactions immediately after uploading, he changed his card payment text messages from spam back to allowed messages.
Entering the underground parking lot, Jaei greeted his manager and then got on the elevator alone and pressed the 9th floor button. The elevator carrying Jaei stopped at the 1st floor after traveling a short distance. The person who appeared before the Hallyu top star, who was preparing to greet a resident by raising the corners of his mouth, was none other than the handsome-boned, pretty-featured male student Ryu Doha whom he had met at the signing event earlier.
Jaei withdrew his smile as soon as he confirmed Doha’s face. Hurt by Jaei’s cold gaze, Doha checked the lit floor button and stood silently behind him. Throughout the elevator ride, Jaei was acutely aware of Doha, on high alert, and maintained silence until the end.
Soon they arrived at their destination. When Jaei got off, Doha quietly followed him. Jaei listened to the footsteps trailing behind him and gradually slowed his pace. Proportionally, Doha’s steps also slowed down. After unlocking the door to apartment 902, Jaei, wary of Doha, turned the handle and quickly slipped inside.
Just as he was about to close the front door, having successfully evaded Doha, a white, thick hand smelling of the same hand cream as his own suddenly came through the gap and forcefully pushed the door open. Doha, with his highly developed athletic ability and quick reflexes, forced his way into the house where Jaei’s photos hung everywhere and grabbed Jaei’s wrist firmly.
With his thin wrist tightly grasped, Jaei tried to twist his arm to shake off Doha’s hand, but it was impossible. Doha, much taller and bigger than Jaei, closed the front door and pushed Jaei further into the house. Forcibly embraced by Doha and having his shoes removed by Doha’s hands, Jaei shouted.
“Why are you doing this to me!”
“Why are you acting like this, hyung!”
“I’ve never had a younger brother like you!”
