# Chapter 88
Team leader Ryu Doha, who had sent the Jaei team abroad without team leader Jaei, returned home alone. Being separated from Jaei for a month or two wasn’t particularly difficult. Jaei was often away from home due to provincial filming or overseas schedules. Young Lee Doha would diligently wait for his hyung to return from business trips, always praying that he would sleep comfortably and not get hurt.
Since he had lived alone with Jaei from the age of 14, a housekeeper would come and go whenever Jaei was away from home for extended periods, and Jaei’s relatives would take turns looking after him. It was only after becoming an adult that he realized Jaei’s relatives seemed to have a sense of guilt toward him. Because they had opposed adopting him as Jaei’s brother due to inheritance issues.
Still, they were all similar to Jaei in nature. Meaning they were good people. He thought that if they had directly confirmed what kind of child Lee Doha was before expressing their opposition, they would have fought to register him in their own family registries. They genuinely found Lee Doha adorable as a person.
Now, he was truly grateful that they had opposed the adoption. He had almost become Jaei’s legal sibling. That would have been a bit awkward, wouldn’t it? Even if they weren’t related by a single drop of blood.
Of course, this was the first time they had been separated for so long since becoming lovers again with Jaei. However, Ryu Doha was no longer a boy but an adult. Just as he had managed well when Jaei was away from home before, he would competently find and do his work as a functioning member of society.
“Oh, the video’s up.”
This was precisely Ryu Doha’s job. Checking Lee Jaei’s new content, monitoring public reactions, and supporting him. The ice cream advertisement that Jaei had squeezed time to film before leaving had been released. In the ad, Jaei was smiling brightly while eating mint chocolate ice cream that had become twice as strong in flavor. Doha couldn’t help but applaud his professionalism.
“Jaei really worked hard. Even though he’s learned to eat it, having it twice as strong must have been difficult.”
He played the advertisement on a large TV. After watching it more than 10 times, he checked the comments on the video clip. There were many who felt betrayed by Jaei, who had been the leader of those who disliked mint chocolate flavor. Laughing at those who wailed that their leader had sold his soul to capitalism, he left a supportive message for Jaei as usual.
[After seeing this ad, I ordered just one double mint choco in the family pack.]
After leaving the comment, he actually placed an order. Doha was always a fan of Lee Jaei who turned thoughts into actions.
The good thing about Jaei being a popular actor was that even when he wasn’t around, Doha could still see new sides of him. While he loved the soft, gentle, and utterly pathetic slime human Lee Jaei, he also truly loved the celebrity Lee Jaei who maintained his elegant appearance and worked without faltering.
Doha planned to fulfill all the scheduled commitments that had already been set. He rejected all incoming advertising offers and didn’t extend the contract for the one-time cosmetic advertisement he was currently doing. He ignored top star maker and one-hit instructor Lee Jaei’s words that he should immediately start his next project without a rest period. He had informed the company that he would take just two months off.
Within the next two months, he would resolve the tasks given to him and settle everything. He didn’t know what might happen to him during the process, so he couldn’t commit to various contracts and potentially cause harm to others.
Currently, Jaei’s heart was slightly broken, and he wasn’t taking seriously the fact that he ‘could lose his entire life to Seo Eunho.’ Crushed by guilt, he couldn’t sense that this was something that should never happen. He seemed to think that even if such a thing did occur, it would be his karmic retribution. He even left open the possibility that his beloved Ryu Doha might be Seo Eunho’s helper.
So right now, Jaei was unable to overprotect Doha as usual. Fixing his broken self was the priority. Doha thought that Jaei could regain his self-esteem by working with a good director and project in a new environment, breaking free from Hong Duyoung.
And for Doha, this moment—temporarily away from Jaei’s fence of terrible protection and care—was perhaps an opportunity that would never come again.
After a long wait of over half a day, Jaei who had arrived at his destination contacted him. Jaei sent the name and address of his accommodations, as well as a photo taken in front of the hotel. A schedule table with precise filming times and rounds was also included.
Doha scratched his cheek, thinking of Hong Duyoung who used to film movies whenever he wanted, impulsively modify scripts, and say “this is real art.” If there were no additional shoots, Jaei’s schedule would be completed in 45 days. Doha planned to schedule and adjust his own schedule according to Jaei’s.
Soon, a video call came in from Jaei. Exhausted from the long flight, Jaei spoke in a languid voice.
—I have about three hours. Need to catch a quick nap before heading out. I’ll adjust to the time difference slowly.
“Then call me back on your pad instead of your phone. Sleep with the video on.”
—Huh~? You want to watch me sleep?
“Yes. I want to see you sleeping. I’ll definitely keep mine on when I sleep too.”
At Doha’s words, Jaei shyly blinked his eyes and then rolled around on the bed.
In truth, Ryu Doha and Lee Jaei, who had begun a very dangerous long-distance relationship, had made three promises. As they were both extremely concerned about having Seo Eunho and Sean Alex by their respective sides, they imposed restrictions on their behavior with even stronger norms. Had it not been for this situation, they would never have gone this far.
These items were discussed and agreed upon by the two of them before Jaei’s departure, and after drafting a contract, they even affixed their seals and fingerprints.
- They must video call at least twice daily, for at least 30 minutes each time. To be able to check on each other anytime, anywhere, 24 hours a day, Doha and Jaei matched a full set of devices—laptops, tablet PCs, and phones—all connected to a single account for video calls. Originally the contract stipulated at least twice a day, but it was modified just now by Doha’s suggestion. The camera must always be kept on while sleeping. Additionally, obscene acts via video must be conducted intensely at least three times a week, with timing coordinated by mutual agreement.
- Every day, when morning begins in the country where they are staying, they share their daily schedule. This includes not only official schedules but also private ones. They don’t object to each other’s staff verifying the facts. If caught acting without prior notification of private schedules, one must receive an injection that promotes baldness (not hair growth). And at the end of each day before sleep, they report on the events of the day and their diet. Food photos must be attached. If proper meals aren’t eaten, nutritional supplements must be taken in front of the camera. Additionally, Lee Jaei must prove that he has walked in the sunlight for at least 20 minutes daily. Excluding days with bad weather.
- In the rare case of infidelity, the offender must inform the other’s birth parents about their son’s immorality. Also, advertisement boards with the other’s photo and the phrase [#OO_I_hate_you_for_cheating_retire] must be installed on the screen doors of Gangnam, Yeoksam, Seolleung, and Sadang stations on Seoul Subway Line 2. If the controversy is reported in the news, they must be interviewed saying, “I am actually garbage who enjoys cheating,” and then retire from the entertainment industry. Since Lee Jaei, with his longer career, would be more severely affected than the rookie Ryu Doha, Doha additionally must conduct a head-shaving ceremony on a live broadcast and do a plank for 12 minutes.
At a glance, it might seem they were excessively binding each other, but in reality, the level had risen beyond common sense as they showed confidence in proving their innocence. However, neither side had any complaints.
Thus, Doha and Jaei, who had begun their long-distance relationship, not only strictly followed all the rules but had even placed a laptop on the dining table and ate their meals in front of it. If they timed it well, they could eat one meal together daily. However, before long, Jaei began lying on his bed like a soaked piece of laundry, longing for Korean food.
Worried about him, Doha searched for information and discovered that “Namdaemun Angel Tteokbokki” had opened a chain store near Jaei’s filming location. Deeply impressed that Angel Tteokbokki had expanded overseas, Doha and Jaei gave a standing ovation that day.
So now, Doha and Jaei were eating their Angel Tteokbokki in front of their laptops. It was morning for Doha and evening for Jaei. After receiving Jaei’s end-of-day briefing, Doha woke up his stomach with spicy food in the morning and previewed his schedule for today.
“I need to ask for permission, yeobo.”
Suddenly, the sound of Jaei’s eyeballs rolling was heard. The “yeobo attack” was far more powerful than the “babe attack” or “baby attack.” Caught off guard by the timing, Jaei nearly swallowed the slippery and chewy wheat rice cake of Angel Tteokbokki without chewing. However, like the excellent actor he was, he pretended not to be flustered at all, chewing the rice cake and nodding leisurely.
—Mmm, go ahead.
“I’d like to meet with Seo Eunho. If you want, I can keep the call on so you can hear our entire conversation.”
Doha, whose Go skills had improved recently, was meticulously executing his plan, like playing against an AI. His plan to prevent Seo Eunho’s evil actions was organized into three options, from Plan A to Plan C. He deliberately waited a week after Jaei’s departure. To sufficiently reassure Jaei’s heart during that time.
