# Chapter 87
“Anyway. Since the CEO asked us to go together, I am going, but you have to stay by my side. Even if other people want to talk, have those conversations beside me. Can you do that?”
“Of course. I’ll definitely do that well. I hurt you at the beginning, but from now on, I won’t do anything like that, even by mistake.”
“Okay. That’s fine then.”
Then Sijin picked out clothes to wear that day.
I thought he was choosing his own clothes, but he was picking mine, and only after selecting mine did he choose his own to match.
It seemed like he was intentionally planning couple outfits, so I ended up choosing his clothes for him.
“What? This makes us look like complete strangers.”
“We should look like strangers! Is there any reason to advertise something unusual at a place like that? If someone notices, we might have to live like complete strangers forever. Wake up, man. Is that what you want?”
“No. I understand.”
Looking at him as he pouted his lips, I wondered what this was all about and pondered by myself.
It seemed like the perfect thing to ask Lee Wonjae about, but it was a shame I couldn’t do that.
* * *
I thought I’d be going with Sijin, but there was a schedule change due to an interview that was difficult to decline before the gathering.
Sijin’s work was the priority, so I was planning to go with him, but Sijin sent me ahead.
“The CEO rarely makes these kinds of requests. It seems like he asked with difficulty, so please go ahead. It probably won’t take long anyway, so I’ll join you as soon as it’s finished.”
“Still, this work should be the priority. I’ll talk to Hyung. It’s not like we’re not going; we’re just going to be a little late. Hyung will probably say that’s fine.”
“Even if he says that’s okay, I’d prefer not to do that. If we’re going to accept the request, it’s better to do it properly. It would be difficult for someone who made the request to tell us not to be late.”
I was grateful for Sijin being so considerate, and after hearing him out, it did make sense, so I decided to leave first with Hyung.
“Even if you end up drinking, don’t drink too much and stay with the CEO. Don’t wander around alone.”
Until the very end, he was as worried as if he were sending a child off alone.
“Okay. Do well with the interview. Don’t approach it thinking about making it fun; approach it thinking about not making mistakes.”
“I got it. I do well. You know that.”
After parting with him, who had spoken with quite ambiguous meaning and even winked, I noticed that Hyung had someone with him when I met up with him.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Hyung, who greeted me in the CEO’s office, looked very tense.
“Sijin can’t come right away. He has an interview. He said we should go ahead.”
I relayed everything Sijin had told me.
I wanted to brag about how considerate our child was, but Hyung listened emotionlessly, constantly checking his watch.
“What? Are you waiting for someone? Is someone else coming with us?”
“Yes. Hyunshin.”
“Hyunshin hyung? Why Hyunshin hyung?”
“To introduce him.”
Though he spoke casually, I had an inkling of what might be going on.
This person.
Along with the thought that he must be really interested in Ki Hyunshin, I even suspected that Hyung might be the one who planned this gathering.
“Does Hyunshin hyung know too?”
“Know what? Where we’re going?”
“No. That you’re planning to introduce him.”
“I’m just making an introduction. His name came up often while talking with my friends, and I thought it might be good to meet together once, so I asked if he would. Hyunshin said yes, and when I told the guys, they were thrilled, asking if they could really meet Ki Hyunshin.”
It felt like he was glossing over something.
That didn’t seem to be the essence of it.
Hyung’s friends all would know that he’s not the type to bring famous celebrities from his company to show off.
If such a person suddenly offers to introduce Ki Hyunshin, others might guess his true intentions…
And these aren’t just anyone; they’re people who talk about all sorts of things.
I thought they would be able to guess Hyung’s feelings quite well.
Thinking this wasn’t something to just let slide, I sat Hyung down and began to speak.
“Hyung. Answer honestly to my question. Hyung, you’re interested in Hyunshin hyung, aren’t you?”
Hyung looked at me as if I was saying nonsense, but after seeing my expression, he lowered his eyes.
“Am I right?”
“…”
“Does Hyunshin hyung feel the same way?”
“There’s no way we would have had such a conversation.”
“But you suddenly asked him to come meet your friends? And you invited Sijin and me too?”
“I just thought it might be good to have such a gathering. I can bring Hyunshin to meet my friends and introduce him.”
“Has Hyunshin hyung ever done something similar before?”
Hyung looked at me as if asking what I was talking about.
“Has Hyunshin hyung ever invited you to a private gathering?”
“Hyunshin probably doesn’t meet people like this?”
He tilted his head as he spoke.
“Okay. Then what’s the exact reason you invited me to that gathering?”
“…As a wingman?”
It seemed he wasn’t planning to lie completely.
“Hyung. Do you like Hyunshin hyung?”
I could ask that question because I knew there were no surveillance cameras there.
Knowing what his uncle had done, Hyung compulsively checked the CEO’s office, making it one of the easiest places to speak freely.
“It’s not like that.”
Hyung seemed unwilling to delve deeper into that topic.
Fortunately for Hyung, Ki Hyunshin arrived just then.
He wasn’t excessively dressed up, but his unique aura seemed to make him stand out wherever he was.
“Oh, Seomin is here too? So are we leaving now? We’ll eat dinner there, right? I’m uncomfortable at places like this, I wonder if I’ll make mistakes. Don’t leave me and go somewhere else if I do.”
From Ki Hyunshin’s expression, it seemed he didn’t know what Hyung’s intentions were in bringing him to the gathering.
Poor Ki Hyunshin.
Hyung gestured to me to not say anything strange, and I just sighed inwardly.
Our car headed toward the meeting place.
“Where are we going?”
“Wonjae’s villa. Seeing how he was bragging, it seemed like he wanted us to come play, so I agreed to go.”
“Will there be many people?”
“Won’t there be? All the usual guys will come, and I heard more than usual might come after hearing Hyunshin is coming. I did tell them not to embarrass me, but who knows. Those guys never listen.”
Hyung’s bravado was cute and made me laugh.
“You haven’t been there either?”
“That’s right. He keeps inviting me to come over, but I didn’t have time.”
“Hyunshin, even if they ask you to sing, you don’t have to. I’m saying you don’t need to sing just because of Hyung’s face or anything. You’re going to rest, so there’s no need for that.”
“Ah, I usually don’t sing just anywhere.”
“Hm, that’s my singer.”
As we were going back and forth, the car soon arrived at the meeting place.
Looking at the line of cars that would be hard to see even on the road, I thought we must be nearing the venue.
“What’s this? Why are they dressed like that? Hyung, are you sure you got the dress code right?”
I was surprised to see people getting out of cars in outfits that looked like they could go straight to an awards ceremony, and Hyung seemed flustered as well.
“It’s okay. You two look the best.”
Hyung soon activated his positive circuit, and that statement didn’t seem so wrong.
That’s what I felt looking at Hyung and Ki Hyunshin.
Since Sijin hadn’t left yet, I thought it would be better if he dressed up a bit, so I quickly sent him a message.
Meanwhile, the car stopped, and Hyung and Ki Hyunshin got out first.
“Isn’t that Ki Hyunshin?”
“Oh my god. He really came?”
At those words, people gathered from everywhere.
Ki Hyunshin’s power seemed to shine even more at times like this.
People who normally wouldn’t make a fuss even if a celebrity appeared became completely helpless in front of Ki Hyunshin.
The gathering wasn’t just the usual people from previous gatherings; there were many new faces too.
But it was refreshing to see them approach fearlessly to talk with Ki Hyunshin.
“Welcome. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lee Wonjae. You must be having a hard time working with that Seungwon kid. If you find it difficult working with Seungwon, come to our company.”
“Seems like you run an entertainment agency.”
When Ki Hyunshin smiled and said that, Lee Wonjae laughed loudly.
“I don’t run an agency, but if Ki Hyunshin-ssi would come, I’m willing to start one. If you just say you’ll come, I’ll write up a business plan right away.”
Ki Hyunshin just smiled at that, not seeming to think that Lee Wonjae was actually capable of such a thing.
Since it didn’t look like Hyung would introduce people one by one to Ki Hyunshin, I stayed by his side and explained about the people.
That’s when Lee Wonjae belatedly noticed me and said:
“Seomin-ssi, why has it been so long? I told that Seungwon kid to bring you more often even if he’s busy.”
“Seomin-ssi is even busier. Seomin-ssi has also taken on the MC role for a new program. I’ve been watching the broadcasts diligently. Seomin-ssi seems to be good at everything. That clumsy charisma is a complete killing point. The ratings are high too; Seomin-ssi seems to be a good luck charm for Seyoung.”
People who approached from various directions continued the conversation, and we naturally went inside.
