Chapter 2: The Ice Behind the Flame
[OP-ED] "Does Kang Jaeheon Even Feel?" The Public's Fascination With AUREUS' Most Elusive Member
By Han Dami | Seoul Scene
In a world where idols wear their hearts on their sleeves, Kang Jaeheon remains an enigma. He doesn't cry. He doesn't laugh. He doesn't stumble. And fans are obsessed with it.
"It's like watching a god pretending to be human," says one fan. Another calls him "our beautiful alien."
Yet rumors persist:
– He composes alone at 3 a.m.
– He never attends after-parties.
– He once corrected a symphony conductor without being told the piece.
But the most persistent question is: Has Kang Jaeheon ever been in love?
He gave an answer.
And it made things worse.
VLIVE ROOM — "AUREUS: 1ST MUSIC SHOW WIN Q&A!"
The confetti hadn't even been cleaned off their jackets when the comments flooded in.
🧊KANGJAEHEON_REALTIME_LIVE_STREAM🧊
💬 jaeheon pls smile ONCE
💬 jaeheon do u have a gf?
💬 who's the girl from ur lyrics????
💬 do u like someone rn???!
💬 PLSSSS WHO'S UR SONGS ABOUT
Jaeheon didn't flinch. He never did.
He sat straight in the middle of the group, mic in hand, posture perfect, eyes unreadable. The fans called it "marble-carved calm." His group called it "don't ask unless you want frostbite."
Doha, ever the playful one, laughed nervously. "Fans are really curious today."
Minwoo elbowed Jaeheon. "Come on, hyung. Just once. Say something mysterious about your love life. Give them a teaser."
The silence stretched too long.
Then Jaeheon spoke.
"I have someone I love."
The room went dead silent.
Doha's jaw dropped. Rin turned sharply. Even the staff paused behind the camera. It was the first time Jaeheon had ever spoken on the topic.
Minwoo blinked. "Wait… really?"
"Yes."
"Are you gonna tell us who?"
Jaeheon met the camera lens dead-on. His voice didn't waver.
"No one will ever know. Not even you."
He lowered the mic and didn't say another word for the rest of the broadcast.
[FAN FORUM REACTIONS – @solstice_shadows]
🌘 @haeheons:
STOP. THE. LIVE.
HE SAID HE LOVES SOMEONE
HE SAID. HE. LOVES. SOMEONE.
my lungs have evaporated
🥀 @noirverse:
jaeheon: "no one will ever know"
also jaeheon: writes a song that makes u feel like u lost someone u never met
this man is in pain and won't tell us why 😭😭😭
🐚 @glassfade:
he probably fell in love with a mythical being in another life and remembers her and writes ballads in ancient latin for her and cries in silence on rooftops
AUREUS PRACTICE ROOM — 1:42 A.M.
The others had gone home. Of course, they had. Jaeheon stayed, alone, under the dim studio lights, running through the SOLSTICE choreo one last time — not because he needed the practice, but because perfection had no finish line.
His body moved like it was made for the rhythm — but his eyes were elsewhere.
Always elsewhere.
On the far wall, his notebook sat unopened. Lyrics had already been written. They always came quickly. Effortlessly. And with a weight he never explained.
He picked it up now.
Track Title: "Her Shadow in Gold"
Language: French, Korean, Russian.
Tone: A waltz wrapped in mourning.
No one asked why he blended languages like memories.
No one dared.
He had written over 30 songs since debut. Nearly half had never been released.
Those were only for him. And her.
Whoever she was.
[AUREUS DORM – LIVING ROOM CHAT – POV: Rin]
Rin stared at the ceiling in the darkness. Jaeheon's words from the live replayed in his head.
"I have someone I love. No one will ever know. Not even you."
Rin wasn't just another groupmate. He'd trained with Jaeheon since day one. They'd shared ramen, rehearsals, exhaustion, everything — and still, Rin didn't know a single personal thing about him.
Not even his favorite food.
But he did know this:
The way Jaeheon played the piano at night wasn't for practice. It was for someone.
And whoever that someone was…
Rin wouldn't ask.
Because some things weren't meant to be touched — not even by the people closest to him.
[HEADLINE – STARLIGHT BUZZ]
"AUREUS' Kang Jaeheon Reveals He's In Love — But Refuses to Say More"
The Ice King just lit the world on fire. Fans are in chaos. Theories are endless. But Jaeheon? Silent. As always.
And so the legend grows.