After the kiss, Minwoo's eyes blinked slowly, still dazed. He could feel the lingering warmth of Jihan's body against his lips. His heart pounded as he found himself staring closely at the man everyone admired but rarely saw up close.
It was the first time Minwoo had ever seen Ryu Jihan this near. He had only known him from afar—Jihan, the untouchable superstar who guarded his privacy like a fortress. No social media, no interviews, no public appearances outside of work. And yet, he was one of the most famous names in the country, with fans absolutely obsessed with him.
Jihan leaned back in his chair, face unreadable, his expression still cold.
Jihan (calmly): "My driver will drop you at your place. Be ready by 7 p.m. I'll pick you up."
Minwoo, still in shock, bit his lower lip and slowly nodded.
Minwoo (quietly): "Okay."
Without another word, Jihan stood and headed upstairs, leaving Minwoo sitting in silence.
Minwoo (whispers): "How cold he is… I think he's never smiled in his entire life."
He sighed and looked around again, his eyes trailing over the luxury that surrounded him.
Minwoo (muttering): "I don't know why he has so many fans with that cold face… but one thing's for sure—he's so damn handsome."
Minwoo arrived at his house and quietly stepped out of the car. Without a word, the vehicle drove off, leaving him alone. He unlocked the door and stepped inside—only to see Joon sitting on the couch, waiting for him.
Joon—his only real friend. The one person who had stayed with him through everything, whether he was rich, famous, or completely broken.
As soon as Minwoo walked in, Joon stood up, his expression tight with concern.
Joon (worried): "Minwoo, where were you? I've been waiting for you since last night…"
Minwoo let out a soft breath and sank into the couch.
Minwoo (calmly): "I'm okay."
Joon sat beside him, clearly not convinced.
Joon: "You scared me. You were drinking way too much and just left the club without saying a word."
Minwoo looked away, his voice quieter.
Minwoo: "I just… wanted to be alone, that's all."
Joon sighed but didn't push further.
Joon: "Alright. Have you eaten anything?"
Minwoo nodded.
Minwoo: "Yeah, I already ate."
Joon leaned forward and picked up the tablet from the table.
Joon: "You've seen the biggest news today?"
Minwoo looked at him, confused.
Minwoo: "What news?"
Joon handed him the tablet.
Joon: "Look."
Minwoo took it and glanced at the screen.
Headline:
"Starlight Atelier Entertainment Confirms a New BL Series! Ryu Jihan Returns as the Male Lead"
The article reads:
"The legendary top actor and CEO of Starlight Atelier Entertainment, Ryu Jihan, is making his long-awaited return to the screen. The news of his new BL series has already taken social media by storm. While the male lead partner was previously unconfirmed, the production company held a press conference today to introduce the actor who will be starring alongside Jihan. Fans are buzzing with anticipation, eager to find out who will share the screen with one of the industry's brightest stars."
___
Joon (excitedly): "Ryu Jihan just confirmed a new series. The news is blowing up—his fans are going crazy! I wonder who his new partner is…"
Minwoo stayed silent, his fingers lightly brushing over the screen. He wasn't even looking at the news anymore. His gaze dropped to his hands, lost in thought.
He whispered to himself, barely audible.
Minwoo (thinking): "How lucky… to have your own production company… to control your fate like that."
Joon: "Hey, Minwoo, what are you thinking about?"
Minwoo shook his head slowly.
Minwoo: "Nothing… just…"
Joon: "Minwoo, I talked to Producer Seung. It wasn't easy, but I finally convinced him to give you one more chance."
Minwoo looked at him, eyes tired.
Joon: "Yeah… but there's a problem."
Minwoo: "What's the problem then?"
Joon hesitated, his expression uneasy.
Joon: "The problem is… they're only offering you a side couple role."
Joon looked down, unable to meet Minwoo's eyes. Minwoo stared at him in silence.
Joon: "Minwoo, we need to start again. If you just sit here and do nothing, you're going to lose everything."
Minwoo's voice was quiet, but filled with pain.
Minwoo: "I already lost everything… so I don't need it anymore. Tell Mr. Seung I'm not interested."
He stood up and walked toward his room.
Joon (desperate): "Minwoo, why are you doing this? Please, listen to me—"
But Minwoo didn't stop. He entered his room and closed the door behind him with a dull thud.
He collapsed onto his bed and shut his eyes tight.
Minwoo (whispering to himself): "I really want to die… I'm so tired of this life."
But suddenly, a flash of memory surfaced—the warmth of Jihan's kiss. His eyes opened wide.
Minwoo (softly): "It's real… I met Ryu Jihan. He kissed me. He offered me a contract… and I actually accepted it."
He buried his face into the pillow, voice muffled and full of disbelief.
Minwoo: "How dumb am I…"
After a long sleep, Minwoo slowly opened his eyes. His head still felt heavy. He sat up and rubbed his temples before stepping out of his room.
"Joon?" he called out, but the apartment was quiet. He looked around and realized Joon had already left.
Rubbing his eyes, Minwoo walked toward the kitchen—just then, the doorbell rang. He blinked in surprise and hurried to the door.
Thinking it was Joon, he opened it quickly.
Minwoo: "Joon, where did you—?"
His words froze in his throat.
Standing in front of him was not Joon.
It was Ryu Jihan.
Minwoo's eyes widened, and in a panic, he immediately slammed the door shut.
Minwoo (muttering in shock): "What should I do?!"
The doorbell rang again. With a deep breath, he opened it slowly this time, his face burning with embarrassment.
Ryu Jihan stood there, removing his dark sunglasses. His cold eyes swept over Minwoo from head to toe.
Jihan (calmly, but coldly): "I told you to be ready by 7 p.m. I came to pick you up."
Minwoo rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly avoiding Jihan's gaze.
Minwoo: "I… I forgot. I'm really sorry. Just give me five minutes, I'll get ready."
Without replying, Jihan grabbed Minwoo's wrist firmly.
Jihan: "No need. Let's go."
He pulled Minwoo out the door and led him straight to the car.
Minwoo (startled): "H-Hey! Wait—what are you doing?!"
But Jihan didn't answer. He opened the car door, pushed Minwoo into the passenger seat, then got in and started the engine.
Minwoo could only sit there, stunned, as the car rolled forward.
The car stopped in front of a massive building. Minwoo looked up at the sleek structure and read the glowing sign: Starlight Atelier Entertainment.
He frowned.
Minwoo: "Why did you bring me here?"
Jihan stepped out of the car without answering and came around to open Minwoo's door. He grabbed his wrist and pulled him out, leading him straight into the building.
As they entered, Minwoo froze—the entire staff was staring at them. Whispering rippled through the halls.
Staff (murmuring): "Isn't that Han Minwoo?"
Staff: "Wait… why is he with Ryu Jihan?"
Minwoo's face flushed with embarrassment. He was still in his sleeping pajamas, his hair a messy disaster.
He wanted to disappear.
They stopped in front of a room. Jihan turned to one of his staff and said coldly,
Jihan: "Dress him. We have only twenty minutes."
And with that, he left Minwoo with the woman.
Minwoo blinked in confusion as she smiled warmly.
Park Soo-bin: "Hello, Mr. Han Minwoo. I'm Park Soo-bin. Let's get you ready."
Minwoo gave her an awkward smile. He couldn't resist her professionalism, so he quietly followed.
She pulled out several outfits, holding each one up and eyeing him thoughtfully.
After some time, Minwoo stood in front of the mirror, fully dressed. He looked like a fictional model straight out of a fantasy drama.
Park Soo-bin (smiling): "Mr. Han, you look… incredibly handsome."
Minwoo (blushing): "Thanks, Miss Park."
She gently fixed the collar of his suit and nodded.
Park Soo-bin: "Now, you're ready."
Just then, the door opened. Jihan walked in and paused when his eyes landed on Minwoo.
Dressed to perfection, Minwoo looked like someone pulled from a painting. Jihan didn't show it on his face, but inside… he was struck by how stunning Minwoo looked.
Still, his voice was cold and sharp.
Jihan: "Let's go. We're late for the press conference."
Minwoo (shocked): "What… press conference?"
—
The press conference began.
Jihan sat in front of a long table lined with flashing cameras and reporters eagerly firing questions.
Reporter: "Mr. Ryu Jihan, we're very excited for your next series. And the fans are dying to know—who's your co-star this time?"
Jihan looked calm and confident.
Jihan: "Thank you for your love and respect. I'm honored to introduce my series partner—Mr. Han Minwoo."
Minwoo walked onto the stage. The cameras exploded in flashing lights.
Gasps echoed across the room.
The entire industry was shocked—Han Minwoo, standing next to the biggest superstar Ryu Jihan.
After everything… he was back.