Chapter 31

“Huh?”

Voices full of dissatisfaction burst out from every direction.

Ending early was not always a good thing. They had still not gone through two-thirds of the script. If they wrapped up today’s schedule with that much material left, there was no telling how many more times they would have to come all the way out to this corner of Yangpyeong.

“We’re sorry. We’re very sorry.”

Director Lee himself was nowhere to be seen. Only the assistant director kept bowing. With Lee Sanghwi absent, the actors openly complained about the situation as they gathered their things. That was all they did—pick up their belongings and push their chairs under the tables.

After everyone quickly left, only Gyeol and his manager remained behind to help clean up.

As Gyeol tried to lift a stack of chairs, someone lifted it for him instead.

“They’re heavy. I’ll do it.”

It was Yo Han Sung.

Unexpectedly, he had stayed behind.

“Actor Sung, you haven’t left yet.”

“You haven’t left either, Gyeol.”

With a gentle smile, Yo Han easily carried the stack of chairs over to the wall. With a dominant Alpha like Yo Han helping, the cleanup picked up speed.

“Actor Yo Han Sung.”

The assistant director, still pale-faced, hurried over and tried to stop him.

“You should go. We’ll clean up the rest of the trash.”

His voice trembled as if he were frightened. He could not even meet Yo Han’s eyes.

“Then we’ll be going.”

We.

He meant Gyeol too.

“Ah, yes, yes. Actor Gyeol Go, you should go too. Thank you for helping.”

Gyeol’s manager, who had been helping with the cleanup, left the hall first, saying he would go start the car. Jang Dohoon, Yo Han’s manager, had probably crawled out ages ago and was already slumped in the car somewhere. The contrast was sharp.

Yo Han left the studio together with Gyeol.

“Thank you for today, Actor Sung. I learned a lot.”

Gyeol bowed deeply, then straightened and forced a smile. His eyes were swollen. He had been crying.

“And... I’m sorry.”

“Gyeol.”

Gyeol looked up at Yo Han with slightly bloodshot eyes.

“You have nothing to apologize for. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“......”

Moisture gathered again around his pretty eyes. Biting his lip, Gyeol spoke haltingly.

“...I just... ruined the atmosphere for everyone.”

“Don’t say that. You really did nothing wrong.”

“......”

Unable to continue, Gyeol lowered his gaze. A tear gathered at the corner of his eye.

After letting out a short sigh, Yo Han stepped closer and murmured softly.

“Don’t keep what happened today in your heart. This industry is like that. Directors and producers often single someone out for no reason just to save face. It didn’t happen because you’re lacking or because you did something wrong. The structure itself is twisted.”

“...Yes.”

Gyeol answered tearfully and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. Yo Han took a fresh handkerchief from his bag and handed it to him.

“Don’t wipe your tears with your clothes. You’ll hurt your skin.”

“...Thank you.”

“And about the filming.”

He lowered his head to meet Gyeol’s eyes.

Those tear-filled eyes were like a lake.

Beautiful.

It was rare for anything to look beautiful to him. But those eyes alone were so lovely he wanted to make them his possession.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

“Yes......?”

Gyeol answered with a question, not fully understanding what he meant.

Yo Han did not explain any further in some tired, obvious way. He simply gave Gyeol a warm smile and said goodbye.

“See you when filming starts, Gyeol.”

***

Morning dawned on the fifth day at Pheromone Island.

At Ivory Mansion, Gyeol woke without an alarm. He had spent the whole night dreaming about taking care of baby Yuli, so even after waking, he remained dazed for a while.

Right, Yo Han Sung.

Once he grasped the situation, he quickly looked to the side. There was a reason he had not sensed anyone there. Gyeol was alone in the wide bed.

What happened?

Had he already gotten up? Or had he never come back into the bedroom all night?

The first thing Gyeol did was check that he was properly wearing his pajama top and bottoms, as well as his underwear. Then he lay still and assessed the state of the bedroom.

Faint Alpha pheromones drifted through the room.

Contradictorily, those pheromones had now become familiar to him. They told him that Yo Han Sung had, at some point during the night, lain beside Gyeol and slept.

Gyeol let out a silent sigh.

Last night, accumulated exhaustion had knocked him unconscious, but now that morning had come, he realized anew just how bold a thing he had done.

Then reality hit him.

What am I doing here, leaving Yuli behind?

It was not guilt.

Gyeol was clean before himself and before Yuli.

Before his thoughts could swallow him further, Gyeol threw off the sheet and got up. He stretched his arms left and right, steeled himself, and opened the bedroom door.

In the sunlight-filled living room, Yo Han was sitting with glasses on, reading a book.

Sensing Gyeol, he closed the book with a finger marking his place and looked back.

“Good morning, Gyeol.”

“Good morning.”

Good morning, my ass. That calmly smiling face was disgusting.

There was one skill Gyeol had accidentally mastered.

Distinguishing Yo Han Sung’s fake smiles from his real ones.

“You were sleeping soundly, so I deliberately didn’t wake you.”

That one was fake.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Gyeol could tell because he had seen Yo Han Sung’s real smile several times four years ago.

Yo Han was called an acting genius, but there was a subtle difference between the smile he wore like a habit and a genuine smile. Perhaps it was atmosphere. Perhaps it was texture.

It was difficult to pinpoint and explain to someone else, but Gyeol could recognize it. He had forgotten it for a long time, only to remember it again after reuniting with Yo Han on Pheromone Island.

“Yes, I’m hungry.”

“Then I’ll ask them to order breakfast. Go wash up and come out.”

In truth, he was not hungry at all. If possible, he did not want to share a table with Yo Han.

As he entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, Gyeol repeated yesterday’s resolution.

Avoid Yo Han Sung with all his strength. Do not clash with him if possible.

And today, I’ll talk to someone else. It would be even better if I win a chance for a date.

As he wondered who would be strategically advantageous to spend time with, his thoughts settled once again on Tommy. Woo Seok Jung did not seem interested in him, and Tommy had expressed interest in Gyeol several times, but they had never actually had a one-on-one conversation.

And Tommy seems like he’d be the most comfortable.

After spending a night with the bomb called Yo Han Sung, he wanted to spend at least one day resting with an easy heart. For that, Tommy was perfect.

“Pfft......”

Remembering the pheromone matching made him laugh.

Tommy had been so embarrassed when he reacted down there that he became a blazing giant Potato.

If Gyeol kept remembering that and laughing, Tommy would probably be sad. But strangely, whenever he thought of Tommy, he smiled. He was a strangely charming friend.

After finishing his shower, the Gyeol reflected in the mirror looked much brighter.

Like a stormy sky clearing after heavy rain, now that he had survived the crisis, he had a feeling something fairly good might happen today.

Gyeol took off his pajamas and put on a loose pale-green checkered shirt and white shorts. After applying sunscreen, he did light makeup. He wondered what to do with his hair, then chose to part it so that a little of his forehead showed.

“Not bad.”

At times like this, it really seemed as though there were no wasted moments in life. After all, he was still somehow making a living with the basic hair and makeup skills he had learned during his idol days.

A Cheongdam-dong salon cost at least two to three hundred thousand won per session. On top of that, house-call fees were extra. Gyeol’s manager, Kisoo Yang, always wanted to send him to a salon somehow, but Gyeol stopped him every time, saying they should save even a single coin. Kisoo Yang’s agency was far too broke to spend that much just for minor roles or cheap shopping-mall model photos.

Fortunately, Gyeol was deft with his hands and had good sense. Of course his skills could not compare to a professional’s, but he knew how to dress and style himself in a way that suited him.

Now that I think of it.......

Gyeol turned on his phone and checked his messages.

After looking at the photos and updates about Yuli and replying to them, he tapped the mountain of messages from Kisoo Yang.

Kisoo Yang

Gyeol, you’re doing well, rightㅠㅠ?

4 days ago

Why won’t they let managers in? I’m going crazy here

3 days ago

Gyeol, are you okay without me? If anyone bothers you, call me.

3 days ago

...

You little punk, why haven’t you sent even one reply

2 days ago

Send me an updateㅠ

2 days ago

Writer Kim told me you’re really popular!! You punkㅋ pretty boyㅋㅋ

1 day ago

I heard you got all the Alpha votes? Insane

1 day ago

You little punk, you should’ve contacted me first

1 day ago

“Well, look at this.”

Gyeol let out a small laugh at the texts, as if he could hear Kisoo Yang’s voice vividly in his ears.

Buzz.

As if summoned, messages arrived one after another at that exact moment.

You read them!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you leaving me on read?

Today

Oh, we’re online at the same time

Today

Hey!! You punk!! You’re doing okay, right? Reply

Today

Just send even one thing

Today

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The phone kept vibrating. Gyeol burst into laughter and moved his fingers to send a reply.

I’m doing well, just like Writer Kim said. Don’t worry. I have to turn my phone off again. I’ll contact you later.

He was about to turn it off immediately when a reply came within one second.

OKOKOKOK I believe in our Gyeol!!!!!

Today

Gyeol Go, let’s go!!!!!!

Today

“Look at those typos.”

This was exactly why he could not betray Kisoo Yang. Some people had advised Gyeol to move to another agency, but how could he pretend not to know Kisoo Yang, who cared for him and looked {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} after him this much? He could not abandon his loyalty to him.

...This really has to work out this time.

He had to succeed, pay off the debt Kisoo Yang had taken on to start an agency and support him, and buy him a proper van instead of that old used Starex. Feed Yuli delicious food. And for Bae Hyesung, who was taking care of Yuli alone......

Buzz. Buzzzz. Buzz.

Gyeol flinched at the sudden vibrating alarm. It was the alarm reminding him to take his medication.

“That scared me.”

After turning off his phone and putting it in his bag, he took out his hormone suppressants and swallowed them. Worried he might miss them while swept up in the hectic filming schedule, Gyeol had set an alarm and took his medication every morning.

With that, everything was ready.

Finally, looking at himself in the mirror, Gyeol murmured,

“You can do this, Gyeol Go.”

When he left the bathroom, a delicious smell drifted to his nose. It seemed brunch had arrived. The thought that he did not want to share a table with Yo Han vanished shamefully fast once he smelled the food, and hunger quickly rose.

He had barely eaten dinner yesterday either.

Since it’s come to this, I’ll enjoy breakfast. People are the problem, not food.

Trying to make himself feel lighter, Gyeol stepped into the living room, then faltered to a stop.

“......Huh?”

The person sitting at the table was not Yo Han Sung.

At perfect timing, narration flowed from the speakers.

Day five at Pheromone Island.

Gyeol Go may enjoy a brunch date with the Alpha who came to pick him up.

The person named in the narration rose from his seat and greeted Gyeol.