Hyunseung swept his hair back and said, “I’ve finally wrapped up everything I had to do.”
Manager Kim, who had been staring blankly for a moment, asked in a surprisingly earnest tone, “You know you can turn heads wherever you go, right?”
“Huh? Turn heads how?”
“Meaning that face, that way of talking….”
“There you go again with weird comments….”
Hyunseung flapped his hand in the air as if shooing away a bug and went on, “Anyway, since I’m truly done, I’m taking some vacation.”
“Yeah? How long are you leaving?”
“My family’s heading to Europe, so I’ll be gone about two weeks.”
Kim Sijang suddenly looked wistful and murmured, “Europe is nice….”
“Where in Europe have you been, sir?”
“I haven’t even gotten close to Europe.”
“Then why talk like you have?”
“Anywhere is great if it’s not the office.”
Realizing something, Hyunseung nodded slightly. After all, unlike him, Manager Kim was a salaried worker shackled to the company.
And judging by how the man hadn’t had a proper day off for over a year, it would probably stay that way. Going alone felt awkwardly selfish.
“Would you like to come too?”
“What? Where to?”
“To Europe, the trip I’m taking.”
For an instant, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower flashed before Manager Kim’s eyes. He had even scribbled “backpacking Europe once” on a bucket list.
However, he didn’t want to grow used to Hyunseung’s help. No matter how astronomical the royalties Hyunseung earned, they were his own earnings.
‘Don’t envy, don’t covet, and don’t reach for what isn’t mine.’
Besides, in human relationships, the feeling of “entitlement” is the scariest thing.
“I’m not clueless enough to butt into a family trip.”
“Of course I wouldn’t drag you on my family vacation.”
“What? Then why ask if I’m coming? You teasing an old man?”
“You call yourself ‘hyung’ sometimes, now I’m an old man?”
They both chuckled at the same time.
“Then maybe you could travel with your mother—”
Hyunseung cut himself off, face falling. He knew Manager Kim’s mother was still hospitalized yet had forgotten for a moment and misspoke.
Now what?
A glance showed the word “mother” had indeed made Manager Kim uncomfortable. Still, glossing over it wouldn’t change anything; he had to patch it somehow.
“I’ll cover every expense, so please take your mother to Europe before it’s too late.”
Manager Kim looked surprised, but forced a half-smile.
“Oh boy, am I being forced to go on vacation now?”
“You said anywhere’s great if it’s not work, right?”
“Yeah, true. Then book me a cruise instead of Europe.”
“Cruises always end dramatically, you know….”
Seeing Hyunseung trail off jokingly, Kim narrowed his eyes.
“What is this, Titanic? Ah— so even the mighty Min Hyunseung thinks a cruise is too pricey?”
“Pricey? You know that better than anyone. Want me to show you my balance just to confirm?”
Kim pushed the phone away and stuck out his lip.
“Forget it, looking will just make me sick. Seriously, you’re obnoxious.”
“Exactly. I’m obnoxiously rich.”
Suddenly Hyunseung’s smiling face went firm.
“So please, whether it’s Europe or a cruise, take your mother on that trip. You’ve taken care of me as my manager despite your own workload; this much I can do for you.”
The expression on Kim Sijang’s face twisted, as if suppressing emotions too tangled to name.
“You punk….”
He ruffled Hyunseung’s hair messily and gave a wry grin.
“You know I suffer because of you, huh?”
“Feels like you aged a decade this past year.”
“Hey, people still say I look like I’m in my twenties.”
Hyunseung muttered just loud enough to almost hear, “Delusion…?”
Fortunately it didn’t reach Kim Sijang’s ears.
Then Kim Sijang placed a firm hand on Hyunseung’s solid shoulder.
“I’ll clean up the trail of messes you left and go later, so enjoy your trip first.”
“Alright, I’ll leave things in your hands then. Like I always say, once it leaves mine—”
“Once it leaves your hands, the outcome depends on the company, right? I know, I know.”
Trust evident, Hyunseung grinned without shaking off the hand.
Tap tap.
With work piling up like rising water, it was time to open the dam’s gates.
‘How rowdy will it get this time?’
A smile of anticipation settled on Kim Sijang’s lips.
Probably…
Success would rush out like a burst river. Even if it didn’t explode immediately, those songs would shine someday.
Then he asked quietly, “The Moon’s comeback is sooner than expected. Are they on track?”
“Probably?”
“‘Probably’? Their prep time is short. What if they butcher your song onstage?”
“You worry too much. They’ve practiced as naturally as breathing for years. They’ll be fine.”
Still, Kim couldn’t help muttering, “Even so….”
Hajun and Yoon Jaeyi raised no concern, but The Moon’s circumstances were different.
‘Seo Jini and Jung Arin at least had LS backing them….’
Yes.
A comeback with no strong base and even a ridiculed fandom—of course it worried him. Name recognition from HS and a guest spot at Moon Beomjae’s concert helped, but couldn’t be the only safety net.
Above all, pride swelled in his chest.
‘If they smear Hyunseung’s career, I won’t let it slide.’
He clenched both fists, about to say something, when—
Bzzzz.
At the vibration, Hyunseung chuckled.
“They’re pretty relentless, huh.”
He played the video from An Jiho. Ever since recording wrapped, the group had sent daily clips of themselves singing live while rehearsing the choreography they’d devised.
The choreography was simpler than expected.
Apparently not made by a pro choreographer, but they said they kept it minimal to focus on vocals. The excuse sounded reasonable, so he let it pass.
“Look at that effort.”
“Told you they’d handle it.”
“But why is the choreo like this?”
“They worked hard; cut them some slack.”
The video ended with a click, and another text arrived.
[Composer-nim, practice finished for today.]
[Please tell us today.]
[Why did you really give us the song?]
Honestly, what a stubborn kid. Since the day after recording, Jiho had asked that same question daily with practice videos attached. How could it matter so much? They got the song and were singing it, end of story.
“Sigh….”
Manager Kim watched Hyunseung scratch his nape and glanced at the messages.
“I thought it was serious. Why not just say their fandom pestered you so much you caved? Why drag it out?”
“Jiho’s pride is high and self-esteem is low. Say that and his confidence will crumple further, his self-worth hit rock bottom.”
“Well, but—”
“And All Night is notorious for being intense. You think they don’t know? If they learn this too, he’ll drown in apologies.”
Hyunseung rubbed his arms and shivered theatrically.
“Just imagining it is awful and tedious.”
Kim sighed at the sight.
“Ah…”
For all his aloof, capricious airs, sometimes Hyunseung felt like a broad-hearted giant. Maybe that was his real self—warm when you looked closely and long enough.
Really… Hard to get used to.
Standing before the LS Entertainment building, An Jiho tilted his head back.
“Long time no see.”
They had come here every day for rehearsals, yet a month had passed since recording ended, and the building felt strangely unfamiliar.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Officially he was here simply to say thanks, but in truth Jiho was determined to learn exactly why the song had been given.
Step, step.
After a few steps—
“Ex-excuse me—!”
A woman ran up and blocked his path.
“Yes?”
She was chest-high on him, panting hard from her dash.
“Huff, huff, um, um—”
“Catch your breath. Speak slowly.”
Though flustered by her red-faced rush, Jiho kept calm.
“I—I’m a fan!”
Startled, Jiho echoed, “A fan?”
“Yes, ever since The Moon debuted! I happened to see you perform and—”
“Wow, this is the first time I’ve met a fan on the street. May I sign something for you?”
When she brightened and answered “Yes!” he smiled and pulled paper from his bag.
‘Good thing I brought these.’
The fan squealed just at him uncapping the pen with his teeth.
“What’s your name?”
“Park, Park Ah-young!”
“Such a pretty name.”
Ah-young nearly fainted as the blood drained from joy at his words.
“Th-thank you.”
Her hands trembled as she accepted the autograph.
“I should be thanking you.”
A simple autograph from a no-name idol leader—just a sheet of paper, really.
Yet knowing someone cherished that paper filled Jiho with an indescribable emotion.
True, he’d always said The Moon was destined to succeed, was the best.
But apparently, without realizing, he’d treated The Moon like a crumpled scrap of paper.
No—that was how he saw himself.
“Um, by any chance….”
Lost in thought, Jiho barely heard her.
“You came to see Composer HS at LS Entertainment, right?”
She fiddled with the shopping-bag handles.
“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”
“Because you’re making a comeback with his song! I’m a fan, of course I know!”
Jiho stupidly went “Ah!” and nodded. Right, she was a fan.
“Then I’m really sorry, but could you deliver this for me? I didn’t expect to meet you today, so I only brought the gift for the composer.”
She held out the bag, glancing at the building entrance.
“The scary security guy wouldn’t take it, so I had no way to give it.”
“What is it?”
“A present from All Night to thank the composer for granting our request.”
“A request? What—”
“We kept asking him to give The Moon a song. Sent offerings, letters—”
Before she finished, Jiho blurted, “What?”
“W-wait, you mean you’ve been asking HS to give us a song all this time?”
“Yes? Y-yes. Didn’t he tell you? I thought for sure he had….”
Suddenly the world seemed to recede beyond his ears.
No wonder…
Thinking back, it was strange that anyone had sought out the unknown group The Moon. He’d just been delighted, no questions asked.
Without knowing this, he’d accepted the song, taken help, even gained the honor of guesting at Moon Beomjae’s concert—
Yet from their first meeting he’d bristled with pride, pressed the composer without understanding him.
‘So embarrassing….’
That was the only thought that surfaced.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
With his nose stinging, Jiho bowed so deeply his head nearly hit the ground.
And not just because of the sting—words felt utterly insufficient to express his gratitude.
“I’ll work really hard, so please keep watching us with love.”
Fans who gain strength just by cheering… Imagining those precious fans pleading with the composer hurt and bruised his pride.
But now, Jiho thought of repaying them first by doing even better.
“So that you’ll never need to make that request again, so we’ll be seen in many more places, we’ll do even better.”
He kept bowing, gripping the handles of the shopping bag the fan had given him.
Right now…
He vowed never to forget this moment.
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