Taehyun blamed his Esper for stopping right in the middle of everyone and whispered with a face that looked close to tears. Of course, that voice that sounded ready to crawl into a hole was still loud enough to be heard clearly in the set, which had gone so quiet that even a cough would have stood out.
Right now, Taehyun’s heart was pounding wildly, and even his face had turned red.
Lately, Gwan-young—who kept unintentionally looking like he’d stepped straight out of a drama—had now gone so far as to drag him directly onto the filming set and cause this kind of chaos. Truly, these days felt like he was rewriting the so-called “history of humiliation” every single day of his twenty-eight years of life.
The man, who had been staring crookedly at his Guide with a faint furrow between his brows, finally released the arm he’d been gripping tightly the whole time. Taehyun thought, Ah, so he finally came to his senses.
But if Ji Gwan-young actually acted the way Choi Taehyun wanted, then he would never be Ji Gwan-young in the first place.
Ji Gwan-young brought his now-free hands up to his Guide’s cheeks. At that moment, Taehyun learned that even within a fleeting span of 0.001 seconds, a person could experience absolute despair.
The lips only touched lightly before pulling away. But it happened so slowly that not a single person on set could have missed it.
“Stay completely still, completely quiet, somewhere I can see you.”
…Ah. This is bad. Seriously fucked. Completely fucked.
Taehyun swallowed the curse that nearly burst out of him as unusually harsh words flashed through his mind.
***
The gazes directed at the young man sitting in Ji Gwan-young’s personal chair—a seat no one else had ever used before—were piercing.
The young man, in other words Choi Taehyun, stayed busy bowing politely whenever his eyes happened to meet someone else’s.
Ji Gwan-young, who was reviewing his script while getting his makeup touched up, glanced toward his Guide. Whether Choi Taehyun liked it or not, he felt reassured only if the other man stayed within his sight like this.
That overly polite Guide had two problems.
First, he hated inconveniencing others even when it was necessary to protect his own interests.
Second, he fundamentally failed to understand that people could hurt other people for absolutely no reason, which meant his sense of caution was severely lacking.
“If you get hungry or anything, tell the manager.”
“Yes.”
“And here are a few books worth reading, and…”
Right now, everyone on set—not just the staff but even the actors—had their ears perked up, completely focused on the Pair’s conversation. Even while preparing for urgent work, it was impossible not to keep getting distracted by them.
That rumored Guide really was being treated with absurd devotion. Someone like Ji Gwan-young sat carelessly on a small, uncomfortable portable chair usually reserved for actors with one or two scenes, his long legs loosely stretched out, while the chair he normally used now belonged to Choi Taehyun, who was even enjoying the cool breeze from a fan.
Even after fussing over him that much, Ji Gwan-young still seemed unsatisfied. Tilting his head slightly in thought, he then told someone nearby to bring several bottles of ice water and place them beside his Guide.
“Have fun.”
At Gwan-young’s words, Taehyun’s brows pinched together faintly in embarrassment. Still, he didn’t protest.
As if he found that adorable, Gwan-young brushed back Taehyun’s slightly messy hair.
“Choi Taehyun, want to try pushing your bangs back later?”
“Why?”
“I like this side better. Your forehead’s pretty.”
Honestly, some people were even thinking this:
Good lord, there’s never been a couple like this.
In fact, after that kiss—no, that peck—that had left everyone speechless, one middle-aged actor who shared quite a few scenes with Ji Gwan-young had quietly asked him while retrieving a chair.
‘Gwan-young-ssi, are you dating that young man by any chance?’
Truthfully, it was the question everyone wanted to ask, so people waited eagerly for the handsome man to answer.
But Ji Gwan-young had only curved his eyes faintly and replied with a single sentence.
‘…He’s my Guide.’
However, the veterans who’d spent years surviving in this industry immediately caught the implication hidden beneath that answer. Ji Gwan-young hadn’t denied it. Sure, he hadn’t outright confirmed it either, but in situations like this, an ambiguous answer like that usually meant only one thing.
Besides, just seeing that the man who’d recently been glued to his phone on set wasn’t even looking at it today made it obvious who had been on the other side of those messages.
“Really? Ah, I need a haircut. I haven’t had time to care for it since entering The Center.”
Ji Gwan-young’s large hand moved naturally from Taehyun’s hair to the round, pretty forehead he’d just mentioned, then to the corners of his eyes, and finally to the soft ear shaped in a gentle curve.
At that, Taehyun smiled for the first time since arriving on set, his tension finally easing as though the touch tickled.
A small, faint gasp escaped someone’s lips.
Sometimes a single action explained everything better than long sentences ever could. The fact that the man who looked constantly busy monitoring everything around him seemed utterly accustomed to Ji Gwan-young’s touch—despite it being the kind of attention everyone would notice—created a strangely subtle feeling.
They were unmistakably lovers no matter how anyone looked at it.
Only then did one staff member cautiously speak up.
“Um, Ji Gwan-young-ssi.”
“Yes. I’m coming.”
Choi Taehyun gave Ji Gwan-young a small nod.
Now it was time for the man before him to become an actor rather than an Esper.
Until the very last second, Gwan-young secretly stole one more touch against his Guide’s lips with his fingertips before casually following the staff member away as though nothing had happened.
Just as Ji Gwan-young had ordered, Choi Taehyun stayed somewhere within his line of sight. It was only a corner of the set, but even this was far better than staying inside the car. Watching people bustle around busily, Taehyun silently switched his phone to vibrate, trying not to disturb anyone.
Because the set was so hectic, people completely forgot about the unfamiliar Guide once Ji Gwan-young seriously began filming. Since the lead actor’s schedule had recently been wildly inconsistent, there were many delayed shoots to make up.
And honestly, that was fortunate for Taehyun, who had been sitting there tense and hyperaware of everyone around him.
But there was one thing neither Ji Gwan-young—who had memorized the script so thoroughly it was practically carved into his mind—nor the countless staff and actors, nor even Choi Taehyun watching while blinking quietly, had anticipated.
The Wednesday-Thursday drama actor Ji Gwan-young was currently starring in boasted the highest ratings among romantic comedies.
Which meant he was…
“Cut!”
“Great work!”
…currently engaged in a wildly popular fake “romance” with one of the country’s top beauties.
The instant the director spoke, Ji Gwan-young’s body pulled away from the actress whose shoulders he’d been embracing.
Honestly, it wasn’t so much a natural release of his arm as it was the kind of movement someone made after accidentally touching something they absolutely didn’t want to touch.
As a result, the actress considered one of the five most beautiful women in Korea let out a short scoff before she realized it. And definitely not because she was pleased.
To be fair, she had long since noticed that Ji Gwan-young seemed uncomfortable with physical contact throughout filming. At first she’d thought it was simply exceptionally considerate manners, but after acting opposite him the most, she eventually realized the subtle difference.
But today, the moment the cameras stopped rolling, that man Ji Gwan-young practically shoved her away.
She quietly turned her head toward the reason why.
At the end of her gaze sat a man lounging lazily in a wide cushioned folding chair, legs crossed and chin propped in his hand. The broad, sturdy back striding straight toward him the moment filming ended was visible too.
And somehow, those confident footsteps became strangely careful once they reached the seated man.
…Wow. Ji Gwan-young is watching someone’s mood.
People’s eyes sparkled with fascination at the unbelievable sight.
Choi Taehyun sucked fruit juice through a straw that the manager had brought him while looking up at his Esper. Normally, he probably should’ve offered some encouraging words to his lover who’d worked hard filming, but his lips remained tightly shut.
Honestly, Ji Gwan-young himself found his own behavior ridiculous right now.
What was this filming, anyway? Why was he rushing over like this the second it ended?
Even he found himself absurd.
But still, his eyes instinctively checked Choi Taehyun’s expression first. There was really no helping it.
The man who would undoubtedly stand somewhere near the very front if all the most attractive people in Korea were lined up opened and closed his mouth without managing to form words.
Ji Gwan-young hesitated for quite a while—completely unlike himself—before finally speaking.
“Choi Taehyun.”
“Yes.”
The voice flowing from the Guide was, as always, a pleasant and neatly composed low tone.
Just hearing it alone gave no sign whatsoever that he might be upset. But right now, Ji Gwan-young was acutely aware of every tiny rise and fall in that voice.
Since awakening as an Esper, Ji Gwan-young had never maintained a serious relationship long enough to bother considering things like manners toward a partner.
But long ago, he had once belonged to a fairly warm and harmonious family.
Meaning, he knew quite well what one should and shouldn’t do toward someone considered a “romantic interest.”
Of course, at this very moment, he was embracing another woman and whispering sweet lines right in front of that person, but still.
While taking in the sight of Choi Taehyun gazing at him with such clear eyes, Ji Gwan-young frowned slightly as though troubled before speaking in a low voice that sounded almost like a sigh.
Choi Taehyun was the only man capable of making Ji Gwan-young surrender.
“…It’s work.”
“I know.”
Honestly, everyone on set thought the same thing at that moment.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to admit you’re dating?
Many eyes discreetly glanced toward the Guide while pretending to continue working or resting, curious how he’d react when Ji Gwan-young was lowering himself this much.
But Choi Taehyun showed no reaction at all. He merely continued sipping his juice expressionlessly.
Guess he’s mad.
Not just Ji Gwan-young, but everyone thought so.
But in truth, Taehyun was in quite a different state from what everyone imagined.
Right now, he was thoroughly enjoying the sight of Ji Gwan-young gently coaxing and placating him.
Honestly, he had been startled when filming first began. Watching the man who had been tracing the lines of his face just moments earlier suddenly smile tenderly at someone else the instant the director called action had felt deeply strange.
But only for a little while.
Before long, Taehyun found himself able to sit back and watch the scenes with a rather relaxed smile.
It was different.
That version created within the set didn’t contain even the tiniest fragment of his real Esper.
It felt strange.
Before, he had never been able to see that difference. That was why, whenever he saw Ji Gwan-young smiling sweetly at his co-star on television and saying lines that sounded sweeter than anything in the world, he would often change the channel.
He must have believed that no matter what happened, he could never become the object of those feelings.
But now Ji Gwan-young fell asleep holding him in his arms, and every morning when he woke, he pressed kisses to his forehead with a smile even more beautiful than Taehyun had imagined.
The real Ji Gwan-young was far warmer—truly, incomparably warmer—than the dazzling acting everyone already adored.
Realizing that he alone knew this didn’t upset Choi Taehyun at all. Instead, it made him strangely happy. Even now.
The man who valued his dignity so obsessively was awkwardly trying this hard to soothe his mood in front of so many watching eyes.
Honestly, it was kind of cute.
A small laugh escaped Taehyun despite his efforts to compose himself. Ji Gwan-young’s brows curved faintly at the sound.
Taehyun hadn’t exactly not tried to hide his smile. But from the start, he’d always been terrible at concealing positive emotions, and he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
Only then did the anxious Esper realize it.
This neat-faced lover of his had placed him right back in the palm of his hand once again.
Still frowning slightly, Ji Gwan-young pulled Choi Taehyun to his feet and grabbed his hand. Taehyun let himself be dragged along—very differently from that morning—while continuing to giggle softly, unable to suppress his faint smile.
Honestly, that laughter drained some of Gwan-young’s strength.
He’d spent all this time worrying himself sick and fallen right into that brat’s mischievous little trap, yet a single laugh from him was enough to melt his irritation away. The realization felt absurd.
So when they reached a secluded corner of the set where no one else was around, he deliberately opened his mouth in a stern voice for no reason at all.
