NOVEL NEXT Chapter 201
Chapter 201
The day of our departure had finally arrived.
For our last interview, I went to another room with Sung Lee-jun.
“How was the trip?”
I immediately responded to the PD’s question, saying it was great.
I now understood why people raved about traveling.
Exploring unfamiliar places was challenging, but it was also memorable.
Of course, it wasn’t just a simple vacation.
We were here for filming. But still…
“I think it was even better because I came with Lee-jun hyung.”
“Wow, Lee-jun’s going to be thrilled to hear that.”
Filming with Sung Lee-jun had made it more enjoyable.
I never thought we’d get this close after filming The Zelkova Tree.
‘You never know what will happen.’
It’s a phrase I’ve read many times in books, but experiencing it firsthand was different.
“You two had great chemistry. How do you feel compared to before the trip? I think you’ve gotten closer to Lee-jun.”
I thought about it.
‘We did get closer.’
There were also other changes.
“I think my thoughts about Lee-jun hyung have changed.”
“Oh, in what way?”
“He’s always been so kind and gentle. Before, I worried about him getting hurt.”
To be more precise, I worried he’d get scammed.
But I didn’t think it was appropriate to use that word for a senior actor, so I chose my words carefully.
“Oh. So, did Lee-jun become more reliable on this trip?”
“What? No.”
I couldn’t help but frown at the PD’s suggestion.
“I’m even more worried now. He’s kinder than I thought.”
“…Oh, I see.”
“What if he runs into the wrong people? He’d probably just accept everything without knowing.”
The PD’s expression turned awkward.
But once I started, I couldn’t stop.
“That incident in Florence, where he almost got swindled, is a good example. If that happened even with cameras around, imagine what it’s like when no one’s watching.”
A sigh escaped my lips.
The more I talked, the more serious it seemed. What should I do about him?
‘Should I keep him close like Han Ha-ram?’
As I seriously considered this, the PD hesitated.
“But saying he almost got swindled might be a bit much. The shop owner did ask for a high tip, but…”
What are you talking about?
“Who asks for a tip for a street juice purchase? That guy was clearly trying to take advantage. Lee-jun hyung looked too kind, so he tried to pull a fast one. If I hadn’t intervened, hyung would’ve just smiled and handed over the money—”
“Okay, okay, I get it. Please calm down.”
The PD tried to placate me, but I was just getting started.
I recounted how Lee-jun almost tripped on the street and how he got stuck in a crowd.
There were more stories I wanted to share, but I stopped when I saw the staff’s exhausted expressions.
“Was there ever a moment when Lee-jun seemed dependable? Even once?”
The PD looked desperate, so I thought about it.
Had Sung Lee-jun ever seemed reliable?
“There was a time when he seemed professional.”
“Oh! When was that?”
The PD’s face lit up with interest.
I smiled and began.
“Before the trip, I was worried. There are a few things hyung can’t eat, and I was afraid he might skip meals because of it.”
I wondered if he could handle the greasy cheese and salty ham typical of Italian cuisine.
“Thankfully, he ate well the whole time. No picky eating.”
“…”
Thinking about that, he was quite admirable.
Despite the cameras, he ate things he normally wouldn’t.
‘Well, Sung Lee-jun is old enough now.’
Even if he still looked overly kind and easy to deceive, at least he was older than Han Ha-ram.
‘I should stop worrying too much.’
I decided to keep my care light, just as I had been doing.
The PD mumbled quietly.
“What are we going to do with Lee-jun? He can never be the older brother.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Let’s move on to the next question.”
I didn’t catch what he mumbled, but the rest of the interview went smoothly.
—
‘Was it always this cold?’
It felt strange to be back in Korea after such a long time.
It seemed much colder than Italy.
Thankfully, Jin-bae hyung wrapped a scarf around me, so I wasn’t too cold.
“Hyung, take care. You worked hard.”
Sung Lee-jun and I lived in the same apartment complex, so we went to the lobby together.
“You worked hard too. Rest well at home…!”
Lee-jun’s nose was red from the cold.
‘We spent too much time together.’
After spending almost two weeks together all day, I felt a bit attached.
“Hyung, wear this.”
“Huh?”
“Keep this on until you get home. Don’t catch a cold.”
“I’m only going up to the 10th floor…?”
Lee-jun looked confused as we stood in front of the elevator.
Ignoring his confusion, I wrapped the scarf tightly around his neck.
‘I can’t do it as neatly as Jin-bae hyung.’
But it would keep him warm.
“Hurry up. Wash your hands as soon as you get inside.”
“You be careful too. I’ll call you…!”
Lee-jun waved vigorously, even though he was flustered.
I watched him get into the elevator before turning around.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“…Why are you smiling?”
Jin-bae hyung had a subtle smile on his face.
“You look like a family member taking care of Lee-jun.”
Family, huh?
That seemed like a bit of an exaggeration.
I responded sheepishly.
“Lee-jun hyung is just very kind.”
“Yes, he is. But you do know he’s almost an adult, right? He’ll be one before you.”
Who doesn’t know that?
I responded with a look, and Jin-bae hyung chuckled mischievously.
“You’re always so protective of him; it’s like you don’t realize it.”
“Stop teasing me.”
“Haha, okay.”
He didn’t even bother to deny it.
I considered responding to his annoying laugh but decided against it.
‘I know that Lee-jun hyung is older than me.’
Just by looking at him, it was obvious.
That’s why it worried me even more.
‘How does he plan to live with that personality?’
When I first met Sung Lee-jun, I was 13 and he was 15.
In just a few years, Sung Lee-jun had grown up a lot.
But despite his changed appearance, he still seemed so gentle that I couldn’t help but worry.
‘Of course, Sung Lee-jun never complains.’
I knew he was someone who always did his part.
At this point, I was puzzled.
Why did I feel like I had to take care of him so much?
“Hyung, what do you think of Lee-jun hyung? Doesn’t he look too kind?”
“He does look kind.”
“Right? Doesn’t he look like someone who needs to be taken care of?”
It wasn’t just me who thought so.
I was relieved to see Jin-bae hyung felt similarly.
“He doesn’t look like someone who needs taking care of, though.”
“What?”
Jin-bae hyung smiled and continued.
“He’s tall.”
“…”
Well, that’s true.
“He speaks gently but is very professional when working.”
“But he has such a gentle face.”
I immediately retorted, and Jin-bae hyung laughed.
“Yes, that’s true. But do you know that you look even gentler than him?”
“What?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
I was taken aback, and Jin-bae hyung shrugged, suggesting I ask someone else.
—
“Yeon-jae! You’re back! I missed you so much!”
As soon as I arrived home, Jung-hyun hyung rushed over.
Even though the Killing Horn shoot had ended, Jung-hyun hyung still had a room in our house.
“Hyung, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it? Oh, chocolate!”
Jung-hyun hyung hugged the souvenir I brought back as if it were a treasure.
“Who looks kinder, Lee-jun hyung or me?”
“Of course, you do.”
He answered immediately, despite the odd question.
I frowned at the unexpected answer.
“Me? I look kinder?”
“Yeah. Both of you have similar vibes, but you look softer.”
Where did ‘soft tofu’ come from?
“Seriously, I look kinder than Lee-jun hyung?”
“Yeah.”
“Why… Why?”
I couldn’t accept the answer and stood there with my mouth agape.
Even if Lee-jun hyung was taller than me, this didn’t make sense.
“Is it just you and Jin-bae hyung who think so?”
“Haha! Who knows.”
Jung-hyun hyung laughed heartily at my unusual reaction.
“Objectively, I don’t know. I’m just answering from my perspective, and Jin-bae is probably doing the same.”
He gave me a kind smile.
“And so are you, right?”
“…”
I was speechless.
Jin-bae hyung, who had finished unpacking, approached.
“It’s perfectly normal for you to see Sung Lee-jun as someone who needs more care. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Yeah. Just enjoy being a fan, Yeon-jae.”
What fan?
I couldn’t figure out where the conversation went wrong.
As I sighed, Jin-bae hyung patted my back.
“Don’t worry about it too much.”
“Okay…”
“To me, you’ll always look like the 13-year-old you, even when you’re an adult and get married.”
What nonsense is this now?
I was incredulous.
“Haha! Jin-bae, look at Yeon-jae’s face.”
“Hyung, stop holding onto that. The chocolate will melt.”
“No way. I’m hugging this to sleep tonight.”
Jung-hyun hyung hugged the souvenir chocolate tightly again.
Seeing that made me feel even more wronged.
‘I’m the most adult-like here.’
So much for age.
—
The next day, I arrived at WB Entertainment’s building.
I was still tired from the trip, but I had to keep my promise to Noh Bi-hyuk.
“Yeon-jae! Over here!”
“…You’re tall too.”
“Huh? What?”
Even as he asked why I was being weird, I kept staring at Noh Bi-hyuk.
‘Yeah, he’s tall too.’
Why? Why is he taller than me?
It felt odd to suddenly notice the height difference.
‘What if Han Ha-ram ends up taller than me too?’
The thought made me shiver.
Just imagining it was awful.
“Don’t put your arm around my shoulder today.”
“…? Why?”
“I don’t know. Just stay away from me.”
Noh Bi-hyuk’s height felt strange.
I didn’t want to admit that the kids I thought of as younger were actually more grown-up than me.
‘I’ll drink some milk when I get home.’
It’s fine. I still have time before my growth plates close.
I’m definitely going to be taller than Noh Bi-hyuk.
“How tall are you?”
“Why are you suddenly fixated on height? Did something happen in Italy? Oh, where’s my souvenir?”
“It’s at home. I’ll give it to you later.”
When I asked about his height again, Noh Bi-hyuk replied nonchalantly.
“I’m about 178 cm, I think?”
“…”
“But I should probably measure again. My pants got shorter last week.”
“…”
“Yeon-jae?”
“Forget it. Just look ahead.”
I was feeling down.
The complicated feelings subsided while touring the WB Entertainment building.
“That’s our members’ exclusive practice room. They completely renovated it for us this time.”
It was nice to see Noh Bi-hyuk so excited, eagerly showing me around.
Watching him chatter non-stop made me smile.
‘Yeah, so what if they’re taller than me?’
I could still look after them if I wanted to.
I had settled my thoughts neatly.
“Oh? Hyungs! You’re all here?”
Noh Bi-hyuk shouted as he opened the practice room door.
Voices welcoming their youngest member echoed from inside.
‘Seems like they get along well.’
I was relieved. At least I didn’t have to worry about bullying.
“I brought my best friend with me. Let’s all say hi!”
Maybe because he was on his home turf, Noh Bi-hyuk was especially bright today.
I chuckled and followed him inside.
At that moment, a voice from my memories surfaced.
“…Lee Jae-hee?”
I immediately locked eyes with the owner of the voice.
Ah.
I held my breath without realizing it.
“…Hello, Eun-taek hyung.”
My awkward voice fell onto the practice room floor.
I looked at the person who was only supposed to be in the practice room with the members debuting with Noh Bi-hyuk.
“What? You two know each other? And who’s Lee Jae-hee?”
Noh Bi-hyuk looked back and forth between Lee Eun-taek and me with a naive expression.
I answered the question I couldn’t say out loud in my mind.
‘That’s my second name.’
Lee Jae-hee. The name I received from the family I was adopted into.
And Lee Eun-taek, who was staring at me, was once my family.
‘Yes, truly…’
You never know how things will turn out in life.