Chapter 25: The Original Seo-woo's Song

The air in the bar felt thick-charged with tension, temptation, and something unspoken. Ryu Jung-woo had almost said yes. Almost let himself be dragged into Jin Yu-jin's web.

I feel weak whenever I smell Jin Yu-jin's scent.

It was a subtle yet overpowering, sweet yet suffocating—a fragrance designed to cloud judgment and blur the lines between desire and reason.

But then, that voice.

"I've spent so long behind these walls,

Afraid to rise, afraid to fall,

But now I see the world so wide,

A place where love can't be denied"

A smooth, honeyed voice drifted through the speakers, wrapping around him like a soothing breeze. It was deep, warm, and unmistakably familiar.

"The chains are gone, my heart is free,

No more pretending, just let it be,

For once, I'll let the world decide,

If it's you I want here by my side"

Seo-woo hyung.

Jung-woo's breath hitched. His muddled thoughts instantly cleared like a fog lifting from a mountain peak. The heat in his body dissipated, the spell of desire breaking like shattered glass. His older brother's voice, filled with raw emotion, resonated through the bar, calming his restless heart.

The scent. The allure. The inexplicable pull toward Jin Yu-jin—

Gone.

Jin Yu-jin flinched beside him.

Jung-woo turned sharply, catching the flicker of shock in Yu-jin's wide eyes. The way his hands trembled slightly—the subtle parting of his lips.

He staggered back, inhaling sharply. For the first time since meeting Yu-jin, his head felt clear.

Jin Yu-jin, on the other hand, stiffened beside him. His eyes widened—just a fraction—before narrowing again.

His perfume had failed.

It had never failed before.

Yu-jin's seductive power wasn't something natural—it was something he had inherited. His mother, once a renowned actress and socialite, had possessed an undeniable charm that captivated everyone she met. It wasn't just beauty; it was something deeper, something unnatural.

People whispered that she had bewitched powerful men, securing a life of luxury through sheer seduction. But Yu-jin knew the truth—she had crafted the perfect scent, a fragrance so potent that it could lower inhibitions, heighten attraction, and make anyone fall under her spell.

She had passed that secret to him.

And until now, it had never failed.

Jin Yu-jin's fingers curled into a fist. His mother had warned him—that there would always be rare individuals immune to the scent. People whose willpower or emotions were too strong to manipulate. But Jung-woo was almost trapped in his seduction, but why did he become normal?

And Seo-woo—

That voice. Why did the bar owner play that disgusting song?

Yu-jin's jaw tightened.

He didn't believe in ghosts, but hearing that voice now made his chest feel uncomfortably tight.

Jung-woo, still reeling, took another step back. He shook off the last remnants of Yu-jin's influence, his expression twisting into something between disgust and anger.

"You—" His voice was hoarse but steady. "What the hell did you do to me?"

Yu-jin's lips curled into a slow, lazy smile, though his eyes betrayed his frustration. "Do to you? Jung-woo, darling, I didn't do anything."

Jung-woo's eyes darkened. "Bullshit."

Yu-jin tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Are you suggesting that you—what? Fell under my spell?" He let out a soft chuckle. "That sounds like an excuse, Jung-woo. If you wanted me, you could've just said so."

Jung-woo scoffed, shoving Yu-jin away. "Keep your damn tricks to yourself. Aren't you afraid of exposing your dirty side to the public? You are a beloved celebrity, but after seeing you like this, you seem like a fake, a pretender! Behave yourself, or something bad will happen soon."

For the first time, something flickered in Yu-jin's gaze-annoyance.

Then, before he could respond, a deep, commanding voice sliced through the air.

"Jin Yu-jin."

Both men froze.

The tension in the room shifted as a tall figure strode toward them, his presence overwhelming.

Moon Woo-seok.

Jung-woo had seen him on TV before—charismatic, cold, untouchable. But seeing him up close was different. His sharp, chiseled features were unreadable, but his eyes burned with restrained fury.

Yu-jin, for the first time that night, looked genuinely surprised.

Woo-seok's gaze flickered between them before settling on Yu-jin, his expression dark.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" His voice was calm, but the weight behind it was suffocating.

Yu-jin hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second.

Then, as if flipping a switch, he smirked. "CEO," he murmured, his voice softer than before.

Woo-seok's jaw tightened.

"You really have no shame, do you?"

Yu-jin behaved like a victim. Jung-woo realized that this pretender would blame him.

"This man seduced me and wanted me to come with him to a hotel" Yu-jin purred, stepping closer like a pitiful cat.

Woo-seok's expression remained cold.

"Don't lie to me—I saw you approach him first." His voice dropped to a dangerously steady tone.

Yu-jin flinched.

Jung-woo watched as something passed between them-something heavy, complicated, and filled with unspoken history.

Woo-seok's gaze flickered to Jung-woo, assessing him briefly before turning back to Yu-jin.

Then, without another word, he grabbed Yu-jin's wrist.

"We're leaving."

Jung-woo should have walked away.

Should have pretended he never saw this.

But as he watched Yu-jin's face, he saw something flicker in his expression-something raw. Something desperate.

Something real.

And for the first time since meeting him, Jung-woo felt something other than disgust toward Jin Yu-jin.

He felt pity.

And that made him even more uneasy.

---

The night air was crisp as Moon Woo-seok stormed out of the bar, Jin Yu-jin's wrist firmly in his grip. The younger man barely had time to react, stumbling slightly as he was dragged along.

Yu-jin's mind raced. Was Woo-seok jealous? Was this anger a mask for something deeper?

A slow smirk formed on Yu-jin's lips. If that's the case, then maybe tonight wasn't a complete loss.

But just as he was about to savor the moment, Woo-seok shoved a face mask into his hands.

"Put this on," Woo-seok ordered, his voice sharp and devoid of warmth.

Yu-jin blinked. Not what I expected.

"Why?" he asked, tilting his head in feigned innocence.

Woo-seok shot him a glare. "Because you're famous, and I don't want to deal with your mess in the headlines tomorrow."

Yu-jin hesitated for a moment before slipping the mask over his face. So it wasn't jealousy. Just damage control.

How disappointing.

The ride back was suffocating.

Inside the car, Woo-seok leaned back against the leather seat, his arms crossed as he exhaled sharply.

"Do you have any idea what you were doing back there?" His voice was cold, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Yu-jin, still staring out the window, hummed nonchalantly. "Talking someone?"

Woo-seok's jaw clenched. "Intimately. In a public place. Are you out of your mind?"

Yu-jin turned to face him, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Why? Did it bother you?"

Woo-seok scoffed, shaking his head. "You really are something else." His expression darkened. "I thought you were different."

Yu-jin's smirk faltered. "Different?"

"I thought you were well-behaved and innocent," Woo-seok said, his voice measured. "But it seems like I was wrong."

Yu-jin stiffened.

Woo-seok exhaled, his voice lowering. "So after all those times, you cried about Seo-woo mistreating you... were they all lies?"

Yu-jin's breath caught.

Woo-seok had always assumed Seo-woo was the aggressor. Seo-woo had a sharp tongue, a confidence that could easily be mistaken for arrogance. Meanwhile, Yu-jin played the role of the delicate flower, a victim of harsh industry politics.

But tonight...

Woo-seok had seen a different side of him.

Yu-jin clenched his fists. "So, what? You think I made it all up?"

Woo-seok didn't respond right away. His silence was worse than any accusation.

Yu-jin bit his lip. He wasn't used to Woo-seok looking at him like that. He was supposed to be his golden boy. His favorite.

But now, Woo-seok's expression was unreadable.

"I didn't lie," Yu-jin said quietly, his voice trembling—not from sadness, but frustration. "Seo-woo did bully me. He... he always thought I stole his resources. Everyone always hated him." His nails dug into his palms. "I just wanted to give him advice on being kinder to others."

Woo-seok studied him for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, he looked away.

"Whatever. I can see that you're not as innocent as you appear in front of everyone."

Yu-jin didn't speak.

Woo-seok exhaled, his voice lowering. "And for the agreement between us... To think I let you get close to me... that I let you treat my insomnia." His gaze locked onto Yu-jin. "But I should've known better."

Yu-jin clenched his fists.

So this was about that. He liked an innocent one.

Woo-seok had initially turned to Yu-jin to help with his chronic insomnia, believing that the younger man's presence somehow soothed him. For a while, it worked. Woo-seok had let his guard down and even trusted Yu-jin in ways he didn't trust others.

But the moment Woo-seok sensed something was off—when Yu-jin's actions became too deliberate, too calculated-he cut ties. He ended their arrangement abruptly, shutting Yu-jin out without warning.

And Yu-jin hated him for it.

Yu-jin bit his lip. "Because I want to be close to you, hyu— CEO."

Woo-seok didn't respond right away. His silence was worse than any accusation.

Yu-jin forced a chuckle. "I was helping you, CEO. You slept better with me around, didn't you?"

Woo-seok's jaw tightened.

"Admit it," Yu-jin whispered, leaning slightly closer. "You felt better when I was there."

Woo-seok's eyes flickered with something unreadable. But then, his expression hardened.

"I terminated our agreement because I realized I didn't need you," he said coldly. "And after that night, I didn't regret that decision."

Yu-jin inhaled sharply.

That hurt.

Yu-jin said confidently, "I know the reason. The real reason you were so eager to terminate our contract is that you found someone better than me to treat your insomnia, am I right? It was Bi-yong, wasn't it?"

Woo-seok flinched but didn't respond to Yu-jin's provocation because it was true. Yu-jin was furious at Woo-seok's silent treatment.

The silence inside the car was deafening. The assistant was sweating as if he needed help. (˃̣̣̥ᯅ˂̣̣̥)

The car pulled up in front of Yu-jin's residence.

The silence between them was suffocating as the assistant slowed to a stop.

Woo-seok turned to him. "Behave yourself—you will be the emcee for Everyday's Music."

Yu-jin scoffed, but as he reached for the car door, he felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over him. His vision blurred for a second, his balance tipping-

Woo-seok caught him before he could fall.

Their faces were suddenly close, the warmth of Woo-seok's grip steadying him. Yu-jin's breath hitched.

If only this was happening under different circumstances...

Then—

A faint sound.

A distant click.

Woo-seok's eyes snapped up toward the direction of the noise.

Yu-jin followed his gaze—

And his stomach dropped.

In the shadows, just beyond the streetlights-

The unmistakable flash of a camera lens.

Paparazzi.

Waiting. Watching.

Capturing everything.

---o---

"Little Theatre"

Ryu Seo-woo: "Sorry, I am not that innocent."

Moon Woo-seok: But in my eyes, you are innocent.

Ryu Seo-woo: "Whatever"