Chapter 29: What a Lover Boy

Seo-woo finally spotted Hye-sung backstage, standing with Eun-jae and Yu-ki. Just beyond them, he caught a glimpse of the brightly lit stage.

A wave of nostalgia washed over him.

That stage—where he once stood, bathed in lights, surrounded by deafening cheers. He had once been a star, shining at the center of it all.

Shaking off the memories, Seo-woo focused on the present.

On stage, Jin Yu-jin and Han Chae-in, a rising idol-turned-emcee, stood confidently, their microphones in hand.

The stage director signaled, and the giant LED screen behind them flashed to life. The live broadcast of Everyday's Music had begun.

Yu-jin and Chae-in smiled brightly as they greeted the audience, their voices filled with energy.

"Good day, everyone! Welcome to Everyday's Music—where the best of K-pop shines the brightest!" Chae-in and Yu-jin announced enthusiastically.

Yu-jin followed smoothly, his tone playful yet charismatic. "I'm Jin Yu-jin..."

"...And I'm Han Chae-in, your hosts for tonight!! We're honored to guide you through an electrifying night of incredible performances!"

The audience erupted into cheers, waving their lightsticks excitedly.

Chae-in continued, "Tonight, we have a star-studded lineup of K-pop's hottest acts! From beloved veteran groups to the most promising rookies, get ready for a night filled with unforgettable stages!"

Yu-jin smirked. "That's right! And speaking of stars, let's introduce the talented artists who will be gracing our stage tonight!"

The LED screen displayed a dazzling montage of performers, accompanied by roaring applause.

"First up," Chae-in announced, "we have the vocal powerhouse EON blessing us with their latest ballad, 'Falling for You.'"

The screen then flashed a clip of TERRA, a five-member girl group known for their ethereal visuals and dreamlike choreography.

"Next, the queens of elegance, TERRA, will captivate us with their new song, 'Moonlit Waltz.'"

Yu-jin grinned. "And let's not forget the explosive energy of VX9—our charismatic boy group who will set the stage on fire with 'Burn It Up!'"

Cheers intensified as VX9's teaser played, showing the group's intense choreography and sleek visuals.

Chae-in clapped her hands. "And of course, we have our rising rookie sensation, Lighthouse, ready to steal hearts with their comeback stage of 'Dandelions.'"

The camera panned backstage for a second, showing Eun-jae and Yu-ki nervously bouncing on their shoes.

Yu-jin smirked at the screen before adding, "And many more talented artists will be performing tonight, so don't go anywhere!"

The stage lights dimmed momentarily before the first performance was cued.

From backstage, Seo-woo watched the broadcast unfold on a nearby monitor. His eyes drifted to the VIP seating area, where the two CEOs, Moon Woo-seok and Choi Min-ho, were seated at the far end of the venue.

His gaze accidentally locked with Min-ho's.

Min-ho's lips curled into an amused grin.

Seo-woo rolled his eyes dramatically before looking away.

Min-ho laughed, shaking his head.

Woo-seok, who had been observing the exchange, narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you two close?" he asked in a neutral tone.

Min-ho leaned in slightly, lowering his voice with a teasing smirk. "Oh? Very close."

Woo-seok's expression didn't change, but beneath his composed demeanor, something flickered dangerously.

His blood boiled.

---

From his position on stage, Yu-jin caught sight of Moon Woo-seok stealing glances at Bi-yong.

His jaw tightened.

He wanted to glare, wanted to throw a cutting remark—but he couldn't. Not here. Not in front of an audience that adored his carefully crafted image. Instead, he forced his usual soft smile, keeping his anger compressed beneath the surface.

Beside him, Chae-in kept the show moving. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we present to you tonight's first performance! Please welcome Lighthouse as they take the stage with their newest song, 'Dandelions!'"

The audience erupted into cheers as the stage lights shifted.

Chae-in continued, "This heartfelt song speaks of perseverance and the journey of chasing dreams despite the hardships. Just like dandelions, which bloom even in the harshest conditions, this song is about resilience and hope."

With that, the LED screen behind them displayed swaying fields of golden dandelions. The melody began, soft at first, before growing into something more powerful.

Eun-jae and Yu-ki took their positions at the center of the stage, gripping their microphones. Their eyes scanned the vast sea of fans, taking in the glowing lightsticks and encouraging cheers. Then, as if seeking an anchor, they looked toward Seo-woo.

Seo-woo smiled and gave them a small nod.

"You've got this."

Buoyed by his silent encouragement, the duo steadied their nerves.

The music swelled, and Eun-jae began to sing, his voice tender yet strong:

"Through the storm and through the rain,

Still, I rise, still, I remain.

Like dandelions in the wind,

I will bloom, I will begin..."

Yu-ki followed, his voice harmonizing with Eun-jae's, filling the venue with warmth and emotion.

"Even when the world turns cold,

I will shine, I will hold.

Though I fall, I'll rise again...

Like dandelions in the wind."

The duo moved gracefully across the stage, their presence commanding yet sincere. During the chorus, they reached out to the audience, who responded by chanting along, some even swaying their lightsticks in time with the music.

The moment was electric.

Seo-woo and Hye-sung watched proudly from the sidelines. To see Lighthouse performing flawlessly on such a massive stage—was like watching their hard work bloom into reality.

By the time the last note faded, the entire venue erupted into applause. Some fans had tears in their eyes, moved by the lyrics and the passion in their voices.

Eun-jae and Yu-ki stood there, dumbfounded.

They had done it.

No mistakes.

Unlike their debut performance, where nerves had gotten the best of them, this time, they had delivered a perfect stage.

As they exited, they were met with Seo-woo and Hye-sung's proud smiles.

"You guys nailed it!" Seo-woo beamed.

Without warning, the duo tackled him in a hug. "Thank you, mentor!"

Hye-sung dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "What about me?" he whined. "Am I invisible or something?"

Laughing, the duo turned and hugged him as well, making Hye-sung pretend to wipe away fake tears.

Amid the laughter, Seo-woo checked his phone—and his heart nearly stopped.

Missed calls: Auntie Song (9).

His stomach twisted.

He suddenly remembered—before bumping into Yu-jin earlier, Auntie Song had been calling him. But in the chaos of the event, he had completely forgotten to answer.

A bad feeling crept up his spine.

Without wasting another second, he rushed outside the broadcasting site and immediately dialed Auntie Song's number. The phone rang, but there was no answer.

His grip on his phone tightened. Why isn't she picking up?

As he was about to redial, a deep voice called from behind him—

"Bi-yong."

Seo-woo stiffened.

He turned and found himself staring at a tall, expressionless man clad in an impeccably tailored suit.

Moon Woo-seok.

His presence was imposing, his sharp gaze unreadable as he stepped closer.

Seo-woo's body tensed. What does he want?

His phone was still ringing, but he had momentarily forgotten about it. He straightened his posture, meeting Woo-seok's gaze.

"How do you know my name?" Seo-woo asked coolly. "And what exactly do you want from me?"

Woo-seok's lips parted slightly as if to say something, but for some reason, no words came out.

Then—

"CEO Moon!"

An assistant came running up to him, out of breath.

"Yu-jin collapsed!"

Woo-seok's attention snapped away from Seo-woo immediately.

For the briefest second, an unreadable expression crossed his face—concern? Panic? It was gone too fast to tell.

Without hesitation, Woo-seok turned on his heels and rushed toward the direction of the emergency.

Seo-woo raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he muttered under his breath.

"What a lover boy... taking such good care of his precious Yu-jin."

But there was no humor in his voice.

Because in the pit of his stomach, that bad feeling about Auntie Song still hadn't gone away.

Seo-woo redialed Auntie Song's contact number, his fingers slightly trembling with anxiety. This time, the call connected.

"Auntie!" he exhaled in relief. "What happened? Is everything okay?"

On the other end of the line, Auntie Song's warm yet slightly tired voice responded, "Nothing's wrong, dear. The little ones just miss you and wanted to hear your voice."

Seo-woo's tense shoulders relaxed, but his heart still pounded. His mind had already conjured up the worst scenarios—thankfully, it was just his triplets being their usual clingy selves.

He glanced at his wristwatch—4:45 p.m.

Good. He still had time.

"I can leave now. I'll be at the kindergarten before 6 p.m.," he reassured them.

A small voice suddenly piped up on the other end. "Did you finish work?"

It was Seo-jun.

Seo-woo smiled, his voice softening. "Yes, baby, I'm done. I'm on my way back now."

Before Seo-jun could respond, two other voices excitedly interrupted—

"Ahjussi Dad! We miss you!"

Seo-woo blinked.

Ahjussi Dad?

His brain short-circuited for a moment.

He taught his triplets to call him "Ahjussi Dad" in front of other people.

His expression darkened slightly.

"Seo-min, Seo-jin..." He lowered his voice. "Are there other people in our house?"

Seo-min innocently answered, "Uncle Ye-joon and Uncle's friend are here."

Seo-woo's jaw tightened.

Ye-joon?

And his... friend?

Auntie Song had never mentioned anyone coming over. I thought Ye-joon had already left. Why was he still there? Who was this 'friend'?

Before he could ask more, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"Seo-woo."

He turned sharply and found Hye-sung standing there, his face pale and anxious.

Seo-woo furrowed his brows.

"What now?" he muttered. "Why does disaster keep finding me lately?"

Hye-sung's voice was grave.

"We have a problem."

Seo-woo just said this jokingly, but it became true.

Also Seo-woo: ...