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Join the ServerHan-geon hurriedly put on the clothes he had prepared in advance.
After quickly getting ready, he locked the door in one smooth motion, left the apartment, and headed for the garage.
Parked beside Eun-gyeol’s car was another vehicle—Han-geon’s.
The sleek sedan, a newly released model, was a gift Eun-gyeol had given him not long ago.
The road manager position currently in charge of driving was vacant, so who had come to pick him up?
It wasn’t as though Eun-gyeol lacked people to support him from behind, even if they couldn’t stay glued to his side, so it was probably the youngest member of the team or someone else who had come to help him get to work.
When Han-geon said he wanted to go separately just for the first day and surprise Eun-gyeol, the chief manager had burst out laughing, saying, “Han-geon, I didn’t know you were the type to pull pranks like that.”
With his heart pounding, Han-geon turned the ignition and pressed the accelerator without hesitation, pulling out of the garage.
He sped along the still-quiet streets and onto the main road.
They passed by his parents’ home, where Eun-hani was probably sleeping soundly with them.
He had left her there just last night, yet already he missed her, and the thought made him smile softly.
The moment of sentiment passed quickly, and Han-geon pressed down on the accelerator with renewed focus.
He had left right after Eun-gyeol, so he wouldn’t be that late.
It was his first day back, after all—he should arrive before his actor.
Grinning to himself, Han-geon glanced at the sky, which was steadily growing brighter.
He wanted to see Eun-gyeol’s reaction as soon as possible.
He’d like it, right?
Han-geon hoped Eun-gyeol wouldn’t stiffen up like last time.
Back then, he’d been probing because he didn’t fully understand Eun-gyeol’s feelings, but now, Han-geon knew them well.
And he knew his own, too.
So much had truly changed from before.
Last year’s Eun-gyeol—who had asked him to be his manager and bodyguard purely out of personal need—and the Eun-gyeol of now were not the same person.
The warmth Eun-gyeol had given him in the car a few days ago, along with his honest words, had given Han-geon certainty.
They helped him realize feelings he hadn’t even been aware of himself, and make a decision that would no longer waver.
That watching Eun-gyeol soar brilliantly from the closest place had been the happiest memory of his life.
And that what he truly wanted to do from now on was to protect the man he loved most with his own hands.
Han-geon had no doubt.
Eun-gyeol, already an actor worthy of the title “the best,” would continue to grow.
He would achieve dazzling glory.
And Han-geon wanted to be part of the process, not just the result.
He wanted to care for him with affectionate hands, and let him rest in the arms where he felt the safest.
That way, Eun-gyeol could fly higher than anyone else.
At last, Han-geon found the answer to the question he had asked himself over and over again.
This was what he wanted most.
He drove along the familiar road he had traveled countless times last year.
If he drove fast, it took just over an hour from home.
There had naturally been offers to book a nearby hotel, and all the other actors and staff, except Eun-gyeol, were already staying there.
But Eun-gyeol had refused flatly.
He said that since he was so busy he couldn’t properly see Han-geon during the day, he needed to at least see his face at home before leaving.
It was the filming location of Heart for Love, a place he hadn’t seen in a while.
The sheer size and detail—like a massive university hospital transplanted whole—made him marvel all over again.
After showing the access pass he’d received in advance from the chief manager, Han-geon parked the car and called her.
– “Han-geon!
You’re here already?
That was fast.”
“Good morning, Chief.
Where should I go?”
– “Walk straight to the left from the parking lot and you’ll see Container No. 1.
They’re doing makeup right now, so just come in there.”
“Yes, understood.”
After hanging up, Han-geon moved quickly.
Following the directions, he soon spotted a container labeled “Actor Cha Eun-gyeol.”
Security was tight even outside the set, and he could see several of Eun-gyeol’s bodyguards standing guard near the container as well.
The moment his eyes landed on them, a deep smile spread across Han-geon’s face.
“Geonho.”
“Team Leader!”
Geonho raised his voice in excitement.
Smiling brightly like a child, he ran over and grabbed Han-geon’s outstretched hand with both of his.
Han-geon half-pulled him into a side hug and greeted him warmly.
“It’s even nicer seeing you here.”
“Team Leader, I barely slept last night.
I was so excited knowing you were coming today.”
“Haha, thanks for being that happy about it.
I’ll be counting on you again from now on.”
“Good morning, Team Leader!”
“Morning, Min-jae.
Seung-hyun, too.
I’ll be in your care again.”
As familiar faces came up one by one to shake his hand, Han-geon smiled broadly.
Everyone already knew he was starting work again today.
Everyone except Cha Eun-gyeol.
What kind of reaction would Eun-gyeol have when he opened that door?
Suppressing his pounding heart, Han-geon slowly opened the container door.
Despite people moving busily inside, the atmosphere was strikingly quiet.
Everyone knew how sharp Eun-gyeol became before filming, so no one made unnecessary noise.
Among the busy figures, Eun-gyeol sat alone, detached and composed.
From that instant, Han-geon’s heart began to pound.
It felt as though a light that had no business being there was shining directly on Eun-gyeol.
Yet separate from the dazzling sight was a strange sense of dissonance that sent a chill through Han-geon’s chest.
It was hard to believe this was the same man who had clung to him sweetly just that morning.
Whether the door opened or someone came in, Eun-gyeol didn’t even glance up.
His eyes were lowered, focused solely on the script.
His concentration was almost frightening.
Han-geon bowed lightly to the chief manager and quietly took a seat beside her.
Yujin, who had been busily fixing Eun-gyeol’s hair, spotted Han-geon and widened her eyes in delight.
But Han-geon quickly raised his index finger to his lips with a smile.
Half because he didn’t want to interrupt Eun-gyeol, and half because he wanted to surprise him later.
Thankfully, Yujin understood immediately and pretended nothing was amiss, returning her focus to Eun-gyeol’s hair.
The other team members greeted Han-geon only with their eyes and continued with makeup.
The atmosphere, which had briefly stirred, settled back down.
Han-geon didn’t know how many minutes passed.
Finally, unable to wait any longer, the chief manager spoke carefully.
“Eun-gyeol.
The new manager’s here—would you like to say hello?”
“Later.”
The voice was cold, almost indifferent.
Of course, Eun-gyeol didn’t know it was him, but even so, it was the kind of response that would make anyone feel hurt.
Seeing him not even spare a glance no matter who came in felt oddly unfamiliar.
“All right, then greet him after you finish the script.
I’ll have him sit here.”
The chief manager replied calmly, as if fully used to Eun-gyeol’s attitude.
Han-geon followed her playful smile with one of his own and quietly watched Eun-gyeol.
Eun-gyeol’s gaze, wholly absorbed in the script, never wavered.
He must have read it dozens of times already, memorized it, digested it down to the cellular level.
And yet he read it again like this to retrace every moment of contemplation and research he’d poured into the role.
His eyes scanning the worn script were relentless and sharp, as though he wouldn’t miss even the smallest detail.
He was so focused that he didn’t notice Han-geon sitting in the corner behind him at all.
At last, Eun-gyeol lifted his eyes from the script and closed them without looking anywhere else.
From experience, Han-geon knew he was image-making now, so he didn’t even breathe loudly.
Those who had been biting their lips to suppress laughter at seeing Han-geon grew solemn as well.
The silence stretched on.
The only sounds in the container were the occasional hum of a hair dryer and the soft rustle of staff moving about.
At times like this, he really feels like a different person.
Han-geon mulled the thought absentmindedly.
His heart fluttered.
From now on, he would be able to watch this side of Eun-gyeol up close again.
“…..”
Just as Han-geon was about to turn his gaze away, Eun-gyeol opened his eyes.
Their eyes met head-on in the mirror, and Eun-gyeol’s widened in shock.
“…What?”
He shot to his feet.
“Han-geon.
Why—why are you here?
When did you get here?
If you came, you should’ve said something!”
“I told you.
Earlier.”
“When?”
“That the new manager arrived.”
“What?
You—you mean… so what I’m understanding right now… is it right?”
“Yeah.
It’s right.”
“…I’m your manager again.
Let’s work well together from now—”
Before he could finish, Eun-gyeol pulled him into a fierce hug.
“H-Hey.
People are watching….”
“It’s just our team.
Who cares?
More importantly…
Thank you, Han-geon.
I know… it couldn’t have been an easy decision for you.”
“It wasn’t hard.
You told me to do what I wanted.
This is what I really want to do.”
“Staying by your side, taking care of you, protecting you.
That’s when I’m happiest.”
“I’ll really… I’ll really do my best, Han-geon.
I’ll become an actor I’m not ashamed of.
Thank you for coming back to me like this.
Really… thank you….”
Before he could finish, Eun-gyeol grabbed Han-geon’s shoulders again.
The team members watching burst into playful cheers.
It was pandemonium—applause, whistles, like they were watching a proposal scene.
The red spreading across Han-geon’s face traveled past his ears and down his neck.
But there was no way he could push away the love burrowing into him like a puppy over mere embarrassment.
As Eun-gyeol rubbed his nose into Han-geon’s short hair and whined for affection, Han-geon could only smile and accept him.
Watching Eun-gyeol cling to Han-geon, unwilling to let go, Yujin muttered,
“A true successful fan.
A real one.”
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