X
Dohoon returned home, showered quickly, and fell into a deep sleep. Though the shoot hadn’t been particularly long, a full day out had left his body feeling incredibly heavy.
He slept soundly, without a single toss or turn, and upon waking early the next morning, immediately checked his phone. Thanks to the viewership ratings sent via text from both his agency and the production company, he was spared the effort of searching for them himself.
The premiere viewership ratings for ‘Moonlit Stream’ were higher than Dohoon had anticipated. It marked the highest debut rating for any Wednesday-Thursday drama released that year.
Dohoon, who had felt a considerable burden about returning to dramas after a long hiatus, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Congratulatory messages were already flooding his phone.
Perhaps due to the excellent performance, positive articles about the drama continued to pour in. Given Dohoon’s significant role, praise for his leading performance was incessant.
As he meticulously checked each article link sent by his agency staff, Dohoon couldn’t suppress a sense of pride before getting out of bed. While the favorable reviews were certainly welcome, he knew he couldn’t afford to bask in complacency.
While eating a quick breakfast before leaving the house, Dohoon instinctively searched for articles about Jaejeong. He felt several times more nervous than when reading about himself, so much so that he was cautious even about reading the headlines.
Despite knowing that Jaejeong had performed well, he couldn’t help but feel anxious, wondering if anyone might have found even the smallest flaw.
[Jaejeong, ‘The Birth of a Next-Generation Acting Idol’]
[First Acting Challenge with ‘Moonlit Stream,’ Jaejeong’s Report Card: An A?]
[‘Moonlit Stream’ Premiere, FaceA’s Jaejeong… A Scene-Stealer Who Captures Attention]
Fortunately, the first page was filled with positive articles. Although his appearance was brief, lasting only about five minutes, Jaejeong’s face was captured from the very first scene as the setting shifted to the Joseon era, leaving a strong impression.
“Ha, what a relief.”
It was truly surprising that he felt far more delighted by Jaejeong receiving attention than by the higher-than-expected viewership ratings or the public’s high regard for his own abilities as a lead actor. ‘Should I start considering my main occupation a Jaejeong stan rather than an actor?’
As Dohoon pondered this seriously, he suddenly burst into laughter, as if the thought had never crossed his mind.
****
Having finished filming before midnight, Jaejeong, with a tired body, climbed into his car. Still, not extending the shoot past the day meant he would have time to rest back at the dorm, which made it bearable.
He had heard Sejin complain about the hardships of drama filming countless times, but experiencing it firsthand was truly no joke. He had thought he could easily endure it, having typically survived on barely three hours of sleep during comebacks.
However, the rhythm of drama filming was much longer, making it feel entirely different. Moreover, it was no exaggeration to say that drama filming was a continuous wait, with most of the time spent on standby.
It wasn’t over after shooting his scenes; he often had to wait for hours until the next scene. If shoots were scheduled consecutively, he would be stuck on set all day.
Feeling a sense of quiet solitude on the way home, Jaejeong turned on his phone and habitually entered his fan cafe. He checked the new posts at least once a day, and occasionally left messages himself.
Thanks to the recent drama premiere, many supportive messages congratulating Jaejeong on his acting debut had been posted. It was an unusual situation, and Jaejeong was secretly thrilled.
Clicking on each post and examining it carefully, Jaejeong felt it would be a shame to simply move on. The thought suddenly occurred to him: ‘What if I turned on K-App for just a moment on the way back?’
In truth, he wasn’t particularly eloquent, so he rarely thought about going live when he was alone. There was also the slightly timid worry that not many viewers would tune in.
“Hyung, can I turn on K-App now?” Jaejeong asked his manager, who was driving, out of the blue.
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“Then contact Youngjoo and ask them to monitor it for you.”
“Okay.”
The manager, unable to focus on Jaejeong’s live broadcast while driving, immediately sent a message to a company staff member. A reply confirming receipt came back shortly.
Jaejeong quickly checked his face with his phone camera, accessed the app, and started the broadcast. Though he had turned it on impulsively, he didn’t expect many viewers since it was an unannounced live stream.
Before long, the number of viewers grew, and the chat window became busy. Jaejeong was secretly surprised by how many fans tuned in, despite his low expectations.
“Hello everyone.”
For once, more Korean than foreign languages appeared in the chat window. Greetings about enjoying the drama streamed in. Jaejeong watched the rapidly scrolling chat, then curved his lips into a smile.
“Yes, filming just finished. I’m on my way home now.”
His voice, half-sleepy, and his slow manner of speech were different from the image he projected on stage or in dramas. Contrary to Jaejeong’s expectation that only his usual fans would join, many first-time viewers seemed to be present, with numerous comments expressing adoration for his voice.
[FaceA_Love: Oppa, please go live on K-App more often, I’m cryingㅠㅠㅠ]
“Ah, I don’t usually go live alone, do I? I’m sorry. I’m not very good with words….”
Since Jaejeong’s solo broadcasts were rare, his fans’ disappointment was naturally greater.
“When I’m alone, I’m not sure what to talk about. That’s why I haven’t gone live much.”
[Jae_Gu: You can just turn it on and sit there quietly…]
[PlanningJaejeongDept: Jaejeong, why are you trying to do anything? Your face is the content!]
Jaejeong let out a small laugh at the fans’ words, unsure if they were joking or serious. Simultaneously, the number of hearts increased at a frightening speed.
Since it was only a brief stream on the way home, the broadcast didn’t last very long. Even the fans, who would usually try every trick to keep him, couldn’t bring themselves to insist he continue, seeing the exhaustion etched on Jaejeong’s face.
[TSdaddy: Jaejeong, you worked hard today]
[TSdaddy: Have sweet dreams]
At that moment, a greeting in the chat window caught Jaejeong’s eye. It was a common greeting, but a strange sense of déjà vu made Jaejeong tilt his head, then smile and wave.
“Thank you for watching. Please make sure to watch ‘Moonlit Stream’ live tomorrow. Good night.”
After a lengthy farewell, Jaejeong ended the broadcast and leaned back against the seat.
****
On his way home, Dohoon received a K-Live notification from FaceA and quietly pulled out his earphones. His manager was driving, and the styling team in the back were all sound asleep.
Just in case, Dohoon lowered the earphone volume and connected to the live stream. He hadn’t checked the notification properly, assuming it was just the other FaceA members, but it was an unexpected solo live broadcast by Jaejeong.
He, too, appeared to be in a car on his way home. Dohoon immediately started clicking hearts repeatedly. It was practically a habit by now.
With the volume turned down, he couldn’t hear Jaejeong’s voice clearly, so he ended up turning it all the way up again.
[“Is drama filming difficult? Hmm, honestly, it would be a lie to say it’s not… It is difficult. But not unbearable. It’s fun.”]
Jaejeong’s uniquely slow manner of speaking tickled Dohoon’s ears. ‘As expected, it is difficult.’ He knew it must feel several times harder trying to adapt to an unfamiliar environment.
Suddenly feeling sorry for Jaejeong, Dohoon seriously considered whether he should send another round of nourishing food to the set.
[“All the seniors are very kind to me. Since I’m new, they take good care of me and pay a lot of attention.”]
Watching Jaejeong respond softly, with his head tilted slightly, made Dohoon feel as if he were on a video call with him. The thought itself was so embarrassing that Dohoon inadvertently flushed.
Just then, he saw his own name appear in the chat window. ‘Are you close with Han Dohoon?’ ‘Does Han Dohoon take good care of you?’
Dohoon was flustered by the blatant questions mentioning his name. ‘Is it normal for them to ask so directly?’ Jaejeong seemed to have read the same chat, as he was staring intently at the screen.
Dohoon waited with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, wondering what Jaejeong would say, but he remained silent, offering no answer. Dohoon felt a sudden sense of disappointment.
As if preparing to end the broadcast, Jaejeong offered a languid farewell. Dohoon, who hadn’t typed a single thing throughout the stream, belatedly moved his fingers. He felt no pressure, knowing it would surely be buried and swept away by the rapidly scrolling chat.
[TSdaddy: Jaejeong, you worked hard today]
[TSdaddy: Have sweet dreams]
Dohoon sincerely hoped that Jaejeong’s night would be peaceful.
After the live stream ended, Dohoon closed his eyes for a moment until he arrived home. He thought he had only closed his eyes for a brief second, but then heard his manager’s voice saying they had arrived home.
Waking groggily, Dohoon, with his tired body, headed into his house. The sound of the front door opening was met by Taeshik’s heavy footsteps approaching from afar.
Despite having been with a pet sitter all day, Taeshik whimpered continuously, as if resenting Dohoon’s absence. Dohoon quickly knelt down and roughly stroked Taeshik’s fur.
“My princess, did you miss Daddy? I’m sorry I’m late. Did you eat well and poop well?”
“Woof!”
“Good girl, good girl. Can Daddy go inside now?”
Taeshik walked closely beside Dohoon as he headed to the bedroom, following him like a shadow. Watching his big tail wag busily, Dohoon couldn’t help but smile.
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