Chapter 49: The Prince Under the Lights

While Ji-tae was getting his makeup done, Woo-joo diligently walked around the set, greeting the staff.

Some of them reacted as if they had already been informed in advance by the production team of that Woo-joo would be coming as a temporary manager.

After finishing his greetings to the filming staff, Woo-joo finally fixed his gaze on the back of someone who was scanning through a computer at a workstation set up to one side.

That person was his most important target.

“Hello, I’m Kang Woo-joo, the temporary manager for actor Won Ji-tae this time.”

“Ah, I heard about you from the production team beforehand. I’m Baek Su-hyeok, in charge of this shoot.”

Baek Su-hyeok, the photographer leading this shoot, smiled lightly as he returned Woo-joo’s greeting.

To be honest, Woo-joo hadn’t realized this man was the main photographer.

Then again, he looked to be only in his mid to late twenties at most.

Writer Han Se-mi, who had come along earlier, had quietly mentioned that Baek Su-hyeok was already quite famous in this field.

He had gained recognition at a young age for his sensuous photography, and a pictorial he shot in the past with a rookie model had become a massive hit.

The writer joked that if you lined up all the models who wanted to work with him now, the line would probably stretch endlessly.

“By the way, maybe it’s because you’re a volleyball player, but you’re really tall.

Your proportions rival most models.

If you had been a model, I think you would’ve been hugely successful.”

Woo-joo gave an awkward smile at Baek’s words.

“I only know how to play sports.”

“If you ever consider it after retiring, you should give it a try.

With that face, you’d definitely succeed in this industry too.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Baek handed Woo-joo the materials scattered across the worktable.

“These are today’s pictorial concepts.

Please look them over and pass them to Ji-tae as well.

There are quite a lot of outfits today, so the shoot might run longer than expected.

As you probably know, he gets a bit sensitive when he’s tired, so I’ll leave that part to you.”

“Ah, yes….”

Woo-joo awkwardly accepted the documents.

There was nothing difficult about what Baek had just said.

All he had to do was review them once and deliver them to Ji-tae.

He already knew that Ji-tae became sensitive when tired through the manager.

Still, what surprised him slightly was that this Baek also knew that fact.

And the way he casually called him Ji-tae.

From that short exchange alone, Woo-joo could infer that the two were acquainted.

“Are you… close with Won Ji-tae?”

“Hm? Ah, well, yes.

We worked together when he was active as a model.

We met quite often when he was still a rookie.”

It was an ordinary answer.

Nothing grand or special about it.

Ji-tae had been in the entertainment industry for quite a while now, so of course he would know people here and there.

If anything, Woo-joo felt awkward for even asking.

As he walked toward the waiting room, Woo-joo read through the materials Baek had given him.

All the outfits for this pictorial were sponsored by famous luxury brands, and every single one of them looked expensive at a glance.

Even Woo-joo, who knew nothing about fashion or styling, recognized the brands.

“Won Ji-tae, this….”

After knocking and opening the door, he saw Ji-tae in the distance.

His thick hair was swept back messily, giving off a strangely delinquent image.

Beneath his neat forehead, his dark eyebrows and sharp eyes emphasized that feeling even more.

For some reason, Woo-joo thought flashy piercings would suit him well.

He was wearing a low-saturation charcoal suit, but it was far from ordinary.

Ji-tae wore only the suit jacket with nothing underneath.

It was a suit, yet styled without any sense of formality.

A phrase from a fantasy novel Kang Saet-byeol had once excitedly shown him came to mind.

‘A reckless prince with a dazzling face who cares nothing for decorum.’

If that novel were ever adapted into live action, casting the Ji-tae standing here would probably be more than fitting.

Ji-tae, who had been blankly watching the stylist fasten his buttons, widened his eyes when he noticed Woo-joo.

“Kang Woo-joo.”

“Ah, yeah.

The photographer asked me to give you this.”

Woo-joo, who had been staring absentmindedly at him from the doorway, handed over what he was holding.

“Okay.”

Even while receiving touches from the surrounding staff, Ji-tae flipped through the materials with practiced ease and focused.

When Woo-joo had gone to pick him up for an interview shoot last time, Ji-tae had said it himself.

He had exposed his forehead and put on makeup, so why couldn’t Woo-joo recognize him.

To be honest, Woo-joo really hadn’t noticed any difference back then.

Even during the poster shoot, the makeup hadn’t been heavy and the clothes had been fairly ordinary, so it hadn’t left much impression.

But now, why couldn’t he take his eyes off him.

Was it because it felt new.

Or because the makeup was heavier.

Or because his hair was completely slicked back, revealing his smooth forehead in full.

Or perhaps because that focused gaze felt unfamiliar.

He wasn’t sure, but it was definitely different from before.

Maybe it was because he was only used to seeing him relaxed at home, Woo-joo thought to himself.

“Kang Woo-joo.

Do you have something to say?”

“Huh?

No.”

Perhaps feeling Woo-joo standing beside him, Ji-tae spoke first.

“You’ve been staring at me.”

“When did I ever keep staring at you.”

It was true.

He had been staring.

After all, what was he supposed to do when his eyes kept drifting back.

If Kang Saet-byeol knew a reckless prince stood before his eyes in real life, she might be thrilled.

With that dazzling face, and those incomprehensible clothes.

Why on earth wasn’t he wearing anything under the jacket.

Because of that, everything from his neck to the top of his chest was completely bare.

“I told you, that’s excessive self-consciousness.”

“If it’s not, then it’s not.

Why are you picking a fight.”

At their childish bickering, quiet laughter broke out among the staff nearby.

“Oppa, we’re done.”

“Thanks, Seol-ah.”

Seol-ah gave Woo-joo a small nod and stepped aside.

“They said it’ll probably start in about ten minutes.”

“Okay.”

“But seeing you like this, you really do look like a different person.”

“In a good way or a bad way?”

“In a good way.

If someone’s complimenting you, accept it nicely.”

Ji-tae cleared his throat and covered his mouth.

It was something he had been doing often lately.

As if trying to hide the corners of his lips that kept twitching upward on their own.

“This is how I’ve always been.

You just ignore me all the time.”

“When have I ever ignored you.”

Woo-joo let out a small scoff.

Just then, a staff member entered and informed them that preparations had finished earlier than expected and they would start soon.

“I’ve thought this consistently since the first time I saw you.”

Woo-joo said casually as he walked toward the door.

“What?”

“That you’re handsome.”

He grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

The bustling noise of the studio slowly filtered in through the opening.

“Ah, but I think you suit your hair down better.”

Or maybe not.

Muttering idly, Woo-joo stepped outside first.

Behind him, Seol-ah, gathering various items, tilted her head as she approached.

Ji-tae was still standing by the door without going out.

“Oppa?

Aren’t you going?”

“Seol-ah, for my next outfit…”

“Yes?”

“Let my hair down.”

“Uh… okay.”

Even without him asking, she had already planned to adjust his hair to match the next outfit.

She briefly furrowed her brows, wondering if he had pointed it out just in case she hadn’t noted it.

But he wasn’t usually that meticulous.

Ji-tae cleared his throat strangely and flung the door open before heading out.

“But why is his face so red.

Is it hot.”

As soon as Ji-tae stepped out, a slight tension settled over the once-bustling set.

Even Woo-joo, a rookie manager, could feel it, so everyone was probably sharpening their focus before the official shoot began.

“Hyung, have you been well?”

Ji-tae approached Baek and greeted him warmly.

Woo-joo, who had been chatting lightly with staff while organizing snacks, naturally turned his head.

“Oh, Won Ji-tae.

Long time no see.”

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar tone of address.

“So you got famous and stopped contacting me?”

“When did I ever do that.

You’re busier than I am.”

So Baek must be older.

How much older could he be.

Woo-joo’s eyes caught Ji-tae’s face as he softly lifted the corners of his lips.

Woo-joo had been told he lacked awareness by his younger sister Saet-byeol, by his teammates, and even during his time playing overseas.

And just now, Won Ji-tae had said something similar too.