Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: 41. Parade of Blockbusters
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Woo Ji-hyun cautiously called out to Elder from the first-floor entrance.
It wasn't his first time, but the villa's upscale vibe still made him shrink back a little.
He knew the monthly rent here was insanely high.
-You're here?
"Yeah, open the door."
-Come on in.
No sooner had Elder finished speaking than the reinforced glass door slid open.
Woo Ji-hyun headed to Elder's place with growing familiarity.
Click!
The elevator doors opened, followed immediately by the sound of a door unlocking.
Elder had come out to greet him at the entryway.
But the sight made Woo Ji-hyun tilt his head.
"Did you do something wrong to me?"
"Huh? No?"
"Then why the red-carpet treatment? This isn't like you."
"Hahaha."
Elder let out an awkward laugh under Woo Ji-hyun's suspicious glare.
He hadn't done anything wrong, but he definitely needed to make a good impression today.
"Spit it out while I'm still in a forgiving mood. Come clean now, and I'll go easy on you."
"It's not like that. I just wanted to talk something over with you."
"Hmm."
Elder spoke with sincerity.
But Woo Ji-hyun wasn't buying it.
It was just too out of character.
"Why are you still standing out here? Did you forget which floor I live on or something?"
"Huh?"
Through the wide-open door appeared Bini, with her fantastical proportions—the object of envy for countless male fans.
The absurd scene left Woo Ji-hyun, who had been glaring at Elder, frozen in a daze.
Seeing a female idol for the first time—and a visual center at that—had left him utterly speechless.
"Oh, is this him?"
"Yeah, my friend Ji-hyun. Full name Woo Ji-hyun."
"Woo Ji-hyun... Why does that name ring a bell, even though we've never met?"
"Heh heh heh. Bound to happen. He got a bit famous last year. Blew up on SNS too."
Elder grinned meaningfully at Bini's puzzled head-tilt.
As if it were the most natural reaction in the world.
"You must've seen him pop up on my Instagram a lot."
"Nah, that's not it."
"It's not?"
"Nope. You've seen this guy somewhere else too."
Elder slung an arm around Woo Ji-hyun's still-statue-like shoulders.
Bini narrowed her eyes, flicking her gaze between her boyfriend and Woo Ji-hyun like a detective.
"Hmm. Doesn't ring any bells."
"Hint: Woo-hyung."
"We took pics together on Insta and Facebook... Wait, what?"
Bini, who had been squinting at Woo Ji-hyun, suddenly looked shocked.
She'd just remembered where she'd seen him.
"Fantasy novel writer! The Kakao Page ad!"
"More precisely, genre fiction. Fantasy's one subgenre in that category. Not worth splitting hairs, though—same difference."
"Nice to meet you. Woo Ji-hyun."
Snapping out of it as Bini reacted, Woo Ji-hyun bowed politely.
He still looked stunned, though.
Meeting Bini was surprising enough, but here, at Elder's place? That blew his mind.
Especially in her casual clothes, stepping out of Elder's apartment—it all added up to one conclusion.
"No need to introduce my girlfriend, right?"
"Of course not. Not knowing PriOs's visual ace Bini would make you a spy. Personally one of my favorite groups too."
"Ooh, that makes this easier then?"
"Easier for what?"
Both Elder and Bini perked up at Woo Ji-hyun's words.
It felt like they'd gotten off on the right foot.
"Truth is, I didn't invite you."
"I did! I wanted to meet you, Ji-hyun oppa!"
"Ahem!"
Woo Ji-hyun's face flushed red in an instant.
He'd only known Elder as his celebrity contact—having a girl group member call him "oppa" with sparkling eyes was a shock.
Now he got why uncle fans went into cardiac arrest over it.
"Hey, hey, she's my girlfriend. No falling for your sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law? It's je-su-ssi. But you wanted to meet me?"
"Yes! I begged oppa to introduce me to Cain-nim."
Swish.
Woo Ji-hyun's gaze snapped to Elder.
He'd acted like he'd keep it secret from everyone, yet he'd spilled to her first. Unbelievable.
"Ahaha. Well, see... it just kinda..."
"This is ridiculous."
"Uh, um. I wasn't gonna say anything at first, but then..."
Caught between Woo Ji-hyun and Bini, Elder floundered helplessly.
He knew he had to handle this perfectly—no playing favorites.
Siding with one meant backlash from the other.
"It was me who begged, Ji-hyun oppa. Just once, let me meet him. Oppa refused at first, but given the circumstances... Blame me instead!"
"......"
Bini stepped in with aegyo-laden sincerity.
But Woo Ji-hyun's prior blank expression had vanished, replaced by icy detachment.
The chill in the air was palpable.
"Uh, so..."
Bini faltered at the sudden shift.
Then she recalled Elder's earlier words.
Something different from ordinary guys.
Not a typical dude—an artist from another field entirely.
The word that had come to mind: eccentric.
'Or "maniac," like Jangsudong Madman.'
She gulped at the belated memory of those six syllables.
Luckily, she had backup.
"I'll apologize. Take it all out on me. My bad entirely."
"Sigh. What can I even say? I'm just reaping what I sowed."
"Sorry, Ji-hyun."
"I'm sorry too. Should've told you upfront."
Elder and Bini apologized earnestly.
Woo Ji-hyun finally shook his head.
Pushing further would just make him the weirdo.
Plus, he got Elder's position now.
Even briefly, he'd seen how much Elder liked Bini. Time to ease up.
"Fine. No point getting mad after the fact. It was gonna come out eventually anyway. Just didn't expect it this soon."
"Only Bini knows. Not even my manager hyung or label rep. Her agency either."
"That's a relief at least."
"Let's head inside."
They'd been in the hallway this whole time. Elder smiled and led them in.
Time to talk properly at home.
Thud.
Once inside, Elder handed Woo Ji-hyun an iced Americano.
He knew from habit Woo Ji-hyun favored them—no need to ask.
Woo Ji-hyun downed it naturally.
"Um, can I ask something?"
"Sure, go ahead. You're family now, je-su-ssi."
"Ah......"
Bini's cheeks burned.
She'd glossed over it earlier in the chaos, but hearing it clearly hit different.
Close friends knew about them, but no one had ever called her "je-su-ssi." She fanned her hot face.
"Je-su-ssi? It's noona!"
"Noona's for your elder's wife. You my elder?"
"My birthday's earlier."
"Nope. Mine's a month sooner. Checked on the way over."
"No way!"
Elder gaped.
He hadn't expected a preemptive lookup.
"Guess the saying's true—guys never grow up."
Meanwhile, Bini used their childish banter to shake off her fluster.
Or rather, their lameness snapped her out of it.
"Guys prize pride above all, especially with friends."
"Damn right."
"So in that vein, you owe me big time. I'll remember this and collect with interest later."
"Fair. Note it down. Rare opportunity."
Bini stifled a laugh at the two, perfectly in sync like true bros.
Yet it fascinated her.
This side of Elder was new.
'Elder doesn't have many friends in the industry.'
Lots of acquaintances, but true pals? Handful at best.
None this casual, though.
As far as she knew, he'd first met Woo Ji-hyun last year, when Woo-hyung returned for an A-match.
"Wonder if I'll ever cash it in."
"What? Hey! I'm the top rapper! One of Korea's hottest right now! And you say no use?"
"Yeah, no use on our end. Except maybe posting pics on SNS."
"Call me for your fan signing. Bestsellers do 'em all the time, right? Kyobo in Gangnam?"
Elder said tentatively.
He read books, but didn't follow the scene closely.
"Dunno. Not my league yet. Genre lit gets looked down on. Some authors do signings, but nothing massive."
"Then be the first. God of Martial Arts, Return's out in Taiwan, right? Books everywhere in big stores."
"Would be nice. Hope that Taiwan breeze turns into a Korean typhoon."
"Could be a golden opportunity."
Elder's eyes sparkled.
Bini, quietly listening beside them, lit up too.
Unlike earlier, this felt mature—relief.
"Was gonna ask anyway. Why'd you call me? Guessed it might be lyricist stuff, but Bini-ssi connection's throwing me."
"I'll explain. See, I'm prepping a mini album. As solo artist Bini, not PriOs. Got the tracks, but I need lyrics."
"Me?"
"Yes!"
Woo Ji-hyun blinked.
Totally out of left field.
He reflexively glanced at Elder.
"Helping her out here. This mini's huge for Bini."
"Why me for something that important? Plenty of ace lyricists out there. PriOs's agency isn't Big 3, but solid size. They got top-tier ones, right?"