Preparation (3)
“Write slowly. If you make a mistake, you have to start over.”
I couldn't even make a peep as I gripped the pen with trembling hands and scribbled away. In the end, I chose the contract.
Lee Ji-yeon herself had sworn she wouldn't file the marriage registration on her own whim, but who would believe that? Even before meeting the goddess, I would've freaked out—but now, with no clue when Hyeon Ha-yeon or Baek Ga-eun might snap, tying myself to Lee Ji-yeon was too dangerous.
When I told her furious self that I'd sign the contract instead, she didn't look pleased. She shoved the pen and paper at me, telling me to write whatever she said, while pocketing the remaining marriage registration forms. Clearly, she hadn't given up yet.
I finally finished the form she'd dictated and handed it over.
“...I-I wrote it.”
Lee Ji-yeon took the contract, skimmed it, and flashed a satisfied smile.
“I'll fill in my part, so wait a sec.”
She hopped off the sofa, sat at the table, and started filling it out without hesitation. A moment later, she said she'd grab something and headed into the master bedroom. I craned my neck to peek at what she'd written, but she came right back—with some weird stick in her hand.
She sat down, scanned the contract again, and handed it to me.
“Read it over. If there's anything you don't like, speak up.”
I took the contract and sneaked a glance at her. She was tapping that stick thing, staring me down. I bowed my head again and slowly read through it.
1. Kim Cho-in shall provide Lee Ji-yeon with oral service three times daily...
2. Kim Cho-in shall not use contraception during relations with Lee Ji-yeon...
3. Kim Cho-in must grant Lee Ji-yeon three unconditional wishes each month.
4. If Kim Cho-in breaches this contract, he shall register marriage with Lee Ji-yeon.
5. This contract is voided if Kim Cho-in impregnates Lee Ji-yeon.
The first clause alone made my head spin. And if I failed to meet the quota, it carried over to the next day. She was basically saying she'd drain me dry until I dropped dead.
I let out a deep sigh and kept reading.
This contract was unsignable. It was worse than handcuffs—more like a marriage certificate on steroids.
As I racked my brain for a way out, a strange sound caught my ear.
Click! Click!
Lee Ji-yeon was fiddling with that stick. Curious, I watched as she pressed it against her thumb.
Click!
A moment later, a bead of blood welled up on her finger. She grabbed the contract, smeared it on the signature line, and stamped down hard.
I was dumbfounded by how fast it happened. She inspected the bloody print, smiled in satisfaction, and handed it back. A perfect red thumbprint glared up at me.
She wasn't hearing any objections.
...What do I do? Should I just go with the marriage registration? No, that might really get me locked up. This was basically a slave contract. I'd navigated everything so far— I couldn't just roll over now...
Click!
The clicking snapped me out of it. Lee Ji-yeon reached out to me.
“I'll do it for you, so give me your hand.”
...Should I cling to the window now? Pull out a knife? Beg for death—would she let me off?
“...Hurry up.”
No matter how hard I thought, no escape came to mind. My hand shook as I extended it slowly, and she yanked it over.
“Hold still...”
In the end, all my agonizing was pointless.
Click!
*
From the day I signed that unequal contract, Lee Ji-yeon started squeezing me dry.
She didn't interfere with work, at least. But after wrapping up, I'd rush over to service her. She only let me go the next day, so it felt like we were living together again after ages.
I'd been fine handling her all day before, but doing it every single day was wearing me down.
Today was Hyeon Ha-yeon's pictorial shoot. Drained from the morning, I sat there dazed when she came over, looking worried.
“Oppa, you okay?”
“...Huh? Oh, yeah... I'm fine.”
She jumped up and started kneading my shoulders. Her pressure was just right—not too hard, not too soft. It felt great.
As I savored her touch, a staffer approached.
“Hyeon Ha-yeon-ssi, time to shoot.”
She pulled away with a bright smile.
“Oh, oppa, I'll be back!”
“...Sure.”
I watched her head into the set with the staff, thinking:
...Hyeon Ha-yeon might actually be one of the nice ones?
She hadn't shown any weird vibes since then. Seeing her so bright made me wonder if I'd imagined it all—but then I glanced at my left hand, still wrapped tight, and knew better.
For her first pictorial, Hyeon Ha-yeon showed no nerves, lighting up the set with her energy. Her sharp features contrasted with her sunny, bubbly demeanor, and it was already winning people over. Rumors were spreading:
CG Entertainment's got a major rookie.
The newbie Choi Kang himself is raising to follow in Lee Ji-yeon's footsteps.
The rep, who rarely meddled in debuts, personally picking her song fueled the hype. CG Entertainment decided to play it cool—no flooding the press, just mystery marketing until debut.
The shoot ran through tomorrow, but someone else would cover for me then. Baek Ga-eun's first audition overlapped, so I'd be with her.
Hyeon Ha-yeon pouted a bit when I mentioned it but quickly smiled and told me to take care.
The photographer—someone I'd met during Shining Boys shoots—seemed taken with her, praising nonstop.
“Yeah, that's it... perfect! Shoulders a bit... lower!”
Dressed up all sleek instead of her usual casuals, she looked stunning. The company opted to push her bright personality over her sharp image, so today's look was a vibrant dress and soft makeup she wouldn't normally wear.
Checking shots from behind the scenes backstage, they came out great. I felt oddly proud. The pure, innocent vibe matched her debut track Pure Love perfectly.
Later poses drew rave reviews from the crew, keeping things lively.
“Great work!”
Hyeon Ha-yeon bowed deeply, beaming, and the team smiled back warmly.
The photographer sidled up quietly.
“Kim, you coming tomorrow too?”
“...Someone else will handle it.”
He pulled something from his pocket.
“Did I give you my card last time?”
“...I'll take it.”
He grinned and handed it over.
“That girl's gonna make it big. Call me first, yeah?”
I pocketed it.
“You bet.”
He'd approached because I was her manager. With Shining Boys, he'd just said they were decent and left it—but handing over his card and asking to work together meant he really liked shooting her.
Heading home with Hyeon Ha-yeon—other staff had gone local—we drove alone. Soft radio filled the quiet car.
Slumped in the passenger seat, she gazed out the window, tired.
At a stoplight, her voice trembled faintly.
“...Oppa, how was I?”
I glanced over; she was still staring outside.
“...You were amazing. The photographer loved you—gave me his card.”
She turned, meeting my eyes.
“...How about you, oppa?”
Her faint makeup scent tickled my nose. Those shaky eyes made her look even prettier than usual.
“...You looked beautiful.”
Suddenly shy, I looked away. The light changed. I accelerated, following the car ahead.