Hero, the Rice Shop Daughter Hyeon Ha-yeon (3)
The bustling waiting room fell silent in an instant.
"Who was it?"
Even those who didn't know Lee Ji-yeon well could sense the quiet fury simmering in her voice.
"Why isn't anyone talking? Who was it?"
The Shining Boys members, tense at the arrival of their most intimidating senior, just rolled their eyes around without a word, while everyone else in the room watched only Lee Ji-yeon and me.
In this situation, I was the only one who could rein her in, and with filming starting soon, I had to get her out of there.
"...Ji-yeon, let's talk outside."
"Why? Say it here."
"There are people around, so maybe not here..."
"Say it."
Seeing her retort like she was daring me to say something I couldn't in front of others, I let out a sigh without thinking, and she glared at me as if that had lit her fuse even more.
"Ha..."
"Kim Cho-in, did you just sigh? Do you think I'm overreacting or something...?"
"Ji-yeon, let's go out and talk."
"..."
She stopped mid-sentence at my interruption, glared at me one more time, then turned and stormed out.
"I'll be right back. Get ready."
I told the Shining Boys kids to prepare for filming and followed her out.
I kept following her out of the waiting room, but she didn't stop until we reached the parking lot.
I looked around—aside from near the waiting room, there weren't many people, and the lot itself was deserted.
This should be fine to talk here, right?
"...Ji-yeon, that thing earlier? It's nothing big."
"..."
Ignoring me, she marched straight into the company van.
"Ha..."
I vowed to smack each of those prankster Shining Boys kids later and climbed in after her.
She was sitting in the seat, glaring at me.
She always stared like this whenever something bothered her, but today it sent chills down my spine more than usual.
Pretending to be unfazed, I sat next to her and spoke up.
"Ji-yeon, that was just the kids messing around."
"..."
But she kept her eyes wide, glaring as if such excuses didn't even register.
"...Look,"
"I heard everything."
"Huh?"
"I heard your whole conversation with Choi Dae-pyo."
"W-what? What conversation?"
"Still playing dumb?"
"I heard which bitch you've been meeting up with."
"Ji-yeon, that's not—"
"Cho-in, do you really want to see me lose it?"
"..."
"You said you wouldn't meet any other girls after breaking up with me."
"..."
"Speak. Make another lame excuse, and I don't know what I'll do."
"...I don't know how you overheard, but I've decided to manage some rookies."
"..."
She fell silent, as if willing to hear me out, but her eyes bored into mine, demanding the truth.
"You remember that rice shop girl we met at my place? I just made her an offer."
"..."
"It's not even set in stone yet. I just met her, had a meal, introduced the company, and took her profile. Planning to get permission from the president first."
"..."
"You know better than anyone why I've been stuck as a roadie for nine years without a single promotion."
Her suspicious glare softened just a fraction—a tiny crack.
I had to keep the momentum to put out this fire and convince her for smoother sailing later.
I grabbed her hand tight, locked eyes, and continued.
"Sure, I make decent money, but I can't roadie forever. So I figured I'd manage a few idols on the side. You remember—that rice shop girl looked model material, so that's why I approached her."
Whether my sincerity got through, her gaze softened more.
"Of course, if she turns it down, I'll find someone else. She's just a candidate."
Calling Ha-yeon nothing special brought a glint of satisfaction to Ji-yeon's eyes.
It had eased somewhat, but I needed the finishing blow to fully defuse her.
I intertwined our fingers naturally, caressing her hand as I said,
"My only celebrity is you, Lee Ji-yeon..."
...Did it work?
"Fine... So no one else but her?"
It landed.
"Well... there might be more candidates. Could be guys, could be girls, but either way, I have to bring in ones with potential to succeed."
"Okay... I'll trust you."
Her anger finally subsided.
I released her hand with a small smile.
"Thanks, Ji-yeon..."
Thank goodness she saw my sincerity.
"Then kiss me."
"Huh?"
"Like before. A deep one."
"J-Ji-yeon, a kiss is..."
Sensing my refusal, her face went blank again.
She parted her lips slightly and stuck out her tongue.
The kiss she meant wasn't some innocent peck—it was the beastly, tongue-first makeout she loved.
"...Ji-yeon..."
She tilted her head back a bit, arms open wide as if daring me not to.
Memories flooded back of our dating days—whenever she stuck out her tongue and spread her arms, I'd fall into her embrace like I was possessed, kissing her sloppily.
My face burned.
Her slightly parted lips caught my eye, glossy pink from makeup.
Noticing my stare, she extended her tongue further.
Once more, possessed, I fell into her arms and devoured her tongue and lips.
"Slurp... slurp... haa... smack... smack."
It had been so long; a faint excitement stirred in my body.
Her lips were still soft, her tongue still sweet.
My mind went blank, eyes glazing over.
Her saliva drenched the corners of my mouth.
Our heated gazes met.
She was still watching me with eyes open—eyes that still doubted me.
A mechanical ding from behind snapped my dazed mind awake like a splash of cold water.
I pulled away from her lips and turned.
Lee Ji-yeon held her phone.
What?
A small window on the screen read:
"J-Ji-yeon, what the hell is this...?"
"Our Cho-in's leash."
Leash? What kind of insane talk—
She grinned at me, and chills ran down my spine at her mad behavior.
"Do whatever you want, our Cho-in~ But... if I tell you to do something, you really do it... got it?"
Her words made it clear that video was a massive weakness.
I snatched the phone, but she just smiled and handed it over.
"It's already uploaded."
Her happy smile sent a shiver up my spine.
"J-Ji-yeon..."
> [Ji-yeon, let's talk here]
> [My only celebrity is you, Lee Ji-yeon...]
> [Then kiss me]
[Screen brightens—inside the van]
> [Slurp... slurp... haa... smack... smack]
She ignored me and replayed the video.
The screen was dark, but murmuring voices came through.
It was me telling Ji-yeon to talk in the parking lot.
Then our conversation in the dark.
Her demand for a kiss, and the screen lit up, showing the van interior.
A man and woman kissing fiercely.
Chills prickled from head to toe.
"So, what about that rice shop girl?"
"..."
I couldn't open my mouth anymore.