#23

“I’m not really curious.”

“Oh dear, that stings a little.”

Even as he said it stung, Nam Yisol chuckled without looking the least bit hurt. I stared at him, somehow looking amused, before opening my mouth.

“Yisol-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“What is it that you want? Just what do you want so badly that you’re going this far?”

It was a cautious question meant to gauge Nam Yisol’s true intentions. He slowly straightened his upper body and spoke in a playful tone.

“Hmm…… Are you curious?”

“Yes. I am curious.”

“You won’t even consider my proposal, yet you’re curious about my motives? That’s a little hurtful. Well, whatever. I was going to tell you anyway. What I want is your full support, sir.”

Full support? Was he talking about support for his entertainment career?

“If that’s what you mean, you don’t need to go this far. I’m the president of the company you belong to, and I intend to do my best for both you and Tartarus.”

“You really don’t get it, sir. That’s exactly why I’m doing this—because I know you’ll do your best for ‘Tartarus’. But what I want isn’t a president who does his best for ‘Tartarus’. I want a president who does their best for ‘Nam Yisol’.”

I blinked blankly while still facing Nam Yisol. So, he was saying that he wanted to be prioritized over the entire group?

“I don’t want to be treated equally with everyone else. I want you to think of me as special—just me.”

“Why? Why would you think that……?”

“Because I want to be special. More famous than any of the other Tartarus members.”

A mischievous smile still played on Nam Yisol’s lips as he spoke. But his eyes held an undeniable sincerity, more genuine than at any other moment. Seeing them made me suddenly uneasy.

“Yisol-ssi, do you perhaps have issues with the other members? Is that why you’re doing this?”

From what I had observed so far, Nam Yisol didn’t seem to have a bad relationship with the other members. If anything, he often stepped up in place of leader Jung Hosu, serving as the bridge between the members and me, their president. Sure, he bickered with Yoo Euiseo sometimes, but it never seemed serious.

But sometimes, what you see isn’t everything, so I couldn’t help but be cautious with Nam Yisol.

“Me? With the others? No way. We get along just fine.”

His response was lighthearted, considering how cautiously I had asked. I felt somewhat reassured by his answer, yet I still couldn’t understand why he was trying to compete with them.

“I don’t quite understand. If you get along with them, why are you doing this?”

“I don’t understand your question, sir. What does getting along with them have to do with wanting to be more popular than them? My relationship with them is one thing, and popularity is another matter entirely.”

Oh…… When he put it that way, he had a point. Just because he got along with them didn’t mean he couldn’t want to be more popular than them. Without realizing it, I found myself nodding along, convinced by his argument. That was when a bright, clear laugh rang out.

“You look like you’ve accepted my reasoning. So, can I ask again? What do you think about my proposal? Will you accept it?”

Once again, Nam Yisol leaned in toward me with a sly smile. I pressed my back against the headboard, trying to put some distance between us.

“Yisol-ssi. How about stepping back and having a calm conversation? Even if you don’t do this, I have every intention of supporting you. Besides, you’re already a top idol. You sing well, you dance well—you’re a highly skilled performer. You don’t need to do this; you’re already at the top of your game.”

I desperately listed all the reasons why he didn’t need to act this way, hoping to stop him. Then suddenly, I felt Nam Yisol’s grip tighten on my intertwined fingers. His grasp was so firm that my fingers ached. I flinched at the unexpected pain, and he immediately loosened his grip, rubbing the back of my hand apologetically.

“You think I sing well, dance well, and am a skilled idol? If you really believe that, then I have to say I’m disappointed in you, President.”

What? Why? That was a compliment. Why would he be disappointed? I stared at him in confusion, and Nam Yisol, reading my expression, continued speaking with a calm face.

“If you meant what you just said, then you don’t really have an eye for talent. Singing? Dancing? Sure, compared to other groups, I might be decent. But compared to the other members of Tartarus? I’m nowhere near good enough.”

His words were sharp, almost brutal. My eyes widened in shock.

“Sir, did you ever notice? Whenever we’re introduced, I’m the only one who’s just Nam Yisol. Hosu and the younger members all have titles—leader, rapper, main vocalist, main dancer. But me? I’m just Nam Yisol. Do you know why? Because, compared to them, I have no standout talent.”

“…….”

“Singing? Dancing? Sir, you’ve seen Gaon sing and Daon dance. They’re geniuses. A whole different level from someone who’s just ‘pretty good’. And rap? That’s never been my thing. What else is left? Ah, looks? Can anyone outshine Hosu? He looks like a sculpted masterpiece.”

Nam Yisol’s words were delivered with a disturbing calmness as if he were stating cold, hard facts.

That made it all the more heartbreaking. Seeing him compare himself to the others, tearing himself down, yet showing no sign of distress—it hurt to watch.

“Objectively speaking, there’s no way someone as talentless as me can outshine the others. That’s why I’m doing this. Because I want more popularity. Because I want more love. But this is the only way I know how. This is all I can do.”

“Yisol-ssi……”

“Do you pity me? Do you feel bad? Then don’t just sympathize—accept my proposal. That’s what would truly help me.”

With that, Nam Yisol slowly leaned in. His lips were so close to mine that they could touch at any moment.

What should I do? The thought barely had time to form before my body moved. I gripped his hands tightly and, in one swift motion, flipped him over. Nam Yisol, now lying on the bed, widened his eyes in surprise before breaking into a sultry smile.

I smiled back and grabbed the blanket beneath him, wrapping it around him tightly. The time I spent practicing rolling blankets with Cheon had finally paid off.

“……Huh? Uh? President?”

Nam Yisol blinked, utterly baffled. I smoothed his messy hair with a gentle touch and lifted him—blanket and all—into my arms. Just like how Secretary Sung Yoojun had startled me earlier with a princess carry.

“Wait! Sir? Sir?! What are you doing?”

“Oh, feel free to ask. I’m carrying you to your room.”

“Like this? This is so embarrassing!”

“But I have no choice. I asked you to move, but you didn’t. So, please bear with the discomfort for a bit.”

At my teasing remark, Nam Yisol opened and closed his mouth in disbelief. Still carrying the dumbfounded Nam Yisol, I climbed the stairs to the second-floor living room. But when I arrived, I hesitated, unsure which room was his. I turned to the still-stunned Nam Yisol and asked,

“Yisol-ssi, where’s your room?”

“…….”

“Yisol-ssi?”

“……This is ridiculous.”

Oops. It seemed getting an answer out of him was impossible. In the end, I had no choice but to gently set him down on the large couch in the living room.

“Sir, wasn’t I really sexy just now? Completely seductive, right?”

“Yes. You were incredibly sexy and absolutely seductive.”

“Then why did you reject me? Is it because I’m a man? Does that bother you?”

“No, not particularly.”

“Then why reject me?”

Faced with his direct question, I scratched my cheek awkwardly before slowly kneeling in front of him.

“My rejection has nothing to do with your gender. It’s just that this isn’t right. It’s not good for either of us. And even without any special deal, I will support you in every way I can. I promise you that.”

“But that applies to the others, too, doesn’t it?”