As soon as the director’s words fell, Ji Gwanyeong pulled away from the actor he had been hugging. In fact, it wasn’t so much that he naturally let go of his arm, but rather an almost deliberate movement as if he had touched something he couldn’t reach.

Thanks to that, the actress, who was known as one of the top five most beautiful in South Korea, let out a short snicker without even realizing it. Of course, it wasn’t because she was happy.

She had already noticed during the filming that Ji Gwanyeong was uncomfortable with physical contact with others. At first, she had thought it was a kind of extreme courtesy, but after working closely with him, she began to sense the subtle difference.

But today, Ji Gwanyeong had pushed her away as if he had no hesitation once the camera was off. She turned her head slightly towards the ‘reason.’

At the end of her gaze was a man lazily sitting on a large, soft folding chair, his legs crossed and his chin resting on his hand. She could also see the strong, confident back of him walking straight toward her the moment the shoot ended. Of course, when he reached the seated man, his confident steps became unexpectedly cautious.

…Wow. Ji Gwanyeong is being cautious.

People’s eyes glistened with interest as they observed this incredible scene. Taehun, sipping on a fruit juice handed to him by his manager, looked up at his Esper. Though he should have said something to his partner, his tightly shut lips made no sound.

Honestly, Ji Gwanyeong found himself amusing at this point.

What was this filming for, and why had he rushed over and ended up in this situation? He found it absurd. Yet, he couldn’t help but glance at Taehun’s expression first. There was truly nothing he could do about it.

At this moment, if he were to line up the most handsome people in all of South Korea, Ji Gwanyeong’s appearance would surely be somewhere at the front.

Ji Gwanyeong hesitated for a while, then finally spoke, his mouth opening reluctantly.

“Taehun.”

“Yes.”

The voice flowing from the guide was the usual pleasant, deep tone. From just listening, one couldn’t tell that Ji Gwanyeong was upset. However, he was consciously aware of every pitch and intonation of his voice right now.

Since manifesting as an Esper, Ji Gwanyeong had never had a deep, respectful relationship with anyone, but he had once been part of a harmonious family. He knew well what to do and what not to do when it came to someone he considered a “romantic partner.” Of course, right now, in front of that person, he was hugging another woman and showering her with sweet words. But, well, that was the situation.

Ji Gwanyeong, looking at Taehun with a clear gaze, furrowed his brow slightly as if embarrassed, then sighed softly and spoke again.

Taehun was the only man who could make Ji Gwanyeong surrender.

“…It’s about work.”

“I know.”

It would be better to just admit that they were dating.

At that moment, everyone on the set had the same thought. Many eyes, pretending to focus on their tasks or resting, secretly watched the guide’s reactions. They were curious about what kind of response Ji Gwanyeong would get, considering how deeply he was bowing to him. But Taehun, without changing his expression, simply kept drinking his juice, offering no reaction.

“They must be angry.”

Both Ji Gwanyeong and everyone else thought so.

However, the truth was that the guide was in quite a different state from what the others thought. Right now, he was actually enjoying Ji Gwanyeong’s coaxing.

Honestly, he hadn’t been completely calm when the shooting first started. Just moments ago, the man who had been drawing his face lines was now looking at someone else and closing his eyes in front of him. It felt really strange. But after a while, Taehun found himself observing that scene quite leisurely with a smile.

It was different.

The image created inside that space didn’t contain even the slightest piece of my Esper’s true form. It was strange. I hadn’t noticed it before. So, every time I saw him on TV, smiling at his co-actor and saying the sweetest sentences in the world, I would often change the channel.

I used to think that no matter what I did, I could never be that person.

But now, Ji Gwanyeong holds me in his arms as he falls asleep, and when he wakes up in the morning, he places a kiss on my forehead with a smile that’s even more beautiful than I had imagined.

The real Ji Gwanyeong is much warmer than the ecstatic acting everyone knows. In fact, it’s so much warmer. Realizing that I was the only one who knew this made me feel not upset, but rather a little happy.

Even now, it’s the same. This man, who values his dignity so much, is struggling clumsily to cheer me up in a place where many eyes are on us. Honestly, it was kind of cute.

A small laugh escaped from Taehun’s mouth as he tried to hide his expression. Ji Gwanyeong raised an eyebrow at that. The guide tried to suppress the laughter, but from the beginning, Taehun wasn’t very good at hiding his positive emotions.

The Esper then realized.

This clean-faced lover was holding me once again in the palm of his hand. Ji Gwanyeong slightly furrowed his brow and stood Taehun up, then grabbed his hand and pulled him along. The guide, being dragged along in a different sense than this morning, couldn’t stop giggling quietly.

Ji Gwanyeong seemed slightly deflated by the laughter. In a way, despite all his efforts to be careful and not fall for those annoying pranks, it was ridiculous how my heart softened from just that laugh.

So when we reached a corner of the set with no one around, I opened my mouth in a stern voice for no reason.

“Taehun, you really…”

“Haha, ha, oh, did you think I was upset?”

The Esper smiled with crescent eyes and naturally embraced the slender body, tightening the frown on his face. However, both Ji Gwanyeong and Taehun knew well that it was unnecessary.

“Is it fun because you’re messing with me?”

“Well, if I said it wasn’t fun, I’d be lying… so maybe a little.”

The warm breath hitting his lips, where the beautiful curve always formed, felt hot. As our tongues met deeply as if to punish, Taehun, who was giving a sweet smile, was visible.

When our lips parted for a moment, he even asked, “Were you upset, even though you knew it wasn’t true?” Honestly, it made me think that maybe I had been fooled by that polite, clean face all along.

Instead of answering, Ji Gwanyeong lightly bit his lover’s lips.
* * *