“Hm~ hm. Say my name~.”
Joo Woosung was lying on the floor of Black Call’s practice room, quietly savoring a good day.
A few days ago, his solo stage in LA had set the internet ablaze and was still holding high ranks on international music charts.
Anyone else would’ve been amazed by such incredible records, but that wasn’t what made him feel good today.
‘Ah, that book’s working like a charm on Seo Hoyun, huh?’
The Dawn’s new album Framed Eternity was a masterpiece—good enough that even Joo Woosung had to admit it. But when he saw that clumsy fool at practice before, he was still, well, a clumsy fool.
When he’d finally gotten tired of holding back and just decided to compliment him, Seo Hoyun had paused and asked if he was serious—
that moment had been electrifying.
The lingering resentment of “After all the time I spent watching him dance, why’s this idiot like this?” had disappeared completely.
And so, until Framed Eternity’s first music show fancam was uploaded, Joo Woosung spent the whole day humming in good spirits.
【THE DAWN – Framed Eternity】
It’s up!
He clicked immediately, and the camera zoomed in on Seo Hoyun waiting offstage. He was smiling softly at the sunset lighting, but as soon as the instrumental began, his gaze sharpened in an instant.
【What won’t scatter
One promise framed like a star
Even when lights go out and darkness comes
A dawn exhibition opens again】
‘Hm?’
【—Is this irrational behavior?
If you could frame a feeling—】
His singing had always been fine, but... there was something different about his eyes this time—an intense gleam.
【—Our gallery, Ah Ah Ah
I’ll hang this moment on the wall
The frozen shape of love itself】
When he strode to the front of the stage and reached out toward the camera—
【Only at dawn it opens
Framed eternity, it’s all ours】
‘Oh... oh?’
The dancing... wasn’t bad either.
Still ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) rough around the edges, but compared to before, it was a huge improvement.
[This live performance is on another level, whoa]
[Whoa, his eyes look so intense, why does that feel so good]
[Wow Seo Hoyun really can dance now
└He’s always been a dance god
└└LOLOLOL Look at these shameless Noeul fans
└└They’ll be saying he’s from a dance crew soon LOOOL]
“...What the—”
Joo Woosung was honestly moved.
“Well, look at that.”
He hadn’t expected it, but apparently that Golden Child Guideline book really worked.
He’d been lost on how to handle that clumsy brat and picked up the book at a bookstore on a whim—and it had turned out to be so effective!
“Damn, Joo Woosung. You made a functional human being.”
Grinning, he got up and headed for the company café. But as he turned the corner, he came face to face with a familiar figure.
“Oh, Seo Hoyun!”
Now then, what should he say today?
He tried to recall the book and think of what kind of compliment to start with—
“Are you ordering?”
“Huh? Uh, yeah.”
“Ah, okay.”
Seo Hoyun smiled sweetly, cheerful as ever.
“...?”
It was a smile like an angel’s, but a strange chill crawled down Joo Woosung’s spine.
Trying to act casual, he stepped up to the counter.
“Uh... one green tea lat—”
“No, Hoyun will have a hot chocolate.”
“......”
Seo Hoyun leaned in slightly, chuckling low in his throat as he whispered by his ear.
“Hot chocolate, right?”
A bead of cold sweat slid down Joo Woosung’s temple.
But despite the gentle tone, Seo Hoyun was staring at him blankly, expressionless.
So, he forced the words out.
“H-hot... chocolate.”
“With cocoa powder on top.”
In a strained voice, Joo Woosung croaked, “...With cocoa powder and whipped cream too...” then quickly stepped back.
When he risked a glance, Seo Hoyun was leaning against the table, chin propped on his arm, looking him up and down with amused eyes.
The look was so unnerving he wanted to bolt, but he remembered the book’s advice:
“Respect the child’s emotions. When they act unpredictably, stay calm and consistent.”
“Hey, I watched your fancam yesterday—”
“Shh.”
Seo Hoyun tilted his head and tugged up the corner of his lips.
“After all this time, we’re only going to talk about work?”
“......”
“Bad~ boy.”
Run.
That’s insane.
Others in the café were already watching them with dreamy eyes, charmed by Seo Hoyun’s relaxed aura and low voice, but Joo Woosung wasn’t nearly tolerant enough to find this cute.
“Uh, sure, eat plenty and practice hard.”
Driven purely by instinct to survive, he mumbled an awkward response and tried to make a quick escape—
“—Did I do something wrong?”
The voice came out of nowhere like thunder, hitting him right in the ear.
“What?”
“Why are you so cold to me?”
Suddenly, the entire café went eerily silent.
Everyone stopped talking and glanced over.
“You used to treat me like a kid.”
When... did I ever??
But the guy turned away slightly, biting his lip like he was holding back tears.
‘He’s acting!’
Even the café staff seemed to turn down the music just to listen.
Finally realizing how bad this looked, Joo Woosung panicked.
“W-wait a sec—”
“......”
“It’s my fault. Okay? My fault.”
So please, stop this insanity.
He whispered it under his breath, ignoring the stabbing gazes from every direction, but Seo Hoyun just pressed his lips together and sighed.
“...Right.”
Then, rubbing his face tiredly, he muttered,
“It’s always like this.”
What the hell, like what?!
Before Joo Woosung could speak, Seo Hoyun spun around and strode off.
The onlookers began whispering with scandalized expressions.
“...Wow, that was cold.”
“Yeah, that was harsh...”
The café staff—clearly smitten—put the music back on with a sad face.
【Wow Wow Wow
Don’t go, don’t go, don’t go~】
“......”
The nightmare of Hawaii had returned.
***
But Seo Hoyun’s madness didn’t stop there.
One day, he ran up shouting, “Joo Woosung sunbaenim!” like Kim Sunghyun and showered him with praise.
Another day, he started talking with a lisp like a three-year-old.
Another day, during an interview, he suddenly thanked Joo Woosung for “always being there.”
【—We heard The Dawn’s comeback is even being predicted for the Billboard Hot 100!】
It was from a magazine interview video. When asked if he had a role model, Seo Hoyun smiled softly.
【Hm, for me, it’s Joo Woosung sunbaenim.】
Even though the days of name-dropping for publicity were long gone, the interviewer giggled.
【Oh my! You must really admire him!】
【Of course.】
Then Seo Hoyun turned to the camera and smiled shyly.
【...I always respect you, hyung.】
A chill ran straight down Joo Woosung’s spine.
From that moment on, in every single broadcast, Seo Hoyun mentioned him—calling him “the most elegant and beautiful dancer I’ve ever met.”
‘He’s lost his damn mind.’
Joo Woosung had always known Seo Hoyun wasn’t normal, but this week had been pure, deliberate torture.
‘Something has gone fundamentally wrong.’
Barely calming his nausea, he left the practice room and ran into Chae Jungwoo in the hallway.
“I heard you did something to Seo Hoyun?”
“What??”
“You’re trending, man. Everyone says you wronged him.”
And that was just the start.
‘Even if you’re from different labels, you should get along.’
‘What happened between you and Seo Hoyun?’
‘Be nice to him~ He really looks up to you!’
‘Didn’t think you’d be that kind of person, Woosung...’
He heard some variation of those lines every ten minutes until he wanted to die.
By the time he got home, he collapsed on the sofa, utterly drained.
That’s when he noticed the book on his shelf.
‘...Didn’t I put that away?’
He frowned and got up to check.
“Huh?”
It wasn’t the same one.
It wasn’t the book he’d bought to “fix” that clumsy brat—it was a new one.
The title made his blood run cold: “Revised Edition! How to Stop an Even More Advanced Golden Child.”
As he opened it, the pages flipped open naturally to a section already folded—like it had been waiting for him.
Each sentence was highlighted in bright marker.
[First, comfort your child with warm attention.]
...What?
[Don’t rush to judge.]
[Keep talking casually, as if nothing’s wrong.]
...Woosung?
[Instead of scolding, offer stability.]
[Think carefully about your communication style.]
[Just watch quietly. Every child has their own pace.]
The last line was oddly cut off—almost inviting him to turn the page.
[Understand their heart first.]
“—Aaaaahhh!!”
He screamed, dropping the book as goosebumps exploded across his skin.
The book hit the floor, fluttering open—revealing the final folded page.
[Q. My child keeps rebelling. What should I do?
A. Like a startled rabbit hiding in a corner, rebellion is a sign of insecurity. Wait quietly until they come back on their own.]
He swallowed hard and looked down at the bottom of the page.
Written there, in neat handwriting—
[Hop~^^]
The tiny round bunny doodle sent him into another scream.
***
[KimBokbap: You psycho]
[KimBokbap: I’m sorry, okay?]
[KimBokbap: I’ll never mess around again]
“Drama queen.”
That’s what you get for picking a fight, idiot.
And since there were still dozens of Golden Child tricks left to use, I ignored the messages and shoved my phone into my pocket.
Even with my drama filming schedule, I had to wash up quickly and head to the music show.
But as I opened my front door—
“——Hyung!!”
“Gah!”
A sudden weight slammed into me.
Flattened in the doorway, I wheezed under the full-body tackle of a human elephant.
“Damn it, get off!”
“Uwaaah! Why are you so late!!!”
Struggling for breath, I lifted my head—and saw a face glowing with pure joy.
“Hyung! Noeul did it!!”
Instead of looking at the article he was showing me on his phone, I looked up.
Colorful confetti drifted down, visible only to me, and a faint blue screen shimmered in the air.
Ding!
Our first comeback after the contract renewal.
Chart domination at home...
[‘Eternal Idol Tycoon’ Quest Complete!
Entered Billboard Top 30. Entry count exceeds required threshold.]
...and even entry on the global chart.
“Hey, get off! You’re gonna crush Seo Hoyun—ack!”
“Wahahahaha!”
Kim Sunghyun tried to pull Jung Dajun off me but got dragged down instead, and Sung Jiwon—who had been taking photos—ended up buried right on top of us.
I turned my head and saw him.
“......”
He was watching me—half proud, half nervous.
Still pinned under three members in the doorway, I called out to him.
“Cough—Kang Ichae.”
“......”
“Hey.”
I grinned, giving him the answer he wanted.
“Ready to keep dancing till we’re old and wrinkled?”
“......”
His eyes went wide. Then he ducked his head, fidgeted a little, and sat right down on top of Kim Sunghyun—collapsing with a thud as he mumbled,
“I really, really love Saebyeok....”
“Gah! You’re heavy!! You’re so heavy, hyung!!”
“Jung Dajun, get off me first—”
“Haha, me too! I love it too!”
Let’s go.
Time to ride the Eternal Idol Tycoon rollercoaster.
