Soorin's blood boiled.
But her face stayed carefully composed.
If there was one thing she refused—it was letting him think he had the final word.
She leaned in. Just close enough for her voice to cut sharp and quiet.
"Funny. I don't recall ever asking for your validation. I didn't come crying to you for a job, Dragon King."
His eyes narrowed.
She pressed on. Soft sarcasm dripping with every syllable.
"Why don't you stick to what keeps the Korean GDP climbing? Sell out arenas. Charm the world. Burn as bright as you want." Her lips tilted in a polite curve. Deceptively sweet. "Leave little insignificant me to manage the small joy I have left."
She paused.
"And the respect I had for you."
Her bow was precise. Formal. Elegant.
The kind of perfect gesture that screamed she knew the culture. The manners. The expectations.
Her eyes cut up at him. Mocking sweetness.
"See? I do know how to greet properly."
For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his gaze.
Guilt? Doubt?
She blinked. It was gone.
Leaving behind the same cold fire.
She brushed it off.
'Hallucinating. No way the dragon has a conscience.'
Without another glance, she turned. Walked away.
Kit in hand. Spine straight.
★☆★☆★☆
By the time she made it home, her body felt like stone.
She collapsed on her bed. Face buried in her pillow.
The muffled screams of Gleams still echoed in her ears.
But exhaustion didn't stop her from pulling her phone out.
The comments flooded every social media feed. Entertainment portal. News site.
[LUMEN just redefined perfection tonight.]
She zoomed in on a fancam of Haejin's performance. Admiring how clean his eyeliner looked. How his skin glowed under the harsh lights.
'Okay. Admit it. You nailed that look. You're not totally useless here.'
She scrolled through the live-stream recordings. Heart thumping.
Netizen comments flew by:
[LUMENKILLED IT TONIGHT!]
[Hael's vocals are insane.]
[Jay's smoky eyes… who is their stylist???]
[Ryu's rap cut sharper than my ex's words!!]
[Sion my sunshine forever!]
[Kyn literally has an unmatched energy.]
Soorin squealed. Clutched her pillow.
"Oh my god, look at that contour! Look at that eyeliner wing on Jay!"
She zoomed in on more screenshots of the broadcast. Practically bouncing.
"That's my brushwork. Mine. They looked like gods because of me!"
Her voice cracked into a giddy laugh. High-pitched. Girlish.
She buried her face in the pillow. Squealed again.
The sound cracked the air—loud enough that her mother's voice echoed from the living room.
"Soorin-ah! Was that about Hael?"
Soorin groaned. Covered her face.
"No, Mom! It's just the makeup. It looked flawless!"
Her mother's laugh carried down the hall.
"Sure, honey. Whatever you say."
A second voice chimed in—her father.
"The smoky eyes looked good on that boy… Jaymes? Or Joo? Or whatever his name is."
Soorin burst into laughter. Rolled onto her back.
"Appa! It's Jay. JAY. How do you mess that up?"
Her father chuckled from the cinema room.
"Too many names. At least they looked expensive."
Her smile softened.
For once, she could enjoy the simple pride of her work.
[Whoever did LUMEN's makeup tonight deserves an award. Flawless. Especially Hael's sharp look.]
Her chest warmed.
She hugged her pillow tighter.
"Finally. Recognition."
★☆★☆★☆
Her eyelids drooped.
Sleep tugged at her. Soft. Heavy.
She was about to drift off when—
Ding.
A notification popped up.
[PA Jiwon: Emergency. Hael requested touch-ups. Practice room. 15 mins.]
Soorin blinked at the screen.
"What? At this hour?"
She glanced at the clock.
Past midnight.
Confusion gnawed at her. But she shoved the thought aside.
Duty was duty.
She scrambled out of bed. Grabbed her jacket. Tugged a facemask on.
Her messy hair refused to cooperate as she brushed it frantically.
The buttons on her jacket fought back as she tried to close it over her chest.
"Shit, shit, shit, I don't have time."
Her reflection in the mirror mocked her.
D-cup breasts straining against fabric that claimed to be "large."
She cursed under her breath. Tugging the zipper.
"Why did I have to inherit these? In Korea, they're more curse than blessing."
She darted into the cinema room.
Her parents lounged. Wine glasses in hand. A classic movie flickering across the giant screen.
"Emergency," she blurted. Flashing them the message. "Makeup touch-ups."
Her mother raised a perfectly arched brow.
"At this hour? Sounds more like a date with Hael."
"Mom!"
Soorin fumbled with her jacket buttons.
Her mom glanced at her. Still fumbling.
"Embrace the curves, sweetie. Your dad's been enjoying mine for years."
She winked.
"Mom!" Soorin shrieked.
"Jagiya[1]!" Her father spluttered. Cheeks reddening as her mother slid an arm around his waist.
"Don't overdo it," he mumbled.
Though he didn't push her away.
Her mom winked at Soorin.
Her father coughed. Still red.
Looking at Soorin, he continued.
"Take one of the cars. And the chauffeur. Safer at this hour."
"No!" Soorin yanked her mask on. Muffling her words.
"If the crew sees me stepping out of an expensive car, they'll think I only got in through connections. I'll take the bus."
Her dad frowned.
"At least take—"
"I have pepper spray. And my location is on. And didn't you make me take judo for years? This is my big superhero moment."
She struck a ridiculous judo stance.
"If anyone comes close, pow!"
She punched the air.
Her mom snorted into her wine.
Her dad rubbed his forehead.
"Fine," he muttered. "But text us."
Her mom blew her a kiss.
"Don't let HAEL steal your heart!"
Soorin shot her a glare.
"Not in this lifetime!"
She kissed them both on the cheeks.
"I'll be back soon. Promise."
And she dashed out.
★☆★☆★☆
The practice building was eerily quiet.
Most staff were gone. The usual buzz replaced by hollow silence.
Soorin's sneakers squeaked faintly on the polished floor as she walked down the dim hall.
The door to the rehearsal room was ajar.
Light spilled out.
Inside—
Haejin.
He was alone. Drenched in sweat. Tank top clinging to his chest.
His movements were sharp. Desperate.
Like he was trying to fight invisible demons.
His breath came in ragged gasps.
And then—his knee buckled.
She saw it.
A line of blood. Streaking down the side of his face.
Her heart jumped.
"Yah! What the hell are you doing?!"
He didn't stop.
Didn't even look at her.
Soorin rushed forward. Dropped her kit beside him.
She yanked out a bandage. Grabbed his face with firm hands.
"You're bleeding, idiot!"
She rolled her eyes. Dabbing the cut with all the care she could manage.
He jerked back. Eyes flashing.
"Don't act like you care."
Her head snapped up. Eyes burning.
"Maybe I don't. But cuts mean more work for me. Do you know how annoying it is to blend makeup over irritated skin?" She dabbed harder. "You're basically making my job harder. Cuts mean more work later. More makeup. More care. And frankly, Dragon boy, I'd rather not spend extra hours on your royal highness."
For once, he blinked.
Caught off guard.
She taped the bandage down with a snap.
"Why the hell would you train until you're bleeding anyway?"
He scoffed.
"You know nothing about me."
Her chest tightened.
"Maybe. But I know enough to say this isn't normal."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Then her mind clicked.
She froze.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Wait… why was I summoned here? You don't need makeup for rehearsal. You don't even want me here."
Haejin's eyes narrowed.
He stiffened.
"Summoned?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes."
She pulled her phone out. Showed him the PA's message.
[PA Jiwon: Emergency. Hael requested touch-ups. Practice room. 15 mins.]
"Fifteen minutes. Emergency touch-ups requested by you. That's why I came."
Silence.
His face shifted. Something sharp. Unsettled.
"I never asked for you," he said coldly.
"And I don't need makeup to rehearse."
"Eh?!"
Soorin's heart dropped.
She realized he wasn't joking.
This tyrant dragon couldn't possibly have time for jokes like this.
[1] Honey