Page 68 of Idol Lives
Ren brightly chuckled, but Tae Hyun now understood that it was fake. Hopefully, Ren hadn’t noticed him doing the same thing. “You know it! What’s up?”
“Mina bought out the rooftop bar for tonight’s after-party,” Tae Hyun explained, keeping his tone light and casual. “I thought we could grab a few drinks in my room beforehand. You know, to unwind before the madness?”
Ren’s eyes lit up, shining with an eagerness he couldn’t quite conceal. “Sounds perfect,” he said, brightly smiling.
But Tae Hyun’s smile had charmed millions, and Ren was no exception. “Great!” The game was on.
Tae Hyun watched Ren retreat to his bandmates, a mix of relief and unease swirling in his gut. The facade of camaraderie was back in place, but the underlying tension was a ticking time bomb. He took a deep breath, pushing the doubts aside. He had a role to play, a performance to deliver.
Once he was onstage, Tae Hyun soaked up the concert’senergy and adrenaline, losing himself in the music and the crowd’s roar. Each move felt sharp. Each note was a declaration of his strength and resilience. The cheers from the Manila crowd fueled him, a reminder of why he did what he did. Ren was the farthest thing from his mind.
Those cheers still rang in Tae Hyun’s ears as he retreated to the backstage sanctuary of his dressing room. But his adrenaline-fueled high soon gave way to a tense calm for the performance yet to come. He only needed a shower, a change of clothes, and a few moments of solitude to prepare for the next act.
Seong Min patiently waited as Tae Hyun shed his stage outfit and jumped into the shower. The sweat-soaked costume clinging to his body was a tangible reminder of the energy he’d poured into his performance.
“Can you take me back to the hotel?” Tae Hyun asked as he slipped on his street clothes.
Seong Min nodded. “Yes, sir. The car is waiting.”
The ride to the Socorro Grand was a blur of Cubao city lights and racing thoughts. Tae Hyun replayed Ren’s chilling phone conversation over and over in his mind. The anger. The veiled threats. There was no doubt in his mind now. Ren was behind the attack, and Tae Hyun had been an unwitting pawn in his twisted game.
Leaning forward, Tae Hyun met Seong Min’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Is everything ready?”
“Yes, I’ve made the necessary arrangements, sir,” Seong Min assuredly replied. “Are you ready?”
Tae Hyun took a slow, deep breath. Was he ready? “Yes, I am.” His certainty surprised even him. He’d been groomed for this, his entire life a carefully orchestrated performance.He was Woo Tae Hyun, the idol, the star, and the survivor. He couldn’t help but feel a rush of anticipation. Tonight, he would finally get answers. All that remained was to play his part, lure Ren into a false sense of security, and expose the truth once and for all.
While luxurious, Tea Hyun’s suite at the Socorro Grand Hotel couldn’t compare to the opulence of the penthouse suite in Taipei. But it was comfortable, private, and, most importantly, secure. He rushed inside, pausing to ensure that the champagne he’d requested had been delivered. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, he stood before the bathroom dressing mirror, meticulously applying his makeup. A sharp knock echoed through the room as he finished.
Ren.
Tae Hyun bitterly smiled. He was all too familiar with the art of deception and hiding his true feelings behind a carefully constructed facade. But this time, the stakes were higher, and the consequences far more devastating. He was playing a dangerous game and could only pray it wouldn’t backfire.
Tae Hyun plastered on his best magazine-cover smile as he approached his suite door, pausing to take a deep breath. He had to play his part, remain calm, and draw Ren in. Then he opened the door, a warm greeting ready on his lips. “Hey!”
“Hey!” Ren beamed, his energy infectious as always. He’d changed, too. Unlike Tae Hyun’s sleek, all-black ensemble, he’d gone to his street-style roots with an oversized graphic tee, black and white camo bomber, ripped skinny jeans, and chunky black sneakers. “Can I come in?”
“For sure,” Tae Hyun replied, stepping back to allow Ren to come inside.
Ren slipped off his shoes, his eyes widening as he took inthe suite’s decor. He chuckled. “Every time I think I scored a nice room, I see yours.”
“It’s not bad,” Tae Hyun agreed, keeping things light. He moved toward the bar, grabbing the chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses. “Want some?”
Ren’s eyes lit up. “Definitely,” he said, wandering into the sitting room and settling on the plush, oversized sofa.
Tae Hyun poured two glasses before replacing the bottle in the ice bucket. Then he walked over to Ren and handed one to him, their fingers lightly brushing. “To another successful show,” he offered, raising his glass.
Ren clinked his glass against Tae Hyun’s, his smile wide and charming. “For sure,” he replied, taking a sip. “You were incredible out there tonight.”
Tae Hyun nodded, chuckling as he sat across from Ren. “Thanks. You weren’t too bad yourself.”
They moved on to small talk, discussing the crowd’s energy, the set list, and the minor technical hiccup during Ren’s performance. But all the while, Tae Hyun was acutely aware of Ren’s every move and gesture, searching for clues to his true intentions. When Ren finally seemed relaxed enough to lower his guard, Tae Hyun took a deep breath, steeling himself. It was time.
“Ren,” Tae Hyun began, low and steady, “I need to ask you something.”
Ren’s smile faltered, a shadow of unease crossing his face. “Sure, what’s up?”
Tae Hyun set his glass down, his unwavering gaze fixed on Ren. “I overheard your phone call earlier today,” he continued, closely watching Ren’s reaction. “The one where you were angry about the botched paint attack.”
