Page 13 of Idol Lives
An embarrassed flush warmed Tae Hyun’s ears. “This? Honestly, it’s overkill.”
Ren’s laughter was easy and genuine. “Are you kidding? You’retheWoo Tae Hyun, global superstar. You deserve every bit of this.” He punctuated his words with a playful nudge. “I’m just the opening act.”
Tae Hyun’s frown was half-confused, half-amused. Was Ren being real? Or was there a subtle dig behind his praise? “Uh–”
“Sorry.” A hint of genuine remorse softened Ren’s teasing expression. “That sounded way bitchier than I meant it to. I honestly meant it as a compliment.”
Tae Hyun happily chuckled, relieved that he wasn’t the only one feeling awkward. “I’m glad you’re my opener.” He gestured toward the suite’s wet bar. “Want a drink?”
Ren’s infectious grin swiftly returned. “Sure, why not? We’re off today, right?”
“Absolutely.” Tae Hyun went to the bar, inspecting his options before grabbing a familiar bottle. “Gin?”
Ren flopped onto the couch, casually sprawling to claim the space as his own. “Vodka soda, if you have it.”
Tae Hyun chuckled. “I think I can manage that.” He quickly mixed their drinks before delivering Ren’s and joining him on the couch. “Do you remember when we first met?”
Ren sipped his vodka, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes. “I sure do. A lot’s changed since then. I’m in a new group now. You’ve gone solo. And we’re both out and proud.”
Tae Hyun chuckled. “That we are.” He mirrored Ren’s relaxed posture, grateful that their mutual awkwardness was already fading. “It’s part of why I wanted you on this tour.”
Ren’s fearless laughter was almost musical. “Only part?”
Tae Hyun shrugged, almost smiling. “I like your music. Our sounds blend well.” He paused. He hadn’t known what to expect of Ren, but his easy charm surprised him. And it was fitting. Here was another gay idol, someone who’d walked the same path and faced the same battles. Maybe it could be the start of something more than just a professional relationship. “And yeah, the gay thing helps.”
Ren snorted, the sound unexpectedly endearing. “Finally! It’s about fucking time being gay actually helped me get a gig.” He playfully narrowed his eyes. “Then again, you know all about career near-death experiences, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” Tae Hyun groaned. “KBR really had it in for me. If they’d had their way, I’d probably be a restaurant cook somewhere.”
Ren’s eyebrows shot up, teasing his curiosity. “Oh, he sings, mixes drinks, and cooks? Is there no end to your talents?”
Tae Hyun raised his glass in a mock salute. “At your service.”
Ren laughed so hard he snorted. “You’re such a textbook idol in every way. Do you know I used to be a trainee in Korea? I was with SCG Entertainment for a few years before I signed with Sunbeat in Japan.”
“Oh, that explains why your Korean is so good.”
“I’ve hadsomany lessons,” Ren complained, rolling his eyes. “I even tried out forDream Boy Projectonce but didn’t make itpast the first round.”
Dream Boy Projectwas a reality competition show SCG Entertainment used to produce some of their new idol groups. The last time it was aired, they createdDAZ3.
Tae Hyun hesitated, sensing a shift in Ren’s easygoing demeanor. “Do you regret it?”
Ren’s gaze met Tae Hyun’s, his open expression smoldering with defiance. “Regret what? The trainee years? Going back to Japan? The part where everyone found out I’m gay, and my whole career nearly went down in flames?” He chuckled, low and dark. “Regret’s got too many layers, doesn’t it?”
Tae Hyun frowned, suddenly wishing he hadn’t pushed things so far that soon. “Sorry if that was too much to ask,” he said, hearing his own shame. “I’ve never talked to another gay idol before. Not knowingly, at least. And I feel like I have a million questions.”
Ren laughed, softer than before, and touched with genuine warmth. “You think I wasn’t dying to meet you?Sweet Beast, they’re my brothers. But–” He paused, shifting to mirror Tae Hyun’s posture, their connection growing stronger by the minute. “–they don’t get it the way we do.”
“Exactly!” Tae Hyun perked back up, relieved that he hadn’t misread the situation after all. “I mean, there was this boy at my fan meet today–”
Ren cut him off with a loud snort. “Oh, yeah. Everyone’s talking about that.”
Tae Hyun immediately sat up. “What do you mean?”
“Are you kidding?” Ren brightly chuckled as he retrieved his phone from his back pocket. The screen displayed aK-star Dailypost about Tae Hyun’s airport meet and greet already in his browser. “The videos of you pulling that kid from thecrowd to take those photos are already going super viral. It was a genius move. You can’t pay for that kind of publicity.”
Tae Hyun frowned, surprised at Ren’s callous take. “It wasn’t a publicity stunt.”
