Page 47 of Idol Lives
Tae Hyun leaned forward to kiss Jason’s cheek. “I really needed a bath.”
14
After a proper shower, Tae Hyun and Jason finally dried off and dressed, their bodies still humming with lingering passion. Tae Hyun’s blissful afterglow masked the continuing dread that had been poking at the edge of his thoughts all day. The weight of the past few days bore down on him heavier than usual–the relentless paparazzi, the tabloid scandal, and all the trouble with Ren. He was juggling so much. The fear of dropping the ball was constantly in the back of his mind.
The Ghost Kitchen, the hotel’s signature restaurant, was tucked away on the mezzanine level. Flanked by their expanded security complement of Andre, Carlos, and the Song brothers, Jason and Tae Hyun descended in the VIP elevator. The mezzanine overlooked a vast lobby teeming with activity–guests checking in, bellhops whisking away luggage, and a cluster of paparazzi clamoring outside the entrance. He’d managed to avoid them since the scandal had dropped, relying on Vital to handle media statements. But he knew from experience that he couldn’t put it off forever, no matter how much he wanted to. They smelled blood in the water–his blood–and would keep circling him until they finally fed. He could handle the scrutiny and the public persona he had to constantly maintain. He’d even come toterms with the inevitable intrusions into his privacy. What he struggled with was what his hot-headed boyfriend might do.
The restaurant host, a dignified older Taiwanese man with streaks of silver in his neatly trimmed hair, greeted them with understated formality. As he led them to their private dining room, he explained The Ghost Kitchen’s unique concept–a tribute to the forgotten cuisines of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, a blend of modern techniques and ancient flavors.
The private dining room was all earth tones and textures. Ancient wood carvings adorned the walls, intricate beadwork shimmered on rich tapestries, and the massive dark wood table could easily have accommodated a dozen people. But Tae Hyun saw none of it. As his eyes fell on the table’s fourth place setting, realization hit him, his heart practically jumping from his chest. He’d forgotten. How could he have forgotten who’d be joining them for dinner?
Mina, already seated, rose with a welcoming smile as Tae Hyun and Jason entered, motioning for them to have a seat across from her.
“Hi, boys! Please join me. I hope you had a pleasant flight.”
Tae Hyun forced an enthusiastic smile as he slid into his seat. “It was wonderful,” he replied, hoping his forced enthusiasm sounded genuine.
Jason smiled as he sat beside Tae Hyun. “What about you?”
Mina shrugged. “Every flight’s pretty much the same for me. At least on charters, you’re surrounded by familiar faces.” She reached for the champagne bottle chilling beside her. “Can I fill your glasses?”
Tae Hyun urgently offered his champagne flute with a grateful nod. “Yes, please.”
Jason shook his head. “I’ll wait for the real shit, thank you.”
Mina chuckled. “I’m sure they’ll come to take drink orders soon. We’re just waiting on one more.”
“What?” Jason frowned, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on the empty place setting. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “What did you do, Mina?”
The soft whoosh of the sliding door drew Tae Hyun’s attention like a magnet.
“Wow, this room is so cool!” Ren strolled in, radiating an effortless charm. His carefully styled outfit screamed Jpop idol–artfully torn, sleek black jeans, a bold graphic tee under a tailored leather jacket, and a pair of immaculately white vintage sneakers that Tae Hyun had once spent an absurd amount of money on after his first album release. The sobbing mess Tae Hyun had consoled backstage in Tokyo was gone, replaced with the vibrant, almost magnetic energy he’d had when they first met.
Ren paused, offering a formal bow to both Jason and Tae Hyun. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Jason.” Then he extended his hand. “I’m Yoshida Ren.”
Jason’s gaze lingered on Ren’s hand for a beat too long, as if he contemplated slapping it away. Then he recovered himself and shook it. “Same. Mina didn’t tell us you were coming.”
“Actually,” Tae Hyun quietly admitted, his ears burning with shame, “she did. I just forgot to tell you.”
Jason arched a single eyebrow in Tae Hyun’s direction. “You forgot?”
Tae Hyun’s heart pounded a thundering rhythm against his ribs, threatening to drown out the sound of his own voice. He fought to find the words, to blurt out an explanation, assuring Jason that it was a simple lapse in judgment from the relentless pressure of everything. But all he could manage was a singleword. “Sorry.”
A faint frown touched Jason’s lips but quickly morphed into a smile. “It’s no big deal.” Then, Jason turned to Ren, effectively shutting Tae Hyun out for the moment. “In fact, I’m glad you’re here. With everything happening, we should probably have a chat.”
Mina enthusiastically nodded. “That’s what I thought, too.”
Ren’s charming smile never slipped. “What do you want to chat about?”
Jason leaned forward, his gaze holding Ren’s. “I think you can guess, Ren,” he began, low and measured. “This whole mess with the tabloids has caused a lot of headaches for all of us.” He paused, gauging Ren’s reaction.
Ren’s facade cracked as a flash of anger–or maybe defiance–flared in his eyes. It quickly disappeared. “Honestly?” He frowned, his pout full of wounded innocence. “I’ve spent two days dealing with this shit. I’d rather not talk about it anymore.”
“Really?” Jason narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. “Because I absolutely think we should,” he added, a low, dangerous rumble in the otherwise quiet room.
Tae Hyun anxiously shifted in his chair, his stomach churning. Jason had promised to go easy on him. Technically, he was, considering how he’d seen Jason go in on someone he didn’t like. But he was definitely skirting the line, and the last thing Tae Hyun wanted was another dramatic confrontation.
“Have you thought about who the leak might be?” Jason continued, his gaze pinning Ren in place. “It could be one of your fans. Or maybe someone who thinks we shouldn’t be together?” He let the implication linger, a calculated silence more damning than a direct accusation. Tae Hyun saw a flashof uncertainty, maybe even fear, in Ren’s eyes before it was quickly masked.
