Page 69 of Idol Lives
Ren’s composure instantly crumbled, replaced by a look of shock and indignation. “What the hell are you talking about?” he sputtered, his voice quickly rising. “You were spying on me?”
“I wasn’t spying,” Tae Hyun firmly countered. “I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I heard enough to know that you were involved in what happened that night.”
Ren’s face paled. His eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape, just like on the balcony in Tokyo. “That’s ridiculous,” he spat. “Why would I do something like that?”
Tae Hyun leaned forward. “That’s what I want to know,” he said, low and even. “Why would you put your own career–and our tour–at risk like that?”
A tense silence gathered between them, the only sound the quiet hum of the room’s A/C. Ren opened his mouth to speak, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he crumpled under the weight of Tae Hyun’s accusation.
Then, Ren’s expression changed so suddenly that it almost made Tae Hyun’s head spin. His charming smile, so convincing moments ago, had vanished, replaced by a bitter sneer. “My career?” He snorted. “What the fuck do you think you know about my career? You, with your billionaire boyfriend who bought you your very own fucking concert tour.”
Tae Hyun flinched at the harsh words but wouldn’t let himself be baited into a fight. Not when he finally had the upper hand. “That’s not an answer.”
Ren huffed, a petulant child caught in a lie. “Fine. Yeah, I arranged the fucking paint attack. Okay? Except it wasn’tsupposed to be you. It was supposed to be me!”
“But why, Ren?” Tae Hyun pressed. “Why would you do something so stupid?”
Ren slammed his champagne flute onto the table, the crystal sharply ringing. “Because I saw what you did! The way KBR kept coming after you only made your fans love you more!” He took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with a manic intensity. “And I wanted that for me. I deserve that.”
Tae Hyun stared at Ren, a sad pity mingling with his anger. “Are you crazy? You know I didn’t actually do any of that, right? It was all KBR. They were the ones pulling the strings and manipulating the situation. Meanwhile, your label actually supported you.”
“Supported me?” Ren replied, dripping with sarcasm. “By dumping me on your fucking tour as an opening act? I should be the fucking headliner, not you.”
Tae Hyun shook his head, a bitter taste filling his mouth. There was no reasoning with this twisted version of his friend consumed by jealousy and ambition. “And the tabloid leak? That was you too, wasn’t it?”
“Of course, it was me!” Ren spat. “But it was your fault! You led me on, made me think there was something between us, then you fucking shut me down.” He snorted. “So, why not use it to my advantage?”
Tae Hyun recoiled as if he’d been slapped. Ren had been that cold and calculating all along. The bright, quirky, fun-loving Ren was just an act. “I don’t think that’s–”
“Don’t even bother,” Ren said, grabbing his jacket and rising from the couch. “I’ve had enough of this little interrogation, so I think I’ll head on up to the after-party now.”
Tae Hyun shook his head. “I don’t think so, Ren,” he coldlyreplied.
“What?” Ren growled, his eyes narrowing. “How exactly are you gonna stop me?”
Tae Hyun pulled his phone from his jacket and made a show of pressing the big, red stop button on the screen. “I recorded this whole conversation, Ren. It’s over.”
Ren’s second shift was almost too fast for Tae Hyun to catch. His cold, calculating demeanor dissolved into pure, vicious rage. “Give me that!” he shouted as he lunged for Tae Hyun’s phone.
Tae Hyun lurched out of reach, jumped from the chair, and quickly stepped back. “Don’t, Ren. It’s not worth it.”
“I’ll show you what I’m fucking worth,” Ren snarled as he charged with his fist raised and a wild look in his eyes.
But Ren never reached Tae Hyun. Seong Min charged from the bedroom where he’d been quietly waiting, catching Ren by the shoulder and wrapping him in a bear hug.
“That’s enough, sir,” Seong Min growled. “Stop now, or you could get hurt.”
Ren struggled against Seong Min’s hold on him, but it was pointless. Seong Min was a head taller and at least twice as heavy as Ren. He quickly gave up the fight, deflating into his final form, his fury melting into a whimpering helplessness.
Andre appeared in the doorway, followed by two of Ren’s security team–or rather, the tour’s security, who worked for Seong Min. They moved in unison, their movements practiced and efficient, as they escorted a now sobbing Ren from the room.
The sudden quiet after the blaze of Ren’s fury felt deafening. Tae Hyun shuddered, the adrenaline draining from his body, leaving behind a sickening hollowness. He reached for hischampagne and downed the rest before flopping on the couch. “Is that it? Did we get it?”
Seong Min nodded. “Yes, sir.” He crouched to retrieve the digital recorder hidden beneath the coffee table. “We got everything.” He tucked the recorder into his jacket. “Are you alright?”
Tae Hyun shrugged. He was betrayed, angry, and utterly exhausted. “I don’t know. I guess so. What are we gonna do about Ren?”
“We’ll forward this recording to his label,” Seong Min solemnly replied. “They’ll take care of the rest.”
