Page 74 of Idol Lives
Jason chuckled, hollow and a little forlorn. “Alright, maybe I’m just telling myself that to get through this shit. But I’ve got a plan.” He snorted. “Hopefully a better plan than my last one. What about you? How’s Manila? How was last night’s show?”
“It was amazing,” Tae Hyun replied, forcing himself to focus on the positive. “Our biggest crowd yet. But–” It was his turn to hesitate, the guilt twisting in his gut. “I need to tell you something,” he finally admitted, suddenly unsteady. “About Ren.”
The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Tae Hyun took a deep breath before the words poured out ina rush. “I confronted him last night,” he confessed. “About the paint attack. And he admitted it. He planned the whole thing.”
A low growl rumbled through the phone. “He fucking what? Why the fuck would he do that?” Jason demanded, fiery with rage, his instinctive protectiveness flaring through the miles separating them.
Tae Hyun quickly explained the rest, recounting Ren’s twisted motivations, jealousy, and desperation for fame. Jason’s anger simmered over the line, his breathing heavy and uneven.
“But I recorded the whole conversation,” Tae Hyun finished. “I have proof. Seong Min has it.” He paused, the words he’d been dreading finally forcing their way out. “I’m so sorry, hyung. I should have listened to you. I should have trusted you.”
“Well, yeah, but–” Jason paused, sharply inhaling before a long exhale. “No, no. I don’t blame you. It’s my fault. You wouldn’t have gotten so defensive if I hadn’t jumped down his fucking throat.”
Tae Hyun’s heart ached at the remorse in Jason’s voice. “No, hyung,” he firmly countered. “Ren was very charming, and I was desperate for a friend. Too desperate. I should’ve seen through his act the way you did.”
Jason wearily sighed. “So, what are you gonna do about him?”
“He’s off the tour,” Tae Hyun firmly replied. “We haven’t announced it yet, but there’s no way I can trust him.” He huffed. “I hate to make the rest of his band suffer for his mistakes, but–”
“But they either knew about what he was up to,” Jason cutin with a matter-of-fact tone, “or were too clueless to notice.”
Tae Hyun bitterly snorted, recalling how sure he was that he and Chang Min had hidden their affair from Xiang, only to learn after the fact how wrong he was. “I suppose you’re right,” he conceded. “I’m meeting with Mina and Seong Min in a little while to discuss our options. Tonight might be a solo show.”
“I know you’ll still be great.” Jason’s loving warmth was enough to make Tae Hyun melt. “And I trust that you’ll handle things fine. Just know that I got your back, no matter what.”
“Thank you, hyung.” Tae Hyun smiled, refilling his dangerously low emotional fuel tank on Jason’s enduring love.
“–has some influence over your tour decisions?” the reporter finished as Tae Hyun snapped back to the present.
Tae Hyun clenched his jaw, not bothering to hide the annoyance flashing across his face. “The strength of my relationship with Jason is based on mutual trust, Mr. Kang.” He wickedly smiled. “Surely you have someone you trust like that?”
The room fell silent, the reporter’s face flushing a deep red as the other journalists exchanged knowing glances. Tae Hyun leaned back in his chair, satisfied to have turned the tables on the intrusive reporter. For a moment, the weight of the scandal seemed to lift, and he was back in his element and in control. He was Woo Tae Hyun, the superstar, and the show must go on.
“Let’s move on,” Mina firmly suggested, selecting a different reporter from the crowd of raised hands. “Yes? Go ahead.”
“Daniel Wang,Crash Boom BangTaipei,” the reporter said. “There’s a rumor gaining traction among netizens that you and Ren had a falling out, Mr. Woo. Any comment?”
Minaquietly huffed, ready to shift them to a different line of questioning, but Tae Hyun was ready for that question, too.
“Those rumors couldn’t be more wrong,” Tae Hyun replied, boldly lying. “Not only is Yoshida Ren immensely talented, but I find him to be charming and fun to be around.” Partly true. “And I wish him a speedy recovery in the hopes that we can continue performing together.” Partly false. While he definitely hoped Ren would work out the issues he’d been having, he didn’t plan on working with him ever again.
Mina stood. “I’m afraid that’s all the time we have,” she announced. “If anyone needs a copy of our official statement, please leave your email with my assistants at the door.”
Tae Hyun also stood, offering a polite bow to the assembled reporters before retreating behind the temporary wall that divided the room. He immediately shrugged off his jacket. The velvet looked great in the meeting room’s harsh lighting, but it was heavy enough that he’d already sweat through his shirt. One of his stylists took it from him as he walked to his makeshift dressing area, where he unbuttoned his sweat-dampened shirt.
Yun Seo materialized at his side, helping him peel the shirt off his back. “I love how you took that reporter down, oppa.” She gave the shirt to another stylist and handed Tae Hyun a towel. “I’m pretty sure he’s the same one who published the original rumor leak.”
“He is,” Tae Hyun confirmed. He’d read the story enough times to remember the reporter’s name. “And I probably shouldn’t have said that last part. Who knows what he’ll write about me now?”
Yun Seo shrugged. “He’d write whatever he wanted, anyway. They always do. So, take your victories when you can.” Shefrowned as she took in Tae Hyun’s bare torso. “You’re looking so skinny, oppa. Have you eaten today?”
His sister sounded so much like their mother Tae Hyun nearly laughed. “I have, yes. But I could eat more.”
“Good.” Yun Seo smiled. “Let’s have lunch.”
After Tae Hyun finished dressing, the pair found the room’s rear exit leading to the arena’s maze of back passages. Tae Hyun followed his sister, who seemed to know where she was going. She led him up several flights of stairs until they eventually emerged in one of the corridors that led to the luxury boxes. Seong Min patiently waited outside one of the suite doors, not quite standing at attention as he held it open.
Tae Hyun couldn’t help feeling like he was being set up. “What’s going on, Yun Seo?”
