IOB Ch 19

Woo Seonrim had a bewildered expression. In my head, I was imagining video titles like “Street Piano Legend Compilation.”

The fantasy unfolded naturally. Woo Seonrim’s video hitting a million views, comments asking, “Who’s that handsome guy?” Later, using the video for promotion, articles with headlines like “That street pianist was actually a lost genius boy?” The picture was pretty, wasn’t it?

The girl was about to finish her performance, so I hurriedly fixed Woo Seonrim’s bangs.

“Let’s tidy your hair. You dressed well on your own. Good.”

Woo Seonrim blinked slowly, tilting his head.

“Go show off.”

“Show off what?”

“Your skills and your face.”

Woo Seonrim seemed completely clueless about what I meant, but I pushed his back anyway. As soon as the girl finished, a tall man stepping out from the crowd drew everyone’s attention. A murmur rippled through, stirring the air.

Woo Seonrim was someone who couldn’t help but stand out. He’s undeniably handsome, but not in the typical, conventional way; he exudes an otherworldly aura. Even on the walkway, more than a few people stole glances at him. Each time, I felt a surge of pride that my taste was, as expected, impeccable.

Maybe it’s inevitable that I keep getting drawn to Woo Seonrim. Who wouldn’t weaken for a face like that? It’s a face that allows for such satisfying rationalization.

Woo Seonrim hesitated, then slowly approached the piano. I clapped a couple of times and quickly pulled out my phone to prepare for recording. I subtly shifted to a spot where both his face and playing would be captured well.

Part of me wanted to just enjoy Woo Seonrim’s performance without filming, but sometimes you have to sacrifice the small for the greater good.

Woo Seonrim glanced at me before sitting down. The piano stool was too small and low for his frame. His long legs bent awkwardly, likely making pedaling uncomfortable.

It’s not even a height-adjustable stool—would this be okay? I knew Woo Seonrim wasn’t so sensitive as to be affected by the setup, but I couldn’t help worrying.

Beep. I hit the record button, anxiously biting my lip. Is this how parents feel at their kid’s first school presentation? I wouldn’t know, since my parents never showed up to mine.

Woo Seonrim hadn’t even touched the keys yet, but two more people joined the onlookers. Even if someone knew nothing about pianos, they’d enjoy this moment. At the very least, their eyes would be pleased. A face that guarantees joy isn’t common.

Woo Seonrim tilted his head once, then placed his fingers on the keys. Instead of starting right away, he glanced at me again.

“It’s fine. You’re pretty.”

The words slipped out to reassure him before I realized it. Oh, that probably got recorded. In my flustered moment, the music began. A loud, resonant G# octave. Despite being an upright piano, it sounded as grand as a grand piano.

Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu.

As I’d requested, he chose a well-known, crowd-pleasing piece. A dramatic, rapid melody swept through. Woo Seonrim leaned his long torso forward, striking the keys with precision and speed.

It’s a bit faster than the original… Not because he got carried away mid-performance, but because he set a brisk tempo from the start. It was a pace most people’s fingers couldn’t keep up with, and then he pushed it even further. The sheer speed was overwhelming.

He hit exactly the points that would captivate an audience. People are drawn to strength they can quantify instantly—how high a singer’s range is, how many octaves they can hit, or, like now, how fast someone can play.

Woo Seonrim’s face looked serene as he played. His movements were plain, without any exaggeration. People started gathering, one by one. Quite a few, like me, were recording on their phones.

Wow. The crowd’s genuine gasps of awe echoed. Everyone instinctively knew this performer wasn’t ordinary.

Watching Woo Seonrim through my screen, my palms grew sweaty. This wasn’t the Woo Seonrim I was used to hearing. He could freely adapt his style to meet external demands.

Even though this wasn’t a performance tailored to my taste, my heart raced because of his flexibility. He could charm an audience effortlessly, pulling them in whichever direction he wanted with ease.

As the piece neared its climax, the crowd thickened, surrounding the piano. When Woo Seonrim deliberately pressed each note slowly, everyone held their breath, watching him.

They instinctively took care not to disrupt the performance’s end, creating a collective silence. Only the sound of birds chirping remained.

And then, the final note.

After three seconds of stillness, applause erupted. Woo Seonrim, who’d been staring at the keys, turned to look at me.

As expected, he’s amazing. That thought hit me the moment our eyes met. Woo Seonrim fresh off a performance is amazing.

His face was flushed, his eyes alive with vitality. To others, he might still seem impassive, but to me, his expression was clear now. Pure joy. Delight. Like the middle-school girl earlier, playing without a care in the world.

Woo Seonrim still loved the piano. His affection for it was utterly untainted. No greed to improve, no anguish or despair—just pure enjoyment of the moment.

He must’ve kept playing in New Zealand. Even after everything, he still had the capacity to love something. From how he acts with me, it’s clear Woo Seonrim isn’t afraid of affection.

As we locked eyes for a few seconds, I said without thinking,

“Good job.”

This wasn’t a concert hall, but it felt like I was watching Woo Seonrim make a grand debut. The breeze skimming the river ruffled his hair. It seemed like the corners of his eyes softened ever so slightly.

Then, without a word, Woo Seonrim started his next piece. The murmuring crowd fell silent again.

…It’s an original composition. One I’d never heard before.

Not quite jazz, not strongly crossover based on classical, either. Among Woo Seonrim’s originals, it was the easiest and most listener-friendly piano solo. It had the sentimental, calm vibe people associate with “New Age” music.

To think he could write such a universally appealing piece. His range is astonishingly wide. Despite living a life detached from the mainstream, with a personality far from ordinary, he masterfully crafted a chord progression the public would love.

Yet it wasn’t overly bright. There were hints of solemnity and poignancy woven in. The melody stirred emotions. Listening, I couldn’t help but think of dawn—gazing at a sleeping lover in a quiet, dark room before sunrise.

A variation of a famous lullaby was woven into the middle. It felt like a wish to protect a loved one’s dawn, for them to sleep peacefully.

The imagery music evokes varies for everyone, but to me, this piece felt like a lullaby for a lover. Beautiful, tender, delicate. My heart… felt strange. My hand, steadily holding the phone to record, kept losing strength.

It’s hard to hold a crowd with unfamiliar music, but with this original, the audience grew. Curious passersby peeked in, drawn by the swelling crowd, and stayed.

As expected, Woo Seonrim had a magnetic pull. He was exceptional as both a pianist and a composer. Even with a cheap riverside piano, he poured his music out to the world.

For someone, this moment might linger forever. Like how I can’t forget the first time I saw Woo Seonrim. Encountering a moment you want to press into a keepsake is a rare fortune.

I alternated between watching Woo Seonrim on my phone screen and in reality. Maybe it was my wandering thoughts or the riverside ambiance, but my emotions churned intensely. I felt a deep longing.

Longing for Woo Seonrim when he’s right in front of me. How strange.

It felt like I’d experienced a moment like this before. As déjà vu threatened to engulf me, the final note rang out. A thin, trembling sound wrapped around my ears.

“Ah.”

Beep. The moment I stopped recording, I stepped toward Woo Seonrim. I shouldn’t have. I should’ve let him bask in the crowd’s attention a bit longer. But my emotions outran my businessman’s rationality.

Woo Seonrim stood from the stool, unfazed by the cheers, and walked straight to me.

“Director, was it okay?”

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. His face, craving praise, looked unusually youthful. Woo Seonrim post-performance was truly alive, more than anyone. I suddenly wanted to hug him for being so impressive.

But I suppressed the urge. Multiple pairs of eyes were on us, and, more importantly, I just realized my groin was burning. I thought I’d gotten better after hooking up with Woo Seonrim… but my dick was the same as ever. Half-erect. At least it wasn’t fully hard, so it was still tucked away, thankfully.

I patted Woo Seonrim’s shoulder once and said,

“Knew you’d nail it. You played smart.”

“It wasn’t your taste, though. You prefer more classical stuff.”

“No, I liked it. How could I not like your playing? I’ll take whatever you give.”

“…Really? But your face is red.”

“I’m tired. Let’s go home. We’ll talk more in the car.”

Woo Seonrim nodded slowly and followed me. I told Driver Kim, who was waiting, to head off first. Hurrying my steps, I glanced at Woo Seonrim, who was glued to my side.

“Back off a bit.”

Woo Seonrim ignored me and mumbled,

“Thought you’d praise me more. Guess it wasn’t that great.”

“What?”

If it wasn’t great, I wouldn’t be hard…

“Your reaction’s different from usual. Normally, you’d be more excited and give more feedback.”

“It’s embarrassing with all these people.”

“…”

“What? You’re actually sulking?”

“The original… I made it thinking of you, so I hoped for a reaction.”

The corners of his mouth drooped further. In that moment, my whole body itched with the urge to jump. For a piece inspired by me, it was too soft and romantic. The more I recalled the melody, the more flustered I got. My fingertips tingled and throbbed like an electric current.

“Maybe I put too much of my feelings in it. I should’ve considered your taste more.”

“You, you made a piece like that about me… Damn, that’s cheesy. Are you crazy?”

My voice kept cracking. The most embarrassing part was that sulky Woo Seonrim looked so cute. Am I insane? Am I losing it?

Being struck by his handsomeness was natural, so it didn’t faze me, but finding him cute was another issue. To anyone, he’s the opposite of cute.

He’s lanky, always wears a vacant expression, and radiates a gloomy aura. I slapped the side of my head with my palm and quickened my pace. Woo Seonrim followed closely, calling me.

“Director.”

“…”

“Director.”

“What!”

“Don’t walk like you’re escaping. It makes me anxious.”

“Damn it, are you a kid? A preschooler?”

I snapped in disbelief, but my strides naturally shortened. When Woo Seonrim caught up to walk side by side, he blinked with satisfaction. That looked cute too, so I smacked my eyes with my palm. Get a grip, please.

I’m not in my right mind. The exhausting events of today must’ve completely broken me. That’s the conclusion I reached while driving home.

Choi Yisak, you crazy bastard. Crazy enough to be making out with Woo Seonrim in the officetel parking lot.

How did this happen? It started with Woo Seonrim’s attitude. Sitting in the passenger seat, brooding over my reaction to his composition, sighing heavily with a face like he was at a funeral. I couldn’t help but notice.

I told him multiple times I liked the piece, but he kept nitpicking, saying my expression looked uncomfortable. Well, I’d been half-hard since the park, so how could I be comfortable? I couldn’t exactly say that, so I stewed until we reached the parking lot.

Without thinking, I grabbed Woo Seonrim’s collar and crashed my lips into his.

Why? If I knew, would I be doing this? The only conclusion was that I’d gone insane. It must’ve rubbed off from Woo Seonrim.

Woo Seonrim, who’d been gloomily muttering, froze at my kiss. I was just as stunned by my impulsive action. My brain and body felt disconnected, gripped by a massive dissonance.

Woo Seonrim soon reclined his car seat. His large hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me toward him. Startled, my body naturally leaned into him.

“Ugh.”

My twisted waist felt uncomfortable. Woo Seonrim was the one ambushed with a kiss, but somehow he was now holding my face, taking control. His tongue slipped between my lips like he’d been waiting.

In the confined car, the wet sound of our saliva mixing echoed. The messy kissing noises sounded clearer and louder than usual.

My already swollen cock now throbbed painfully. My underwear, damp with precum, felt gross. Halfway through, I was panting like I’d forgotten how to breathe. When Woo Seonrim briefly pulled away, I gasped desperately.

“Haa, huff…”

Woo Seonrim stared at me intently, then reached out with his long arm to recline my seat too. I sprawled on the car seat, turning my head to the side. Our eyes locked directly. Hiding under the car window, we gazed at each other for a while. The dim car interior fell silent.

The atmosphere was so awkward my whole body tingled. Yet I couldn’t tear my eyes from Woo Seonrim’s face. My ears twitched at the low breathing sounds breaking the silence, and my groin stayed hot.

It’s weird. Part of me wanted to scream, smash the window, and run, while another part wanted to stay here, quietly hidden.

Should I headbutt that handsome face in front of me or kiss it again? I felt like a dazed middle schooler. No, I didn’t even feel like this in middle school.

Woo Seonrim broke the silence first.

“Why’d you kiss me?”

I tried to keep a calm face.

“…Well, it’s what we do, right?”

“You’ve never initiated before.”

“Didn’t I? Dunno.”

“Was it because you felt guilty for running away, or because you pitied me?”

“I said I don’t know. Do I have to explain every kiss? You do whatever you want. That’s such a double standard.”

“No. My kisses always have the same reason. I do it because I love you, Director. So no explanation’s needed.”

Woo Seonrim stared at me without blinking the entire time he spoke.

“That’s cheesy, you bastard…”

How could he say such cringe-worthy things so seriously? My whole body itched, and everything felt awkward. My chest heaved sharply with each breath, and my fingers felt oddly out of place.

Woo Seonrim showed no sign of looking away. Embarrassed, I tried to push his face away with my palm, but he caught my hand mid-air.

“Why’d you kiss me?”

Like a robot with a programmed command, he asked with the same look and tone as before. He’d keep this up until he got a proper answer. I licked my dry lips and said,

“You kept whining.”

“…”

“I told you I liked your piece multiple times, but you wouldn’t believe me. And, well, I did mess up a bit…”

I mumbled lowly and paused. Was staying away from home something to apologize for so much? It felt unfair. It’s not like Woo Seonrim and I are dating. Is he my wife or something?

I shot him a suspicious glare. Woo Seonrim, who’d been listening quietly, spoke slowly.

“You were worried about me. You wanted to comfort me too.”

“Yeah, you’re a pervert, so I figured a kiss would fix you.”

“You understand me so well. As expected… you do love me, Director.”

Damn it, I shouldn’t have comforted him. Let your guard down for a second, and he climbs all over you.

“Can I ask one more thing?”

“No.”

Of course, Woo Seonrim ignored me.

“I might be imagining it, but do you generally dislike kissing, Director? Or are you just bad at it?”

“What the… hell are you saying?”

“You always seem tense. Like you don’t know how to use your tongue. At first, I wasn’t sure since it was my first time too, but I think I’ve gotten better lately, haven’t I?”

My chest stung, but I kept my sarcastic tone.

“What, you want a pat on the back? Yeah, I don’t like kissing. Licking each other’s mouths is just unhygienic.”

Woo Seonrim looked at me puzzled, then suddenly slid his hand toward my crotch.

“But you’re turned on.”

The moment his palm touched the center of my pants, a shiver ran down my spine.

“You, you bastard…”

I bit my lip, barely suppressing a moan.

“What are you doing, you jerk? We’re in a car.”

“You said you don’t like kissing, so why are you turned on? I’m curious.”

“It just built up. Get your hand off.”

“Really take it off? It’s getting harder… Why are you turned on?”

“I don’t know, damn it. You’re hard too…”

Woo Seonrim’s thin cotton pants made his bulge stand out even more.

“What? Of course I’m hard. It’s normal to get hard kissing someone you love. Isn’t it weirder that you’re hard despite doing something you claim to hate? It’s only natural I’d have questions.”

His calm, logical words pissed me off more. Meanwhile, my cock twitched as if welcoming his touch.

“Kissing me isn’t that bad, is it? Right?”

“Maybe, ugh, I mean…”

“You’re so dishonest, Director. But I like that. It’s cute too.”

“Shut up.”

“It’ll be tough going upstairs like this, so let’s take care of each other here.”

Woo Seonrim was already unzipping my pants. My cock pulsed, leaking precum like it’d been waiting. I wanted to die. Really, I wanted to bash my forehead into the car window.

“We’re in a parking lot, you crazy bastard…”

Yet internally, I thought I was the crazy one. Acting like I craved his touch.

“You said this place has strict privacy. Who’s going to say anything to you, Director?”

“Ha… ugh.”

Woo Seonrim finally unzipped my pants and pulled out my cock. As soon as it was exposed to the cold air inside the air-conditioned car, a shiver ran through my body, and goosebumps prickled my skin. The shaft was already embarrassingly slick and sticky.

Woo Seonrim casually turned off the engine and said,

“Turn your body completely and lie on your side. Look at me.”

The engine’s low hum stopped, and even the white noise that had filled my ears vanished. It felt like we could hear each other swallow. I was increasingly weighed down by the heavy air, but Woo Seonrim was brimming with the same vitality he had right after performing. His usually vacant eyes were sparkling.

With a smooth motion, Woo Seonrim looked at me with intrigued eyes and moved his hand. I sucked in a sharp breath. His dry, cool palm slid up and down my slick shaft.

“Touch me too.”

“No… way…”

The refusal slipped out reflexively. Every time I see Woo Seonrim, it’s always “no, stop, annoying” spilling from my mouth.

Woo Seonrim tilted his head, pressing his forehead against mine, and whispered,

“Why? Too out of it to do it?”

Deep down, I was curious about how hot his would be right now. His hands and feet were always cool, long, and elegant, but his cock was hot and aggressive.

“Then just stay still.”

“…”

“If I let this drag on leisurely… it probably won’t end well for you, Director.”

Woo Seonrim reached out with his free hand and pressed firmly against my spine. My slightly sweaty back clung to my shirt, and his fingertips felt vivid against my skin. His hand slid down, and to my utter shock, it landed on my ass.

“What are you… ugh!”

His strong grip squeezed my ass tightly. I was dumbfounded by his brazen, disrespectful behavior. So dumbfounded, I couldn’t even speak properly. Meanwhile, Woo Seonrim babbled in a voice full of pure admiration.

“Wow, it’s firm but soft.”

“This, damn it, is sexual harassment…”

“Your body’s so interesting, Director. There’s so much to touch. Your chest is big too.”

My blood boiled at his casual critique of my hard-earned, gym-sculpted body. It’s all the result of my effort, and this bastard’s head is full of dirty thoughts. Not that I’m in any position to talk, with my swollen cock in his grip, but people naturally see their own flaws as small and others’ as massive.

“Tch, it’s all muscle.”

Woo Seonrim kneaded my ass like it was clay.

“So going to the gym makes a body nice to touch? Sounds like a pretty impure hobby.”

“You, you, bastard, groping someone’s ass like that.”

“You should start getting used to this.”

A red alert flashed in my dazed mind. Oh, right. This guy’s been aiming for my hole too. He’s not the type to stop at oral sex.

“I think sex with someone you love isn’t impure.”

Then his long index finger stretched forward, brushing past my crack to press firmly on my perineum.

“Hngh!”

A sensation like a lightning bolt hit me. My backside throbbed. What was this? My ass shouldn’t feel good. No matter how I thought about it, it should feel gross and uncomfortable. I was so startled by myself that I hurriedly clamped my hand over my mouth.

Woo Seonrim’s fingers slipped inside my pants, moving over my underwear. He deliberately pressed against the muscles, stimulating my crack and tapping my perineum. At the same time, he didn’t forget to tease my cock sticking out from the underwear. It was chaos front and back.

“Mmph, mm.”

Even with my hand over my mouth, moans leaked out. Woo Seonrim stared at me steadily, calmly saying what he wanted.

“I used to hate sex. Everyone just did filthy things in front of me, and it got so tiresome and disgusting.”

“Haa…”

“At some point, I couldn’t even get hard anymore. Maybe my threshold for arousal got too high. But with you, Director, I want to have sex. I’m curious. What it’d be like to become one with you. Whether sex with someone I love would feel different.”

Woo Seonrim’s face came closer. Our eyelashes nearly brushed. He was so close that my focus blurred, and his eyes looked hazy.

“With you, Director, it’ll definitely feel good. Even the filthiest sex would feel happy.”

His firm thumb rubbed my tip back and forth. My sensitivity was maxed out, making me feel overly raw. Meanwhile, my other senses seemed numb. Woo Seonrim’s steady voice sounded distant, echoing in my head endlessly. Sex with someone you love…

Would it really be like that? Would it actually feel good?

“Because of you, Director, my cock hurts every day now. That must be love.”

I couldn’t retort that it’s not love, just horniness. My hand covering my mouth kept losing strength, and my moans grew thicker. Not just my cock but my entire lower body throbbed, especially around my crack, where a tingling sensation lingered.

Tap, tap. Woo Seonrim quickly gripped and shook my cock. It tugged at the root, making my lower abdomen twitch. I could feel release wasn’t far off. Meanwhile, his subtle teasing of my backside continued. I didn’t want to finish like this. Ejaculating in a car, stimulated front and back, was horrifying.

With trembling hands, I pushed Woo Seonrim’s shoulder away. Moving my melted tongue, I managed to say,

“Stop… touching my back.”

“Why?”

“My ass, haa, stop touching it.”

“Don’t want to. It’s fun.”

“Bas… ugh, bastard…”

The more pleasure built, the more my lower body tensed. I could feel my hole clenching and twitching. Just days ago, I was agonizing over not feeling enough from the front, and now I didn’t want to admit my backside could feel pleasure too. The most humiliating and disorienting part was that all these changes started with Woo Seonrim.

It was like someone shoved clear evidence in my face. Look, you like Woo Seonrim. That’s why you’re so damn turned on in this situation. Can you deny it?

“Stop… haa, stop.”

“Why do you keep saying stop? You’re not even touching me.”

“If I touch you… will you stop with my back?”

I brought my weak hand to Woo Seonrim’s crotch. I felt something heavy and hot trapped under his pants.

“Ah.”

Finally, a crack appeared in Woo Seonrim’s calm face. He flinched, squinting one eye. The hands fiercely pressing my front and back eased slightly.

My hands kept slipping as I unzipped his pants. I felt strangely anxious. I held my breath without realizing it until I pulled his cock out from his underwear.

Swallowing dryly, I gripped his cock. Our sticky skin slapped together. It filled my hand, twitching heavily. The shaft was already soaked with precum. It’s a wonder he held back this long without pulling it out.

“…Haa, it’s hot, right?”

Woo Seonrim let out a small breath and finally released my ass. Instead, he used both hands to stroke my cock—one shaking the shaft, the other rubbing the tip or pressing my lower abdomen.

Before I knew it, I was gripping and stroking his too. For a while, only wet sounds and heavy breathing filled the air. The fact that we were in a car faded from my mind. The reality of mutually masturbating face-to-face blurred. Only sensation remained.

It felt insanely good. The excitement was so intense my forehead throbbed. Our breaths tangled, and sometimes I felt like crying. Is it normal to feel this good? No, it can’t be. My lower abdomen trembled and tightened. Without realizing, I gripped Woo Seonrim’s arm and mumbled,

“I’m… gonna come…”

“Ah.”

As soon as I spoke, Woo Seonrim let go and suddenly ducked his head.

“Hey, what are—ugh!”

Woo Seonrim took me into his mouth. There was no time to push him away. The moment his tongue touched my oversensitive cock, the pent-up semen burst out. The sound of him swallowing was starkly audible.

“Crazy…”

Woo Seonrim bent forward, burying his face in my crotch. He didn’t stop at swallowing everything but tried to clean my cock with his tongue. How could he do this without hesitation… His frenzied devotion was so shocking it felt almost frightening.

“Stop… stop it.”

I forced my tingling hands to move, yanking his hair. Only then did he release my cock and look up. The sticky liquid on his lips made me even more unsettled.

“Why’d you swallow… Are you insane?”

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Woo Seonrim said casually,

“It’s edible.”

“No…”

I was speechless from disbelief.

“If I eat it all, the car won’t get dirty.”

“There’s tissue, you lunatic. Why’d you take it in your mouth?”

“You’re still complaining after I did that for you.”

“You’re gonna make me do it too, aren’t you?”

His cock was still menacingly swollen. He wouldn’t grab my head and force me to suck like last time, would he? I could maybe handle licking, but swallowing semen? No way. My refined palate, trained to scrutinize every ingredient, couldn’t handle that.

“I’m not going to.”

Contrary to my fears, Woo Seonrim backed off easily.

“…Why?”

I couldn’t let my guard down and edged back. But his grip pulled me right back.

“I know when to back off.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Just watch me. I’ll take care of myself and use a tissue.”

“…”

“But don’t take your eyes off me.”

Woo Seonrim started masturbating while looking straight at me. His face showed no shame. Aside from slightly flushed cheeks, he looked as impassive as ever.

He didn’t let out a single moan. He just scanned me with his eyes and came plainly, catching the semen in a tissue with a single flinch. I watched every moment without missing a beat.

Wiping his palm with the tissue, Woo Seonrim said,

“Shall we go up now?”

His overly calm tone, so at odds with what we’d just done, left me deflated.

“Director, when are you free this week?”

“Why?”

“I think we should practice when you’re less tired.”

“…Practice?”

“We need to stretch you out back there. You’ll need time to get used to it.”

“Stretch what?”

“Your anus.”

“Damn…”

I should’ve cursed him out for suggesting such a thing, but my lips stuck together. The spot he’d been messing with tingled for a moment. The sensation around my crack felt off too.

“You said it’s your first time back there… I’ll make sure it feels good after we ease you into it. That way, we share each other’s firsts.”

“Think logically. Would that feel good?”

“You won’t know until you try.”

Woo Seonrim pressed forward shamelessly. Now I was the one confused. Maybe… it really wouldn’t be a big deal? Everything I’d done with him so far wasn’t bad. Strictly speaking, since I came every time, it’d be fair to say it all felt good.

Woo Seonrim leaned in, gave me a quick kiss, and pulled back.

“Let’s hurry back to our place.”

“…It’s my place, not ours. You really have no shame.”

“I missed you.”

“Ha.”

“I love you.”

My head was a tangled mess, but I grabbed the hand Woo Seonrim offered like I was possessed. A deep smile spread across his face. In that moment, the piano melody from a couple of hours ago came back vividly.

That sweet serenade. A tenderness that seemed utterly unfit for people like me and Woo Seonrim. Could such a delicate, fragile love exist between us?

I couldn’t even imagine it, but Woo Seonrim had painted it with his music. Is he foolish, innocent, or just crazy? A hopeless romantic, stubbornly singing of love despite being hurt by people.

Realizing that my idol was such a person came, sadly, much later.

590,000 views. A trending video in real time.

Everything was going as planned. Including the clips spreading on social media, the exposure was climbing even steeper. Even with just one video on the channel, subscribers were trickling in.

If you design the algorithm’s start well, everything snowballs from there. No need to keep pushing the snowball; the public’s momentum is enough.

At first, we spread it as short-form content on social media. The video’s virality was swift. In a world where you must expose yourself, appearance is a weapon. People captivated by Woo Seonrim started showing interest in the original video, and derivative content about him began popping up.

The video comments functioned like a community, carrying memes far and wide.

@user-iero9mkos1f

It’s unfair to be that good-looking too 😱

@user-fj7n1k2kp3d

Wow~ People gathering one by one… ^^ Is it okay to hear this for free? Seriously chills~~ Thank you thank you.. ^^ Thinking of starting my kid on piano today lol

@forte1017

The piano’s in rough shape… A bit faster than the original. Still, seems like a pro. But what’s this event? Feels like they booked him in advance. Only one video on the channel;; Busking’s charm is its spontaneity, but this feels staged…;; The performer’s looks… too calculated.

And personally, I’m not sure he’s that good-looking. People keep comparing him to others, but that’s rude to the actor…

[5 replies]

└ @user-iero9mkos1f Are you a pro?

└ @forte1017 Not a pro, but a classical music enthusiast.

└ @user-yu190kme4d Oh… What’s the second piece? Can’t find it anywhere…

└ @forte1017 Sounds like an arrangement of a lesser-known Sibelius violin piece. Most people wouldn’t know it.

└ @yuni2023 Huh? There’s no Sibelius piece like this… Are you sure you know what you’re talking about?

@yuni2023

At 5:08, it sounds like the person filming says “Good job~”… Just me? If this is your channel, please post more videos! Subscribed!

@dntkdxkaslr23

I was there!! So cool to see this here lol. Story time… It was an open event where anyone could play~ This guy just showed up naturally! No staged or planned vibe at all! Probably filmed by his friend? Both were good-looking, so I remember them!!! They look even better in person haha. Thought he was a celebrity at first, but stayed for the amazing performance. Even a classical newbie like me felt something ♡

[2 replies]

└ @forte1017 It’s not about playing with your face. Why the looks obsession? Clickbait attention spans are gross. If you don’t know classical, just stay quiet.

└ @dntkdxkaslr23 Whatever… Why do you keep hating on positive comments? Nothing better to do? Jobless? Just say you’re jealous, you loser…

@user-yu190kme4d Is the second piece an original? Can’t find it anywhere… Anyone know, please reply ㅠ I love it so much, I come back to listen every day ㅠ

While public curiosity was still high, I planned to post more videos and grow the channel slowly. The videos would contain no personal info, just pure performance footage. Editing and filming techniques kept simple, as if untouched by commercial interests.

A sudden-returned genius. Pure, fresh blood. Mystique. That had to be Woo Seonrim’s public image. I’d build the stage step by step. Once it’s set, Woo Seonrim would shine on it.

I was certain mystique marketing would work. It suited Woo Seonrim’s natural aura. With a ten-year gap in his history, it was easy to craft a narrative. I’d already prepared the story: a sickly mother, overseas recovery, homeschooling in a naturalistic alternative community, a boy detached from society…

To spread this narrative and captivate people, I needed to clean up the messy remnants of truth first. Like, for instance, the members of that cult who knew Woo Seonrim’s past.

Woo Seonrim said they were all dead. I don’t know if that’s true, a lie, or some metaphorical expression.

He’s only now starting to open up about his past to me, bit by bit. It’ll take time for him to tell me everything. It’d be nice if Choi Geonyeong found out something more…

I’m skeptical he’s investigating properly. I’ve been too busy to check on Choi Geonyeong lately. I should’ve called to nag him. On impulse, I dialed him. Surprisingly, he picked up quickly.

“Hey, youngest.”

His low, raspy voice carried a hint of sleep.

“Were you sleeping?”

It was well past noon. Even for someone with a flipped sleep schedule, it felt pathetic.

“What time is it… It’s still dawn for me. Going back to sleep.”

“Wait a sec.”

“What?”

“How’s that thing I asked you to look into?”

“Oh, the cult?”

I’d asked him to investigate the cult or sect that moved its base from Korea to New Zealand. Compared to before, when I had no info about what Woo Seonrim was up to, I now had a rough outline of his past, so it should be easier.

“Nothing much came up.”