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Chapter 124: Happy Birthday
by Gideon“Good work, everyone.”
Jubin bowed to Director Andrew Jin, handing him a thoughtfully wrapped gift before they parted.
“Wow! My favorite Korean liquor!”
“It’s a new distilled spirit. It’s a limited edition, so it’s really popular in Korea right now.”
Andrew had to return to the United States for editing, bringing their time together to a bittersweet end.
“See you in Korea for the premiere.”
“Yes, sir. Please take care of yourself until then, and don’t drink too much soju.”
“Lately, I can’t even sleep without it. I’ll drink this tonight and go straight to bed.”
Could a lead actor ever truly share the burden a director carries? Jubin wondered.
After offering another formal bow, he turned to the rest of the crew, thoughtfully distributing gifts to the staff who had worked tirelessly alongside him for the past two weeks.
They were finally leaving the filming location they had visited every single day. A wave of regret washed over Jubin—the shoot was over—mingled with the relief of having finished it safely.
As soon as he climbed into the transport vehicle, Jubin checked Zion’s schedule before his own.
“Joo-won, Zion is heading back to Korea right after the party, right?”
“Yes, that’s what I was told.”
Jubin forced himself to hide the bitterness in his heart. The explosive popularity of Leaf on Snow back in Korea had led both agencies to forbid a simultaneous return. As a result, Zion would be flying back first.
They had spent two weeks on set, talking and eating together, yet for some reason, Zion didn’t feel as close to him here as he did back in Korea.
If only I’d adjusted to the jet lag sooner… would I have had a chance to have a serious conversation with him?
The location shoot was finally wrapping up, and only now was my body finally adjusting to the jet lag. And yet, it was already time to head back to Korea.
So, goodbye, America.
A wave of regret washed over me, tinged with a lingering sense of anxiety.
Jubin glanced down at his phone, which remained stubbornly silent. I just want to get back to Korea already, he thought. The moment we land, I’m going to cuddle Do Zion in bed all day and not set foot outside.
Just the thought sent a rush of dopamine through his veins.
“Joo-won, what time is our flight back?”
Joo-won flinched visibly.
What was that?
Jubin pretended not to notice Joo-won’s uncharacteristic startle and shared a bottle of water with him.
“Ah, our fl… flight is at…”
Jubin had only asked because he knew they needed to be mentally prepared for the crowds of fans waiting for them at the airport. But Joo-won’s reaction was far more frantic than necessary.
“Oh, right. Hyung. Your passport. Take your passport first.”
Suddenly, he handed Jubin’s passport back. Does he not need it anymore?
“Thanks. What about the return ticket?”
Joo-won had mentioned that the return flight might change due to paperwork issues, even though he’d definitely booked a round-trip ticket for the schedule.
Jubin was sure Joo-won had everything under control, but not even knowing the basic details was starting to get frustrating.
“I’ll email you the return ticket before we head to the airport.”
“Okay, make sure you do.”
Jubin felt like he should at least pretend to be looking for it, but Joo-won just gripped his phone, anxiously licking his lips.
“When are we leaving for the airport? Now?”
“Ah, the airport is…”
He couldn’t even answer the next question properly, trailing off.
Something is definitely up.
Jubin’s steady gaze sent Joo-won’s eyes darting around, unable to focus.
What’s with this vague attitude?
“I’ll tell you later,” Joo-won said. “Just rest until then.”
But Jubin needed a specific time. Finally losing his patience, he leaned in and asked in a low voice, “Joo-won? Do you realize you haven’t said a single word about your return flight since you got to the States?”
“Me? Oh, I guess I haven’t. It’s just… nothing’s finalized yet…”
Nothing’s finalized? His story was getting more convoluted by the second.
“How could nothing be finalized? Your return flight should have been booked way in advance.”
“Ah, yes. That’s true, but…”
“You’re being so frustrating.”
“What is this? What’s going on?”
“The thing is… I don’t have the plane tickets.”
What the hell does that mean?
“If you don’t have them, then who does?”
“I’ll tell you when we get there.”
The destination Joo-won had taken him to was a top-tier luxury hotel, boasting a penthouse suite that screamed opulence.
“We’re here, Hyung.”
Jubin stared blankly at the hotel lobby visible through the window and asked, “You want me to get out? Here?”
Joo-won met his gaze and gave a firm nod.
This place was on a completely different level from their previous accommodations. As Jubin stepped out of the car, his eyes quickly swept over the hotel’s lavish exterior.
This place is insanely expensive…
Joo-won got out of the passenger seat and pulled Jubin’s suitcase from the trunk.
“Here’s your luggage…”
Jubin took the suitcase, but he was still reeling. What was going on? What was Joo-won up to? He desperately wanted to know what was going through the other man’s mind.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Joo-won pulled a key from his pocket and held it out.
“You’ll see when you go inside.”
In an instant, a thousand wild scenarios exploded in Jubin’s mind. He snatched the room key and demanded, “You didn’t sell me out, did you?”
“Pfft—!”
Joo-won burst out laughing. “Of course not.”
“What is with you? You won’t tell me anything straight. We’re supposed to leave for Korea in a few hours, so what am I supposed to be doing here with you?”
Joo-won glanced around and gestured for Jubin to come closer. Jubin’s voice remained stiff, his patience wearing thin. Does he really have to be this dramatic?
“Just say it.”
“Others can’t hear.”
Everyone’s speaking English around here, so why bother?
“We’re in the United States. There’s not a Korean in sight.”
“Still. This is top secret.”
Frustrated, I decided to just hear him out. I leaned in, my ear close to his lips.
“Have a great time!”
“What…?”
Joo-won beamed, looking absolutely delighted, before scrambling into the van. The vehicle sped off, leaving me stranded.
“Hey! Hey! Yang Joo-won! Joo-won!”
What kind of manager just dumps their actor in the middle of a hotel in America?
Joo-won poked his head out the passenger window and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Happy birthday!”
Ha, my birthday? I’d completely forgotten.
“See you in Korea!”
Joo-won quickly vanished from sight. Wait, was today my birthday? Between the shoot and the jet lag, Jubin had completely lost track of time.
He sighed, clutching the room key he’d been handed, and wheeled his suitcase toward the lobby.
“Who the hell am I supposed to be spending a ‘good time’ with? Did they seriously sell me off to someone?”
He considered calling Zion, but it was probably too early for him to have landed, so the call would likely go unanswered.
His fingertips trembled slightly as he pressed the elevator button.
Could it be…?
CEO Moon Woo-jin? Now that the shoot was over, was this some kind of reward vacation…?
“Haha, no way… there’s no way…”
If CEO Moon Woo-jin had planned a surprise like this, he would have been dying to tell someone. He couldn’t keep a secret to save his life.
Could CEO Park Ji-bun be plotting something sinister?
Jubin shook off the baseless speculation.
I’ll just see for myself.
His anxiety peaked as he stood before the hotel room door, the number etched into the wood.
He took a deep breath and pressed the bell. The door swung open automatically, without a sound from inside.
“Excuse me…”
The breeze carried a familiar scent—the unmistakable tang of pheromones—sending Jubin’s heart racing.
As he stepped into the room, the open terrace door revealed a breathtaking view: the city skyline and the iconic Hollywood landscape merged into one.
And there, silhouetted against the view, stood Zion.
Is this a dream?
I took a tentative step forward. Zion slowly turned to face me, a smile spreading across his lips as he opened his arms wide.
“Happy birthday, Hyung.”
The Zion standing before me felt unreal. You—why are you here? Didn’t you go back to Korea? I should have reacted more strongly, demanded answers, but I couldn’t even utter a word.
“Hyung?”
I was actually hurt because it felt like you were keeping me at arm’s length while you were in the States.
I knew you were busy, but the lack of contact made me anxious. And it hurt to think the attention that always followed me while I worked was now being scattered among others.
All the resentment I’d been bottling up threatened to spill over.
“What’s wrong? Did the surprise fail?”
Life in the United States wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined.
Everything was more unfamiliar than I’d ever imagined, and nothing felt right. Every time a torrent of unfamiliar words washed over me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t myself.
It was a new, alien emotion, a distance so profound it was unbearable.
“You…”
I forced down the emotions that had risen to my throat and ran to him.
Zion spread his arms wider as if inviting me to embrace him, but Jubin grabbed his cheeks and kissed him deeply.
I’d missed him.
Even while we were in the United States together, even while he was eating beside me, I’d craved his touch and his gaze.
Driven by a desperate longing, I pushed my tongue into his mouth first, sweeping across his hot interior.
As if he’d been waiting, his thick tongue entwined with mine, wrapping around it. The sudden, forceful suck made my tongue ache, and I pulled back.
“Hah… ungh…”
Jubin had charged in boldly, only to end up whimpering as Zion’s overwhelming force bore down on him.
Zion’s large hands gripped Jubin’s ass, pulling it apart as he shoved his tongue even deeper into Jubin’s mouth. He was kissing him with a reckless, clumsy intensity today, leaving Jubin gasping for air.
Jubin twisted his head away, desperately trying to catch his breath. “Wait… I need… air…”
As if refusing to let him escape, Zion’s hand clamped roughly under his jaw, pulling him back and sealing their lips again.
Do Zion’s completely lost it…
Jubin’s own heat was already soaking through his pants, and Zion’s swollen cock pressed firmly against him from below.
“Hyung, let’s finish this inside,” Zion rasped, his voice thick with arousal.
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