Sasaeng Sister [In big roles: Sunghoon, Lee Know, skz, Ateez, Jungkook]

Chapter 21

That week, Sunghoon had no time to meet me. He apologized and promised to find a day for our detective activities the week after.

Although Hari was untrustworthy, she had planted a seed of doubt in me. I feared Sunghoon didn't want to meet me.

Watching Minho's life had taught me that day offs were a luxury for K-pop idols, yet being busy seemed like an excuse.

Speaking of day offs, Minho needed to get back to work, which was too soon considering his injury. In addition to crisis counseling and physiotherapy for the shoulder, his schedule included rehearsals for a promotional performance at some big show that the company couldn't cancel.

Only Felix was allowed to skip the event. JYP published an announcement saying they were sorry to inform the fans that Felix would not take part in the performance due to an injury. They assured them there was no reason to worry because he would rest well and come back fully recharged and healthy.

I didn't follow Minho to work every day anymore, but I went to see the performance.

The show featured multiple groups and solo artists.

I enjoyed each song.

Bewhy's rap flow got me jamming to the beat, and Itzy's fight-infused dance choreography blew my mind.

I might have been biased, but nothing compared to Stray Kids. A mixture of sadness and pride moved me as I watched them perform. They hid all the pain and discomfort caused by their injuries. Han wore black gloves that covered his stitches, and Minho used both hands while dancing, although, at home, he never lifted his right arm without wincing.

A group of girls next to me gasped. I thought one of the Stray Kids members had flashed their abs to make the girls gush that way, but it wasn't that.

The girl beside me looked at something on her phone. She covered her mouth in disbelief.

I leaned closer to see what made her react that way.

On the phone screen, Felix framed his face with his hands, forcing a smile, eyes welling up.

His aegyo video from when we were kidnapped had been posted online!

"What is that? Where did you find that?" I asked the girl.

She turned the screen toward me.

"Someone posted this on TikTok, but they found it somewhere else. Can it be a new concept? Or an acting thing? Other members are doing it, too."

My heart beat rapidly, the sound echoing in my ears.

I searched the video using my TikTok account and texted Minho's manager.

He came to get me backstage.

The manager massaged his scalp, leaving his hands behind his head at a loss for what to do.

"How...? It's all over the internet!"

He was about to make a call, but his phone rang.

"Yes. I saw it too," he said. "An emergency meeting? But the boys need to go and thank the audience at the end of the show."

He paced around the small hallway.

"Of course. I understand. We will come after."

I followed him to a room where the Stray Kids members patted their sweaty faces with towels.

"Don't tell them yet," the manager said in a low voice. "We will speak about it after the show."

Minho walked up to me, drinking from a big water bottle. He held it with only his left hand, which meant he was in pain.