CAPTURING REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 18: NO MATTER HOW FAR I GO. . .

"Why are you getting ready in such haste?"

"It's not haste, Jaeui-ah," Kwon Taekjoo replied, his lips curling into a smile that could disarm even the most guarded hearts. It was the kind of smile that had made him famous, the type that could sell anything. His reddish-brown lips, curved like a Cheshire cat's, held a mystery that could make anyone question everything, yet leave them powerless to resist. That smile had a rare charm, one that could stir the heart while soothing the mind, creating a relentless tug-of-war between the two. "I just want to look like I didn't waste a single minute when I see him," he added, his eyes narrowing into the crescent shapes of half-moons, radiating a quiet confidence.

"Wah, I can't believe a face as innocent as yours hides such a stone-cold heart and a mind as sharp as a criminal's," Jaeui responded, pushing his black-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. It was a widely held belief that Kwon Taekjoo and the Jeong twins were a lethal combination—a trio with looks that could kill and brains that could topple empires. While the Jeong brothers worked their magic behind the scenes, pulling strings with a quiet, calculated efficiency, Kwon Taekjoo wielded his public influence, attracting both capital and notoriety to Jeong Taeui's fashion house.

Yet, no one outside their inner circle understood how these three seemingly cold-blooded men had formed such a tight-knit team. This was especially true for Jeong Jaeui, the elder of the twins, who had once been celebrated as one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. A face that fit the standards of the entertainment industry with vocals appreciated by the best in the business, the oldest of the Jeong twins was set to make it into Korea's historical Hall of fame, unlike his younger brother who found success in something else. His sudden retirement from music and the shocking news that he would be managing Kwon Taekjoo, especially after the actor's image had taken a nosedive, sent shockwaves through the industry. It was like a sudden downpour in the middle of a desert, an unexpected avalanche that caught everyone off guard.

Fans were outraged. They flooded social media with death threats and hate comments, blaming Kwon Taekjoo for Jeong Jaeui's abrupt departure from the entertainment world. The actor, for his part, found the uproar amusing, often laughing at the comments that accused him of manipulating his friend, as if a man in his late twenties couldn't make his own decisions. But the situation escalated quickly. Fans began to gather outside Taekjoo's old apartment building in Gangnam, hurling eggs, dirt, and lewd remarks, turning the situation from a virtual protest into a real-world harassment campaign.

It was then that Jeong Jaeui took matters into his own hands. He released a video, candidly explaining the events that had led to his life-altering decision to leave the music industry. Although the video never focused on the real reason, and for the most part, Jeong Jaeui kept sprouting half-truths mixed with several lies, Jaeui made sure that his dear friend was getting the good spotlight. Despite his outward nonchalance, Kwon Taekjoo could sense the guilt and tension weighing on his friend. Understanding this, he chose not to interfere, instead, he willingly accepted Jaeui's proposal to become his manager, knowing it was a role he could play to support his friend in this battle.

Because in the end, the fight they were in was theirs to win—not just for their careers, but for their pride and the bonds they shared.

The actor smirked, "Well, if we're gonna go against—"

"Are we talking about me?" The light, almost playful atmosphere in the VIP changing room of the Vogue building evaporated instantly with the arrival of the one man Kwon Taekjoo had wished nothing but misfortune upon since their bitter breakup. The man's presence was a dark cloud that blotted out the warmth, and his squinted eyes, hidden behind rectangular glasses, found Jeong Jaeui like a hawk zeroing in on prey. "You're here too, Jaeui-ah," he remarked, his voice dripping with the kind of disdain that turned a simple acknowledgment into a cruel jibe at the manager's current circumstances. The venom in his tone made Jeong Jaeui's hands clench into fists, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his composure. The room, once vibrant, now felt heavy with unspoken animosity, the kind that could suffocate if left unchecked.