Between two worlds | Chanlix

Let the pen sign it

The next morning hit different. It wasn't heavy like the night before—more like the quiet stillness after a storm. Chan had barely slept, but somehow he was clearer than he'd been in weeks.

He walked into the office for what he knew would be one of the last times, the familiar hum of early-morning work brushing past him like background noise. He wasn't nervous. Just... grounded. Like something inside him had finally made peace with the chaos.

He found Han and Changbin in Studio C, half-bickering over a bassline.

"It sounds like you put a tuba in a blender," Han said, clicking the mouse with exaggerated annoyance.

"You sound like you slept in a microwave," Changbin shot back without even looking up. "We all have issues, Jisung."

Chan leaned in the doorway, arms crossed. "Good morning to you too."

Both heads turned in sync. Han straightened immediately, his eyes catching something serious in Chan's face.

"You okay?" he asked, the joke melting from his tone.

Chan nodded, walking in slowly. "Yeah. I am. Actually... I came to tell you something."

Changbin raised an eyebrow. "Are you finally quitting coffee? Because honestly, your heart rate concerns us."

"I'm leaving the company," Chan said softly.

The air shifted. Silence dropped between them for a beat, then another.

"What?" Han blinked. "Like—vacation leaving or full-on ghosting us forever?"

"Starting my own label," Chan continued, voice calm but firm. "Independent. I've already got some people I trust who want to help. It's time."

Han's mouth opened, then closed again. He looked genuinely stunned. "You're serious."

"Dead serious."

Changbin put down his headphones slowly. "Holy crap."

There was another pause.

And then—suddenly—Han launched himself at Chan, wrapping his arms around him in a dramatic, over-the-top hug. "I thought you were dying or something, idiot! Don't scare me like that!"

Chan laughed into the hug, patting his back. "Sorry. Dramatic delivery."

"I'm in," Changbin said from behind them. "Wherever you go, I go. We built this sound together. We're not stopping now."

"Damn right," Han said, still holding Chan, who was now mildly suffocating.

Chan smiled, heart swelling. These two had been with him through it all. His hardest nights, his biggest wins. The thought of starting something new with them made it all feel real—possible.

"I love you guys," he muttered, trying not to get too emotional.

"Aww," Han grinned, finally letting go. "Group hug!"

"No—no, please—" Changbin groaned, but Han had already pulled him into the embrace.

"I'm not emotionally available for this right now," Changbin mumbled, arms awkwardly wrapped around both of them.

"Shut up," Han said. "This is bonding. Feel the feelings."

They all laughed, tangled up in something warm and ridiculous and honest.

It wasn't the end.

It was the beginning.

And for once, Chan wasn't scared of what came next.