Jaeyel tugged at the sleeves of his jacket as he stood outside the CEO’s office, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“Why am I even here?” he muttered under his breath.

Their manager had barely given an explanation, just that the acting CEO wanted to meet him. Him. Not his entire group. Just Jaeyel.

Before I debuted, there was buzz going around the company about the CEO catching a strange illness. I wasn’t interested at the time, so I never learned the full story. By the time I debuted, the CEO had already changed. And now, that same CEO was asking for me?

It was unsettling. He wasn’t used to being singled out, especially by someone at the top.

“Jaeyel, you can go in now,” the secretary said, pushing open the heavy door.

Jaeyel stepped inside, immediately feeling the shift in atmosphere. The office was massive, all sleek black furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A minimalist space, clean, cold, and intimidating.

And seated behind the large desk was a man who looked just as unapproachable.

The CEO.

The moment Jaeyel’s eyes met his, the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.

Yang, was young for a CEO, mid-twenties at most, but there was nothing youthful about his expression. His sharp, refined features were unreadable, his jet-black suit crisp and tailored to perfection. The silver watch on his wrist probably cost more than Jaeyel’s entire bank account, and the way he carried himself—calm, composed, completely untouchable, made it clear that wealth and power were things he had been born into.

He wasn’t typing. Wasn’t writing. Wasn’t even on a call.

Just sitting there. Watching.

Jaeyel swallowed. He had faced thousands of screaming fans in the past few days, yet somehow, standing in front of this man made his skin prickle.

“You’re late,” CEO Yang said flatly, his voice low and composed.

Jaeyel blinked. Late? He had arrived exactly when the secretary told him to.

“…I didn’t realize there was a specific time,” Jaeyel replied carefully.

Yang didn’t react. Instead, he gestured toward the chair in front of him. “Sit.”

Jaeyel hesitated for half a second before obeying, crossing his arms as he leaned back. The silence stretched between them, suffocating and heavy.

Why was he called here? What did the CEO want from him?

“I saw your debut,” Yang finally spoke.

Jaeyel stiffened slightly. “Oh.”

“You did well,” Yang continued, his tone unreadable. “Better than expected.”

Jaeyel frowned. “…Expected?”

Yang didn’t elaborate. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “You’ll be receiving a lot of attention moving forward. Not all of it will be good.”

Jaeyel didn’t like the way he said that.

“I know,” he said, keeping his voice casual. “That’s part of being an idol, right…?”

Yang didn’t respond immediately. His dark eyes lingered on Jaeyel, as if assessing him, picking apart something Jaeyel couldn’t see.

Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he leaned back. “Be careful.”

Jaeyel stared. That was it? No business talk? No official company-related matters?

Just… be careful?

Something about this entire meeting felt off, but before he could ask anything, Yang was already looking down at his phone, effectively dismissing him.

Jaeyel’s jaw tightened. Who the hell did this guy think he was? Just because he was born into the industry didn’t mean he could treat people like—

“Jaeyel.”

Jaeyel stopped mid-thought, looking up. Yang wasn’t looking at him, but his next words sent a strange chill down his spine.

“Don’t ignore what’s happening around you.”

Jaeyel opened his mouth to reply, ask what he meant, but Yang had already moved on, typing something on his phone like the conversation never happened.

Annoyed, confused, and maybe a little unsettled, Jaeyel stood and left without another word.

---

Later that night.

Jaeyel pulled his hoodie up as he walked down the quiet street. He had slipped out of the dorm for some air, desperate to clear his mind.

Meeting Yang had left him tense for reasons he couldn’t explain. Maybe it was the way the guy spoke… so detached and emotionless, yet strangely knowing.

Jaeyel scoffed to himself. What did Yang even mean? Don’t ignore what’s happening around you. Was that some cryptic CEO talk?

A sudden rustling sound made him freeze.

He turned, but the street was empty.

His grip on his phone tightened. Maybe it was just a stray cat. Or the wind. Or—

Another noise. Footsteps. Close.

Jaeyel’s pulse quickened as he spun around.

And then he saw it.

A shadow moving near the alleyway. Someone was there.

Watching.

Before he could react, the streetlamp flickered, and in the brief moment of darkness—

A hand grabbed his wrist.

Jaeyel’s breath caught in his throat as he was yanked backward. A hooded figure loomed over him, their grip tightening.

Panic surged through him. “Let go!” He struggled, heart hammering.

The figure didn’t speak. Just held on, fingers cold against his skin.

Then, out of nowhere—

“Let. Him. Go.”

A sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.

The grip on Jaeyel’s wrist loosened, and before he could fully process what was happening, the figure released him and bolted into the darkness.

Jaeyel stumbled backward, breathing hard, his gaze snapping toward the one who had spoken.

Standing under the flickering streetlamp was none other than—

CEO Yang.

He looked different…

His hoodie was up, his posture relaxed, hands tucked into his pockets like nothing had happened. But his eyes, dark, cold, piercing, were locked onto Jaeyel with an intensity that made his stomach twist.

“How—” Jaeyel’s voice was hoarse. “Why are you—”

Yang exhaled, gaze flickering toward the direction the figure had run off to before settling back on Jaeyel.

“You’re reckless,” he said, tone as flat as ever. “Do you always walk around alone at night?”

Jaeyel was still trying to catch his breath. He wanted to demand answers, why the CEO was here, why he showed up like this—but all he could do was stare.

Yang studied him for a second longer, then, without another word—turned and started walking away.

Jaeyel blinked. “Wait—”

“Go home.” Yang interrupted without looking back.

And then, just like that—he was gone.

Jaeyel stood frozen, his heart still pounding.

---

He wasn’t sure how he got back to the dorm.

His mind was still stuck on what had happened—the grip on his wrist, the shadowy figure, and most of all… CEO Yang showing up out of nowhere.

If CEO Yang hadn’t shown up when he did…

Jaeyel exhaled as he shut the dorm door behind him. He didn’t want to think about the possibilities.

---

The next day.

Jaeyel was on edge the entire morning.

He kept glancing over his shoulder, checking his phone, looking for any signs of the person from last night. But everything seemed… normal.

His schedule was packed—interviews, dance practice, vocal training. He should be too exhausted to even think about last night.

But when his manager told him they had to stop by the company for a brief meeting, his stomach twisted.

A meeting. With CEO Yang.

Jaeyel didn’t know why he felt uneasy. Maybe because their last conversation had been anything but normal.

By the time he stepped into Yang’s office, he had managed to keep his expression neutral.

“CEO Yang,” Jaeyel greeted, bowing slightly as he entered.

He looked different when he was outside his office.

Yang, dressed in yet another flawless suit, barely glanced up from his computer screen. “Sit.”

Jaeyel sat.

For a moment, there was only silence. Yang typed something on his laptop, completely ignoring Jaeyel’s presence.

Jaeyel tapped his fingers against his knee. Maybe this wasn’t about last night after all.

“You were out alone last night.”

Jaeyel stiffened.

Yang’s eyes were on him now—dark, piercing, impossible to read.

Jaeyel tensed, but he kept his expression neutral. “Yes, sir. I went for a walk.”

Yang leaned back, fingers interlocked. “That was reckless.”

Jaeyel hesitated. “I didn’t think it would be a problem.”

Yang’s gaze sharpened slightly. “It became a problem.”

Jaeyel lowered his head slightly. “I apologize…”

Yang studied him for a moment before sighing. “Be more cautious from now on.”

Jaeyel nodded. “I understand.”

There was a brief silence.

Then Yang’s voice dropped slightly. “If something happens again, tell me immediately.”

Jaeyel blinked.

That… wasn’t something a CEO would usually say.

Was this just about business? Or was there something else behind those words?

He didn’t know how to respond. But before he could figure it out, Yang had already turned back to his computer.

“You can go,” he said simply.

Jaeyel stood, bowing again. “Thank you for your time, sir. And, thank you again, for last night…”

And with that, he left the office.

As the door clicked shut, Yang finally looked up from his computer. His gaze lingered on the spot where Jaeyel had just stood, then drifted to the closed door.

For a long moment, he didn’t move.

Then, with a quiet sigh, he leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the desk.

His expression remained unreadable, but there was something almost dangerous in his eyes.