Chapter 33
Raised on Piggyback
Hiccup!
A hiccup burst from Park Miso’s mouth.
“I need your help.”
The low voice of a five-year-old echoed in her ears. Well, “low” was relative — how deep could a child’s voice really get?
But the problem wasn’t the tone.
…That look!
Yes, that piercing look — cold, cruel, and all the more captivating for it. The same eyes that still haunted her dreams.
…Right. That’s exactly why I fell for Baekgu in the first place…
Smack!
Get a grip, Park Miso!
She slapped her own cheek hard enough to sting, snapping herself back to her senses.
“Ow… That’s gotta hurt.”
Yoon Taejin winced and rubbed his own cheek as if it were his.
“You people are seriously misunderstanding something.”
Park Miso lifted her chin.
“I’m not the Park Miso you used to know. I quit photography a long time ago — I’m a busy woman now.”
“Then why’d you come here?”
Ruhwa asked bluntly.
“I— I just thought, when else am I ever gonna get to visit a place like this?”
Miso averted her eyes, fumbling for an excuse.
“A-and! Judging by the broadcast and community reactions, things aren’t looking so great, huh? Figured the company might go under soon, so I came to check the building out in advance! Just scouting, you know? Nothing more!”
She quickly pulled out a business card and handed it to Yoon Taejin.
“Sir, if things go south, call me. I’ll give you a good price — lower than market value. I’ll even cut the commission fee.”
“You little brat…”
Taejin gritted his teeth, scowling — though he still discreetly pocketed the card.
Knock, knock.
Someone rapped at the door.
“They’re here.”
Ruhwa smiled faintly.
“Come in!”
The door opened — and light poured in.
“Hello!”
“Good afternoon!”
“Director, you called for us?”
It was the members of Lumis.
Hhh—!
Miso sucked in a huge breath and clapped a hand over her mouth.
What the— what the heck…!
Her pupils dilated.
There was Baek Doha, broad-shouldered; Ryu Sian, the face genius from the thumbnails; Cha Eungyeol, the cold beauty; and the two golden retrievers, Kang Ian and Ha Jinwoo.
…No, this company doesn’t deserve them! Go bankrupt, Clef Entertainment!
They were radiant.
Brighter than the sun itself!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall—!
They weren’t the clueless fools from RE:VIVAL Episode 1 who kept fussing over mirrors.
How are they even better-looking without makeup!?
Maybe the WJ cameras were broken or something.
While Miso stood there, mouth agape, unable to look away from Lumis, Yoon Taejin puffed up proudly and stood.
“Guys, say hi. This is Hwaseon — you probably don’t know her, but she used to be pretty famous—”
“Oh! I know! Hwaseon!”
Kang Ian cut him off, eyes sparkling like stars.
He was so excited he completely forgot about his director.
“You’re the legendary fansite master, right!?”
“…?”
“…!”
Realizing what he’d just blurted out, Ian bowed deeply in panic.
“Director! I—I’m sorry! I got too excited…”
So cute!!!
Miso screamed internally.
Taejin chuckled.
“Ian, you know Hwaseon?”
“Ah… yes! I’ve always wanted to be photographed by Hwaseon-nim at least once!”
“W-what!?”
Miso’s voice jumped an octave.
“You—you know me?”
Her cheeks turned pink, her body twisting awkwardly as her fingers fidgeted with her hair. She looked like a bashful teenager.
Now that’s the Miso I remember, Ruhwa thought, hiding a smile.
“Of course! I even followed you on Twex!”
Ian continued, face glowing.
“When I was a trainee, I always thought — someday, I’ll get famous enough to be photographed by a fansite master like you!”
“R-really!? Why!?”
“Because your photos are incredible! I always wondered how you made them look so good… Honestly, I thought PD Jin Dohyun must be a really nice guy.”
“……!”
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Yoon Taejin’s head whipped around in shock.
“I—Ian…?”
“In Hwaseon-nim’s photos, he looked like the warmest person in the world, but in real life, he was terrifying! He should’ve done variety shows instead!”
Ian lifted his chin in an exaggerated pose, perfectly imitating Dohyun.
The members chuckled quietly.
“He was smiling, sure, but it wasn’t the same as in the photos! Only his mouth smiled — his eyes didn’t at all!”
“I—Ian! Calm down!”
Taejin hurriedly grabbed his shoulders, trying to control the damage.
“Ah, yes, sir!”
But Ian, blissfully unaware, just kept beaming.
“Ha!”
Ruhwa smirked, raising one corner of his mouth — the exact expression Ian had described: smiling lips, dagger eyes.
Seeing it, Miso couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.
“Pff—hahaha!”
“Relax your face, you’ll get wrinkles.”
Taejin glanced sideways from the driver’s seat.
They were on their way back to the real estate office after leaving Clef Entertainment. Miso sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, glaring out the window.
“I am relaxed!”
She snapped back, still scowling at the scenery. Her mind was a tangled mess.
Is this really the right thing…?
She turned to glance at the back seat.
“Oooh! Harp Fairy Doremi! They’re fusing now!?”
There sat a chubby-cheeked five-year-old, bouncing in excitement at the kids’ show Piano Fairy Doremi.
…That’s him? That’s really my bias?
The way he spoke, his attitude — sure, it was Jin Dohyun, no doubt.
Sigh…
Her long-awaited reunion with her beloved idol.
But why!?
Instead of joy or excitement, all she felt was exhaustion.
“Yes! That’s it, Tamtam! Don’t stop playing!”
The tiny boy kicked his legs in delight, completely absorbed in the cartoon. Anyone who saw him would think the same thing she did.
“…What?”
Noticing her stare, Ruhwa pouted and glared back.
“N-nothing.”
“Yo!”
“Yo…”
Why is he only strict with me!?
Miso turned away with a huff, lips jutting out in protest.
“Heh. What did you even like about that guy?” Taejin teased.
“I—I don’t know either!”
She blurted out, twisting her body irritably.
…Thinking back, she hadn’t liked him from debut.
She hadn’t even noticed him — Jin Dohyun had been a failed idol.
Then suddenly, he blew up. Or more accurately, he dragged his group to the top by sheer force.
That’s when she started taking his photos.
I really cherished him…
Her favorite. Her Baekgu. She just wanted him to be happy.
So why—!
Why’d he have to show up like this!?
“Ugh… sweet potato.”
The child grumbled from the back seat.
Scratch, scratch.
He was scratching his back with an old man’s back scratcher.
Sigh…
Another sigh escaped Miso’s lips as she stared out the window.
“We’re here.”
The car stopped in front of her real estate office.
Click.
Even after stepping out, she hesitated, lips twitching as if she wanted to say something.
“What? Spit it out.”
Taejin asked, eyes narrowing.
“Uh… th-thank you…”
She mumbled awkwardly.
Taejin’s eyes widened.
Did Park Miso just say thank you?
No wonder he was shocked — their conversations usually consisted of yelling and insults.
“Stop following me around!”
“Who even are you, old man? You’re not my manager!”
“Let me live, will you!?”
“Fatso!”
Their constant tug-of-war over Jin Dohyun — practically a lovers’ quarrel.
“…Never thought I’d hear that from you.”
Taejin wiped at his eyes dramatically.
“Geez. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Just take it as a formality.”
“Still… don’t like you.”
He smiled crookedly.
“That’s my line.”
Miso smirked back.
“All right, lovebirds, that’s enough.”
The rear window rolled down — Ruhwa peeked out.
“That must’ve been a tough decision. …Thanks.”
He waved his tiny hand lightly.
“I’ll be in touch.”
Vroom—
With that, the car drove off.
Miso stood there for a long moment, then murmured quietly,
“…Well, at least it’ll be fun.”
She smiled faintly and turned to head inside.
“Think she’ll be okay?”
In the rearview mirror, Miso’s figure grew smaller. Taejin looked ahead again.
“She’ll be fine. She’s Hwaseon, after all.”
“True. There’s no one more reliable than her.”
Taejin smiled knowingly.
Fansites, preview masters, fan accounts — there were many who took photos and videos of idols, but Hwaseon — Park Miso — was different.
Among idol fans, “Hwaseon” was practically a brand.
She’d risen to fame photographing Jin Dohyun, but soon captured countless other celebrities, her work hailed as art among fansite photos.
No matter the country or venue — professional gear, artistic sense.
She never crossed lines. Never leaked private schedules. Never shared personal details.
Impeccable manners, always.
Some agencies even tried to hire her outright.
Even idols themselves quietly hoped to be “photographed by Hwaseon,” knowing the results would be legendary.
Her professionalism earned her a fandom of her own — fans of the fansite master.
That’s why even Yoon Taejin, who scolded her for being a stalker, never really treated her like one.
“…But what’s with your face?”
Taejin asked, glancing at Ruhwa through the rearview mirror.
He’d been frowning ever since they left the real estate office.
“What, want me to buy you a figurine?”
“No.”
“…”
Sensing something was off, Taejin frowned.
Skrrt—
He pulled over quietly to the side of the road.
“Spit it out. Don’t clam up like that.”
“Tch. You’re like a ghost.”
Ruhwa slowly turned toward the window. His small shoulders trembled.
“…I met him.”
“Met who?”
“The manager.”
“The manager…?”
Taejin tilted his head — then his eyes went wide.
“What? You mean the manager I sent that day — the day you shrank!?”
“…”
Ruhwa nodded heavily.
“Y-you’re serious? How? Where? What did he say? What happened!?”
Taejin bombarded him with questions.
“One at a time, geez.”
Ruhwa tried to sound calm, but his voice trembled — an uneasy mix of fear and anger.
“…I met him in front of the real estate office.”
“What? Just now? At Miso’s place?”
“Yeah. I saw him the moment I got out of the car.”
Ruhwa’s tiny fists clenched tightly on his knees.
“…As if he’d been waiting for me.”
