Chapter Three: Buttered Bread

"Brother, are you sure we won't be mistaken for perverts appearing on the street like this with cameras in our hands?" Lin Shouxia, wearing the celebrity "three-piece disguise kit" before heading out, licked his lips, feeling that something about their look was just off.

They were supposed to be filming a proper variety show, yet under Lee Do-hyun's direction, it was quickly turning into a street-stalking operation. With their heads buried low, clutching cameras—it was practically begging people to think they had some deviant hobby.

"As I said, we’re walking out in the open, so it’ll be fine." Lee Do-hyun was actually having his own doubts, but the stares from passersby throughout the journey were too hard to ignore. Still, he chose to trust his instincts; he had been dressing this way for years without any issues.

"Brother, don't you think people's gazes are a bit... unfriendly?"

"I do."

"I have a feeling it's because of the cameras..." The younger man hesitated for a moment before sharing his honest feelings with his senior. He felt their sneaky walking posture, combined with the cameras in their hands, was bound to attract unnecessary trouble. Lin Shouxia felt it was necessary to bring this up; he was terrified his variety show debut would turn into a public legal awareness program.

"How about... we walk a bit faster."

Celebrities always face such troubles when going out. Their fame makes it impossible for them to just put on makeup and leave like ordinary people; they always have to layer on disguises, striving to transform themselves into someone else.

In truth, Lin Shouxia didn't really want to bother with disguises. He was just a "small transparent" in the industry, labeled only as "IU’s junior" and an "internet singer." To call him an ordinary person wouldn't be much of an exaggeration. However, Lee Do-hyun had been quite popular lately, and since the older brother insisted on maintaining his aura, it was hard for Lin to argue.

In Seoul, it was common to see celebrities filming, so the public was long accustomed to this attire. If they weren't acting so suspiciously, nobody would probably even notice them.

"Where are we going?" It wasn't just Lin Shouxia who was curious; the fans watching the show on screen were equally puzzled. These two had dragged them through a day of playing thieves in Seoul without a word, and even now, as they approached their destination, Lee Do-hyun still hadn't revealed his plan.

"To get a drink." Lee Do-hyun strolled lazily in front and stretched, finding it amusing to look back at his unhurried junior. "Are you afraid I’m going to take you somewhere and sell you off?"

"No, I’m just curious." The man touched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. Life was tough, and Shouxia sighed. He wasn't worried that Lee Do-hyun would take him anywhere strange; he was just wondering why, after being out for so long, they hadn't reached their destination yet.

***

After some playful bickering, the two finally ducked into a shopping mall and appeared inside a bustling drink shop.

"This is our destination for today. The desserts here are famous." Lee Do-hyun beckoned the waiter over, ordered drinks and desserts, and then nudged the young artist beside him. "Look at that."

"Look at what?"

"The microphone and guitar in the center. Don't you feel like you have a special connection to them?"

To Lee Do-hyun, who had debuted long ago, a newcomer needed to seize every opportunity to stand out. He himself had gained the title of "IU's man" through his performance in *Hotel Del Luna*, which helped open doors for his acting career. Lin Shouxia wasn't an actor; he was a singer, and singers needed to seize opportunities even more. There were so many artists in the K-pop world who couldn't find suitable gigs—many of them talented, only to be forgotten due to a lack of exposure. Since seniors had already paved a path to success with their own past failures, wouldn't it be a waste not to walk it?

"Brother, don't you sing too? Why don't you go up and belt out a few lines?" After all, this wasn't a studio, nor was it technically work. The man felt that making a scene in public was rather embarrassing.

"With a professional singer right here, I don't think they need me, do they?" Lee Do-hyun smiled, a hint of slyness flashing across his honest-looking face. He had promised IU he would take good care of Lin Shouxia, and he intended to keep his word by helping the boy overcome his fears. What artist hadn't performed in a crowd? Being shy about it didn't look like the behavior of someone serious about their career.

"Brother, what are you planning?" Lin Shouxia was instantly alert, feeling that this senior was hiding a knife behind his smile. Being a singer didn't mean one had to sing every time they saw a microphone, did it? That would make him a karaoke hog!

"I want you to go up and sing." Lee Do-hyun chuckled and gave Lin Shouxia a shove. Just as the younger man was about to bolt, the unscrupulous senior started egging him on.

*[What a pure and wholesome senior-junior relationship, lol]*

*[Do-hyun oppa is really different from his roles. I thought he was the cold, academic type.]*

*[Is he a workplace bully? lol]*

*[Do-hyun oppa probably just wants to hear him sing, right?]*

While netizens were buzzing on screen, in a corner of the video, two young girls in beanies noticed the rowdy environment.

"What's going on?" One of them jerked her head up, scanned the surroundings, and sensed trouble. It felt like a celebrity had arrived, and the place had suddenly become chaotic. People were pulling out phones to film and cheering; she hoped their identities hadn't been exposed. "Rina, should we leave?"

"I think we can wait." Yoo Jimin carefully observed the surroundings and patted her companion's hand, signaling her to stay calm. The situation didn't seem too bad. Although it was loud, most of the attention was focused on the other side. Someone else must have appeared. "Aeri, it’s probably something else. We can sit for a bit longer."

"But..." Giselle was still worried. Even though their group hadn't had a comeback in a while, the person beside her was still maintaining high popularity. If they were recognized, they might be in for trouble.

"It will be fine, trust me." The girl comforted her teammate while picking up a butter bun and shoving it into Giselle's mouth. She knew well that only good food and sweet "ship" content could quell her friend's anxiety.

"Oh, oh, oh..." Giselle's voice grew louder as she kept pointing at the half-eaten plate of bread in front of Yoo Jimin, unable to speak. When a waiter passed by, Giselle’s voice even turned baby-like. Yoo Jimin looked at her best friend, speechless, and couldn't help but roll her eyes.

*[When your best friend catches you acting cute.jpg]*