Daily Routine

With the submission to Cannes now in the hands of CJ and Mr. Kim Minsoo, Jihoon finally had a chance to breathe. The weight of meticulous planning and late-night editing sessions had taken a toll on him, and now, for the first time in months, he found himself with no urgent deadlines looming over his head. But even without work pressure, Jihoon wasn't the type to sit still for long.

His day started at 7 AM, not out of discipline but pure habit. Even on a free day, his internal clock refused to let him sleep in. The first order of business was making coffee—his morning ritual. As the aroma of freshly brewed espresso filled his apartment, Jihoon scrolled through his phone, catching up on overnight messages. There were a few texts from his manager regarding upcoming meetings, but nothing urgent.

'Finally, a peaceful morning', he thought.

Despite his busy schedule, Jihoon had been trying to maintain some semblance of balance. Writing scripts, attending production meetings, and brainstorming future projects were his everyday tasks, but today, he wanted to slow down. Maybe he'd work on a side project, maybe he'd just lounge on the couch and binge a show—both were valid options.

As he sipped his coffee, his phone vibrated with a new message from Taeyeon.

Taeyeon: "How does the negotiation? does it went well?"

Jihoon: "Yeah, it went well, we have sign the distibution contract."

Taeyeon: "Congrats! Director Lee! Remember to treat me korean beef!"

Jihoon: "No problem! Singer Kim!"

Taeyeon: "Now you finally can get some sleep, or are you still running on caffeine and stubbornness?"

Jihoon chuckled before typing back.

Jihoon: "I'll have you know I got a solid five hours. Practically luxury at this point."

Taeyeon: "Five hours? That's tragic. I'd be a zombie."

Jihoon: "A cute zombie?"

Taeyeon: "No. A terrifying one. One that will haunt you if you don't start taking care of yourself."

Jihoon smirked at her playful nagging. Their friendship was built on these lighthearted exchanges, a refreshing contrast to the often intense nature of their industry.

After exchanging a few more messages, Jihoon noticed that Taeyeon's replies were taking longer. She was probably busy with her own schedule, so he decided not to bother her further.

Putting his phone down, he stretched his arms and made his way to the kitchen. His breakfast options were limited—he wasn't exactly the type to whip up a fancy meal in the morning. He settled on something simple: a sandwich and an apple.

He pulled out a few slices of bread, slapped on some ham and cheese, and finished it off with a bit of mustard. No toasting, no fancy spreads—just a quick, no-nonsense sandwich. Grabbing an apple from the counter, he took a bite while stacking the sandwich halves on a plate.

As he stood by the counter, absently chewing on his sandwich, Jihoon scrolled through the news on his phone with his free hand. Headlines about industry trends, upcoming film releases, and stock market shifts flickered past his screen. Just as he was about to put his phone down, a new message popped up.

Taeyeon: "If you're free, coffee? My treat."

He raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. It was rare for Taeyeon to have any free time—most of her days were consumed by intense training, whether perfecting her dance routines in the practice room or refining her vocals in the recording studio. Every moment was spent preparing for her debut, leaving little room for anything else.

Jihoon understood the weight of that commitment. The industry was relentless, demanding everything a person had to offer and more. That was why he wasn't about to pass up the chance to meet her.

So far, Taeyeon was the one friend he truly felt a connection with. Maybe it was her unwavering determination, her relentless drive—something that reminded him of himself in his past life. She pushed herself beyond her limits, just as he once did. It was an unspoken understanding, a shared mindset that made their friendship feel effortless.

Jihoon: "On my way."

An hour later, they met at a quiet café, tucked away from the usual crowds. It was a small, cozy place with dim lighting, the soft hum of instrumental music in the background, and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filling the air. A perfect escape from the noise of their everyday lives.

"You actually look well-rested for once," Taeyeon teased as Jihoon slid into the seat across from her, her sharp eyes scanning his face with playful suspicion.

"Are you sure you're not using some magic filter in real life?"

Jihoon smirked, setting his Americano down. "I feel like a new man," he said, stretching his arms dramatically.

"But let's be real, by tomorrow, I'll be drowning in work again."

Taeyeon leaned back, stirring her iced latte absently, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "And you love it. Don't even pretend you don't."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. Maybe I do. Just a little."

She rolled her eyes but said nothing, taking a slow sip of her drink.

After a beat of comfortable silence, Jihoon tilted his head. "So, how's the debut preparation going?"

Taeyeon let out a small sigh, though the spark in her eyes betrayed her excitement. "It's... intense. Vocal training, choreography, rehearsals—I feel like I don't even have time to breathe."

"But the idea of ​​being able to successful debut excites me."

Jihoon nodded, understanding all too well. "Yeah, the grind never stops. But knowing you, you're probably pushing yourself harder than necessary."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Says the guy who thinks five hours of sleep is a luxury."

"Touché."

They spent the next hour catching up, their conversation effortlessly flowing from work to industry gossip to lighthearted banter. Jihoon shared a few behind-the-scenes stories from his latest movie, including the rumored chemistry between the two lead actors. When he casually mentioned that Hyun Bin and Son Yejin might actually be dating, Taeyeon nearly choked on her drink.

"Wait, what? Are you serious?" she gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.

Jihoon smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, I'm just saying… the way they look at each other off-camera?"

"Let's just say the sparks aren't just for the screen."

Taeyeon shook her head, still processing the revelation. "I knew they had insane chemistry, but if this is true… wow."

She took another sip of her latte, glancing at him with curiosity. "How do you know these things before the rest of the world?"

Jihoon simply shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I have my ways."

At some point, Jihoon's phone buzzed with a notification, but he ignored it. For once, he wasn't in a rush to check it.

By the time they finished their drinks, he felt surprisingly refreshed. It was a reminder that stepping away from work—even just for a simple coffee break—could do wonders.

As they got up to leave, Taeyeon shot him a pointed look. "Don't forget, you still owe me Korean beef."

Jihoon grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it, Singer Kim."

The rest of the day was still wide open. Maybe he'd head out for a workout—he had been meaning to hit the gym for a while now.

Determined to stay fit, Jihoon decided to hit the nearest gym. It had been a while since he had a proper workout, and he figured sweating out some stress wouldn't be a bad idea. What he didn't expect was running into the Kim Jongkook the korean version of terminator.

Kim Jongkook was a force to be reckoned with—South Korea's first and only singer to win three consecutive Daesang (Grand Prize) awards, a feat that cemented his dominance in the music industry.

His success was so overwhelming that even rival entertainment companies, who rarely saw eye to eye, reached a silent consensus—if this continued, the industry would be monopolized by his influence.

In a calculated move to curb his rising power, they pushed for his mandatory military enlistment, forcing him to step away at the height of his career. In an industry as fast-paced as K-pop, a three-year absence was a death sentence.

Trends shifted, new idols debuted, and fans moved on. By the time he returned, the world he once ruled would be unrecognizable.

For Jongkook, it was more than just a hiatus—it was a battle against time, uncertainty, and an industry that had seemingly conspired against him.

The question wasn't just if he could come back, but whether he could reclaim his throne in a world that had already started moving forward without him.

The moment Jihoon stepped inside, his eyes landed on Jongkook, effortlessly lifting weights that looked like they belonged in a strongman competition. There was an intensity in his movements, each rep executed with controlled precision—not just a workout, but an outlet, a release of frustration that words couldn't express.

Jongkook noticed Jihoon watching and chuckled. "You new here?"

"Uh, yeah. First time at this gym," Jihoon admitted.

Jongkook nodded. "Need a workout buddy?"

"Or do you just want to cry in the corner while watching me?"

Jihoon laughed. "A bit of both, honestly."

What followed was an hour of sheer suffering—or as Jongkook called it, a light workout. By the end, Jihoon was drenched in sweat, lying on the gym floor, questioning his life choices.

"You survived," Jongkook said, offering him a water bottle. "Not bad for a first day."

"I think I saw my grandma on the midway through that last set," Jihoon panted.

Jongkook laughed. "You're not bad, hoobae."

"If you keep this up, you might actually last next time."

After the workout, Jongkook casually invited Jihoon to dinner with some friends. "You should meet them."

"They're good people."

Jihoon, still recovering from his near-death gym experience, agreed. He didn't expect to find himself at a table with Yoo Jaesuk, Ha Donghoon (Haha), and Cha Taehyun.

Jihoon quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, knowing that as industry seniors, they deserved proper courtesy.

"Hello, sunbaenim. My name is Lee Jihoon, currently a first-year student at SNU. I look forward to working with you one day," he introduced himself with a polite yet confident tone.

Hearing this, Jongkook suddenly realized something—he hadn't even asked for Jihoon's name yet.

"Oh, so your name is Jihoon," he muttered.

Jaesuk shot him an incredulous look before exclaiming, "YA! You muscle-brained fool! You brought him here, and you don't even know his name?!"

Jongkook, completely unbothered, shrugged. "We were at the gym, focusing on working out. I forgot to ask."

But then, as Jihoon's words sank in, Jongkook raised an eyebrow.

"Wait… what do you mean by 'looking forward to working with us'? Are you in the entertainment industry too?"

Haha chimed in before Jihoon could respond. "Obviously! Just look at him, with that kind of look. No doubt he's either an idol or an actor."

Taehyun nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's definitely an actor."

"High chance we'll meet on a film set one day."

He patted Jihoon's shoulder in encouragement, understanding firsthand the struggles of earning recognition in the industry.

Seeing that they had completely misunderstood, Jihoon quickly waved his hands and clarified, "No, sunbaenim! I'm actually a film director."

The moment those words left his mouth, the entire room fell into stunned silence.

Everyone just stared at him, dumbfounded—eyes blinking, mouths slightly open—like he had just announced he was the secret heir to a chaebol empire (which, funnily enough, he once was) or that he had arrived on Earth via UFO.

Jaesuk squinted at him suspiciously. "Wait… you're joking, right?"

Jongkook scratched his head. "A film director? You sure you didn't mean actor? Or idol? Maybe even a backup dancer?"

Haha leaned in, whispering loudly to Taehyun, "Is this some new kind of hidden camera prank?"

Taehyun simply crossed his arms and nodded sagely, as if he had just accepted some profound truth.

Then, he looked at Jihoon and said, "Is a waste to your appearance... but since you're a film director, if you ever need help, let me know."

"I can introduce you to other directors and get you on set to gain more experience."

Jihoon awkwardly scratched the back of his head, feeling like he had just walked straight into a scene from one of those face-slapping web novels—where the seemingly unremarkable protagonist gradually reveals their true capabilities, leaving everyone around them speechless. The only thing missing was dramatic background music and slow-motion reaction shots.

Still, he decided to clear things up.

"Um… about that," he said, glancing around at the expectant faces. "I'm actually a newbie director. I already have a film that's preparing for distribution in theaters."

Silence.

Complete and utter silence.

Jaesuk blinked at him, Jongkook's hand froze mid-air, Haha nearly choked on his water, and Taehyun just stared, processing Jihoon's words like a computer trying to handle an error message.

Then, all at once—

"YA!!" Jaesuk suddenly exclaimed, slapping the table. "Why didn't you say that earlier instead of letting us make fools of ourselves?!"

Jongkook hand down with a loud thud and pointed at Jihoon. "Wait, wait, wait—are you telling me you're not just some assistant or student director… but you actually have a full-length film set for commercial release?!"

Jihoon chuckled nervously. "Uh… yeah."

Haha let out a wheeze, looking at Taehyun. "You were about to introduce him to other directors for experience! Turns out he might be more successful than all of us combined!"

Taehyun, still composed, simply let out a deep sigh before dramatically patting Jihoon on the shoulder. "Hey kid… if you're secretly a chaebol heir too, just tell us now so we can mentally prepare."

Jihoon just laughed. If only they knew.