Sujin and Sungjun's First Real Conversation (part-1)

The photoshoot had officially come to an end, and the exhaustion was evident in the subtle way everyone exhaled in relief once the final shutter click echoed through the rooftop.

The production team immediately crowded around the monitors, reviewing the shots. Three themes, three completely different moods, but both women had delivered perfection.

For someone in her early forties, Sae-ri was flawless. Every pose, every glance, every movement was precise yet effortless.

Unlike others who needed multiple test shots, she understood the angles instinctively. She made the smallest tweaks—a slight tilt of the chin, the subtle adjustment of her fingers, a change in how she shifted her weight—that transformed an already stunning shot into an iconic one.

It wasn't just beauty.

It was presence.

The photographer had said it best earlier: She was a Queen.

Sujin, on the other hand, was younger and undoubtedly popular, but her background as an idol meant she had less experience with high-fashion editorial shoots. She was used to staged idol promotions, where expression was brighter, movements sharper, and aesthetics leaned towards youthful energy rather than mature allure.

Adjusting to the luxurious, high-end concept of Elle Korea wasn't easy.

Sungjun noticed her struggling.

She took longer to find the rhythm, longer to settle into the mood of each shot. And unlike Sae-ri, who had her trusted team catering to her every need, Sujin was currently without her own manager.

Whatever had happened, it was clear she was handling this alone.

No one was there to quietly guide her.

No one was there to bring her water when she was tired, adjust the hem of her dress when it got tangled, or softly remind her when she was overthinking a pose.

Despite that, she kept pushing forward.

It was subtle, but Sungjun respected it.

She never asked for help.

Even when it was difficult, even when she was clearly exhausted—she never stopped trying to meet the standard.

Because this wasn't just any photoshoot.

This was Elle Korea.

And Sujin wasn't about to leave behind anything less than her absolute best.

By the end, the results spoke for themselves.

Her first few shots might have needed adjustments, but by the time they wrapped up, she had fully transformed into the vision the magazine wanted. In everyone's eyes, Sae-ri dominated completely, but Sujin's photoshoot attracted Sungjun the most.

When the photographer finally called out, "That's a wrap!", a wave of applause filled the suite.

Stylists rushed in to help both women step out of their heels, hair and makeup teams began their final touch-ups, and the assistants gathered the designer outfits to be packed away.

Sujin exhaled deeply, rolling her shoulders.

That was when she noticed Sungjun still standing nearby, watching everything with his usual calm, unreadable gaze.

Their eyes met for a brief second.

He gave a thumbs up with a smile behind the mask and a nod of acknowledgment.

A hint of surprise flickered across her face.

But before she could react with anything, Sae-ri called, dragging her with her.

As the shooting wrapped up, and the bright lights of the set had dimmed, the crew members were scattered around, packing up the last of their equipment. Saeri and Sujin, now back in their casual clothes, strolled out of the building, their faces still glowing with the afterglow of the shoot.

Sungjun was waiting by the exit, leaning against the wall. He held out two iced Americanos in his hands, the condensation on the cups shimmering in the soft afternoon sun.

"Good job, both of you," he said, his voice full of approval.

"Thanks," Saeri replied with a grateful smile, taking her cup. She then nodded at Sujin, who also reached out for the other drink.

"Thanks for your hard work too," Sujin said, sipping the coffee.

As the sound of car engines echoed from the parking lot. Yuna was ready to drive as soon as the other two got in. Saeri's eyes wandered briefly to Sujin who exited the hotel alongside her and was about to walk to her vehicle. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers drumming lightly against her cup.

"Sungjun-ssi," she said suddenly, her tone more formal than usual. Maybe, it is because Sujin was standing around.

He turned toward her, his smile fading into a look of curiosity. "Yes?"

"I was just thinking," she continued, glancing at the others briefly. "Yuna and I are going to Sangwoo's place. He might get intimidated if there are too many people around and you are barely an acquaintance to him, so… we'll go alone."

Sungjun blinked, processing her words for a second. "Sangwoo-ssi? Oh, right, I almost forgot about him."

"Yeah, we need to go," she replied with a nod. "But... I was wondering if OIm Sujin could drop you off at Songdo Central Park bus stop on the way. It's near her place and convenient."

Both Sujin and Sungjun looked at each other, surprised by the sudden suggestion.

"You want me to drop him there?" Sujin asked, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "I didn't expect that. But, I'm fine with it. No problem."

Sungjun rubbed the back of his neck, a little flustered. "Thanks, Sujin-ssi," he said awkwardly, trying to suppress a smile. "I guess it's on the way, right?"

Sujin gave a playful grin, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course. It was."

Sungjun nodded again, his cheeks slightly flushed as he looked away. There was an awkward silence between them for a moment before Sae-ri spoke up again. "Thanks, Sujin-ah. I'll catch up with you later, then."

Sujin waved her hand dismissively. "No worries, you go do your thing, Unnie." She then turned to Sungjun. "Alright, let's go. I'll drop you off."

Sungjun stepped into the passenger seat of her vehicle, buckling his seatbelt as Sujin slid into the driver's side.

The car glided smoothly through the streets of Seoul, the golden hues of the late afternoon sun filtering through the windows. For a while, neither of them spoke.

Sungjun stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur of modern glass buildings and tree-lined streets. Meanwhile, Sujin's fingers lightly tapped against the steering wheel in a rhythmic pattern, as if lost in thought.

Eventually, he was the one who spoke first. "So… I heard that your manager's on maternity leave."

Sujin glanced at him briefly before nodding. "Yeah."

He hesitated before asking, "Then… how come the agency hired a temporary manager for you? You must be busy."

Sujin chuckled softly, her grip on the steering wheel relaxing. "It's not like I'm drowning in work right now. Just a few photoshoots, some CFs here and there. Nothing major."

Sungjun raised an eyebrow. "Still, wouldn't it be easier to have someone handling your schedule?"

She tilted her head slightly, considering his words. "Maybe. The Agency also offered me one. But I turned it down."

"Why?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, though it carried a certain nostalgia. "Because Hyesoo-unnie has been with me for twelve years."

Sungjun didn't say anything, just listening as she continued.

"When my girl group disbanded four and a half years ago, things were rough. You remember, right? The pandemic shut everything down, forcing a lot of groups to disband too. Work was scarce, and suddenly, I wasn't an idol anymore."

Sungjun vaguely recalled the news at the time. It was just an article he read as a passing time though. A once-popular girl group suddenly announcing their disbandment during the pandemic—it had been a hot topic for a while. He didn't know that it was Sujin's group.

Anyway, after that, Sujin had managed to rebrand herself as an actress and she climbed to B list in no time.

She let out a breath, her eyes still on the road. "During that time, Hyesoo-unnie had a chance to move on to bigger clients. She could've left, worked with a top-tier A-list actress, maybe even doubled her salary."

"…But she didn't?"

Sujin shook her head, a hint of emotion slipping into her voice. "No. She chose to stay."

That surprised him. "Why?" He asked.