Returning to his apartment from the Music Bankbackstage, Liang Yun-ssi felt like meat roasted over a fire, alternately chilled by Jeon Soyeon’s professional praise and scorched by Song Yuqi’s gossipy flames.
His self-confidence, which had just swelled from receiving creative recognition, was punctured by the term “big dog,” leaking badly.
Even worse, since his public debut, his daily life had been completely disrupted.
Below his apartment building, there were always scattered fans and sasaengs waiting, those young people with phones raised and masks on, like ghosts, making Liang Yun-ssi lose the courage to even go downstairs for fried chicken.
His roommate, Fang Zi, however, was thriving, turning Liang Yun-ssi’s social anxiety and sudden fame into his best conversation fodder, showing off daily in his friend circles and various group chats.
“I’m telling you guys, Liang Yun that kid is useless now! I even have to get his takeout for him! He’s a superstar, second on Melon’s real-time chart, trapped at home and can’t go out, hahahaha!”
Listening to Fang Zi’s bluster on the phone in the living room, Liang Yun-ssi could only silently put on his noise-canceling headphones and retreat into his room, trying to find a moment of peace in the world of music.
However, even the world of music was not spared.
His KakaoTalk, ever since he and Jeon Soyeon added each other as friends that day, had become unusually active.
Jeon Soyeon quickly sent him her revised demo, along with very detailed production notes, and the two engaged in a two-hour, purely technical exchange focused on “triplet syncopation” and “kick drum reverb.”
When discussing music with her, Liang Yun-ssicompletely forgot she was a girl group idol, forgot her aloof aura; he only felt exhilarated, as if he had found a kindred spirit with whom he could unreservedly share his creative efforts.
But another chat window, with an avatar that had changed to a Shiba Inu, was a completely different style.
Ahn Yujin seemed to have made “teasing Liang Yun-ssi” her greatest daily amusement.
Every day, she would send Liang Yun-ssi all sorts of strange “big dog” related materials.
One moment it was a photo of a Samoyed sticking its tongue out at the camera, the next a short video of a Golden Retriever frolicking in the grass, and there was even a selfie of her wearing that dog T-shirt, hugging her own pet dog.
In that selfie, Ahn Yujin’s palm-sized face wore only very light makeup, but due to the lighting, her Skinappeared fair and translucent.
She wore that T-shirt with a cute pattern, and simple denim shorts on her lower body, revealing her straight, long, and smoothly contoured “anime legs.”
She pressed her cheek against the Golden Retriever’s fluffy head, her lips curved into a signature, energetic smile, and her large, clear, deer-like eyes looked directly at the camera, sparkling with a mischievous cunning.
Her fluffy and layered short hair, a bit messy from playing, had a few strands playfully clinging to her forehead, adding a touch of innocent freshness and vitality like a girl next door.
And each time she sent something, she would include a message that made Liang Yun-ssi’s liver ache with anger.
“Oppa, our Ah Jin has been missing you lately, do you want to come and check its ‘homework’?”
“I heard you’ve been doing great on stage recently! Is it because you’re thinking of a certain ‘big dog’ in your heart that you dare to look directly at the camera? (Smirking)”
Liang Yun-ssi gritted his teeth at the phone screen, fuming, yet helpless.
He knew Ahn Yujin was deliberately provoking him, wanting to see him flustered.
The angrier he got, the happier she became.
Ultimately, he could only choose to ignore her.
That afternoon, Liang Yun-ssi was facing his computer screen, writing a demo for a new song for Starship Entertainment’s upcoming boy group, CRAVITY.
He wore headphones, immersed in his creative world, trying to shut out the disturbing reality.
Suddenly, a KakaoTalk video call request popped up in the bottom right corner of his computer screen.
Sender: Ahn Yujin.
Liang Yun-ssi’s heart nearly stopped; he was startled as if electrocuted, abruptly took off his headphones, and with trembling fingers, pressed the decline button at lightning speed as if avoiding a plague.
What a joke!
He was currently wearing an old T-shirt with grease stains, his hair was a mess like a bird’s nest, and he had dark circles under his eyes from staying up late.
Moreover, Ahn Yujin calling at this hour, that girl definitely had no good intentions; if she saw him in this state, it would be over!!
He had just declined, and another video request came.
Liang Yun-ssi declined again.
The third time, Ahn Yujin sent a text message directly.
“Yah! Liang Yun! If you dare to hang up on me again, I’ll turn that GIF of you blushing into an emoji and send it to everyone!”
Liang Yun-ssi’s fingers froze in mid-air.
This woman, Liang Yun-ssi had no doubt she would absolutely do such a thing!
She was the devil among devils!
He took a deep breath, and with a tragic feeling of “if all else fails, we’ll go down together,” he pressed the answer button.
On the screen, Ahn Yujin’s face instantly magnified; she had clearly turned on a beauty filter, her Skinwas as fair as a peeled egg, and the background was the IZ*ONE dorm living room, which appeared empty.
“Yah! You finally answered!” Ahn Yujin smiled triumphantly at the screen, her tone filled with the pride of a victor.
“Ah, yes, yes, what exactly do you want, my little ancestor?” Liang Yun-ssi’s voice was a bit hoarse; he instinctively raised his hand, trying to cover his greasy hair.
“Nothing much.” Ahn Yujin blinked innocently, but her large eyes held a hint of cunning, “I just wanted to see if our L.Y-xi, second on the Melon chart, is currently slacking off at home.”
“I’m not slacking off, I’m working.” Liang Yun-ssipointed to the computer screen behind him.
“Oh, working…” Ahn Yujin drew out her words, her tone clearly skeptical, “Well, alright. I actually wanted to officially congratulate you. Great debut! You’re really amazing!”
Her tone suddenly became sincere and warm, and that undisguised praise and pride made Liang Yun-ssi’s heart skip a beat.
“Thanks…” He scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
“But, Oppa, aren’t your recent schedules too packed?” Ahn Yujin’s expression suddenly turned serious, her tone carrying a subtle hint of concern, “I watched your performance; although it was steady, you have dark circles under your eyes. And I heard you’re trapped at home every day now, can’t even get fried chicken?”
Liang Yun-ssi was stunned.
He hadn’t expected her to notice such details. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“How did you know?” “You don’t need to know how I know.”
Ahn Yujin glanced at the chat boxes with Kim Ji-yeon and Kim Min-ho on her computer, feeling a rare moment of guilt.
Liang Yun-ssi didn’t notice her expression, scratching his head, “It’s fine… Even if I can’t eat fried chicken, at least I won’t starve…”
“It’s not fine at all!” Ahn Yujin interrupted him forcefully, “You can’t keep cooped up at home like this; you’ll go crazy. Besides, our comeback schedule is almost over, and we’re about to enter a period of rest.”
She leaned closer to the camera, her eyes sparkling with the excited glow of “I have a bold plan.”
“Liang Yun-ssi, I’ll give you a chance. How about I take you out for some fresh air, let you experience what it’s like to go on a date with a beautiful girl?”
Alarm bells instantly went off in Liang Yun-ssi’s brain: “Go out? No, we’ll be discovered! You absolutely have no good intentions, do you!”
“Relax!
I’m a professional idol, best at disguises!” Ahn Yujin confidently patted her chest, then revealed a tempting smile, “Besides, aren’t you bored after being stuck inside for so long?
If I couldn’t go out for this long, I’d definitely go crazy!
Think about it, we can find a quiet place, have a deep chat, and…
eat something delicious to replenish your energy.”
“Eat something delicious…” Liang Yun-ssi’s resolve began to waver.
He instinctively resisted social interaction, but the temptation of “eating something good” made him unable to refuse.
“Exactly!
Just consider it work!
And didn’t you say you can’t even get fried chicken now?” Ahn Yujincoaxed, her voice carrying a hint of playful coquetry, “Let’s set it for the night after tomorrow.
IZ*ONE’s schedule is public, so we’ll avoid all peak times.
Prepare your ‘disguise,’ and I’ll send you the meeting point then.
Don’t worry, when it comes to finding good food, I’m a professional!”
Liang Yun-ssi looked at the expectant face on the screen, a strange feeling welling up inside him, and finally, he gave in.
“…Alright.” He sighed, resignedly saying, “But if we get caught, I’m not responsible.”
“Relax! Trust the professional ‘big dog’!” Ahn Yujingave a victory sign to the camera, then quickly hung up the video call.
Liang Yun-ssi looked at the darkened screen, feeling his heart still pounding.
“Something’s not right. Did that person just ask me to go on a date with her?”
In the dorm, Ahn Yujin, who had hung up the phone, looked at the late-night snack on the dining table.
“Hmm… I guess I won’t eat it after all.”