SWAP 13

“Hyung, I’ll be back in a flash.”

As the familiar signboard came into view, Geonsu pulled the car over to the shoulder and hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt. There was still plenty of time before the appointment, but knowing Seoul’s personality—he always arrived at least 30 minutes early—Geonsu felt an instinctive sense of urgency.

Moreover, was today just any ordinary day?

It was the day of the preliminary meeting for ‘Best Friend Exchange’, featuring none other than Lee Seoul.

Under the mission that he could absolutely not be late, he was about to dash out like a bullet when Seoul, who was sitting in the passenger seat, unbuckled his seatbelt as well. His hands were practiced as he pulled a hat and a mask out of the glove box.

“Let’s go together.”

“Ehey, it’s alright…”

“I just want to get some fresh air too.”

With those words, he opened the car door before Geonsu could stop him. Making an egu-gu sound as if he had expected this, Geonsu stepped out after him. As he followed closely behind Seoul, who was opening the door to the cafe, a silly grin spread across his face.

Even though you don’t even like crowded places that much.

Since they had a reservation, they just needed to pick it up, but Seoul got out with him every single time using various excuses.

Even though running errands or doing minor chores was naturally the manager’s duty, Seoul seemed to find it somewhat uncomfortable. Grinning to himself while thinking that Seoul’s personality was evident just by the fact that he sat in the passenger seat instead of the back, Geonsu saw that Seoul had already reached the counter and was talking to the staff.

Oops.

Geonsu, snapping out of it late, ran over, but the situation was already concluded.

Watching the staff member disappear into the kitchen after confirming the name on the order, Geonsu, a step too late, sidled up next to Seoul. Inside the showcase lit by bright lights, mini tartlets topped with a bounty of delicious seasonal fruits were displayed like works of art.

“Wow, but hyung, how did you manage to reserve a spot here? I heard it’s incredibly tough lately because it’s so popular.”

If even he, who wasn’t particularly interested in food, knew about it, that said it all.

It was said that after skyrocketing to fame through a single post on the feed of a famous gourmet influencer, reservations were now at the level of ticketing for a popular idol. He had seen a post from an acquaintance who boasted about finally getting their hands on some tartlets. Geonsu asked out of curiosity, but Seoul remained nonchalant.

“How else would I reserve it. I just worked hard at clicking repeatedly right at the opening time.”

“Wow… I could never do that. You don’t even use Onsta, so how do you know about all the hot spots every time?”

“Saheon received some as a gift a while ago and we ate them together. They were quite good.”

“Heh. As expected of our hyung-nim…”

“There’s some for you too, so go share them.”

“Huh? Really…?”

At the unexpected gift, Geonsu’s head turned so fast it almost made a fwoosh sound. Seoul was always the type to take good care of people, but this was especially touching. His eyes sparkled automatically, but Seoul just skimmed the menu aimlessly and spoke.

“Yeah. You like this kind of stuff.”

“Yes. I love it so much.”

Actually, he didn’t like them much. Similar to Seoul—or perhaps even more disinterested in food than Seoul—Heo Geonsu lied habitually without even blinking. Still, it was true that he liked receiving things from Seoul, so it wasn’t a 100 percent lie. Flashing a beaming smile, he affectionately leaned his head right onto Seoul’s shoulder.

“I’m going to follow only you for the rest of my life, hyung-nim…. Please make me your lifelong manservant… I’ll really do my best.”

“Um, Geonsu…. Mom-jong refers to a female servant. And….”

“I don’t care! Ah, no. Is it uncomfortable for hyung if I’m a woman?”

“…….”

“Would there be a scandal…?”

Would there?… Seoul glanced at Geonsu’s face as he chattered away in excitement and fell silent with a look that said he didn’t know where to start. His eyes clearly showed there were more than one or two things to correct, but in the end, he just let out a soft laugh.

Was it because the story was just too absurd?

While Geonsu tilted his head in confusion, the staff member who had gone inside returned with two reserved boxes of tartlets and a takeout cup. Not wanting to miss another opportunity, Geonsu quickly took the boxes, while Seoul picked up a sleeve, accepted the cup, and thanked the staff in a low voice.

“Thank you.”

“Ah… please come again.”

At that, the staff member, who had a look of uncertainty, bowed as if thinking they had been mistaken. Seeing how Seoul looked like a different person just by lowering his tone was fascinating every time he witnessed it, so Geonsu bowed his head and left the shop with Seoul.

Only after getting into the car did Seoul take off his hat and mask. He handed the takeout cup he was holding to Geonsu as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Receiving it reflexively, Geonsu could feel the hot temperature even through the sleeve.

“Drink this and just be a manager. Not a manservant.”

“Oh….”

Opening the lid, he saw it was peppermint tea.

Since this was something he actually liked, Heo Geonsu fell silent for a moment.

He had thought Seoul was ordering coffee for himself, but he had ordered it for Geonsu instead. Staring intently at the tea bag floating atop the yellowish-tinted water, he only snapped his head up after Seoul called his name a couple of times.

“…Yes?”

“Are you tired? Let’s head out.”

Looking blankly at the clock, it was already 1:00 PM. As a startled Geonsu hurriedly started the engine, Seoul laughed it off as if it were no big deal and turned his head toward the window. Unlike his sweet and gentle image, he was surprisingly quiet in private. Being able to secretly know this side of him was definitely a privilege of being a manager.

“I’m sad I won’t be able to take care of you during filming.”

Listening to the navigation system announce a speed bump ahead, Geonsu muttered in passing.

Due to the nature of the program, unless there was a separate schedule, there was almost no reason for a manager to get involved. Seoul’s scheduled projects were finished, and he had rejected all the upcoming works he was reviewing, so there would be even less reason for Geonsu to be called in.

Seoul let out a small laugh at his disappointment and replied in an infinitely light tone. It was obvious he thought of it as mere lip service.

“Thanks for saying that. I’m a bit worried about filming without you too.”

“…….”

Liar.

He muttered only inside his mouth as the car went thump over the speed bump. Despite his gloomy inner thoughts, Heo Geonsu smiled broadly and spoke. “Don’t worry, hyung. Everything will be fine.”

ㄨ

The meeting place was a Chinese restaurant near the broadcasting station. Upon being guided into the room, PD Jeon Jaeyeon and several writers, whom Seoul had met during the pre-interview, jumped up from their seats. Consciously avoiding the cameras set up everywhere as if they had rented the entire room, Seoul offered a friendly greeting first with a smile.

“I tried to get here quickly, but am I late by any chance?”

“Oh, not at all. You’ve arrived early again today, Seoul. Truly a paragon of the broadcasting industry…. Was there any traffic?”

PD Jeon Jaeyeon, waving his hands exaggeratedly, asked with a genial smile. Famous for being a man of character—enough for even the discerning CEO Yeom to mention how good of a person he was—he was a man of quite a thin build with a simple and unassuming appearance. Was it because he said Heh-heh to this and Heh-heh to that that his nickname was PD Heh-Heh? Since his days as a rookie, he had stood out to viewers for his unique character and made a name for himself, and now he was a star PD popular enough to have an unofficial fan club.

In short, he was a godsend for Seoul, who was tense about his first variety show.

Grateful for this fact that was hitting home once again, Seoul handed over the boxes of tartlets he was holding.

“I arrived comfortably thanks to my manager. Oh, this is a bribe.”

“My goodness, Seoul, why did you buy something like this again? I told you it’s fine to come empty-handed, but you keep….”

“I don’t quite know everyone’s coffee preferences yet.”

He said it like a joke, but most people here knew he was being sincere. He was already famous for being a celebrity who treated field staff well, and the countless heartwarming stories circulating in the broadcasting industry proved as much.

This was Lee Seoul, who had debuted as a child actor and worked consistently for 20 years without a single common scandal. It was a moment when people were suppressing their blooming fan hearts, wanting to be willingly fooled even if it were all an act. The youngest writer, looking at the tartlet boxes being passed to the table by PD Jeon Jaeyeon, let out a scream-like shout.

“Gasp, these are the tartlets from that place. De Saison…!”

She was even more shocked because she had failed to get a reservation just a few days ago. At the youngest writer’s excited reaction as she pulled out her phone, others began to buzz as well. “What? Is it that famous?” “Yes! Yes! It’s totally hot these days, so it’s really hard to get!”

To the question of how on earth he had made the reservation, he couldn’t say he had set an alarm, so he simply replied that he had been lucky. And in fact, it was true that he had been lucky. Once Seoul sat at the table, PD Jeon Jaeyeon took the seat opposite him. Watching the others taking photos frantically in wonder, he asked.

“Heh-heh, everyone seems to love it. Aren’t you going to work?”

“Just a moment… really, five seconds….”

“Seoul. I’m sorry our kids are originally… like this.”

“No, I feel proud that they like it. I’m glad I bought them.”

Seeing Seoul not minding it, PD Jeon Jaeyeon wore an enlightened expression and slowly extended his right hand.

“As expected, the Man of Cannes has a different scale of generosity…. I’ll learn from your example. Please teach me a lot in the future.”

“Me…?”

Isn’t the situation reversed? At Seoul’s behavior—unable to hide his flustered state but still shaking hands—PD Jeon Jaeyeon let out a loud laugh. After patting the back of Seoul’s pale hand for a long time, he spoke with a hint of regret.

“Originally, Saheon should have been here as well….”

At those words, Seoul’s expression clouded slightly.

It was because the topic he had tried to push aside had suddenly popped up.