Ji Hyo opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling.
Morning had arrived.
But he hadn't slept at all.
Even in his dreams, he was haunted by last night.
With a groan, he got up and dragged himself to the bathroom, freshening up right away. The cold water helped—but only a little.
When he stepped out, he scanned the living room.
Felix was nowhere in sight.
The blanket and pillow were neatly folded on the couch. Ji Hyo exhaled in relief. He must have left already.
But just as he relaxed, a voice sent shivers down his spine.
"Good morning," Felix called from the kitchen, his voice light and teasing.
Ji Hyo froze.
Slowly, he turned.
Felix stood there, smiling, wearing an apron—and looking insanely good.
Ji Hyo muttered softly, "This is dangerous… way too dangerous."
Felix, completely unaware of Ji Hyo's inner struggle, motioned him over. "Come on, breakfast is ready."
Ji Hyo didn't move at first, too lost in thought.
But when Felix called his name again, he snapped out of it and hurried over to sit at the dining table.
Felix placed the food in front of him—a simple meal of hotdogs, fried eggs, and fried rice.
Ji Hyo stared at it.
Did he do this on purpose?
Or was this just a coincidence?
He decided not to think too much and instead focused on gobbling down his food.
Ji Hyo ate in silence, his mind still half-asleep, while Felix observed him with amusement.
Then, out of nowhere, Felix casually asked, "Have you checked your Naver yet?"
Ji Hyo paused, his spoon hovering midair.
He looked up. "No. What is it all about?"
Felix's lips curled into a smile. "Seriously? Congratulations, you trended last night."
Ji Hyo choked on his food.
Felix reacted instantly, handing him a glass of water. Ji Hyo took it, drinking quickly before clearing his throat. "Thanks…"
Once he felt okay, he grabbed his phone and checked Naver immediately.
The second he opened the trends, his eyes widened.
#2 Street Performer Guy
Videos of him flooded the feed, each one with thousands of reactions and comments.
He scrolled down, watching clips of himself singing from different angles.
"Why…?" he muttered, still in disbelief. Why did this even trend?
Felix, as casual as ever, shrugged. "Your performance was great. It's not surprising that people liked it."
Ji Hyo kept scrolling, reading the comments.
Who is this guy?
His voice is insane!
I need his name, NOW.
Tell me he's an idol already.
Then, the system suddenly activated.
[Congratulations, Host.]
Ji Hyo blinked as the screen changed.
[Weekly Task: Building the Idol Persona (Social Media Mission)]
Create a social media account – Completed
Upload your first post – Completed
Gain 100,000 followers – Completed
Revealing task rewards…
Ji Hyo hurriedly opened his profile.
His jaw dropped.
400K+ followers?!
Felix glanced at his screen and grinned. "You're famous now."
Before Ji Hyo could even react, the system spoke again.
[Task Rewards Unlocked]
[Congratulations! Due to exceptional performance, additional bonuses will be granted.]
Reward Breakdown:
All Idol Trait Upgrade +1
New Idol Trait Unlocked:
Fan Engagement C- (You now have an instinct for interacting with fans, making them feel more connected to you.)
Social Influence B+ (Your presence online is growing. People recognize you faster.)
Ji Hyo stared at the notifications, his mind racing.
Felix leaned in slightly, eyeing his reaction. "What's with that face? Did you unlock a secret cheat code or something?"
Ji Hyo blinked back to reality, quickly locking his phone screen. "No, it's nothing."
Felix didn't buy it but just smirked. "Uh-huh. Whatever you say, celebrity."
Ji Hyo ignored him and focused on processing the rewards.
A new idol trait? Fan Engagement? That sounded important.
He had already noticed how much attention he was getting online. This would probably help him navigate it better.
His thoughts were interrupted when Felix tapped his spoon against Ji Hyo's plate.
"Eat."
Ji Hyo glanced up. Felix had a knowing look on his face.
"You're getting famous, but don't forget to take care of yourself," Felix said casually, before returning to his food.
Ji Hyo huffed but started eating again.
His world was changing fast.
After breakfast, Felix stood up, stretching slightly before grabbing the jacket Ji Hyo had given him. Instead of wearing it, he tied it around his waist.
Ji Hyo narrowed his eyes. "Wear it properly."
Felix grinned. "Why? You don't want people to see how good I look in tight clothes?"
Ji Hyo clicked his tongue, looking away. "Just wear it."
Felix chuckled but complied, putting the jacket on properly. "Alright, alright. You win, my cutie boss shark."
He then slung his bag over his shoulder and looked at Ji Hyo. "I have a lot to do today, so I'm heading out."
Ji Hyo nodded. "Okay."
Felix smiled, ruffling Ji Hyo's hair before stepping toward the door. "See you later, my cute shark."
Before Ji Hyo could react, Felix was already gone.
Now alone, Ji Hyo sighed, running a hand through his hair.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
He was about to grab his guitar when his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Mom.
Ji Hyo froze for a second before picking up.
"Mom?"
"Oh my God, Ji Hyo!" His mother's voice exploded through the phone.
Ji Hyo winced, pulling the phone slightly away from his ear.
"I saw your videos! You were amazing! Your voice, your presence—my son is a star! Oh! And the way you played the guitar! So talented! You take after me, don't you?"
Ji Hyo sighed, already overwhelmed. "Mom, slow down—"
"I showed your performance to everyone! My friends, the butlers and even the neighbors! They all loved it! And your dad—"
Ji Hyo felt a pang in his chest. "…Dad?"
His mother's voice softened slightly. "He watched too. He didn't say much, but I know he's proud."
Ji Hyo swallowed. "…Really?"
"Of course! How could he not be? Our son is amazing!"
Ji Hyo felt warmth spread through his chest.
His mom kept talking excitedly, but for once, Ji Hyo didn't mind.
Before the call ended, his mom suddenly asked, "Do you need anything, sweetheart?"
Ji Hyo paused.
He hadn't planned to ask, but the reminder of his nearly depleted funds weighed on his mind.
He hesitated, his fingers tightening around his phone.
"…Mom… is it possible to ask for… additional funds?"
Silence.
Ji Hyo panicked.
He hurriedly added, his voice turning nervous, "I-I mean! Only if it's okay! If not, it's totally fine! I was just… just asking—"
Still, no response.
Ji Hyo's heart pounded.
Just as he was about to take it back, his mom giggled.
"Sure, why not?"
Ji Hyo froze.
Then, his shoulders slumped in relief.
His mom laughed softly. "You sounded so nervous! Of course, I'll send you some money later. Just don't waste it, okay?"
Ji Hyo smiled. "I won't. Thanks, Mom."
"Alright, alright. Take care of yourself, okay? And eat properly! No skipping meals!"
"Yes, Mom."
After a few more gentle nagging reminders, the call finally ended.
Ji Hyo let out a deep sigh, staring at his phone.
At least for now, he wouldn't have to worry too much.