hi, i'm yangz! i'm 19 years old and i write for nct, mainly wayv. most of the stuff i write is mature in nature so minors are not allowed to read those (obviously). do not proceed in my blog if you feel uncomfortable with my content.
zb1 blog. @gyuvibe
eternal sunshine masterlist
Q. KUN
âËà· break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored (wc: 5,802)
L. TEN
D. SICHENG
âËà· don't wanna break up again (wc: 5,882)
X. DEJUN
W. HENDERY
âËà· brother's bff!hendery fucks you (wc: 591)
L. YANGYANG
âËà· pro gamer!yangyang eating you out (wc: 366)
â six men. one iconic drama. the world is captivated by their stellar performance in eternal sunshine that they cannot wait to see what the future holds for these superstars. but behind the fame, they are just like everyone elseâdesperate to feel what itâs like to love and to be loved, without judgment from others. torn between longing for normalcy and fear of losing everything theyâve worked for, they live in the shadows of their own desires, trapped in a cycle of longing, loneliness, and regrets. in a world where love is their greatest vulnerability, how far will they go to risk it all?
a/n. reader is afab. you can read them in no particular order, the storyline is not connected with each other. this is heavily inspired by ariana grande's eternal sunshine!!! such a fantastic album
don't wanna break up again
âËà· actor!dong sicheng x singer!reader
SYNOPSIS. love and sicheng don't complement each other. despite being aware of that fact, it doesnât stop you from coming back again and again, even if your set-up consumes you. or, you and sicheng are in an on and off situationship because heâs afraid of commitment.
READ HERE.
we can't be friends
âËà· actor!liu yangyang x actress!reader
SYNOPSIS. yangyang is born to be a star, the kind of talent that lights up the screen. you, on the other hand, is a nepo baby who everyone believed got the lead role because of your familyâs influence. he fought all these years to be the man that he is while you are still busy proving yourself to the populace. you believe youâre more than just your parents. he believes heâs less than without his fans. when your lives become intertwined, things get messyâone has never tasted consequences while the other lies awake at night, haunted by the thought of it.
READ HERE.
eternal sunshine
âËà· photojournalist!ten lee x makeup artist!reader
SYNOPSIS. everyone knows that ten is a passionate photojournalist, capturing the worldâs genuine moments with his incomparable artistry that leaves viewers speechless. you, on the other hand, are sichengâs makeup artist, who happened to be tenâs past lover. that one photograph of ten who won a prestigious award recently? thatâs you. thatâs you when you were still his muse, frozen in time while doing sichengâs makeup. once inseparable, now estranged, the image reopened wounds of your messy breakup. while other people admired your radiant smile, you never had the guts to check it because it reminded you of the good times. the times when you thought heâs your eternity.
COMING SOON!
imperfect for you
âËà· golden boy!kun x director!reader
SYNOPSIS. seasoned actor, known as THE golden boy, qian kun, finds himself enchanted by the director of the series heâs starring in. now, they are on the second season and days feel daunting as his feelings start to get deeper and you keep on avoiding him, afraid to commit to someone as perfect as him
COMING SOON!
boy, bye!
âËà· actor!wong kunhang x intern!reader
SYNOPSIS. everyone on set knows that hendery is a walking red flag. from his sharp tongue to his nasty attitude, oh, everyone hates being around him. but things are a little different with you, the intern nurse the director requested from your university. while the rest of the crew fear him, you find yourself entangled with him every night, teaching you anatomy far beyond the booksâmaking you confused as to what you guys really are.
COMING SOON!
supernatural
âËà· vampire!xiao dejun x researcher!reader
SYNOPSIS. why is dejun always nowhere to be found? because heâs afraid of human contact that is! being born a vampire, dejun has found it weird that he became famous. you know those jokes on twitter where they say dejun is, hypothetically, an alien but became famous so now he canât go back? thatâs true. but heâs not an alien, HE'S A VAMPIRE! your quiet, dungeon life is upended when the director of the series, and your friend, drags you out of your laboratory to visit her on the filming site of her on-going series. you think itâs a waste of time â until dejun appears before your eyes, and suddenly, youâre not so sure which one of you is really hiding from this world.
synopsis.yangyang is born to be a star, the kind of talent that lights up the screen. you, on the other hand, is a nepo baby who everyone believed got the lead role because of your familyâs influence. he fought all these years to be the man that he is while you are still busy proving yourself to the populace. you believe youâre more than just your parents. he believes heâs less than without his fans. when your lives become intertwined, things get messyâone has never tasted consequences while the other lies awake at night, haunted by the thought of it.
genre. romance, angst
warnings. there's pretend kissing then there's real kissing where yangyang doesn't ask you, he just goes for it, i do not know the difference between drama and series so sorry <3
words. 8,812
eternal sunshine. masterlist
a/n. it gets better at the ending part so plZ just bear w me. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I'm turning 20 this year lol feels so scary if you think about it but whatever
The universe is unfair, but Yangyang has learned to live with that.Â
It was unfair that he always played second to someone else. The second male lead, the second-best choice, the second most important. But he was never really bothered about it. Not until you waltzed your way into the picture.Â
You still remember it vividly. It was a Monday afternoon, the first read through with the cast of Eternal Sunshineâa week before filming. He was already sitting beside the chair assigned to you, practicing his lines diligently while you took a sip from your coffee you ordered to-go.Â
You greeted him with a warm smile but he only replied with a small and rushed one. Sure, he was your second lead in the drama but during that time, he made you feel unwanted. But who are you kidding? Of course, you were everything he wasnât supposed to want. Youâre the female lead, the one who would be with the male lead in the end. The center of attention. Realistically, youâre a nepo baby whose life had been handed to her on a silver platter, complete with designer shoes and an unearned (still) spotlight. But God, did you wear it well.
Whereas Yangyang had to work his way up. Every step of his journey was carved out of his determination and long nights filled with self-doubt, managementâs uncertainty, and the mediaâs scrutiny. He wasnât handed anything the first time he breathed in the land of showbiz. Every opportunity, recognition, and spotlight heâs getting right now is because he persevered.Â
Thatâs what made sitting next to you on that Monday afternoon so excruciating.Â
While he did smile to your way in a rushed manner, he viewed you as a person far differently than other people did when they looked your way. You were effortless in his eyes. Effortless in a manner that he could never be. Even in the most mundane moments like you sipping on your coffee, standing up to bow to anyone who comes in the script room, scrolling through your phoneâyou carried yourself with an air of belonging, like you had been born to inhabit the world he had clawed his way into.Â
And yet, it wasnât jealousy that twisted his chest when he looked at you. Heck, it was something worse.Â
No matter how much he tried to deny it, when your mouth opened to read the script, Yangyang knew exactly what you were capable of. You werenât just a nepo baby or some random female lead that the crew casted. You were the kind of actress everyone aspires to be. And also the kind of person who could uproot everything heâd worked so hard to build.
You first met Yangyang at a press conference after an award show your parents were invited for and you were their plus one. The journalist decided to pick on you, asking you pressing questions regarding your status in the industry.Â
âWhat do you feel that everyoneâs calling you a nepo baby, Ms. Y/N?â Well, you almost wish the journalist hadnât called you âMissâ if his question was like that.Â
You just smiled at him awkwardly, never giving in to their pressing questions about your relevance in the acting industry. Afterall, you believe youâre more than just your parents. Sure, they opened this path for you but youâre working hard to show to everyone that you deserve that spot.Â
You never really paid attention to the young actor during that time but you saw him looking at you while you were being interrogated by the rude journalist. Your eyes met for a brief moment before he broke it to talk to another actor.Â
At first, Yangyang didnât feel bad for you during that time, considering how he thought you were an annoying actress, like what he had heard from rumors.Â
âMiss Y/N, whatâs with you today? You keep on failing the scene,â the director yells another disappointed âcut!â after you fumbled your lines with a scene with Sicheng. âLetâs take 5!âÂ
âIâm sorry, Sicheng,â you gave an apologetic smile to the star actor but he just shrugged and went to his assistant to freshen up.Â
If there was one thing you loved about working with Sicheng, it was because he doesnât really care about where you came from or what you did to become his female lead. Heâs just there for work. A bonus is that he treats you nicely, heâs just nonchalant at times. Especially when that pop star comes into the set.Â
âYouâre too stiff, Y/N,â the sudden voice from behind your back startled you. You whip around to see Yangyang leaning casually against a prop stand, arms crossed and an amused grin tugging at his lips.Â
âYour bodyâs too tense, thatâs why you keep messing up,â he points out, tilting his head. âI saw it when you were delivering your lines.â Â
âOh, Yangyang-sunbaenim! I see, Iâll try to deliver these lines as smoothly as possible,â you replied, giving him a small smile.
âPractice it to me.âÂ
âHuh?â
âPractice your line to me and I can give you feedback, dummy,â Yangyang reiterated, his tone filled with playful impatience.
âO-oh! UhmâŠâ You focus, taking a deep breath before looking directly into his eyes, âLei⊠I donât think you can understand me⊠I donât think weâre⊠weâreâŠâ Your voice falters right where it did before. You clench your jaw, trying to force the words out, but they just wonât come.Â
Your shoulders drop as you let out a sigh of defeat, âI donât think I can do this,â you admit, your voice barely a whisper but Yangyang heard it.Â
âYou think you canât because you want Lei and Riko to be together. Youâre so immersed in your role right now, Y/N,â Yangyang scolded, giving you a bottle of water from his staff.Â
âThis isn't real, Y/N. You need to separate work and your personal feelings. If you want Lei and Riko to be together, they will in the end. Just not in this scene. Get yourself together and wrap this scene up so we can all go home,â he reaches up, ruffling your hair like youâre a little kid on the set, and before you can even process what he did, heâs already walking away, hands shoved in his pockets heading straight to annoy Kun.
âSeparate work and personal feelings, huh?â You muttered, staring at the water he gave you. His words echo in your mind, louder than the busy mumbles of the crew around you. Maybe what he said is true considering how you canât bear to think that Lei, Sichengâs character, and Riko, your character, will end their love escapade for a few episodes before rekindling again.
âY/N, Sicheng, back on stage!â The director yelled, giving you a brief smile before instructing the cameraman. âDo your best.âÂ
You nod, tightening your grip on the water bottle before setting it aside. Your feet move automatically, carrying you toward the place youâll be delivering your line in. As youâre heading to your place, you can feel Yangyangâs eyes on you.Â
You looked in his direction and he already had his signature gummy smile plastered on his face, âDo your best,â he mimicked the directorâs voice, making you giggle.
It was a week after the first shooting for Eternal Sunshine that the director called you in her office for an emergency revision for the later episodes.Â
You were wearing your favorite faded jeans with a long sleeve and a coffee on your hand. At first, you thought it was just gonna be you and the director but a sleepy Yangyang came into her office like itâs his second home.
âGreetings, Yangyang!â The director annoyingly scolded him, throwing a pillow at him when he immediately latched himself onto the sofa.Â
âHello, noona. Hello, Y/N.âÂ
âIâm very sorry about him, Ms. Y/N,â his manager, Huang Renjun, apologized on behalf of the second male lead. âHe just came from an overnight shooting with Mr. Qian Kun. The two of them had to shoot their scenes more than once because the rookie actor kept messing up and they didnât want to be assholes on set.âÂ
âHey! What about an apology for me?â The director playfully demanded even though she had known the reason for Yangyangâs behavior beforehand. The director was like family for Yangyang and Renjun. This isnât the first project they did together hence theyâre comfortable with each other.
âAs he said, Kun-ge,â Yangyang mentioned the golden boy and the three immediately saw the flabbergasted reaction of the director. âKun-ge, Kun-ge, Kun-ge, Kun-â Yangyang teased, his smile grew wider as the directorâs face became more embarrassed before having enough of his ministries.Â
âEnough, second lead!â The director sassed, âI called you here today because thereâs a change in the storyline weâre going to record for tomorrow,â she started as her assistant gave you and Yangyang the copy of the revised script and concept for the shoot.Â
As you skimmed the pages, you realized that you and Yangyangâs character will be in close proximity, fully giving justice to his second male lead role. âAs you can see, Riko and Jun will be closer to each other after Leiâs and Rikoâs fall out. Of course, this will be brief as the latter couple will get back together,â she explained. âI just want the both of you to prepare yourselves. I know that the both of you have the least interaction throughout this series but you need to prepare⊠like, prepare,â she emphasized before adjourning the meeting, leaving you dazed.Â
âAfter reading this script, I think Riko will fall harder for Jun than Lei,â you joked, already feeling the pressure as you saw a scene where you and Yangyang had to kiss.Â
âWill you?â Yangyang asked, his tone was interrogating.Â
You tilted your head, confused with what he meant, âWill I what, sunbaenim?â
But he just shrugged, telling you to prepare for tomorrow before leaving the office.
The ride on the way home was unusually quiet.Â
âWhat do you think of him?â Your manager, Chenle, asked you.
âOf who?â
âOf Yangyang.â
You tried to think about what to say for a moment, âWell, heâs nice to me.âÂ
âThatâs it?â Chenle glanced at you through the rearview mirror, one brow arched. âNice? Heâs Yangyang, Y/N. Everyone I heard who worked with him canât get him out of their heads after.â
You rolled your eyes, leaning your head against the window. âHeâs good at what he does. Professional. Maybe those people canât separate work from their personal lives or whatever.â
âProfessional, huh?â You can hear the smirk from Chenleâs tone.
âJust stop overthinking things, Chenle,â You sighed, dumping all of your body weight on the car seat. âTomorrowâs gonna be a long day with him so you better not make any weird comments like whatever this conversation is.â
âThereâs nothing weird with the conversation weâre having, Y/N.â Chenle retorted, âIâm just hoping you could come to your senses tomorrow and do your best as an actress. You still have a lot to prove in the industry.â
âI know that.â
Itâs tiring, honestly. For you, itâs a never ending quest of âprovingâ yourself to the industry, general public, and your own family. Itâs sad to think about how as a child, everyone was looking forward to your acting debut but once you did, all the nepotism news bombarded your career hence, youâre now known as the ânepoâ baby.Â
You used to think of it as a positive thing, you never forgot to thank your parents in every interview for this opportunity as an actress because you know, since as a kid, that this is the path meant for you. Itâs like youâre honoring them every chance you have but the public deemed it as ârubbing your nepotism faceâ every chance you get.Â
In the end, this whole issue got out of hand and you donât mention your parents as much as you used to, even coming as close to declining films where they are starring in or in affiliation with in fear of the nepotism thing getting even bigger.Â
The next day on set had this heavy atmosphere not usually there when itâs you and Sicheng filming. You think itâs probably with the revised script that got everyone on their edge because the crew were everywhere, ensuring all of the props and sets are nice and perfect for your shoot.Â
It was also during this time that you realized the scene youâre about to do.Â
Itâs the middle part of Riko and Junâs relationship where they kiss because they realized they love each other, only for a short period of time, and it ought to feel magical or else people would believe that Rikoâs still in love with Lei and is using Jun but in the script, Rikoâs in love with Jun, even if itâs just for a brief period.Â
The director deemed it easier for the both of you to finish the hard scenes first before the others so as to ensure smooth filming in the later days of the schedule, considering that Yangyang and other actors in this series also has other schedules.Â
âRelax,â Yangyangâs voice broke through your thoughts as you couldnât shake your nerves.
First day with Yangyang as your characterâs lover and youâre already about to kiss. Whatâs there to not be nervous about?Â
He was leaning against the makeup station, dressed amazingly by his stylist. You think of his presence as effortless but right now, thereâs a glint of something in his eyesâquiet yet intense.Â
âIâm trying, sunbae,â you replied, turning to face him.
He stepped closer to where you are, lowering his voice so only you could hear. âYouâre overthinking it, Y/N. Itâs just a scene. Weâre professionals, remember?âÂ
You nodded, but your hands were still trembling slightly. Yangyang saw your state and sighed. âNepo babies,â he teased as he shook his head before giving you again a bottle of water. âTake a sip, madam. It will make you feel better.â
âIâm sorry for feeling nervous, sunbae.â You apologized as you took a sip from the water he gave you. âItâs just that⊠itâs my first kissing scene ever and Iâm not familiar with the grounds for kissing in a scene.â you admitted.Â
Yangyangâs smile was wide and charming as he listened to your confession, âDonât worry, sunbae will guide you.â
It was show time and the director called you and Yangyang in for a brief summary again.Â
âLook,â Yangyang said to catch your attention, âThink of this scene as an important moment for Jun and Riko. They came from heartbreaks and found comfort from each other,â he gave you an advice, âItâs like their enlightenment scene where they kiss and suddenly, all is well.â
You stared at him, trying to gauge what he had just said. âIâll do my best,â you said shyly, offering him a small smile before walking to the center.
âI know you will,â Yangyang replied, his gummy smile returning.Â
âOkay, lovebirds for a glimpse,â the director called. Lovebirds for a glimpse is you and Yangyangâs new nickname on set because of this RikoJun scene youâre doing. âKiss your way!â was all she said before giving the both of you the cue.Â
As the scene began, you convinced yourself that this isnât about you. This is about Riko finding love again after what happened with Lei. This is her first kiss with someone who comforted her. And with that, you found yourself more at ease.Â
Yangyangâs character approached yours, his eyes showed vulnerability and it almost felt too real when his orbs directly looked into yours. The lines flowing out of his mouth smoothly, as if he meant them.Â
And when the moment came, when Jun leaned in and Riko didnât pull away, it was like the rest of the world disappeared.Â
The kiss was soft, hesitant, and lingeringâexactly as it was supposed to be. Yangyang held your head with such gentleness while your hands found their way to his back, trying to get him closer to your body.Â
You know itâs just pretend kissing but part of you wished it was real with the way Yangyang was holding you and your proximity, his warmth made you feel small in a way that is not condescending. He made you feel safe.Â
When the two of you break the kiss, your eyes meet again. This time, you definitely went out of character as you looked at him deeply, fully portraying Rikoâs yearning for him. Her âI found youâ moment.Â
âCut!â The director yelled ecstatically. âThat was such a good scene!âÂ
You thanked the director while your mind was still in a daze as Yangyang gave you a small, reassuring nodâas if saying that you did well. You couldnât help but give the actor a smile in return.Â
As the crew buzzed around you again, you caught Chenleâs gaze from the sidelines. He raised a brow, smirking at your direction as if he knew something you didnât.Â
And maybe, he did.Â
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Between the countless takes, script changes, and the directorâs endless feedback, you barely had time to process anything. Except when Yangyang was in the same room as yours. You admire how his presence seems to fill every corner, tugging at your attention no matter how hard you try to focus on anything else.Â
By the time you wrapped up for the day, your body ached from exhaustion, and all you wanted was to crawl into bed. At this time, you thoroughly expected a grumpy Chenle waiting for you in your dressing room but you were taken aback with what you got instead.
It was Yangyang, leaning against the wall near your dressing room, scrolling through his phone like heâs your boyfriend waiting for you to finish your shoot⊠you mean, what?
You hesitated to greet him but he looked up at you before you could even decide.
âY/N,â he greeted, âChenleâs out with Renjun. Figured Iâll wait for you instead, considering how late it is now.â
âOh,â you mentally cursed your manager, your inner monologues filled with âHow dare heâ and âHow could heâ. âItâs fine, sunbae. I can manage on my own.âÂ
Yangyang slipped his phone into his pocket, standing up straight in the process. âNo, nepo baby. Youâre gonna be with me until you enter the backdoor of your apartment.âÂ
Youâre too tired to decline a persistent Yangyang that you just nodded before heading to the parking lot. âLong day,â you sighed, leaning into the car seat of Renjunâs van.Â
âTell me about it,â he responded as he started driving.Â
You glanced at him, surprised, âI almost forgot! Arenât you supposed to be staying for the night shoot?â
âNah, Kunâs taking over because of changes again. Figured the director would have also preferred it that way,â he laughed as his hands smoothly maneuvered the steering wheel.Â
You giggled at his response, âSounds about right.âÂ
The two of you drove in an awkward silence for a while, the cold air conditioning of the van touches your body, making you shiver.Â
âSo,â he said eventually, looking at you for a brief period in his rearview mirror. âHowâd it feel? The scene, I mean.â
You bit your lip, avoiding his brief glances at your place. âI donât know,â you started, âIt felt different⊠I donât think I can find the right words to describe it right now, really.âÂ
You try to brush off his question with a laugh but you know deep inside your heart that you couldnât just tell him you wished that the kiss was real. That you wish there was something more and that his glances at you earlier meant something.Â
âBut your advice did help a lot!â You tried changing the topic which you think was effective after he gave you a smug chuckle in return.Â
âTold you.â
There was something easy about talking to him like this, away from the cameras and the crew and everything.
While driving, Yangyang made sure to take all the precautions he needed so as to not get caught with you in his managerâs van. Sure, heâs being friendly and acting like a dependable sunbae to you but he canât afford being caught in a scandal, not with you.Â
When you reached your destination, he made sure to contact the security to ensure no one was there before letting you go.Â
âThanks for earlier, sunbae! I donât think I wouldâve gotten through it without your reassurance.âÂ
He tilted his head, studying you for a moment before giving you a soft smile. âYou wouldâve been fine, with or without my advice. Give yourself some credit.âÂ
You stood frozen in the middle of your apartmentâs parking lot at the sudden compliment. âAnyway, Y/N, get some good rest as tomorrow will be just as crazy as today.âÂ
âYeah,â you nodded, âYou too, sunbae, you too.â
By the time you reached your unit, you were surprised to see Chenleâs outdoor shoes in the entryway.Â
âYangyang said youâre out with Renjun,â your face turned sour at the sight of Chenle chilling on your sofa. âWhat a bad manager you are!â
âYeah, yeah whatever. I left the restaurant earlier than Renjun.â
You didnât mind what he said and went directly to your room to change. When you come back to your living room, heâs still in the same spot you left him a while ago.Â
âWhat do you think of him now?â He asked again. This time, you already know who he was referring to.Â
âHeâs still fine and I still donât understand why youâre doing this,â you rolled your eyes, joining him at your sofa.Â
âHe looks at you like youâre the lead of more than just the show, Y/N,â Chenle said slyly.Â
âYouâre overthinking things again, Chenle. Yangyang-sunbae is nice. I think we just have a good hoobae-sunbae relationship thatâs why youâre acting like that,â you defended the actor.Â
âI hope youâre right,â was all he said before placing all of his attention back to the television.Â
At this point, you hope youâre right.Â
Itâs been a week since you spent time with Yangyang, filming the scenes for RikoJun and today, you guys are wrapping it all upâtheyâre gonna end their relationship and Lei will come back into the picture.Â
âMissed me, Y/N?â Sicheng teased you.Â
Itâs also been a week since you last saw Sicheng, considering how busy he had gotten with his modelling gigs and sneaking out the pop star every night to his condominium.Â
âYou wish,â you retorted.Â
âI heard you and Yangyang have a great chemistry,â he said again, his arms crossed to his chest.
âI like to think we do, too!â You gleefully replied, âHis advice helped me a lot, especially during the heavy scenes we have together.â
Sicheng looked at you, âMhm. I hope we still have that spark together after your time with him.â
Everyone on set was perplexed as to why Yangyangâs watching your scenes with Sicheng now, considering how he doesnât have any upcoming shoots with you or with other actors of the drama today.
âYang? Why are you here?â The director asked, completely puzzled to see the young man on set.
âJust wanna watch some of my colleagues, noona,â he showed off his gummy smile before proceeding to sit at the chair where the intern is supposed to sit.Â
âBack off, Liu. The internâs assigned there,â Hendery hissed, giving Yangyang a side eye before watching the younger one go away from the seat.
âChill, Wong.âÂ
But Hendery didnât give him any more attention, walking back to his van again to wait for the directorâs orders.Â
âWoah! What a tense situation you got there, Yang!â The director saw what happened, grinning ear to ear at Yangyang.Â
âShut up, noona. Why you gotta hire that man, anyways?â
âWell, heâs a good actor and heâs not rude to me,âÂ
âWhatever,â was all he said before looking for another seat to conquer.
After your shoot, you saw Yangyang outside your van, leaning against it while busying himself with his cellphone.
âSunbae?âÂ
âOh, Y/N. Already finished?â He asked, his eyes filled with joy as soon as he saw you in front of him.Â
âYeah. Why are you here, sunbae?âÂ
âN-nothing, Y/N. Have a great day.âÂ
You found it weird that Yangyangâs in front of your van yet left when you arrived but you didnât divulge deep into the thought as your managerâs already waiting for you inside.Â
âHe was waiting for you,â Chenle told you the moment you sat on the leathered seat. âI thought heâs going to ask you out or something.â
âPlease stop, Chenle. I know you like joking about stuff like that but heâs just a nice sunbae, thatâs all!âÂ
âDrop the act, Y/N. I know you like him.â
This time, heâs right.
It started with the kiss scenes then the lovey-dovey shootings then came the drive-you-home extravaganza. Everything about Yangyang screams boyfriend for you. When heâd smile at you like youâre his most favorite thing in his world or when youâd be the only one heâd give techniques and advice on set, you knew what Chenle said about the man is right.Â
At first, you were in-denial about it. Thinking that maybe youâre thinking this way about Yangyang because you canât get your shit together and that youâre acting unprofessional. But, you know yourself. All this time, you are professional and diligent but his acts towards you aren't.Â
Now, youâre here watching his character meet up with a new character the director added on a whim, saying something along the lines of âIâm sad Yangyangâs character didnât have a partner.â
âCut!â The director shouted, âThat was a good run! Thank you, everyone!âÂ
The moment your eyes locked in with Yangyang, he immediately walked your way, not minding the new female character in his vicinity.Â
âYou were great out there,â you complimented.Â
âThanks,â he looked up before looking right into your eyes again, âBut thatâs just an act you know, what you saw earlier.â
â...I know?â You laughed. Of course, you know. Youâre an actress for godâs sake!
âJust⊠saying,â he responded. âAnyways, are you free? Do you want to hangout with Sicheng and the rest?âÂ
You thought heâs about to ask you out on a date but Sichengâs name flew out of his mouth and made your mood a bit down.Â
âSure, Iâd love to,â you replied, opening your SMS app to message your manager about the said gathering.
You were about to sit beside Yangyang when the new actress beat you to it and told you to sit between Sicheng and Hendery.Â
âItâs more fun if we sat beside our partners in the drama!â She suggested but you knew she just wanted to sit besides Yangyang.Â
The table was tense, with the actress giving Yangyang a lot of food on his plate while you and the rest were quietly looking at the both of them.Â
âI told Yangyang not to invite the newbie,â Hendery murmured.Â
âWouldnât that be bad?â You asked, surprised he even talked to you.Â
âSo what? He could tell her Iâm the one who suggested it.â
âThat would be bad for you, then.â
âEveryone knows Iâm bad. Much better for her to experience it sooner.âÂ
You wanted to continue the conversation with Hendery more but he was clearly preoccupied with his ramen.
âThatâs Hendery for you,â Sicheng smiled. âHere, get some of the beef I cooked.âÂ
âThank you, Sicheng,â you thanked him as he put some cooked beef into your plate.Â
From time to time, Yangyang kept on glancing at you while the new addition to the crew kept on pushing herself to the man. He was being uncomfortable because even though they rented a private section of this restaurant, rumors can still go and he canât afford to have that.Â
âHeâs looking at you, Y/N,â Sicheng said, as if you hadnât noticed it earlier.Â
âI know, oppa. It feels weird.â
âMiss Y/N, you havenât been touching your plate. Is everything alright?â Dejun asked rather loudly and everyoneâs eyes on you now which made you feel small, especially when Yangyangâs gaze turned concerned.Â
âYes, Dejun-sunbae. I just feel full now,â you smiled at his direction which is a bit to the left whereas you were in the middle.Â
âIâll finish your food, Y/N. Give it to me,â Yangyang suddenly said, his right hand in your direction, waiting for you to give him your plate.Â
âButââ
âSicheng-ge, give me her plate,â you swear you could hear the newbie disagreeing with Yangyang but he didnât mind.
Sicheng, being the biggest shipper of you and Yangyang, gladly followed the youngerâs request.Â
âThank you, Yangyang-sunbae,â you said, eyes glinting with affection that everyone on the table didnât miss.Â
Of course, the both of you may not notice your deep fondness towards each other but everyone around you can feel itâthey just donât want to meddle with it.Â
After everyone finished eating, you guys decided it would be better to part ways with each other and when the cast vanished into the busy streets of Seoul, you found yourself alone with Yangyang.Â
âAt last,â Yangyang jokingly said, nudging you playfully with his elbow while grinning from ear to ear. âAt last, I can be with you alone!âÂ
Your heartbeat raced as you tried finding a reasonable response to him. âDonât say that, sunbae!âÂ
âWhy? Donât you want to spend time with me?âÂ
âI like being with you, Yangyang-sunbae,â you responded, your tone was heartfelt but your execution was shy.Â
Yangyang glanced at you for a while before forcing you to look back up at him, his fingers found your chin, racing it up so you could meet eye to eye. âIâve been meaning to tell you this, Y/N.âÂ
âMhm?âÂ
âYou can stop calling me sunbae, you know,â he continued, âJust call me Yangyang, like everyone does.â
âBut I donât like calling you the way they do,â you argued, your lips forming a firm line.Â
He just laughed at your stubbornness before ruffling your hair.Â
âOkay, nepo baby. Just call me whatever you want,â he smiles at you genuinely, never getting tired of your little habits.Â
âOkay, my dearest sunbae,â he laughs again this time but you truly meant what you had said.Â
Sure, you might have other sunbae than him that you look up to and respect the most but none of them is Yangyang. None of them can make you feel the way he makes you feel. To you, heâs irreplaceable.Â
Yangyangâs presence is a constant in your day as an actress. Heâs always there, watching your scenes and cheering you on every chance he gets. He would also lean over your script, pointing out notes with an exaggerated seriousness that makes you not pay attention to him.
âYou know, I could just ask the director,â you say, snatching the paper back.
âBut Iâm more fun,â he whines, leaning back with a pout.Â
Then there are the quieter moments, like when youâre both reviewing scenes on his tablet, shoulderâs brushing as you sit close enough to share the screen. Or the way his hands would instinctively hand you a water bottle before you could even realize youâre thirsty.Â
Or when he would always stay up late at night, waiting for you to wrap up your shoot before bidding you goodbye, watching you go inside your van before minding his own way home.
âSunbae, you donât have to wait for me everytime,â you say one evening as he lingers beside the directorâs chair, watching you finish your last take for the day.
âAnd miss seeing you trip over your lines when youâre tired? No thanks,â he teased, flashing you a mischievous grin.Â
You rolled your eyes at him, tossing a tissue towards his direction which he dodges with a dramatic flair.Â
Moments like this have become the norm, not just to you but to everyone else.Â
Everyone on set notices it. The way Yangyangâs eyes soften when he talks to you, the way your laughter is always louder in his presence. Itâs in how he seems to move with you, like gravity itself pulls him into your orbit.Â
âTheyâre so obvious,â the director complains jokingly.Â
âWould you say anything, though?â Kun asked with a hushed tone, glancing at you both from across the room.
âHell no.âÂ
To the crew, itâs an open secret that no one dares to talk about. To you and Yangyang, itâs just the way things are.Â
And Chenleâs really worried for you.
Youâre sitting in the dressing room, scrolling mindlessly on your phone while Chenle organizes your schedule for the following months. The buzzing voices and footsteps of the crew fades as you stand up for a while to close the door, creating a rare moment of peace and solitude in your otherwise hectic day, before sitting comfortably again.Â
Chenle sets his laptop down on the table with a deliberate thud, breaking the comforting silence.
âWe need to talk, Y/N,â he says, his tone filled with urgency.
You glance up, already sensing the shift in his usual sunny demeanor. âWhat is it this time?â You asked, trying to lift his mood up but it seems like your manager has no time for jokes or any of your ministrations.Â
âItâs about Yangyang.â
You look at him puzzled, âWhat about him?âÂ
Chenle crossed his arms, his expression was stern. âWhateverâs going on between you two, itâs too much. Everyone on set sees it.âÂ
âSo what if they do? People talk all the time,âyou counter, feigning nonchalance, though your heartbeat races and you feel a knot tightening in your stomach.Â
âThis is serious, Y/N,â his tone now direct, âThis isnât just about people talking. Youâre putting your reputation and his career at risk!âÂ
You roll your eyes at what he had said, leaning back in your chair. âChenle, itâs not that serious. Even if something happens, my parents can fix it. Theyâve done it before. Donât worry.âÂ
âSee? Thatâs exactly the problem Y/N,â he snaps, âYouâre so used to your parents cleaning up after you that you donât even see how dangerous this is for him,â you could tell his frustration is boiling over but you donât seem to understand why heâs angry. âSure, you can tell everyone how youâre so much more of your name or your parents. You can decline any movies or series with their name, but that action of yours. This action of yours is why people still think youâre a nepo baby.âÂ
Your eyebrows furrow, feeling confused. âIâm not doing anything wrong, Chenle. Iâm sure Yangyang knows how to handle himself.â
âDoes he?â Chenle laughs at your naivety. âDo you have any idea how hard heâs worked to get here? He doesnât have the privilege of a safety net like you, Y/N,â he pauses for a moment, trying to catch his breath. âOne scandal, one rumor, and everything heâs built is gone.â
Youâre quiet for a moment. The weight of his words made you understand where heâs coming from but your response only deepened the rift. âOkay, fine. If it comes to that, Iâll handle it. My parents will definitely make sure nothing happens to him either. Iâm sure of it.âÂ
Chenle was cynical after hearing what you have just said. âYou donât get it, do you? This isnât about who your parents can pay off. Itâs about respect. Respect for his work, his sacrifices, his entire life!âÂ
Outside the door, Yangyang stands frozen, his hand stuck on the knob. He hadnât meant to eavesdrop on you and Chenleâs conversation, he just wanted to hang out with you today but instead, he got to hear your careless and out of touch words, making his chest tighten.Â
He hears Chenleâs voice lower, ultimately giving off the vibes that heâs intensely irritated at what you have said. âYouâre so caught up in thinking everything will be fine because it always is for you. But for him? Itâs not. And if you really care about him, youâd stop pretending this isnât a big deal. Stop whatever is going on with you two, Y/N.âÂ
Yangyang doesnât want to hear anymore of what you guys are talking about. His stomach churns as he walks away, Chenleâs words and your indifference playing over and over in his head.
The ride home was quiet but not the quiet you wanted to have with Chenle. You genuinely canât understand why heâs so exasperated with you when youâre just telling the truth. You canât seem to find the problem with your parents paying off tabloids and threatening news agencies to keep the rumors about you and Yangyang out of the public eye.
And maybe, just maybe, the reason why you canât find the problem with what you have said is because youâd never truly had to worry about the consequences of your actions. For you, it was simple: if things went wrong, you had the means to make it right.
âChenle,â you finally broke the silence, your voice softer now. âI didnât mean to upset you earlier. I thought I was being practical, you know? Looking out for everyone⊠I donât know. Maybe Iâve missed something.âÂ
Chenleâs hand tightened around the steering wheel of the van and you could see the tension in his shoulders. âItâs not just about you, Y/N,â he said, âItâs about Yangyang too. You have no idea how much risk he had put out on himself just so you could be close with him the way you are with him now. How heâd probably be in his bed every night, thinking when or where news would break out about you two but still continue to act like your lover day by day. You have no idea how much heâs risked for you and here you are, thinking everything can be handled with a few phone calls from your parents.âÂ
His words stung more now, the sharpness of them cutting through your confusion. You tried to open your mouth to speak but nothing came out. This time, you knew Chenle was right. You have no idea.Â
âDo you really think this is just a game for him, Y/N?â Chenle continued, âI know, itâs partly my fault for letting him drive you home that night and for not giving you a heads up but I didnât think it could go deeper. I didnât think it could end up like this.â
âItâs not your fault, Chenle. I just⊠I just didnât think of it like that,â you murmured, your voice almost too quiet for him to hear. âI just thought that⊠that itâs the way things work for me. I didnât realize our situation could put him in a worse situation than me.âÂ
Chenleâs expression softened at your confession, âI know you didnât. But thatâs why I need you to start seeing it from his side. From his perspective. This isnât about what you can fix or what you think you can get away with.â
Betrayed is an understatement of how Yangyang feels right now. Hearing Chenleâs frustration and your clueless words earlier made his heart twist uncomfortably. Just when he thought everything was okay. Just when he thought it was okay to let his guard down for you. You just had to let him feel different from you.Â
âWhat are you going to do, Yang?â Renjun asked, sighing as he saw his talent leaning against the window of his car. He had heard about you and your managerâs dispute from Yangyang. The young man was already on the verge of crying when Renjun calmed him down, even just for a moment.
âI knew we shouldnât have gone that far into whatever we had, ge.âÂ
âIâm sure Y/N had her reasons as to why she said those things, Yang,â Renjun tried to save you from Yangyang but he knew itâs no use.Â
Knowing Yangyang, Renjunâs too sure that the boy will completely distance himself from you, considering how he just realized how dangerous it is for him to fall for someone like you.Â
âNo, ge. This has to stop. Whatever this is. Chenleâs right. Even if I hadnât heard her talking with her manager, I canât let things go that far, ge. I have a career to uphold,â Yangyang sighed, âWhat would the public think if they learned about us? Itâs so scary.â
âYouâre overthinking again. Try to talk things with her tomorrow, maybe itâll clear your mind.â
Tomorrow came and Yangyang dreaded it the most. You, on the other hand, are oblivious to the fact that your potential significant other potentially heard your conflict with Chenle last night.Â
âYang-sunbae!â You greeted, still clueless.Â
With you greeting him with a huge smile that could cure the world, Yangyang wished he hadnât heard what you had said yesterday. Yangyang wished this could go on. Yangyang wished you guys were just ordinary people.Â
âI heard your conversation with Chenle,â he wasted no time. Yangyang spoke to you with the coldest tone he could muster but his insides were shaking.Â
âHm?â You were confused.Â
What conversation with Chenle? You thought.Â
Oh. You realized.Â
Oh.
âMust be nice for you, huh? To not be worried about your career because your parents can clean your mess up,â his words cut you like a knife. He swore to himself to become calm once you met him but Yangyang felt overwhelmed.Â
âWhat are you-â you couldnât even continue what you were about to say because he interrupted you again, his disappointment in you evident in his eyes.
âI like you, Y/N.â
Those were the words you hoped Yangyang would one day say to you but his tone wasnât the way to put it. You felt no butterflies in your stomach because you know this is not the confession where the both of you would end up together. More like a confession where youâd end up alone.Â
âI like you too, Yangyang-sunbae,â you try. You hoped that he would calm down. That this revelation of feelings would soothe him and make him realize that everything is okay. That heâd realize youâre ready to risk everything for him.
But deep down, you know youâre just a fool for even confessing.Â
Yangyang shook his head, âI like you, Y/N,â he repeated, âBut we should stop. Your manager is right. What we have right now shouldnât continue. Weâre not allowed to be like this,â his voice cracks at the end of his sentence.Â
A confession and a closure at the same dialogue? Yangyang is the only one who could do that.
âYangâŠâ but he didnât respond. You look at his figure walking out of the set.Â
You cried at where he had left you. You look like a fool there, with the director coming at your direction, completely confused as to why Yangyang left so suddenly and why you were left there, sobbing.Â
âNo amount of public hate could make me hurt the way his words did,â you cry at the directorâs shoulder. You were almost shaking.Â
It was your first ever rejection you have received your whole life. Sure, some individuals do not accept you in this field but his rejection of you was personal.Â
âWhyâd you do that to her?â Yangyang found it surprising that Hendery was the one to ask him why. Out of all the people in the set, this young and rude man was the first one to ask him why.Â
âShe canât understand me or my situation. She can never understand it,â Yangyang just replied as he brought the cigarette to his lips, inhaling deeply as smoke curled up in the air.Â
âYou should have known that from the start, considering sheâs a product of nepotism,â Hendery replied. Him, too, lighting up his own cig.Â
âSheâs more than what the public thinks of her,â Yangyang argued, âBut, I think I have overestimated her.âÂ
Yangyang didnât mean to leave you crying, he felt hurt himself. When he saw you earlier, memories of yesterday flooded his mind, overwhelming him and causing him to say whatever came to mind in that moment.
He was terrified that he would become nothing once the news about you two broke. The thought of a dating scandal uprooting all the sacrifices he had made for his career filled him with dread. In truth, he was afraid of you.
From the first time he saw you at the read-throughs, he sensed something about you could destroy him. Still, he tried until all that remained was the painful realization that you couldnât be with him.
Hendery didnât respond to Yangyang anymore. Instead, he just stood there while Yangyang found himself sitting with his truth in silence, grappling with the weight of his emotions. It was just him, Hendery, and the unspoken fears that lingered between you two, a reminder of what could never be.
âI know this is bad timing but the editing team accidentally deleted a kissing scene from Riko and Jun and nowââ the director was frantic, almost worried for you and Yangyang but Kun calmed her down.
âBreathe,â he said, patting the back of the director to soothe her.
âThank you,â she smiled before continuing, âI need the two of you to get your act together and film this one, just one, scene again.â
Yangyang didnât reply, as if heâs distracted with something. You, on the other hand, gave the director a small nod.Â
It was the day after the confession-closure thing and you kinda accepted to yourself that while he has become wary with you, youâre still willing to accept him. Even if it takes a lifetime.Â
âGood morning, sunbae!â You gave him your best, energetic smile but he just gave you a nod.Â
âAt least, he acknowledged you,â Sichengâs makeup artist felt bad for you so she tried to cheer you up.Â
âOkay, Y/N and Yangyang! Give us your best shot!â The director calls, you breathe deeply before looking straight into Yangyangâs, you mean, Junâs eyes.Â
Be professional, Y/N! You scold yourself.
Yangyang immediately dives into the kissing scene, leaving you no room to mentally prepare for it.Â
The kiss was fierce and desperate. You feel as if youâre trying to consume each other, pouring all your unspoken words and pent-up feelings into this single moment.
Your hands find their way to his hair, pulling him closer as if afraid he might disappear. He responds by deepening the kiss, his hands gripping your waist tightly, grounding you both in this whirlwind of passion.
Itâs as if you guys werenât Riko and Jun. The pretend kiss was extremely intense, everyone on set felt that it was genuine than it was supposed to be. But the director liked it.Â
âCut!â The director shouted and Yangyang was quick enough to detach himself from you. âThat was a good one-take!â
You werenât able to respond because Yangyang was already leading you to a secluded place.
âHey! Wait!â You try to make him stop, âThe directorâs not finished talking, sunbae.â
Once he deems itâs safe enough, he looks at you before sighing deeply. He leans into you, kissing you for real this time.Â
Yangyang doesnât know if this is your first kiss but you donât care at all. You close your eyes, feeling the moment.Â
âIâm sorry, Y/N,â he says, breathless.
âI should be the one apologizing, sunbae.â
Yangyang inhales, looking straight into your eyes, âItâs just⊠itâs just Iâm afraid to disappoint them, Y/N. My fans. The public. I donât like the way theyâd paint me if weâre revealed.âÂ
âItâs okay, really. At least, you told me now,â you give him a half smile.Â
In that instant, you realize how much youâre willing to risk for him. You were so easy to forgive him that youâd already forgotten what he had made you feel yesterday. But thereâs this thought that has been eating you since then⊠that Yangyangâs not ready to risk what youâre ready to give him.Â
âLook,â you were determined to make this right. âI know itâs complicated butââÂ
He shakes his head harshly, cutting you off. âNo, Y/N. You donât understand this âcomplicatedâ youâre talking about. I like you, Y/N. I genuinely, deeply fell for you but I canât afford to risk my career or put you in danger of being even more hated by the general public.âÂ
âYangyang-sunbae,â your voice was trembling but you still gave him a forced smile, âWe can still be friends, you know?â You donât want to be friends with him but if thatâs the only way to keep him around, youâre willing.Â
âNo, Y/N. We canât be friends.âÂ
âWhy not?â You plead, desperate for him to explain whatever he has on his mind because heâs been puzzling you since earlier.Â
âBecause I like you more than friends do,â he admits, his voice betraying him again.Â
The confession sends a rush of emotions through you, âSo what does this mean for us?â
âIt meansâŠâ He hesitates again, his brow furrowing, knowing that whatever comes out of his mouth next will change his relationship with you. âIt means I have to lose you to protect you.â
The words hit you like a punch to the face. You want to scream that itâs not fair, that love shouldnât come with conditions or sacrifices, but only a shaky breath left your lips.
âYangyang-sunbae,â you say softly, stepping closer again despite the chasm between your desires and his fears. âI donât want to lose you.â
He looks at you then, really looks at you, and for a fleeting moment, it feels like time stands still. In those gaze of his lies everything unspoken: the love that burns fiercely but is overpowered by his fear.
âI wish things were different,â he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.
You reach out, fingers brushing against his hand, wishing for him to reconsider. But deep down, you know heâs already made up his mind.
âItâs premiere day!â The director gleamed.Â
âSicheng, you ready?â You ask your lead partner.
âAsk yourself first if youâre ready,â he replied. And heâs right about it, considering how this is the first time youâre going to see Yangyang again after your closure.Â
The venue was filled with energy, cameras flashing from left to right, fans cheering for every cast member, and the buzz of excitement filling every corner of the room. You take a deep breath before diving in with Sicheng at the stage, reminding yourself of the work you had put into this series.Â
The lights were blinding you and Sicheng and you canât even hear the cheers of your fans with your heart thumping incredibly loud and fast. As you pose for photos, your eyes canât help but wander to Yangyang. And when you did? Your heart almost dropped.
Yangyang looked dapper in his suit, standing with his partner in the drama as well as the other cast members. He catches your gaze for a second before continuing to smile at the cameras pointed at him. You canât help but feel a pang in your chest.Â
You mean, whatâs the point of looking that good if thereâs a distance between the both of you?
After the dashing and successful premiere of Eternal Sunshine, you find yourself at the after-party where only the crew and the cast were invited.Â
The atmosphere was celebratory, filled with laughter and clinking of glasses. Heck, you even heard someone say that this drama is going to be a hit and that you deeply hope. But your mind wanders to Yangyang, sitting at the side with Hendery, exchanging small talks with the man every once in a while.Â
You donât know what came to you at that exact moment but you canât help yourself. Your feet found its way towards an unsuspecting Yangyang.Â
You first greeted Hendery, who even though feels the atmosphere didnât need his presence there, didnât give a single care and continued to eat.Â
âY/N,â Yangyang greeted you first.
âHey,â you smile softly at him before leaning to his level, whispering, âI just want you to know that Iâll wait for your love, Yang.âÂ
It was the first time Yangyang had heard you call him without honorifics, making him flustered and shocked. He was about to respond to you but you shushed him, walking towards the area where the director is to talk with her.Â
You know that thereâs no need for further explanation because deep down inside, you're resolute: youâll absolutely wait for his love. You like this man deeply, more than words can explain, and no matter how long it takes you're willing to endure it all for him.
COMING UP NEXT. âYeah, but itâs so weird because you can feel the tension and I think itâd be even weirder now because theyâre wrapping up the first season and Ten has to get the interesting bits while the makeup artist has to make sure Sicheng is the interesting bit.â
synopsis.yangyang is born to be a star, the kind of talent that lights up the screen. you, on the other hand, is a nepo baby who everyone believed got the lead role because of your familyâs influence. he fought all these years to be the man that he is while you are still busy proving yourself to the populace. you believe youâre more than just your parents. he believes heâs less than without his fans. when your lives become intertwined, things get messyâone has never tasted consequences while the other lies awake at night, haunted by the thought of it.
genre. romance, angst
warnings. there's pretend kissing then there's real kissing where yangyang doesn't ask you, he just goes for it, i do not know the difference between drama and series so sorry <3
words. 8,812
eternal sunshine. masterlist
a/n. it gets better at the ending part so plZ just bear w me. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I'm turning 20 this year lol feels so scary if you think about it but whatever
The universe is unfair, but Yangyang has learned to live with that.Â
It was unfair that he always played second to someone else. The second male lead, the second-best choice, the second most important. But he was never really bothered about it. Not until you waltzed your way into the picture.Â
You still remember it vividly. It was a Monday afternoon, the first read through with the cast of Eternal Sunshineâa week before filming. He was already sitting beside the chair assigned to you, practicing his lines diligently while you took a sip from your coffee you ordered to-go.Â
You greeted him with a warm smile but he only replied with a small and rushed one. Sure, he was your second lead in the drama but during that time, he made you feel unwanted. But who are you kidding? Of course, you were everything he wasnât supposed to want. Youâre the female lead, the one who would be with the male lead in the end. The center of attention. Realistically, youâre a nepo baby whose life had been handed to her on a silver platter, complete with designer shoes and an unearned (still) spotlight. But God, did you wear it well.
Whereas Yangyang had to work his way up. Every step of his journey was carved out of his determination and long nights filled with self-doubt, managementâs uncertainty, and the mediaâs scrutiny. He wasnât handed anything the first time he breathed in the land of showbiz. Every opportunity, recognition, and spotlight heâs getting right now is because he persevered.Â
Thatâs what made sitting next to you on that Monday afternoon so excruciating.Â
While he did smile to your way in a rushed manner, he viewed you as a person far differently than other people did when they looked your way. You were effortless in his eyes. Effortless in a manner that he could never be. Even in the most mundane moments like you sipping on your coffee, standing up to bow to anyone who comes in the script room, scrolling through your phoneâyou carried yourself with an air of belonging, like you had been born to inhabit the world he had clawed his way into.Â
And yet, it wasnât jealousy that twisted his chest when he looked at you. Heck, it was something worse.Â
No matter how much he tried to deny it, when your mouth opened to read the script, Yangyang knew exactly what you were capable of. You werenât just a nepo baby or some random female lead that the crew casted. You were the kind of actress everyone aspires to be. And also the kind of person who could uproot everything heâd worked so hard to build.
You first met Yangyang at a press conference after an award show your parents were invited for and you were their plus one. The journalist decided to pick on you, asking you pressing questions regarding your status in the industry.Â
âWhat do you feel that everyoneâs calling you a nepo baby, Ms. Y/N?â Well, you almost wish the journalist hadnât called you âMissâ if his question was like that.Â
You just smiled at him awkwardly, never giving in to their pressing questions about your relevance in the acting industry. Afterall, you believe youâre more than just your parents. Sure, they opened this path for you but youâre working hard to show to everyone that you deserve that spot.Â
You never really paid attention to the young actor during that time but you saw him looking at you while you were being interrogated by the rude journalist. Your eyes met for a brief moment before he broke it to talk to another actor.Â
At first, Yangyang didnât feel bad for you during that time, considering how he thought you were an annoying actress, like what he had heard from rumors.Â
âMiss Y/N, whatâs with you today? You keep on failing the scene,â the director yells another disappointed âcut!â after you fumbled your lines with a scene with Sicheng. âLetâs take 5!âÂ
âIâm sorry, Sicheng,â you gave an apologetic smile to the star actor but he just shrugged and went to his assistant to freshen up.Â
If there was one thing you loved about working with Sicheng, it was because he doesnât really care about where you came from or what you did to become his female lead. Heâs just there for work. A bonus is that he treats you nicely, heâs just nonchalant at times. Especially when that pop star comes into the set.Â
âYouâre too stiff, Y/N,â the sudden voice from behind your back startled you. You whip around to see Yangyang leaning casually against a prop stand, arms crossed and an amused grin tugging at his lips.Â
âYour bodyâs too tense, thatâs why you keep messing up,â he points out, tilting his head. âI saw it when you were delivering your lines.â Â
âOh, Yangyang-sunbaenim! I see, Iâll try to deliver these lines as smoothly as possible,â you replied, giving him a small smile.
âPractice it to me.âÂ
âHuh?â
âPractice your line to me and I can give you feedback, dummy,â Yangyang reiterated, his tone filled with playful impatience.
âO-oh! UhmâŠâ You focus, taking a deep breath before looking directly into his eyes, âLei⊠I donât think you can understand me⊠I donât think weâre⊠weâreâŠâ Your voice falters right where it did before. You clench your jaw, trying to force the words out, but they just wonât come.Â
Your shoulders drop as you let out a sigh of defeat, âI donât think I can do this,â you admit, your voice barely a whisper but Yangyang heard it.Â
âYou think you canât because you want Lei and Riko to be together. Youâre so immersed in your role right now, Y/N,â Yangyang scolded, giving you a bottle of water from his staff.Â
âThis isn't real, Y/N. You need to separate work and your personal feelings. If you want Lei and Riko to be together, they will in the end. Just not in this scene. Get yourself together and wrap this scene up so we can all go home,â he reaches up, ruffling your hair like youâre a little kid on the set, and before you can even process what he did, heâs already walking away, hands shoved in his pockets heading straight to annoy Kun.
âSeparate work and personal feelings, huh?â You muttered, staring at the water he gave you. His words echo in your mind, louder than the busy mumbles of the crew around you. Maybe what he said is true considering how you canât bear to think that Lei, Sichengâs character, and Riko, your character, will end their love escapade for a few episodes before rekindling again.
âY/N, Sicheng, back on stage!â The director yelled, giving you a brief smile before instructing the cameraman. âDo your best.âÂ
You nod, tightening your grip on the water bottle before setting it aside. Your feet move automatically, carrying you toward the place youâll be delivering your line in. As youâre heading to your place, you can feel Yangyangâs eyes on you.Â
You looked in his direction and he already had his signature gummy smile plastered on his face, âDo your best,â he mimicked the directorâs voice, making you giggle.
It was a week after the first shooting for Eternal Sunshine that the director called you in her office for an emergency revision for the later episodes.Â
You were wearing your favorite faded jeans with a long sleeve and a coffee on your hand. At first, you thought it was just gonna be you and the director but a sleepy Yangyang came into her office like itâs his second home.
âGreetings, Yangyang!â The director annoyingly scolded him, throwing a pillow at him when he immediately latched himself onto the sofa.Â
âHello, noona. Hello, Y/N.âÂ
âIâm very sorry about him, Ms. Y/N,â his manager, Huang Renjun, apologized on behalf of the second male lead. âHe just came from an overnight shooting with Mr. Qian Kun. The two of them had to shoot their scenes more than once because the rookie actor kept messing up and they didnât want to be assholes on set.âÂ
âHey! What about an apology for me?â The director playfully demanded even though she had known the reason for Yangyangâs behavior beforehand. The director was like family for Yangyang and Renjun. This isnât the first project they did together hence theyâre comfortable with each other.
âAs he said, Kun-ge,â Yangyang mentioned the golden boy and the three immediately saw the flabbergasted reaction of the director. âKun-ge, Kun-ge, Kun-ge, Kun-â Yangyang teased, his smile grew wider as the directorâs face became more embarrassed before having enough of his ministries.Â
âEnough, second lead!â The director sassed, âI called you here today because thereâs a change in the storyline weâre going to record for tomorrow,â she started as her assistant gave you and Yangyang the copy of the revised script and concept for the shoot.Â
As you skimmed the pages, you realized that you and Yangyangâs character will be in close proximity, fully giving justice to his second male lead role. âAs you can see, Riko and Jun will be closer to each other after Leiâs and Rikoâs fall out. Of course, this will be brief as the latter couple will get back together,â she explained. âI just want the both of you to prepare yourselves. I know that the both of you have the least interaction throughout this series but you need to prepare⊠like, prepare,â she emphasized before adjourning the meeting, leaving you dazed.Â
âAfter reading this script, I think Riko will fall harder for Jun than Lei,â you joked, already feeling the pressure as you saw a scene where you and Yangyang had to kiss.Â
âWill you?â Yangyang asked, his tone was interrogating.Â
You tilted your head, confused with what he meant, âWill I what, sunbaenim?â
But he just shrugged, telling you to prepare for tomorrow before leaving the office.
The ride on the way home was unusually quiet.Â
âWhat do you think of him?â Your manager, Chenle, asked you.
âOf who?â
âOf Yangyang.â
You tried to think about what to say for a moment, âWell, heâs nice to me.âÂ
âThatâs it?â Chenle glanced at you through the rearview mirror, one brow arched. âNice? Heâs Yangyang, Y/N. Everyone I heard who worked with him canât get him out of their heads after.â
You rolled your eyes, leaning your head against the window. âHeâs good at what he does. Professional. Maybe those people canât separate work from their personal lives or whatever.â
âProfessional, huh?â You can hear the smirk from Chenleâs tone.
âJust stop overthinking things, Chenle,â You sighed, dumping all of your body weight on the car seat. âTomorrowâs gonna be a long day with him so you better not make any weird comments like whatever this conversation is.â
âThereâs nothing weird with the conversation weâre having, Y/N.â Chenle retorted, âIâm just hoping you could come to your senses tomorrow and do your best as an actress. You still have a lot to prove in the industry.â
âI know that.â
Itâs tiring, honestly. For you, itâs a never ending quest of âprovingâ yourself to the industry, general public, and your own family. Itâs sad to think about how as a child, everyone was looking forward to your acting debut but once you did, all the nepotism news bombarded your career hence, youâre now known as the ânepoâ baby.Â
You used to think of it as a positive thing, you never forgot to thank your parents in every interview for this opportunity as an actress because you know, since as a kid, that this is the path meant for you. Itâs like youâre honoring them every chance you have but the public deemed it as ârubbing your nepotism faceâ every chance you get.Â
In the end, this whole issue got out of hand and you donât mention your parents as much as you used to, even coming as close to declining films where they are starring in or in affiliation with in fear of the nepotism thing getting even bigger.Â
The next day on set had this heavy atmosphere not usually there when itâs you and Sicheng filming. You think itâs probably with the revised script that got everyone on their edge because the crew were everywhere, ensuring all of the props and sets are nice and perfect for your shoot.Â
It was also during this time that you realized the scene youâre about to do.Â
Itâs the middle part of Riko and Junâs relationship where they kiss because they realized they love each other, only for a short period of time, and it ought to feel magical or else people would believe that Rikoâs still in love with Lei and is using Jun but in the script, Rikoâs in love with Jun, even if itâs just for a brief period.Â
The director deemed it easier for the both of you to finish the hard scenes first before the others so as to ensure smooth filming in the later days of the schedule, considering that Yangyang and other actors in this series also has other schedules.Â
âRelax,â Yangyangâs voice broke through your thoughts as you couldnât shake your nerves.
First day with Yangyang as your characterâs lover and youâre already about to kiss. Whatâs there to not be nervous about?Â
He was leaning against the makeup station, dressed amazingly by his stylist. You think of his presence as effortless but right now, thereâs a glint of something in his eyesâquiet yet intense.Â
âIâm trying, sunbae,â you replied, turning to face him.
He stepped closer to where you are, lowering his voice so only you could hear. âYouâre overthinking it, Y/N. Itâs just a scene. Weâre professionals, remember?âÂ
You nodded, but your hands were still trembling slightly. Yangyang saw your state and sighed. âNepo babies,â he teased as he shook his head before giving you again a bottle of water. âTake a sip, madam. It will make you feel better.â
âIâm sorry for feeling nervous, sunbae.â You apologized as you took a sip from the water he gave you. âItâs just that⊠itâs my first kissing scene ever and Iâm not familiar with the grounds for kissing in a scene.â you admitted.Â
Yangyangâs smile was wide and charming as he listened to your confession, âDonât worry, sunbae will guide you.â
It was show time and the director called you and Yangyang in for a brief summary again.Â
âLook,â Yangyang said to catch your attention, âThink of this scene as an important moment for Jun and Riko. They came from heartbreaks and found comfort from each other,â he gave you an advice, âItâs like their enlightenment scene where they kiss and suddenly, all is well.â
You stared at him, trying to gauge what he had just said. âIâll do my best,â you said shyly, offering him a small smile before walking to the center.
âI know you will,â Yangyang replied, his gummy smile returning.Â
âOkay, lovebirds for a glimpse,â the director called. Lovebirds for a glimpse is you and Yangyangâs new nickname on set because of this RikoJun scene youâre doing. âKiss your way!â was all she said before giving the both of you the cue.Â
As the scene began, you convinced yourself that this isnât about you. This is about Riko finding love again after what happened with Lei. This is her first kiss with someone who comforted her. And with that, you found yourself more at ease.Â
Yangyangâs character approached yours, his eyes showed vulnerability and it almost felt too real when his orbs directly looked into yours. The lines flowing out of his mouth smoothly, as if he meant them.Â
And when the moment came, when Jun leaned in and Riko didnât pull away, it was like the rest of the world disappeared.Â
The kiss was soft, hesitant, and lingeringâexactly as it was supposed to be. Yangyang held your head with such gentleness while your hands found their way to his back, trying to get him closer to your body.Â
You know itâs just pretend kissing but part of you wished it was real with the way Yangyang was holding you and your proximity, his warmth made you feel small in a way that is not condescending. He made you feel safe.Â
When the two of you break the kiss, your eyes meet again. This time, you definitely went out of character as you looked at him deeply, fully portraying Rikoâs yearning for him. Her âI found youâ moment.Â
âCut!â The director yelled ecstatically. âThat was such a good scene!âÂ
You thanked the director while your mind was still in a daze as Yangyang gave you a small, reassuring nodâas if saying that you did well. You couldnât help but give the actor a smile in return.Â
As the crew buzzed around you again, you caught Chenleâs gaze from the sidelines. He raised a brow, smirking at your direction as if he knew something you didnât.Â
And maybe, he did.Â
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Between the countless takes, script changes, and the directorâs endless feedback, you barely had time to process anything. Except when Yangyang was in the same room as yours. You admire how his presence seems to fill every corner, tugging at your attention no matter how hard you try to focus on anything else.Â
By the time you wrapped up for the day, your body ached from exhaustion, and all you wanted was to crawl into bed. At this time, you thoroughly expected a grumpy Chenle waiting for you in your dressing room but you were taken aback with what you got instead.
It was Yangyang, leaning against the wall near your dressing room, scrolling through his phone like heâs your boyfriend waiting for you to finish your shoot⊠you mean, what?
You hesitated to greet him but he looked up at you before you could even decide.
âY/N,â he greeted, âChenleâs out with Renjun. Figured Iâll wait for you instead, considering how late it is now.â
âOh,â you mentally cursed your manager, your inner monologues filled with âHow dare heâ and âHow could heâ. âItâs fine, sunbae. I can manage on my own.âÂ
Yangyang slipped his phone into his pocket, standing up straight in the process. âNo, nepo baby. Youâre gonna be with me until you enter the backdoor of your apartment.âÂ
Youâre too tired to decline a persistent Yangyang that you just nodded before heading to the parking lot. âLong day,â you sighed, leaning into the car seat of Renjunâs van.Â
âTell me about it,â he responded as he started driving.Â
You glanced at him, surprised, âI almost forgot! Arenât you supposed to be staying for the night shoot?â
âNah, Kunâs taking over because of changes again. Figured the director would have also preferred it that way,â he laughed as his hands smoothly maneuvered the steering wheel.Â
You giggled at his response, âSounds about right.âÂ
The two of you drove in an awkward silence for a while, the cold air conditioning of the van touches your body, making you shiver.Â
âSo,â he said eventually, looking at you for a brief period in his rearview mirror. âHowâd it feel? The scene, I mean.â
You bit your lip, avoiding his brief glances at your place. âI donât know,â you started, âIt felt different⊠I donât think I can find the right words to describe it right now, really.âÂ
You try to brush off his question with a laugh but you know deep inside your heart that you couldnât just tell him you wished that the kiss was real. That you wish there was something more and that his glances at you earlier meant something.Â
âBut your advice did help a lot!â You tried changing the topic which you think was effective after he gave you a smug chuckle in return.Â
âTold you.â
There was something easy about talking to him like this, away from the cameras and the crew and everything.
While driving, Yangyang made sure to take all the precautions he needed so as to not get caught with you in his managerâs van. Sure, heâs being friendly and acting like a dependable sunbae to you but he canât afford being caught in a scandal, not with you.Â
When you reached your destination, he made sure to contact the security to ensure no one was there before letting you go.Â
âThanks for earlier, sunbae! I donât think I wouldâve gotten through it without your reassurance.âÂ
He tilted his head, studying you for a moment before giving you a soft smile. âYou wouldâve been fine, with or without my advice. Give yourself some credit.âÂ
You stood frozen in the middle of your apartmentâs parking lot at the sudden compliment. âAnyway, Y/N, get some good rest as tomorrow will be just as crazy as today.âÂ
âYeah,â you nodded, âYou too, sunbae, you too.â
By the time you reached your unit, you were surprised to see Chenleâs outdoor shoes in the entryway.Â
âYangyang said youâre out with Renjun,â your face turned sour at the sight of Chenle chilling on your sofa. âWhat a bad manager you are!â
âYeah, yeah whatever. I left the restaurant earlier than Renjun.â
You didnât mind what he said and went directly to your room to change. When you come back to your living room, heâs still in the same spot you left him a while ago.Â
âWhat do you think of him now?â He asked again. This time, you already know who he was referring to.Â
âHeâs still fine and I still donât understand why youâre doing this,â you rolled your eyes, joining him at your sofa.Â
âHe looks at you like youâre the lead of more than just the show, Y/N,â Chenle said slyly.Â
âYouâre overthinking things again, Chenle. Yangyang-sunbae is nice. I think we just have a good hoobae-sunbae relationship thatâs why youâre acting like that,â you defended the actor.Â
âI hope youâre right,â was all he said before placing all of his attention back to the television.Â
At this point, you hope youâre right.Â
Itâs been a week since you spent time with Yangyang, filming the scenes for RikoJun and today, you guys are wrapping it all upâtheyâre gonna end their relationship and Lei will come back into the picture.Â
âMissed me, Y/N?â Sicheng teased you.Â
Itâs also been a week since you last saw Sicheng, considering how busy he had gotten with his modelling gigs and sneaking out the pop star every night to his condominium.Â
âYou wish,â you retorted.Â
âI heard you and Yangyang have a great chemistry,â he said again, his arms crossed to his chest.
âI like to think we do, too!â You gleefully replied, âHis advice helped me a lot, especially during the heavy scenes we have together.â
Sicheng looked at you, âMhm. I hope we still have that spark together after your time with him.â
Everyone on set was perplexed as to why Yangyangâs watching your scenes with Sicheng now, considering how he doesnât have any upcoming shoots with you or with other actors of the drama today.
âYang? Why are you here?â The director asked, completely puzzled to see the young man on set.
âJust wanna watch some of my colleagues, noona,â he showed off his gummy smile before proceeding to sit at the chair where the intern is supposed to sit.Â
âBack off, Liu. The internâs assigned there,â Hendery hissed, giving Yangyang a side eye before watching the younger one go away from the seat.
âChill, Wong.âÂ
But Hendery didnât give him any more attention, walking back to his van again to wait for the directorâs orders.Â
âWoah! What a tense situation you got there, Yang!â The director saw what happened, grinning ear to ear at Yangyang.Â
âShut up, noona. Why you gotta hire that man, anyways?â
âWell, heâs a good actor and heâs not rude to me,âÂ
âWhatever,â was all he said before looking for another seat to conquer.
After your shoot, you saw Yangyang outside your van, leaning against it while busying himself with his cellphone.
âSunbae?âÂ
âOh, Y/N. Already finished?â He asked, his eyes filled with joy as soon as he saw you in front of him.Â
âYeah. Why are you here, sunbae?âÂ
âN-nothing, Y/N. Have a great day.âÂ
You found it weird that Yangyangâs in front of your van yet left when you arrived but you didnât divulge deep into the thought as your managerâs already waiting for you inside.Â
âHe was waiting for you,â Chenle told you the moment you sat on the leathered seat. âI thought heâs going to ask you out or something.â
âPlease stop, Chenle. I know you like joking about stuff like that but heâs just a nice sunbae, thatâs all!âÂ
âDrop the act, Y/N. I know you like him.â
This time, heâs right.
It started with the kiss scenes then the lovey-dovey shootings then came the drive-you-home extravaganza. Everything about Yangyang screams boyfriend for you. When heâd smile at you like youâre his most favorite thing in his world or when youâd be the only one heâd give techniques and advice on set, you knew what Chenle said about the man is right.Â
At first, you were in-denial about it. Thinking that maybe youâre thinking this way about Yangyang because you canât get your shit together and that youâre acting unprofessional. But, you know yourself. All this time, you are professional and diligent but his acts towards you aren't.Â
Now, youâre here watching his character meet up with a new character the director added on a whim, saying something along the lines of âIâm sad Yangyangâs character didnât have a partner.â
âCut!â The director shouted, âThat was a good run! Thank you, everyone!âÂ
The moment your eyes locked in with Yangyang, he immediately walked your way, not minding the new female character in his vicinity.Â
âYou were great out there,â you complimented.Â
âThanks,â he looked up before looking right into your eyes again, âBut thatâs just an act you know, what you saw earlier.â
â...I know?â You laughed. Of course, you know. Youâre an actress for godâs sake!
âJust⊠saying,â he responded. âAnyways, are you free? Do you want to hangout with Sicheng and the rest?âÂ
You thought heâs about to ask you out on a date but Sichengâs name flew out of his mouth and made your mood a bit down.Â
âSure, Iâd love to,â you replied, opening your SMS app to message your manager about the said gathering.
You were about to sit beside Yangyang when the new actress beat you to it and told you to sit between Sicheng and Hendery.Â
âItâs more fun if we sat beside our partners in the drama!â She suggested but you knew she just wanted to sit besides Yangyang.Â
The table was tense, with the actress giving Yangyang a lot of food on his plate while you and the rest were quietly looking at the both of them.Â
âI told Yangyang not to invite the newbie,â Hendery murmured.Â
âWouldnât that be bad?â You asked, surprised he even talked to you.Â
âSo what? He could tell her Iâm the one who suggested it.â
âThat would be bad for you, then.â
âEveryone knows Iâm bad. Much better for her to experience it sooner.âÂ
You wanted to continue the conversation with Hendery more but he was clearly preoccupied with his ramen.
âThatâs Hendery for you,â Sicheng smiled. âHere, get some of the beef I cooked.âÂ
âThank you, Sicheng,â you thanked him as he put some cooked beef into your plate.Â
From time to time, Yangyang kept on glancing at you while the new addition to the crew kept on pushing herself to the man. He was being uncomfortable because even though they rented a private section of this restaurant, rumors can still go and he canât afford to have that.Â
âHeâs looking at you, Y/N,â Sicheng said, as if you hadnât noticed it earlier.Â
âI know, oppa. It feels weird.â
âMiss Y/N, you havenât been touching your plate. Is everything alright?â Dejun asked rather loudly and everyoneâs eyes on you now which made you feel small, especially when Yangyangâs gaze turned concerned.Â
âYes, Dejun-sunbae. I just feel full now,â you smiled at his direction which is a bit to the left whereas you were in the middle.Â
âIâll finish your food, Y/N. Give it to me,â Yangyang suddenly said, his right hand in your direction, waiting for you to give him your plate.Â
âButââ
âSicheng-ge, give me her plate,â you swear you could hear the newbie disagreeing with Yangyang but he didnât mind.
Sicheng, being the biggest shipper of you and Yangyang, gladly followed the youngerâs request.Â
âThank you, Yangyang-sunbae,â you said, eyes glinting with affection that everyone on the table didnât miss.Â
Of course, the both of you may not notice your deep fondness towards each other but everyone around you can feel itâthey just donât want to meddle with it.Â
After everyone finished eating, you guys decided it would be better to part ways with each other and when the cast vanished into the busy streets of Seoul, you found yourself alone with Yangyang.Â
âAt last,â Yangyang jokingly said, nudging you playfully with his elbow while grinning from ear to ear. âAt last, I can be with you alone!âÂ
Your heartbeat raced as you tried finding a reasonable response to him. âDonât say that, sunbae!âÂ
âWhy? Donât you want to spend time with me?âÂ
âI like being with you, Yangyang-sunbae,â you responded, your tone was heartfelt but your execution was shy.Â
Yangyang glanced at you for a while before forcing you to look back up at him, his fingers found your chin, racing it up so you could meet eye to eye. âIâve been meaning to tell you this, Y/N.âÂ
âMhm?âÂ
âYou can stop calling me sunbae, you know,â he continued, âJust call me Yangyang, like everyone does.â
âBut I donât like calling you the way they do,â you argued, your lips forming a firm line.Â
He just laughed at your stubbornness before ruffling your hair.Â
âOkay, nepo baby. Just call me whatever you want,â he smiles at you genuinely, never getting tired of your little habits.Â
âOkay, my dearest sunbae,â he laughs again this time but you truly meant what you had said.Â
Sure, you might have other sunbae than him that you look up to and respect the most but none of them is Yangyang. None of them can make you feel the way he makes you feel. To you, heâs irreplaceable.Â
Yangyangâs presence is a constant in your day as an actress. Heâs always there, watching your scenes and cheering you on every chance he gets. He would also lean over your script, pointing out notes with an exaggerated seriousness that makes you not pay attention to him.
âYou know, I could just ask the director,â you say, snatching the paper back.
âBut Iâm more fun,â he whines, leaning back with a pout.Â
Then there are the quieter moments, like when youâre both reviewing scenes on his tablet, shoulderâs brushing as you sit close enough to share the screen. Or the way his hands would instinctively hand you a water bottle before you could even realize youâre thirsty.Â
Or when he would always stay up late at night, waiting for you to wrap up your shoot before bidding you goodbye, watching you go inside your van before minding his own way home.
âSunbae, you donât have to wait for me everytime,â you say one evening as he lingers beside the directorâs chair, watching you finish your last take for the day.
âAnd miss seeing you trip over your lines when youâre tired? No thanks,â he teased, flashing you a mischievous grin.Â
You rolled your eyes at him, tossing a tissue towards his direction which he dodges with a dramatic flair.Â
Moments like this have become the norm, not just to you but to everyone else.Â
Everyone on set notices it. The way Yangyangâs eyes soften when he talks to you, the way your laughter is always louder in his presence. Itâs in how he seems to move with you, like gravity itself pulls him into your orbit.Â
âTheyâre so obvious,â the director complains jokingly.Â
âWould you say anything, though?â Kun asked with a hushed tone, glancing at you both from across the room.
âHell no.âÂ
To the crew, itâs an open secret that no one dares to talk about. To you and Yangyang, itâs just the way things are.Â
And Chenleâs really worried for you.
Youâre sitting in the dressing room, scrolling mindlessly on your phone while Chenle organizes your schedule for the following months. The buzzing voices and footsteps of the crew fades as you stand up for a while to close the door, creating a rare moment of peace and solitude in your otherwise hectic day, before sitting comfortably again.Â
Chenle sets his laptop down on the table with a deliberate thud, breaking the comforting silence.
âWe need to talk, Y/N,â he says, his tone filled with urgency.
You glance up, already sensing the shift in his usual sunny demeanor. âWhat is it this time?â You asked, trying to lift his mood up but it seems like your manager has no time for jokes or any of your ministrations.Â
âItâs about Yangyang.â
You look at him puzzled, âWhat about him?âÂ
Chenle crossed his arms, his expression was stern. âWhateverâs going on between you two, itâs too much. Everyone on set sees it.âÂ
âSo what if they do? People talk all the time,âyou counter, feigning nonchalance, though your heartbeat races and you feel a knot tightening in your stomach.Â
âThis is serious, Y/N,â his tone now direct, âThis isnât just about people talking. Youâre putting your reputation and his career at risk!âÂ
You roll your eyes at what he had said, leaning back in your chair. âChenle, itâs not that serious. Even if something happens, my parents can fix it. Theyâve done it before. Donât worry.âÂ
âSee? Thatâs exactly the problem Y/N,â he snaps, âYouâre so used to your parents cleaning up after you that you donât even see how dangerous this is for him,â you could tell his frustration is boiling over but you donât seem to understand why heâs angry. âSure, you can tell everyone how youâre so much more of your name or your parents. You can decline any movies or series with their name, but that action of yours. This action of yours is why people still think youâre a nepo baby.âÂ
Your eyebrows furrow, feeling confused. âIâm not doing anything wrong, Chenle. Iâm sure Yangyang knows how to handle himself.â
âDoes he?â Chenle laughs at your naivety. âDo you have any idea how hard heâs worked to get here? He doesnât have the privilege of a safety net like you, Y/N,â he pauses for a moment, trying to catch his breath. âOne scandal, one rumor, and everything heâs built is gone.â
Youâre quiet for a moment. The weight of his words made you understand where heâs coming from but your response only deepened the rift. âOkay, fine. If it comes to that, Iâll handle it. My parents will definitely make sure nothing happens to him either. Iâm sure of it.âÂ
Chenle was cynical after hearing what you have just said. âYou donât get it, do you? This isnât about who your parents can pay off. Itâs about respect. Respect for his work, his sacrifices, his entire life!âÂ
Outside the door, Yangyang stands frozen, his hand stuck on the knob. He hadnât meant to eavesdrop on you and Chenleâs conversation, he just wanted to hang out with you today but instead, he got to hear your careless and out of touch words, making his chest tighten.Â
He hears Chenleâs voice lower, ultimately giving off the vibes that heâs intensely irritated at what you have said. âYouâre so caught up in thinking everything will be fine because it always is for you. But for him? Itâs not. And if you really care about him, youâd stop pretending this isnât a big deal. Stop whatever is going on with you two, Y/N.âÂ
Yangyang doesnât want to hear anymore of what you guys are talking about. His stomach churns as he walks away, Chenleâs words and your indifference playing over and over in his head.
The ride home was quiet but not the quiet you wanted to have with Chenle. You genuinely canât understand why heâs so exasperated with you when youâre just telling the truth. You canât seem to find the problem with your parents paying off tabloids and threatening news agencies to keep the rumors about you and Yangyang out of the public eye.
And maybe, just maybe, the reason why you canât find the problem with what you have said is because youâd never truly had to worry about the consequences of your actions. For you, it was simple: if things went wrong, you had the means to make it right.
âChenle,â you finally broke the silence, your voice softer now. âI didnât mean to upset you earlier. I thought I was being practical, you know? Looking out for everyone⊠I donât know. Maybe Iâve missed something.âÂ
Chenleâs hand tightened around the steering wheel of the van and you could see the tension in his shoulders. âItâs not just about you, Y/N,â he said, âItâs about Yangyang too. You have no idea how much risk he had put out on himself just so you could be close with him the way you are with him now. How heâd probably be in his bed every night, thinking when or where news would break out about you two but still continue to act like your lover day by day. You have no idea how much heâs risked for you and here you are, thinking everything can be handled with a few phone calls from your parents.âÂ
His words stung more now, the sharpness of them cutting through your confusion. You tried to open your mouth to speak but nothing came out. This time, you knew Chenle was right. You have no idea.Â
âDo you really think this is just a game for him, Y/N?â Chenle continued, âI know, itâs partly my fault for letting him drive you home that night and for not giving you a heads up but I didnât think it could go deeper. I didnât think it could end up like this.â
âItâs not your fault, Chenle. I just⊠I just didnât think of it like that,â you murmured, your voice almost too quiet for him to hear. âI just thought that⊠that itâs the way things work for me. I didnât realize our situation could put him in a worse situation than me.âÂ
Chenleâs expression softened at your confession, âI know you didnât. But thatâs why I need you to start seeing it from his side. From his perspective. This isnât about what you can fix or what you think you can get away with.â
Betrayed is an understatement of how Yangyang feels right now. Hearing Chenleâs frustration and your clueless words earlier made his heart twist uncomfortably. Just when he thought everything was okay. Just when he thought it was okay to let his guard down for you. You just had to let him feel different from you.Â
âWhat are you going to do, Yang?â Renjun asked, sighing as he saw his talent leaning against the window of his car. He had heard about you and your managerâs dispute from Yangyang. The young man was already on the verge of crying when Renjun calmed him down, even just for a moment.
âI knew we shouldnât have gone that far into whatever we had, ge.âÂ
âIâm sure Y/N had her reasons as to why she said those things, Yang,â Renjun tried to save you from Yangyang but he knew itâs no use.Â
Knowing Yangyang, Renjunâs too sure that the boy will completely distance himself from you, considering how he just realized how dangerous it is for him to fall for someone like you.Â
âNo, ge. This has to stop. Whatever this is. Chenleâs right. Even if I hadnât heard her talking with her manager, I canât let things go that far, ge. I have a career to uphold,â Yangyang sighed, âWhat would the public think if they learned about us? Itâs so scary.â
âYouâre overthinking again. Try to talk things with her tomorrow, maybe itâll clear your mind.â
Tomorrow came and Yangyang dreaded it the most. You, on the other hand, are oblivious to the fact that your potential significant other potentially heard your conflict with Chenle last night.Â
âYang-sunbae!â You greeted, still clueless.Â
With you greeting him with a huge smile that could cure the world, Yangyang wished he hadnât heard what you had said yesterday. Yangyang wished this could go on. Yangyang wished you guys were just ordinary people.Â
âI heard your conversation with Chenle,â he wasted no time. Yangyang spoke to you with the coldest tone he could muster but his insides were shaking.Â
âHm?â You were confused.Â
What conversation with Chenle? You thought.Â
Oh. You realized.Â
Oh.
âMust be nice for you, huh? To not be worried about your career because your parents can clean your mess up,â his words cut you like a knife. He swore to himself to become calm once you met him but Yangyang felt overwhelmed.Â
âWhat are you-â you couldnât even continue what you were about to say because he interrupted you again, his disappointment in you evident in his eyes.
âI like you, Y/N.â
Those were the words you hoped Yangyang would one day say to you but his tone wasnât the way to put it. You felt no butterflies in your stomach because you know this is not the confession where the both of you would end up together. More like a confession where youâd end up alone.Â
âI like you too, Yangyang-sunbae,â you try. You hoped that he would calm down. That this revelation of feelings would soothe him and make him realize that everything is okay. That heâd realize youâre ready to risk everything for him.
But deep down, you know youâre just a fool for even confessing.Â
Yangyang shook his head, âI like you, Y/N,â he repeated, âBut we should stop. Your manager is right. What we have right now shouldnât continue. Weâre not allowed to be like this,â his voice cracks at the end of his sentence.Â
A confession and a closure at the same dialogue? Yangyang is the only one who could do that.
âYangâŠâ but he didnât respond. You look at his figure walking out of the set.Â
You cried at where he had left you. You look like a fool there, with the director coming at your direction, completely confused as to why Yangyang left so suddenly and why you were left there, sobbing.Â
âNo amount of public hate could make me hurt the way his words did,â you cry at the directorâs shoulder. You were almost shaking.Â
It was your first ever rejection you have received your whole life. Sure, some individuals do not accept you in this field but his rejection of you was personal.Â
âWhyâd you do that to her?â Yangyang found it surprising that Hendery was the one to ask him why. Out of all the people in the set, this young and rude man was the first one to ask him why.Â
âShe canât understand me or my situation. She can never understand it,â Yangyang just replied as he brought the cigarette to his lips, inhaling deeply as smoke curled up in the air.Â
âYou should have known that from the start, considering sheâs a product of nepotism,â Hendery replied. Him, too, lighting up his own cig.Â
âSheâs more than what the public thinks of her,â Yangyang argued, âBut, I think I have overestimated her.âÂ
Yangyang didnât mean to leave you crying, he felt hurt himself. When he saw you earlier, memories of yesterday flooded his mind, overwhelming him and causing him to say whatever came to mind in that moment.
He was terrified that he would become nothing once the news about you two broke. The thought of a dating scandal uprooting all the sacrifices he had made for his career filled him with dread. In truth, he was afraid of you.
From the first time he saw you at the read-throughs, he sensed something about you could destroy him. Still, he tried until all that remained was the painful realization that you couldnât be with him.
Hendery didnât respond to Yangyang anymore. Instead, he just stood there while Yangyang found himself sitting with his truth in silence, grappling with the weight of his emotions. It was just him, Hendery, and the unspoken fears that lingered between you two, a reminder of what could never be.
âI know this is bad timing but the editing team accidentally deleted a kissing scene from Riko and Jun and nowââ the director was frantic, almost worried for you and Yangyang but Kun calmed her down.
âBreathe,â he said, patting the back of the director to soothe her.
âThank you,â she smiled before continuing, âI need the two of you to get your act together and film this one, just one, scene again.â
Yangyang didnât reply, as if heâs distracted with something. You, on the other hand, gave the director a small nod.Â
It was the day after the confession-closure thing and you kinda accepted to yourself that while he has become wary with you, youâre still willing to accept him. Even if it takes a lifetime.Â
âGood morning, sunbae!â You gave him your best, energetic smile but he just gave you a nod.Â
âAt least, he acknowledged you,â Sichengâs makeup artist felt bad for you so she tried to cheer you up.Â
âOkay, Y/N and Yangyang! Give us your best shot!â The director calls, you breathe deeply before looking straight into Yangyangâs, you mean, Junâs eyes.Â
Be professional, Y/N! You scold yourself.
Yangyang immediately dives into the kissing scene, leaving you no room to mentally prepare for it.Â
The kiss was fierce and desperate. You feel as if youâre trying to consume each other, pouring all your unspoken words and pent-up feelings into this single moment.
Your hands find their way to his hair, pulling him closer as if afraid he might disappear. He responds by deepening the kiss, his hands gripping your waist tightly, grounding you both in this whirlwind of passion.
Itâs as if you guys werenât Riko and Jun. The pretend kiss was extremely intense, everyone on set felt that it was genuine than it was supposed to be. But the director liked it.Â
âCut!â The director shouted and Yangyang was quick enough to detach himself from you. âThat was a good one-take!â
You werenât able to respond because Yangyang was already leading you to a secluded place.
âHey! Wait!â You try to make him stop, âThe directorâs not finished talking, sunbae.â
Once he deems itâs safe enough, he looks at you before sighing deeply. He leans into you, kissing you for real this time.Â
Yangyang doesnât know if this is your first kiss but you donât care at all. You close your eyes, feeling the moment.Â
âIâm sorry, Y/N,â he says, breathless.
âI should be the one apologizing, sunbae.â
Yangyang inhales, looking straight into your eyes, âItâs just⊠itâs just Iâm afraid to disappoint them, Y/N. My fans. The public. I donât like the way theyâd paint me if weâre revealed.âÂ
âItâs okay, really. At least, you told me now,â you give him a half smile.Â
In that instant, you realize how much youâre willing to risk for him. You were so easy to forgive him that youâd already forgotten what he had made you feel yesterday. But thereâs this thought that has been eating you since then⊠that Yangyangâs not ready to risk what youâre ready to give him.Â
âLook,â you were determined to make this right. âI know itâs complicated butââÂ
He shakes his head harshly, cutting you off. âNo, Y/N. You donât understand this âcomplicatedâ youâre talking about. I like you, Y/N. I genuinely, deeply fell for you but I canât afford to risk my career or put you in danger of being even more hated by the general public.âÂ
âYangyang-sunbae,â your voice was trembling but you still gave him a forced smile, âWe can still be friends, you know?â You donât want to be friends with him but if thatâs the only way to keep him around, youâre willing.Â
âNo, Y/N. We canât be friends.âÂ
âWhy not?â You plead, desperate for him to explain whatever he has on his mind because heâs been puzzling you since earlier.Â
âBecause I like you more than friends do,â he admits, his voice betraying him again.Â
The confession sends a rush of emotions through you, âSo what does this mean for us?â
âIt meansâŠâ He hesitates again, his brow furrowing, knowing that whatever comes out of his mouth next will change his relationship with you. âIt means I have to lose you to protect you.â
The words hit you like a punch to the face. You want to scream that itâs not fair, that love shouldnât come with conditions or sacrifices, but only a shaky breath left your lips.
âYangyang-sunbae,â you say softly, stepping closer again despite the chasm between your desires and his fears. âI donât want to lose you.â
He looks at you then, really looks at you, and for a fleeting moment, it feels like time stands still. In those gaze of his lies everything unspoken: the love that burns fiercely but is overpowered by his fear.
âI wish things were different,â he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.
You reach out, fingers brushing against his hand, wishing for him to reconsider. But deep down, you know heâs already made up his mind.
âItâs premiere day!â The director gleamed.Â
âSicheng, you ready?â You ask your lead partner.
âAsk yourself first if youâre ready,â he replied. And heâs right about it, considering how this is the first time youâre going to see Yangyang again after your closure.Â
The venue was filled with energy, cameras flashing from left to right, fans cheering for every cast member, and the buzz of excitement filling every corner of the room. You take a deep breath before diving in with Sicheng at the stage, reminding yourself of the work you had put into this series.Â
The lights were blinding you and Sicheng and you canât even hear the cheers of your fans with your heart thumping incredibly loud and fast. As you pose for photos, your eyes canât help but wander to Yangyang. And when you did? Your heart almost dropped.
Yangyang looked dapper in his suit, standing with his partner in the drama as well as the other cast members. He catches your gaze for a second before continuing to smile at the cameras pointed at him. You canât help but feel a pang in your chest.Â
You mean, whatâs the point of looking that good if thereâs a distance between the both of you?
After the dashing and successful premiere of Eternal Sunshine, you find yourself at the after-party where only the crew and the cast were invited.Â
The atmosphere was celebratory, filled with laughter and clinking of glasses. Heck, you even heard someone say that this drama is going to be a hit and that you deeply hope. But your mind wanders to Yangyang, sitting at the side with Hendery, exchanging small talks with the man every once in a while.Â
You donât know what came to you at that exact moment but you canât help yourself. Your feet found its way towards an unsuspecting Yangyang.Â
You first greeted Hendery, who even though feels the atmosphere didnât need his presence there, didnât give a single care and continued to eat.Â
âY/N,â Yangyang greeted you first.
âHey,â you smile softly at him before leaning to his level, whispering, âI just want you to know that Iâll wait for your love, Yang.âÂ
It was the first time Yangyang had heard you call him without honorifics, making him flustered and shocked. He was about to respond to you but you shushed him, walking towards the area where the director is to talk with her.Â
You know that thereâs no need for further explanation because deep down inside, you're resolute: youâll absolutely wait for his love. You like this man deeply, more than words can explain, and no matter how long it takes you're willing to endure it all for him.
COMING UP NEXT. âYeah, but itâs so weird because you can feel the tension and I think itâd be even weirder now because theyâre wrapping up the first season and Ten has to get the interesting bits while the makeup artist has to make sure Sicheng is the interesting bit.â
synopsis. yangyang is born to be a star, the kind of talent that lights up the screen. you, on the other hand, is a nepo baby who everyone believed got the lead role because of your familyâs influence. he fought all these years to be the man that he is while you are still busy proving yourself to the populace. you believe youâre more than just your parents. he believes heâs less than without his fans. when your lives become intertwined, things get messyâone has never tasted consequences while the other lies awake at night, haunted by the thought of it.
genre. romance, angst
warnings. there's pretend kissing then there's real kissing where yangyang doesn't ask you, he just goes for it, i do not know the difference between drama and series so sorry <3
words. 8,812
eternal sunshine. masterlist
a/n. i got CARRIED away because i felt like i was getting away from the plot? idk but this is a long ass fic so i hope u guys read it <33 thank u so much!!! but i'm pretty sure the other fics won't have the same words as this bitch <333 HAPPY NEW YEARRR YEAH
post date. January 1, 2025, 10PM KST
It started with the kiss scenes then the lovey-dovey shootings then came the drive-you-home extravaganza. Everything about Yangyang screams boyfriend for you. When heâd smile at you like youâre his most favorite thing in his world or when youâd be the only one heâd give techniques and advice on set, you knew what Chenle said about the man is right.Â
At first, you were in-denial about it. Thinking that maybe youâre thinking this way about Yangyang because you canât get your shit together and that youâre acting unprofessional. But, you know yourself. All this time, you are professional and diligent but his acts towards you aren't.Â
Now, youâre here watching his character meet up with a new character the director added on a whim, saying something along the lines of âIâm sad Yangyangâs character didnât have a partner.â
âCut!â The director shouted, âThat was a good run! Thank you, everyone!âÂ
The moment your eyes locked in with Yangyang, he immediately walked your way, not minding the new female character in his vicinity.Â
âYou were great out there,â you complimented.Â
âThanks,â he looked up before looking right into your eyes again, âBut thatâs just an act you know, what you saw earlier.â
â...I know?â You laughed. Of course, you know. Youâre an actress for godâs sake!
âJust⊠saying,â he responded. âAnyways, are you free? Do you want to hangout with Sicheng and the rest?âÂ
You thought heâs about to ask you out on a date but Sichengâs name flew out of his mouth and made your mood a bit down.Â
âSure, Iâd love to,â you replied, opening your SMS app to message your manager about the said gathering.
You were about to sit beside Yangyang when the new actress beat you to it and told you to sit between Sicheng and Hendery.Â
âItâs more fun if we sat beside our partners in the drama!â She suggested but you knew she just wanted to sit besides Yangyang.Â
The table was tense, with the actress giving Yangyang a lot of food on his plate while you and the rest were quietly looking at the both of them.Â
âI told Yangyang not to invite the newbie,â Hendery murmured.Â
âWouldnât that be bad?â You asked, surprised he even talked to you.Â
âSo what? He could tell her Iâm the one who suggested it.â
âThat would be bad for you, then.â
"Everyone knows Iâm bad. Much better for her to experience it sooner."
You wanted to continue the conversation with Hendery more but he was clearly preoccupied with his ramen.
âThatâs Hendery for you,â Sicheng smiled. âHere, get some of the beef I cooked.âÂ
âThank you, Sicheng,â you thanked him as he put some cooked beef into your plate.Â
From time to time, Yangyang kept on glancing at you while the new addition to the crew kept on pushing herself to the man. He was being uncomfortable because even though they rented a private section of this restaurant, rumors can still go and he canât afford to have that.Â
âHeâs looking at you, Y/N,â Sicheng said, as if you hadnât noticed it earlier.Â
âI know, oppa. It feels weird.â
âMiss Y/N, you havenât been touching your plate. Is everything alright?â Dejun asked rather loudly and everyoneâs eyes on you now which made you feel small, especially when Yangyangâs gaze turned concerned.Â
âYes, Dejun-sunbae. I just feel full now,â you smiled at his direction which is a bit to the left whereas you were in the middle.Â
âIâll finish your food, Y/N. Give it to me,â Yangyang suddenly said, his right hand in your direction, waiting for you to give him your plate.Â
âButââ
âSicheng-ge, give me her plate,â you swear you could hear the newbie disagreeing with Yangyang but he didnât mind.
Sicheng, being the biggest shipper of you and Yangyang, gladly followed the youngerâs request.Â
âThank you, Yangyang-sunbae,â you said, eyes glinting with affection that everyone on the table didnât miss.Â
Of course, the both of you may not notice your deep fondness towards each other but everyone around you can feel itâthey just donât want to meddle with it.Â
After everyone finished eating, you guys decided it would be better to part ways with each other and when the cast vanished into the busy streets of Seoul, you found yourself alone with Yangyang.Â
âAt last,â Yangyang jokingly said, nudging you playfully with his elbow while grinning from ear to ear. âAt last, I can be with you alone!âÂ
Your heartbeat raced as you tried finding a reasonable response to him. âDonât say that, sunbae!âÂ
âWhy? Donât you want to spend time with me?âÂ
âI like being with you, Yangyang-sunbae,â you responded, your tone was heartfelt but your execution was shy.Â
Yangyang glanced at you for a while before forcing you to look back up at him, his fingers found your chin, racing it up so you could meet eye to eye. âIâve been meaning to tell you this, Y/N.âÂ
âMhm?âÂ
âYou can stop calling me sunbae, you know,â he continued, âJust call me Yangyang, like everyone does.â
âBut I donât like calling you the way they do,â you argued, your lips forming a firm line.Â
He just laughed at your stubbornness before ruffling your hair.Â
âOkay, nepo baby. Just call me whatever you want,â he smiles at you genuinely, never getting tired of your little habits.Â
âOkay, my dearest sunbae,â he laughs again this time but you truly meant what you had said.Â
Sure, you might have other sunbae than him that you look up to and respect the most but none of them is Yangyang. None of them can make you feel the way he makes you feel. To you, heâs irreplaceable.