Ji Hyo was pulled back to reality when a warm hand gently grasped his own.
"Stop spacing out," Felix said with a small smile, tugging him up from the floor. "Let's go have lunch before you turn into a statue."
Ji Hyo blinked for a moment, still half-lost in the emotional storm of memories—but he smiled faintly and nodded. "Yeah… okay."
As they walked side by side out of the trainee building, Ji Hyo glanced at Felix again. He really was the only one who stayed back then… and he's still the only one now.
A quiet warmth spread in Ji Hyo's chest. He didn't say it aloud, but he was grateful—deeply grateful.
They spent the afternoon wandering nearby streets, enjoying the soft breeze and warm sunlight. It wasn't anything extravagant—just casual walking, small shops, light banter—but it was comforting. Something about the simplicity of it soothed Ji Hyo's thoughts.
Felix was in high spirits, talking more than usual, even cracking a few awkward jokes that made Ji Hyo chuckle softly.
But behind Felix's cheerful tone, Ji Hyo could still sense it—the lingering heaviness in his eyes.
He may have been the top trainee, but… the debut team had already been chosen.
And they both knew, there was no guarantee when the company would decide to form another team.
That uncertainty loomed like a shadow over them.
Still, they enjoyed the moment.
Eventually, they made a stop at a nearby dessert café. The place had a cozy charm—brick walls, vintage light bulbs, and the smell of fresh cream and roasted coffee in the air. Ji Hyo was just settling into his seat when someone suddenly called out.
"Felix?"
They both turned to see a young woman approaching. She had a gentle, fresh aura—simple makeup, a soft ponytail, and kind eyes. Her voice was warm with surprise.
"Oh my god—it really is you!"
Felix blinked. "Soomin?"
She smiled brightly. "It's been forever! I didn't expect to run into you here!"
Felix stood to greet her, his tone casual but clearly happy. "Yeah, it's been a while. You still studying at Hanyang?"
"Graduated last semester," she replied proudly. "And you? I heard rumors you were training somewhere."
Felix scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah… Glint Entertainment."
Soomin's eyes lit up. "Seriously? That's amazing!"
Then her gaze shifted to Ji Hyo, who stood quietly beside him.
"And this is…?"
Felix glanced at Ji Hyo. "Ah—this is Ji Hyo. He's my fellow trainee at Glint."
Ji Hyo gave a small, polite bow. "Nice to meet you."
Soomin looked momentarily stunned.
She reached out to shake his hand, but her cheeks were visibly flushing.
"You're… wow, you're really pretty," she said shyly. "I mean—I didn't mean that in a weird way, I just—you look like someone who already debuted."
Ji Hyo chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Thank you."
"I'll definitely look forward to seeing you two on stage someday," she added with a grin. "You better not debut without telling me, Felix."
"No promises," Felix joked.
They chatted for a while longer, light and nostalgic. Eventually, Soomin waved goodbye and left with a cheerful "Fighting!" as she stepped out the café door.
Ji Hyo looked at Felix with a teasing smirk. "She seemed nice."
"She's just an old classmate," Felix said, sipping his drink with an innocent expression—but the tips of his ears were a bit red.
Ji Hyo didn't press it further.
He leaned back, gazing out the café window at the bustling streets beyond. For the first time in a while, he felt… grounded.
There were still so many questions, so many challenges ahead, but in this fleeting moment—amid dessert and casual laughter—he felt a little lighter.
After parting ways with Felix, Ji Hyo made his way back to his apartment. The night air was cool, but pleasant, and the streets had grown quieter under the dim glow of streetlamps. Despite Felix's insistence on walking him home, Ji Hyo had politely declined—he needed a moment to just be alone and breathe.
As soon as he stepped into his apartment, exhaustion caught up with him. He threw himself onto the bed with a sigh, the soft mattress swallowing his tired body.
"Finally… rest," he muttered.
But his peace was short-lived.
Bzzz—Bzzz—
His phone vibrated.
Ji Hyo groaned softly and reached for it. The screen displayed a familiar name: "Mom calling."
He answered the call, already bracing himself.
"JIIII HYO!!" his mother's voice exploded through the speaker.
Ji Hyo winced. "Ugh, Mom… you're going to make me deaf."
"Don't talk back! I've been waiting all day for you to call! What took you so long? Did you eat? Are you healthy? Did anyone bully you?! Do you need me to storm the company headquarters?!"
Ji Hyo chuckled, despite himself. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I ate… eventually."
"You don't sound fine! You're hiding it, I can tell. Your voice sounds tired!"
"I just had a long day, that's all."
His mother continued to bombard him with questions about his schedule, training, meals, and whether the company staff were treating him well. She even started fussing about how his skin sounded through the phone—Ji Hyo didn't even know that was possible.
Eventually, she calmed down a little. Then, casually—almost too casually—she said, "Oh! By the way, your brother is arriving next week."
Ji Hyo blinked. "Wait… I have a brother?"
There was a brief silence.
"W-What do you mean 'wait'?!" she snapped. "Of course you do!"
Ji Hyo scrambled to cover up. "No, I mean—I know that. I just didn't know he was coming back so soon."
"Hmph! He's been away for a while on business meetings abroad. Do you know how hard it is to even get him home? He's busier than your father."
"...Right. Business meetings," Ji Hyo repeated awkwardly, mentally noting this new information.
"Well, this weekend we're having a proper family dinner. You better come home. No excuses. I'll cook your favorites—tteokgalbi, galbijjim, kimchi pancake—everything!"
Ji Hyo smiled faintly. "Sure… I'll come."
"You'd better! We're all excited to see you! Especially your brother—you two haven't seen each other in years!"
"Years? I don't even remember what he looks like…" Ji Hyo thought.
After another ten minutes of one-sided chatter and motherly nagging, the call finally ended. Ji Hyo let the phone fall onto the bed beside him and sighed.
"Wow… I'm more exhausted now than after voca."
He closed his eyes to rest, but just as sleep was about to take over—
Ding!
A familiar system notification screen appeared in his vision.
[Side Task Activated: "Hyun Family Dinner"]
[Objective: Attend the Hyun Family Gathering next weekend and meet your older brother.]
[Reward: Random Stat Upgrade Ticket]
[Penalty: Relationship progress delay | Morale Drop]
[Time Limit: None]
Ji Hyo stared at the screen in disbelief.
"…I'm getting a task for family dinners now?"
[Correct, Host. All personal interactions influence your emotional stability and system development.]
"So… I'm leveling up by eating galbijjim now?"
[You may consider it a life skill.]
Ji Hyo flopped back against his pillow and groaned. "Unbelievable."
[Reminder: This task is mandatory.]
"Yeah, yeah. Nothing's ever optional with you."
Ji Hyo exhaled deeply, the faint glow of the system screen fading from his view as it quietly disappeared into the back of his mind.
"Family dinner quests… memory syncs… training evaluations…" he murmured softly, his eyelids already growing heavier. "At this rate, I'll need a vacation before I even debut…"
The room fell into a tranquil silence, broken only by the hum of the night wind brushing against the apartment windows. The weight of the day slowly lifted from his shoulders, replaced by the warm comfort of the soft sheets and the gentle scent of fresh linen.
His thoughts drifted—of vocal notes and rankings, of his strange second life, of the warm laughter shared at the hotpot restaurant, and of a mysterious brother he hadn't yet met.
His lips curled slightly into a faint smile.
And just like that…
Ji Hyo slept peacefully and soundly.