Running to You | Park Han + JL + Steven | Haneulz + Stejay AU

Chapter 21: Chih En's House

Woongki took one look and whispered, "Are we... are we in a K-drama? Where's the chaebol heir reveal?"

Shuaibo, completely unfazed, strolled forward like he had returned to his summer home. "Finally. Somewhere civilized."

A man in a tailored black uniform opened the door before they could knock. "Welcome. Master Chih En is expecting you."

They all turned to look at Chih En, who simply nodded, as if this wasn't a complete redefinition of how they saw him.

"I live here," he said, like he was talking about a one-bedroom studio.

"No kidding," Jeongwoo muttered, eyes darting up to the second floor balcony.

Inside was worse -- or better, depending on perspective. Marble floors, high ceilings, and a living room bigger than their entire dorm floor. A koi pond, for God's sake. There was a koi pond indoors. Music played softly from recessed speakers -- a long-dead composer only familiar to people whose families framed diplomas and oil portraits.

"There's no way this is real," Kyungho whispered. "I feel like my entire childhood was a lie."

"This place is so rich, I think my debit card just self-destructed," Woongki said, gawking at a calligraphy scroll that clearly hadn't come from a mall kiosk.

They followed Chih En down a hallway, past a minimalist kitchen outfitted with commercial-grade appliances, and into a sleek common room already prepped with textbooks, snacks, and individual tablets set on charging docks.

"Is this your violin diploma?" Kyungho asked, pointing to a wall lined with certificates and photos.

"I started playing when I was five," Chih En answered. "I did theatre too. But I quit. I didn't like being on stage."

Steven turned, halfway through sitting down. "Wait. You acted?"

Chih En nodded. "Hated smiling. I used to cover my mouth when I laughed. Thought it looked weird."

A stunned silence followed.

"Someone tell the fandom," Juwon said, slack - jawed. "They're going to riot."

"There are literally stan pages just for your smile," JL added. "There are reaction videos to it."

"Bro's got plot armor in the face department," Steven said. "Visuals straight out of a manhwa."

"His smile, the rarest of commodities," Woongki intoned.

Chih En's ears flushed pink. "I wore braces for a long time, so I just got used to never showing my teeth in photos because I hated how they looked. Hard habit to break."

There was something unexpectedly vulnerable in his words. In this house filled with everything -- wealth, awards, polished surfaces -- there was a softness in Chih En's tone that said more than anything hanging on the walls. He was as human as everyone else, despite the AI allegations.

"Well, too bad for theatre and the movie industry you're in Track now, sweating with the rest of us grunts," Jeongwoo grinned, breaking the silence. "We see how you've worked these past few months. It shows." 

Chih En blinked once, then gave a small nod.

"You've gotten stronger," Jeongwoo added. "Your stride, your turns. You're sharper."

Shuaibo said, "Also, did you shoot up a few inches when we weren't looking or something? You're almost as tall as me now."

Chih En glanced down at his arms. They had filled out. The delicate frame he arrived with had broadened remarkably, his shoulders now powerful. He stood taller too -- nearly as tall as Shuaibo, and nearly as buff as Kyungho. It was getting harder to see who was maknae based on physique alone.

"You too," he said, nodding at Jeongwoo's legs, which had started to get very toned calves. "Your starts are explosive now. You don't drag."

"Oh my god," Woongki whispered. "They're complimenting each other. Someone record this."

"Too late," Juwon grinned. "The fandom predicted this moment last week. There's already fan art."

Everyone laughed, and the tension finally broke.

They gathered around the massive coffee table, armed with notebooks and snacks. The team sprawled out, some at the table, others on beanbags and floor cushions. It wasn't long before the teasing resumed and questions flew between them, interrupted by bursts of laughter and dramatic exclamations from Woongki every time someone got a practice problem right.

Jeongwoo and Chih En sat side by side at the far end, muttering through a thick chemistry textbook and scribbling formulas with alarming speed. Kyungho joined them at some point, hovering between helping and asking.

Bit by bit, they studied. They laughed. They worked.

Because Chih En had asked them to. Because they didn't want to leave anyone behind.

And more than anything, because they wanted to win... together.