Main Character: Ouyang Guang, Sun
—A boy and his path to dazzling stardom—
"He wasn't born an idol; he just turned growing pains into a crown."
[Korean Entertainme...
The sunlight of the next afternoon lost its scorching heat at noon and became a little lazy.
Having just finished a music show recording session, Ouyang Yang's eardrums were still buzzing with the fans' enthusiastic, shrill voices and the deafening beats of the music. She had barely removed her stage makeup when Lee Seung-hwan bundled her into the nanny van.
"Hurry up, Xiaoguang, Zhiyuanxi has already left." Brother Li handed over a bottle of ice water, his tone full of his usual efficiency. "Take a nap on the way. The recording of We Got Married will probably be tonight."
Ouyangguang took the water, the cool touch refreshing him slightly. He leaned back in the comfortable car seat and closed his eyes, but he was not sleepy at all.
A few days ago, he finally passed his motorcycle license test. Choi Young-do's role required him to ride a motorcycle, so after receiving the script, he asked his agent to arrange for him to practice riding. He took the test the next day, and his hands were still warm.
The car drove steadily, and the street scene outside the window slid past like a streamline. About half an hour later, the car drove into an underground garage.
After his family knew that he had taken the motorcycle driver's license test, a black BMW S1000RR was parked in a garage near the company that day.
The garage light shone coldly, evenly splattering the streamlined body of the car. The black paint, like a carefully cut piece of obsidian, reflected a cold, hard luster. He straddled it, his palms resting on the slightly cool handlebars, feeling a solid weight radiate from the car's body. The instant the engine started, a deep, powerful roar filled the air, tingling his chest slightly. He took a deep breath and gently twisted the accelerator, and the roar echoed like the throaty sound of a beast awakening, ready to go.
He wasn't riding fast, the wind whistling past his helmet, filtering the city's clamor into a blurry background. The feeling of freedom was like an unexpected wave crashing over him, stronger than he'd expected. He deliberately took a detour, letting the wind lift a little of the fatigue from the constant work.
The recording location was a semi-open space in a startup park. From a distance, Ouyang Guang spotted Kim Ji-won standing in her designated spot. She was wearing a light blue sweater and dark brown pants, looking down at her phone. Her silhouette looked remarkably quiet in the soft afternoon sunlight.
The motorcycle came to a steady stop a few steps in front of her. The engine shut down, and the world suddenly became much quieter.
Kim Ji-won, startled by the noise, looked up. Her gaze first swept over the massive, sleek motorcycle, a look of detachment and distance that only ordinary people could find when looking at such a mechanical object. Then, her eyes slowly shifted to the rider, his face obscured by a black full-face helmet.
Ouyangguang raised his hand, unfastened the buckle slowly, and took off his helmet. His hair was a little messy from being pressed down, and he casually shook it.
Kim Ji-won's eyes widened instantly, as if she had witnessed something incredibly unlikely. Her mouth slightly parted as she glanced back and forth between his face and the black motorcycle, her finger unconsciously pointing at the vehicle. "This... is yours?" Her voice was filled with undisguised surprise, even forgetting the most basic greetings.
Ouyangguang was amused by her appearance, his lips curled up, and he tucked his helmet into the crook of his arm: "Yeah, I just got my driver's license." He patted the cold gas tank cap, "How is it?"
Kim Ji-won finally recovered from her shock. She took two steps forward and cautiously touched the rearview mirror stalk, as if afraid it would burn. "Wow... I didn't expect that at all. Ouyang Guangxi, you can still be like this?" She looked up at him, the surprise in her eyes fading, replaced by a deep curiosity and inquiry. "This feels like something out of a movie."
"I went to learn it because the plot required it." He tried to keep his tone as calm as possible, but he couldn't hide the secret pride in his heart, which leaked out a little from the slightly raised end of his voice. "Get in the car, I'll take you somewhere."
"Now? Riding this?" Kim Ji-won blinked, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face. Her fingers tugged at the hem of her sweater. "I... have never ridden a car like this before."
"Don't worry, I'm very stable." Ouyang Guang handed her a spare helmet that he had prepared. "Besides, it's not far away."
Jin Zhiyuan took the pure white helmet, held it in her arms and looked at it, then looked at his black helmet. She seemed to have discovered something, her eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything.
She imitated what Ouyang Guang had done just now and put it on her head a little clumsily. The strap got stuck on a few strands of hair, making her frown slightly.
Ouyangguang watched and subconsciously wanted to reach out to help, but his fingers stopped as soon as they moved. He only reminded loudly: "The buckle is on the left side. Yes, press down."
She finally put it on. The heavy helmet made her head look round. Only her bright eyes were left looking at him through the windshield. She asked in a muffled voice, "Is this correct?"
Ouyangguang nodded, straddled his long legs, sat firmly, started the car, and kicked up the footrest. He tilted his head and gestured to the back seat: "Sit in, put your feet on the pedals, and your hands..." He paused, "Hold me steady."
Kim Ji-won carefully sat sideways, her body a little tight, and she hesitantly placed her hands on both sides of his waist, just lightly grasping a little of the fabric of his jacket.
Ouyangguang glanced down at the two cautious hands and said nothing, but just reminded them, "Hold on tight."
With a slight twist of the accelerator, the car slid out smoothly. Kim Ji-won let out a low cry of surprise, her hand on his waist instinctively tightening, wrapping around his waist. The wind rushed towards him, but it was firmly blocked by the helmet.
The destination seemed very close, just around the corner, and we stopped in front of a tough-looking motorcycle supply store. The window displayed a variety of cycling clothes and helmets.
"What are you doing here?" Kim Ji-won got out of the car and took off her helmet, becoming more skilled at it.
"Buying clothes." Ouyangguang locked his bike, walked to the front and opened the glass door naturally. "It's better to wear something professional when riding a bike, for safety."
The shop was filled with the faint scent of leather and rubber. Cycling apparel of all kinds hung on the racks, ranging from understated black to striking fluorescent colors. Ouyang Guang, having clearly done his homework, walked straight to a display area, picked up a black and red cycling jacket with protective gear, and compared it to himself.
The clerk came over with a smile. Ouyang Guang exchanged a few words in Korean, then looked at Jin Zhiyuan and said, "You choose one too."
"Me?" Jin Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment and waved her hand. "I don't need it, right? I just want to sit down occasionally..."
"Safety is not accidental." Ouyang Guang's tone was very natural. He picked up a set of women's cycling jackets next to him, the same style but much smaller, in red, and handed it to her. "Try this one? The color looks good on you." There was a hint of anticipation in his eyes. He added, "When riding together, we always have to look like a pair."
The phrase "looks like a set" made Kim Ji-won swallow her refusal. She took the jacket, which felt a bit stiff but very stylish. She looked at the black and red jacket in Ouyang Yang's hand, then at the red jacket, and her cheeks felt slightly hot. She lowered her head, touched the shoulder pads on the jacket, and whispered, "...Then I'll try it on."
Coming out of the fitting room, Kim Ji-won tugged at the hem of her shirt, a bit self-conscious. The slim-fitting jersey perfectly outlined her figure, the red base color accentuated her skin, and the red accents added a touch of coolness.
Ouyangguang looked at her, his eyes lit up for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. He just nodded: "It fits well. Looks good." He also changed into his own black and red suit, and the two stood side by side in front of the fitting mirror.
In the mirror, the two men, one black, one white, one red, their sharp motorcycle uniforms strangely outlined a tacit connection. Kim Ji-won looked at the two people standing side by side in the mirror, her eyes flickering for a moment. She said nothing, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
"Just these two." Ouyangguang said to the clerk in a straightforward tone.
Ouyangguang kept the rest of the journey a secret. He started the scooter again, and this time, when Kim Ji-won got on the back seat, she put her arms around his waist, a much more natural movement.