The next morning, Ou Yangguang woke up with a heavy heart.
The seat next to me was empty, with a faint fragrance and a lingering warmth remaining.
Kim Ji-won left quietly before dawn, just as quietly as she had arrived.
A note was left on her pillow, with her neat handwriting: "Keep going, and don't forget to eat. —Ji-won"
He stared at the note for a moment, then carefully folded it and put it into the pocket of his wallet.
Taking a deep breath, he carefully suppressed yesterday's tenderness and indulgence, put his mask back on, and prepared to face the storms of the real world.
When he walked into the SM Entertainment building, Lee Seung-hwan, who had been waiting at the entrance, practically pounced on him, his face showing a complex mix of fear and relief.
"Oh my god! My little darling! You've finally shown up! Do you know how I've been these past two days?!" Li Chenghuan lowered his voice, anxiously grabbing his arm and looking him up and down as if afraid he was missing a piece of flesh. "Your phone was off too, you almost drove me crazy!"
“Brother Chenghuan, I’m fine.” Ou Yangguang’s tone was calm. “I just need to be alone for a while.”
Looking at his calm yet undeniably tired face, and the complex expression in his eyes that was different from usual, Lee Seung-hwan finally swallowed back his nagging and let out a sigh: "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright... Let's go, Jin-wook hyung wants to see you."
Entering Lee Jin-wook's office again, Ou Yangguang's mood was completely different from the last time.
Gone is that reckless rage; only a facade of calm and an inner stubbornness remain.
Lee Jin-wook looked at him with sharp, eagle-like eyes, as if trying to find any trace of defiance or rebellion on his face.
But Ou Yangguang simply lowered his eyes slightly, his posture respectful but not humble.
"It seems you've calmed down." Lee Jin-wook spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion. "Fighting between members is extremely serious. I hope this is the first and last time this happens."
Ou Yangguang did not argue, but simply replied, "Yes, Brother Zhenxu, I know I was wrong."
Where is your letter of self-criticism?
"I will finish writing it at the company today and hand it to you."
Lee Jin-wook stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly weighing something.
Ultimately, he did not impose any further punishment, perhaps because the conflict the previous day had been severe enough, perhaps because of his upcoming VOGUE photoshoot, or perhaps for some other reason.
He simply waved his hand, his expression carrying an undeniable authority: "Go. Finish writing your self-criticism and prepare for your solo schedule. But remember, you are first and foremost a member of EXO. The company will not tolerate any behavior that harms the interests of the group."
"Yes," Ou Yangguang replied again, then left the office.
The door closed behind him, and he leaned against the cold wall, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Lee Jin-wook didn't delve into his staying out all night and disappearing for a day without permission, nor did he impose a harsher punishment for the fight, which was better than he had expected.
But he knew that this meant the matter was over. The shadow of that conflict still loomed over everyone's hearts.
Instead of going to the large practice room he usually used with the other members, he found a small, vacant practice room by himself.
Lee Seung-hwan followed him closely, as if afraid he would disappear again.
In the recording studio, Ouyang turned up the volume; it was a track from EXO's upcoming winter special album.
The melody was soothing yet tinged with a touch of melancholy, which strangely resonated with his current state of mind.
Back in the dance studio, he practiced the dance moves in front of the mirror over and over again, correcting the details.
His movements remained precise and powerful, but his eyes lacked the sparkle and interaction he used to have when practicing with the other members. He seemed to be completing a task on his own, a mechanical and immersive form of self-imposed exile.
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