Jihoon strolled through the softly lit hallway of SM Entertainment, flanked by Krystal and Sulli on either side.
The building buzzed with energy, as always—a mixture of tension, dreams, and caffeine. They were heading toward the practice room where Jessica and the rest of the girls were rehearsing.
Girls' Generation had already debuted while Jihoon was still in Los Angeles. Though he'd been thousands of miles away, his presence was felt in Korea through the song he wrote for their debut—"Into the New World."
He hadn't intended to change it, even with all his artistic growth. It was timeless. A classic.
Even in 2025, "Into the New World" remained etched in the hearts of Generation Y.
It wasn't just a pop song—it was a rallying cry, a reminder of hope and innocence.
The melody had the strange ability to light a fire in people's spirits, the kind of drive music was supposed to give.
Ironically, it had also become an unofficial anthem for protests against government injustice.
Jihoon still remembered the absurdity of watching protestors gathered outside the National Assembly, fists raised in defiance—while K-pop songs blared from speakers.
At first, "Into the New World" stirred the crowd with purpose and resolve.
But then someone queued Gangnam Style on the next track. And just like that, the protest turned into a makeshift dance party, with people doing the horse dance in front of riot police.
It was surreal—half powerful, half ridiculous.
Still, Jihoon smiled to himself. Good or bad, serious or silly, the song had left a mark.
And that's what art was supposed to do.
As they walked, he glanced over at Krystal. "How are your parents doing? I haven't gotten around to visiting them since I got back."
"They're good," Krystal said with a shrug, but her lips twisted into a pout. "But my unnie's been annoying."
Jihoon chuckled. "Oh? Did she bully you again?"
"I have no choice!" Krystal huffed, her voice dramatic. "All my pocket money comes from her. I'm forced to live frugally under the her regime."
Jihoon burst out laughing, the sound echoing slightly in the hallway. "Don't tell me… Jessica stole your pocket money again?"
Krystal groaned theatrically, throwing her head back. "I knew you were going to say that."
It was practically an inside joke within SM Entertainment by now—one of those charming little tales that floated through the building like a legend.
Jessica Jung, the ever-elegant and composed idol, had a not-so-secret reputation for helping herself to her younger sister's allowance and usually in the name of "urgent skincare emergencies" or a last-minute lipstick crisis.
The story had finally reached the public years after the sisters' debut, when Krystal had nonchalantly mentioned it during an interview.
She had laughed as she recalled opening her wallet, only to find her cash mysteriously gone. The culprit?
Jessica, of course—smirking as she patted her fresh coral lipstick.
What made it even better was Krystal's reaction. She never confronted her sister—just pouted, sighed, and accepted her fate as the family's unwilling investor in beauty products.
Jihoon shook his head, still smiling. "Some things never change."
Beside them, Sulli giggled, her laughter soft and bright like wind chimes.
For a brief moment, the hallway didn't feel like a training corridor or a backstage shortcut—it felt like high school. Like a memory. Like home.
Krystal's smile faltered a little at Jihoon's words.
.Just then, she received Jessica's reply to her earlier message asking if they could enter the practice room.
Since their group's debut, Jessica and her members had been going through intense training to further refine their singing and dancing skills.
During these sessions, multiple instructors were usually present, creating a much more serious and structured environment.
If someone walked in unannounced, it could disrupt the lesson—and more importantly, it would be considered disrespectful.
That's why it was important to ask for permission before entering.
Things weren't like they used to be, back when Jihoon could casually stroll into the practice room before their debut.
Jihoon nodded slowly, understanding settling in. He, too, had noticed the shift. Earlier when he arrived, he had texted Taeyeon.
No reply. And now that Krystal mentioned it, he realized—no one answered because the rules had changed.
Stardom came with boundaries.
"I can't reach her either," Krystal added, holding up her phone. "Their devices are probably off."
Jihoon gave her a reassuring smile. "Well, if we can't interrupt their training… how about we go eat instead? My treat. BBQ sound good?"
Krystal's eyes lit up. "Yes! I'm starving."
Sulli hesitated, glancing between the two. "Krystal… is it okay for me to go?"
Krystal leaned in like she was whispering a top-secret confession. "Of course! Jihoon oppa has a good temper. Honestly, if my sister weren't so... uh, unpromising, I'd totally vote for him as my brother-in-law."
"YA! Krystal Jung!" Jihoon nearly choked. His expression darkened, mock outrage painted all over his face. "You wanna die today?!"
Krystal waved him off, entirely unbothered by his growling tone. "Relax, oppa. You're just lucky I have taste."
Laughing, Jihoon led the two girls down the street to a familiar barbecue joint tucked near the corner of the SM building.
It was his go-to spot—ever since Boa had treated him and Taeyeon there after the 200 Pounds Beauty OST session.
Good food, decent prices, and generous portions. The perfect match for someone as notoriously stingy as Jihoon.
They settled into a booth, and Jihoon handled the orders: samgyeopsal for the girls, a few bottles of soda, and an extra portion of noodle just in case.
He wasn't hungry—he had already eaten with Jieun earlier at home—but watching Krystal and Sulli dive into their food with such enthusiasm was a joy in itself.
"So," he said, leaning back, "what did I miss while I was stuck in LA?"
Krystal lit up, launching into a flurry of stories—trainee gossip, awkward stage rehearsals, and a scandal involving someone's mascara exploding mid-dance.
Sulli chimed in occasionally, laughing between bites, nodding like she already knew how every tale would end.
Halfway through the meal, Krystal's phone lit up and buzzed on the table.
"Unnie!" she chirped, answering instantly.
"You called?" came Jessica's familiar voice, a little tired but warm.
"I just wanted to see you! I'm with Jihoon oppa right now—he came by the office to drop off gifts. We're at barbecue now with Sulli!"
Jessica paused. "The one near the company? That old place he likes?"
Krystal nodded even though Jessica couldn't see her. "Yup! The one with the red sign and the wooden tables. Come join us?"
Jessica muttered something about practice ending soon and hung up.
Krystal turned to Jihoon, her eyes dancing. "She's coming!"
Jihoon chuckled, already raising his hand to call the waiter. "Then we better get more food. She eats like a bird but demands premium beef."
He added another order of hanwoo and two more servings of pork belly, leaning back with a grin as the girls kept eating and chattering.
It didn't feel like the glamorous world of idols and fame—not tonight. It felt like family.
Like warmth. Like the kind of night you'd remember years from now, not because of cameras or applause, but because of the laughter, the teasing, and the smell of grilled meat clinging to your clothes long after you'd gone home.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe, JiangXiu, Daoistadj and Daoist098135 for bestowing the power stone!]