“So, this is a 200 square feet space with a small partition. It was a recording booth back in the day, but the lease wasn’t paid on time, so we seized it. Do not worry. The contract is clean, and it’s ready to sell. In fact, we are giving it a discount prize because it is a bare unit.”
Gigolo.
A male stripper.
“This is a great deal because it’s near commercial areas; however, it’s not too near to the red district, so it’s still safe at night. I believe this can be turned into a great new home for you.”
Zeno needed to strip and grind on a pole in front of the entire crew and cast.
“I believe you won’t be able to find something like this with such a great prize.”
Zeno nodded absentmindedly. Why wasn’t this briefed to him before he signed the contract? Just then, his mind strayed to the conversation he had with Devon at the cafe.
“It seems you’re also fond of dancing,” Devon said.
Zeno shrugged. “I’m a beginner.”
“I could see that,” Devon muttered. “But you have a lot of potential. In fact, your expressions triumph over that of a professional dancer. I would know because I’ve been on the scene for a while. I’m still passionate about it, but I know I’m better here than with dancing.”
“Okay.”
Devon laughed, throwing his head back in amusement with Zeno’s one-liner.
“You’re not much of a talker, are you?”
“I just speak when necessary,” Zeno muttered.
“That’s… great,” Devon muttered, suddenly appearing solemn. “I guess that’s what the industry thrives on.”
“Anyway,” he cleared his throat. “I think you’ll be a great dancer someday. I can see it in you. You just need a good chance to show it.”
Was that it?
Was that the warning?
Did Devon haphazardly add in a background that he was a male stripper because he saw him at the dance studio?
“Young man?”
Zeno had already read the script. He needed to strip to his underwear. He felt that getting hit by a bus was actually a good idea. The process of getting hit didn’t hurt much. The recovery was worse. He knew. He had experience.
“Excuse me, Mr. Han.”
How could he even learn how to strip dance in the next two weeks? Right, he had one option. He turned to the real estate agent.
“I’ll buy it,” Zeno said without any hesitation. “I’ll buy this place.”
The agent’s smile widened, and he prepared the contract right away. “I am a very efficient agent, so you can get this unit as early as next week.”
Zeno nodded and grabbed a pen before signing the papers.
Then, he made his way out of the building, making sure to tighten his hood around his head.
Meanwhile, a few meters away, behind the bushes, Eli, Minji, and Doha were spying on Zeno as it was Minji’s lunch break.
“He really bought it,” Minji whispered, chewing the inside of her cheek.
Doha didn’t say anything. He was the one who first spotted the real estate office while walking back from having lunch with his gym bros. The moment Zeno stepped out of the building, he felt his stomach turn.
“It’s in a good neighborhood,” Eli said absently. “It doesn’t have a thousand stairs. It’s near convenience stores. It’s also nearer to Dreamy’s office.”
“Yeah,” Minji muttered. “It’s a good move. I’m… happy. I really am,” she added, sounding like she was trying to convince herself.
They were silent, slumped on the ground like a bunch of hooligans. Others turned to them and wondered about the strange combination. An office lady. A med student. A guy in speedos.
The silence lingered for a long while before Doha added under his breath, “Crap… I don’t want him to go. Even if he can. I don’t want him to.”
Minji turned her face down. “But we need to let him,” she murmured. “Right? We should be happy. This is what we wanted—for him to do well.”
“Right,” Eli echoed, swallowing hard. “Happy.”
The three of them sat in silence, huddled behind leaves and stems, staring at the building where a contract had just been signed.
Meanwhile, Zeno was heading toward a place he hadn’t visited in a while. The air was cooler on this street, with large leafy trees arching above. He slowed his steps as he approached the small, worn bookstore.
He always came here when he wanted to learn something new. With that, he opened the door, and the chimes went off above him.
Bea was seated behind the counter, looking as bored as ever, twirling a pen in her hand. But the moment her eyes landed on the new customer, her posture straightened right away.
“Zeno,” she whispered to herself. Despite the get-up, she already knew it was him. He had the vibe even under all of the clothes—the superstar vibe.
Zeno quickly disappeared into the row of books. Bea stood slowly, her heart racing in her chest. She was still an active member of Zeno’s fan club, but it had been a while since she saw him in real life.
She wiped her hands on her jeans and followed after Zeno quietly. She kept her distance, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable.
Zeno turned into an aisle lined with oversized books and reference guides, walking until he reached the very back shelf.
Then, without turning around, he asked, “Do you have a book about stripping?”
Bea stopped in his tracks, feeling whiplashed. “What?”
“Stripping,” Zeno said again. “And dancing. Something to learn fast.”
Bea’s eyebrows shot up. She looked around to see if someone might be filming this.
“Um…” She scratched the back of her neck, nervous laughter threatening to bubble up. Why did Zeno need to learn how to strip? Was he financially struggling? “I mean… I think we might?”
Zeno nodded. “Please take me to it,” he said, deadly serious.
“Right. Okay,” Bea said, flipping into business mode. “Let me see…”
She led him past the performing arts section, crouched by a bottom shelf, and pulled out a book with metallic red font and a silhouette of a man mid-thrust on the cover.
“Here,” she said, handing it over with a faint blush.
Zeno tilted his head, reading the ridiculous title aloud.
“‘Need to Become a Male Stripper in a Week? By Fu. K. Yu.'”
He stared at the name. This guy again?
Bea chuckled awkwardly. “He’s… oddly specific.”
Zeno flipped through the first few pages. Diagrams. Tips. Floor routines. Even a full chapter on ‘The Best Thrusting Method.’
Perfect.
He nodded. “I’ll take it.”