Back home, Jihoon set his cup of coffee beside the desk and powered on his computer.
The familiar hum of the machine filled the quiet apartment as the screen flickered to life.
He opened his planner and began to arrange the next few months of his film schedule.
If everything went according to plan, by latest next year, he would be holding two of the most profitable intellectual property franchises in the film industry.
One being the Horror Cinematic Universe (HCU), known for its creative low-budget production strategy, and the other, the Assassin's Creed Universe (ACU), a high-octane blockbuster series that aimed to redefine modern action filmmaking.
The contrast between the two projects fascinated him.
One dealt with subtle psychological horror and viral marketing through mystery; the other promised thrilling choreography, cinematic fight sequences, and the kind of action storytelling that rivaled even the biggest studios in Hollywood.
Together, they represented the duality of Jihoon's creative vision—intelligent artistry and mass entertainment combined under one empire.
He leaned back in his chair, scrolling through timelines, budget estimates, and pre-production schedules.
His team in Los Angeles had already begun conceptual artwork for Assassin's Creed, while the Seoul office continued developing the Assassin's Creed game.
The system was working like a living organism, each part fueling the next. Jihoon smiled faintly.
If everything held together, he would soon control both the art-house and blockbuster markets in one sweep—a feat no director had achieved before.
After a while, he rubbed his eyes, feeling the fatigue of the day weighing down on him.
He got up and wandered into the kitchen to brew another cup of coffee.
The aroma filled the night's air, earthy and calming.
As he waited for the drip, his phone buzzed on the countertop.
"Hm?" He picked it up and squinted at the screen. "A message from… Taeyeon?"
Raising an eyebrow, Jihoon unlocked the phone and saw not one, but several messages—Taeyeon, Jessica, and BoA.
They were all coming to Los Angeles soon, apparently for a fan meeting and showcase tour organized by SM Entertainment.
He chuckled softly, leaning against the counter.
So they finally made it here.
If Jihoon remembered correctly, this was around the time SM Entertainment began testing its expansion into the American market.
It was May of 2008, the year they started building their presence overseas, with SM Town Live soon to be launched.
The U.S. was their first experimental foothold, an ambitious attempt to break into the global stage.
That also explained why the girls wanted to meet him—not just out of friendship, but perhaps out of professional interest.
He doubted those messages were entirely spontaneous.
SM's management had a reputation for being strategic, and it wasn't impossible that this "friendly reunion" was their subtle way of exploring business opportunities.
Jihoon wasn't naive. "So many coincidences, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
If his memory of the timeline served him right, SM would later collaborate with Universal Music Group around 2011, but for now, they were testing the waters alone.
Maybe they wanted his help to connect them with potential partners in Hollywood.
Maybe they just wanted his influence in the American entertainment circle.
Either way, he wasn't going to make assumptions until he met them in person.
Jihoon sighed and placed his phone down.
He wasn't the same as he had been back in 2006—back when he still had to tread carefully around industry magnates and adjust his ambitions to please them.
Now, he was in a position where even Lee Sooman couldn't demand his assistance outright.
He had become a name on his own, and his work spoke louder than any corporate favor.
Still, thinking about the messages stirred a wave of nostalgia.
It had been months since he last exchanged texts with Taeyeon.
He remembered those first few months after arriving in Los Angeles—they'd still talked, sharing late-night messages and light-hearted jokes.
But over time, that spark faded.
Maybe it was distance.
Maybe it was just the pace of their lives.
She was an idol trying to survive her debut years, and he was an emerging filmmaker trying to carve out a legacy.
They never confessed to each other, never defined what they were.
It was just something that existed between them—unspoken, unfinished, and perhaps destined to fade quietly.
Jihoon exhaled, pushing the thought aside. "No point thinking about that now." Jihoon think to himself.
As he sat back down at his desk, another thought crossed his mind—Jieun and Sulli.
It had been a while since he'd heard from his two "little sisters."
Though not related by blood, Jihoon had promised their parents to take care of them, to ensure they grew up safe, educated, and happy.
Jieun was only fifteen now, Sulli a year younger—still kids, still learning about the world.
Ever since Jihoon left for Los Angeles, his manager, Jaehyun, had been overseeing their daily lives.
He'd even hired a nanny to make sure they ate well, slept on clean sheets, and stayed focused on school and dance training.
Jihoon might have been thousands of miles away, but he never forgot his promise.
Every week or so, Jaehyun would send updates—photos, progress reports, little snippets of their lives.
Sometimes Jihoon would manage to squeeze in a quick phone call or text exchange, though his schedule rarely allowed more.
He checked the time on his phone—10 p.m. in Los Angeles, which meant it was about 3 p.m. in Seoul.
Perfect.
They were probably out of class by now.
He scrolled through his contacts and dialed Jieun's number.
After a few rings, a cheerful voice answered. "Oppa! What's up!"
Jihoon smiled. Her voice was as lively as ever, the kind that could melt anyone's stress away. "Jieun-ah, are you practicing right now?"
"Nope! I'm outside with Sulli—we're shopping. Why?"
"Shopping?" Jihoon frowned in amusement. "Don't you have practice at Loen today?"
He remembered Jaehyun mentioning that Loen Entertainment was planning to release Jieun's new album in the summer.
Her last one hadn't done well, and she'd been training tirelessly ever since—working on her vocals, dieting, and perfecting her performance.
He'd assumed she'd be in the practice room today.
"Today's my rest day," Jieun replied casually. "So me and Sulli decided to go out and have fun."
"I see…" Jihoon chuckled softly. "Well, Oppa just wanted to check on you. By the way, your Taeyeon unnie and the rest of SNSD are coming to LA soon. Do you want me to buy anything for you? I can have them bring it back."
"Daebak! Really?! Are they going there for a holiday? If so, can me and Sulli go too?!"
Jihoon's face dropped. "Ya! How about your studies and your new album? Don't you want to be a top singer?"
Her excitement fizzled instantly. "Oppa…" she whined softly.
Before he could respond, another voice chimed in over the line. "Oppa! I want to go too!"
Jihoon groaned, recognizing Sulli's bright tone. "Jieun-ah, pass the phone to Sulli."
"Ne…" Jieun's voice deflated, clearly sulking.
A few seconds later, Sulli's cheerful energy returned to the call. "Oppa! Can I go too?"
Jihoon rubbed his temple. "Sulli-ah… it's not like that. Your Taeyeon unnie and the others are coming here for work, not vacation. I was just asking if you and Jieun wanted anything from LA so I could send it back with them."
"Oh…" Sulli's voice quieted, disappointment seeping through. "Then I'll write a list and send it to Oppa later. But honestly, you've already sent us so many things… snacks, clothes… there's not much we need this time."
Her words carried a trace of guilt that tugged at Jihoon's heart.
Despite his success, there were still moments like this—simple, tender reminders of the people waiting for him back home.
He softened his tone. "Don't sound so gloomy, Sulli-ah. It's still school season, so you can't just go on vacation whenever you want. But Oppa promises—by the end of this year, I'll fly both you and Jieun to LA for a holiday. Deal?"
"Really?!" came two voices in perfect unison. The phone was clearly on speaker now.
"Really," Jihoon laughed. "Oppa's never lied to you two before, right?"
A pause, then playful giggles.
"But Sulli," he added, "before you come, you have to master the sign language I asked Jaehyun oppa to enroll you in. Promise?"
"Yup! I've learned most of it already—it's just a matter of time before I master it. But, Oppa, why do I need to learn sign language anyway?"
Jihoon chuckled. "Don't you remember? You asked Oppa to cast you as a female lead in one of my movies. Well, I'm planning a film about sign language—and you're the lead."
There was a brief silence, then an ear-piercing shriek. "Really?! Thank you, Oppa! I'll practice harder!"
Jihoon couldn't help smiling. "Good. But don't forget your studies, okay? There's still plenty of time—just do your best."
The conversation carried on for another hour or so, flowing between laughter, small updates, and the kind of casual warmth that felt like home.
Jihoon asked about their school, their friends, their latest obsessions.
For a moment, the film sets, the contracts, and the constant pressure of Hollywood faded away.
By the time he hung up, the clock read past midnight.
The apartment was quiet again, but Jihoon's heart felt lighter.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the city lights outside the window.
Between Taeyeon's unexpected message and the two girls' laughter still echoing in his head, the night had somehow softened.
Maybe this was what balance felt like—not between success and failure, but between ambition and care.
Between the man the world saw, and the one who quietly kept his promises.