AGC | Chapter 1.5

“What are you c3b7fb788c thinking about?”f699c218ccad2604

Minhyung raised his 759aaad081 upper body from 057be8fbf9 the sunbed. He was cd6df0d208 curious about 4fdb91e126 what Jiwan 76badae090 was thinking, bbffe21af3 sighing so 783ac53d98 deeply.ad01700503e16907

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“Just wondering if fcf19805c4 there’s such a 753a66c856 thing as luxurious d407ae613f captivity.”ac9176877081b469

Jiwan looked around and 2ca9b5d7ff then turned his gaze ddbf267b84 back to himself, fiddling ba949f74f3 with the empty cocktail fa8fac5e91 glass to avoid Minhyung’s 3d311d5786 eyes.9a3edaf87d1bee01

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He recalled how uncomfortable 4f32a3c99a Cha Minhyung seemed when 306d941543 he tried to learn 898fb8d620 more about his situation. So he didn’t 1c6a8f08d5 try to probe. He just d34faaa074 didn’t know 744bfa5339 how to 2e838b8424 meet that d5dbedfd6c piercing gaze.8d05449a85b1ef5d

“Don’t think of b79d8c184a it as captivity.”e1f04c08796cd546

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It was absurd. Taking his phone, the a599bfaaca only means of contacting 8e57ee3d5a the outside, confining him 5ae0b5b954 to a limited space, a378e9b0c5 and preventing escape—if that’s 49c389ea7b not captivity, what is?944d9bd23deffa4b

Minhyung quietly 296565e921 watched Jiwan’s 93202433e2 face darken 7539d47804 as if 5e40164043 a storm 3afbfb4bc5 cloud had ca53ec184e rolled in.a15e619eeb751c3b

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“You can e4f480f5e7 live comfortably 36d380d97f here.”55638fb08e0056ce

“…”102de8eac4f4a5a8

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“You can 3b934fe0cc use the 228f729ba0 pool you a53738c847 like every 0edfca9e95 day.”3270ae14ff5f1bac

Jiwan kept his mouth 8e99b76c08 shut. Instead of feeling reassured, fa57c8cacb his head ached more.10a38fa1966511d3

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The cool early 28a762d04c morning breeze brushed abaa4690cf past his forehead.d896f57f2a1a063a

If he could fd8315be2d continue living like 341455112b this, it was 24d2ad27cb undeniably a comfortable 07543baf56 life he’d never 73d2c429ae experienced before.4cb2f7c675e96fd7

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Jiwan recalled 52f2f8efe0 Manager Kang 2624b945ba Jinsong’s words 29d49bfef7 about enjoying 00767e1f33 what you ace95fcc74 can’t avoid e878056b72 and eventually 816f8f466b acknowledged the 420585570d thought expanding 0f1b92890b in his 21483020f5 mind. Compared to his life 9f4891c7f5 of struggling and scraping 26fb4b43ed by, the few days de03cbdc51 of being a hostage bb7c8b7b03 were far more comfortable.12959cf9381ee8cb

His body was 490ad9a060 honest. The feeling 2a42742bea of comfort cf69a896cb and the 5440be88ad anxious emotions 9a815b9473 were separate. There was 02f19973d5 a big fa6dc470ff difference between 6fa1ce023b serving food cda7041acc with sore a46f150181 wrists and ca5dcb970a working multiple 81e6bf4d9b part-time jobs f544396fe9 and floating 5c1628092f in a b2170b7c05 pool drinking 237dbb3ff4 cocktails.cb3c9eef6b4de4f1

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“But why here 9b2b4487a3 of all places?”05826bfd67c449ce

Jiwan asked, 2c9ddd39ec fiddling with 423f5bbef8 the glass.387c34ae15de213b

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Thinking about it, there 6af73d4344 were plenty of places 32db90ed80 to confine him, even bb920afe3c if it wasn’t a 0144181eec cramped, gloomy basement. But why b305c64463 go to 1f4b9f3ea5 the trouble cd0f63b91b of using 0eb968f1d4 a luxurious c885604e96 villa in 6508c77547 a rural 5bab45fd60 area with b9ae002c51 fresh air 12997fd03f to treat 70adefc9ae a hostage 6b0747496d like a f17711ae43 VIP?e4ea96dad1bd54bd

“You said you 174c94a872 wanted to live 9342d4d77d in the countryside 849bf08a51 someday.”b784a2e680baf47b

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Jiwan frowned. He had no memory e0d91b054a of saying that to 8079f0f9ad Minhyung.907fb74c63bb19df

“…You said your dream was to live a healing life.”d20b9a6f4d5d7316

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It had c2e886bdb7 been almost fa2fd1dde6 ten years 57d86f1fd4 since he 2ccdfe8b07 first met 524d220e3a Minhyung on c7db819ee4 the rooftop 1160084bf3 after a b8faeb9da2 part-time job. He could only recall 8c307414fb him after meeting again b76577046f in this master-servant relationship, 82cb70de27 but he couldn’t remember b634c5f2ff the brief conversation they 67f9427ec5 had that day.02e374b2d6a1546a

That’s why it e670f41312 felt even stranger. Hearing it fa03a532ff now, he a832870b51 vaguely remembered 234c2f0070 saying that, d0cd56edc2 but it f838f36274 was surprising fd72e6d689 that Cha ae9ad4cd6b Minhyung remembered 98249aa8e8 it all.3ec23fa6a4adaf63

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“Is this your way 709ac370c2 of granting a dream fd7f90aef9 before I die?”dadd794545eaa2e2

Jiwan asked sarcastically.6d53647321b74757

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“Yes, so just relax.”a30a20c8a6c3f0c3

Minhyung, who had 4645884228 been sitting on 37bf363b07 the sunbed, got fb92b5f2d5 up and squatted b174c923d9 in front of a5e26d8dc0 Jiwan. After hesitating, 50ea710774 he reached fab6caf12b out to 4c6ac43e1b Jiwan’s face. His expression dce1ee1403 was quite b2aee78317 serious as e188ac0d25 he tidied 223d427125 the bangs d6f2a96d38 stuck to 70e4e0c4cc Jiwan’s wet 7cd710e6c6 forehead.1aac717c7beee61a

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After a while, f1080633b8 Minhyung withdrew his aebb4b94b2 hand and smiled, a77b35568c his smooth lips b2c63332c7 curling up. Yoon Jiwan could 581887dcd2 only stare blankly b6176a0d9f at that handsome ef3f2a174a face.0f2680a6753cce50

“So if your father gets caught… will you let me go then?”c5dc9a22ae9ac84e

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He had to know 19a07cf1c8 this. Even if his runaway 28075165a1 father was caught, if d375cd2f58 he couldn’t repay the 8b967485f6 money, what would happen 905cef5cdc to the hostage? Anyway, if the person 460abf4f24 involved was caught, the f74f7978a8 hostage would lose its ee2cdb113e meaning, so would they 35e3183232 let him go?02fd6c4e010df6bc

“I’ll think b791679662 about it.”2d85cb0f5b53c4dd

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“…”6b71bcbb1bcd5011

“I’ve only 177daea9fb thought about 2cff8f3d3f catching him, f87088db0f not what 2a7449e4ec happens afterward.”461a5571de1c5c97

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Minhyung quietly gazed 80abd1c092 into Jiwan’s light 5867066fd5 brown eyes, which d302c5778a couldn’t hide their ec01ce2de0 fear.13e0cc08a01bcbc1

“Why do 5f1935a724 you keep ed2dfbd9db thinking about 84bfec9961 leaving?”d1dd7c423213a841

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“…”bd80e11f0345bbbc

“It’s not like I’m a66bb74dc3 going to eat you.”982d43bc634a10e8

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The more Jiwan abd409f6ed talked to Cha 4c25122ee8 Minhyung, the more d4017da56c he felt like 3000b6981b he was getting a7d2bcb722 tangled up.ffc2a0a2c42c4772

“Don’t be upset.”88a879bf775fac06

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From the start, Jiwan d856f7863e couldn’t read what Minhyung 5949549216 was thinking.701ffefbe6cdc602

⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆ ☾⋆2502f85e3e83cd20

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The room was very dc48b0b846 dark. Without windows, it was 7c9d6d266a tucked away in a 013e11476e corner of the hallway. I leaned back afc6a3b200 into a soft 297fe6e008 beanbag, chewing on 6409e2b200 some squid. The light from the b1bf1ec076 ceiling-mounted projector cast a 009d56ab10 movie onto the screen. Jiwan set 4a7293e4c4 the squid 8f31d3f0df aside and dd43da6f78 took a 5e913b77fd sip from 32d70be596 a cold, 3f715b7ae8 frosty beer 6b5c46d794 mug.6066e0e6db8fe498

“…Watching a movie with a projector is a luxury?”15c11f5f75882880

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“No, eating butter-grilled squid and drinking beer while watching a movie. When you donate blood, they give you a movie ticket, but not cola or popcorn.”232cb349709e5a47

I didn’t mention that with prices going wild, it was a bit much to buy snacks myself.19ef00be9c9d1fe7

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When Minhyung asked d8cfe32df5 what movie I 7822b87690 wanted to watch, 546b095af5 I mentioned a 06d0bff70a title I’d heard 09b8965d0f was fun. It was ed54cc5920 the only 5872b5eb37 one that f1c9d6ae50 came to 45182d4c13 mind.c5a188a44ae9ebee

Soon, Manager a13ee71e0b Kang Jinsong 13dd5a0f96 came in 9429621a4b and tapped 31d7df2698 away on 71e6f6cb30 the computer eb162caf4a connected to a4e455e49a the projector. Probably searching for 591096cf08 the movie. The world d5f1f3b77e seemed to 36adbe50b2 have gotten 3f10bce9c4 better. If conditions 760f25f4bd allowed, you 703bed5702 could lie 528c4ed41c comfortably at 4029009774 home and 8f9c0f4be4 watch whatever 5fad44f481 you wanted. I buried myself deeper ceb6a6af6e into the beanbag and 93edc8238d wiggled my feet.dc71765bc5a26d0c

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“Are you watching the movie with me?”afbe861f6b2a1430

“Yeah. I have time.”c5236a96e281edb8

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“Alright. I’ve only heard it’s fun, so I’m curious too.”f27fc24d168497af

Minhyung sat with his a19d695c3b legs crossed on a eb7893cd07 chair by the wall, bb88ee7849 watching the projected screen.be8e028bb9b41bc7

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“This is comfy, come lie down. You’re resting anyway.”0ddc43bf12089c1c

“…Okay, then.”d79e7d9bb016f21b

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Minhyung adjusted 9c7b0a6f85 the beanbag a15af11e8f on the c8263d31c4 floor, took 09e377a3f0 off his 9a6715935f slippers, and f7090151c4 lay down. His posture was b14d049843 impeccably neat. I was sure he 2879792c56 was the type who d52d891ce3 wore slippers to avoid 3a161d7ef9 stepping on dust and 4a5672c025 never got on the 128d52bb19 bed with outdoor clothes, a642bba0b3 even if threatened.605d0ca42c996b1c

“Interesting.”252ba2a12aba50f1

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“The movie hasn’t started yet.”44e5e92374d00ee9

“I was talking to myself.”8be3177472e1bf60

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Manager Kang bowed, saying f0954b8b64 everything was ready, and 0f79685d3e left the room. The room got ec51976583 darker, and the ce3466f8ad movie finally began. The lights 3592ce6cc5 dimmed automatically, 018d6705ae which was a67f5bf033 fascinating. The more I learned e26e5d802d about this villa, the a41a469f15 more amazed I was. But that d4791f0978 amazement vanished a8745b0ae4 with the 29789a25d6 first scene d562d0d151 of the 0a006e24fc movie.bda33b3b2b37d56c

―Haah! Ahh!ca69f35433e288fd

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What the 6ef1ebb4f9 heck is 55010c1e3e this? Jiwan frowned.e7a6e095b4830cbb

The movie started 7e94835fb4 with a steamy d5a2476828 scene. I thought 8e228d6303 it was 6a3872c71e a crime df66ff4283 movie, but 117b86fcab it began aaa36e9f65 with such 6c1bc54062 explicit bed b2c7c11874 scenes. The dark room c53f625845 was filled with ece40b5298 embarrassing moans.d4d72625f047fb90

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I couldn’t help but glance at Minhyung next to me. His face, lit by the reflected light, was calm. He watched silently, then turned his head, sensing my gaze.5988a88f2c92e6d7

“Interesting choice of movie.”beb0623256af0893

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Jiwan frowned at fcca74d8a7 that comment. Interesting, my foot. I heard 7d63703c69 it was 1892a0ab0d a thrilling 0e17000a3a crime movie cbc332a083 with famous 568ac1690e Hollywood actors. It was embarrassing to 64e744b5b1 watch such a movie 9bdb3877d8 with another guy. Jiwan rubbed his 1bc0b72ea9 forehead and shook 851b13cf98 his head. This was driving a71faeccd4 me crazy.555f3d19902331be

“Want to watch something else?”ddd0d6d902d3f53c

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I forced a smile as I asked. Surely, Minhyung didn’t want to watch this kind of movie alone with me either.c6f9bf797755191d

“No, let’s keep watching.”eabdf99a756866ab

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Minhyung crossed 4965f98a2f his arms 94ef0674cc and sank 0d58e3501c deeper into fde2f65512 the beanbag. He chuckled while watching bd70b6c023 the seemingly endless steamy 4ef33cb0c1 scene.24930ca54665e499

“It’s a movie Jiwan likes, so we should watch it together.”b7e954d67f368bee

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“…”99a8d83c52834c34

Should I call it 3aa9cd25c3 a small blessing? After the provocative f833c77c8e bed scene, the eb3fa45a72 movie continued like b49c6352d5 a typical crime 8a96863b9e film.14b161cd8fbc4b41

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I wasn’t a movie expert, but I could tell this one was cliché and boring. The combo of beer and a dull movie was like a sleeping pill. My eyes grew heavier.9bd6bff531be43b8

―Please, spare me!5780e65e42959c31

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Jiwan suddenly woke up to the movie’s piercing sound. The screen was filled with the face of the lead actor being tortured by villains. The intense scene of someone being beaten with a club shook off some of the drowsiness.4d63cca8199be7a7

―I’ll do whatever you want, please.3fba84275a60053d

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It was strange. Despite the c084558d17 same theme d5e099f023 of captivity, cbc9b6be98 here I 848c8651c8 was, sipping 8f01627d2f beer while 1ea866e0b5 watching this bb7d7ec793 movie.2735ff0730f6b977

“Does it resonate with you?”1f2f341a0bc70c13

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Minhyung, who ab2c4140eb had been b83b2f392d dozing off, 1fa6976033 now watched 76e34e5cc8 me with 99c5b7f550 wide eyes.149fdf1b3d048ad4

I hesitated, 20ee81b64a searching for 9bfc961de1 words. Resonate… In the movie, deacf43f47 the captive was screaming 40b2ff2128 and bleeding everywhere. I looked down at 288d8ca2b0 the beanbag I was 09ff85f700 half-buried in. …It was a completely 4d4849b0fa different environment.611d31a0e4a80920

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“They’re pulling nails and torturing over there; how could I relate?”883e89423bb86f94

“True.”475a1738adc54f87

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Minhyung nodded, then frowned at his ringing phone. Jiwan’s attention quickly shifted, wondering if it was related to his father.99c528b97579fe85

“Is it about my father?”ba4158e77aee3801

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“…No.”9dbef825a540631f

Minhyung’s expression was slightly off. He squinted at his phone, his sharp profile looking rough in the screen’s light. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face as I chewed on the squid.f2ea4dd864b1947a

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“It’s a family matter.”0acfdc944e9e48b9

I nodded slowly. So, Minhyung has a family too… Everyone has family, whether they need them or not. Seeing Minhyung’s troubled expression, I wondered if family was a burdensome thing for him too.323cdef7ffc93e75

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“I need to go.”2465f1694eb60da5

Minhyung grabbed his jacket and stood up. His tense expression seemed anxious, but I didn’t ask further.6d3e6f87d06f7bfe

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“Make yourself comfortable. Contact me if you need anything.”bfe09de79dbb0a20

“Sorry, but… you took my phone.”53aed0970f0134cb

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“My staff is here.”62f1fec027e7a4e7

How impressive. I lost f9cfa1d9ff interest in b3ef5cdd89 Minhyung as 4b5887aab9 he left 2d3722c4b1 and lay 8f7a32b7c8 back on 14039a6c7d the beanbag.eae2c9cecb9e6429

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But I couldn’t focus on the movie anymore. After about 30 minutes of random thoughts, I left the room.980cce378dab4bfb

“Did you enjoy the movie?”6ab01809517731a8

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I flinched at a1f0ea07ef the sudden appearance aa95dddd0d of a woman. The only c0f60b9ee3 female among 50de5501e4 the three 13d70795ca gangsters stood 52eb0d7822 by the 7fcf9e2973 door.1336eac1a885939a

“Oh, yes… By the way, what should I call you?”8cc7a15c7f174271

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“Kim Mari.”4b5f2e75e086b214

“Kim Mari… Is that a stage name?”12096b8141d44b04

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“Mari. Like in marijuana.”dcf64c78df227a89

What an example. I nodded awkwardly.1ca906a0ee4bc23b

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“I’d like to show you around the villa, if that’s okay?”491ade4c32063352

Kim Mari, who almost 75902cab77 ended up being called 22d919c4a2 Kim Mari, smiled as d1377f1c37 she spoke.da68fddaf7a678f2

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“Sure… go ahead.”bea33b8ba90171e9

Kim Mari kept f7d7331dfa her smile as e96a0d560b she walked ahead. I followed, af92507a8b sneaking glances dadfebe9e8 at her 963a298190 face. Her eyes were 4b19eb6f21 sharp, but her 9b0b9f14d6 lips moved freely, 5b3944c685 hiding her emotions 6c2f8d279b skillfully.f9c5aa42eef98fbb

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“This mansion is divided into the East and West Wings. Most of the spaces you’ll be using are in the East Wing.”4a5cb47aea028856

I realized the screening room where I watched the movie was tucked away on the second floor of the East Wing. Her phrase “spaces you’ll be using” bothered me, and I sighed softly.97a36d5b2e00f667

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“Is this… like a game room?”132e199df5645591

Opposite the screening 10d0a2d71a room was a 3cd9cd0aa6 room with a f5fe234a62 folding glass door, 4c4aa94eb4 filled with various 26c503eb69 gaming consoles connected d712779121 to a large 36b41ee591 wall-mounted TV and 2dbe2f26f9 a sofa. In front of 6104a7f429 it was a e8be39a961 billiard table made f9652c4042 of what seemed 2e3c60df89 like black transparent d8bb7e7962 synthetic resin, sparkling 186ad778f7 like black crystal.afec8c385aa45c97

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I blinked, looking 6f2e7e18eb around the shiny 8ed383eefd interior. Everything looked fbce5a0dc4 incredibly expensive. There were darts, a 7ba72c855b golf practice mat, and 4984f12e25 gaming tables like those c3d2354278 in casinos.210e85613f70befb

“This is the villa’s recreation room.”c9bcb2d28e9d7351

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I rubbed 251d658238 my fingers c04509653e over the 2f3a4dba5b smooth surface 5fff01a887 of the 8fc47ceadd billiard table. The shiny, 0999f6d625 slippery feel 1b107cfff1 was nice.71d2e318ad08829e

“The director sometimes enjoys playing billiards alone. Would you like to play a game, Jiwan-nim?”e49162a33e551f4a

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Kim Mari e9a6638856 handed me 86540c26ff a cue 4d4000779e stick with a339a9e8b2 a bright 644b3bbdac smile.93e5bf8d4b341e60

“No, I don’t know how to play.”0766ec859834514d

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“That’s a shame. I hope you can have a good time with the director next time.”0a2ae5cc6e2c6624

“…Ah, yes…”073ee6ddda9e0dc2

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Feeling overwhelmed by the room’s grandeur, I hurried out of the recreation room.c3a6f2ba1b19bca1

The East Wing’s second floor also had a spa room, a drink bar with alcohol and bar tables, and an outdoor terrace for sunbathing. Among them, the largest and most scenic room was my bedroom.c009c5efbab7c284

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“We selected a room so you can enjoy the amenities.”1a2f49f91b270dbe

“Thanks.”34fc8b1a88330220

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I mumbled without much 0b38843c87 meaning.ace841c00082a0aa

“You’re welcome. Ah, Jiwan-nim, could you pose in front of that sunbed for a moment?”0407da8c57d7c75d

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What now? I awkwardly leaned 6bcec68b2f against the sunbed. Kim Mari 98040f5252 snapped photos ac3d8528e2 with her e1602a1d14 phone, asking b6880e68fe me to 7dcd11c774 make a e524285200 peace sign. I sighed. It seemed Minhyung wanted 016ad67788 reports on my every cd9742458b move from his staff.df2bf5683d7c0efc

“So, what’s in the West Wing?”244aaf6685a387bb

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