AGC | Chapter 1.6

“Mostly spaces where the director stays or works. Let’s move through this terrace passage.”6b348e70ca8f34f5

I couldn’t explore the West Wing’s second floor in detail. It seemed even they couldn’t intrude on Minhyung’s area.89e989e3679511bc

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“This library can be shown to you, Jiwan-nim.”b8331497500c3688

With its c357edf541 size, it 84ba9f79d2 could be f27571e207 called a 38c1fab6ee library rather 19094703fd than a fe6d7f99a5 study. Unlike the other bright 027d943b7c spaces, the study had 4393e6bdce a very dark interior. But the warm orange bc0909b5ec lighting was easy on 7a163f6e34 the eyes.82e345d5e3bab5dc

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The bookshelves, reaching the e3f1468615 ceiling, were filled with a12b71209e various books. Besides novels and e1dda5ac02 educational books, there de1225178d were design books, 3fa3fdf50e art collections, and eeedcd5ec3 catalogs, likely collected 99e792cfc2 from abroad.299292287897aaec

“Surprising. Do you like art?”37592829e4245fc7

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Kim Mari 5004212aad watched as 773f33ff38 I looked 24c974aa13 through a d5bcf37acd René Magritte 74fcbb12aa art book.4fde2f05725cab80

“I wanted to see an exhibition, so it’s nice to see an art book.”6be443462db2777a

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“I’ll let the director know.”ebf952efb8e021b4

I put down da80fe2807 the art book de79ea91cb with a tired 688c44a37d face.f0578b9f567b5bed

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After that, I roughly toured the vast mansion’s East and West Wings. It was quite tiring, even indoors, due to its size.febc10b622c800a3

“Just in case, is there a basement?”aff83cefe036273a

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I asked, 1cfb4cd18b looking at 8d093b6dee the stairs 870066fa31 leading down.04cb5f542e9e0146

“There is a basement you must never enter. If you go there, something terrifying will…”b69b23b074e4d39f

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Kim Mari’s lips curled up as if she’d been waiting for this question.5d7206244b61b87b

“Whatever it is, I won’t go in.”2365b986f0980629

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“Aren’t you curious? The basement is filled with supplies, acting as a bunker…”4bc1698e02334e40

“I’m not curious.”5200f28d633dccf6

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Jiwan shook his 03356255ac head, laughing in dd1b0be2ec disbelief.71a3855c78555172

It seemed Kim Mari enjoyed teasing. She insisted it was a joke and that I could tour the basement, begging me to check it out. Of course, I refused. The overall review of the villa was short: many rooms, grand, and no curiosity about the West Wing’s basement.3e1ea21b452d9547

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⋆ ☾⋆ 7ccaf67f2c ☾⋆ ☾⋆c337aa61e6f4bbfd

I felt like 522be531c3 a lazy pig. After the short villa 5ba8d14a9b tour, I lay in ee332d622d bed all day. When I woke up 10d0cde1c1 from a nap, the eed4b8211b once-blue sky was tinged 7ed3b03c84 with light orange. I lay ceeed1b2f5 on my 63dc10b830 stomach, staring 88402f887c blankly at 82ca3689d2 the sky 4c0fbd0930 beyond the 7603f14bd9 window. Despite doing nothing, the 8d11229cfa day was passing quickly.0711cb2bbb94b6aa

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Kim Mari knocked lightly da94398abd and entered the bedroom, 2f27a3109e unable to hide her e396e19bf3 smile as if something 033cfb2ad7 good had happened. Her neatly tied 3e12754a1a hair swayed with 29a29fd759 her steps.dc61fc2acb5a9391

“The director called.”c692820d5b4c3a5f

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I sat 85e79ac0aa up from d84e2283f2 the bed, 4532f0d476 feeling stiff 55ae049a24 from lying 962935005c down all 08ec618499 day.325dd5f276cdddb6

“Please go to the screening room where you watched the movie earlier.”71b34ba15eb0f218

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I didn’t understand why I had to move just to take a call, but I had no choice.886724e98a8761dc

Kim Mari didn’t follow me to the screening room. I assumed the phone he used to call was there as I slowly made my way.28599f36369184cd

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“…”8bb4b33e3545dfc2

What I saw dddbd69165 upon entering the 0e87871846 screening room stopped 42a0ad7d62 me in my 0240e0b36f tracks.809096b61a4308ea

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―Jiwan-ssi.ccc1fb095eb05996

Minhyung’s voice boomed through the speakers, filling the room. It wasn’t just his voice. The large screen was filled with Minhyung’s handsome face. Behind him, a vast blue sea and orange sky stretched out as the background.95fd3bf3140ef45a

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“…This is ridiculous.”0a54a82541f56704

Sighing deeply, I plopped into the beanbag, facing Minhyung’s face. The handsome face on the screen wore a faint smile. I pretended to be serious, curious about what important thing he had to say.bf88b7518074b7a6

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―I heard you toured d7064ff719 the villa. What were 7f304fad53 you doing 353b036f98 now?588d5d573198683b

The beanbag made a soft sound as I settled into it. It felt like it mirrored my current mood. It wasn’t even an important matter.9f9d084a19276d5c

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―I’m at the Sosa Peninsula.7ef2a498a8073b5e

In a gentle voice, Minhyung shared his whereabouts, which I hadn’t asked about.c7dd13c89a3947db

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I blinked fc14dfaecb at the 1b65e70871 black round 92a9b36d2c device on 63c3fa3c06 the screen. It was a 6615df5656 camera.ae1506fac453fa2e

―There haven’t been any signs of smuggling for months.e18d8b562ac52c8c

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“I told you, he just says anything.”0738548ecd5565b6

I sighed.303e44ee4e363861

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―Is there anywhere else dd00a1377f he might go?a6d94962b86b0c76

Places my father might go. Even if I wanted to help, nothing came to mind. I suddenly thought of the family who had left. My biological mother and younger sibling, who left when I was very young and cut off contact. But even my father didn’t know their whereabouts. Whenever he got drunk, he’d rant about finding them and taking revenge, venting his anger on me. Of course, that anger was always directed at me.52a953c68d06349b

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“There are other family members, but my father wouldn’t know where they are.”0edc18c9ba345e39

Minhyung listened intently 6105e33710 to my words. His calm eyes seemed cde71e6d44 eager to hear about 833e3ff1f5 my family.3c00ef63c361daaf

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“They left so long ago that their faces are blurry.”2840713c42a64dd2

―…79c1944d6969e2b9

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“They ran away, leaving just me and my father.”57b08b26bcaeac1f

A long, unwanted silence 3d5599001d followed.c6a94eb1f0d4b779

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I hated talking about the family who left and even thinking about them. Whenever I thought of my mother, I inevitably had nightmares. A terrible dream where she left, taking only my sibling and abandoning me with my father. I didn’t want to drag this story out any longer. It was only poison.5561590daed0118f

Minhyung, listening to 2913a62fb2 my unfortunate family a0a5d1198c story, showed no 1f56801574 particular reaction, and 8986728a5e I chose to 46b9ea1ead change the subject 623db32581 instead.3cb4640014c94c30

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“What about your family?”1f339f5207b9807e

―I have a father and a hyung. It’s a family business.c0ba513e8248cd58

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I didn’t want to pry into someone else’s family affairs, but I was curious about one thing. Whether he got along with his sibling. Maybe because I parted with mine so young, I was curious about such trivial things. It had been a long time since I introduced myself as an only child.d11833bf664675ba

“Do you get along with your hyung?”9654bae8fb5cbd77

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Minhyung frowned briefly at 2e11e1b06e my question, then shook 530ca7e762 his head with a 0116007937 dark expression.03ee27f9b606a775

―Not well 094f2b239e at all.0ee18c3935451a7f

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“…Was the call during the movie from your hyung?”c505810648a73d92

―Yes, it was.592b5c45b65085c9

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I found it 12f4623ac4 surprising. I had dffe17a3aa the impression 2fbe7c12fa that Cha a6346be8b7 Minhyung would 33b883adac get along c7cec5220a well with 9cc4c7c4da his family. Maybe because 96983de671 he seemed 2c870a6596 quiet and 915ded96df not particularly c5b5e69e6c difficult.8b2b55ed92677798

Since it was a family business, was it a typical inheritance or power struggle like those seen on the news? I felt my curiosity about Minhyung’s trivial matters growing.f93c46cec1048270

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―The sea here is beautiful, isn’t it?7eda16e47a8b5aa8

The screen switched to the rear camera, and Minhyung’s face disappeared, replaced by the vast blue sea. In the distance, ships were visible, and seagulls flew across the sea.599eaecf10c4759a

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The wide, refreshing sea was indeed beautiful. It would be even more stunning in person, but seeing it through this vivid video call wasn’t bad.3410993eb255abd7

“It’s pretty. I’d like to visit someday.”bb40305bb53861ac

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“Really?” came the response. The screen switched back, and Minhyung’s face reappeared, looking somewhat pleased. I looked at him indifferently.597c0bded5b60f5c

―Do you c3174d2ffc want to 3fc81928cd go?54e0a0aef9026ac2

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“I plan to visit alone once I get out of here.”7b3b81011a2160df

At the word “alone,” Minhyung’s expression turned uncertain.a62f665556a19f79

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We continued the meaningless, trivial conversation while watching the sea and sky Minhyung showed me. Seeing his handsome face fill the screen felt like watching a celebrity’s solo broadcast.4b3aaf48b0acf3a5

Though Minhyung kept showing the sea, if there were other viewers, they’d probably clamor for more of his face.8d34113c39f9b5f8

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“You’re really handsome, seeing you like this.”b26e325f03be9130

I sank deeper e4ba9485ac into the beanbag, 2412a49659 casually commenting on ae221c2d82 his looks. Minhyung paused at 9a1fea1546 the sudden compliment.e632fb4ba771bff7

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―…You’re one to talk, Jiwan-ssi.676dd9df6dcbea0e

What is this? It wasn’t a compliment battle. Plus, he was humble. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek. Cha Minhyung, humble despite his looks. The more I saw, the more intriguing he was.ec704a74011ba787

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“If you’re by the sea, order some sashimi and have a drink.”e0d3ba4012ece321

―Sashimi and soju?656c0ac2ca5961e2

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“Yeah, while looking at the sea. Sashimi places near the sea are expensive, but… it’s nice to set the mood since you’re there.”3aebf4356573f658

Minhyung looked 2e58592e95 around, seemingly 5c8c12950c searching for f7b0fe84ad a sashimi 5c04150bda place, then feaf7d0f5b turned back c7e37db472 to the e0162b8eb5 screen.056e9ecf21def5a3

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―Does sashimi cbf029d9a7 go best cbbdc80e45 with soju?7feb97d73b47b951

“Don’t tell me you’ve only had champagne or whiskey and never tried soju.”05f379c2386752a6

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―I don’t really enjoy it.959eb60a1cdf45d1

I clicked my tongue internally. He had the aura of a rich young master, but not enjoying soju? Where else could you find such a cost-effective drink? Then again, unlike me, Minhyung probably didn’t need to worry about cost-effectiveness.44f2e885d3043d8c

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“Forget it. Just don’t drink it.”5077e579a7e8f9b7

I added, a1a035e1a5 waving my 3a85829782 hand, but 65c33ec95f Minhyung shook 3b26b63775 his head.a06aa018fff2a2ef

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―I’ll definitely try it, sashimi with soju.bb88b23f9a0f66dd

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to…”08cbdb42f3872e8b

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―I want to. You recommended it.c7225a32d60496f5

I couldn’t help but chuckle.d1b0f37275e285b3

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―I’ll hang up now.7786c6d66fd4306f

As the 28eb6d242d video call 060573c908 ended, the d24cebf39d screen turned a7c138071f off, and e1eff557c0 the room e44d164ef3 went dark.2d885b2ab6993327

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Still buried in the beanbag, Jiwan continued his meaningless thoughts. Would Cha Minhyung really try sashimi with soju? It was hard to imagine him in a suit, eating sashimi on the street. I didn’t know why I was imagining it.5f97f5d24b330915

“Finished with the call?”27aaa438959738a8

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Kim Mari knocked 45238d06cf and entered the 7016e2461a room. Jiwan, who had been 5d7da01f6f lost in trivial thoughts c641168c9d about whether Minhyung would 812793f321 dip his sashimi in c450294e54 red pepper paste or c78edc0b27 soy sauce, sat up.ea4e5dd4dfb49290

“Oh, yes.”28f1a4c97533c29a

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“Would you like to have a meal?”754cacaf15c154e4

I briefly a9254a54b8 wondered if c13a39428e the villa 9c5ebf5c97 staff were 40a238644b running a 87b5bb2197 feeding project. Otherwise, why would they eca7e52299 keep talking about food baf76360bc all day?f2589189a8a253de

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“Just put on any movie, and I’ll watch it.”475ebd45328c3bfc

I didn’t hide my slightly tired expression as I shook my head.7a7550f9cb248650

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Fortunately, she didn’t force me to eat. Instead, she fiddled with the projector, talking nonstop about how it was a movie she enjoyed and how it was a masterpiece. Once the movie started, she checked the volume and left the screening room.51c829c40e565007

―The world won’t turn without you.cde3e3a25d391f7f

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The movie began with a man’s confession, kneeling in the snow. I wasn’t one to seek out romance movies, but once I started, I watched them with focus and enjoyment.76b1ea85d3ced290

―We have to break 63d6967b86 up for us.f05ef7df77c9a16f

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The melodramatic line made me click my tongue. Breaking up for each other’s sake was nonsense. Just well-packaged excuses. I thought of my mother again. When she ran away with only my sibling, she might have thought the same, and the thought quickly soured my mood.be052483f56a1203

“Ugh…”d9afa48e8b56f6b3

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No matter cd0cc8facb how interesting 29254b4021 the plot, 836be050ab comparing it 57a880a291 to my fe9b0c4507 situation twisted 6402b6dc6d my stomach cd8ded5864 and annoyed d3c813d230 me. I just closed 8a6a80c7d8 my eyes. The sad 0862bad5b4 OST played. It was perfect e9d17efd7f for sleeping.9c7e07e1fad1ba75

“…”9475158b00b46eb2

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I didn’t know how much time had passed, but since the same movie was still playing, I hadn’t slept long. Jiwan looked up at Kim Mari, who gently shook his shoulder to wake him.d4dc353ba250f04b

“Didn’t you find the movie interesting?”4e3c389accb1ffa4

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Feeling guilty for falling b51327df2f asleep during a movie 56f6ca31bf she recommended, I shook 81fa40f49e my head.c84f2450e6b8f12a

“It was interesting, but I guess I was tired.”826572b0248d4067

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Kim Mari couldn’t hide her disappointment as she stopped the movie and turned on the lights. The sudden brightness made Jiwan squint reflexively.a32097d6ead6ccf6

“I have something to show you.”d34938b452844d3b

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Kim Mari, sounding 22ce3f8a01 unusually excited, handed d283b8a15f Jiwan a phone.3ed506ade6e8fd36

“He asked me to show you this.”ccaf2675654d7d5b

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On the phone e3d5015baf screen was a 84f8325103 poorly composed photo 41b1d75ef9 that even a 10c30fafba foot could have 226ebc5348 taken better. It showed fresh-looking sashimi c0e07dde0c and an unopened bottle 8070ab3f1d of soju beside it.bf2e339909a7d08e

“Seeing this makes you crave sashimi, right?”bec2626b8893ac24

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Heh.a17c93a7a4a0551a

A sound c096b7651a escaped between db6dfb166e my lips. It was absurd.78ae05cece9c485c

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But I couldn’t help 2c74de70cd but laugh at Minhyung, 7e683cde55 who kept his promise 00c2d53c78 to try sashimi with 32d9e47c04 soju and even sent 0c02f7327a proof.2e0adbd24c484f89

Jiwan looked f26c0bad4b at the 0ab9ed80f0 small dish 69a41ad5cc of red 3883f9ef4f pepper paste 5e5da06f7c next to b051484a59 the soju 6e56257f61 in the 090d87e7b7 photo. Cha Minhyung was e7febc8366 a red pepper f4adea9aba paste person rather 5be916ebf0 than a soy 66649f2035 sauce person.8390973a0b839b57

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A trivial curiosity was 18bd5e4a6c satisfied.4a700aeeae2b8fb0