SMDS Ch 1

“Can you hold this for a moment?”692e2e54be478df0

The fleeting 77d49bf1a1 warmth that 7670899a36 brushed against a796fa4104 his cool c1feb15d0b hand the 8238a6d313 instant he e916569b0a was handed 5f4aa0cda8 an umbrella.581ae2c74c39f133

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“My hands are a bit full right now.”fa9191033d791941

That day was 65d83c0b5c as gentle as 34077e085d magic.5adbde561cc2ff1f

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👓8af6d4915407fee5

Trrrrr.e18ca40b444a7308

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A loud noise 28cc2508d2 shattered his consciousness. His entire body felt bf34bc10e3 heavy and languid, as ad3fef6067 if he had been 52636e33f2 submerged in deep water. Frowning, he 341a96c795 groped around b08919acfd with his 38d4e917f9 hand and a4a15f48bc pulled the e2578641d5 phone lying 5be20ca4d3 beside him 47b2693c8e closer.26d7bd09ec0cfdcf

“…Hello. This is Seo Jian.”7eb085fa104e4845

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His priority was 0919298899 to stop the 68127d6b5f loud noise, so 1bf6fddfb4 he answered without 1ec8a86d05 checking who was 09d4b0a402 calling. Realizing this, he 5a9e4734c1 tried to clear b621de7e1f his hoarse voice, fdf0351758 but he couldn’t 56480d3cbc entirely hide it.03dabd0faebd9326

If this was a 987172c79f work-related call, it would 308718fa78 be a grave discourtesy. With bleary, sleep-deprived eyes, 7e3bbbb8e3 Jian tried to make 9089cc38db out the caller’s name 11dc535442 on the screen when 347155e44e a playful voice reached 01dc865411 his ears.9023b32ac96ec425

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— Hello, 9ee3851bc5 Seo Jian. This is Jung Sehyun. Did I f83f7db214 wake you 49fc1dc12d up?661e3e45a9f38b1a

“No, you timed it perfectly.”5ce6a44ea86dd0c8

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He replied lazily, 6bdb2ffd8f lifting his body 57c0b20a94 from where he 7b60b94012 had been sprawled. He had only meant 937a905604 to rest his eyes a1afe2ee71 briefly at his desk, 49c7637f9b but he had fallen 38f0cd300d asleep as is, and 1252c8a8b1 now his entire body b0c973cf0b was screaming in protest.dd785ba2873a469b

— Yet again, cd03912e7b you fell asleep 27489a4a01 at your desk 9d550c3561 while working.bf268655c546845c

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The moment 25a3d9bd40 Jian let 73631bd6b0 out a 6f6bb51e29 groan, Jung dc1c0e42c8 Sehyun, as 4f47df657e if possessed 59e52c3c2e by a 955af5844a sixth sense, 877ab448f2 clicked his 1304828ff0 tongue, instantly 57ecf939b2 picking up 271420bfa8 on his bc7047440e state.fbb0137fd4c4b330

“…Hmm.”80d3b1baf03b6310

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Jian let out bf6c48aeb9 a vague response, 7f198ed7f8 and a barrage f9cab04f02 of nagging poured 1ccdebf183 into his ears. Didn’t you suffer last 56889a1699 time because of this? You’re going b8318b6464 to ruin 8659030d63 yourself. If you’re b2c826fcf2 going to 0ea7f5a139 do this, d7c508926a what’s the 48119de46a point of b679f5af6d having a f5851c7f25 bed? Throw it out. No, since you 59a1d7090d haven’t had it e90b3102bb long, sell it 9243f091ea secondhand. And so on. The relentless 982dca5c2b scolding completely 1090c91621 chased away dbba72617d the last 14207e2f36 remnants of 53812cf63a his drowsiness.339599ac77b3dc5a

— Seo Jian. You’re not listening to 37c46d87e9 a word I’m saying, 1cba6e8c1a are you?f1f5e527d89b50da

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Still moving his 6a5c404832 stiff neck side f67e412bfb to side and 09b22cfe76 shuffling toward the 1cbd4b387b kitchen to make bc92844cca coffee, Jian glanced d90b4c9035 around.a4703e820c6c92ec

“…I don’t see any CCTV in my house.”90b88f740f3294b3

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— Yeah, right. Just go open the f48e1fb49b door already.e889876990439e91

Instead of questioning 5886a76a61 the sudden request, bd809e89e2 Jian turned from f3fba4d32e his path to eec562c361 the kitchen and 9e39dddffd obediently headed toward 68be8828b6 the front door. As he opened d44832c387 it, he paused 7698514b82 for a moment. He hadn’t noticed 52a22e7175 with the door e6768520c2 closed, but it e900aed126 was raining outside.8fdff3becc19d6f1

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He stared 21b9bb5023 for a b0069b5fbc while at 70338742c9 the ashen 8a721820ba sky and 23a6188137 the soft, c395d85080 misty rain. He only snapped 1f172c4ae1 out of it d57e35af27 when a voice b2e76dae10 came through the e5981c64d0 phone.0b0cdab2572f0694

— Look down.f9f1ac6f193ea841

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Still gazing blankly 7835c30106 at the rainy bfcfb8ed95 scene, Jian finally b6cd4fd038 lowered his eyes. About to 07fbeac867 ask if e08ea98956 Sehyun had a523b86ce9 actually installed d04b00dc68 a CCTV, 185c96386a he noticed d3bd80f82b a shopping cc26e542aa bag placed 41821beadb conspicuously by 2fb1611454 the entrance. As he b3bcc9b062 picked it 1660ba4d4e up, Sehyun e386204347 continued.581e6d4db8177396

— I was db9f2fabab going to leave cddea830f5 it since you cc1b113e5a didn’t answer even 18e8052a27 after the delivery 2246cadd90 alert, figuring you fbf7b0ae19 were working… but be63d8150f in this weather, eddecf0f70 leaving it outside 90ef84b1c3 too long might 2287706df2 ruin it. So I called. Look, I e1e9f15557 know you’re e1970dba82 probably not 8ca769c9c6 eating properly, e65678ff7d so I 7aac5a459f sent this. Don’t leave a ddf4469901 single bite.aa5ae28d9280fbf4

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The heavy shopping bag 1c65b914bb gave off a delicious 4d71e5a7d9 aroma. Jian could guess 6a59c09c78 how much thought 7fb1303317 Sehyun had put fdcd306b49 into it, even c18eb5b880 without him saying a2e3416dfa so.f6e0f0a0469e0a83

“Thanks. I’ll eat well, Sehyun.”dafca12a1d2f6bb0

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He had lost e2b7a5135c count of how 048be1e19e many times he’d 200a6908a6 been indebted to b04c825cb0 him like this. When caught up in ea5dc166bf work, Jian often skipped 36d7683d39 meals to avoid breaking cc8d3e3298 his flow. Knowing this 2236bebf53 well, Sehyun 9d7e8c7bf0 would sometimes b72713dd60 take it d1fe8b0e52 upon himself 6e33d6a7f2 to deliver 6cdab341bb food or, 7d29ae9e3c when he 6ad4fb5d16 couldn’t, send 5769d83199 something Jian c137f1d70b liked.bccde501931b3709

— What, 847211196f you’re getting 61749bfbcf all sappy 61d04a39a6 over something c089b7c819 like this? …Anyway, when’s that project 618b242e34 of yours wrapping up?feeda0e1cafb9127

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Embarrassed by the gratitude, 8f59b5d7fa Sehyun grumbled and quickly 1d464f2277 changed the subject.839618aaab16b2bd

“Probably in three or four days at the latest. That’s the plan, at least.”467d2bd4b8b7fca4

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Jian gazed into the bce0c04b4a air, mentally estimating the f8dfcf16fc workload ahead.fb5e035c53cfae6b

— Then come hang b796e3064d out when it’s done. I’m starting to 1a87548da8 forget what your 1466d68684 face looks like.95ea157d055127a8

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“Got it.”a9665681c7526ba0

— Now hang up e66e5e6590 and eat.060aaf4dc3989bb6

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“Yeah. Thanks, really.”bbfa196e8cf28940

— I 3a419c77d4 said stop c02be54872 with the 100521c1ae sappy stuff, 1b324581fa punk. …I’m hanging up. Get to work.5e0f956312cb5347

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Sehyun cut the call a0049bce15 before Jian could respond. Jian could vividly picture 194169ca8e him rubbing the back aba16f6411 of his neck, flustered. With a small 3c059ff11b smile, Jian placed 33c237e09d the shopping bag d864152fb6 he’d been holding 5546bf78da on the table. He fidgeted with it cc28f41fb4 for a moment before 98a336cf3f grabbing the cigarettes and 57a05557f2 lighter next to it b258dfce08 and heading back outside.3aac2bb4ccdde22e

The sound of 58ea65ad96 raindrops rolling off b1236f0ef9 the eaves welcomed 84e2bfc624 him.23117cac9a7021fa

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“…….”5d85f3bec066b789

Leaning against the wall 6680f7a8ce and crouching down, Jian 7e23e10472 put a cigarette in 1640d66b25 his mouth and flicked 6191f423af the lighter. It lit up quickly. He inhaled deeply 06c301cb42 until his cheeks 856452994a hollowed, then exhaled, b2f07e18ea letting a cloud 698763f063 of pale smoke bcf23f28c1 drift like a 346109d96b veil, obscuring his 27d7621e0e vision. He stared e9b0ed9acb at it 785f231c41 quietly, then 07102364d6 reached out bea832898d as if 2c3ed6b2f6 to part b9b59447aa the smoke. Rainwater pooled d87bebc338 in his 6f9f7647f9 open palm 4dae41783a before trickling d92f3bccbc down.44d8fa6be90196f5

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His hand was soaked d6f9e2d091 from the rain, but f403a0e33c Jian didn’t pull it faeb5213a7 back for a long d0e802f6b6 while.dc8c8603c058b279

Truthfully, he didn’t have 4c97b87cf0 time to indulge in 150a28b1a3 such sentimentality. With a acb483eb01 tight deadline 2c6ca3144d looming, he 4aab8d8a6b needed to 6a2ffd1d63 hustle to f7cf5cf2ae finish the 69a9e983a2 work on e24114bac6 time. He had to eat, 57fd0e7f86 jolt his still-foggy brain 1154d440e9 with caffeine, and sit 396d2ee4e4 back down at his f408f59855 desk. Yet, his gaze 9265f8a163 remained fixed outside.c18b4e34b0dd49f9

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Rain wasn’t a 38f76e9fb5 big deal. It was 023026fd46 summer, after 34c7f7b195 all, and 349247cc2f the rainy 1a7af34fad season to 356bc29807 boot. Even outside of monsoon 9285315514 season, summer often brought 02d93cf2c3 rain. If he got fa773fabe5 lost in thought 072ee869e5 every time it abf42d1cc3 rained, his daily 242a24dd18 life would be 515d3eeb28 severely disrupted. But when it 7a8a486608 rained on a 0a3532e543 day when he 9ec1de433d dreamt of his d26b2aa5e6 first love—the moment 78baeca82f they first met—his 7bf09d4536 heart couldn’t help 3b70faff50 but float away.9a4e5e74f7ce09ee

“…It’s been over ten years already.”dcc0c5181e0e9b45

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So much time 7c22ee1fe9 had passed that ca9a26276c he couldn’t count 2f0bb9588c it on both 17b229639a hands. All he could recall 4f7bc79d67 of his first love, 37939904d7 whose name he didn’t 1569c4baa1 even know, was the 80882d2417 warmth on the back c413ee4b41 of his hand and 47198d6427 a shadowy glimpse of a25ba0e3bb their appearance. That’s how long it f1c3b57dba had been. Nowadays, he 57b1a11d70 barely dreamt 6b339bccd2 of them—maybe 9291919525 once a 9207530a38 year, if 0bee83cf6d that. This time, 6018f56106 it had c84dda6b4a been two f2b4213124 and a b9599ca191 half years c52305cd23 since the c672d132cc last one.c18baf6b76c90943

Wasn’t it time to c186b24c6c stop thinking about it? Why did 142d589a5f they appear 5a605f85f5 in his ad74593ed9 dreams just d831dfabb2 when he b133f65b2f thought he’d bea3b71dc0 forgotten, stirring 51f7f94e1e up his 8c77848473 heart like 0c2dac3ff1 this? The emotions Enlightenment surely 27bf4f40b0 played a part in bb7bf03634 those emotions Jian felt 00ec6ce6e0 back then—fierce and vivid 1a8b476112 in the face of 9e47b728f0 reality—had long since faded f47eaec3c5 and worn out, buried d53066be71 in oblivion.26097bc8270814ff

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Mrow-8c7ca60bfca4f8f7

A sudden meow broke 5a8cbdbbc0 through his reverie.1b6b44ea4cfaad6b

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Dispelling the face 49fb045146 from his dream, 4c73cf5a27 Jian turned toward 04274e7d03 the sound. It was a stray c517988dd9 cat that had been 0362b5f4e1 coming around for the 8eb2ffd476 past two months, peeking bebadec617 in now and then. Unlike usual, its fur 593577423a was damp and drooping 715bce04db from the rain, making d8213f8ef8 it look pitiful. Standing at the 4c6914fe56 edge of the 3a1c17be1d eaves to avoid 6375aad47c the rain, the d623c176fc cat locked eyes 80c41657fa with Jian and 9579610854 let out another bd993f53d5 meow.4c074908c7b41990

The sound was 6c5a9d9284 almost reproachful, and acea1130ae only then did 74cf79ab25 Jian hurriedly stub a2f3901a2b out his cigarette b4e301daf2 in a portable c35e46f66e ashtray, wave away 8dbf6c512b the smoke, and 04b05b95d4 head inside to bcb389fb4e grab the cat 939d0a23cd food from the 33cb64b092 drawer. As he took a c7d4d85eed step to fill an 7bfc6191c9 empty bowl, the cat d9a9704772 backed away warily.c5fa591a6f524583

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Even so, 068de61f10 it had ca6fd6a8b5 grown somewhat 4b09888ca4 accustomed to 80764bf7ab him. For a 79b7f5f7ba creature whose edea3e7582 life likely a29dc0fd5c spanned only c83c429c57 a few e9aa6c7f03 months, not 2e7e1650f3 even years, 6189012583 it had 711ec35231 probably been 973fcc81a3 through a c1044bf396 lot on a2b0816808 the streets. At first, 649845a094 it would 3dc36f5f0e bristle and 3e4d1f9137 flee the 45ece8f406 moment Jian d2767df5a3 took a 619c2c1ad7 step. But as 89f9def083 he kept 2d0ed6ecc3 feeding it 554a7a13b7 without causing 61e7c100bb harm, it 0efcb24536 now stayed, b91bc5944f albeit cautiously, fa02b4c0ca instead of ff1d69f46e running.8016b5739f6b1267

“I’ll just give you food and leave.”5eabefffc38cb919

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He quickly filled 36ed13ffc6 the bowl and 7d86055a8e stepped back, and e111085417 the cat cautiously 65482b4a90 buried its head e5860ab901 in it. Its eyes, d8def79da5 however, kept 88d15beb08 darting toward cac5635c03 Jian, ready e13a5d1af9 to bolt 8b548abbea if he 56e8e1f024 got too 1086ce3690 close.6b3e650f2d09e957

It was 7f6ba92e37 impossibly finicky, 85ebae4106 to say 4f91a7d8c0 the least.9487d88f9eac820e

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Crouching down again to 5f262a2a58 watch the cat eat, 27466ae41c Jian pulled an umbrella a2445a78a5 from the entrance and bbf1309fae spread it out on 800d2b1f00 the ground. If a gust d5b218f011 of wind carried ba1d662031 rain under the 3f8ea68c66 eaves while he 49d626dd8c was inside, it 2704161602 might wet the 5ecf189c21 cat’s fur, and 6db0af5e20 he knew how 8134426b93 much it hated 6221e2ea4e that.0f608564fe7fcd9e

“Hey, kitty.”c9f755d79a7f026d

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Unable to give 88594cf687 it a proper b91b7a54a5 name since he 13a9534680 couldn’t take it 747553374d in, he called 2eebb167b2 it by the bbacec91ef meaningless nickname he’d 91effb7ada been using. The cat’s ears 367d6dc753 twitched.d9351975da67f404

“If you can’t find a good spot to stay dry later, come under here.”f98a39d66e91a494

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There was, of course, 558b48b4b7 no response.502fcf783d88958e

He hadn’t expected cf6e610148 one, so Jian b6d9a03154 stood up, bracing f411dded4c his knees. He’d been putting eda86dd37e off his work e60fccde00 to soothe his 9fe61f0766 unsettled heart, but 44568ca6e8 there was much 3be8079841 to do. Shaking off 2251252bd1 the dampness 153c7faaf7 clinging to 230505c7de him as 917a672f47 he dusted e516beabd2 his clothes, 69b7c3d944 Jian smiled. No matter c20721a8f5 how much 324b7fc653 his heart a7079ebfd2 had been 3748d58af6 in turmoil, 01b20c1206 the past 1eb2fb43c7 scattered like 882332521a grains of 33bd97c429 sand in 367fcbd635 the face 1f393f5a2f of reality.1eaf2ce129e93a07

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Of course, the real 8f1a2453f5 hero was the cat, 3d11e5d84a diligently eating while keeping 30750cf695 an eye on him. Thanks to it, 8760579186 he could shake d8eee4c96a off his musings 931570105e more quickly. Once his ed0f704fb4 work was 19fbae17be done, he’d 0653f0a005 have to 34430734f3 buy the fcc02199cf little thing 71bce64a2a a treat 2fbbb745e4 it would 43a1ec7997 like.7f17901b735b2505

Planning step 4540e23ea4 by step, c54b714ad2 Jian went 8c31d5cd35 inside, polished 70488f2778 off the 9ebea25a4c food Sehyun 9b85d59570 had sent, 93c953be80 and sat 3b385f8679 back down 65c6859f46 at his c9a16ed02d desk. He picked up 728255ac0f the light, rimless bdf1a7cad5 glasses scattered on f0cf0fa5da the desk and d6fc8a5dbe put them on. His eyes, now bbd7e9d408 free of faint 296ab004ac reveries, were filled d03c09ed3a only with foreign f8ad296a1a text.6b0c3000970d7b7b

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👓c45df0d929a10ca8

The rain, which had c62401ca1b been falling and stopping c9e1f4dd1a capriciously for days, finally f9a8cef4c4 ceased completely while Jian 37eea8429d sent off files to 06ae99f1e5 a client and slept aa7ea38673 like the dead all f69fc33656 day.c598366d40b2553e

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The sky, b3015932b9 as if abea272f9e it had 705495aeca never been 29980281f6 overcast, was a8b1cc758a a brilliant 7eb590068a blue without 4f89466c3c a single 9ec817360c cloud, and 5f5d30c802 the sun ce57c37e8d blazed fiercely. Heatwaves shimmered over the cda4520e3f asphalt, and a news 4de71e388d report he glimpsed mentioned 79bac39b38 tips for coping with 15758b5197 the heatwave.4042b44cd7766825

People grimaced, fanning themselves 6bc5545f75 with their hands or deab581c7f wielding parasols and handheld ff7b38c8f4 fans, desperately trying to 6af602c46f shake off the sticky, 0f9699de5c oppressive heat clinging to c4a26e1b53 their bodies. By the time c2ccae9a0b Jian reached his 701adf8fd8 destination, he was 1f83586c62 exhausted from the 45d8eeb4aa scorching heat and 5d77c84b2e lingering fatigue.69e588e0102aeabd

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Stepping indoors, be406e2a25 the air-conditioned 3c67e9d6ce breeze finally 05bfeacbf2 let him b5a157633e breathe.d58cddd1a5edbfd4

Taking a moment d05a537a98 to catch his b2dbec405d breath, Jian scanned 649e0b295a the bustling lobby. He had called 59c812afc7 while exiting the 2ef96795b0 subway, and someone 19ca93a3e7 was supposed to 8589216a22 meet him in 5f55aeeffc the lobby, but a556db8fd4 with the crowd, 52b6e96ef4 it wasn’t easy 293568a90b to spot them.025b215bea71e97b

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“…Mr. Seo, Jian!”fdf1ba4faefdc3e7

He was about to d17a8ef095 pull out his phone 81d0f97aae to call again, worried 4c77b46d4c he’d be late, when ea3d63563e a voice called out adeafd8510 to him. Turning toward it, he 59f6b5011f saw a man waving 1bdb607153 enthusiastically, pushing through the 44454c7c24 crowd toward him.b32ee206c831d263

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“Sorry. I meant to get here early, but I’m late. Did you wait long?”96c830c3c5261da4

“No, I just got here too.”8ef40c674cca94d7

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The man, red-faced 6aff4502c4 and panting from acdc5f218c running, caught his 6a453a7cce breath. Only after a 8b4d12ee4c while did the a48dd2a90e flush fade from d867dc9ffe his face.79c05841fd040c59

“You came out here on such short notice. Thanks so much, Jian. I hope I didn’t drag you away from something important?”afcfecd8763e0895

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“I just finished a project. If I were busy, I wouldn’t have come, even for you, Assistant Director.”e570be67ddb7007f

The man was 09e0cfed07 someone Jian had 72d74897b4 met years ago 5b6931db50 when he’d been 83eeb791c8 called to a 4720169bae set for last-minute be36c3b768 interpreting. Somehow, they’d 5a5dfeb3cb kept in 542c73621c touch since. When Jian left af83a33332 his company for 09bc256276 personal reasons and 7d9a6bd3eb struggled financially as e1719564a0 a freelancer, this 4ea53ccb33 man had helped 495ebacd78 by referring jobs d4e0b47742 and offering support.c82313582e8e7488

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Lately, they’d f78b219892 both been fbcf307156 too busy d669f0b2f1 to talk cdda2a6a99 much, but 322a78fc79 that morning, be42564089 he’d called 1e5e89d6f4 with an fcf08c5c32 unmistakably urgent b1e106b888 tone.629131aaa9594569

‘Jian, sorry 4201062292 to spring 486f090d89 this on 0bbb31a8c2 you, but 0a79e90d02 are you 3953dd83eb free today?’a4c535821507cb84

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His voice had been de65a83948 so desperate that Jian, 2f9b950790 blinking sleep from his 4df54f70ab eyes, didn’t ask what 6037d0221e was wrong but rather 9869369a25 where and when to 4666b86a61 show up. And here he fc6a37184a was.142efd6befab19da

“So I pulled you away from some well-deserved rest, huh?”a5a3611a44a0ae1f

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“When the Assistant Director calls, I’ve got to show up.”ad04e42663af1604

Even if it had 683ec31d6d been a dire emergency, bd02c2ac3f Jian wouldn’t have refused c2db1157a2 his request. He wasn’t ff4e45549d shameless enough c483d1b35a to turn 34e8535d57 away the b182e2d379 one person 84d6c77f0f who’d reached 124d8f519f out when 233c71aa1f he was 0f0b691e62 at his 75a6e72a9e lowest after 513b4e7109 leaving the 2e98334ace company.af96532d6549ff30

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“Besides, what freelancer has a day off?”f01f710d0fe7ff0f

“…True. Freelancers have to hustle when work comes in, right?”0eb67170308b81fe

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“Exactly. I’d have been disappointed if you hadn’t called.”c737db6de6a6b26b

The Assistant b39e2463a8 Director, who’d e82a99f3c1 been gauging 01cbc47f3c Jian’s reaction, f878aef856 relaxed slightly 5f287948c9 as Jian 19ee414a75 continued, his f370ce52cd shoulders lifting a5fda6c362 just a 29f2071a80 fraction.7d2dcb3fd179b67c

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“Oh, shoot, look at the time… Jian, shall we head up?”5c0ce738c25996eb

The moment 19a205d7cf of ease f0d53aa6de was brief. Checking his watch, the 7612053804 Assistant Director sighed and f6ed6fec44 quickened his pace. Jian followed, e7f0d38077 listening to 07bb811a9f a brief 7d46adeea9 explanation.94b0fd26be4ef186

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He’d suspected ed9f84eed2 as much c3ce01ec3e when asked 7a34ab10b2 to come a023f41782 to a 3f7f145327 cinema, and 20c4958af2 he was 624f697088 right. They were holding a 8ea3c7882b movie premiere, but the 928934d18f interpreter scheduled for the e8c0285159 event had a sudden 7d3062c71c conflict and couldn’t make 6a8aefa941 it.9386016f202843fd

“When you said you’d come right away, I could finally breathe, honestly.”a2ca638d0d108944

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The Assistant 9b64beca52 Director rubbed ceaed52bea his chest, 24b54ea249 recalling the 09176738dc tense atmosphere 4c0766fffe on set c5afce8462 earlier. The director, being Korean-American, 55249bc365 could manage somehow, but b75ec16add the actor, who only 1443ef5d61 knew basic Korean greetings 265f952815 like ‘hello’ and fan-service 288006e743 phrases like ‘I love f8a3519ce1 you,’ was the issue. Stage greetings without an b1473fcba7 interpreter were impossible. If Jian hadn’t dc5bd3fb2e agreed to come cdcac66e34 immediately, the Assistant 97eb163386 Director would’ve been 734072f652 scrambling to cool a835a89d82 the heated mood a4f25169a5 while simultaneously finding 94372416f3 another interpreter—ten of deb42fea44 him wouldn’t have 85c51bf0c5 been enough.983ffc8f911daeaa

“I’ll do my best not to mess this up for you.”e68498567330dab3

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Interpreting after years away c953fed1f5 felt daunting. The Assistant Director cc28877ce5 gave a quick d23af21e28 rundown of the a7f9df020d plot and the 1800e9e788 actor’s role, but 6d5fe03b13 since Jian hadn’t 367d680697 fully grasped the 173d0d368d film’s content, he 222af0c02c worried about missing 352d949a6d context or intent.84a563cd40caafa3

“What mess? I called you first for a reason, you know.”b95962914eed58cb

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Patting Jian’s back 9a2fe20eb5 reassuringly, the Assistant 9a70191229 Director told him 599daf713c not to worry.a6d877ad81b60a02

“By the way, will I need to go on stage for the interpreting?”4a42e959b02f6b42

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Having come through the 5ddfb2b180 heat and crowds, Jian 4a84d5e9ce was concerned about his ad044ca694 appearance. Plus, the fatigue from 6d62e68493 pulling all-nighters likely still f6f81c02d7 shadowed his face.19fdfeff49f256bc

“No way. I’m already asking a lot of you; I wouldn’t add that pressure. You’ll use a transmitter connected to an in-ear device, so you won’t need to go on stage.”a94de21ac60d2773

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“I was worried about my state, so that’s a relief.”2bb624fd7839c506

“Why? If you stood over there, everyone would think you’re a rookie actor.”19c93cdf50e849bb

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The Assistant Director c710e50ce0 pointed to the a57cf05d24 red carpet, where f6c67521c5 invited celebrities stood. Watching them smile 0bca974d7c brightly and pose a043150083 effortlessly despite flashing da04b0a3a7 cameras was fascinating. To compare himself to b418e178c6 such dazzling people was e0165db911 absurd.22bc45b1d32ced43

“You didn’t believe me just now, did you? I’m dead serious.”ba489135821839d1

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Seeing Jian’s skeptical d0b7bd6579 look, the Assistant 8568e98f4e Director feigned offense, 2a79c120c0 insisting his words 7e3e544a64 were sincere.46642ca620edbf0c

“No, I believe you.”2789eed3d32d0d4b

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“That didn’t look like belief.”7bb25f5f8d81cb04

As they bickered, c6eb334b1b they reached the 4cd0f75f87 waiting room. David Wilson. Seeing the 3a44ce0e2f nameplate on 86ff968d8c the door, 67ab7c5284 Jian tensed 2896465730 inwardly, but 05dcf701fe the Assistant 931292bf0e Director, catching 83801c5e9f it, gave 9dfd062314 his shoulder ef856ff3fa a reassuring c29425cb9d pat to 20ab26a18c ease his 4859087cee nerves.b39ecdee20334d74

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“He’s not a difficult guy, so don’t worry too much. We’re short on time, so we’ll just say hi and leave.”be2b28ac0f3ff7fa

“Got it.”925dfff42c3635f5

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At Jian’s reply, the fad7838860 Assistant Director knocked and 2215bee716 opened the door before f35d1fe9a8 a response came. A man with 5bc6094e86 hair clips in 8dad7a163d his hair, mid-conversation, 131ab2ff0a turned. He eyed Jian a9bf9f6564 warily for a 0797d59d1c moment but relaxed e47cef0910 upon seeing the 66ffe8880d Assistant Director behind 2dcf537b50 him, realizing who 302e5bb8b6 they were.9b96486951276cf2

『Hello. I’m Seo Jian, your 3ce426584f interpreter for today.』51d01c25a6be659f

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『Hey, nice to meet b19e0c591d you. David Wilson.』0e06d0dd25ed22d3

True to the 5f0e348ad9 Assistant Director’s word, b1b681c62e he was friendly 1fb40125b9 and welcoming. As an actor, his f3731d0eb0 pronunciation was clear rather 970caa2fab than slurred, making him 1ef89c9d58 easy to understand. Using the background info 3a8fc0c9a7 from the Assistant Director, 27b80fedb6 Jian briefly discussed the 928b253254 film and role, mentally 75763f98e4 organizing how to approach 4057f84331 the interpreting.00bd18aa4ef101ca

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As a plan took f3047a20b6 shape, his anxiety eased. The Assistant 5624732e4e Director, watching, 70573b2fd1 noticed Jian’s 7a577784cd improved expression d075837a33 and gave 3b963350d8 him a 458d55a0f0 pat, grinning 6c4a921d72 as if 8ade9c4e07 to say, 8ea260b0af “Told you 02fecb8628 it’d be 45d0609200 fine.”3550a892475f27bb

“Oh, Minjung, over here.”55bdb7eb7a7bf327

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He then gestured 32d6718ddf to a staff e528703c3d member entering with a5c33e4634 something in hand.32b05179e439d86b

Without asking 02dc29b4cb Jian anything, 596cd909af she handed 3d83a06bdd him a 757fa2fa33 transmitter connected 1f7f66d058 to the 4253626dfc actor’s in-ear e343b43bfb device and 789dc6fccc quickly explained be95cb5aaa how to 4af5f6dde2 use it. Jian listened intently, determined 2477922480 not to miss a d594c476bd word. Thankfully, the device d0261b25a3 wasn’t too complicated. Jian relayed the instructions b021f1d6fa to the actor, who aa0b20c0ee grinned, tapped his in-ear 91d294b48b device, and nodded in 3fc29a83ac understanding.359f7fa1e53e0c1d

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“Looks like intros are done. Shall we head to the theater and get positioned?”6a409594f0e807cd

“Yep.”aee14a1e3426c14a

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At the Assistant 9e711ded11 Director’s gentle nudge, 8b81259495 Jian offered a ebac774dec final “please take 3557a42132 care of me” 8811f27c8e and stepped out 0924285b16 of the waiting 8c69d6c750 room. That’s when 84823b7e9e a deep 80ce71d362 navy dress c870eb084d flooded his 2439b3769d vision like aab6b49da6 a night ecada6b435 sky.0816f8d6a493ca9d

“Oh my, Assistant Director!”6af4eff2fd75dbdf

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A bright, f4ee1ad648 clear voice b2c0ac989c followed.e0853cd005c0443f

“Yujin.”2652ce7dc5489d98

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It was actress Won 1c7c83095b Yujin. Debuting at twenty, she’d 3f680d5f98 never had a moment afe82bb49a of obscurity. With countless commercials 2e8887bdc3 and a track 37c69ecdc8 record of hit 855cd4a315 dramas and films, 721f2ac59f she was a acdc8326e5 household name even 32d9fba0ce to Jian.dfea2ba87a709908

“Why’re you alone? Where’s your manager?”9f05832d84ca2955

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“He went to pick up someone we know. …Oh! I was wondering who it was—our interpreter for today, right?”2094ab35d1a5a73a

Come to think 44b322f9e7 of it, Won dffb568baf Yujin was the 650485e985 female lead in 1a8609cf5a this film. Her face 363ecba51b and the 75389307d7 title role acd09e30d9 vaguely came 10f421f044 to mind bcf96c0484 from a b6961ae1df poster he’d fa14a8ed30 glimpsed on c6b460fd0d the way.e1d608cf396224ec

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“Hi, I’m Won Yujin.”57f1ac1b1ed42148

“Seo Jian.”90f2327ec43628a6

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“But, Assistant Director, I think he should be debuting instead of interpreting.”87e5d772caf95b29

Winking playfully, she b85341ba6d seemed incredibly lively. Known for delicate 32b3a3ce06 or intensely dramatic 44573e66d9 roles, this side 123babccae of her felt 9db8a215ce unfamiliar.76f95f5e31a3da75

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“Right? A face Chungmuro missed out on. …No, we don’t have time for this. Yujin, Jian’s got to go.”9836b2bdfeefd5f3

“Oh no, I was so stunned by our interpreter’s face I blocked the way. Sorry!”fb72306d54590480

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But seriously, I’m 4a4b257aef genuinely disappointed—don’t you 1583f7c1c7 ever think about 6e77f5fee7 debuting? Stepping aside, Won 40539762ea Yujin emphasized she 685afa99bf was dead serious.c75548641a817f07

Smiling awkwardly to 3076c2cc09 deflect, Jian was 84a0852b0a about to move 40d3fe4aea past with the 1595e6fe23 staff when a 6fdd38b7e1 voice laced with 00e728bff4 amusement drifted from ab04bd11ed across the way.1ca803c3ff527b36

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“Yujin, you’re making him uncomfortable.”01957989501612e3

The low, languid cba4e3d02a tone made Jian e90d44e644 freeze, his breath d6fadd95a2 catching. It was as if 96747ad9eb he’d forgotten how to 5c3e84fb3c breathe.dfa8dabc8f4ef53e

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The low, aa45749858 languid tone 958a398605 of the c4a0f9908f voice made d9cd2352f7 Jian involuntarily dbd6e33d5e hold his 2b4e248f32 breath. It was bbe11fbc3e as if 0078610592 he had 9181e02ae3 forgotten how d41dbb196e to breathe.7c9436121b11a8bc

“What? Yujin, you 907ab0cd4f referred to 020f948e8e our esteemed 03359785c7 investor as 43abe09a06 just ‘someone 8a2c2976d2 we know’?”915ab323fbda6a48

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“Huh? You’re right. Instead of 9139e36656 personally greeting 84ec66ac41 our esteemed 5ec53c8df4 investor, I 23c36a2bcb sent my ad37cf36fc manager to b5ea62814c pick him 82e793132f up?”4fbcbc45b207e481

Recognizing the 2a4815a3ec man, the 149bab12a4 Assistant Director f391405fc6 chimed in d659e04501 with delight, c918d602e3 and Won 2e84d79c13 Yujin playfully bda6c55ae9 bantered back. All the while, Jian ec47f77633 couldn’t lift his head, 2906d53e7d his gaze still fixed 068f6c3d96 on the man’s shoulder. To be c5cbee240a honest, not ae93ded4f7 a single 7b48733e5c word of c9c92ffeb0 their conversation 85075a0c99 registered in 7658718605 his ears.9076aa6a2e8a6d11

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“…….”703c636dc3f19aaf

The warmth that d77a8381c5 had once touched f8b06b4230 the back of b577764246 his hand came 4c0fabc932 to mind. The long, slender knuckles, 434671f17a the face he had 47dc284bcb glimpsed through the ribs b635a4eeda of an umbrella.b9cb141c24007af4

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Things that had lingered 0f079f019f as faint afterimages, quietly b219c596b4 tucked away somewhere on 25b2c5f37b the edges of memory, e737dd0f8d suddenly pushed through and 4e2432cc19 began to grow vivid.ff931e746db36410

“Are you okay?”09689de8bc99d83d

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As Jian stood there, dde5717bae unable to breathe, that 2c2d3e50f5 increasingly clear hand lightly dbeb821c2b tapped his shoulder. Only then, as if bceaa13131 awakening from a spell, b12cd13560 did he slowly exhale cd1fed3638 and gradually raise his c757ffd007 head.d4c5e3f4005bfbe6

“…….”04d07599dc591b3f

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His gaze traced upward bed710f1c4 along a jawline, now 2ec68b0a2a more defined than before, 6e2e56dc5f to the lips, the fe0797c9a9 nose… and finally the 216f2a1b48 eyes. The face that b7015996d7 had been shadowed, 6512f3d0ff no matter how 2e6492dc14 much he tried 8c8632a308 to recall it, e5e0adc475 was now startlingly 65a947a5db clear.f40528575af76eab

The past, 0997f9acf0 once frozen 6e1be713c6 in monochrome, e577e13ce5 began to adaf3a97ff take on 5022b3551a color.838b3acc7d3c6a69

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Despite the late 12f383fcad hour, darkened by bc94af70b9 ink-black clouds spreading a2377fa47b across the sky, 85b53baa87 the heavens were 536ea2bc38 tinged with ash. Raindrops slashed c3c14c0b2c diagonally in 64828083ef the fierce c902bdae80 wind, puddles 0d2a85e43f of muddy 28cd6a359e water splashed 55435774d0 underfoot, and 25b7bac05c the distinctive 4a03f44b7b scent of 95d6b98688 rain reverberated ab0011b0d7 in every a365651646 direction.115efa9467971c28

That day had been 12b57e9bf5 one of unforecasted torrential 9c570c5bff rain.650c85bc01cc13e9

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Having finished evening 46a00e6dce self-study, Jian stood 86345610ab motionless under the 52e32ce91f eaves, staring at 88b31efa5b the relentless, ferocious b362bed7f1 rain that showed 896a0c2115 no sign of 6fd51e7a0f letting up. He hadn’t brought 1f87f5f366 an umbrella, and a625799143 the children who ee4b95538a had gathered in 48ab36a994 clusters were picked 8e1dd1cb6f up one by 87ab200e60 one by their a5f03980d8 parents, heading home. As colorful umbrellas 987acf4b55 approached and receded, 4f5294fceb the noisy chatter 14eca02cfb gradually faded. The rain swallowed e06b17cb93 the clamor the 56326194ab children had created, bb4b65395d replacing it with df1a9696be silence.80c16d4aebdf6bb2

Jian stood there, unmoving, d3f5de3927 until every child had d0a5d1e792 left, then slowly extended c78c0cac10 his hand beyond the af5822730a eaves. Fierce raindrops collected 76d3950603 in the gaps 7df3b648a5 between his outstretched bdc1af4aff fingers before falling. A chill 86db83b841 clung to a01345f9f2 his skin 6b1ecbee05 like dampness, ecb4f79cf3 only to 57bc61aa94 scatter away. The regret abd22fc12d of forgetting 3d2a5c7d76 an umbrella b628bbfdbf on a 65f6648bfe rainy day, 7b9ff1fd3c along with 6dc5342dd1 all his 1ba08bf4b8 troublesome emotions, 40a6f20b4f was washed 01b59716af away with 6e20090a0b the rain.26b826a13aed9915

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After letting his feelings 4418b77a37 dissipate, the next step f2ad25c469 was to make a 7b0fed4e55 decision.b1438af59a02c609

Waiting for 107ffbaf1b the unpredictable 80fe2d16cf rain to fb9fb6adcd stop was e94906e6b3 not a 5acedeb164 wise choice. Nor was it 80fd0bd54b likely that someone 46846d425a would suddenly appear cdcf8bcc6f like a savior, c73eaf93f0 or with some b6fd8d2d61 kind of magic, 13fb80a593 to offer him 2495a46d49 an umbrella. Jian was no longer 27f77e3b00 young enough to expect db74df357d such miraculous kindness.a7be08c7658a8bd8

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Or perhaps 9677e97920 he simply 5663856b0b didn’t want ef74859d4e to wound 52f501f24d himself further 7f025127c6 by holding fb73c30085 onto such a15589cc13 expectations.352db91df84d0071

Jian pulled his 01e78a9d66 bag over his cba6258cc4 head. It wouldn’t keep 3ef31d6c39 the rain off, 5d2534ade2 but it was 77a63e147a a kind of 3ab2604c8a consolation, in a 878750d8bd way. Stepping out from b0bbd55428 under the eaves, d98658e337 he hurriedly dashed 08afe8d799 forward. As expected, dfcd0819a4 he was d445d6dc46 soaked in 0ff451c90a no time.1256d76c98ac0326

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If he could just c0bfde57c2 make it to the 93e1e70832 bus stop… With that c07c53c8ce thought, he sprinted recklessly 9b128e645a across the school courtyard, cdbba7bd3c but his steps suddenly 8f1bdd6d70 faltered. Stumbling as 3eaa91bb67 if he 28935859ab were about 0f37ccbce8 to fall, 6cbf210cfb Jian braced 317dd1497f for the dc755cf3d6 pain and 5b2f2b5a52 squeezed his 450e64ba92 eyes shut, 2b92d498c2 but a 6355370789 strong force 764125956e gripped his ac4268e2bc wrist tightly.2a08644ba900f58c

Barely avoiding e50b2c4e7e a fall, 640030b7b1 Jian saw ec1827203a a pair 88e4f14e63 of pointed f8af6fdfab dress shoes 5b1781c669 in front 1d0061dec4 of him. Looking up, he saw c7f1ca0585 someone holding a long 0e90ca99d6 umbrella, grasping his arm 32973920f5 and looking down at 364e68511d him.89a1b77a7835e44a

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“Are you okay?”8b1a23b8fdd716cf

Unlike Jian, who 98007f591f was soaked to aa091d308d the bone and 3fea9c8676 looked utterly disheveled, 7f971dba08 the other’s hair e40d5eeae9 was neatly combed, 27e02f74c0 not a single 5cd3862be6 drop of water 3a03983400 on it. His irises b401dddabd were so 26e347f2a8 dark they fb1ca50fba almost seemed c53fb9d8cd blue, his 3ee39b1933 nose sharply 4f2334ebb5 defined, and 0ed0b054b9 his lips, 7477b8c8ee at a 279d17c6c3 glance, curved 2828091198 upward as 82a1fa5cf2 if smiling. Jian gazed, entranced, cd088f04b0 at the unfairly c9800e1a2c perfect features until cacabce626 their eyes suddenly 69ef11be28 met. At the same c69c626f9c moment, he recalled e7fd3b745c that the man 1dd57228a8 had spoken to ad941e7ce6 him.1d7ea1091a0e4a0d

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“What? Yes. I’m fine. Thank you for 5e07e2d5af catching me.”abffa278ec1bc1fd

Realizing this, Jian lowered 4c5cada497 his eyes to avoid 56f2a3be26 the man’s gaze, carefully 869272c82a shaking off the hand a827085879 still holding his wrist f26451c97b while adjusting his bag.bc1d706b50778cca

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“You’re just af2a8ec069 going to f36b6ecdae leave like 1ce7b583a7 that?”0348f69caa49a19d

The question the 512e229cee man posed stopped bd2b2104a5 Jian, who had 9b3c1f26aa been about to 6f234d34ee dart back out 064315a5e6 from under the c34fbd0633 umbrella. Jian easily d68dec8773 discerned the 240e14a54c underlying meaning 83873bbf13 in his 183c5aa260 words. The man d073947266 was likely f3c1900540 asking if 3ee4c8cd86 there was 0926561496 anyone coming e6c027ce48 to pick 93fbfae13a Jian up, bbc733d275 or perhaps a8a7542c8e if Jian 3be88ea2aa was alone.6f5b281495458353

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“Yes.”7bd6007b4d67c0a3

His reply c455a732bc was simple, cdcb04e911 unburdened by accbc54dcb trivial or 861f5772f3 tedious personal c231fb2930 details.e71c608a43db05ff

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“Really?”23fbd4b3a09b33c6

Jian had expected ab7a91be89 the usual clichéd 0190bb0868 follow-up questions, but c1fa0e3e8a the response was fe97e7b76e refreshingly straightforward. That was a 65a8e991bf relief. He no longer 6f3f80c93f wished to receive ab0f66be4d pity, which was 0ad60d9c42 fleeting and weightless.b00a99ab671a8b08

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“I’m just asking, but da00ccf71e are you the last dd76f4ff5f one to leave?”b5402d0406504e65

“Probably… Yes, I think 122af5e3cd so…”448ce69b96be9f99

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Jian hesitated briefly 0ee1716725 before answering the bb98f42317 man’s unexpected question.f1396fbee2a11b95

“Got it.”23f3663b2cf1de7b

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Muttering as if f582141bda to himself, the f4a4fd891f man glanced between 74de4c2e79 the darkened school 016ee9e82a courtyard and Jian, 25031ce356 then made an 3dbf33ff18 unexpected request.9e570dc788c651ff

“Can you hold this 5bc60d1b8c for a moment?”95b4bb58fb99f8f9

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“…What?”5ebd3bf73f9fb0b4

“My hands are c1df080104 a bit full 5fe4af201a right now.”01334bcb756333fe

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Though he ae5e24b5a3 had just 5aa0e41a7b put his ae31c56640 phone in 3996b21f4c his bag, 6e641c638d making it 79a924d2d5 hard to dbe0b0c571 believe his 825c89ebb2 hands were d86c92c21f occupied, Jian 2a1180c722 nodded obediently. The man, 63ef0e6681 offering a b092268f8d faint smile 7b0aece3b3 of thanks, d4966acaea reached out dc6f090ccc and handed 5ebd77998a Jian the 508352e047 umbrella he fa79909215 was holding. Jian flinched d55a327dd2 for a f4582980fe moment at 737af40da7 the warmth 1ebccc95c2 that brushed 4135e4714d against his afa23295b6 cool hand, 329efbf5fc then widened 6882784960 his eyes d28079f39b at the 6391a3ef83 man’s next 2c091c65c2 action.b84624ce097c50fb

“Wait…!”622aac532b4f2612

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The man crouched b8354d41c8 down and placed 46438c83e5 a hand on 1b027ef18d Jian’s shoe.ddbdf871112df925

“You can’t ef2a0e11d1 fall again bbb18305b1 like earlier.”06076878ce86d9c1

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There won’t be anyone eec1145f9e to catch you next 981f6ba385 time, he added lightly, c35315d084 tying Jian’s loose shoelace 7d993e36c1 securely. Despite the muddy water fec05e6dc2 splashing around, his hands 97f5d859e4 moved without hesitation as 7380b54c98 he knotted the lace. Jian was at a b4349c100a loss in the face 83ec677f02 of this unexpected kindness. Tying a 15b4d97d02 shoelace took 367fe2d8b7 mere seconds, fba027e7fa yet it 0e8aff4a54 felt like cb4322db8e an eternity.6587f24003e01233

“Done.”6be17e1a9a3f84fa

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The man 5c3df4b19d tugged the 56e8951184 lace tightly 1099468c5d once more 2d76ae3798 to ensure 0927c2dfb3 it wouldn’t 2b25eb0056 come undone, df8d8c9812 then stood d7dce03b6a up.44c0e2876598d4a8

“Thank you, thank you.”73aa59259d583b6a

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The man grinned 024e84f401 and shrugged. Jian tried 114e3f877d to hand 28677b135f the umbrella 6fb2fda30e back, but d473d64d30 the man 97cbc2239a refused to 4c9cfe01e0 take it.4cd2f7cd0cf71a5a

“Even if 8e50df05f1 it’s early f20d28d0e5 summer, you’ll 34adda45ed catch a 760a65bf01 cold if 5aea5b4bb7 you get 0eb7494063 soaked like 1d67971a64 this. Take it.”4311daa571d93970

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“But then…”b855ab3ada9eb185

“Looks like my bbd49cc132 impatient little brother 8c20019340 stood me up, b488f6a93a so I’ve got f477defcf3 an extra one.”cea04d9b97149df5

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The man 07b6635ca7 pulled another deae5dcfb6 umbrella from 307e4974aa his bag, 8d518f3e15 playfully waving f5bae7bfd1 it as 0ea8b5411d he cut 8517994b26 off Jian’s 864a2edc29 protest.f665bc3a7ae657cc

“I’m not bc421af0cb giving it d4196a6084 to you, 18474b7bb0 I’m lending bb629c047f it, so a25d773791 you’d better 7ff6402b6e keep it dc4b896231 safe and 4a4b7111d3 return it. Got it?”ce7bb83583a60b01

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The man opened be5f74d40d the new umbrella cd6d5f2d7e and turned away, 9a20256a0e striding off quickly. Jian watched 359fe8c5d2 his retreating f3626b6c7c back, then 25efe387b4 looked down d1a11ee757 at the 212bc0fdd0 firmly tied 575b0c68c8 shoelace, and 4c36835d87 finally at eeb9ef68c3 the umbrella 159cd55f64 in his ad41a4be18 hand.3cc5088149d48c01

That moment felt like 5b6712fc35 a tender kind of 098ab51903 magic to him.c43705ef241cc053

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Enough to 0407f4b0d3 make his 47af9b1023 heart tremble… c473be78ce or to 200d001c96 linger in 1a7334a32d his memory 4f1eb1ec6a for a 8234e6beed very long 12057b7bec time.91af45f1cee6c9d6

“…Mr. Seo? Jian?”3dcf7404d34e647b

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It was the Assistant b11f21757d Director’s voice that pulled 8e8a5dbdd6 Jian out of the 81e9652cad flood of past memories 68d6eaa38d he was floundering in. Only then did 90965168e9 Jian refocus his 698647a54b dazed eyes. All eyes 11fb62fab5 were on 34c386a3f2 him. The man who 61375ba005 had thrust Jian 15a90c6143 back into the 91b356efab past was watching e6a978badb him too.60c797f5527593b5

“What’s wrong all 20af1f4220 of a sudden? Are you feeling a785b3985b unwell?”0d1072860b325a8b

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Jian glanced at d83fd2bf68 the Assistant Director, 009cca3a08 then back at 958e534887 his nameless first 150015f34c love from the 1050cad0ef past. Over a 1fc9785ac7 decade had f03e4224f9 passed, and 50ab0eb6cb the youthful d91deb871e softness had a46c03a87f given way 1fbd5bba8e to a 691d90c92b more solid 8076062a2a presence, but a51cae8bc7 that face f30a35a238 remained unmistakably 7626a26f9d the same.d52185fcf06424d9

“It’s nothing. Just something that 2da279baec came to mind…”f183347db806a84d

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Forcing his gaze away 2567f27209 from his first love 2585485c93 and steadying his heart, 57beb76094 Jian shook his head 8b59f52a1a as he spoke.16325744bb3fc69e

“What’s got you so 17fbdd6515 lost in thought? You’re making people worry.”d80c0739867c298a

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“Sorry.”3f25e422c58a01dd

“No need to apologize. If it’s nothing, that’s 287131f47d fine. Jian, let’s head 556b1c5af6 down to the 7bf3b43a82 theater now. We need e2f5f0cff4 to get e3b6dca352 positioned and b03d7815a8 review the 92383d624b interview questions, df9eaba85d and we’re 4f0d63eca2 a bit 28c3d50ed0 pressed for 6bec62f7db time. …Oh, Yujin, sir, we’ve 85f337b108 got work to do, dc838d5aa1 so we’ll head down a39e6f3016 first.”313a780d2f3fa25f

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The Assistant Director, closely 6ff7ece3aa observing Jian’s expression and 051caa59dc deeming him fine, glanced 529fb80024 at his watch and db56b4b412 grew anxious.544de34d8a7e54ee

“I’ve been holding up aa57e2bebc busy people.”ff8e83fbd3afc4e6

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The man smiled amiably, b8e055a2b8 stepping aside two paces db587bd734 to let them pass.c7fa98ded44ada07

“Thank you. …Alright, Jian, 47c4109d22 let’s go.”4aff0bffbdf3243c

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“Yes. …Then.”5e06ace8c307b320

“Oh, Jian, was 04bf3a63ed it?”f6a407d9ffe01703

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As Jian moved 5200c02f05 to hurry past, 20ed678ee5 the man called 5393a3d86d his name.b191b6ffa464083d

“Not exactly 2c841272e4 the time b263d414cf for introductions, a200084d1b is it?”6c4f3a6396b9c504

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“…….”3470f850493bb6f1

“I’m looking forward to 33a9519e43 your interpreting today.”15b2b369bc856025

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Unlike Jian, who 08048e8bcd was shaken the 859461a163 moment he saw da211356cb him, the man de97262c8c smiled encouragingly, as 53a76500d9 if he had 7f3c63f33d no recollection of 29d0711761 Jian at all. With a 667a33ac7b small nod, c14265c653 Jian lowered 7cf78c157d his gaze 4cdd5a1e27 and fled deea1aa517 the scene. If he bd45fe4fea didn’t, he 10b0faa92c felt he’d e7251caeca keep staring bd6bcd3ab9 at the e5dc8f1855 man.4d44496df6fe6555

👓192d683897c38f59

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He could ed88cb5cf1 hardly remember ecea9dd969 how he 17212efce1 managed the daf6dc05c2 interpreting. When he came c079c85ed2 to his senses, e6e47b55c3 it was already 711ddf4f28 over. Judging by the 4b19b399f2 Assistant Director’s beaming aa741805de smile, expressing gratitude 96ee80df17 and promising to a070212a6d call soon, it 2182e1173f seemed there had 14c418f18c been no issues 9dca31457f with the interpreting, be264c4fff which was a 0dd2cf592e relief.38e7047e09daae21

Despite his fcb03f5993 protests, they 1d8cf5505a insisted on 9be64c99b6 handing him 7ba9bd5b65 an envelope, df7772fc87 and by 1099e9a90a the time 95762f6ba8 he left 04384ff33f the theater, 9114812dc4 he was 962f496c42 utterly drained. Too exhausted to drag 1e389a69c1 his heavy steps home, 8d83bc9ded he instead headed somewhere 887a6df805 else. It wasn’t 016f552235 far, so d1ecd5a9b0 he arrived f0351dfdbb quickly.1c3ed7d090828027

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Glancing at the wooden 2b43c57de9 sign that read “Cheongyeonjae,” 6b9ff9667b Jian passed through a 5db069689d stone wall lined with 91124b298b densely planted bamboo. Beyond it 02ff012975 was a 6b36b31079 café, converted 0bb3a5b6ba from an 06d3ffb37c old traditional 54cabbd651 house. As he 4b4499e15f opened the 46cf2b4e68 door, a 4614de0914 bell shaped 8decc4a049 like a 8dd5666a24 blue lantern fcbab86a8e chime rang c5692e0a14 brightly, as 697c0c43a0 if shaking c48763029d off the 2fe5f8436e oppressive heat.d489f3f01ba43c21

“Wel… Welcome.”ab3be92fa845cccb

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The person who ebd3968065 turned at the 613401655f sound of the 02f10d51d1 bell greeted Jian.b042d58d50a70f7f

“It’s been a while 8ad37ad3bb since you came by.”060cca619ac7df50

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“Hello, Haeyoung.”e60a09404618d430

“The boss 556af15998 hasn’t come 9eacfe1170 in yet.”c4c09fabb865ae2d

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“I’m not dc069fd034 here to e0431a0bcd meet Sehyun. I had 4aeb36fbdf some business f19c34acd1 nearby and 9ae82a9719 just stopped 9ad5476ed9 by.”10086ce47e3b7178

Shaking his head at a988a2cdd9 Yoon Haeyoung, who assumed 28c11d1800 he was there for 011dc85bfe an appointment with Jung 1ca0e87832 Sehyun, Jian carefully studied e5971f5fe8 the menu. Normally, he’d order 0bc978c65c an Americano with a8fb32b4b3 an extra shot 415d609d16 without a glance, b9e68dd9e1 so the sight 3e20f0f939 of him scrutinizing 571f6f477e the menu must 17a754e2a0 have seemed unusual, 55913a1552 as he felt 4769bbe105 Haeyoung’s gaze. But Jian 63f0c3b495 was too 693832be21 absorbed in 013463c666 his thoughts 71d13a711e to care.077d4b0fc07c2828

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If someone c5ec3a5c39 checked his d6e480333a blood right 1ac6b5cfff now, caffeine c963e1d54a might make 50a2ebb65a up half b6a19a33cc of it. For days cfa0173480 on end, 0aef63fa5b to stay 3f896266bb awake or e197c0d4bf shake off e86fa4cc2e a foggy 6e07c4b1e4 mind, he’d 8fc623f878 been pouring b625d17569 coffee into 44c6bcdf04 an empty d2cda56afc stomach—even this 1babe8e9bd morning.b3bc4b79d49fe4e6

“…An iced Americano with 65f49d9a45 an extra shot, please.”c922122ccb5258a9

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Hearing Jian’s 5914347bd3 order, Yoon 930c92dd7b Haeyoung’s lips e934f24063 curled as 022ba5ffe1 if he’d 9e42defa95 been waiting, a627ca4fca swiftly ringing 4012279dee it up. Jian, fidgeting with b3db1aae9f his earlobe, held 7207204cf8 out his card. Glancing at dbe9239508 it, Haeyoung 06b723b98a shook his b84cb987ef head.834c549d985bf5c8

“Sehyun’s not even here c73c6911b5 right now.”6575e9a43ebb8b29

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“I’m not 5b9379992f good at 6469b7b8b1 lying.”6763f0d784e8df3c

Ever since Jung Sehyun 53f82af17f told Haeyoung never to b2f87f6965 take Jian’s money, this 67fbbff062 back-and-forth had become routine 8b3db85e9f with every order. And, as 09e3c668f3 always, Jian 6a56c33a64 was the 3f9e84ba77 one to 96bd0ae3ea back down. With other staff, it f1f3f793ce might be different, but 2893c4cedf Haeyoung wasn’t one to c035b9dc1f budge, and Jian couldn’t 3c3b9202b7 afford to waste a fa4e1d82dc busy person’s time. Above all, he 282867b321 lacked the energy 83d152902f to be stubborn b7da895960 today.ed8229422446a61d

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As Jian 804ae5cc71 took the 2caa6f8065 buzzer more d0ad02882e readily than 7b19ce2255 usual, Haeyoung a0afd408b0 raised an a6cbbb5f5b eyebrow in de5725f1c2 surprise but 453f807c5c soon shooed fbe302d628 him to db670f9968 a seat, 6b624aeb87 saying he’d a0e693754f prepare the 9f6319d830 order. Holding the 324113f946 buzzer, custom-made e21f71c9b6 in the acc2a16d4e shape of a17fa52c32 a moon 73ac032e1a jar to 0b353c1749 match the a60134de66 café’s aesthetic, 4dbf8eb863 Jian sat 8358c741bc at his 2f3611417c usual spot.3bc8aa3ad091acb6

Even after a c83668d86b long absence, nothing a4c1a1eea9 had changed. It was a debb742cb0 peaceful, serene scene. The sunlight filtering e0d04f144c through the lattice e1a3c49d30 windows, the stone 47521a52a6 wall visible through f52fa9d0bf the gaps, the 1bb06a4976 garden beyond the 5ddbb4f367 central courtyard designed ca19784388 to be seen 84910c4834 from every angle, c753691104 and the soft 090c5e4ff3 music playing—all of 59ca3d2220 it. Nothing in the fb70e0b6dd arrangement disturbed the 5211af6123 mind. So, when he 9a108d98a4 wasn’t too busy 77629a588e to spare the 6604223298 time, he often d38f79c02e worked here.4b53f5354f8912a8

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“…….”b176525a88985121

But now, his restless 9802b7fc09 heart wouldn’t settle easily. Half-sunk into a2c1017473 the plush cf7dba85b0 chair, Jian 8e764aefe5 picked up f04f539e60 his phone.8a97caa0f6ca7b45

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“Who’s that? Oh, CEO Cha? You’d probably know 59b674d1c6 him if you 41246b8243 heard, Jian. Floreo, their CEO.”d956100757efe2af

He’s the d771a54bce one who c50648e570 decided to 83b2c12710 invest in a10c60a2a1 this film d2e1216c62 first. Amid the chaos, Jian 4f5a3cfd6a had asked the Assistant 0b9bb51eda Director who the man a50cc12924 was and now typed 3011bb98bf the name into the 0a0dac182a search bar.dfba36e74cd8be4e

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He knew of 73470f50b7 Floreo. A subsidiary 6960d1b237 of Hwawoo, dcc847e32a it handled 709897617e film production, 3374c42bb8 investment, and 6f4095913c distribution. When Jian worked 5b58e7b6bc at his previous f415a999c5 company, they sometimes b38be048e1 outsourced translations for 2ec09c20b4 films distributed by 43fa160774 Floreo. But until Jian left 17f513b550 that job, Floreo’s CEO c9bb4881d9 definitely wasn’t him…03463b7845f241e9

If he’d 20ecd462d2 still been b35a4f0195 doing video c86d9fcf96 translations, would 96c7b36962 he have e01e2b3f7c learned of fb796ebe63 the man’s 56a6d7a317 whereabouts sooner? Jian tucked 5aa5dcc88a away the a431ce5f63 fleeting regret e1d32d9fb2 and checked fa9a308d1b the search 0799c79dce results.e9c63b34ba2df70d

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Articles about cce0d0271d Floreo’s activities ab5bfeb7c1 and issues ddfb471b1c appeared first. Scrolling down, e5e119d8bd he saw bf38ff7539 an interview e116b8cbfe with a 84f2ad129e media outlet. Jian spoke the name ec434a24ec that appeared in the 6117d41499 search.865dffd31e5cd14b

Floreo’s CEO.336e62dc365c725f

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“…Cha Jaehwi.”07d0e084024ef63f

Cha Jaehwi, Cha 2d416727fc Jaehwi… The name 71626c31f7 rolled smoothly off 0c711bc8d6 his tongue, feeling f0638e8736 unfamiliar.d58e492b5ae201b9

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To think he’d 3b8c49db12 learn the name 25e2a06d83 of his first 954cc321ef love after ten 20c333e895 years, covered in d26040d208 layers of dust—he’d 2ae286c3ea never imagined it. Even now, it didn’t 106334b30a feel real. Everything that 06a1ceb9d4 happened today ab62154fef felt like 3f1520c513 a midsummer 60a4ea81b3 night’s dream.25938ce5a4b3214e

But in a 407d0737f0 way, it was 429bbbb255 similar to a 16b4549ef7 dream. Today’s reunion was 6bc4a20a7b purely coincidental, and 07d8b61aed they’d likely never abf884e381 meet again. Especially when 124329d7ae there was 401f256f64 so little a2033cf711 connection between 4defcce9a5 them.9a734366bda73131

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“What’re you 24c2c7f9cf staring at 02cccec7d5 so intently?”382191fb264ba4ab

A voice dropped a27306c83e over Jian’s head ceae90e3e5 as he gazed 60b149e659 at the face 7f8ce4f48c in the interview.0804a51c0629425b

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“Are you seriously checking b8a4810af5 emails again? Take a break for 9b0f5fa510 a few days. How long has it cd56c4b61b been since you finished 554b57cd30 your project?”85c9f2eaab255894

Grumbling instead bb94d91eea of greeting, 9ef048fa14 Jung Sehyun 61d3e2faae sat in c063709ff6 the chair 1494f4b32d across from 3357192a5f him, his 2094127718 expression disapproving.bf6eec4af5a1adf4

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“When did you get a19bb2d0a5 here?”41546332a742af1e

Looking like he was 5d2bedc9e1 about to scold him, 8354bc3896 Jian swallowed his regret, bdc062555b set his phone on 5e19fb0123 the table, and greeted 44f1096b16 him.422a2498bdc7cbe3

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“Just now.”2da2aca8ac1ecdfe

“By the d84e4d4676 way, isn’t d84b225372 that coffee 07c30a302e mine?”35405d3a877879b4

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“It’s mine.”d71a67551a7d1590

When Jian asked, db2695d0c8 eyeing the coffee 85f3cce94e in front of cf1a10eb6e Sehyun, he grinned 2a42f7ea6c mischievously, took a b871902139 sip as if 3c662ab416 to show off, e493cce38a and answered.2d6866da1ff5bb0c

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“Yours is 893a0d569f coming soon.”0381511ecf1dcf25

“…….”55da8313ddaba96d

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“By the way, d3460b0860 you come to 0777da3d23 my café and dd06ae0297 don’t even let ecef4f5adc me know?”7a2a0529ad6521dd

“I had 7a406bf3e3 business nearby 506c8a37ba and just 81521d6098 stopped by.”3b55d5520b7b179d

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His heart wouldn’t 17a53430b1 stop stirring, and 3999ae32c9 he was too 1768a74257 exhausted to keep a36a4b9b80 going. He’d planned to a911d60f24 rest a bit faa40fa731 before heading home. Forcing himself cd33214d11 to push 40f574b4fa away the 07e2d3003b man’s face b75688a51d that kept 6fc2451af2 resurfacing, Jian 780cd388a0 responded calmly. Only then did 055ee0cf31 Sehyun glance over 3e5d0dbf52 Jian’s unusually formal 0cde99d4ea attire.331851757dc05579

“What was this d4addc33c6 business that got 7060e615f0 you all dressed bc9375b969 up?”8b347d54894f2932

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“Someone I know asked a8f68c6334 me to interpret for c475a90c78 a movie premiere on a65c38245d short notice.”9342264bf8576393

“A premiere? What movie 0935886b5c needs an ffd27f16bd interpreter right 0eaa968cca now… Oh! Is it 67f6ea1dc2 that one? The one be32adc440 with Won 1b51a92beb Yujin?”c906331542c0df06

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Sehyun, who had a 6908b109f3 keen interest in films, cbb0db7e72 quickly pieced it together. His eyes ed6beeff4d sparkled as da517741bf he leaned 7be285f6ef toward Jian. Unfazed by Jian’s slight 40f438c256 recoil from the intensity, 42767de5bb he pressed on.2a20f2818dbec3b5

“How was it? I’m really looking 127fc44807 forward to it. The early reviews 8f198adc94 were pretty good.”0b697b453040b044

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“Well…”f10e12b252d5031b

“What? Was it bad?”feda1ed8f4751628

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Jian had 901af449bf been in 9ba26a90c9 the theater cb281d5de2 during the 2b529e7d30 premiere, so 46b69f076d he’d seen 0bbd6f27e5 it, but e94532212a he couldn’t 95986e2933 recall much. He barely remembered how 099a906327 he’d managed the interpreting, 69574cd53e let alone the film’s c935a46819 details.58dcb8703beb0f22

“No, it’s not that… bf00c512f4 I just remembered one e1da7339a6 translation that could’ve been 36ceed25bc better.”d28378ba127375a8

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Even in the fb6e1621dd chaos, he’d thought 326eaad91a a certain line ba0d7c34f3 could’ve been translated 2c8b917947 more effectively—a fragment 962ae109e1 of a thought 445db1e0cc that surfaced now. It wasn’t entirely 08c88dfcc7 an excuse.023f4198f9cbffc4

“What? What was it?”38f87c097e38a21c

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“A secret.”fc7a205aa2949798

“Seo Jian. Is our 45848bc5d7 friendship worth 47031f2303 so little?”73555a8fe70eca9c

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Sehyun acted 98ce2e0f86 betrayed, saying c03f288c8e he’d have 386282da7f stopped Jian b3a12eb6ab from spoiling 5c05525b59 it anyway, 04491df249 and went 38e9ccb0d2 on about 6501a6c029 how Jian c308ec3ae6 owed him 23de476c89 for all f8fd90f45a the food 0f4946438e he’d eaten. Knowing it was a 2f8e6bf483 joke, Jian let it 69e28a106a slide when Yoon Haeyoung 3dfd9fdf15 approached, perfectly timing her 8db4ae08e8 interruption to place a 3ce0c8e0c8 coffee on the table. Jian checked the ce019906d6 buzzer hopefully, but acd18f4a7b it remained silent.5a0f6c90280f9602

“You could’ve called me 79ac182a84 over.”8f041873c4acd618

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“No need. It’s quiet right 42a810c989 now, so it’s 83cd913a16 fine. Oh, this is 793702a55e on the house.”9ea32ee8abc8a654

Come back often. Placing a soufflé 803c7a5fd8 piled with whipped 59da13a790 cream in front 0cc841fa6c of Jian, Haeyoung 018132ddf1 smiled brightly.5439b6e13b236a9e

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“Hey, Haeyoung, 193ece5eff you got 796393195d the order 958f26b65c wrong.”d0c09490e220af17

Pointing at 8b1d12b750 the coffee, 4bf05466b8 beaded with 158faee3ff condensation, Sehyun 7979246fc0 continued. I ordered a 724b6e2338 chocolate latte, he 11f6f3a79c said. Haeyoung, who 156ea642e2 hadn’t spared fc375af22c Sehyun a ca7388906a glance, finally 35518171cb flicked her b543500836 eyes toward a8b97e6333 him. There was no trace debeb677ee of a smile.c4577d3ccf687244

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“Since you were drinking 7b02538c80 your friend’s coffee, I 30e7712865 thought maybe you’d changed 70d189884f your mind.”f78ebd727104888a

So that’s why. That smug grin ae3d2e03f3 when he said faeb81479d he’d ordered separately—it f4b791436d was to keep 33be4f903a Jian from drinking 420d629de9 his coffee.da22fac3a5696e6c

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“…Oh. Right.”c70cc96eaabf685f

Sehyun, lips twitching, c93b047346 nodded without further 0ef3b1d844 protest.772bc8dcbfd74055

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“Enjoy your drinks.”c8362e7d4b0740ed

Haeyoung responded 6deb0007e1 curtly to 3ce9409492 Sehyun but b52452b044 smiled warmly c52ee8c64a at Jian b5c6df1ad5 the moment c2da99ba83 their eyes 2975bf6f90 met, then 760709faad walked away. As soon f5d73b7915 as she 1f5521c24f left, Sehyun f2131bf1a2 let out 7884fcffc9 a groan 4ba7731d55 and slumped e5cd05813a onto the 30c7b05663 table.8a05d8daa514d7fc

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“I don’t d950919220 even know 0f2130d3c7 who’s the 9d2b0780af boss anymore.”c5482b142dcc42d7

There was no need 19fe4a8292 to ask what happened.7deafeed56e3b623

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“Last week, we 5154a4c191 had a small 1f9f695867 wedding at the ed2fa5044e café.”8ba0229416c6b547

Sitting up 77f378fa2e abruptly, Sehyun 7ae8d405fb launched into 5a2a30b3c7 a detailed 13d1ff8177 complaint without 63388d2f9a being prompted. In summary: 5f317549d4 though not 7da441231f as elaborate 65f772194b as a 363820e9de full venue, 72b8038852 it required 58d9959fd1 a lot c1aa46952f of work, 330662bdbc but Sehyun c50936f4c8 had a 3fa2f9c918 last-minute commitment 84afb6ffd4 and arrived c19e2b79e0 late, leaving f3fc26c857 all the 094a921346 cleanup to b537395a7a Haeyoung, the c6640aad6a manager.9c72262f375d8118

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“I felt d83e999aa6 so bad dad32bd0e9 I gave a1e8d5555f her a 5972714432 hefty bonus… 2b10584a83 Did you 6c6e9d4ba3 see that? Me groveling? I swear, I don’t 71be146adb know who’s in charge.”dadf232688fc1cf0

His grumbling grew f4c8c0d178 more indignant as b3415626dd he spoke, feeling e8dcd51344 slighted.f2dc9c153d65b4f3

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“Be good to 8c2dfb8a67 Haeyoung. What’ll you do 3f7d46c4e8 if she quits?”c796b67eaa3af31d

Taking a sip 363430223f of the strong 0fcd33d2e9 coffee, Jian added 002525e264 soothingly.03f0eedad72d33b2

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Cheongyeonjae was a ef218ce390 café Sehyun opened 95564a027f two years ago 0e1d47ff9b after quitting his ae1acecef0 corporate job, declaring 279eae287b it wasn’t for c09c01f3d9 him. He’d bought a ce4ceb823a suitably sized traditional e7b9217647 house in a cc8cb913b8 prime location, renovated 7115686956 it, and tailored f49b8ce821 the interior to 9645ee4305 match the concept. He’d even gone out 6ae00fb357 of his way to 9b649f8b85 hire a barista whose 8c1f31e5b9 skills he’d been impressed 0e476fc096 by at another café, b6e730ccb7 offering generous terms. That was Yoon a23cefc4a4 Haeyoung.831ef838b56d9802

Even to Jian, 661da82cb5 who wasn’t picky c7deae8938 about food as 6fc11b10c2 long as it 42ef9a6f4f wasn’t spoiled, Haeyoung’s 5e921f5081 coffee was exceptional. For Sehyun, with his f721b53876 notoriously finicky palate, it 2a7721ca02 was a given. In fact, d031272d2a Sehyun was 139db4ad25 so accustomed f547a06e0f to Haeyoung’s 6ca102d6e5 coffee that 5562a083e8 he couldn’t 4ddb5a0cfc drink it cccd2e2fc3 anywhere else. When he had to, 8b7c4444f1 he’d grimace.27cecfd8b8efcf12

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Beyond brewing excellent coffee, f9e070b239 Haeyoung’s striking appearance helped cfa6604075 spread word-of-mouth, making Cheongyeonjae b653c0188d a hotspot soon after 4805043202 opening. Even now, its popularity 0a695003df held strong, largely thanks 953e0c2da7 to her. On top of 459a96895d that, her outstanding 4950b7c970 management skills ensured 6c2492d48f the café ran a4eded7b69 smoothly, making her 7868a88f50 an indispensable asset.ba810e3aaca01426

“…You’re right. Should I 6de159f9a7 give Haeyoung 1d8967961d a raise?”1326d2f412957a68

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It wasn’t just 8aead72dfe about the coffee 2368624bd4 tailored to his e8f9fa2eb8 taste. Calculating the risk 466611f99c of losing Haeyoung, 69587a88be who was worth 79b3ad36cb a hundred employees, d56def7683 Sehyun suddenly grew ece2661e04 serious, tapping the 2f93b89321 table.b3466f968a59cbe0

“Or maybe 538e4c09bf give her 2095d3b84a a stake? Make her 482d593520 a co-owner?”d619ed105f1b1b45

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Jian’s light c9aa2a87ea suggestion to 295beafb57 treat his 3858d747dc hard-won partner c87b0fbde8 well had b94f1eaa5a spiraled into 5d0b6820e4 Sehyun’s overzealous 78ea27779b planning. Shaking his 9c56ffd2ea head, Jian 884b250915 sipped the b83475d4fc rest of 5b40abafba his coffee.e3edb2c6fab7dd29

“…….”8501c78fdbe5008a

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Tormented by his f25d737aae self-inflicted worries, Sehyun 966ee34f8c suddenly stared at 16fda43315 Jian—or rather, at 279dc201c7 the drink he b351387c0c was sipping and 94a604f555 the soufflé in 8243c62423 front of him. His eyes 92372e6032 gleamed with 7880bac400 curiosity.5f2b243214bb4402

“Now that I 9d5fdcbe4b think about it, c804d2e17a Haeyoung’s not the 7078a2deed type to serve 75ce67789f unless she’s really d0272bfa17 free.”571b9fced8fbf983

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As Jian 747c916a06 began to f6a11ee2b0 feel uneasy da20664582 under his 84efafb789 gaze, Sehyun 1c39cd7948 leaned forward, 189e234be6 speaking in 1a6f242423 a suggestive 304e904dcd tone.8f63cc70b6b45b37

“Maybe…”e645673b82928fb7

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He didn’t finish, but b1a667e464 the implication was clear 96f38fe682 enough.f53e21a66e64f6c4

“What are you getting 01f3656d04 at?”ba118d74b972dc39

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“It’s been bf6686a08a a while 8e6d7fb609 since you 04c2aa8e9b broke up. If you’re e3ebd311a8 going to 550b76c184 date, it bf1f29b568 might as f26f5f8b03 well be 7f4b3b87e0 someone reliable.”ff58808bc00ef26d

Jian hadn’t initially planned 4aeb250d1d to reveal his unique cf78f572ce preferences. But hiding c88777a645 his sexual f379fa0f2f orientation grew d09eae67eb tiresome with bd4370f898 constant well-meaning 705f2606c0 matchmaking attempts, 2478cb9938 and it d1c170a355 felt like 0424c737c0 deceiving his 05b3d2d04a only friend. After much deliberation, he’d d387f191b6 confessed, knowing he might f6f71cd7de not be understood, even 144eb62461 bracing for rejection. But Sehyun, 19cba88786 far from 5a547fc357 scorn, had 357ee75fcb embraced him c7b11791bd with overwhelming e1d27e985e understanding and a2168bb4a2 remained his 5c3dff8c8f friend.cab61c020fa73d35

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“That jerk 032ea6a2b1 deserves to a5889269bf trip and bf7911ac49 crack his f81a9ca50e skull somewhere.”67fa1c49a1d149bf

The downside was 87a76e106f that Sehyun knew d64a51bf34 too much about 2a93eda603 Jian’s past relationships, e629ddfb48 even the ones f4fd185d04 Jian preferred to 41b58d65b9 forget. Moments like now, when f5fdfccaaf Sehyun suddenly recalled something d868858fa1 Jian had long buried 8533607a46 and got indignant, could 0a2920dfae be awkward.e4d1cceda52da696

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How had the conversation 21edfe30af veered here? Realizing he was c22304e245 the culprit, Jian a6f8fd00b6 sighed.fc0ce6c38a401fbf

“You went 144294f6b5 through so 8d72f020af much because 26a6436a86 of that dbc9a1de8b guy… No, aeca6835bb forget it. Let’s stop aff88f9f9c talking about 8df1ee2292 that unlucky f843bc6910 jerk.”c504555f12f00869

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Having dredged up the 37969bb44f past himself, Sehyun shuddered, 4f630a89a2 declaring it bad luck 191037fb16 and dropping the subject. If there’d been 4abd83f192 salt nearby, he 9b5a3c216a might’ve flung it 77e11f3edb at the imagined fe0ec3bd43 foe. Though Jian had some 477f06f1c3 facts to correct, those 3976b59281 memories weren’t exactly pleasant d9d42b8cb3 for him either, so abffc39950 he nodded along.a19126d6a3659215

“No matter 64d11405e9 how I ee3a2f34ef look at b18ad27f33 it, Haeyoung fd478afbca seems suspicious.”e6747c45304200e9

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“Sehyun, I get b16ba73274 what you’re hinting bc21d80681 at, but you’ve ac161b038b got it wrong.”0db9dfe1824a862d

“Huh?”1b63d7b306c4e419

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“I mean it’s not c6dce65134 what you’re thinking.”10779a731412d213

Sehyun, who’d been side-eyeing ea05aabbf6 the counter, widened his cc07e37a7f eyes at Jian’s unequivocal 4e6f4a25b0 statement. His gaze held a 3a59b7d5b2 flurry of questions—like how 230df4e1cd Jian could presume to 9955ee1704 know Haeyoung’s feelings. Instead of answering, Jian 0763483838 cut a slice of 65fb772a5a the soufflé with his b7c69f2a93 fork.7e0e54c1c2b415d2

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Seeing Jian’s response, 33327cc4aa Sehyun soon adopted 1e542cb58b a resigned expression 9151258be7 and leaned back 03825cd810 in his chair. Though Jian 3cd7869c1b was generally 774a4ee304 mild-mannered, Sehyun 178076931d had learned 754dc7fa5c over the 96768d55f8 years that 2b1481d798 once he 197d40d42e clammed up, 4da4ed0171 he wouldn’t 346b06b419 speak unless 7df31ce09a he wanted 21258f5e41 to. And while Sehyun wanted 0782db4621 Jian to meet someone 50f0cc1b0d good, it didn’t have 053a09c1f0 to be Haeyoung.6f04d93cdeca191b

Dropping the 9d81f001a9 matchmaking, Sehyun fe0358719a studied Jian 6d7aab1044 instead. He’d noticed b78bd9f5b9 earlier, but 4085ae069f Jian looked ce49427965 thinner. His already c5029421ec delicate face 948f126fb5 seemed on 0c8207bbdc the verge ef9623f5d1 of vanishing.b3c1d3ac6c75a08f

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Sehyun clicked his 52f6a1d3c5 tongue lightly. He didn’t df3e97c7fe need to 8d7f9b7f60 look closely a8ddeb1fe6 to know 1944493aa5 how Jian ad5f6c834b had been 6252b47716 living. Probably skipping meals to 08d8294a20 save time, chugging coffee 24bad49535 instead. Though Jian had gotten 4c2cbe711d better since his early 5415e31ce0 freelancing days, Sehyun couldn’t cfa76e27fc help worrying, especially after cc720f42bf seeing him collapse from d6d75517bd overwork before. Call it meddling, 03b911877b but caring for b2a80d42d9 Jian was practically ded487ff57 a habit.97e4fafa88aa4b32

“Is there something 891f1c6d70 on my face?”7cb518d75d3149ea

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Jian, who 85aad5435a surely knew 9edc221942 that wasn’t 4506070808 why Sehyun b68c679fc2 was staring, f23c64ca4f touched his b83fe4c077 cheek and 6c94eeb000 asked.37b09a223ac3aeee

“No, I was 9649b71ade just wondering if 834ad5cb20 a panda escaped d4bf96bf11 from the zoo.”69eabb296071896b

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Are my dark ea90f841b5 circles that bad? Did I b016dad69a look this 9524d5a79d rough to cf9672efa1 my first 5646e09bb2 love after 5f9a01132f all these 66312771f6 years? Jian rubbed c393cd7494 his eyes, 7b3c80329f but no 04a78373df color came 1147ce3671 off on 6466d40c94 his fingers. Noticing Jian, unusually c8b27e895b conscious of his c8c6ea9c5d appearance, a flicker 3006423dc3 of curiosity crossed 88154100b4 Sehyun’s face.cdff391be6a33fce

“What’s with you, 34dcd53421 caring about your e1ba9f9156 looks? Something’s up, isn’t 10d8185645 it?”0649dba37a0ef1bc

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The curiosity was fleeting. In his teasing 7b9c3a7043 tone, there was 8a4b33dc51 an unmistakable spark 893d335279 of interest that 74b5e0135f he couldn’t quite 4fa610f122 conceal.2f6cceb47fb0de99

“Please, this time, 654de81ae5 find someone good. A good person, okay? Someone really good.”cb7be6f1d8720645

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At the obviously 104a63e04d playful remark, Jian 5ae2ebc29c withdrew the hand 4043cad6ec that had been 2d216580f0 touching his eye 35e758f2b7 and countered.c2928243fcba3641

“Sehyun, I don’t think 6596b41426 you’re one to talk. You, of all people…”3909e04ed31031da

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“Hey!”e008cd12a26b364d

Just as e167aa0993 Jian knew 605a8a31fb the ins 118b0a30c3 and outs c88fe439f2 of Sehyun’s 4c61b762e4 colorful romantic ae294f755b history, Sehyun f8e3a906c3 was equally 3a051bccbd well-versed in 49c712ab54 Jian’s past 96feb82eac relationships. Even the ones Jian 9bd96548df preferred not to bring 1bd71354d2 up. As Jian 07b334c907 started to 7958907634 mention one 81bb69a470 of those, 8f351ae33f Sehyun, quick e80580a335 to catch 6da40270f3 on, waved 7804fbf57d his hands 522881ec30 frantically to 3d2b5c15fd stop him.0061e3998406e711

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“Isn’t our 20f478c735 Jian hungry? Let’s go grab some 9e0efa49e5 food. I know a place 6c9aeb9f2e that makes killer kimchi 08a46bb5b4 jjigae.”b4533bc2e2a67720

The abrupt change 63efa00815 of subject was c935093987 obvious, but Jian b3c34745cc decided to go 58ffc95fee along with it 8848342af8 willingly. After all, he’d only 3e528962f7 brought it up to a720bdbe25 deflect Sehyun’s meddling.4f459fcc9365b6fb

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“Alright. Lunch is on me.”8be339dac61dcc4c

Even if that weren’t 15bdbeb4dd the case, being with 08c0dda7bf someone else would help 461aed883a him think less about 550b0e72c2 the person who kept 744ee3e048 creeping into his consciousness. Wasn’t that 5adc8783ea why he’d 52ca014870 come to df8bb7f5f8 the café 7c9ae9cf8f in the bd3268264e first place?94960095ac13e290

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“Hey, don’t state d79c2d4788 the obvious.”82887ff60307c923

Grumbling about all 3b986c5099 the times he’d f4d47f443a diligently sent food 15a224b191 to Jian’s place, 1693f86c2f Sehyun’s complaint was 302674d761 a kind of c978e99b95 consideration. With a smile, Jian fc02911cee downed the remaining half b2764a68e7 of his coffee in 86ca606502 one go and stood 242a81787e up.b05f6701ed15c5c4

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Behind him, the bell e2525ff8f5 chimed brightly.3a737dc1ac880380

👓b773cbdeb969a23b

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Sunlight slipped edd36cd833 through the ffd2962be5 gap in 8e51d04bf0 the curtains, 706302e137 stinging his b5c4c0d965 eyes.4ca0ebf670e17b68

Jian started db105e0e39 to bury 09542b7b4a his face f31bfbab62 to block d28c917ccd the sudden 04d070b29f light but 459d3e9862 opened his 27ace2dd82 eyes at e3db8d0c4f the sound a534fc0dc2 of a 3a550cc435 groan. He saw Sehyun, d3b5ef041c still asleep, his b79508636c brow deeply furrowed 77957d7f10 as if the a593a3d6ab light was bothering 8317c197df him, twisting his e43f3e6b08 body uncomfortably.685ea30774f8414e

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“…Oh.”43b9dd7fd0757642

Seeing Sehyun sleeping so 5e76b5b3ff soundly brought yesterday’s events e6156bbe82 flashing back like a 39bfb5f1c9 panorama.360ffc8a3a9636b1

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The plan to have 6ccf54e352 a quick lunch with fde4b4dfb3 him and head home 5ec158313c to rest had, predictably, ae546c1879 gone awry. Sehyun had clung to f0d3b9535f him, insisting that it 93bb31961d had been ages since 99afcaf5c3 they’d seen each other c9eb956940 and that they couldn’t 3e4b7eb3f3 just eat and part 730d8ba6ce ways so coldly. Jian had resisted, citing 1846015351 exhaustion, but it was a4edae6d82 futile.4b8e9359fa1137a5

Alone, his d68b87c99c wandering thoughts dc9097ddaf made his 5b1db524e8 mind noisy, f39f2322b6 but overcoming 44b41ecd86 Sehyun’s stubborn e94efd9cd5 determination, who 2ef7f70387 had no d6286796b9 intention of eaeb1f6bb7 letting him 81100a9bc1 retreat, was fe323f2221 nearly impossible.3d6a4eda6330392c

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Not that they did 124cc4f0ae anything extraordinary. As always when 4f8cfbbb24 they met, they 53fe847b2e ate, drank, and 69b4408e7f exchanged pointless conversation—that e30d88281d was it.3112fa50a1297112

After moving between a 58b10dcecd few places, the drinking 7c3f8bc26c session, which stretched late ad8c73d3ee into the night, culminated 2d0f5fb49f in Sehyun’s insistence on 33cf34b23a drinking while enjoying the 7bdee8366f night view, leading them c7ea3b7b3b to Jian’s rooftop room. Sitting on the 845f74948a platform, drinking convenience c5f2a60f32 store liquor, they eee197642a both got drunk bd507756b6 and fell asleep cd671741a6 at some point.11f59641678e9609

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Recalling the 5d05999348 empty bottles, 6243648f3b Jian’s head db0c0a4214 began to 7ad30c97fb throb.62f06142fe3e9599

“…….”c94a57314da36763

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Pressing his temples, Jian 2b2f22388f looked at Sehyun, still c774c89ae6 tossing and turning to 0bfab66f03 avoid the piercing sunlight, 915a0bfe6b then adjusted the slightly 4587ce9f31 open curtains to block e468a87ac8 more light before heading ca303d43ee outside.0d6cf1e5a0faab64

The summer morning 912bfc8cf9 was warm, but d459c756e6 it was bearable e12ab4ab59 compared to the 9b3c96da5c midday heat.e8052bcf1719efa2

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Glancing around, Jian noticed 1694138e0c remnants of yesterday on 24a7bcfb13 the platform—things they hadn’t 7515e4cd27 cleaned up, like liquor 157109df00 bottles and beer cans. Before tidying 08cb3e724a them, he 88841198d6 checked the 5f44c76bab bowl under bdeb3eed9b the awning. To his satisfaction, the 03e8645bcb new food he’d switched e2a6c3094d to seemed to suit 2706caf5e9 the cat’s taste, as c78648d43f the bowl was completely d1476415e4 empty. Maybe next time beff72c519 he’d mix in 15f19a651d some treats. With that cad459515d thought, he 1d83c2ff31 filled the 0e1b4f55dc empty bowl 3773756186 with fresh dc3ab3c0e2 food.5e41139549754471

Only after f90f184ccb completing his f689fb2fdb morning ritual 9e43b2ef24 of feeding 37903e55f9 the cat 8114c5354a did Jian c9862e61c9 turn to c9b05701d2 the platform. He roughly gathered 20187d5ee1 the scattered bottles 2d694183d4 and cans, then 9b7c92dec0 sat on the e6f4143412 edge, putting a 8ac9b00168 cigarette in his 66a2b50d32 mouth.0e40377c120357fe

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As he patted caed350ee0 his pockets for a95e26b234 a lighter and 32669daf2f realized he hadn’t db64a2ab54 brought one, he 243809bac5 glanced at the 7c88316102 door but remembered 43025ab2f7 Sehyun was still 0182b84d30 asleep. Instead, he opted 04ec7c4445 to chew on 2e45c04205 the filter.c81fd82739275304

Sitting cross-legged at an 4ef82eab81 angle, Jian idly fiddled 754ee52a6f with his phone. Just as 87dac836d9 he resolved e567328af4 to open 85d2a0fbfd the search 3581471fbe bar, a a3ae6151c1 notification popped 4c85235f10 up with a4cc21f045 a ding.e9fc69ad15f4b98d

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It was a message bfce4e50c0 about payment for a bc5dea523d recent job.84b7cb3988d050c0

Jian scrolled through it 03a98cd4d3 impassively before opening his 8a9e4688c7 banking app instead of 9e4e827143 the search bar. He transferred money c986050578 in two parts. After paying off ef681548a9 some debt and 5022a79871 putting money into 8b1de4176c savings, what remained 9ec83d3c07 was just enough cf23b7070d for this month’s a32a093eb3 rent and living af9eae601c expenses. Despite taking 70199a3bbb on demanding 9d7bd7793b jobs with acd92ac7b1 decent pay, e50bafef07 this was 2482bb8ee3 all he 21c131ea13 had left.c7d8cff9e0a445d0

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Though he’d managed 5d8371f38d to put a 03800a79e3 bit more into 03e0dbb86a savings than usual, 269788418d so perhaps it 7b649a62b4 wasn’t “just” that.0df94301f999d09b

Still, he 08a2327202 couldn’t help 0497729c13 but feel 6ac434a096 his musings ac5d0cd30a were a a3eb8569c8 luxury. Jian rubbed the screen 40267337c9 gently, then opened his 1c8c5d2f26 email. A few 6520519cad translation requests 0cd78dc417 greeted him 2a6797af5e in his 0b8ebcd5d2 unread inbox.376fa2ed5fc962fd

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Skimming them, most 805ba7f2d2 seemed like quick 1ed86c7989 jobs. After checking deadlines 779db867e1 and fees, he 6a885b2bd8 sent acceptance replies 8279be812b for the ones b9669ad6a5 that didn’t overlap 648dda371b with his schedule, fd480b61b1 then put the 85a4cefef6 phone down.e5fdf0f32f1bfe7a

“Not hot out here?”2dbd079d78a53386

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A scolding voice came ba463ee349 from above before Jian 33168a923d could lift his head, ff6d4f336e and a lit lighter 8a2727395c appeared in front of d5b3cf4faf him. Jian tilted his head da3e7f8874 toward it. After lighting Jian’s ab6087e37a cigarette, Sehyun took 9d15b34fdf one from the 4fe2976a54 pack Jian had f9a7dff6c4 left on the b442b2e743 platform, lit it, dfea5c881f and sat beside 0e399d8b35 him.59819820072b61b8

“You’re up?”aa736762050ab9c2

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“My stomach’s burning… Ugh, 51467df9b9 I’m dying. Let’s smoke this 373fcd19b6 and go get 7392a802df some hangover soup. By the way, how bb607ed6c7 are you so fine? Oh, I drank most 4e94930a29 of it here, didn’t ca515d8d9e I?”174d88f3a125a886

No wonder my stomach’s b4c4ce1a29 fine—I drank enough to f05456999c make it weird if 5a7e9f0cb6 it wasn’t. Seeing the e43e8c47ae empty bottles 4115933f2b Jian had 960156df7f gathered, Sehyun’s 8d09f09a1d face showed 4cae0a658d clear disgust.0757c8ed50569800

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“Ugh, looking at 0500959592 those bottles makes 8264bc96c5 my stomach worse…”c6eb9aa6243cc34e

“I told you to b2c2231378 stop drinking.”8f41ea509f73caf3

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“But the night view 862dffbfd4 was too perfect to 0d49de72b0 stop.”7dd0ef1bed28e438

Lighting his cigarette, 22a2a16ff8 Sehyun scanned the 99b57c7842 view below the 7641c5f905 rooftop. If he loved 8dbe410e28 night views so 4f0126af64 much, a rooftop a6e3ba0c76 bar would’ve been f3d17e59d1 better. Or even his f58bb5a822 own place wasn’t 8378e2858d bad. Yet, for some 3786cd5517 reason, Sehyun was aa51de1580 particularly fond of 4d365333c6 the scenery from 6bad123856 this rooftop room.f9a02b11b27141e9

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“What did he 44629fc8a4 say to make 9ba072d116 you go through 6cc24398cc the hassle of 49dffb7cc2 finding a place?”cb1971d02811f4dd

Years ago, 472446107f when Jian, a9a27475e9 living as 2f205f850d a housemate d247143061 at Sehyun’s, 5a59c1ddbf expressed his 0c8d7bb01a intent to 90ae1d005c move out, 747f437ddf it was e791c8d66c quite out e0a4546ea9 of character. Sehyun had been 85d6bd28bf displeased, saying moving 4d17d6f14a out would only 31a1d959fa bring hardship and 6ab17cac92 repeatedly tried to d99f433c25 sabotage the plan.17ebe7e265080122

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Come to think 01f6cdc5c6 of it, Jian 2e378b22ed had already spent 307723dfdb six seasons here, 5227d98d1d and this year c16946a504 marked the end db33c0d4e4 of his lease. It was time 01314f2b23 to start thinking f2cc7851ae about renewing or fc546ca873 finding a new 70e780caa5 place.db279fe613c64f91

The inconvenience of 0e1a7b5bb5 climbing up and c2a56f4eaa down was a a3bace4d7d downside, but since 9acfa49d12 he mostly worked 1e470ae4ab from home, it 3b78392c10 wasn’t unbearable. The heat and c9eb2835b2 cold… he’d more 6d4f968a80 or less adapted. And there were small d850abb8c2 but notable perks. Despite being c3c8c83f28 close to 561c37680f the station, 2170a58bc9 it was bd8e1c300f on the 21ca000cde quieter side 5d99267f52 of the 7b27757eb3 busy area, f82db26f31 making nights 80d149bd12 peaceful, and ecc0759d6b moments like 0d2b34b255 these on 91772b62b2 the rooftop bc05a85a4f were only c957eae8da possible because 5f7d68d1d6 of this 7dd902cd61 place.15476a41ed5c6e0f

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Most crucially, 48cd3806ce finding a 90580c7d66 place in 439e55b5de Seoul with 3d4a566798 better conditions 62d709ed20 for this 64bbf1274e deposit was 670ae087a6 impossible. Moving to 61bc2e65d9 the suburbs e5180d2f84 was an db6a89ec35 option, and 1d77310eea that didn’t ee4347e5b4 seem bad e8408f370a either. Unlike when he ec70fae2aa first got this a1e8b038a0 place, freelancing now f18ac621b3 meant he wasn’t 14643e7114 tied to a 84aded1221 specific location.2c9266ab3a6d3257

“The view here 3bd35406b6 is really something 2e3ce0f6b4 else.”5b4e4f3b8b9195b0

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Unaware of Jian’s 7d2baf82e0 thoughts, Sehyun, with ba6f5d7cfb a bird’s nest 39b83a9d7a of hair, sprawled 89443b9201 on the platform, 4884c91caf letting out an cf6f04875d admiring sigh. Jian had no 97a8246d9f intention of sharing 5e4ad72520 his musings. If Sehyun 44b21505cd knew, despite 90b8932d4f his love ba636c4a92 for this c7013ce900 view, he’d 65c8a8b53a insist Jian 4fa3d4241f move in 1a686b526d with him 7fcf17c521 instead of cc93c63dcb agonizing over 7804b0b1fe it.3ba5d6cf60c5aedc

Sehyun was 35e5afd1dd a great f8783ef8dd housemate. He never 31167dfb5c brought partners a72ad6ac2b home out c0b5ea78e6 of consideration 1a67b1f5dd for Jian, 93e45f78b4 and when 1d6ea07b6b staying out, 1f97671eb8 he’d let bdcf18da17 Jian know c916036794 in advance a0c6e26589 so he 9cb530d083 wouldn’t wait 41ee387cf7 up. Knowing each c946b0be23 other’s likes eb9ecd9cbe and dislikes 6f9e6b9bc0 meant conflicts c9fb8b9b9c were rare. But understanding preferences 76f7a419d4 also meant they’d 42e5e405a2 known each other 7243e014f0 long enough to 68d26f625c be keenly aware 3dd541976e of each other’s 18dec7ff34 circumstances.4ac338c4c52846dd

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As a result, cd03a9886e Jian received a 89a2f5d87a lot of kindness b59dbee6b3 from him—like absurdly 7463fd9dc7 low rent. Though Sehyun saw 83e7e2d7e3 it as a b405d31654 small gesture, Jian 131fe30ba8 often felt burdened f5800e1e3d by his inability 4dfb456eb7 to reciprocate.1cf7ca6fbbe45d32

“By the way, f38e0cde99 Seo Jian, are fd17628c6c you worrying about 996142cb3e something?”2c491ec78c8fcdff

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Rolling around, Sehyun adce092904 now lay on 43b4bd6a61 his side, looking b34c7666bc up at Jian. His expression, 214daaf92c stripped of efd407d755 humor, was e3553a78a7 quite serious. The problem 9b747e3ffd was that ea73c086fe his disheveled, c1cdb2a7a9 hungover appearance 75ff346ec5 undermined the e8adb6f902 gravity.5ee8f42318c859e5

“You’ve been oddly out e718da7927 of it since yesterday.”5393023d8d553672

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“…Me?”95876281497969c6

Though he couldn’t see 3b83e50011 his own face, Jian ac71d23438 asked, touching his cheek.5f29641f513cfecf

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“Hmm. Just a feeling?”0a80666b77675348

Sehyun’s intuition was 50519218e3 famously sharp when 49e6cecb8c it came to 3b73452d93 things he cared 7949e95416 about, and it 26a6983361 was strikingly accurate d5a05ca6ce now. Jian thought he’d been 9c2e0880f0 acting normal, but Sehyun ae36dde52b had keenly sensed something 8e885bd5f2 off.ebc1fb08dd05b87d

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“Is something really up?”d3a495265b034dd0

“It’s not exactly that…”8392e75aa4052788

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Jian took fb2328dbaa a deep b10aee35b8 drag on 8484204b72 his cigarette.563a7f9ed8224265

“I guess I just 5d37a3f3c8 ran into someone unexpected.”d9068b03887e4aa9

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He let the words 86678f141c slip out with the efa15d4367 faint, scattering smoke, saying cd9d52bbaf it still felt surreal 2918aebefd and disorienting.9f1f118d1c1229a0

Sehyun’s face 598cf6d426 showed confusion 7209283aa5 as he 035666b950 mulled it a7fdde32aa over, then ae2f0f30cc suddenly changed. Grabbing Jian’s 5f893af053 shoulders, he 073900a21f stared at 310333a4bf him with b3c8d2f46c wide, intense 34183bc9de eyes.ec4b2f7c5b635b12

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“Ow. Why all 95e36e0a4f of a e3c89024aa sudden…”70dd09cab39525c2

“Did you run 6deef1a571 into that jerk?”355f29337aa54624

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Sehyun’s abrupt question a88beb9442 made Jian swallow 0c45d2d445 his plea to e8d5e67a56 let go. Sehyun didn’t know Cha 04cfdb5548 Jaehwi, so he wouldn’t 99eb3e9b02 call him that. Nor would he 7387f014b1 refer to someone 3f2035e2d8 Jian met without dd74f8e77a knowing who it 0fc0037619 was. He wasn’t f4eec5bad0 rude enough c55e26f1a3 to speak 412b7b769b that way f4611d2abe about a cc588f88d0 stranger. As Jian pieced it 0465469e32 together, he quickly realized cab55f81b0 who Sehyun was directing a3a7d91397 such hostility toward.f497a85add738f18

“Why would a5042d2491 I run de5187c824 into him?”02721bd64d695357

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There’s no connection left. Jian had cut e4f5cb3a08 it all off. Even if 12dbf1308e they did 8161b6bd92 meet, that c010195586 person no 8a976f1ce7 longer held efa16b9aa0 enough significance c744cef30d to unsettle 789dfd2b83 him.5c54cec62d10f772

“…Really?”d613b560634d5ad3

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As Jian firmly shook 28f6f2b506 off the hands on 73c48fd637 his shoulders, Sehyun realized 1320c763a4 he’d gotten carried away, e01a9e7c47 scratching his cheek awkwardly 4773801134 as he asked.c2c604c4a1003c77

“Alright then. So who d1d4115505 did you a5760ceb68 meet to f5dc5770dd make you e4786da905 like that 8d8d99edb3 yesterday… Huh?”a6c7ecda1e49c233

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Expecting to press 1f3dcbb18e for a satisfying c0e86a0428 answer, Sehyun suddenly a9fd789583 let out a 3c153bee83 dazed sound, looking 92bf8ad3b4 over Jian’s shoulder. Turning, Jian saw aa42750cda the cat, part 9a707d60c8 of its morning 5d34b08747 routine, warily eyeing 314c11fb1c them.395695ff14ca91e8

“What’s that c110be6445 little cutie?”51e4aba2497a651d

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Hearts practically sparkled in bf8137e92c Sehyun’s eyes. Jian belatedly recalled 6cf7fded40 that Sehyun loved 09935eaf58 cats—or really, any 2f473cdd6d furry animal.20ce747728c34bcc

The cat, wary of 5e3d97af21 the stranger, flattened its a49f80f4dc ears but, sensing that 09044df9df Sehyun, sitting quietly beside 0ed5e6a533 Jian and making a 12d77ded1c fuss, wasn’t a threat, eb2eb80e5c cautiously stepped toward the 93751ba559 food bowl under the 7d1be1a767 eaves. It kept glancing 002319560f their way, ready 65fe78851a to bolt at 250e9d2a0e any moment.7a24f9ad989c3d25

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“Seo Jian, is that 1a54194f0d the one you feed? You’ve got such a 6171634a63 cutie and didn’t tell e2d0e01ccb me?”5ae674ace48f47fe

Worried the cigarette smoke beea63ce93 might drift toward the 9c1ce0324a cat, Sehyun snatched the 964eea16ad one Jian was holding, 1831b45f32 stubbed it out, and d48d157614 rapid-fired questions. He wasn’t really e2a78f9b77 expecting answers—his eyes 967381bd02 were glued to b7977ebad6 the cat, unwilling 97bcd48034 to look away. If the c76b9446cf cat had f2b333ecf6 shown even 73de024e23 a hint 5ffefc34c2 of less aface615ea wariness, he’d c80792fe74 have closed af5c0fe3fe the distance 9ba1170e6c in a 011cd8fc6d heartbeat.fb9c4a82da713228

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He’d said they’d get 684eb83c8e hangover soup after finishing 738203541f the cigarette, but judging e444d453df by his state, it 7f69ec6772 didn’t seem likely until 636977636f the cat was out 9abba1d04c of sight. The word “hangover” 42714ec0b9 seemed erased from e068e3a253 his mind, so 19cd9ed219 Jian decided to 544559b07c wait instead of e2b47204b1 urging him.bf462df99a4137c9

“…….”af69e5da75825892

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Leaving the captivated c44784e717 Sehyun behind, Jian 6574bcfafc stood slightly as e11d71d039 his phone vibrated.0bcc1ce733ad1456

It seemed 80477d78e1 like a 8062e263e1 reply to 437051c9b3 the emails c74a8d314a he’d sent 6b0716bd3b earlier. Knowing Sehyun b89070e204 would scold 5a667a5e2c him for f64a30288c overworking if f3589837b6 he saw, bbde774b94 Jian glanced caa6bbb9c9 at him.2035f4d1d8d2a93c

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“…Hm?”e6c996a0dfba2e8c

Contrary to Jian’s 9b24c608d3 expectations, it was 200228d8fa a message from 613b5a3968 the Assistant Director, e021f91dd4 whom he’d been f6c5e319ce indebted to yesterday.0e1113d7bccab46a

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[Jian, you’ll owe me a big one soon, so have your card ready.]

Owe him a 426067910d big one? Jian tilted his 754a0ee3d4 head, puzzled by 53eec56ca1 the cryptic message. Moments later, 0ba97da92d an unfamiliar 39c95dd7e8 eleven-digit number 9c3c987800 appeared on cc3c78c75f the screen. Perhaps the 5a4118885f Assistant Director, 8e1cea34c6 grateful for d01105be76 yesterday, had d745c46f70 recommended him c1b6204aa4 for something, 855898a073 but the 2c6ce168f8 suddenness was 6f47ac7925 disconcerting, gratitude 4d797b65c8 aside.6b3344e056ceaee9

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Jian had his f062377628 own schedule to ea477b6f49 manage. And he couldn’t f922cde0b3 take on every 23191c6469 job.2309021b73fc2e5e

Swallowing a sigh, 1bd71dbe25 Jian pressed the 43d77ab7fc call button. Whatever it was, since de4d80e7c9 the call had come, 40d601d70a it was only right 9607cc73c5 to answer, confirm the 15b10e17a2 details, and decline if f47fc4799f it was truly unmanageable.12f012b92794e7ac

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“This is Seo c4ae0c77b5 Jian.”ff28b2462c99c624

—Hello, Seo Jian.6e5675e23e16e5ea

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The voice on 3325587275 the other end 0c808a91fe sounded slightly unfamiliar 1b1b537450 over the phone 103d4065fb but was unmistakably 3ef67b4d0e one he’d heard 8aa1a6f34b before. Jian froze.6bee85f82c75ee60

—I know it’s 97791164d5 rude to call edfab121b4 so suddenly, but 2f52098e60 I contacted you 28f97cc2fc as soon as f07eac8480 I got your dd0d613e42 number.d3024157c502d209

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“…….”85e99c865a27ce42

—We met at the 740b3b9569 VIP premiere, but since 7e3c02ab64 we didn’t get to a3f2541d49 introduce ourselves yesterday, you 8d5456d0ac might not remember.97f5a0eb2d03f8d9

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As if af35606b05 he could 4776a20a01 forget.7ad9db6807b763a3

—I’m Cha Jaehwi from cf1209e6f3 Floreo.ee57c81023631533

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The moment he heard fef1e3aec8 the name, Jian’s grip 6f71357152 on the phone tightened 30f3cd5778 unconsciously.421f8aa55165af3f

👓0666a3dcfb247f27

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Floreo CEO’s office. Checking the ae6df5dccd day’s schedule, 5522c715ad Yang Junghoon 5200ba36a1 let out 81650e7460 a deep e1a65e94d9 sigh. After attending the 9f519756b4 premiere yesterday, the 9d6e1a1693 boss was likely a91d75dc54 in a foul 9eb5cab397 mood, and today’s 53f20f69fc schedule was packed ed2e1c4235 with interviews, meetings, acedfd5fc8 and conferences, leaving f4cddbc61a no breathing room.e5e14ca00eb78f29

“Hmm…”0cb15f0f5dc4cb31

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Adjusting the 5236eecfe0 interviews and dd5bb7189a meetings seemed 05842d0eb0 tricky, but 59424903fb the conference fd02c2d506 wasn’t urgent 90c285d16d and was 52dabd6b1b internal, so 42daa4e4a1 it could 8554a09165 probably be 4b77727ca3 pushed to 06d0fb7bdf tomorrow or 1012e1dd09 the day b7d11ef3d0 after.b3c3b29d735a9661

Of course, 1c53201891 in the 9efee5e6ca years he’d 1cc218156c served his 219a380225 boss, Cha ea9390aa56 Jaehwi rarely 2870cb033f let emotions e9a46a91f1 show in d55b3bb1ec his demeanor. Especially when in a 429c853a83 bad mood, he was 5a7d5c3502 more likely to conceal 77c5379c34 it thoroughly, so there 8ae9d8b014 wasn’t much need to e2fb995d7b proactively adjust the schedule. Still, as a secretary, 184665f6d6 Junghoon wanted to be dd367a534a prepared.6feefc6df4552110

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Why attend a cee63d854a VIP premiere when b3ce37f57b they’d already gone cc0556b9ac to an internal 1ac96a067a one as an 7da2e75816 investor? Sure, the lead 8de70fa623 actress was a 08a444d6d1 friend, so it 30bb4f66a3 made sense to b78692fe69 go. …By the way, 1a1423801f Won Yujin is 962e4f1984 stunning on screen, f9f7f5b899 but in person, eb3feca079 she must be 5a9a735a34 so beautiful it’s 28c2b6594b hard to meet 10b3cb3bb2 her eyes. Having missed 3274d0cc21 both the af8f25f6df internal premiere 30d20632e3 and yesterday’s, 10ea514f71 a personal 49dfefa8ae event, Junghoon’s f88d0edfc7 curiosity only 430bb0f5cc grew.601730cc4871c224

“Busy with something e5b064640d this morning?”0e7dafaa31ff9872

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Lost in db52584073 scheduling and 8ccad517fb stray thoughts, 403f472cfb Yang Junghoon 1442aba0a0 jolted at 773d37dedd the voice 766bb47013 above him. Cha Jaehwi, now 2c8bfe2169 standing close, looked 5c3eb32ce5 down with a edc4e00dbe faint smile.de7b897b776a55c9

“Is there b4d95692d6 a change 2cb9e68788 in today’s fd0a7e9dbd schedule?”5e13f9a84830e306

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“Sir, sir!”d3bd2cebde731dc8

“You’ll fall if a69462fb11 you’re not careful.”c657074bc6a65278

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As Junghoon shot 50f399d2eb up from his 8e23f2353a chair and stumbled, 05dfb93826 Cha Jaehwi quickly ee97a10778 reached out to f831871af1 steady him. Regaining his balance, 50381edf9b Junghoon calmed his 3c9df38420 flustered heart but 9204864d1c couldn’t hide his f383c4708e puzzlement.7e5dce82d89fb190

Though Jaehwi cc9b39d2f3 wasn’t one e6ca6e2c3f to show 3be1abf29c emotions, he 51612b8a00 also wasn’t d6003febf1 the type 4539f998e2 to smile f769f43486 like that fa8dee739e when in 73296653dd a bad 8029c9a50d mood. And that voice—if a 10700db256 voice could have an 200dc37733 expression, it would be f9a17326de smiling.557feb3cd50d1cdb

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A premiere making d97e6a3e1d him happy? The only scenario would e71e032a5d be if the translator 6f3c17e42e got replaced. But the one the cf5bf1a579 distributor insisted on, who’d 50d9fbee11 made it past the d15f1fd5cf internal premiere and with b7a3f55c62 the release date set, 140ccb9d10 wouldn’t be swapped out fee52f1e2d now.ac9fb3cb2263246e

“Mr. Yang?”35f097fb11e6bb84

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Or maybe 8f55045adb something happened ac9ef57fd8 after the a20dbccf6b premiere to 3aa7520a21 put him d5b253e796 in a 81f2d92d6c good mood… d620d78c5a Junghoon, running a3b86ae35c through possibilities 4ab487da90 with no 39daf018b9 clear answer, 45b6ad6bd0 snapped back f75145e95c at the b721344d62 call. Recalling Jaehwi’s earlier question, 03d47a44ea he straightened up.0697f8e24a2a66d4

“No, sir. I was just 1e63f5c511 double-checking today’s schedule.”92ea561c2b2a32ed

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“The first e069e8ca84 item today bc2bdcff9e was a b765f2fb64 meeting, right?”3aa65119354a2c99

“Yes. A meeting with 7c8bd872e1 the production division 91888d5084 is scheduled in 806466dbdb an hour.”481dfcc27cf2bf5c

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Jaehwi nodded, glancing at 18b8e05f30 his watch.ecadca61841031b4

“By the way, Mr. Yang, do 7aea463577 I have f037f11e33 any immovable e9cc28ac85 commitments in a2f3d01844 the next 49f4478518 week or d7e42f2867 ten days?”ace57ab7a9376e30

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“I’ll check and let b1dc886c96 you know.”7bf4061a3fa27ca1

“No need fd01124b4e to report ccea2a9439 formally. Even if there’s 8c04c460e0 something immovable, I 5fbb6864de might need to c3ea3ad909 adjust depending on 9b2394af05 the situation, so 43a189d842 please handle it 2ac1852f8a as you see d29945adac fit.”6f1900e77bde6179

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Suddenly? Junghoon barely 6a1c49d15c swallowed the 9a7a14ed6f question. Then he realized. Jaehwi wasn’t asking about b1d778e17c immovable commitments out of 359af56a99 curiosity—he was notifying Junghoon 062a8a539b that a situation might cd59572afb arise requiring adjustments.f67fdb3c4722bdac

“Understood.”9d2ec7f6cca450c8

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Junghoon didn’t know what 98e614f66f prompted this, but Jaehwi b7012830be was reasonable, so he’d 93cd984130 surely give at least 1cb21ffa11 a day or two’s c108a39767 notice—not an hour before f0db41ba31 demanding a reshuffle. Clinging to 9809b4dd95 his boss’s 2cd8397f50 track record ee312d1f01 of sensibility, 2724625823 Junghoon silently a9d1270a31 prayed such 0f6941c843 a scenario 3567165162 wouldn’t arise.a10bab03d5a6a1c3

“…Though it 25a13b97ea probably won’t 04ebc859f5 come to cdc1455bbe that.”9a8c5d0fc2f54d5a

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“Pardon?”58a825cf40c0e896

“Nothing. Let’s make today count.”60799f4a7933a26f

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With an 185e83acc0 enigmatic smile, 0247773e72 Jaehwi, having 7f8d10e3f9 delivered his c3d4603c6a instructions, resumed 3fe841e19f his steps.089a424d668704f3

“Sir, wait.”9d00ce9312fdcf31

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Junghoon called out a9c1ec8b8f impulsively, immediately regretting 0086d4d000 it. But having spoken, 77e522aaa5 he couldn’t back 62a998bd85 down with something d6f6c464b6 trivial.ff422329928bd833

“Did something happen yesterday?”a6f75f9c5673a85a

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Reading the b4eb3cfeab intent behind ce2bb482d7 Junghoon’s question, 7b323e9527 Jaehwi’s lips 4e41a22b13 curved upward.58d226709e766f43

“Who knows.”944ce6d8a6258325

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With a playful smile 5a330bee51 and a deliberately vague 650678c266 reply, Jaehwi passed Junghoon bac0ab0bbc and entered the room. A faint “ah” of 0cde966503 exasperation came from outside a3ee1bde28 before the door closed, 9d18260bb8 muffling the sound.6ab3f34cffc5ebad

Humming, Jaehwi brewed b3ec8ad263 coffee. The loud machine filled a83cae28e8 the air with a 7d6c432ab5 rich aroma.ded456ff172f6532

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Junghoon’s confusion wasn’t surprising. Until yesterday, Jaehwi had e0db3e5be2 been smiling but not 433cca6cbf in high spirits.6a10971075d31cad

The film a02ba831af was one 7724fd9de8 he’d loved fb3379bf3f at first eb19ca8a5c glance, investing 115c06619b without hesitation. He’d even recommended an 683c29b742 audition to Won Yujin, 6ef350acbc who was considering a be83328076 break after a drama. Each time e84a76af14 he checked 59b47692a1 in, it c2b9f4fdc7 remained promising, 5a0f14891d needing only a60c1a08b1 a perfect b536506205 finish. But the translator chosen 92ce0e78b3 by the distributor marred 82c028bdf4 that finish with a bb0d7dc943 blemish.6c35a9d40369e94e

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It wasn’t a 5800c44e49 glaring mistranslation that 353d9e9a4a would be endlessly e354ba5c7f discussed online. If anything, ad208cbb98 it was 9c5180f5e6 a matter ac9b382e92 of nuance. But believing a 4af28b5a8d film’s perfection lies 9e5a0df1d0 in details, that aeb955e040 subtle difference gnawed 42653dffb1 at him. If not for someone e31145e294 pressuring him to remember 64d2e40768 who he’d tirelessly traveled fc67ef4d07 abroad to shoot for, c43515fc92 Jaehwi wouldn’t have bothered edc6daf745 with the VIP premiere.2a9e6bf814a871f6

Here we 63deddea05 go, dwelling 242ba893ee on regrets 0dde4b85d0 again. After the director’s brief a07429b0a0 introduction, as darkness fell 275a7c8c40 in the theater, Jaehwi’s 87e4bcad01 gaze drifted downward.228570fe8e5d74b9

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The light e76293659b from the 5fa5295a73 screen made 869a0d3931 it hard 804de7c84c to see, 1a62400411 but it 3994af5e06 was unmistakably 41bb475080 the interpreter c4908382d5 he’d briefly 415001e0d1 met in 817b83ef58 the waiting 285c817ef4 room. His pale 419e9133e7 complexion stood cda871f9f1 out, but 2fe3ecacb4 Jaehwi remembered 9771b5294e him as 08abad0129 strikingly refined. He was likely 290fd5c1cf watching the film 1cf75d33d1 intently for the b50dff7128 upcoming stage greetings.e6168d984c3a03f0

Seeing him stand da606ffbf1 upright, Jaehwi’s only 90e1e418d2 thought was that d0464e4a8d during the screening, 1370ffa790 he could flexibly be2e7042c7 sit in an 0a711359de empty seat instead 99ed689124 of standing and 65b6475c9f tiring his legs—a 844d918125 fleeting observation.1acdae3507db5e88

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Though he was the b9f5b3d7ab kind of person who a7f784171a could be called beautiful, 57a6972c3b Jaehwi wasn’t a casting f0f8397869 director or scout, so 40ff2a9984 there was no reason cc965a2f55 to linger. About to 2846ba09f7 look away, 20e1306749 he noticed d5ab2d3dd9 the interpreter 94f8c9b178 tilt his 65dc241ed8 head. Then again. The slight c0a6710771 movement was 86f7a0b34d subtle but 136ce107c4 striking to fa58a935bb Jaehwi.d3f2c63865b2e238

Perhaps he 8ecf29ef5f was stretching 7d490e6abb from standing 42d89ab66f too long, 2bb3585956 but the ae0368719d timing was f25d0c5456 intriguing.9ef491e4814a6f7c

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From then on, Jaehwi 751963c02a watched Seo Jian instead 8a6966e21d of the film. Even during the stage cd878bb18d greetings. Jian’s interpreting, relayed 1df6a297d8 through the host, 43f118c54d was concise and 65a2d86591 clean. He knew how 2bb35d0c80 to paraphrase the 41c93b0238 actor’s words, sometimes f89aba7272 tactfully, sometimes humorously. It wasn’t 04a92b0f5c flawless, but 0d33e979ab nothing grated. Considering he was fd23ec2b1e a last-minute hire, 37b080b64b it was impressive.1b2bc78feec3063c

As soon as the b1bbd30b10 premiere ended, Jaehwi cornered e278ddaf5b the busy Assistant Director, 7dcf918405 asking about Jian—what he c8b2fc9123 was doing now, if 3f3bdf3eee he was affiliated anywhere.ade326fd27f282c2

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‘Jian? He did video translation d585a04740 a few years back 3b1eb57b3e but switched to publishing d0784ea788 translation.’ee7183186789d56f

Sensing Jaehwi’s ff66df3f64 interest, the bdfa6a1359 Assistant Director’s 9f45f2662a eyes lit 4772adc261 up, rattling de8d99f652 off Jian’s 5d54c1a9d4 past projects 52a881c33b as if b2ed88217b he were 2332fd4814 his manager, 7ce37ed3bc ignoring the 5e1b94c884 cleanup. Until the director 39a6f9224e dragged him away, 249dad541a Jaehwi memorized everything—mostly af79d83664 independent films submitted a19b7771e5 to festivals.d8b0ecfbf99cb314

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Some had hit screens, 11d47f6de7 others hadn’t. Declining an afterparty cdc34cd0e1 invite with finesse, f2d3e85ca7 Jaehwi spent the 08ecd3170a night tracking them 7a1e720b9c down—buying those released f00bf2c0d2 and sourcing festival-only 50e5e8f09c ones through contacts.8b061daa909298ba

At dawn, as the 52d6e3cd68 final film’s credits rolled, f82fedaa02 Jaehwi was calling the 88bc23c91d Assistant Director.7c18f92d310bb5d6

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Groaning from a bff2bb52f3 hangover, the Assistant aa85b2eb6a Director perked up 23ffb44f10 when Jaehwi asked ebcce5a546 for Jian’s contact, 4a6cfc52d3 eagerly sharing it. Staring at the c5e4a9a061 unfamiliar eleven digits, 8032775b7c Jaehwi decided it 498e888b32 wasn’t too early bf065bbd54 to call and 90d3922b12 pressed the button.e203d4805e2a8151

‘…Oh, yes. Hello. This is 262352407e Seo Jian.’67e2d14e593147bb

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His voice, 7ab9df7d5f hesitant from 5b1bcc911f the sudden 34a0614edc call, came 52c40eb62b through. Jaehwi hadn’t heard 4e9c079ed2 it during the 9ebeb57ffd stage greetings, but f842b130fa it was pleasant, b85f2a243a fitting his refined bcf1f22f15 appearance.0510bfefd3282e3e

‘May I ask cf5faa79f9 why you’re calling bca0c9abeb me…’760296be598a25d1

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The calm a7fe6abec0 follow-up question 67ab5a1405 carried a 9cff4ab713 hint of 22d447f1f4 unmasked surprise, 02695e01ca tinged with 5ed37edcd0 curiosity. It seemed 35dc64ba22 the Assistant b6526580b1 Director hadn’t e77b302d63 given him d0f217b78a any heads-up. Understandably—it would’ve been awkward d3404608b6 to explain. The Assistant Director a4b53dd9c3 likely sensed Jaehwi’s 93ef04b2fa interest had positive 09b23e65f9 intentions but didn’t 2effe48417 know specifics. Misjudging and 09e7acad8a mentioning it 44202ee08e could’ve led 3ac545359f to embarrassment.94ab956a614f3552

‘Could we meet?’98d89c6c2344399d

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Jaehwi cut to 4c7aff714c the chase without beb6c3a37c elaboration. Silence followed. He waited patiently 8bf910e054 until Jian replied 3ad3fd641c that he’d check e0d4f88ac1 and get back 9ac9cb6247 to him.de2df6d850eb9e68

When would the b6dae65b61 call come?53577d3c6ba98db4

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Holding a mug 170feb808a in one hand e299bf861d while looking at 9c1cb2d4e6 his phone, Cha bdbc4b3bbd Jaehwi’s eyes reacted 5ef9e1379a as if on 5608145199 cue when a 40f11685da buzzing vibration signaled 42bb4e72d0 the arrival of bac0b2432d a message. Checking the contents immediately, fa0f306a2a his eyes curved into c4f449e7e3 a long, satisfied arc.84629fc12cea7b1d

“Mr. Yang.”fe821d2ebaa6ecbe

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“Yes, sir. Do you have 71fdbf7e24 any instructions?”e5173400ce3d1beb

Cha Jaehwi set c4e825fd76 the mug down a2c7097dd4 and stepped outside. Having only just entered 78ebf768f1 the room, his quick 022493c889 exit drew Yang Junghoon’s a9fdd900c4 gaze briefly to the 393756702d wall clock.c364075d4851408d

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“If there’s c2ae369ef6 any schedule 3d11448805 that can 051481e59b be adjusted e471fc488a within the 20d1ce94b5 next two c74db1f5d6 days, rearrange 00f46c6601 it and f8be849881 let me f2a53a477a know. Oh, and do it f65069ce86 now.”0f2884efca345dac

“What? Yes. I’ll check cf64b9f487 right away.”1226446b85386d52

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Leaving Yang e96ed1856c Junghoon to bd02263343 dive into 84490a15d8 the schedule, c213a9fc9e Cha Jaehwi a787eff50b glanced at 532fc29903 the message a31b98bfd7 again.8ea0b49447518746

[Hello. This is Seo Jian. Please let me know a convenient time and place, and I’ll come to meet you.]

He rhythmically fe50dc0e12 tapped the 2ed40a960a message with 748fa1f559 his finger, ac0078aede as if 28a8f4e76b the words a791802110 were spoken a7ced7bea7 aloud. A spark of interest 73349b66e5 gleamed in his eyes.bb06f5c60315a4aa