TGHD Ch 11

“Hmm…?”

“It seems the children really enjoyed coming home with you today, young master. They all like you. If you stay with them, there shouldn’t be any danger…”

Cheon Ryubeom just blinked. He was so taken aback that Yeohwi’s words didn’t quite register in his mind. His first thoughts were of worry and a sense of burden: wouldn’t it be dangerous to get this close? Was it the long-standing family teaching of hostility towards foxes, or just an aversion to getting close to anyone?

Of course, he intended to repay Yeohwi for the great help he received in Hyojomyeon, but this request was unexpected. Ryubeom had been prepared for monetary compensation or perhaps helping with some future physical task.

But compared to that, the second wish Yeohwi mentioned was so trivial. A request to share some time in daily life. Yet for Cheon Ryubeom, it felt like the most difficult thing.

And above all…

“I was… planning to go search for the Sagwido soon…”

“Can’t you spare some time, even just for a few days? The children still haven’t fully memorized the way home. At least until they do…”

Yeohwi looked at him with pleading eyes. At such a close distance, Ryubeom found it hard to breathe. The red tint mixed into those black eyes seemed to hold his gaze, preventing him from looking away.

But even while maintaining eye contact, he couldn’t easily agree, and Yeohwi took a step back. Then, as if disappointed, Yeohwi cast his eyes down at an angle and spoke.

“I suppose it would be too much to burden you…”

Beyond the window, Yeohwi looked at the triplets gathered in the master bedroom, his eyes filled with regret. Eventually, Ryubeom hesitantly asked,

“But why are you getting busy now…?”

“I’m the only guardian, so I have to work.”

“…Work, you say?”

“Yes. Guil can’t support everything. Although he did find me a job, I haven’t been able to start it because I’ve been away for the past few days…”

Cheon Ryubeom was greatly startled. The reason Yeohwi had been away for the past few days was because of him. He had willingly followed Ryubeom to Hyojomyeon.

Back then, Yeohwi had said it was just part of repaying a favor, but if you weighed the help he gave during their first meeting against the assistance Yeohwi provided in Hyojomyeon, the balance would clearly tilt in Yeohwi’s favor.

Meanwhile, Yeohwi continued to murmur. He repeated that he had to work to feed the children, but he was worried they might be bullied while he was away, until finally, Ryubeom had to blurt out his response.

“I-I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

“Huh? Really?”

“Uh-huh, I can spare a few days. It’s not like I’ll find the Sagwido just by rushing around, so… yeah…”

Nodding, Ryubeom found reasons to convince himself, letting out a deep sigh as he took a deep breath.

“Coincidentally, one of the areas I need to search is the Han River, so I might as well stay in Seoul.”

Among the Sagwido said to be open across the country, the Han River was near his family’s home. But Ryubeom had postponed searching there until the end. Not only because of the underwater challenges, but also due to the ominous rumors surrounding the area. Even Ryubeom, who wasn’t familiar with the term Sagwido, had heard of the rumors about the Han River.

But if he kept delaying something because it seemed difficult, the fear of actually doing it would only grow. That kind of mindset wasn’t good, so Ryubeom nodded again. It might take two or three hours to commute between school and the Han River, but he could handle it.

There was just one thing he was concerned about.

“But I still need to find a place to stay, so I might be busy for a while…”

“Huh? Can’t you stay here? There’s a spare room. You’re helping with the children’s commute, so how could I not offer you a room?”

“…What? No, no, that’s not necessary…”

Cheon Ryubeom reacted hesitantly. He had been considering finding a studio apartment in an area between the school and the Han River or maybe using another lodging option, but suddenly a new choice appeared.

But this was another path that required him to get closer to a fox. Instinctively, he felt a defensive wall rise in his heart. If he kept receiving this kindness and hospitality, he might eventually grow accustomed to it. Now that he was out of the mansion, there was less chance of comparing it to a day there, but eventually, this hospitality would end. Once he solved the problems and returned to his family, it would be difficult to maintain any connection with the fox…

Ryubeom was about to shake his head when Yeohwi suddenly sighed with relief.

“Actually, I’d be more grateful if you stayed. Even after the children return from school, I still have to stay at work for several more hours, and I was worried about leaving them alone…”

“…That’s…”

“Guil helped me get the job, but since I took leave from the very first day, the other employees probably don’t see me in a good light, right?”

“…”

“And because I missed work for several days, I’ll likely have to work overtime too…”

“I-I’ll just rent an apartment in this villa! I’ll look into it…”

In the end, Cheon Ryubeom could only respond as if the words were forced out of him. Yeohwi’s face, speaking with downcast eyes, looked so delicate and fragile that it compelled him. His mind raced so quickly that he even recalled the rent flyers he had seen at a nearby real estate agency when he first came to the villa. It was an amount he could afford with his own money. Ryubeom quickly formed a plan.

Finding a place near the Han River seemed impossible anyway. In Hyojomyeon, he stayed in an abandoned house, but near the Han River, even uninhabitable spaces cost a lot. Plus, with a large floating population, any suspicious activity would easily draw attention.

In that sense, living in this villa might actually be better. It was far from his family home, and there were few residents. There was also little chance of rumors spreading about a tiger and a fox being close.

“Is it really necessary to spend money? You could just stay with us…”

“No, it’s fine. I needed a place to stay anyway.”

Ryubeom shook his head. Sharing just a part of daily life was completely different from sharing the whole of it. He needed to maintain at least a minimal distance.

“I’ll look after the kids now and then until you get off work. Even if the three are together, it’s still dangerous to leave them alone for long…”

Yeohwi had willingly accompanied him to Hyojomyeon for his sake. Because of that, the current issue with caring for the children arose, so it seemed only right for him to take responsibility. Besides, he already felt uneasy about leaving the kids alone. Maybe it was because he heard they had lost their parents…

Yeohwi smiled softly as he looked at Cheon Ryubeom’s slightly downcast expression.

“Young master, you’re really soft when it comes to children.”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, thank you. It would have been nice if you could have stayed here with us, but it can’t be helped. If you ever change your mind later, please let me know.”

Yeohwi spoke kindly, saying that the children would really be happy. Ryubeom shook his head, signaling that it wouldn’t happen, while sighing inwardly. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had somehow been subtly swept along.

Is this why they say not to readily accept big favors? All he wanted was to return the favor, but now a part of his daily life had become entangled.

Cheon Ryubeom looked out beyond the veranda with a vague feeling. The early spring sun was setting quickly behind the mountains. The twilight, resembling Yeohwi’s eyes, slowly spread over Ryubeom’s feet as he stood on the veranda.

***

Getting a place in the villa was incredibly easy.

Just as Cheon Ryubeom remembered, there were many available properties, and there was even a short-term rental that seemed to be made for him. The only problem was that the space was right next to Yeohwi’s, making his effort to keep some distance seem pointless. However, he accepted it, thinking it would only be a temporary place to stay.

From that evening, Ryubeom was able to move into the villa immediately.

The triplets were thrilled to hear that Cheon Ryubeom would be living next door. They were so excited to visit on the first day that Yeohwi had to calm them down. Instead, Yeohwi invited him for dinner, but Ryubeom declined, saying he needed time alone to process the sudden change.

He needed to plan his daily schedule carefully from now on. Since he had decided to prioritize searching for the Sagwido at the Han River, which he had postponed until the last, he had to approach it with caution.

The strange phenomena observed at the Han River were famous in a different way from Hyojomyeon.

They said that “mermaids” could be seen there.

The story began when strange sounds were heard from the Han River late at night, leading people to discover a mermaid drifting along the water. This sighting spread across the internet along with photos, becoming famous. Crowds gathered, hoping to see the mermaid, but instead, they found a corpse, causing a huge uproar. Access to the area was temporarily restricted as authorities tried to determine whether it was a suicide or a homicide.

However, the Han River is vast, and rumors of sightings of the “mermaid” spread from different locations. Some suggested that what people saw might have been a body drifting in the water rather than a mermaid, and indeed, whenever there were reports of mermaid sightings, a body was often found nearby. This led to the urban legend that “when a mermaid appears, a body will be found that day.”

Even Cheon Ryubeom, who had spent most of his time within his family’s confines, was aware of this phenomenon associated with the Sagwido. Whether there really was a mermaid in the Han River had never been confirmed. But with so many reports, it couldn’t be dismissed as mere fantasy. After all, in a world where beastfolk existed, why couldn’t there also be mermaids?

So from that day, Cheon Ryubeom began researching the folklore surrounding mermaids. He stayed up late into the night reviewing materials and only fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. Since his task of helping the triplets with their after-school activities was scheduled for the afternoon, he figured he could sleep in.

However, Ryubeom’s plan was disrupted from the very beginning.

“Young master, could you possibly help with the children’s school drop-off today? I usually take them, but something urgent has come up at work.”

Yeohwi made the request early in the morning. Ryubeom had only slept for an hour, struggling to get used to the unfamiliar bed, and was very tired, but he nodded in agreement.

In a daze, he took the triplets to school. He wore a white shirt with a dark navy hoodie over it and pulled his hat down low. The villa was about 20 to 30 minutes away from the school, and the route was winding and complicated, making Ryubeom understand why Yeohwi had asked for help.

“The scenery during drop-off is different from what it is at pick-up…”

Arriving at the school, Cheon Ryubeom scanned the surroundings with a different feeling than the day before. The school was bustling with academy vehicles and a noisy playground in the afternoon, but the morning scene was quieter.

Ryubeom, lost in the cool early spring air, noticed a group of kids rushing into a stationery store near the school and asked the triplets, “Do you need any supplies?”

“Hmm, I think the teacher asked us to bring candy.”

“And potato chips too!”

“So, nothing then…”

Ryubeom nodded quietly. Before the children entered the school gates, he helped straighten their clothes and gave them a few reminders.

He told them he’d be back to pick them up after school and to call him if anything happened, and if there was any conflict like the day before, they should go to the teacher first. Although Ryubeom had intervened yesterday when Geumo almost fell into the pond, he thought it was best for the school to handle conflicts between students.

Geumo, recalling the previous day’s events, waved his arms dramatically.

“Can’t you swoop in and save us like yesterday?”

“I might not be there at the moment, so we have to prevent such things from happening in the first place.”

“Heeeng…”

“…Still, if anyone is bullying you, uh, tell me.”

“Will you take care of them?!”

“Will you make them disappear in the mountains?”

“No, I mean I’ll discuss how to handle it with Yeohwi. Why do you think I’ll just take care of it on my own?”

Cheon Ryubeom responded, bewildered. While tiger attacks were common in the past, such incidents no longer happened in modern society. Moreover, there were no reports of tiger beastfolk harming ordinary humans. While feeling a bit unfair, he accepted it as inevitable. Just then, someone approached them.

It was the kids they had seen behind the school the day before.

“Ah, hi, guys.”

“Did you, did you, did you sleep well?”

“Hmm? We met just yesterday, though?”

As Euno tilted his head in response, the kids awkwardly replied, “Ha ha, yeah, right?” There was a strange awkwardness about them, and Ryubeom noticed something odd.

They were watching him closely.

“Sorry… for not helping yesterday…”

“I’m, I’m really sorry…”

One by one, they began to apologize, and Ryubeom just blinked. These were the kids who had just watched from the sidelines the day before. He wasn’t sure if he should be glad they had quickly reflected and apologized within a day.

Feeling that it was better not to interfere in this process, he took a step back. The triplets gladly accepted the apologies. Geumo, who was naturally sociable, nodded right away, Euno’s eyes lit up when he saw the snacks they offered as a peace gesture, and Dongo…

“A ruler’s greatness is revealed through their capacity to embrace.”

…murmured something that sounded like it came straight out of an ancient text, nodding solemnly. Watching them shake hands as if forming an alliance left Cheon Ryubeom even more confused. It felt like only one of them was older than the others.

Soon, the kids gathered together and entered the school gates. A lot must have happened during the day as more children approached the triplets, showing interest in them. Their shoulders naturally rose in response to the positive attention. It was like watching the manifestation of authority by association.

Cheon Ryubeom watched them from beyond the school gate. One of the kids who had gathered around the triplets glanced back and asked a question. The way Cheon Ryubeom stood still with his hat pulled low gave off an oddly intimidating vibe.

“But really… is he a ‘beom’?”

It was a roundabout way of asking if the “beom” Euno mentioned yesterday was really a tiger beastfolk. And that was the question on everyone’s mind.

But there was something Cheon Ryubeom had asked of them the day before. Although the secret was already half out, he had asked them to keep it as quiet as possible. Dongo remembered his request and answered seriously.

“He could be a beom, or he might not be.”

Hearing that conversation from a distance, “Schrödinger’s Cheon Ryubeom” made an awkward face. He had stayed until the last moment out of concern, but the strange remark made him laugh quietly.

Just as he was contemplating whether this was okay or not, someone beside him spoke.

“Kids sure do forgive each other quickly, don’t they?”

“Ha ha, yeah, they do tend to fight and make up easily when they’re young.”

Cheon Ryubeom silently observed the person in front of him. The face seemed familiar, suggesting that they were likely the parents of the children who had just apologized to the triplets.

As he suspected, they were indeed the parents who had hurriedly accompanied their children to school after hearing the previous night that their child had “seen a tiger.” Tiger spirits were not only rare, but the power held by their family in Korea was incomparable to other families. Even politicians and major corporations bowed to the tiger family.

The entire clan wielded significant influence in society. A glance at the companies affiliated with the Cheonho Foundation, which the tiger family operated, would reveal all the major corporations in the country. It was common knowledge that companies that allied with them succeeded, to the point that there was even a rumor that if a tiger supported someone, that person would rise to the top of the nation. The belief was that the nation’s trajectory was in their hands.

The humans forced themselves to smile as they spoke.

“It’s great that the kids have such a dependable big brother.”

“There was a lot of noise about an attempted kidnapping in this academy’s alley about half a year ago.”

Cheon Ryubeom had seen this type of behavior many times before. It wasn’t directed at him, but humans had treated other members of his clan this way. He had often wondered how it would feel if he were to receive such attention, but now that it was happening, he felt nothing. If anything, he found it a bit uncomfortable.

The mention of the kidnapping piqued his interest, but their casual tone made it seem less serious. Still, he thought it was a good thing he had decided to help the triplets get to school.

Without bothering to engage further in their conversation, Ryubeom simply mentioned that he had things to do and left the area. He hadn’t slept much, but since he was already up early, he thought he might as well visit the Han River.

“……”

A faint trace of fatigue crossed Cheon Ryubeom’s eyes as he looked up at the clear blue sky.

***

Instead of heading to the Han River, Cheon Ryubeom found himself standing in front of a massive building. The building, with its sleek curves and sharp lines, stood several stories high, with a gold-embossed English logo at the top.

Hn.Ent.

Cheon Ryubeom, unfamiliar with his surroundings, took in the sight with curiosity. His family’s main house resembled a palace, and their meetings with humans usually took place in traditional Korean-style restaurants. The modern design of this building was fascinating to him. Even when he occasionally visited the bustling city of Seoul, the skyscrapers always amazed him.

The reason Ryubeom ended up here instead of the Han River was simple: he was exhausted. He had just returned from Hyojomyeon yesterday and reported back to his family. Facing the next mission related to the Sagwi so soon felt overwhelming. He thought it wouldn’t hurt to take a day off.

Since joining the Cheon family, he had never wandered freely by himself, so it felt like he was doing something rebellious. The feeling of liberation was comforting, but at the same time, he wasn’t sure what to do, having never experienced the world outside.

So, he recalled the address Yeohwi had mentioned yesterday and ended up here, at Hn Entertainment. He found it amusing as he thought, “Did Yeohwi arrange a job here because Guil is the CEO?” He wondered what kind of work Yeohwi was doing as he entered the building.

However, he was stopped as soon as he reached the entrance.

“What is the purpose of your visit?”

As soon as he entered the first floor, he was blocked by a barrier, and a security guard approached him with a question. Ryubeom, slightly taken aback, noticed that the security guard was a fox spirit.

Considering this was a business run by the fox family, it was no surprise, yet Ryubeom pulled his hood a little further down. Should he say he was here to see Yeohwi? But not every employee would know his name. Should he just mention that he had someone he knew in the building?

As he pondered his response, the employee, who had been watching Ryubeom’s face, suddenly made an “Ah” sound and then pointed outside the building, saying,

“If you go around to the right of the building, you’ll see an arrow. Just follow that.”

“……Pardon?”

“Hurry up! You’re not late yet!”

Suddenly urged to hurry, Cheon Ryubeom, still a bit confused, made his way outside. Following the employee’s directions, he walked to the right and found the arrow. Following the signs, he soon arrived at…

Audition Venue

“……?”

Standing in front of the odd sign, Cheon Ryubeom tilted his head in confusion. Had the employee directed him to the staff entrance, or why had he ended up here?

He looked around a bit more but only found additional signs labeled [Dance/Vocal] and [Acting]. No matter how he thought about it, this didn’t seem like the right place…

Just as Cheon Ryubeom was staring at the building with a confused expression, an employee inside noticed him and gestured for him to come in.

“Please come inside and wait.”

“…?”

“Did you fill out an application? If not, I can help guide you.”

The employee even approached Cheon Ryubeom directly to assist him. Ryubeom, caught off guard, was pulled along with a bewildered look. Fearing that if he resisted too strongly, the ordinary man might dislocate his arm, Ryubeom couldn’t move.

The reason the employee was being so proactive was simple. A little earlier, inside the building, he had caught a glimpse of Cheon Ryubeom’s face. Despite wearing a hat with a deep navy hoodie pulled over it, when he slightly tilted his head back to look up at the building, his face was briefly visible.

His neat features and deep-set eyes, enhanced by the shadows, gave him a quiet and calm impression with an air that seemed difficult to approach. The employee quickly analyzed that this kind of appearance, often referred to as a “face with a story,” was popular these days. He appeared to be about 180 cm tall, with long legs and good proportions.

At first, the employee thought he was a late applicant and considered sending him away, but after confirming his face and atmosphere, he decided not to let him go. The closer he got, the more certain he became. The unusual light in Ryubeom’s tawny eyes instantly captured his attention.

“Ah, well…”

The applicant seemed extremely flustered and hesitated, but the employee internally gave him extra points for his voice. The employee even started to believe that Ryubeom wasn’t late but was just debating whether to audition until the very last minute.

Smiling warmly, the employee asked, “Which field are you applying for? Dance, vocal? Or acting? You seem to fit all of them.”

“No, I didn’t come here to audition…”

“Hmm…? Ah! Hahaha, I get it. Sometimes when people are really nervous, they suddenly say that they don’t think they fit in the entertainment industry and try to leave at the last minute. But since you’re already here, why not give it a shot?”

The employee acted even more warmly, trying to guide the nervous applicant. Ryubeom, holding the employee’s wrist carefully, noticed that his hand was trembling. The employee chuckled at the sight of Ryubeom’s hand shaking as if he were touching something fragile.

His face gave off a somewhat serious vibe, but it was clear he was extremely nervous. The employee calculated that this contrast could be another appealing point as he guided him along.

Suddenly, there was a commotion near the elevator.

“…This way is for the auditions…”

“There are several people this time too…”

Voices murmured, and a group of people approached. In the middle of them stood a man with a brown ponytail, nodding as he listened to the reports around him. The employee, recognizing who he was, was startled and bowed in greeting.

“Hello, Director!”

It was Guil, the CEO of Hn.

The employee felt his heart pounding. Had the CEO come down to oversee today’s auditions? Should he introduce the person next to him as an audition applicant? He was fiercely debating this when his thoughts were abruptly shattered by the director’s loud exclamation.

“Y-Young Master?!”

“…Fancy meeting you here.”

Cheon Ryubeom greeted him in a very awkward tone. Guil’s eyes grew so wide at the sight of Ryubeom that it seemed like they would pop out. The employee’s face mirrored Guil’s as he mumbled, “Y-Young Master…?”

Guil questioned Ryubeom, “W-What brings you here…?”

“I heard Yeohwi works here, so I just came by to visit, but it seems like it’s a busy day…”

In truth, Cheon Ryubeom was feeling extremely awkward and embarrassed at the moment. He was merely curious about where Yeohwi worked, but when he arrived, it turned out to be a massive entertainment company. Since he was already there, he thought he might as well check it out, but now he found himself in this situation. Having spent most of his life in a secluded family, he was socially inexperienced, but he was starting to realize how childish his actions seemed.

“I should probably go back now. I’m sorry for taking up your time…”

“No, absolutely not! There’s no need to apologize!”

Guil quickly interrupted Ryubeom, who was about to apologize to the employee next to him with a slightly deflated expression. It was as if he had to protect the employee, stopping Ryubeom from bowing.

The CEO’s reaction was enough to send a clear message to the other employees. Immediately, the employee waved his hands and shouted that it was fine, even going so far as to say it was an honor to serve him, leaving Cheon Ryubeom even more flustered.

Guil hurriedly escorted Ryubeom to the elevator.

“I’ll guide you to where Yeohwi is working. He’ll be thrilled to know you came.”

“But I really should have contacted him first…”

“No, no! If Yeohwi finds out you came all this way and left, oh no, that would be terrible. You absolutely have to see him before you go!”

“…?”

Cheon Ryubeom gave him a puzzled look. He couldn’t make sense of the relationship between Guil and Yeohwi. Yeohwi had mentioned that he was just a guardian for the triplets and received some support from the family, while Guil was likely a senior member of the family. Had they been close before?

Ryubeom looked at Guil with curiosity, and Guil returned the gaze with the same expression.

“So, why did you really come here? Were you just curious about his workplace?”

“Oh, that’s… Yeohwi mentioned he might be getting bullied at work. I was worried about that…”

His conversation with Yeohwi the previous day had been bothering him. Yeohwi had said he missed several days of work because he followed Ryubeom to Hyojomyeon, and he had implied that his position at work was like that of a parachute employee, so the atmosphere around him wasn’t great, which concerned Ryubeom. If Yeohwi were being bullied, Ryubeom felt it would be his responsibility.

But then he realized that even if that were the case, there wasn’t much he could do to help in this place. It wasn’t a situation that could be resolved through force, and after saving the triplets, he realized he had developed a baseless confidence.

Feeling embarrassed again, Ryubeom looked at Guil’s expression.

“……”

It was the expression of someone who had just heard something utterly absurd. As if, if you were to list the three most ridiculous things ever said, everything Ryubeom had just said would take all three spots.

“……Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, ahem, it’s nothing.”

But even his voice cracked.

As the look of confusion spread further across Cheon Ryubeom’s face, Guil finally stopped in front of a door. A sign next to it read, [Sun.always Photoshoot]. It was the idol group from Hn that Cheon Ryubeom had seen on TV before.

“This is the place. Yeohwi is currently assisting with some simple tasks inside…”

As Guil explained and opened the door, Ryubeom’s eyes took in the scene within. Although the lighting was focused on a particular area, leaving the rest of the space in relative darkness, Ryubeom could still see everything clearly. There were numerous pieces of photography equipment, several lights, a wall filled with clothes, and staff members bustling about.

The scene was rather chaotic, but Ryubeom quickly spotted where Yeohwi was. It was inevitable, given how many people were gathered around him.

“Wow, he’s really tall.”

“I’ve never seen anyone look this good in a traditional coat. He could totally do a photoshoot.”

“Just from the way he wears that outfit, he looks like he’s from the Joseon era.”

The lively chatter and laughter filled the space. Yet, no one seemed to mind them. The fact that the people around Yeohwi happened to be members of the idol group contributed to the relaxed atmosphere, but overall, everyone seemed to treat Yeohwi warmly. The staff, too, were friendly.

Cheon Ryubeom stared blankly at the scene.

He had been worried that Yeohwi might be getting bullied, but there was no need for concern at all. Everyone seemed to like Yeohwi, and Yeohwi responded with a calm, relaxed smile. His laid-back demeanor combined with his beautiful appearance created a synergistic effect. It was hard to believe that this was his first day at work; he was adapting incredibly well.

“……”

Oh, Yeohwi is just naturally this kind to everyone…

The realization felt strangely unsettling. From the start, Ryubeom had assumed that Yeohwi was just a naturally kind person, especially considering how overly kind he had been to him. Yet, now that this realization was hitting him, it felt oddly unfamiliar.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Cheon Ryubeom took a deep breath. Maybe this was a side effect of sleep deprivation. A strong beast person could go two days without sleep and still be fine, but it all came down to the fact that he was weak. He concluded that he needed more training…

“Ah, Director!”

As these thoughts raced through his mind, a few people who recognized Guil started to gather around him. Not only the staff but also the idol group members rushed over, making the place suddenly noisy. Ryubeom stepped aside a bit. All eyes were on Guil.

But at that moment, Cheon Ryubeom noticed that there was one pair of eyes fixed on him.

“Young Master.”

A warm smile appeared on Yeohwi’s face. Unlike before, this smile was more affectionate and genuinely happy. His smile was as beautiful as a blossoming flower, and Ryubeom blinked in surprise.

His stomach churned even more—perhaps he really should have gotten some proper sleep. He hadn’t fully recovered from the internal injuries from Hyojomyeon, so maybe he was pushing himself too hard. Sleep deprivation and lack of training—Cheon Ryubeom seriously diagnosed himself with these two issues.

Meanwhile, one of the idol members who had approached Guil waved both arms enthusiastically. Her face, that of a fox beast person, was flushed with excitement.

“Director, Director! There’s someone here who absolutely has to be a celebrity!”

“…You, always watch your words…”

“What do you mean? Look over there!”

She pointed with her finger, and naturally, she was pointing at Yeohwi. Guil laughed and gently lowered her hand.