AES Ch2.1

‘Is falling down 110b86ca88 a habit of 7c4a1eab43 yours?’cbdd5f20336b3a14

‘Only when 2537d6afd1 you’re there 1896364ef0 to catch ed51a5d03a me.’67bc95f822707bc0

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As usual, a movie was playing in the van. This time, it was a Disney-produced musical. The film list, altered by Hyeonghun, was filled with director Jung’s quirky and clever film recommendations. Such movies should naturally be enjoyable, yet the interest just wouldn’t stick. Perhaps life in general was just unexciting.8976c8836d011c5b

With no e601062a92 interest in 8523d45561 the movie, 38f13027cd other thoughts 676a2ae5c9 crept in. Like the back view c2521822f2 of Ryu Sihyeon during 0126f68453 a phone call. It was afd8d861ad a scene 867465f47c that captured 7b4301f6bc people’s attention 9f16443e22 with just 2390ef58dc a back 8f61666926 view, and 7db59816b1 no matter 9c7190500b what, it 3f48d32829 couldn’t be 1476bb1cbe forgotten. Maybe it was a0f6209b18 because it was 20105a3a95 that sincere. The problem cde0d616e9 was that da70fa1c54 very few 06616af94a people got 89a6a826ee to see edc3a49e0b such a c8f91088e2 side of d20ed8ec35 Ryu Sihyeon.998b0eeeb55d9497

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Of course, Seo Heetae 72c4221134 was not included in 2569a7baa2 that group.1703b1432f6daa7d

That day, the true c2e74ecda0 front view of Ryu 86e0e202e4 Sihyeon was hardly seen. All there e7a0c84c95 was, was aa83579ce5 the moment 78d8b0feff he turned d15f4f9f06 back with d58168b388 a relaxed 03727b46c2 smile while 20cb52f6f9 holding a 61613f14bb cigarette. That image 2658bec870 of rubbing 8a6476108a the cigarette 299ab41eca into the 2549e187f7 ashtray on ed043551e2 the table 1f05294269 played on 99f46dbcc8 repeat like 07fd001619 a film.35d5a0ba63461331

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On the way home from the airport, Heetae searched for articles featuring Ryu Sihyeon. Although he knew there would be little information, there was nothing else to do on the way home anyway. Most of Ryu Sihyeon’s recent interviews were about his newly released movie. There were hardly any mentions of his private life, with the focus strictly on the movie.a1a8b4c97d36007d

Curiosity piqued 43c5fbcba1 about just 5f20876eae how extraordinary a849a2a6ac that movie cbc02e7ea3 was.f5a99de8c7a56961

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The next day, Heetae took a hibernating Shin Chaeyeon out late at night to see a movie. The destination was Apgujeong TCE, and the movie they were going to watch was “Four Seasons, Seoul, 1983” starring Ryu Sihyeon. On the way to the Apgujeong movie theater, Shin Chaeyeon recited high ratings from critics, raising their expectations, but Heetae remained indifferent. It seemed contradictory to feel resistance from the start, especially since he was the one who suggested watching it.24d7fdafd5d21295

During this a1cb0700b3 time, a b612377411 call from bf7d32b87f Jung Kiyeon 44f6a58f6c came in. Jung Kiyeon, 39494769fa who rarely 8ed64a0ab7 called, seemed e5f6df3dc9 suspicious, so 9e13e59db4 Heetae answered bfe7d39628 it. He got straight 3e5b183ea1 to the point dbfcdde742 without any preambles.13c4f3bc885f8cd5

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“Heetae, have you read the script I sent you?”c52c37439a299c7c

Sounding slightly drunk, 09e8c01aaf his drawn-out voice f49654d838 echoed in the af9dd7251a car. At the same f0ed898aee time, there was b74e0a5416 an alarming amount d8963b3997 of energy in 18661a95b9 his voice.7350eee9d8941a5a

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“Yeah.”97d9da37885c39bc

“What do you think?”2fac2a48915cb0f7

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“The journalist role seems pretty good.”b6f052317c34902e

“The one with 10 minutes of screen time?”d855aa416e178383

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“Yes, like Joaquin Phoenix in Hotel Rwanda.”54204af28bb12871

“You crazy bastard…”10eccd9248a68c9b

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Heetae calmly replied 1414616766 to Jung Kiyeon, 708737b507 who was mumbling.840d175b0d65b736

“Hey, Kiyeon, I’m sorry, but bring something more interesting. Nothing is entertaining these days.”4b2d75f83c06741b

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“If you don’t like it, at least introduce Juhee to me. I’ve already promoted around that Juhee sunbae is doing it. Please.”2c79d79dad4c38d8

“You’re quite funny, walking around and talking like that. You’ll ruin everything.”a334d06061b23d65

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Shin Chaeyeon chimed in from the side. As she was right, Heetae didn’t side with Jung Kiyeon. Then, after a moment of thought, Chaeyeon spoke again.1d7b4e29c4a1e4c8

“Oppa, you seem too high right now. Isn’t it time to take your medicine?”92ca185cc9b2adf6

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With a worried look, b80d9bdd38 she asked, and then b5e0a860d2 another question came from f3533e6b38 the speaker.0f439088e0a3c06a

“Who are you talking to?”baa095112e45a5fc

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A new 901b089d1a person suddenly f14d8eafff joined the 8b81a7f96c conversation. Jung Kiyeon spoke fcece52238 to someone next 3383f4ed29 to him.a4e79a545a5aae47

“Heetae. Chaeyeon is here too.”63ce86f8b8931380

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“Oh. Hey guys, hello.”83a2f9db3e18cb7c

It was Shin Minwoong. He hadn’t seen him 3f3e56a3b2 since taking Ryu Sihyeon 9a66ffe548 to the hospital.f7a2e9e5fb53da01

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“Are you two together?”a6eb145f0fa2d0ca

Chaeyeon asked cheerfully. Minwoong was Shin Chaeyeon’s 5189815f67 cousin and they had 2979e3742c been close friends for cbb9a8c266 a long time.33a10ac8272cd5c0

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“Yeah. Kiyeon came to the shop. The opening is soon.”f68ce47bfd06ae38

“We’re going to watch a movie starring Sihyeon.”638c4bb10f70604a

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“Oh, Ryu Sihyeon? How is he doing?”8e639ef854df480a

“Oppa, do you know Sihyeon?”125b9b5aeacd50af

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“He came to our hospital.”4f2a56a88eed31e5

“When?”4fb160b99f10f281

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“Was it the end of last year? He said he fell somewhere.”10415109663801ef

“Oh, that time? Thank you very much.”2959053e6dae8ae5

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“It’s nothing. Celebrities are just celebrities. His skin was nice, and he was handsome.”00fe58d68d4b38e9

Listening to 94b12632d7 the conversation, c98ddf11b6 Heetae laughed 7467987e53 at that 79c2f0d763 and replied.baabce26ff82d14c

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“You watched him very diligently for such a short time.”d46e01c07261e75d

“Haha, it’s because he was a patient.”d3395c4d034342ef

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“Has he returned to the hospital since then?”55087ce3a9ae0996

“No. Anyway, he’s fine.”ea06973ef7cba18b

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…Why does the memory of Ryu Sihyeon crying on a cold night come to mind when someone says he’s fine?5de8cf06ee397ba1

“You said there was a pin in his hand. Is that okay?”ec5367ca03a819af

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“Oh, that. It was from an old surgery anyway. You must be really close with him? Worrying and all.”670a70aee3c4ed6c

Suddenly, Jung Kiyeon grumbled f20cf9c1af in a sulky tone.ab4ac0c2ea94b53a

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“Guys, no more talking about Ryu Sihyeon.”551a393240158d62

“What are you talking about?”cdab90fb9123f708

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“He ignores me so much. If I send a message, it takes about ten hours for him to reply.”8d70353ad37d64b3

“Maybe he doesn’t like you.”ae1d72d5d3eaa1d7

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“Hey, I’m serious. This is the first time I’ve been treated like this. Normally, people would be dying to act close to me because of my dad. …Anyway, he is not like a typical actor. He’s a very peculiar guy.”7005328d108a5022

It was ec592aa68a definitely strange, 73e20ef150 and Heetae 99df0311bd was equally dde5f375e8 puzzled. At least, 2b2abf9472 an actor 3e7c70bc95 would highly 2d501a0db7 value a c88d191583 connection like 6ec522deb4 Jung Kiyeon. Does he believe in 7fd52192ca his own abilities enough?507fce792ddefd23

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“Anyway, is the store opening the day after tomorrow?”6ef8453e5b4f6da6

“Haha, yes. Kiyeon came to check out the interior and menu in advance. I didn’t call you guys because I thought you’d be busy. Be sure to come when we open. Jaeyoung wants to see you. And if possible, bring some SNS-celebrity actors for promotion.”7db96fcd5745c768

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That gave Heetae a a7b96f9b97 funny idea, making him ec7ad2267f smile.264a1af0f846782a

“We can go with the drama actors.”d5f4d2885940582c

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Then a genuinely happy voice said, “Wow, can you really do that? Jaeyoung loved <Thirst>. She’ll be thrilled.”d693f5f0bd434c5d

“Oh… That’s a good idea, Seo Heetae,” Heetae said with his usual smile, looking at Chaeyeon.285e5f6c6dbc209d

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“Can you gather some people?” Shin Chaeyeon loved this kind of event and was good at gathering people. If asked, she would handle it well.7c9ccade9319ab31

Naturally, Shin Chaeyeon didn’t refuse and started contacting several people after the call ended. While diligently using her phone, she murmured, “But Sihyeon might be too busy to come these days.”45e67171260fff2b

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“He’s the lead, he should come.”ca1cca3456c24d5e

“True. It would be disappointing if Sihyeon couldn’t make it.”2719a13247d9104a

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Heetae glanced at Chaeyeon with suspicion because of her friend’s sudden cheerful tone.cf4655a6040317e7

“Why are you so happy?”c1644470c96ea8b7

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“Because having Sihyeon there livens up the atmosphere. Always smiling. As you said, he’s not timid at all.”26abdac20bc5808d

“Oh, I did say that.”e10f7eb8cd567cf6

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Now, he couldn’t be sure about that previous judgment. It seemed true that Ryu Sihyeon matched the atmosphere well and behaved without causing any friction, but that was just him being polite. It was difficult to tell if the real Ryu Sihyeon was timid or sociable.69d36708e5c805ea

Chaeyeon, who had to c012ab0ead act on her thoughts 982ce028e3 immediately, called Ryu Sihyeon 7e188026fd straight away. But all she b2328da977 got was a 477ffc8b20 dial tone.6d20a621609e3f4d

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“He’s not answering.”1ebb6419c2a1e28e

Fifteen minutes later, Chaeyeon 9f6ad63eef called again. She was 9912acb708 persistent with c32ada7597 things like 38249cbe8c this and da5c88ce39 kept calling bd1d7b147f if there 5e8ebd7da0 was no edf8cbc6be answer.608c5de7caea885b

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“It’s late at night, take it easy,” Heetae pretended to advise, knowing that one sentence wouldn’t stop her anyway.4ed6b6072a6e89a5

Although Ryu Sihyeon didn’t answer, Chaeyeon, driven by her competitive spirit, was unstoppable. Whether he had another schedule or was sleeping, Heetae wondered why he didn’t answer the call. If he was deliberately avoiding Chaeyeon, it made no sense.63e83557e7a1d15d

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It’s understandable to drift away from actors one doesn’t work with. But keeping in touch with writers and directors was essential for career growth. No matter how good-looking or talented one was, having or not having those connections made a world of difference. Not utilizing connections like Shin Chaeyeon and Jung Kiyeon was foolish. It was either stupidity or sheer lack of thought.efd086bf3f587ad3

Ryu Sihyeon finally answered Chaeyeon’s call after Heetae was seated in the theater.2569e2a8b04fdd53

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“Yes, Sihyeon.”e63dc22adf882f62

Chaeyeon’s lively voice was heard from the side.38239e13197b37a6

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“No, my sister-in-law is opening a shop. We’re inviting the cast of <Thirst>. It’s a fancy French place, all free, free. How about this weekend?”354184ee6e7afaed

After saying that, Chaeyeon murmured, “Ah.” Her disappointed voice implied that Ryu Sihyeon had declined.43587c3047bf7ffb

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“Then when are you available? Oh, really? That’s too bad. Alright, see you next time.”c0c00f4e387426ce

The call ended quickly. Putting her phone into her bag, Chaeyeon stated the obvious outcome, “He’s busy with the movie.”9269aedfcd590d9d

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Of course, he would be. Heetae’s curiosity about just how impressive that movie was grew stronger. When the theater lights dimmed, Heetae looked straight at the screen.e684c9d3fc571d1b

The logo of “Arte Cinemapic” appeared on the screen. Arte Cinemapic was a business division that cousin Yoon Dahui had diligently worked on to capture loyal film enthusiast customers and enhance the company’s image. It mainly invested in and distributed low-budget or art films.02dc58661d3ec13d

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Thus, Ryu Sihyeon’s previous words about not doing independent films, which led to rejecting Director Choi’s script, were also lies. It was amusing. How could one make him speak only the truth?28658559bfc3401b

In the movie, Ryu Sihyeon played Kim Youngho, the protagonist’s son. He was a university student involved in student activism, occasionally playing the guitar and singing. He was good enough to be a singer. However, the songs he sang, the books he read, and the meetings he attended all became issues, leading to his abduction to Namyeong-dong. In this film based on true events, Kim Youngho was subjected to very realistic torture.621ede35a3ee267a

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It was enough to make one frown. Especially the shot of Kim Youngho’s hand being stepped on by someone else’s foot. It was hard to watch with open eyes. Heetae hoped that hand was a double’s, but he knew those neat fingers belonged to Ryu Sihyeon. He was reckless even before <Thirst>, leaving his previously operated left hand untreated.1177ae9455257d62

As known, the unjustly tortured Kim Youngho died mid-film. Naturally, his death served as the protagonist father’s awakening tool.ca5b7c3fa901bc26

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The movie quickly became uninteresting. Heetae carefully observed Ryu Sihyeon’s face appearing in occasional flashbacks on the screen. He hadn’t started watching this movie with a generous heart, but seeing Ryu Sihyeon playing a decent university student, he felt a different emotion, like arriving at a new destination.81db00d74a4b5a34

Kim Youngho, smiling kindly throughout, was a good and trustworthy young man. Seeing that, Heetae thought that maybe the real Ryu Sihyeon was a trustworthy person too. It was a ridiculous thought, but the movie’s Ryu Sihyeon was unbelievably cute. Seeing his singing skills, it seemed he was good at everything except math. The idea that his inability in math was also cute came to mind.53417f93603a2e9e

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Leaving the theater, Heetae sent Ryu Sihyeon a message saying the movie was great. He didn’t mention the gathering Chaeyeon spoke of. If Ryu Sihyeon heard Seo Heetae was attending, he might not want to come. It was clear that Ryu Sihyeon was keeping his distance from Seo Heetae.2b43ebc00ea4bc12

“Chaeyeon.”e12d47aa15439b5d

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“Yes?”3ee534f29b72ef0e

“About Ryu Sihyeon, just mention again how good the movie was and bring it up.”9db1526791979dc7

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“Should I?”6ff825ddedb77067

“He hasn’t given a definite answer for the next season, right?”b698b0cd6d4d8ea0

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“Oh? Right, he hasn’t. Now that you mention it.”1652ec4c34a8d7af

“See? If you don’t hold onto him now, it might slip away.”bc60ea6dafc0d2bd

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“Yeah. That would be bad.”b4e66f5c72ab03c7

“So do your best.”7efb0c2dbad659c6

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Shin Chaeyeon was a person with a clear sense of purpose, so it was easy to get her moving. The remaining issue was Ryu Sihyeon. He was truly outside of Heetae’s control, and somehow, he wanted to bring him into his grasp.5b5badeb84007d76

Ryu Sihyeon’s response didn’t come until after he dropped Shin Chaeyeon off at home and went to bed. He received the reply in the morning, at four in the morning to be exact. As expected, it was a simple “Thank you.” Reading those five characters slowly, Heetae could somewhat understand Jung Kiyeon’s feelings. It was frustrating to see him blatantly trying to distance himself, and the feeling of being drawn into his orbit was also not very pleasant. He couldn’t understand why he always experienced new things when involved with Ryu Sihyeon.f587a29c8189dcb7

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Of course, life doesn’t always go as one wishes. Knowing that, Heetae had never obsessed over problems he couldn’t solve, but this time was an exception. It was strangely vexing and bothering him. Perhaps because he had never been backstabbed like this before.9c13b8113f8ea135

That night, he recalled Ryu Sihyeon smoking. He wasn’t smiling brightly, but his face looked calm and relaxed. He thought if he could see that face again and have sex a few times, he would be satisfied. If they met again, how would Ryu Sihyeon react? Would he smile cheerfully as usual, or would he politely say he liked him? But that wouldn’t be sincere.ecc078bd05ee904e

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The facts he knew 21126a8275 about him were being 830f8822fe refuted one by one, 7e173b0ec6 and new facts were b16c1150bf emerging. As all these things 9c0d9882d2 added up and entangled, 3bb22570a8 the existence of Ryu 4aef9637b6 Sihyeon was growing uncontrollably 784156f7cc in his consciousness.7216b809ab9d1a9c

✦✦✦e0e96b19332f1c8b

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With the end of the drama, contacts came from various places, and many people wanted to meet up. But Seo Heetae wasn’t a person with enough leisure to meet everyone, nor was he in the mood. He only occasionally met with really close or necessary people. The day he bought a gift for his niece Yuha and visited Yun Heejin’s house was such a day.95ac0a065a34c0f5

Heetae played f8df7e8e6e with his 617c5b4174 niece, who b3d033ce7d liked having 0bcbbaa5e5 a celebrity 6323dbb4bd uncle, and 3790f57218 then had 075c16adc9 dinner with cf794395b7 Yun Heejin. Later, while helping b7ae36a37e Yuha with her 09c9ba6a27 homework, he casually 4f8264b56c spoke to Yun edfeeb0ed5 Heejin, who was 32aef3f5de working across from 7b28af1d15 him.53e69fadc0c4ae3e

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“Have you been busy lately, sister?”94e6a09713dde1bd

“I’m always busy.”50fa0ae88cf162e1

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“About the Ryu Sihyeon model offer, are you still considering it?”166407a1dbc12df1

“Yes.”f159a50477a2d380

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“You said you’d look into it more. Did you find anything?”fdf4798aa83a085f

“Well, it’s just one actor, no need for experts. I don’t like such things. It’s undignified.”69d463cabb210f9e

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Yun Heejin looked 51a5e65692 away from her affdaf67b7 laptop and took 08a5c2713d off her glasses. After taking a few 8ad0eadda2 sips of coffee from 04612d25bd the table, she suddenly c95f305804 started a new conversation.13276942bb2cd9e9

“Actually, I watched a movie with Yuha’s dad recently. You know, the one where he plays a high school student with a kid.”391797a9e030c949

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“Yes.”cf3357276ee7cddf

She was talking about Ryu Sihyeon’s debut film.ac4da73e3f05bb87

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“But Yuha’s dad was worried if he was a real thug. Does he really curse?”a5210df40c6e1cea

“What’s the big deal about cursing?”ad938e385a99df9d

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“Oh, did he really curse in front of you? He must be quite bold. Or maybe a bit rude?”b8d66b7eec76b76e

He had 74076d389d seen him 30fee7946a curse. During the first e41bd9dc1f reading. Not just in 2b699bffe3 front of Heetae, 39829d0408 but in front 03e61847d8 of several senior 135b79872d actors. It was an act, 1fdcba1032 of course, but assuming b50095d86b he was bold had a5a4a18f52 some validity.c325c610247d07fc

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“Not really. Everyone says he’s polite.”139c93fb6ddbf144

“Really?”7e8a8658ba5060d1

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“The cursing… It’s because he’s good at acting.”19dd4fbdc9272680

Based on what he’d shown so far, that was true.22a361d29570eb2a

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“Anyway, I did have a few employees look into him. There’s not much public information. He does a lot of charity work. His agency releases articles about that diligently. So, considering that, we’re positively reviewing him. Probably for tax reasons, though.”722342e19ed8172e

“How much does he donate?”d664ecb96e7b766c

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“Billions every year.”fb8853eaedb292c8

“He’s just an actor; can he afford to donate that much?”44eeeafd77d4bc41

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“Maybe he’s rich.”e721d0cf9f57ac23

It made sense to 2c665cd1fb think he might be 8e572c5383 the illegitimate child of afb190bea9 a chaebol, as Yun 7c0b95ace1 Heejin had suggested before. Everything seemed plausible d4a1d1ccfb with him.3e8593050862f494

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“Even if it’s not for this brand, I think offers will keep coming to Ryu Sihyeon. Yuha has been infatuated with him lately.”025d33ef9fbdb34e

“Why?”7e5b52f36937b6e9

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“She liked him after watching the drama.”20e1196973093124

“Does she understand it? The content isn’t suitable for kids.”083fa642f63e50f9

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“What’s the big deal? She watches because her aunt and uncle are in it. Yuha, who was your favorite in the drama?”351a2eb44c9b60b5

Yuha, who had just finished her homework and was drinking juice, brightened up at her mother’s question. A child raised with love, she answered boldly without hesitation.e870b477a218958d

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“Ryu Sihyeon oppa!”84ee446193b2c96d

Heetae chuckled at his niece’s cuteness.0a51bc8bdb0dcdc9

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“You like him more than me?”6829aa24118851a7

“Yes. I’m going to marry Sihyeon oppa.”833ad4b2b15e69b6

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She’s too interested in the opposite sex already. Heetae leaned his chin on the table and watched his adorable niece’s face, then asked.c7e1129f3df4e429

“Yuha, how old are you?”59728982a75ba61e

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“Seven.”9fd017ec39048550

Heetae smirked, stroking her 8bfb5177e1 hair.b5b95bc149056940

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“Then two to twelve is just right. Don’t aim higher.”148c3e659563259e

“Oh dear, you say the wildest things to a kid.”f088b23f00cf5a1d

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“Why? Yuha takes after you, her sense of aesthetics is excellent.”04dc47b1a3195094

Yun Heejin’s shoulders rose at that. As if Heetae’s opinion was very important, she continued to ask questions.5da0f7a11b1adc20

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“Our Yuha is the best, right? How does she compare to Yuri?”ad6de77e7e60a5a3

Yuri was the only 283b2c345e daughter of his cousin, 389176ecb7 Yun Heejoon.d5941a183e36d05a

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“Yuri is too young. But I think Yuha is fit to lead Taejeong in the future.”efd1ba63cc92d37f

Heetae gave a trustworthy smile. Maintaining a good relationship with Yun Heejin was necessary. She would continue to have significant influence in Taejeong, and her husband was the son of Yeongseol Ilbo’s president. They had written favorable articles about Seo Heetae, and it would be good if they continued to do so.c5f2abb36f1681a1

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Yun Heejin brightened up with a smile at Heetae’s compliment.7a14812d200ccd7a

“Thanks for Yuha’s gift today. What do you really want? Your birthday’s coming up soon, just tell me now.”cbacfb76036beb2e

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“Well…”b260625a7d2bd3f9

Would you give it c2c87d3365 if I said I 3d99d70ec8 wanted Ryu Sihyeon?53ed75088cbc4386

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He thought about it and smiled silently. It would be convenient if he could really buy him with money, but the world isn’t that simple.30b07031132df414

As he arrived home, he received a message from Shin Chaeyeon. Ryu Sihyeon had agreed to attend the actors’ gathering over the weekend. Feigning nonchalance, he asked how she managed it, and Shin Chaeyeon laughed.00c20dddd20d993b

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“I acted pitiful. That’s the best way with kind-hearted people.”801f15661e498b41

✦✦✦f6c1941f3ec0f572

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On the weekend of the meal with the actors from <Thirst>, Heetae arrived early at Minwoong’s restaurant and greeted Minwoong and Jaeyoung. Although there was a reserved table, he didn’t sit there. Instead, he chose a corner seat where he could see the restaurant entrance and chatted with the couple for a bit.413080da783a230f

He expected Ryu Sihyeon to arrive last, as he usually did during wrap parties or reward vacations. So, there was no need to sit at the reserved table early. Heetae’s sole purpose for being there was Ryu Sihyeon.463efbf1148f706f

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As the reserved time ba62ed58ab approached, Shin Chaeyeon and a239ae0cba other actors began entering 92588bff3c the restaurant one by bf734327de one. When they had e2e09ab43b seated and ordered, 91603bae72 Heetae handed over 42dd4864a0 the meal payment 0e016ab845 to Jaeyoung, asking 80e3aea45b for her help ba6ecfe7a8 for the day. Jaeyoung tried to refuse, 82f26936fb saying it was fine, f629a9c242 but Minwoong interjected.0e6de26844c850dd

“It’s fine, take it. He’s loaded.”54acb2e358ba6d82

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“Because he’s a celebrity?”ecc31e8d149562d7

“Partly, but… Heetae has always had money.”c63a2b2a562e98bc

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“Then I’ll accept it gratefully,” Jaeyoung said just as the restaurant door opened. Heetae quickly shifted his gaze away from Jaeyoung, whom he had thanked. An accustomed face caught his eye.23121947c629ec84

It was c307dc0e3d really Ryu fcba3538b5 Sihyeon. Wearing large glasses ba7bc1c87e that covered half c62081066e his face and 689176a0d0 a shirt so 4740d18507 loose it almost fdd507ce86 seemed oversized. He looked around e4887c2102 slowly, appearing more d4664d1222 timid and smaller 4af7f12ff4 than usual. Suddenly bowing, he 460316356a must have spotted 7e9a1fe370 the seniors at 69311eab37 the reserved table.0eba8fee809a65a6

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Seeing him like 3d8b6e3452 that reminded Heetae 096ba3b0cf of when he 4ed4d6877e had first bowed cfe38b880c during the script 36a3df1e37 reading. He looked exactly like 74fc0e5f6f this back then.d892aa066e97d4a7

That was the day 0e32d53f09 Seo Heetae and Ryu 3723ba6338 Sihyeon became acquainted, and 90eb2da374 the relationship that started 131ad7ac97 then was ended by 6274159a26 Ryu Sihyeon. It was an af15f6c72f unsatisfactory fact, but f94444b401 for now, it 2d3392d385 was fine. Relationships can restart.a2179fcb45be8c6d

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Heetae stood up and approached the reserved table. There was only one seat left, opposite Ryu Sihyeon. He could feel Ryu Sihyeon’s surprised gaze. Clearly, he hadn’t known Seo Heetae would attend.63657b67b3b1f3f8

Satisfied that everything was 823399394a proceeding according to plan, 1112e1756a Heetae smiled and quietly cda2f1813d observed him across the ac8bd35ade table.f329d7b96b520db1

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He knew the various 22a313c8c3 faces hidden behind that ec4d7532c6 one. The face gasping during 10887b30d4 sex, the nonchalant expression d7354472e6 when extinguishing a cigarette, d0cc5b9e1f the face looking up a3106b45c0 and confessing love, and 9c9868fc3f the obedient face talking be8cd859a9 about submission.9936c7207fe29c03

It was impossible to tell which parts were real and which were fake. Understanding Ryu Sihyeon was like a blind man touching an elephant, vague and uncertain. But if there was one thing Heetae was sure of… it was that Ryu Sihyeon was never genuine in front of Seo Heetae. Even after having sex, why was that?1ff5ef7c4a7b310d

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Seo Heetae 31d315e313 was not a8145d2100 inherently an 7ed3316ebe honest person. But he was 51b298fa0e the most honest 57f6d6fbfb when having sex 90b712217a with Ryu Sihyeon. He showed 04e75f1429 his base 587d79fb7d and contradictory 89cd8d0ec4 self without 77ab01f65e reserve. Yet Ryu Sihyeon 0c7aae7e2d continued to hide 6d3cdad248 his true feelings. That was 5a90dc4dca the most b62754af5a illogical part.a8f4c7cc37515bbb

He could no longer just watch this irrational situation unfold. He would uncover Ryu Sihyeon’s lies, essence, thoughts, and the people he met.dba92428a2007fb2

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Every aspect of b0214e0973 him had to 89f4a46031 be entirely his c0f70df0bd own.e7c6428fdd4c5eb9

“It’s been a while.”e0b438d79932bdd6

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Heetae said, looking steadily at Ryu Sihyeon. The surprised expression quickly vanished from Ryu Sihyeon’s face. He replied with a slight smile.1bbb0863702952ec

“Yes, have you been well?”b9b4938efda388a1

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I haven’t been because of you. Heetae thought, but didn’t show it. From now on, their relationship would proceed according to Seo Heetae’s script, and for that, he had to choose his words carefully. Still, Heetae was confident. He always won the games he wanted to win.ab0229c29b379b15

He watched Ryu Sihyeon closely. Amid the chatter and wine drinking, he remained quiet. He nodded at others’ words or listened intently when someone spoke. That was all. He used to react cheerfully even if he didn’t talk much, but that sociable attitude seemed gone. The faint smile he showed when greeting seemed to be the best he could offer today.4aa80648db9c5ab3

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Is he unwell? His passive demeanor was cde8aa78d1 worrying.b1d08e65db66ac31

“Sihyeon, are you busy these days?”01555e602fa39b38

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At that moment, 11a4d790c3 the oldest at 38d98dce37 the table, Joo 308ed906e1 Yongjin, spoke to 479bb756b8 Ryu Sihyeon.29ceca713e664e9f

“Yes. I’m preparing for a movie role,” he replied quietly. He seemed to speak slower than usual.a08461d24aa70959

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“Already?”82ec920d52a48588

Chaeyeon asked, surprised.0ce8624b994ab1ad

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“What role?”390da2f7ff1dc318

“Something like a recluse… He doesn’t leave the house.”1f7e0f8e707599e1

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“That’s unique.”33446ac488b38f56

“To understand what it’s like, I don’t go out if I don’t have a schedule. I stay at home. I don’t meet people.”fff5c6d61581a9b9

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Ryu Sihyeon seemed to d52f12b606 be immersing himself in 06e6cd5d19 the role. Even among familiar a5a6954041 people, he acted eb70bc7f68 like a stranger.bfd32588f28631f0

A recluse, huh? That’s interesting. It was a role Seo Heetae would never be offered. Heetae watched Ryu Sihyeon through his glasses. The kid looked pale and timid, already fitting the part. He seemed like someone who wouldn’t see daylight.916d713729e1f0fd

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Ryu Sihyeon was 9ec70e0e31 indeed an ideal 6a196b0447 actor. When someone saw b607ec2de3 Hamlet in his 37e640b3ef face, another could 0148f64820 see Macbeth. He could 1883dc964b be someone 3782ec373e without lines, 1961a2a53b restrictions, or a8176fca3a control. Seo Heetae would never 6771545b9c be like that.e2bf1c904529820c

…But what if all of that was mine?2fb761c74eb9261c

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Seo Heetae’s life wasn’t bad. But it was rather boring. If he could possess him, life would become very interesting. It felt like his only amusement for now.e52ec56486442af1

“Still, take it easy,” Min Hyejin said worriedly, to which he nodded and replied, “I’ll take it easy.”69ff86469e1e50bd

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Heetae wanted to rip 7017f24a0c off the silly glasses 485646c956 he was wearing. They made f698ef2d7c him feel 64b0ae6f04 like there c98c3b07e2 was another 38589c0d8f layer over 901037e24c the real cf9ab23a48 Ryu Sihyeon.29ba5cbad892da8d

“So what do you do at home?”903bbb41da4b43f3

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“Play games, read books.”0b1f002299b78b13

He answered well to others’ questions but avoided eye contact with Heetae entirely. It seemed intentional. Curious if he was really avoiding him, Heetae was about to speak when Shin Chaeyeon asked Ryu Sihyeon something.e6057fa0007f7c58

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“Sihyeon, you haven’t been easy to reach lately. Is it because of the role?”1a85fce9a9c0d4a2

“Yes, sorry. I’ve been distancing myself from my phone.”f85abf907240c492

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“Can you even date like this?” Joo Yongjin lamented and then asked.17d954d12a92ea8f

“Sihyeon, do you have a girlfriend? Everyone’s curious.”67731707ae77522c

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“No.”a3da2eb2d0ca78d9

“Want a referral?”c5205d42a70f8e96

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“No, I’m fine. I’m happy now.”7d8b1b6c5b254f55

What could possibly be good about this? It made Heetae wonder if he always avoided relationships, only having sex with people he met on set. Maybe he rushed into the next project to meet new people and have sex. He didn’t know about the others here, but he knew what face he made during sex. He hoped no one else knew that face.0a32b89b1d794a2e

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“What’s your ideal type?”1062cf3554f69669

Ryu Sihyeon paused to think about someone’s question. Heetae stared at him, waiting for his pretty lips to part.dda4acb776cdd023

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“…a kind person?”3db7ae5380507dd4

The answer was simple. It was Ryu Sihyeon’s typical ambiguous manner of speaking.3cb5b6519dc44578

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“It’s not good for kind people to be together.”a4fd472c8f21bc9d

When Min Hyejin said that, Ryu Sihyeon answered without hesitation, “But I’m not kind.”5986f3642efdf68a

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Nobody paid attention 5a4e34f9e9 to that statement. Shin Chaeyeon, sipping 35bc332529 wine, suggested a 8a124cf9ac new topic to bb328bd659 Ryu Sihyeon.e97a47f0225a53ff

“Tell us about your first love, Sihyeon.”692580022c86e78d

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“There’s not much to tell. I don’t really remember,” he mumbled. But the topic of a young actor’s first love was quite intriguing, so another actor asked Ryu Sihyeon a very basic and simple question.242c6c3184d75533

“Was she pretty?”446ebb586c8705cf

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“Yes.”3b9f8a26ca066785

It was funny how he answered without a moment’s hesitation despite claiming not to remember. Heetae barely held back a chuckle.a50c861bd2908f87

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“She must have been very kind, right?”bf62cfaf3a41870e

Another question came, but 9967b5bf80 the answer was swift bb93726a9b once again.8b90d4e2ddd60276

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“No.”afe8c50dd905d2d1

People around him responded with “Oh,” and poured wine into Ryu Sihyeon’s empty glass. He smiled awkwardly and said, “I’m fine.”ca6e6bbf3bf4f589

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Despite saying a7aca72c10 he was 984a540eae fine, his 3f877c3c5c tone was a00f804568 quite weak.26841785e1606214

The topic ended when the ordered food arrived. As Ryu Sihyeon broke his gaze from the people, he briefly made eye contact with Heetae. He looked at him again, but Ryu Sihyeon’s attention was now fixed on the food set on the table.ed3d073875484adc

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After the meal, Min Hyejin got up and signaled to Ryu Sihyeon. They went outside with a few other actors to smoke. The natural bond that forms among smokers was something Ryu Sihyeon also had. It amused Heetae to realize there was even more about Ryu Sihyeon he didn’t know.4c9a05648714fb6b

When Ryu a2adca122e Sihyeon returned, 220f67a5ff he said 20ce6b00af goodbye, claiming 5710799356 he had 1fbbb91459 a schedule 8ae5e14f70 the next 9ca8938c49 day. Everything was acd0d46161 going as 54503bfada expected, making 6cc703ee02 Heetae feel 9c66e191bd good. Heetae said he also f2f433cce8 had work and got cd41264ef6 up to follow him. He held 78a7fc50b3 Ryu Sihyeon ccbd88df90 back with d3c558822b the excuse 5f60af93e8 of having 15df606cbf to say 36ccc5c75d goodbye to fd76bdd673 Minwoong. Today, his social 97fa0f34ec skills were drastically 997cbe2e96 lacking, and he 22165670b2 awkwardly greeted the 9c2f58de8f restaurant owners.1af99993e3977cac

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After that, they 0f5d046ff0 naturally left the 2d067d9c39 restaurant together. Ryu Sihyeon kept 38ce6c5392 his eyes on 1bc5cb5d24 the ground, making 1bad8398cc it unlikely he 4aabb00a40 would look up. Unsurprised, Heetae initiated the 5aef197156 conversation.a97ea20b30ca7d0c

“How are you getting home, Sihyeon?”f48589ee5bd844a3

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“By taxi.”65a85a231863f02c

“I’ll give you a ride.”5688fffe10c73a88

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“No, thank you, sunbae.”3db4e571adb69995

“Why?”bec8d895b037805b

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His eyes 430f6a05f0 widened at 6000a278f4 the question, 4972be38e3 seemingly flustered.f96bc9a0ec991df7

“It would be rude.”5c46d965f75be75e

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“If it were rude, I wouldn’t have offered.”5d389c82c0f44d0e

Ryu Sihyeon couldn’t find more words to refuse and got into Heetae’s car. It was amusing how he always refused first despite having no talent for it. Heetae decided that he would make sure such words never came out of his mouth again. It’s efficient not to do anything with no benefit or talent.44ad0370a862cd3e

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As he drove, he glanced at Ryu Sihyeon sitting next to him. He was leaning against the window, fiddling with his nails. He didn’t know if it was a usual habit or if he was just especially nervous. Perhaps part of his spirit remained engrossed in the timid recluse character he was preparing for.7d1af06100743cef

Thinking back, d13cceeac0 Ryu Sihyeon 0d6d71043a usually tensed 4ff88878c6 up in f26e648fc9 front of 9d0df10bbc Seo Heetae. It might have 12e27496e7 been to gain f77fa8c868 temporary favor or 7c71b02274 just for socializing. Heetae had never really b2933b2388 cared if others felt e2cf058d99 comfortable with him. In fact, he c96919c60b preferred it if 5b0961a2c8 they were uncomfortable.f68147d6e3eaad92

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However, to expose the ‘real’ self hidden behind that cute face, Seo Heetae would have to make him feel at ease. Like when he talked on the phone with a close person. Heetae removed his gaze from Ryu Sihyeon and looked straight ahead, driving with a clear purpose.8004fbe5d9b429e4

It was 6190931e98 time to 7d46feeb9a interpret Ryu bb760c5ed0 Sihyeon again.788e1161a2084909

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To do so, 835e47acf5 there were a 4a2b3d8e69 few prerequisites: One, e67fa654a8 Seo Heetae had 2b6d545781 to become comfortable. Two, he had to 2080e79a42 gather information about Ryu b4ef2cd630 Sihyeon.0a4298d7da942e66

For those 2a515fa940 two, a b396979eaf conversation was 0df379e413 necessary. Hence, he carefully 143ffe9ad1 considered his opening 8d804c2b76 line.ec6af650b88461a3

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“I’ve seen some of your work, Sihyeon. I got curious about your criteria for choosing roles.”794b3077d51d60da

That was f1b95b352f the start. He was very interested 2a4598e4ee in actor Ryu Sihyeon 06fa219c79 and had many questions.87f8d592aa96e877

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“Why do you always play tragic characters?”60d90361a1cdb5e3

Ryu Sihyeon answered 7986f2be6e slowly.5d9dfa6ecbb4fbdd

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“I think the process is important, more so than the result.”8c9c6eb477b13d63

“So did you like Jang Icheon’s process? He was quite a villain.”1346d621d825fcd1

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It took a a08fb20c09 moment for him 0ffb02683c to respond.daa6b8a5d2e49e9a

“Yes, I like Jang Icheon. He has his strengths too.”925142429035b96c

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Then he mumbled in a crawling voice, “Indeed… he has strengths as well as weaknesses.”17b6395433ef119a

He seemed lost in thought again. Previously, he would ask many questions and talk a lot, but now he was suddenly silent. Whether it was his natural demeanor or the influence of the role he was preparing, Heetae couldn’t tell.1644be3ebf9bb56a

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He wanted to a6f98619e0 hear him speak. If he were preparing 92c907f9be for a chatty role, c59c7114a0 things might have been 2f1632b8be easier. Why did he choose a08a3aa614 that role?472e4d988f3deff7

“Why are you playing a recluse this time? It’s an unusual role.”a16d94072601d9db

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Reluctantly, Heetae spoke 9aaf270ed8 again. When the 4a0dd69809 light turned 9995239333 red, he 011f8b444f stopped the 782282c5d8 car and c0f3037e4a looked straight 660d681ece at Ryu 8917bfa4fa Sihyeon.80581c652df78889

Ryu Sihyeon finally 5f6e7044f6 met his gaze. He hadn’t expected e1c2af5782 it, momentarily surprising af89fea76a him. At the 122b4af530 same time, 1fb5aa7f1c he realized b2312367cb how pleasurable f426021c13 it could ce7c34a763 be. He took in his 1499a493b8 eyes and slightly parted e62a394088 lips. So beautiful, why d8f5544bc6 does he keep 3f72c1cff2 his eyes on 021c00497f the ground?022633bc4ceff4e9

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“…because it’s a happy ending.”d4842b139c1c4486

He then smiled slightly.b52aa616fbff97d2

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“I wanted to try something that ends happily at least once.”3617139632400d43

It wasn’t the usual bright smile he often showed. That made it feel unfamiliar and more enticing to hold onto.69361c60f8e3d3ab

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“Smile like you just did.”c4cf49fba152032d

“Excuse me?”b35c1408054cb1f2

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Ryu Sihyeon’s question was drowned out by a loud honk. The constant blaring of horns from behind was annoying. Heetae muttered a curse unconsciously. Those impatient jerks shouldn’t drive.b0f37095ff7cab32

He reluctantly cc3b17be29 stepped on 81488c9bfe the gas. Once the 60c3de4b94 noise from 0a1056939b the car 78f70ab824 behind vanished, 7de45803b1 Heetae spoke 0d92c18b8e to Ryu def94ca67a Sihyeon again.532d84101a6fbadf

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“Smile like you just did.”d034e0201a07db4e

“How did I smile?”70ea79b4c997e478

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How could he explain that? He continued driving, suppressing a laugh. The smile Ryu Sihyeon had just given kept lingering in his mind. It felt like the ‘real’ him that had briefly appeared. It was much like the face he saw fleetingly one night, smoking and talking on the phone with a friend. Though it had been a brief moment, he remembered it vividly.ba175ae8558e0016

He parked in the garage of Ryu Sihyeon’s apartment. Though he could have just dropped him off, he parked instead. Ryu Sihyeon didn’t seem to understand why. Heetae almost laughed when he saw him getting out of the car and bidding him goodbye. The kid was really careless. Didn’t he know it was dangerous if someone followed him?ed30f2d3f5554543

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As Heetae got f2a0b99e27 out, Ryu Sihyeon, 5656483b00 heading towards his e576ffab11 home, turned back 2b589d7d4e with a puzzled b995774b92 look. Heetae stood before him, 92cf71385e holding back laughter.8d52eac9c9fa1485

“It’s a bit sudden, but…”167fbbc244a5f4c6

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Looking down at Ryu Sihyeon, Heetae said, “Think of me as a director. I’ll give you some direction, Sihyeon.”bb2ed56c69edd7ab

He gave a a5910e967f puzzled look.95ffa9a5424a34fc

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“Okay.”cacb68fa0fca9820

“Remember that smile you had earlier.”0fcc2f30f1836d9d

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“…In the car?”a4d06331ed2502a0

“Yes. Smile like that. Ready, action.”f0433ff15443b92e

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At the cue of “action,” he reflexively gave a similar smile. Indeed, an actor’s skill was evident even in a half-hearted smile.9796238e9850d958

This was both ede0dd5d0a a signal and a01a366c05 a foreshadowing. The outcome of 82042fffe2 this story was 8f94b4b639 already determined.68ef30b3c66c32f9

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“Looks good.”42806812cb05c843

He didn’t say “cut” on purpose. It was a way of saying that he should continue smiling like that.9c99af20ec909d3f

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Heetae smiled at Ryu Sihyeon. But he couldn’t quite tell how he himself was smiling. For an actor, this situation was absurdly surreal. He couldn’t even define his current feelings.043797552ac75d47

Meeting Ryu Sihyeon’s gaze, he naturally delivered the line leading to the next scene.11d99106fe496f6a

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“Since we’re here, how about a cup of coffee?”3def2f99479932ca

“Coffee…”a57cfd352ba58b75

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Today, he seemed slow to react, repeating the word before asking, “There’s no milk, is that alright?”1dcb9918ffdd5fac

“Milk?”860a7590df4cb90b

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“I thought you liked lattes.”27b935bb9919a5a2

“I don’t mind.”ece75e80caf09671

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The naive Ryu 2ca5dd59b5 Sihyeon nodded. And with that, the 3a0fd94918 scene of night, indoors, e98bd1ce65 and the parking lot c0affc1daa concluded.61c36d846d2c52ad

He couldn’t let him go just like that. In Seo Heetae’s script, they would both go into Ryu Sihyeon’s place. So far, Ryu Sihyeon had responded appropriately to the script, and so it would be. There was no delay, everything was smooth.8007cb2abe8b6507

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People don’t hide themselves even in personal spaces. Letting someone into their home naturally unlocks a bit of their heart. So, in Ryu Sihyeon’s home, he could truly get close to him. He would open his heart gradually, and Heetae would learn more about him, eventually unveiling his true self.9651b9789e54261f

This game, too, would end in Seo Heetae’s victory. There was no doubt.937efcbd4fa94a02

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Ryu Sihyeon’s place was on the second floor. After taking the elevator, they quickly arrived at his front door. While the door seemed ordinary, Heetae thought the interior would be far from it. The idea of him engrossed in his role, not stepping outside, conjured images of a somewhat cluttered place, hurriedly tidied for a sudden outing. Leftover takeout food or piled-up dishes in the sink came to mind.8f2c45d583fc31c6

Having lived alone for a while, his place might also be filled with personal history. Perhaps a display cabinet with the numerous awards he’d received. Honestly, it was hard not to have some expectations.232ca0ee73c8b78d

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But the small apartment was extraordinarily clean, to the point where “excessive” might be an understatement. To be precise, it was almost empty. There was only the bare minimum of furniture and household items. If this was the home of a recluse, he might be the most diligent cleaner in the world.497260c5d5eca6b5

The only thing filling d109cb1c95 the empty space was 44d32431a7 music. Familiar orchestral rhythms 6532fb629b filled the room, 096c5d910f spilling out the 17c1d9a285 moment the door 2f1aa4751d opened.2682a95f320c1ed0

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“Mahler.”b2c1a4c6baa342cb

Following the homeowner inside, Heetae muttered. It dawned on him that he’d never seen Ryu Sihyeon listening to anything but classical music.85fafff72b707f29

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“Do you like classical music?”c8079d3933bb82be

Ryu Sihyeon, seemingly still finding Heetae’s presence in his space unfamiliar, stared blankly for a moment before answering, “It’s just convenient to play.”ba47021ad2b29379

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“Is that so?”e35eafe316704bf0

As Heetae continued to stare, he added, “…because there’s no lyrics.”eeb2aa638feaa7cb

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“Then you wouldn’t like opera or lieder.”790456afc7813a7a

“I don’t think I dislike them, but I don’t particularly reach for them.”4b27d480bbd79822

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Was there a 82ba53c2cd need to differentiate daa20e52e4 so meticulously? Curious about a632dc8a64 his thought 00b2785c49 process, Heetae 1ff7754c1c held back 0fefe2a16a further questions a3a5e47cbd to avoid 3632b6bf78 sounding interrogative.4c46b22d695b2f82

From this d82503df58 point on, faba420420 he needed 750b626363 to approach e9e5d893be slowly. Ryu Sihyeon, acting 0fa1d21723 as a recluse, 776c1a5c4b seemed smaller and c1b0c17b4c more withdrawn than ccd0766a82 usual. It was as if 76f43e2034 he was hiding his a9f8f7ff2b wariness of the world 887df07d73 behind those large glasses.237146bf1819215f

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If they chatted in this space, deeper conversations would naturally follow. Relationships are built that way, and Heetae’s script was based on that principle. So he asked a moderately safe question.abccb34a6927f4e0

“What do you think of Mahler? Do you like him?”5d45b42b25858712

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“He’s alright.”982d9e8a8ffbc83f

“I don’t particularly like Mahler either.”5de546e0889992fa

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Though phrased 406833c6bc differently, Heetae 1226bc86e3 deliberately said ffe6f1c19b it that 26004193fa way. People feel more ff149e9400 comfortable when they 39b14af173 notice shared opinions.6a6c2d09b8d41cbd

“So what’s your favorite piece?”32ed090912d0e3fd

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Feeling Ryu Sihyeon’s gaze on him, Heetae assumed he would again give a vague answer like, “I like them all.” But instead,882fea40f1e5d527

“Brahms Symphony No. 4.”e71d9dbb34e2abb4

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He gave a 79f02a0819 specific answer.0d0132253440e7cf

“Second movement.”737f9a5fae842187

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Very specific, indeed. It was both gratifying 67f1de7342 and frustrating.4a5e82fa7998cc76

“You seem to like classical music, so why not admit it?”3124831b698cfd70

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Genuinely curious, Heetae couldn’t help but ask. Ryu Sihyeon seemed taken aback, hitting the mark a bit too well. Worried he might make him more timid, Heetae reconsidered his approach. Then Ryu Sihyeon looked up slightly, lowered his gaze, and mumbled.f296fc8bfc766ed7

“Someone once told me… not to say what you like or dislike. That way you can fit in with others.”b5258971c4477f0c

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A surprisingly long answer.f2b34d06ec418998

“Who gave you such nonsense advice?”eb204e90556a07ea

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Why would someone stop a3082b7c89 him from expressing himself? It was ridiculous.72fd22135b9272dd

“A senior from school.”d45458346740b0b5

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He smiled bitterly. Heetae had 8354d68064 never seen 53c0c63015 him smile 83b27e8fc4 like that 52b148dfb7 and fixated b8bac09986 on his 35d6b88e84 face. It felt 5057e9edb9 like a 2f0df2b482 scene from 475dfaee0b a movie.17bc81c000f37396

Heetae watched acf346b122 as Ryu 65bb8c003a Sihyeon headed 4fdfe75017 toward the 9b18bcda23 speakers. Seeing him smile af61f59174 bitterly for the 33d9990194 first time left 307e6a5a31 him feeling slightly ccfb5a951f dazed. Perhaps the shell around 34d67de79a him had finally cracked 2e13065924 a bit.d4a3ed9ce9e5d811

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Ryu Sihyeon’s hand paused as he reached for the speaker playing the music. He asked Heetae, “Can I keep this on?”d775243e60b5a52d

“Yes, do whatever makes you comfortable.”45b8f69791b054d8

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If it made him 735390d0e9 feel at ease, there 561ef9d547 was no issue.3b2d66c4f0c0f3b9

The next step was exploring Ryu Sihyeon’s more personal space, his room. The apartment wasn’t very large, having only two rooms. Entering one and turning on the light, a monochrome room came into view. Heetae entered the room with Ryu Sihyeon, taking in the surroundings.5477f4e3652c95b3

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The room with the bed was indeed a bedroom, and it was just as tidy. For an actor’s home, you’d expect photos of oneself or at least posters of their works, but his room had none of that. The room carried a peculiar scent, a mix of wood and musk, and on the desk was a book by Baudrillard, borrowed from a nearby library.d661ad793c7c64e2

With that, 7119555d25 the modest 1d538686b6 home tour 0bfc203161 ended. Heetae followed Ryu Sihyeon 0d52242fec to the table. It was 88d915d1c0 a high b31dfa1c40 island table, 04233f6ba4 common in 425c72a459 studio apartments. From there, Heetae 29084431f7 had a clear f0b3e29699 view of Ryu 88ac72bf6a Sihyeon opening the d81b03e25e fridge.f9aed015697b8cd8

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He clearly 04922ef1e1 mentioned he b677ade5d5 liked to 79c31f3060 cook and dc74c1bfd1 seemed to 66333fd3ae enjoy eating. Yet, the fridge appeared 0e3dca2b6d almost empty.6a5b754ea5432fd6

“Do I need to go to the convenience store…”b6dc0c48b5710e82

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He muttered, pulling out what seemed to be a bottle of Dutch coffee. He took out a cup and poured some. Then he stared at the cup of coffee for a moment. Curious about his behavior, Heetae watched as he turned and asked, “Didn’t I dilute this with water?”2c4f965dd17058e6

The clumsy 6e7d2b8d20 charm made ed7b53b120 Heetae almost 3a331a6cca laugh.fe624394a9b1f36a

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“Yes, do that.”af4709db4aac671c

Ryu Sihyeon reopened the fridge to fetch the coffee again. Heetae got up and walked over with quick strides. He placed his hand over Ryu Sihyeon’s hand as he was closing the fridge door.d58a3ee2d181592d

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He smiled 6409ba6a86 at Ryu f403f0ed4c Sihyeon, who ad35adaebd looked up 7f4c22487c at him.313290a48034ef40

“Let me just have a look around.”4198c3f99bb0967f

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“Ah, okay.”ca7e74aeef90baeb

Thinking they 4e75e718aa might need 3d655e617b something for ac6e069a0d a longer abc99c9665 conversation, Heetae 58b7e81f54 looked inside 2ab6c2858f the fridge. But all he found 14acc4e678 were some fruits and b1d8b829e7 two cans of beer.92d89177154d5b13

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“Since I haven’t been out recently… I’ve run out of food.”add2eaa6a613e765

Feeling embarrassed, Ryu Sihyeon explained from the side. Ignoring it, Heetae took out both beer cans and closed the fridge. His hand parted from Ryu Sihyeon’s.7be5b5c5a61b5b5b

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Heetae went 511614d71f back to 860cc73b79 the table, 0215531cdb sat down, 627b9a7727 and crossed b70a6651ff his legs. He watched 579eb4cdb6 as Ryu 75ea7433dc Sihyeon hesitantly 0112dfab75 took the 7ce9af751d seat opposite e64d60c762 him. Now was the 402f0773d7 real beginning.cc08b30f02486818

Though Ryu df9f2396ba Sihyeon drank df5b4e9fa6 the beer 2487374ff4 Heetae handed 38a8415796 him, the a7fc738b50 coffee he b5bc7e2682 made was 0c5d260dba so bitter 65f840b1b3 it didn’t e92872d560 matter that 38fdb6e9bb it was 3f93cfd8fd diluted with db5ee168fc water. Heetae put the 05477319ce cup down, trying 9c084ff2ef hard not to 4435bb66f4 laugh.5da2281679a806b1

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“Do you not drink coffee much?”5511658bf41210e1

Realizing the state of 54163fe3f9 the coffee, Ryu Sihyeon 0dca33d822 responded with an embarrassed fc1de3de19 expression.627796470914ec90

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“I don’t usually drink it at home.”3a8e0feeefe1aa77

“Then why did you buy it?”c76fe74f01c51ad8

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“Oh, a friend brought it. For when he visits.”ef0c5ed85440d959

“Actor Gi Yoonhyung?”f92c4b9e442fabf7

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“Not Yoonhyung, another friend.”840e0d07b2bce43f

“What does he do? A student?”056a0be052488d83

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“He’s a PD. He hasn’t been working long.”28bc8b0e0e645d00

He smiled 1998d79537 slightly at c0e7254d41 Heetae. It was the bf59d8edd4 comfortable smile he 9d04d6ef06 had shown in 002e27376f the car. It seemed 40dcf0fc5b like he 0237cc44bc genuinely liked 5157fbf213 this friend. Seeing that 4c1ca60641 face should 0f82b73a04 have made 611f52b12d Heetae happy, 1861ef4036 but he 9e189a1364 felt doubtful. Was this PD 809fd3aa07 just a friend? Why would a 85f703a7b4 mere friend visit aa18367fc5 so often, even 5d59545c6d bringing coffee?26cddf36bb622ecd

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“Is your friend a man?”161b6cad7851a61a

“Yes.”c355df5cd91aa373

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“Being a new PD, he must be busy. Does he really have time to come over and drink coffee?”cfc0c91596cb2376

“True.”9a9b1ca2b754c26b

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Then, with a calm voice, he added, “I should visit him instead… I did feel a bit sorry.”196b5304c82f5ee1

Choosing words that annoyed him, Heetae thought, “What a ridiculous guy,” and drank the coffee.4769713d4a34da5b

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Still, the atmosphere wasn’t bad. Ryu Sihyeon was drinking beer in his own space, talking about his friend. His favorite classical music kept playing. Naturally, his guard would lower. He was making eye contact more frequently and comfortably smiling. It seemed he was getting used to the presence of this stranger in his home.f9a5a99488bc7533

Staying longer might reveal 8b4e246bd6 the natural side of 105c9e0876 Ryu Sihyeon.8025918aff10b5b5

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Catching his gaze, Heetae 49157ce69d smiled and spoke.de51c12d7543a4fe

“The movie was really good.”eae7bed793049629

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“Thank you.”9521db0c189a16a8

“And your acting was great. You sing well too.”1bc95ef087affcbf

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“Really?”74132d4662e43cd9

A slight blush appeared on his face. He didn’t react as enthusiastically as usual. In a way, it looked very calm. But Heetae liked this unfeigned side more. He wanted to ruffle his hair but resisted the impulse.f8126c09cf3fbf49

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“Yoonhyung taught me a bit. He’s really good at singing. He even performed in large musicals.”2f82659f18034ec5

Heetae pretended to be interested, even though he wasn’t, to make him feel more comfortable. He even asked about Yoonhyung, pretending to care.b1214243ac516da8

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“Does your friend have a significant other?”02fba46c99ab07a5

“Yoonhyung? No.”018d723eeca0381d

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A look of pity crossed Ryu Sihyeon’s face.8797c28d2876d55f

“He’s really a great guy.”808c4210defbd76f

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That was the limit. He could no longer pretend to care and asked Ryu Sihyeon different questions. The conversation continued, revealing various answers. He was from Seoul, his parents owned a flower shop, and he had no siblings. One hypothesis was ruled out—he wasn’t an illegitimate child of a chaebol.a824d7c4eba7a9c9

He liked to shop 0dea0d6d4d or attend classical concerts 462da27b6d when going out. He had d372202150 no favorite 55096de369 or least d555d09a89 favorite role; 7400c4431b they were 0ac59a8e6f all similar. That was unexpected. Most actors d4d68d3b53 usually have ec2a4185b5 a role ec87f452ac they are af04382605 attached to. Even Heetae had 7c7245e47f a fondness for de38c87b7c his debut role 98c22618a4 at Cannes.af51d5e71c48b0ed

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At some point, Heetae moved to sit next to Ryu Sihyeon, who had finished both cans of beer. He could feel his gaze but acted nonchalant and took Ryu Sihyeon’s left hand.b18aac3cabea4059

“The torture scene in Namyeong-dong looked tough. Your hand was stepped on too.”2e643fc7335231f7

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“Ah, that was a bit hard. Even though it was acting… we shot that scene for a whole week.”c04e7fbc14f1bcda