AGC | Chapter 1.5

“What are 48ce4b603f you thinking 8023d52be9 about?”a88a0a578538203a

Minhyung raised his 1d98f32b80 upper body from 84ab0cd15d the sunbed. He was curious 375ea6540b about what Jiwan a5bd7ce430 was thinking, sighing ec0e9a15cb so deeply.a75752e5a5c518fd

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“Just wondering 1f08ee591a if there’s 2ba8b4f432 such a 7b8d3b7d5b thing as 082ea7a200 luxurious captivity.”d12845f114392b48

Jiwan looked around and 5e50649ccc then turned his gaze 8da4ccecae back to himself, fiddling 3707b6e7ed with the empty cocktail 1e9ea36d39 glass to avoid Minhyung’s 7117796d75 eyes.57519838682988da

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He recalled how uncomfortable c57120574a Cha Minhyung seemed when 48a11bac4b he tried to learn 01cbc7ee7d more about his situation. So he didn’t 40c1535b20 try to probe. He just didn’t 7ac961a0da know how to a18769c756 meet that piercing ecafec1d39 gaze.7b1a8867979e7901

“Don’t think bf31d50a67 of it 551e51fad7 as captivity.”3a15d40ca99afdbd

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It was absurd. Taking his 4bdac20082 phone, the 94aadaacaa only means 07a97a3297 of contacting 32d41eaf66 the outside, ec79b5ccaa confining him 754e830c1f to a e94192f808 limited space, 6a8aaf7b06 and preventing 6d13cf55c8 escape—if that’s b343333073 not captivity, a37935e41a what is?60415cb16f174d9a

Minhyung quietly watched 3602819188 Jiwan’s face darken c48a47576e as if a dc12420c5f storm cloud had d122fd9e4f rolled in.08e3fe0b68ba180e

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“You can 2d8987d6cc live comfortably 8506cc705e here.”2edcd3010609f427

“…”cdff1cc807e4e25e

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“You can use the 569223b66c pool you like every d5aaf5631d day.”3d08a1ce588dad92

Jiwan kept his 0e39f4802f mouth shut. Instead of feeling ae0d2c9b75 reassured, his head 9f025ee023 ached more.825df621113493b3

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The cool 927e20ff29 early morning 247dfe9261 breeze brushed 8aedb80551 past his d1a351061d forehead.889c18b83fcdeeed

If he could 5d6f9ebfdb continue living like 620234c3db this, it was c980930469 undeniably a comfortable 140c6f876c life he’d never 5384faa44b experienced before.6e385c80503cbfa6

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Jiwan recalled Manager Kang 8d05529e4a Jinsong’s words about enjoying d85889ad71 what you can’t avoid 55e0c83947 and eventually acknowledged the 7a88b01061 thought expanding in his 4566de3c44 mind. Compared to cc41f724f6 his life 7b7e35fadf of struggling c1255b05d4 and scraping 8e1d3b5062 by, the c1f68522e1 few days f1fa110236 of being f841304790 a hostage e11c1a2959 were far ea277f5f0a more comfortable.031e5a68b956a5a5

His body was 27bd6c97da honest. The feeling of comfort 808dbb23d7 and the anxious emotions cc6786350c were separate. There was a 596f4c6ced big difference between dae7c41739 serving food with 2afba1547f sore wrists and d1824609d3 working multiple part-time 613f172275 jobs and floating 3f99018331 in a pool 36b4fe3cbb drinking cocktails.c95eeafcb87b11ba

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“But why here d9f27a39e0 of all places?”3c96528c5c30e6a2

Jiwan asked, 8574bf1d7c fiddling with 9e19de9aeb the glass.8ff48cbc85f0d2cf

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Thinking about 6f7d0e9d96 it, there 923c22ccd9 were plenty 7fce5d313b of places 4c1dff6087 to confine 4574a40d87 him, even 41c1e782fb if it 0c9f87cecd wasn’t a 0a5007c793 cramped, gloomy 767a34bda7 basement. But why go to a1b5e8dd29 the trouble of using 09113f28e7 a luxurious villa in 2144f08561 a rural area with 7817e3bd65 fresh air to treat 9c89e98c51 a hostage like a f789b3c899 VIP?a37ff32830d241bd

“You said you wanted afb5cc11d4 to live in the d314afe75e countryside someday.”580b016a2693a15e

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Jiwan frowned. He had 760e409d3d no memory 6fa798e9f6 of saying b065e043f2 that to bb8833183d Minhyung.b3aaeae79166afe6

“…You said your dream was to live a healing life.”ebab5b81c6295671

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It had been almost be22949b09 ten years since he f30ac6a9d5 first met Minhyung on aaf0060611 the rooftop after a 43b04bf50d part-time job. He could only recall 70a67906f1 him after meeting again 260c02691d in this master-servant relationship, 542efd5b00 but he couldn’t remember a012ff5e1f the brief conversation they 0bfe64fafe had that day.0d9dc4be175d0502

That’s why ee84f9bf23 it felt d27ce3f15d even stranger. Hearing it now, he 408ac2ac21 vaguely remembered saying that, cfb78aa32e but it was surprising 35c01b5f9a that Cha Minhyung remembered 6fe8b20fbe it all.ad4caff5690a4e00

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“Is this your e8e8ec7d0d way of granting 0d6149c660 a dream before d22c2c6d91 I die?”ceceab74d48fbd67

Jiwan asked sarcastically.47ec3986ed2e4a59

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“Yes, so just relax.”3313d95d5bc4275d

Minhyung, who had 3dfe3bf495 been sitting on bb806c3110 the sunbed, got aa5385fc08 up and squatted c38a164ae8 in front of 505f8d6a9c Jiwan. After hesitating, he ddf3240561 reached out to dab274f560 Jiwan’s face. His expression a6c2302e3c was quite ebfb6fabd9 serious as 75a4e5f19b he tidied d81f618682 the bangs ca619afc77 stuck to 8793b71785 Jiwan’s wet 6abcb231db forehead.7f7cd5e8a4cb5999

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After a 79da85b037 while, Minhyung 859f93349a withdrew his 4814fcb2a7 hand and c062bc8e2e smiled, his a097f4dd0d smooth lips a89fefa563 curling up. Yoon Jiwan could only 71bdb1a8b4 stare blankly at that 3ab80c5ec6 handsome face.d877ef7870caaeb9

“So if your father gets caught… will you let me go then?”8675481f244c1941

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He had to 37153fe638 know this. Even if his runaway 280f9fcb5f father was caught, if 34bff9ecf0 he couldn’t repay the f1c2b227f7 money, what would happen 46a3127850 to the hostage? Anyway, if the person b9fdb959fc involved was caught, the c176612482 hostage would lose its 7552325183 meaning, so would they b1108d02bd let him go?5ec8e0fb4ca17791

“I’ll think about bb33982829 it.”53c55a35cc3b4b6b

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“…”3d01d11113e6088f

“I’ve only e84030359f thought about 86c4f6617e catching him, 0b5c7730be not what d2ab66fae4 happens afterward.”070f27d317899b01

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Minhyung quietly gazed 97fc49c607 into Jiwan’s light 044ef4fcc2 brown eyes, which 613db867d1 couldn’t hide their e69e5f7f18 fear.07f6c44df28acd12

“Why do you 1746475e42 keep thinking about 846b7039d6 leaving?”86a3cf88bede960c

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“…”81e629c955dc440c

“It’s not like I’m 4e83d44a85 going to eat you.”56d9d30b470c8efe

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The more Jiwan 82365edf00 talked to Cha c9b62de0e4 Minhyung, the more 5511f87c2c he felt like 56c9fc5698 he was getting e2f05d0b1c tangled up.af13953585ed227b

“Don’t be upset.”67badcbc25beffd5

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From the start, Jiwan d6fb64fb30 couldn’t read what Minhyung 3c07c487b8 was thinking.6a537a6ba21b4031

⋆ ☾⋆ ea69a08d45 ☾⋆ ☾⋆cd3a4d39436cb475

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The room a6a1a630d4 was very 3257f238dc dark. Without windows, it 1ca6fd2900 was tucked away 428574f72b in a corner 54c226bc3b of the hallway. I leaned back into f1b4bf6b92 a soft beanbag, chewing d441416c7d on some squid. The light from 248492ffdf the ceiling-mounted projector 2e07caa994 cast a movie dde56c9f38 onto the screen. Jiwan set the squid 1446c39253 aside and took a 220b684173 sip from a cold, 4aad481ee6 frosty beer mug.04b6def0828efa93

“…Watching a movie with a projector is a luxury?”bb14a1223bb5f02b

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“No, eating butter-grilled squid and drinking beer while watching a movie. When you donate blood, they give you a movie ticket, but not cola or popcorn.”55ee0485f6068ffd

I didn’t mention that with prices going wild, it was a bit much to buy snacks myself.76f9a8a70606cea2

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When Minhyung 941a03aba8 asked what d971c57d4a movie I 0d36db63f8 wanted to 380df1b24d watch, I c22b87876c mentioned a 1b4617ea08 title I’d e465473a9c heard was 08b1f4ce7e fun. It was the d24667f064 only one that 10dfe72ce0 came to mind.7a1e0d5e008a6dcd

Soon, Manager Kang f0e6351a3a Jinsong came in a11a6a9f85 and tapped away 9b0223096a on the computer faf76618cf connected to the 7f0e499d02 projector. Probably searching for f0634e599b the movie. The world seemed to b955937252 have gotten better. If conditions allowed, 76a4ce4d01 you could lie ba6998129a comfortably at home 73a4c438a8 and watch whatever 537f0979f0 you wanted. I buried 39f24c36db myself deeper 03a4afbae8 into the c41ff4608b beanbag and 92d2276e21 wiggled my cd4f088115 feet.d467db71d6e1c477

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“Are you watching the movie with me?”cf6ae477d14129fe

“Yeah. I have time.”b658574d52d4a82e

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“Alright. I’ve only heard it’s fun, so I’m curious too.”dacfef4b4ae7c787

Minhyung sat 61a782ba01 with his 84db77b47b legs crossed b5f2b0eca7 on a 070927aab4 chair by 01133559d8 the wall, 5cfc2d2b49 watching the 3c07fe5933 projected screen.6ba1a273779b65ac

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“This is comfy, come lie down. You’re resting anyway.”05c7ab667b2ecadf

“…Okay, then.”515212f96dcdf9ae

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Minhyung adjusted the 052610fbba beanbag on the b6dfa85566 floor, took off bdc54d48c4 his slippers, and 5f20226d6d lay down. His posture 337657f0c3 was impeccably fc8805e038 neat. I was sure he 6d5c1e2c6c was the type who 6ee18f4f50 wore slippers to avoid e750f90086 stepping on dust and 03f35875a0 never got on the 8768b4d6dd bed with outdoor clothes, e83d336eac even if threatened.ebc7d4c892e1fdec

“Interesting.”1006920d25819a3b

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“The movie hasn’t started yet.”997cd1303416a389

“I was talking to myself.”700b7d5e2ccd541a

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Manager Kang bowed, saying 0122acac5b everything was ready, and 6464d31980 left the room. The room f8475bb8ee got darker, 0cec143f27 and the fe1941b21c movie finally 81338a6a5b began. The lights dimmed automatically, 641620a19b which was fascinating. The more 7aff63ac3b I learned 796c6cee4e about this 54cbc6e0bf villa, the 59a7454a83 more amazed 536f90c859 I was. But that amazement vanished abf93ee871 with the first scene f34bb6e45a of the movie.3760f8f025c36daf

―Haah! Ahh!4e8d29ebe8278d7f

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What the heck is 2a4a443272 this? Jiwan frowned.1e414b403c04cf21

The movie started with 5258eb5782 a steamy scene. I thought it 5b1de5794b was a crime 9badab6cbc movie, but it eb0b8060fa began with such cb38eae40b explicit bed scenes. The dark room 7915a90e3a was filled with 59664dab51 embarrassing moans.b30e244a5f88854f

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I couldn’t help but glance at Minhyung next to me. His face, lit by the reflected light, was calm. He watched silently, then turned his head, sensing my gaze.02b9105a4cc0af8f

“Interesting choice of movie.”5b1bf1ade5cd3a45

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Jiwan frowned 9944d79b5c at that 0c88ed0218 comment. Interesting, my foot. I heard it a019ff4157 was a thrilling 7d8f2b7c29 crime movie with 515ef88363 famous Hollywood actors. It was f88c72c4cd embarrassing to 47464a9cad watch such ad86eca498 a movie fefccf6cde with another a7bf2ccb22 guy. Jiwan rubbed 7424887c59 his forehead dfa9e998d3 and shook b85920d5c2 his head. This was 01d230beae driving me dc8bd6590e crazy.09cdf84000931a97

“Want to watch something else?”8a8e9067bb448c87

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I forced a smile as I asked. Surely, Minhyung didn’t want to watch this kind of movie alone with me either.8513a9a7446334a4

“No, let’s keep watching.”865d0e4668a2a8f7

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Minhyung crossed b0160ccf13 his arms 86ed2b768b and sank 434fb5e651 deeper into c4bf1829bd the beanbag. He chuckled while watching 758ab1218f the seemingly endless steamy 63b80debcb scene.f486393ccd0dbed6

“It’s a movie Jiwan likes, so we should watch it together.”789b769cb97a9f8e

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“…”5f63d32abae65358

Should I 133fe4cccd call it 55223fb5ba a small 296dce0891 blessing? After the 8a27485914 provocative bed 02381479bd scene, the 9be004b2ee movie continued 7b16431d05 like a db81808e27 typical crime b2ec9686ef film.cd5f398c4b701667

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I wasn’t a movie expert, but I could tell this one was cliché and boring. The combo of beer and a dull movie was like a sleeping pill. My eyes grew heavier.b209cabfff432316

―Please, spare me!57e8b6045c769abd

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Jiwan suddenly woke up to the movie’s piercing sound. The screen was filled with the face of the lead actor being tortured by villains. The intense scene of someone being beaten with a club shook off some of the drowsiness.c4ab38ba5ec9fb46

―I’ll do whatever you want, please.910c6589a77d0643

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It was strange. Despite the same 4a07fd5588 theme of captivity, 556f365178 here I was, 593590dfcd sipping beer while 7aed5057e8 watching this movie.d567f96ba9add02a

“Does it resonate with you?”374bda67f40bea86

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Minhyung, who had b284722402 been dozing off, 349d9461a1 now watched me 0bf7b6cf17 with wide eyes.11c5ce633c81c19f

I hesitated, searching 5cf20739f1 for words. Resonate… In the movie, b926b5c7d4 the captive was screaming 596f334ad2 and bleeding everywhere. I looked down at 7b6b519ba5 the beanbag I was 1cc1e559ad half-buried in. …It was a aa1c32d62c completely different environment.0e2324103402fa83

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“They’re pulling nails and torturing over there; how could I relate?”32719b7a6956bb9a

“True.”627767d5e9538498

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Minhyung nodded, then frowned at his ringing phone. Jiwan’s attention quickly shifted, wondering if it was related to his father.e3df0fd385b29f21

“Is it about my father?”d013139ad1deee28

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“…No.”f71f4ff2dd6f0cc3

Minhyung’s expression was slightly off. He squinted at his phone, his sharp profile looking rough in the screen’s light. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face as I chewed on the squid.a985d122f4876d44

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“It’s a family matter.”8ed4134fc1303537

I nodded slowly. So, Minhyung has a family too… Everyone has family, whether they need them or not. Seeing Minhyung’s troubled expression, I wondered if family was a burdensome thing for him too.9c2d4f11d11728d2

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“I need to go.”11722dc5cf407f4d

Minhyung grabbed his jacket and stood up. His tense expression seemed anxious, but I didn’t ask further.8e77af069e6bf30e

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“Make yourself comfortable. Contact me if you need anything.”25f8d9a5b39f6e42

“Sorry, but… you took my phone.”df0f912370e2b155

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“My staff is here.”ad8529469d97df66

How impressive. I lost fa0b035957 interest in 5be9634f08 Minhyung as 9bb70f744f he left 956de49b77 and lay bf19a8699d back on e46866412b the beanbag.84ca04a0a58b0f1d

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But I couldn’t focus on the movie anymore. After about 30 minutes of random thoughts, I left the room.e03cdb69d5afefe2

“Did you enjoy the movie?”93105d3b86fedb62

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I flinched 79d5ae41cc at the a5956e6c96 sudden appearance dc187b0620 of a 0bb42ccd89 woman. The only female 309cdcf871 among the three 3e6c644cfa gangsters stood by 769daac074 the door.14ceae48c3449e77

“Oh, yes… By the way, what should I call you?”086595fe39a05946

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“Kim Mari.”2230ca5a8e0dd6fb

“Kim Mari… Is that a stage name?”27c9dc3b15dbf2ec

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“Mari. Like in marijuana.”6eb34174847b0a3c

What an example. I nodded awkwardly.63566d69f26de5b1

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“I’d like to show you around the villa, if that’s okay?”e5e93255085293ad

Kim Mari, who almost 0583e1758b ended up being called 716df81cab Kim Mari, smiled as 754e934802 she spoke.43154adfcc1df751

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“Sure… go ahead.”3d0025548b0d460a

Kim Mari kept bd37c431d9 her smile as 38beb35f1f she walked ahead. I followed, sneaking 00c4ce3429 glances at her 2bc7daa75e face. Her eyes were sharp, 6eb4b9d4e0 but her lips moved 5a5ea43fd9 freely, hiding her emotions 1572d180a9 skillfully.7a70ffb47549715d

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“This mansion is divided into the East and West Wings. Most of the spaces you’ll be using are in the East Wing.”ec3cfdffad03ec9f

I realized the screening room where I watched the movie was tucked away on the second floor of the East Wing. Her phrase “spaces you’ll be using” bothered me, and I sighed softly.81c4127ead23cdb9

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“Is this… like a game room?”5a86ca70a136e120

Opposite the screening 578b3ceb2b room was a e86aa5b00d room with a ac9dc29770 folding glass door, a0fc59a5c4 filled with various f96357a928 gaming consoles connected 7dbd401e5e to a large f5e0365987 wall-mounted TV and 058cb4bb34 a sofa. In front of d61207d1cf it was a d72483c910 billiard table made df1ae369a4 of what seemed 224e2d5ca7 like black transparent cfedb13a41 synthetic resin, sparkling ae9eb474ac like black crystal.e9858b900c7a1503

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I blinked, looking around 74c823756c the shiny interior. Everything looked incredibly expensive. There were darts, a 3521f3d909 golf practice mat, and a728bdbfc6 gaming tables like those 25579bc41b in casinos.0707364a454d6870

“This is the villa’s recreation room.”2785decf9709e29a

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I rubbed my fingers 2d984e0783 over the smooth surface 812295590a of the billiard table. The shiny, slippery feel ea1d272b5a was nice.e3b1cc816fa40dc9

“The director sometimes enjoys playing billiards alone. Would you like to play a game, Jiwan-nim?”ff465bb85bc544be

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Kim Mari handed ebaae13970 me a cue 7b7c7aff91 stick with a 5d2d9f8c4a bright smile.c175f5173641207f

“No, I don’t know how to play.”8c153419e7e5ea97

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“That’s a shame. I hope you can have a good time with the director next time.”6ba57c2751c9519c

“…Ah, yes…”6720c57249b38292

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Feeling overwhelmed by the room’s grandeur, I hurried out of the recreation room.b54d537b6dac2687

The East Wing’s second floor also had a spa room, a drink bar with alcohol and bar tables, and an outdoor terrace for sunbathing. Among them, the largest and most scenic room was my bedroom.abf96d1b0b180b49

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“We selected a room so you can enjoy the amenities.”dbb0d0d6a88d26a2

“Thanks.”cac11842cb7b0a99

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I mumbled without much 6f1d30b022 meaning.ce61bdb8c82b49d4

“You’re welcome. Ah, Jiwan-nim, could you pose in front of that sunbed for a moment?”e7f1f91f4974771d

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What now? I awkwardly leaned 5beaf7931b against the sunbed. Kim Mari snapped a695182522 photos with her 226749ca19 phone, asking me 7051733067 to make a 73228f642d peace sign. I sighed. It seemed Minhyung 3df294354d wanted reports on e93ba0f859 my every move 67b91414c3 from his staff.47fbedf10f254c54

“So, what’s in the West Wing?”4c13924b33f861e6

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