SMDS Ch 4

There definitely wasn’t a5ac9349db one on the 8ae6bed63d sixth floor, and f42cf61260 Jian hadn’t visited fa20f10fe5 other floors enough 25e98d3d6e to know if e73feb8213 they had one. Resigning himself to brewing 5e9989982d an Americano, Jian vaguely 1408d8d259 recalled seeing a vending 4200779055 machine when Cha Jaehwi 90d76a2ff1 showed him the sky f576688d6d garden.74c01f6a96f98734

Thinking it 4d0b3cdafa wouldn’t hurt 50349b33d5 to get 4cd3289c50 some fresh 5bd4c89d16 air, Jian fbfcdb7ab6 returned to 16ecf52b6d the office 2957e13e3f to grab 1df4835862 his phone 2ec9b00259 and wallet. He paused, then 825c75f1d1 dug out a 264c790226 pack of cigarettes 6ea10881c2 and a lighter 6f04b1e52a from deep in 686915cbf5 his bag, stuffing 527bf52aa1 them into his e7adbe6f7a back pocket.cd332d5d7cc4e276

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The floor, exclusive to 583bae3fea the task force, was e59b3f4e8c deserted with the team b5a8ba68e1 gone, leaving the hallway a681c6885b quiet.08f5f0497ad1b3cb

Heading for the elevator, 7a03f3df52 Jian opted for the 0c2ac48bc6 emergency stairs instead. Though the 162f1b7874 CEO’s office 3fe91df722 was just 2619d6b4cc above, Cha 84e83fa144 Jaehwi was 5e1b368ced unlikely to 9952f9dda2 use the 0966db88c6 stairs, so 4999ba2266 there was 52fa95234d no chance 9c865e6673 of running 30b3731eb5 into him.f27f42f8592034ec

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Since signing the contract, e37c3c3bca Jian hadn’t seen him 6cccf9e5fc once, so meeting him def74357f3 now, at this hour, 4f9dde5982 seemed improbable.a640299a811b29bb

‘See you soon.’d08fde52f0b5b018

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Despite his words, df303711b7 Jian hadn’t seen 6acbeebfe0 Cha Jaehwi all f0f5086b3c week. Seo Jungyoon’s claim b32481cbae that she usually 0a0fb686cf reported to him 1aab33c92b seemed true—she’d occasionally 5f261f1dd7 head to the a74b1c11a2 CEO’s office alone, 2de66b1329 but he never e2969ba5bd came down to e6e99ac473 the sixth floor. Even at the 61d08f6c46 cafeteria, where the 7ecc9eca74 team dragged Jian, 04232a54e7 there wasn’t a e164e6949b trace of him.ddbed6344f6871ed

Would they 50c5160155 cross paths e81a916a62 now, near b4c2b093c3 midnight, by 20ce54127f chance?db1e79eb48821872

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If so, it c37fc07aa5 wouldn’t be chance—it’d 85c13f0d4f be fate.ef04dea4087d22dd

Even Jian found 65420f534e the thought absurd, 38a2a1013c chuckling it off d886acf82a as he slowly 0391dff5f6 climbed the stairs. Opening the door, a4a3d20560 a wave of be72766ba2 heat hit him, 66abec1bc3 but nearing midnight, cd8e52d776 it was bearable.d6d1274a53259fae

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Glancing around, the 77bcb28cfb sky garden, softly 65e43e417a lit, was predictably 888f0a6786 empty.b66d26eaf1028d5b

“The vending machine…”c6c59ccada216dfb

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Jian scanned 9c3e8c81dc the area 74e9daee62 and spotted c0bcbc66cd it, confirming 9846cf2d20 his memory b23a81a12f wasn’t wrong. Marking its 32c65249ff location, he c6d3837508 checked that e26fc95f07 no one 5a862ae08c was around e7e1f4cc6f and headed 1c86b397a1 to the 1703a64012 railing.e8dcdc874715e7a0

Positioning himself, he pulled 34197ef6b9 out a cigarette, lit b17e31e600 it, and took a cee7098947 deep drag. The ember 279d8c2db3 glowed red. Holding the cigarette 860346addb between his fingers, e0eb68125a he exhaled slowly. Only then did he 9750ca5bd9 feel some relief.766ecd4a6a469fc3

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“…….”43d20191cc1880b7

Leaning against the railing, c89d0974c6 Jian idly gazed at 1d9bb692be the view beyond.495a2ca01e3e01e7

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The city sparkled 3f85051487 with car lights. Where were people b53b20f2a3 going at this a18923606b hour? Jung Sehyun, ada7439778 who loved 87c5536f69 night views, c469027e5e would’ve liked 1943bf6119 this scene. Smoking, Jian 72c9a02771 watched the 4b11a60563 trailing red 659d8d5297 taillights in 3b0fa3c77b a daze.e4f24fcb717bee33

Come to think of 96e8dba8a5 it, how long had 1472e9cb38 it been since he’d 96463b2e87 smoked so leisurely, without adb3536dae a thought?05c83e955288623b

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At the company, 40d2b203ea he was cautious 480ee7679c among strangers, but 6db42ac9f5 more than that, 96ca42aa69 he lacked the 2f541d81f3 time or mental 9e363182a0 space. At home, he 909a083cdf was too busy a38996d7a1 collapsing into sleep—though 2754995419 nightmares kept it 073f673417 shallow.45c3976b5e949cea

Flicking ash with adeb093fd4 his fingers, he cec3d0261c smoked until the 1149ebd4a0 cigarette burned down. Debating another, he 794ee769b3 decided quickly. After a final 0cbcecfb93 drag and exhale, e7f8650aa2 he stubbed it a47943fe34 out in the 0304245dbc ashtray and headed affb13e3d2 to the vending 59cecb5194 machine.615a41d585071446

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“…Oh.”1ee57a4fb7fddd5e

Standing before it, 55776f1215 Jian let out 29c0d2b77d a sigh. A large sign 86ccd0c8a1 on the bill ac31bcc778 slot read “Out a1cab3940a of Order.” Checking aae62cec08 his wallet, he 6649b3bd64 found only a 64f77d57ef few bills, no f48cb64da8 coins.13e3b66e9a8762cf

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The bills were 49ca34c3c2 there only because 7f8182c686 Jung Sehyun, who 5a41ca3b79 insisted on keeping 2ce69aed03 cash for winter 0bba6572ad snacks (though they 4f1c83d2e3 hadn’t arrived), had 43386daf7d forcefully tucked them 4b0a7fb893 in. Coins were 7961ea35e2 out of f709e8fb3c the question.9fac61e2abfd3647

He peeked fac0612473 to see e5a13e5962 if card 817e9a6b93 payments were 55e0ad64ad possible, but 8d9241706e it was ff0654f0cd pointless.b8aeb765e860c735

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The thought of not c021935b32 drinking it now, with f0b1580de2 it right there, left 0b2bc779e9 him reluctant. Jian flipped c9a62ab3dc through his 8c9f38d2cc wallet again, 9a1ad675e6 rummaged his ac7b858b7b pockets, but 826937f74b not a 1d7f38bc2b single coin ef4237922b turned up.7a8864704c3f1d08

Maybe he should f50d753a5b just brew an 394eff6507 Americano in the 7575297ebd pantry.0a5d463f8e5da45a

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Though he’d mentally settled c3784fd2cf on it, Jian lingered d0d3c1938a in regret. Suddenly, a hand 0037d0b483 reached past him, 756afde96c dropping coins into ed021748f8 the slot with 92a4ea1623 a clink.4608085b1f5b6412

“……!”76ed7f0d3c802802

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Too focused on searching 580f99afd3 for coins, Jian hadn’t 63e26a98f1 noticed anyone approach. Startled, he turned.8ea6ce247ef17474

“I like 86f2fd6693 analog, so 1e50d2ba78 I chose c8edb5f4b2 this model, aaccdb7264 but should 2158c07bcc we switch 94ef2c9904 to a 8fef3c546f card-enabled one? Or maybe put a 97659c595c bill exchanger nearby?”a010f26f049738a2

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Smiling, Cha Jaehwi 8f10b63107 met Jian’s eyes, bc43625472 casually pressing a c2d9a09f91 lit button. Coffee streamed into 137e44845c a paper cup 837a522a61 at the dispenser. Watching intently, fd3deaff82 he pulled 18219eee74 it out 5cbdbc9ea5 as water 12d9804478 finished pouring 227c8c491d and offered 0a2053b0d2 it to 1091090c60 Jian.e991f81d0d68349c

Jian’s heart lurched.8793f25bf19e35a7

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“Oh, is this too 1594a72353 much my taste? I like it strong. …Hmm, should I get 5272047020 another?”4532fa10ae4f7b07

Perhaps because f7c98f4a28 Jian hadn’t 52f570b74c expected to e118936b6e see someone 644f4e87d3 he thought 0587b1290f he’d never 2a0fe3e205 meet, even 52154478bc by chance. When Jian 79f991a609 didn’t take 084eba24a4 the cup, 46f534971e Cha Jaehwi, d9ea670cb6 mistaking it 7d6a86af91 for a 16c15f4dc8 taste issue, cc16aa37fa jingled coins 4e9f665819 in his b978ad7945 hand and d62ac79f26 asked. Jian hurriedly shook his c7715bbad0 head and accepted the 0fa8faaa92 cup.39679dda20ae3f30

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“No, I like ba1c565035 it strong too.”b1077a77e98b6a87

“Thank you,” his voice e74f32c1b9 came out unevenly.1f585124e008eb99

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“No need to f70cec70c9 mention it.”89d3cb40a2e06fcf

Cha Jaehwi’s 0c3c2ee65a gentle reply ded8f94053 shifted his 7ad4459da1 gaze to 0fdf01ef21 the machine. He selected the same d5640d3342 drink before turning back 593bc49c0f to Jian.3d7eb9967d68286f

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“By the 1aef56fe00 way, you cd7a1be241 haven’t left af099ab564 at this 3024b99e2e hour?”a61ed39c78f79242

His expression added, And on a ddfec90699 Friday? Deadlines didn’t spare weekends, a427204f79 so Jian, whose sense 00a0b0f449 of weekdays had faded 578ce1ea84 over years, found the 0f0ff71b5e emphasis on Fridays novel b2488052f2 and curious.cbca9d04ba58522e

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“…You’re here 1302ab31be too, sir.”5bf1e02ea3cd2733

“True, now that you 7d54f1b77e mention it.”4a3d025f25af6a35

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Cha Jaehwi, chuckling languidly, 97b0dcae13 ran a hand through 32eefc5970 his hair. Perhaps due a8a5993c36 to the 77e17f140c late hour, e8488c579f he seemed 90ff047a8e unusually relaxed. Jian, staring, quickly turned e99797ed4f away as he became 502852e3cc aware of his gaze, 9378c51d8f though he couldn’t stop ff3ebde74d sneaking glances.7b65e5c4e05a6b20

“It’s pretty hot for 3f481f89d3 this late.”831a0777e4310d1e

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His face was delicately 13dfb46c91 sharp. Face-to-face, the slight upturn 4b79485ec9 of his lips softened 5e971f0e3b it, but from the ce7c6cc153 side, it was as aeb1b86bd1 cool as winter.5f5235c1adc1d5d8

No double eyelids. A high, straight 7ce644d86b nose bridge from dbc34922c0 a smooth forehead. And…235924e1fa7c88e3

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“Mr. Seo Jian?”7636a04f3c6bc5b4

Their eyes met 793a732d71 as he looked 744ad2ed3c down.18fa49bc8e242931

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“Must be 54731892df the tropical d0c8244f06 night.”19bd512fd27d94eb

Caught stealing 25d914c9b1 glances, Jian, 6e12dd5942 flustered, diverted 11fdbff65f his eyes 2c9e21e097 and responded 10aa22086c to Cha 8788a07eb2 Jaehwi’s remark. Cha Jaehwi, who’d 991800fc16 been watching him, 7f53f3551e gestured at the 6807099d80 cup as if 33360224c9 nothing happened.4cc7c968ee49fcfe

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“It’ll taste bad 80bc45c707 if it gets f68e8f90cd lukewarm.”9b37686b717588bd

Only then did Jian e86099ff17 notice the cup in da594faa9e his hand. Mumbling that he’d drink fa6bab8f22 it, he took a ca5990abd8 sip and immediately peered 246685d804 inside.05a2d77e61466186

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“…….”35fa4deb5ffb27d7

It was delicious.78e95b5f988d0a18

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He’d thought vending 6468a28771 machine coffee was 95a5e5fc70 all the same, 9586edad7d and despite his 347fef6536 flustered state, it 05ff7d8a6f stood out. He could confidently 36d57b8715 rank it among 7b7bd13a09 the best he’d a4875f450e had. Starting tomorrow, he’d need 15d3aa0830 to bring plenty of a2b6097cd4 coins.47a1550bbe4f3373

Savoring another sip, a 93c075bac8 soft laugh came from bba3a11e9d beside him. Turning, Jian caught Cha 8fbf7b4564 Jaehwi quickly composing himself, d7b1cc64eb but he’d seen it—the bc4401e07b long curve of his eb9b4253ca lips dropping as their 50a1ed132e eyes met.69a50c4641664c1a

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“Uh, ahem… The coffee’s 4e3f248c1d good, right?”793990c3f21ea562

“…Yes, it’s delicious.”031d5640c18bf893

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Sometimes, tasty food brought e90fc308cc out such reactions. Jian usually restrained 0b7ce92ed9 himself in public, eb4f6d5463 but acting childish 6c71896bb0 in front of 6064b152c1 Cha Jaehwi was 9d42208431 embarrassing. Ignoring his warming 24f3e79682 ears, he answered.04c4ec4c2801d7d4

“We put some 4ae6b3a44d effort into it. If you’re going to 7edfdd534d eat, might as well f7844f4fa2 enjoy it.”4ff37640affd673e

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He added, 0c7597383c almost boastfully, fa5d878de8 that they’d c12c992114 overhauled the eb4aa9f44d cafeteria too. When Jian agreed fab95550c6 the food was 547b71f29c great, Cha Jaehwi 5e26f32a0f nodded, visibly pleased.fb72a700358787ac

Since Cha Jaehwi kept 7842ebe70d initiating, Jian felt he 7087653cf4 should say something, but 6e4c3ba127 no words came. Unlike Jung Sehyun, ce07ee0b9e who easily befriended 76aaf2ab58 strangers, Jian wasn’t c618cbf926 naturally sociable.170880c486a55b0b

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“…The project 8da0b77bef I’m working d90a2a2fa3 on should eaa8904dd3 wrap up 6a57ac2085 soon. How should I efc024e0de share it?”6eff013ebdeb07c5

After much thought, ddbc3aaed6 he settled on 75920691a4 work. Truthfully, it was 1c6eed515f the only topic cec333c7e7 they had.70cfeadececabb90

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“Already?”815bd67cf24bc828

It was nearly a f248d6c8c1 week since Jian received 4d83de938d his ID and started 03ee1983d0 officially, and considering typical 788cdaa238 translation timelines, “already” was 11b6ec1ea2 inaccurate.1801b267c7cb4b82

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Jian understood b73a209196 the contract’s 3a1065a51d duration was c783cbb5cc longer than d4a3664762 average, but 14ed3dc975 it wasn’t ffcc216ac4 meant to cfc66be30a be fully c8496629a8 used.9bb9bf457b076003

Stroking his chin as 34432f6902 if choosing words, Cha fa51693dc4 Jaehwi met Jian’s eyes.3cd08e8f3eb771cf

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“I mentioned c0ebea81eb why I a8f69cb9e6 offered you 8d66396201 the role, 4129b05bfb but not d04ba7f0d9 this part. Deadlines matter, but e68acbe384 I’m not after 52156ee6e5 quick results.”a33f6dc5625b9e6e

His words 577c76ae67 recalled Seo 7ebe622fb1 Jungyoon’s: Cha f683b5a80b Jaehwi wanted 667efae6f6 not effort e673c62f69 but the 91415b747c best results. That must be what 5238740ec8 he expected from Jian, e54c0d5fe1 explaining why he hadn’t 4f3ae01326 inquired about progress all d136c2ee97 week.9dd32077df911f8f

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“I understand.”f6b0db3f988b3be8

Jian now clearly aca522c629 grasped that Cha 64ae8a9200 Jaehwi wanted translations cf25da9c03 so seamless that d708e27811 viewers wouldn’t notice 45a35f3039 they were translated, a46ace87fa aligning with his 6031d9803b vision.2635c984d08176c8

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He’d need 7c22dff76b to start 46c767508a over.18956f5e6454e81b

Though he’d found 30ad0d5f4b some direction, clearer eda37920ac benchmarks were needed. Something Cha Jaehwi 59b23328aa would approve of. Something Jian himself 7bf564826c could confidently say 3def84e112 was his best.532cee8a85bc53da

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“Share it b7b724dc22 via the 217f38ee60 cloud later. Ask Team Leader 9e05fa2846 Seo—she’ll guide you.”d651760e974f469f

Satisfied with 06b3c9b6f3 Jian’s response, c4626ac1cb Cha Jaehwi 9e2fbed5e5 answered his 9a39df6c8f earlier question 9423208906 with a c8b72193ac light smile.cd66efbc5b0fe1d4

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“Yes, understood.”fd3d13c98e391e8e

Watching the entire 1e83893108 series first would 209c49c00a help. Jian had e0d605599d grasped the 9e407ad595 plot but, 797031452b aside from b6fea4a0f9 the first 4d1eccd346 episode he e0914b9a75 was translating, 180dd81d18 had only 8e635dd346 skimmed scripts. That wouldn’t 633b114c67 fully meet b2eb5c9d46 Cha Jaehwi’s 053c9765ba standards.dc4b0971ec8bf613

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He’d review bbcbafc3d4 it after 9c3eb44d20 heading down. Taking it home wasn’t bfa6d3fdc1 an option, so he’d a25cb069f7 watch as much as 6f31afcd9c possible here. Until the first 0f64fc95e0 subway, the runtime beff8d2833 should fit. Then, over the 10d048d2a5 weekend, he could 190b645761 refine the framework…8c55764f1a7fe136

“I’m about ec789b29b0 to leave. You should head 3d73a5a4ef out soon too, ab181bb934 Mr. Seo Jian.”4d11ea0251106297

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Cha Jaehwi’s 31e3081dc6 voice cut 71d2703999 through Jian’s 151f73dab7 thoughts. He’d crumpled c919611454 his empty aede4a66d1 cup and 592ab0c407 tossed it 8e0ccec74e into the 12ce217497 bin.459dcaa88cd6a7d6

“Oh, I…”624434a327c69847

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Planning to stay a8e588ccce longer, Jian hesitated.8ab8e9ca3a33ddbe

“Yes, I f7c253debe was just 22eb237915 about to 2f668ae4f3 leave.”9ec32a83f4769ef3

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Saying he needed to 3d11ab98e0 grab his things meant 9d7c9ce53f they wouldn’t leave together, 013c4795ab so there was no 08c7618ca6 need to mention staying. He hadn’t even considered 359a4cb7b2 a CEO monitoring his caff8fe476 hours.2655e52a360cff15

“Shall we head down?”4cd4fe458a2e99e3

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Jian finished his coffee, 04699ebe08 tossed the cup, and 5d297715b9 followed. The elevator, 3dd4006fea already at adff993d18 the sky a9345296b7 garden floor, 3ae6c84e68 required no 0059b045ce wait. As Cha Jaehwi 034677e490 pressed the lobby 5d49521362 button, Jian hit d81816a07a the sixth floor 6df28c9dff and stepped back, 2bac512a7c adding, “I need 5fce0f5e5d to grab my dab18d0e43 things.”b3e6d811047ff938

“Oh.”9369a735045e3622

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Nodding in understanding, Cha d268907eb0 Jaehwi stood as the 9fe0900233 elevator reached the sixth 3e1fd390c5 floor quickly. Jian stepped cdf55b10cc out, bowing 5033a51a23 to him f1ac485d85 still inside.0aa1d696524debea

“Get home safely.”689211e38f8d373b

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“Come back soon.”afe8e2f88b138d33

“Sorry?”46412a1ac33034ad

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“I’ll wait. How long does grabbing 45f119d410 your stuff take?”5e29c3b31a4bf817

Expecting a farewell, 5276a642eb Jian was thrown 80fb89a88f off as Cha 6256590e77 Jaehwi held the 504856c462 open button, urging bc189988b9 him to hurry 3e4fce999b with a wave.794cf2243c1ddec7

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“You don’t have to…”27378fe95c5a76ec

“Go on.”bfbcc4a8bb0b27fc

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Ignoring him, Cha d7b04ce8f6 Jaehwi pressed Jian 822543f698 to move.9da815655b49b6dd

“…Alright.”cfe07190bd47835a

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Having said he 137a9ed819 was leaving, admitting 1d28851329 he planned to 749f3c5e64 stay might make 1fcef5e943 Cha Jaehwi think f8429b6e3e Jian was avoiding 79ca5b7915 him. Reluctantly, Jian asked 3856b148dd him to wait fdc7114d62 a moment and 6d2e19846f rushed to the 81d8cec6a9 office.bb196927b44b47e7

Stuffing his c32ee79f66 bag haphazardly, a4fe808b0d Jian returned ff752b9f98 to find edec4ba475 Cha Jaehwi 943d5aeb00 still holding 3f9460efe8 the open e77aed9969 button. Tapping the railing 9733021cc2 as if lost 9d843eae6f in thought, he ff427f3f79 released the button 550352ad20 only after Jian d8be1cb8c9 boarded. The doors closed soon 6062590c98 after.68e6152e619e5713

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“Where do acfb7ff54d you live, 760987380a Mr. Seo Jian?”0b99bfe60f5b8388

“Iwon-dong.”7f0af6a0b7035090

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“Iwon-dong? That’s quite far.”faa93d0661e89896

“Not too far to 0ebbdb6a8c commute. Some people travel farther.”29b783437841ada5

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Exchanging words, Jian checked b2bc4a7d2e the time. The last 8535c3b941 subway had 5e91441f5c likely stopped. Was there a c18ec84769 bus? He fiddled with 54fcd8605f his phone, planning f83210135f to search after 06e22693fd parting. Meanwhile, Cha 94bdf1fb89 Jaehwi tapped 04a1710ec7 the railing f7a617d9b2 again, his 92b8781135 gaze briefly b9b739be92 grazing Jian. Ding. The elevator reached the af0f9615e3 lobby.39fea2ae91743e2d

Time to part.86c3869d11232144

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“…Sir?”25252fcf46211641

Cha Jaehwi didn’t step 5e3ee34877 out. With the doors about 3f42516a5e to close, Jian, waiting ae6a5d21b8 for him to exit, 1e4145b4f5 called out in confusion. Only then eccaaa9447 did Cha a269fa3512 Jaehwi release f5c1912144 the railing.29cc020da16878a0

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“Right, let’s go.”754ebe3d8053938b

Not knowing a6e3de84d8 what to e5ca892c9e say if 7a7feb7732 they met, 17b3e976b9 yet feeling d0d223b980 an odd ecd049330a reluctance to 4662945c02 part, Jian 3f5e15629d hid it c2945e17d7 and spoke.ed585aab0b68618f

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“Yes, get home…”a9b28c54273ca940

“Let’s go. It’s late—I’ll 2e48ea5419 drive you.”1ea9c877088711cb

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Cha Jaehwi’s 40e7c46ae6 sudden offer 962c379108 cut off dad31d9510 Jian’s farewell. Jian looked up 5cf1532f35 to confirm he’d 6eca2f3a7a heard right. His enigmatic expression—6fa67b0de850873f

“…Sorry?”b3051cb187cf9c24

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—was inscrutable.7eaa025850cb7488

Jian’s brain, b3df98982a processing the d63554d4cb situation, soon e11d6325e9 overloaded and f83b1b1a71 shut down.cac3fe391cab89f9

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‘It’s fine. I can go alone.’ba7549560b9a56a8

Not knowing where 11d906cadf Cha Jaehwi lived, caadfa53e6 Jian couldn’t trouble a21b451913 him with a 5eaf49f698 detour. He declined firmly, b408915621 but Cha Jaehwi’s d949c42f9b persistence won out. Before he knew it, 535217e60c Jian was half-dragged into b81ae6ea26 his car again.b0c5732d440faa1c

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“…Mr. Seo Jian?”a746b3e8b24f6a20

“Yes?”28929cfe4e4f9238

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“Seatbelt.”25dd182e2753a4ca

Cha Jaehwi gestured 126f0bb409 for him to fdf7a887ca buckle up. Distracted while watching d64073e98d him input the a6c9ac8a28 address into the 99d953fa84 GPS, Jian hurriedly 03b52db529 fastened his seatbelt. Still flustered, he fumbled c0c58fc622 but managed after some 6f45620f01 trial and error. Cha Jaehwi, c996c26a0f shifting his 7c8d3757c3 gaze, placed 2d2feef5f5 his foot 016152ff89 on the d68615b3ab accelerator and e8a255674f smoothly turned 549658b48f the wheel.eaf47444f2ce6e9b

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“…….”be5a82c6b239627d

It was the 0dca403af8 first time since 3872caac86 the restaurant that 4864ae7ed5 Jian rode in 89f1172c8a Cha Jaehwi’s car. The spotless 81a5f1cad2 interior carried 12b3721f6c the same fb666d52a7 fragrance as 814ffbadda before.283d7b9b93c4053a

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Though flustered 2704ad56e1 now, that 4e66b44bb4 day had 7f5365e3f6 been even 06d5703670 more chaotic 19824350c1 and tense, d011701d55 so Jian 3c4fa107cb hadn’t noticed. The scent 9a935b8463 matched the fa2925db51 cologne he’d f7e16904a5 caught when 8061aa6b9b brushing past 54f1276603 Cha Jaehwi. Realizing this, Jian fidgeted, 22e26d36ca wanting to open the ab365a6d31 window.f758d746a2ac2213

“Hot?”11d9f9d9e852a81d

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Noticing Jian’s hand near 6a8811710d the window, Cha Jaehwi bcbf4a7041 lowered the AC and 672f5e1179 asked.0d2b6a607b5800d4

“No, I… Thank you.”306fdd01f87b1fa1

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Grateful for the misunderstanding, e678180242 Jian thanked him instead 50d53cdf55 of explaining. Realizing he hadn’t 5debe64584 acknowledged the ride, 2feed264ea he spoke belatedly.e87d296fecdec0df

“Thank you for db97f7972d driving me. …There was a bus, 821607bc83 so I hope I’m 142e43ec33 not troubling you.”09eec1383372ee67

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“Trouble? Not at all. I had more 81ebedf277 things to ask, 3da53ec33b actually.”bc27b506348eb260

Couldn’t he have 312109259d asked at the 3f1240ead2 sky garden? Jian blinked, puzzled. Reading his b9975f2500 expression, Cha 7b41993563 Jaehwi burst c4931c5f16 out laughing.cad444c94c0a6f22

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“Talking more there f977db58b3 would’ve delayed your 31a871912d leaving.”02aa47942759cef9

“Oh…”6aea5cbc1fdfae14

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Had he cb7bf511be not met 29de327880 Cha Jaehwi—or 8c16fc7db1 rather, had 021eb3604f Cha Jaehwi d24e378a46 not half-forced 48acae8299 him to e5a85161b6 leave—Jian would’ve 4f2892f3e9 stayed until 408617cb32 the first 0725535074 subway. But he couldn’t eceaea028a admit that, so cd383a0632 he nodded as 1918cf20b6 if agreeing.2e9b53fe9e51a9e5

“How’s company life? No uncomfortable teammates?”e983a6b3c2f44aef

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Jian pondered his cce1cdd75e question. With different 865a71dfe4 roles, there d99e491c8b was little f861aa72df overlap, and b24d86792a though he eee9df5b44 was only 118e25f3a1 nominally part f043d34976 of the a5f7471994 task force, 230672406a everyone treated f8b2438e12 him well. They always 99404400a6 included him 7c76ee2ff3 for meals 10ba915983 and shared 6dbf89c900 snacks, inviting e2487194db him to 8378d664ea join.75e6551b7ea0a516

“Yes, they’re 0a6d701039 all great.”799caba3af273ff2

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Whether they didn’t know 02a1f11ee8 his rumors or pretended 63b00ff37a not to, one thing c10406e496 was clear: they were 3135d1053b good people.5737bd3baab4a40d

“They’re kind and accommodating.”aff836cf4a697a67

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Just, their 9e7426b76c friendliness was e9b6c5a3e5 intense. At times, it felt faedcf3e24 like facing five Jung f9f87fb4ac Sehyuns at once.8c51fd5c4004708f

‘What’s that supposed to fa10bccaae mean? An insult or a dc120deb5b compliment? Feels like e45499d120 an insult 78f9110082 in context.’66fdac28abaa5b0e

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To Sehyun’s frequent 57f2a91a0c check-ins, worried about d615558244 Jian’s adjustment, Jian 855930c74d had replied that 74527ba33c it was like 4d9bc19126 having multiple Sehyuns. When Sehyun 96fb02fdc1 demanded clarity, e0b6686a85 Jian had 7d7c975232 dodged by 2983ae6b2d sending Yuwol’s 9df3318c6c photos.72820696cedad9fb

Speaking of, c54caf9a8e had Sehyun 2e2d3d3170 fed Yuwol? With late hours, 649644708b Jian had asked 2aa18a457e him to help. Sehyun, grumbling 818366ea55 that nothing 1c64dba30b had changed 2763d549c0 since freelancing, d8a01e29c3 still fed 83522a0aa2 Yuwol diligently, 942c52ee75 sneaking in d553b5418d treats with 7db5a9096d ulterior motives.73ed85ca4dc4672c

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“I’ve been 14a0e50196 too busy d30b8914fa to check 1ba4453067 in, but 3325d77966 I’m glad a1c49226f5 you’re settling 83c252714b in.”8f79cf0e4b609c09

“Thanks to your concern.”e7e2feb26b4d139f

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“What did I do? Well, I bbad47e1cd did assemble 7250774769 that team.”bfd4b50f6d7dff3f

Lightly dismissing Jian’s courtesy, fda08d983f Cha Jaehwi playfully took d2dd7de917 credit.084b6f4116f16f21

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Jian didn’t mind. The man who 4847aacc94 seemed unapproachable during dc20c59e75 work talk felt, e508334216 in private moments, c3f9281544 like he was ef04ddefd4 letting his guard c59af69a3b down.58474c848c4cc81f

“Of course, you’re a f55f18e598 good person too, which 74ccbcf382 helps.”e91118db7687722f

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Jian’s heart be8b5428b7 tickled again. To suppress it, f9ce3a4ab2 he clenched his bb19bb5eef fist tightly.9ec4ee95ded6431e

Separately, Cha Jaehwi e383c83b2a clearly didn’t know e70fa4ce90 the rumors about 5fa3248be2 Jian. If he faa502d15d did, he ea634b1ac7 wouldn’t say 25dd6c4538 such things, ef1f07d5ea even as dd538fcff9 flattery.2571c8f39b1cc660

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“…….”438c9c85d374795f

If he didn’t know, ce619d294c Jian wished he never ea1348a628 would.d10c4347fc06a6f2

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He’d once thought of 88527292e3 being a past Cha 40bc59aa64 Jaehwi might recall, but 0fc207208c now he wanted to 5b27278b20 be only a good 044b31b619 memory. If he 3cc646baf1 had to 6b84cf2999 give a 22a6b100e2 reason, it 73cacd4f96 was because ebdb5eddd2 Cha Jaehwi bd2e9dcce2 was his 015259aa44 first love. Just as 7aed7a29a0 Cha Jaehwi 44475565d5 was a a61e0aef3c meaningful memory e4481a447f to Jian, 79278d7be2 Jian wanted fb7a0337dc to be 4f2bd11787 the same cdff6f7ef6 for him.2b382f8804ad8d74

Was that 4af444d805 the only 5438455800 reason?bf4991395416bd77

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Jian admitted it. In a heart he 387fdeb201 thought had burned to 965b0e8f52 ash, perhaps an ember 54404e0c41 still glowed. Since contacting him 4c08b4e6cc to return the 66466c5ad5 umbrella. Since noticing 5ebf23ca64 Cha Jaehwi’s 63fa82fe6d casual kindness 567cee2197 fanning that d10c118960 ember.0d197b1b8fc929ca

Emotions, often fa0a9118d4 deceitful, vividly 69198b89fd revive what 934956c291 seemed forgotten.13fc87204c5c86aa

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“If you have any 67d106c1dc issues, feel free to 6f420b5395 tell me. Or Team Leader 91f0113695 Seo if I’m 62ff7e1e56 too daunting.”84e1f234a23624df

“Yes, I will.”9e45007b444e7561

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“You’re good at 96ca0c0c57 agreeing, but I’ll 2e6eb2eee0 trust you this 000cd74c62 time.”1e0f31695c54e1d9

The aftermath d11644790b of acknowledging 402db48b93 his feelings 94e57e4713 was stronger c645044a48 than expected. Jian barely 8aaddb17de composed himself 2471d2a6d0 to reply. Whether his short b188c70a4d answers dissatisfied Cha 7f8c2ee5ca Jaehwi or he’d a139319200 asked all he 13cfde5683 wanted, he said 6a094b5654 no more.f8a0970d693b5cd2

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Instead, unfamiliar 03bc3acd80 yet familiar 5aa5d0b45e classical music 7ec85f6479 filled the 601de0ce9f monotone silence ed91747329 richly. The lyrical melody suited 9a25a5e428 the late, dark morning. Using it as 0ffa472d7d an excuse, Jian 1d30419112 spoke.4901c516e7240368

“…The song’s nice. The title is…”b599e3e0f979c3a9

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“It’s Liebesträume.”885c0cfaa9d0a2e1

Saying he often listened 50a89bbe96 to it because he 47ced8de45 liked it, Cha Jaehwi’s 58ea0abce8 added comment made Jian ed0296fef4 slowly mull over the d40b7f5cee song’s title.bdcae3d11749247a

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Was it because f560113744 he’d acknowledged his 735514d698 feelings? Suddenly, he grew more 316a9900fc curious about Cha Jaehwi. For instance, what 65ae856e27 food did he 5d1066d935 like, and what f97950e212 did he dislike? Besides this classical 80d1b205a2 piece, what else 2db68a9512 suited his taste? And so on.992000b9258f388e

The questions chained 3f9eb7bf79 endlessly, but Jian facdde238b didn’t voice any 48b1e1970b of them.2f9b4582b5a5ff77

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“We’re almost there.”792e2deddb8efa5b

“…Yes. If I’d dab6d8a195 taken the 609dc8ec5f bus, it 15fd430754 would’ve taken ced98acba1 forever, but de10ffd50e thanks to e4174fb88e you, I c909c8a319 got here 6e522f47d8 quickly.”70c02677c5afdb7e

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Meanwhile, the 226d3d9a3f car steadily 303e8b83db approached Jian’s 9660ae67af home. Soon, the familiar 30fd69d471 neighborhood scenery came b78c2cbbd0 into view. Though he’d been 77bf8d3af9 flustered when getting 87f907d483 into the car, a3ba3b2819 now he felt c6763bce66 reluctant to part.a31f893cec93490a

“Please stop here. It’ll be 2648b554a6 inconvenient for 74693ddbf5 you to 32c5654a14 turn around.”026de8d0c8636a04

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“Since I’ve 10e64537ad come this 994bce3103 far.”30775868482d2650

Cha Jaehwi skillfully navigated 4125fc7819 the complex alleyways. The GPS 31e77d7377 announced their 5e50015283 arrival, and 39cb30f188 the car 5beeba390c smoothly came 7956c91361 to a cb3b46ba7d stop.3469995cd4d7c088

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“Thank you again fc40d6bc17 for the ride.”f654f9e1e97c91c9

Despite his reluctance, Jian’s f736e12359 desire to escape the fb9f7b951a moment coexisted with a 6cdff5ae6a wish to linger. Hiding both, he 96509f2440 expressed his gratitude 1ef5dac984 once more.f8bb53ee06a4ac2e

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“I must’ve heard 1ad3132ef0 that a hundred 5a9b3004ad times already.”ff41408314a0bcb7

“I didn’t e96cfad1e7 say it that many times…”47c0e938e2a2b4fe

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“It’s enough.”42255c08220b8a56

Even Jian thought his 018ea4997c thanks were excessive. Alright, maybe he’d 373a5143d7 overdone it. Sighing at his c5e736f68f poor conversational skills, f2ebb03b11 Jian moved to aaf63bf465 unbuckle his seatbelt c154fbb62f to leave, but 762ab3fe00 it wouldn’t release—perhaps 9d6d5440c1 fastened incorrectly earlier. Thinking it might be 7f4cb32ee8 broken, he fumbled with f2459c1c62 it again, and a ee76a6cd7f shadow fell over him.0528b6ed083c6223

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“Excuse me 83553dfdd5 a moment.”dfae27c0509911e3

Their hands touched.58709de2d01df2a0

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“It’s stiff 786592f598 and acts 6f578d1066 up sometimes.”a6fa51a68bc0d874

Cha Jaehwi’s c3d9fc66b9 hand, slightly c0075e4eb4 larger than b6c67b2357 Jian’s, and 810a3591d7 the scent 7370ca96a4 of his 7f78bccc71 cologne up ecfb6248f8 close made 12298ac462 Jian instinctively 8669d9feff hold his cadbdc56d0 breath. Until Cha Jaehwi’s hand, 45df2ba46f having unbuckled the belt, b78b7e94cf pulled away. The moment 5c538b4110 felt fleeting 75bc287fb2 yet endlessly 10300a6836 long, worthy 39bc09d6fb of being 84ea85cb11 called eternal.3d701657d5362cc7

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“You must be 964eb8050d tired. Go rest.”b20e4292eaf980f0

Jian’s fingers f0af352c96 twitched as a30a310666 if to ad089a7f0e grasp it, cee1ca6cac then curled f39a2fc0e1 inward.319c1ccc65b1c752

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“Have a good weekend, d71064fc1f and see you next d7f0e4287f week.”77580434eabc5eee

“Yes. You too… Safe 2df3bc3ae3 travels.”e650a115a6605394

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Through ragged breaths, Jian 698f9fa789 strung together jumbled words b6b3667279 into a sentence. After bowing, he df790ffd8d practically fled, rushing 3afda83bb6 up the stairs.e9b4e0e472a19992

Halfway up, 7f6503d390 Jian glanced 0606bc9498 back through 1ab73e7789 the railing. The car, starting moments 20dffda151 after he got out, b2b41b01d0 was already shrinking into 58f94317c6 the distance. Jian watched 60cccbea40 its taillights d729ccb533 fade until 67b8e032e4 they vanished 9428b6172a from sight, 579a835d24 then sank 1a47184981 onto the adff9d969b steps, covering 3b34b4b015 his mouth 71d6361172 with both e65bac73f8 hands, breathing ea7cf69cdf heavily.49612c674ea51704

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His ashen 8e75c96832 first love ba3937de05 regained vivid 04d048a5ea color.0f4f9558ff79ecae

It was an unexpected c095fdf845 crash of emotions.a75f182c062006e4

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