Joo Han and So Min, who were working on oiling the Ash dining table and chair set scheduled for delivery tomorrow, looked towards the stairs. Jae Rim put down coffee and snacks next to the workbench and said excitedly.

“Sir! So Min! Choi Yoon Bin! You know actor Choi Yoon Bin, right?”

“I don’t know him.”

So Min replied nonchalantly. Jae Rim hesitated.

“Really…? Ah, that’s right, So Min said she doesn’t watch TV much. But still, how can you not know Choi Yoon Bin?”

“If he’s really famous, I might recognize his face if I see it. But just hearing the name, I’m not sure.”

“Haha, okay. Anyway. You know him, sir, right?”

“Yeah. But why suddenly?”

“He’s in our shop now! He seems close with Director Sun? He had his manager buy coffee and stuff for us, and now they’ve gone up to the office together.”

“What?”

A thin wrinkle formed between Joo Han’s brows. Jae Rim sipped her coffee and muttered.

“It’s amazing. How do they know each other?”

Joo Han replied casually.

“I heard they lived in the same neighborhood when they were young.”

“So he’s like a neighborhood elder brother? Wow.”

Watching Jae Rim marvel again, So Min tilted her head.

“But Jae Rim, didn’t you say before that you often saw celebrities and models when you worked in fashion? Even after seeing so many, is it still that amazing?”

“Just seeing them is one thing, but it’s my first time seeing someone I know being close with one. And honestly, when I saw other famous people, I just thought ‘wow’ to myself for a moment, but Choi Yoon Bin is a bit different. He feels different in person than on camera. He’s even more handsome.”

Jae Rim, who seemed ready to keep chatting, realized there was no one on the first floor and quickly went upstairs.

So Min said, “I’ll enjoy this,” and picked up her coffee.

Joo Han took off the work gloves he was wearing and put them down carelessly, swallowing a shallow sigh.

Yoon Bin was also an acquaintance of Joo Han. Not exactly close, just someone he knew through Eun Soo.

Although they didn’t meet often since he was always busy, even one meeting was quite nerve-wracking for Joo Han.

A man who met Eun Soo before him.

A man Eun Soo called “elder brother” almost uniquely without hesitation.

It was childish, but he couldn’t help it. Of course, he knew better than anyone that he had no right or qualification to worry about that matter.

“Sir, aren’t you going to drink your coffee?”

So Min asked, seeing Joo Han standing like a totem pole. Joo Han answered, picking up his work gloves again.

“Suddenly I have a bitter taste in my mouth. If you don’t mind, you can have two cups.”

So Min smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

“Is the drama filming all done?”

Eun Soo was standing in the 2nd floor showroom next to Yoon Bin, holding a coffee.

“It’s almost over. We’ve finished the important shoots, just need to wrap up.”

“You’ve worked hard, not even getting to rest properly after being discharged.”

“Hearing this comfort makes the hard work feel a bit lighter.”

Yoon Bin smiled as if he was literally melting.

Eun Soo marveled anew. Even though she’d seen him for a long time, she should be used to this face by now, but she was surprised again from time to time. Thinking, so this is what someone who becomes a celebrity looks like, someone handsome at sixteen is still handsome at twenty and thirty.

“I came to see you, but I also have some things I need.”

“Oh? What kind of things?”

Yoon Bin looked around the showroom with serious eyes.

“I’m thinking of getting a lounge chair. I’ll be resting at home for a while after the drama ends. And I also need a slightly larger table for the living room and something that can be used as a bookshelf. I got an offer for a variety show that films house tours, so I want to prepare a bit.”

“They’re filming your house?”

“Yeah. But it’s a bit empty now. So recommend me something pretty.”

So the things we send from here could appear on the broadcast?

The imagination of a celebrity more famous than Ko Ji Yeon dropping by , saying ‘I’ll take everything from here to here’ and then widely announcing that fact through their own SNS… Is this how it comes true?

Eun Soo’s face brightened.

“Then elder brother, would you like to come this way?”

Eun Soo led Yoon Bin to the inner part of the showroom. If the 1st floor showroom focused on chairs and relatively affordable and casual furniture, the 2nd floor displayed more artistic or hard-to-find pieces.

“This long chair was made in the 1970s, inspired by 18th century French furniture. It’s still produced in an Italian factory, but the vintage has more popularity than the new ones because of the details unique to the early design.”

Yoon Bin nodded, saying he liked the simple design of the black leather on a steel frame and the size that seemed ample enough to stretch out his long legs. Eun Soo pointed to another chair.

“This is the Siesta chair designed in 1965 by my favorite designer. The frame is solid mahogany.”

Saying that you must always sit on a chair to see if it fits your body comfortably, Eun Soo sat Yoon Bin down and continued her explanation.

“The leather is original and in extremely good condition. Even the folding parts are well-seasoned without a single damage.”

“You’re right. It’s really soft.”

Yoon Bin smiled up at Eun Soo while sitting in the chair.

“It suits you well, Eun Soo.”

“What does?”

“Working here. You look happy.”

Eun Soo smiled back.

“I’m glad it looks that way. But you also suit that chair really well right now, elder brother.”

The cognac-colored chair, which looked obviously luxurious at a glance, could easily make the chair look much more expensive than the person.

But with Yoon Bin sitting in it, it just looked harmonious and natural. In fact, it seemed like Yoon Bin’s face caught the eye first rather than the chair.

“Is this chair perhaps more expensive than that one? You have that look in your eyes like you want me to buy this.”

“What are you saying? What do you take me for?”

Eun Soo added seriously.

“Look carefully once more. You have that look in your eyes like you want to buy both.”

“Hahaha.”

Yoon Bin burst into laughter. His eyes with double eyelids, considered enviable by both men and women, curved fully, and the long dimple at the corner of his mouth deepened.

After choosing chairs, Eun Soo and Yoon Bin came down to the first floor together.

Taking Eun Soo’s advice, Yoon Bin chose in order a simple round dining table, a teak bookshelf with an open back, and a glass table with a unique leg structure.

“When would be convenient for delivery?”

“Wait a moment. I need to ask my manager about the schedule.”

Yoon Bin looked for his manager. Just then, footsteps were heard coming up from the basement, and Joo Han appeared.

Yoon Bin greeted him first, cheerfully.

“Oh, Joo Han.”

“Hello.”

Joo Han bowed his head lightly in greeting. A slightly awkward, but not quite uncomfortable, atmosphere flowed.

“When I heard from Eun Soo that you were working together, I thought it was a bit unexpected…”

Yoon Bin, who had trailed off, added with a grin.

“It’s good. Nice to see.”

Joo Han just smiled quietly.

Meanwhile, Eun Soo, who had set a date after talking with the manager, looked at the two men standing face to face.

Although their styles were different, the sight of two undeniably handsome men standing face to face had something that caught the eye in itself.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this, she thought. The last time we saw each other, I think we drank together, but I can’t remember if it was in our senior year or right after graduation.

Yoon Bin raised his wrist to check his watch.

“There was so much to see, I lost track of time. I should get going now.”

“Okay. Take care, and good luck with the filming.”

“Sure.”

Yoon Bin raised one hand and patted Eun Soo’s shoulder in passing.

“I’ll be in touch.”

After seeing Yoon Bin and his manager off at the door, Eun Soo returned and suddenly said, “Ah.”

“I forgot to get his autograph. Maybe I should have asked for a photo too?”

Having known him since they were so young, even though she knew he was a celebrity and a top star, there were times when she didn’t really realize it.

“Ah, that’s a bit too obvious.”

Jae Rim quickly chimed in.

“It’s better if our furniture just happens to appear naturally in photos or videos that Choi Yoon Bin uploads, rather than us revealing it. Then people will immediately search for information and share things like ‘Choi Yoon Bin’s chair’, ‘Choi Yoon Bin’s dining table’. Then we can just elegantly confirm, ‘Yes, that’s right,’ and boom, word of mouth spreads, articles come out, you know?”

“Oh, you have it all planned out, don’t you?”

As Eun Soo nodded in admiration, her eyes met Joo Han’s, who was standing with his arms crossed. Eun Soo smiled proudly.

“The Siesta chair has finally found its owner.”

“That’s good.”

Joo Han, who only left a brief response, turned his body. As Eun Soo watched Joo Han’s back as he went outside, perhaps to get some fresh air, she tilted her head.

‘…What’s this? Why is his reaction so indifferent?’

Didn’t he once say that if we sold just one of those, we could close the shop for the day and call it quits?

Ah, is he acting like this because he’s afraid I’ll tell that story and ask him to buy meals and drinks with the company card?

Eun Soo, who finally realized the reason, pouted at Joo Han’s back, which was no longer visible.

Around the time when there wasn’t much left until closing, Eun Soo’s phone rang. It was a call from her close friend Sol Hee, who has been working as a broadcast writer for 7 years.

“Oh my, Writer Jang. It’s been a while?”

― It has, Director Sun. Where are you? Still at work?

“Of course.”

― Let’s meet after you get off work today. I’ll buy you dinner.

“So suddenly?”

― Sorry. I meant to contact you in advance, but I’ve been so busy I lost track of the dates. Do you have any other plans?

“No, that’s not it. Okay, let’s meet. Where should we meet?”

― I’ve made a reservation at a really nice place. But is Kim Joo Han available? Can he come too?

“Huh? I’m not sure?”

Suddenly confused about why she was looking for Joo Han, Eun Soo gave a vague answer.

― If there’s nothing urgent, let’s meet together. I have some good news to tell you both.

“Good news? What is it?”

― I’ll tell you later. Hang up for now.

Looking down at the phone that had been abruptly hung up, Eun Soo tilted her head.

‘Good news? And something to tell both me and Kim Joo Han?’

Did she set a wedding date or something?

I thought she hadn’t been dating her current boyfriend for long. Well, people break up after dating for years and get married after just a few months, you never know with these things…

A text message arrived with a map link indicating the meeting place. After replying that she could make it by 7:30, Eun Soo called Joo Han.

“Where are you?”

― I’m in the basement getting some items out, why?

“Okay.”

Thinking it would be difficult to talk on the phone if he was working, Eun Soo immediately got up and went downstairs.

The basement, which served as both a warehouse and workshop, had a structure that connected directly to the backyard when all the windows were opened, making it convenient to park cars close by and load goods. Even now, Joo Han and So Min were carrying furniture to be delivered with a truck parked nearby.

“Be careful with your hands.”

“Yes.”

Joo Han’s side profile was visible as he effortlessly lifted a large dining table with So Min. He had rolled up his short sleeves all the way to his shoulders, probably because it was quite hot. His angry-looking forearms with long, distinct muscles were clearly visible.

Eun Soo, who had been standing there blinking for a moment, quickly came to her senses and approached to help move the dining chairs. Joo Han hesitated when he saw Eun Soo suddenly appear and start using her strength.

“Why, is there something urgent?”

“It’s not urgent. We can talk after loading this first.”

With the chairs Eun Soo loaded being the last, all the cargo was on the truck. After securely fastening the well-packaged furniture, Joo Han said to So Min:

“I’ll drive. Get in.”

“Okay.”

As So Min headed for the passenger seat, Joo Han turned towards Eun Soo.

“After work today…”

Eun Soo, who was about to get straight to the point, stopped speaking, her words breaking down at the sight before her eyes.