After quickly washing her hands and removing her earrings and necklace, Chaewon only applied hand cream, planning to take the photos in her current outfit. She then naturally looked up at the mirror, directing her gaze towards her lips, which Yu-Gun had noticed earlier.

“Are my lips too bold?”

She generally prefers light makeup to complement her vibrant attire, but worried it might appear too heavy, she picked up a tissue to blot her lips. In the midst of doing this, the doorbell rang.

“Is that you?”

Upon opening the door, Chaewon was greeted by Yu-Gun stepping lightly into the hallway.

“It seems like a good idea, taking multiple days’ worth of photos in one day,” he remarked.

“Right? It seems like a good approach to take in the future.”

Yu-Gun casually observed the interior of the house. The living room felt cozy due to the lighting, but the rest of the space appeared starkly empty. In the living room, there was a sofa with cushions of various colors and a warm-light standing lamp, while the kitchen featured an elegant table without chairs. The other rooms, with their doors open, were just filled with unopened moving boxes, devoid of any furniture.

“It’s quite a suitable place for photo shoots.”

Upon hearing Yu-Gun’s comment, Chaewon took a fresh look around her home and replied, “I didn’t bother unpacking much since I’m moving again soon.”

“So, you don’t like this house?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then, is it the neighbors you don’t like?”

Yu-Gun nonchalantly placed his T-shirt on the dining table.

“In a month, we’ll be parting ways. If I keep living here as if nothing’s unusual, James and your grandmother might find it suspicious.”

Chaewon continued with a bitter smile, “I’m making such sacrifices. Unlike you, who seem to always want compensation for even three hours of your time, and can’t bear any loss.”

“Looks like you didn’t unpack from the day you moved in, which was before meeting me.”

Chaewon replied, trying not to show her agitation, “My father oddly insisted on this move, which I found suspicious. I left my things packed, just in case, and sure enough, finding out my blind date was the neighbor, I couldn’t unpack anymore.”

“So, you had no intention of going through with the arranged date.”

“Right, just like you.”

Yu-Gun, having admired the different view from his own living room, turned to Chaewon.

“You never blame yourself, even at death’s door, do you?”

“I know my way of speaking isn’t disadvantageous to me.”

Amused by her reply, Yu-Gun chuckled.

“Where do you plan to move?”

“I’ll be picky. I’ll be living with my sister.”

Her unwavering belief in Heeju’s recovery was evident in her eyes, despite the challenges of waking from a vegetative state.

“But since your sister is so particular, I doubt you’ll find an ordinary place.”

Encouraged by his supportive words, Chaewon smiled slightly. Yu-Gun glanced once more at her striking red lips before turning away.

“I’m a bit thirsty.”

“Ah, I’ll get you something to drink. The fridge…”

As she confidently opened the fridge, she abruptly stopped.

“Oh, you seem to enjoy drinking?”
In the sparse fridge, fifteen cans of hangover relief drink occupied the main shelf. Faced with Yu-Gun’s comment, Chaewon opened her mouth with a look of injustice.

“Uh, there’s a misunderstanding here. I don’t particularly like or drink alcohol much. These were given as a gift, and I couldn’t just throw them away…”

“But what about that drink you gave me recently, saying it was tasty though it had alcohol?”

“Oh, that. Well, you see…”

As Chaewon spoke, Yu-Gun reached out with his long arm and pulled out a can of ion drink from a corner.

“It’s not important. I’ll enjoy the drink.”

Feeling unfairly treated, Chaewon gripped the fridge door tightly. He didn’t believe the truth.

The hangover drinks were a gift from a patient who worked at a hangover relief drink company.

Wanting to say a few more words to assert the truth, Chaewon eventually let out a quiet sigh and closed the fridge door. She was particularly careful about managing her image, but it felt like she was only showing Yu-Gun things she didn’t want him to see.

Turning around, Chaewon sat at the dining table and watched Yu-Gun drink his beverage. His long legs stretched out under the white shirt and jacket, his jawline and throat moving as he swallowed the drink. Despite just drinking, his movements seemed perfect, as if in a photoshoot.

When their eyes met, Chaewon, feeling caught after her brief observation, displayed some unnecessary displeasure.

“Why are you sitting at the dining table to eat?”

Yu-Gun looked at her with a somewhat languid gaze.

“Mr. Yu-Gun, sit on the sofa over there.”

His eyes once again followed Chaewon’s red lips.

“I’m tired.”

“Sorry?”

“If I lean on the sofa, I might fall asleep.”

Realizing they had been facing each other for too long, Chaewon quickly suggested, “Let’s take the photos quickly and then you can go to sleep. Maybe I should have insisted on shooting outside, even if it’s a bit bothersome.”