“I’m sorry, but today is a bit difficult.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ha Yeon flatly refused Cha I Tae’s proposal.

Huh? What’s with this woman? Cha I Tae exhaled in disbelief. In his life, he had never met a woman who rejected his offer so bluntly like Ha Yeon.

He knew how to use his face appropriately, and especially knew what effect his eye smile had on unmarried women. When he smiled meltingly, most would become weak-hearted.

After that, he could easily capture women’s hearts with his ingrained manners. It was his first time encountering a woman as wooden as Ha Yeon, so he couldn’t manage his expression well.

“I won’t take up much of your time.”

He inwardly muttered a curse, wondering if he really had to go this far. But his pride wouldn’t allow him to back down without accomplishing anything.

“I’m sorry, but I have company. I’m already quite delayed.”

Because Ha Yeon really did nervously glance towards the cafe, Cha I Tae became curious. Who was this company she mentioned?

“If it’s not too impolite, I wouldn’t mind meeting your companion as well.”

It was truly rare for him to make such repeated invitations.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m sorry, but I’ll be going now.”

Yet not realizing this, Ha Yeon repeated the same words like a parrot.

Just who could this person she came with be? Cha I Tae narrowed his eyes in thought, but soon hid his expression and smiled.

“Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped. You’ll be sure to make time next time, right?”

“Yes, I will. Thank you.”

Ha Yeon turned away immediately. Cha I Tae unconsciously let out a scoffing laugh. Then, unable to overcome his curiosity, he followed her to see who she was meeting.

Ha Yeon’s steps naturally quickened. She had said she was just going to the restroom, but already quite some time had passed. Ji Hoo must be feeling anxious.

She wasn’t very curious about what proposal Cha I Tae wanted to make, or what he had to say about her work. Her only thought was whether Ji Hoo was worrying.

And while Cha I Tae’s appearance was noticeably handsome, honestly, he wasn’t Ha Yeon’s type. Rather than such a flower boy, she preferred someone a bit more solid, with sharp eyes and masculine…

“Ah…!”

Ha Yeon suddenly stopped her brisk walk. The person she had unconsciously thought of while comparing to Cha I Tae was none other than Director Kang Min Je!

“Oh no, I still haven’t come to my senses.”

She slapped her own cheeks a couple times, then pulled herself together and walked quickly again. Cha I Tae, who was secretly following her, raised an eyebrow at this sight.

Ha Yeon entered the cafe and approached Ji Hoo as if about to run.

“Sorry, did you wait long?”

As if bored from waiting, several napkins were folded like origami in front of Ji Hoo.

“Aunt Mi Ran said it’s not good to stay in the bathroom too long.”

“Huh? That’s true…”

Ha Yeon didn’t know how to respond and laughed awkwardly.

“She said you should drink a lot of water.”

At Ji Hoo’s words as he stared at her, Ha Yeon let out a groan. She had suddenly been treated as a constipation patient. How should she clear up this misunderstanding?

“Here.”

Ji Hoo pushed a glass of water that he had brought at some point.

“Thanks.”

It’s better for him to think she was in the bathroom for a long time than to know she was talking with a strange man. Ha Yeon thought this as she downed the water Ji Hoo had given her in one gulp.

After dropping off Ha Yeon and Ji Hoo at home, Jun Won went to Liam Art Museum where Min Je was.

Despite it being close to closing time, Min Je showed no signs of going home. Looking out through the museum’s large glass windows, he suddenly spoke.

“If you’re not busy, want to grab a beer?”

Min Je speaking informally like this meant it was a personal favor. Jun Won answered with a smirk.

“Will one be enough?”

They had known each other for over a decade since their orphanage days. After all they had been through in that time, Jun Won could guess what Min Je was thinking.

At a time when all the museum staff had gone home and the sun was setting, the two opened cans of beer sitting on a scenic bench overlooking the entire museum.

“Ah, that’s good.”

Jun Won exclaimed after gulping down his beer. Seeing this, Min Je chuckled and took a sip before saying:

“You don’t seem to have changed at all, hyung.”

“You seem to be changing rapidly these days.”

At Jun Won’s sly remark, Min Je let out an exasperated sigh.

“Shall I guess why you’ve changed?”

“No, just drink your beer.”

Min Je avoided Jun Won’s knowing gaze and brought the beer can in Jun Won’s hand to his mouth.

As Min Je intended, Jun Won gulped down the beer and leaned back deeply on the bench, feeling the breeze.

“I think it’s a desirable change.”

Min Je couldn’t help but chuckle at Jun Won’s mumbling, as if he were a sage who had mastered all the ways of the world.

“You seemed to really like it when I acted out with Ji Hoo too, don’t you just love it when I deviate?”

Jun Won giggled at Min Je’s sarcastic question. After all, Jun Won had been the most supportive when Min Je said he would register Ji Hoo under his family registry.

“That’s how you’ll become more human-like.”

“What? Are you saying I’m not human right now?”

Min Je grumbled needlessly, knowing what Jun Won meant.

Suddenly, he remembered the past. How he used to be. After leaving the orphanage, there was truly nothing he hadn’t tried. He endured fiercely with the sole determination to succeed.

He traveled all over the country with Jun Won, searching for so-called masterpieces. There were many dangerous moments along the way. Now, many people pay attention to art as ‘art tech’, but when Min Je first entered this field, such recognition was scarce.

He thought he was similar to a gambler. This work required not only an eye for paintings but also a bit of a gambler’s temperament. Because timing the buying and selling of paintings was similar to placing bets.

At that time, Min Je moved solely for money, like someone devoid of emotions. What stopped him was Ji Hoo.

When Min Je learned about Ji Hoo, who had lost both parents in an accident and become an orphan without any relatives, he committed the craziest act of his life. Whether it was because he couldn’t bear to let Ji Hoo grow up in an orphanage like himself, or due to shallow sympathy, he couldn’t tell.

That’s how he became family with a three-year-old child. He thought everything would be fine once they were bound as family. By then, he had saved up enough money to have the financial means to raise a child.

But as they lived on, he realized that wasn’t all there was to it. He didn’t particularly want to deny Jun Won’s words about him not seeming human-like. He had truly lived such a life.

But lately, he sometimes feared that Ji Hoo might grow up without emotions like himself. If Ha Yeon hadn’t appeared, it would have been truly daunting, but recently, it was even more daunting because of her, which was troublesome in its own way.

Whew, Min Je sighed deeply as he ran his hand through his hair. He wondered if there had ever been a time when his heart felt so complicated.

“Shall I tell you the answer?”

Jun Won turned his body completely towards Min Je and spoke. His eyes sparkled, clearly eager to share whatever he wanted to say.

“How did you manage to hold back saying this all this time?”

As Min Je reacted incredulously, Jun Won spoke even more excitedly.

“So, do you want me to tell you or not?”

“…”

Min Je couldn’t answer right away. Jun Won sometimes said incredibly sharp things that could stab one’s heart. Even knowing it was right, it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, so he couldn’t respond immediately.

When Min Je didn’t say anything, Jun Won found it even more amusing and said as he pleased.

“Follow your heart. That’s the answer.”

Hmm, well, not quite a stab. Min Je felt a bit relieved as he stared at Jun Won.

“Is it really okay to do that?”

“Of course it’s okay. That way you won’t have regrets later.”

“Really? You think so…”

Min Je pondered deeply. Then, like someone faced with an unsolved problem, he suddenly asked.

“Yesterday she pushed me away and ran off, is it still okay to follow my heart?”

“Huh…? She pushed you away and ran?”

Jun Won’s confident eyes wavered for a moment.

From what he had seen, he thought Ha Yeon had feelings for Min Je too, but was that not the case? If she liked him, she wouldn’t push him away and run, would she?

Then, at the edge of his consciousness, a slightly different question arose.

‘What the hell were you trying to do, you bastard?’

Noticing Jun Won’s gaze sharply, Min Je said with a brazen face.

“Don’t just give ambiguous advice, you should teach me something practical.”

“…”

This time, Jun Won kept his mouth shut. If I had known that, I wouldn’t be in this state.

Seeing Jun Won’s expression changing by the second, Min Je chuckled and muttered.

“I guess so.”

What? What did you really want to say after that? Jun Won glared at Min Je with wide eyes.

“Just drink your beer.”

Min Je brought the beer can in Jun Won’s hand to his mouth again.

Tch, Jun Won grumbled but diligently drank his beer.

When Min Je returned home, it was already 10 o’clock. The living room was dim with only the auxiliary lights on. In the past, when he came home this late, a lonely feeling would fill a corner of his heart, but strangely, today was different.

‘Is it because of that?’

Min Je thought, looking at the light seeping out from the studio.

Tossing his bag carelessly onto the sofa, he headed straight for the studio.

Knock knock knock, at his knocking, there was a clamorous sound from inside. From that sound alone, he could tell that Ha Yeon was flustered.

Oh my, Min Je chuckled and opened the door slightly.

“Can you paint without a model?”

He said, leaning crookedly against the doorframe, and Ha Yeon waved her hands saying,

“Oh, I think it’s okay today.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Min Je felt a somewhat skewed emotion rise at her words that it was fine without him. He wasn’t drunk from the few cans of beer, but he felt like the reason he usually suppressed had cracked a little.

Ha Yeon, unaware of anything, explained earnestly so as not to offend him.

“The sketch is roughly done, so I’m just adding shadows now, so it’s really okay today.”

Seeing Ha Yeon cleverly avoiding his gaze, Min Je’s mood twisted even more.

“If you don’t need me for the painting, then let’s talk.”

Seeing Min Je exuding a dangerous atmosphere unlike usual, Ha Yeon didn’t know what to do. What’s this? Why is he suddenly acting like this? Her eyes shook violently.

“W-What do you want to talk about?”

Although Ha Yeon’s voice trembled slightly from her sudden panic, Min Je took her question as if it were permission and confidently entered the room, saying casually,

“What else, about us.”

And click, he closed the door ostentatiously.