Kim Tae Rin’s prediction that the two would have a tumble was off the mark.

Han Seo Jung did not rush at Choi Yoon. He neither grabbed his collar nor swung his fist. His back just tensed up precariously, then slowly settled down as if he was suppressing something.

When she got closer, Kim Tae Rin could see Han Seo Jung’s eyes.

Cold and unfamiliar. It was an expression Kim Tae Rin had never seen on Han Seo Jung before.

Kim Tae Rin was somewhat surprised that Han Seo Jung could make such an expression.

It was not very different from the way Choi Yoon was looking at Han Seo Jung now.

“Seo Jung.”

Han Seo Jung turned around with a start. His rigid face melted into a smile.

“Elder sister, are you up?”

Facing Han Seo Jung, Kim Tae Rin felt Choi Yoon’s gaze on her right cheek. She answered, feigning nonchalance.

“Want some noodles?”

“Elder sister, look at me for a second.”

Han Seo Jung pushed Kim Tae Rin’s back and moved to one side of the yard. He asked in a lowered voice.

“Choi Yoon’s not leaving until the emergency order is lifted, right?”

Kim Tae Rin opened her eyes wide.

“How did you know? Did Choi Yoon say so?”

“It’s all over the rumor mill. They say he turned his car around and came back. It’s obvious.”

Kim Tae Rin smiled a little.

“Ah, I see. What are people saying?”

“It’s half and half. Some welcome it. Some are wary.”

“You’re the latter, I guess?”

“Of course. Are you going to keep him here?”

“What? Choi Yoon?”

“Yeah.”

“For the time being, we have to, right?”

“Send him to our house.”

Kim Tae Rin glanced over at Choi Yoon standing idly in the distance. Their eyes met.

Choi Yoon shook his head vigorously. Kim Tae Rin raised one eyebrow. Choi Yoon crossed his hands to make a large X.

Han Seo Jung suddenly thrust his head in, interrupting. Completely blocking Choi Yoon, Han Seo Jung showed his displeasure.

“Ah, don’t look. What’s with this eye contact!”

“He doesn’t want to go.”

“Elder sister, just send him away. What nerve does he have to stay at a woman’s house alone? He’s really ridiculous.”

“Han Seo Jung. Mind your language.”

“You don’t want to send him away, do you?”

Han Seo Jung pouted. He whined with a sulky voice.

“You think he’s better looking than me, don’t you?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Kim Tae Rin gave Han Seo Jung a light tap on the head. She meant to just pretend, but Han Seo Jung, far from avoiding it, leaned in like a puppy, so she quickly withdrew. Seeing his chance, Han Seo Jung’s eyes sparkled.

“One kiss for every hit. I just got hit once.”

Han Seo Jung puckered his lips and leaned in, but Kim Tae Rin frowned and pushed him away.

“Stop it.”

“You shouldn’t casually hit the precious son of another family like that.”

“I said stop it.”

“Fine, whatever. Tell him to come to our house. If he’s just going to stay here until the emergency order is lifted, it doesn’t matter where he sleeps, right?”

“It’ll be more convenient for him to stay here. He said he’s going to film the restaurant.”

“So… what is he filming?”

“This place. The restaurant. How it’s run.”

Han Seo Jung’s mouth fell open. Kim Tae Rin hurriedly gestured broadly towards the village below the restaurant.

“Not just the restaurant. Also how people in our village live…”

Han Seo Jung didn’t seem convinced at all.

“Why?”

“It’s to keep public interest. We need to make our neighbors everyone’s neighbors. That way, we can get help if we face injustice.”

Han Seo Jung’s gaze softened a bit, but then he questioned again.

“Is that the only way?”

Behind Han Seo Jung, Choi Yoon suddenly popped up. He said,

“I’d like it if there were other options. I’m not here because I want to be.”

Choi Yoon put his arm around Han Seo Jung’s shoulder as he turned around with a sour expression.

“Let’s talk about that, you and me.”

Then he pulled him away.

As Kim Tae Rin watched Han Seo Jung shake off Choi Yoon’s arm and snap at him angrily, while Choi Yoon shook his head with a stiff smile, she picked up the feed bowl and went into the restaurant.

Peeking out the kitchen window, she saw the two in the midst of an argument in a corner of the yard.

She put the broth on the fire and took carrots and chives out of the refrigerator. Placing them on the cutting board, she was about to pull out a knife when she lightly touched the area near her tailbone with her hand behind her back. The pain had definitely lessened.

It had been a really long time since she had transformed into a fox.

Pressing all four paws onto the damp ground, savoring the smell of grass and soil, and wolfing down a bowl of dog milk mixed with feed made her feel refreshed as if reborn.

If only Choi Yoon and Han Seo Jung hadn’t been lurking around, she could have enjoyed it for an hour longer.

As the water started to boil, Han Seo Jung came into the restaurant. He was pouting.

“Where’s Choi Yoon?”

“Don’t know.”

Kim Tae Rin pretended to throw a carrot. Han Seo Jung playfully acted like he was dodging it.

“He said he’s going to his car.”

Then he rolled up his sleeves and entered the kitchen.

As always, Han Seo Jung couldn’t sit still. He hovered around Kim Tae Rin as she boiled the noodles, washing chives and frying egg garnish.

All the while, he chattered non-stop. Most of it was dirty rumors and scandals about Choi Yoon.

“Han Seo Jung. Stop it.”

“You should know too, elder sister.”

“Whether Choi Yoon has one woman or a truckload of them, what’s it to me?”

“I really hope that feeling doesn’t change.”

Just as Kim Tae Rin started to fold and thinly slice the egg garnish Han Seo Jung had fried, Choi Yoon entered the restaurant. He was carrying an armful of clothes. In one hand, he also held a pair of sneakers.

Kim Tae Rin heard him mutter softly, “Smells delicious.”

He pushed the door wide open with his shoulder, then fixed it open with the door stopper.

A gust of wind rushed in, making the sunlight pooled inside the restaurant ripple.

Their eyes met.

Choi Yoon smiled brightly, and Kim Tae Rin thought it was annoying. This was really unfair. Choi Yoon had an advantage over others no matter what he did. If he were just a little less handsome, it would have been better for everyone’s mental health.

“I’ll just put these in my room for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“It’s alright. Take your time.”

Choi Yoon flashed another quick eye smile, then strode up to the second floor. With his wide stride, he disappeared from sight in an instant.

Suddenly, Kim Tae Rin felt a sharp gaze on her cheek. Han Seo Jung had stopped setting chopsticks on the table and was staring intently at her. His expression was one of utmost displeasure.

Kim Tae Rin asked playfully,

“What. Again. What now.”

“Just wait till my birthday passes next year. I’ll just…”

“There you go again, getting all worked up.”

She was about to pinch his cheek but stopped herself.

He used to run away at the mere sight of her, but now he’s become an expert at hovering close and making a fuss even at the slightest touch from Kim Tae Rin.

Considering how he used to curl up like a shriveled fawn, should this be considered an improvement?

“Come and eat! Food!”

Han Seo Jung shouted loudly towards the second floor to call Choi Yoon down.

The three sat down at a well-ventilated table and ate celebratory noodles.

Even though the broth was made only with kelp and sand lance, and the noodles were topped with just blanched chives, sautéed carrots, and egg garnish, Choi Yoon ate with surprising relish, adding plenty of seasoning sauce.

Before Kim Tae Rin had finished even half, Choi Yoon had already slurped up all the noodles and then picked up the whole bowl to drink the broth clean. Han Seo Jung followed, leaving only a little bit before putting down his chopsticks.

“You must like noodles.”

At Kim Tae Rin’s question, Choi Yoon stared blankly at his empty bowl. Looking perplexed as if surprised by his own eating, Choi Yoon awkwardly replied.

“I don’t usually seek them out… But today it’s strangely delicious.”

“I made the toppings.”

Han Seo Jung quickly boasted. Choi Yoon smiled loosely then quickly turned serious.

“I enjoyed the meal.”

After that, there was only silence.

Though they could have gotten up first, they both stubbornly kept their seats, making it rather awkward for Kim Tae Rin.

Han Seo Jung was busy tearing kimchi with his chopsticks and quickly placing it on top every time Kim Tae Rin picked up some noodles, while Choi Yoon sat in a perfect posture as if the wooden restaurant chair was a chaebol’s seat of honor, monitoring the decrease of Kim Tae Rin’s noodles.

As she took the chopsticks away from Han Seo Jung, who kept supplying kimchi, and gave him a warning look, Choi Yoon suddenly spoke.

“You two seem close. Suddenly coming and naturally sharing a meal.”

“We’re going to get married.”

“Han Seo Jung. Stop joking around.”

Kim Tae Rin rolled up the remaining noodles with her chopsticks and stuffed them into her mouth in one bite. She quickly stacked the three empty bowls together. She was about to stand up.

“We need the villagers’ consent.”

Kim Tae Rin silently sat back down in her chair. Choi Yoon continued.

“Whether it’s okay to film, and if there are any people or places that would be difficult to film. I’d also like to explain the purpose and editing direction to avoid misunderstandings.”

Kim Tae Rin was honestly worried whether Choi Yoon could actually gain consent. While other people’s minds might be swayed, the village chief was the problem. He still viewed Choi Yoon unfavorably, and it didn’t seem likely his assessment would change in the future.

As Kim Tae Rin was carefully choosing her words, Han Seo Jung, who had been quietly watching, opened his mouth.

“Why don’t you ask the village chief? If the chief gives permission, there won’t be any problems after that.”

At the mention of the village chief, Choi Yoon’s face noticeably darkened.

Han Seo Jung shrugged.

“He shouts when he doesn’t like something, but he’s a good person. If you can’t persuade the chief, you’ll have to go around to each villager individually, which would be a lot of work. Try persuading him. The purpose isn’t bad, after all.”

“It’s a bit annoying though,” Han Seo Jung added. Choi Yoon put on a serious face.

“How should I approach him? I wonder if he’ll readily give permission.”

Kim Tae Rin was taken aback by Choi Yoon’s genuinely worried expression. She hadn’t expected him to find this aspect difficult. He usually exuded excessive confidence in everything.

However, Han Seo Jung looked somewhat frustrated. He retorted as if wondering what was so difficult.

“It seems easy to me. Just use your body and face to get through it.”

“You’re saying you want to film?”

The name of Soseulli’s village chief is Jang Yong Sik, a human male who is eighty years old this year.

Thanks to his proactiveness in rolling up his sleeves for village matters, his excellent flexibility in judging right and wrong while considering individual circumstances, and the majority of elderly people who refrain from taking on the bothersome role of village representative, Jang Yong Sik has been managing the village with the title of Soseulli’s chief for nearly twenty years.

“Who are you trying to do a favor for? Absolutely not, absolutely not! Do you think public opinion will change with just that? We’ll only get a lot of abuse, who would watch it? We’ll be more isolated! Just turn on the TV right now! Where can you see yokai appearing!”

“Chief, it’s not going to be on TV. These days, there are many other things besides TV…!”

“Tae Rin, when did you change your tune from hating Choi Yoon to taking his side now? Do you think they’ll broadcast it even if you film it? Don’t even think about making everyone uneasy by walking around with cameras!”