A leisurely Sunday noon.

The modern black desk had been vibrating for a while now.

The man staring at the glittering phone only tapped his fingers on the desk, seemingly with no intention of answering.

The ringtone that had been continuing for a long time suddenly cut off, but the rhythmic tapping did not stop.

The man sitting in the study of his home, Ki Yeon, was recalling the woman he encountered at the club yesterday.

Nam Yoo In, who looked at him with eyes loosened by alcohol and smiled bashfully.

Meeting a woman there with a face remarkably similar to Nam Yoo Jin, as he had heard, was purely coincidental.

Bzzzt-.

This time it was not a call, but a message notification vibration.

Ki Yeon briefly scanned the lit screen. The sender was the same as before, “Ji Han”.

As he had set it to show messages along with notifications, seemingly having nothing to hide, the simple content caught his eye.

[Yoo In, why aren’t you answering. I’m going crazy with worry-.]

The message cut off in the middle, but the rest was predictable.

The saved name seemed too dry for a boyfriend, but the other party’s reaction was too excessive to say otherwise.

What could be the identity of this thing that had been alternating between calls and messages?

While Ki Yeon was engrossed in curiosity, a long vibration sound was heard again.

Again? When he looked at the phone screen with an annoyed gaze, the name of the caller was enough to stop his ceaselessly moving fingers.

‘Mom’

Ki Yeon pressed the call button without hesitation and put it to his ear.

“Yes.”

-……

The other end of the line was very quiet, with no response despite having called first.

However, even that silence seemed to say that the caller was Nam Yoo In, and Ki Yeon bit his lip to suppress a chuckle that threatened to escape.

And instead of the still silent other party, he asked first.

“Ms. Nam Yoo In?”

-…… So it’s there.

Yoo In’s voice, sounding resigned, seemed to have hoped he wouldn’t answer, but he pretended not to notice.

“Indeed. Its owner abandoned it, so I picked it up and kept it safe.”

-Why would I abandon that?

“No? You ignored me calling and left.”

-…… Ah.

Her slender, delicate voice, matching her appearance, was full of embarrassment.

He could imagine what expression Yoo In might be making. She’d probably be rolling her eyes with that troubled face she had been showing beside him all along.

He had never seen her elder sister make such a face. Ki Yeon thought that although their faces were similar, their personalities seemed completely different.

Actress Nam Yoo Jin’s younger sister, Nam Yoo In.

Ki Yeon had known about her even before actually seeing Yoo In yesterday.

Nam Yoo Jin wanted her private life to be thoroughly hidden from the public, and Ki Yeon was a person obligated to keep that.

To do so, he had to know about Nam Yoo Jin more thoroughly and in detail than anyone else, and family information was basic, so he naturally knew it.

Despite knowing this, it was a face so similar it could be confusing, but the moment he met her eyes up close, he could realize.

That the atmosphere, expressions, voice, and every single action were all opposite to Nam Yoo Jin’s

After asking her name just in case, he confirmed that she was indeed Nam Yoo Jin’s sister, Nam Yoo In, as he had guessed.

Of course, even if she was Nam Yoo Jin’s sister, what she was doing in the corridor of a high-class bar for members only was none of Ki Yeon’s business.

But for some reason, leaving her there, smiling so transparently and clearly as if without a single impurity, among all those strange people didn’t sit well with him.

Just a simple whim. A light kindness. That’s all it was.

-Um… if you leave it somewhere convenient, I’ll come pick it up. Where would be good for you?

At the words clearly intending not to see him, Ki Yeon frowned as if the edge of his nerves had been singed.

What made Nam Yoo In so uncomfortable and anxious? He had only shown her kindness.

For a moment, his mind tilted askew and mischievously changed, wanting to tease Nam Yoo In more.

“Why?”

-…… Pardon?

“You don’t want to meet me?”

-Ah…… It’s not that, I thought you might be busy.

“It’s Sunday today. No matter how busy, I rest on weekends.”

-…… That’s right. Today happens to be Sunday.

“Happens to be?”

When he repeated the bothersome word, Yoo In mumbled softly, “That’s not it.”

The tiny sound she made was just like a puppy whimpering, and Ki Yeon had to suppress another laugh that was about to escape.

Forgetting his previous irritation and the fact that he didn’t particularly like animals.

“Shall I go, or do you want to come? Choose.”

For someone like Nam Yoo In who seemed to think a lot and hesitate greatly, it was faster to give a clear ultimatum.

If it were Ki Yeon’s usual personality, he wouldn’t have even given a choice, but he showed Yoo In unusual generosity by offering options.

Then, after being silent for a long while, Yoo In let out a small sigh and answered.

-I’ll go. Where should I go?

****

SJ Hotel Lounge Bar.

The lounge, which the owner had reportedly put special effort into remodeling, was decorated with luxurious interiors combining sophistication, elegance, and classic style, making it popular among the wealthy.

The high-end private room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city was almost impossible to use without advance reservation, but that was irrelevant to Ki Yeon.

Ki Yeon called her here out of a desire to show off his capabilities, but Yoo In seemed completely uninterested and merely uncomfortable.

“What would you like to drink? Coffee? The cakes here are delicious too.”

“Just coffee. No cake, please.”

Ki Yeon smirked as he saw her quickly shake her head, saying no to the cake.

As expected, when Yoo In tried to just take her phone and leave right away, Ki Yeon suggested having a drink to repay the favor since he had helped her yesterday and returned her phone today. After some deliberation, Yoo In reluctantly sat down across from Ki Yeon.

He had no other intentions. It was purely curiosity about someone he would likely never encounter if not for this coincidence.

And also because Nam Yoo In’s reactions were quite amusing.

“Iced?”

“No. Hot, please.”

Yoo In answered softly and bit her lower lip hard.

This habit-like action, which he had witnessed several times yesterday, caught Ki Yeon’s attention as he was placing the order.

Is this a habit that comes out when she’s troubled? It looks like it would hurt to bite that hard.

Ki Yeon squinted his eyes and smiled slightly at the passing fragment of thought, then asked politely:

“It must have taken quite a while to get here. Especially on a weekend.”

Recognizing the emphasis on ‘especially’, the shoulders covered in a thin beige coat flinched slightly.

“It didn’t take that long.”

“How did you come?”

“By bus.”

“Hmm.”

The sister of Nam Yoo Jin, who earns an enormous amount of money and is counted among the top ten most successful people in our country, rides the bus.

The rumor that Nam Yoo Jin buys enough luxury clothes, shoes, and bags to fill a van every quarter, raiding department stores and bringing them home, was already well-known within the company.

It seemed a bit ironic that Nam Yoo Jin, with such lavish spending habits, didn’t even buy a car for her sister she supposedly cared for so much.

Perhaps she didn’t even let her get a license, thinking it was dangerous?

Well, those gentle and docile-looking hands might be a bit concerning behind a steering wheel.

Ki Yeon leisurely rested his chin on his hand, thinking thoughts Yoo In could never know.

Come to think of it, Yoo In’s attire today was utterly plain.

A burgundy knit that suited her pale white skin under the thin coat. Jeans revealing her leg line.

Long straight hair neatly combed down, and a clear face without makeup.

Ki Yeon thought this style suited her better than yesterday’s flashy styling.

Just as Ki Yeon couldn’t take his eyes off her, there was a knock-knock sound.

The sliding door opened and an employee entered with a tray, setting down their order, but Yoo In let out an “Oh” when she saw that slice cakes were included.

After the employee finished setting up and left with a bow, Ki Yeon, who had arbitrarily changed the order, smiled and said:

“They’re really delicious, so try them.”

“Ah… okay.”

Yoo In replied seemingly displeased, but as expected, she didn’t touch the coffee she said she would drink, let alone the cake, and just fidgeted with the cup.

For a while, only the soft sound of classical music could be heard at the table where the two sat, until Ki Yeon spoke first.

“Why were you there yesterday?”

“It was my friend’s birthday.”

Friend’s birthday, huh.

Ki Yeon remembered hearing somewhere that the bar he frequented was operated together with a regular club.

He didn’t know the two places were connected by a corridor, but it was easy to deduce that the place Nam Yoo In, a 23-year-old college student, went with her friend was obviously that club.

“Where did your friend go, leaving you drunk and wandering alone? You’re not a lost puppy.”

The delicate fingers that were lifting the large mug paused.

For the first time since entering the room, the eyes looking straight at Ki Yeon had large pupils and were slightly moist.

Ah. I thought it was from being drunk, but those eyes are naturally like that.

I wonder what she’d look like crying. Her crying face would probably be quite pretty.

For a moment, harboring such dangerous thoughts, Ki Yeon pressed his index finger firmly against his lips to hide his rising smile.

Something seemed to bother her, as discomfort tinged her voice.

“I was trying to go home but mistook it for the exit. The door was open.”

“Are you the type to drink so much you can’t find the exit?”

“No.”

“Do you go to that club often?”

“Not that either.”

“Then you had no choice but to go because it was your friend’s birthday and had to drink?”

“… Well, yeah.”

A hint of reproach appeared on Yoo In’s face as her responses became half a beat slower, as if asking why he was curious about such things.

Yet she still answered diligently, making Ki Yeon want to keep talking to her even though he knew she showed signs of disliking it.

Like the mischievousness of a boy running away after cutting the rubber band girls were playing with.

Seeing her small lips moving as if she wanted to say something, Ki Yeon said, “Go ahead,” and she spoke in a rather clear voice.

“You must often show kindness to strangers.”

“Me? I’m not the type to waste time on such things.”

“Then why to me?”

“Ah. Because Ms. Nam Yoo In is special.”

Ki Yeon threw out an even bigger bait in response to her probing words.

Yoo In’s gaze wandered around in confusion before returning to Ki Yeon.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Really? Your coffee will get cold, drink up.”

“……”

Usually, by this point, one would become curious about Ki Yeon or at least demand to know what he meant by those words.

But Yoo In became even quieter than before, just staring at the smiling Ki Yeon.

While Yoo In’s thoughts had been clearly visible until just now, this time Ki Yeon couldn’t read them, so he too fell silent and stared at her.

What could that small head be thinking? What kind of reaction will she show this time?

However, Yoo In shattered Ki Yeon’s expectations and suddenly started drinking the full cup of coffee.

After gulping it all down and setting the cup on the table with a clank, she held out her hand to Ki Yeon and said:

“I’ve finished drinking, so please give me my phone.”

“Ms. Nam Yoo In.”

“Hurry. You promised.”

Her frozen expression was quite resolute.

Ki Yeon let out a hollow laugh at Yoo In, who wasn’t following his expectations at all, but regretfully decided to keep his promise to her and took out Yoo In’s phone from his jacket’s inner pocket.

As soon as he held it out to her, she snatched it away quickly.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll take you home.”

As Ki Yeon was about to stand up from his chair, a firm “No” was heard.

Yoo In was already at the room’s door. It was clear that this time, she was determined not to be caught.

Before he could say anything to stop her, Yoo In preempted him.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Everything you’re trying to do.”

“……”

“I hope we never meet again.”

The final “Please” wasn’t audible, but he could read it clearly from her lip movements.

The door slid open with a drrr- sound, and Yoo In disappeared so quickly that she was gone before the door even fully closed.

Huh. What’s with her?

Ki Yeon let out a deflated laugh, finding it absurd that Yoo In had run away at just one word about being special. He stared at the door she had left through for a long time before muttering:

“Well, she’s cute.”

That was all. That was what Ki Yeon thought of Yoo In.

Adding, “Thanks to her, yesterday and today weren’t boring and were quite fun.”

And Ki Yeon too, like Yoo In had said, concluded that they would never meet again.