Luda gestured to Yoo-young, sitting across from her, requesting approval.

“Uh… sure. Well, okay. I like games.”

Yoo-young responded somewhat flustered.

Luda’s optimistic personality shone in such moments. Disregarding the awkward air surrounding the table, she shamelessly continued to act confidently.

When Tae-seok declared that he knew nothing about games, Luda insisted on bringing him into the game, mentioning that he must know “3-6-9” since he’s a South Korean citizen.

Although Luda happily started the 3-6-9 game on her own, she didn’t tire and continued to entertain everyone. Eventually, Yoo-young and Summer joined in, and Ji-hyuk, who had been anxious, also began to earnestly participate.

What’s so amusing about such a game? Ironically, the atmosphere gradually lightened. Tae-seok didn’t particularly enjoy the awkward flow of this dinner gathering.

The game often ended prematurely before completing two rounds, and someone would be caught, hastily ending the game. However, the women kept laughing, and when Ji-hyuk, who had been constantly uneasy, unknowingly joined in earnestly, something interesting happened.

What’s so funny about that game? Understanding the humor in this situation was a territory beyond Tae-seok’s comprehension.
Then his gaze fell on Yeoreum.

The punishment that had started as a slap on the wrist had somehow turned into a drinking game, with most of the three women taking turns making mistakes, and Yeoreum kept laughing. Once the mistakes began, the glasses circulated, another mistake, and another, endlessly repeating.

‘Because I’m not concentrating like that, I keep making mistakes.’

According to Luda’s rules, you were only allowed to take a sip of alcohol. Therefore, Yeoreum hadn’t had a drink yet, but she didn’t like losing continuously. Losing wasn’t something Tae-seok experienced often in his life.

There was nothing more precious than being able to laugh even when you lose.

“Wow, lost again!”

“Unni, you fool!”

“Choi Yeoreum, can I call you unni too?”

Whether intentionally or not, the three women continued the game to get closer, rapidly becoming friends.

“Of course! Let’s be unnie and dongsaeng too.”

“Gya!”

Suddenly, when Luda shouted loudly, several staff members looked over and laughed. Tae-seok briefly watched the commotion and then turned his gaze back to Yeoreum.

…He could have told them to stop. But Yeoreum kept laughing.

A flush rose to her face. The crescent-shaped eye smile didn’t disappear. Then, she lost again in the game, laughed again.

It felt like an attack on the heart. Almost like a torture-like assault.

He wanted to see Yeoreum’s smiling face again like before, but he didn’t expect the impact to be this overwhelming.

What he had lost wasn’t just Choi Yeoreum but her laughter, happiness, life… Ultimately, everything.

The train of thought eventually led to Ji Hyun-jung. Tae-seok, who mumbled something quietly, couldn’t contain his anger and stood up. When he asked a staff member if they needed fresh air, he said there was a terrace past the bathroom at the end of the corridor.

As Tae-seok stood up, the game came to an abrupt end. Yeoreum said she would go to the restroom, and Yoo-young and Luda moved to another staff table. Ji-hyuk also stood up.

In the restroom, Yeoreum fixed her face. Her face was redder from the atmosphere than from the alcohol.

It was nothing, but why did I laugh so much…

She thought back to her seat just now while applying cushion and lipstick. Upon reflection, it had been a long time since she laughed so openly. Two years? Three years?

Since breaking up with Tae-seok, there had been no reason to laugh. Whether the game or Tae-seok made her laugh again, Yeoreum was unsure.

When she pushed open the restroom door and saw Tae-seok leaning against the wall, their eyes met, and he smiled slightly, taking Yeoreum’s hand, opening the terrace door next to them, and heading outside.

A refreshing breeze washed over them.

“It’s cool…! But you have to let go of my hand.”

Yeoreum shook off his hand. Her previously flushed cheeks gradually cooled, regaining their color.
Tae-seok looked at Yeoreum like that, then turned her against the wall and hugged her plainly. When Yeoreum raised her hand to push him away, he held her down again and said slowly.

“I know. I know. You just have to be careful.”

“This is not being careful!”

Afraid Yeoreum might notice, he struck his chest vigorously.

“Why. Am I going to do something scary?”

As if the punch from Yeoreum wasn’t threatening at all, Tae-seok kept taking them while Yeoreum struggled to escape his embrace. However, he didn’t let go of his arms, holding her waist tightly.

“It’s hard just watching you.”

“Then I’ll leave first!”

Before Yeoreum could finish her sentence, Tae-seok’s lips descended lightly on hers. Yeoreum made a face as if she was about to cry.

“Don’t. Seriously, that’s too much.”

Yeoreum’s cooling cheek blushed again. Tae-seok’s gaze moved quickly between Yeoreum’s cheek and lips.

“Let’s kiss once and go.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Do it.”

“I won’t have this kind of situation with you again…”

“Just a short one. Just a moment.”

Tae-seok’s lips, tainted with envy, covered Yeoreum. The soft scent of alcohol that flowed in gently swept through the mouth. The fragrance that passed by the beating heart struck like lightning and quickly disappeared.

“I really did it briefly.”

Tae-seok, releasing his lips, said regretfully.

“Don’t run away today. I’ll take you home. Don’t drink more.”

Releasing Yeoreum’s waist, Tae-seok warned her.

“Contract relationship. If you’re going to do it, do it properly. If you keep tempting, I’ll really die.”

“When did I try to tempt you?”

“Every moment.”

Then he whispered in Yeoreum’s ear.

“I won’t easily put you to sleep tonight, so be prepared.”

However, the terrace did not end at the left corner but continued to follow the ‘ㄱ’ shape around the building. Because it was night and the visibility was reduced, Tae-seok did not fully grasp the structure, and Yeoreum was too preoccupied to look around.

The shadow hiding at the corner where the terrace bent suddenly stood up.

As if unable to believe it, the shadow blinked its eyes, then soon regained its composure and slapped its cheek twice. He also shook his head vigorously.

“What did I just hear?”

Unbelievable, but had to believe. Seo Tae-seok and Choi Yeoreum were secretly dating. It was the worst news among the recent rumors.

“What is all this? Seriously.”

The shadow’s face twisted with despair. It was Ji-hyuk.