“Are you crazy? Put it on! What if someone sees?”

“It’s 1 AM now.”

“Still! What if we get caught?”

“Let’s kiss under that streetlamp over there. Yeoreum.”

‘If we get caught, we get caught, what can we do?’ Taeseok muttered carelessly and stopped in front of an orange-lit lamp near the pond. Orange snowflakes gently floated around in every direction. Taeseok also took off Yeoreum’s padding hood.

“This is what memories are made of, future drama writer.”

“But still.”

“Who knows, we might come to a place like this for shooting someday.”

“Oppa, still be careful…”

“I’m crazy about you, Yeoreum. Can’t be careful at all.”

“Don’t say that! Someone might hear.”

“Don’t be so pretty then.”

His lips, hot enough to melt the snow piled on their shoulders, touched hers. His body burned with passion, and his breath did not hide its desire. Taeseok was unrestrained in everything.

The streetlight flickered irregularly as if it was broken. Every flicker made Yeoreum’s heart drop to the floor.

“Wrap your arms around my waist, Yeoreum.”

A drunken couple staggered towards them, but seeing them as just another intoxicated couple kissing, they giggled and passed by.

It was a night when orange snowflakes piled up in her heart too.

“Writer Yeoreum! You’re early today!”

Yeoreum was brought back to reality by a staff member’s greeting. She raised her head and greeted them brightly.

“Hello. I came early to see Young.”

“Ah! Young is over there, on the right end.”

“Thank you.”

Even though they lived under the same roof, she hardly saw Taeseok once the shooting started. Yeoreum deliberately ignored Taeseok’s probable presence nearby and walked towards Young.

The blush of that drunken night still heated her face. She couldn’t contact him for three days because she simply couldn’t come up with an excuse for her behavior.

She was sure that Taeseok would use that mistake to start some trouble, but she felt utterly defenseless to counter it.

For now, Taeseok wasn’t near Young. It was a relief. Instead, Ji-hyeok was there.
The two were busy practicing their lines. Yeoreum quietly approached and stood nearby.

“Eh. Try it again. More wistfully.”

As Ji-hyeok, playing the role of an acting senior, gave his advice, Young nodded with a slightly flushed face.

“Min-jun, I’ve thought about you a lot too. Like this feeling?”

“Better than before.”

Ji-hyeok began to unbutton his shirt, perhaps needing to change his costume.

Young’s face flushed at the sight. It was obvious he was wearing another shirt underneath, but still. Yeoreum chuckled at Young’s embarrassed expression, inadvertently drawing everyone’s attention.

“Unni!”

“Noona. When did you get here?”

While exchanging warm greetings, dozens of cameras and filming equipment bustled past. The reality of the shoot finally hit Yeoreum. Even though she wasn’t an actor, the sight of the cameras made her feel a vague sense of excitement.

Though it was nothing compared to the pressure the actors must feel.

“The shooting atmosphere seems nice.”

“It is.”

Young replied with a smile.

“Getting along with Luda too?”

“Well, we haven’t clashed yet.”

“Try to get along. It’s been two years since the disbandment.”

Young shrugged and continued.

“They have a group chat without me. Even now, they do it openly. Why should I bother with people like that? What do I lack?”

The cracks had started long ago, though the exact time was hard to pinpoint.

Whether out of jealousy for Young being the most popular in the team, resentment toward the agency that only revolved around Young, or maybe both, the other members ostracized her.

Separate gatherings, different salons, even recording separately. They once even changed the choreography without telling her.

Knowing that such feelings wouldn’t resolve overnight, Yeoreum didn’t press further. After a brief exchange, Young stepped away for makeup.

As Yeoreum pondered what to do next, still awaiting the director’s arrival, Ji-hyeok approached her.

“Noona, I need to get makeup done.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“No, I mean…”

Ji-hyeok suddenly leaned into Yeoreum’s view, grinning.

“My stylist isn’t here today, so could you help me with makeup?”

“Me?”

Yeoreum’s eyes widened.

“I can barely do my own makeup, let alone…”

“Eh? Noona, when you widen your eyes like that, you look just like my house’s puppy.”

Ji-hyeok pointed at Yeoreum’s forehead, laughing. This guy, why was he so easily amused?

“What? Are you saying I look like a dog?”

Yeoreum tried to fake anger, but ended up laughing along.

Some people have a knack for making others laugh, and Cheon Ji-hyeok was one of them. He wasn’t just nice to Yeoreum but to almost everyone. His unbiased and bright nature was sometimes enviable.

“Puppy? Why puppy? Just call it a cute little dog.”

As Ji-hyeok casually fixed Yeoreum’s disheveled bangs, a leaf fell from above and fluttered away. It was one of those ordinary moments.

However, to Taeseok, who had just arrived, the scene looked anything but ordinary. As soon as he arrived, he saw the two of them together.

‘Yeoreum has lost her mind.’

Lately, he had been so busy that he could barely sleep two hours a day, and even in those few hours, he couldn’t escape from dreams about Yeoreum. And there she was, right in front of him, flipping his insides upside down.

Had she come out here to flirt with another guy?

With a scowl, Taeseok strode towards them.