However, Summer opened her eyes the moment Jihyuk supported her.

“Umm.”

Jihyuk felt relieved, although his strength seemed to drain away. His heart, which had been standing on the edge of overflowing and saying too much, seemed to have found a safe level at last.

Whether it was relief or disappointment, he couldn’t tell, but the tension eased. Yeah, he couldn’t take her home without permission.

“Sorry. I fell asleep.”

“I’ll take you. Lean on me.”

“No. I can walk alone.”

As Summer stood up, she wobbled for a moment but soon resolutely picked up her bag and phone. Then, she headed towards the door. Jihyuk was impressed by her efforts to look quite normal.

Clang.

The sound of the door opening on the second floor echoed, and they headed down the narrow stairs. The back of the building was quite dark because there was no light.

The three of them relied on the flashlight on their phones. To start the car, Director Moon went down first. The car was right there as soon as they descended the stairs.

“Sister, be careful. It’s too dark here.”

“Yeah.”

Summer, who went down ahead of Jihyuk, said, grabbing the railing. It was a situation where Jihyuk was about to tell her not to hurry, to go down slowly.

“Oops!”

Suddenly, Summer stumbled forward and fell. After tumbling down a few steps, she landed on the floor with a thud. Startled, Director Moon jumped out of the car. Jihyuk quickly went down and shouted.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Ahh…”

Summer hastily picked up her bag and stood up.

“Go down slowly! Where does it hurt the most?”

Jihyuk took the bag from her and fussed over her, and Summer, who had already flushed from drinking, blushed even more.

“Author Choi Yeoreum! Are you okay?”

Director Moon asked with a helpless tone.

“Yes, yes. I’m okay…”

“Nuna, let’s go to the hospital! Are you badly hurt?”

“Jihyuk, I feel like I’m going to die right now.”

“Is it that painful?”

“No. It’s embarrassing!”

Then, Summer quickly snatched her bag back from Jihyuk’s hands. She seemed to be half crying and half laughing, covering her face with both hands.

“Really, it’s so embarrassing. Why am I like this?”

Then, she hastily got into Director Moon’s car. Jihyuk followed her with a bewildered expression.

In the car, her ankles gradually swelled. Whether it was from falling or twisting her ankle, the burning sensation increased. Summer felt awkward but tried not to show it. Not only had she fallen asleep, but she had also fallen and hurt herself. Truly, she wanted to find a hole to hide in.

‘I should take a warm bath as soon as I get home.’

After confessing her feelings about Taeseok, she had awkwardly drunk more alcohol, and as a result, she showed an immature side in front of her younger brother. She felt pathetic.

‘I wonder what Jihyuk thinks of me.’

Meanwhile, the car entered Summer’s apartment complex. Summer quickly said goodbye and got out of the car. However, the moment her foot touched the ground, a sharp pain came, and she let out a scream.
“Ah!”

“Sister, are you okay?”

Jihyuk exclaimed, springing up like a stretched spring. Summer held onto the car door, frowning.

Jihyuk lowered his gaze and looked at her ankle. Without hesitation, he bent down, and as he touched the area near the peach bone on her right ankle, the swollen foot felt so puffy that the bone was not easily distinguishable.

His voice carried concern.

“Are you trying to walk with this foot?”

“I’m going home to take a warm bath.”

With a stern expression, Jihyuk sent a disapproving look at Summer. After asking the manager to park nearby and wait for a moment, he extended his shoulder to Summer.

“Lean on me.”

“No. I’m okay…”

“I’ll lean on you, or you’ll fall.”

“…”

“Sister, this is not just a sprain; it hurts.”

Jihyuk took Summer’s bag, hung it over his left shoulder, and stretched out his right arm to pull Summer closer.

As the faint beats of a small heart became audible, blood boiled throughout his body. When he actually embraced her, she seemed small enough to be held with one arm.

“What’s up, sister?”

Looking down, he could see her eyelashes blinking softly. Confused hands, lips that exhaled air, and even her breath—Jihyuk threw away the bag, and for a moment, he fought the urge to hug her tightly with both arms.

What shampoo does she use? Perfume? Lotion? Or is it just the scent of Choi Yeoreum? The faint fragrance almost made him lose his composure.

Trying to regain his composure, Jihyuk, with a heavily composed expression, finally said, “Let’s try walking.”

“…Okay.”

“Sister, wrap your arm around my waist.”

“But if someone recognizes us…”

In the midst of this, it seemed that Choi Yeoreum was worried about that. Jihyuk didn’t see anything other than the fact that his reason was hanging by a thread.

“It’s past midnight, no one’s passing by Nuna’s apartment right now, and I’m almost incognito.”

From the hat to the mask and sunglasses. After glancing up at him for a moment, Summer nodded her head.