After listening to Naeun’s story, it seemed that the revision of was also at a standstill.

Woojin’s approach was like saying that if they were going to impose a penalty, they should.

Although things became awkward in the middle, she didn’t seem to care much about the fact that Sooyoung would no longer come to his house.

“Good job. Are you still not going to Woojin’s house today?”

Offering a cup of tea to Sooyoung, who had come to the office after finishing the recording, Jihyun asked kindly.

“I’m going to call and talk when I get home. You still don’t eat well?”

When Sooyoung asked with a worried expression, Jihyun smiled bitterly instead of answering.

Sooyoung considered just going and eating a meal, but she didn’t want to.

Although it seemed too cold, this time felt crucial somehow.

“Thank you for reading a book to me every night. It seems that my mother doesn’t oppose that.”

In response to Jihyun’s words, Sooyoung replied calmly.

“My mom is often not there at that time. She’s always working late. On the days when she comes in early, she mostly sleeps…”

“Ah, I see…”
Fortunately, I felt relieved.

I couldn’t go outside again, but at least my relationship with her wasn’t completely severed.

That alone would allow Woojin to catch his breath.

Naeun bought two lunches from the lunchbox shop Woojin used to like in front of his old school and headed to his house.

It was supposed to be a lunch together.

After knocking for a long time, Woojin, who opened the front door, had only large eyes flashing in his narrow face.

“Were you writing?”

Even though she thought there was no way, Naeun still opened the door, and Woojin’s face, which had been hopeful, turned disappointed when he saw it wasn’t Sooyoung. However, Naeun ignored it and headed to the kitchen.

“Haven’t you eaten lunch? I bought a lunch from the lunchbox shop you used to like. Do you know that the lunchbox shop is still there?”

While Naeun set up the lunchboxes on the dining table, Woojin was silent, looking down.

“Sit down. Let’s eat together.”

“… I’m not hungry.”

“Oppa worries. You starve all day and only eat a little when Oppa comes? How can you live without eating properly?”

“…”

“After eating, let’s take a walk together. The weather has improved today.”

At that moment, Woojin’s eyes suddenly began to gleam brightly. She met his eyes, which seemed to be filled with a liveliness she couldn’t quite place.

“…Don’t imitate her.”

With Woojin’s cold response, Naeun spoke in a subdued voice.

“What you did with her, do it with me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Is it because her mom opposes it? You knew I would too, right?”

“…What does it matter?”

“I can be with you. Different from her.”

“Replacing one for another? Do you want to be the replacement?”

“I was a pheasant. She was a chicken.”

“I’ve never been a pheasant.”

At Woojin’s firm words, Naeun tore the paper off a disposable chopstick rudely.

“She doesn’t know about you? She doesn’t even know whose hand you’re holding? Why you can’t see? How your dad passed away.”

“If she knows… What difference would it make?”

“Why didn’t you tell her? Because you didn’t want to let her know about you. Right? Even if we know each other well, let’s break up. But enjoying that moment without knowing each other well won’t last long.”

“Why do you care!”

As Woojin retorted, Naeun also shouted without holding back.

“Because I like it! Because I want to be by your side! So, what’s it to you!”

Wanting to say something back, Woojin turned his head and took a deep breath for a moment. Lately, he felt short of breath.

Maybe he’s losing strength because he doesn’t eat or exercise…

While he was catching his breath for a moment, he spoke calmly again, facing Naeun.

“I don’t have more than friendship feelings for you. The girl for me is Sooyoung.”

The disposable chopstick that was held in Naeun’s two hands bent as if it was going to break.

“I only… need Kim Sooyoung.”

“Does that child have the same feelings for you? Even if she has feelings for you, shouldn’t she come to you no matter how much her mom opposes? Does Jihyun oppa’s publishing house come every day? Then can’t he stop by once while coming and going?”

Upon her words, Woojin kept his mouth shut.
He had never not considered that possibility.

Really, he could stop by once in a while… or at least have a meal together… why…

“The child’s feelings… are not important. What’s important are my feelings.”

Woojin spoke while exhaling short breaths, then slowly turned away.

“Stop. Take the lunchbox with you. The smell of food waste is disgusting.”

Intentionally likening the lunchbox bought from the nostalgic lunchbox shop to food waste, when Naeun said this, the disposable chopsticks in her hand finally snapped.

Wondering what she said, Woojin turned his head slightly, and Naeun, stammering, said to him.

“A child who is easily swayed by her mom like that can’t stay by your side for long. It’s better to break up quickly if you’re going to break up.”

Upon hearing this, Woojin, leaving the kitchen, responded dryly.

“I’ll say it again, it’s none of your concern.”

That evening, Seol Ji-hyun heard a surprising statement from her younger brother.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Woojin answered with a blunt look when Ji-hyun kept asking, surprised.

But later, if there were no mistakes, Ji-hyun had to get a clear answer from her brother several times.

“Can you really record? No, more importantly, can you come here? No, not just coming, but you also need to practice pronunciation and intonation with the PD…”

“As long as I don’t touch, it’s fine. And don’t reveal that I’m Seol Yong at the publishing house.”

“Is it because you want to meet Ms. Sooyoung?”

When Ji-hyun asked, looking at his expression, Woojin remained silent for a moment and then answered slowly.

“If I can’t come to our house… I can go to her, right?”

“Seol Woojin…”

Hearing Ji-hyun’s voice trembling with excitement, Woojin scooped up rice with chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

Chewing diligently, he ate without knowing the taste. Chew, chew.