Yoon Do-yeong instinctively averted his gaze, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.
“What’s got you so curious?”
“Wouldn’t you be? If your best friend got a partner, wouldn’t you be dying to know? Don’t tell me you wouldn’t care if I started dating someone.”
“Drop it.”
The firm tone made Do-yeong’s lips twitch—a telltale sign of his displeasure. Kang Hyeon, who’d been watching him closely in the rearview mirror, started the car again. He knew how obsessively persistent Do-yeong could be once he fixated on something, but he hadn’t expected this level of interest when it came to his love life. Then again, maybe it wasn’t really about a partner—it could be that all this curiosity was just another way of being interested in him.
That possibility softened Kang Hyeon’s expression against his will, the corners of his mouth easing into a faint smile and his eyes gently crinkling.
The fluttering emotion rising inside him didn’t match the cold silence in the car. Even when they reached a quieter part of the road with sparse foot traffic, Kang Hyeon didn’t stop the car. He passed right by a bus stop that would’ve taken him back to the café.
He knew they’d have to go their separate ways eventually, but his hands stayed gripped on the wheel.
Their eyes met again in the rearview mirror. Yoon Do-yeong, who had sat in the back as if it were only natural, opened his mouth.
“When it’s time to introduce someone, you’ll be the first to know.”
“It’s Ga-yeong noona, isn’t it?”
“It’s not.”
Kang Hyeon answered firmly. Do-yeong’s lips twitched again.
“Enough.”
As expected, Do-yeong, who never let go once he latched onto something, looked ready to dig until he got answers. Kang Hyeon narrowed his eyes. His sharp monolids made his stare even icier, more intimidating. Finally, Do-yeong backed off, slumping in the seat, tapping his thigh absentmindedly with his fingers.
Silence settled over the car. No music, no conversation—just the tension between them hanging in the air like a dense fog.
Kang Hyeon tried to ignore it but ended up glancing at the rearview mirror again.
Yoon Do-yeong had his head leaned against the window, silently watching Kang Hyeon’s profile as he drove. The hurt in his eyes didn’t fade until they were nearing his neighborhood.
As always, Do-yeong was the one to break the silence. He didn’t like staying upset for long.
“The role’s supposed to be a rich family’s youngest son, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Costumes all sorted?”
“The stylist said she’d take care of it.”
As soon as the topic shifted, conversation flowed easily again, and Do-yeong felt relieved. When Kang Hyeon was really angry, he wouldn’t talk at all. Instead, he’d set boundaries:
“Let’s rest for an hour.”
“Let’s talk after tea.”
“I’ll call you after I get ready for bed.”
Whenever he said things like that, Do-yeong would instinctively back down and obey. Recently, he’d realized why he always gave in—and that realization had made him uneasy.
Still, something brightened in his mind, and his face lit up. His eyes sparkled.
Kang Hyeon noticed the sudden shift and let out a soft snort.
By now, they had entered a high-end residential area. The car wove between walled homes and finally pulled into a gated private garage.
Inside the spacious lot—big enough for twelve cars—were a sports car, a foreign luxury sedan, and three mid-sized vehicles, probably used by staff.
They parked smoothly and climbed the stairs. The garden, despite being in the dead of winter, was pristine. The stone path leading to the house looked long as ever.
The moment they stepped inside the two-story home, the smell of samgyetang filled the air.
Before he could even take his shoes off, the old family dog, Jinny, rushed to greet him.
Do-yeong scooped the medium-sized dog up and headed to the kitchen.
There, a middle-aged housekeeper greeted them with a beaming smile, ladle in hand.
“Oh, perfect timing. The samgyetang you asked for is ready.”
The woman—clearly someone Kang Hyeon hadn’t met before—looked curiously at him standing behind Do-yeong.
“Who’s this? A friend?”
“He’s an actor.”
“Oooh~ Yeah? What’s he been in? Dramas? Movies?”
“Could you help set the table, please?”
Smiling, Do-yeong guided Kang Hyeon to the dining table.
“So that’s why you told her to make two chickens—for a guest.”
The woman, generous and warm, laid out the meal and asked a few questions.
Do-yeong responded with only smiles, while Kang Hyeon replied politely in short sentences, just enough to avoid making things awkward.
“We’ll clean up after. You can head home.”
At his words, the woman removed her apron and slowly stepped out of the kitchen.
Kang Hyeon eyed the steaming samgyetang, then glanced at Do-yeong.
It was too obvious. The perfectly timed dish. The old woman’s comments. He didn’t need an explanation to figure out the intent.
Even back at the café, when he’d claimed chest pain and slipped into the back seat—it wasn’t that he couldn’t drive. He’d dragged Kang Hyeon along as his personal chauffeur for this.
When he gave Do-yeong a long, knowing stare, the latter scratched his head sheepishly and pulled out a chair for him.
“You had to eat dinner anyway.”
“I have a shift at the café.”
“You can eat before you go.”
Grinning like it was obvious, Do-yeong started tapping on his phone while sipping the soup.
“Noona says you don’t have to come. Ji-gyeong’s doing so well, she’s practically in love. Let’s run more lines together instead.”
At that, Kang Hyeon picked up his spoon.
The thick chicken broth shimmered with glutinous rice, big ginseng roots, plump red jujubes, and golden chestnuts nestled in the chicken’s cavity. Just one spoonful of that nutritious soup made him sigh in delight.
“Wow… this is amazing.”
“Right? She’s a fantastic cook.”
Do-yeong pushed a plate of abalone in soy sauce toward him.
“…She’s not the same one from before, is she?”
“No. She’s changing again soon.”
“Why?”
“She’s too interested in me.”
“Yeah, I got that vibe.”
As an actor who had to protect his privacy, an overly friendly housekeeper could become a liability. Especially now, with his dramas blowing up, the stakes were higher.
While sipping his soup, Kang Hyeon’s phone rang.
“Hey, Ji-gyeong.”
—Hyung, you’re not coming back?
There was a trace of sulkiness in her voice. His mouth moved before his brain could stop it, guilt hitting him late. He’d forgotten she was covering for him.
“I’m on my way. By the way, what flavor of ice cream do you want?”
—Something sherbet-y!
“Got it.”
Suddenly, Do-yeong leaned in and raised his voice.
“I already sent a delivery. Hope you enjoy it!”
Confused, Kang Hyeon looked over. Do-yeong was holding up his phone screen.
A massive order from a specialty ice cream shop—every flavor imaginable. Paid in full.
Speechless, Kang Hyeon took a moment before lifting the phone again.
“Ji-gyeong, Do-yeong just sent enough ice cream for everyone at the café. Enjoy it, okay?”
—Huh? Why would I eat his? I don’t want it!
The bluntness made Kang Hyeon jump in.
“I’ll treat you to something nice next time, Ji-gyeong.”
—When are you coming? I came to see you. I was gonna have dinner with you, remember?
Embarrassment flickered across his face. When he glanced at Do-yeong, the guy was smiling on the outside, but his eyes were far from happy.
Do-yeong wordlessly pulled off a drumstick, dropped it in Kang Hyeon’s bowl, added a chunk of ginseng, then scooped up a pile of glutinous rice from the chicken’s belly and ladled broth over it.
“I’m eating dinner here, Ji-gyeong.”
Do-yeong’s face lit up—until Kang Hyeon added:
“I’ll call you when I leave. Come to my place. Let’s have a beer.”
—Soju!
“Sure.”
As soon as the call ended, Do-yeong snapped. His voice was sharp, emotions leaking all over.
“Are you dating Ji-gyeong?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Then what’s more important? Running lines with me, or drinking with him? I have a flight to catch soon. You seriously can’t spend even two hours with me? Even when you know I won’t be back for a whole month?”
“I didn’t know you were gone that long.”
“You did. You said so at the café. You knew my schedule.”
“My manager only mentioned an early flight. So why are you there for a month?”
“The early flight’s for the staff. I’m going with my grandfather. Why is it you always know just the bare minimum about me? It’s a family trip and I’m also doing a cameo in Director Ji Seok-woo’s movie. That’s why it’s a month.”
His voice dripped with frustration.
“So what are you trying to say?”
“It hurts that you won’t give me even a few hours.”
It sounded like a petty excuse—but it was sincere.
“You’ve got someone now. It’s not like we’ll have time to hang out anymore.”
“…”
“But you’re inviting him to your place? I’ve never even had a drink at your house. We always go to bars.”
“…”
Kang Hyeon was at a loss. He slowly put down his spoon.
“What, you done? You barely ate. Finish it.”
“Just wait.”
He ran a hand down his face, sighing.
“We’re eating…”
“Just five minutes.”
Kang Hyeon answered firmly and shut his eyes, trying to calm the slight tremble in his chest.
Do-yeong’s words rang in his head like an echo: Stay with me a bit longer. You never make time for me anymore. Why do you drink with him but not me?
His heart thumped. His fingertips tingled. His whole body flushed at that jealous, petty tone.
The way Do-yeong acted—like someone envious—melted something inside him, sweet and fluffy like cotton candy.
And it made him greedy.
It made him want more.
Made him want to laugh at how cute it was.
There was only one reason he’d never invited Do-yeong to drink at his place.
Because he knew he couldn’t handle it.
Because he was afraid he’d confess—drunk or not.
Even eating like this, just the two of them, was already hard.
This samgyetang… this wasn’t just dinner. This was a gesture. A message. And that message stirred expectations he couldn’t afford to have.
Among the handful of people he felt truly comfortable around, Do-yeong was the one who cared the most.
That care…
That kindness…
It was confusing.
It was dangerous.
Because here he was, falling into fantasies and delusions alone.
Feeling excited, jealous, ashamed.
He clenched his teeth to push the feelings down.
tok tok tok—The sound of fingers tapping on the table.
He opened his eyes.
Do-yeong pointed at his phone.
Five minutes were up.
With a light sigh, Kang Hyeon opened his mouth to speak…
