Her answer hit him like a gut punch. His heart plummeted, and the coffee cup in his hand trembled slightly, enough that some of the drink sloshed over the rim. He calmly dabbed it with a napkin and set the cup down, but a soft groan slipped out of him before he could suppress it—his chest ached.
Baek Ga-yeong’s voice came, laced with concern.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Ah… yeah, a bit.”
“Shouldn’t you be resting at home? You came out because of me, didn’t you?”
“No, no. I felt fine earlier, but… it hurts more than I thought.”
His words grew slower, softer. Breathing felt tight, so he drew in air on purpose and looked at her again.
She was thirty-two, though she could easily pass for mid-twenties at a glance. But the way she spoke and carried herself had the polish of someone much more experienced. As the eldest of four siblings, she had a reputation for taking good care of both her peers and juniors, and even managed to keep her seniors in good graces. Everyone liked her. Kang Hyeon, in particular, followed her around like a duckling.
Yoon Do-yeong’s lips quivered slightly. An ordinary person who’d naturally become his lover—just like Hyeon said. They’d known each other for nearly ten years. That was probably how they’d ended up booking a hotel just one month into dating. But with so many mutual acquaintances tangled in between, they couldn’t exactly go public, could they?
“…It wasn’t with your boyfriend, was it?”
He asked playfully. Her hands clenched into fists, as if steeling herself.
“I’m going to get one this year.”
“…”
“Goal is to escape singlehood. I’m gonna strut down the street arm-in-arm with some guy—bold as hell.”
“You can’t.”
The words slipped out before his brain could catch them. Baek Ga-yeong arched a brow.
“Why not?”
“…Because I’m going to beat you to it.”
He tossed out the joke, trying to play it cool. She snorted.
“Yoon Do-yeong. You do realize if a scandal breaks, your value tanks, right? Do it under the radar, will you?”
She smiled with crinkled eyes. He cut straight to the point.
“Noona, are you dating Hyeon?”
“What?”
“I mean… I heard Hyeon’s seeing someone, and I thought—maybe it’s you.”
His fingers tapped the coffee cup anxiously. She chuckled like it was ridiculous, her eyes sparkling.
“Hyeon said that? That he’s dating me? That he likes me?”
“No, no. He didn’t say who it was.”
“Really…?”
Ga-yeong took a sip of coffee, savoring it slowly. She glanced at Do-yeong, then set her cup down. Tearing off a bite of cake, she chewed thoughtfully before smiling again.
“Does it really matter who Hyeon’s dating?”
“…Of course it’s curious.”
“He’ll tell you when he’s ready.”
“It’s you, isn’t it?”
“Nope.”
Her firm denial made Yoon Do-yeong chuckle awkwardly. She’d mentioned a part-timer coming in the afternoon, so maybe it was that person. He glanced at the clock. She’d said they switched shifts around six, so there was still time.
That’s when her voice rang out, bright and teasing.
“But if he asked me out, I might say yes.”
“You like him?”
His question came out like a counterattack. She tilted her head, lips curling into a mischievous smile.
“You do know you’re overreacting right now, don’t you?”
Hit straight in the gut, he blinked but said nothing. Ga-yeong lifted her cup again, eyes serious.
“You can’t just blurt questions like that without thinking. I’ve told you before—you’re reckless. If it’s not acting, you can’t hide your emotions at all. Seriously, never go on a variety show. Got it?”
“…I just thought we were close, but when he wouldn’t tell me anything…”
“If you’re really close, then you support whoever he’s dating. You wish them happiness. You don’t go around digging.”
“You’re really not the one?”
“What if I am? Then what?”
Just then, they both heard movement behind them.
“What’s going on?”
The familiar male voice made them turn. Lee Ji-gyeong strolled over, waving casually.
“Hey, Do-yeong hyung.”
“You gonna ignore me now?”
“Hi, noona. You look great today.”
“It’s an apron.”
“Exactly. You make aprons look classy.”
“You come through the back door or something?”
“Nope, front. One of the staff let me in.”
Ji-gyeong pulled out a chair and plopped down, shoveling a huge spoonful of cake into his mouth. Yoon Do-yeong watched the two of them—struck by how close they seemed now, despite only meeting while he was filming.
“What were you two talking about so seriously?”
“I’m thinking of having a little fling with Hyeon.”
“Noona, have you lost your mind?!”
“Lee Ji-gyeong, watch your mouth. Lost your mind? Really?”
“Why’re you going after a younger guy? He’s way too young for you.”
“You clearly don’t know this, but a four-year age gap doesn’t even count. I’ve got the looks, the skills. What’s the problem?”
“No way. Hyeon hyung’s too nice. He’d get steamrolled by someone like you.”
“That’s fine. I’ll coddle and dote on him and make him feel all special.”
“I do that too! Stop flirting with him and go for an older guy. Someone dependable and mature.”
Watching them bicker, Do-yeong’s face stiffened. There was no good moment to butt in, and the way they talked so casually—like they’d known each other for ages—made it clear: she was closer to Ji-gyeong than she was to him. Sure enough, Ji-gyeong even picked up Ga-yeong’s coffee and took a sip without asking. Feeling out of place, Do-yeong just kept smiling awkwardly as Ga-yeong looked at Ji-gyeong like he was the cutest thing in the world.
“What if Hyeon says he likes me?”
“Then I’ll follow him around like a fanboy and block him with lunchboxes.”
“Alright, alright. No laser beams out of your eyes—just text Hyeon and see if he’s done.”
At her instruction, Ji-gyeong pulled out his phone and sent a message. Curious, Do-yeong snuck a glance at the screen.
[Hyung, I miss you~]
[Just finished]
As soon as he got the reply, Ji-gyeong hit the call button and switched to speakerphone, his voice turning syrupy.
“Hyuuung, I’m at the café. Noona’s saying all kinds of crazy stuff. You need to get here fast.”
–Like what?
“She said she wants to have a fling with you! I told her no way.”
–Good job.
“See, noona? You heard that, right? Hyeon hyung’s not interested in you.”
“You little brats.”
As the group burst into chatter, Do-yeong leaned forward toward the phone.
“Hyeon, I’m here too.”
–Why?
“Wanted to see both you and noona. But I came alone, and now I can’t get out.”
–Call your manager.
“He’ll just nag me all day if I do.”
–I’ll come quickly.
“Okay. Be careful.”
–You want anything?
“What’s around?”
–Fish-shaped pastries. Fish cakes.
“Bungeoppang.”
“I want ice cream!”
–What about noona?
“Just come. We’ll order food.”
The chaos of three people talking over each other echoed from the phone. On the other end, Kang Hyeon calmly listened as he walked toward a small bungeoppang stall near the production office’s bus stop. He tucked the script into his crossbody bag, then ordered a mix of custard and red bean-filled pastries.
While he waited, an older man sidled up next to him.
“Hyeon, long time no see.”
The man’s face felt oddly familiar. Hyeon bowed instinctively.
“You were so tiny back then. Look at you now.”
With a warm smile, the man patted Hyeon on the shoulder and ordered his own bungeoppang. As he studied him more closely, Hyeon finally placed him—one of the crew members from his childhood sets. The man used to help with everything behind the scenes, constantly in motion. Now, years later, he looked like any other middle-aged neighborhood uncle.
A smile broke across Hyeon’s face.
“Oh, sir! Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
“I thought you quit acting, but I guess not?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a supporting role in a web drama right now. What brings you here?”
“I’m Hyun-sook’s manager. Stopped by for a casting meeting.”
“Hyun-sook… You mean Lee Hyun-sook sunbae?”
“When did she go from noona to sunbae-nim? Time really flies, huh.”
The man chuckled fondly. She’d been a fresh-faced adult actress when he was still a child actor—they’d starred together in a kids’ show, where she’d played the teacher.
“You’re still her manager? That’s over twenty years, isn’t it?”
“Yep. That’s about right.”
He grabbed his bag of bungeoppang and started to walk.
“My car’s over there. Where you headed? If it’s the subway, hop in.”
“Thank you.”
Hyeon hugged the bag to his chest and followed him. As he went to sit in the passenger seat, he noticed a small box of earrings and picked it up.
“Oh, you can take those if you’ve got someone to give them to. They’re freebies. Too cutesy for Hyun-sook.”
“It’s okay, really.”
“They’re just plated. Super lightweight, young ladies’ stuff. We don’t have any young actresses, so we’ve got no use for them.”
He handed over a business card—Goo Seong-do, CEO of Mpia.
“If you hear of anyone looking for a middle-aged actor, give me a call, alright?”
Before Hyeon could even wonder what help he could possibly be, the man added,
“Hyun-sook takes whatever she can get—lead, supporting, cameo. And she nails it in one take. No NGs.”
“I’m not a casting director, though.”
Feeling a little awkward, he tried to clarify, but the man just laughed heartily.
“When someone puts in a good word at the right time, that’s a casting director. I saw you at the reading today. You nailed your character.”
“You were there?”
“Yeah. When you smile with your eyes, try shifting your gaze outward just a bit—it’ll make you look more mischievous.”
“Ah…”
Amazed by the detail he’d noticed, Hyeon replayed the scene in his head just as the car came to a stop.
“Drop by if you have time. I think Hyun-sook would love to see you.”
They’d arrived at the subway station. After saying goodbye and getting out, Hyeon realized he was still holding the earring box. Fingering the business card, he made a call.
–Yes, this is Goo Seong-do with Mpia.
“This is Kang Hyeon. I’ll be in touch and visit sometime soon.”
–Good, good. Get home safe. Oh, and loosen your shoulders a bit when you deliver lines—you look tense.
“Y-yes! Thank you so much.”
Grateful for the depth of advice, Hyeon’s chest swelled. He caught the subway and walked lightly toward the café. But the crowd gathered in front made him sigh deeply.
With no manager or bodyguard, how the hell was he supposed to get Do-yeong out of there?
At least Ji-gyeong was with him—that was a relief. He knocked on the door.
“Hyung!”
Ji-gyeong flung it open and threw his arms around him. Hyeon instinctively recoiled and pushed him off with one arm.
“Bungeoppang.”
“Huh?”
He pulled out the bag and patted Ji-gyeong’s arm apologetically. Ji-gyeong pouted.
“What about my ice cream?”
“I’ll get it later. Noona, I’m here.”
He passed Ji-gyeong and walked up to Ga-yeong, holding out the earring box. She frowned playfully.
“I thought we weren’t having a fling?”
“Right.”
“Then what’s this gift for?”
“Found it on the way here.”
He handed over the bungeoppang to Yoon Do-yeong, who took it without hesitation. But his gaze was locked on the earrings Hyeon had given to Baek Ga-yeong.
