“Is that so?”
Kang Hyeon chuckled like it was nothing, then glanced through the car window at Lee Hyun-sook approaching in the distance before continuing.
“What are you doing for dinner tonight?”
—”I’ve got a dinner meeting with some of my father’s associates.”
“Ah…”
—”There’s a first-term lawmaker who apparently participated in stock manipulation through a borrowed-name account. The article about him is dropping soon.”
“…Does that affect you?”
—”Not really. It’s my dad’s party, so I guess it’s a big deal for them.”
“Then why are you going to the dinner?”
—”I used to think politics didn’t have much to do with me. But I realized I should at least understand how things work. If you stir the pot without thinking, it just gets buried.”
“I don’t follow.”
A low chuckle came from the other end of the line.
—”Yeongsan Semiconductor’s getting hit with a tax audit this afternoon.”
“A corporate scandal, huh?”
—”Yeah… Looks like the chairman’s been sponsoring a celebrity. Once that sponsorship’s cut off, that celeb’ll probably go hunting for a new one.”
The word sponsor brought Ji-gyeong to mind, and a pang of unease stirred in Kang Hyeon.
“I’m not interested in that kind of gossip.”
—”Did that offend you?”
“Yeah, don’t talk about that.”
—”Alright. I get it. Knowing what really goes on behind those sponsorships—it disgusts me too.”
“…”
—”That aside, celebrities really need to watch what they say and do. Gotta be extra cautious. Never go to sketchy places or anywhere that can’t be disclosed publicly. And right now? Clubs are a no-go.”
“I’m not going.”
—”Good. So, what about dinner?”
Yoon Do-yeong’s tone turned playful, stretching out his words like he was in a good mood. It made Kang Hyeon smile without meaning to.
“I was gonna ask you to eat with me.”
—”Let’s do lunch instead.”
Hearing the happiness in Do-yeong’s voice, Kang Hyeon couldn’t help sounding a little disappointed.
“Director Yoo wants to meet me at Mpia.”
—”I’ll come too.”
“Uh… Hang on.”
Just then, Lee Hyun-sook got into the passenger seat. Kang Hyeon quickly turned to her.
“Do-yeong wants to join us for lunch too.”
“Tell him to come. The more guests in the love room, the better. I’ll let Director Yoo know.”
She spoke casually, then leaned her seat back and let out a small yawn—clearly tired from the early shoot. Watching her quietly, Kang Hyeon started the engine and spoke into the phone.
“Head over now.”
—”Okay. See you soon.”
Kang Hyeon ended the call with a soft laugh and drove toward Mpia. When they arrived, CEO Goo Seong-do was chatting with Chief Choi upstairs. Oh I-seul, holding sheets of A4 paper, was seated close beside Yoon Do-yeong, explaining something with intensity. Director Yoo Ji-ha had been sketching storyboards but paused to make space for Kang Hyeon when he saw him.
Lee Hyun-sook, upon noticing the ignored jokbal (pig’s trotters) delivery and a pile of snack boxes from who-knows-where, muttered as she laid the food out on the table.
“Aww… Let’s eat first.”
She called everyone down from the second floor, and a chaotic but lively meal began. As always, Kang Hyeon scooped out some tteokbokki sauce and passed it to Do-yeong. Oh I-seul observed this routine without comment, while Do-yeong silently slid the jokbal platter toward Kang Hyeon in return.
Director Yoo, his mouth full of food, glanced between Lee Hyun-sook and CEO Goo.
“You find a place yet, noona?”
“Nowhere’s available for immediate move-in. I signed for a place, but it’s a two-week wait.”
When Goo answered, Director Yoo started wrapping some jokbal in lettuce.
“So you’ll be living in the office for now?”
“Yep. Which means the Mpia Love Room is closed for the next two weeks~.”
Both Goo and Director Yoo grumbled at her words.
“What’s that about? Just stay quiet and it’ll be fine.”
“Ugh… Two weeks is a long time.”
Then Yoon Do-yeong chimed in, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“In that case, why not just stay at a hotel?”
“Aww… Where would I get the money?”
“I have a hotel I use as both lodging and office with Chief Choi. You could stay there.”
He looked to Chief Choi, eyes asking him to smooth it over, and continued.
“I’m flying out again tomorrow, so I won’t be around for a few days. And Chief Choi’s usually at the agency anyway, so he rarely uses the room. If you’re okay with it, you could stay there, and we could just drop by here from time to time, make connections, gather some intel.”
He emphasized from time to time and looked meaningfully at Chief Choi, who didn’t bat an eye. He simply briefed CEO Goo on Yoon Do-yeong’s schedule and mentioned that due to some private family business, Do-yeong hadn’t been going to the hotel much lately.
Do-yeong smiled in satisfaction and looked to Lee Hyun-sook, who seemed unsure, as if waiting for Goo’s verdict.
“Noona, don’t overthink it. Every time I try to give something to Hyeon, he reacts the same way. Makes me feel unnecessarily guilty.”
“…How does he react?”
“Like it’s burdensome and awkward.”
All eyes turned to Kang Hyeon, who was pouring more tteokbokki sauce into Do-yeong’s cup. Flustered, he smiled awkwardly. Do-yeong stared right at him, dipping some soondae into the sauce.
“Even giving a birthday gift feels like I’m walking on eggshells.”
“You’re friends. Just take the gift and be happy.”
Director Yoo waved a hand like Do-yeong was being dramatic and stuffed some jokbal into his mouth. Do-yeong was smiling, but the smile froze the moment Director Yoo added,
“As long as it’s not too expensive.”
“You heard that.”
Kang Hyeon took the opportunity to drop the line with a pointed look. Do-yeong’s smile vanished as he shot him a look, silently begging him not to say more.
“Hyeon-ah, can we not do this? Aren’t you sick of it?”
“You stop.”
“…”
“Answer me.”
Do-yeong clamped his mouth shut. After a pause, he turned to Lee Hyun-sook.
“Noona, do you feel uncomfortable about the hotel offer?”
“…”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken up like that. Let’s just forget it.”
“Yoon Do-yeong.”
Kang Hyeon called out, exasperated. But Do-yeong put on an innocent expression.
“What? If it’s uncomfortable or burdensome, then it’s wrong to push it.”
“This isn’t the same.”
“Money’s money.”
“…”
“Isn’t the heart behind it what matters?”
His gaze sharpened as he asked, and Kang Hyeon reluctantly answered.
“…Yeah.”
Oh I-seul, who’d been following the exchange, asked curiously.
“What exactly did you gift him?”
“A couple outfits and a watch.”
Do-yeong said it casually, and everyone reacted with polite indifference. But it wasn’t just any clothing or watch, and Kang Hyeon kept quiet, not wanting to seem like he was dragging up old arguments. Watching this, Chief Choi glanced at the time mid-conversation with CEO Goo.
“Do-yeong, we’ve got to leave now.”
“Already?”
Do-yeong sounded disappointed, but turned to Lee Hyun-sook with a smile.
“Noona, come with us. I’ll drop you at the hotel.”
“Are you sure? Thanks so much, Do-yeong.”
“Thank you, Do-yeong-ssi. I’ll head out too.”
When Goo looked ready to follow, Lee Hyun-sook waved her hands.
“What, am I parading men into a hotel now? Just drop me off in the lobby—I’ll take care of the rest.”
She popped a piece of jokbal into her mouth, grabbed her suitcase from beside the pile of clothes, and followed Do-yeong out. Everyone saw them off, and once she was the last to leave, a hush fell over the room. Director Yoo’s face lit up.
“She’s gone. Soju!”
“There’s a box of it behind that pile of clothes.”
CEO Goo immediately pulled out a hidden bottle of Kaoliang from a cupboard while Director Yoo and Oh I-seul retrieved a soju case buried under the clothing heap.
“Call everyone!”
Seizing the moment, they turned the lunch into a drinking party. All three made calls, and Oh I-seul, clearly experienced, brought out paper cups and snacks. Still reeling, Kang Hyeon accepted the shot Director Yoo poured him.
It seemed they hadn’t been drinking while Hyun-sook was around. Now, like wild horses let loose, they passed the bottles around, talking and laughing non-stop.
Kang Hyeon quietly listened and kept their glasses full. Soon, a few film staff and the sound director arrived. As more people joined in, the once-cozy room swelled to eight people, leaving no space to move.
With people rotating in and out, the party stretched on until 11 p.m., and Kang Hyeon couldn’t leave. CEO Goo kept introducing him to the newcomers, including a casting director, which meant he had to stay and play the part.
Late into the night, after putting Oh I-seul in a taxi, Kang Hyeon stopped by a convenience store to buy more drinks. As he returned to the Mpia building, a familiar refined classical ringtone echoed from his pocket.
“Oh, Do-yeong.”
—”Where are you?”
“Still at Mpia.”
—”Why?”
“A drinking party broke out. People keep coming and going—even a network PD showed up.”
—”Wow… Hyun-sook noona called it.”
“What do you mean?”
—”She said the moment she leaves, they’d throw a booze fest.”
“Yeah, pretty much… Did she get to the hotel okay?”
—”She did.”
“You… booked that hotel on purpose, didn’t you?”
—”Was it that obvious?”
At Do-yeong’s candid reply, Kang Hyeon stared up at the sky from the officetel parking lot.
“Well… kind of? It’s clear you want to get close to the Mpia crew. Even the way you answered Oh I-seul-nim so seriously—it shows. That’s not usually your style.”
The alcohol buzz made everything hazy, and Do-yeong’s voice came through even sweeter than usual.
—”When will the party end?”
“Hmm… I was thinking of heading out with whoever leaves first.”
—”So, past midnight then.”
Do-yeong sighed, clearly disappointed, and Kang Hyeon frowned.
“Why?”
—”Can’t sleep.”
“…Why not?”
—”Remember that personal issue I mentioned? It’s more mentally draining than I thought.”
“Things not going well?”
—”It’s taking time. It’s not something I can rush, but it’s wearing on me. You know that feeling? When you’re dead tired but your mind’s razor sharp? Like every nerve is on edge. I’m thinking of taking something to knock me out.”
“…Are you in bed now?”
—”Yeah, I’ve been lying down for a while.”
As his reply ended, Kang Hyeon half-closed his eyes and began humming a tune. A soft, low melody rippled quietly into the night.
Feeling a strange gaze, he turned—Director Yoo was staring at him, eyes wide.
