Chapter 8.2

As Jung Cho-ah clung to her, complaining once again about how unfair everything was, Su-eon ignored her and pulled out her phone. The stress from dealing with her boss, which extended into overtime, called for an emergency remedy. She opened Bubble, where several notifications had piled up, and scrolled through messages sent earlier in the afternoon by Gi-ha, a member of Black.  

<What are you doing? ㅎㅎ>  

<It’s Monday, are you holding up okay?>  

<I’m on my way to the radio station!>  

<Make sure to eat dinner, everyone!!>  

<I love you all, fighting ❤>  

Ah… This is why people become fans. This is what makes life worth living. Paradise on Earth was right here.  

As dopamine rushed through her veins, her previously exhausted face lit up with a glow. Escaping the harsh reality of the three-dimensional world, Su-eon found herself warmly welcomed into the perfect two-dimensional realm. Who needed to go outside? Living happily, forever trapped in this virtual paradise, was true happiness.  

Chuckling to herself, she carefully saved all the boyfriend-like pictures Gi-ha had uploaded. 

So wholesome, so warm. My baby worked out today and went to the radio station. He even ate a cone snack while waiting. I should buy a bag of cone snacks on my way home.  

Seeing Su-eon’s face transform from indifferent to radiant in an instant, Jung Cho-ah, who had been chewing on her straw, clicked her tongue. 

Ji Su-eon, a male idol fan? Seriously? 

It was always shocking because it didn’t match her appearance at all.  

“Hey, does Executive Director Ki know you’re a fan of Black?”  

The finger scrolling through her phone screen froze.  

“…There’s no need to share such trivial hobbies.”  

“So you’re hiding it.”  

“I just didn’t feel the need to mention it.”  

“That’s what hiding it means.”  

Jung Cho-ah scoffed. Su-eon, who didn’t even carry a single keyring reminiscent of an idol, was thoroughly hiding her male idol fandom at work. She was the epitome of a master at “idol concealment.”  

Her desk was filled with only standard office supplies, and the Black-themed head cushions, blankets, tumblers, and sticky notes she bought in bulk every Black Friday remained unopened, carefully tucked away in her fan merch box at home.  

The most she ever did was occasionally stick a Black sticker in the corner of her diary, and even that took a lot of deliberation. Jung Cho-ah found this frustrating. If you wanted to do something, just do it—why care so much about what others thought?  

“They say, ‘Do what makes you happy.’ If you’re going to be a fan, be a happy fan. It’s obvious just from looking at your phone.”  

“…No one knows yet. It’s not like anyone goes around snooping on other people’s phones.”  

“One day, it’ll all come crashing down. Instead of kicking yourself later, just open up a little. What if you’re at home wearing pajamas with Gi-ha’s face on them, and suddenly Executive Director Ki shows up?”  

Jung Cho-ah laughed at the thought of such a ridiculous scenario. Well, wearing those pajamas was an annual event, and her gown and hairband, also adorned with Gi-ha’s face, were neatly stored in her wardrobe. So, Su-eon figured such a situation was unlikely to happen.  

Of course, there were minor inconveniences. For instance, her favorite group had made a comeback, and she needed to stream their songs until promotions ended, but she hadn’t been able to. Su-eon had a daily routine that began and ended with Black, but it was impossible to follow when Seung-jo was around. Clearly, the solution was to move out as soon as possible.  

“…Actually, he found my photocard.”  

Su-eon quietly confessed.  

“Well, that’s easy enough to explain. Just say it belongs to someone else.”  

“Yeah, so I said it was yours.”  

Su-eon responded while clicking on the fancam video of Black’s recent music show performance that had been uploaded yesterday.  

“What? That’s the worst!”  

Jung Cho-ah protested dramatically, but her voice no longer reached Su-eon’s ears. Watching the dazzling hip dance on the screen, Su-eon couldn’t help but let out a hallelujah under her breath. She sipped her beer and replayed the less-than-two-minute video over and over again. This was exactly what the repeat function was made for.  

“What the heck, are you already drunk? Wait, when did you finish all of that?”  

Jung Cho-ah’s voice sounded distant.  

“Su-eon-unnie? Unnie.”  

Resting her chin on her hand, Su-eon mumbled as she began to doze off. 

Cho-ah, what matters isn’t the appearance but the essence. Pure, 100% muscle. Bulky doesn’t mean muscular. 

“Get a grip, Ji Su-eon!”  

Su-eon’s head drooped forward. Shortly after, she completely blacked out.  

Some time later, she felt her body swaying. Squinting at the neon lights filtering through a car window, she grimaced and opened her eyes. She was inside a car. The vehicle was stationary, and she was the only one inside.  

It seemed Jung Cho-ah’s driver had arrived. Leaning her head back, Su-eon tried to calm her queasy stomach by gazing out the window. Streams of light poured through the gaps between skyscrapers and high-rises, creating a dazzling urban skyline.  

As her senses dulled and she began to drift off again, the car door opened, and soon the vehicle started moving. Su-eon’s body lurched forward.  

“Be careful.”  

Ki Seung-jo’s arm caught her as her body tipped, pulling her against his shoulder.  

“You’re being unnecessarily dramatic.”  

Jung Cho-ah, seated beside Su-eon, tilted her head and sneered at him. Seung-jo didn’t hold back either.  

“You’re not exactly in a position to talk after making her like this.”  

“Unnie can usually hold her liquor, you know? She’s the only one in our family who can drink like a fish.”  

“Hearing that, you really do sound like actual sisters. Do you not intend to draw any boundaries?”  

Seung-jo’s icy gaze and frosty voice made Jung Cho-ah scoff. Despite the polite tone he was pretending to use, it was clear that, unlike their last encounter, he was now treating her with frigid disdain. It was as if all pretense of courtesy had been discarded since Su-eon blacked out.  

The man, who had been coldly indifferent toward Cho-ah all evening, now revealed a side of himself that seemed entirely different. Jung Cho-ah realized this was Ki Seung-jo’s true nature.  

She had completely misjudged him. If she thought she was dealing with a bear, she was wrong—he was a wolf. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.  

“You’re the one who should be respecting boundaries. Sure, you’re a newbie of less than a month, but I’ve known Su-eon for 20 years.”  

“You’re arguing something pointless. The duration doesn’t matter when you’re in entirely different categories.”  

Seung-jo chuckled derisively.  

“And if it’s about time, I’m not too far behind either.”  

“But you’ll never know Su-eon-unnie as well as I do.”  

Jung Cho-ah looped her arm through Su-eon’s and pulled her closer.  

“I know enough to not need your concern.”  

Seung-jo smirked coldly and shifted Su-eon’s body back toward him, letting her lean against his shoulder again. The two of them, seated on either side of Su-eon, locked eyes in a tense, silent battle.  

“Well, Executive Director, no matter how hard you try, you’ll never truly understand her.”  

“Then I guess you’ll have to live a very long life without dying.”  

Ki Seung-jo spoke in a voice as cold as a frozen lake.  

“Thanks for the advice.”  

“Advice? Not at all. I’m just saying it’s unfortunate. You’ll never understand the world of three-piece leisure suits.”  

“…What?”  

Seung-jo frowned, and Jung Cho-ah smirked as she watched him. He didn’t get it, did he? It must sound like an alien language. Like I’d bother explaining it to him.  

“What can I say? I guess I’m the only one who truly understands Unnie.”  

Seung-jo maintained his cold silence, glaring at Cho-ah’s smug face, which seemed to pour cold water on everything. The car, which had been stationary, began to move, and the dazzling lights outside swept through the dim interior of the vehicle. The light briefly illuminated Su-eon’s cheek and then Cho-ah’s face, seated beside her.  

Seung-jo’s brow furrowed slightly.  

“I don’t think you got into my car just to play word games.”  

When Seung-jo had called Su-eon, who hadn’t been answering her phone all evening, it was Cho-ah who picked up and told him where they were. He had expected her to hand Su-eon over and leave, but instead, she insisted on coming along, claiming she didn’t trust him.  

If that were the case, she could have followed them in her own car. Instead, she left her driver to handle her car and deliberately got into Seung-jo’s. Sitting right next to Su-eon, of course.  

What an annoying girl. 

Seung-jo sarcastically thought he should be grateful they weren’t actually related.  

“You’re smart, so I’ll keep this brief. Don’t hurt Unnie.”  

Cho-ah spoke with all traces of playfulness gone from her face.  

“I’ve heard your aunt has been meeting with other potential marriage candidates family besides my mother. Don’t you think you should sort that out?”  

“…”  

“If you don’t want to be trash who keeps dating one person while planning to marry another, that is.”  

Seung-jo’s gaze remained cold and composed.  

“Ji Su-eon would never bring this up, so I’m saying it on her behalf. She’d just keep it to herself, silently hurting alone.”  

Seung-jo let out a small laugh, realizing this was why Cho-ah had insisted on tagging along in his car.  

“Alright, thanks for the advice.”  

Contrary to Cho-ah’s expectation that he’d say something irritating or provoke her further, Seung-jo simply agreed, leaving her puzzled. Noticing her confusion, Seung-jo explained.  

“She’s the type to take care of others but neglect herself. Having someone like you around her isn’t entirely unhelpful, Chief Jung.”  

What? Was that an insult or a compliment? 

Cho-ah glared at him with hostility, but Seung-jo’s expression remained as cold as ever.