“Don’t come any closer! Damn it, I said stop coming closer—why do you keep walking toward me?!”
Because I still need to finish your ‘lesson,’ Yeonwoo thought, closing the distance with a gentle smile.
Lee Deokchun kept stumbling back and finally bolted off the set as if fleeing for his life.
[Wow… he’s fast. Could make the national sprint team, no joke.]
“ Tsk…” Yeonwoo clicked his tongue, disappointed.
The watching staff misread that face and began whispering again.
“Deokchun’s being Deokchun. Look at him disappointing that kind manager again.”
“He’s beyond awful. The manager even worries he might go off the rails.”
“Ungrateful jerk. No one else would spare a thought for him, and he runs away?”
Of course, Yeonwoo hadn’t approached for any such warm‑hearted reason, but no one could know his real motive, so the misunderstanding only deepened.
That afternoon:
“Manager Kang Yeonwoo? Are you here?”
When he heard Yeonwoo had gone after Deokchun, Kwon Seonghyun ordered his manager to send word:
Yeonwoo, I know your heart is kind, but trash like that doesn’t deserve your attention.
What you’ve already done is more than enough for him.
So Yeonwoo was forcibly put on break.
While he waited in the empty lounge, a visitor arrived.
A clear voice, yet somehow cold, rang through the door.
Who could that be?—only a handful of people would seek out Yeonwoo here: Kwon Seonghyun, the manager, maybe the director or the writer. But the voice didn’t belong to Writer Min.
“ …!”
Opening the door without thinking, Yeonwoo froze. The last person he expected stood there.
“Ms. Min Yerin…?”
“If you don’t mind, could we talk for a moment?”
When he stepped aside, Min Yerin strode in without hesitation.
Why would Min Yerin come here?
Lead actress of the drama—famous for solid acting and beauty, equally famous for pride and aloofness. She rarely spoke to anyone but the director and writer; all other communication went through her manager.
In character, she was quirky and bright, but off‑camera she turned icy. And picky—her sharp voice was heard on set almost every day.
Yet in truth, well, anyone would snap at the kind of nonsense she’s had to deal with, Yeonwoo admitted; her outbursts were less frequent than rumors claimed, and usually had cause. She didn’t throw tantrums at random—at least from his perspective.
She said nothing after entering.
[Why’d Min Yerin come here?] Dong‑jaryeong whispered.
No idea.
[Whoa, look at those eyes—she could turn a person to stone with that stare.]
Indeed, her gaze seemed almost resolute.
Is she here about that incident?
It happened a few days ago, when he kindly fed her label‑mate Deokchun a spoonful of misery.
Back then she’d clearly turned her back on him. Her indifference had helped doom him.
Surely she’s not here to complain now? I haven’t finished “educating” that guy yet… He had no intention of stopping even if she asked, but still—
“Manager Kang Yeonwoo,” she finally spoke after long silence—face cold, attitude frigid. Yeonwoo braced for reproach.
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to—pardon?”
“Pardon?”
“Excuse me?”
Their voices overlapped in confusion.
…
After a brief pause she began again.
“Seems I upset you by coming so late. About what happened then—I truly apologize.”
“You came to… apologize?”
“Yes, that’s right. Why do you seem surprised?”
A flicker of puzzlement crossed her eyes, then she bit her red lip as if realizing something.
“I can be sensitive, but I’m not completely lacking in manners. Especially since Lee Deokchun came under my name, I bear some responsibility.”
“From what I hear, it wasn’t you who brought him.”
“Internal company story aside, he did show up with me.”
A bitter smile.
“So you’re really here just to apologize?”
“Not only for that.”
I knew it, Yeonwoo thought—open with an apology, then stab?
But her next words forced him to rethink.
“I also came to tell you there’s no need to treat that scum kindly on my account.”
“…?”
“Why look so shocked? I know you’ve been deliberately being nice to that human who refuses to keep the set calm—and supposedly for my sake.”
“No, that—” That’s not it at all. He was blindsided.
“So, yes. Don’t bother going easy on him.”
“Is that truly how you feel?”
“Did I speak unclearly?”
“No, it’s just… rather…”
“Unexpected?”
“Exactly.”
Arms usually fold inward, yet she showed not a hint of shielding her label‑mate.
“I’ve eyes and ears too. I’m actually grateful to you.”
Grateful?
“I’ve heard plenty—that you’re enduring him for the set’s sake, even for my sake. That makes me sorry; I should have warned him firmly beforehand.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“My conscience isn’t comfortable. He’s beyond saving; not worth the effort. So just leave him.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Trash like him ought to be weeded out.”
Her expression had been cold from the start, yet when she spoke of Deokchun it turned positively icy.
Yeonwoo realized: Oh—it wasn’t cold, just expressionless. Some faces look sharp and emotionless by default.
Judging someone by appearances again, huh, Yeonwoo? Haven’t you suffered enough from that yourself? he scolded himself.
“All right.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me—if anything I should apologize—”
“Why would you be sorry? I’m the one at fault. Thanks are thanks.”
Stubborn, it seemed.
All these misunderstandings—the truth was he’d only chased a fleeing guy. Still, since the misunderstanding wasn’t harmful, he let it be.
“By the way…” She seemed ready to leave but hesitated.
“That time—did you really choke him?”
“….” Why throw that curve now?
“I’m not here to scold—just curious. You did, right?” Her tone carried certainty, not suspicion.
“And if I did, what then?” He dodged.
Apparently, that was answer enough; for the first time Min Yerin gave a bright, genuine smile.
“Thank you. That’s… very refreshing.”
A smile with no acting, no pretense—her true feelings.
[Min Yerin’s cooler than I thought. Figured she was just a prickly actress.]
Agreed, Yeonwoo mused. He hadn’t expected that twist.
First, he thought she’d scold him; instead she apologized, then thanked him for choking her colleague. Aside from Kwon Seonghyun, she was the hardest person to read.
Judging by looks was wrong; lesson learned, he told himself again.
[She seemed lacking next to our actor, but I’m a fan now—time to join the fan club…]
Dong‑jaryeong wiggled in Yeonwoo’s chest pocket, apparently forgetting he was a ghost.
But then Min Yerin noticed.
“Um… that thing in your pocket—what is it?”
“…Pardon?”
“Something keeps moving…”
His shirt was thin; the plump hamster’s wiggles were obvious.
“..It’s nothing.” He clapped a hand over the pocket.
My social image is on the line! Who carries a hamster in his breast pocket?
[Hey! Move your hand! She wants to see me! I’m a hamster—super cute! Who hates hamsters?]
Blocked, Dong‑jaryeong squeaked indignantly.
[Let me out! I need to make an impression on Min Yerin!]
He’d forgotten Dong‑jaryeong’s bulldozer tendencies.
[Hrrrgh—hiyaaa!]
Seizing a gap, the spirit‑hamster popped its head out—
“Kyah!”
And Min Yerin’s scream rang through the lounge.
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