Seo-jun handed Soo-ji a steaming cup of instant noodles before sinking onto the couch beside her.
"I was really craving this," Soo-ji sighed, the warm steam brushing against her face.
"Eat before it turns soggy," Seo-jun said, already snapping his chopsticks apart.
But just as she lifted the cup to her lips, Soo-ji blurted, "I'm being followed."
The chopsticks froze halfway to Seo-jun's mouth. "Then why didn't you report it to the police?"
"If I did, Velvet Loft would get dragged into it," Soo-ji muttered.
"And why is that your business? Since when did you start being so considerate?" Seo-jun shot back.
"Considerate?" Soo-ji scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh. "Considerate, my foot. I'm trying to save my own ass and catch my stalker at the same time. If I go to the police and Velvet Loft gets involved, who knows what they'd do to me."
"You have a point, but it still doesn't justify your actions. Do you even realize how much danger you're stepping into? What if it's all in your head?" Seo-jun pressed.
She slammed the noodle cup onto the table. "Seo-jun, you could tell me the sky is green and I'd believe you, but if you're about to tell me that someone isn't following me or Mr. Tae-hyun wouldn't hurt me if I go to the police, forget it."
Seo-jun rubbed the back of his neck. "So what's your plan now?"
"I signed the contract with Tae-hyun. Apparently, his doctors live in his penthouse, so now I'm there too, playing the role of his personal doctor while using his power and connections to flush out this creep."
"Is it really that serious?" Seo-jun asked, concern sharpening his gaze.
"I've got a bad feeling about whoever it is," Soo-ji admitted quietly.
"How long has this been going on?" he asked.
"Four months."
"Four months?!" Seo-jun nearly launched his noodles across the room. "And you didn't think you should tell me?"
"I didn't want to bother you—"
"Oh, so you can call me at 2 a.m. to come kill a cockroach in your kitchen, but you think this is too much?" Seo-jun's voice rose, but his eyes softened.
"I'm sorry," Soo-ji whispered. "But it's fine now. I've got it sorted out."
"Sorted out?" Seo-jun's jaw dropped. "Girl, you just moved yourself right into the lion's den and you think that's sorted out?"
"I didn't know what else to do," Soo-ji's voice cracked, tears threatening to spill.
Seo-jun's anger evaporated. "Hey, hey, it's okay." His tone softened as he set down the noodles and scooted closer.
"I was so frustrated, Seo-jun," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "Someone's always lurking around, Tae-hyun keeps showing up, and I just… I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to get tangled up in all this, but I did anyway."
He reached out, gently ruffling her hair. "It's okay, Soo-ji. We'll figure this out, together."
She nodded, tears falling as she wiped them away with the back of her hand.
"For now, just stay at the penthouse. Keep your head down, and call me the second anything weird happens, okay? I'm here, always."
"Thank you," she croaked, voice trembling.
"Hey, why are you getting so emotional?" Seo-jun teased, forcing a small smile.
"Because… I feel like I made a huge mistake," she whispered.
"No way. You did exactly what you needed to do," Seo-jun reassured her firmly.
"Really?" Soo-ji sniffled, eyes searching his.
"Of course! Now, enough heavy stuff. What's your accommodation like? Penthouse life, huh?" Seo-jun said, playfully nudging her shoulder.
"You wouldn't believe it," Soo-ji said, her mood lifting a fraction. "I woke up to the maid standing over me, smiling like she'd just crawled out of a horror movie. I nearly died, Seo-jun. I literally got chills."
"You have a maid?" Seo-jun raised a brow.
"And a butler," Soo-ji groaned. "It's suffocating. That's why I ran to see you."
"Hey, isn't that the life you always dreamed of?" Seo-jun teased.
"It was until I realized it's like living in a fishbowl," Soo-ji sighed, dropping her head back against the couch. "It's only day one and I'm drained."
"What about those rumors about Velvet Loft being full of gangsters?" Seo-jun asked.
Soo-ji waved her hand dismissively. "I don't care if they're thugs or saints, but Seo-jun, let me tell you—every single one of those men is fine. Like, heart-stoppingly fine."
"Oh?" Seo-jun grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Not as fine as what?"
Soo-ji's eyes sparkled as she pulled up her sleeve, showing him a delicate bracelet. "Not as fine as this."
Seo-jun's jaw dropped. "Where did you get that? Did Tae-hyun give it to you, or did you steal it while playing doctor?"
Soo-ji's playful grin faltered as she chucked a pillow at him. "What do you take me for? It was a gift."
Seo-jun examined the bracelet, whistling. "This must've cost a fortune."
Soo-ji's cheeks turned pink as she stared at it, her smile softening. "He said I was like painite. Rare to find."
"No way!" Seo-jun gasped, eyes widening.
Soo-ji squealed, hugging the bracelet to her chest, "He's so smooth with words"
Meanwhile…
In a dim, oak-scented room lined with expensive wines, Do-yoon and Tae-hyun lounged in deep leather chairs, letting the mellow jazz in the background drown out the chaos of the day.
Do-yoon's phone buzzed against the table, rattling the half-empty wine glass beside it. He lifted it lazily, squinting at the name flashing on the screen: Old Man.
"Who is it?" Tae-hyun asked, swirling his glass without looking up.
Do-yoon simply turned the screen toward him.
Tae-hyun groaned, sinking further into his chair. "Ignore it."
"What if it's important?" Do-yoon raised a brow.
Tae-hyun shot him a look. "Has he ever called us for anything that wasn't about the weather or his arthritis?"
"I'm picking up," Do-yoon said, pressing accept. "Yes, Grandfather!"
"HEY!" Grandpa Hee's voice came through, loud enough that Tae-hyun winced. "Do either of you care if I'm alive or dead?!"
"Of course we do, Grandpa. We've just been swamped with work," Do-yoon said, glancing at Tae-hyun, who mouthed, Liar.
"SWAMPED?! I could drop dead in this house and the flies would find me before you two would!" Grandpa Hee's rant was unrelenting.
"If you keep yelling like that, you really will drop dead, so please, lower your voice," Do-yoon shot back.
There was a brief, sarcastic chuckle on the other end. "Ha! Isn't that great. Both of you—come over."
"Now? It's nearly midnight," Do-yoon protested.
"What's wrong? Scared of an old man's ghost? Get over here. Immediately." Click.
The line went dead.
"I told you not to pick up," Tae-hyun muttered, draining the last of his wine.
"And let him leave angry voicemails for a week? No, thanks." Do-yoon sighed, getting up.
Tae-hyun stood up with a grunt, stretching like a cat. "That old man is going to outlive us just to keep nagging us."
"Probably." Do-yoon pocketed his phone, tossing a last glance at the cozy room they were leaving behind. "Come on. Let's go before he calls again."
As they stepped into the warm, wine-scented night, neither of them would admit it out loud, but somewhere deep inside, they were glad Grandpa Hee still had the energy to nag them awake.