CH 38

Seeing the surprised expression on Jin Q’s face, Jeong-woo casually shrugged his shoulders.

“No, I’m not.”

“Then how did you know just by the smell? Do you have a dog’s nose or something?”

“I’m just a bit sensitive to scents.”

Shin Hye-na turned her head to look at Jungwoo, saying “Oh” with surprise.

“Jin Q, pretending to be nonchalant while showing off knowledge is a trait that women find attractive.”

“Yeah, Jin Q oppa.”

Yoon Yi-seol looked at Jung-woo with a smile on her face.

Jin Q’s face froze as he asked, “What are you, exactly?”

“A manager?”

“It’s so annoying when you answer so coolly. Why do all the Starpiece Entertainment artists act like this, from the CEO to the lowest employee?”

Jin Q started chugging his wine. Jeong-woo found it amusing how he did it so smoothly without showing any signs of discomfort.

‘I wonder if all rappers are this impromptu.’

Shin Hye-na grabbed Yoon Yi-seol’s hand, who kept staring intently at Jung-woo.

“Do you want to sing a song? It’s been a while since I’ve heard your live performance. I’m craving some music.”

“Really?”

Yoon Yiseol said to Jung Woo.

“Mr. Jungwoo, would you want me to play one requested song from your younger sibling?”

After getting out of the crisis with his brother’s help, Jeong-chan looked at Chae Soo-jin with a much more relaxed mind.

“Um, Soo-jin. If we leave here…”

“Should we go to Namsan Tower? I want to see the night view there. They say if you put a lock there on Christmas, you’ll never break up.”

Jeong-chan, who was taking out the pre-booked movie ticket from his pocket, stopped in surprise.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I really really want to go. You spent a lot of money today too. I’ll pay for the cable car.”

“Let’s do that.”

What’s the use of having a reservation when your partner wants to go somewhere else? Just then, his phone in his pocket vibrated.

[Ask that girl for a song she wants to hear. And send me a text.]

“Huh?”

Jeong-chan asked Chae Soo-jin with hesitation in response to his brother’s text.

“What song do you want to listen to right now?”

“A song? While going to Namsan Tower? With just one earphone?”

“Uh? Uh…”

The girl with a bob cut rubbed her chin and pondered before saying.

“Last Christmas. I love that song during this season. It’s so romantic~”

Jeong-chan immediately sent a text message under the table.

After a while, they heard people in the direction of the stage cheering and shouting.

-Hello, this is Yoon Yi-seol. I came here for a bit because the weather is nice.

Surprised by the sound of the microphone, Chae Soo-jin turned her head and let out a scream.

“Yi-seol unni!”

Yoon Yi-seol, who had come up on stage, waved her hand towards Chae Soo-jin upon hearing her voice.

“Wow, we came here at the perfect time. Yi-seol just surprised us with a stage performance.”

“That’s right.”

Chae Su-jin took out her phone and started taking pictures.

Seeing the singer in person for the first time, Jeong-chan was also left speechless.

Without anything special, just wearing a hat, she was so pretty. Jeongchan thought this to himself and shook his head.

‘This isn’t just about showing respect to Soo-jin.’

The music began with a gentle guitar solo.

-Last Christmas I gave you my heart~

Because it was ‘Last Christmas’, Jeong-chan was startled.

‘No way?’

Come to think of it, that red hat that Yoon Yi-seol was wearing. He had a strong feeling that he had seen it behind the door he had just met with his brother.

“Kyaa! I wanted to hear this! Yi-seol unni, you’re the best!”

Jeong-woo looked up at Yoon Yi-seol from behind the barrier where he could see the stage.

Her black pupils, which sat on her cheeks that had been brought to mind, were focused on the singing. Within them, there was the stage, and there were melodies and harmonies.

She sang foreign Christmas season songs with her own unique touch.

‘As expected of a singer.’

She turned her gaze below the stage, smiled slyly, and winked, gesturing with her heel towards a seat at the café.

He followed her gaze and saw a couple of younger siblings holding hands tightly and listening to music.

‘That’s good.’

-I’ll give it to someone special~

As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted.

-Thank you. I just came for a moment. There are other singers waiting. I’ll leave now.

Amid the cheering crowd, Yoon Yi-seol descended from the stage.

“You did great.”

“It was nothing.”

Yoon Yi-seol replied, sticking out her tongue at the small compliment.

Jeong-woo’s heart was pounding. The charm of his younger brother who had created all of this and for whom he could only feel infinite gratitude.

“Hyung!”

At that moment, he heard his younger brother’s voice and turned around. He breathed a sigh of relief at the voice that was eagerly looking for him at the cocktail bar.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Yes.”

He grabbed Jeong-chan’s shoulder as he came out from behind the barrier and wandered around.

“What now?”

“Soo-jin is wants to go straight to Namsan Tower. She said we were meant to be together. She went to the bathroom, but she’ll be here soon.”

“Why did you call me again then?”

“This is why.”

Jeong-chan handed the movie ticket to Jeong-woo.

“Please refund it for me. You can keep the money. I’m out of here!”

“What the hell…”

Jeong-chan, who was about to burst out of the entrance, suddenly stopped.

“Hyung, the text message earlier, was it from Yoon Yi-seol?”

“No way.”

“Right, you were just asking me, weren’t you?”

As Jeong-chan turned his head, he was stunned to see Yoon Yi-seol standing next to Jeong-woo.

Jeong-woo was also surprised and turned his head.

“Why did you come out?”

“Jin Q oppa said he had to go urgently.”

Jin Q, who came out together, passed by Jeong-woo and nudged his shoulder.

“Sommelier. See you next time.”

“Goodbye, oppa.”

“It was nice to see you, Yi-seol.”

Jin Q glanced at Jeong-woo and his look-alike Jeong-chan and then disappeared outside with a look that seemed to say “what the hell?”

“Hey, Chan. That was Jin Q, wasn’t it? Wow, I’m a huge fan of that person’s music.”

“Uh? Uh-oh.”

“Hurry up and go see her.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

“Have a good date, little brother.”

Yoon Yi-seol greeted them with a bright smile, leaving Jeong-chan standing there dumbfounded.

“Hmm, this will be a hassle for a while.”

Today was too long to explain this situation that was just a coincidence.

Jeong-woo breathed a deep sigh of relief as he looked at the movie ticket that Jeong-chan had thrown to him and said, “Ms. Yi-seol.”

“Yes?”

“Chan also left, so I have to go now. If I want to get a refund for this, I think I’m running out of time.”

Jeong-woo pointed to the ticket, letting her know that the next location for that inexperienced couple had changed to Namsan Tower.

“Then next week…”

“Let’s watch it together.”

“Yes?”

Jeong-woo doubted his ears at Yi-seol’s words. Yi-seol quickly spoke with a look of surprise.

“I have ‘watch a movie with a friend’ on my checklist. I didn’t think I could do it today. Is that okay?”

“Oh.”

Jeong-woo nodded his head faster than he expected.

“I’ll bring a coat and a mask.”

Yoon Yi-seol disappeared behind the partition like a lightning bolt. Jeong-woo had to pinch himself to wonder what was happening.

Observing Yoon Yi-seol breathing heavily, sticking closely behind the partition, Shin Hye-na’s eyes sparkled.

“Isn’t this atmosphere strange?”

“Sis…”

“Am I right? That guy is not a manager.”

“Don’t say anything. And when Manager Ji comes, please tell him to wait here and I will contact him after watching the movie.”

“Okay, have a good date.”

“It’s not a date!”

“Sure, sure. Have fun.”

Shin Hye-na waved her hand with a smile.

Yoon Yi-seol put on her padded jacket, hastily put on her mask, and took out her checklist from her pocket.

[1. Take one step further and be bolder than you think.]

She marked it as a success, feeling proud, and walked out of the partition with a confident look.

30 minutes later.

As they entered the theater, Jeong-woo and Yoon Yi-seol climbed the stairs to seats J12 and J13 under dim lighting.

As luck would have it, it was a couple’s seat at the back of the theater with no constraints between the two seats.

Jeong-woo let out a sigh, knowing that Jeong-chan would have reserved the cheapest seats.

“Here we are,” said Yoon Yi-seol.

“Here?”

Jeong-woo asked holding a bucket of popcorn while Yoon Yi-seol had drinks in both hands. Their eyes met awkwardly, and Jeong-woo cleared his throat.

“At least we’re not late. The ads are still playing,” he said.

“Yeah.”

After sitting down, they said nothing to each other and just sipped their drinks. Jeong-woo wondered if anyone ever paid such close attention to these mundane advertisements.

Suddenly, Jeong-woo remembered something and spoke up.

“I actually like the fourth track better than ‘Awkward’. Was it ‘Good Day’? I’ve been listening to that a lot lately.”

Yoon Yi-seol’s eyes widened in surprise.

-If you like that song and listen to it, let’s meet again.

Yoon Yi-seol asked cautiously, “Y-you remember?”

“Yeah, I thought to myself, ‘This girl isn’t your typical singer.’ I was really impressed with her performance.”

Yoon Yi-seol covered her face with both hands, her thoughts going back to last week.

“Anyway, we met. I don’t know if it’s because of that.”

“Yeah…”

Yoon Yi-seol stole a sideways glance at Jeong-woo.

He sat there, casually watching the screen. Despite all the embarrassing things she had done today, despite him having noticed them all, this man just made her feel comfortable.

How was that possible? Was it because of the magical chemistry he talked about?

Jeong-woo spoke up as the ads were ending.

“Anyway, let’s fight insomnia. Together.”

“Fi-fighting.”

A moment later, as the movie title rolled across the screen and the lights went off completely, Jeong-woo yawned suddenly.

‘Ugh, why am I so sleepy?’

He couldn’t resist it anymore.

The tiredness of the day, all the treatments, and the dark and cozy atmosphere were just too much for him, and they gave him an irresistible drowsiness.

‘I shouldn’t be like this…’

Snap.

While concentrating on the screen, Yoon Yi-seol suddenly felt a touch on her shoulder and was startled. When she turned her head hesitantly, she saw Jeong-woo’s head leaning slightly on her shoulder.

“Are you sleeping?”

Through the light from the screen, she saw Jeong-woo’s face, which was awkwardly close.

She reached out and tapped his forehead and shook him. He was out cold and not moving.

“Looks like he’s really tired. Did I ask him to come for no reason?”

Yoon Yi-seol tossed and turned to make Jeong-woo more comfortable and blushed, muttering, “You suffered, so I should repay you.”

One minute after the movie started.

Yoon Yi-seol also yawned quietly. She had to watch the movie, but she kept nodding off. This couldn’t happen.

Late at night –

With grand music, the ending credits rolled on the screen. As the audience either remarked that the movie was entertaining or that it didn’t meet their expectations, the theater exit doors opened.

Inside the theater, people were gradually leaving.

In the middle back of the theater, two people were sleeping soundly in the couple’s seat.

Their heads leaned towards each other.

As if dreaming a sweet Christmas dream, the expressions on their faces were very peaceful. This lasted until a cleaning staff member approached and woke them up.

“Go in and get some rest, Yi-seol.”

gBefore Jeong-woo disappeared in front of Once, Yoon Yi-seol gathered her courage and asked one more thing.

“We’re friends now, right?”

“Of course. Thank you for helping my little brother.”

“Then let’s exchange phone numbers. If I need to check something, I’ll contact you.”

“Um…is that okay?”

Nodding her head vigorously up and down, Jeong-woo carefully typed his phone number on Yoon Yi-seol’s phone that she held out to him. After Yi-seol saved the number, Jeong-woo was also able to save her number when she called him.

“Thanks to you for introducing me to the café. I had a good time. Sorry for falling asleep in the movie theater.”

Jeong-woo said goodbye and walked away.

After he disappeared, Yi-seol went downstairs and opened her phone. She sent a message to the person who could give her the quickest response.

[Are you busy, Unni?]

The reply came right away.

[I am, but I have time to contact you, Yi-seol. Why?]

[It’s nothing urgent.]

Taking advantage of the fact that she was able to reach out, Yoon Yi-seol quickly typed a message with her fingers.

Yoon Yi-seol was startled as she typed, “[A guy who heard my song for the first time said he likes it a lot].”

‘Oops, typo, typo!’

[Some guy who heard my song for the first time said he likes it. What does it mean?]

[Is he alone and good-looking? How old is he?]

Yoon Yi-seol’s face turned red at her unni’s direct question.

As if the text message wasn’t enough, a phone call came through with the name ‘Oh Sora’ displayed on the screen.

-Who did you meet?

“I met someone last week.”

-What does he do?

“He works at a chemical company.”

-Oh, a regular guy? But he must be unique if Yi-seol is interested.

“He showed me some really interesting things.”

-What kind of interesting things did you do when you met?

Thinking back on today, Yoon Yi-seol had a crescent moon-like smile on her face.

“Just this and that. We went to see a movie.”

-What movie?

“I can’t remember what it was called…”

She couldn’t even remember what movie they saw because she had fallen asleep during it.

-You went to watch a movie without even knowing its name? Did you go just to see that guy’s face?

“No, no!”

-Did you get his number?

Yoon Yi-seol nodded before realizing she was on the phone and then replied quietly, “Yes.”

-My opinion is this. If you’re interested, keep showing interest. Just remember that the interest has to be mutual. Understand?

“Yes, sis.”

-Are you sleeping well these days?

Normally, Yoon Yi-seol would have brushed off the question, but today she felt confident enough to answer.

“I sleep well. Actually, I think I’ll sleep well from now on.”

code: AF-12

case: Molecular Communication Network

research: (same)

feedback: Using free email as a messenger can facilitate communication with more molecules.