“That Lee Jaeho. At least he’s useful for something. I thought he was just taking your money.”

Dajeong laughed silently at the blunt criticism. Kyungmi, pragmatic by nature, resented the money and time spent following Lee Jaeho.

‘No matter how much you like a celebrity, it should end with just watching them on TV! Yoon Dajeong, get a grip.’

She considered most things Dajeong did for Jaeho, like sending coffee trucks or lunch boxes, or occasionally following him to the airport, as utterly pointless.

“Don’t hate Lee Jaeho too much. Sister.”

“Goodness. If someone heard you, they’d think he’s your boyfriend.”

“Better than a boyfriend?”

“Hey. That’s because you don’t have a real boyfriend.”

Knowing the words were for her own good, Dajeong just smiled.

The evening rush hour in the bustling area resembled a parking lot. Dajeong aimlessly watched the car-filled road and left her breath on the window. As the glass fogged up, she secretly wrote ‘Lee Jaeho’ and quickly erased it.

She remembered the post she had made on the cafe a few days ago.

Asking for a recommendation for a Taean pension was half-joking, but she received a message from a fan. Dajeong was surprised but pleased. She had not expected to get a real recommendation.

The fans of Lee Jaeho were all so kind. They could have just passed by the post…

[Da-jae! I’ll introduce you to my great-uncle’s pension! It’s a newly built place! Since business won’t be good from fall, they can rent it for a month.]

The nickname was . Dajeong habitually checked the cafe activity history. The user was a long-standing member with many contributions, making them trustworthy by Dajeong’s standards.

[Thank you! If you give me the contact, I’ll call them.] [You’ll like it. ㅎㅎ]

sent a link to the pension’s website. The serene and rustic scenery with the sea in front of the pension caught her eye. The interior of the rooms, being new, was also to her liking. There seemed no reason not to choose this place.

She called the number provided. A kindly voice of an elderly person on the phone increased her trust. Moreover, the price was much cheaper than she expected.

‘We old folks don’t know much about promotion. Just use it comfortably for a month and write a good review on the internet later. That’s enough.’
Everything seemed to be unraveling smoothly. Dajeong couldn’t believe her luck. Since her budget wasn’t large, she hadn’t expected to stay in a new pension, so it felt like receiving a gift.

“Anyway, double-check if it’s a reliable place before you go.”

“I’ve checked thoroughly. Sister. Don’t worry.”

Dajeong reassured Kyungmi.

“Then don’t go alone, ask Kyungjun to take you.”

Kyungmi kept insisting, worried till the end. She regretted suggesting going to the sea, thinking it might have been better to just rest at home. Dajeong sighed with a mix of laughter and replied.

“Of course, I’m going with Kyungjun. Do you think he’d let me go alone? He already took leave.”

“That’s good.”

“Ugh. Lee Kyungjun’s nagging is really annoying. Worse than sister. Got a huge scolding for going on a month-long trip without consultation. Who is he to act like my brother?”

“That is funny.”

Soon, the car entered a quiet apartment complex. One by one, the streetlights came on. The flickering shadows of the leaves created a wavelike pattern, making Dajeong feel as if she were already at the sea.

Kyungmi circled the complex looking for a parking spot. They lived in the same apartment complex but in different buildings, and parking was always a problem due to the complex’s age.

“Go to the end of Building 107, Sister. There’s always a spot there.”

“Ugh. I don’t want to walk from there…”

Despite her complaint, there was no other choice, so Kyungmi finally drove to the far end.

“Do you want to eat before you go? You’ll probably just have instant noodles again.”

“No, I’ll take care of it.”

Dajeong had to pack for a month. The thought of dinner seemed irrelevant, suggesting she might be a bit excited. The fluttering feeling wasn’t unpleasant.

Jaeho stood looking out the window, the vast Han River spread before him. Countless cars stretched along the road home, leaving a long, tedious trail.

“Manager, you’ve checked all my luggage, right?”

[Of course. Everything’s packed.]

“Good.”

While on the phone, Jaeho turned and walked towards his desk. The monitor in the dark study was brightly lit. Jaeho, sitting at the desk, moved the mouse to access the fan club.

“You’ve prepared the appliances and furniture as I directed last time, right? Top quality.”

[Definitely.]

“Thank you for your efforts.”

After hanging up, Jaeho stared at the monitor for a while. An uncontrollable smile kept forming at the corners of his mouth. This ticklish feeling might be excitement.

[Everyone! I’m finally leaving tomorrow. ㅎㅎ One of our sweet members helped me find a super nice pension. ㅎㅎ Our precious cafeㅠㅠ So touchingㅠㅠ I’ll rest well!]

A post written by a woman, commonly called ‘Dajae’, short for her nickname , was displayed on the screen. The joy in the writing made him smile. She suited this cheerful tone, but he had been so worried because of her constant melancholy posts.

“Dajeong…….”

The man’s voice resonated lowly.

“Don’t worry. From now on, only good things will happen.”