Chapter 15: Inside Jeong’s World

“There really are all sorts of weird people. But then again, it’s probably harder to find someone sane in this business,” Jeong said as he leaned back on the sofa.

“Yeah…” Yehyun said, sitting awkwardly on a chair. It had been almost an hour since he entered, but he still couldn’t get used to the place.

‘I came to the address he gave me, but…’

The place Jeong lived in was a famous apartment complex in the middle of Seoul. The kind you always see articles about—how much per pyeong, which celebrity bought a unit there.

“Sir, security rules mean the taxi can only drop you off at the main gate. Are you a resident?”

“No, I’m not a resident…” He knew it would be secure, but not to this extent. Embarrassed, Yehyun answered.

“Then you’ll have to get off here. You need a key card to even get through the main gate. Do you have one?”

“Oh, I didn’t know… Please let me off here.”

The taxi dropped him off across from the main gate and sped away. Left alone, Yehyun hesitated for a moment, then called Jeong. ‘I’m at the main gate. They said outsiders can’t go in alone.’ ‘You can get in if you verify your identity at the entrance. Tell the guard your visiting apartment number and he’ll connect you to my unit.’

Indeed, Jeong was from a different world. Yehyun shuffled his way into the apartment complex.

And the surprises didn’t end there. He thought the identity check at the main gate was enough, but he had to verify again with the security at the building entrance.

‘You’re visiting unit 2401, right?’

The elevator required a card to operate. With the guard’s help, Yehyun got into the elevator and arrived at Jeong’s door, amazed.

‘You’re here?’

The inside was as luxurious as expected, beyond his imagination. Yehyun stared blankly at the living room, which looked like something out of a drama or a movie set for a chaebol’s home. Feeling a sense of distance from Jeong’s unrealistic lifestyle, Yehyun forced himself to keep talking about various topics to overcome the awkwardness.

Eventually, he got to the story of the journalist who had been stalking him like a horror movie. “One of my coworkers leaked my personal information to a journalist…”

“Don’t you have any suspicions?”

He did. The problem was there were too many. “Yeah. Not just one. Anyway, it’s creepy enough that they got my phone number, but my company email and office location too… That’s insane.” Yehyun shook his head. “Chasing someone like that over a single interview.”

“I know. Usually, they come after me. I didn’t expect them to go after a civilian like you,” Jeong said it as if that level of stalking was no big deal.

It was unfamiliar to Yehyun, an ordinary person who had been living a peaceful life just a week ago, but to Jeong, the journalist’s intrusion was all too familiar.

“There’s a line in this business… A text or a couple of calls is one thing, but they don’t track down civilians over a simple dating rumor.” Jeong seemed to be thinking something over. “An interview.”

He wondered if that journalist was even a real journalist. It could be a clueless one, but there was something suspicious. “If they want an interview that badly, we could just give them one.”

“What?”

“Seems like they want an exclusive, a ‘first ever’ scoop. If you do an interview under my company’s name, they’ll probably back off.” Jeong grinned, offering a solution.

Indeed, the journalist was chasing Yehyun for a story. If they preempted that with an exclusive interview, the journalist might lose interest. “Besides, the contract says no interviews without your consent. So it’s fine.”

After thinking for a while, Yehyun gave a positive answer. He could even add a condition that this would be the last time he made a statement. “Then I’ll have Chaeryeon hyung set a date with you. Since you work, weekends are better than weekdays, right?”

“Yeah.” Yehyun nodded.

“Did you have dinner?” Jeong got up and asked.

“No. I got into a taxi right after leaving work to shake off the journalist…” When did he have time to eat? Yehyun shook his head, and Jeong headed to the kitchen.

“Is there anything you want? I’m a good cook.”

“Just… anything is fine.”

“Any allergies or foods you hate?”

Allergies. That reminded him of the early days of dating Gyujin. Gyujin had bought a lunchbox that contained something he was allergic to, and he ended up in the ER. Back then, he thought it was just a fluke that happened in the early stages of dating. So this is what it’s like to be asked first.

Yehyun smiled bitterly. “Just no shellfish. Like shrimp or crab.”

“Then this won’t do.” Jeong pulled out a bag of cocktail shrimp from the fridge and shook it, then put it back in. “Hmm… What can I make quickly? Which do you prefer, Korean or Western?”

“Korean.”

At the short answer, Jeong nodded and started rummaging in the fridge. It was surprising because Jeong looked like someone who never had to lift a finger, yet he said he was a good cook. Yehyun watched him pull out ingredients with practiced ease.

“If you get bored, you can look around the house. Just don’t open storage cabinets randomly.”

At Jeong’s words, Yehyun stood up. He hadn’t shown it, but he’d been curious about the inside since he entered. Without even a token refusal, Yehyun stood up, and Jeong quietly chuckled to himself as he started preparing dinner.

“How can a bachelor’s house be this spacious?” Jeong’s home was exactly what Yehyun had dreamed of since childhood, the kind of place where he’d thought, ‘When I grow up, I must live in a house like this!’

The living room had a clear view of the Han River. The rooms were connected like a model home, not an actual house. Even the bathroom seemed bigger than Yehyun and Yeseo’s room combined.

“Wow.” What room was this? With an excited heart, as if on an expedition, Yehyun opened the door.

Was this a room or a boutique? The space, as big as his entire living room, was converted into a dressing room. Yehyun let out a small gasp before he could stop himself. He knew Jeong was a celebrity, a nationally known actor, but seeing his wealth with his own eyes made it sink in.

He didn’t watch many movies or TV. Between work and supporting his younger sister, where would he have the time? Yeseo liked movies enough, but Yehyun usually sent her alone and took time for himself.

“Isn’t this shirt 2 million won? That can’t be…” The only thing he was interested in was fashion brands. Yehyun had never dared to buy them, just browsing as a small pleasure in life. So Jeong’s dressing room was like a gold mine, a paradise to him. It was the moment when his impression of Jeong, just a handsome celebrity, changed completely.

“Hyung? I’ve been looking for you.” Yehyun, who had been oblivious to time while browsing clothes, finally woke up at Jeong’s call.

“Huh, yeah?” He had been lost in his own world, appreciating the details of each garment. He turned his head, startled.

“Were you so absorbed you lost track of time?” Although they hadn’t known each other long, Yehyun’s face looked more animated than Jeong had ever seen.

“Yeah, I have a bit of interest in this stuff…” Yehyun smiled sheepishly. His head had turned toward Jeong, but he still held the sleeve of the clothes he was looking at.

“I can see that. Dinner’s ready. Come eat.” Jeong walked up to Yehyun, gently detached his hand from the sleeve, and naturally linked arms with him. Only then did Yehyun realize he had been gripping the sleeve. His face flushed slightly.

“Wow.” A delicious-looking meal was set on the wide dining table. Soybean paste stew, an egg roll, and simple side dishes. It was a humble but appetizing spread that didn’t match the grandeur of the house.

“More elaborate than I expected.”

“Since I’m home most of the time, this became my main hobby. Next time I’ll cook you a bunch of other things.” Jeong shrugged.

Now that he thought about it, all he’d had since lunch was a cup of coffee. On an empty stomach, the smell of freshly cooked food was making him hungry.

“You seemed to like clothes. Want me to show you more after we eat?” Jeong said with a grin. Yehyun’s animated expression was refreshing, given that he always wore a calm face except in front of journalists or crowds. He was curious how Yehyun would react if he showed off his cherished collection.

“Well, if you’re offering, I won’t refuse…” Yehyun looked away to hide his anticipation. Of course, that didn’t stop Jeong from noticing.

“I’ll eat well.” Let’s eat first. Yehyun pretended not to notice and picked up his spoon.

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