Small Worlds

14 Make Me Feel

14 Make Me Feel

Haerin's life seemed to change from sweet to sweeter after Kim Minji was removed from the blacklist.

Her ongoing "dates" with Kim Minjae continued, but interestingly, Kim Minji was absent from these outings.

That evening, after wrapping up work, Haerin learned from CEO Park that the collaboration with NC had entered a crucial phase.

Although Haerin wasn't well-versed in business matters, she understood the importance of accepting Kim Minjae's invitation.

As Kim Minjae opened the car door, he extended his hand, subtly expressing the desire to hold Haerin's. Unfazed, Haerin pretended not to notice and simply got into the car.

A small chuckle escaped Kim Minjae. He thought Haerin was being shy.

In that moment, as the car started, Haerin found herself completely forgetting the name of the restaurant.

First, the dull high-end restaurant, then the Mercedes playing piano tunes, Haerin gazed out, intentionally avoiding her face reflected on the car window.

How much longer would these days go on?

Yet, Kim Minji was correct. The company's listing process couldn't go on indefinitely, and eventually, her outings with Kim Minjae would come to an end.

However, there was a ticking time bomb. A thought had bothered Haerin so much. A secret she hadn't shared with anyone. No one knew it.

What would she do if Kim Minjae proposed?

Before NewJeans debut, CEO Park explicitly said not to date because dating meant leaving.

Female idols couldn't afford mistakes—not the kind of mistakes like forgetting choreography on stage, but ones like looking unattractive, gaining weight, dating, and upsetting the fans.

CEO Park was always true to her word. "Dating means leaving," and this didn't just imply leaving NewJeans; it meant leaving the entertainment industry. Of course she and H Group could make that happen.

It was as if "Do Not Date" was engraved as a life motto on Haerin's body. She diligently lived through five years, and suddenly she was asked to go on a date—with a specified partner.

Haerin grasped what Minji meant by "one moment they want me to return from Canada, and the next moment they want me to leave the project I built with my own hands. No one has ever asked for my opinion!"

Puppets on strings.

Kim Minji's last contact was a few hours ago.

She sent a picture of her office desk, with the computer screen blurred, and a green plush toy standing behind an iced Americano in one corner of the desk—the NewJeans collaboration merchandise featuring Haerin's design.

The text message read, "In a meeting."

Kim Minji was always like this, absurd, without any cute emojis.

She never inquired about Haerin's activities, and never brought up purchasing NewJeans merchandise.

Kim Minji always acted as if Haerin had just posed a question, and she randomly dropped a sentence as in reply.

"In a meeting."

Upon enlarging the photo, the pouting angry-looking plush toy confirmed it was Haerin's character from the MV.

"I'm going to have dinner with your brother tonight," Haerin replied.

"K," was Kim Minji's response.