our crossed paths | jww.

twenty four.

Backstage at the interview, the set was a flurry of activity. The crew was setting up lights, checking the mics, and prepping for the broadcast.

Jiwoo: I forgot how chaotic the ER could be. Soon, it might be me on those beds instead of patients.

Wonwoo, sitting on a chair, glanced down at his phone, a small smile tugging at his lips as he read Jiwoo's texts. She had told him she was buried in patients at the ER but reassured him she was doing fine. His manager noticed the shift in his expression.

"You're grinning. Something going on that I should know about?" his manager asked with a knowing look.

Wonwoo hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. "Yeah, actually... there's something." He paused, looking at his manager to gauge his reaction. "Jiwoo and I. We're together now."

His manager raised his eyebrows but smiled, a little relieved. "Took you long enough. I was wondering when you'd admit it." He leaned in a little, his voice lowering. "But listen, you know the drill. Be careful, especially with the media. This isn't the same as before. Ahrin's involved now, too."

"I know," Wonwoo replied, running a hand through his hair. "But it's not wrong, right? To... find love again?" His voice was softer, the vulnerability he rarely showed slipping through.

His manager smiled kindly. "Of course not. It's about time. I've known for a while that it was Jiwoo. The way you've talked about her, it was obvious."

Wonwoo blinked in surprise. "You knew?"

"Yeah, well, I'm your manager. I would be an incompetent one if I couldn't notice something big like this," He was about to say more, but their conversation was interrupted when Eunseo entered the room, her presence commanding attention.

She walked up to Wonwoo with a bright smile.

"Hey, Wonwoo! Ready for the interview?" she greeted casually, but there was something more in her tone. She had a way of making her words sound personal, even if they weren't meant to be. Wonwoo's smile tightened a little as he nodded.

"Yeah, just about."

Eunseo tilted her head slightly, her eyes curious. "I saw some pictures of you and your daughter on your day out. They were cute. It's sweet seeing you as such a hands-on dad. How is Ahrin, by the way?"

Wonwoo stiffened at the mention of Ahrin. He knew that some passerby fans had took their pictures, yet that didn't really make the news, so to have Eunseo know about it was questionable.

"She's good," he replied vaguely, trying to keep the conversation light.

Eunseo's gaze didn't waver. "You must have plans for her future, especially since, you know..." She trailed off, clearly hinting about the absence of Ahrin's mother, but her words were digging deeper than Wonwoo was comfortable with.

He shifted in his seat, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I just want to make sure she's happy. By the way, how do you want to handle the plot questions?" Wonwoo asked, changing the topic.

Catching the change in his tone, Eunseo shrugged but didn't push further. She switched back to work mode, discussing which parts of the drama plot they would explain. But Wonwoo could still feel the weight of her earlier questions lingering in the air.

As they got on stage for the interview, the spotlight shifted. The interviewer focused on the drama at first, but eventually, the questions became more personal.