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The door clicks open softly, and Hyeyoon steps into Wooseok's apartment, still buzzing with excitement from her fan meet in Macau. She's exhausted but eager to see Wooseok—and, of course, her beloved cat, Hongshi. Since Wooseok had graciously offered to cat-sit while she was away, Hyeyoon had come to pick him up.
But what greets her is far from what she expected.
There, in the middle of the living room, Wooseok is crouched down, his long frame hunched over the coffee table, holding a piece of fried chicken. Hongshi is perched like a king before him, chubby paws wrapped possessively around the greasy treat, munching away with pure joy in his eyes.
Hyeyoon's jaw drops. "Oppa!" she yells, her voice sharp and filled with disbelief.
Wooseok jumps a mile high, dropping the remaining chicken onto the plate. His wide eyes meet hers, and he clutches his chest dramatically as if her voice alone almost gave him a heart attack.
"Yah! You scared me!" he laughs, standing up and rubbing his chest as if to calm his racing heart. He takes a step toward her, but she's already halfway across the room, her eyes locked on Hongshi—specifically, on the fried chicken Hongshi is devouring.
"I told you not to feed him any more chicken!" Hyeyoon pouts, rushing over and gently prying the drumstick from Hongshi's chubby paws. The cat meows in protest, looking up at her with those large, imploring eyes that Wooseok apparently hadn't been able to resist. She shakes her head, exasperated.
Wooseok scratches the back of his head, sheepishly grinning. "He looked at me with those big, sad eyes. What was I supposed to do? He loves my chicken!"
Hyeyoon frowns, holding up the half-eaten piece of chicken-like evidence in a courtroom. "I already told you—he's on a diet! You're turning him into a walking chicken nugget!"
Wooseok tries to hide his grin, but it creeps up anyway. "But he's so cute when he's chubby. It's hard to say no when he's giving me that puppy—er, kitty eyes."
Hyeyoon huffs and narrows her eyes at Wooseok, though she can't fully suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "This is why I can't trust you two alone. The moment I leave, it's all chicken and no discipline!"
Wooseok steps closer, his hands raised in surrender, his expression teasing. "Hey, hey. It's not like I'm feeding him chicken all the time... only when he's extra cute."
"Which is always in your eyes!" Hyeyoon counters, glancing down at Hongshi, who has now rolled onto his back, belly exposed, totally unfazed by the drama happening above him. She sighs, but it's a defeated fond sigh. "Look at him. He's going to need to start going to the gym at this rate."
Wooseok chuckles, stepping behind her and slipping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "But don't you think a little extra weight just makes him more... squishable? More loveable?" He nuzzles her cheek affectionately.
Hyeyoon tries to stay firm, but Wooseok's warm embrace and playful tone melt away her resolve. She sighs, leaning back into him, but still keeps her mock stern expression. "You say that now, but when I have to carry him up the stairs, we'll see how squishable he feels."
Wooseok chuckles, giving her a soft squeeze. "Okay, okay. No more chicken for Hongshi, I promise."
Hyeyoon raises an eyebrow, twisting in his arms to look him in the eyes. "You better keep that promise, Oppa. Or next time, I'm putting you on a diet too."
Wooseok laughs, his eyes twinkling. "As long as you're the one enforcing it, I won't mind. You'll keep me in line."
She rolls her eyes but can't help the smile that spreads across her face. "Fine. But you're on cleaning duty for Hongshi's food bowl tonight. No more chicken!"
Wooseok grins and leans down to plant a quick kiss on her lips. "Deal. No more chicken... unless you get hungry."
Hyeyoon giggles, shaking her head as they both glance down at Hongshi, who has now stretched out luxuriously on the carpet, seemingly oblivious to the deal that's just been struck.
"Poor Hongshi," Wooseok whispers, dramatically, as if the cat's about to go through a terrible ordeal. "He doesn't even know the chicken ban is coming."
Hyeyoon laughs, swatting Wooseok's arm lightly. "You'll both survive. But from now on, healthy snacks only."
