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Wooseok stepped out of his room at Hyeyoon's familiar voice. "Oppa, oppa!" she called, perched on the sofa with Hongshi, her chubby cat, curled up comfortably in her lap. Her phone was in one hand, her brows furrowed, and her tongue peeked out slightly—a habit she always had when deeply focused. Wooseok couldn't help but chuckle at her serious expression.
"What is it?" he asked, sitting beside her and reaching out to stroke Hongshi, who responded with a contented purr.
"Can I upload these pictures?" she asked, holding her phone up to him. He took the phone from her hands, scrolling through her chosen photos. Each one captured her natural charm, her beauty undeniable in every frame. But one picture stood out to him—a photo of her in a white dress, her hand caught mid-movement as she brushed her hair back. There was something ethereal about it, something that made her look like she'd stepped out of a dream. She was so beautiful in that photo it took his breath away.
For a moment, he was tempted to ask her to delete it. Somehow, this was the kind of picture he wanted to keep for himself, like a secret he didn't want to share with the world. But he knew her fans would adore seeing her like this, and who was he to stand in the way of that?
"Yes, you can upload them," he said with a soft smile, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
She swatted his hand away with a small huff, rolling her eyes at him. But he noticed the hint of a smile tugging at her lips, a familiar warmth blooming in his chest. For him, there was something special in the way she asked him first. Hyeyoon had been doing this ever since last year, always asking his permission before posting any photos they'd taken together. At first, it was probably out of respect because she was worried he might not be comfortable with her uploading his picture. But it wasn't something he'd experienced with anyone else; most of his co-stars and friends would simply upload their pictures without a second thought. Not that he ever minded—but with Hyeyoon, it was different.
The first time she'd asked had caught him completely off guard. She'd looked at him with those big, sincere eyes, waiting for his approval before posting a picture of him on her SNS. It had stirred something in him—a sense of respect, maybe even appreciation. With Hyeyoon, he felt valued in a way he couldn't quite explain, as though she understood a part of him no one else did.
"Thank you, Oppa," she said, reclaiming her phone and beaming at him before she started crafting her post. He watched her, a soft smile lingering on his lips. Moments like this, filled with small gestures and shared glances, were what he cherished most. And he was pretty sure she knew that, too.
As she finished uploading her picture she wandered to where hongshi was sleeping, to disturb him. Wooseok couldn't take his eyes off her, feeling a swell of gratitude and awe. It struck him, not for the first time, how lucky he was to have someone like Hyeyoon beside him. She was everything he had ever imagined in a partner—cute, petite, and, beyond her bright personality, wise and smart in ways that constantly surprised him. Thinking back, it almost seemed like every time he'd described his ideal type, he'd been unknowingly describing her.
A soft smile tugged at his lips as he watched her grab Hongshi's favorite toy, wiggling it in front of him to coax some movement out of their chubby, unimpressed cat.
"Come on, Hongshi! Just a little exercise?" she cooed, shaking the toy hopefully. But Hongshi merely blinked at her, utterly uninterested, before yawning as if to emphasize his refusal. Hyeyoon gasped dramatically and showered him with a series of affectionate kisses. Her laughter was infectious, filling the room with warmth, and Wooseok felt a rush of happiness just watching her.
He watched her walk to the kitchen, then he heard her voice. "Oh Oppa! There's a package for you," She had wandered over to the counter, where a large box filled with scripts had been delivered. She rifled through them curiously, pulling one out with a little grin.
"It looks like there's a whole stack of scripts for you!" she said with a grin, picking one up. "Ooh, this one sounds good." Hyeyoon opened the thriller script, flipping through the pages with growing interest. Wooseok watched her expression shift as she absorbed each line, her brow furrowed in concentration. Unable to resist, he snuck up behind her, peering over her shoulder. She was completely engrossed, her eyes shining with excitement.
"This one's really good, Oppa," she murmured thoughtfully, looking up at him with an eager smile. "Maybe you should consider playing a detective? You could ask Jaeyoung Oppa for tips—he was amazing in The Judge from Hell."
Wooseok felt an unexpected pang of jealousy at her praise for Jaeyoung. He wanted to be the only "amazing" man she admired, he tried to sound casual as he asked, "What if there's a script where he's the male lead? Would you still take the role?"
"Of course!" she replied with a mischievous smile. "You already know this, Oppa. I always like my male leads taller than me. The taller, the better. And Jaeyoung Oppa is taller than me."
He narrowed his eyes, jealousy creeping in a bit stronger. His mind raced, imagining Jaeyoung Hyung acting beside her, and his heart sank at the thought of her laughing at Jaeyoung's clumsy charm—just as she did with him. Wooseok could picture her playfully coaxing smiles from Jaeyoung Hyung with the same warmth and ease that she showed him. It was enough to make his chest tighten with jealousy.
But it wasn't just about Jaeyoung's height or charm. What gnawed at Wooseok was the memory of all the little ways Hyeyoon showed her respect and admiration for him, even though she was more experienced. She'd taken his suggestions for their scenes without a single complaint, following his lead on set in a way that felt both humbling and gratifying. She never made a fuss if he offered feedback, even though she was the senior actor.
As he thought of Jaeyoung hyung being on the receiving end of this side of her—the way she listened attentively, considered his words, and showed that quiet humility—Wooseok realized any man would be swept off his feet by her grace and genuine admiration. It was a rare feeling, to know someone who valued him and his perspective so deeply.
"Oppa? Why do you look so serious all of a sudden?" Hyeyoon's teasing voice broke through his thoughts.
He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the silly jealousy bubbling up inside him. "I was just thinking—"
"Uh-oh..." she cut him off with a playful grin.
In response, he reached over to pinch her cheek, making her burst into laughter as he joined in, their laughter filling the room. She poked his side, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a warm hug.
"I don't like the idea of you working with Jaeyoung Hyung," he admitted, his tone both lighthearted and serious. "No, correction. I don't like the idea of you working with any other man."
"Why?" she asked, her brow lifting in curiosity. Chuckled.
"Because he might take you away from me," he said softly, the vulnerability in his tone surprising even him.
Hyeyoon gave him a look before rolling her eyes, a tender smile spreading across her face. "Oppa, even if I'm small, no one can take me away from you." She wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back soothingly. "For someone as handsome as you, you sure can be insecure, Oppa." she continued.
Wooseok chuckled, pressing his forehead gently to hers. "I guess when it comes to you, all my confidence goes out the window."
They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped up in each other's embrace. And Wooseok felt his worries fade, knowing that she was right there beside him, exactly where she wanted to be.
