moonjunlight
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- Parts 33
Wen Junhui has lived in Korea for over a decade, first as a student, now as a quiet, reliable employee at a tech firm. Life is steady, if a little unremarkable. Xu Minghao, his bright, artistic, slightly chaotic co-worker, arrived in Seoul two years ago chasing his creative ambitions. Now, with his visa about to expire and no clear path forward, Minghao finds himself untethered, unsure where to land next.
A chance discovery of an apartment advertisement offering heavy discounts for married couples presents an unexpected solution. Jun jokes about how ridiculous it is, until Minghao confesses his visa troubles. In a moment of quiet understanding, they realize their separate problems might be solved by the same plan.
They agree to a fake marriage, Minghao gets his residency, Jun gets his dream apartment at a lower price, and they split the costs. It's meant to be a practical, business-like arrangement. No feelings, no complications.
But the more time they spend together navigating immigration interviews, decorating their shared home, and answering curious questions from nosy co-workers, the blurrier the lines between pretending and feeling become. Little routines turn into quiet comforts. Shared spaces become safe places. And hearts that were once adrift begin to find steady ground, in each other.
In a city full of temporary stays and uncertain futures, sometimes it's the things you never planned for that feel most like home.