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Chapter 14
However, Ye-won tugged on Do-ha’s sleeve once more, as if insisting he wouldn’t let her dodge the current.
There was no helping it. He was weak when it came to children. Do-ha sighed and looked back at Ye-won.
“…Why do you want to be an actress?”
“Because I like acting. I like seeing people’s eyes light up.”
“You know, Do-ha. I like capturing people. I like capturing that exact moment when their eyes sparkle.”
“….”
“Just like you like singing, I like acting.”
Do-ha finally admitted it.
For years, he had denied the ties of blood entirely.
But at this moment, that very bond—blood ties—held him completely, tightly, with no escape.
“….”
Strangely enough, the very connection he had once wanted to escape so badly…
He didn’t want to escape it now.
On the contrary—
“…I see. I think you’ll do well, Ye-won.”
“Because I look like you, Uncle?”
He found himself wanting to clasp that tiny hand holding his sleeve.
Perhaps it reminded him of a time when he had desperately wished for someone to take his hand. He knew what that feeling was like.
“Yeah. Because you look like me.”
…Or maybe, he just needed this little hand.
The next morning.
“….”
Do-ha spotted Woo-yeon in the living room, even though he had promised the night before that he would go home on his own.
Somehow, Woo-yeon had spread out bedding and was sprawled out, sleeping soundly.
Why did this kid refuse to leave his house to stay at their house?
Do-ha gazed at Woo-yeon with puzzled eyes.
After Tae-young had left the group, Woo-yeon had become so frustrated with Do-ha that he decided to live independently.
This was the first time since then that he had slept in this house.
‘How strange.’
But in truth—
‘Uncle Woo-yeon, can I sleep here today?’
‘Huh? Me? Why?’
‘Becaause… the house is soooo big! It’s scary with just me and Uncle Do-ha… like, ghosts might come out… But Uncle Woo-yeon is super cool and reliable, so I think you could catch the ghosts…’
‘Me?! Me?! Well, yeah… I am a little cool. Heh. Okay!! This Uncle Woo-yeon will protect our Ye-won!! Trust me!!’
‘Then… tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, I’ll sleep here too, right?’
‘Huh? Uh…?’
‘It’s a promise, right?’
‘Uh… yeah? But then, I think Do-ha will kill me…’
‘Uncle Woo-yeon can beat Uncle Do-ha. Surely… you won’t lose…?’
‘What are you talking about!!! I’m totally fair!!!’
‘…….’
Do-ha had no idea that it was Ye-won’s scheme last night that led to Woo-yeon staying over.
Just as he was about to wake Woo-yeon—
Ding-dong.
“!”
No one should be visiting at this hour.
Do-ha furrowed his brows and checked the intercom.
Then a very familiar face appeared.
‘…Why is this person here?’
As he hesitated whether to open the door or not—
“Who is it?!”
“!!”
The sudden voice almost made Do-ha leap.
“Why are you so startled, Uncle?”
“Sorry. It’s just… not used to someone being here.”
“Ohhh.”
Ye-won nodded as if she understood.
“Who’s here?”
“…Another member.”
“Another member?!”
At the words “another member,” Ye-won’s face lit up.
…Why does she look so happy?
Just as Do-ha felt a little jealous, he realized he was being ridiculous.
Why did it matter to him whether the kid liked another guest or not?
“Is it Uncle I or Uncle Yeon-ho?”
“…You know all our members’ names?”
“Of course! Who doesn’t know the Glitz uncles in our country?”
Ye-won spoke seriously, but her undeveloped mouth made her pronunciation slightly off, and Do-ha laughed.
Trying to sound grown-up in speech, but still a child.
“Why are you laughing!!??”
Compared to peers, she spoke well and clearly, but she was still a child.
Seeing her flustered like this after just one laugh was enough.
“No, I just laughed.”
“So… who is it?”
“Yeon-ho hyung.”
“!”
At the name Yeon-ho, curiosity flashed across Ye-won’s face.
It made sense—he was the least seen member in the media.
Not exactly mysterious, but even among Glitz, Seo Yeon-ho especially avoided media exposure.
Not for any special reason—
“Be careful.”
“Huh?”
“This guy has zero social skills.”
Simply, he just lacked social skills.
“Social skills? What’s that?”
“…You’ll see.”
Do-ha chuckled and pressed the button in response to her seven-year-old question.
A moment later—
“He’s not dead.”
“……”
“I came thinking Do-ha was dead.”
Ye-won and Do-ha now faced a man with absolutely zero social skills.
If Do-ha was a sparkling, pretty cat,
Woo-yeon was a cunning, sly fox.
And then—
“The first thing you say when you arrive is about whether he’s dead? Isn’t that crossing the line even if you’re a hyung?”
“Blame Han Woo-yeon. He said it.”
Seeing Yeon-ho in front of her, Ye-won immediately thought of an animal.
‘…A wolf the size of a house…’
Not just a wolf—the size of a house.
Yeon-ho was taller than both Woo-yeon and Do-ha.
Not only that, but his broad shoulders and well-built muscles gave off an intimidating presence, as if he lived in a gym.
‘…He looks more like a macho actor than an idol…’
His appearance seemed perfect for a noir movie protagonist, and Ye-won was flustered.
Even his gaze was on a completely different level from the other two.
‘…No kindness, only indifference…’
Unlike Do-ha and Woo-yeon, who were warm and gentle toward her, Yeon-ho’s eyes held no emotion, no interest—like staring at a rock.
Seo Yeon-ho trudged into Do-ha’s house and kicked the sleeping Woo-yeon awake.
“Ah!”
Various curses came from under the blanket.
“What are you doing—uh…? Yeon-ho hyung?”
Woo-yeon stopped, noticing Yeon-ho with his puffy eyes.
“You came fast! Wow. So you are a human being?! Rushing here just because Do-ha supposedly died?!”
“Where do you get off playing with people like that.”
“Ah!! Hyung! Let’s talk it out, okay!? Ah!! Aah!!”
Despite Woo-yeon’s bright voice, Yeon-ho mercilessly kicked him again.
“No!! I know you don’t listen if I speak, so I have no choice but to use violence!!”
“Yeah!! I know you only respond to force, so I’m just using it!!”
“Ah!! Seriously, hyung!! Look at your leg muscles!! If you kick me like that, it’s attempted murder!! Not just assault, special assault!!”
“Shut your mouth, seriously.”
After all the kicks Woo-yeon took, Yeon-ho finally seemed to calm down and opened Do-ha’s fridge with a bored expression.
“What are you looking for?”
“Protein shake.”
Do-ha stared, dumbfounded, and Yeon-ho answered casually.
…This guy is seriously weird!!
Ye-won stared in shock at Yeon-ho.
“Why would we even have that in our house?”
“Guess he doesn’t plan on managing it. If the group disbands, he wants advance notice so he can make a living.”
“We’re not disbanding.”
“If Ian doesn’t return, we’ll have to.”
“……”
Yeon-ho clicked his tongue at the empty fridge and plopped onto the dining table.
…Given his height, it actually looks natural for him to just sit there.
As Ye-won admired his insane physique—
“What is this guy?”
“!”
Yeon-ho got straight to the point.
Ye-won thought for a moment. For the blunt question, “What is this guy?”, she had two choices:
- Hide behind Do-ha (because she was scared).
- Step forward boldly and introduce herself.
…Which should she choose?
“Hyung, she’s scared, so please relax your expression—”
Just as Woo-yeon tried to scold Yeon-ho, Ye-won stepped forward confidently.
She had met plenty of people like this in society.
“I’m Ye-won!”
For people like him, being bold worked better than hiding.
“…Ye-won?”
“Yes! I’m part of Do-ha’s family.”
Ye-won emphasized the word family on purpose.
