The city of Seoul at night was a sprawling circuit of neon and noise, but the narrow alleys of the local night market felt like a different world. Here, the air was thick with the scent of charcoal-grilled pork, spicy tteokbokki, and the sweet, fried aroma of honey-glazed skewers. It was a place of raw, unpolished energy—a far cry from the sterile luxury of the penthouse or the high-tension atmosphere of the film set.
Joon-ho and Ji-hye walked side by side, blending into the crowd of late-night strollers and hungry office workers. Both were dressed inconspicuously, wearing low-slung baseball caps that shaded their faces and oversized hoodies that obscured their frames. For the public, they were just two more anonymous couples enjoying the night. For them, the anonymity was a luxury.
