The car door shut.
Soft.
But the silence inside?
Heavy.
Ha-Niel and Ji-Ah slid into the back seat.
Too neatly.
Too quietly.
Which, in itself, was suspicious.
In the front—
Kang Min-Seo sat straight.
Hands resting lightly on her lap.
Not stiff.
Just… aware.
Then—
Do-Yun got in.
And just like that—
The atmosphere shifted.
"Seatbelt," he said casually, starting the engine.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Silence.
"…this is normal," Geon would've said if he was here.
(It was not normal.)
Do-Yun glanced at the rearview mirror.
"This is my sister, Ha-Niel."
A small pause.
"And her friend, Ji-Ah."
Min-Seo turned slightly.
Gave a polite nod.
"Min-Seo," she said.
Simple.
Direct.
Ha-Niel smiled.
Ji-Ah smiled.
Too much.
"Nice to meet you," they said together.
Too synchronized.
Do-Yun ignored it.
Pulled the car into motion.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Min-Seo spoke.
"…why did you bring them?" she asked.
Blunt.
Ha-Niel's smile froze.
Ji-Ah's eyes widened slightly.
Do-Yun didn't even look surprised.
"I didn't," he said calmly.
A pause.
"I brought you into my day."
Min-Seo blinked.
"…that wasn't what I meant."
"I know."
A small silence.
Then—
He added,
"I don't want an artificial conversation."
That landed.
He kept his eyes on the road.
"You're honest," he said.
"And you're new."
A beat.
"This industry will try to fix both of those things."
The car grew quieter.
Not awkward.
Just… attentive.
Min-Seo leaned slightly forward.
Listening.
Do-Yun's voice stayed calm.
"People won't tell you the truth here."
"They'll tell you what keeps them comfortable."
A turn.
Smooth.
"If they like you, they'll smile."
"If they don't, they'll still smile."
Ji-Ah blinked slowly in the back.
"…that's scary," she whispered.
Ha-Niel elbowed her lightly.
"Shh."
Do-Yun continued.
"You'll be praised for the wrong reasons."
"Criticized for the wrong ones too."
Min-Seo didn't interrupt.
Didn't question.
She just… absorbed it.
"You'll meet people who talk about 'vision'," he said,
"but what they mean is 'control.'"
A pause.
"And you'll meet people who call themselves 'family'—"
His eyes flickered slightly.
Just for a second.
"—but treat you like an asset."
Silence.
Min-Seo's fingers tightened slightly.
"…and how do you deal with that?" she asked quietly.
Do-Yun didn't answer immediately.
"You don't," he said.
A beat.
"You learn who deserves your honesty."
The car slowed slightly at a signal.
"And you protect the rest."
Min-Seo nodded slowly.
"…no one told me this."
"Of course they didn't."
Green light.
The car moved again.
"They need you hopeful," he added.
A faint pause.
"Not prepared."
That hit deeper than anything before.
Min-Seo looked out the window briefly.
Then back at him.
"…what about the project?" she asked.
He glanced at her.
"Don't let them touch the ending."
Immediate.
Firm.
She didn't hesitate.
"I won't."
"They'll try."
"I know."
A small pause.
"They'll say it needs to be bigger."
"They always do."
He shook his head slightly.
"It's already big."
Min-Seo blinked.
"…you really think so?"
Do-Yun looked ahead.
"It's honest."
A beat.
"That's bigger than most things I read."
Silence.
And for the first time—
Min-Seo smiled.
Small.
Real.
Respect.
Not for the actor.
Not for the fame.
But for the man who understood the story.
In the back seat—
Two pairs of eyes were glowing.
Ha-Niel.
Ji-Ah.
Their expressions slowly changed.
From curiosity…
To realization…
To—
Opportunity.
Ha-Niel leaned slightly toward Ji-Ah.
Whispered.
"…she's good."
Ji-Ah nodded slowly.
"…and he's talking."
Ha-Niel's grin grew.
"…a lot."
Danger.
Absolute danger.
And then—
Min-Seo turned slightly.
"…you're in college?" she asked.
That was it.
The trigger.
Ha-Niel sat up instantly.
"Yes!"
Ji-Ah followed.
"Second year!"
"Top of her class," Ji-Ah added immediately.
Ha-Niel blinked.
"…I am?"
Ji-Ah smiled.
"Of course you are."
Min-Seo nodded politely.
"…that's impressive."
"Not really," Ha-Niel said modestly.
Then—
Casually.
Too casually.
"Our family just values discipline."
Ji-Ah jumped in.
"And structure."
"And emotional stability," Ha-Niel added.
Do-Yun's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
Min-Seo blinked.
"…I see."
A pause.
"And your brother?" she asked.
Wrong question.
Very wrong question.
Ha-Niel smiled.
"Oh, he's—"
Ji-Ah cut in.
"Perfect."
Do-Yun closed his eyes briefly.
"…please don't—"
Too late.
"He wakes up early," Ha-Niel continued.
"Cooks for us."
"Always takes care of everything."
"Never gets angry," Ji-Ah added.
"Very responsible."
"Very stable."
"Emotionally available."
Do-Yun sighed.
"…I am driving."
Ignored.
"And Geon?" Min-Seo asked.
Ha-Niel didn't even blink.
"A genius."
Ji-Ah nodded.
"Top student."
Do-Yun almost missed a turn.
"Very mature for his age," Ha-Niel added.
"…he cried over instant noodles yesterday," Do-Yun muttered.
"EMOTIONAL DEPTH," Ji-Ah corrected immediately.
Min-Seo pressed her lips together.
Trying—
Very hard—
Not to laugh.
"…you're very close," she said carefully.
"Oh, extremely," Ha-Niel replied.
Then—
Casually.
Too casually.
"…what about you?"
Min-Seo blinked.
"What about me?"
Ji-Ah leaned forward slightly.
"…are you seeing anyone?"
Silence.
The car slowed.
Do-Yun stopped at a signal.
"…that's not subtle," he said.
"It was extremely subtle," Ha-Niel argued.
Min-Seo looked between them.
Then—
Let out a small laugh.
"…no," she said.
Both girls' eyes lit up.
"Not even… someone you like?" Ji-Ah pressed.
Min-Seo shook her head.
"I've been working."
Ha-Niel nodded slowly.
"…of course."
Then—
A pause.
"…same."
Ji-Ah turned slowly.
"…since when?"
Ha-Niel ignored her.
Min-Seo leaned back slightly.
Watching them now.
Understanding something.
"…this isn't about me, is it?" she asked.
Silence.
Do-Yun smiled faintly.
"…no."
Ha-Niel and Ji-Ah froze.
Then—
Smiled.
"…it's a little about you," Ji-Ah admitted.
Min-Seo shook her head.
"…I walked into something strange."
Do-Yun nodded.
"You did."
A beat.
"And it's only going to get worse."
The car moved again.
And for the first time—
Min-Seo didn't feel like an outsider.
She felt like she had stepped into a story.
One she didn't fully understand yet—
But somehow—
Didn't want to leave.