In the end, I slept until early evening.
Even when I came out to the living room led by his hand, I was still half asleep. Despite having slept so much, the fatigue that still hadn’t been released pressed down on the crown of my head and forehead, making me feel dazed.
Perhaps because of that, even looking at the food prepared right in front of me, I was still half-dreaming. My eyelids were heavy, my body was limp, and my head kept tilting forward nodding off…
“Oh dear.”
A hand that stretched out wrapped around my cheek. The warmth held in the palm heated my cheek warmly.
“Can’t eat?”
“…”
“Then at least have some of the snacks I bought.”
I, who still hadn’t come to my senses until then, opened my eyes in surprise only after a small piece of cut cake was brought to my mouth.
“Y-you don’t have to go this far.”
“Have you already forgotten that one of the reasons for hospitalization was malnutrition?”
That’s right. I remember that the doctor’s expression was serious when I heard that explanation, but I, the person in question, didn’t feel any particular emotion about it.
Still, if my problem inconveniences others, that’s a different story. I couldn’t make Seo Nakil, who was already so attentive to me, even more troubled. I accepted the cake plate and fork, saying I would eat it myself.
It was the three-layer cake I had eaten with him at the restaurant yesterday evening. The rich chocolate-flavored layers and cherry cream blended together, spreading a fresh fragrance in my mouth.
Only after I had eaten some of the cake did Seo Nakil sit down beside me.
“Then now, shall we organize what happened during the day?”
He pulled out file folders from the bag he’d placed beside him. There were two in total.
“What happened at Cosmos Entertainment was handled as you saw. Since verbal promises that could change at any time can’t be trusted, I chose a more effective and stable method. With the contract, recorded video, plus witnesses and evidence, even if some troublesome things happen, it won’t become a problem.”
In the end, it went as desired. If I just added a few more obligations, I could be free. It was a bittersweet feeling.
“The other one is a cooperation plan regarding Starium activities.”
It seemed things had progressed that far while I was briefly asleep. I nodded while gently scraping the cherry cream with my fork.
“You just need to move back into the dorm in the first week of April. You’ll only live together during the concert preparations, and after that, it’s arranged so you’ll only stay temporarily when there are group activities.”
It meant I didn’t have to live with Kwon Seonho every day. That alone made me feel like I could breathe a little easier.
“Since Cosmos won’t provide proper support, Revalue will temporarily dispatch personnel. When you move individually, you just need to follow this side’s manager. You won’t notice much difference.”
“Can that even happen? Even though it’s temporary, the agency has changed after all…”
“Director Jeong will move.”
Flustered, I gripped the fork tightly.
“How can Director Jeong…”
“He’s also transferring to Revalue. It’s too shabby a place for a person with common sense to stay. He’s almost finished with the paperwork too, and probably from next week he’ll be commuting to and from Revalue.”
The piece of cake I’d picked up but couldn’t quite put in my mouth wandered in the air. Then it slowly settled back down on the plate.
“Did you know each other originally?”
Instead of answering, Seo Nakil looked at me quietly.
“Director Jeong’s mother once owed gambling debts to the CEO, so that’s why he was working there. Even though the pay was low, they said if he worked as a manager there, they wouldn’t charge interest. So how did you recruit someone who was working there…”
There was a puzzle that fit together piece by piece only after thinking carefully.
“You received a copy of my contract through Director Jeong too, didn’t you?”
I recalled Director Jeong’s voice that I heard from behind when I left the building led by Seo Nakil’s hand.
‘You really came. Honestly, I didn’t expect it.’
The statement that Director Jeong and Seo Nakil knew each other personally sounded as strange as saying he and I were close.
Was the world small, or did you personally come all the way here?
The answer came easily. There are no amazing coincidences. At least not between Seo Nakil and me.
“How long ago did you start preparing?”
Then Seo Nakil answered slowly.
“A little earlier than you’re imagining.”
“…”
“As Han Ijae expects, Director Jeong and I aren’t connected by personal friendship or anything like that. But it is a productive relationship in its own way. In that the other party had what I wanted, and was fully willing to exchange it.”
Director Jeong handed over Cosmos’s internal information to Seo Nakil, and Seo Nakil paid the price for it. He even repaid the debt, moved his affiliation, and made it so he could work as my manager again, so it couldn’t be considered a cheap purchase.
“What’s important is that this guaranteed many people’s convenience.”
His gaze stung. Even though it wasn’t an aggressive attitude at all.
“Director Jeong became a free man, and you obtained a better situation. CEO Seon of Revalue got an opportunity, and Cosmos CEO Shin Hyeongcheol will pay less than what he deserved for what he did.”
I didn’t know what to say in response to his words that seemed to ask if that wasn’t enough. I just avoided his gaze and pressed my tongue firmly against my hard palate.
I still couldn’t adapt to this kindness pouring down like a waterfall and felt awkwardness and strangeness. The sweetness remaining in my mouth felt not just awkward but even scratchy.
Seo Nakil’s existence was like Pandora’s box. There was no way to know what was contained inside. Perhaps it contained something I’d never even imagined, something I couldn’t handle.
However, I couldn’t not open it. At least because he came to me, I felt I had to. Even if I ultimately couldn’t handle or understand everything inside it.
“Then, what did you gain from this, Mr. Actor?”
What exactly did he want to obtain so badly that he’d stake Director Jeong’s 100 million, my 500 million, and even his own name and position?
“Did you gain anything at all?”
“Of course.”
Seo Nakil’s eyes narrowed.
“I set up this whole arrangement, so do you think I’d take a loss?”
“…”
“I got you.”
Seo Nakil said that even adding all of that together, I was more valuable.
“Is that enough?”
“It was a profitable deal. Disappointingly so.”
“Why?”
I put down the cake plate. It was very delicious and more than half remained, but I didn’t feel like eating any more.
“We’re not close friends, and it’s not a sponsorship relationship either.”
“Do you need more reasons than that?”
“Rather than reasons…”
I didn’t know I’d end up saying this. I’m sure until just a few days ago I felt it didn’t matter either way. I moved my lips slightly and said.
“I’m curious about your sincerity.”
“Sincerity.”
He looked quietly at the cake I’d left behind. I thought he’d urge me to eat more, but he was unexpectedly silent.
“I’m a fan.”
Flustered, I blinked my eyes. It felt even more unrealistic than the excuses he’d offered so far.
“Didn’t you say you were curious about my sincerity?”
“So that’s your answer?”
“Is it strange for you to have a fan?”
“A little…”
“If I had to be specific, I added personal business calculations to my fan feelings. I heard information that someone I’d been keeping an eye on wasn’t getting proper support and was struggling, and I thought it would be fine to step in if there were problems I could solve.”
The words that it would be good if I could transplant you to a better place sounded very unfamiliar. It seemed like I’d never once had such courage.
Even if the entire world around me became ruins, I’d rather quit everything than even think about going somewhere else. I was trapped in a very small well, believing it was the entirety of the world.
“I watched ‘For Starium’ too.”
“Do you like survival programs and things like that?”
“As if I’d like something like that. I watched it to see your face. They said I had to send texts or whatever, so I sent some.”
It still didn’t suit him at all, but I felt it a little more real. However, if there was a problem, on ‘For Starium’ I was…
Seo Nakil asked me as I lowered my head.
“Why didn’t you say it was unfair?”
