Love is better than pain
3. Again, get entangled.
As soon as they arrived at the accommodation, Siyeon bowed her head and greeted them again.
강시연
“Really… thank you so much. I could have just let it slide…”
Myeongho waved his hand awkwardly.
디에잇(명호)
“No. It’s just… the circumstances are…”
강시연
"Still. You saved my life. I don't think I'll ever forget this."
At those words, Myeongho turned his head to the side. "Lifesaver," he thought, "that kind of thing was too burdensome."
강시연
“I’d like to buy you dinner. Do you have a free time?”
디에잇(명호)
“It’s okay. Really.”
강시연
“Then I’ll pack it up and leave it in front of your hotel room! It’s my wish.”
Only then did Myeongho raise the corners of his mouth, as if he had finally given up.
디에잇(명호)
“…Do whatever you want.”
That night, Siyeon visited the most famous xiaolongbao shop nearby and carefully packed them.
Back at the hotel, I carefully checked my room number and wrote a short note on a piece of paper. "Thank you so much. You saved my life."
She carefully placed the bag of food with the note on the doorstep, looked around cautiously, and then returned to her room.
A moment later. Myeongho raised his head slightly at the sound of someone. Opening the door, the smell of xiaolongbao greeted him, and upon seeing the words written on the paper, he let out a silent laugh.
디에잇(명호)
“A lifesaver… why are you being so extravagant?”
He came in, scratching his head and holding a bag of food. When he opened the lid, steam rose.
It was a familiar yet nostalgic scent.
디에잇(명호)
'Ah, I like it..'
My heart became warmer than I thought.
He thought, ‘I should eat this with my fans,’ and headed to his seat, taking out his cell phone.
디에잇(명호)
Weibo live broadcast ON. "Great family~"
As soon as the live broadcast began, countless fans flocked to the show. The comments section quickly exploded, and Myungho greeted them with a familiar smile.
디에잇(명호)
“Today is a mukbang.”
When fans responded with, “What are you eating, oppa?” and “Are you alone?”, Myungho slowly showed them the food.
His live broadcast was warmer than usual, and his expression had a certain comfort to it.
40 minutes later. The broadcast ended, and Myung-ho, having cleaned up the leftover food, changed into comfortable workout clothes.
I felt like even a short run would make me feel better. I pulled my hood down and took the elevator out of the dorm.
Myung-ho, who was doing a light stretch near the hotel entrance, suddenly turned his head. He saw a familiar back in the distance.
디에잇(명호)
"Kang Si-yeon..?"
She was wandering around, looking at her phone, as if waiting for something. Myungho turned his head and tried to pass her by.
디에잇(명호)
‘There’s nothing to see now…’
But at that moment— from a distance, two police officers were approaching the demonstration.
디에잇(명호)
"what..."
The police officers were approaching and gesturing as if asking something, but Siyeon was unaware of it as she was engrossed in her cell phone.
디에잇(명호)
"shit..."
Without a moment to hesitate, Myeongho ran straight towards the demonstration.
Without hesitation, without distance
Siyeon was sitting on a bench in front of the hotel, staring intently at her phone screen.
After connecting to the hotel's Wi-Fi, I was so distracted by the sudden influx of messages and notifications that I was completely oblivious to my surroundings.
Someone was approaching her, and the two police officers following behind her were getting closer.
디에잇(명호)
"...Ms. Kang Si-yeon."
The moment a familiar voice reached her ears, Siyeon jumped in surprise and almost dropped her phone.
강시연
"Uh... Mr. Seo, Seo Myung-ho...?"
Siyeon, who was looking at Myeongho with surprised eyes, only then saw two police officers approaching from behind and her face became even more flustered.
디에잇(명호)
“These people right now—”
Myeongho nodded briefly. Then, naturally, he began to converse with the police in Chinese.
디에잇(명호)
“She’s okay. We’ve already reported her, she’s Korean, and she’s due to leave the country tomorrow.”
The police officer nodded and asked Shiyeon.
Public Security Officer "Have you lost anything? Have you received any injuries?"
Siyeon looked at Myeongho, unsure of what he meant, and Myeongho gave a brief interpretation.
디에잇(명호)
“Ask if you’ve lost anything or if you’re hurt.”
강시연
“Oh, yes. No. Fortunately…”
Myeongho relayed those words back to Gong-an, who nodded and stepped back.
Public security: "Please be careful next time."
As the two moved away, Siyeon stared blankly at Myeongho. She felt so grateful to this person for rescuing her from the moments she'd missed, yet somehow, he kept touching her heart.
강시연
“…You helped me again.”
Myeongho let out a short breath and smiled, not really smiling.
디에잇(명호)
“That’s right. It keeps getting tangled up.”
At those words, the corners of Siyeon's mouth slightly rose. A pang of pang rang through her chest. Was this simply gratitude?
Or… something a little more complicated than that?
강시연
"Hey..." Siyeon pulled a notepad out of her bag.
He carefully tore the paper with his fingers and wrote something on it.
강시연
“…This is my number. If you come to Korea… I’d really like to treat you to a treat.”
She handed the paper to Myeongho and said:
강시연
"If it's uncomfortable, you can throw it away. I just wanted to convey my feelings.
Myeongho tilted his head back and smiled slightly.
디에잇(명호)
“The food I received this time is enough. I enjoyed it.”
강시연
“…Please just accept it. I’d like to give you something like a gift.”
When he refused to take the paper, Siyeon cautiously extended her hand again and bowed her head. At that moment, a quiet night breeze blew past her head.
Myungho tried to say something, but eventually stopped and accepted the paper.
디에잇(명호)
" all right..."
Siyeon's face brightened up in an instant.
강시연
“Really? Thank you!”
Myungho nodded, folding the note and putting it in his pocket.
디에잇(명호)
"Siyeon, let's go in now. It was dangerous today."
강시연
“…Ah, yes! Be careful on your way in, you too, Myeongho.”
Siyeon entered the hotel lobby with a bright smile. Myungho, who had been watching her from behind, smiled quietly as the door closed.
He looked at the paper in his hand once more. Then he raised his head and looked up at the deepening blue sky.