How long had it been since Dayeon’s eyes had slowly closed?

    Rustle, rustle.

    Rustle, rustle.

    “...Is it okay?”

    “Yeah, it’s fine... Ah, then maybe now’s a good time to...”

    Dayeon slowly opened her eyes at the faint sound of voices.

    Her consciousness hadn’t fully returned yet.

    Still half-asleep, she turned her blurry gaze toward the direction of the sound.

    And there, she saw Ha-eun and Gong Hye-yeon talking about something.

    “...What are you doing?”

    With her groggy voice, she asked what they were talking about.

    Her eyes blinked slowly. Her tone was sleepy.

    At the question, both Ha-eun and Gong Hye-yeon turned their heads toward her.

    Their mouths opened as if to answer.

    But Dayeon’s head was still foggy.

    “...You can sleep more... it’s still... outside...”

    “...I’ll bring it later... eat... then...”

    She couldn’t make out the words clearly.

    Before long, her eyelids started to grow heavy again.

    And once more, Dayeon slipped back into sleep.

    It wasn’t until two hours later that she opened her eyes again.

    Her mind gradually cleared.

    Sitting up sluggishly on the soft bed, she blinked a few times in silence.

    But then—

    “...When did I even lie down?”

    She couldn’t remember much of what had happened the night before.

    She vaguely remembered drinking in place of Ha-eun, but everything after that was a blur.

    The real problem was that even the few fragments she could recall felt more like a dream than reality.

    “Lee Ha-eun, stay with me... don’t go...”

    “I really like being your friend, Lee Ha-eun...”

    “I’ll do anything for you... anything you need...”

    “...What kind of dream even is that?”

    From start to finish, everything was just too embarrassing.

    Dayeon completely ruled out ? NоvеIight ? (Original source) the possibility that it had been real.

    There was no way she would say things that mortifying.

    Saying she was happy to be Ha-eun’s friend.

    Begging her not to leave.

    Even just imagining it was enough to make her face burn with shame.

    ‘Ugh, my head...’

    The hangover kicked in, making it even harder to recall anything clearly.

    And so, she decided everything she remembered had just been a dream and shoved it deep into the back of her mind.

    After giving up on piecing together last night’s events,

    she started walking out of the bedroom to get some water—

    Drink this. It''s for your hangover.

    “...When did she even go out and get this?”

    A hangover drink, sitting on the bedside table.

    And a note from Ha-eun, stuck to the bottle.

    Dayeon stopped in her tracks when she saw it.

    Only after downing the hangover drink did she finally step out of the bedroom.

    ‘Where did Lee Ha-eun go?’

    She wandered around the house in search of Ha-eun,

    completely forgetting the hazy half-asleep conversation they’d had two hours ago.

    She checked the living room, where a few others were still sleeping together.

    Another bedroom, where faint snoring could be heard.

    The kitchen, filled with empty wine bottles and beer cans that looked way too expensive.

    She finally heard Ha-eun’s voice just as she stepped onto the stairs leading up to the second floor.

    “Looks like new clothes. Can I try it on?”

    “Go ahead, go ahead. I’ve got mine set aside.”

    She followed the sound to the room and gently pushed the door open.

    And then—she was met with the sight of various gym machines.

    Dumbbells, a treadmill, a pull-up bar.

    A bench press, leg press—stuff you’d expect to find in an actual gym.

    And in the center of it all, wearing gymwear instead of pajamas: Ha-eun and Gong Hye-yeon.

    The sharp definition of Ha-eun’s abs under her black tank top made Dayeon freeze for a moment.

    “...What are you two doing?”

    “Oh, uh. Ha-eun said she wanted to work out.”

    Standing beside Ha-eun, Gong Hye-yeon answered as she tied up Ha-eun’s hair.

    Then she brought up her modeling work for an online store.

    “I figured we could work out together, and also have her try on some of our shop’s outfits.”

    She stepped back and looked over Ha-eun’s whole appearance with a touch of admiration.

    And for good reason—right now, Ha-eun was a fitness model.

    Not an ounce of excess fat.

    The way the tank top and leggings fit her body—flawless in every sense.

    “...Nope. We gotta try on a few more outfits before working out, Ha-eun.”

    If she could, Gong Hye-yeon would’ve taken photos right then and there for her shop’s homepage.

    Which was exactly why she made Ha-eun try on a few more gymwear sets and snapped photos before letting her actually start.

    “Dayeon, wanna try some too? We’ve got small sizes.”

    “N-no, I’m good.”

    And so Gong Hye-yeon’s impromptu photo session continued on and on.

    “I’ll talk to my dad. If you’re ever interested in modeling, let me know, Ha-eun.”

    “Uh, o-okay.”

    Only after modeling every last gym outfit did Ha-eun finally get to start her workout.

    As she began a light jog on the treadmill, Dayeon quietly sat nearby, watching her.

    ‘What, is she possessed by the ghost of a fitness freak?’

    Dayeon knew Ha-eun had been into exercise since kindergarten.

    To her, working out was more of a routine than a hobby.

    But Dayeon still didn’t know why Ha-eun was so obsessed with it.

    She watched those defined abs, and cautiously asked—

    “Is working out that fun?”

    “Hmm... it’s alright, I guess?”

    It seemed like more than simple self-care.

    Even idol trainees didn’t usually go this hard.

    She wasn’t even planning on becoming an athlete, so why the obsession?

    This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

    “Gotta take care of my health.”

    “That’s such a grandma thing to say.”

    “It’s not a bad thing to start young.”

    “I mean, true, but still.”

    A few beads of sweat formed on Ha-eun’s forehead.

    Steady breathing.

    Her chest bouncing with each stride.

    And above all, that increasingly content smile—

    “...You look like a pervert.”

    “Excuse me?!”

    Dayeon shook her head in disbelief.

    Maybe it was fulfilling for Ha-eun, but to an observer, it was... a lot.

    Or maybe Dayeon was just clueless about fitness.

    Sitting on the floor, she kept watching until Ha-eun’s routine finally ended.

    Then she stood up.

    ‘Isn’t that exhausting, doing this every day?’

    It was a side of her that felt strange to see.

    Still, that toned body hadn’t come from nowhere.

    Later, after heading to the bathroom together, they showered and changed into fresh clothes—

    courtesy of Gong Hye-yeon.

    Their other friends, who had still been sleeping until just a little while ago, were now slowly starting to wake up.

    But then—just to be sure—

    “Hey, Lee Ha-eun. About last night...”

    She was sitting behind Dayeon, drying her hair with a hairdryer, when Dayeon asked.

    She wanted to know what had happened after she blacked out.

    Whether she’d said anything weird while drunk.

    “Something weird? Like what?”

    “...How would I know? That’s why I’m asking you.”

    “Hmm... nothing much, really. Other than saying I have six fingers.”

    “S-someone might’ve just seen it wrong for a second, okay?”

    Luckily, it seemed she hadn’t said anything too ridiculous.

    Ha-eun’s expression was the same as always, and only then did Dayeon finally relax.

    Because if she had used formal speech with Ha-eun, she’d absolutely be getting teased about it right now.

    ‘Still have no clue why I dreamed something like that, though...’

    She was just relieved she hadn’t done anything overly embarrassing, like back when they were in Japan.

    Thanks to that, she was able to keep a straight face during the group breakfast,

    and even during the post-breakfast Christmas gift exchange.

    “All right, Dayeon’s gift is... drumroll...!”

    “Oh, a scarf!”

    “Thanks, Dayeon! The weather has been getting colder.”

    Turned out, the scarf Dayeon had prepared was a good choice.

    The friend who picked her gift genuinely seemed to like it.

    That said, just as Dayeon was about to mention how much it cost, Ha-eun quickly covered her mouth.

    “Mmhp! Mmmph mmph!”

    “W-we’re not supposed to say the price of gifts. It could come off as bragging.”

    “...Mmmph? Mmph mmph mmph?”

    “Yeah. That’s the general rule.”

    “How do you two even understand each other?”

    And so, the Christmas home party wrapped up smoothly.

    Though, as luck would have it, Dayeon ended up drawing the diffuser gift that Ha-eun had prepared. But hey, it was random.

    Even after the group left the mansion to return to their own homes, nothing out of the ordinary happened.

    There was just one thing Dayeon hadn’t expected—

    “Let’s stop by that cafe? for a bit.”

    As they walked side by side like always, Ha-eun led Dayeon toward a nearby cafe?.

    She said there was something she wanted to talk about in private.

    Since Dayeon didn’t have any plans, she agreed without much thought.

    It was Christmas, after all—a holiday.

    But once they were seated at the table and Ha-eun started talking,

    Dayeon found herself more than a little caught off guard.

    “You... scheduled a meeting with SL Group?”

    “Yeah.”

    “...Are we even supposed to be talking about this in a public cafe??”

    For a moment, Dayeon’s eyes wavered.

    She’d thought this was just going to be a casual heart-to-heart.

    But a meeting with SL Group wasn’t casual—it was a big deal.

    Learning that Ha-eun was meeting with a company leading Korea’s cultural industry was shocking even to her.

    “They said they want to cast me in a drama.”

    “A drama? What kind?”

    “It’s called The Chairman’s Youngest Grandson. It’s a new production they’re launching...”

    Ha-eun handed her phone over, showing Dayeon the project proposal for The Chairman’s Youngest Grandson.

    But after scanning through the proposal a few times, Dayeon noticed something strange.

    “...The protagonist is a guy.”

    “Yeah. That’s right.”

    “...You’re crossdressing again?”

    “No. I’m playing the role of ‘Yoon Seo-ah.’ She’s the final boss.”

    Dayeon had assumed that if Ha-eun was meeting with SL Group, she’d be cast as the lead.

    So learning that she was actually playing the antagonist—with less screen time and importance—was unexpected.

    “...Then why is SL Group meeting with you?”

    She wasn’t being skeptical—she just knew something was off.

    And she quickly understood what Ha-eun meant when she admitted she was a little nervous about it.

    “It’s weird to set up a whole meeting just to cast a villain. Especially with SL Group directly involved.”

    “They probably just want to get me involved in the show no matter what. Or maybe there are other offers too.”

    “...Could be both.”

    “Yeah, that’s what I think.”

    Whatever the meeting with SL Group entailed, turning them down wasn’t going to be easy.

    Not that a major conglomerate would make some shady offer to a rising star like Ha-eun—but still,

    it was clear the meeting came with a heavy sense of pressure for her.

    “So are you worried about the meeting itself? Or do you want to cancel it?”

    “The former.”

    “So... you don’t want to cancel.”

    Dayeon, now wearing a more serious expression, asked her to explain exactly what was making her uneasy.

    And right away, Ha-eun gave her answer.

    “I have to make a good impression. No matter what.”

    “Well... yeah. It’s never a good idea to get on their bad side.”

    Honestly, it was a little surprising to see Ha-eun trying so hard to please someone.

    Even more so since it was a corporation.

    Was this ambition? A hunger to climb the ladder?

    ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this nervous before...’

    That focused look in her eyes.

    The way she tapped her finger lightly on the table.

    It was all unfamiliar.

    In truth, Dayeon felt a little proud, too.

    Her best friend of over ten years had become someone important enough to have a meeting with SL Group.

    But seeing how weighed down Ha-eun seemed—

    “Don’t worry too much. When you actually meet them, it might turn out to be nothing.”

    Dayeon did her best to encourage her.

    No matter how stressful, this was a big opportunity.

    She hoped this meeting would be a turning point for Ha-eun,

    a chance to soar even higher.

    “They’ll probably be nervous meeting you too. Even a corporate director is just a person in the end.”

    “‘Just a person,’ huh...”

    For a moment, Ha-eun’s face looked bitter.

    Maybe this meeting meant more to her than Dayeon had realized.

    And so, finally—

    “What about going with the lead actor? Technically, the meeting is for the drama, right?”

    Dayeon suggested maybe Ha-eun shouldn’t go alone.

    Since the whole thing was prompted by The Chairman’s Youngest Grandson, it made sense.

    If she went with someone else, it might be less intimidating.

    And if SL Group said no, well—then so be it.

    “At least ask. It’s a work meeting, right? Can’t hurt to make the request.”

    “...Yeah. I’ll try.”

    Ha-eun took her phone back and began scrolling through her contacts.

    And right then—a terrible thought struck Dayeon.

    “Wait a second.”

    “?”

    “Who’s the male lead in The Chairman’s Youngest Grandson? Who got cast?”

    “Seong-jae.”

    “Stop dialing.”

    Just as Ha-eun was about to press the call button, Dayeon stopped her.

    Then she let out a long sigh and rubbed her forehead.

    “...Why him, again.”

    Out of all the actors out there—why did it have to be Yoo Seong-jae?

    She looked at Ha-eun, who was now sheepishly avoiding her gaze.

    Eventually, Ha-eun spoke quietly.

    There had originally been other candidates,

    but once they heard Ha-eun would be playing the antagonist, they all declined the role.

    Said they didn’t feel confident acting opposite her.

    “So in the end, Seong-jae was the only one left...”

    “Is... is he okay with it?”

    “Y-yeah. He said it sounds fun.”

    An actor who wouldn’t be overshadowed by Ha-eun.

    Someone close in age.

    Someone who had already filmed with her before.

    Laying it all out, Yoo Seong-jae was the most fitting choice.

    The problem? Dayeon couldn’t stand him.

    “Find someone else.”

    “H-he already signed the contract.”

    “Just tear it up. Who cares.”

    Regardless of qualifications, Dayeon couldn’t accept it.

    She was firmly against the idea of Seong-jae being involved.

    “I refuse to watch you film a kiss scene with that guy.”

    “Wha—he’s the antagonist! Why would the villain kiss the main lead?”

    “The genre’s enemies-to-lovers! Do you even know what that means?”

    “...Enemies-to what?”

    “Ugh, I knew it.”

    Dayeon began passionately explaining what “enemies-to-lovers” meant.

    She was convinced the viewers would start shipping Ha-eun and Seong-jae no matter what.

    But in Ha-eun’s memory, The Chairman’s Youngest Grandson didn’t have any romantic scenes between the main lead and the antagonist.

    They were constantly butting heads.

    So why was Dayeon panicking?

    ‘We’re adults now... Can’t I just get along with Seong-jae for once?’

    Ha-eun figured Dayeon simply hated the idea of her growing close to him again.

    So she tried to reassure her.

    It was just a role.

    Just like when they filmed Parasite Family together.

    “You acted with me in a movie—why can’t I do a drama with Seong-jae?”

    “That’s different.”

    “I don’t get it...”

    “It just is.”

    In the end, Dayeon was only helpful up to a certain point.

    Beyond that, the conversation turned into a long string of rants and slander aimed at Seong-jae.

    “All men are wolves! Wolves!”

    “Y-you can’t say that stuff these days, you know.”

    “Ugh, you hopeless dummy!!”