Lee Ye sits in his dimly lit apartment, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his shoulders. After the chaotic events at the police station, he returns home feeling more exhausted than ever. He kicks off his shoes and flops onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"So many complications," he mutters to himself, running a hand through his tousled hair. The adrenaline from the confrontation with the loan sharks has long faded, leaving behind a deep conversation with his uncle, who made it clear that this whole charade with Kara must go on—especially now that pictures of them at the police station are likely to spread like wildfire.
His phone buzzes on the coffee table, pulling him from his thoughts. It's a message from his manager, Ye Jin. "You're meeting up with Kara later for dinner. Don't forget!"
"Right," he groans. Dinner with Kara—his rumored love interest—but somehow, his mind keeps drifting back to Seo Yeon. The way she looked at him during their time at the police station, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and vulnerability, haunts him.
He grabs a cushion and hugs it tightly, heaving a deep sigh before picking up his tablet. His favorite WebNovel Author, Ja-Yu, has updated new chapters, and excitement blooms inside him as he hurries to read them. He always thinks Author Ja-Yu is a talented writer and admires their work. The irony strikes him... here he is, a famous singer who is secretly a fan of a WebNovel Author, yet he has no idea whether Ja-yu is male or female. It feels like some cosmic joke, but he finds refuge in this person's books. They take his mind off his life in the spotlight and make him feel like a normal person whenever he immerses himself in their stories.
With a sigh, he concludes reading the last update and leaves a comment with a grin on his face. Afterward, he scrolls through social media. His heart sinks as he sees photos of Kara and himself in front of the police station—her radiant smile lighting up every frame. "She really is stunning," he admits reluctantly.
After a few moments of silence, Lee Ye decides to distract himself with music. He picks up his guitar and strums a few chords, letting the familiar rhythm calm his racing thoughts. But even as he plays, his mind drifts back to Seo Yeon—the way she laughs, her cooking, and how she's unexpectedly no longer a stranger in his eyes.
With a frustrated groan, he tosses the guitar onto the couch. "I need to stop."
After what feels like hours of aimless strumming and self-doubt, Lee Ye finally stands up and decides to get ready for dinner with Kara. He takes a quick shower and dresses in a casual yet stylish outfit—something that makes him look effortlessly cool but not overly flashy.
As he steps out of his apartment and into the cool evening air, Lee Ye can't shake off the feeling that something significant is missing from his life. He enters his white Lamborghini and settles into the driver's seat. Starting the engine, he drives off, staring at the passing city lights.
"Just focus on dinner," he tells himself firmly. "You'll figure everything else out later."
When he arrives at the restaurant where Kara is waiting, she greets him with her usual enthusiasm. "Lee Ye! You made it!" she exclaims, pulling him into an embrace that feels suffocating.
"Of course! Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replies sarcastically.
As they sit down and order their meals, Kara begins chatting animatedly about her latest single release coming out next week and how well she expects it to do on various charts. Lee Ye listens politely but finds it hard to engage in conversation with her.
The atmosphere grows awkward as Kara leans closer across the table. "You know," she says coyly, "you should really consider that fake dating plan your uncle suggested. It would be great for both our images as famous stars."
Lee Ye raises an eyebrow but remains silent.
She continues to press on, clearly undeterred by his lack of enthusiasm. "Imagine all the publicity! We'd be unstoppable together!"
He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "Kara…"
Kara pouts slightly but then leans in again with an exaggerated flirtation in her voice. "Come on! You know you like me. Just think about all the flowers I could post about you sending me next week for my single release."
"Flowers?" Lee Ye scoffs lightly but keeps his expression neutral. "You can get your own flowers."
Her playful demeanor falters as irritation flashes across her face. "What's your problem?"
Lee Ye stands abruptly from the table, frustration bubbling over. "I said no!"
He storms out of the restaurant without looking back while Kara calls after him in disbelief.
Once outside, Lee Ye takes a deep breath to calm himself down. He gets into his car and without thinking, drives all the way to Seo Yeon's place.
As he pulls up to her building, he remains in the car for about thirty minutes, staring at it as if willing her to appear. "I wonder if she's alright," he says aloud to himself, anxiety gnawing at him again. He can't shake thoughts of her vulnerability—the way she looked at him during their time at the police station and how much he feels a sudden need to reach out. Yet, he feels trapped by circumstances beyond his control.
Kara had been relentless during dinner, pushing their so-called "fake dating" plan as if it were a business proposal rather than a personal relationship. "You should really consider that fake dating plan your uncle suggested," her voice echoes in his mind. Leaning forward, he grips the steering wheel tightly, his head dropping as he recalls her words, "It would be great for both our images as famous stars."
Finally deciding that sitting here won't solve anything, Lee Ye starts the engine and drives home slowly through the city streets that feel emptier than usual tonight.
As he navigates through familiar roads lined with twinkling lights and bustling shops closing for the night, Lee Ye reflects on how complicated everything has become since Seo Yeon entered his life.
"What am I even doing?" he mutters under his breath as uncertainty washes over him again.
Deep down inside him lies an urge, a desire to connect with Seo Yeon beyond their roles as an employee and celebrity—to explore whatever bond they might share if only given half a chance.
But for now, all he can do is drive home alone while grappling with feelings that seem too big for him to handle, wondering if tomorrow will bring clarity or just more confusion in this tangled web he finds himself caught in together with her...