The old wooden door creaked loudly as Yun-ji unlocked it.
Dust floated through beams of afternoon sunlight.
The air smelled faintly of old timber and forgotten memories.
"It definitely needs work," Min-Ho muttered.
"It does."
Yun-ji smiled.
"But the bones of the house are good."
Together they slowly explored every room.
The spacious living room overlooked the neglected front garden.
The kitchen connected directly to the backyard.
A wooden staircase led them upstairs, where three bedrooms stretched along a narrow hallway.
The final room faced east.
The moment Min-Ho stepped inside, she fell completely silent.
Golden sunlight streamed through the large windows, bathing the room in warm afternoon light despite years of neglect.
She instinctively walked toward the window.
Opening it carefully, she closed her eyes.
A cool breeze drifted through the room.
The leaves outside rustled gently.
Birds sang somewhere in the distance.
"This room..."
she whispered.
"...is beautiful."
Yun-ji leaned against the doorway with a quiet smile.
"I thought you'd like it."
Min-Ho slowly turned around.
"The light changes."
"What?"
"The sunlight."
She pointed toward the window.
"In the morning it'll come from there."
"By afternoon it'll spread across the entire room."
She smiled unconsciously.
"Every season will feel different."
Yun-ji watched her carefully.
Min-Ho wasn't seeing an abandoned room anymore.
She was already imagining it filled with easels, unfinished canvases, brushes, and sunlight dancing across fresh paint.
"This should be your studio."
Min-Ho blinked.
"My... what?"
"Your painting room."
Yun-ji said it so naturally that Min-Ho simply stared.
"You bought a house..."
"...and you're giving me an entire room?"
"It's not giving."
Yun-ji corrected gently.
"It's creating."
"I've always wanted you to have a place where you can paint without worrying about space."
Min-Ho's eyes softened.
"...You're impossible."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is."
They both laughed.
After another few minutes, Min-Ho slowly looked around the room.
"I'd make the windows larger."
"You would?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Floor-to-ceiling windows if possible."
"Natural light is every painter's best friend."
"What about storage?"
"Hidden cabinets."
"What about drying paintings?"
"A separate ventilation corner."
Yun-ji laughed.
"I've barely shown you the house."
"And you've already redesigned the room."
"I can't help it."
After finishing the second floor, they moved downstairs toward an unfinished basement connected to a spacious back room.
Yun-ji paused halfway down the concrete steps.
"This..."
She slowly looked around.
"...is exactly what I was hoping for."
The basement was plain.
Concrete walls.
Old pipes.
Dust-covered shelves.
To most people, it was nothing more than storage.
To Yun-ji...
It was the beginning of a future laboratory.
"I'll eventually need proper ventilation."
She looked upward thoughtfully.
"New electrical wiring."
"Running water."
"Temperature control."
Min-Ho smiled.
"You've clearly imagined this room."
"I have."
"What exactly are you planning to research?"
Yun-ji smiled quietly.
"One day..."
"I want this to become my own laboratory."
"Not immediately."
"But someday."
Min-Ho nodded.
She didn't ask further.
She knew Yun-ji well enough to recognize when a dream came from somewhere much deeper than ordinary ambition.
They eventually stepped into the overgrown backyard.
A tall brick wall separated the property from the Choi Residence next door.
Yun-ji walked toward it thoughtfully.
Min-Ho followed.
"What are you looking at?"
"The wall."
Min-Ho blinked.
"...The wall?"
Yun-ji rested her hand against the old bricks.
"I want to add a hidden gate here."
"A gate?"
She nodded.
"A small garden entrance."
"It'll connect this backyard directly to mine."
Min-Ho looked between both properties.
"...Wait."
"So instead of leaving through the front gate every time..."
"I can simply walk through the garden."
She smiled.
"It'll save time."
"It'll also keep both houses looking completely separate from the street."
"But privately..."
"They'll always feel connected."
Min-Ho's face lit up.
"I love that idea."
She laughed.
"It'll feel like a secret passage."
"It practically is."
"And if you're working downstairs in your future laboratory..."
"I can bring you dinner without walking around the entire neighborhood."
"And if you suddenly need me to look at something..."
"You'll only be a few steps away."
Yun-ji smiled.
"Exactly."
The hidden gate wasn't merely convenient.
It symbolized something much deeper.
In her previous life, walls had separated people until it was too late.
This time...
She intended to create paths instead.
The remainder of the afternoon passed quickly.
Armed with measuring tapes, notebooks, and Min-Ho's sketchbook, the two friends moved from room to room, discussing possibilities.
Unlike before, neither of them attempted to design the entire house.
They knew that was a task for professional architects.
Instead, they focused on expressing what each space should feel like.
The eastern bedroom was marked as Future Painting Studio.
Large windows.
Excellent natural lighting.
Built-in storage for canvases.
Proper ventilation for drying artwork.
The basement received another page.
Future Research Laboratory
Adequate electrical supply.
Ventilation.
Water connection.
Durable flooring.
Safety requirements for future equipment.
The remaining rooms were left intentionally blank.
"We'll decide these later," Yun-ji said.
"After living with the house for a while."
Min-Ho agreed.
"It'll tell us what it needs."
Before closing the folder, Yun-ji added one final handwritten request.
Backyard Renovation Request
A concealed pedestrian gate should be installed along the shared boundary wall between the Choi Residence and the neighboring property. The entrance should blend naturally with the surrounding landscaping, ensuring privacy while allowing convenient access between both homes.
"There."
She closed the folder.
"I think this is enough."
Min-Ho looked at the collection of handwritten notes and rough sketches.
"They're not exactly professional."
"They don't need to be."
Yun-ji smiled.
"We're only explaining our ideas."
"The architects can transform them into proper designs."
The following afternoon, Yun-ji contacted Kim Won-Shik, who readily agreed to meet them at FORTUNE.
As before, the moment Yun-ji entered the lobby, Secretary Han recognized her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Choi."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Han."
His eyes shifted toward the young woman standing beside her.
"I see you've brought someone today."
Yun-ji smiled.
"This is my best friend."
Min-Ho bowed politely.
"My name is Min-Ho. It's nice to meet you."
Secretary Han returned the greeting before personally escorting both women to the executive floor.
Unfortunately, the employees noticed.
"The mysterious young lady is back."
"No..."
"There are two of them today."
"I wonder who the other girl is."
"Did the CEO invite them?"
Within minutes, whispers spread throughout the office once again.