The luxury car glided through the streets in heavy silence, but the tension inside felt louder than traffic.
Ji-ah sat in the backseat, eyes narrowed, arms folded. Her glare kept bouncing from the window to the back of Hyun Min's head like daggers. Beside her, Da-eun was practically bouncing in place, hiding a growing smirk.
"Okay," Ji-ah snapped, "can someone please tell me where exactly we're going?"
Jun-ha cleared his throat up front. "Your place has some plumbing issues. Unsafe. So, we're heading somewhere more secure."
Ji-ah's tone tightened. "Define 'somewhere secure.'"
Before Jun-ha could answer, Hyun Min replied without turning around, "My place."
Ji-ah blinked. "What?!"
She leaned forward between the seats. "Did you agree to this?"
Hyun Min finally tilted his head slightly toward her, his voice flat but cutting.
"We're a couple, remember? You've been to my place more times than I can count."
Ji-ah froze.
"…Excuse me?"
Jun-ha's head whipped around slightly from the driver's seat, clearly startled. He gave Hyun Min a surprised look. Hyun Min just stared coolly back at him, the barest smirk playing at his lips. There was something unspoken in their exchange—like Hyun Min was enjoying himself a little too much.
"W-wait, what?" Ji-ah stammered, thrown completely off guard.
Da-eun gasped, leaning closer to Ji-ah and clutching her arm with delight.
"Are you serious? You two were a couple? Like for real?" she whispered excitedly.
Hyun Min didn't respond, just scrolled casually through his phone like he'd said something as normal as the weather.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Ji-ah whispered fiercely to Da-eun.
Da-eun giggled, "I didn't know! This is so juicy. You, a famous actress… dating your co-star… staying at his house… it's like a real-life drama!"
Ji-ah groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "This can't be happening."
Da-eun nudged her. "Come on, maybe he's the type who secretly cares under all that coldness. You know... enemies to lovers kind of thing?"
Ji-ah shot her a glare. "I'm not in a Webnovel fanfiction."
Hyun Min, without looking back, added calmly,
"Relax. The guest room's soundproof."
Ji-ah choked on air while Da-eun burst into uncontrollable laughter, clinging to her friend's shoulder.
Jun-ha glanced at Hyun Min again, this time more seriously.
"You're taking this a little too well."
Hyun Min merely shrugged. "I'm used to the spotlight."
The car continued on, leaving behind a trail of awkward silence, flustered glances, and a very, very red-faced Ji-ah.
Outside, the gates of a luxurious villa slowly came into view.
The black luxury car rolled to a slow stop in front of a stunning modern villa—glass, steel, and minimalist charm tucked behind high walls and pristine landscaping. Ji-ah stared out the window, eyes wide.
This is where Kang Hyun Min lives?
The car doors clicked open.
Jun-ha and Da-eun stepped out in sync, each reaching for the trunk latch at the same time. Their fingers brushed. Da-eun blinked at Jun-ha. He blinked back. Then they both instantly looked away, speaking at the same time.
"I got it."
"I'll carry it."
They both paused awkwardly, then reached again—again at the same time.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Ji-ah cautiously followed Hyun Min toward the entrance. Her steps slowed as she took in the place—high ceilings, marble floors, and walls that screamed you're not supposed to touch anything.
But then, as she reached the doorway, Hyun Min suddenly stepped in front of her.
She gasped and flinched back.
Without a word, Hyun Min crouched down—reaching for something.
Ji-ah panicked.
Years of self-defense instincts kicked in.
"Back off!" she shouted.
THWACK.
A clean roundhouse kick landed right on Hyun Min's shin.
"Agh—! What the hell?!" Hyun Min yelled, stumbling back and grabbing his leg.
From the driveway, Jun-ha and Da-eun rushed toward the sound.
"What happened?!" Jun-ha barked, scanning for danger.
Hyun Min glared at Ji-ah, who was now in a half-defensive stance.
"I was—getting her slippers."
Everyone blinked.
Da-eun blinked the hardest.
Inside her head, she was spiraling:
"Oh my god, Ji-ah. I took you to Taekwondo classes so you wouldn't get mugged, not so you'd kick celebrities handing you footwear. What do they think you are now—Bruce Lee's secret student?!"
Ji-ah stood awkwardly, flushed with embarrassment.
"…You—you came at me really fast. I thought you were—"
"Trying to trip you with slippers?" Hyun Min deadpanned, rubbing his shin. "Do I look like I have that much time?"
Jun-ha sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Da-eun tried to stifle a laugh but failed. "At least you know her reflexes work. That's a good sign of recovery, right?"
Hyun Min muttered under his breath, limping into the house.
Jun-ha turned to Da-eun. "Is she always like this?"
Da-eun, eyes twinkling, replied, "You've seen nothing yet."
---
Ji-ah stood frozen in place, her hand still hovering from the kick, her cheeks blazing red.
"I'm… sorry," she muttered, eyes avoiding Hyun Min's sharp gaze. "I didn't mean to kick you. I just—reacted."
Hyun Min raised an eyebrow, still rubbing his shin. "Well, next time try reacting after identifying the threat."
Jun-ha let out a soft sigh, watching Ji-ah like she was a hurricane in disguise. "Apology accepted, I guess."
Da-eun stepped forward, doing her best to salvage the moment. "Sorry about her. She's been… through a lot lately." She gave a polite bow. "We're both grateful you're letting us stay here."
Jun-ha nodded silently, still not sure how much chaos two people could cause before even entering the house.
"Come on," he said, motioning toward the hallway. "I'll show you to your rooms."
As they followed him through the modern villa, Ji-ah whispered to Da-eun, "This house feels like it belongs in a magazine…"
Da-eun replied under her breath, "Well, your boyfriend probably is in one every week."
Ji-ah elbowed her.
Jun-ha turned a corner and gestured toward two sleek doors. "This one's yours," he said to Ji-ah, "and next door's for your friend."
Ji-ah peeked into the room—minimalist decor, neutral tones, a queen-sized bed, and too many pillows for one person.
"It's… huge," she whispered.
"You're lucky," Jun-ha said casually, turning to Da-eun. "This room actually has heating. The guest room at the end of the hall doesn't."
Da-eun pouted. "Then why am I not in this one?"
"You didn't kick my boss," he replied, smirking slightly.
She rolled her eyes. "Please. If I kicked him, he wouldn't be limping—he'd be in a full cast."
Jun-ha chuckled and shook his head, walking away.
Ji-ah turned to Da-eun and whispered, "Was that flirting?"
Da-eun shrugged dramatically. "I'm just being myself. If he..... That's not my problem.
....
[End of chapter 6]