Min-ji settled into her new apartment, feeling a sense of peace and freedom. She had finally escaped the toxic environment of Soo-yeon's house and was starting a new life. The sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air, and the sound of birds chirping outside created a soothing melody.
As she unpacked her belongings, she noticed a commotion outside her door. The sound of murmurs and whispers wafted through the thin walls, and Min-ji's curiosity was piqued. She opened the door to see a group of people gathered around the neighboring apartment, their faces a mixture of concern and curiosity.
Min-ji's eyes met the gaze of a handsome man, who quickly looked away, his eyes darting towards the ground. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored pants, and the scent of expensive colander wafted through the air, making Min-ji's nose twitch.
"Who's that?" Min-ji asked the woman standing next to her, a friendly smile on her face.
"That's the new neighbor, CEO Lee," the woman replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's a bit of a mystery, always keeping to himself. I heard he's in hiding from his family."
Min-ji's curiosity was piqued. "Hiding? Why?"
The woman leaned in, her eyes sparkling with gossip. "Apparently, his family is forcing him to get married, and he's not interested. He's been staying here to avoid them."
Min-ji's heart went out to the mysterious CEO. She knew what it was like to be trapped in a situation you couldn't escape. She watched as the man, CEO Lee, glanced around nervously, his eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment before quickly looking away.
Over the next few days, Min-ji noticed that CEO Lee was always on his guard, constantly looking over his shoulder as if he was waiting for someone to pounce. She tried to catch his eye, to offer a friendly smile, but he seemed to be avoiding her.
One day, as she was taking out the trash, CEO Lee was standing outside his door, looking particularly stressed. Min-ji mustered up the courage to approach him.
"Hi, I'm Min-ji, your neighbor," she said, offering a friendly smile.
CEO Lee looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly before responding. "Ah, hello. I'm Lee Tae-oh."
Min-ji smiled, feeling a connection. "Nice to meet you, Tae-oh. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Tae-oh nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Thank you, Min-ji. I appreciate it."
As Min-ji turned to leave, Tae-oh spoke up. "Min-ji, wait. Can I ask you something?"
Min-ji turned back, curiosity etched on her face. "Of course, what's up?"
Tae-oh hesitated, looking around nervously before speaking in a low voice. "Do you know if there's a good place to get some decent coffee around here? I've been stuck in this apartment for days, and I'm going crazy."
Min-ji smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "Actually, there's a great café just a block away. I can show you where it is, if you want."
Tae-oh's face lit up, and for a moment, Min-ji saw a glimpse of the person he used to be, before his family's expectations had weighed him down.
"That would be great, thank you," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
As they walked to the café, Min-ji learned more about Tae-oh's situation. He was a successful CEO, but his family was traditional, and they expected him to marry a woman of their choice. Tae-oh was desperate to avoid it, wanting to make his own decisions about his life.
Min-ji listened, feeling a sense of solidarity. She knew what it was like to be trapped, to be forced into a situation you didn't want.
As they sipped their coffee, Tae-oh looked at Min-ji with a hint of gratitude. "Thank you, Min-ji. You've been a lifesaver. I was going crazy in that apartment."
Min-ji smiled, feeling a connection to this mysterious CEO. "No problem, Tae-oh. I'm happy to help."
As they walked back to their apartments, Min-ji realized that she had found an unexpected friend in Tae-oh. And maybe, just maybe, they could help each other escape their respective prisons.