“San-i knew in advance that Kang was going to leave. Baekgang’s love is about giving Lee Sol what she wants. San-i understood that Baekgang would try to remove her pain even if it meant leaving her side.”
Glancing intermittently at Yoon Jooho, Song Hyunsoo continued his story.
“But San-i’s love is different. San-i’s love means not betraying, always being together, and staying as one. But if Kang leaves completely, the triangle falls apart. This time, without any hope.”
Director Jung Joonhee, who had been listening intently, mulled over Song Hyunsoo’s idea and muttered.
“San-i, fearing the destruction of that perfect triangle, killed Jeon Yoojung…”
“I think San-i is the one who is most obsessively attached to that relationship among the three. Anxiety deepens obsession, and he’s trapped in the mistaken belief that once Jeon Yoojung disappears, everything will return to normal. Anyone with a sane mind wouldn’t be capable of murder.”
At the end of the discussion, Director Jung smiled warmly at Song Hyunsoo.
“Yes, that innocent madness.”
“……”
“That’s exactly why I cast you as San-i, Hyunsoo.”
“Pardon?”
“That seemingly pure and bright look in your eyes, but without weakness. The moment I saw your audition tape, I thought, ‘That’s San-i.’”
The director nodded with a pleased expression.
“You looked worried, like you didn’t understand, but you found it yourself.”
“What do you mean, director?”
“How to not become a Kkottugaksi.”
“Ah…”
Could that be? Have I found my own Lee San?
At the first script reading, Director Jung Joonhee had given Song Hyunsoo a task.
“Whether San-i remains a Kkottugaksi or lives and breathes on screen depends entirely on actor Song Hyunsoo. So don’t worry about me—just freely express your own San-i.”
To Song Hyunsoo, it was a puzzling and abstract directive.
That day at the ‘Honey’s Place’ parking lot, he had grabbed Yoon Jooho and bluntly asked him to teach him how not to be a Kkottugaksi.
Of course, he had been gracefully turned down.
Come to think of it, Yoon Jooho had kept his promise.
When he was offered the part-time job for script reading, Song Hyunsoo had asked in return that Jooho watch his acting and give him guidance.
As they practiced the script and analyzed characters together, Song Hyunsoo had unknowingly found his own Lee San.
The director’s approval meant a lot.
Song Hyunsoo exchanged glances with Yoon Jooho sitting diagonally across the room.
Though his expression surely said, ‘I got praised,’ it didn’t matter.
He wanted to share this small joy with Jooho.
Yoon Jooho’s face, which had been tense from listening so intently, softened into a gentle smile.
A burning desire rose within Song Hyunsoo to do well in the role of Lee San.
This film, , was precious—not only for being his first major role but because his attitude toward acting and the work had completely changed.
“Hyunsoo, your analysis is interesting. At first, I was skeptical about the idea that San-i was the killer. But the more I hear you, the more it makes sense,” said Shin Hyojin.
Han Jooyoung nodded in agreement.
“Right? I thought Baekgang did it and disappeared, but if he was going to disappear anyway, why kill? If Baekgang killed, it would be to take Sol, but then disappearing afterward is strange…”
As they debated Song Hyunsoo’s interpretation, Yoon Jooho subtly pulled out his phone to check it.
His brows and lips twitched slightly as he read the screen.
Licking his lips, he looked troubled and asked for understanding.
“Director, I’m sorry, but something came up… I need to leave early.”
“Oh, alright. Those who are tired should call it a night.”
“Director, are you tired? Are you okay?”
As Jooyoung suggested wrapping up, she grabbed the director’s arm.
“Jeon Yoojung and Lee Sol have call time tomorrow at 8, right?”
“You heard what actor Song Hyunsoo said. I need some direction too. I can’t go to the set tomorrow as it is.”
While Jooyoung clung to the director, Song Hyunsoo took his leave quietly. Jooho’s expression was still on his mind.
When he stepped into the hallway, Jooho was nowhere to be seen.
《Is something wrong? Can I come to your room?》
Thinking he might be on a call, Hyunsoo sent a message and waited for the elevator.
《Nothing serious.》
A brief reply was followed quickly by another.
《Wash up and come to my room.》
Feeling somewhat relieved by the “nothing serious” and curious about the instruction to come after washing, Hyunsoo glanced around nervously.
No one was nearby to peek at his messages anyway.
If he says it’s nothing serious, then it probably is.
The only spacious suite in the hotel belonged to the director; the actors were assigned rooms on the same floor.
Though it was a four-star hotel in the provinces, it was relatively new, clean, and comfortable.
After a quick wash and change into comfortable clothes, Song Hyunsoo checked again that the hallway was empty and quietly hurried to Yoon Jooho’s room.
Seeing Jooho open the door with his usual calm expression, Hyunsoo finally felt genuinely relieved and smiled.
He slipped inside, almost tumbling into Jooho’s arms through the narrow door.
“Hurry, close the door quickly, senior.”
Caught off guard, Jooho pulled Hyunsoo’s shoulders and stepped back, shutting the door as instructed.
“Was someone in the hallway?”
“No. But it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
Watching Hyunsoo suddenly pull away and walk into the room, Jooho smiled faintly.
“I thought your room would be much nicer than mine, but it’s about the same, huh?”
“Small hotels don’t have that many room types.”
The king-sized bed took up most of the space, along with a two-seater sofa by the window, a desk, and a TV.
The size and layout were basically identical to Hyunsoo’s room.
“You’ve never slept in a place like this before, have you?”
On the glass-topped desk, Jooho’s belongings were neatly arranged—several perfumes he’d brought for when he was away from Monroe, scripts, glasses case, lip balm, a portable humidifier, a slim leather pencil case, and the wristwatch Hyunsoo had returned to him.
Leaning on the desk edge, Hyunsoo examined each item carefully.
They were all familiar things he knew well.
“This is luxury enough for me, but not for you, huh? It’s not Knox or some five-star hotel.”
“Why do you look so excited then?”
Thud. Jooho stepped close from behind and asked while pressing his body against Hyunsoo’s.
“It’s fun watching a prince try tteokbokki for the first time.”
Jooho bent down, resting his chin on Hyunsoo’s shoulder.
His cheek brushed against Hyunsoo’s ear, sending a shiver through his body.
From this closer distance, he spoke softly.
“The drama has location shoots too. Sometimes two or three days, sometimes over a week in the provinces. Sorry, but I’ve slept in rundown pensions and motels way worse than this.”
Then, peck. Suddenly, Jooho kissed Hyunsoo’s cheek, ruffled his hair, and pulled away.
“I’m going to wash up now. You go ahead and sleep.”
“Huh?”
“I haven’t washed yet because I was talking with Sangho hyung.”
Come to think of it, the person who told Hyunsoo to wash up was still in his clothes.
“So, you mean I’m sleeping here?”
“Is that a problem?”
Jooho, heading toward the bathroom, glanced back.
“Well, that’s a bit…”
“You’re overreacting. No one will think it’s strange.”
Rejecting Hyunsoo’s protest, Jooho took off his sweater over his head and disappeared into the bathroom.
True enough, even if two male actors working on the same project slept in the same room, no one would think anything of it.
Shrugging, Hyunsoo flopped onto the bed.
Though Jooho told him to sleep first, the excitement from the first shoot kept Hyunsoo awake.
Listening to the sound of water from the bathroom, he opened the app to check on Monroe’s Room.
Monroe was curled up on the top level of the cat tower by the window, alongside a carrot doll and the rabbit slippers Hyunsoo had given.
Seeing no movement for a while, it seemed Monroe had fallen asleep.
Closing the app, Hyunsoo sat up, leaning against the headboard.
Senior looked fine, right? Was it really nothing serious? If so, that’s a relief.
Just then, Jooho walked out with a towel wrapped over his head, wearing his robe from home.
“I told you to sleep.”
“I’m not sleepy yet. Call time’s at 3 p.m.”
“Then you’re fine.”
“What do you mean?”
Pulling the towel off his head, Jooho plopped down beside Hyunsoo on the bed, leaning over to kiss him.
“I thought you’d be tired on the first day, so I was going to leave you be.”
His lips left cool kisses on different spots, warm heat emanating from within.
Hyunsoo chuckled, holding Jooho’s cheeks and meeting his gaze.
“Are you sure it’s really nothing?”
“……”
Kiss, kiss, kiss.
From lips to chin, neck, collarbone. As he kissed down, Jooho pulled himself onto the bed, then collapsed onto Hyunsoo’s chest, resting his face there.
“Just…”
“Just?”
“……I got a message from that side, and it put me in a bad mood.”
That side? Which side was he talking about? Hyunsoo frowned and cautiously asked, touching Jooho’s wet hair.
“Your parents… you mean?”