As the golden hues of the setting sun reflected off the calm waters of the Han River, Jihoon and Seoyun found themselves walking side by side, the gentle autumn breeze brushing against their skin.
The day had been filled with unexpected joys.
They had wandered through Namsan Park, eating street food and enjoying the simple pleasure of being outdoors.They had battled it out in an arcade, where Seoyun had proven herself a formidable opponent.They had sat in a quiet café, where for the first time, Seoyun had openly admitted she sometimes longed for a normal life.
Jihoon wasn't sure what he had expected when Seoyun asked to hang out today.
But this?
This had felt... easy. Comfortable. Real.
As they strolled along the river, Seoyun stretched her arms above her head.
"I haven't walked this much in years," she groaned, rolling her shoulders.
Jihoon smirked. "You should do it more often. It's good for your health."
She shot him a playful glare. "Are you saying I'm out of shape?"
Jihoon raised his hands in surrender. "I'm saying sitting in a makeup chair for hours probably isn't the best workout."
Seoyun let out a small laugh. "You're not wrong."
She stopped by the railing, resting her hands on the cool metal as she gazed out at the shimmering water.
The city lights had begun to turn on, casting a breathtaking reflection across the river's surface.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Just standing there, side by side, as the sounds of distant chatter and gentle waves filled the air.
Then, Seoyun took a slow, deep breath.
"…I needed this," she murmured.
Jihoon leaned beside her, looking at her instead of the river. "Glad I could help."
She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. There was something different in her expression. Softer. More vulnerable.
"I mean it, Jihoon. Thank you."
Jihoon shrugged, keeping his tone light. "What are friends for?"
Seoyun held his gaze for a moment longer before smiling.
A real, unguarded smile.
Ding.
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 10,000 KRW
Jihoon chuckled under his breath. "Even the system thinks I did a good job."
Seoyun frowned. "What?"
Jihoon cleared his throat. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."
Seoyun narrowed her eyes suspiciously but decided to let it go.
For now.
An Unwelcome Interruption
Just as the moment settled into a comfortable silence, Jihoon felt something.
That eerie sensation of being watched.
His instincts kicked in as his eyes flickered across the nearby lampposts, benches, and walkways.
That's when he saw him.
A man in a black hoodie, standing near a lamppost.
Not moving.
Just… staring at them.
Jihoon's muscles tensed.
The man wasn't acting like a casual passerby.
His stance was deliberate, his head tilted slightly, as if analyzing them.
Something about it didn't sit right.
Seoyun, still admiring the river, hadn't noticed yet.
Jihoon kept his voice calm but firm.
"Hey, don't look too obviously, but I think someone's watching us."
Seoyun's relaxed posture immediately stiffened.
She pretended to stretch, stealing a quick glance.
The moment she saw the man, her expression changed.
A look of recognition—and annoyance—flashed in her eyes.
"I know him," she muttered under her breath.
Jihoon's grip on the railing tightened. "Who is he?"
Seoyun let out a small sigh. "A paparazzo. A pretty aggressive one."
Jihoon's jaw clenched.
So much for a peaceful day.
The man had now pulled out a camera with a telephoto lens.
Jihoon's irritation spiked.
This was supposed to be a normal day for Seoyun. A rare moment where she didn't have to perform for the world.
And now some guy was trying to steal that from her?
Seoyun sighed, lowering her cap slightly. "We should leave before he gets a clear shot."
Jihoon immediately stepped closer to her. "You want me to block him?"
Seoyun shook her head. "No, if we run, it'll look suspicious. Just act normal."
Jihoon exhaled through his nose. So much for a smooth ending to the day.
Ding.
[Urgent Kindness Opportunity Detected!]
Help Seoyun avoid unnecessary media attention.
Potential Reward: HIGH
Jihoon gritted his teeth.
He wasn't about to let this guy ruin everything.
Jihoon turned to Seoyun. "Alright, follow my lead."
Before she could ask, Jihoon casually draped his arm around her shoulders.
Seoyun stiffened for a second before looking up at him in confusion. "What are you—"
Jihoon leaned in, speaking softly. "If he's gonna take pictures, let's give him something confusing."
Seoyun paused.
Then, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
"Oh, you mean something like… this?"
She suddenly wrapped her arms around Jihoon's waist and leaned her head against his shoulder.
Jihoon's brain momentarily malfunctioned.
What. The. Hell.
His entire body tensed as she sighed dramatically, loud enough for the paparazzo to hear.
"Ugh, I'm so full. Thanks for treating me today, babe."
Jihoon nearly choked on his own breath.
Babe?!
Seoyun smirked at his reaction. "What? You said to make it confusing."
Jihoon gritted his teeth, trying to suppress a laugh. "Oh, you're enjoying this way too much."
As they casually strolled away, the paparazzo hesitated.
Jihoon could almost feel the frustration radiating from him.
Then, just as they turned the corner, Jihoon spotted a taxi waiting nearby.
"Get in," Jihoon muttered.
Seoyun didn't hesitate. The moment they slid into the car, the driver pulled off, blending into Seoul's traffic.
Jihoon glanced back.
The paparazzo was frantically looking around, confused.
Mission accomplished.
Ding!
[Urgent Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 20,000 KRW
Jihoon exhaled. "Well, that was fun."
Seoyun snorted. "Define 'fun.'"
Jihoon grinned. "Admit it. You loved my plan."
Seoyun rolled her eyes. "Fine. It was decent."
Jihoon leaned back. "Decent? That was a five-star performance."
Seoyun smirked. "Don't let it get to your head."
Jihoon laughed. This girl was seriously something else.
By the time Jihoon reached his apartment, he felt lighter.
Seoyun had thanked him again.
She had said today was the best day she'd had in years.
And when she smiled at him before driving away…
Something about it felt different.
Ding.
[New Relationship Level Unlocked: Close Friends]
Trust Level Increased
Reward: 25,000 KRW
Jihoon stared at the notification before chuckling to himself.
His life was getting ridiculously interesting.
And for once, he was excited to see what happened next.
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