Chapter 12: The Dependable Senior, Hana

Perhaps because there were still two months until the year-end stage and three months until her next comeback, Shin Yuna found herself unusually free during this period.

So free, in fact, that one evening she took a walk all the way from the dormitory to the Han River Park on Yeouido Island.

It was a distance of seven kilometers, and it took her nearly an hour and a half.

Looking at the now empty park, where only the river view and greenery remained, the bustling Night Owl Night Market from a few days ago seemed to have never existed, as if it were an illusion.

Much like her relationship with Representative Xia, which, aside from her later online search of information related to Xia Xing, had no further contact between them.

Still dressed in her fitted sportswear, this time she wore a pink Loopy baseball cap.

Though Shin Yuna had tried to convince herself it was just an ordinary night, her mind couldn’t help but replay the details of that evening.

Perhaps that’s why, without realizing it, she found herself in this park.

She looked toward the apartment building Xia Xing had pointed out that day, then checked the approximate prices for units in that building online.

A 300-square-meter flat was roughly around five billion Korean won; even a duplex loft of just over fifty square meters was priced at about eight hundred million won.

The girl gasped quietly and, looking up at the apartment again, became even more convinced of the information she had found online about Xia Xing.

But as her gaze slowly moved down toward the base of the building, a somewhat familiar figure suddenly appeared in Shin Yuna’s sight.

That girl… wasn’t it Seol Yoon?

Thinking of her relationship with Xia Xing, Shin Yuna couldn’t help but wonder.

Why was Seol Yoon around here at this time? She had previously said she was just a close gaming friend of Xia Xing’s.

But if that were all, no matter how close they became, she wouldn’t be standing beneath the other’s apartment building.

Concerned, she followed discreetly for a while and noticed the figure was just walking with her head down, pacing back and forth near Han River Park.

Perhaps just out to clear her mind?

Watching Seol Yoon circle back to the Han River’s edge, staring blankly at the shimmering water under the sunset glow, Shin Yuna finally couldn’t suppress her habit of caring for friends and pulled out her phone.

She dialed Seol Yoon’s number.

After two or three seconds, the girl at the riverbank, lost in thought, took out her phone.

“Yuna sunbaenim, why are you calling me at this hour?”

After confirming the other’s identity, Shin Yuna finally felt at ease and spoke into the microphone: “Seol Yoon, look behind you.”

Their eyes met, each carrying different thoughts, and then both began walking toward each other.

Seol Yoon looked at Shin Yuna, who was waving at her. Though only her eyes were visible, she could still feel the warmth of her infectious smile.

Her previously gloomy mood lifted somewhat.

“Yuna sunbaenim, what are you doing here?”

Shin Yuna pointed at her cap and mask, then asked in return:

“I should be asking you that—why are you wandering around here alone, looking so down?”

“Yeah, I was feeling pretty bad, so I came out for a walk.”

“Want to share it with me? Sometimes talking to someone makes things feel better.”

Shin Yuna linked arms with her and started walking through the park at a brisk pace, leaving Seol Yoon no chance to feel down or refuse; she hurried to keep up.

They found a bench with a view of the sunset and few people nearby and sat down before starting the conversation.

“Honestly, I don’t quite know how to say it. I just feel… selfish.”

“Eh? Selfish?”

“Maybe it’s like this…”

Seol Yoon gathered her thoughts, memories drifting back to about an hour earlier.

Jang Gyu-jin had casually asked whether the cookies were baked for Representative Xia.

Or rather, Seol Yoon wasn’t sure if that was what Jang Gyu-jin meant, but she denied it anyway.

She indirectly refuted the question by saying, “These cookies were prepared for fans as a reverse support.”

“Basically… I don’t think I can be completely honest with anyone.”

“I enjoy a certain relationship, hoping it will last forever, staying exactly as I like it.”

“Keeping a respectful distance where needed, exchanging true feelings where it matters.”

“But I can’t be the one to ask for that… because that would mean ignoring the other’s wish to get closer.”

She wanted to maintain the intimacy with Xia Xing as it was now—sharing daily life every day, occasionally preparing small surprises for each other.

Living in such a steady small happiness every day made her feel good.

But when she tried to clarify their relationship to others—like the time she met Xia Xing at the company—she realized she wasn’t ready to take that step.

Since that day, Seol Yoon had become aware of her inner conflict. Jang Gyu-jin’s words were just the spark that ignited the fuse she had already set for herself.

She didn’t want this relationship to affect NMIXX’s future, yet she hoped it would continue as it was, unilaterally.

She only dared to secretly explore this closeness with Xia Xing.

At most, she could visit Xia Xing’s home during breaks without telling their teammates or managers.

Seol Yoon used abstract language to describe her relationship with Xia Xing, trying not to lead Shin Yuna to make assumptions about Xia Xing.

Listening to Seol Yoon’s vague description, unable to connect these issues to specific events, Shin Yuna nodded as she listened.

Her mind began to weave its own imagined story.

When Shin Yuna first debuted, she often struggled with internal conflicts over team relationships.

The bond between teammates was certainly much closer than that of ordinary friends.

But because they were nearly inseparable amid a grueling schedule, even Shin Yuna, who identified as an E-type, once found the closeness overwhelming.

Thinking of Seol Yoon as the only true I-type in the team, Shin Yuna could imagine how torn she must be.

“You know…” Shin Yuna patted Seol Yoon’s shoulder, “You don’t have to burden yourself so much.”

Seeing Seol Yoon attentively absorbing her comfort, feeling suddenly like a reliable senior, Yuna continued:

“In any relationship, if you can’t interact with the other person the way you want, no matter how good the relationship is, it might eventually break.”

“The best relationships are balanced states where both people adapt to each other. To reach that, you need to bravely express your thoughts.”

“Take the initiative to tell your friend what you think. That’s also a way of taking responsibility for your relationship.”

Their conversation under the setting sun lasted about half an hour until the sun fully disappeared, and Shin Yuna finally felt that Seol Yoon’s mood had mostly recovered.

After nearly a minute of silence, Shin Yuna asked the question she had been wanting to know all along:

“By the way, how much do you actually know about that Representative Xia?”