Chapter 1.

 Cheese and Mackerel

The sea and the sky, clouds and wind, sunlight and shadows were all framed together in a single view.

The window frame, still without any glass installed, looked almost like a white picture frame, making the scenery beyond it resemble a painting.

The abandoned building stood seventeen stories tall.

It had once been planned as a luxury tourist hotel. A well-known local construction company had boldly launched the project after gathering investments from overseas financiers.

But just before completion, diplomatic tensions between the two countries caused the investments to be withdrawn. Lacking enough cash to continue, the construction company eventually declared bankruptcy.

That had been four years ago.

The concrete, exposed to the salty sea breeze, had cracked in countless places. Thick weeds surrounded the building, while nameless trees had grown as high as the fifth floor, their branches swaying gently and adding a touch of life to the otherwise motionless landscape.

The building looked dead.

But perhaps it was only asleep.

With just a little care, it might stretch itself awake and come back to life.

“It’s me. Seo Woo-hyun.”

Inside, abandoned construction materials lay scattered everywhere.

The steady, unhurried sound of leather shoes echoed through the empty space. Beneath his straight brows, his softly double-lidded eyes carefully surveyed the interior.

“I’ve arrived in Samcheok and I’m inspecting the building first… Considering how long it’s been abandoned, it’s not in bad shape. Manager Yoon will attach photos of the site, so go ahead and proceed with the business permit.”

With one hand tucked into his pocket, he continued the phone call as he walked.

The sea wind in February was as sharp as a winter gale. For a brief moment, he regretted leaving his coat in the car.

Only for a moment, though.

He hated carrying anything cumbersome.

Finding a property with excellent reconstruction potential more than made up for the cold.

Smiling in satisfaction, he eventually stopped.

There, completely out of place in an abandoned building, sat a comfortable armchair.

Beyond the sofa stretched a breathtaking view where the coastal road met the sea.

On a small folding table were tubes of paint, markers, and a thick sketchbook.

As if that weren’t enough, there was also a compact electric heater and a portable solar-powered generator.

Is there a homeless person living here?

But the belongings were far too clean to belong to a homeless squatter.

If anything, they looked deliberately arranged.

Even the neatly folded purple blanket carried the faint scent of fabric softener.

Frowning suspiciously, Woo-hyun looked around.

Definitely not homeless…

If I had to call it something… illegal occupancy?

Gripping the back of the sofa with both hands, he stared out at the scenery.

Oddly enough, the place felt cozy.

As though this corner alone existed in a different world from the rest of the ruined building.

Unpleasantly so.

I’ll have someone clear everything out.

Just as he turned to leave—

A scooter climbed the hill outside.

Leaning against the window frame, Woo-hyun looked down.

It was a woman.

She wore a pale pink helmet and carried a large backpack.

After removing her helmet, she ruffled her flattened bangs a few times before effortlessly hopping over the barricade and entering the building.

What…?

Before he could process it, he heard footsteps.

Light, cheerful footsteps—

—or, less generously, rather careless ones.

The sound continued all the way up to the third floor where he stood.

Woo-hyun was almost certain her destination was this very spot.

And unfortunately…

His predictions had never been wrong.

“Time to eat, everyone!”

The woman’s excited voice rang loudly through the building.

Moments later, Woo-hyun felt strange gazes multiplying around him.

Small.

Light.

Agile.

Hidden.

No way…

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

His nose suddenly began to itch.

He instinctively took a step backward.

“Mackerel! Cheese! Marshmallow! Red Bean Porridge!”

Mackerel-flavored cheese? Marshmallow-filled red bean porridge?

As Woo-hyun frowned at the bizarre combination of names—

The woman appeared from the hallway carrying an enormous bag of cat food decorated with pictures of cats.

She wore faded jeans, a turtleneck sweater, and a thick padded jacket that looked twice her size.

The moment she spotted Woo-hyun standing beside the sofa, she froze in surprise.

“Meow—”

A sweet cat’s cry echoed.

Then another.

And another.

It wasn’t just one cat.

Cats began emerging from every direction, cautiously circling the unfamiliar stranger.

Yet Woo-hyun never took his eyes off the woman’s face.

Normally, he couldn’t stand animals.

But strangely…

The sound of the cats meowing didn’t bother him at all.

“So…”

He let out a disbelieving laugh.

“It’s you again.”

What had captured his attention were the woman’s wide eyes, now pale with shock.

Elegant yet gentle features that didn’t quite match her casual clothing.

And those full lips that still looked as though they had countless things left unsaid.

Four cats rubbed affectionately against her legs while she held the bag of food.

Even someone who knew nothing about animals could tell they were demanding to be fed.

Meeting her unusually dark eyes, Woo-hyun curled one corner of his mouth upward.

“I think we’ve met before.”

He spoke first.

The bag of cat food slipped from her arms and landed on the floor with a thud.

Startled, she quickly picked it up while deliberately avoiding his gaze, then poured food into several bowls.

The cats let out happy little meows, brushing against her arms before burying their faces in the food.

“Um… I’m sorry, but I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I just came to feed these cats because they live here, so…”

Watching her stumble over her words, Woo-hyun felt a dizzy sensation crawl up the back of his neck, while his heart inexplicably grew lighter.

She wanted to pretend not to know him.

But there was no way he’d mistaken her.

He was the kind of man who could remember the face of someone who had asked him for directions just once… even ten years earlier.

Suppressing a laugh, he quietly observed her.

The cats were clearly accustomed to her touch.

She had probably been feeding them for quite some time.

Her hair was longer than before.

And…

She looked more alive now.

Back then she’d looked so frail, as if she’d snap in half if bent too far.

Now she finally seemed to have regained some vitality.

“Please finish your business and leave.”

After pouring fresh water into a large bowl from her backpack, she turned away without even looking at him.

Woo-hyun stepped closer, resting one hand on the sofa.

“Did you enjoy our game of hide-and-seek? It was my first time being ‘it.’ Turns out… I don’t like chasing people, Ms. Lee Byeol.”

Only after hearing her name did her body stiffen.

Her name really was Lee Byeol.

Byeol—meaning star.

She had once laughed and said,

“It’s a pretty name… until you say my full name.”

The memory remained crystal clear.

Swallowing nervously, she slowly turned around.

Watching her fidget with her fingertips while searching for words stirred up the irritation he’d almost forgotten.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

Was his blood pressure rising?

Or was he simply angry at her?

From the moment he’d confirmed it was really her, he could feel the blood rushing to his head.

“Um…”

“You drove me completely insane all night… then disappeared before the sun even came up.”

His voice dropped into a cold, restrained tone.

Her cheeks and ears flushed bright red.

Ignoring the cats now happily eating, he walked straight toward her.

“No… that’s not what happened…”

“Then what was it?”

Standing directly before her, Woo-hyun gently cupped her face with one hand.

Her lips puckered like a goldfish’s in protest.

“You keep insisting I’ve mistaken you.”

His fingers lightly held her cheeks.

“So let’s take a proper look.”

His eyes locked onto hers.

“Whether you’re the woman I’ve been searching for…”

“…or not.”

“N-No, Mr. Woo! If it’s like this—!”

Standing on tiptoe, she desperately slapped at the hand holding her face.

Her tiny fists felt about as threatening as cotton balls.

He almost laughed.

Finally releasing her, he noticed her cheeks had turned even redder.

Still so soft.

Still so quick to blush.

She hurried backward, covering her mouth while avoiding his gaze.

“I’m sorry about that day. But I didn’t run away. I just had to go to work. How could an ordinary office worker possibly—”

“An ordinary office worker?”

A smile slowly spread across Woo-hyun’s face.

“You knew who I was.”

He looked directly into her eyes.

“But it never occurred to you…”

“…that I might find out who you are as well?”

“…What?”

Her round forehead.

Her gently drooping brows.

Those soft, obedient eyes that had driven him mad that day.

They were so close now.

He wanted to touch them.

Her flushed cheeks.

Her eyelashes.

Even her soft earlobes.

Sliding one hand back into his pocket, he straightened and looked down at her with an icy expression.

“Social Affairs Department…”

He paused.

“Reporter Lee Byeol of the Justice Daily.”

She clearly hadn’t expected him to know even her profession.

The tension in her body was unmistakable.

She reminded him of a fluffy little herbivore with its fur standing on end.

Or perhaps…

A stuffed doll with nothing inside.

He didn’t know which version was the real her.

But the woman he’d met that day had bewitched him.

She had made him obsess over finding her.

With a completely different expression from the one she wore now.

“I found everything.”

He spoke calmly.

“The location of your desk.”

“Your extension number.”

“Your mobile phone.”

“Your office line.”

“I found all of it.”

His gaze hardened.

“But it didn’t matter.”

“You cleaned everything up so perfectly…”

“…and vanished.”

At his chilling words, she instinctively backed away one step at a time.

Her eyes darted briefly toward the open window—

As if she were actually considering escaping.

Woo-hyun couldn’t help laughing.

Seriously…

She never fails to surprise me.

“I couldn’t find you.”

He muttered the words almost to himself.

Then, suddenly—

He seized her wrist.

Her eyes widened in alarm, blinking rapidly.

“But now…”

A pleasant breeze drifted in through the empty window.

His mood brightened instantly.

Watching her stand there, completely at a loss, his face blossomed like ten thousand spring flowers.

“…I’ve caught you.”

“Just like this.”