The city looked different at night.
To most people, Seoul at 11 p.m. was neon lights and crowded streets. To Lu Han, it was shadows, alleyways, and a series of escape routes that had become second nature.
The hood of his black sweatshirt was pulled low, the mask covering the rest of his face. Even so, he kept his head tilted downward, his pace unhurried. A single wrong turn could drop him into a crowd of late-night shoppers, and the last thing he wanted was to be cornered by fans armed with phones.
He wasn't in the mood. Not after that dinner.
His mother's words still echoed in his head like a stubborn drumbeat.
> "Kim Nana is coming back to Seoul next week. You two should meet. For old times' sake."
"Old times' sake" was code for family business arrangement. Nana's father was an investor. The Han family wanted stronger ties.
He had tried to keep calm at first.
Tried to explain that he wasn't interested in dating, much less marrying someone for the sake of the company. But every time he spoke, his father's frown deepened and his mother's smile turned brittle.
By dessert, he had stopped talking entirely.
Now, his hands were buried in his pockets, his breath curling faintly in the cool air. The noodle shop ahead wasn't his usual haunt, but it was quiet and smelled like roasted beef from a block away. That was enough reason to slip inside.
****
On the other side of the city…
Soon Hae tugged her hoodie tighter, the brown paper pharmacy bag rustling in her hands. Inside was medicine for her dad expensive enough that she had winced when paying, but his cough had been getting worse. The old man would never admit it, but she could tell by the way he'd stayed in bed instead of going out to fish that morning.
She could have gone straight home after buying the medicine. She should have gone straight home.
But after the week she had the endless drills, the teasing from Fang Yu, the extra punishments from Coach after Lu Han had distracted her in training she needed a bowl of noodles. Something warm and heavy to push down all the frustration.
The roasted beef noodle shop was tiny, tucked into a side street. A single row of counter seats faced the open kitchen, and three small booths lined the opposite wall. The smell hit her first a deep, rich broth scent that made her stomach growl loud enough to embarrass her.
She slide into the last booth by the window, ordering quickly. The first mouthful was heavenly, the kind of comfort that made her shoulders finally drop from their tense perch.
The doorbell jingled.
She looked up, more out of habit than interest and froze.
That black hoodie. That careful, almost feline way of moving.
Even with the mask, she knew.
Not him again.
Lu Han stepped inside, glanced once around the shop, and took a seat at the counter. His posture was casual, but his eyes flicked to the windows like he was making sure no one had followed him.
Soon Hae ducked her head and shoved a too-large bite of noodles into her mouth. She wasn't going to start anything. She'd just… stay quiet. Eat. Leave.
Except, of course, the universe had other plans.
She had just gotten up to grab extra napkins when she had to pass behind him. The space between his stool and the wall was narrow, so she turned sideways to squeeze through. Her elbow brushed the counter and her worst nightmare unfolded in slow motion.
Her sleeve hooked the edge of his steaming noodle bowl.
The contents tipped forward in a perfect arc, steam billowing like a dragon's breath, before cascading straight across his left hand.
The sharp hiss of hot broth meeting skin cut through the shop's chatter.
Lu Han jerked back with a sharp inhale, the chopsticks clattering against the counter.
"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to ..." Soon Hae's words tumbled over each other as she grabbed napkins, dabbing frantically at his hand. "I wasn't looking.."
He caught her wrist, moving it away with quiet firmness. His voice was even, but the undercurrent made her stomach flip.
"Do you always cause chaos wherever you go?"
She froze, cheeks burning. "I... It was.. The aisle's too small!"
The shop owner appeared with a damp towel. Lu Han accepted it, wrapping it around his hand without looking away from her. His eyes calm, assessing were even more frustrating than if he had shouted.
Finally, the faintest smirk pulled at his lips.
"Clumsy rabbit," he murmured.
Her jaw dropped. "You.. You're ...."
He tugged his mask down just far enough to let her see the smirk in full.
"Surprised?"
Before she could answer, he stood, sliding his stool back with one hand and grabbing his jacket with the other.
"Careful," he added as he passed her. "Next time, it might be boiling tea."
And just like that, he was gone, the bell over the door jingling in his wake.
But this time, she followed.
She didn't even think about it. One moment she was standing in the middle of the noodle shop, the next she was pushing the door open, the night air slapping her cheeks awake.
"Hey!" she called.
Lu Han was halfway down the block already. He didn't turn, but his shoulders shifted, just slightly.
She jogged up beside him, the pharmacy bag thumping against her leg. "You didn't even let me check your hand! What if it's bad?"
"It's fine." His answer was quick, almost automatic.
"You're not fine. Burns can get worse if you don't..."
He stopped walking, turning to face her. In the dim glow of the street lamp, his expression was unreadable. "Why do you care?"
Her mouth opened, then closed. "…Because I caused it."
For a second, neither of them said anything. A motorbike roared past, the wind ruffling the edge of his hood.
Finally, he sighed, pulling the towel back to show her the skin. It was red, but not blistered. "See? Just hot water. Nothing serious."
She frowned, still not convinced. "You should put ointment on it when you get home. And keep it clean. And..."
His mouth twitched. "Do you nag everyone who spills soup on themself, or just me?"
She glared. "Just you."
There was a pause and then, unexpectedly, a soft laugh. It wasn't mocking this time. Just quiet. Almost… warm.
"Clumsy rabbit," he said again, but the edge was gone.
She rolled her eyes, adjusting the pharmacy bag in her arms. "Whatever. Just… be careful."
He tilted his head slightly, as if weighing whether to say more. Then he stepped back, tugging his hood lower. "Goodnight, Soon Hae."
She blinked. "You ... you know my name?"
That faint smirk again. "I make it a point to remember the names of people who throw food at me."
And before she could respond, he turned and disappeared into the next street, leaving her standing under the street lamp, her cheeks warm for reasons she refused to admit.
---