Chapter 74. Lee Dohyun (4)

“So let’s aim to finish the manuscript by winter and publish in the spring.”

Eunkyo smiled as she adjusted her glasses—ones she rarely wore. On the other end of the line, the editor’s voice was practically bursting with excitement.

— This is seriously amazing. I’m not exaggerating—it’s been ages since something gave me this kind of thrill. Who is he? The male lead is so vivid. Is he based on someone real?

For a split second, his face flashed in her mind.

‘Did I unconsciously make Jaeheon my muse?’

If so… that was kind of embarrassing.

“…I guess so. Not exactly, but… yeah, there’s someone like him in my life.”

— I knew it! I just knew it! This totally has that “based-on-real-life” vibe. I was like, “This is too real!”

“Really? Is it… that obvious?”

— It’s almost a shame only I get to see it. Feels like I’m secretly watching someone else’s relationship. But this is still a thriller, right?

“It’s a soft psychological thriller. Don’t worry, the synopsis won’t fall apart.”

— I trust you completely. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be working on such a good piece again. Please keep it up, author-nim!

“Thank you. You’re always so encouraging.”

— Because I mean it!

After that burst of laughter and chatting, quite a bit of time had passed. Eunkyo tapped her flushed cheeks lightly as she ended the call.

It felt like the first real conversation she’d had in ages. She wasn’t usually this excitable, but when she came to, she realized she’d been doing all the talking, while the editor had just listened warmly.

Of course, now that the call was over, she felt as drained as if she’d just sprinted full speed—but even so, it felt good.

So good, in fact, it left her a little breathless.

She laid back on the sofa, placed her laptop on her stomach, and stared blankly at the blinking cursor. That’s when her phone, low on battery, buzzed.

It was Lee Jaeheon.

Even though it had only been a few hours since she’d told him she might be hard to reach, seeing his name made a rush of warmth bloom inside her.

“Hello?”

As soon as she answered, she heard a small chuckle on the other end.

“Hm? Lee Jaeheon?”

— Sunbae, your call was long.

“Ah… You tried calling? I was on the phone for work.”

— Ah, good. And now?

“Now I’m lying on the couch with my laptop open. What about you?”

— I’m in the car.

Still? Did he stop somewhere after they parted? A small bubble of curiosity floated up… then quickly burst, cool and sharp.

“Aren’t you tired? I went out for the first time in a while today, and now I don’t want to do anything.”

Maybe it was a boring, too casual, too safe kind of thing to say. But his voice had such a low, quiet rumble to it, she didn’t want the call to end just yet.

Maybe that’s why it hit her again, so clearly—

‘Ah. I really do love Lee Jaeheon’s voice.’

— I was thinking about you, sunbae. Wondering why you weren’t answering. If something had happened. I couldn’t stop thinking… and then…

His voice dropped even lower, almost melting into a sigh—one warm and familiar enough to be recognized by heart.

In a space where darkness and silence coexisted, Eunkyo closed her eyes and smiled.

“Wait… were you thinking something dirty just now?”

— How’d you know?

It really was something. Jaeheon was definitely a “dirty” guy—but he never felt vulgar. Everything he said sliced clean like a sharp blade, or grazed the skin like the tip of a warm tongue.

And what moved her weren’t even his words—but the soft breaths in between, the exact rhythm when he clicked his tongue, the pauses.

— I couldn’t really move, so I figured I might as well call you. Whatever. I’m screwed. Sunbae… do I sound crazy to you?