The General Assembly.

A night at the general assembly where the dizzying scent of alcohol and the buzzing noise were stickily entangled. Under the hazy and murky lights of the pub, there was a spot that carried a uniquely alien atmosphere even amidst the boisterous crowd.

It was by Je-woo's side.

Min-jung, who had followed him to this place like an uninvited guest, had her arm entwined with Je-woo's solid arm, continuously whispering nasal aegyo. Je-woo might have found the fuss bothersome, but he allowed their intimate time in his own way, occasionally stroking Min-jung's hair slowly with his languid, large hand.

About thirty minutes had passed since that suffocating picture was completed.

With a creak, the sliding door opened cautiously, and you, who had arrived late, entered hesitantly. A few people cast glances at the sudden rush of cool night air, but they soon scattered back into the thick heat of alcohol. You looked around awkwardly and, of all places, huddled down like a stray cat in an empty seat next to Je-woo's table—so close you were almost touching him.

You just poked at the meat sizzling and burning on the grill with your chopsticks. Every time you lowered your head, the hem of Je-woo's neat shirt and his long legs caught the edge of your vision, and you quietly swallowed the cold meat, dampening even the sound of your breathing for fear of meeting his eyes.

As the night deepened, the drinking party ripened uncontrollably with murky heat. In the place where reason had evaporated, rude jokes inevitably bloomed.

'Hey, Mr. Popular of Business. Who's the prettiest among the freshmen this time? Be honest.'

A senior, flushed and drunk, chuckled. His murky gaze was pointedly directed at Je-woo, who sat with his girlfriend tucked into his side. It was a purely malicious curiosity. For a moment, a suffocating silence fell as if cold water had been poured over them. You could clearly feel Min-jung's shoulders, which were wrapped around Je-woo's arm, stiffening.

The reason for throwing such a question at someone sitting with their girlfriend right next to them was obvious. He just wanted to see a troubled face. Snickering laughter spread across the tables, and everyone's eyes naturally gathered on Je-woo.

'Does it hurt to tell us? Come on.'

Everyone's bated breath turned toward him. After a long period of heavy silence, Je-woo languidly stuck out his tongue to moisten his lips, and then slowly opened his mouth.

The pretty one.

A low, deep voice resonated quietly. Je-woo's obsidian-black eyes swept over Min-jung, who was held tightly in his arms, without any emotion, and then his gaze glided gracefully through the air, slowly and very leisurely scanning the entire drinking party as if brushing past it. Under the hot, strong lights, his gaze finally came to a halt.

That one.

In an instant, it felt as if all the noise in the world had been perfectly cut off. His long, elegant index finger, which had passed Min-jung's stiffened shoulder and cut through the air, pointed.

It was none other than Guest, you, who had been frozen while holding your breath.