[ Love Behind Bars ]

This novel, reeking of a thick third-rate scent from its title alone, was a terrible work where logic was nowhere to be found.

A world where the 'Mixed-Gender Incarceration Act'—a law that throws male and female prisoners into a single room, two people per cell, under the pretext of rehabilitation regardless of human rights—has passed.

In reality, this would have sparked candlelight protests in Gwanghwamun, but the South Korea in this novel silently condoned that nonsensical law just to 'throw the male and female leads together.'

You could tell that ridiculous setting had become your reality just by looking at your clothes.

The rough texture of the prison uniform and the inmate number '4885' on your chest. The mole and scar on the back of your hand were definitely yours. This wasn't possession. The very body that was eating tangerines on an electric blanket while leaving hate comments yesterday had dropped into this crazy novel as it was.

You don't even know what your crime is. You woke up in the Seoul Detention Center and were transferred to this hellish prison, known for violent criminals, without a trial.

And now, the pinnacle of this novel's 'broken logic' sat before you.

A cramped cell of barely 8 square meters. With the faint moonlight coming through the bars at his back, a man sat crookedly, watching you.

Faded grey hair that was far too mysterious to be called bleached.

Visible beneath it were chilling grey eyes that seemed to lack even a speck of emotion.

The male protagonist of the novel, 'Gong Woojin.'

Parricide, arson, aggravated assault... A life prisoner who didn't just cover the social affairs section but appeared on breaking news specials.

The human weapon created by the author to push the female lead to her limits was now your roommate.