Chapter 26: It Is Karina from aespa

Washing dishes alone is a simple, monotonous chore. But when two people, each harboring their own unspoken thoughts, stand side-by-side at the sink, the task becomes complex and strangely intriguing.

The first pass was routine: Xia Xing handled the kitchen scraps, while Shin Yuna scrubbed away the grease. By the second pass, however, things grew complicated. She would hand him a bowl she had already washed so he could rinse it with clean water, only for him to pass the clean dish back to her, depositing it once more into the soapy basin. This cycle repeated, and somehow, it took over half an hour to wash two bowls, three plates, and a soup basin.

Stealing glances at each other from across the sink, then returning to their tasks with feigned indifference, proved unexpectedly enjoyable. The only victims of the night were the nearly depleted dish soap and the idle dishwasher.

"By the way, I took a nap on your bed this afternoon." Shin Yuna said it in the most casual, calm tone, despite the significance of her words.

"Hmm... wait, what?" Xia Xing stopped what he was doing and looked at the tall girl beside him, who remained focused on scrubbing. His throat felt inexplicably dry.

"Just what you heard..." Her voice grew quieter, yet her tone shifted from sheepish to increasingly confident. She could sense that the man beside her didn’t mind her crossing the line. It made sense; what man could refuse Shin Yuna using his bed? She had a clear awareness of her own charm.

"It’s fine, as long as you got some rest." He mimicked indifference, though his acting was just as clumsy as his dry lips. "Will you... be resting here again today?"

Shin Yuna continued to scrub the dishes mechanically, but those soulful eyes met his for a brief moment as he looked down. *So, she was sneaking looks at me, too.*

"I meant, you can have the master bedroom, and I'll sleep in the guest room," he added, trying to mask his panic with explanations, only to find he was making it worse. He decided to confess his true feelings: "Alright, I don't know what's come over me. I just wanted to see you tomorrow morning."

When he was with Shin Yuna, Xia Xing felt as though a long-empty part of his life was gradually being filled. Most importantly, before meeting her, he hadn't realized how many things he had never truly experienced. People usually speak of regrets in terms of trips not taken, important matches missed, or failing to confess to a crush. Having never lacked material comfort or attention from others, Xia Xing realized for the first time that having someone waiting for you at home, sharing a meal, and washing dishes together was an incredibly important thing.

"Hmm."

Shin Yuna gathered all the dishes from her side of the sink and placed them into the rinse basin on his side. "These past three nights with you have been wonderful, and I look forward to more interesting experiences together. But... we have to take things slowly, don't we? Some things can't be rushed. Besides, I can't stay away from the dorm forever, or my manager will get suspicious."

Although he knew Shin Yuna had only been staying over temporarily, Xia Xing felt satisfied just having her there to share dinner and chores. Still, a sense of loss lingered—like a lonely child tidying up toys after friends have left, yet something far deeper than that.

"I understand. Shall I drive you back?"

"Aww, our little Xingcan~" The girl pouted and playfully poked his cheek. "Why is your mouth pouting so much? Are you unhappy?"

"Y-you, stop talking nonsense..."

***

Liu Jimin hung up the phone and kicked the air in frustration. She had no idea who had dumped the drunk Lee Jae-wook at that hotel. Because of that, Lee Jae-wook was clutching the call logs from that night, insisting it must have been Liu Jimin who came to pick him up, and was now trying to invite her out to dinner as a gesture of "thanks." She regretted picking up that call.

Standing on the balcony, she tapped her forehead in frustration, truly at a loss. "Lee Jae-wook, haven't you realized the call never even connected? How could I possibly know you were in Seongsu-dong?"

"But... I didn't say I was in Seongsu-dong just now. You really did come, didn't you? No need to be shy; I just want to thank you."

Recalling that high-blood-pressure-inducing conversation, Liu Jimin was furious. Who on earth was the busybody who took Lee Jae-wook to that hotel? A thought suddenly crossed her mind, prompting her to open her contact list and find the number from that night. She dialed it.

"Hello? May I ask who is calling?" The voice was remarkably polite, as if the person had no idea who Liu Jimin was. The sound of car horns in the background suggested they were still driving.

"Did you take Lee Jae-wook to a hotel that night?"

"Huh? Oh..." Xia Xing felt the gaze of Shin Yuna in the passenger seat and was momentarily speechless. Who was this stranger on the line, acting like an interrogator? Was he wrong for paying to help Lee Jae-wook get settled in a hotel? "Whoever you are, please watch your tone. I had the club staff take him to the hotel. Is there a problem?"

Hearing the stranger's restrained tone and realizing he truly didn't know her identity, Liu Jimin softened her voice. "I'm sorry... I just wanted to understand what happened that night. What should I call you? Lee Jae-wook and I have a misunderstanding, and I hope you can help me explain that I never went to the club to pick him up."

The two in the car exchanged glances, and Xia Xing replied, "I don't have Lee Jae-wook's number, and besides... this is your personal relationship issue. Why should I help you explain it?"

If the person on the other end had spoken nicely from the start, Xia Xing might have been willing to help.

"Please, I'm begging you. I have nothing to do with him, and he keeps harassing me..."

Perhaps hearing the near-pleading tone of the girl on the phone, Shin Yuna tugged on his sleeve, signaling him to help out. Xia Xing sighed and relented.

"Fine. Send me his number later. I'll give him a call when I have time to clarify the situation."

"Thank you so, so much."

The call ended. The melancholic atmosphere in the car, brought on by their impending separation, lightened a little because of the interruption.

"I think I just stumbled upon some juicy gossip," Shin Yuna said, eyeing Xia Xing's phone screen with interest. The voice of the stranger on the line sounded remarkably like a certain peer in the industry. She opened her contacts, searched for a name, and compared the numbers.

"Xingcan, do you know who just called you?"

"Who? Lee Jae-wook's harasser?"

"It's Karina from aespa."