Chapter 5
Jisang stood still, unable to bring himself to touch her carelessly.
“I really thought I was going to die like this… sob.”
Hari’s slender body, which had been trembling faintly, suddenly lost all strength, and she collapsed onto the floor, bursting into tears.
Jisang untied the handkerchief wrapped around his wrist and placed it in her hand, then took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
“Let’s go.”
In one swift motion, he lifted her, supporting her waist and legs.
No matter how slim Hari was, she was still a fully grown adult. Yet he handled her as if she weighed nothing, like a baby.
Instinctively, Hari wrapped her arms around his neck, but having never been close to a man before, she didn’t know what to do and couldn’t fully lean into him.
“If you lean on me comfortably, it’ll be easier for me.”
With that, he adjusted his hold, pulling her closer. Their bodies pressed together unexpectedly. With every step he took, her body brushed against his chest. Each contact carried his warmth, gradually easing her tension.
But as she calmed down, she became more aware of their closeness. Every time she noticed it, her body tensed and twisted slightly.
Jisang looked down at her and clicked his tongue in mild reprimand.
“I told you to stay still.”
Staring at a face that perfectly matched her ideal type right in front of her, her heart raced foolishly even in this situation. In truth, it was because she had met this man that her “ideal type” had come to take this exact form.
At the entrance to the waiting room, staff members had gathered, whispering among themselves. Instead of telling them to move, Jisang fixed them with an intimidating gaze. The murmuring stopped at once, and they quietly stepped aside.
Inside, the waiting room felt like a house in mourning.
The director was urgently speaking into a radio, while the stylist Yeonji was crying in fear, muttering about what would happen to “our unni.” Manager Jungwook stood there, his eyes bloodshot, looking half out of his mind.
As Jisang entered carrying Hari, everyone rushed toward them.
“Hari!”
“Ms. Hari! Are you okay?”
“Unni! Unni!”
Jisang pushed through the crowd and gently set her down on a comfortable sofa. The director quickly spoke into his radio.
“We’ve found Yoo Hari.”
Having calmed down somewhat on the way, Hari wiped the rest of her tears with the handkerchief and spoke to the director as calmly as she could.
“I… if you give me a little time, I’ll fix my makeup and come back out.”
“No. Ms. Hari. We’re calling it off for today.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Your safety comes first.”
“I’m really sorry.”
Even in a situation where her life had been threatened, Hari apologized first. The atmosphere grew heavy.
Jisang, who had been watching her with a frustrated look, snapped irritably.
“What exactly are you sorry for?”
“It was my carelessness…”
“The ones who messed up security and created this damn situation are these people. Why is you apologizing, Ms. Yoo Hari?”
At his words, the director, assistant director, and production PD all lowered their heads like sinners.
Jungwook was even more furious than Jisang.
“You all knew what kind of threat Hari was under today! This should have been canceled from the start! She only came because she insisted on filming! If she went that far, shouldn’t you have been even more careful? Just how are you managing security that some drifter can wander around unnoticed? Huh?”
“We’re sorry. We sincerely apologize.”
The PD kept bowing repeatedly, but Hari felt uncomfortable. The perpetrator wasn’t even here—so why was everyone acting like criminals?
“Oppa, stop.”
Hari stepped in to calm things down.
“It’s partly my fault too, so please don’t blame yourselves too much, Director. The culprit might still be around, so it’s dangerous today. Let’s reschedule the shoot. Next time, I’ll be more careful and not wander off alone.”
The production PD, who bore the greatest responsibility, felt his eyes well up at her kindness.
He finally understood why there had never been a single negative rumor about Yoo Hari in such a harsh industry—why the public loved her so much.
She was the last remaining piece of pure innocence in this field.
After the chaos, the police arrived at the set, and Hari only managed to return home late at night after answering several questions.
All she wanted was to go home and rest, but Jungwook tried to stop her.
“Are you really okay? Don’t go home—just come to my place. Hyunseo told me to bring you too.”
“No, Oppa. I didn’t sleep last night either, so I’m exhausted. I just want to rest comfortably at home.”
“But it’s dangerous. The culprit hasn’t been caught yet. And they know where you live.”
“I know what you mean… but I think I’ll be okay.”
Hari hesitated, glancing repeatedly at Jisang.
“Wouldn’t it be fine if the bodyguard stays with me…?”
Her voice was so soft that no one seemed to hear her. Jungwook continued talking.
“Seriously, what would’ve happened today if the bodyguard hadn’t been there? Just thinking about it gives me chills! That damn bastard—once we catch him…”
While Jungwook muttered, Hari kept sneaking glances at the quiet man beside her. Their eyes could have met at least once, but he never looked her way.
I wish he’d stay with me…
Should she just ask for 24-hour protection? No—that might expose her ulterior motives.
Lost in thought, they arrived at her home. Jisang got out and followed her.
“I’ll stay until I confirm Ms. Hari safely enters.”
“I’ll wait and give you a ride back.”
“That’s alright. I’ll arrange my own transportation.”
“Okay then—get some rest!”
Jisang gave a slight nod to Jungwook in place of a farewell and began carefully surveying the surroundings.
Looking around the rundown neighborhood with clear dissatisfaction, he spotted the threatening graffiti left by the culprit on the building wall and frowned deeply.
Hari waved energetically as she saw Jungwook off, then cautiously entered the old villa. Jisang followed behind.
Each step triggered the motion-sensor lights, but the darkness before they turned on felt unusually heavy to Hari tonight.
She had said she’d be fine, but standing in front of her door now, she felt afraid.
She didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to ask Jisang to stay.
No… it would make him uncomfortable.
She thought of the space beyond the door—a tiny apartment with a single living room, one bedroom, and a bathroom.
Far too shabby for a man like him.
In the end, she gave up and turned the doorknob.
“I’ll go in now. Thank you for today.”
She smiled awkwardly and was about to enter when he blocked the door with his arm.
“May I take a look inside?”
“Huh? Well…”
Jisang stepped in first, motioning for her to stay back.
He moved through the apartment without hesitation, checking for any signs of intrusion. He opened the living room window wide and carefully scanned every direction with a flashlight.
Whether it was because of his long legs or the cramped space, it took only a few steps for him to cross the entire room.
By the time he finished inspecting and returned to the entrance, Hari was still standing where she had been, shrinking in her own home.
“It may be presumptuous, but I think you should consider moving.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
“Yes. So please think about it.”
“Okay.”
“You could go stay at a hotel tonight.”
“Well… then…”
Hari lightly tugged at his sleeve and asked,
“Could you stay with me?”
“….”
“I guess that would be uncomfortable, right?”
“No.”
Jisang took off his shoes again and stepped back inside.
He draped his suit jacket over the sofa and, running a hand along his long neck, asked,
“Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
“Pardon? With what?”
“Staying in the same house with a grown man like me.”
For some reason, perhaps because of the way he looked at her, his words sounded strangely suggestive.
