Chapter 5. The Supporting Character’s Settings
“Wake up.”
I shook Yugong in a hurry, and his eyes slowly fluttered open.
No matter how cliché-ridden this drama world was, there had to be some reason for waking up in the same bed. How could they just skip the entire process?
Faced with the unbelievable situation before me, my head began to throb. At the same time, I could vividly recall writer Oh Jeongsuk’s loud, cackling laughter—especially the kind she made when she was having the time of her life.
And this was Oh Jeongsuk we were talking about. If anything, she would go overboard—never hold back.
This place was a makjang drama. A dead end, so to speak. Nothing that happened here would be strange.
Thinking back on the progression so far…
It wasn’t hard to imagine a storyline where Lee Yang-a, who accidentally got pregnant after a mistake with Yugong, would switch the father and insist the child belonged to Cheolsu.
Could it be that even the heavy drinking was part of writer Oh Jeongsuk’s meticulous scheme…? It had gone down suspiciously smoothly.
But what if I really was pregnant? I wasn’t mentally prepared for that at all. Countless thoughts flooded my mind.
“…Why…?”
Why?
Yugong, finally coming to his senses, asked back as if he were the victim.
“Yugong, what is this? Why are you here?”
“Ah.”
“That’s not an ‘ah.’ Yesterday… no, it wasn’t, right? It can’t be. I mean, the media makes it sound like these things happen by accident all the time, but you and I are civilized people.”
“Civilized…?”
“Accidentally taking off clothes, accidentally kissing, accidentally… no, how is any of that an accident? That’s clearly intentional!”
“Pfft…”
Yugong burst into laughter, clutching his smooth forehead as if my agitated rambling was simply amusing.
“Why are you laughing? Why?”
I could only fume at his calm expression.
After all, this was a very serious situation for me. In my imagination, I had already gone all the way to the worst possible conclusion.
Given the nature of When Night Flowers Bloom, it wasn’t even that unlikely, which made it all the more terrifying.
“…We really just slept.”
“What…?”
“I said we just slept. We were both too tired. It’s happened before, hasn’t it?”
A relationship where you “just sleep”? Even saying it out loud felt embarrassing. Writer Oh Jeongsuk’s laughter echoed in my ears again. What kind of ridiculous setup was this?
Sensing my confusion, Yugong slowly sat up. Thankfully—thankfully—he was wearing his shirt.
“You’re the one acting strange all of a sudden.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Didn’t we already settle this before?”
“Explain properly. What do you mean ‘before’? You know the five W’s and one H, right? Stick to them.”
Yugong let out a low, incredulous laugh. Then, as if sharing a secret, he leaned close and whispered into my ear.
“It was before you went abroad, Yang-a. You said you’d lend me your bed when I was suffering from insomnia.”
His moving lips. The breath slipping between his words. His calm tone, as if he had expected this reaction all along. All of it strangely put me at ease.
“I did…?”
“I was the one who added a condition. On nights we shared the bed, we’d stay together until morning. I needed warmth to sleep. Yesterday was just like that.”
“If that was before I went abroad, then I must’ve been really young…?”
“I thought it was still valid. You didn’t say anything when I lay next to you.”
“That’s because I was asleep…!”
“I don’t think so.”
Yugong ran a hand through his hair, looking unsure where to begin explaining. For a brief moment, my gaze was drawn to the strands slipping through his fingers.
“You said you liked me.”
“…I actually like you, Yugong.”
“You said you liked how desperate I was.”
“I like your desperate love. I like your reckless heart. I like your yearning.”
“You said that’s the kind of character I am.”
“You are. That’s your character.”
Fragments of memory flooded my mind, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t recall Yugong’s response.
“…What did you say back then?”
“Hm?”
“Don’t act innocent. Don’t ‘hm’ me! Tell me properly.”
As I raised my voice, ready to grab him by the collar if needed, Yugong simply looked at me with calm, lake-like eyes.
“…I thought you wouldn’t remember.”
“What…?”
“But there won’t be a second time. If you want to know, remember it yourself.”
“You call that an answer…?”
“Find a way to remember, Yang-a.”
After saying that firmly, Yugong got up and left. His neatly dressed appearance caught my eye. Like he said, it really seemed like we had only slept.
But my relief was short-lived. A whole chunk of my memory was missing, and he was telling me to recall it? That was practically a miracle.
No point overthinking it. Memories that had already left wouldn’t come back just because I agonized over them.
Whatever. Let it be.
I yawned and burrowed back under the covers, planning to sleep a bit more.
Why…?
I was definitely planning to sleep in, so why was I now at the social club “Orange”?
Maybe because this was a drama world—scenes changed in the blink of an eye. When I opened my eyes, I was already inside the club.
Absentmindedly stirring my teaspoon, I came to a conclusion. Given the forced transition, this had to be a stage from When Night Flowers Bloom.
A scene written in the script.
Actors had to show up for the stage, or filming would stop. Accepting the sudden shift, I looked around. The neatly prepared actors and elaborate set only reinforced my assumption.
Just as my doubts began to fade, Cheolsu spoke.
“By all logic, you should be kicked out of here a thousand times over, Lee Yang-a. But I’ve decided to let it slide.”
Of course. Maybe Younghee had begged him, crying, to spare me. Or maybe he pitied her for being so distressed, thinking I had lost my mind.
“Wow, how generous of you.”
I replied sarcastically, and Cheolsu closed his eyes briefly, as if suppressing his anger.
“It’s so nice to have everyone together again. It’s been ages!”
Younghee smiled brightly, perhaps trying to lighten the mood.
Then—
“Where were you? Yesterday.”
Yugong asked casually, glancing at Younghee.
If I remembered correctly… Younghee had disappeared for a while last night with Cheolsu. Probably around the time Yugong and I were dancing in the “extra” scene.
“Ah… I had something to take care of. Why?”
She answered awkwardly, and Yugong simply said, “It’s nothing,” before trailing off.
There it was—that longing gaze. A hand that wanted to reach out but couldn’t. A restless foot shifting awkwardly.
A man who always wore a gentle smile, yet became rigid when it came to Younghee.
This version of Yugong felt unfamiliar.
So this was the power of the stage.
“I danced a waltz with Yugong.”
I decided to test it further.
“What? You and Yugong?”
Even Gaeul, who had been quietly sipping tea, asked again in disbelief.
“Yeah. We even slept together. Why?”
“What?!”
The synchronized shock on their faces made me realize—ah, that was supposed to be a secret.
So that’s why he whispered it.
When I turned my head, Yugong was glaring at me sharply.
“Whether you slept together or rolled around in bed, no one here cares. It’s actually uncomfortable to hear.”
“Rolled around?”
At Cheolsu’s words, Yugong clenched his fist, barely holding back his anger—probably because Younghee was watching.
“Lee Yang-a.”
Then Yugong called me out.
“Why bring that up here?”
“Just because. I thought everyone would find it interesting. Guess it was just me. Sorry.”
I gave a shameless apology that didn’t look sorry at all.
Still… had Younghee hurt Yugong?
She only looked briefly surprised, then seemed… almost pleased that things between us were progressing.
Typical transparent female lead.
Feeling slightly guilty for unintentionally hurting Yugong, I got up.
“Leaving?”
Cheolsu asked, barely hiding his satisfaction.
“That’s it for the extra.”
“Yang-a, what do you mean ‘extra’?”
“It means stop dragging me into meaningless gatherings, Younghee. I’ll pass on any more kindness.”
With that, I walked out of the club.
As I strode down the hallway, my heels clicked sharply. One wrong step, and I felt like I might twist my ankle.
Having experienced the stage’s power, I finally felt like part of When Night Flowers Bloom.
Maybe this was all part of some “TruX Show.”
Ridiculous.
But should I just accept it? Live as a supporting villain?
That thought was just as ridiculous.
Wasn’t I a supporting character even in reality? Finally, a similarity between Song Dalrae and Lee Yang-a.
A lonely lamp that burns itself out while illuminating others.
“…I…”
Then suddenly, Yugong’s voice echoed clearly in my mind.
“I have to love Kim Younghee as a supporting character.”
“Mm.”
“This is a world I can’t change with my will. I know that better than anyone.”
“Why are you telling me that… with such a sad face?”
“Because it’s you.”
“…What?”
“Notice me, Writer Song Dalrae.”
!!
If that wasn’t a distorted memory—
If it was real—
Then Yugong knew his role as a supporting character…?
No way.
I hurried back.
When I burst the door open—
“…Yugong!”
Instead of calling Cheolsu, I called his name.
Ignoring everyone else, I walked straight to him.
“My favorite character knows I exist and is asking me to notice him.”
That alone was enough to move me.
“Yugong, listen carefully.”
“…Lee Yang-a?”
“I have no intention of living as a supporting character like you.”
“…Supporting character?”
His eyes wavered.
“I remembered everything.”
“What…?”
“So come with me.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him out.
Now alone—
“What are you really? Baek Junho? Or Yugong?”
After a pause, he spoke.
“I’m… nothing.”
“What?”
“As long as this world exists, I’m nothing. Just a puppet.”
“…Then why do you need me?”
“…Take me out.”
“Where?”
“To your world. This place is a living hell. I have no self.”
“…What is your ‘self’?”
“I want to be happy.”
“…I want that too.”
“I want to love the person I love.”
“…You already love Kim Younghee.”
“…The person I love.”
He stepped closer.
Then suddenly—
My heel snapped.
I stumbled—
But strong arms caught me.
I ended up in Yugong’s embrace.
“…What does love mean to you?”
“What else? It’s the setting you gave me.”
He smiled faintly.
The Yugong I created.
Who… was he, really?
