* * *

When they reached home, Yeongdeok went straight to his desk, sinking into his chair after kicking off his shoes.

Jihoon had insisted he take it easy, but Yeongdeok felt too restless to stay still.

He powered on his computer and obsessively scoured every post and article with the name “PetitRolang,” despite knowing he’d find nothing new. This compulsive search went on all night.

As the dawn light finally filled the room, his screen, which had been showing the same posts repeatedly, suddenly populated with new information.

[Famous Web Novelist PetitRolang to Host Fan Signing Event]

[PetitRolang Announces Upcoming Fan Signing Event]

A fan signing?

When Yeongdeok clicked on the article at the top, his phone buzzed.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

His phone vibrated continuously.

Checking it, he saw messages popping up in the Beautiful Life chat room.

[Earth destroyer: Famous web novelist PetitRolang to host fan signing (https://www…)]

[Earth destroyer: Has everyone seen this?]

[DaerimdongFist: What? PetitRolang is doing a fan sign?]

[Gwakdupal: Can I even get selected if it’s random?]

[Natsuyama Soseki: Oh, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet PetitRolang!]

[Earth destroyer: Please…let me get picked…]

Yeongdeok stared at their chat absentmindedly before turning back to his screen.

As he read the article about PetitRolang’s fan signing, his grip tightened.

According to the article, the event was so popular that attendees would be chosen randomly due to high demand. Engrossed, Yeongdeok soon found himself on PetitRolang’s social media.

[PetitRolang: I’ve been granted the humbling opportunity to hold my first fan signing event.

To my readers who love my work, I’m always grateful.

Entry link: https://www…]

This was only the second post PetitRolang had made.

Yeongdeok wondered why, after making their first post, they had done nothing since.

Was it possible to actually talk to PetitRolang at the signing?

All these questions had only one answer: the author themselves.

Whether it was the real PetitRolang or an impersonator, he decided to enter the drawing.

ꔚ

A week later, the drawing date for PetitRolang’s fan signing arrived, and Yeongdeok received a message saying he’d won a spot.

From what he’d gathered, there were millions who had entered to attend.

What were the odds of winning?

Yet he felt as if PetitRolang was specifically summoning him.

“Is he granting me an audience? How arrogant…”

Yeongdeok wasn’t sure if he’d wanted this moment or dreaded it, but one thing was certain—his revenge was far from over.

Feeling a cold fury inside, he pressed his ribs, and the Beautiful Life chat room buzzed again.

[Gwakdupal: The results for the fan signing are out! How’d everyone do? I’m… out.]

[DaerimdongFist: Failed, too.]

[Natsuyama Soseki: Me too ㅠㅠ]

[Earth destroyer: With so many entries, it’s a miracle if anyone got in.]

[I made it.]

Yeongdeok’s short message caused a stir in the previously sullen chat room.

[Gwakdupal: Wait, you entered too, Yeongdeok?]

[DaerimdongFist: Didn’t you not even like PetitRolang that much, Yeongdeok Chicken?]

[DaerimdongFist: Was it for us…?]

[DaerimdongFist: (Ducky, eyes twinkling)]

[Don’t be ridiculous.]

[DaerimdongFist: ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Rose: I made it too! It’s amazing that two of us from this room got in.]

[Natsuyama Soseki: So jealousㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Gwakdupal: What luck in this room, really?]

Messages of envy and well-wishes filled the chat room, when suddenly, Seonwoo messaged him directly.

[Seonwoo: I didn’t know you were such a devoted PetitRolang fan, Cha Yeongdeok.]

[Seonwoo: I’m taking Cho-ah to the signing that day, so I’ll take you as well.]

A die-hard fan? Yeongdeok’s eyes narrowed, reading Seonwoo’s message.

[I’m not a fan of that guy.]

[Seonwoo: Then why did you enter?]

[I had my reasons.]

[Seonwoo: Oh, totally convincing~]

[Seonwoo: Just send me your address. I’ll pick you up.]

[Decli_]

As he was about to refuse, he hesitated.

Reflecting on his and Seonwoo’s current relationship—better than before, if Seonwoo was offering to give him a ride—he decided he could use the opportunity.

After all, he’d come back to this point in the story with a goal to disrupt it.

Sending his address to Seonwoo felt strangely easy.

ꔚ

On the day of the PetitRolang fan signing event, a sleek, bright white car pulled into the parking lot of Yeongdeok’s home.

The car gleamed so brightly it looked as if it had been drawn in a completely different style from its surroundings.

When Yeongdeok opened the passenger door, Seonwoo in the driver’s seat and Choa in the backseat both greeted him in turn.

“You’re here, Cha Yeongdeok?”

“Hi, Yeongdeok-oppa!”

Choa had clearly put more effort into her appearance than usual, likely because they were on their way to meet her favorite author.

As soon as Yeongdeok settled into his seat, Seonwoo reached over to fasten his seatbelt, drawing them close together.

“I can do it myself.”

“But I want to do it for you.”

Ignoring Yeongdeok’s refusal, Seonwoo reached across him and buckled the seatbelt.

His hand traced along his chest line, a touch so blatantly intimate that Yeongdeok instinctively caught his wrist.

“Do you want to go to the police station instead of the signing event?”

“Haha, what are you talking about, Cha Yeongdeok? I haven’t done anything.”

Seonwoo shamelessly dismissed his actions, especially brazen with his sister in the backseat.

“You’re not going to start fighting the moment we meet, right?”

Yeongdeok wasn’t the one instigating; it was Seonwoo who constantly teased him.

But Choa chastised both of them, so Yeongdeok decided to enlighten her about her shameless brother.

“Your pathetic brother…”

Before he could finish, Seonwoo silenced him with a gentle “shh,” pressing a long finger to Yeongdeok’s lips.

The brief touch sent an unexpected shiver through him, and he forgot what he was going to say, his hand loosening from Seonwoo’s wrist.

“We’re not fighting.”

With a click, Seonwoo secured the seatbelt, finally easing himself away from Yeongdeok.

“Right, Cha Yeongdeok?”

Seonwoo grinned slyly, his expression a cunning blend of innocence and mischief, making Yeongdeok scoff.

“Now that Yeongdeok’s here, shall we head out?”

In high spirits, Seonwoo hummed to himself as he pulled out of the parking lot, accelerating smoothly onto the road.

“By the way, I didn’t think you’d be going to PetitRolang’s fan signing event, Yeongdeok-oppa. I thought you didn’t like the author?”

“I don’t. I really don’t.”

“Then why are you going to the fan signing…”

Listening quietly to their conversation, Seonwoo sensed something unusual in Yeongdeok’s attitude.

It reminded him of that strange air Yeongdeok had before attending Cha Heeseok’s party.

“Yeah, you dislike them. So why are you going? Planning something weird again?”

Yeongdeok didn’t answer, simply staring out the window. Seonwoo’s suspicion deepened.

As Seonwoo kept glancing skeptically at him, Yeongdeok scolded him, “Would you mind just watching the road?”

“I can’t help it. I’m worried about what kind of crazy thing you might pull. If you pulled stunts in front of Chairman Cha, who says you won’t do it in front of PetitRolang?”

Yeongdeok snorted. Did Seonwoo think he went around doing such things all the time?

“I just want to take a look at that PetitRolang bastard’s face.”

Yeongdeok’s expression was cold as he uttered the author’s name.

Seonwoo was puzzled by their relationship but didn’t ask further, sensing a fierce aura emanating from him.

“I… I hope nothing happens today…”

Choa murmured softly, her tone tinged with concern as if she sensed something off about Yeongdeok too.

* * *