* * *

“So, what do you plan to do with that script?”

Wonjin, expecting anger, was taken aback when Yeongdeok responded calmly. He brightened up, pulling the top sheet of paper from the stack.

“I’ll ask the questions, and you just give answers that fit. Let’s find where the problem is as we talk.”

“Fine.”

Clearing his throat, Wonjin smoothed the paper and read the first question from the script, a simple question-and-answer exercise.

“How was your day?”

“Why do you care?”

From the start, things didn’t look promising.

With an awkward smile, Wonjin smacked his forehead.

“Um, Yeongdeok…”

“What?”

“Could you try… speaking a little more normally?”

Yeongdeok tilted his head.

His previous response seemed perfectly ordinary to him, so he couldn’t help but be confused.

After all, he’d spent years like this under PetitRolang’s influence.

“What do others usually say in this situation?”

“They just answer what they did during the day.”

“Ask me again.”

Though Wonjin felt his mind go blank for a second, he repeated the same question.

“How was your day?”

“I talked to Ha Wonjin at a café.”

It was an answer, sure.

But the bluntness of it was immediately clear to Wonjin, who hesitantly spoke up.

“Yeongdeok…”

“What now?”

“Most people don’t end their sentences with “다” (the formal sentence-ending particle).”

“Didn’t you just end your sentence with “다”?”

“Huh? Wait, but that’s…”

Realizing Yeongdeok had a point, Wonjin felt flustered.

‘Why did I end my sentence with “다” too?’

As he overthought it, he began experiencing a sort of mental breakdown.

As his mind tangled with confusion, Wonjin decided to drop it and move on to the next issue.

“Using words like “놈” (which is derogatory for ‘guy’) sounds too harsh. Wouldn’t it be better to use a different term?”

“So, should I call him “hyung” (older brother)?”

“Not necessarily hyung, but…”

“I had a conversation with Wonjin hyung at the café.”

Cough.

Wonjin cleared his throat.

Though technically correct, hearing Yeongdeok use “hyung” felt strangely off. His heart raced for no reason.

Was it because it was so unlikely that someone like Yeongdeok would ever address him that way?

“Is there a problem?”

“No, just… a bit awkward.”

With an uneasy laugh, Wonjin quickly moved on to the next question.

“I’ve got too many things to carry. Could you help me out?”

“Why should I?”

This kind of response was expected, so Wonjin wasn’t even surprised anymore.

Holding back a sigh, he continued calmly.

“I just can’t do it alone.’

“And?”

“What?”

“Why do you even have something you can’t carry alone? Are you unaware of your own limitations? Or did you plan to use me from the start?”

“Um…”

‘I don’t know. How would I know that?’

Wonjin bit his tongue to hold back those words.

“I don’t know…”

“This script is garbage.”

Yeongdeok’s voice was tired.

Hearing that, Wonjin quickly moved on to the next page.

Question after question, Yeongdeok’s answers kept veering far outside the realm of normal conversation.

At this point, Wonjin let out a hollow laugh and stared at the ceiling.

‘Who am I, and why am I here?’

ꔚ

Time passed without any progress.

After dealing with Yeongdeok for so long, Wonjin felt his head was going to explode.

He stood up quietly.

“I’ll… just step out to the restroom.”

“Go ahead.”

Escaping to the sink, Wonjin stared at his reflection in the mirror, thinking to himself.

Why was Yeongdeok even trying to make friends?

It seemed like a lost cause.

Frustrated, he scratched his head, watching strands of hair fall between his fingers.

‘I’m only in my early thirties, and if I end up balding, 80% of the blame will lie with Cha Yeongdeok.’

Sighing deeply, he returned from the restroom.

Determined to try again, he saw Yeongdeok intently reading through the script.

With each blink, it was as if a finely sculpted statue had come to life.

As he pushed his short bangs up, the sight was captivating. Wonjin wasn’t the only one who noticed; others in the café snuck glances at him as well.

Drawn to him, Wonjin walked over.

Sensing his approach, Yeongdeok raised his gaze from the script.

“I read through the script while you were gone. This standard approach doesn’t seem useful.”

“Yeah…”

“So, you’re no help after all.”

The moment Yeongdeok opened his mouth, all the enchantment evaporated, and Wonjin was reminded how fair the universe really was.

If Cha Yeongdeok had a personality to match his looks—or at least a normal one—he might’ve had the entire world wrapped around his finger.

“I’ll think of… another approach.”

Yeongdeok stared at him in deep thought.

The seriousness with which Wonjin engaged in this ridiculous endeavor amused him.

ꔚ

After parting ways with Yeongdeok, Wonjin couldn’t stop thinking about how to help him make friends.

During his commute, at work, even after returning home, the issue stayed on his mind until he pinpointed the biggest problem.

Cha Yeongdeok was… just too perfect.

Some might argue that this was a strength, not a problem, but Wonjin thought otherwise.

Relationships required compromise and adjustment, but Yeongdeok was so self-sufficient that he never felt the need to adapt to anyone else.

So, Wonjin thought, for Yeongdeok to make friends, he needed to learn how to be considerate of others.

That night, after finishing work, Wonjin contacted Yeongdeok.

[Wonjin: Yeongdeok.]

[What?]

[Wonjin: Have you considered doing volunteer work?]

[Volunteer work?]

[Wonjin: I think it might help you make friends…]

[What does making friends have to do with volunteer work?]

[Wonjin: Just give it a try. You might learn something from it.]

[Wonjin: Maybe…]”

Wonjin thought for sure he’d reject him and tell him to stop talking nonsense, but after a 10-minute silence, Yeongdeok replied with a positive answer.

[Got it.]

ꔚ

On the day of the volunteer work that fell on the weekend, Wonjin found himself standing in front of the nursing home where he had signed up for the activity.

There, he saw Yeongdeok, who looked like he was holding back a lot of words.

Yeongdeok’s face was so stiff that it made Wonjin feel small, but he tried hard to keep his shoulders straight and act confidently.

“Hello, Mr. Yeongdeok. It’s a nice weekend.”

“…….”

Though Wonjin greeted him with a friendly tone, Yeongdeok didn’t respond and just crossed his arms with an air of indifference.

Feeling awkward, Wonjin started explaining why he had suggested volunteering in the first place.

“I thought, if Mr. Yeongdeok wanted to make friends, you’d need to learn how to be considerate of others…”

Yeongdeok listened to his long-winded explanation, only to think that Wonjin’s idea lacked creativity.

Consideration equals volunteering?

How simplistic.

If everyone who had ever volunteered was considerate, the world would be a wonderful place indeed.

Though he mocked Wonjin’s narrow-mindedness inwardly, Yeongdeok had no major complaints.

After all, he had never encountered a person so obsessed with volunteering before, so he simply headed toward the nursing home.

Once inside, a caregiver greeted them both.

“Today, you’ll be assisting the elderly with their activities.”

She explained that they’d be helping the elderly who had trouble moving around and chatting with them.

The caregiver then led them into a room where circular tables and chairs were set up for group activities.

A group of elderly people with white hair sat gathered around.

“It’s origami time right now. All you need to do is assist them as they fold their paper.”

She added that under no circumstances should they get frustrated or raise their voices, and they should be as kind as possible.

Hearing this, Wonjin tugged on Yeongdeok’s sleeve and whispered cautiously.

“Mr. Yeongdeok.”

“What?”

“Since we’re here to volunteer, please be respectful and use honorifics with the elders. And watch what you say.”

“Do I look like someone who doesn’t know basic manners?”

Well, yes, you do.

The positive answer got stuck in Wonjin’s throat, but he couldn’t say that out loud. Instead, he continued giving advice.

“Don’t show any signs of being annoyed. And don’t be cold.”

Wonjin was worried that Yeongdeok might cause unnecessary friction while volunteering.

* * *