* * *

Back home, Yeongdeok stayed up all night searching for more information about PetitRolang.

Though he scoured every source, by the time the dawn broke, he hadn’t uncovered anything substantial.

Everyone was just repeating the same thing.

“PetitRolang posted on SNS!”

“Looking forward to the next project!”

In summary, that was it.

If only something drastic had happened in the world, he could have concluded that PetitRolang had done something drastic.

But the world remained the same as it had always been for Yeongdeok.

Having spent the whole night glued to his monitor, Yeongdeok noticed the time in the bottom right corner and realized that it was already noon, despite having accomplished nothing of importance.

“It’s already this late…”

Finally standing up from his seat, Yeongdeok rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out a pack of instant ramen—the kind a controlling lover would never touch.

He added the noodles and seasoning to the boiling water, along with some sliced green onions and a cracked egg.

After eating, he headed to the bathroom.

After showering, he found himself searching for PetitRolang again until it was time to leave for work.

The shop looked no different from how he had left it barely twelve hours earlier.

Jihoon, who had come in after his last lecture, was still the same too. And then…

The bell above the door jingled as it opened.

“Hello, Yeongdeok. Jihoon too,” Wonjin greeted them both, stepping inside.

He approached Yeongdeok and handed him a cup carrier. Inside were two drinks—one pink, the other brown.

“What’s this?”

“I brought them for after you finish work. I didn’t know what Jihoon likes, so I got him an iced tea. Is that alright?”

Wonjin glanced over at Jihoon, but he either didn’t hear or chose to ignore it, continuing with his task in silence.

“That guy…”

Yeongdeok almost answered for Jihoon but stopped himself, realizing that he had never once cared enough to learn what Jihoon liked.

Come to think of it, what had he ordered the last time they were at a cafe?

“I don’t know.”

“If he doesn’t like it, I’m sorry. Please let him know.”

Wonjin seemed ready to leave without ordering anything, which struck Yeongdeok as odd.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah, I just stopped by to see your face for a moment.”

“To see me? Why?”

Wonjin studied Yeongdeok’s face closely, then adjusted his round glasses.

“Just because.”

It was a truly dismissive answer.

Yeongdeok was sure Ha Wonjin’s place wasn’t particularly close.

There were many ways to waste time, and with that thought, Yeongdeok let go of his doubt.

Wonjin left the shop after dropping off the drinks, and as Yeongdeok watched him go, he couldn’t help but notice there was nothing different about Wonjin compared to usual.

What kind of trouble had PetitRolang caused?

Maybe Yeongdeok had overanalyzed things due to his resentment toward the writer.

Yet, he couldn’t shake off the unease, lost in thought, when Jihoon, having finished his task, approached him.

“What’s this? Café drinks?”

Jihoon took the cup carrier from Yeongdeok’s hands as he asked.

“That bastard Ha Wonjin gave them to me before leaving, told me to drink it after work. The iced tea is yours.”

“Him? That’s unexpected. I should thank him next time he drops by.”

Jihoon smiled slightly as he placed the drinks in the fridge.

Watching with arms crossed, Yeongdeok suddenly became curious about how Jihoon, one of the main characters in this novel, viewed PetitRolang.

“Seo Jihoon, have you heard of PetitRolang?”

“PetitRolang? Who hasn’t? It’s all the rage these days.”

“What do you think of him?”

As Jihoon closed the fridge, he gave Yeongdeok a curious look.

His half-closed eyes seemed to ask, “Why are you asking this?” but instead of voicing his question, he quietly answered.

“Nothing much. Just that he’s impressive? Feels like looking at a celebrity. That’s about it.”

“Then, could you insult him if I asked you to?”

Jihoon’s expression grew even more puzzled.

“What’s with you? Why are you asking that?”

If the top rating was 5 stars, PetitRolang’s works would get 5. If it were 10 stars, he’d get 10.

On social media, forums, or anywhere online, PetitRolang was universally praised.

Yeongdeok felt isolated in a world created by PetitRolang.

Everyone respected and adored him—didn’t even the Beautiful Life members get furious when someone bad-mouthed him?

Everyone treated the writer like a hero who saved the nation, and Yeongdeok wondered if Jihoon was the same.

He wanted to confirm how absolute PetitRolang’s presence really was.

Jihoon frowned, tilting his head, clearly irritated.

Watching his reaction, Yeongdeok decided to retract his words, thinking he’d asked something unnecessary.

“Forget it. Get back to work.”

“PetitRolang, that bastard. Is that good enough?”

Yeongdeok froze at Jihoon’s blunt curse.

At the same time, a part of his dry, desolate heart felt relieved.

“…Well, that’s clear enough.”

As Yeongdeok let out a small laugh, Jihoon couldn’t understand why his simple insult amused him, but knowing Yeongdeok didn’t laugh easily, he couldn’t help but blush.

“So why’d you ask in the first place?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“If you’re not going to tell me, why even ask? Seriously, I don’t get it.”

Jihoon grumbled at Yeongdeok’s secretive attitude but didn’t press further.

Asking again would only result in a “get lost,” and he didn’t want to be a nuisance to Yeongdeok.

“I really can’t figure out what goes on in your head, hyung.”

Jihoon chuckled as he let it go.

Watching Jihoon’s faint smile, Yeongdeok pondered—was PetitRolang not as absolute as he thought?

Or had Seo Jihoon veered off the original story by becoming his friend, making him react like this?

No matter how hard he racked his brain, trying to unravel PetitRolang or this world was useless.

The very idea that this world was a novel, or that Yeongdeok had died and come back, was absurd in itself.

Logic didn’t exist here, so how could he grasp the truth of this world?

Yet, Yeongdeok couldn’t let go of the thought.

Hadn’t he vowed to get revenge on PetitRolang?

When he returned to this life, he’d made that his goal.

So, even if it seemed pointless, he couldn’t stop obsessing over PetitRolang.

---

Late into the night, as the shop was closing, Jihoon finished cleaning up and took the drinks from the fridge.

Thirsty after a long, busy day, he gulped down his iced tea.

Just then, as Yeongdeok removed his apron and approached him, Jihoon handed him a strawberry latte.

Yeongdeok took it and, without context, asked, “Do you like it?”

Jihoon nearly choked, thinking Yeongdeok had asked if he liked him.

Startled, he reacted instinctively, only to realize that Yeongdeok’s eyes were fixed on the plastic cup of iced tea.

Of course.

There’s no way Cha Yeongdeok would ask if he liked him.

Jihoon mentally berated himself for being an idiot and nodded.

“Yeah. Who doesn’t like iced tea? It’s pretty universally liked.”

“I see…”

Yeongdeok, who rarely took interest in others, now made a mental note of Jihoon’s preference.

With drinks in hand, Yeongdeok and Jihoon left the shop.

As Yeongdeok locked the door, Jihoon, as if he’d just remembered, spoke up.

“Oh right, hyung. Do you have time in early to mid-May?”

“Why are you asking?”

“There’s a festival at my school. You should come if you’re free.”

Jihoon tried to coax him, saying it would be fun.

“I see.”

“At least react! You look like you don’t care at all.”

Despite Jihoon’s efforts to promote the festival, Yeongdeok’s response was lukewarm.

Not that Jihoon hadn’t expected it.

“Celebrities will be performing in the evening too. But I guess you’ll be working then…”

Jihoon smacked his lips, regretting having said that.

Even if Edison’s cousin arrived at the festival in a time machine, Yeongdeok wouldn’t care.

University festivals were hardly something an obsessive, possessive type would attend.

Yet, Jihoon’s eyes practically begged Yeongdeok to come.

Moved by that look, Yeongdeok found himself nodding.

“Alright.”

“Really? You’ll come to the festival with me?”

“With you? I didn’t say that.”

“You don’t know anyone at my school, hyung. Of course, I’ll introduce you to people.”

Yeongdeok considered his words.

For a moment, the face of that annoying Dalsu flashed before him, but he quickly dismissed it.

There’s no way he was close with Kim Dalsu.

“And, hyung, we’re friends.”

Friends.

As he pondered that word, Yeongdeok realized he hadn’t really done anything “friend-like” with Jihoon.

If he wanted to show the writer that his relationship with Jihoon had changed this much, it would be best to go along with it.

Driven by his desire for revenge against PetitRolang, Yeongdeok agreed.

“Fine.”

“Great! Keep your schedule clear around that time. It’ll be fun.”

Jihoon was clearly looking forward to it, his excitement evident in his eyes. What was there to look forward to?

Though Yeongdeok found it ridiculous, he couldn’t take his eyes off Jihoon’s face.

How strange.

* * *