Chapter 31: Birthday Gift

That evening, in an apartment in Gangnam.

Krystal Jung lay horizontally across the armrest of the sofa, reviewing her script. Jessica Jung shuffled into the living room in her slippers, her toe landing precisely on the young woman’s protruding calf. "Move over."

"This sofa can fit three people."

Despite her protest, she pushed herself up to make room for her sister. As Jessica sat down, she glanced at the script. "Didn't you used to only use three-colored pens?"

"I learned it from my scene partner."

"Who?"

"You wouldn't know him even if I told you."

Jessica let out a sudden scoff. "How would you know if I’d know him or not if you don't say?"

"Kang Jae-hoon."

"Kang Jae-hoon..." Jessica frowned, searching her memory for a moment, then suddenly slapped Krystal’s thigh. "You mean the 'Socialite Brother,' right?"

Krystal shifted to the side. "What Socialite Brother?"

"This." Jessica pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and handed it to her sister. The image was a curtain-call photo of Kang Jae-hoon performing in *Macbeth* at the Haeundae Theater in Busan.

"Pfft—" Krystal choked on her own saliva, and the script smacked against her face.

"What's so funny?"

"What kind of ridiculous look is this..." Krystal used the script to shield half her face, her fingertip pointing at the lace hem of Kang Jae-hoon’s costume in the photo. "A medieval cross-dressing master?"

"Krystal." Jessica suddenly snatched the script from her face. "He’s a newcomer who went from nobody to the center of attention in just a week. You’d better keep your distance."

Krystal sat up straight. "Attention from *them*? Does that include... Im Yoona?"

"Last month, Yoona studied his vocal notes and practiced until she developed a raspy voice, almost getting herself shoved into the rap unit."

"So?"

"So—" Jessica reached out and pinched her cheek. "Don't go giggling at a cross-dressing freak."

"I wasn't giggling!"

Krystal swatted her hand away, the edge of her script leaving a deep dent in the sofa. The air conditioning chilled the faint blush creeping up her ears, but it couldn't blow away Jessica's narrowing, scrutinizing gaze.

"You can even keep a straight face at Sulli’s dad jokes."

"I was just having a facial spasm because that lace skirt was so ugly."

Jessica suddenly turned the air conditioning down by two degrees. "Are you wearing that pink T-shirt to the script reading tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"You'll look like a supermarket promoter."

"Still better than someone wearing stage costumes with pajama pants."

"Remember to bring an iced Americano to the reading," Jessica said as she stood up, tossing a throw pillow into her lap. "Extra ice. It’ll clear your head."

"Tch—"

***

Morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating Kang Jae-hoon’s face. When the vibration from his phone’s calendar alert reached the third pulse, he grabbed the device, squinting to unlock the screen.

An August 10th calendar entry popped up—marked with a pink cake icon and the label [LSK].

The sound of the refrigerator door opening in the living room made him quickly dim the screen. By the time Kang Jae-hoon had changed and opened his bedroom door, Lee Sung-kyung was already at the entryway, putting on her shoes.

"Sung-kyung, what time... are you coming back tonight?"

"I have a shoot."

"What are you shooting?"

"A commercial."

Lee Sung-kyung pulled her heel into her shoe. She glanced at Kang Jae-hoon’s misaligned buttons, her mouth twitching, before she grabbed her shoulder bag and turned the doorknob. "I'm off."

"Take care on your way."

The door was halfway closed when it stuck. She poked her head back in. "Your shirt is buttoned wrong."

Kang Jae-hoon looked down at the third button that had missed its hole. By the time he looked up, he only heard the door click shut. The sound of the microwave turntable overlapped with her fading footsteps in the hallway.

He leaned against the kitchen counter and scrolled through the third folder in his Kakao favorites—the "Cake House" shop interface.

The horn of Kim Dae-won’s van blared downstairs. He shoveled a few mouthfuls of instant porridge, grabbed his keys from the entryway, and rushed down the stairs, the spring hinge of the unit door creaking behind him.

"Hyung, let’s stop by Cheongdam-dong first."

"What for?" Kim Dae-won asked, dangling a toothpick.

"To order a cake."

"A cake? For that model friend of yours?"

"Yeah, it’s Sung-kyung’s birthday today."

As the car turned out of the alley, Kang Jae-hoon looked out the window. A calico cat was licking its paws by the vending machine in front of the convenience store. The machine had a new poster—a promotional sign reading "Buy Three Get One Free" sat beneath a Soju ad featuring Bae Suzy.

"You should've told me sooner!" Kim Dae-won suddenly swerved into the side lane.

"What?"

"My cousin-in-law’s niece opened a cake shop. I'll take you there."

"Oh..." Kang Jae-hoon stared at the back of Kim Dae-won’s head, seriously suspecting his network of relatives covered every profession in South Korea.

A moment later, Kim Dae-won slammed on the brakes in front of "Sweet Dream" bakery. The cherry blossom stickers on the rolling shutter had faded to a pale pink.

The glass door hit the chime as they entered. Kim Dae-won slapped his car keys onto the counter. "Where’s my niece?"

"Uncle?" A round-faced girl in a chef’s hat emerged from behind the kitchen curtain, her apron dusted with cocoa powder.

"Buying a cake." He pointed his thumb at Kang Jae-hoon, who was staring at the display case. "He’s the apprentice of the award-winning actor Hwang Jung-min."

The niece squinted at him for a long moment. "Haven't I seen you in that...?" She suddenly slapped her palm. "The *Macbeth* play! My classmate’s cousin took a picture of you at the curtain call in that dress!"

"Your classmate’s cousin..." Kang Jae-hoon turned to Kim Dae-won. "Is she that bank clerk?"

"Ahem—" Kim Dae-won pointed awkwardly at the cakes. "Get to the point. Which style do you like?"

Kang Jae-hoon tapped his index finger against the glass three times, finally settling on the raspberry white chocolate mousse. "I want this one, six inches, low sugar, animal-based cream."

The niece pulled out an order pad. "What should I write for the message?"

"Happy birthday to the best Sung-kyung in the world." Kang Jae-hoon’s speed was three times faster than usual, as if the words were burning his mouth.

Kim Dae-won, still chewing on a new toothpick, scoffed. "That’s cheesy enough for an idol drama."

"Do you want a heart symbol?"

"No!" Kim Dae-won poked the price list. "Take out 'in the world.' Otherwise, that girl will definitely tease you for using such corny lines."

Kang Jae-hoon touched his burning neck. "Then... 'Happy birthday to the best Sung-kyung.'"

"Add 'roommate' to it, so she doesn't think you're confessing."

Kang Jae-hoon stared at the price list and nodded through gritted teeth.

When paying, Kim Dae-won pressed his hand down. "Niece, can you give us an employee discount?"

"No problem. Original price is 43,000 won, I'll take 35,000."

"We'll come by around six to pick it up."

"Got it."

In the car, Kim Dae-won turned the air conditioning to the lowest setting. "The costume fitting goes until five, enough time for you to sneak back and hide the cake."

Today was originally scheduled for the third script reading of *The Heirs*. But for some reason, they had received a notification this morning that the reading had been changed to a costume fitting.

"Did you prepare any other birthday gifts besides the cake?"

"I ordered a set of 1–5kg purple dumbbells online. Sung-kyung likes purple."

Kim Dae-won glanced at Kang Jae-hoon through the rearview mirror and was silent for a moment. "...That’s nice."

"Right? I think it’s a good gift too. She’s going to like it."