After getting everything signed, Yeon-Ah handed him the keys and began expining how everything worked in the building—the security system, trash disposal, maintenance schedules, and the general rules tenants were expected to follow.

  Travis listetentively, not losing focus for even a sed. There was something charming about the way she spoke—polite, yet fident, like someone who had been doing this for years.

  When she finished, she gave him a warm smile. "Okay, that's all. Any questions?"

  Travis took a moment, sidering his words before fshing a polite smile. "May I take you out for lunch? Your service was so wonderful that I'd like to show my gratitude."

  Yeon-Ah blinked in surprise, her lips parting slightly before curving into a soft smile. ' Oh, this is something I didn't expect... Does he like me? No, he 't. I mean, I'm pretty old—in fact, old enough to be his mother from the looks of his ID. So maybe he's just being kind. Well, if that's the case, then it'd be rude not to accept,' she thought.

  "Sure," she said, then added pyfully, "but I'd much rather we do that at my pce. Think of it as me weling you."

  Travis chuckled, shaking his head. "That kind of defeats my iion, but okay. Let me go grab some treats for us then. I'll be ba a few."

  As he walked out, Yeon-Ah sighed and smiled to herself, watg him go. 'A enant… It's been a while, holy,' she mused, feeling an odd sense of excitement.

  Travis stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the ground floor. The ride was smooth, but when the doors opened, he was immediately met with two people standing outside—a peculiar pair.

  Ha-Seong and Shin Na-Yeon.

  Ha-Seong was the protagonist of this story. A good guy, genuinely. The kind of man others naturally rallied behind. It holy should hurt that Travis pnned on taking his harem away.

  …Syke.

  Beside him stood Na-Yeon. A heroine in this story—and, funnily enough, Yeon-Ah’s daughter. She had blonde hair, obviously dyed, though he wasn’t sure why. Her figure was toned, evidence of her dedication t out, and her sharp features gave her a strikiy. There was something about the trast of her fit physique and the slight tsundere air she carried that made her stand out even more. She had a thing for Ha-Seong, that much was clear.

  Travis sighed internally.' Man, I’m gonna be w hard to make her mine. '

  As he stepped past them, he felt Na-Yeon’s gaze on him. A fleeting gnce, but noticeable.

  Her brows furrowed slightly as she sized him up. ' He’s… pretty cool? ' she thought, though she wouldn’t say it out loud.

  Travis exited the building and pulled out his phone, cheg for nearby bakeries on the map. He found one a few blocks away and headed over, deg to buy three boxes of pastries instead of one.

  After all, his moment had been interrupted, thanks to the arrival of those two.

  But at least now, he was getting introduced to more of the cast.

  He went back, knog on the door as his eyes wandered around the quiet neighborhood. The air was crisp, carrying the faint st of blooming flowers from a nearby garden. A momehe door swung open, revealing Yeon-Ah with a warm smile, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him.

  "Hey," she greeted, stepping aside to let him in.

  Travis entered, immediately hit by a rich, mouthwatering aroma that ed around him like a warm embrace. Something savory, with a hint of spice.

  "I was cooking before you came," Yeon-Ah said, closing the door behind him. "So if you , why don't you stay for dinner? And we'll eat the treats ter."

  Travis smiled at the offer. "That sounds great. Thank you."

  He carried the boxes into the kit, pg them on the ter before inhaling deeply. "It smells amazing in here."

  Yeon-Ah giggled, tug a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, thank you! I hope you like it. You sit there so we talk," she said, pointing at the stool by the kit ter.

  He nodded and took a seat, watg as she moved around the kit with effortless grace, stirring something in a pot before turning to face him.

  "So, what do you do for work?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "You seem really young, you know. Well, not just seem—you are very young."

  She studied him curiously, her lips quirking into a teasing smile, waiting for his answer.

  Travis chuckled, resting his forearms on the ter. "Yeah, I get that a lot. I'm a freence writer. ' Straight Cap!' Nothing too fancy, just articles, reviews, and sometimes short stories."

  Yeon-Ah’s brows lifted with i. "Oh? That’s pretty cool. I didn’t expect that." She leaned against the ter, propping her on her palm. "So, you make up stories for a living?"

  "Basically," he said with a smirk. "Though not all of it is fi. Some of it’s research-based. But yeah, storytelling is a big part of what I do."

  She hummed, stirring the pot absently. "That actually sounds fun. Stressful, but fun."

  "It has its moments," Travis admitted. "Deadlines be a pain, and sometimes inspiration just refuses to show up. But when it does, it’s worth it."

  Yeon-Ah grinned. "I get that. I used to write in school. Nothing serious, just little stories for myself. But I was never good at finishing them."

  "That’s half the battle," he said. "Starting is easy. Finishing is what separates a hobby from a job."

  She nodded in agreement, then turned back to the stove, stirring whatever was cooking. The rich, savory st thied in the air, making his stomach rumble.

  "So, what about you?" Travis asked, leaning back slightly in his chair. "What do you do?"

  Yeon-Ah g him over her shoulder, a subtle smile pying on her lips. "I guess you could say I'm a stay-at-home mom. But since I own this property, I don't have a definitive answer. I hahings around here, keep everything running. But I'm sure you get the idea," she said, lifting a pot lid to che whatever she was cooking. The rich aroma of spices and simmering broth filled the kit.

  Travis chuckled. "That does sound pretty plicated."

  She shot him a pyful wink as she stirred the pot. "It is, but I’m not pining. I get to do whatever I feel like doing, whenever I want. It's really stress-free."

  The versation flowed easily betweehe kit warm and inviting. Yeon-Ah moved with practiced ease, pting side dishes, arranging the table, and occasionally throwing him soft, knowing ghe way she carried herself—calm, fideirely in trol of her space—made it clear she thrived in her role.

  "You like spicy foht?" she asked suddenly, tilting her head slightly.

  "Yeah, I love it," he said without hesitation.

  "Good," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Because I might’ve gone a little overboard with the spice."

  Travis smirked, resting an elbow on the ter. "I ha."

  Yeon-Ah giggled, c her mouth. "We’ll see."

  A few mier, she set the dishes down, the steam rising in fragrant curls. The deep reds and vibrant greens of the food made his stomach rumble in anticipation. She untied her apron and draped it over a nearby chair before sitting across from him.

  "Alright," she said, handing him a pair of chopsticks. "I should call my kids down. Please wait here."

  He nodded, watg as she walked away, her presence lingering even after she disappeared down the hall. With a quiet sigh, he ran a hand through his hair.

  'It's going well for now. Just o make it obvious that I want us to be friends, not just neighbors,' he thought.

  As he waited, he g the dishes, the spice-heavy aroma teasing his senses. He smirked to himself. This dinner was definitely going to be iing.

  TO BE TINUED