HyunSeong stopped in front of her hotel room.

  Minra, slightly tipsy from the wine, was still a little too aware of him.

  The way he walked beside her.

  The way his voice softened—just slightly—when he told her,

  "Sleep early. We’ve got a lot to do tomorrow."

  It was normal.

  Professional.

  But somehow—somehow—

  It felt too personal.

  Minra swallowed.

  Nodded.

  "Goodnight, HyunSeong-ssi."

  HyunSeong hesitated for half a second.

  Then—he turned away.

  "Goodnight, Minra-ssi."

  And just like that—he was gone.

  .

  Minra closed the door behind her.

  Exhaled.

  And then—collapsed onto the bed.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Because.

  Because what was that?

  Since when did she feel this aware of her boss?

  Since when did she start noticing the small things?

  The way he laughed.

  The way he paid attention.

  The way he wasn’t actually as cold as she first thought.

  Since when did she start liking the way he said her name?

  Minra groaned into her pillow.

  "No. No, no, no. I’m supposed to only like Shuun!"

  Shuun.

  The singer who had been her comfort for years.

  The man who had always been there in the quiet moments of her life.

  The one who had nothing to do with Hwa HyunSeong.

  Right?

  …Right?

  .

  Minra, without thinking, grabbed her phone.

  Typed.

  Sent.

  [ Minra ]: "I can’t sleep."

  A second later—

  [ Minra ]: "I miss hearing your voice every time I come home from work."

  HyunSeong, already sitting in his hotel room next door, stared at the screen.

  Blankly.

  Silently.

  And then—

  His eye twitched.

  "I told her to sleep early," he muttered under his breath.

  "And yet she’s texting another man?"

  Then—realizing what he just said—

  He exhaled sharply.

  "Although that man is technically me…"

  But still.

  Still.

  Something stirred in him.

  Because she missed his voice.

  Him.

  And yet—

  Yet, she didn’t realize she had spent the entire day with the same man she was missing now.

  She didn’t realize she had already heard his voice all day long.

  Even though it was a slightly different voice from how he sang.

  But that?

  That was frustrating.

  And for the first time—HyunSeong got jealous of himself.

  Which was completely, utterly ridiculous.

  And yet—

  Yet, he still found himself making a decision before he could stop himself.

  He pressed call.

  And on the other side—Minra’s phone rang.

  .

  Minra stared at the screen.

  Incoming call: Shuun.

  Her breath hitched.

  She hesitated—just for a second—before quickly answering.

  "Hello?"

  And then—

  That voice.

  "Can’t sleep?"

  Low. Smooth. Comforting.

  Different from HyunSeong’s deep, alluring yet professional.

  Minra immediately relaxed.

  "Yeah." she murmured. “I guess I’m too awake from the trip.”

  HyunSeong, sitting in his room—right next to hers—leaned back into the chair.

  His voice remained calm.

  "Then how about we talk for a while?"

  And that?

  That was dangerous.

  Because he shouldn’t be doing this.

  He shouldn’t be indulging this.

  But Minra?

  Minra smiled.

  "I’d like that."

  And so, just like that—

  Hwa HyunSeong, her boss, spent the night as Shuun, the man she trusted most.

  Even though they were, technically, the same person.

  And neither of them knew—this was only the beginning.

  .

  Chapter 28: "The Night He Sang Her to Sleep"