1440 - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 26
What should we give the cats, then? The man looked flustered, and Yeon-su, reading his distress, returned to the kitchen. He came back with a small bowl filled with something. It was heaped with round, slightly fishy-smelling pellets with a salty edge.
“It’s Cat Food. I thought it would be better for their nutrition than feeding them meat alone.”
At the kind explanation, the man finally nodded with relief. He wasn’t sure what pellets were, exactly, but by the look and smell of them, they were clearly food for cats. And if Yeon-su had brought them, he was certain they couldn’t be bad for the animals.
Yeon-su regarded him with an affectionate smile before setting the Cat Food bowl down on the veranda.
The cats approached at once. They sniffed for a moment, then began crunching the pellets without hesitation. Only after watching them eat did the man pick up his spoon.
Yeon-su matched his slower eating pace, carefully placing side dishes on his spoon. The man still found this attentiveness strange, but he didn’t refuse it.
It felt like something he’d once dreamed of. A memory so distant that reaching back through those uncounted years felt nearly impossible, yet certain moments were vivid—and lately, those old remembrances mixed with his own imaginings kept surfacing. It was all because of the man before him. Because of Yeon-su.
This man kept pushing into his awareness the very things he’d forgotten, abandoned, things he’d learned to give up on—all because he wanted him to be happy. He’d been this gentle then, and he remained this gentle now, and it kept unsettling him. It kept making his heart flutter.
25
The man chewed and swallowed the rice alongside the side dish Yeon-su had offered, then this time placed a side dish on Yeon-su’s spoon himself.
As he gently set seasoned white tofu mixed with sea lettuce atop the rice, Yeon-su’s movements stopped abruptly.
The man’s cheeks, which had worn a composed smile all through breakfast, slowly flushed. With his face blushed a vivid red and unable to meet the man’s gaze, Yeon-su’s eyes remained fixed on the side dish he’d received, utterly unable to look away.
“……Thank you.”
Then, as if treasuring it, he slowly raised the spoon and brought it to his lips. At the sight of him being so careful that not even a crumb would fall, the man’s palms began to itch.
The two ate their morning meal in silence. Only the sound of utensils clinking and the soft meowing of cats munching their food broke the quiet of the room. It was a peaceful morning.
***
The National Theater, located in Jangchung-dong, Seoul.
This long-established theater carried with it a storied history, and even now most of the popular large-scale plays were staged here.
Today, too, a production featured a notably talented cast.
It was a play set in an imagined Western modern fantasy world—and despite the divisive premise, the recognition and skill of the actors, combined with brilliant direction, had resulted in sold-out shows night after night.
Lee So-yeon, the leading actress, deeply disliked being late. Even with twenty years of acting experience behind her, she remained unfailingly humble, and she refused to overbook her schedule if it might compromise the next commitment.
There was gossip that she took few roles because she was lazy, but that was merely the perception born of her commitment to thoroughly focusing on the work at hand.
True to her dislike of tardiness, she—despite being a high-profile actress—arrived at the theater earliest, confirmed the stage setup, and prepared her makeup and costume with leisurely care.
Sitting in a makeup chair in the dressing room with a humidifier running, she reviewed the script while her hair was being set. Though she’d already memorized the lines hundreds of times, she never let go of the worn pages until the final moment.
From thirty minutes before taking the stage, she waited in the Green Room. There, listening to staff rushing back and forth down the corridor, she absorbed the energy of the live moment. Her routine was to sip water only enough to moisten her throat, carefully managing her physical condition.
But today, her body wasn’t cooperating. It wasn’t just today—for the past several days, her head had felt heavy and her shoulders ached as if they’d been broken. The hospital had found nothing wrong, which only made it worse.
She was at a loss, struggling under the weight of holding even the script, when the door opened and a staff member entered. It was Park Deok-woo, the stylist who handled her makeup.
Adorned today as always with flashy piercings and an array of accessories, he first examined her complexion.
“Your shoulders are really bothering you? Jun-hee mentioned it when he rushed off, and left this for you.”
He held up a Heating Massage Device as he asked. Lee So-yeon gave a small laugh. Park Deok-woo had stepped in for her manager, who’d stepped out briefly, and arrived with the massage device, Pain Relievers, and various other things bundled in his arms.
“They are bothering me, but Jun-hee worries over everything, so it’s worse because of that. Besides, I’m wearing this dress with my shoulders completely exposed—how would I even use the massage device?”
She checked the time. Only twenty minutes remained before she took the stage. Using it now would leave marks, which would be problematic. Park Deok-woo agreed with her reasoning.
“Then at least take a Pain Reliever. Jun-hee’s been saying your condition has been bad lately, and he’s even been thinking about rescheduling the whole cast date.”
“He’s always so over the top about things. If we rescheduled for something like this, what would happen to all the fans who booked tickets specifically to see me?”
“You mean it sincerely. I respect that.”
Park Deok-woo delivered this sentimental remark in a deadpan voice and held out an opened Pain Reliever.
He held out a bottle of water with a straw carefully inserted, showing consideration so her lipstick wouldn’t smudge. Lee So-yeon, recognizing his thoughtfulness, smiled warmly.
“I respect you too. You’re young but you handle work so well. You’re good at your job. I’m telling you, I want to keep working with you.”
“Heh. When my contract ends, will you really take me on?”
“Your unnie doesn’t say things she doesn’t mean.”
With that, she swallowed the medication. Park Deok-woo watched intently as she downed the round capsule.
Lee So-yeon didn’t notice his gaze and took one final look at the script. Shortly after, the stage manager knocked and opened the door.
“Actress. Standby, please.”
“Yes.”
Lee So-yeon set down the script and stood.
In her voluminous dress with deeply cut shoulders and back, she was cast to open the entire play with a lengthy monologue. As the lead actress, this opening moment was always the most critical.
As she slipped her feet into her high heels and moved toward the door, Park Deok-woo approached. He brushed her shoulders lightly.
“What is it?”
“Looks like some makeup powder got on you. There—all set.”
Park Deok-woo smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress one last time and gave an okay sign with his hand. Lee So-yeon smiled and returned the gesture. Then, her heels clicking sharply, she left the room.
The staff was unusually busy around this stage compared to other productions. It was because of what had happened a few days ago.
Lee So-yeon was nervous too, but surrounded by already-anxious people, she couldn’t show her tension. Instead, she forced herself to appear calm.
She even hypnotized herself: I’m fine. It’s all in the past. It was just an accident.
With her mouth forced into a smile, she took the stage. The trembling at her lips quickly transformed into a genuine one. Buoyed by the audience’s roaring applause, she shook off her anxiety.
Her high, clear voice filled the spacious stage.
Despite being a solo with only one performer leading it, it never felt tedious. Lee So-yeon’s skill at varying dynamics—tightening tension, then releasing it—was extraordinary. She delivered a fifteen-minute monologue alone, yet the immersion was complete.
The final line was almost here. Just before the scene changed, Lee So-yeon unconsciously smiled, awash in the relief that she’d brought the opening scene to a strong close.
The audience applauded softly at her smile. And within that applause, a single phrase cut through, small but unmistakably clear.
“Filthy bitch.”
A soft crunch. Lee So-yeon’s feet halted just as she turned to leave the stage. And in that same instant, an ominous sound echoed from above.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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