Minra thought she would feel relieved.
After all, the truth was out.
Shuun knew.
And yet—he didn’t expose her.
He didn’t pry further.
He didn’t demand more answers.
He didn’t use it against her.
He just—let it go.
And Minra?
She should have felt safe again.
But instead—
She felt restless.
Because now, for the first time—
She wasn’t avoiding him.
And somehow, that made everything worse.
.
It started with small things.
Tiny shifts that she never expected to notice.
Like how she didn’t immediately leave the room when Shuun walked in.
Like how she didn’t tense up when their eyes met.
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Like how he didn’t test her anymore.
At least, not in the same way.
No more deliberate mistakes.
No more traps to make her slip.
No more silent challenges to prove herself.
Instead—it was different now.
Now, he would simply glance at her during a scene—just briefly—as if to check if she was watching.
And she was.
Every damn time.
.
He didn’t hover.
Didn’t linger too obviously.
But Minra felt it.
When they were standing near the monitors, he was just a little closer than necessary.
When they passed each other on set, he didn’t avoid brushing by her.
When he spoke to someone near her, his voice dipped just enough that she heard every word.
Subtle.
But intentional.
And Minra hated that she noticed.
.
Before, Shuun didn’t talk to her.
Not unless it was to push her into a corner.
But now?
Now he was different.
Not overly friendly.
Not forcing conversation.
But involving her.
“Minra.” His voice came easily, casually. “What do you think of this scene?”
Minra froze.
The director turned, raising an eyebrow. “What?”
Shuun shrugged lazily. “She has a good eye.”
Minra’s heart jumped.
Because what the hell was that?
Why would he—why would he say that out loud?
Why was he suddenly pulling her into the conversation?
Why was he making it seem like she mattered?
She wasn’t supposed to matter.
And yet—
No one questioned him.
Because it was Shuun.
And if he said someone had a good eye—
Then they did.
Minra clenched her jaw. Damn him.
.
She had spent so much time thinking of him as an enemy.
As someone she had to avoid.
As someone who was challenging her just for fun.
But now?
Now that he wasn’t pushing her, wasn’t exposing her, wasn’t trapping her in his games—
She felt guilty.
Because he never actually did anything wrong.
It had been her.
Her fear of getting caught.
Her paranoia that he would ruin everything.
Her frustration with his curiosity.
And now, he had let her be.
And somehow, that was harder to deal with.
Because she had spent so long bracing for a fight.
And now that there wasn’t one—
She didn’t know what to do with herself.
.
Across the set, Jang Yohan was watching.
Not just watching.
Observing.
Because something had changed.
Minra wasn’t avoiding Shuun anymore.
She wasn’t tense when he was near.
She wasn’t desperate to escape his attention.
And Shuun?
Shuun wasn’t forcing his way in.
Because now, he didn’t have to.
And Yohan?
Yohan hated that.
Because Minra had spent so much time avoiding Shuun.
She had spent so much time ignoring him, dismissing him.
But now?
Now she was noticing him.
And for the first time—
Shuun wasn’t chasing Minra.
She was starting to follow him.
.
Chapter 13: The Actor Who Listens