Peninsula: From a supporting actor to the best actor in Chungmuro

Chapter 136: The Embrace Before Departure and the Altitude Class (Bonus Chapter 23 for Monthly Tickets)

The apartment in Seongsu-dong was filled with the unique aroma of seaweed soup.

The living room lights were also on.

The TV was playing late-night variety shows, creating a lively background noise.

On the kitchen stove.

The light brown soup pot was bubbling away, releasing tiny bubbles.

Lee Sung-kyung, wearing an apron around her waist, was carefully skimming off the foam with a long-handled ladle.

She frowned slightly.

They seemed unsatisfied with the color or consistency of the soup.

on the coffee table.

A paper bag with an outdoor brand logo stood quietly.

Inside was a set of soft, lightweight merino wool thermal underwear, the tags still on—

This is the birthday gift she prepared for Kang Jae-hoon.

The sound of a key turning the lock came from the entryway.

Lee Sung-kyung paused for a moment while holding the soup spoon, but did not turn around immediately.

Footsteps sounded.

It carried a slight chill from outside.

Then came the sound of the cardboard box being gently placed on the entryway cabinet.

Lee Sung-kyung then turned down the heat, turned around, and her gaze first swept over Kang Jae-hoon's face before naturally landing on the simple dark gray cardboard box he had just put down.

The box looks very high-quality.

It has no brand logos, yet it exudes a low-key sense of luxury.

It was completely out of place in this bustling apartment.

"come over."

Lee Sung-kyung scooped up some soup with a ladle and handed it to him across the kitchen island:
"Taste it."

Jiang Zaixun leaned over and slurped a small mouthful of the scalding hot soup from her hand, the savory aroma instantly filling his mouth.

“Delicious!”

Lee Sung-kyung hummed in response, but her gaze casually swept over the unfamiliar gray box on the entryway cabinet behind him—

This contrasted sharply with the blue and white paper bag she casually placed on the sofa armrest, which was printed with an outdoor brand logo.

"what is that?"

Kang Jae-hoon turned around following her gaze and said:

"birthday present."

"Who sent it?"

"Lin Yuna."

The moment the words left my mouth.

The only sounds inside were the exaggerated laughter of variety show personalities on TV and the soft bubbling of the seaweed soup broth.

The air seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second.

Lee Sung-kyung stared at the gray box for a while before turning back to gently stir the soup in the pot.

The movements still appear stable.

But the churning displeasure inside me was like a flame suddenly turned up under a soup pot.

It burned silently.

After a while.

Turn off the stove.

Lee Sung-kyung walked expressionlessly to the entryway cabinet:

"What did you give me?"

However, before Kang Jae-hoon could answer.

Lee Sung-kyung had already untied the ribbon and torn open the wrapping paper on her own.

The lid was lifted.

A pair of professional-grade goggles and a pair of mountaineering gloves lay quietly in the black cushioning material.

The brand-new label gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the entryway light.

(Goggles?)
(Gloves?)

(Does playing a mountaineer mean you have to actually climb Mount Everest?)
(Oh.)
This thought, tinged with sharp sarcasm, rose in Lee Sung-kyung's mind.

She sent him thermal underwear because she knew Kang Jae-hoon was going to a cold region; it was out of concern for his health and a genuine desire for warmth.

What did Lim Yoon-a give as a gift?
On the surface, it seems to fit the role and is professional equipment.

Can you wear hiking gloves and goggles?
In places where temperatures are tens of degrees below zero, oxygen is scarce, and even breathing is difficult, can this kind of equipment be as practical as a close-fitting wool layer that continuously dissipates heat?

According to Lee Sung-kyung.

This seems more like a carefully designed "performance" by Lim Yoona.

She demonstrated her "thoughtfulness" and "professional support".

A sophisticated emotional value precisely targeted at Kang Jae-hoon.

A kind of...silent land grabbing.

Kang Jae-hoon seemed completely oblivious to the sudden drop in air pressure around him, and was even explaining:
"They say it's very effective at protecting against wind, snow, and UV rays, and the gloves are also quite warm..."

He paused, as if to emphasize the value of the gift: "It looks very professional."

"major?"

"Ah."

Lee Sung-kyung let out a very soft, nasal hum, her tone carrying undisguised sarcasm:
"Is Yoona worried that you'll get snow blindness at Everest Base Camp and lose your fingers?"

“Senior Huang Zhengmin took you there so that you could experience the environment, not so that you could risk your life.”

"I think she's filmed too many idol dramas and can't distinguish between the script and reality."

(Thermal underwear is the only truly useful thing.)
(idiot.)
Lee Sung-kyung coldly added a sentence in her mind.

She didn't look at the annoying box again.

He didn't even notice Kang Jae-hoon's somewhat surprised expression.

He turned around, picked up the paper bag with the outdoor brand logo on the coffee table, and roughly shoved it into Jiang Zaixun's arms:
"Take it."

The soft wool fabric inside the paper bag has a distinct tactile feel.

"Merino wool, thin, close-fitting, absorbent, and doesn't take up much space."

Lee Sung-kyung speaks very quickly, as if her words are hot to the touch:
"When you get there, the temperature difference will be huge. Don't be silly and try to look cool in just a windbreaker. Wear this underneath, so you don't catch a cold and infect me when you come back."

Done.

Lee Sung-kyung stopped looking at Kang Jae-hoon and turned to walk towards her room.

"The soup is in the pot, help yourself."

The door clicked shut behind her.

Kang Jae-hoon stood there dumbfounded, holding the paper bag that had suddenly been stuffed into his arms.

Looking at Lee Sung-kyung's tightly closed door.

Her sarcastic remark, sharp as ice, still seemed to echo in my ears.

The aroma of seaweed soup mixed with the subtle smell of gunpowder in the air, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

Jiang Zaihun looked down at the paper bag in his arms, then at the dark gray box on the entryway cabinet that had been torn open halfway, revealing professional goggles. His mind was a jumbled mess.

quite a while.

He slowly placed the paper bag he was carrying on the sofa and then on the entryway cabinet.

He turned and went into the kitchen.

Lift the lid off the pot.

A rich, fresh aroma wafts up with the steam.

The beef slices sank to the bottom of the pot, while the bright green kelp strips floated on the light brown broth.

I sat down at the table with a steaming bowl of soup in my hand.

Kang Jae-hoon picked up the spoon and sipped the drink slowly.

He turned off the TV.

The only sound in the living room was the soft slurping of soup.

Time flows on in silence.

About ten minutes passed.

Lee Sung-kyung walked out expressionlessly.

She didn't look at Kang Jae-hoon, but walked straight to the refrigerator and opened the freezer compartment.

The moment the cold air from the refrigerator bursts out.

She bent down and took out a very small round cake from inside.

It is the simplest buttercream frosting design, with a simple number "2" and "5" candle inserted on top.

The light from the refrigerator lamp illuminated her well-defined jawline.

She carried the small cake, which was probably only six inches in diameter, to the dining table in the living room and placed it next to Kang Jae-hoon's soup bowl.

Kang Jae-hoon's gaze was still fixed on the cake.

(Is there... a cake?)

"click"

The orange-yellow flames leaped up.

"I'll go turn off the lights."

She turned around after she finished speaking.

The action was so fast that Kang Jae-hoon had barely begun to say "I..."

"Snapped."

The living room ceiling light is off.

All that remained was a dim nightlight on the kitchen counter and... a small, flickering, warm flame on the little cake.

A warm yellow halo spread out in a small circle on the table.

It illuminated the rim of the white porcelain bowl.

It illuminated the plastic lighter.

It illuminated the small flame on the number candle.

It also illuminated the stunned look on Kang Jae-hoon's face that he hadn't had time to hide.

in the dark.

Lee Sung-kyung did not approach the table again.

She stood in the shadows by the wall.

Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, obscuring her expression.

"What are you looking at? Hurry up and make a wish."

Kang Jae-hoon seemed to be awakened and quickly closed his eyes.

The dim light from the kitchen nightlight barely outlined his straight nose and tightly closed eyelids, his eyelashes casting shimmering, trembling shadows in the flickering candlelight. The living room was quiet, save for the faint crackling of the burning candle and his own suppressed, almost inaudible breathing.

Approximately five seconds.

He opened his eyes.

"call--"

He blew out the candle in one breath.

The small flame went out in the darkness.

A wisp of very faint blue smoke drifted into the dim air.

Lee Sung-kyung immediately turned around and prepared to go back to her room.

"Bible."

Kang Jae-hoon called out to her from behind.

Lee Sung-kyung stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.

Kang Jae-hoon stood up from his chair, walked around the dining table that was blocking the two of them, and took a few steps to stand behind her.

The movement was somewhat hesitant.

Extend your arm.

He tentatively and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.

The movements were very light, even conveying a sense of readiness to release the pressure at any moment.

"Thank you."

His voice fell softly into her ear, carrying the warmth of the hot soup she had just drunk and a touch of awkward sincerity:

"The soup was delicious...and the gift was also very nice."

The person in his arms froze instantly.

She could feel Kang Jae-hoon's steady heartbeat through his thin clothes.

After a brief silence of one or two seconds, Lee Sung-kyung's hand, hanging by her side, twitched. The fist that should have delivered an elbow strike or a direct shove, in the end, simply clenched, and then—

"Boom."

There was a muffled sound.

She punched his arm, which was wrapped around her waist, with a force that was neither too light nor too heavy.

It's more like some kind of awkward warning.

or……

A kind of unspoken acquiescence.

Kang Jae-hoon tightened his grip on her arms instantly.

The initially tentative, gentle embrace suddenly became firm and powerful, pulling her tightly into his arms.

The comforting scent of lavender, unique to her, mixed with a hint of the freshness in her hair, gently wafted into his nostrils.

It was a smell he was used to.

It is also the unchanging background color of his apartment.

With an almost stubborn sense of security, she forcefully pulled him back from the cold and desperate snow-capped mountain world in the script. Jiang Zai Xun's cheek brushed against her slightly cool hair, burying his face deeper.

……

early morning.

Kang Jae-hoon's suitcase was laid out in the entryway.

Several neatly folded pieces of clothing were placed to the side.

Lee Sung-kyung leaned against the shoe cabinet, holding his passport and itinerary in his hand, and quickly glanced at the visa information.

As per usual.

She should go over and double-check the contents of her bag now—

Did you bring enough socks?

Where are my commonly used medications kept?
Did you bring the charger?

Make sure this forgetful guy doesn't get lost in a foreign land.

But today.

She didn't go over to check the contents of the box as usual.

Even avoid letting your eyes fall on the open suitcase—

Who knows if that unsightly dark gray box might be lying in some corner?
Just thinking about how he might actually pack that "professional gear" that Lim Yoona gave him all the way to the icy and snowy Nepal made Lee Sung-kyung feel that the lingering pent-up frustration in her chest was starting to resurface.

Out of sight, out of mind.
Kang Jae-hoon stood beside her, watching her carefully examine the most crucial and essential documents.

His handsome face was devoid of any superfluous expression.

Only the morning light danced on my eyelashes.

He suddenly grinned.

He gave a slightly silly smile.

"?"

Lee Sung-kyung was baffled by his laughter.

I was just about to glare at him.

Kang Jae-hoon took a step forward without warning.

Open your arms.

He pulled her into his arms.

It wasn't the tentative, gentle embrace I received in the darkness last night.

It is solid and substantial.

It carries an irresistible force.

Lee Sung-kyung was caught off guard by his sudden action.

My nose slammed into the fabric of his coat, the stiff zipper pull digging into me.

"Hey!"

Her protests were muffled by the fabric.

But Kang Jae-hoon ignored him.

He didn't say anything.

He just rubbed his face against the top of her head even harder.

I took a deep breath of the familiar lavender scent that belonged to "home".

Lee Sung-kyung's hand, which was pressed against his chest, paused.

After a brief period of resistance, the stiffness in his body gradually eased.

She could clearly feel the steady, powerful heartbeat emanating from his chest.

a bit.

Another click.

On this hurried farewell morning.

Like a warm stone held in the palm of your hand.

The brief ten seconds were stretched out indefinitely.

The faint footsteps in the hallway seemed to have faded into the distance.

Just as this thick silence was about to give way to some other emotion—

"Beep! Beep beep!!!"

downstairs.

The sharp, urgent sound of a car horn shattered the brief peace without warning.

a bit.

Another click.

It is Jin Dayuan's impatient death warrant.

It's more accurate than an alarm clock.

Kang Jae-hoon seemed to have been suddenly struck by an electric current.

It was as if I had been electrocuted.

Lee Sung-kyung quickly took a step back, creating some distance, and swiftly brushed away the stray hairs from her forehead that had been ruffled by his hair. Her eyes held a hint of panic from being startled, which was quickly replaced by her familiar indifference.

"...Manager Kim is urging me."

Jiang Zai Xun took a deep breath, suppressing his annoyance at being interrupted. He bent down, quickly stuffed the clothes scattered on the ground into the suitcase, zipped it up, his movements tinged with a defiant impatience.

Close the lid of the box.

He slung his bag over his shoulder and pulled his suitcase with one hand.

"I am leaving."

"Ah."

Lee Sung-kyung responded and turned her face away, not looking at him.

The door opened.

The crisp, autumnal scent of the stairwell filled the room.

Kang Jae-hoon's figure disappeared through the doorway.

The sound of footsteps traveled quickly down the narrow stairwell.

Then, the sound of an engine started up downstairs.

Gradually fading into the distance.

……

When Kang Jae-hoon got into the car, his breathing was still a little unsteady.

Jin Dayuan glanced at him in the rearview mirror:
"Dawdling again? Why is your face so red?"

"...It's hot!"

The car merged into the steel torrent of the Gimpo Airport Expressway.

The familiar apartment building rapidly shrank and blurred in the receding scenery outside the car window, much like the emotions in his heart that had been crumpled and then quietly smoothed out.

……

The car stopped at the international departure level of Gimpo Airport.

Open the car door.

The cool air of mid-September, mixed with the unique hustle and bustle of the airport, swept over us, instantly dispelling the lingering, indescribable scent of the Seongsudong apartment that had been lingering in the car.

The international departure hall was brightly lit and bustling with activity. Jiang Zaihun's gaze swept over the signs, and he soon spotted a familiar figure in a relatively quiet corner of the rest area.

"teacher."

Kang Jae-hoon quickly walked over, bowed, and greeted him.

Upon hearing this, Hwang Jung-min raised his hand and pushed his hat brim up, his gaze casually sweeping over the suitcase Kang Jae-hoon was dragging:
"Page 37 of the script, Park Moo-kwan that night at Camp C2."

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon was taken aback.

Almost immediately, I entered a state of high alert, ready to answer the teacher's questions.

The contents of that page flashed through my mind:
Park Moo-taek wrote in his diary about his deep guilt and unease towards his family...

"...He dreamed of his deceased grandmother? And then..."

Kang Jae-hoon got a little stuck.

I didn't remember the key details.

Hwang Jung-min's lips twitched downwards slightly.

No words were spoken.

But that silent pressure was heavier than a direct reprimand.

The assistant next to him tried hard not to laugh.

Kang Jae-hoon felt a cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck.

Lately, my mind has been filled with Park Moo-taek's life story, the trivialities of the wrap-up of "A Good Day," and... the invisible threads that entwine between Seongsu-dong and Cheongdam-dong.

The script was relegated to a back corner of memory.

He felt his face burning and frantically opened his backpack to search for something.

"Alright, no need to flip through it anymore."

Hwang Jung-min suddenly interrupted, his tone carrying a hint of knowing that he had "already guessed it."

He knows Kang Jae-hoon all too well.

When faced with a complex role, this child will immerse himself completely in the background and not be able to pull himself out, just like I was when I was young and I was also competing with myself on set.

He didn't press for details about that crucial line of dialogue.

Just like this trip to Nepal, it was all about experiencing it.

Instead of taking an exam.

"sit down."

"Yes."

"This is roughly the itinerary."

Hwang Jung-min turned his phone screen towards Kang Jae-hoon, where a detailed schedule was displayed:

"I'll spend three days in Kathmandu, mainly to adjust to the time difference and altitude, and also to meet up with the local mountaineering association and guides to hear their stories from back then."

"Then we'll hire a car to go up the mountain and stay at the base camp for... well, about four days? It depends. The main thing is to let you breathe in the air there, feel the wind blowing on your face like knives, and feel like you're breathing like a bellows. Don't expect to be comfortable, it's just going to suffer."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded and said:

"I've heard that altitude sickness can cause headaches, insomnia, and shortness of breath."

"That's right. If you feel unwell, use oxygen. If you can't handle it, come down. It's not like you're actually going to climb up. But... it's good to memorize some technical terms beforehand. Otherwise, when the guide talks to you about 'crevasses,' 'avalanche zones,' or 'Khumbu Glaciers,' you'll be completely confused and embarrass yourself internationally."

"I've prepared for that!"

Kang Jae-hoon said seriously, "I did some research and even watched a documentary..."

"Come on, let me test you."

Huang Zhengmin interrupted him, leaning forward slightly: "Do you know why people can't stay in one place for too long at an altitude of over 8,000 meters? Especially... when it's time to use the restroom?"

"Uh……"

Kang Jae-hoon was taken aback by this sudden, extremely specific, and somewhat vulgar question. His brain raced, searching for the knowledge he had been cramming on over the past few days:

"Because of...low temperature? Risk of hypothermia?"

"fool!"

Hwang Jung-min slapped him lightly on the back of the head, a mocking smile on his face:

"Because it's windy! You've just unzipped your pants, and a gust of wind can freeze that thing right into an icicle! Get it? That's one of the most real dangers of the 'death zone'! Documentaries won't teach you that!"

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

Those rigorous physiological knowledge and tragic heroic deeds.

Compared to Huang Zhengmin's down-to-earth, almost vulgar, "science popularization" suddenly seems a bit... pale and powerless.

An announcement was made over the airport's public address system.

A gentle female voice reminded passengers bound for Kathmandu that boarding was about to begin.

"Let's go."

"Ah."

The assistant immediately picked up the two people's suitcases.

With a heavy hiking backpack on his back, Kang Jae-hoon followed behind Hwang Jung-min, mingling in the business class queue as they filed into the cabin.

The massive Boeing 777 taxis, accelerates, and climbs.

Finally, it soared into the clouds.

Smooth flight.

Outside the porthole was an endless sea of ​​gray-blue clouds.

The deep hum of the engine became a soothing background sound.

……

The plane made a stopover at Hong Kong Airport for more than an hour.

It took off again.

The cockpit screens displayed the remaining flight time and the map ahead.

finally.

The passenger plane landed at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport amidst slight turbulence.

The terminal building looks old.

The vividly colored murals and women dressed in traditional saris create a strong sense of exoticism.

Step out of the cabin passageway.

Temperatures have risen significantly.

The people who were there to pick me up had been waiting for a long time.

The guide and translator were arranged by a local mountaineering association that Huang Zhengmin knew well.

A dark-skinned, middle-aged man with a simple smile and a young man wearing glasses who looked somewhat scholarly.

"Welcome, Mr. Huang!"

The guide greeted us warmly in heavily accented English.

On the way to the city.

The car window was open.

The wind from Kathmandu carried the smell of dust as it blew in.

The air was filled with the smells of diesel exhaust, fried street food, and smoke from burning some kind of plant in the distance.

Brightly colored buildings along the roadside, ragged children, temples of various shapes and sizes, cows lazily strolling in the middle of the street...

It creates a chaotic yet vibrant scene.

Kang Jae-hoon looked out the window at the unfamiliar scenery.

The nostril twitched slightly.

Seems to be adapting well?
The next three days.

They stayed at a guesthouse in the Thamel district that caters specifically to mountaineers.

The schedule is very full.

Due to the combined effects of jet lag and an altitude of nearly 1500 meters, Kang Jae-hoon barely slept on his first night.

I tossed and turned, feeling a slight throbbing pain in my head, and breathing felt more difficult than usual.

day.

Huang Zhengmin took him to visit senior members of the local mountaineering association.

Sitting in a dimly lit teahouse filled with the aroma of yak butter tea and tobacco, I listened to climbers who had personally experienced the 2004 disaster or made countless attempts to conquer Mount Everest, recounting in calm yet heavy tones the brutality of the blizzards, the despair of oxygen deprivation, and the choices people made under extreme pressure.

Tashi then led them through the narrow, noisy, and vibrant streets of Kathmandu.

Identify the professional equipment in local outdoor stores.

Teach them the simplest Nepali greetings.

Adapt to the thin but still tolerable air here.

On the third night of jet lag, my headache finally subsided.

Kang Jae-hoon sent messages to Lee Sung-kyung and Im Yoon-ah separately from the narrow but clean terrace of the inn.

The content is largely the same.

Streets of Kathmandu.

A temple with vibrant colors.

A photo with my guide, Tashi.

The time difference adjustment is basically complete, and we will officially set off for the mountains tomorrow.

The signal is intermittent.

Yoona replied very quickly.

The words convey a signature tenderness and concern:
The air is thin, so enjoy it, but don't push yourself too hard.

It was accompanied by an emoji of a bear holding a star.

Lee Sung-kyung's reply was, as always, practical and tinged with a hint of "disdain":
[Hard headache and still running around? Drink more water, don't be silly and buy water from roadside vendors.]

Looking at the two messages with such different styles, Kang Jae-hoon ran his fingers along the cold edge of the screen, and finally just replied with a simple "OK" to each one.

The next day.

To get from Kathmandu to Lukla, where the Everest South Base Camp is located, you need to take a small propeller plane that can seat a dozen or so people.

The plane bumped and jolted through the narrow valley.

Outside the porthole were steep, snow-covered mountain walls that seemed within reach.

A tense atmosphere filled the cabin.

Even Hwang Jung-min subconsciously gripped the handrail tightly.

Arrived in Lukla.

Altitude 2840 meters.

The air became noticeably colder and thinner.

My heart starts racing as soon as I move around a little.

Start here.

Walking is the only mode of transportation.

Carrying a backpack.

We trekked uphill along the winding mountain road.

The air is getting thinner.

The wind was getting stronger.

Initially, it was along the river valley.

You can see the rushing glacial meltwater.

Later, the road became a steep, zigzagging mountain path.

The ground beneath my feet was loose gravel.

Every step began to feel heavy.

Altitude 3500 meters.

Kang Jae-hoon sensed the malice of the plateau.

The sense of novelty I felt on the first day in the mountains was replaced.

My temples felt like they were being tightly gripped by something.

A throbbing, throbbing pain.

Breathing became difficult.

Kang Jae-hoon began to truly understand the feeling of "breathing like a bellows" that Hwang Jung-min had described.

The weight of carrying even the most basic hiking backpack seemed to increase exponentially.

Each step requires a deeper breath to propel it.

The pulse oximeter readings kept decreasing.

My heart was pounding faster.

It felt like a heavy hammer pounding on my chest.

"Slower."

Hwang Jung-min's condition wasn't much better either.

He stopped and gestured to take a break.

"how do you feel?"

"Headache...I can't breathe..."

Kang Jae-hoon was panting heavily, his hands on his knees.

He felt like his lungs were about to explode.

The scenery in front of us is starting to look blurry.

Huang Zheng took a small canister of portable oxygen from the side pocket of his backpack and handed it to him.

Kang Jae-hoon took it and imitated the manner of a European or American mountaineer next to him.

I put the mask over my mouth and nose and took a few deep breaths.

Cold, plastic-smelling oxygen rushed into my lungs.

The suffocating feeling eased slightly.

But the dull pain in my temples remained persistent.

……

Four days at Everest Base Camp.

These were the four longest days of Kang Jae-hoon's life.

These were also the four days when he suffered the most severe mental shock.

day.

The guide led them around the camp.

Get familiar with the environment.

Observe the climbers who are about to set off or have just descended up close.

Their faces were etched with the marks of time.

His eyes held a mixture of exhaustion, excitement, and an almost devout focus.

Outside the tent.

Some people were groaning in pain from altitude sickness.

Some people are busy making final preparations before their departure.

A muffled voice came through the radio.

It contains a mix of languages ​​from different countries.

night.

The temperature plummeted to below minus twenty degrees Celsius.

Even when wrapped in a thick down sleeping bag.

The cold air could still penetrate in.

It was so cold that your teeth chattered.

Difficulty falling asleep.

Outside the tent, there was a deathly silence.

Only the wind blows endlessly across the ice field.

It emitted a heart-wrenching sob.

In this extreme silence and cold.

Human senses seem to be magnified infinitely.

Time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly.

Kang Jae-hoon lay in his sleeping bag.

I stared wide-eyed at the top of the tent.

Images of Park Moo-taek before his death, snippets of his diary, and fragments of the mountain disaster and rescue as told by the guide kept replaying in my mind.

(fear……)
(responsibility……)
(Guilt towards family...)
(A pure longing for the mountains...)
(And... that most primal and precious bond between people in extreme environments...)
These are complex and heavy emotions.

Previously, it was just words on paper.

now.

In this cold, silent land where even breathing is a luxury.

They seemed to have gained weight.

It weighed heavily on his heart.

a few days later.

Exhausted both physically and mentally, but having been "tempered" in some way, the two finally embarked on their journey home.

The car traveled for a long time on the bumpy gravel road.

We returned to Thamel, a slightly "bustling" area of ​​Kathmandu.

When I finally found a coffee shop with a good internet connection and sat down to order, the long-lost cell phone signal came flooding in like a tidal wave, and push notifications from various social media apps instantly flooded my screen.

Kang Jae-hoon rubbed his temples, which were still a little swollen.

Unlock the screen.

My fingers swiped unconsciously, skipping over a bunch of irrelevant news and app notifications.

soon.

His gaze was briefly drawn to several headlines from a major South Korean media outlet.

A headline was prominently displayed at the top of the push notification list:
[Jessica Jung of Girls' Generation Confirms Her Departure from the Group!]

(Jessica Jung?)

(Krystal's older sister?)
It took Kang Jae-hoon's tired brain two seconds to match the name with the person in his mind.

My fingertips paused on the cold touchscreen.

The preview text below the news headline scrolled rapidly:

"Due to a serious conflict between personal career plans and team activities..."

"The company issued a statement..."

"Girls' Generation will be active as an eight-member group..."

(End of this chapter)