Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

Su Yu took a day off on Thursday.

It wasn't a company invitation; it was an invitation I gave myself. Kim Dong-wook called this morning to ask if the A24 contract terms needed to be reviewed again, and Su Yu said, "Tomorrow." Kim Dong-wook paused, then said, "You never say 'tomorrow'." Su Yu said, "I'm busy today," and hung up.

He took the earliest high-speed train to Busan. He arrived at 8:30 a.m., just as dawn was breaking, with a thin layer of fog on the sea. He went straight to the film set. Chae Soo-bin's last scene was scheduled for 10 a.m., but he knew she would arrive early.

Sure enough, she was already inside the café set.

Wearing a white shirt and denim apron, her hair tied in a low ponytail, she stood behind the bar, hand on the coffee machine, eyes closed. Su Yu remained silent, watching from the doorway. After about two minutes, she opened her eyes and uttered a line to the empty cafe.

Welcome!

The voice was very soft, as if speaking to oneself.

Su Yu went inside. Cai Xiubin turned around, saw him, and smiled. "You're here so early?"

"I'm afraid I won't make it in time for your final scene."

"We still have two hours before filming starts." Cai Xiubin came out from behind the bar, took his hand, and said, "Come on, let's go get breakfast."

The two went to the barbecue restaurant by the sea—not barbecue, but breakfast. The owner, an older woman, saw them and smiled, saying, "Is today your last day?" Chae Soo-bin nodded. The woman gave them an extra bowl of fish cake soup, saying, "Come visit again after filming." Chae Soo-bin said "Okay," but they both knew she wouldn't come back. After filming this drama, they didn't know when she'd be back in Busan.

After dinner, we returned to the film set. The last scene was simple—Jung Ah-young handed the key to the new shop owner, turned and left without looking back. The director said we could do it in one take; no need for multiple takes.

Chae Soo-bin stood at the entrance of the coffee shop, clutching the key in her hand. Across from her was a young actress playing the new owner. The director called "Action," and Chae Soo-bin handed over the key, smiling slightly. That smile wasn't Jung Ah-young's; it was Chae Soo-bin's own—two months ago, she came to Busan, knowing no one, returning to her hotel alone after work each day, staring blankly at the script. Now she was leaving, this set, this role, these past two months of her life, all behind her.

The new shop owner took the keys and said "thank you." Cai Xiubin turned and left.

There was no turning back.

"CUT!" The director stood up. "That's a wrap!"

Applause erupted on set. Chae Soo-bin stood a short distance away, her back to the camera, her shoulders trembling slightly. Then she turned around, smiled, her eyes red-rimmed. A staff member handed her flowers; she held a large bouquet of lilies and posed for several photos in front of the café.

Su Yu stood outside the crowd, watching her.

After taking her photo, Cai Xiubin walked through the crowd and stood in front of him. "I'm done acting."

"I saw it."

"You're not going to praise me at all?"

Su Yu reached out and wiped away the tears that hadn't quite dried from the corners of her eyes. "Very good."

Cai Xiubin smiled and buried her face in his chest. The bouquet of lilies nestled between them, filling the air with their fragrance.

In the afternoon, Su Yu helped Cai Xiubin pack his luggage.

The hotel room wasn't big, but after two months of staying, things were scattered everywhere. Clothes hung in the closet, cosmetics were on the sink, and scripts and snacks were piled on the bedside table. Cai Xiubin sat on the bed folding clothes, while Su Yu carefully rolled up the charging cables one by one.

"I don't need this anymore." Cai Xiubin tossed over an old sweatshirt.

"It's broken?"

"Too small."

Su Yu glanced at it; the hoodie was one he'd bought. It'd shrunk from being washed so many times. "Take it home. Wear it as pajamas."

Cai Xiubin laughed. "You're even better at saving money than I am."

Su Yu didn't reply. He put the charging cable into the bag, then went to the sink to put away his cosmetics. Cai Xiubin had seven or eight bottles of skincare products, and he couldn't tell which was which, so he put them all into his toiletry bag.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Will you ever pack for others like this in the future?"

Su Yu stopped and looked at her. "No."

Why?

"Because it was only cleaned for you."

Cai Xiubin lowered her head and continued folding clothes. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she didn't let Su Yu see it.

After packing her luggage, Su Yu went to the front desk to check out. Cai Xiubin stood at the hotel entrance, looking at the sea in the distance. The sea in Busan is different from the Han River in Seoul. The Han River is calm and orderly, while the sea is open and boundless. She had been looking at it for two months and still couldn't get tired of it.

"Let's go." Su Yu walked out, carrying two suitcases.

Cai Xiubin turned around and walked with him to the parking lot. The car was rented by Su Yu, and they were going to drive it back to Seoul. She put her luggage away, sat in the passenger seat, and fastened her seatbelt.

"Aren't you taking the high-speed rail?"

"It's convenient to drive. You can stop whenever you want."

Cai Xiubin smiled. The car started, drove out of the parking lot, and turned onto the main road. The sea was on the right, hazy and gray, merging with the sky. Cai Xiubin stared out the window, lost in thought for a while.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

Do you think Jung Ah-young will be happy after moving to Seoul?

"meeting."

Why?

"Because she has learned to say goodbye."

Cai Xiubin turned to look at him. "So, have you learned it?"

Su Yu was silent for a moment, then didn't answer. The car drove onto the highway, Busan gradually disappearing into the distance. Cai Xiubin leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and rested his hand on Su Yu's arm. He held the steering wheel with one hand, while she held his other. Her fingers were cool, but her grip was tight.

After driving for two hours, they stopped at a service area. Cai Xiubin said she was hungry, so Su Yu bought two triangular rice balls and two bottles of water. The two sat in the car eating and looking at the scenery outside. The service area parking lot was large and not many cars were parked there. In the distance was a field of farmland, with lush green wheat in winter.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Goblin has surpassed 20 million viewers, are you happy?"

"Happy."

"I can't tell."

Su Yu chewed on a rice ball. "Being happy doesn't necessarily mean you have to laugh."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed. "You, you even hide your happiness."

After finishing their meal, they continued driving. Cai Xiubin slept the entire way, and when she woke up, the car had already entered Seoul. The street scenes outside the window changed from unfamiliar to familiar; the Han River appeared on her right, and Namsan Tower was lit up in the distance.

"Are we there?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Soon."

The car was parked downstairs at the apartment building. Su Yu took the suitcase out of the trunk, while Cai Xiubin stretched beside her. After spending two months in Busan, returning felt both familiar and strange.

"Let's go." Su Yu pulled her suitcase and walked forward.

Cai Xiubin followed behind him, watching his back. He was wearing a black overcoat and walked quickly, the wheels of his suitcase making a rumbling sound on the ground. She suddenly ran a few steps, caught up with him, and took his arm.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just wanted to hold your arm."

Su Yu glanced at her, said nothing, but slowed his pace.

There were only the two of them in the elevator. Cai Xiubin leaned on his shoulder, her eyes closed. The elevator doors opened, and Su Yu took out his key to unlock them. Cai Xiubin went in first, changed her shoes, and turned on the lights. The living room was the same as before: sofa, coffee table, TV, and a note she had left on the refrigerator—"The kimchi soup is in the freezer. Use low heat when it's hot."

She went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. The box of kimchi soup was still in the freezer, and there were several boxes of newly bought Korean beef next to it.

"You bought Korean beef?"

"Okay. We'll wait for you to come back and eat."

Cai Xiubin closed the refrigerator and turned to look at him. He was standing in the entryway, still carrying a suitcase.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for coming to Busan to see me every week. Thank you for renting that apartment. Thank you for helping me pack." She walked over and stood in front of him. "Thank you for making me feel that no matter where I go, there's someone waiting for me."

Su Yu put down his suitcase and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"You're welcome."

Cai Xiubin buried her face in his chest, listening to his heartbeat—steady and fast. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was his scent, a mixture of laundry detergent and tobacco.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"I'm back."

Su Yu hugged her tightly. "Welcome home."

The night view of the Han River outside the window was as tranquil as ever. A cruise ship slowly passed by in the distance, leaving a long trail of light on the river's surface. The night in Seoul is different from the night in Busan. Busan's night has the sound of waves, Seoul's night has the sound of traffic. But no matter where we are, as long as he's by my side, that's enough.