Care of Closeness

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Andrea exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Alright, this is final. I'm done," she said, her voice laced with exhaustion. "I'm changing back." She turned away, the fabric of the dark blue dress swaying as she moved, hugging her body in all the right places. The open-back design exposed the smooth expanse of her spine, each step making the dress shift against her skin. The high slit on her right leg made her movements even more fluid, elegant yet effortless.

Eunwoo, who had been leaning casually against the wall, found his gaze drifting against his own will. He hadn't paid much attention earlier, dismissing her choices as just another shopping trip, but now—now was different. His dark eyes traced the delicate dip of her back, the faint glow of her skin under the store lights, and the way her toned shoulders moved as she walked. Something flickered in his chest, unfamiliar and unwelcome.

What are you doing, man? His jaw clenched as he internally scolded himself. This is not your type.

Yet, despite the silent reprimand, his gaze didn't waver.

Andrea, seemingly unaware, continued toward the dressing room, but then, as if sensing something—some presence—watching her, she suddenly stopped. The fine hairs on her arms stood on edge. Without hesitation, she turned her head, her sharp eyes scanning the space behind her.

Eunwoo reacted instantly. In the blink of an eye, he shifted his position, his posture casual as he leaned against the billing counter, fingers drumming lightly on the surface. His gaze flicked away, as if he hadn't just been standing there, staring at her. Andrea's eyes narrowed, studying him for a brief moment, but he didn't give her the satisfaction of meeting her gaze. Instead, he pulled out his phone, feigning interest in whatever was on the screen.

She frowned. Weirdo. Shaking her head, she walked into the dressing room, closing the door behind her.

Eunwoo exhaled quietly, rubbing a hand over his face. What the hell was that? He wasn't supposed to react like this. Not to her. Not to anyone. For years, he had trained himself to remain unaffected, indifferent—cold. But something about Andrea unsettled that balance, made him forget himself for just a second. He needed to reset, regain control.

"Where are the bags?" he asked, his voice steady, betraying none of his earlier thoughts. Madame Lin, the store staff, smiled knowingly, as if she had noticed something he hadn't. She handed him the neatly packed shopping bags. Eunwoo pulled out his black card and handed it to her without hesitation.

"Sir, these are all the dresses she tried," Madame Lin said, gesturing to the selection of outfits.

Eunwoo's gaze swept over them indifferently until his eyes landed on it. The red dress. The one Andrea had admired. The one that had made her genuinely smile. It still hung on the rack, untouched after she decided against it. His jaw tightened slightly.

"This red one," he said, his voice low but firm. "And all the other ones she tried last. Pack them."

Madame Lin's eyes twinkled with amusement, but she nodded professionally. "Of course, sir."

By the time Andrea stepped out, dressed in her usual clothes, she was expecting to see Eunwoo waiting by the entrance, impatient as always. Instead, he was standing by the counter, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he grabbed the bags and turned toward the exit.

Andrea blinked. "That was fast."

He didn't reply.

They walked toward the doors, the staff bowing politely as they left. "Thank you for shopping with us," Madame Lin said in Mandarin. Andrea gave a polite nod, responding with a quiet "Thank you."

Just as she stepped past them, Madame Lin's voice carried after her, warm and teasing. "Such a lovely couple."

Andrea froze mid-step.

Her breath hitched, a strange feeling crawling up her spine. She glanced at Eunwoo from the corner of her eye, waiting to see some kind of reaction. A flicker of amusement? Annoyance? Anything.

But he didn't even flinch.

It was as if the words had bounced right off him. His face remained blank, cold, unreadable. He kept walking, as if he hadn't even heard it.

Andrea clenched her jaw. Of course. Why would he react?

Her fingers twitched slightly, an unfamiliar frustration bubbling in her chest. She scoffed under her breath, part of her tempted to turn around and correct the woman, but for some reason, she didn't. Instead, she shook her head and followed after him.

"Lovely couple, huh?"

The words lingered in her mind longer than they should have. Longer than she wanted them to.

But she quickly shoved them away.

No...That was not what this was.

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As they stepped out of the mall, Eunwoo adjusted his grip on the multiple shopping bags in his hands. The weight didn't bother him, but Andrea's skeptical voice did.

"I just tried a few dresses," she pointed out, her brows furrowing as she glanced at the numerous bags. "You only bought me one, right? So why do you have so many?"

Eunwoo barely spared her a glance, smoothly deflecting the question. "They're my shopping bags," he said nonchalantly, his voice cool as ever. He checked the time on his wristwatch before walking ahead, not giving her a chance to question him further.

Andrea narrowed her eyes. Liar. She wasn't stupid. There was no way he had suddenly decided to go shopping for himself. But before she could argue, something caught her attention.

A small street stall stood at the corner, illuminated by soft golden lights. The vendor was busy rolling fresh strawberries in a glossy layer of hardened sugar, crafting perfect strawberry sugar candies. The deep red color, the shine of the sugar—everything about it looked mouthwatering. Andrea unconsciously slowed her steps, her gaze locked onto the sweet treats.

Eunwoo, who had been walking ahead, noticed. Without a word, he turned back, following her gaze before sighing lightly. "Let's go," he said, walking toward the stall without waiting for her to respond.

Andrea blinked. Huh?

She was still standing there, confused, when he placed an order.

"Two," Eunwoo told the stall owner. He pulled out his wallet, paid swiftly, and within seconds, was holding two sugar-coated strawberry sticks.

Andrea watched in disbelief as he turned back and handed one to her.

She didn't take it immediately. Instead, she crossed her arms and squinted at him. "Are you setting up a new character or something?" she asked suspiciously.

Eunwoo arched a brow. "What?"

"You're acting different." She reached for the candy but didn't eat it right away. Instead, she muttered under her breath, "Did you forget you're supposed to be cold and distant? Or did someone switch out your personality?"

Eunwoo rolled his eyes. "If you don't want it, give it back." He made a move to take the candy, but Andrea immediately pulled it away, narrowing her eyes.

"I never said that," she said, her tone defensive as she took a bite.

The moment the sweet, crunchy coating cracked under her teeth, a satisfied hum slipped from her lips. The mix of caramelized sugar and fresh strawberries melted in her mouth, making her momentarily forget her suspicions.

Eunwoo glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

For a second, just a second, he caught it—the way her face softened, the way her lips curled in genuine contentment. He looked away before she could notice, taking a bite of his own candy with a quiet sigh.

Andrea, still savoring the taste, walked a little behind him, her mind wandering.

What is happening to me? To him?

She didn't know. But one thing was certain—Eunwoo wasn't acting like himself today. And it was messing with her head.

She glanced at him again, noticing how his usual sharp expression was replaced with something... less rigid. Almost casual.

Her lips quirked slightly.

Coconut head.

Yeah. That suited him. A hard shell on the outside, but maybe—just maybe—there was something different underneath.

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As they walked side by side toward the hotel, Andrea couldn't help but take in the absurdity of the situation.

The owner of one of the world's most powerful pharmaceutical companies, a man who could buy an entire mall without blinking, was casually strolling down a city street—carrying shopping bags. And beside him was her, not his real fiancée, not even his lover, just his so-called mission partner.

Andrea scoffed under her breath. What a joke.

"Give me my bags," she said, reaching for them.

Eunwoo shifted the weight effortlessly, keeping them out of her reach. "I can handle them. Just walk."

Andrea frowned but didn't press the issue. She knew better than to argue over something so trivial. Instead, she matched his pace, her heels clicking lightly against the pavement as she adjusted the strap of her purse.

Eunwoo broke the silence first. "Don't embarrass me at the party," he said, his tone firm but laced with something else she couldn't quite place. "Act like my soon-to-be fiancée. You need to be perfect."

Andrea halted for a fraction of a second before composing herself. She tilted her head slightly, looking up at him with amusement dancing in her eyes. "I'll do what I can," she said smoothly, her lips curling into a subtle smirk. "But don't expect anything beyond that. This is just our deal."

Eunwoo didn't react, but she noticed the way his jaw tensed slightly.

"And you," she continued, stepping a little closer, "must at least try to be kind. I'll handle the rest."

He gave her a sidelong glance, something unreadable flashing in his dark eyes, but he didn't respond.

The city stretched out around them as they roamed the streets, the warm afternoon sun casting golden hues over the buildings. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the faint aroma of street food, and for a brief moment, Andrea forgot about their impending charade.

But as they reached the hotel lobby, a familiar sight caught her attention.

The same little boy from earlier—the one they had seen before—was huddled near the reception desk, his small frame trembling as he clung to himself. His face was streaked with tears, and both of his hands were tightly clasped together, his knuckles white as if he was trying to shield them from something.

Andrea's steps slowed. Her eyes darted toward Eunwoo, and without a word, he gave her a slight nod.

She didn't need to ask.

Without hesitation, Andrea moved toward the child, crouching down beside him as concern flickered across her face. "Hey, sweetheart," she said gently, her voice softer than usual. "What happened?"

The boy hiccupped, his teary eyes lifting to meet hers, but he didn't say a word. Instead, he whimpered and shrank further into himself.

Eunwoo stood behind her, watching silently, his expression unreadable.

Andrea's heart clenched. Whatever had happened, it was bad. And she was about to find out exactly what it was.

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The hotel staff stood frozen, as if they had been caught in a whirlwind, their eyes darting between the small crying boy and Eunwoo. The tension in the air was thick, and Eunwoo, who was already growing impatient, glanced at the staff before turning to Andrea.

"What happened to him?" he asked, his sharp gaze landing on the little boy. "Why is he acting like this?"

Andrea knelt down, her expression softening as she met the child's tear-streaked face. "Hey, buddy," she said gently, her voice low and comforting. "Look, you know me, right? Can I help you? Let me help you."

The little boy, his big doe-like eyes glistening with unshed tears, sniffled and looked up at Andrea, his sobs gradually quieting. His tiny hands trembled as he clutched the hem of his oversized sweater, as if seeking comfort in its fabric.

Eunwoo, observing the way Andrea approached the child, felt an unfamiliar sense of unease settle in his chest. He wasn't used to dealing with kids, and watching Andrea handle the situation so naturally made him hesitate.

The boy hiccupped before speaking, his small voice shaking as he muttered in Chinese, "I... I need my grandpa. I want to meet him."

Eunwoo exhaled, crouching slightly to the boy's level. "Alright, kiddo. We'll help you. Can you come with us?" His voice was steady, though there was a slight awkwardness in the way he spoke.

Before the boy could respond, Andrea placed a hand on Eunwoo's wrist, stopping him. "Wait," she said, turning her attention back to the child. "Hey, sweetheart, can you tell me your name?"

The boy sniffled again, rubbing at his swollen eyes. "Kai," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Andrea smiled warmly. "Kai, you know, crying is okay. But your tears are important." She gently wiped away a tear that had slipped down his cheek. "If you cry too much, your eyes turn all red and puffy. But when you smile? It feels like heaven, like magic."

Kai blinked at her, his lips trembling as if he was considering her words. His small fingers fidgeted nervously, and his tear-streaked cheeks flushed slightly. He turned his gaze toward Eunwoo, as if seeking silent reassurance.

Eunwoo, who had been quietly watching the interaction, sighed and reached into his pocket. Without a word, he pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief and handed it to Andrea. She took it without hesitation and carefully wiped away the last of Kai's tears.

"There we go," she said softly, brushing his hair back. "Now, how about we get you something sweet to eat? Would you like that?"

Kai hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"Great," Andrea said with a bright smile. She gently took his tiny hand in hers and helped him stand up. "Come on, let's go to the hotel café."

As Andrea led Kai towards the hotel cafeteria, Eunwoo followed a step behind, watching her closely.

Something about this moment—about her—felt strangely different.