The food looked delicious—and it probably was—but I had no appetite at all.

Even so, I set the tray on my thighs and forced the food into my mouth.

In the original story, on the first day of break, Joo Seunghyuk imprisoned Kim Jun and gave him food. In response, Kim Jun glared at him and refused to eat.

Rather than coaxing him, Joo Seunghyuk starved him for over a week. He gave him only just enough water to keep him alive and nothing else. Even when Kim Jun begged for food, he refused. Only when Kim Jun finally got on his knees and pleaded did he toss him a single piece of bread.

He didn’t just starve him—he also threw him into a cozy garbage bin for the entire week...

Joo Seunghyuk was the kind of person who, once enraged, spiraled into uncontrollable violence. What’s more, the Kim Jun in the original had been dragged there without doing anything wrong, whereas I had been caught trying to escape.

I didn’t want to provoke Joo Seunghyuk’s temper. If I refused to eat, he might really starve me for over a week like in the story.

But more than hunger, what I feared most was Joo Seunghyuk not showing up at all.

If he stopped visiting even those three times a day... I didn’t think I could bear the loneliness and fear.

Joo Seunghyuk had brought me food, but he hadn’t shown his face. I hadn’t even heard his voice. Maybe this whole thing had finally made him lose all affection for me.

He was drifting away from me—and yet, my mind was filled only with thoughts of him.

Was he planning to never look at me again?

Even if he was, I couldn’t complain. I’d done the worst possible thing. I knew exactly how painful it was to fall from the height of joy into despair—and I had done just that to him.

So if Joo Seunghyuk hated me now, I deserved it. And yet, I was still worried. I couldn’t stop seeing the image of him kneeling and crying in front of me, begging.

Is Joo Seunghyuk okay? Did this hurt him?

Lee Yeonsu, you idiot. Who are you to be worrying about anyone when you’re the one imprisoned here...

After finishing the meal, I set the tray back by the door. The chains dragged noisily with every step, but even that had become familiar now.

There were only four things I could do in this room.

Think about Joo Seunghyuk. Eat. Shower. Sleep.

I’d already thought about Seunghyuk, and I’d eaten. So now it was time to shower. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Maybe because my mind felt so suffocated, I wanted to snap myself awake with cold water.

I went into the bathroom and turned on the cold shower.

The restraints were magically enchanted, so they weren’t as heavy as they looked. Plus, the chain connecting the handcuffs and shackles was long enough not to restrict movement too badly.

Still, just wearing them had felt suffocating at first. But now, even showering with them on didn’t bother me at all.

What am I even doing, getting used to something like this...?

How long am I going to be in here? If Joo Seunghyuk forgets about me completely, will I be able to get out? Can I leave this place at all? When will I see his face again?

At this point, it almost felt like it would’ve been better to just lie in that cozy garbage bin like in the original.

Even after a cold shower, my mind only became more clouded.

I let out a sigh and stepped out, shivering from the chill. I dove under the blanket immediately.

“Cold...”

Maybe because I didn’t have any clothes, the air conditioner blasting through the room felt even colder.

Huh? What’s that?

Right then, there was a whirring sound from the ceiling unit—and instead of cold air, it started blowing warm air.

Did he hear me say I was cold...? Is he watching me...?

The Joo Seunghyuk in the original wasn’t just a possessive maniac—he was garbage.

He locked up Kim Jun against his will, threw him into a reeking trash heap, beat him, starved him—and then carried on with his life outside as if nothing was wrong.

He ran his business, raided gates, slept with other people. He even traveled abroad...

He obsessed over Kim Jun but was indifferent to his pain. That strange detachment eventually broke Kim Jun’s spirit.

That’s why I never thought there’d be a camera in the basement.

He couldn’t even stand the sight of me. He turned away every time he brought food. There’s no way he’d go as far as to install CCTV, right?

I looked up at the ceiling, but the lighting was too dim to see anything clearly.

And it’s not like I could be sure there really was a camera. It could’ve just been a coincidence...

“I want to read a book.”

I muttered quietly. Then looked at the door.

Maybe, just maybe, if Joo Seunghyuk heard that, he’d bring me one.

But nothing happened. The warm air must have been just a coincidence after all.

Yeah... of course it was.

With a deep sigh, I fell asleep.

***

The next morning, when I opened my eyes, there were ten books stacked beside the bed.

He really is watching me...

I looked up at the ceiling. It should’ve scared me, but somehow, I felt relieved. It meant he hadn’t abandoned me completely.

I climbed out of bed and checked the books. They were books I’d read before or novels by authors I liked.

He used to just cling to me silently when I read, so I’d assumed he didn’t care much. But he remembered everything...

I flipped through the pages one by one. I loved these books, but my mind was too full of Joo Seunghyuk to focus.

Holding the book, I fell deep into thought about him—and then I felt a sudden weight in my limbs.

My eyes stayed fixed on the book. I couldn’t move my arms or legs, couldn’t even turn my head.

Then, once again, came the sound of footsteps. The door opened, and the tray was set down with a familiar clatter.

As soon as the force holding the shackles disappeared, I bolted to the door.

“Seunghyuk! Seunghyuk!”

For the past few days, I’d been so sure he hated me that I didn’t dare make a sound, even when I knew he was there. But today, before I realized it, my body moved on its own.

“Seunghyuk!”

I pounded on the door, calling his name again and again. But the retreating footsteps never returned.

He had brought me books—but maybe that was it. With a sigh, I looked down at the tray he’d left.

Oxtail soup today...

Did he prepare ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it for me because I said I was cold yesterday?

He’d bought the new release from my favorite author, brought all the books I’d been reading before break, and now this hearty soup. And despite taking everything else, he hadn’t taken the ring.

And yet... he still wouldn’t show me his face.

What does Joo Seunghyuk really think of me? What does he want to do with me? Would someone who’s truly fallen out of love go to the trouble of making oxtail soup?

I knew he’d been obsessed with me for seven years. But I still didn’t know what he was thinking now.

And I didn’t know what I was thinking either. What do I want to do if I see him again?

Do I want to apologize? Do I want to escape? Or am I just so afraid of being alone that I’m craving someone’s touch?

No matter how much I thought about it, I had no answer.

“...Thanks, Seunghyuk.”

I murmured quietly and ate the oxtail soup. Its warmth spread through my body.

After eating and showering, I climbed back into bed. At least today, I had something else to do.

I picked up one of the stacked books. The feel of opening a new book was nice.

I read a lot, but since I usually borrowed from the library, I rarely got to read brand-new ones.

Someday, when I had money, I wanted to buy all my favorite books and fill a personal library.

It’s been a while since I read like this...

“Ah...”

After sitting on the bed reading for a while, my neck started to ache. I rolled it and massaged my shoulders, then tried to refocus.

Tried to—but I couldn’t. I was trying to think about anything except Joo Seunghyuk, but every time I turned a page, he popped up again.

Esper. Gate. Pheromones. Cell phone. Restaurant. Clothes. Movie...

They were all ordinary words—but somehow, they were all tied to him.

I didn’t know why I was like this anymore...

***

The next morning, I was completely stunned.

A desk and bookshelf had been placed beside the bed. The shelves were filled with neatly arranged books, and there was even a reading lamp and bookstand.

Did my room change...?

But when I looked around, there were still no windows. The same ceiling AC unit.

He must’ve brought it in while I was sleeping. Did he really see me getting uncomfortable while reading yesterday and prepare all this?

What the hell, Joo Seunghyuk. You sure you’re over me? You sure you can’t even stand the sight of me?

I sat in the chair.

It was the first time I’d sat in a week, and the chair was incredibly comfortable. The leather was soft, and the backrest supported my spine just right.

I looked at the books neatly organized on the shelf, then leaned forward, resting against the desk. The surface was cool and smooth. I smiled without meaning to. More than the new furniture, it was a different feeling filling me—a flutter of hope.

Maybe I’d see Seunghyuk today. Maybe he’d come.

But that hope was shattered soon enough. When mealtime came, the shackles locked again and held me in place.

Once more, he’d left food and vanished without showing his face.

The tray sat there all alone, and a wave of emptiness washed over me. Even though it was piled with delicious food, I had no desire to eat.

Is he really planning to never look at me again...?

But I couldn’t just give up.

“I want to read manga too.”

I said it aloud, clearly.

If Joo Seunghyuk was listening to me, then he’d come into my room again tonight.