Page 117 of Scarbound

“My work?”

“Yes.” Kija laughed softly. “You sound surprised.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

Noeul hesitated. “You’re Kija.”

Ji-Woo snorted beside him.

Noeul shot him an irritated glance. “What?”

“Nothing, hyung.”

Kija laughed. “You’re a fan, then?”

Noeul looked away, suddenly embarrassed. His cheeks warmed. “Maybe.”

“Definitely,” Ji-Woo corrected.

“Hey.”

Ji-Woo grinned.

Kija’s gaze remained on Noeul, warm and openly curious now. “Well, if you’re willing to show me, I’d genuinely like to see your work.”

“I’d be honored.”

Kija nodded toward Ji-Woo. “And yours too, if you’re preparing a university portfolio.”

Ji-Woo straightened immediately. “Really?”

“Of course.”

For the first time that evening, Ji-Woo forgot entirely about Kija’s interest in his brother. “That would actually help a lot. My teacher said I need to update it and make it stronger, but I’m still trying to figure out how.”

Kija’s expression became more serious. “Then don’t think only about showing technical skill. A portfolio should tell me something about the person who created it.”

Ji-Woo nodded slowly.

Noeul glanced at his brother. Exactly what they had been discussing.

“We’re working on it together,” he said.

Kija smiled. “Then I’d be interested to see what you come up with.”

Ji-Woo looked genuinely pleased. “Thank you.”

Noeul opened his mouth to ask another question, but before he could, two men in expensive designer suits approached from behind them.

“Noeul?”

Noeul turned. Chung-Hee stood several steps away beside another man in an expensive suit, surprise visible on his face. His gaze moved first to Noeul, then to Kija.

And stayed there.

Noeul’s smile faded almost instantly. Even though he knew he had done nothing wrong, a familiar unease settled in his stomach. He had only wanted a quiet evening with his brother. The last thing he needed was Chung-Hee turning an innocent conversation into something else.