˚∘⊰⋆☆ ❪yt video❫ ｡ lee hyeri x f!r ⌗ . fluff ── disclaimers: bestfriends au, hyeri being a in love puppy, pining, secret relationship .ᐟ.ᐟ inspired by @sillymommy6969
The video opens with a scene from HyeMiLeeYeChaepa. The cast is outside, huddled in jackets as they wait for their next game to start. Hyeri shifts closer to Y/N, subtly leaning her head against Y/N’s shoulder.
Y/N glances at her, unimpressed. “Are you good?”
Hyeri hums, her eyes half-lidded as she stays in place. “Mmm. You’re warm.”
“Hyeri, what is personal space?”
The clip jump-cuts to later in the day. The cast is eating inside when Y/N reaches for the kimchi at the exact moment Hyeri does. Their hands brush, and Hyeri dramatically gasps, placing a hand over her heart.
“Oh, so you’re obsessed with me,” Hyeri declares, eyes twinkling.
Y/N blinks at her, confused. “I was literally grabbing food?”
Hyeri shakes her head. “No, no, out of all the side dishes, you reached for the one I was reaching for. Just admit it.”
Y/N sighs and turns to Yena. “Can you switch seats with me?”
Cut to Hyeri fake-gasping in betrayal. The screen zooms in on her expression, adding dramatic black-and-white filters as sad violin music plays.
“Y/N running from her problems (Hyeri).”
Y/N is walking ahead of the group, and Hyeri jogs up to her, throwing an arm over her shoulder. Y/N doesn’t push her off, just exhales as if she’s accepted her fate.]
The video starts with an interview segment. The host asks Hyeri, “Which HyeMiLeeYeChaepa cast member do you think could make you laugh the easiest?”
Hyeri, without hesitation: “Y/N.”
Cut to a compilation proving her point.
The cast is sitting in a circle. Y/N, completely expressionless, stares at Hyeri. Hyeri meets her gaze for about three seconds before bursting into laughter, falling against the person next to her.
Y/N, blinking: “I didn’t even say anything.”
Y/N is struggling to carry a giant box, wobbling as she walks. Hyeri is in the background, laughing so hard she’s doubled over.
“The way she laughs at everything Y/N does pls.”
Y/N is sitting next to Hyeri, casually drinking water. Hyeri is staring at her, eyes soft, an obvious smile creeping onto her lips.
Y/N side-eyes her. “What?”
Hyeri immediately shakes her head, smiling wider. “Nothing.”
The video starts with a slow-motion zoom-in of Y/N sipping on her iced coffee, looking off to the side. The camera then cuts to Hyeri, staring directly at her, completely oblivious to the conversation happening around her.
“Girl. Be so serious.”
Cut to another clip—this time, the cast is playing a game. The camera catches Hyeri watching Y/N again instead of paying attention to the discussion. The moment Y/N glances in her direction, Hyeri quickly looks away, pretending she wasn’t caught.
The clip rewinds in slow motion, circling Hyeri’s guilty expression.
“You’re actually so obvious LMAO.”
Another clip plays. The cast is gathered in the living room. Y/N, relaxed, is scrolling on her phone. Hyeri is next to her, watching her with an unreadable expression before resting her chin on Y/N’s shoulder.
The video opens backstage at a music show. Y/N is adjusting her mic pack in the mirror when Hyeri appears behind her, looping her arms around Y/N’s waist and resting her chin on Y/N’s shoulder.
Y/N barely reacts. “You’re clingy today.”
Hyeri hums. “I just like you.”
Cut to another clip. Y/N is sitting on a couch, scrolling on her phone. Hyeri walks up and—without hesitation—flops onto Y/N’s lap, stretching across her like a lazy cat.
The video pauses.
“She really said ‘I live here now.’”
Next clip: Y/N is trying to leave the dressing room, but Hyeri is standing in front of the door, arms spread out dramatically.
Y/N crosses her arms. “What are you doing.”
Hyeri grins. “You can’t leave me.”
Y/N stares at her for a second before sighing and walking past her. Hyeri immediately turns to follow.
The video starts with a HyeMiLeeYeChaepa clip. The cast is seated in a circle, the tension thick as they try to figure out who the mafia is.
Y/N narrows her eyes at Hyeri. “It’s you.”
Hyeri gasps, offended. “ME? That’s so unfair! Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re being weird.”
“I always act like this?”
Y/N nods. “Exactly.”
“Hyeri might as well wear a sign atp.”
Hyeri, having just been voted out, flops onto the floor dramatically.
“You’re all gonna regret this,” she says. “Especially you, Y/N.”
Y/N smirks. “See? That’s exactly why I voted for you.”
“She’s never been wrong.”
˚. ᵎᵎ Clip 7: [YT VIDEO] Hyeri & Y/N - Just Bestie Things (04:38)
The video opens with airport footage, clearly taken by a fan from a distance. Hyeri and Y/N walk side by side, masks covering their faces, but their body language is relaxed. Suddenly, Hyeri reaches for Y/N’s hand, intertwining their fingers like it’s second nature.
Y/N glances at their hands before subtly looking around.
“Casually holding hands in public? Oh okay.”
@fanaccount: “Besties? Besties who hold hands like this? Okay.”
Cut to an interview where a host asks Y/N about the moment.
Y/N lets out a nervous laugh. “Uh… it was crowded?”
Cut to Hyeri in another interview, grinning.
Hyeri laughs “She might’ve gotten lost without me.”
Y/N, unimpressed “We were walking in a straight line.”
˚⟡˖ ࣪ ⋆౨ৎ ❪ 𝑦𝑡 𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑜. ❫ ｡ lee hyeri x f!r ⌗ . fluff ── disclaimers: bestfriends au, hyeri being a in love puppy, pining, secret relationship .ᐟ.ᐟ inspired by @sillymommy6969
HYERI AND Y/N BEING BESTFRIENDS? PT. 2
928k likes | 1.2M views | 12th Mar, 2025
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 8 : [YT VIDEO] Just Get Married Already (05:33)
The clip opens with the soft ambient noise of the set in the background, the sound of quiet chatter and rustling as cameras take a break from rolling. Y/N and Hyeri are seated together on a couch, the moment feeling casual, yet undeniably intimate. Y/N leans back, her body relaxed, an arm draped lazily over the back of the couch, fingers tracing the fabric with a quiet sense of ease. Hyeri, sitting next to her, is close enough that their legs are pressed together, the warmth of their proximity creating a subtle but undeniable connection.
Hyeri's fingers absentmindedly trace the hem of Y/N's sleeve, her gaze focused elsewhere. The movement is soft, almost imperceptible at first, as if she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. But Y/N notices, her eyes flickering down to Hyeri’s hand before returning to her face, a small, amused grin tugging at her lips.
Y/N leans in slightly, her voice playful and soft. “You good?”
Hyeri doesn’t respond immediately, her fingers still tracing delicate patterns on the sleeve, the fabric moving under her touch. She simply hums in acknowledgment, her eyes never quite meeting Y/N’s.
Hyeri murmurs, distracted. “Mmhm.”
Y/N’s grin widens, her voice laced with teasing curiosity.
“You’re just playing with my sleeve for no reason?”
Hyeri’s shoulders shift in a casual shrug, still not breaking her focus on the soft fabric beneath her fingers. Her voice is gentle, almost thoughtful, as if the question isn’t something that needs answering.
“It’s soft,” she says quietly, a slight smile on her lips.
Y/N chuckles softly, the sound quiet but genuine. Her eyes stay on Hyeri’s fingers for a moment longer before she lets out a small sigh, her hand moving to gently brush against Hyeri’s in return. The contact is subtle, but it’s enough to make the air around them feel just a little heavier, the quiet tension beginning to settle between them.
Finally, Hyeri looks up at Y/N, her gaze soft and full of something unspoken. A small, knowing smile curls at the edges of her lips, her eyes glimmering with a hint of mischief, but also something deeper—something that neither of them fully acknowledges, but both can feel.
The camera holds on this brief moment, capturing the way they look at each other, a small flicker of something sparking between them. The stillness is almost tangible, the weight of the moment undeniable.
“THE TENSION IS PALPABLE.”
The music fades, leaving only the sound of their breathing and the hum of the set, as the camera slowly pulls back, leaving their quiet exchange hanging in the air. It's an intimate silence, full of promise, anticipation, and a thousand unspoken words.
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 9: [YT VIDEO] Their Own Little World (04:47)
The clip starts at a restaurant with the cast gathered around a table, chatting and eating. The camera zooms in on Y/N and Hyeri, who are completely tuned out of the conversation, focused only on each other.
Hyeri is playing with Y/N’s fingers, absentmindedly tracing circles on her palm. Y/N watches her for a moment before smirking.
Y/N leans in slightly, amusement in her voice. “Are you trying to read my fortune?”
Hyeri grins. “Maybe.”
Y/N raises an eyebrow. “What do you see?”
Hyeri pretends to be serious, running a finger over Y/N’s palm. “Hmm… I see someone who teases me too much.”
Y/N scoffs. “That doesn’t sound right.”
Hyeri tilts her head playfully. “It also says they care about me a lot.”
Y/N scoffs again, but there’s a small smile tugging at her lips. She doesn't pull her hand away, just lets Hyeri keep tracing patterns as their castmates talk around them.
The video opens with Hyeri and Y/N walking side by side outside, dressed in casual outfits. The camera follows them as Y/N suddenly reaches out and grabs Hyeri's hand, lacing their fingers together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Hyeri blinks, looking down at their hands, then up at Y/N with a raised eyebrow.
Hyeri gives her a questioning look. “What’s this?”
Y/N answers casually. “It’s cold.”
Hyeri deadpans. “We’re indoors.”
Y/N shrugs, squeezing her hand lightly. “Still cold.”
Hyeri rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. She doesn't let go-if anything, she shifts their hands so they’re locked together even more comfortably.
“SHE JUST WANTED TO HOLD HER HAND LMAOO.”
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 11: [YT VIDEO] Can They Get Any Softer? (05:28)
The clip starts on set on their new series late at night. Y/N and Hyeri are sitting on a bench, both looking tired but relaxed. Y/N stretches with a yawn, and as soon as she lowers her arms, Hyeri scoots closer and rests her head against Y/N’s shoulder.
Y/N stiffens slightly, like she wasn’t expecting it, before relaxing and tilting her head slightly to rest against Hyeri’s in return.
Y/N glances down at her. “Comfy?”
Hyeri mumbles. “Mhm.”
Y/N chuckles softly. “You’re gonna fall asleep on me.”
Hyeri smiles against her shoulder. “Maybe.”
Y/N huffs a quiet laugh, reaching over and lightly squeezing Hyeri's knee. The camera zooms in on the small movement before panning up to Hyeri’s peaceful expression.
“THEY’RE SO —ASGDLHFLOSJKHNFONLJKADNF”
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 12: [YT VIDEO] Just Date Already (05:36)
The clip opens with Y/N and Hyeri sitting side by side on the set couch between takes. Hyeri has her arms crossed, pouting slightly, while Y/N leans in, eyes shining with amusement.
Y/N tilts her head, teasing. “What’s wrong with you?”
Hyeri lets out a dramatic sigh. “Nothing.”
Y/N raises an eyebrow. “Liar.”
Hyeri keeps pouting, deliberately looking away. Y/N watches her for a second before reaching over and gently poking her cheek, voice laced with fondness.
“What’s with the attitude, huh?”
Hyeri finally glances at her, eyes soft but playful, hesitation lingering before she mutters under her breath.
“You ignored me for like five minutes.”
Y/N blinks, caught off guard, before bursting into laughter. Hyeri tries to hold her pout, but her resolve crumbles when Y/N grabs her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, thumb brushing against her knuckles.
Y/N grins. “That’s what this is about?”
Hyeri looks down at their hands, her voice quieter now, a little sheepish.
“Maybe.”
“IS SHE FOR REAL RIGHT NOW???”
The camera lingers on their intertwined hands for a second before cutting away, the moment leaving behind a warmth that doesn’t quite fade.
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 13: [YT VIDEO] Flirting or Acting? (05:12)
The camera captures a blooper moment on set. Hyeri and another actor are in the middle of a scene when Y/N walks past in the background. Almost instantly, Hyeri's eyes flick toward her, and she stutters over her next line, completely losing focus.
The director’s voice rings out from off-screen. “Cut!”
Laughter erupts around them as Hyeri groans, covering her face in embarrassment. Y/N smirks, arms crossing over her chest as she watches her with amusement.
Y/N tilts her head, teasing. “Distracted?”
Hyeri quickly shakes her head, grinning but visibly flustered.
“No!”
Y/N raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. Hyeri huffs, cheeks still slightly pink, before suddenly turning to the crew, dramatically pointing a finger at Y/N.
“She’s doing it on purpose!”
Y/N feigns innocence, holding up her hands as if she has no idea what Hyeri's talking about. But the camera catches the tiny smirk she tries—and fails—to hide.
“SHE CAN’T EVEN FOCUS WHEN Y/N IS AROUND.”
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 14: [YT VIDEO] Do They Know We Can See Them? (04:55)
The clip starts with the cast in a dressing room, waiting for their next scene. The atmosphere is relaxed, filled with quiet chatter and the occasional laugh. Hyeri and Y/N are sitting close, their hands resting between them on the couch. Without even looking, Hyeri slowly reaches over, her fingers naturally finding Y/N’s and intertwining them with ease.
Y/N glances down at their joined hands, then up at Hyeri with a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Again?”
Hyeri smiles, fingers tightening slightly but making no move to pull away.
“It’s comfortable.”
Y/N doesn’t argue, just squeezes her hand in return, thumb absentmindedly brushing against Hyeri’s in a quiet, familiar rhythm. Neither of them acknowledges it out loud, but the ease between them speaks for itself.
The camera zooms in slightly, capturing the soft, lingering movement of their thumbs, the effortless intimacy between them as if this is just second nature.
The clip shows Hyeri and Y/N walking back to set after lunch, their pace unhurried, lost in quiet conversation. Without hesitation, Hyeri reaches for Y/N's hand, linking their fingers naturally, like it’s something they’ve done a hundred times before.
A crew member filming them clears their throat loudly, the sound exaggerated and pointed.
“Still cold, Y/N?”
Y/N, who had used that excuse last time, stops mid-step and just deadpans at them, completely unamused.
“Mind your business.”
Hyeri giggles at Y/N’s reaction, leaning into her playfully as they keep walking, still hand in hand. The camera lingers on the way their fingers stay comfortably intertwined, neither of them making any move to pull away.
“THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND (pun intended).”
✧･ﾟ: * Clip 16: [YT VIDEO] They’re Just Soft (05:20)
The clip opens with Y/N and Hyeri sitting together during a break, the atmosphere quiet and relaxed. Y/N is scrolling on her phone, eyes focused on the screen, while Hyeri leans against her, resting her head on Y/N’s shoulder like it’s second nature.
A sleepy sigh escapes Hyeri as she shifts even closer, her body instinctively seeking warmth. Y/N glances down at her, a small, fond smile tugging at her lips.
“You tired?” Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper.
Hyeri hums in response, mumbling, “Mmhm.”
Y/N shifts slightly, adjusting so that Hyeri can rest more comfortably against her. Without hesitation, she tilts her head just a little, the movement subtle but protective.
“Go ahead, I got you.”
Hyeri hums again, this time in contentment. Her fingers absentmindedly grip the fabric of Y/N's sleeve, a quiet reassurance as she settles in. The camera lingers on them for a moment, capturing the stillness, the unspoken comfort, before the screen fades to black.
The room had begun to hum. Not loud, not chaotic—just full. That kind of warmth that seeps into a space when the wine has been poured, the laughter has loosened, and the night is slipping into something looser than formality.
Y/N stood near the bar now, her fingers brushing the rim of her second glass. She didn’t drink quickly. She never had. The ritual of the drink mattered more than the drink itself.
The air inside had thickened with cologne, candle smoke, and the heat of too many conversations happening at once. A senator was speaking with someone’s art-critic wife. A pianist had taken it upon himself to play softly in the corner, uninvited but forgiven.
Her husband was telling a story, something about their time in Paris—a detail exaggerated, a gesture too grand. He knew how to perform nostalgia. Knew how to make the past a myth people wanted to belong to.
Y/N smiled at the appropriate moments.
She was good at that.
Then the doorbell rang.
Not loud. Not dramatic. But somehow—it cut through the room like a chord held too long.
Her husband’s hand paused mid-air, fingers curled loosely around his glass.
“I’ll get it,” said one of the aides.
But he didn’t move. Not right away.
And neither did Y/N.
The front door opened out of sight, but the quiet that followed said enough.
Because silence, when it falls in a room like this, means something has arrived.
And then—
The click of heels.
Not rushed. Not shy.
Intentional.
Measured.
Each step was a sentence. Each pause, a comma. The kind of entrance that wasn’t just seen—it was felt.
Then the crowd parted, almost involuntarily. Like breath leaving a body.
And there she was.
Hyeri.
Y/N didn’t know it was her—didn’t know—but somehow, she did.
She wore a black suit, sharp and satiny, with a collarbone that caught the light like an invitation. Her hair was pinned back like a film noir star, her lips red, but not too red. Just enough.
She didn’t look like a guest. She looked like the reason the party had been thrown in the first place.
And when her eyes swept the room, they did not linger—not until they landed on him.
Y/N’s husband.
Something passed between them then. Not quite hostility. Not quite familiarity. Something heavier. Something old.
Hyeri’s expression didn’t change, but something in her stance did.
She smiled.
“Darling,” she said, her voice low, warm, and vaguely amused. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
His mouth twitched. Not a smile. Not a frown. A flicker—of recognition, of discomfort.
“Hyeri,” he said, his tone unreadable. “I didn’t know you’d be in town.”
“I’m full of surprises,” she murmured. “Though not to you. Not once.”
The people around them looked between their faces, sensing something they didn’t understand. A tension that didn’t belong to any of them.
Y/N watched it all.
And then Hyeri looked at her.
Fully.
Not the polite glance women offer one another at parties. Not the scan of dress, hair, jewelry.
This was a seeing.
A pause, a pull.
The world slowed, just a breath.
“You must be his wife,” Hyeri said, stepping forward with that same unnerving grace. Her voice was velvet and static, something between a caress and a challenge.
Y/N nodded, offering her hand. “Yes. I’m Y/N.”
Hyeri took her hand in both of hers.
A beat too long.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Hyeri said. “Though I imagine I’ve missed the best parts.”
Her eyes didn’t flinch. She looked at Y/N the way someone might study a painting—curious, appreciative, but also searching for the flaw beneath the gloss.
Y/N smiled, steady as ever. “And I’ve heard… less than I should have.”
Her husband’s drink was untouched. His shoulders were tight.
Hyeri turned slightly, letting her hand fall away. “Well,” she said, letting the silence stretch around her, “now that I’m here, I suppose there’s no need for secrets.”
She walked into the room like it was hers.
And the storm Y/N had felt coming?
It had just stepped through the door.
The chandelier trembled slightly as someone passed beneath it, casting dancing shadows across the walls. The light didn’t flicker—but something else did. Something in the atmosphere.
It was as if the room had inhaled and forgotten how to exhale.
Y/N stood near the bar, spine poised, glass untouched. Her husband’s laughter no longer colored the air—it had dropped out, like a radio station losing signal. She could feel the eyes of the room shift and follow the sound of footsteps echoing across marble.
Measured. Deliberate. Not the kind of entrance made by someone nervous. No. These were steps taken by someone who had been watched before—and liked it.
When Hyeri appeared, she didn’t need to announce herself.
Her presence did the work.
She was wearing black. Not the funereal kind, but the kind that shone—luxe, like oil slick on water. Her jacket was tailored within an inch of defiance, sleeves pushed up, collar sharp. Underneath, a silk blouse the color of a cigarette kiss. Her makeup wasn’t heavy, but it was precise. Her mouth looked like it had secrets pressed into the corners.
She had the kind of face that didn’t invite compliments—it demanded interpretation.
The crowd had hushed, not entirely, but enough. Conversations dipped into murmurs, forks clinked more carefully. A few people smiled too brightly, trying to place her. Others didn’t pretend. They simply stared.
Y/N’s husband didn’t move at first.
But his eyes had changed.
And Y/N saw it.
There was something tight in the line of his jaw, something too-still about the way he held his glass. He hadn’t told her anyone like this would be here. No mention of an old friend returning from abroad. Certainly not someone who could walk into their home like she belonged to the space between the floorboards.
Then came the voice.
Low. Unbothered. Velvet soaked in gin.
“Darling,” Hyeri said. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
A few people looked between them, catching a ripple they didn’t understand.
“Hyeri,” he replied, too quickly. “I didn’t know you’d be in town.”
Y/N could see him recalibrating. His smile was too fixed. His words too careful.
Hyeri gave a tilt of her head. “I wanted to surprise you.”
Her eyes flicked over the crowd, then back to him, heavy-lidded and cool. “Looks like I succeeded.”
Then, finally, her gaze fell on Y/N.
And stayed there.
She studied her—not hungrily, not rudely. More like… reverently. Or curiously. Like she’d read about her in a poem once and was trying to recall the final line.
Y/N didn’t flinch. She was used to being looked at. But this was different. This was not admiration. Not envy. This was recognition. Of what, she wasn’t sure.
“You must be his wife,” Hyeri said, moving forward.
“I am,” Y/N replied, voice even. “Y/N.”
Hyeri took her hand in both of hers. Not a handshake—a hold. There was warmth there. And something else. A pulse of electricity Y/N couldn’t name.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Hyeri said.
Y/N smiled. “Funny. I haven’t heard much at all.”
A flicker crossed Hyeri’s face—not quite amusement. Not quite pity. Something deeper. Something that said: You will.
Her husband cleared his throat. “Hyeri and I go back a long way. College days.”
“Long enough for me to know when you’re lying,” Hyeri said brightly, taking a glass from a passing tray. She raised it slightly in Y/N’s direction before taking a sip. “But we can reminisce later. Tonight’s not about the past… right?”
His jaw flexed. “Right.”
But the lie hung in the air like smoke, sweet and slow, curling into the corners of the room.
Y/N stood there, watching them—these two people with an unfinished history stitched between their words.
And then Hyeri looked at her again. Really looked.
This time, she didn’t say anything.
She just smiled.
Like someone who had just read the end of the story before anyone else had even finished chapter one.
The music hadn’t stopped, but it had faded—drowned out by the weight of unsaid things.
Y/N moved back toward the guests like a woman tracing the edges of a dream she didn’t want to wake from. She was still smiling, still poised, still perfect. That was the armor. The choreography.
But behind her eyes, something had shifted.
Hyeri didn’t follow her. Not immediately. She drifted into the room like a question no one dared to answer. Every step she took seemed to rearrange the mood—some women stared, intrigued; others whispered, already rewriting her into scandal. The men watched too long, then too carefully pretended not to.
She didn’t seem to notice.
Or maybe she did—and just didn’t care.
Y/N caught snatches of conversation as she walked: someone praising the veal, someone quoting Auden badly, someone gossiping about a scandal in the Senate that hadn’t hit the papers yet.
All of it felt far away.
She refilled her glass but didn’t drink.
Across the room, her husband had fallen into a conversation with two political donors. He looked more himself now—gesturing, laughing on cue, slipping back into his carefully honed charisma. But every so often, his gaze flicked back toward Hyeri.
And stayed a beat too long.
Y/N saw it.
And Hyeri… she let him look.
She leaned against the edge of the fireplace, all long limbs and silent confidence, listening to someone talk about post-war European cinema. Her head tilted, her lips curled—just enough to make the speaker feel brilliant. But her eyes were elsewhere. Always elsewhere.
At one point, she looked up and caught Y/N watching.
She didn’t look away.
She held her gaze.
Long enough to say I see you.
Long enough to say Come closer, without a single word.
Y/N didn’t move.
Not yet.
Instead, she turned to the woman beside her—an aging actress with a face like lace and a voice that sounded like old gin and regrets—and asked something meaningless about the upcoming election.
But her body was aware. Every inch of it. Of the pull across the room. Of the gravity pressing down just behind her spine.
Hyeri was still watching.
She didn’t leer.
She didn’t flirt.
She simply waited.
Like someone who already knew the ending—and was letting Y/N choose how long it took to get there.
Laughter rose somewhere near the dining table—shrill, performative. One of the guests, a woman in pearls and practiced elegance, was recalling a story about Paris in the spring. No one asked if it was true. The performance was enough.
Y/N stood on the periphery, untouched by the noise.
She watched her husband as he held court, all polish and practiced ease, palm resting lightly on the shoulder of a congressman’s wife. He was good at this. Charming in a way that made people want to believe him. Maybe she had once.
Maybe she still did.
But the more he smiled, the more it looked like a mask. And tonight, for the first time, Y/N could see the outline of the man behind it. Not bad. Not cruel. Just constructed.
Hyeri moved through the room like smoke through velvet curtains—quiet, impossible to hold, leaving the scent of something richer behind. She passed the piano, running one finger gently along the edge of the keys. She stopped beside a man who greeted her with delight, but her eyes—her eyes went elsewhere.
Always elsewhere.
Always back to Y/N.
When the appetizers arrived, silver trays like armor glinting in the light, Hyeri found her way to the opposite side of the long dining table. Not close enough to touch, but close enough that Y/N could hear her speak, low and amused.
“Do you always keep it this cold in here?” she asked, eyes flicking toward the chandelier. “Or is the frost just for me?”
A few people chuckled. Her husband smiled too wide.
“You used to like the cold,” he said.
Hyeri sipped her drink, eyes never leaving his.
“I used to like a lot of things.”
Y/N felt the words slip beneath her skin—not just what was said, but how. There was a tone there, rich and loaded. Not quite bitter. Not quite flirtatious. Something older. Something remembered.
The first toast was called—her husband stood, glass raised, voice practiced and golden.
“To old friends,” he said. “To unexpected returns. And to the women who make this life worth celebrating.”
There were smiles. Murmurs. Tinkling glasses.
Y/N lifted hers.
Hyeri did too.
But when their eyes met over the rim of crystal, it felt like something far older was being acknowledged. Not the toast. Not the past.
Recognition.
And then, just as the room turned its attention back to food and conversation, Hyeri leaned slightly forward. Not enough for anyone else to notice.
But enough for Y/N to hear her whisper, across the table:
“You don’t belong here.”
Y/N blinked.
“What?”
Hyeri smiled—slow, feline, dangerous.
“I said,” she repeated gently, lips barely moving, “you light up the wrong parts of the room.”
And then she turned away, as if she hadn’t said anything at all.
Y/N didn’t speak for the next several minutes. She couldn’t. Her throat was tight with something she couldn’t name. Her fingers curled slightly around the stem of her glass.
