Chapter Text
Jisung can’t remember the last time he felt this nervous.
He was nervous when he woke up, nervous when he drank his morning coffee, nervous in the shower, and nervous during the hour-long commute to Gangnam.
He is nervous right now, too.
His headphones rest over his ears, but no music is playing through them as he looks at the fancy cafe across the street.
The place is ridiculously nice, two floors tall with a sleek industrial design, all bare brick walls, black iron accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows that probably cost more than his yearly rent. A few tables sit outside beneath minimalistic black awnings, but it’s the middle of December and absolutely freezing, so they’re all empty. Every customer is safely tucked away inside instead.
Manager Kang must be one of them.
It’s two minutes until 10:30, though…
She told him to meet her at 10:30, so he still has exactly two minutes left to kill.
He doesn’t want to be late, of course, but he also doesn't want to be early. He might seem too desperate (which, to be fair, he sort of is, but he shouldn’t be so obvious about it).
Jisung takes a deep breath and turns around, using the window of an equally expensive-looking shoe store as a mirror. Thankfully, it’s still early enough that the place isn’t crowded, so nobody catches him fussing over his reflection for what’s probably the millionth time.
The padded jacket is bulky and annoying, but it’s so cold outside that it’s non-negotiable. He’ll take it off as soon as he gets inside. His outfit underneath is good, at least. It was Changbin’s and Hyunjin’s favorite from the ones he forced them to sit through last night, and he trusts their judgment. Sometimes.
Jisung pulls out his phone to check the time.
His eyes widen.
10:30 sharp.
"Shit."
He stuffs the phone back into his pocket and immediately turns on his feet to cross the street.
It’s one of those elegant pedestrian alleys that only seem to exist in this type of neighborhood. There are no parked cars, no trash on the streets, no delivery scooters, and no bright blue beer crates stacked against the walls. Everything is clean, polished and pretty around here.
Warmth and the scent of freshly brewed coffee greet him when he steps inside the café, but he’s too busy pulling his headphones down around his neck and scanning the room to appreciate either of those things.
Manager Kang said she’d be wearing yellow, and thankfully, she isn’t hard to find.
A woman in a bright yellow turtleneck is seated toward the back. She has thin-rimmed glasses perched over a small nose and her jet-black hair falls to her shoulders in a perfectly straight line. A tablet sits on the table beside a half-finished cup of coffee, and her thumbs are moving across her phone screen at the speed of sound, nails painted a deep maroon.
She’s the only person in yellow, and there is something so professional about her, Jisung is sure it has to be her.
He swallows nervously.
She’s only the agent, but she’s already the most intimidating person he has ever seen. He can’t begin to imagine what her mysterious "high-profile celebrity client" must be like.
Taking a deep breath, Jisung gathers whatever pieces of his courage he can find before he walks up to her.
"Um… excuse me?” He says, hoping his voice sounds steadier than he feels. “Are you Kang Eunkyung-seonsaengnim?"
The woman looks up at once, her narrow black eyes piercing through him. Still, Jisung braves on, offering her a smile he hopes doesn’t look awkward or stupid.
"Oh. Ten thirty?" she asks, tapping her tablet awake with one of her deep red fingernails. She gives the screen a brief glance before looking back up at him. "Han Jisung?"
Jisung nods quickly.
"Yes. Hi."
"You are perfectly on time," she comments before gesturing toward the chair across from her. “Please take a seat.”
"Oh. Of course, yeah.”
Jisung pulls the chair out and sits down quickly.
Then, he immediately realizes he’s still wearing his padded jacket.
Mortified, he shoots back to his feet.
God. Why is he like this?
Trying very hard to ignore the heat creeping up his neck, Jisung hurriedly shrugs off the coat. He hangs it over the back of the chair before sitting down for a second time.
Manager Kang doesn’t appear to notice, too busy tapping away on the tablet and completely unconcerned about what Jisung does in front of her.
Relieved, Jisung takes a deep, steadying breath as he looks at the intimidating woman across the table.
The screen of her tablet must have some kind of privacy protector because Jisung can’t see anything on it from where he’s sitting.
A few agonizing seconds pass before she finally looks up.
She smiles. It’s a perfectly polite smile, but it’s also perfectly terrifying.
"Alright, Han Jisung,” she begins. “According to the CV you sent, you’re twenty-four years old and about to begin your final year at KARTS. Pretty impressive."
Jisung blinks.
Straight to business, he supposes.
He nods.
"Thank you. Yes. I’m studying sound engineering."
She hums.
"Interesting," she says, producing a black stylus from seemingly nowhere so she can jot something down on the tablet. "And you completed your military service before entering university, correct?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
She takes more notes.
"Have you worked with celebrities before?" She asks, pinning him down with a small, unreadable smile.
"Uh. No. Not really,” Jisung responds. “I mean, my friend and I sold demos to an entertainment company last year, but the idol group that used them already disbanded. I never even got to meet any of them, so…" he scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah. I don’t know if that counts."
It’s still a bit of a sore subject, if he’s honest, but Manager Kang simply hums.
"Hm, I would say it doesn’t," she says matter-of-factly, her scary saccharine smile still in place as she looks at him across the table. She twirls the stylus lazily between her fingers. "I’m curious, then. How did you learn about this offer? It was only circulated among people in the industry."
"Oh. Right…”
Jisung glances past her shoulder without meaning to. A server is hovering nearby, giving him a look that clearly asks whether he’d like to order anything.
As if he could physically consume anything right now…
He quickly looks away from her, hoping she gets the message.
"I, uh. A friend sent the offer to me, actually," he explains. "He’s a model."
Manager Kang’s stylus pauses halfway through another note.
"A model?"
"Yeah,” Jisung nods. “I mean, he’s mostly an art student. But he’s also a model. He’s signed with an agency and has done a few campaigns for some pretty big brands. I think he got the listing through one of the Kakao groups he’s in, and then he passed it along to me.”
"I see,” Manager Kang hums thoughtfully before she finishes her annotation.
Jisung has absolutely no idea whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing in her book. Hopefully good.
At that exact moment, the server finally approaches.
"Hi," she says warmly to him. "Sorry to interrupt. Can I get you anything?"
Actually, yeah. A barf bag would be nice, thanks.
"Uhm. Just… a glass of water?" Jisung says instead, smiling awkwardly. "Just plain water. Please."
The server smiles back, and there’s something almost encouraging about it, like she can tell he’s fighting for his life.
"Sure," she says. "I’ll be right back."
Jisung doesn’t even get the chance to thank her before Manager Kang speaks again.
"Do you have social media?"
He looks up, a bit surprised by the question.
"Oh. Yeah, I use Instagram," he says simply. "I had a Twitter account too, I think, but I haven’t used it in years."
"Mm-hm. And how many followers do you have?"
Jisung blinks. What strange questions to ask in a job interview.
"Uh… I don’t know. Around two thousand, I think? I don’t know the exact number, I would have to check…”
“Is your account public or private?”
“It’s public.”
"Okay. Have you ever run a fan account dedicated to a celebrity before? Any celebrity."
"Oh, no," Jisung says sincerely, shaking his head. "Never. I mostly post music stuff. Covers, some performances, pictures with friends. Just… normal stuff?"
Manager Kang studies him for a moment before nodding.
"Okay. I’m going to need you to share those accounts with me. Would you be comfortable doing that?"
"Uh, sure?" Jisung lets out a small laugh. "I mean, I don’t really have anything to hide, so I don't mind."
These questions are so weird, almost invasive. Certainly not the sort of thing he’s been asked during any previous job interview. Nobody has ever been interested in his follower count before.
But then again, he supposes it makes perfect sense.
Whoever Manager Kang’s client is, they must spend their entire life surrounded by people trying to get close to them and maybe even take advantage of them. She's just doing her job making sure nobody with obviously dubious intentions gets too close.
Jisung would be lying if he said he wasn’t dying to know who the client actually is, but he supposes he has to pass this test first.
"Alright," Manager Kang says suddenly. "I have a few more questions. Please make sure to answer them with total sincerity, okay?”
"Of course," Jisung says, straightening in his seat instinctively and smiling what’s probably a tense and awkward smile. "That’s what I’m here for. To be totally sincere."
For the briefest moment, Manager Kang gives him a strange look. Then she returns her attention to the tablet.
"My client needs someone with immediate availability. This means that if you are selected, you would begin tomorrow. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes. That’s perfect."
"You are aware you would need to travel to Cheongdam, Gangnam, by your own means every day? Monday to Sunday.”
"Yes, I’m aware.”
"Do you live alone?"
"Uh, no,” Jisung says, blinking at the sudden personal question. “I have a roommate."
"Male or female? How long have you known them?”
"Male," Jisung says, though he isn’t sure how that could be relevant. "He’s my best friend. We met during enlistment, so… six years ago now?”
“Does he work in entertainment?"
”No. Not at all. He studied business, but he works as a physical trainer, and he’s also into music like me. We actually worked on those demos together.
He pauses for a moment.
"Actually, he’s d—" Jisung catches himself right on time, nearly biting his own tongue to prevent the word dating from leaving his mouth. "I mean - he’s also friends with my other friend. The model. The one who sent me the listing. But I’d say that’s it. Neither of us is very glamorous. Ha ha."
"Hmm," Manager Kang’s stylus moves across the screen again. Whether she notices the near slip-up or not is impossible to tell. "Okay. Do you have any outstanding debts?"
Jisung blinks, this question also catching him off guard. "I mean, other than student loans, I don’t."
"Have you ever signed confidentiality agreements before?"
"Uh. No?"
"Have you ever worked in someone’s private residence before?"
Jisung shakes his head. "Never."
"Have you ever been responsible for pets before?"
Finally. A question that actually sounds related to the job.
"Yes!" He answers quickly, smiling.
Manager Kang looks up from the tablet for the first time after several questions.
"Which animal?" she asks. "Or animals."
"Dogs. I have a dog."
Well, his parents have a dog, back home in Incheon. But he supposes it’s all the same.
"I also like reptiles," he adds with a smile.
Manager Kang raises an eyebrow at that. "Reptiles?"
Jisung nods.
"Yeah. Reptiles. Geckos, lizards, snakes… I would love to adopt one, one day."
"Interesting," she says, but something about her tone makes Jisung unsure she means it as a compliment. "My client owns three cats," she points out, as if testing him.
"I love cats!" Jisung says immediately. Which is true.
Sure, he’s allergic to fur, and Bbama is actually a hypoallergenic dog. He doesn’t even live with him anymore. But that feels like an unnecessary detail that could very well cost him this job, so.
Manager Kang doesn’t need to know.
A couple antihistamines usually do the trick anyway.
She hums.
"Do you livestream?"
"I, uh, sometimes sing on Instagram," Jisung admits sheepishly.
"Okay," Manager Kang nods. "Have you ever sold information about another person online, famous or otherwise?"
Right back to the weird questions, then. Jisung frowns at this one.
"What? No."
"Are you in contact with any entertainment journalists?"
"Uh. Not that I know of."
"If you found any personal documents, photographs, mail, or other private information while working, what would you do?"
Jisung blinks. "I would just… leave them there, I guess?"
She nods slowly.
"What would you do if someone offered to pay you for information or personal belongings of your employer?"
"What? Do people really do that?"
"Yes," Manager Kang says simply, twirling the stylus again. "What would you do?"
"I mean…" He laughs once, incredulous. "I’d say no?"
"Okay. Have you ever been arrested?"
At this point, Jisung has to physically bite back the urge to laugh out loud.
"Wow, these questions are intense," he says before he can stop himself.
Manager Kang merely looks at him.
"Have you?"
"No," he says with a shake of his head. "Honestly. I’m just… a regular student. I love animals, so I’d be excited to work with them. And I’m going to be on winter break until March, so the two-month duration is perfect. That’s really all there is to me."
Manager Kang studies him for a few long seconds.
Seconds Jisung spends realizing how sweaty his palms are, and how dry his throat is. He suddenly realizes there is a big glass of water on the table in front of him, though he has no clue when the server brought it to him. He feels bad he didn’t get to thank her for it…
He reaches for it and almost knocks it over, but he manages to catch it on time without spilling a single drop.
He looks away as casually as he can as he brings the glass to his lips and takes a sip.
"Alright," Manager Kang says suddenly, almost making him choke on the water. "That’s basically all from me, for now. Whether you are selected or not, I will get in touch this afternoon to let you know."
Jisung clears his throat, putting the glass down.
"Okay. Great!"
"Do you have any questions?"
Oh, he has a couple.
"Not that I can think of right now, no," he says politely instead. "Just - thank you for your consideration. And for your time."
"It’s no problem. Thank you for your sincerity. Before you go, though, please write all your social media accounts here," she says, sliding a small notebook at him across the table.
It is simple enough, but the pen she places on top of it looks expensive. Jisung picks it up and - oh, yeah, it’s one of the good ones.
"Okay," he says, making sure to write with the neatest handwriting he is capable of. When he’s done, he slides the notebook and pen back to her. "Here."
"Perfect. That would be all, then."
"Okay," Jisung nods. “I can go now, then?"
"Yes, you can go."
"Okay. Thank you!"
He stands up quickly, making sure to bow deeply at her.
"Pleasure meeting you," she says, smiling another tight, polite smile that gives Jisung the chills.
"Likewise!" He says, grabbing at his coat from the back of the chair with his clammy hands. Ugh. He spots his still full glass of water, then, and gasps. "Oh, no, my water. I’m not sure it costed anything, I—"
Manager Kang shakes her head and waves her hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it."
"Are you sure?" He asks, uncertain.
She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t have to. All she does is look up at him with one eyebrow raised and nod.
"Okay, then,” Jisung says. “Sorry. And thank you again."
"Goodbye.”
"Goodbye!"
He bows one last time before he turns on his heels to leave as quickly as he arrived, somehow lighter on the shoulders but definitely not any less nervous.
By the time he crosses the threshold and the cold air bites at his face again, he is pretty certain that he not only made a major fool of himself, but also that he is definitely not getting the job.
🐈🐈🐈⬛
"Honestly, it felt less like I was applying for a pet-sitting job and more like I was being investigated for murder by a very scary detective," Jisung grumbles.
He drops his forehead onto Hyunjin’s shoulder dramatically, while Hyunjin stirs the pot of noodles with one hand.
The smell alone is therapeutic, always healing and mouth watering. Right now, it’s just what Jisung’s poor little humiliated heart needs.
"Well, yeah," Hyunjin shrugs, one hand on the pair of chopsticks and the other one stroking Jisung’s hair gently while he mopes. "It’s for a celebrity, right? People steal their used tissues and fingernail clippings to sell online. They need to be careful."
Jisung makes a face.
"Ew, what the hell?"
Hyunjin giggles. "What? You didn’t know? Actually, you could make a fortune like that if you’re hired."
"I am not getting hired, but if I am, then I will not steal my employer's used tissues or fingernail clippings to sell online, what the hell?”
"Why not? It’s easy money.”
"Because it’s wrong? Also, I literally just spent I don’t know how long trying to convince their terrifying agent that I'm normal and adjusted, and that I would never do something like that."
"So?"
"It would be lying."
Hyunjin hums thoughtfully.
"You lied about your allergies, though," he points out. "Didn’t you?"
"I omitted my allergies," Jisung corrects, swaying a finger in the air. "It’s not lying if it isn’t brought up."
"That’s not true. Also, what if you go into anaphylactic shock and die?"
Jisung shrugs.
"Then I die. Nothing I can do. Anyway, my allergies aren’t half as bad as yours or Binnie-hyung’s. I probably won’t die. But, whatever - let’s not talk about it anymore or I’ll get depressed. Is the food ready yet? I’m starving."
Hyunjin scoffs, giving a series of little slaps over Jisung’s head, just enough force to annoy but not to actually hurt.
"Ow - hey!" Jisung stumbles away from Hyunjin, rubbing the offended area.
"Don’t be annoying," Hyunjin says. "Binnie isn’t home yet. Can you text him and ask if he’s gonna be here soon?"
"Fine."
Still grumbling, Jisung leaves the small kitchen area and throws himself face-first onto the couch.
His phone is charging on the floor next to it where he left it earlier. The screen lights up the moment he picks it up, and a handful of notifications roll out when he angles the screen towards his face, but he ignores them.
He goes straight to KakaoTalk to tell Changbin to hurry the hell up, but when he does he nearly chokes on his own tongue.
"No way," he gasps, sitting upright so fast he almost drops the phone. "Hyunjin!"
Hyunjin just hums in response.
"Hyunjin!" Jisung repeats, louder this time because an uninterested ‘hmm?’ is not going to cut it, twisting his neck to look towards the kitchen.
"What!" Hyunjin yells back immediately, matching his tone this time but still not turning around.
"The agent!"
"What about her?"
"She texted me!"
"What?!" There is a loud clatter as Hyunjin drops the chopsticks on the counter and abandons the ramen entirely so he can rush over. "Seriously? So soon?"
Jisung nods with a pained expression. "I must’ve been the easiest rejection of her entire career…"
Hyunjin stares at him from the other side of the couch, his eyebrows downturned.
"Wait, she rejected you?"
"Probably, yeah."
"What do you mean, ‘probably’? You haven't read her message yet?"
"Nope," Jisung admits.
"Why?"
"Because I’m scared! Can you do it for me?"
Hyunjin huffs a soft, disbelieving laugh before walking around the couch so he can plop down beside Jisung.
"Oh, Jisungie. Are you serious right now?"
"One-hundred percent. You can let me down easier than her."
Hyunjin snorts.
"You’re ridiculous. Okay, fine, give me that," Hyunjin says, taking Jisung’s phone immediately when he hands it over. "Let’s see what Miss Celebrity Agent has to say."
"Kang Eunkyung. That’s her name."
"Yeah, I know," Hyunjin says, tapping into the chat.
Jisung bites down on the side of his thumb, staring at Hyunjin expectantly as his eyes travel fast over the screen.
His face gives nothing away, and it’s only a few seconds before Jisung gets impatient.
"Well?"
Hyunjin looks up at him without blinking, his face unreadable.
"Han Jisung."
"What?"
"You got the job."
Jisung stares, his jaw dropping.
"No way. You’re kidding."
"I’m not!"
"Yes you are!" He insists.
"Then see for yourself!"
"I will!" He snatches his phone back and holds it to his face with slightly shaky hands so he can read the message Manager Kang sent just a moment ago.
Kang Eunkyung (12:36 PM):
Hello Jisung, thank you again for your interest and for your time today.
Regarding the position of cat-sitter, I am pleased to inform you you have been selected.
I will send you my client’s full address this afternoon.
As I mentioned earlier, you are expected to begin tomorrow. The hours are flexible, as you know, but tomorrow you must be there at noon.
We will revise the contract and confidentiality disclosures then, and I will show you the ropes.
Let me know if you have any questions.
For a moment, Jisung simply stares at the screen, his eyes traveling over the messages again to make sure he got it all right.
"Oh my god," he says at last. "Oh my god, it’s true!"
"I told you! You didn’t believe me!"
"You made a funny face, you could’ve been lying!"
"And why in the world would I lie about this? Holy shit, this is so funny, you’re actually going to cat-sit for a celebrity!"
Jisung shakes his head, fingers hovering over the keyboard to type a response.
"It’s surreal," he says, deciding to keep his message simple and straightforward enough. Although, he would really like to add a happy sticker…
Before he can think about it too much, he sends a happy sticker.
"Who do you think it is?" Hyunjin asks, getting up from the couch so he can prevent the ramen from boiling over and turning to charcoal.
Jisung turns around again to face him, arms over the backrest of the couch.
"I honestly have no clue," he says, shaking his head. He sees the read receipts appear on his messages almost instantly. Manager Kang doesn’t say anything, but that’s alright. "Seriously, not a single one."
"What if it’s Taemin?"
Jisung just stares holes into Hyunjin’s back like he’s lost his mind.
"Taemin?" He asks. "Like, from SHINee?"
Hyunjin shrugs. "Sure."
"Shut up," Jisung dismisses, eyes widening.
"What? Doesn’t he have cats?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Jisung demands. "I don’t exactly keep track of celebrity pets."
"Hm. Fair enough," Hyunjin says, stirring the noodles. Then, suddenly, he snaps his fingers "Wait. I know. Doesn’t Lee Minho have cats too?"
Jisung immediately snorts at the suggestion.
"Oh, you’re just saying anything right now. Just naming the most famous people you can think of."
"I mean, yeah. They have to be pretty famous, considering all you’ve said."
"That still doesn’t mean it’s Lee Minho. Come on.”
"Why not?"
"Because that would be insane," Jisung says, resting his cheek over the headrest with a little sigh. "Whatever. I guess we’ll discover who it is tomorrow, when I go to their house."
"Oh, I love that," Hyunjin says, flashing Jisung a brief smirk over his shoulder. "The plural."
Jisung smiles to himself. "Well, obviously. No NDA can stop me from telling you guys about it. Or, actually - no NDA could stop you two from pressuring me to tell you guys about it. Especially you. You're way too nosy."
"Yup," Hyunjin acknowledges proudly.
He hits the chopsticks against the border of the pot to get rid of excess water before he puts them down again, and he turns the fire as low as it can go before he turns around to lean against the counter, facing Jisung. "I’m sure they’ll make you sign, like, a pile of stuff…"
"For sure."
"And you’ll still tell us everything?"
"Obviously."
Hyunjin grins again.
Out of curiosity, and after fiddling with his phone absentmindedly, turning it around in his fingers, Jisung unlocks it again.
He opens the browser app and types celebrities who own cats into the search bar.
Taemin and Lee Minho are the first listed, but so are a bunch of other people, so it could be anyone. Trying to guess would probably be pointless.
Though honestly, it’s not like it makes much of a difference who it is. He’s never been very into celebrity stuff. As long as he gets paid well, he doesn’t care much.
"Jisungie. Are you texting Binnie?"
"Hmm. Not yet."
"Text him."
"You’re a pain in the ass.”
"I’m not. And I just got you the literal coolest part-time job ever. You should be bowing down in front of me and kissing my feet to thank me."
"Kissing your feet? Gross," Jisung grimaces, looking up from his phone with a slow smirk. "Though I guess it is Binnie’s thing."
Hyunjin balls up a kitchen rag and throws it at Jisung with an offended look, but it only makes Jisung laugh.
Luckily for him, before Hyunjin can go up to him and smack him for real, the sound of keys jingling and the front door lock turning reaches them.
Both of them look up at once.
"Finally," Hyunjin says, backing away from violence to turn off the stove.
The lock clicks, and Jisung can’t stop the grin that spreads across his face.
"Hyung!" he calls before Changbin has even stepped inside.
"What!" Changbin shouts back immediately.
"You are never going to guess what happened!"
For the first time all morning, Jisung doesn't feel that nervous anymore.
🐈🐈🐈⬛
So, Hyunjin was right.
The employer is Lee Minho.
Jisung only learns this once he’s inside the huge, gorgeous Cheongdam apartment, sitting at a polished kitchen island in front of a literal mountain of contract annexes.
The employer, Lee Minho.
That’s what every single page says at the top.
Jisung almost falls off the stool from how badly he wants to laugh.
Of course Hyunjin had to guess right.
Out of every celebrity in South Korea. Out of every actor, singer, model, television personality and internet celebrity that owns a cat, it’s Lee Minho.
The man who’s been on television and cinema screens across the country since before Jisung even knew how to operate a remote control.
He can already hear Hyunjin screaming when he tells him.
"… and, of course, any visitors are strictly forbidden," Manager Kang says. "No exceptions."
Jisung nods, pretending to pay attention while his eyes skim over the pages in front of him. There’s a lot, there’s no way he’s expected to read every last word. At least he gets to take copies home, he supposes.
At the very least, the documents don’t seem too complicated.
In fact, they are exactly what he expected: a description of his tasks and his (juicy) remuneration, confidentiality agreements, privacy clauses, emergency contact information, instructions regarding each specific cat, procedures for entering and leaving the building, and then, approximately seven thousand different ways to threaten don’t tell anything to anyone, or we will sue you to hell and back.
It is ridiculously redundant, so after a few paragraphs Jisung feels like he’s read it all.
He signs where he’s told to sign and presses his ink-dabbed thumbprint wherever Manager Kang points.
He promises not to reveal any personal information, or post any photographs of the apartment online.
He promises not to invite people over, not to spend the night in the apartment, and to never livestream from the apartment either.
It all makes sense, but then he reaches a paragraph that makes him do a double take.
He promises not to pursue, encourage, or engage in any intimate relationship with Lee Minho.
Jisung stares at the clause for a second, reading and rereading it.
Are they serious?
That seems a little excessive. So excessive, actually, it’s almost flattering. Whoever drafted this document clearly overestimates what he is capable of, romantically.
Lee Minho isn’t even supposed to be here. That is, quite literally, the entire reason Jisung was hired in the first place. Lee Minho will not be here.
According to Manager Kang’s extremely brief and superficial explanation, Lee Minho will be filming a movie in Jeju Island for the next two months, and he needs someone to take care of his cats every day until he’s back.
Jisung doubts he’ll see him even once.
Unless Lee Minho is planning on regularly commuting several hundred kilometers and letting himself be seduced by his completely ordinary, plain, broke, temporary cat-sitter, the warning feels both ridiculous and unnecessary.
But whatever makes Manager Kang happy. He signs without a second thought.
By the time he’s finished, his signature looks slightly different on every page. He has always vaguely wondered whether that could get someone arrested. He really hopes it doesn’t.
Manager Kang collects the paperwork immediately, puts it away in a folder, and snaps it shut.
"Good. Now that that’s out of the way," she says, getting up from the stool. As if she wasn’t intimidating enough already, she also happens to be taller than Jisung by a good few centimeters. "Let me show you the apartment, now."
That, at least, gets Jisung’s full attention.
The place is huge, but it’s surprisingly nice and cozy. Not flashy or impersonal at all.
The living room has tall windows that stretch across one entire wall, revealing a stunning view of the Han River and letting in a ton of natural light.
Most of the trees outside are leafless this time of the year, but if the view is this pretty now, then it must be even more stunning during the other seasons, full of green or yellow. A spacious terrace runs the length of the windows, though most of the outdoor furniture has been hidden beneath white protective covers for the winter.
Inside, it is all warm wood, cream-colored furniture with splashes of color in the form of throw pillows, paintings, and framed photographs. There are bookshelves filled to the brim not just with books, but also with different decorations, including a bunch of bunny-shaped plush toys, and there are even a few plants here and there.
More importantly, though, there is cat stuff everywhere.
The windows and the door leading to the terrace are all protected by mesh.
There are cat shelves mounted along the walls like elaborate elevated highways, and cat towers, and climbing structures. There are small colorful toys scattered all over the smooth hardwood floors, but what catches Jisung’s attention the most is the corner of the largest sofa in the living room. It is visibly shredded, the fabric fuzzy and worn from what’s probably been years of enthusiastic claw violence.
Jisung smiles to himself, immediately deciding he likes the place.
A lot.
It doesn't feel like a showroom, or like what he imagined a celebrity’s home would look like.
The kitchen opens directly into the living and dining area, creating a comfortable, cozy open-plan space. Beyond the dining table there’s something that looks suspiciously like an upright piano.
Jisung slows down his steps, squinting at it curiously.
A piano?
He wonders briefly if Lee Minho plays.
More importantly, he wonders if he could get away with playing it while he’s here.
But Manager Kang keeps walking towards the hallway, so Jisung tears his eyes away from it, hurrying to catch up with her and her freaking long legs.
The hallway leading to the bedrooms is equally spacious and flooded with light, probably because every single door stands wide open. The only door that remains firmly closed is the one at the end of the hall.
"The only room that’s off-limits is Minho-ssi’s bedroom," Manager Kang explains. "He always keeps it closed when he’s away because one of the cats, Doongie, tends to… pee on everything."
Jisung’s eyebrows shoot up, surprised.
"Oh my god. Everything?"
"Yes. Actually, Minho-ssi advises not to leave any bags on the floor. And… so do I. I learned the lesson the hard way. I had to throw away a bag that was very dear to me because of it.”
Jisung tries to hold back a startled laugh.
"Oh, no. That’s awful. I’ll keep it in mind."
Manager Kang nods.
"Anyway, the cats are allowed everywhere else, so all interior doors must remain open at all times. The cats don’t know how to open them."
Jisung can’t help but snort under his breath.
"I mean, it makes sense."
"They usually spend most of their time in the living room or here, though," Manager Kang continues, gesturing toward one of the open doors.
Jisung peers inside and nearly whistles, impressed.
The room is essentially a luxury cat resort.
Climbing structures cover entire walls.
There are platforms, tunnels, exercise wheels, fancy litter boxes that kind of look like spaceships, multiple beds, scratching posts and elaborate towers reaching nearly to the ceiling.
This man must really love his cats.
More importantly, he must possess an absolutely obscene amount of money to be able to spoil them to this level.
Jisung suddenly feels a little sorry about the modest dog bed he bought Bbama for his birthday last year...
At the very top of one of the towers, an orange-and-white cat lounges on his side, looking impossibly comfortable. His belly is enormous.
Jisung gasps when he spots him.
The cat notices Jisung staring across the room and looks right back at him with an uninterested expression.
"There’s another one," Jisung whispers, pointing at it.
Manager Kang follows his finger and hums.
"That’s Soonie," she says.
Jisung squints at the cat, finding him nearly identical to the other orange and white one he saw lounging on the couch earlier.
"He looks a lot like the other one..."
“That one was Doongie. They are both orange and white, but Soonie’s face is mostly orange with a white nose, while Doongie’s is mostly white with an orange nose. Doongie also has white front legs," Manager Kang explains, surprisingly patient. "Dori is the grey tabby."
“I see," Jisung says, trying to commit the information to memory. "You’re really familiar with them."
"I’ve been working with Minho-ssi for six years now, and I have known his cats for just as long," she says, and for the first time, she sounds less like an agent and more like someone talking about their annoying little cousins.
"Wow. That’s a long time," Jisung comments with a smile.
Manager Kang nods.
"It is. But - anyway," she says, returning to business. "Soonie is an elderly cat and he takes several medications and supplements, so you cannot mix him and Doongie up."
"I won’t," Jisung promises immediately. They look very similar, but he makes sure to burn the white legs hint into his brain. "I’m sure I’ll have them figured out by tomorrow."
His eyes drift back to Soonie.
He hasn’t moved once from his position.
Jisung smiles, more than a little bit envious.
"They’re all ridiculously cute."
"That they are," she says, smiling. It is probably the nicest, least intimidating she’s looked since Jisung met her yesterday. "Well. That’s basically the apartment. And honestly, I would say these are your actual employers - not Minho-ssi."
Jisung places a hand over his heart and gives Soonie a solemn nod.
"Well, I hope they know I am extremely honored to accept this position."
“I’m sure they’re excited they have a whole new human to pamper them. Anyway, let me show you where their stuff is,” she says, stepping into the cat room and pointing at a few closet doors. “Their toys, food, Soonie’s medicines, the bags of litter… it’s all here.”
Jisung follows her, trying to take mental notes of everything.
It’s honestly a bit overwhelming, and there’s way more information to take in than he expected.
Still, Jisung is sure he’ll get the hang of it soon enough. He’ll become an exemplary cat-sitter in no time.