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“Thank you, Changwan-ah. And don’t forget the cheese slice,” she said, gifting him with a giant smile.

He nodded emphatically to let her know he’d heard. “Do you want anything, Jihoon-ah?”

“No, I’m stuffed,” Sinhye said, her eyes never leaving Somin.

They both waited until Changwan had jogged down the street before either spoke.

“You could have let him stay. He was so cute. I wasn’t done playing,” Sinhye said, her eyes tilting with malice.

“What do you want?”

“Ah, I see we won’t be exchanging pleasantries.” Sinhye stood up, eating the last bite of eomuk, letting her teeth run along the skewer. “That’s fine. I like to get down to business, too.”

“And what’s that?”

“Not here. Let’s take a walk.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Somin said.

“If you don’t, then I’ll be very upset and I might have to take it out on your sweet friend Changwan.”

Somin didn’t want to believe Sinhye would actually hurt Changwan, but from what Junu had said, it sounded like this fox spirit could be capable of anything, so she nodded. “Where are we going?”

“I don’t know this area that well. So you decide. Somewhere private. And remember that if you try to lose me, I’ll just double back and let Changwan help me with my little task.” Sinhye grinned, and there was no kindness in it.

“Fine,” Somin said, her mind spinning. She wasn’t someone who would willingly walk into a trap. And that’s definitely what this was. But she also hadn’t had time to plan any countermoves. For the first time, she cursed herself for looking down at Jihoon’s computer games; at least they required strategic thinking. But now, when she needed something clever, her mind was a blank. Then she remembered something Miyoung had told her. It seemed far-fetched, but it was better than nothing. “I know where we can go.”

They walked up the steep road, and Somin watched Sinhye closely. She was trying to find some kind of weakness to take advantage of. But if it was possible, Jihoon’s body seemed even more invigorated. Like it was powered by the fox spirit inside.

Somin stared at the abandoned building. Jihoon’s old home. Halmeoni’s old restaurant. She felt a petty satisfaction in the fact that Jihoon’s old landlord hadn’t found someone to rent the space yet. Served him right for pushing Jihoon out of the lease and raising the rent.

Somin scanned the street but tried to look like she wasn’t. It was empty. Had it always been this quiet? Or did it just seem that way because she was so desperate for help?

“This will do,” the fox spirit said.

“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your nefarious plans, then.” Somin turned to go, but Sinhye was too quick and grabbed Somin’s arm.

“You can’t go before you give me the tour.” A sharp smile, maniacal as a jack-o’-lantern’s, split Sinhye’s face.

Somin’s mouth was suddenly dry. What would happen to her if she went into the building with this gumiho? Would she ever come out again?

“Well, look who we have here.”

Somin’s knees weakened with relief at the sound of the voice.

“Hwang Halmeoni.” Somin hoped her voice sounded steady. She couldn’t give away her nerves. Not now. The old woman stepped out onto the platform outside the medicinal wine store. “Are you well?”

The woman gave a gruff chuckle. She sat and started to unscrew a small glass jar. It must be what she’d been inside fetching. Usually Hwang Halmeoni sat all day long on her platform, observing the neighborhood. It’s what Somin had been counting on. The woman started to rub the ointment on her legs.

“What is this?” Sinhye hissed, her hand tightening on Somin’s arm.

Somin lowered her voice so only Sinhye could hear. “If you don’t want to look suspicious, then follow my lead. It would be weird for Jihoonnotto say hello to Hwang Halmeoni.”

Sinhye studied Somin’s face. Somin tried to keep her expression neutral. It felt like her lips were quivering, but it seemedSinhye accepted the story, because she let go and turned to Hwang Halmeoni with an overly bright smile and a bow.

“I’ve missed you two sorely,” Hwang Halmeoni said, her eyes shifting to take in Sinhye as well. They narrowed ever so slightly before returning to Somin. “What brings you back my way?”

“We’re just visiting the old place. We’ve missed it,” Somin said, hoping her voice sounded casual.