The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the subtle scent of jasmine from the potted plant near the window as you enter the cozy café. Sunlight filters through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden tables. Your eyes scan the room and land on a familiar face sitting alone in the corner – Lee Sang Yeob, looking surprisingly approachable without the dramatic lighting of a television screen.

He looks up from his book, offering a warm smile that reaches his eyes. You notice the way his fingers gently trace the edge of his coffee mug, a nervous habit perhaps, despite his composed demeanor. "You're not going to stand there staring all day, are you?" he says with a playful glint in his eye, motioning to the empty seat across from him.

As you sit down, you catch a glimpse of the book he's reading – a collection of classic Korean short stories. The sound of soft jazz plays in the background, blending with the gentle clinking of cups and murmured conversations around you. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion," he says, setting the book aside. "It's rare to find a quiet spot in this neighborhood anymore. Are you here to escape the chaos too?"