The next morning the city was alive again—horns blaring, vendors shouting, people rushing toward work. Park Hwan maneuvered his bus through the chaos with his usual scowl fixed on his face. His day was predictable, dull, and he preferred it that way.

But at the back of his mind, he was waiting for the last stop girl.

And there she was.

Taehyung appeared at her usual stop, arms full of shopping bags again, dressed in another tiny outfit that made his ears heat the moment he saw her. A short white skirt, barely brushing her thighs, paired with a crop top that clung to her curves. Sunglasses perched on her head, hair bouncing as she boarded.

She flashed him a dazzling smile, as if they were old friends.

“Morning, Driver Hwan.”

His scowl twitched. “You again.”

She giggled, slipping into the same seat opposite him, deliberately crossing her legs so the skirt rode higher. “Of course me. Who else keeps you company till the last stop?”

He cleared his throat, eyes darting to the road. “Not many people live where you do.”

“Mm, lucky me,” she teased, leaning forward on her elbows. “I get the whole bus all to myself. And my grumpy driver too.”

He gave a short grunt that was almost a laugh, surprising even himself. “Grumpy, huh?”

She tilted her head, eyes sparkling. “Always scowling. Always serious. But today…” she studied him closely, her lips curling in a smirk, “you almost smiled when you saw me.”

His grip tightened on the wheel. “You’re imagining things.”

“Nope,” she sang playfully. “I saw it. A tiny smile.”

Hwan shook his head, muttering, “You’re too talkative.”

“And you like it,” she shot back, winking.

He glanced at her quickly before looking away again. Damn it—she wasn’t wrong. Her chatter filled the stale air of the bus in a way he didn’t realize he’d been missing.

As the ride continued, she leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “So tell me, Hwan-ssi… why do you always look like the world owes you money?”

He huffed. “Because it does.”

She burst out laughing, the sound bright and carefree. A few remaining passengers turned their heads, curious about the glamorous woman who was flirting so boldly with the bus driver. But Tae didn’t care.

When the bus finally emptied, and it was just the two of them again, she rested her chin in her hand, studying him with exaggerated seriousness.

“You know,” she said, her voice softer now, “you look much better when you’re flustered.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Like right now,” she pointed out, grinning at the way his ears were turning red. “See? Adorable.”

He groaned under his breath, shaking his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched again—damn near a smile.

By the time they reached her stop, she rose gracefully, gathering her bags. She leaned in just slightly, close enough that he caught her perfume.

“Bye, Hwan-ssi,” she whispered with a little wink. “Don’t miss me too much until tomorrow.”

And then she was gone, hips swaying as she disappeared beyond the gates of her mansion.

Park Hwan sat frozen in his seat for a long moment, heart beating strangely fast. He cursed under his breath, gripping the wheel.

She was trouble.

He knew it.

But for the first time in years, Park Hwan found himself looking forward to tomorrow.