Chapter 112
Without even looking at the documents Director Nam handed over, Yoo Siwoon just placed them on the table. An uncomfortable current of mutual awareness flowed between them.
Eunseong, looking curiously back and forth at the two men who were acting differently than usual, assumed the cause was the documents on the table. His eyes looked at the papers with curiosity.
“When you say Team Leader Lee Joon-seung, are you talking about that detective from before?”
At Eunseong’s question, Siwoon’s gaze turned to Director Nam. His eyes demanded to know how Eunseong knew Lee Joon-seung’s name. Director Nam was also coldly surprised. He had no memory of mentioning Joon-seung’s name in front of Eunseong. Then he remembered the conversation he had briefly had with Eunseong.
Eunseong had asked about the detective who had behaved rudely while bringing him back after he ran away. Director Nam had told him that Team Leader Lee Joon-seung was one of their people, and because he was on their side, there was no need to be afraid.
“The police officer who said strange things to me that time. His name is Lee Joon-seung, right?”
“…Strange things? What things?”
Siwoon asked. His face hardened with tension.
“Well… he said he knew who I was. And that if he were me, he would have committed suicide… that’s what he said.”
“What?”
“He said if he were me, he would have committed suicide.”
“…”
Siwoon’s eyes stared blankly at Eunseong in disbelief, then immediately turned to Director Nam with a frightening glint. With each word Eunseong added, Director Nam broke into a cold sweat. Director Nam swallowed dryly and hurriedly explained.
“He must have said that when he was in the car with Eunseong. That person has a foul mouth and tends to speak carelessly. I told him I would caution him… I clearly warned him that such things shouldn’t happen again.”
“…”
Director Nam’s throat went completely dry, having never dreamed this story would reach Siwoon’s ears. Eunseong, realizing he had made a mistake, also closed his mouth and watched Siwoon’s reaction. His face had frozen in a grim expression.
“What is this?”
Siwoon picked up the documents Director Nam had handed him with a cold touch.
“He’s one of the people who managed Seongha Group’s subcontractors, but please look at it later. It’s not important right now.”
It wasn’t good for Eunseong to know. Director Nam strongly signaled to Siwoon to calm down and compose himself. Their goal was to safely get Eunseong out of this land, not to let him know his identity, and it was clear as day that if Eunseong found out, as Team Leader Lee Joon-seung had bluntly suggested, he would fall into an unbearable shock.
A tension like a powder keg spread around them. It was a condensed anger that felt as if one spark would ignite flames that would consume everything.
As Director Nam fidgeted nervously, biting his innocent lips, Siwoon quietly opened his mouth. His low voice had no modulation, making it sound ominous.
“If there’s nothing important today, bring Lee Joon-seung to the company this afternoon. Tell him I want to talk briefly.”
“…Yes.”
“Wait outside.”
Suddenly expelled, Director Nam didn’t even drink the coffee he had poured and hastily bowed before turning around. He couldn’t even make eye contact with Eunseong and went outside as if being chased.
“…”
“…”
A cold, chilly silence flowed. Eunseong couldn’t continue eating the apple he had taken a bite of and remained still. Although he had never seen Siwoon angry before, his instincts told him that now was not the time to stimulate or provoke him.
The only sound was of him drinking the coffee that had already cooled and placing the cup back down. It was clear that he was restraining himself to the maximum.
Siwoon moved the coffee cup to the sink and washed it. He placed the clean cup upside down on the dish rack. The whole process continued quietly and calmly.
About to go to work after a long time, he was wearing a suit for once. As Eunseong quietly stared at his back, their eyes suddenly met when Siwoon turned around. When Eunseong smiled awkwardly, Siwoon’s expression seemed to soften a little.
He approached Eunseong. Eunseong also stood up from his chair to face Siwoon.
“…Why are you so angry?”
“How could I not be angry?”
“But do you perhaps know? Who am I that I should commit suicide? I don’t want to do that. Especially not now.”
Siwoon lifted the dejected-sounding Eunseong up and sat him on the dining table. Eunseong naturally placed both hands on his shoulders and met his eyes at a similar level. Siwoon lightly embraced Eunseong’s waist.
“I feel like sewing that mouth shut. So he can never speak again.”
“When you say things like that, it sounds real.”
“It is real.”
“How can you sew someone’s mouth? Ah, I’ve seen that. In movies.”
“He’s a foul-mouthed human. I shouldn’t have kept him close. To think he would say such things to you… You should have told me.”
Siwoon frowned as if displeased. Eunseong caressed his cheek and contorted eyes.
“If I told you, it would only make you feel bad. Like now.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear such things.”
“Why are you sorry, ahjussi?”
“Because I made you hear things you didn’t need to hear.”
“I’m fine. I didn’t even care. There was zero impact.”
Eunseong was not someone with a weak inner strength that would be wounded by such things. He could rather be called strong. From the perspective of someone who had his entire savings stolen while working part-time, such words barely even tickled him, let alone hurt him. Losing all his money was something that made him want to die, but those words were just like curse words.
But Team Leader Lee Joon-seung hadn’t just said that on that day. He had asked him, a male, if he menstruated—a hateful and unpleasant question. Eunseong shook his head, not wanting to even recall it.
“Then forget it. Such nonsensical talk.”
“I already forgot. I wasn’t even thinking about it, but I remembered because Director Nam mentioned that name.”
“Is that so?”
As if praising him for doing well, Siwoon’s lips lightly touched Eunseong’s, then immediately rubbed against them more intensely. The moist surfaces slid together and overlapped. Eunseong wrapped his arms around Siwoon’s neck, tilted his head to kiss him, then pulled away.
“…Haa, Director Nam is waiting.”
“Should I not go out?”
“You haven’t gone out for too long. I like that you’re the owner of a big company.”
“That’s the first time I’m hearing this.”
“And I like even more that you let me spend money extravagantly. That felt really good.”
He recalled how he had broken the mental state of the person who had stolen all his savings. He had made Kim Dongjun collapse without even throwing a punch. Made it hard for him to get up again. It was a thrilling revenge. To Eunseong, that money was now just pocket change, and he didn’t care if anyone took it. While Siwoon’s wealth wasn’t the reason he liked him, Eunseong couldn’t help but like him more for such things because he was still human.
“Is there something you want to buy?”
Siwoon asked with an incredulous smile at Eunseong’s comment about liking that he had a lot of money. Eunseong, who made such statements without hesitation, was both bold and cute and lovable. Siwoon liked Eunseong’s honesty. Perhaps it was because he had lived a life shrouded in secrets.
“If there is, will you buy it for me?”
“If there’s something you want. Is there something you want?”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
“Once a day… kissing with you, ahjussi.”
“You’re making me not want to leave even more.”
“I’ll buy it for a thousand won.”
Eunseong gently kissed him, their lips overlapping. He slightly pushed back as Siwoon tried to delve deeper. Holding back Siwoon’s chest with both hands as he pursued, Eunseong broke the kiss.
“A thousand won’s worth is enough.”
“I feel like I can’t handle this more and more.”
“That’s because I take after you.”
The fundamental emptiness had disappeared, and the warm sense of fulfillment that filled its place made Siwoon feel satisfied. His lips drew a faint smile.
“I’ll come back early.”
“…Yes.”
“Wait for me.”
“Yes.”
“You will wait, right?”
“As if you’d let me go out anyway.”
“I already miss you, how can I leave?”
“Hurry up. Director Nam is still waiting.”
“Right. If I make him wait more, he’ll get angry. I’ll be back.”
Only after Siwoon kissed Eunseong’s cheek with a soft sound did he finally leave for work.
∞ ∞ ∞
“Fuck, what’s here that made someone drag me all the way out here?”
As soon as he got out of the car, Lee Joon-seung cursed. In front of him was nothing but a burned-down temple. Snow was swirling in the wind that swept along the mountain landscape.
“What is this anyway? Where is this place?”
Suddenly being told to come to the mountains, he had thought there was some important matter, but there was nothing and no one except himself. As Lee Joon-seung was grumbling, hunching his shoulders against the cold, and taking out his phone to call Director Nam, a heavy black sedan drove in along the same road he had come and stopped right next to him.
Director Nam got out from the driver’s seat.
“What is this? Where are we?”
Director Nam did not answer Joon-seung’s demanding questions and opened the back seat door of the car. It was Yoo Siwoon. As Siwoon got out of the car, Director Nam closed the door for him and then headed to the trunk. He opened the trunk and took out a box wrapped in cloth, then approached behind Siwoon.
“What happened to Executive Director Kwon Junho? The last signal from his phone was traced to Chairman Yoo’s house.”
It seemed he had done what he was told not to do, tracking despite instructions. Siwoon could tell what conversation had passed between Director Nam and Lee Joon-seung even though Joon-seung had barely said anything.
“I’m asking what happened to Executive Director Kwon Junho.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
