#68
“After you return from the hospital, there are quite a few documents that you need to review, CEO. And also, from the business partners…”
Secretary Kang, sitting in the passenger seat, was reciting Taemin’s schedule for the day while looking at his pad, but he couldn’t continue. This was because Taemin was looking out the car window as if entranced, reflected in the rearview mirror. Secretary Kang followed Taemin’s gaze, but all he could see was the familiar forest of buildings.
“CEO, is there something wrong?”
Secretary Kang asked with a concerned voice. He was more worried because he had never seen Taemin like this before. Taemin’s eyes, which had been blank for a moment, gradually regained focus. He composed his expression as if applying makeup.
“No, it’s nothing. What do I have to do today?”
Taemin’s question proved that he hadn’t been listening to Secretary Kang’s report at all. It was clear that something major had happened for him to ask a question when work was always his priority. However, Secretary Kang felt that he wouldn’t get an answer even if he tried to probe, so he continued with his briefing.
“I understand. We’ll need to hurry if we’re to get everything done today.”
After listening attentively, Taemin looked out the car window again. Just then, the traffic light turned red, and a pure white building came into view. It was a jewelry shop specializing in wedding gifts. Staring intently at it, Taemin turned to Secretary Kang.
“Where are the wedding rings that Yeo Idam chose the other day?”
“They’re being kept at the jewelry shop in Sanghyeon-dong.”
“Bring them. I have a use for them.”
“Yes, understood.”
Taemin slightly raised the corners of his mouth as if he had made a decision. He looked almost like a nine-tailed fox.
* * *
“Hayun, how is it? Delicious?”
Idam blinked his bright eyes as he watched for Hayun’s reaction.
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
Hayun nodded.
In front of them were various Korean desserts including sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch), Gaeseong-juak (deep-fried rice cake), gangjeong (sweet rice puffs), and walnut-stuffed dried persimmons.
After Taemin left for work, Idam entered the living room and an employee offered him desserts. He could tell that Taemin had prepared the snacks. Wondering where to eat, he decided on the balcony where he had been until just now. It seemed like a good place to eat as there was a table and chairs, and the weather was nice today.
The desserts brought by the employee were more than expected. Idam was feeling burdened and was putting gangjeong in his mouth when Hayun approached. It seemed he had spotted Idam on the open balcony. Also, since Hayun liked sweets just as much as Idam, it seemed like a good idea to eat together.
“I’ve only heard of Gaeseong-juak before. This is my first time actually eating it.”
Hayun was eagerly inhaling the Gaeseong-juak, his cheeks puffed out. The amount was decreasing quickly, suggesting it suited his taste. Seeing Hayun eating well made Idam feel proud.
“But why are there so many snacks? Did you ask for this much, Idam?”
Idam wasn’t the type to easily ask others for favors. So Hayun tilted his head in disbelief. Idam, who was taking a bite of pumpkin injeolmi, flinched.
“No, the CEO prepared them.”
“Why?”
“Well… I think he wants me to gain weight because I’m too thin.”
“What?”
Hayun was dumbfounded. Idam had always been famously thin. Also, although he often went hungry due to poor circumstances, he wasn’t a picky eater. He ate well and heartily without being particular. So since Hayun started earning money, he would buy various things for Idam to eat whenever he saw him.
Suddenly, it felt odd that Taemin seemed to have the same thought as him. The alpha had clearly said he didn’t like Idam. How could someone be so inconsistent? Hayun was confused but didn’t stop eating. He thought that while Taemin’s intentions might be sinister, the food was innocent.
Meanwhile, Idam put down the pumpkin injeolmi he was eating for a moment.
“By the way, Hayun, what were you talking about with the CEO earlier? Can I ask?”
“Oh, it was nothing much. I was curious about how much salary I’d be getting and what the benefits were like at the company where I’ll be working. So I thought the conversation might get long, that’s why I told you to go in first.”
Hayun made up the explanation because he didn’t want to reveal Taemin’s ugly true nature to Idam.
“I see. I thought you were having a very serious conversation because you were staring so intently at the CEO at dawn yesterday.”
Although Idam was usually oblivious, he could be surprisingly sharp at times. Hayun kept his expression as neutral as possible.
“Well, salary is important, right?”
“That’s true. You’re right.”
Idam’s face showed that his curiosity was satisfied, and he started eating the injeolmi again.
The desserts were soon gone.
“Yawn…”
Idam yawned and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Maybe it’s because I’m full, but I’m sleepy. I think I need to take a nap now.”
“Huh? Are you allowed to sleep?”
Actually, Hayun was feeling sleepy too. But since he owed a debt to Ji Taemin and was imposing on his space, he felt he shouldn’t act as he pleased and didn’t show it. Moreover, Idam was also in a position where he couldn’t move freely due to his debt.
“Yes, I always take afternoon naps.”
Hayun couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Idam’s nonchalant answer.
“Really? Are you allowed to do that as you please?”
“There’s not much else to do anyway.”
“What? Don’t you help the people working here or do anything like that?”
“No, I was told not to.”
“Then what about other work?”
“Well, as for work…”
Idam avoided eye contact slightly and couldn’t continue speaking. Hayun also saw the red marks on Idam’s nape and decided not to press further, thinking it might embarrass him.
“I can’t sit here any longer.”
So he stood up from the chair, changing the subject.
“Hayun, you should sleep too if you’re sleepy.”
Idam’s eyes were losing strength as if he would fall into a deep sleep the moment he lay on the bed. Hayun was dumbfounded. He had thought Idam was living uncomfortably under Taemin’s shadow, walking on eggshells, but it all seemed to be a misunderstanding.
Soon, Idam also stood up. Immediately, an employee entered the balcony.
“Madam, have you finished eating?”
Madam? Hayun was perplexed by the title used for Idam. Meanwhile, the employee cleared the table and left. Only then did Hayun start asking questions to understand the shocking title.
“Why did that person call you ‘Madam’?”
“Oh, that…”
Idam rolled his big eyes around and finally opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Actually, the CEO asked me to pretend to be his wife in exchange for paying off the 350 million won.”
“What? Why is he making you do such a thing?”
“The CEO’s father is pushing him for an arranged marriage. But the CEO doesn’t want that, so he decided to show his father that he’s living a married life with me.”
“What in the world…”
Hayun was shocked by this new information. Honestly, it seemed like a childish act. Moreover, married life isn’t child’s play, and it’s not something that can be easily faked.
“It’s absurd, right? I felt the same way.”
“Have you met Ji Taemin’s father then?”
“I briefly crossed paths with him before the contract, but I haven’t seen him since I came to this house.”
“What…?”
Hayun felt something was strange. He wanted to ask more probing questions, but Idam’s face was full of discomfort. In fact, Idam had no choice but to follow Taemin’s dictatorial proposal, so Hayun judged that it would be wrong to press further. So he wanted to end this conversation here.
“I’m going back to the annex now.”
“Oh, okay. I understand.”
“I’ll eat dinner separately, so keep that in mind.”
“Huh? Why? Let’s eat together.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Hayun almost said he didn’t want to eat with Ji Taemin, but he barely swallowed the words, worried that it might trouble Idam.
* * *
“Hah.”
Idam entered the bedroom and sighed as he sat on the sofa. He didn’t want to tell Hayun about the fake marriage between him and Taemin if possible. Anyone would find it abnormal. Moreover, the marriage period was initially one week but now depended on Taemin’s mood swings. However, even if Idam tried to hide it, it was an unavoidable result given the environment.
Even so…
Taemin’s elegant face floated before Idam’s eyes. He felt his temperature rising and his heart beating faster. Idam was rubbing his flushed cheeks when his eyes widened.
“Huh?”
There was an ivory-colored velvet case on the table right in front of him. It wasn’t there before Taemin left for work… Puzzled, Idam reached out to grab it. But he couldn’t quite reach it. So he had no choice but to get up from the sofa and examine the case. It had a small hinge. Curious, Idam carefully opened the lid. There were two rings inside, and the design looked familiar.
“This is…”
These were the wedding rings that Idam had chosen when he met Taemin at the cafe to try to terminate the contract. It might have been his imagination, but the diamond seemed to sparkle even more brilliantly than before. Why were they here? Idam was puzzling over this, examining the rings from various angles, when…
“You’re here?”
A gentle voice was heard from behind. Startled, Idam was about to turn around when he felt two arms wrapping around his body and a broad chest against his back. Then a handsome face nuzzled Idam’s cheek. It was Taemin.
“You’ve returned from work?”
“Yes, I just got back.”
“Did you go to the hospital?”
It was a question asked because he had returned earlier than expected.
“Of course. Did you eat all the desserts?”
Taemin’s hand moved to Idam’s stomach.
“Yes, I ate them all.”
“I heard from the employees that you ate with Jang Hayun, is that right?”
“Yes… There was too much for me to eat alone. So I asked Hayun to eat with me.”
“So that’s why your stomach is so flat now. This won’t do. I’ll have to increase the amount from tomorrow.”
“But there was already a lot today…”
Idam wondered how he would manage to eat even more in the future. Moreover, why wasn’t he gaining weight despite eating like this? He felt like crying. Meanwhile, Taemin picked up one of the rings from the velvet case in Idam’s hand.
“I hope you gain more weight. Then this ring will suit you beautifully.”
He then slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of Idam’s left hand. Although it was being worn again, it fit perfectly, as if it had been one with Idam’s finger from the beginning of time, without any sense of foreignness. It seemed there was no reason at all to pile up food and eat it.
“The size fits perfectly.”
“It does. But I’d still like you to be a bit plumper.”
He whispered his wish affectionately.
“Now that you’re wearing this ring, we’ll look like a more perfect couple.”
Suddenly, Idam remembered being embarrassed at the gathering with Taemin’s friends for not having a ring. It seemed Taemin had prepared this because he was concerned about that.
Taemin then placed the other ring in Idam’s hand.
“Will you put it on me too, Idam?”
