Ex Sponsor 130

Chapter 130

What is this guy up to now? Cheong-yeon pouted as he glared at the text message Do-heon had sent.

By today? And in person? Isn’t this completely unreasonable? Doesn’t he think that I might be too busy to go? As always, he’s someone who doesn’t understand consideration, then or now.

When they talked on the phone yesterday, his voice seemed lower than usual, which made Cheong-yeon worry. But it seems that was needless concern.

“…”

Cheong-yeon fell into contemplation while keeping his eyes fixed on the screen.

I really don’t feel like going to his house directly. If he wants the Mangdol merchandise that badly, couldn’t he send someone to pick it up? Or maybe I should insist on just sending it by quick delivery.

“…Haah.”

But Do-heon’s subtly sharp voice from yesterday kept echoing in his ears.

Cheong-yeon put his phone in his pocket and rubbed his face.

Looking at it from Do-heon’s perspective, it was certainly something to be upset about. False articles being published and becoming the subject of gossip everywhere couldn’t have been pleasant. He was also someone who particularly disliked media exposure.

Cheong-yeon soon changed his mind and picked up the box.

“Manager, I just remembered I need to stop by somewhere. Could you pull the car over up ahead?”

Yes. Instead of needlessly aggravating him, I’ll just deliver it nicely.

After getting out of the taxi in front of Do-heon’s house, Cheong-yeon calmly entered the security code and went inside.

Having done this several times already, he didn’t even hesitate anymore. By this point, he was starting to think that it was Do-heon’s fault for being careless with security. Is this what habitual criminals feel like?

“Since he asked me to come, he won’t say anything.”

After confidently unlocking the front door and entering the house, Cheong-yeon headed straight for the living room sofa.

“Oh my! Oh my goodness! …Mr. Cheong-yeon? What brings you here?”

The cleaning employee, who had been wiping the display cabinet, dropped the cloth she was holding, startled to discover Cheong-yeon.

“Ah, Moon Do-heon asked me to bring him something. I just stopped by briefly.”

Cheong-yeon pointed at the box in his arms with his chin. The employee nodded vigorously with a confused expression.

“I see. The Director hasn’t returned from work yet, so you’ll have to wait a while…”

“Yes. I figured as much. It’s not the first time that guy has come home late.”

Cheong-yeon naturally placed the box and his bag on the living room table.

When he asked Cheong-yeon to bring the item personally, he surely didn’t mean just to drop it off and leave. He probably meant to see Cheong-yeon’s face before he left.

Cheong-yeon sat comfortably on the sofa and turned on the TV with the remote. After pressing the controller installed on the sofa to extend the footrest, he was in a very comfortable position, half-lying down.

“Mr. Cheong-yeon, you’ve arrived? I heard you’re waiting for the Director. Would you like some drinks and snacks?”

The employee working in the kitchen approached, apparently having heard about Cheong-yeon’s arrival.

“No need. I’ve been snacking at the filming site.”

Cheong-yeon answered nonchalantly as he flipped through the channels.

“By the way, did he say when he would be home?”

“No. He didn’t mention anything specific today.”

“Is that guy still skipping meals these days?”

At Cheong-yeon’s question, the employee hesitated to answer immediately, checking Cheong-yeon’s expression. She seemed conflicted about whether it was okay to tell him.

Cheong-yeon already inferred the answer he wanted from her hesitation. So he’s still neglecting his meals because he’s too busy working, huh.

“You don’t have to answer. I’ll just wait here entertaining myself, so please be comfortable, ma’am.”

“If you get hungry later, please let me know.”

The employee fiddled with the apron she was wearing and then went back to the kitchen.

Cheong-yeon quietly watched her walk away before turning his attention back to the TV. He considered contacting Do-heon to ask when he would be home, but soon found that too bothersome and put his phone down.

Do-heon would have already been informed by the employee that Cheong-yeon had arrived at the house. Since he was the one who asked Cheong-yeon to come, Cheong-yeon figured he would come home early without needing to be urged.

“Mr. Cheong-yeon. Please try some warm tea.”

“What?”

Though he thought she had gone to continue her work, the employee had suddenly appeared with teacups. Cheong-yeon, who had been watching an exciting scene on TV, took a deep breath and turned his head.

“It’s a new tea with an amazing fragrance. The Director has been drinking it quite often lately.”

“It does have the kind of taste that guy would like.”

Cheong-yeon murmured after taking a sip of the warm tea he had received.

It had a bergamot scent, but when you actually tasted it, it had a moderately bitter flavor that wasn’t too strong. It perfectly matched Do-heon’s taste.

As always, maybe because he’s rich, he somehow only likes expensive things.

Cheong-yeon surveyed the living room while slurping the tea that tasted expensive from the moment it touched his tongue.

Come to think of it, the number of people working in the house seemed to be exactly the same as when he lived here. He wondered if so many employees were really necessary now that only one person lived here.

The last time he came, even the driver who used to accompany him before the divorce was still there…

Given that Do-heon already had several secretaries and was out daily because of the company, wasn’t this staffing excessive?

Despite thinking it was strange in many ways, Cheong-yeon dismissed these unnecessary questions as he drank his tea.

Well, Do-heon would handle such minor matters on his own.

A plush doll of unknown origin was pressing down on his body. Being several times larger than himself, it made his chest feel heavy and uncomfortable. Irritated, Cheong-yeon frowned deeply and pushed the doll away.

Ugh, get away!

As he shouted irritably, his closed eyes suddenly flew open.

“…”

Cheong-yeon froze for a few seconds, blankly staring at the dim interior that appeared as soon as he opened his eyes.

Ah, it was a dream.

Uncertain when he had fallen asleep, Cheong-yeon was lying neatly on the spacious living room sofa. He had felt something oppressive—it was Do-heon’s heavy jacket covering his body.

Curiously feeling the jacket, Cheong-yeon quickly darted his eyes around. Then his gaze met directly with Do-heon, who was sitting in the chair in front of the sofa.

“Aack, you scared me!”

Cheong-yeon exclaimed in shock as he abruptly sat up.

“You startled me. W-when did you arrive?”

“Just now.”

Do-heon answered quietly, barely moving his lips.

“Really? But why haven’t you changed your clothes… No, more importantly, why didn’t you wake me up?”

Cheong-yeon awkwardly picked up Do-heon’s jacket that had fallen to the floor as he frantically got up.

Worried that he might have been drooling ridiculously while sleeping, he wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Fortunately, nothing came off.

“…”

Cheong-yeon glanced at Do-heon, who gave no answer. He didn’t look very happy. Did something happen at the company?

In the dimly lit living room with all the lights off, amid the flickering light emanating from the TV screen, Do-heon stared at Cheong-yeon without moving an inch. And Cheong-yeon, as if entranced, stared back at him.

The flashing light stretched to Do-heon’s face, seeping into his nose bridge and brow, making the features of his face appear even more three-dimensional. His flawless, pure appearance always gave off an inexplicable coolness and elegance simultaneously.

Was it because his mind was still foggy? It felt like stepping into a scene from a movie.

What could he be thinking? Cheong-yeon was occasionally seized by the urge to extract and examine Do-heon’s thoughts. Even though he knew it was forever impossible.

“…I brought the merchandise I borrowed.”

Cheong-yeon struggled to regain his focus from Do-heon and mentioned the reason for his visit.

But is this right? It felt awkward to “return” something that was originally his, saying he had borrowed it and used it well.

It was also absurd how stubbornly Do-heon insisted that merchandise with Cheong-yeon’s face plastered on it belonged to him.

“Have you eaten?”

Yet instead of voicing his complaints, a completely different question came out of his mouth.

“Not yet.”

“…You should eat properly. Why do you keep skipping meals? You’re not a child.”

Cheong-yeon scolded him while pushing the box on the table toward Do-heon.

“Are you still too busy to even find time to eat?”

“Want to eat together?”

Do-heon, still fixing his gaze on Cheong-yeon, said something unexpected.

“Now?”

I need to go. Besides, isn’t it too late?

He had intended to just deliver the item and leave quickly, but because he had fallen asleep, it was already close to midnight.

“Forget it if you don’t want to.”

Cheong-yeon looked at the clock, considering. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but he was certain that if he left now, Do-heon would end up skipping his meal.

“Alright. Let’s eat together.”

“You don’t have to force yourself if you don’t want to.”

“It’s not quite that forced… Anyway, please make sure you eat your meals properly.”

Come to think of it, he seemed to have lost a bit of weight too. It was incomprehensible why a grown man kept skipping meals.

Cheong-yeon headed to the kitchen while nagging about various things. Since the employees would have already gone home by this time, they would have to prepare the meal themselves.

Did I make a mistake saying I’d eat with him? Even as he turned on the kitchen light and opened the refrigerator, Cheong-yeon chuckled awkwardly at how unfamiliar the situation felt.

Both Do-heon, who suddenly asked to eat together late at night, and himself, who agreed to it, were amusing. He had originally planned to leave early, but for some reason, it was difficult to refuse when facing Do-heon.

“Do you want soup too?”

“I’ll do it.”

As Cheong-yeon opened the upper shelf to take out the dishes, Do-heon approached.

“It’s okay. Just take out the side dishes from the refrigerator.”

Just as Cheong-yeon, who had taken out two sets of plates with practiced ease, turned his head, something bumped against his forehead.

“Oww.”

Cheong-yeon rubbed his forehead where the sudden impact had occurred and looked up.

He had almost hit his head on the corner of the shelf, but fortunately, Do-heon’s hand had covered his forehead, preventing direct impact.

“Be careful. You always forget.”

“…Ah, right.”

Cheong-yeon closed the open shelf, feeling embarrassed. Then he rubbed the spot where Do-heon’s hand had touched.

Even when they lived together, Cheong-yeon would often bang his head whenever he entered the kitchen, which made Do-heon nag him frequently.