111.
After dusting off his shoulders, Choi Mujin bent down to meet the man’s eyes. Even while being pinned flat to the ground by Park Dongsu, the killing intent hadn’t disappeared from his eyes. It meant he still hadn’t given up on killing Choi Mujin.
“Oh dear.”
It would have been better if he had given up. When Choi Mujin lightly nodded, Park Dongsu immediately dislocated the man’s shoulder.
“Ah, ahhh!”
The man screamed in agony, but it didn’t matter. Since they were in this business, hearing screams was commonplace. For that reason, there weren’t even proper CCTVs in the area where Choi Mujin’s car was parked.
“What should we do?”
At Park Dongsu’s question, Choi Mujin leisurely stroked his chin.
“Send him to the police.”
“To the police?”
“Yeah, and notify the media about the attack incident.”
Since things had come to this, he might as well announce to everyone that he was attacked and gain Haseo’s attention. He’d also let him know that he had obediently run away because Haseo told him not to get hurt. Haseo was too soft-hearted, so once he learned this, he would want to stay close to Choi Mujin for a while.
And so the next day, the attack incident was covered in the news.
A neatly dressed anchor continued speaking.
『Upon confirming the identity of the attacker, he was found to be an illegal resident. Currently, the police are investigating the reason why the perpetrator attacked Isaac Finance Director Choi Mujin.』
In addition, there was even speculation that the perpetrator might have been hired by someone. Having watched up to that point, Haseo quietly stared at Choi Mujin sitting beside him.
Choi Mujin smiled and spread both hands to show them.
“I didn’t get hurt. I ran away diligently to keep my promise.”
After moving his lips several times, Haseo closed his mouth. Then he let out a low sigh, took Choi Mujin’s hands, and examined him thoroughly. Except for the wounds from stabbing himself with the knife, there were no other injuries.
“…You did well.”
“Is that it?”
“That’s it. What more do you want?”
“Since I kept my promise well, you should give me a reward.”
“A reward?”
There wasn’t really anything to give as a reward. Could what Choi Mujin wanted be physical contact? While Haseo hesitated, Choi Mujin suddenly took out several thin booklets.
「Entrance Exam Information Session」
「Big Study Admission Guidelines」
「Winter School & Special Lecture Guide」
At the unfamiliar titles, Haseo slowly blinked.
“What’s this?”
“What do you mean? It’s what it looks like.”
“If it’s what it looks like… preparation for entering university?”
“Right. This is the reward I want. I’d like you to study more.”
It was a story that didn’t benefit Choi Mujin at all. If he studied more, he would go out and spend time outside, meeting new people. Considering Choi Mujin, who had even confined Haseo before, this should be something he wouldn’t want.
“Why did you suddenly think of that?”
“Hmm. Can’t I?”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Was he concerned seeing him staying at home all the time lately? Perhaps Choi Mujin was also changing like Haseo? If so, this was a positive change. But Haseo had never once thought about learning something more. The family circumstances were difficult, and he thought he had no talent for studying.
“Do you think I could study?”
“What couldn’t you do?”
“But my grades weren’t particularly good.”
“That’s why you go to academy to improve them.”
“Besides, I don’t know what I want to learn.”
“Won’t you find out as you study? Or how about learning cooking? You like that.”
As he said this, he took out a booklet related to cooking certificates. When had he prepared all this? Haseo opened the booklet Choi Mujin handed him.
“I can’t send you abroad, but domestic academies are possible. I heard Blue Academy is good. They say it’s partnered with famous overseas culinary schools and exchanges in various ways. So it’s almost like a branch.”
Hearing those words, his fingertips tingled. The opportunity to properly learn cooking from beginning to end. Even though he had never imagined it, his heart raced when it was right in front of him.
‘I want to do it.’
But would it be okay to do it? As he hesitated for a while, Choi Mujin placed his hand on Haseo’s shoulder.
“Haseo. Hyung has a lot of money.”
“I know.”
“I can send you to academy as much as you want.”
“I suppose so.”
“So if you want to do it, do it.”
At the words spoken with a smile, Haseo unconsciously nodded. Once he showed approval, things proceeded quickly.
“Blue Academy is quite a good academy. They say it’s better to master the basics before going there.”
For that reason, he enrolled in a cooking academy near home.
“For now, the goal is a cooking certificate.”
“Then I’ll start with Korean cuisine.”
Since he had hardly ever made Western cuisine, this seemed easier. Of course, after going to the cooking academy for the first time, he realized all of that was a misconception. Taking proper cooking classes made him ashamed of what he had been doing until now.
‘I really cooked terribly.’
Although the food that came out was edible, it was far from professional skill. He relearned knife skills from the beginning and learned how to use other tools. Even though it could be called a tedious process, all of it was enjoyable.
Meanwhile, he also made friends at the academy. Nam Bora, who was a year younger, and Lee Yuin, who was two years older. The two, who said they had been childhood friends since young, approached Haseo first when they saw him going around alone.
“How old are you?”
Small conversations gradually increased, and the three began going around together. In that process, Nam Bora often asked Haseo.
“Who’s that handsome man who comes to pick you up every day?”
At Nam Bora’s words, Lee Yuin made a sour expression.
“You think that’s handsome? I thought he looked scary? Your taste is still the same.”
“What, why! What’s wrong with my taste! And that person is really handsome?”
“But the atmosphere is scary.”
“Still, he smiles when he sees Haseo oppa. Is he your hyung by any chance?”
“…No.”
“Then?”
What would define the relationship between Choi Mujin and Haseo in words? Haseo hesitated for a moment and then said.
“We’re dating.”
He was prepared for his friends to distance themselves over this. But it seemed better to tell the truth rather than deceive them with unnecessary lies. If he didn’t want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings with Choi Mujin. Having decided to be honest with Haseo, he had told him in advance that he was assigning someone to him.
‘You could be in danger too because of Jang Deokman’s matter. I’ll assign a bodyguard for a while.’
Since he knew Choi Mujin had almost been stabbed, he couldn’t refuse. So Seo Miso was assigned as a bodyguard again, and she followed Haseo around. Because of this, Nam Bora and Lee Yuin initially thought Haseo was a rich family’s young master.
“So that’s why he comes to pick you up every day! Oh, and you have a bodyguard too! I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Me neither.”
“I’m not rich though.”
“Then?”
“Hey hey, Nam Bora. Don’t dig too deep into other people’s business. If it’s necessary, he’ll tell us.”
Lee Yuin would step in to stop Nam Bora when she crossed the line. Both Nam Bora and Lee Yuin were good people. But they might grow distant after today. Thinking this, Haseo honestly opened up.
“Hyung also assigned the bodyguard.”
“Oh my?”
Nam Bora put her hand to her cheek and let out an exclamation.
“It’s love.”
“It’s love indeed.”
That was the end of their reaction. No criticism or questions came toward Haseo.
“See you tomorrow then~!”
“Be careful going home.”
Rather, they were so calm that Haseo was confused.
“Isn’t it strange?”
When he asked this, the two looked at each other and laughed.
“In times like these, you could have a male boyfriend.”
“Right. It’s not like you’re dating me. I don’t care.”
It seemed both of them had truly broad and generous ways of thinking. Haseo waved to the two who were walking away and headed toward Choi Mujin.
“That went well.”
At Choi Mujin’s words, Haseo frowned.
“Did you hear?”
“If you speak that loudly, I can hear it from here. Still, they’re good friends.”
“…I guess so.”
“Well then, let’s go home. What did you learn today?”
Opening the car door, Choi Mujin asked about what he had learned today. When he explained it, he nodded as if he understood. Daily life was so peaceful that it felt awkward. But that awkwardness wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
Since Haseo had returned to stay at Choi Mujin’s house, they took turns preparing meals. Lately, Haseo did it more often, but that was because he wanted to review what he had learned at the academy. The cooking was generally delicious. After finishing meals, they would sit in the living room and have various conversations.
It wasn’t anything spectacular. Sometimes he would talk about what happened at the company that day, and sometimes Haseo would relate stories he heard from friends. Even though trivial stories continued, he looked forward to that time.
Although the resentment toward Choi Mujin hadn’t completely dissolved, it seemed like a problem Haseo would have to carry going forward. If he talked about such things to Choi Mujin, he would probably take out a knife again. For now, he decided to cover up that part.
Because it wasn’t a problem that could be solved by stabbing Choi Mujin with a knife.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
