Fortunately, Hong Seong-jun followed him without resistance. After closing the bedroom door, Lee Haru steadied his ragged breathing.
Hong Seong-jun, who had been staring intently at his face the entire time, bit down softly on his lower lip. When their eyes finally met, he turned his head to avoid the gaze.
As Lee Haru hesitated, unsure of where to begin, Hong Seong-jun spoke up first.
“I’m not the one who brought him here.”
Did he think Lee Haru was about to blame him and decided to make excuses first? That would make sense—after all, he had already kidnapped him and locked him up here.
It wouldn’t have been surprising at all if he had also kidnapped Ji Yeon-woo. That’s just the kind of person he was—someone who committed terrible acts as naturally as breathing.
The more he got to know Hong Seong-jun, the more bizarre his personality seemed. Clearly, something inside him had changed since Lee Haru uncovered his true nature.
For someone who now had to pretend to like him, things had gotten even more complicated.
As he sat silently, lost in thought, Hong Seong-jun interpreted the silence differently and continued speaking, even though no one had asked.
“The head of Black took him without even consulting me. I only found out today. That’s why I rushed over here.”
His expression was so desperate that Lee Haru forced himself to nod, suppressing the unease rising within him.
Hong Seong-jun let out a deep breath and raised a hand to lightly stroke his cheek. Goosebumps spread across Lee Haru’s skin from the sight alone.
“Have you really been eating properly? You look even skinnier.”
“……I’ve been eating fine. There’s not much else to do here anyway.”
It wasn’t exactly the truth—he had skipped several meals—but he had been steadily depleting the fridge.
Life in captivity passed agonizingly slow. When he felt hungry, he cooked to pass the time.
Aside from cooking, there wasn’t a single form of entertainment. If there had been books, he could’ve read. If there’d been a game console, he might’ve played something.
He slept so much that there were times he couldn’t fall asleep even with his eyes closed, so he’d head to the closet to entertain himself.
He sorted the clothes by color, then passed the time critiquing each outfit one by one.
“I’m glad Guide Ji Yeon-woo is here now. At least I’ll have someone to talk to. I was seriously bored out of my mind on my own.”
He was anxious that Hong Seong-jun might send Ji Yeon-woo somewhere else. As he spoke with a smile and lightly grabbed the tips of his fingers, a faint flush spread across Hong Seong-jun’s cheeks.
I can’t get used to this. Just how many personalities does he have?
Seeing that fluttery expression nearly made him scowl, but instead, Lee Haru forced an even brighter smile.
From the expression alone, Hong Seong-jun looked as innocent as Yu Je-hyun. Yet in Lee Haru’s memory, the image of him ruthlessly tormenting him remained crystal clear.
His lips trembled from the effort of maintaining the smile. After studying his face for a while, Hong Seong-jun pulled a tablet PC from inside his coat.
“I should’ve been more thoughtful. I didn’t think this through. Here, play with this for now. I’ll bring the charger next time. There are a few apps you can use without internet access.”
The unexpected gift nearly made Lee Haru break into a genuine smile. Afraid that his earlier forced smile had been too obvious, he quickly covered his mouth with a fist and cleared his throat.
“Thank you.”
“And unfortunately, I don’t think we can let Guide Ji Yeon-woo stay here any longer.”
“What……?”
Was the tablet just a setup to deliver this news?
He’d let his surprise show too easily. Realizing how much he’d just revealed, Hong Seong-jun tilted his head slightly.
The warmth had vanished from his face, leaving it as cold as sculpted glass.
“How did you two get so close so fast? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Guide Ji Yeon-woo too? Like you did with Yu Je-hyun?”
“No, it’s not like that……”
The curse “you psycho” nearly burst out of him. Hong Seong-jun’s eyes were clearly unhinged. He was the kind of man who locked him away just to have him all to himself.
Saying he was happy Ji Yeon-woo came must’ve triggered his possessiveness. Since Ji Yeon-woo would be with him whenever Hong Seong-jun left, that must have made him uneasy.
Even without a hand on his throat, it felt like it was being squeezed tight.
When he finally managed to speak, his voice trembled. But maybe that was a blessing. If it could stir Hong Seong-jun’s pity, then he might be able to prevent Ji Yeon-woo from being taken away.
“I get scared when I’m alone. If you’re really going to send Guide Ji Yeon-woo away, then…… can’t you stay with me instead, Esper Hong Seong-jun……?”
He racked his brain, trying to come up with the words Hong Seong-jun most wanted to hear. His murderous mood softened slightly, as if he had been on the verge of strangling him.
Cold sweat slid down Lee Haru’s spine.
“……I want to, but it would be difficult. If I do, Team Leader and Yu Je-hyun might start suspecting something’s wrong. They’re both sharp people.”
That confirmed it—Kang Min and Yu Je-hyun still didn’t know Hong Seong-jun’s true identity. Of everyone he’d ever met, Hong Seong-jun was by far the best actor.
The only reason Lee Haru hadn’t caught on to his true identity sooner was because Hong Seong-jun had so perfectly mimicked Kang Min’s behavior and speech.
Even when mimicking someone else, most people can’t completely hide their own unique gaze or aura.
But if you didn’t know that he had the ability to change his appearance, it would’ve been nearly impossible to think the person in front of you wasn’t Kang Min.
If even one of them—either Kang Min or Yu Je-hyun—had harbored any suspicion toward Hong Seong-jun, then Ji Yeon-woo wouldn’t have willingly walked into danger to become bait.
Had they looked into Hong Seong-jun’s past, they might’ve uncovered the hideout he’d prepared.
That was why Hong Seong-jun had to be especially careful. To ensure neither of them suspected a thing.
“……It’s just that being alone all the time makes me feel like I’m going insane.”
He couldn’t give up now. Determined to sway Hong Seong-jun’s heart just a bit more, he reached out to take his hand again—this time interlocking their fingers.
The hand, much larger than his own, trembled slightly. The gaze pouring down on his face felt scorching.
“I’ll only talk to Guide Ji Yeon-woo when you’re not around. Okay?”
He briefly considered whether he should drop to his knees, but feared that might provoke a different reaction—like Hong Seong-jun accusing him of groveling over Ji Yeon-woo—so he held back.
“……Alright, I understand. I’ll try to come by more often.”
Hong Seong-jun relented. Lee Haru held back the urge to shout in relief and gently shook their clasped hands to show his gratitude.
What he didn’t expect was the sensation that brushed against his cheek right after. The suddenness of it left his mind reeling.
Just then, a notification chimed from Hong Seong-jun’s watch. Turning his body to check the message, he opened the bedroom door to say goodbye.
“I should head out now. Make sure you and Guide Ji Yeon-woo use separate rooms, alright?”
“……I will.”
His voice came out hoarse. One hand was still locked with Hong Seong-jun’s. He barely resisted the urge to lift it and rub his cheek.
As he followed Hong Seong-jun down the hall, Lee Haru spotted Ji Yeon-woo waiting anxiously at the far end.
Don’t say anything. Not now, please, no matter what!
He pulled himself together and shot Ji Yeon-woo a desperate look, trying to convey his message. With Hong Seong-jun still wearing Kang Min’s face, things could turn at any moment.
Whatever Ji Yeon-woo took from that look, his expression dimmed as he glanced back and forth between Lee Haru’s and “Kang Min’s” faces.
Sensing the attention, Hong Seong-jun paused mid-step. Reflexively, Lee Haru lifted his head and smiled. Hong Seong-jun’s gaze shifted from Ji Yeon-woo back to him.
“I’m going to miss you. So you have to come back as soon as you can.”
“I will.”
The words, sappy even to the speaker, left a lingering weight in the listener’s chest. Hong Seong-jun offered a shy smile, still wearing Kang Min’s face.
Ji Yeon-woo’s eyes wavered violently at the sight of a facial expression he’d never seen from Kang Min before.
With a lingering sense of regret, Hong Seong-jun squeezed Lee Haru’s hand tightly, then let go.
Lee Haru followed him all the way to the front door. Behind his back, he flapped his hand in a playful wave. Whether his feelings got across or not, there were no footsteps following behind.
Just before opening the door, Hong Seong-jun turned around. Their eyes met. Under the weight of that silent pressure, Lee Haru slowly backed away.
“I saw earlier—you were in the middle of a meal, right? Go ahead and finish it. You don’t have to see me off past here.”
That was when Lee Haru finally realized why Hong Seong-jun was trying to send him back. He didn’t want him to see what lay beyond the front door.
