34
Junghyun spoke with sincerity.
As Taejun listened to his story, his mouth gradually opened wider, and by the time the story was wrapping up, his mouth was open wide enough to fit a fist without looking strange. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Taejun’s pupils seemed to be blurry too.
In the end, he muttered through gritted teeth, “That fox-like bastard……” Junghyun couldn’t grasp who Taejun was calling fox-like.
Was he talking about Junghyun or Seunghyeok? To say it was directed at Junghyun, he had never once thought of himself as fox-like. But then again, it wasn’t Seunghyeok either.
Taejun, who had been closely observing the changes in Junghyun’s expression, let out a deep sigh as if the ground would cave in. He didn’t bother hiding his frustration.
“Junghyun-ah. I’m really…… worried.”
“What? Why? What are you worried about?”
“You have my cell phone number, right? Call me anytime if there’s something you want to say or do. Got it?”
He was experiencing a situation where his words weren’t getting through despite talking.
“Taejun-ssi. Didn’t you come here to talk about work?”
Seunghyeok, who was now neatly dressed, called for Taejun. The white shirt and black slacks suited him well. Taejun shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave. Before leaving, Taejun firmly grabbed Junghyun’s arm once. As if telling him not to forget what he had said.
* * *
“You’re quite popular these days, Director Ji, whose conscience has rotted away.”
Taejun opened his mouth as he sat across from Seunghyeok, who had entered the study and sat down.
“I thought you had known for a long time that my conscience was gone, but I guess it’s news to you.”
When Seunghyeok readily affirmed it, Taejun snorted as if he was astounded and dumbfounded. Blinking rapidly, he pointed at Seunghyeok.
“Director Ji. Do you know how old that kid is?”
“Twenty.”
“That’s right. Until a few months ago, he was a kid who went to school. A kid. What the hell happened to you, Seunghyeok? You’re a bastard who wouldn’t even touch anyone under twenty-five during your rut, saying they were kids. It’s strange for you to do something you didn’t use to do. When did you try using your lure? The first time you met?”
“Don’t go too far. I don’t think it’s your place to butt in.”
At Seunghyeok’s words, Taejun shut his mouth. It was certainly true, so he wouldn’t have anything to say. It was a matter between the two of them after all.
Still, it wasn’t too bad that Taejun was taking Junghyun’s side. Seunghyeok didn’t find it pleasant for others to interfere, but Taejun’s words and actions were ultimately driven by his fondness for Junghyun. So there was no need to be upset about that in itself.
Seunghyeok was well aware of the risks involved in what he was doing now. That’s why he didn’t dislike Taejun rolling up his sleeves and stepping up for Junghyun like this.
The more insurance, the better.
He just needed to clearly draw the line.
“Did you come here to meddle in my personal life?”
“Aish……”
Taejun seemed to click his tongue, but in the end, he didn’t repeat the same thing. He opened his mouth as if reminding Seunghyeok, taking a deep breath.
“Manager Seo is crying that she can’t get in touch with you, Director Ji. Should you be making your employees worry?”
“I didn’t know you had such a personal relationship with Manager Seo to talk about these things.”
At Seunghyeok’s point, Taejun frowned.
“Well, I’m quite popular, so I naturally hear things from here and there.”
“I don’t care who you fool around with, Taejun-ssi, but please keep it under control to the extent that it doesn’t affect my work.”
Taejun answered loudly as if he wanted Seunghyeok to hear, “As if I have a choice.” Taejun opened his mouth while tapping the corner of the envelope he was holding with his fingertips.
“I heard there’s someone asking around about you and Junghyun-ssi these days.”
Seunghyeok raised an eyebrow.
“I could hear even while sitting that they’re digging around on the quite dangerous side. Let’s be careful, Seunghyeok.”
Seunghyeok’s fingers tapped on the desk.
Given the nature of his work, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but if Taejun had come directly to talk about it, there must be a considerable threat.
Seunghyeok rubbed his mouth.
“If there’s someone digging into my information and you even came to tell me, that means there’s a leak on our side.”
Seunghyeok’s eyes turned toward Taejun. Taejun, who met his gaze while humming, jumped up with his hands raised as if he had thought of something.
“Hey, it’s not me!”
“Why? Do you have a guilty conscience?”
“I’m really telling you it’s not me. Wow. You’re really suspecting me like this……. Can’t you do something about that face when you’re joking?”
Taejun sighed as if he was wronged and glared at Seunghyeok.
Taejun silently handed the envelope he was holding to Seunghyeok.
When Seunghyeok opened it, there was nothing inside. Seunghyeok frowned and looked at Taejun, who grinned.
“There’s nothing definite yet.”
“So you just came to tell me that?”
“Yes. You’re such an important client to me, Director Ji. If I lose my cash cow, I’ll suffer a big loss too. You have to live long and healthy so you can give me work.”
Seunghyeok laughed as he glanced at Taejun, who answered without backing down. Having known each other for some time, both Taejun and Seunghyeok knew that it wasn’t just about money, even if they said this and that.
“But you must feel sad thinking you might lose someone from the same orphanage.”
“What do you mean sad? Say worried.”
Taejun clicked his tongue and soon continued.
“Well, you’re the only one I can contact anyway.”
“You know where the other guys are and what they’re doing. The great Jeong Taejun wouldn’t not know that much.”
“Why would I show my face to those living well?”
“And it’s okay with me?”
Instead of answering, Taejun smiled brightly.
“Yeah. That place was pretty fucked up.”
Seunghyeok threw the empty envelope on the desk as if making a joke. He felt a gaze directed at him. Instead of asking what was going on, he looked at Taejun, who had a clearly surprised face.
Taejun instantly wiped the playfulness from his face.
“I’m not joking, I think you should accept that proposal you received last time.”
“……”
Seunghyeok quietly stared at Taejun. An ordinary person might have flinched, but Taejun met his gaze with a calm face.
Taejun was clearly crossing the line Seunghyeok had drawn.
But to put it differently, it meant that Taejun was saying this much. Seunghyeok turned his gaze elsewhere without a word.
At Seunghyeok’s reaction, Taejun made a fuss.
“Wow, but Director Ji’s temper has really cooled down. You’re sitting and listening to this.”
Seunghyeok watched Taejun blabbering nonsense again.
“Is it because of Junghyun-ssi? Indeed, Junghyun-ssi is a bit soft and squishy.”
“How do you know if he’s soft or not?”
Seunghyeok’s mood was disturbed by Taejun’s nodding and convincing himself. Taejun heard Seunghyeok’s words and made a shocked expression, crumpling his face.
“Ah, seriously, my ears are rotting. They’re rotting.”
Taejun shook his head, saying Seunghyeok was being ridiculous, clicked his tongue, and got up from his seat without hesitation.
“And Junghyun-ssi’s parents, we still haven’t caught their tail.”
“I see.”
Taejun added as if he just remembered. There was no way an ordinary person who had lived a normal life would know how to erase their traces to this extent. Taejun saying he couldn’t find the whereabouts of Junghyun’s foster parents meant that there was a gang backing them up.
And judging from the unfolding situation, it was highly likely that the person digging into Seunghyeok’s information and the one backing up Junghyun’s foster parents were the same person.
“Let’s see, I don’t think I left anything out. Then I’ll get going now. Ah, the information I told you this time is a service.”
“I understand. I’ll pay you back later.”
The sound of Taejun calling Junghyun’s name was heard as he opened the door and left.
It seemed Junghyun had been waiting in front of the study. With a slightly awkward face, he talked to Taejun while glancing at Seunghyeok.
“Junghyun-ah. Were you waiting to see me off?”
Junghyun nodded at Taejun, who spoke to him in a friendly manner.
It was good that he was being friendly, but hearing him casually call Junghyun by his name made Seunghyeok’s stomach feel uncomfortable again. Taejun glanced at Seunghyeok and continued.
“Junghyun-ah, I’m saying this because you’re like a younger brother to me, but when you’re dating, the bastard you should keep your distance from the most is the one who does whatever the fuck he wants. The one who tries to control you as he pleases, saying do this, don’t do that. Even though Junghyun isn’t so incapable that he can’t judge for himself, he’ll somehow try to figure it out. No matter how good-looking he is on the outside, you shouldn’t date guys like that. Got it?”
He was calling Junghyun’s name as he pleased and saying it loudly enough for Seunghyeok to hear. The target of those words wasn’t Junghyun. It was something he was saying for Seunghyeok to hear.
If he said it like that, it would be difficult for Seunghyeok to tell Junghyun how to address Taejun.
Seunghyeok’s jaw twitched.
“What? Oh, ah…… Yes. Thank you. But hyung isn’t like that.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
