“I’m not that stupid. Especially when it comes to Yushin… Still, thank you for getting angry for us.”
“You’re not stupid, huh.”
“I’m sure even you were a little shocked this time. Thanks to the CEO pointing it out, I think he’ll be more careful moving forward.”
“If he was the kind of bastard who’d be careful, he wouldn’t have tried to barge in through a locked door in the first place.”
Cheon Tae-seong added curtly, glaring at Ha-jin.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“…Still, it can’t be helped. He’s the landlord.”
“Move.”
“It’s not that simple. A home’s not something you just pick up and leave.”
Even as he spoke, Ha-jin felt helpless. Adding an extra word to someone who’d never understand felt like a pointless waste. He regretted saying anything, and that emotion passed clearly to Cheon Tae-seong.
“……”
Tae-seong quietly looked down at Ha-jin, whose complexion had turned pale in an instant. He seemed seriously shaken. From what Tae-seong could see, Ha-jin was living his life carrying burdens that weren’t his to bear, along with worries far beyond what he should have to handle. And yet, the guy still seemed convinced he could shoulder it all.
That must’ve been why he made that choice in his past life. No matter how hard you struggle, some things just don’t change.
Tae-seong could see the limit in his cold eyes, but it didn’t hit him in a tangible way. All he could really sense was the vivid color of Ha-jin’s emotions, intensified by the imprint.
And because of that, the frustration doubled.
“Let’s just go eat.”
He swallowed the string of curses threatening to spill out and sidestepped the topic he couldn’t solve, pulling Ha-jin by the wrist.
***
The quiet neighborhood nestled beneath a mountain, reached after a long drive up a secluded road, was almost unnervingly still. Lined with art galleries and a park, the road curved past a place that looked indistinguishable from an ordinary house from the outside. Tae-seong pulled into the parking lot.
Behind a wall thickly covered in green ivy, the yard was neatly trimmed with grass, a Western-style gazebo, and a small fountain. The two-story stone house looked like it had been pulled straight out of a black-and-white photo, its appearance vintage and timeless.
Guided by a staff member, they entered a dining room inside. Ha-jin still looked dazed.
Soon after, an older woman with a warm expression came out to take their order—without even offering a menu. The only question she asked was whether Ha-jin had any dietary restrictions.
Once the room had gone quiet again, Tae-seong wiped his hands with a damp towel and casually tossed out a line.
“That lady’s my mom.”
“…What?”
Startled, Ha-jin shot to his feet, and Tae-seong burst into laughter. The welcome drink he’d been sipping dribbled down his chin, he was so taken aback.
“Why’re you so shocked?”
“You’re joking, right?”
“I’m not. I really mean it. Do you know how much I’ve eaten her food?”
“…Just because the food’s good doesn’t make her your mom.”
“If the food’s good, she’s your mom. If the sex is good, she’s your lover. Why complicate things?”
“Please don’t say weird stuff.”
“So now it’s not ‘disgusting’ anymore?”
Ha-jin started to say something but shut his mouth, and the awkward silence returned just like that. Following Tae-seong’s lead, Ha-jin wiped his hands and slowly looked around the room. Only then did the subtle signs that marked the place as a restaurant come into focus—things like a wine pairing guide and a call bell to summon staff.
As Tae-seong followed Ha-jin’s gaze, he spoke up.
“Want a drink?”
“No.”
Glancing at his watch, Ha-jin shook his head. Though he didn’t say it out loud, he was definitely grumbling inside—Drinking? At this hour? And of course, his brain was probably already halfway home, focused entirely on his little brother.
As Tae-seong stared, Ha-jin shifted uncomfortably, his shoulders twitching. Watching him, Tae-seong wet his lips.
What kind of play was this? Both of them sucked royally at acting.
Why was this so damn hard?
Two people with clashing expressions sat inside a room filled with cozy, peaceful air—it almost made him wish they’d gone somewhere loud. A blast of obnoxious music would’ve been better.
Trying to distract himself, Ha-jin looked around the room, eyes darting nervously until they finally settled on the lace-patterned tablecloth beneath the glass. He started tracing the design absentmindedly.
At last, salvation arrived in the form of food.
A Caprese salad tossed in basil and olive oil, and a cream pasta topped with thinly shaved truffle were placed in front of them. In the center, a Gorgonzola pizza was served. The freshly baked scent filled the space, loosening something tight in Ha-jin’s chest.
He smiled, his lips twitching upward awkwardly, and looked at Tae-seong.
“Wow, this looks amazing.”
Watching Ha-jin fumble through his awkwardness, Tae-seong reached out and used a pizza server to place a slice on a small plate, setting it down right in front of him.
The rich scent of melted cheese hit Ha-jin’s nose, immediately triggering his appetite. He must’ve grown sick of the bland hospital food. His mouth watered instinctively. Tae-seong slid over a small dish of honey as well.
“You should eat too, sir. D-Do you want me to serve you?”
“I got it. I’ll serve myself.”
“Well, you’re all better now anyway.”
He was referring to the time when Tae-seong had asked to be spoon-fed. Tae-seong let out a dry chuckle. Talk about holding a grudge. The guy split his head open and asked to be fed, and now he was still hanging onto that?
Then again, he was the one who startled Ha-jin by kissing him out of the blue, so maybe it was deserved. As Tae-seong looked over at him, Ha-jin offered a sheepish, embarrassed smile—clearly thinking the same thing.
“Thanks for the food.”
“Eat up and order more if you want. You’ve got work to do. Can’t have you collapsing on me.”
In truth, Ha-jin wasn’t weak, or skinny, or mouse-sized. But Tae-seong’s irritation flared anyway. Ha-jin briefly narrowed his eyes, then let it go just as quickly. No point saying anything—it’s not like words would change how others saw him.
The pizza, dipped generously in honey, was a perfect blend of funky cheese and sweetness. Ha-jin shoved a slice into his mouth in one bite and immediately looked regretful, turning to Tae-seong.
“Uh, do you think I could get a whole one to-go?”
Tae-seong gave a small nod and pressed the call bell without hesitation. When a staff member came in, he asked them to prepare not only the pizza but the pasta as well, all timed to go before they left. Then he served another slice for Ha-jin and asked,
“You love your brother that much? First thing you think of when you eat something good—is it always him?”
His slightly sulky tone made Ha-jin hesitate, considering how to respond, but then he smiled.
“My grandmother, too. But she lives far away.”
“Just the two of them?”
Hadn’t he already done his background check? Ha-jin blinked and nodded. Tae-seong clicked his tongue at the honest reply.
“What about you? Don’t you want to give some to your mom?”
The moment he said mom, Ha-jin regretted it. He couldn’t stop now, though. Just who was the “madam” he’d met in his past life, and what did Tae-seong mean when he said his mother was gone?
It might’ve come off as prying into someone’s personal family history, which wasn’t a great look. But Tae-seong didn’t seem particularly upset. He simply shook his head.
“I don’t even know what kind of food my mother likes. The Chairman hates stuff like this.”
“……”
Thinking he’d overstepped, Ha-jin bit his lower lip. But Tae-seong offered a soft smile and shifted the conversation back kindly.
“What about your grandma? Would she eat this stuff?”
“Ah… She’ll eat it. I actually bought her Caprese salad once. She looked at the cheese and asked, ‘Is this tofu?’ But she still ate it. Yushin can’t really digest cheese well, but I think he’ll be okay with this pizza.”
“I like anything made from milk.”
Tae-seong replied casually, chin resting on his hand. Ha-jin’s cheeks flushed. He hadn’t expected to be having this kind of personal talk with Tae-seong of all people.
“What about you, Ha-jin? What do you like?”
Tae-seong looked straight into Ha-jin’s dark eyes.
Two years they’d worked together, and yet he still didn’t know much about him. Hell, after returning, he hadn’t even remembered Ha-jin’s phone number.
All he had were the names and faces of the secretaries. He’d been the only one who’d regressed, so the only things he’d brought back were a name and a face.
Remembering that helplessness, he stared into Ha-jin’s eyes and wondered—Was he always this expressive?
Blushing, Ha-jin furrowed his brow slightly.
“Honestly… there’s nothing I particularly like.”
“There’s no such thing. Everyone likes something.”
“I mean it.”
His indignant tone made Tae-seong irrationally annoyed. He raised a single brow.
“Nothing besides work and taking care of your brother? What do you do in your free time?”
“Sleep, clean, exercise. I used to go to a dojo, but I don’t have time anymore, so I just do some stretching on my own.”
“And for fun?”
“…Mobile games?”
Is that even a life? Tae-seong barely stopped himself from blurting it out.
