Lee Ha-jin stood stiff as a board, as if broken, facing the man who seemed dead set on memorizing every single one of his measurements. His mind went blank—forget acting, he couldn’t even think straight.
Normally, if the waistband fit, he’d try the pants on and buy them if they felt comfortable. His main criteria when shopping for clothes had always been price and durability. So the current situation, with a hand sliding down past his crotch to take precise measurements, was nothing short of mortifying.
“Hold still. You’re squirming so much I can’t even measure properly. It’s not like this is doing anything for me, okay?”
“Wh-why are you… why there…”
“Ha-jin, you’re surprisingly dirty, you know that?”
Without a flicker of emotion on his face, Cheon Tae-seong measured Ha-jin’s crotch depth and thigh circumference. When the tape extended from his groin to his ankle, Tae-seong’s knuckles brushed right into his inner thigh, making Ha-jin flinch in surprise—yet all he got in return was a teasing accusation about being lewd.
“But you know… I think you’re bigger than I expected?”
“CEO!”
Seriously?! Who says that with their face right next to someone’s crotch?! Flushed red, Ha-jin retreated from the crouching Tae-seong as if his life depended on it. The employee who had been jotting down the numbers had already taken the hint and quietly stepped away.
“What kind of comment is that…?”
“Oh, are we not at that level yet?”
Finally standing, Tae-seong gave a mischievous smile. He carelessly hooked the tape measure onto the mirror and walked over to the sofa table to grab a juice. Exhausted in the span of minutes, Ha-jin could only take the drink without complaint. It had only been body measurements, but he felt like his very soul had been stripped bare.
Just then, the staff returned, pushing a mobile rack of selected clothes.
“We’ve picked out a few outfits that match your size. We’d like to check the fit and color first—would you like to start with a fitting?”
“Y-yes. I’ll try them on now.”
Ha-jin grabbed the clothes like he was fleeing the scene, snatching up the most basic combo—a white top and some faded jeans—then dashed into the fitting room the staff pointed to.
In the mirror stood a beet-red steamed bun.
“Haaah…”
Letting out a shaky breath, he lowered his head. He could still feel the hand that had grazed his thigh. That lingering heat from the back of Tae-seong’s hand as it brushed against the inner part of his leg had made his whole lower abdomen tense up. He hadn’t expected the tape measure to feel so… tingly.
“…Ah!”
Suddenly, Ha-jin reached out to grab the shelf in front of the mirror. His vision spun, and his heart dropped into his stomach. A wave of cold sweat rushed to his face, and when he swiped his hand across it, it came back wet.
“What the hell is this?”
The searing heat that had flared up his spine made his hair stand on end—then vanished without warning, so fast he didn’t even have time to be startled. Scared it would come back, Ha-jin kept gripping the shelf, unable to move.
…
He had gripped it so hard his fingertips ached. And when his rapidly pounding heart suddenly calmed, that only made it more disorienting.
Was I just too nervous…?
He straightened up and looked in the mirror again. The only trace left was the sweat drenching his face. Even that disappeared after he wiped it off thoroughly with some tissues. Whatever had just passed through him—it was his own body reacting, but it still felt unreal.
Trying to regain some composure, Ha-jin quickly changed into the clothes he’d brought into the fitting room. He kept glancing nervously at the door, half-convinced Tae-seong might barge in uninvited—but it remained quiet.
When he finally stepped out, he was noticeably more self-conscious than when he went in. First, there was that strange sensation that had overwhelmed him. But second was the bold design of the clothes he was now wearing—unlike anything he’d ever put on.
The shirt, made with semi-transparent fabric, showed all his skin underneath, with only a few embroidered details barely covering his nipples. The light denim pants had so much paint splattered across them they looked like an art project gone rogue—and one knee had been deliberately cut out into a square hole, flapping like it was made of rags.
“Wow… it’s like this outfit was made for you! The fit on the shirt is perfect, and this paint detail—so chic! I’ve never seen anyone pull off this kind of look so effortlessly. You look amazing—like a real model!”
All Ha-jin could think was I definitely picked the wrong outfit, but the staff were practically clapping like seals, gushing compliments. With nothing to say, he could only force an awkward smile.
They must have it rough too, Ha-jin thought, while glancing toward Tae-seong on the sofa. He seemed to share that sentiment—his playful expression had vanished, and his eyes were so sharp they felt like they were piercing Ha-jin’s chest.
“CEO, I really want to see what else our client can try on!”
“Let’s bring out the new fall outerwear!”
“Should we just bring all the samples?”
“Obviously.”
Hands flew in from all directions, adjusting and dressing him in one extravagant outfit after another. Staff draped coats and jackets Ha-jin had never even dreamed of wearing over his shoulders, letting out quiet exclamations of admiration. One employee, who had been adjusting the fit of a cotton jacket, even asked permission to fix his hair.
The chaos only ended when Tae-seong approached and stood behind Ha-jin. The moment he rested one hand on Ha-jin’s shoulder, the staff scattered.
“Now that you’re all dressed up, you look just like the other kids your age.”
“My age dresses this flashy?”
Tae-seong didn’t answer. Instead, he crouched down in front of Ha-jin with one knee up and placed a pair of sneakers at his feet. Ha-jin slipped off the store’s slippers and put them on.
As he leaned on Tae-seong’s shoulder for balance, the man smiled. The pristine new sneakers fit Ha-jin perfectly.
The clothes he’d worn to the shop had clearly been discarded. Staff loaded up large shopping bags with Ha-jin’s new outfits and began heading to the parking lot. But it wasn’t over—Tae-seong also scheduled a fitting session. He was planning to have a suit custom made for him.
“CEO, I don’t even have room for all these clothes. If I bring them home, where am I supposed to sleep? I might have to start charging my wardrobe rent.”
“You asking me to buy you a house too?”
The one who burst out laughing at that wasn’t Ha-jin but the staff member holding the scheduler. Instead of scolding her, Tae-seong simply gave her a warm smile before turning back to Ha-jin.
“Dressing you up like this makes it feel like you’re completely mine… I love it. Honestly, if I could, I’d change your house too. But even giving gifts isn’t easy.”
“I’m yours?”
“Of course. But even if I gave you a house, you wouldn’t take it.”
“…Wouldn’t I? If you cover the taxes, I’ll move in right away. Preferably somewhere high up, with a good view. And make sure it’s not too big—don’t want to spend my life cleaning it.”
He threw it back on a whim, wondering how far Tae-seong would go—and the man burst into laughter. His eyes folded into crescent moons, then deepened like dark petals. At that moment, an intense floral scent rushed over Ha-jin.
Tae-seong wrinkled his nose with an awkward look, then suddenly yanked Ha-jin toward him. The next thing he knew, they were in an empty powder room. Tae-seong shut the door hastily and turned to pin Ha-jin against the wall.
“CE—”
Ha-jin tried to ask what he was doing, but Tae-seong cupped his chin. The scent pouring off him thickened, saturating the confined space.
“How was my acting?”
Tae-seong whispered, his face buried in Ha-jin’s neck.
“W-wait…”
Ha-jin gasped. That same feeling hit him again—his heart dropped, and his vision blurred. Just as he reached out to push Tae-seong’s shoulder to keep from stumbling—
“Say you love me, Ha-jin.”
Tae-seong tilted his head and leaned in closer.
“You said you could do it.”
“…Ugh!”
In the blink of an eye, their lips collided. Tae-seong trapped Ha-jin between his body and the wall and kissed him without hesitation. He parted their lips and invaded with hot breath and tongue.
He was so close, the edges of Tae-seong’s long lashes danced in and out of Ha-jin’s blurred focus. Even his hazy eyes were unbearably seductive. Each time their lips parted for breath, the wet gasps tickled Ha-jin’s cheeks.
The man swallowed up every drop of saliva that dripped down and sent waves of heated pheromones into him. The tingling sensation on his palate and the suction on the root of his tongue made Ha-jin shiver involuntarily.
Then, Tae-seong pressed a thigh hard against Ha-jin’s groin—and the cock beneath his pants twitched and began to rise.
“Ahk!”
When their lips finally separated, Ha-jin gasped for air and grabbed Tae-seong’s arm. Even after his vision returned, blinking back from its daze, Tae-seong didn’t move his thigh.
