Chapter 107
Cheong-yeon wanted to snap back and ask why Do-heon was speaking to him that way.
But the conversation with his Hyung weighed on his mind, making it difficult to speak up.
He hadn’t refused to eat as an act of rebellion as Do-heon thought, but he didn’t want to explain his intentions one by one. Do-heon wouldn’t believe him anyway.
When he looked up at Do-heon, his chest churned with mixed emotions.
He felt grateful that Do-heon had been supporting his family without ever mentioning it, but also angry about why he hadn’t told him sooner, and embarrassed too.
The most pointed feeling stabbing Cheong-yeon was shame. His face burned with embarrassment, making it difficult to speak first.
Looking at it objectively, Do-heon wasn’t wrong. Cheong-yeon should be humbling himself and accommodating Do-heon’s mood now. Every aspect of the situation was screaming at Cheong-yeon to surrender before Do-heon.
Cheong-yeon picked up his chopsticks and began eating. But in this situation and atmosphere, there was no way food could go down properly.
To make matters worse, he still hadn’t decided how to navigate the conversation with Do-heon today.
He seemed to have been thinking hard in the car on the way to the restaurant, but the phone call from his Hyung had made him completely forget what he’d been thinking. His mind was now a complete blank.
If the meal ended this way, he would have to go to the hotel room and mix bodies with Do-heon again…
Was it right to sleep with him in the midst of all this?
No, was it even possible for him to refuse Do-heon in the first place?
‘Then why are you here right now?’
‘What do you think is the reason I’m sleeping with you who left me because you couldn’t stand me, and why I’m touching you right now?’
Last week’s words from Do-heon gnawed at his nerves to the point of nausea.
‘There’s nothing money can’t buy.’
How ridiculous must he have seemed to Do-heon, trying to teach him that there are things in the world that money can’t buy.
Cheong-yeon swallowed a sigh as he recalled what had happened just a few days ago.
In the end, he was sitting in front of Do-heon again because of money. Coming to a place he didn’t want to be, forcing food he didn’t want to eat into his mouth.
Realistically thinking, he should be grateful to Do-heon who had been quietly contributing to living expenses even after the divorce, but instead, he was too ashamed to face him after having his hidden shames exposed and torn apart.
And he resented his uncle and Hyung who had been taking money from Do-heon as if it were natural, without saying a word to him until now.
As time passed, his throat tightened as if completely blocked, making it difficult to swallow food. Cheong-yeon barely swallowed what was in his mouth and then put down his chopsticks.
“I can’t eat anymore.”
Despite the tension in his throat, his voice came out weakly.
Cheong-yeon wiped his mouth with a napkin and drank water. His insides were a mess, making it hard to breathe.
Do-heon, looking at the suffering Cheong-yeon, was utterly indifferent. He also put down his chopsticks and tilted his chin slightly.
“Empty it.”
“…”
“The plate in front of you.”
Whether he was still angry about the drinking or thought Cheong-yeon was putting on airs, Do-heon’s response was only cold.
He was never affectionate to begin with, but he had never forced Cheong-yeon to eat when he said he couldn’t. The chilly tone somehow made his body freeze.
Cheong-yeon fidgeted with the innocent napkin and avoided eye contact. Then he picked up his chopsticks and reluctantly began eating again.
He already felt bloated and nauseated. The act of chewing itself was torturous.
“…”
“…”
In the end, the meal continued in a suffocating atmosphere without him getting to say any of the things he had been worrying about.
During that time, another call came to Cheong-yeon’s phone. The buzzing vibration cut through the gap in the silence.
Cheong-yeon frowned at the word “Hyung” appearing on the screen with poor timing.
“Your phone.”
Do-heon’s voice suddenly rang out. Cheong-yeon looked up at him.
“Turn it off until tomorrow.”
“I will.”
Cheong-yeon readily agreed to Do-heon’s annoyed reaction.
He was planning to do that anyway. Since his schedule was empty until tomorrow, there was no need to communicate with his manager.
Cheong-yeon turned off his phone and picked up his chopsticks again. For a while, only the sound of utensils clinking floated around the room like a ghost.
How many minutes had passed like that? Cheong-yeon glanced at Do-heon to gauge his mood. He seemed equally displeased with this meal.
It had been a long time since they had maintained such a long silence while together.
“…”
Paying attention to his mood felt like going back to before the divorce.
He didn’t expect Do-heon to take the initiative and say something first, but seeing him make no mention of past events made anxiety wash over him.
Was he really planning to sleep with him today? How could he be so calm despite everything that had happened?
Cheong-yeon found it difficult to feel that this moment, sitting across from him, was real.
As his thoughts became more tangled, his eating naturally slowed down.
“Your next project.”
“What? Oh.”
At the sudden question, Cheong-yeon put down his chopsticks and blinked.
“…I’m still considering it.”
He had postponed reviewing his next project. Since he had boldly told Do-heon he would end their sponsorship relationship and quit acting, he wasn’t in a position to actively pursue other filming opportunities.
However, Do-heon had not allowed the contract to be terminated, had mentioned the careers of people around him, and today Cheong-yeon had learned that his family had been receiving living expenses from him as if it were natural, making his position more awkward.
He also had fundamental doubts about whether this could be resolved by kneeling and begging Do-heon. Judging by Do-heon’s cold attitude now, it seemed unlikely.
“Have you thought about advertisements you want to film?”
“I don’t have any of those either yet.”
Cheong-yeon barely managed to answer. His head was so full of his Hyung’s voice that he couldn’t concentrate on this conversation at all.
“Director.”
Finally, as the meal was ending, Cheong-yeon spoke first.
“I heard from my Hyung.”
“What.”
“About the tuition. That you’ve been supporting it.”
Cheong-yeon looked at Do-heon, swallowing his shame.
“Not just tuition, but living expenses too, I heard. Consistently, from during our marriage to after the divorce.”
“Ah.”
Do-heon nodded his chin indifferently. It was as if he had recalled some trivial matter he had forgotten.
“Why didn’t you tell me? We’re not even a couple anymore, we’re strangers.”
“Even if I had told you beforehand, it wouldn’t have done you any good.”
“That’s exactly why you should have told me.”
“Why should I? It’s not like I’m asking you for anything.”
“Is your hobby being some donation angel or something? Because it’s not your business but mine, because it’s family business, I should obviously know. Were you planning to hide it until the end?”
“Is this something to be so disgusted about?”
“I’m not disgusted…!”
“Can’t you change your perspective and consider that being by my side is more comfortable than any other position?”
“…”
Just how far did this man’s selfishness go? Cheong-yeon felt his vision go dark, unable to even guess.
At the same time, the anger he had barely suppressed surged up.
“Comfortable? Being beside you is comfortable? No, I’m so embarrassed right now I just want to die.”
“Of course you are. You’re the great person who left without taking a penny of alimony because you hated me.”
“Knowing that! You still didn’t tell me?”
Once again, Do-heon didn’t consider Cheong-yeon’s position at all.
Cheong-yeon hated how Do-heon always thought he could interfere in his affairs as he pleased and felt entitled to do so. Why did he try to infiltrate even these pathetic family matters without exception?
“Why do you always, always think and act as you please? Do my intentions or feelings not matter at all to you? Are my emotions so trivial to you that they’re not even worth considering or asking about…! Ugh.”
Perhaps because he was excited, he suddenly felt nauseous and gagged. All the food he had forced down felt like it was coming back up as his solar plexus tightened.
“Yoo Cheong-yeon?”
As Cheong-yeon covered his mouth and swallowed a few empty breaths, Do-heon urgently stood up.
“Haah…”
“That’s why I told you not to drink.”
“Do you think I’m like this because of alcohol?”
Cheong-yeon shouted. He had drunk a few days ago, so why did Do-heon keep bringing up drinking?
“Are you in pain?”
Do-heon, who had approached Cheong-yeon, reached out his arm. When his large hand touched Cheong-yeon’s forehead, Cheong-yeon flinched and moved his body backward.
His shoulders hunched at the Alpha pheromones, which felt uncomfortably distinct.
“I’m fine. I’m alright now.”
Do-heon saw Cheong-yeon avoiding him and was about to say something but then closed his mouth.
“I think my stomach just got upset because I got a bit excited.”
“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“That’s not necessary.”
Cheong-yeon recoiled as soon as the word “hospital” came up. It was a place he didn’t want to go to begin with, but especially not with Do-heon.
Every time he went to the hospital with him, he felt abandoned rather than treated or protected. Cheong-yeon was terrified of that.
Do-heon was checking Cheong-yeon’s complexion with a doubtful gaze. He seemed to think that the claim of being fine was a lie.
Afraid that Do-heon might forcibly take him to the hospital like before, Cheong-yeon stood up with a stiff expression. Then he hurriedly changed the subject.
“If we’re done eating, let’s go to the hotel. That’s why we came here anyway.”
Deliberately steadying his ragged breathing, Cheong-yeon pretended to be calm as he looked at Do-heon.
After a few seconds of silence, Do-heon took out his phone and made a call somewhere.
He fixed his gaze on Cheong-yeon as he instructed into the phone.
“Have the car ready. We’re going to the hotel.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
At this point if I was Doheon I’d let him go.