Chapter 122
Despite reluctantly stepping forward, Cheong-yeon wondered why Do-heon had come all the way here, his mind racing for answers.
Before he could find an explanation, the door closed firmly behind him as soon as he entered. And as Cheong-yeon had expected, Do-heon was inside waiting for him.
“How did you get here?”
Perhaps because he recalled his last encounter with Do-heon—where he had sobbed uncontrollably while pouring out everything he needed to say—Do-heon’s sudden visit caught him off guard.
Do-heon, seated on the sofa, lightly waved the phone in his hand.
“Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
“Is that why you came here?”
The time was just past two in the afternoon. Although it was Friday, there was still plenty of time before their scheduled meeting with Do-heon.
Do-heon had contacted him earlier, but Cheong-yeon had been busy with the photo shoot since morning. During his breaks, his attention was constantly diverted by Ha-yul, who kept visiting his waiting room, leaving no time to respond to messages.
Besides, he thought it would be fine not to contact him since they were meeting in the evening anyway.
“Did something happen?”
“No.”
“You surprised me by coming suddenly without any notice.”
For a moment, Cheong-yeon tensed up, wondering if something had occurred regarding Moon Hee-jin or the inheritance matter. He felt relieved when Do-heon said nothing was wrong and examined Do-heon’s expression while rubbing his chest.
“I couldn’t answer because I was shooting. Didn’t your manager or someone else tell you?”
He didn’t need to be told explicitly—hadn’t Do-heon always kept track of his schedule until now? Do-heon surely must have known about the morning photo shoot, so Cheong-yeon couldn’t understand why he would abruptly appear simply because he couldn’t be reached.
“They did.”
“Then why…”
“Indeed. Why did I bother coming all the way here?”
Do-heon murmured softly, as if asking himself. Then after a few seconds of brief silence, he spoke again.
“I don’t know. Even though I received reports that you were doing well, I felt I needed to confirm it myself.”
“…”
“I thought you were doing fine based on the reports I’d been getting, but it turns out you weren’t.”
Cheong-yeon had wondered if Do-heon had come in person because he feared Cheong-yeon might run away or ignore their contract and not show up. The unexpected answer momentarily left him speechless.
“So, you came because you were worried about me?”
“Yes. I was worried.”
Do-heon repeated Cheong-yeon’s words as if he had just found the answer to his own actions.
“And I still have questions.”
“What do you want to know?”
“You mentioned before that it wasn’t the first time Moon Hee-jin had been disrespectful to you.”
Ah, so it was about that conversation. Cheong-yeon nodded, lowering his gaze in exhaustion.
“Does that mean Moon Tae-jin bullied you too? If so, how? Like Moon Hee-jin and Park Jong-wook?”
“Director, why do you keep asking about this? What are you planning to do…”
“I can’t let it slide.”
Do-heon answered firmly. His voice was so consumed by emotion that it was hard to believe it came from him.
Cheong-yeon looked down at him sitting on the sofa with somewhat surprised eyes.
“…It’s all in the past. And I don’t want some belated revenge. What good would that do now? Back then, I just wanted you to listen to me and believe me.”
“That’s why I’m trying to listen now.”
Do-heon stood up and took a step toward Cheong-yeon as he spoke.
“You could have explained in more detail back then. If I didn’t understand fully, you should have told Secretary Shim or another staff member.”
The phone call with Moon Hee-jin that Do-heon had overheard a few days ago must have made quite an impression on him, considering he came all this way to discuss it.
“…”
Life is full of surprises. To think that Moon Do-heon would set aside company business and come all this way because he couldn’t contain his curiosity.
But unlike Do-heon, Cheong-yeon had already put a period on these long-past events. He had given up on untangling the emotions of that time and left them where they were.
That’s why he felt little response to Do-heon’s belated passion about this matter.
“Didn’t you ever think of investigating yourself?”
“How could I?”
Do-heon countered.
“How was I supposed to know if you didn’t say anything?”
“…I guess you’re right.”
He was too busy and important to notice the cracks in organic and subtle human relationships.
Cheong-yeon once again felt the distance between himself and Do-heon when Do-heon asked how he was supposed to know about such trivial and insignificant things if no one told him.
“I understand now that you’re much more insensitive than the average person.”
Cheong-yeon murmured with a faint smile. He had suffered alone for three whole years, unable to let go of his expectations, failing to accept this reality.
Unlike himself, who wanted to know about, understand, and do everything with Do-heon because he loved him, Do-heon was someone who didn’t allow others to get close.
He didn’t see the need to engage in conversation more than necessary, nor did he understand why he should pay more attention to someone than required.
“But… so what?”
Cheong-yeon objected, putting strength into his voice.
“Aren’t you curious about how the person you live with is doing, what their hobbies are, if they get along well with others, what they like and enjoy? Aren’t you curious about these things even if the other person doesn’t tell you?”
This time, Cheong-yeon continued speaking in a dry voice without a hint of tears.
“You might have thought about taking care of me like a pet… but you never intended to look after me or be considerate. Even if you know now what Moon Hee-jin and Moon Tae-jin did, nothing will change. As I’ve said repeatedly, back then I only needed your attention. Now that we’re strangers, it’s strange for me that you suddenly want to seek revenge…”
—You can’t go in.
While Cheong-yeon was calmly explaining, noise suddenly erupted from the quiet hallway outside. He naturally stopped talking and looked toward the waiting room door.
—Entry is not permitted right now.
—…What?
Hearing a child’s somewhat confused voice, Cheong-yeon realized that Ha-yul had come to his waiting room.
—You cannot enter.
—But… but I came to see Cheong-yeon oppa. Is this the mister’s waiting room?
“…”
“…”
Despite the security guards’ businesslike attitude, Ha-yul articulately said what she wanted to say. Hearing the precocious child’s voice, Cheong-yeon momentarily forgot what he had been saying.
—Cheong-yeon oppa said Ha-yul can come anytime!
“No. But why did you come so conspicuously?”
Cheong-yeon suddenly turned his head toward Do-heon and reproached him. He had been planning to go to the designated hotel on time today anyway.
He would have had to meet him regardless because of the inheritance issue from his grandmother.
“I didn’t come conspicuously.”
“Because of you, strange rumors are about to start.”
Cheong-yeon couldn’t just stand by and watch as the security guard turned away Ha-yul who had come to see him, so he opened the door for her himself.
He mouthed to Do-heon, “I’ll finish talking with you later.”
“Ha-yul is here?”
“Yes! I came to play with oppa!”
As soon as Ha-yul spotted Cheong-yeon, she scurried between the security guards and into the waiting room.
“Where’s your mother?”
“Mommy went to buy snacks.”
“Then you should have stayed in the waiting room. Why are you wandering around like this?”
“Well, I was bored and wanted to play with oppa so much!”
Ha-yul clung to Cheong-yeon and chattered away, then belatedly noticed Do-heon and blinked.
“But who is this mister?”
“…”
Mister? Cheong-yeon had to press his lips together to suppress an inappropriate burst of laughter.
That’s right. At thirty-two, he would be a “mister” to this tiny child.
“This is Mister Do-heon. Say hello.”
Cheong-yeon picked up Ha-yul and gently shook her small hand, which was as tiny as a pebble, toward Do-heon. Only after speaking did he worry whether it was okay to have just casually revealed Do-heon’s name.
Do-heon seemed displeased that an unknown child had suddenly interrupted their conversation, but he didn’t appear bothered that Cheong-yeon had shared his name.
“Hello.”
Ha-yul bowed her head politely to Do-heon. Then she immediately reached out to Cheong-yeon to show him what she had brought.
“Oppa, Ha-yul has headbands!”
“Oh, really? Let me see.”
“Here! I brought them because I wanted to give them to oppa.”
Ha-yul handed Cheong-yeon two children’s headbands that she had been clutching tightly. Judging by the fact that he hadn’t seen them at the shooting set, they appeared to be her personal belongings.
“Wow, are these for me?”
“Yes. Take them!”
“Will Ha-yul put it on for oppa?”
“Yes!”
When Cheong-yeon lowered his head, Ha-yul moved her small hands to place the headband on Cheong-yeon’s head. It felt a bit tight for an adult, but not unbearably uncomfortable.
“How is it?”
“So cute!”
When Cheong-yeon tilted his head while wearing the headband with puppy ears, Ha-yul’s eyes crinkled as she smiled brightly.
You’re even cuter, Ha-yul.
Resisting the urge to pinch her cheeks, Cheong-yeon thanked her. Then he glanced sideways to check Do-heon’s expression.
Now he should probably send Ha-yul back tactfully…
Cheong-yeon grew anxious, aware of Do-heon leaning against the wall, staring intently at him to an uncomfortable degree.
“I’ll put this on Mister Do-heon too.”
While Cheong-yeon was wondering what excuse to make to send Ha-yul away, she reached out her short arm toward Do-heon.
Seeing the cat ear headband in her small hand, Cheong-yeon froze in horror.
“M-Mister Do-heon doesn’t…”
Anyone could see that Do-heon wasn’t the type of person to wear such a tacky toy. However, to Ha-yul’s unbiased eyes, he too seemed to need a headband, as she unhesitatingly extended her hand toward the expressionless Do-heon.
“Hurry. Hmm?”
At the whining sound, Cheong-yeon instinctively tilted the child in his arms toward Do-heon.
This was a situation he had never imagined, so it was disconcerting. Surely he wouldn’t get angry?
Cheong-yeon anxiously rolled his eyes, not knowing how Do-heon would react.
He expected Do-heon to avoid it with his usual cold, merciless face, looking annoyed. But surprisingly, Do-heon slightly bowed his head so Ha-yul could put the headband on him.
“…”
As a result, his meticulously styled hair was ruined, and Do-heon suddenly had cat ears.
Oh, I’m screwed.
The thought flashed through his mind like an emergency alert.
“I’m sorry.”
Before he knew it, Cheong-yeon was apologizing to Do-heon faster than anyone else could.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
