Chapter 78
His body was already worn out from the unplanned intensive filming schedule, and he worried whether he’d even be able to get up the next day after meeting Do-heon on Friday night.
Moreover, since they’d parted earlier than planned last time, it was obvious what state he’d be in this week.
He had the ominous thought that he might have to crawl out of the hotel room.
Do-heon in bed was incomparably more uninhibited than the man Cheong-yeon originally knew. It was an unexpected side he hadn’t known despite living in close physical contact with him for three whole years.
He had always thought that since Do-heon lived a thoroughly disciplined life normally, it would be the same in bed. It was ironic that he only realized this had been his misconception after their divorce.
The joy of finishing filming was short-lived; his appetite vanished due to worry about his body being in tatters on Friday. The bread he had been chewing suddenly felt dry in his mouth.
“By the way, Manager. Where are we going? This isn’t the way to my home.”
Cheong-yeon suddenly realized that the scenery outside the van was unfamiliar. It wasn’t the usual route the manager drove, but a completely new neighborhood.
“Ah. I forgot to explain in advance. While you were filming, the move was completed, so we’re heading to your new officetel.”
“Move?”
“Yes. The director gave you the officetel key and card before filming began, remember?”
“Ah…!”
Finally understanding what the manager was talking about, Cheong-yeon checked the master key and credit card he had put in his civilian clothes.
“The officetel has basic furniture options, so I’ve just organized your personal belongings separately. The furniture in your old home was too worn out. It seemed difficult to move, so I only brought the bed and mattress for now, but if you need anything else, I’ll bring it for you.”
What? So in the end, only the things Moon Do-heon bought remain?
Cheong-yeon was speechless at the ridiculous situation. It didn’t seem like the manager had done it deliberately.
Did the other furniture look rotten to his eyes too? Though the quality wasn’t great, Cheong-yeon had been using it with satisfaction. He felt unexpectedly dejected at the manager’s comment that the furniture was too worn out to bring.
“I’ve also parked your car in the garage, so you can use it comfortably whenever you need to go out personally.”
“How did you manage the move?”
“The moving company did most of it first, and I just went at the end to check everything.”
“Ah. You must have been tired staying up all night with me because of my schedule. Thank you for taking care of this.”
Cheong-yeon belatedly recalled that the manager had been absent for a few hours at a time. So that’s when he went to organize the moving. He had been too busy to even think of asking where the manager had gone.
“You and Hye-rin had it tougher than me.”
“Now that you mention it, I wonder if Hye-rin got home safely…”
“I contacted her earlier, and she said she went straight home after returning the costumes.”
“That’s a relief.”
Cheong-yeon leaned back in his seat, relieved by the manager’s smooth response.
Due to the additional filming, Min Hye-rin had to wait with Cheong-yeon for three days without being able to leave on time. Finally, now that today’s schedule seemed to be ending, he had sent her home at dawn, telling her she could leave. He had been wondering if she’d gotten home safely, but it seems the manager had already taken care of it.
“We’ve arrived.”
The van had stopped in front of a tall, clean officetel building. Cheong-yeon gathered his belongings with a tired face and got out.
“Thank you for your hard work, Manager.”
“If you find anything missing after you go in, please let me know later. I’ll come pick you up for your next schedule. Rest well, Actor.”
As Cheong-yeon waved, the manager bowed his head with a gentle smile.
After confirming that the van was driving away, Cheong-yeon turned sharply toward the officetel.
“If only he wasn’t Moon Do-heon’s henchman…”
Swiping the card and entering the common entrance, Cheong-yeon muttered regretfully. If he hadn’t been entangled with Moon Do-heon, he could have treated the manager more comfortably as a colleague.
“What? Is this really an officetel?”
The building interior even had a reception desk for security. As Cheong-yeon glanced at the employees wearing uniforms similar to formal suits, an employee who made eye contact with him smiled slightly and greeted him.
With facilities like this, how much would the monthly rent be? Cheong-yeon, who had been expecting something like a slightly cleaner studio or two-room apartment than his previous home, rolled his eyes at the unexpected facilities as he got into the elevator.
When he swiped the master key, the button for his floor was automatically pressed. It was almost like a hotel system.
Quickly getting off the elevator, Cheong-yeon stood in front of the room number written on the key and unlocked it.
As soon as he opened the door and entered the hallway, a spacious studio-style room with an undivided bedroom and living room appeared. The windows were very large, and there was even a balcony, giving it an open feel. It was an incomparably luxurious and clean space compared to the house he had found before.
“Damn it. Money really does taste good.”
It was annoying, but he had to admit it. Cheong-yeon flopped down on the bed with its neatly spread white sheets and stared at the ceiling without a speck of dirt. It wasn’t as large and nice as the house he had lived in with Do-heon, but it was still too good for him.
He had clearly resolved to meet Do-heon and reject and return everything, both the house and car. But having just finished work after three days without rest, all he could think about was how tired he felt.
As soon as his head hit the bed, drowsiness began to wash over him, bringing a sense of relief that the first filming had safely concluded.
“I should shower…”
Cheong-yeon struggled to lift his increasingly heavy eyelids a few times before eventually closing them. At the same time, all the worries he had been harboring sank along with his consciousness.
*
[Secretary Shim: Mr. Yoo Cheong-yeon, hello. Director Moon said that this week’s appointment needs to be postponed to next week.]
[Secretary Shim: I’m contacting you by text since you’re not answering your phone.]
After sleeping for exactly fifteen hours, Cheong-yeon checked his phone while tousling his messy hair to find an unexpected message.
“Huh?”
Cheong-yeon rubbed his puffy eyes and cracked his neck from side to side, wondering if he was dreaming. When he looked at his phone again, Secretary Shim’s message read exactly as before.
His appointment with Do-heon had been postponed.
Cheong-yeon, who had already been feeling great pressure about what would happen on Friday, unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
“…”
But on the other hand, something felt off. For a perfectionist like Do-heon to postpone a scheduled appointment the day before—with his personality, he would have meticulously adjusted his schedule every Friday as soon as the sponsorship contract was made.
Could it be that he knew Cheong-yeon’s schedule had been too demanding and was being considerate?
The empty hypothesis crossed his mind briefly, but Cheong-yeon soon shook his head.
“No. Moon Do-heon wouldn’t do that.”
Entering the kitchen and pouring water from the purifier, Cheong-yeon tried to shake off the drowsiness.
It was good to have Friday off, but Do-heon’s uncharacteristic cancellation bothered him. Hadn’t they gone through with sex just last week at Cheong-yeon’s request? And now, he was having Secretary Shim relay the message.
Cheong-yeon finished drinking the water in his cup and checked the time. Eleven in the morning. Not a bad time to contact him directly.
Cheong-yeon immediately called him.
But all he heard was a monotonous dial tone; Do-heon didn’t answer.
“Huh?”
Is he that busy?
Tilting his head and pondering for a moment, Cheong-yeon tried calling Secretary Shim, who had left a missed call.
—Hello, Mr. Yoo Cheong-yeon.
Fortunately, Secretary Shim answered promptly.
“Secretary Shim. Is it true that the appointment for this Friday, that is, tomorrow, has been canceled?”
—Yes, that’s correct.
“Why?”
—Pardon?
Secretary Shim asked back in a rare moment of confusion. Cheong-yeon elaborated on the point he was curious about.
“I mean, it’s not like he doesn’t have my phone number. He could contact me directly, so it’s strange that he specifically asked you to relay the message.”
—He’s been quite busy with various tasks lately…
“He doesn’t even have time to write one text? How busy is he? It only takes thirty seconds.”
Secretary Shim hesitated at Cheong-yeon’s persistent questioning.
—The Director is currently on a business trip to the United States, so the time difference won’t match. For convenience, I believe he instructed me separately as I’m in Korea.
“A business trip to the United States? He didn’t tell me anything about that.”
—Perhaps he deliberately didn’t mention it since you tend to avoid topics related to the United States?
“…What?”
This time, Cheong-yeon asked back blankly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
