But what about before that?
Before Cha Han-gyeom ever met him…
Yes, anything from before he escaped the research facility five years ago—
There’s nothing.
Seo Won wrapped one arm around Han-gyeom’s waist and cradled the back of his head with the other. Han-gyeom’s head fit perfectly in his hand—so small it was almost cute, and he looked fragile to the point of vanishing.
If only I could peer into that little head of his…
If it were up to him, he’d assign a mental-type Ability User capable of reading minds and uncovering every last detail. What kind of life had Cha Han-gyeom lived, trapped inside the lab? What kind of experiments had he endured? What exactly was the nature of his relationship with Song Yeon-woo?
But Cha Han-gyeom was immune to such mental abilities. He didn’t have a passive defense barrier like Cha Min-hyung, but he possessed a far more advanced power—one that outright nullified ESP abilities and even struck back. Unless Han-gyeom willingly consented, it would be impossible for any Esper to peer into his mind.
Seo Won locked eyes with those crimson pupils staring back at him. Those gleaming blood-red eyes looked like ripe, tempting fruit. The kind that could make you lose yourself and part your lips as if to take a bite without thinking.
Seo Won guided Han-gyeom, who leaned quietly against his arm, over to the bed. He sat him down gently on the soft mattress, then leaned over from above and kissed him again. Their lips, briefly parted, met again—this time, more deeply.
Han-gyeom quietly accepted Seo Won’s tongue as it slipped into his mouth. When it licked, he responded with a lick. When it sucked, he let it. When it rubbed against his, he let it happen. He followed Seo Won’s lead without a hint of resistance.
The sweet sensation of Guiding passed through their lips and struck his once-calm heart like a whip. But tonight, Seo Won didn’t want to rush. He didn’t want even the slightest bit of strain.
As they exchanged teasing, ticklish kisses, Seo Won slowly pulled back his lips.
“You don’t have to Guide me.”
“You used a lot of power. Let me do more.”
“Don’t overdo it. Your body comes first.”
Hearing that, Han-gyeom looked up at him with those deep red eyes, staring.
“I think you’ve got the wrong idea. All I did with Kang Woo-chan was smoke, chat, and cry a little. Even after I came back, I didn’t do anything with my body—just talked.”
“When your mind’s under stress, it raises the risk of a seizure. This time, it even led to a panic attack. That’s more than enough to put strain on your body.”
“With you by my side, what’s there to worry about?”
If someone only heard Han-gyeom say things like that, they might think he trusted Seo Won quite a lot. Even when refusing to Guide, he usually insisted on doing it anyway. It gave the impression that, beyond their contractual bond, he prioritized Seo Won as a person.
‘Yeah, just an illusion.’
Seo Won suspected Han-gyeom had some reason for Guiding him so sincerely.
The reason—he couldn’t deduce it with the information he had.
According to the contract, Cha Han-gyeom’s obligation to Guide only applied when Seo Won called for it. In other words, unless Seo Won explicitly requested it, Han-gyeom had no duty to take the initiative.
And yet, Cha Han-gyeom was increasingly Guiding him of his own accord. Even when Seo Won told him it wasn’t necessary, he insisted—almost stubbornly—and every time, Seo Won could feel how much effort he poured into it.
As if he desperately wanted to subdue the Black Vein as quickly as possible. As if he needed Seo Won to survive.
‘It’s not for me.’
Seo Won was convinced Han-gyeom’s dedication to Guiding him had nothing to do with affection or anything so sentimental. He hadn’t expected that from the beginning.
Expecting something as vague and uncertain as affection from someone was foolish.
Unless one could crack open someone’s head and analyze every thought, relying on guesses about their feelings was something to be avoided at all costs.
That’s why Seo Won never expected any emotion from Han-gyeom. He didn’t imagine Han-gyeom might feel kindly toward him, and he definitely didn’t crave his affection.
If he expected nothing from Cha Han-gyeom, there would be no need to feel betrayed—or disappointed. There would be no reason for his own emotions to fracture.
The only emotions worth trusting were his own. How he felt about Cha Han-gyeom, what emotions he had toward him—that was all he could truly rely on. Because no one knows one’s own feelings better than oneself.
So he would never approach Han-gyeom’s motives from an emotional angle. He wouldn’t mistake his actions for affection.
‘There must be another reason. Something for his own purpose—something else entirely.’
To uncover that purpose, he needed to know everything about Cha Han-gyeom. With the fragments he currently had, it was impossible to complete the puzzle.
“Seo Won?”
Han-gyeom called out softly, pulling him from his thoughts. Seo Won gently caught the hand Han-gyeom had reached out with, careful not to hurt him. He stared quietly at Han-gyeom, who looked back with a puzzled expression.
Then, Seo Won asked, looking down at Han-gyeom, who now gazed up at him as if he were strange.
“You really want to Guide that badly?”
“Of course. The Black Vein’s probably spread even more.”
At first glance, it sounded like he was doing it for Seo Won’s sake—but Seo Won knew that wasn’t it.
Then what was it?
What was Cha Han-gyeom scheming? What purpose was he chasing?
‘Don’t rush. As much as he wanted to know everything right now, rushing would only lead to mistakes.’
‘One step at a time.’
He’d gather every piece of information—not just the rough fragments he had, but every scrap that had shaped the person Cha Han-gyeom had become.
And once he did, maybe he could create a safe haven for him. A place where Han-gyeom wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. A cage that wouldn’t hurt him. Where he wouldn’t have to cry.
Seo Won gently stroked Han-gyeom’s head.
“All right. But don’t move a muscle.”
“What? Then how am I supposed to Guide you?”
Touch was essential—how was he supposed to Guide without even moving a finger?
Seo Won gave a faint smile as he looked at Han-gyeom.
Just as Seo Won had said, Han-gyeom couldn’t even twitch a finger. The silk cloth binding his wrists behind his back was stronger than it looked.
Naked, with his hands restrained, Han-gyeom tilted his head up slightly.
Seo Won was sitting on the bed, cradling Han-gyeom sideways across his lap. With one arm supporting his body, the other was wandering—touching here and there.
“Mm…”
A shiver ran through Han-gyeom as Seo Won rubbed his nipple. The faint tingle from the small nub kindled a heat that spread through his entire body.
Biting down on his lower lip, Han-gyeom forced his focus onto the nipple being stimulated. Just like his crimson eyes, a glowing red aura streamed from him—thin as thread—as it traveled along Seo Won’s fingers and seeped inward.
“So even this small of a contact area can work for Guiding.”
“I’ve got better instincts than you think.”
In truth, Guiding through a tiny contact point like a nipple was incredibly difficult. The smaller the area of contact, the more precision was required to push GP through that narrow space, and the more effort it took to deliver enough of it for a successful Guide. That’s why deep Guiding—where contact is broad and penetrates deeply—was the most effective method.
Seo Won slowly lifted his fingers from the nipple, withdrawing the warmth just as the GP had begun to flow. Before Han-gyeom could even furrow his brows in frustration, his fingertips returned—this time, not just pressing lightly, but pinching the nub between two fingers and gently rubbing in tight, teasing circles.
“Ugh, nn…”
“Don’t feel it—Guide me.”
The soft whisper at his ear made Han-gyeom’s face flush slightly.
Once again, he directed his GP into the fingers that were toying with his nipple. This time, Seo Won didn’t pull away. In fact, he pressed even harder as he drew in the Guiding energy, fingers rubbing more firmly against the sensitive bud. He even dragged a nail over the tip, flicking it lightly, or gave it a sharp, playful pinch.
“Ah, hh…”
There was no time to worry about the involuntary moan that escaped. Considering how much of the Black Vein likely regenerated during the recent incident, he needed to Guide—even if only in short bursts like this. Guiding was most effective within twelve hours of using one’s powers.
Han-gyeom focused intently on channeling as much GP as he could into Seo Won’s fingertips still rubbing at his chest. But as the GP naturally concentrated on the point of contact, his attention kept being pulled to the same place—his nipple.
That unintended focus was slowly making Han-gyeom react.
“I’m only touching you to receive the Guiding, you know…”
When Han-gyeom looked up at Seo Won in response to his teasing tone, he noticed that Seo Won’s gaze had shifted elsewhere. The hand that had been fondling his chest now followed his gaze—downward, toward Han-gyeom’s lower body.
“Hhng!”
Seo Won’s cool fingertips brushed against Han-gyeom’s lower half. Instinctively, Han-gyeom tried to close his legs, but Seo Won’s hand was already gliding unhesitatingly along his fully erect length.
“If you’re leaking this much already, what am I supposed to do with you?”
