Lately, Seo Won had been acting strange. Although “lately” really only meant the past two days.
“Doesn’t the smell of smoke bother you?”
Cha Han-gyeom, who was sitting on the office sofa, turned his gaze toward Seo Won, who was sitting right beside him reviewing documents. He had deliberately exhaled a thick cloud of acrid smoke along with his words, but Seo Won appeared completely unfazed.
“If I think of it as your scent, it’s fine.”
“Are you insane?”
“Unfortunately, I’m perfectly sane.”
Even after allowing Han-gyeom to smoke indoors, Seo Won would still sometimes frown or visibly flinch, holding his breath in subtle protest. But now, he looked completely indifferent—as if it didn’t bother him at all. Whether he had simply grown used to it, or genuinely thought of it as Cha Han-gyeom’s scent, he couldn’t be sure.
Either way, for a smoker like Han-gyeom, it was a good thing. It should’ve been a good thing… but instead, it made him so self-conscious that he couldn’t even smoke the cigarette down to the filter.
Leaving just enough to take a couple more drags, Han-gyeom stubbed out the cigarette and leaned his chin on one hand, eyes fixed on Seo Won’s profile. His gaze was drawn to the icy blue eyes that remained locked on the documents and the long, golden-tinted eyelashes that framed them.
From the morning, Seo Won had kept Han-gyeom in the office but hadn’t asked for any Guiding. He seemed to simply want them to share the same space. Apart from telling him to sit on the sofa, he hadn’t made any specific requests. The fact that they were reviewing documents side by side on the sofa when there was a perfectly fine desk available struck Han-gyeom as oddly amusing.
‘Not that I mind it…’
He was the one who had tried to exploit Seo Won’s feelings. So behavior that went beyond simple goodwill and hinted at affection—like now—was something he had desperately wanted.
But it only made him feel more uneasy.
‘Why is he avoiding Guiding so much?’
If affection was added to an existing Imprint, then logically, the Guiding efficiency should increase. It would be the same as the Esper fully opening their heart to receive GP—allowing the Guide to pour out their power freely and without restraint. Naturally, the GP would then flow smoothly and refine the Esper’s internal channels without obstruction.
Han-gyeom stared intently at Seo Won, then gently took the hand resting at his side. Lightly, with a subtle, ticklish touch, he began to attempt Guiding.
“Cha Han-gyeom.”
Seo Won, who still hadn’t lifted his eyes from the documents, pulled his hand away.
“I didn’t bring you here to Guide me.”
“Not even hand Guiding?”
At Han-gyeom’s frustrated tone, Seo Won finally turned to face him.
“There’s no need to do it unless I want it. That’s what the contract says.”
“There was nothing in the contract that said I couldn’t Guide you when I wanted to.”
Han-gyeom couldn’t understand why Seo Won was suddenly using the contract as an excuse to restrict his Guiding. Did he forget why he brought him into this mansion in the first place?
“You do know your Black Vein spread further because you overused your ability that time, right?”
“I know.”
“And even knowing that, you’re still refusing Guiding?”
“I’m getting it at night instead.”
“That pathetic excuse for Guiding—just making me come and kissing me a little—is nowhere near enough.”
Han-gyeom snapped, his voice sharp with irritation as he glared at Seo Won.
In the past two days, the amount of Guiding he had given Seo Won had been laughably small compared to before. It was as if Seo Won had suddenly become impotent or something—on the bed, all he did was kiss and jerk Han-gyeom off with his hand. If Han-gyeom pushed for more, Seo Won would respond with some light teasing touches, but that was it. He never stripped him, never climbed on top, never fucked him.
Of course, he wasn’t actually impotent. Every time, Seo Won’s cock was rock-hard—just kissing Han-gyeom was enough to get him fully aroused. During hand jobs or even light fondling, his muffled groans would sometimes slip out. And yet, after making Han-gyeom come, he’d just excuse himself and head to the bathroom to take care of his own needs alone.
All in all, the only “deep Guiding” Seo Won had received over the last two nights was this half-assed version, and that was clearly not cutting it. The Black Vein that had spread again after the incident two days ago hadn’t receded at all. Before, it would shrink bit by bit with every session, without fail.
Now it was completely stagnant. It wasn’t getting worse, but it wasn’t improving either. To Han-gyeom, it was the worst possible state—an infuriating standstill.
It had only been two days, yet he couldn’t help but grow increasingly anxious.
‘At this rate, there’s no telling when this’ll be over!’
He thought he’d be able to finish everything faster than expected, but at this pace, it was only going to take longer.
‘I just want to get this over with already…’
Frustrated, Han-gyeom grabbed the documents Seo Won was holding and tossed them aside, climbing onto his lap. Seo Won’s blue eyes looked up at him without a hint of surprise.
Wrapping his arms around Seo Won’s neck, Han-gyeom pressed their foreheads together.
“Do you not like me?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly, without a moment’s hesitation. A pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist.
“Then why won’t you accept my Guiding?”
“I am accepting it—at night.”
“What about now?”
“I’m working.”
“And who was the one who used to drag me in and fuck me whenever he felt like it, no matter what time it was?”
“I’ve reflected on that. It won’t happen again. I’ll keep you by my side like this, but that’s it.”
Even as he embraced Han-gyeom gently, patting his back, the look on Han-gyeom’s face was filled with displeasure.
“What if I want to?”
It wasn’t that Han-gyeom necessarily wanted to have sex. But if they just lined up their bodies and moved together with some intensity, he’d be able to pour out enough Guiding naturally.
Seo Won knew firsthand the kind of overwhelming pleasure and ecstasy that came from Deep Guiding with an Imprinted Guide. Once he tasted it again, the amount he’d been holding back until now would make it impossible for him to resist falling into it all over again.
But even in the face of Han-gyeom’s words, Seo Won didn’t budge.
“Lie down. I’ll use my hand.”
“…Are you serious right now…?”
Han-gyeom’s expression twisted in frustration as he looked at Seo Won, who remained firm. With an annoyed scoff, he shoved himself off Seo Won’s lap. Rising to his feet, he shot him a glare brimming with irritation.
“Forget it. I’ll just go to my room.”
Seo Won looked up at him with a faintly amused gaze, as if finding Han-gyeom’s pouting tantrum cute.
“If you don’t want my hand, how about my mouth instead?”
Rather than answering, Han-gyeom glared daggers at him. In response, a low chuckle rumbled in Seo Won’s throat.
There was no point arguing anymore—Han-gyeom could tell Seo Won wasn’t going to change his mind. Still, who knew? Maybe one day soon, Seo Won would lose control and pounce on him like before.
With a tired sigh, Han-gyeom turned and headed toward the door.
“I’ll just go eat.”
“Want to eat together?”
“No. If I eat with you right now, I’ll probably get indigestion.”
Han-gyeom recalled dinner from the night before. They’d prepared a lavish spread, but Seo Won barely touched his food, just sat there staring at him the whole time. He couldn’t even remember what was on the menu because he’d been too distracted. Even this morning, Seo Won had waited until he cleaned his plate before finally leaving the room.
Given his already sour mood, the last thing he wanted was to suffer through another meal while enduring Seo Won’s intense, unblinking gaze.
“I’ll eat with Ah-young.”
“I’ll have it ready right away.”
Meals were only allowed in the office or the bedroom, so heading back to the bedroom now meant he’d probably return to find a freshly prepared meal already laid out on the table.
Just as Han-gyeom reached for the door to the office, Seo Won silently approached from behind and gently wrapped his arms around Han-gyeom’s waist.
“Cha Han-gyeom, is there anywhere you want to go?”
“…What? Where’d that come from?”
Han-gyeom glanced over his shoulder and met Seo Won’s blue eyes.
“There’s somewhere I need to go this weekend. Since I’ll be heading out anyway, if there’s somewhere you’d like to go, I’ll take you.”
Han-gyeom’s expression shifted into one of genuine surprise.
“I’m… allowed to go out?”
Honestly, it’d be a lie to say his heart didn’t flutter at that. Since entering this mansion, he had only been outside three times.
Once for the product demo where there had been a sonic attack. Once for the yacht party with Esper Association executives. And once when he used the Black Cube to teleport and meet Kang Woo-chan.
In all three cases, he hadn’t been able to relax. Not even enough to admire a single street tree in peace.
But this time, Seo Won was saying he’d take him somewhere he wanted to go. Just the idea of having his own desires respected was enough to make his heart race.
When Han-gyeom’s eyes lit up with an unmistakable sparkle, Seo Won buried his face into Han-gyeom’s shoulder and let out a soft chuckle.
Lately, it seemed like Seo Won had been smiling more than usual, and in oddly tender ways—but that wasn’t what mattered to Han-gyeom right now.
He pressed again, needing confirmation.
“Do you really mean I can go wherever I want?”
“Yes. Even if it’s far, that’s fine.”
Han-gyeom’s eyes darted around as he slipped into thought. Watching him carefully weigh his options, all seriousness in his little pout and furrowed brow—it was adorable. So much so that Seo Won couldn’t help but let out another quiet laugh.
A moment later, Han-gyeom turned back to him, voice tinged with anticipation.
