97.
As always, things in the world didn’t go as one wished. Jinhyeon, who had come outside, knew he should meet Yu Jin at least once. But he wasn’t keen on the idea. He felt that if he met him, something might change. Although he wasn’t the type to fear change, strangely, he hesitated about meeting Yu Jin.
‘Let’s meet next time.’
The conclusion came soon enough. He decided there was no need to meet Yu Jin in this state. As he walked with this thought, he noticed a commotion in a particularly secluded alley corner. Four thugs were intimidating a person wearing a hood. Normally in such cases, one would help the person in trouble, but Jinhyeon wasn’t that righteous. As he was about to pass by, a familiar voice suddenly called out.
“Jinhyeon!”
Surprised, he turned to see the person being intimidated had removed their hood. It was Yu Jin, the very person Jinhyeon had been debating whether to meet. In this situation, he couldn’t just walk away. Jinhyeon turned back and stood in front of the thugs.
“What?”
A thug looked at Jinhyeon with an unpleasant expression, but it didn’t last long. He was sent flying by a sudden punch to the face, crashing into a wall surprisingly far away.
“Huh? Huh?”
The remaining thugs looked back and forth between their fallen comrade and Jinhyeon, who hadn’t yet lowered his fist. Then they immediately lowered their tails and retreated. It was their nature to be weak against the strong and strong against the weak. Once they were sure Jinhyeon wouldn’t chase them, the thugs left quickly. Now only Yu Jin and Jinhyeon remained.
“You.”
Jinhyeon sighed and put his hand to his forehead. Although Yu Jin had taken over the back alleys, the fact that he was the owner wasn’t widely known yet. Blando was the public face of their operations. Jinhyeon had sometimes shown his face in the beginning, but at some point, he started operating with his face covered. It was more advantageous for the future. For this reason, those who had seen Jinhyeon’s face were strictly silenced.
So even though Jinhyeon controlled the back alleys, his chances of being accosted by thugs while walking alone were similar to anyone else’s. In Jinhyeon’s case, however, any thug who approached him would have to worry for their life.
‘This guy is different.’
Yu Jin was someone who hadn’t even properly learned self-defense. He probably couldn’t even beat one thug, yet here he was alone? Where were Keith and Haruna? Thinking about this made Jinhyeon’s chest boil with anger. Barely suppressing the urge to shout, he gritted his teeth and spoke.
“Are you crazy?”
Yu Jin rolled his eyes at those words.
“…I’m not crazy.”
“No. You are crazy. How could you come here alone if you’re not crazy!”
Jinhyeon ended up raising his voice. He realized his mistake after shouting, but Yu Jin didn’t seem surprised at all.
“Are you worried about me?”
Worried? Of course I’m worried! Jinhyeon realized his thoughts were strange. Why am I naturally worried about Yu Jin? Would I lose anything if he died here?
‘I would.’
If a noble died horribly in the back alleys he was trying to control, it would surely cause an uproar. Yes, that was the reason. Jinhyeon swallowed a sigh and said to Yu Jin.
“Follow me. I’ll take you outside.”
Yu Jin nodded and clung to Jinhyeon’s side. The feeling of his slender arm clinging tightly to Jinhyeon’s waist was peculiar. Even without the soft chest pressing against him, Jinhyeon’s heart fluttered.
“Don’t cling to me.”
He warned in a stern voice, but Yu Jin pretended not to hear. Inevitably, Jinhyeon had to walk with Yu Jin attached to him. He knew he should act coldly, but it wasn’t easy.
“Jinhyeon.”
Yu Jin spoke in that state.
“What?”
Jinhyeon answered gruffly.
“Are you really not coming back? Do you love Lyunne?”
A gloomy expression appeared on Yu Jin’s face.
“I love her.”
After the short answer, Yu Jin bit his lip gently. By now, they were nearing the end of the back alley district. Across the street, a clean, orderly sidewalk and neatly dressed people were visible. Yu Jin detached from Jinhyeon and spoke in a sad voice.
“In three days, I’m going to a party.”
What does it matter to me whether you go to a party or not? As Jinhyeon looked at Yu Jin with cold eyes, he continued.
“It’s the same kind of night party as before.”
Jinhyeon knew what kind of party Yu Jin was talking about. Before Jinhyeon was sold to Yu Jin, Yu Jin said he used to attend various parties and enjoy the nights. In the process, he had allowed other men to have his body. Although there were reasons for all his actions, when Jinhyeon learned about this later, it made him feel terribly dirty. He had even thought about finding out the names of all the men Yu Jin had been with and killing them all.
“But if you come, I won’t go.”
“It has nothing to do with me.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true now.”
Yu Jin nodded and then clung to Jinhyeon again, kissing him. It was so unexpected that Jinhyeon couldn’t do anything until the soft lips touched and left. As Jinhyeon looked at Yu Jin with a surprised expression, a man ran quickly from the opposite side and snatched him away.
“Brother?”
It was Keith. He glared at Jinhyeon with eyes that seemed about to ignite, then turned his gaze to Yu Jin.
“Yu Jin, don’t you know you shouldn’t go out alone?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever do this again. My heart nearly stopped.”
Yu Jin bowed his head deeply and repeatedly apologized to Keith. No wonder he was alone. It seemed he had left without telling anyone.
“It’s okay. Just don’t do it again.”
The words of forgiveness came more easily than expected. Keith picked up Yu Jin and started walking. From the moment they met until they parted, Keith acted as if Jinhyeon was invisible. Even though he usually disliked him so much. Jinhyeon shrugged and started walking. At some point, he had raised his hand to touch his own lips, but he didn’t notice.
Returning to the mansion with Keith, Yu Jin deeply regretted.
‘Just a kiss.’
After resolving to do so much, that was all he could manage. No, no. The place and time weren’t right. It would have been difficult to do more there. If it had been indoors, he would have shown off the skills he had honed with Jinhyeon. He wasn’t confident in persuading the brainwashed Jinhyeon with words. So he had planned to approach him physically, but even that wasn’t easy.
“Lord Yu Jin!”
Upon returning to the mansion, Yu Jin was scolded a second time by Haruna.
“You should have at least taken a guard with you!”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I’ll definitely take one next time!”
After the storm had passed, Yu Jin thought he might finally get some rest, but when Keith and Haruna noticed that he had sent an acceptance reply to someone else’s party invitation, he was bombarded for a third time.
“Why are you going there! You know how unscrupulous Viscount Pasi is!”
“You know it’s a place where orgies happen frequently. Why suddenly decide to go there!”
“Well, I wasn’t planning to go alone.”
“Of course you shouldn’t go alone!”
“You shouldn’t go even with others.”
“What if I go with brother?”
Keith and Haruna’s eyes turned fierce. Haruna sighed and sat down on the sofa.
“You seemed to be getting better, with your fever gone. What’s the problem?”
“You know.”
“Is it because Jinhyeon isn’t here?”
Yu Jin nodded.
“I told you I’d find a way. It’s not common for a person to change so suddenly.”
“I know. But I can’t wait.”
Meanwhile, Jinhyeon was probably with Lyunne, whispering sweet nothings. Whether it was the force of the novel’s plot or the result of brainwashing, it was hard to bear.
“Still, this isn’t right. Right now, Jinhyeon wouldn’t care even if you went to the party.”
Yu Jin’s shoulders slumped at Haruna’s words.
“If you need shock therapy, let’s try a different method.”
“A different method?”
“Yes, Lord Yu Jin. You should die!”
What does that mean? Pretend to die? As Yu Jin tilted his head, Haruna added an explanation.
“That’s exactly what you’re imagining. Let’s stage a death.”
“I was just thinking of provoking jealousy. Isn’t that going too far?”
“No. If we’re going to shock him, it’s better to be certain.”
“Is that so?”
Glancing at Keith, Yu Jin saw he was wearing a displeased expression.
“Is it necessary to go that far to win back Jinhyeon’s heart?”
“You’d prefer if we didn’t win him back, right? But Keith.”
Haruna looked straight at Keith and said,
“Let’s try to live like decent people. Love should be won fair and square.”
“What would someone who’s never been in love know?”
“What? Have you finished speaking?”
“What if I have?”
Haruna was angered by Keith’s words, but nothing major happened. She knew she couldn’t beat Keith in a physical fight. Haruna just huffed and said they’d settle this later.
