Like a coward who could not even confess, Yu Je-hyun had no right to interfere with Lee Haru meeting Ji Yeon-woo. Even if he and Lee Haru were in a relationship, trying to control Haru’s heart or actions would have been wrong.
And yet, the petty part of him wished Haru would just ignore Ji Yeon-woo’s request.
The moment the image of Haru coldly saying, “What does it matter to me whether Ji Yeon-woo is looking for me or not?” flashed through his mind, Yu Je-hyun let out a deep sigh.
“…Come here. I’ll take you.”
He bent down in front of Haru and opened his arms. Haru hesitated briefly before wrapping his arms around Yu Je-hyun’s neck.
The IV line was a nuisance, so he removed it. Only after treating the blood-speckled back of Haru’s hand did he finally glance over at Lee Hyun-jae.
The sharpness in Yu Je-hyun’s gaze made Lee Hyun-jae instinctively snap to attention.
“Take us to Ji Yeon-woo’s hospital room.”
“Ah, yes!”
It wasn’t far—barely a few dozen steps. Both Haru and Ji Yeon-woo had been admitted to the VIP-only floor.
Just then, Jin Sung-joon stepped out of Ji Yeon-woo’s room. His eyes shook violently the moment he saw Haru nestled in Yu Je-hyun’s arms.
Yu Je-hyun knew that Jin Sung-joon had kept Haru’s sudden disappearance quiet from the higher-ups. It had been possible only because Haru returned not long after, safe in Yu Je-hyun’s arms.
If Haru had remained missing, there would have been no choice but to report it.
The reason was obvious. Jin Sung-joon had wanted to ask Haru first what he wanted to do before taking any action. Letting it be known that Haru had such abilities wouldn’t benefit him in any way.
“Guide Lee Haru, you’re awake. I asked you to press the call button as soon as he woke up, and yet you’ve taken a patient out of his room without permission.”
His voice, warm as a spring breeze when saying Haru’s name, turned icy the moment his eyes met Yu Je-hyun’s.
There had been tension every time Jin Sung-joon tried to check on Haru, with Yu Je-hyun stationed like a guard inside the room.
It was no secret that Jin Sung-joon still didn’t think highly of S-rank Espers, including Yu Je-hyun.
Even if recent rumors had started to shift, the person Jin Sung-joon needed to protect above all else was the Guide—Lee Haru.
Haru had ended up in the hospital after guiding Yu Je-hyun, his mana depleted. While the aftereffects weren’t severe enough to cause lasting physical damage, only a proper exam could say for sure.
Seeing Yu Je-hyun cradling Haru and wandering freely outside the room—of course Jin Sung-joon’s voice would turn sharp.
“It’s not like I dragged him out for fun. Ask him yourself. He’s the one who said he wanted to see Ji Yeon-woo after hearing it from this guy.”
Yu Je-hyun nodded toward Lee Hyun-jae. Jin Sung-joon’s gaze followed, and Lee Hyun-jae, stiff with tension, quickly explained the situation.
Ji Yeon-woo had been asking for Haru nonstop. Jin Sung-joon would’ve known—he was Ji Yeon-woo’s attending physician, too.
“Alright. But keep it under an hour. Guide Lee Haru only just woke up, and overdoing it won’t help.”
“That’s what I want, too.”
Haru looked like he wanted to say something to Jin Sung-joon, but Yu Je-hyun didn’t let him.
The moment Haru tried to move his head, he gently pressed the back of it down, tucking Haru’s face against his chest.
Haru gave up and just rolled his eyes to the side to offer a silent greeting. Jin Sung-joon, his expression softening the moment his eyes met Haru’s, returned the gesture with a slight smile and opened the hospital room door.
Yu Je-hyun stepped in first. The outline of someone huddled beneath the covers on the bed came into view.
Ji Yeon-woo had pulled the blanket over his head and turned away, clearly shutting himself off from the world.
Haru tapped Yu Je-hyun’s shoulder. It was obvious—he wanted to be put down. Yu Je-hyun grabbed a chair and set it down. With his help, Haru sat. Then, Haru quietly pointed to the door.
Yu Je-hyun hadn’t planned to leave Haru’s side even once. If something happened between Haru and Ji Yeon-woo while he was gone, what then?
“You want me to leave right now?”
He didn’t realize just how possessively he was acting—like some jealous husband. His voice came out rough.
Haru gave a firm nod. If Yu Je-hyun stayed, Ji Yeon-woo probably wouldn’t say a word.
And then coming here would have been meaningless. Haru still had to ask why Ji Yeon-woo had called for him in the first place.
And what had shaken him so much that day that his face had gone pale?
“…I’ll wait right outside.”
“Alright.”
Yu Je-hyun, acting like an anxious puppy with separation anxiety, was out of character even to himself, but Haru nodded without resistance.
If he didn’t, Yu Je-hyun would probably stand right there forever.
With clear displeasure on his face, Yu Je-hyun stepped out and shut the door. Only then did Haru gently call out.
“Guide Ji Yeon-woo, I’m here.”
Yu Je-hyun had seen it earlier—the twitch of the blanket when he’d spoken.
After Haru’s call, the white blanket slowly slid down, and a small face peeked out.
Tears clung to Ji Yeon-woo’s eyes, and Yu Je-hyun froze in place. His eyes were so swollen and raw, it was clear he’d been crying for quite some time.
“Hyung…”
There was no strength in the voice that called out to Haru. Hearing it, Yu Je-hyun finally understood why one of the staff members in charge of Ji Yeon-woo had come looking for him.
With a face like that, anyone would be moved to help. Haru raised the cuff of his sleeve instinctively, his heart tightening at the sight of Ji Yeon-woo’s tear-streaked face—so soaked in grief it was hard to look at.
“Why are you crying so much? Are you hurt?”
If it were something physical, Jin Sung-joon would have already taken care of it. The fact that Ji Yeon-woo had been silently crying, shutting out everyone else, pointed to something far deeper. It was his heart that was hurting.
Ji Yeon-woo didn’t answer. He just stared at Haru, eyes fixed on his face. Every time his tear-heavy lashes trembled, another droplet spilled down.
It didn’t take long for Haru’s sleeve to become soaked. Ji Yeon-woo wept like he was trying to squeeze the moisture out of his very bones, and Haru glanced around the room, worried.
He thought he should at least get him some water. Judging by Ji Yeon-woo’s drawn, pale face, he clearly hadn’t been eating properly either.
All that sat on the nightstand was a humidifier, puffing out white steam. Haru rose from his seat, intending to fetch a bottle of water from the fridge.
But the moment he felt a faint warmth brush his fingertips, he stopped.
“I… can’t trust anyone anymore.”
The words came out hoarse and broken, as if his throat had been crushed.
His eyes looked up with desperate intensity—like someone who had finally found their savior at the edge of death. Haru quietly sank back into his seat.
Ji Yeon-woo let go of his hand, like a child afraid they’d done something wrong. But Haru, seeing the way his fingers trembled, gently took his hand again.
Ji Yeon-woo looked up, startled. Haru gave his hand a light squeeze, silently telling him it was okay.
Whatever Ji Yeon-woo wanted to say, Yu Je-hyun could tell one thing for certain—he was in immense pain.
“Can you trust me?”
The words I can’t trust anyone hit harder than he expected. And yet, the fact that Ji Yeon-woo had reached out to him in this state—wasn’t that proof he still trusted Haru, at least?
Ji Yeon-woo’s tear-soaked eyes lingered on Haru’s face, as if to memorize it. Haru didn’t rush him, only met his gaze with steady, quiet warmth.
“…Yes. I think I can trust you. Strangely enough.”
In truth, they hadn’t known each other for very long. Haru hadn’t even been in this world that long to begin with.
And the first time they met was when both were kidnapped by Black. Compared to the S-rank Espers, Haru had spent even less time with Ji Yeon-woo.
And yet, Ji Yeon-woo looked at him like he was some kind of savior. Until now, Haru hadn’t questioned it.
After all, if he hadn’t met Ji Yeon-woo back then, he might’ve fallen into total panic himself.
He’d recognized immediately that Ji Yeon-woo was the main sub. And simply being with him had offered Haru the comforting thought that someone would surely come to rescue them. It helped him hold himself together.
But now, he was genuinely curious. Why, in this vulnerable state, had Ji Yeon-woo longed to see him of all people—not Kang Min or any of the other Espers?
“I haven’t even done anything for you, Guide Ji Yeon-woo. The raid on Black’s stronghold wasn’t because of me. Even if I hadn’t been kidnapped, the Association would’ve moved in soon enough.”
If Ji Yeon-woo was truly the main sub, that much was likely. Maybe not Yu Je-hyun, but Kang Min definitely seemed to have taken an interest in him.
It was an instinctive pull—undeniable. But even after hearing that, Ji Yeon-woo slowly shook his head.
“That’s not how I see it. My life changed when I met you. If it hadn’t been for you… I might be dead right now. Killed by that person.”
Both of their hands trembled at once.
As soon as Ji Yeon-woo said that person, a face surged into Lee Haru’s mind.
