# Chapter 74
“No, I won’t terminate it.”
When Domin answered firmly, Semin didn’t hide his disappointment. Not satisfied with that, he now openly hinted that he wanted the dedicated contract terminated.
Setting aside his displeasure for a moment, Domin realized something was strange. It was odd that Semin was not only trying to bring a mere C-class Jeongyun into the Grey Team as a Guide, but also asking about terminating the dedicated contract. This couldn’t be seen as simple interest.
‘Could it be that he’s developed feelings for Yeo Jeongyun?’
Since Junyoung had briefly developed feelings for Jeongyun, Domin wondered if Semin might be the same. Whatever attraction he saw in that plain face, not everyone’s standards were as high as his own.
If Semin wanted to make Jeongyun his dedicated Guide, what should he do? He couldn’t warn him like he did with Junyoung. Semin was someone Domin couldn’t beat.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Semin asked, reading Domin’s unsettling gaze. Domin relaxed his eyes, which he hadn’t realized were tense, and calmed himself. He didn’t want to show hostility when nothing had been confirmed yet.
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you want to hit me.”
Just as Semin said, if he could, Domin would have loved to slap that annoying face hard, but it was impossible. Semin knew better than anyone that Domin couldn’t do that.
Instead of responding, Domin sighed deeply and roughly messed up his hair out of frustration. It wasn’t like him to agonize over mere suspicions. It was better to ask directly.
“Why specifically Yeo Jeongyun?”
“Because it has to be Yeo Jeongyun.”
But the answer was vague. As Domin frowned and was about to ask again, someone came to Semin’s office. At the knock-knock sound, both turned toward the door.
“Deputy Director.”
Hearing an unfamiliar voice from outside, Domin gave Semin a questioning look. Semin glanced at the clock on the wall and, seeming to realize something, whispered to Domin to wait a moment before getting up from the sofa.
“You’re already here?”
Semin opened the door and spoke to the person standing outside. The voice sounded like a young boy rather than an adult. The face briefly visible through the gap was very pale.
“You told me to come at this time.”
“I did… but I still have a guest.”
The boy peeked into the office through the gap. It seemed like their eyes met for just a moment before he quickly looked back at Semin. Whoever he was, he didn’t seem like someone Domin would get along with.
“I think we’ll be done soon, so could you wait a little?”
“…Then, can I go take care of some work and come back?”
“That would be great.”
“I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Yes, would you? I’m sorry.”
After seeing the boy bow and turn away, Semin closed the door. With an awkward smile on his troubled face, he returned to Domin.
“Who was that?”
“A new Esper joining our team.”
Only after hearing Semin’s words did Domin realize who the boy he had just seen was. Min Hwayeon, that was definitely his name. The new Esper joining the Grey Team, the kid who had been receiving guiding from Jeongyun.
“Don’t tell me, it’s because of that kid?”
“What is?”
“Trying to bring Yeo Jeongyun to the Grey Team.”
Semin didn’t answer, but his continued silence was answer enough. The reason for wanting to place C-class Jeongyun as a Guide in the Grey Team wasn’t Semin but that kid.
Though he had never properly met him, Domin disliked Hwayeon. There was some envy and inferiority since the kid had entered the Grey Team that everyone dreamed of, but the main reason was that he had been hovering around Jeongyun all this time.
“Don’t tell me Yeo Jeongyun has been guiding that kid all along?”
“That’s what I understand.”
Domin placed his hand on his throbbing forehead. He had clearly told Jeongyun to stop guiding other Espers besides himself, but Jeongyun hadn’t even kept that promise.
Ignoring calls from his dedicated Esper while diligently guiding that kid? Domin trembled with a sense of betrayal.
“Do you know what the matching rate is between Hwayeon and Yeo Jeongyun?”
“Shit, why should I know that?”
“Don’t swear.”
Despite Semin’s quiet warning, Domin couldn’t easily calm his anger.
Deciding that continuing the conversation would only make things worse, Semin tried to soothe Domin. But Domin brushed off Semin’s hand, jumped up from his seat, and shouted.
“Yeo Jeongyun is my dedicated Guide!”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“But he doesn’t belong to any team. The imprinting is one-sided anyway, so there’s no problem with him guiding Yeo Jeongyun.”
Semin’s words were completely correct. There was no problem with Jeongyun, who couldn’t join the Black Team despite being Domin’s dedicated Guide due to his low rank, joining the Grey Team.
Additionally, since one-sided imprinting only applied to Espers, there was no issue with Guides providing guiding to other Espers. Domin knew all this, which made him even angrier.
“I called you today because you’re the Esper with a dedicated contract with Yeo Jeongyun, so I thought I should talk to you. I want to bring Yeo Jeongyun to the Grey Team.”
“Because of that kid Min Hwayeon?”
“Don’t call him ‘that kid.’ He’s an Esper in our team now.”
Semin was especially fond of the Espers in his team. Domin understood that being at the frontlines and handling dangerous missions naturally created a special affection for team members, but today it particularly irritated him.
It also bothered him that despite having just met Min Hwayeon, Semin seemed to care more about him than Domin, whom he had known his whole life, simply because the kid was joining the Grey Team! Domin was just angry about this whole situation.
Swallowing countless words, Domin chose to leave. He didn’t want to spew all kinds of nasty words at Semin, of all people, out of uncontrolled anger.
Stopping his steps toward the door, Domin took a deep breath. Looking back at Semin, whose expression remained unchanged even in this situation, Domin said:
“If Yeo Jeongyun refuses, that’s the end of it, right?”
“…If the Guide refuses, there’s nothing we can do.”
At Semin’s delayed response, Domin didn’t continue the conversation. He flung the door open, strode out, and slammed it shut.
Only after getting out of Semin’s sight did all kinds of curses pour from Domin’s mouth. He stopped in the middle of the hallway, steadied his ragged breathing, and headed to his next destination.
He hoped this anger would subside at least a little before reaching Jeongyun’s guiding room. Otherwise, he truly didn’t know how he might behave this time.
* * *
Knock knock.
Hearing the knocking, Jeongyun immediately opened the door. Outside was Hwayeon, smiling brightly. It hadn’t been long since they parted in the lobby, yet he had already come to the guiding room.
“Why are you here so early?”
“Just… I had free time and wanted to see you, hyung.”
Hwayeon entered as Jeongyun closed the door, looking around the guiding room. Jeongyun, feeling awkward, asked if it was too small, but Hwayeon firmly shook his head.
“It’s fine. The neatness suits you, Jeongyun hyung.”
As Hwayeon said, Jeongyun’s guiding room was always neatly organized. The subtle fragrance that filled the room also suited Jeongyun very well. It was the scent Hwayeon secretly noticed whenever he leaned against Jeongyun.
As Hwayeon leisurely explored the guiding room, he suddenly noticed something bothersome: red flowers in a vase.
The withered flowers, out of place in the neat guiding room, seemed past their prime but remained there.
‘Why does he keep them here?’
Hwayeon wanted to throw them away, but not knowing what meaning they held for Jeongyun, he couldn’t easily touch them. Forcing himself to turn his attention away from the flowers, Hwayeon spotted the Center access card neatly placed on the desk.
‘Ah, it’s hyung.’
The access card, smaller than a palm, had a photo of Jeongyun with his eyes wide open. Since the card was needed to enter the Center, Jeongyun had always worn it around his neck.
Now that Hwayeon would come here directly, it wasn’t necessary anymore, but Jeongyun had wanted to keep it as a memento, so the Center gave it to him. Seeing this brightened Hwayeon’s mood instantly.
“Hwayeon, would you like to sit here?”
While Hwayeon was exploring the guiding room, Jeongyun finished preparing and called him. Hwayeon quickly approached and sat across from Jeongyun. Seeing Hwayeon’s playful smile, Jeongyun smiled gently in return.
“Give me your hand. I’ll guide you.”
Just as Hwayeon was about to take Jeongyun’s outstretched small hand, the door suddenly burst open without even a knock. Their gazes, which had been focused on each other, faltered, and a startled Jeongyun looked over Hwayeon’s shoulder.
Seeing Jeongyun’s anxiously trembling eyes, Hwayeon slowly turned around. The uninvited guest who had entered the guiding room without permission twisted his lips into a smirk as he looked at the two seated facing each other.
“Shit, so you’re here.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
