# Chapter 56
“Hey, I need to hang up.”
“What?”
“I’ll call you back later.”
“No, hyung, what’s going on? At least tell me…”
This was no time to leisurely explain the situation. Despite Woojae’s urgent voice, Seowoo hung up without saying a word.
It wasn’t even a real secret rendezvous, yet somehow it felt like these situations always happened when he was on the phone with Woojae.
Seowoo carelessly tossed his phone aside and quickly grabbed the remote control. When he turned on the TV, the voices of panel members chattering loudly filled the quiet space.
Soon, he heard the sound of a door opening and closing. Trying to maintain a natural posture, he glanced back to see Dohyun walking into the living room.
“What is it?”
“That’s quite a prickly greeting to hear right after getting home.”
Dohyun took off his coat and placed it on the table along with his phone. Seowoo looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
“I thought you weren’t coming home?”
Pausing while unbuttoning his cuffs, Dohyun raised an eyebrow. His downward glance clearly conveyed the message: what nonsense are you talking about?
“I don’t know whose words you’re misremembering, but it certainly wasn’t mine.”
“Not yours… Manager Gu said you’d be late, though.”
Dohyun’s hand momentarily froze as he was loosening his tie knot. He seemed to be reacting to Manager Gu’s name. Their eyes met briefly.
“Manager Gu told you I’d be working late today?”
“No, I mean… that you’ll be coming home late from now on.”
“Ah. Setting aside how that conversation came up…”
Dohyun’s gaze, taking on a peculiar glint, shifted to the TV screen.
“Is that why you’re now watching a show you don’t usually watch?”
Following Dohyun’s gesture toward the TV, Seowoo’s attention finally landed on the screen. What did he mean by “that kind of show”? He’d only turned it on a few minutes ago.
A talk show Seowoo had never seen before was airing. Middle-aged panelists were engaged in a heated discussion.
Today’s topic, “Husbands who habitually stay out overnight, where and what they’re doing…”, was boldly displayed at the top of the screen. Startled, Seowoo quickly grabbed the remote and changed the channel.
“No, that’s not it. When did this…!”
“You were watching with such a serious expression though.”
“Not at all, absolutely, really, definitely not. What nonsense.”
His vehement denial suggested he’d rather bite his tongue off than admit it. Dohyun let out a soft laugh.
“I don’t know whether to feel disappointed or grateful for such a strong denial.”
“What’s there to be disappointed about?”
“You’re denying so strongly that you were worried about me. It makes a corner of my heart feel disappointed and sad.”
It was Dohyun’s characteristically light and cheerful tone. The words “disappointed and sad” didn’t really suit his manner of speaking. Well, Dohyun wasn’t the type to genuinely express sadness anyway.
After scrutinizing Dohyun’s face with a suspicious gaze, Seowoo shook his head. Dohyun smiled, raising only his lips. Instead of making another joke, he finally provided the necessary answer.
“I’m not coming home late.”
“…Then why did Manager Gu…?”
“You believe Manager Gu?”
What an unexpected question. Seowoo squinted one eye as he looked at Dohyun.
It didn’t seem like Dohyun was doubting Manager Gu; he appeared genuinely curious. Why?
“Why wouldn’t I believe him? He’s your subordinate, so he would know you best.”
“Why believe my subordinate? You’re the one who distrusts me the most. What if we deliberately lied to you? How could you believe so unquestioningly?”
“Manager Gu doesn’t seem like someone who would lie about something like that.”
Well, as Dohyun said, they could have conspired to lie, but it wasn’t important enough to warrant such collusion.
While it might be inaccurate to say Seowoo trusted Manager Gu, from what he’d observed, Manager Gu was very precise about Dohyun’s affairs. If Dohyun told him to die, he’d at least pretend to die.
So he wasn’t the type to spread falsehoods about Dohyun’s business. Seowoo thought this was reasonable logic, but Dohyun’s expression rather ambiguously crumpled.
“But I seemed like someone who would lie?”
“Of course.”
“You didn’t even hesitate.”
Dohyun had lied so much that filtering through his lies was exhausting, so there was no point in pretending to be hurt now. At Seowoo’s unhesitating answer, Dohyun let out a short laugh.
“Did you also hear my statement that no one knows me better than you, and then willfully forget it? You must have thought it was a lie.”
“…Pardon?”
His tone was casual, as if casually tossing the words, but the content was too significant to hear and dismiss. Had Dohyun really said such a thing?
No matter how much Seowoo racked his brain, he couldn’t remember. Wasn’t there not even a similar nuance? Since the memories completely erased by alcohol still showed no signs of returning, Seowoo had no way of making sense of it.
Concluding it was just a joke to confound him, Seowoo firmly waved his hand.
“Please stop saying strange things.”
“I was being sincere.”
Without saying anything more, Dohyun merely shrugged once.
At that moment, a short vibration sound cut between them. Both their gazes turned simultaneously. Dohyun’s phone lit up.
DY Kim Daeyoung: Thursday 8 PM
DY Kim Daeyoung: Reserved a table
DY Kim Daeyoung: I’ll send you the location
DY? The name seemed familiar. As he furrowed his brow, an important memory he’d momentarily forgotten suddenly came back.
‘I heard rumors that Seo Dohyun is having a separate meeting with the chairman of DY Motors.’
It was exactly the appointment that Hyungil had repeatedly asked him to find out about. It seemed the location was now confirmed as well. It was like a wake-up call.
However, before Seowoo could check the location, Dohyun snatched up the phone. Watching Dohyun’s profile as he tapped a reply with one hand, Seowoo gritted his teeth internally.
Would Dohyun answer if he asked? Should he try probing? Glancing sideways, Seowoo casually tossed out a question.
“Where are you going?”
His text exchanges seemingly over, Dohyun put the phone in his pocket and smiled.
“Why are you asking in the tone of a nagging wife?”
He knew Dohyun wouldn’t give a straight answer, but sure enough, all that came back was nonsense. Seowoo pursed his lips crookedly.
“More ridiculous talk… I was just wondering if you’re going somewhere far.”
Though he knew perfectly well what the purpose of the meeting was, he deliberately feigned ignorance and attached a plausible excuse. Dohyun raised his eyebrows and carefully observed Seowoo’s expression.
“You’ve improved a lot.”
“…What do you mean?”
It was a complete non sequitur. A smooth smile spread across Dohyun’s previously expressionless face.
“Your questioning. I’ve noticed you’ve been asking many more questions lately.”
Well, compared to before, he had been asking more questions. With Hyungil’s advice and instructions, there was more he needed to find out about Dohyun, and it wasn’t entirely untrue that he had become curious about what kind of person this man really was. Living in the same house, it was impossible to remain completely ignorant.
“It seems like just yesterday you were glaring with sharp eyes, saying you had nothing to be curious about regarding me.”
“So are you saying you don’t like it now?”
“I’m always grateful for expressions of interest, in any form.”
Dohyun smiled, his eyes crinkling. What did he mean by “in any form”? It’s not like Seowoo had actively shown interest. Dohyun plopped down on the seat next to Seowoo.
“I’m going on a date.”
“…What did you say?”
Seowoo’s head snapped around immediately. The words came out before passing through his brain. It was because he’d heard something so absurd.
For someone who had just dropped such a bombshell, Dohyun was far too calm. Meeting Seowoo’s wide eyes, Dohyun smiled brightly.
“You seem very surprised?”
“Are you going on a blind date?”
He’d naturally assumed Dohyun would be discussing business with the chairman, but could he possibly be going to discuss an arranged marriage?
Dohyun’s laughter cut off Seowoo’s imagination, which had been freely branching out in its own direction. With his chin resting on his hand, looking askew at Seowoo, his expression was full of mischief.
“I think about this often, but your questions always exceed expectations.”
“I also think about this often, but I don’t want to hear such things from you of all people.”
This is why I can’t believe you when you say you’re sincere, making strange jokes like this. As Seowoo stiffened his expression in seriousness, Dohyun laughed lightly.
“Of course it was a joke. I’m going to sit across from him, eat a meal, and drink together.”
“Yes, do that… Though by your standards, that certainly counts as a date.”
“My standards? I’m not such a scoundrel that I use the term ‘date’ carelessly.”
He must have erased from his memory how he shamelessly claimed that ‘two people sitting across from each other, cutting meat is a date.’ It was absurd. With his shamelessness being a well-known fact, there was no need for Seowoo to waste energy getting worked up.
Regardless, it was clear that the location of Dohyun’s appointment with the DY Motors chairman was in his phone. Asking directly where he was going would be suspicious to anyone. The best method would be to snatch Dohyun’s phone…
But it was uncertain whether someone like Dohyun would leave his phone lying around, and even if he did, whether Seowoo could grab it without being caught seemed doubtful.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
“…Have you eaten?”
“Are you worried I haven’t had dinner?”
The response was so crisp, it was impossible to tell if he genuinely didn’t understand or was just pretending not to. Worry, my foot—he just wanted to check Dohyun’s phone secretly while Dohyun was in the kitchen, as usual.
Seeing Dohyun’s smiling face, Seowoo’s confidence and motivation plummeted. How was he supposed to do this?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
