Kang Chi-yu looked utterly dumbfounded at the two Espers standing outside his door. He was exhausted, worn down from the late-night doll-hunting game, ready to collapse—yet both of them had shown up demanding Guiding, planted stubbornly in the hallway like a blockade.
The only reason they hadn’t barged in was because Hyun Tae-oh was dead set on never letting Yoon Do-jae set foot inside Chi-yu’s room.
“You’re supposed to Guide me.”
“Right now, I’m your partner. It only makes sense that you give me Guiding.”
“Fuck, I’ll slit your throat.”
“You planning to turn into a murderer?”
“You son of a bitch—”
“Enough already.”
Chi-yu shot a wary glance at the hallway camera as he cut in.
“Why are you always on my case? He’s the one provoking me.”
“I haven’t even laid a finger on you.”
The moment Tae-oh finished, Do-jae countered immediately. His gaze hadn’t left Chi-yu, sharp and unyielding. His face was expressionless, but his eyes burned with a desperate plea: Choose me.
“What the hell are you babbling about? Why the fuck would you touch me? Lost your mind?!”
“I’m saying I never did. Never laid a hand on you.”
“Christ, don’t you get metaphors?”
“You must, considering all you ever do is curse.”
“What? You little—”
“Tae-oh.”
Before he could spit out another curse, Chi-yu cut him off.
At the sound of Chi-yu’s voice, Tae-oh’s mouth snapped shut like an obedient kid.
The sight left Do-jae visibly startled.
“Um, Esper Yoon Do-jae…”
Just as Chi-yu turned to address him, Tae-oh spoke again.
“Don’t forget the promise you made with me.”
He was talking about that so-called promise back in the garden—the brush of lips that barely even counted. Yet in Tae-oh’s head, it had somehow transformed into a binding deal.
Chi-yu let out a short sigh before turning back to Do-jae.
“As you heard, I already promised Tae-oh Guiding. So… would you mind receiving it from another Guide tonight?”
“And why the hell not?!”
“Keep quiet.”
“As long as I’m his partner this week, I want Guiding from Guide Kang Chi-yu.”
“Hey.”
“Tae-oh.”
At Chi-yu’s voice, Tae-oh shut his mouth again.
He’d sworn he would win Chi-yu over, and he really did look like a child determined to charm him—obedient only when it came to Kang Chi-yu.
Chi-yu couldn’t help but feel a flicker of amusement.
“Well, I’m only B-rank. I don’t have that much energy…”
“I already received Guiding once today. I only need a moderate amount now—just enough in case something happens.”
“Then for fuck’s sake, go to someone else. Want me to call Guide Lee Jun-hyung for you?”
Pulling out his phone, Tae-oh added, “Didn’t you work with him plenty of times?”
Do-jae shot back instantly.
“You’re his partner now. You’re the one who should receive it.”
“That makes no damn sense!”
“Either way, Guide Kang Chi-yu is my partner right now. I have the right to receive Guiding from my partner.”
“Right, keep spouting crap about ‘rights.’ Didn’t you read the clause in the contract about Guiding choice?”
“I did. And you saw it yourself—Guide Kang Chi-yu already gave me Guiding earlier.”
“……”
“So.”
Do-jae shifted his gaze from Tae-oh to Chi-yu.
“I believe you’re obligated to keep Guiding me until this partnership ends.”
Chi-yu’s expression twisted with hesitation.
The one who needed Guiding most right now was Hyun Tae-oh. He hadn’t received any Guiding from Lee Jun-hyung, nor had he taken suppressants.
Back in the afternoon, Chi-yu hadn’t known about the misunderstanding between Tae-oh and Min Yu-hyun, nor that Tae-oh actually liked him. That was why he’d chosen to Guide Yoon Do-jae instead. But things had changed. Now, he was genuinely worried about Tae-oh.
Still, ignoring his current partner wasn’t right either. Guiding wasn’t some trivial favor—it was an Esper’s lifeline.
If he had energy to spare, he could easily Guide them both. But though his ability let him heal and stabilize wave patterns, his energy reserves weren’t limitless.
Do-jae sighed softly at the sight of Chi-yu struggling. He hadn’t come here to burden him, yet seeing Chi-yu distressed because of him stirred guilt in his chest.
“Then I’ll receive it tomorrow.”
He didn’t want to give ground, but more than that, he didn’t want to be the cause of Chi-yu’s distress.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then… maybe you could at least get it from Jun-hyung—”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll get it from you tomorrow, Guide Kang Chi-yu.”
His firm tone left no room for argument. Chi-yu gave up trying to suggest another Guide and nodded.
“Thank you. And… I’m sorry.”
***
Tae-oh’s lips crashed down on Chi-yu’s, a kiss so fierce it knocked the breath right out of him.
Chi-yu twisted, trying to put space between them. At this rate, he couldn’t even attempt Guiding, let alone focus. But Tae-oh’s arm was locked tight around his back and waist, holding him fast.
His legs had already gone weak, but Tae-oh’s strength was the only thing keeping him upright.
The moment Yoon Do-jae left, Tae-oh had shoved him inside, slammed the door, growled, Why the hell are you apologizing to that bastard?—and then stolen his lips before he could answer.
They hadn’t even moved from the spot by the door.
Normally, there weren’t any cameras inside the rooms, but one had been set up temporarily for the doll-hunting game and hadn’t been taken down yet. It still clung to the ceiling.
The red light was off, so it wasn’t recording—but the thought nagged at Chi-yu anyway. What they were doing had nothing to do with Guiding. It was raw and blatant.
Tae-oh didn’t care. He pressed harder, reckless and relentless. This was nothing like Guiding.
Like before dinner, his kisses were overpowering, devouring, leaving Chi-yu reeling and unable to think.
Chi-yu realized that if this went on, he truly wouldn’t be able to Guide him. The instant their lips parted, he jerked his head back.
But Tae-oh followed immediately. Chi-yu turned his face to the side, dodging.
“Wait.”
“What?”
Tae-oh’s lips, wet and shining with saliva, shaped the word.
“We need to do Guiding.”
“Then do it.”
“Not like this.”
“What’s wrong with this?” Tae-oh teased.
Chi-yu frowned, and Tae-oh called softly—
“Chi-yu.”
His voice was low and sensual, dripping with heat. A shiver crawled up Chi-yu’s spine.
“…What?”
“I want Guiding.”
“D-don’t say something that ridiculous.”
“Why not?”
“What do you mean why? Obviously—”
“Just give me Stage 3 right now.”
“No!”
“Whyyy not~” Tae-oh dragged the word out, childish and petulant.
“I can’t hold it in. Half my reason’s already gone.”
“Don’t give me that crap. You’re not that easy to lose control.”
“Oh? Don’t believe me? Want to feel my heartbeat?”
He caught Chi-yu’s hand, trying to slip it under his shirt.
Chi-yu yanked it away at once, glaring.
“Cut it out!”
“…So I can’t?”
Tae-oh looked down at him with wide, wounded eyes—like a scolded puppy.
Seeing his lips droop like that made Chi-yu falter. It was surreal. Tae-oh, who’d never once acted this way in twenty years, was suddenly pulling these moves—and those disarmingly cute expressions made his heart clench.
Chi-yu stared, flustered, then shook his head firmly.
“Absolutely not. We’re in the middle of filming, staying in the same dorm. No way.”
“So it’s fine if we’re at home?”
“……”
“What if we go right now…”
He reached out as if ready to teleport them away. Chi-yu instantly hid his hands behind his back, snapping in a sharp voice:
“Don’t you dare.”
Again, Tae-oh gave him that wounded-puppy look.
“You know I can’t take suppressants. You know that’s why I need Stage 3.”
It was shocking—after over twenty years of knowing him, Chi-yu was only now seeing this side of him.
And when had his hands gotten so bold, one already resting firmly at his back?
“You also know you’re the only Guide I can do Stage 3 with.”
“God, you’re—!”
Chi-yu’s cheeks burned red.
Tae-oh stared at that flushed face with eyes full of hunger.
Feeling dangerously close to being swept away again, Chi-yu shook his head hard.
“No higher than Stage 2 until filming ends.”
“…..”
“But I’ll… I’ll give it to you more often, so—mmph!”
His words were cut off as Tae-oh’s lips descended again.
This time, though, the kiss wasn’t deep or consuming—it was featherlight, teasing, brushing his lips like playful sparks.
It felt like a warm breeze blowing straight into his heart, making it flutter wildly.
