CTL 46

“Ugh!“

“Sigh…”

The situation was so urgent that he had no choice but to come here, but leaving Seohwi in such a filthy place was extremely, truly extremely unpleasant. As Yoongeon patted his back, he contemplated how he could kill Team Leader Oh Wansu.

After heaving his guts out for a long while, clinging to the toilet, Seohwi finally went limp. Yoongeon pulled him into an embrace and stood in front of the sink. Since this was a place where such things happened often, disposable cups and mouthwash were provided. He coaxed and soothed Seohwi into rinsing his mouth, and after cleaning up, he went out to find the employee watching with an anxious face, asking if he was okay.

“What about those people…”

“They’ll get home on their own, I suppose. Why do you ask.”

It was none of his business whether those bastards passed out and slept here, or passed out and slept on the street and froze to death. Yoongeon readjusted his hold on Seohwi, who was starting to slip a little, and patted his back, just in case he said he felt sick again.

“…Ah, yes…”

“That person will pay the bill.”

Yoongeon pointed with his chin at the collapsed Oh Wansu. He wasn’t the type to be petty, but he didn’t have a single 10-won coin to spare for the bastard who had forced Seohwi to drink. Because he was looking at Oh Wansu with eyes that looked like they could kill a man at any moment, the employee could only nod awkwardly.

“Should I help you carry him on your back?”

The employee asked, glancing at Seohwi who was clinging to him like a baby monkey. It was because the posture was not ideal for a man to be supporting another man. Yoongeon thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“If I put him on my back, I think he’ll fall backwards. It’s fine.”

That would be a disaster. Carrying someone on your back is only possible if they have some strength to hold on, but a person who is completely out of it like now is more likely to slip or fall backwards. The employee, who was observing Seohwi who seemed to have completely lost consciousness, also seemed to conclude that there was no other way and stepped back.

As they stepped out of the establishment, a gust of wind, so cool it was chilling, blew over. It was probably better than it being hot, since his stomach must be upset from the alcohol, but Yoongeon started walking hurriedly, worried that he might catch a cold in the chilly wind.

Even while holding a tall man, one who was bigger than himself at that, Yoongeon’s pace did not slow down. Passersby would glance over, perhaps finding the sight of a man carefully carrying another man strange, but on a street lined with bars, there were always more abnormal people than normal ones. People’s gazes touched them briefly and then quickly disappeared.

“Ugh…”

It was when they arrived at the deserted company lobby and got on the elevator. Seohwi, who had been sleeping with his cheek against Yoongeon’s shoulder, let out a pained sound.

“What’s wrong. Feel like throwing up again?”

Something about the way he was stirring made him uneasy, so Yoongeon asked, anxiously watching the elevator numbers change. Fortunately, Yoongeon’s car was always on the first basement level, so it didn’t take very long. Hurrying out, he was heading for the restroom first, when Seohwi mumbled softly.

“Cold…”

Then he curled his body up.

As soon as he heard that, Yoongeon walked quickly in the direction of his car, sat Seohwi in the passenger seat, and fastened his seatbelt. This was a guy who would just stand there blankly whether it was hot or cold, and then invariably catch something trivial like a cold or heatstroke, so he felt a sense of urgency.

Yoongeon, sitting in the driver’s seat, started the engine and turned on the heater, and before long, warm air began to flow out. As the inside of the car quickly filled with warm air, Seohwi’s expression, which had been tightly curled up, gradually relaxed. Only then did Yoongeon let out a sigh of relief, crossing his arms on the steering wheel and gazing at the quietly sleeping Seohwi.

“Why were you being dragged around and putting up with that.”

“…”

Of course, there was no reply to his question. Since he had asked knowing this, Yoongeon observed Seohwi with gentle eyes.

“You’re a guy who always speaks his mind.”

He hadn’t been by Seohwi’s side all day long lately. Come to think of it, contrary to his desperate heart, Yoongeon had left him alone for quite a long time. The reason was simple. It was because he trusted him.

Seohwi was not a person who would be helplessly pushed around by others just because he was left alone. Even without Yoongeon, he had enough strength to protect himself, and he said everything he needed to say even in front of people trying to crush him with power. He wasn’t the type to be intimidated or pushed back by such things in the first place. He too had been a king, so surely he wouldn’t have lacked even that much spirit?

“Not anymore? You can’t do it?”

Certainly, Seohwi is much softer than before. Perhaps this is closer to his true nature, Yoongeon thought, as he started the car.

The roads on a Friday evening were, needless to say, completely jammed with cars. He was a little anxious that Seohwi’s condition might worsen again on the way, but Yoongeon didn’t feel particularly frustrated by the traffic jam. He had been focused solely on Seohwi the whole time, so there was no room to feel frustrated.

A short while later, after arriving home, Yoongeon finally let out a sigh of relief. He had been startled repeatedly every time Seohwi moaned and tossed in his sleep on the way, and it was draining him.

“Seohwi, Yoon Seohwi.”

Yoongeon grabbed his shoulder and shook him.

“You have to go inside to sleep.”

“…”

At the gesture waking him, Seohwi did open his eyes, but they were very hazy, and it didn’t seem like he had properly regained his senses. He just stared blankly without responding to Yoongeon calling his name, then weakly lifted his arms and wrapped them around Yoongeon’s neck.

“…”

“…”

And then he falls asleep again just like that. Yoongeon, who was held in a daze for a moment out of sheer absurdity, soon burst into a hollow laugh.

“Ha…”

But that was all. Yoongeon, who lightly lifted Seohwi who had promptly wrapped his arms around his neck as if asking to be held, carried him and entered the house, regardless of whether the security guard who had come out to greet him was surprised or not.

After getting off the elevator, Yoongeon briefly laid Seohwi on the sofa and drew a bath. He had considered just letting him sleep without bothering him and letting him wash tomorrow, but he was worried that the person who had been muttering that he was cold would catch a cold if left like this. A chill must have gotten into his body, so he had to get it out.

He hadn’t helped Seohwi bathe many times, but it wasn’t exactly awkward. Yoongeon, having finished drawing the water, returned and easily stripped the tall man who was sleeping dead to the world, then lifted him in his arms again. Yoongeon glanced at Seohwi, who familiarly wrapped his arms around him as soon as he was in his embrace, then set him down in the bathtub and washed him.

Perhaps thanks to the warm heater air he’d been exposed to on the way, a little color had returned to his flushed cheeks. Because his skin was originally pale, such things were more prominent on Seohwi than on others. Yoongeon had a smile on his face the whole time he diligently tended to Seohwi, who was still groaning as if his stomach was upset.

After dozens of minutes of coaxing and soothing Seohwi, who couldn’t properly get his wits about him, Yoongeon, finally having washed him clean, carried Seohwi wrapped in a large towel to the bedroom, looking a little tired. He carefully laid Seohwi on the bed, changed out of his wet clothes, and then called Secretary Lim. The phone was answered before the first ring had even finished.

[Yes.]

“Find out if there are still bastards who do client entertainment.”

Despite the unkind, half-formed command, Secretary Lim answered nonchalantly.

[I’ll look into the people in Ko Yoonchul’s line first. Is there a place you’d like me to pinpoint?]

“The design engineering team first.”

[Yes.]

At the obedient reply that came without any back-and-forth questions, Yoongeon hung up without another word.

He wasn’t so naive as to ask the fundamental question of whether there were even any bastards in the company who could be called Ko Yoonchul’s people. Regardless of an individual’s abilities, if their usefulness is seen, a backer is bound to appear.

The kind of person who would find usefulness in Ko Yoonchul was, in fact, limited. There was only one person he could think of right off the bat. Chairman Ko, who wanted to protect his position for a long time, was a prime example. Besides him, there was also his own eldest uncle, Ko Sangtae, who still coveted Shinhyun Motors…

His eldest uncle, in particular, was someone who had been pushed aside by his own father, Ko Sanghyun, and forced to take over Shinhyun Department Store, so the possibility of him and his son, Ko Taejung, could not be ruled out either. Although, Ko Taejung was now pouring his heart and soul into Shinhyun Department Store.

He was deep in thought. Yoongeon had been on the phone while sitting on the stool in front of the bed, unable to go out because he was worried. Seohwi, who had been sleeping quietly, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“…”

“…”

Then he stares intently at him. Yoongeon crossed his arms and watched him silently, wondering what this guy was doing, and Seohwi, with his eyes wide open, observed him before suddenly saying this.

“Why are you there?”

“…”

What is this. Is he telling me to get lost instead of being here? It was so absurd he couldn’t even laugh, but no matter how trashy his personality was, he wasn’t about to lose his temper with a drunk person.

“Alright. Go to sleep.”

It was when he stood up, thinking he might as well get some work done since he was being kicked out anyway. Suddenly, Seohwi started to stir and tried to get up, then flopped over face down.

“…”

His drunken antics are quite cute. As he kept doing things that were utterly dumbfounding, Yoongeon’s expression softened without him realizing it.

“If you’re drunk, just sleep. Why are you resisting so much.”

As he sat on the edge of the bed, Seohwi stirred and lay his head on his lap. He calls him cute, and now he’s doing things that are just beyond belief.

“Come here…”

“I’m here.”

Well, I’ll be. A moment ago he was trying to kick me out asking why I was here, and now he’s telling me to come here. He’s treating me like a dog that he’s raising.

But nowhere on Yoongeon’s face was there any sign of displeasure. Rather, he looked pleased. For starters, the hand that was stroking Seohwi’s hair was like that.

“Why are you staying awake instead of sleeping.”

Even when told that this was enough and to go to sleep, Seohwi just blinked his eyes and said nothing for a long time. Then, when Yoongeon stopped stroking his hair, he would look at him with a meaning that said, what are you doing, not petting me. Now that he looked at it, it was Seohwi, not him, who was acting like a dog. Yoongeon had to hold back a burst of laughter several times.

“Why… were you so late.”

Seohwi, who had been receiving the petting for a while, suddenly grumbled.

“What?”

“You said you’d come right away… but why were you so late.”

“No, that’s because…”

For a moment, Yoongeon was at a loss for words. It was because it was awkward to say that although he had gone early, he couldn’t easily take a step forward because of a question that had suddenly occurred to him.

“I wanted to, leave early because of the team leader.”

He paused in the middle of his slowly spoken words, as if he had been wronged.

“What about the team leader.”

“…He kept saying I had to drink even though I said I didn’t want to. He said it’s a tradition.”

“Tradition?”

A tradition, he says. As far as he knew, there was no such tradition at Shinhyun. Yoongeon let out a scoffing laugh. “Hah.”

“Talking about tradition, my ass…”

No matter how he thought about it, he felt he couldn’t let this slide peacefully. This was even more so for a human who, while spouting nonsense about a nonexistent tradition, forced someone who didn’t want to drink, and still didn’t know what he had done wrong.

“Why were you just passively putting up with it. You could have just said you didn’t want to and left.”

“…”

At those words, Seohwi thought for a moment and held his tongue. Was there some reason, he was about to ask, when he said something that was simply impossible to ignore.

“He said the team was going to be disbanded anyway.”

“What was.”

“Our team. …He said I would definitely be placed under Oh Wansu.”

What is this nonsense now. The team Yoongeon was leading was a temporary one, so it would naturally be disbanded, but that didn’t mean Seohwi would suddenly be transferred to the design engineering team. Their jobs were clearly different.

Even if this team was disbanded, Seohwi was highly likely to be placed under Chief Ha and Manager Kim Jia. After all, he had joined as a design competition winner.

“If I wanted to keep working at the company… he said I had to drink…”

Seohwi, drunk, said things he probably wouldn’t have said otherwise, as if he were tattling. His furrowed brow didn’t relax the entire time he spoke, as if he had been quite upset.

“That won’t happen.”

“…”

And so, Yoongeon spoke firmly.

“There’s no way you’ll be joining that team.”

Even if he did join that team, the man named Oh Wansu wouldn’t be there. Yoongeon’s two eyes glinted fiercely.

“…?”

It was then. Seohwi, who was looking at Yoongeon telling him that it wouldn’t happen, raised his hand and gently tapped the corner of his eye.

“Don’t scrunch it up.”

“What are you talking about.”

He hadn’t scrunched it up. Hadn’t it been a very long time since anything like an expression had disappeared from his face? He turned his head to look in the mirror to see where there was a trace of a scrunch on his always-the-same face, and sure enough, there was no trace to be seen.

But Seohwi was persistent. He kept muttering not to scrunch it up, and when even that didn’t seem to satisfy him, he hugged Yoongeon’s waist again and rubbed his head against his stomach. Then he started insisting that he lie down too.

“You have to let go for me to lie down.”

“…”

At the words that he would lie down so please let go, he didn’t answer at all and only hugged him tighter. At this rate, he might have to sit awkwardly all night, but for him to be so unreservedly childish with him, such a hardship didn’t matter at all. Even if he were told to stay like this for a lifetime, not just one night, Yoongeon could do it.

“…Your drunken habits are still the same.”

He had never told him that he sometimes acted like this when he drank. It was because he thought that Seohwi, who already avoided alcohol, might not drink at all if he did. Yoongeon smiled faintly when he wasn’t looking.

“Seohwi, come here.”

That was why. Because his heart had softened for a change, Yoongeon unwittingly acted as he used to.

As he spoke affectionately while looking at him and opened his arms, Seohwi familiarly wrapped his arms around the nape of his neck. Yoongeon lay down on the bed while holding him.

“Now, sleep.”

“…”

“Close your eyes.”

Seohwi, who had been only looking at Yoongeon even when told to sleep, finally closed his eyes at the command to do so. As he patted his back as one would for a child fussing before sleep, he soon began to breathe evenly.

“You really are a handful…”

He’s not like this at other times, but when he’s drunk, he acts just young and soft. He’s been like that since the old days. It felt strange to realize that while some things had changed with his rebirth, some things remained the same.

Come to think of it, Seohwi was always born with a certain degree of his own disposition. He didn’t know about when he wasn’t human, but at least when he was born as a human, that’s how it was. He knew from watching him for a long time as he lived, sometimes with an indifferent nature, and at other times with an affectionate one.

And naturally, no matter what form he appeared in, Yoongeon always loved him.