IOB Ch 13

“…Me?”

“You said you need to know my body properly to decide on styling direction.”

Subtly… it sounded like something I would say, and it gave me chills. I had always been dissatisfied with Woo Seonrim wearing loose clothes all the time. Didn’t I just think about that earlier while looking at his body?

“You kissed me and touched me all over.”

“…”

“Then you passed out midway. Acting like nothing happened and like you have no interest in me at all, it kind of stings, you know?”

Woo Seonrim stared at me intensely, pointing with his fingertips near his collarbone. Only then did I notice the red marks on his pale skin. No way.

“You did this too, Director.”

“Me, I did?”

“You seem like someone who lacks self-awareness, Director.”

“Why is this guy suddenly insulting me…?”

“You’re misunderstanding too many things. First of all, you may deny it, but you’re quite fond of me right now.”

“…”

“Just admit it a little. I told you this would happen. You were bound to like me, Director. And you’ll like me more and more.”

Woo Seonrim’s eyes, reciting these words calmly, were clear yet piercing. It was as if he were stating an absolute law of nature, his gaze allowing no rebuttal. His stubborn assertion almost brainwashed me for a moment. It really seemed like I might actually like Woo Seonrim.

“And there’s one more thing you’re misunderstanding.”

“…”

“I have no intention of letting you top me. I’m going to top you, so you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Hey, what… ugh.”

In my shock, I spoke too quickly and bit my tongue. A sharp pain shot through, and tears welled up in my eyes. What did I just hear?

I barely moved my throbbing tongueuldade and said, “Damn, what are you saying? You’re going to top me? Spouting such nonsense so earnestly…”

“That’s what the contract entails.”

I was speechless for a moment. I had never agreed to Woo Seonrim’s claimed sex position. Honestly, I’d been avoiding thinking too deeply about this until now.

If we were to seriously and meticulously discuss it now, shouldn’t I obviously be the one topping? Not that it’s exactly appealing, but the alternative was unthinkable, even in imagination.

“When did we ever decide on that? Look at you. I’m way more masculine. You’re just tall and lanky. And younger…”

“Your way of thinking is pretty old-fashioned. Judging by appearance and age? That’s quite… Korean of you.”

“What, you punk?”

“Since it came up, let’s settle it now. Do you want to top me, Director? Do you often feel that kind of desire when you look at me?”

“No, are you crazy? If I had to do it, I’d at least rather not be the bottom.”

“So you don’t particularly want it. But I do. I really want to top you, Director. Shouldn’t we give the win to the one who wants it more?”

“What, what, damn…”

I couldn’t help but stutter. I was dumbfounded by Woo Seonrim saying such things with a straight face. His dark eyes gleamed as he spewed absurd sentences without blinking once.

I didn’t want to admit it, but his intensity made my shoulders slump slightly. Who wouldn’t? A naked guy, nearly 190cm tall, saying this right in front of you… and his thing is still half-erect.

“I think about it every day. Imagining having sex with you, Director.”

“That’s gross…”

Humans are definitely beasts driven mad by lust.

“Seeing how repulsed you are, it must be your first time bottoming.”

“What, you think I’ve done it before?”

Woo Seonrim, who had been maintaining a blank expression while fixing his chilling gaze on me, suddenly smiled. His lips slowly curved into a smile that was undeniably beautiful but somehow eerie.

“You have a first too, Director… That’s so nice.”

“You’re obsessed like some creepy pervert mister, you know that?”

“I won’t deny being a pervert. But since it’s my first time too, I want to take your first. In terms of equivalent exchange.”

“Ugh, so annoying. Get lost…”

Why did I make such a fuss over this guy’s looks yesterday? Why did I foolishly agonize over how to protect Woo Seonrim even while groveling in front of my eldest hyung? If he didn’t have musical talent, I would’ve dumped him under a bridge a hundred times by now.

“I’ve been working hard to give you my first, Director.”

“Nonsense. How long have we even known each other?”

The thought grew stronger that I absolutely couldn’t let Woo Seonrim know I was a virgin in every sense. Who knew he’d be such a freak for virgins? I snapped irritably, fuming.

“Keep acting like this, and I’ll go find some random guy to lose my backdoor virginity to.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Woo Seonrim’s smile vanished, and his eyes narrowed. I spat out words I didn’t mean in a fit of anger.

“Rather than giving my backdoor virginity to a pervert like you, I’d do that just to mess with you.”

Woo Seonrim’s hardened expression softened, and he gave a faint smile.

“Sure, try it. It won’t void our contract, and my resolve won’t change.”

“You want to sleep with me that badly? I really don’t get it. Why? Argh, forget it. I don’t want to! I refuse! Just offer up your own ass.”

“…”

“It was already a big deal for me to even consider sleeping with you. Why demand this too?”

Woo Seonrim listened silently to my protests for a while, then slowly picked up his clothes from the floor, one by one, and said, “Director, I think I should make breakfast today. Even if you don’t get bad hangovers, you overdid it yesterday. Is there any dried pollack left?”

“Changing the subject? Ignoring me?”

“You ignore my feelings, so can’t I ignore your words a bit? That’s only fair, right?”

“…”

“I’ll wash up first. Come out when you’re ready.”

Woo Seonrim gave a slight nod with a faint smile and left the bedroom. His footsteps sounded calm at first glance, but his cold, sunken eyes suggested he was seriously upset. It was a different reaction than usual. Maybe because we see each other every day, I could read his emotions clearly today.

…Wait, why is he the one getting mad? While I stood frozen in shock, the sound of water came from the bathroom where Woo Seonrim had gone. I let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.

I can not want to bottom. My opinion doesn’t matter, and he just pushes his own agenda. And yesterday, what, how much did we even do? Judging by Woo Seonrim’s changed attitude, something awkward definitely happened. But we didn’t go all the way, so why act like we’re dating and talk about whether I like him or not?

Fuming, I couldn’t hold back and kicked the mattress in frustration.

“Damn…”

Should I have just agreed to bottom earlier? I have my male pride.

Woo Seonrim was driving me crazy with his audacity, but the image of his eyes losing their smile and hardening kept lingering. His back as he turned away from me. Is he saying he’s hurt or something? Bickering and getting annoyed with each other is just daily life. It’s not like I’ve only said I dislike him once or twice…

“Argh!”

I scratched my messy hair and shouted. A part of me felt uneasy. I didn’t like feeling this way because of Woo Seonrim or being cautious of his mood. To make matters worse, a hangover I usually didn’t get was making me nauseous.

۶ৎ

Woo Seonrim cooking dried pollack soup was a brilliant choice. With the sudden hangover hitting me, I would’ve struggled at work without it. I sipped the perfectly seasoned soup, glancing at Woo Seonrim sitting across from me.

Silence hung over the table for a while. While I was washing up, Woo Seonrim had quickly prepared breakfast, gestured for me to eat, and hadn’t spoken since. His strange silence, like when we first met, made the heaviness from earlier even worse.

As always, I was the one to break the silence first.

“Mr. Seonrim, I’ll send Driver Kim this afternoon, so come to the office.”

“…”

Woo Seonrim looked up at me, chewing his food slowly without answering. His eating style, painfully slow compared to my quick meals, was infuriating.

This guy has a real talent for getting on people’s nerves. I don’t know why I feel so guilty and restless right now. After chewing for an eternity, Woo Seonrim took a sip of water and said, “Why?”

“I said we’d work on your style last time.”

“Oh.”

“Let’s buy some clothes today and get your hair trimmed.”

“…”

“Maybe we can have dinner out too. Tell me if there’s anything you want to buy.”

Man… Choi Yisak, you’ve really softened. I hadn’t planned to go shopping today, but I suggested it to ease the awkward tension from this morning. Woo Seonrim had mentioned wanting to go on a date a few times before.

He listened to me and just nodded. I thought he’d be more excited, so it was unexpected. It’s not exactly a date, but close enough, right? Why’s he reacting like that? My chest felt heavier. His lukewarm response soured my mood too.

“I’m saying I’ll buy you whatever you want today.”

“…I don’t really want anything.”

“Then I’ll pick everything out?”

“Sure.”

“Why’s your reaction so dull?”

“How should I react?”

“Be a bit happier. I’m making time to meet you outside.”

“I’m happy.”

For someone claiming to be happy, Woo Seonrim’s voice was flat, and a gloomy air lingered on his face.

“Ugh, come on… What’s wrong? Are you sulking?”

“Sulking, no.”

“You’ve been acting weird since our talk this morning.”

“If it seemed that way, I’m sorry.”

“Sigh.”

“I was just a bit shocked because I didn’t expect you to be so repulsed by the idea of sleeping with me. It’s so different from last night.”

That damn last night. I’m never touching alcohol again.

“I was pretty happy yesterday.”

“…”

“No, it’s fine. You must act like that with anyone when you’re drunk, Director. I misunderstood, so I’ll deal with my feelings.”

Woo Seonrim’s expression was calm. He didn’t seem particularly hurt or angry. That made me even more on edge, and I felt my forehead heat up. Then a blurry scene flashed through my mind.

‘Keep going, keep going… Your hands are cold, feels… ugh, good…’

‘It’s troublesome when you act like this but say you don’t like me. I’m holding back.’

‘Huh? No. I like you quite a bit…’

‘You should deny it outright. You were doing that earlier.’

‘If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t do this.’

‘What are we doing?’

‘You don’t need to know. I’ll protect you.’

‘What did you say?’

‘Never mind. Just keep touching me.’

And then, another scene shortly after.

‘Ah, Seonrim… ah! Don’t go anywhere. Got it?’

‘Where would I go?’

‘You… without you, I can’t do this. I can’t live…’

‘I know.’

‘No, I’m serious… When you disappeared, do you know how hard it was for me? You damn… jerk… Don’t go. When you quit music…’

‘…’

‘I thought I’d die of sadness…’

‘Director, you like me, don’t you?’

‘Mhm.’

Clatter. My hand went limp, and I dropped my spoon. Woo Seonrim glanced at me curiously. I quickly bowed my head, trying to steady my erratic breathing.

Damn, damn, damn. I cursed myself internally. I said all sorts of things. What the hell did I say, and how far did I go? A chill ran down my neck. I could see why Woo Seonrim felt betrayed and upset. In my fragmented memories, I was pouring out affection to him with a desperate voice.

As I stopped eating, lost in self-loathing and shock, Woo Seonrim asked quietly, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“…”

“Is the seasoning off?”

“Huh? Oh, no. It’s delicious.”

I hurriedly forced an awkward smile and picked up my spoon. Woo Seonrim’s gaze lingered on my forehead before dropping. I wanted to act nonchalant, but my face and whole body felt hot.

I thought my only bad drinking habit was crying pathetically. I’d never lost control and blabbered like that before. If I had, I would’ve quit drinking long ago. With hyena-like people around me, I couldn’t afford to create situations where I’d spill my weaknesses.

I realized this time that when my brain is soaked in alcohol, my language skills plummet. I should’ve said, ‘I like your music.’ But by skipping a few words, I ended up confessing, ‘I like you.’ Why the hell did I do that?

Last night, I was definitely mentally and physically compromised. It’s all because of that damn President Choi’s birthday, making me go to the family house. The mental shock from talking to my eldest hyung was too much.

The rice that tasted good earlier now felt like sand. Not wanting to disrespect the cook, I forced myself to chew and glanced at Woo Seonrim. He looked dry as usual at first glance, but his eyes were different. They had a sharp edge, clearly showing he was annoyed.

I didn’t want to bring up last night’s conversation or make excuses. Woo Seonrim seemed to have misunderstood my drunken ramblings, but I didn’t need to clear that up first.

…But did Woo Seonrim really go down on me? Did I make him do that and then ditch him? Isn’t that… trashy? If he thinks I’m some promiscuous guy who just talks big, I didn’t have much to say in my defense.

Damn, who’s to blame? It’s all my own doing.

۶ৎ

I’m a pervert, but a pervert with a conscience. I know the minimum moral standards humans should uphold. For someone raised in the Choi family, I’m pretty upright.

So, acknowledging that I hurt Woo Seonrim a bit, I planned to make it up to him today in various ways. Even to quell the faint guilt creeping up, I had to cheer him up quickly.

I finished all my payment tasks early and had Driver Kim bring Woo Seonrim to a select shop near the company. When Woo Seonrim got out of the car, his face looked somewhat sulky. He wore slightly short cotton pants that couldn’t handle his long legs and a knit from a sports brand.

“Hmm… let’s change your clothes first.”

At my muttering, Woo Seonrim tilted his head.

“They’re still fine.”

“They don’t fit your shoulder line. The material’s not great either. And the pants are too short, obviously.”

“…”

“Even for ready-to-wear, you should consider your body type.”

“Is my body type bad?”

Woo Seonrim pouted slightly.

“No, it’s way above average.”

This wasn’t just to cheer him up; it was sincere. It was almost a shame that someone with a model-like physique had no interest in fashion. It was a similar frustration to seeing him avoid the stage despite his musical talent.

Do people who are too perfect get careless about their appearance? But as someone who’s also exceptional, I’ve learned that putting in effort never hurts. The better the foundation, the bigger the payoff with minimal work.

“Mr. Seonrim, let’s try on a bunch of clothes today. Pick anything you like.”

“You’re buying?”

“Would I make you buy them?”

Woo Seonrim kept looking at me with a disinterested expression. I almost got annoyed but held back. Does this guy know how much the clothes I’m buying him today cost? I rented out a shop run by an acquaintance and even called in a personal shopper. All for Woo Seonrim.

But the man himself was lukewarm. I thought his stiff face would soften a bit. Come on, what was I expecting? When has Woo Seonrim ever reacted enthusiastically? I figured as the older one, I’d have to let it slide to ease the mood.

“I went out of my way to get you an apartment, but you barely go there. So I’m at least giving you clothes as a gift.”

“…A gift.”

“Yeah, a gift.”

Woo Seonrim’s droopy eyes twitched slightly.

“You don’t have to give me gifts like this.”

“When you dress up nicely, it makes me feel good too.”

“…Really? Why?”

“You’re asking such a basic question, I don’t know what to say. Because… seeing pretty things makes me feel good? And when a pretty guy dresses even prettier, it feels even better.”

“Am I pretty?”

“You’d know if you looked in a mirror.”

“I know, but I was wondering if I’m pretty in your eyes, Director.”

As I was briskly exchanging words with Woo Seonrim in our usual detached manner, my eyes briefly met those of an employee standing at a distance. The employee immediately lowered their head politely, pretending not to see me. Why are they acting like that? I wondered for a moment before it hit me.

To them, I must look like a fool head over heels for my male lover. Renting out an entire shop to buy him clothes was one thing, but I even got him an apartment—anyone would think that’s the case.

Lately, even without intending to, I kept getting misunderstood. I felt a bit embarrassed by the reactions around me, but I didn’t go out of my way to explain our relationship in detail. That would only make it weirder.

Anyway, the staff here were all tight-lipped. They’d seen all sorts of things in their line of work, so a guy hanging out with his male lover was no big deal. High-end membership shops were the kind of place where all sorts of romantic scandals were tucked away. Being mistaken for dating Woo Seonrim didn’t even feel new anymore.

I casually sat on a chair and waved my hand dismissively.

“Hurry up and try on what they give you. We’ve got a lot of places to go today.”

His hair needed trimming, his nails needed a manicure, and we were scheduled to visit a posture correction center. Since it was hard to carve out time over multiple days, I was determined to get everything done at once.

Of course, Woo Seonrim was already great as he was, but when it came to media exposure, he needed to be flawless to an almost inhuman degree. A polished presence from head to toe, without a single imperfection. The slight discomfort that comes from excessive perfection would be the final piece to complete Woo Seonrim’s enigmatic image.

The public didn’t need to know about him waking up with bedhead or puffy eyes. Everyday imperfections only diminish the value of a luxury product. Especially for those who frequent concert halls, they needed to be offered a meticulously crafted fantasy.

Woo Seonrim’s daily life was something only I needed to know. Would he even think of sharing it with anyone else? I doubt it.

I placed my hands on my knees and stared intently at Woo Seonrim, who was standing there blankly. Being dragged around by the personal shopper and listening to their explanations, he looked like a kid at a new kindergarten. From a distance, he was kind of cute. Why is it that such a beautiful exterior hides a crazy person inside…?

۶ৎ

For the next hour or so, Woo Seonrim’s fashion show continued.

I had sent the personal shopper his photos and body measurements in advance, and they had curated a selection of clothes from various brands to suit him. From sporty to semi-formal. It was late March, the transitional season, so the styling options were diverse.

It was entertaining to watch in many ways. Even with great styling, it would’ve been boring if the model was subpar, but Woo Seonrim pulled off everything effortlessly. Each time he came out in a new outfit, the personal shopper let out subtle, non-overbearing exclamations.

“Your legs are so long, it’s hard to find pants with the right length for your waist size.”

“This pattern is tough to pull off for most people, but it looks amazing on you.”

“With such striking features, even basic pieces…”

I kept nodding from the side. It wasn’t even my praise, but I felt oddly pleased. It was validation of my good taste. He wore ready-to-wear like it was tailored for him, so a custom-made concert suit would undoubtedly make him shine even more.

While I suppressed my excitement, Woo Seonrim silently moved back and forth to the fitting room. Changing into multiple outfits must have been tiring, but he didn’t complain. He just stood there, slightly bewildered, waiting for my reaction.

A compliant Woo Seonrim like this? His subtly stiff expression since arriving at the shop seemed to have softened a bit. As expected, spending some money was the way to win him over.

Just as I was savoring the most pleasant moment of the day, an uninvited guest appeared. I had rented out the place for the entire evening, so who dared to barge in?

“Why aren’t you answering your phone? I was looking for you.”

It was Choi Geonyeong.

“What the hell? How did you know I was here?”

Choi Geonyeong shrugged and walked toward me. The sun had already set, so why was he wearing sunglasses?

“This shop belongs to my friend.”

“Oh, damn. Did Seongyeon hyung tell you I was coming here today?”

“Your connections are my connections, got it? You’re in the palm of my hand.”

Choi Geonyeong took off his sunglasses, hooked them onto his jacket’s front pocket, and shoved his hands into his pants. He looked every bit like a thug. His heavily gelled, slicked-back hair was greasy, and the overpowering cologne he’d doused himself in made my nose sting as he approached.

I openly wrinkled my nose and stared at Choi Geonyeong. If possible, I didn’t want my family meeting Woo Seonrim. He might pick up bad habits, and more than anything, it was embarrassing. This guy, with his shirt unbuttoned to show off his shoulder tattoo, swaggering like a punk, was my brother…

I should tell Woo Seonrim to wait in the car. Whatever Choi Geonyeong came to see me about, it couldn’t be anything good.

But just then, Woo Seonrim, fresh out of the fitting room, slithered to my side like a snake. An odd situation unfolded with Choi Geonyeong and Woo Seonrim standing face-to-face, with me in the middle.

Choi Geonyeong casually pulled a cigarette from his pants and said, “This guy’s Woo Seonrim?”

This thirty-seven-year-old doesn’t know indoor smoking is banned? Especially in a clothing store. No one here would call him out for lighting up, but isn’t it basic manners and common sense?

More importantly, Woo Seonrim hated the smell of cigarettes. For the record, I’d switched to vaping a month ago and hadn’t touched a real cigarette since. Before Choi Geonyeong could light it, I hurriedly smacked the back of his hand. He looked at me, dumbfounded.

“What are you doing?”

“Hyung, have some civic awareness. Smoking here? Don’t you know I’m quitting?”

“Quitting? You’re vaping.”

“That counts as quitting.”

“You ignore my calls and now you’re talking back the moment we meet?”

“I didn’t ignore you; I was too busy to notice the phone.”

I’d put my phone on silent after work, not wanting to be disturbed. Choi Geonyeong chewed the cigarette’s tip a few times before crumpling it in half and tossing it to the floor.

“When did you become such a model citizen? Ruining a good cigarette.”

Choi Geonyeong let out a hollow laugh and tried to wrap his arm around my neck. He called it a hug, but he probably meant to choke me with his muscled forearm. Just before I was caught in his grip, a strong force pulled me back.

Woo Seonrim, bless him, yanked me behind him to shield me. Standing up to a thug-like Choi Geonyeong to protect me. That was… pretty admirable.

Woo Seonrim turned to me and asked, “Who’s that guy?”

His face was calm but coldly composed. And he didn’t even glance at Choi Geonyeong—such nerve. Truly, an extraordinary person had extraordinary guts.

“Are you close with him?”

Woo Seonrim’s grip on my arm tightened. He’s my half-brother, so with half the same blood, I guess we’re close. But before I could answer, Choi Geonyeong, who’d been watching us with an annoyed expression, butted in.

“We’re very close.”

“Oh.”

Only then did Woo Seonrim turn to look at Choi Geonyeong steadily.

“We’ve had a lot of physical conversations too.”

Damn, does he count beating me up as a physical conversation? Irritation surged, and I scowled. His slimy, smirking face made my blood rush to my head.

“Hyung, are you crazy? Saying it like that will make him misunderstand.”

I snapped at him and took a step toward Choi Geonyeong, but a force stopped me, making my body sway. Woo Seonrim was stubbornly trying to block me with his lanky frame. His hand, gripping my arm, was trembling slightly, but his next words sounded calm and composed.

“I wasn’t asking you; I was asking the Director. Director, answer me. What’s your relationship?”

“He’s just my hyung, my brother! Family.”

Woo Seonrim glanced at me sideways, blinking slowly. His dark eyes wavered slightly.

“…Director, don’t tell me, even with family…”

“What?”

“How could you, with family… You’re really a deplorable person.”

My blood pressure spiked, and my neck tensed.

“Hey, you damn… What are you misunderstanding? I’m gonna puke, so stop it.”

“I’m the one who’s going to puke, Director.”

Woo Seonrim looked genuinely shocked, believing Choi Geonyeong’s joke. Common sense—how could that even be possible? How depraved does he think I am to assume I’d do something unredeemable like that? Incest? Damn, just imagining going to a sauna with that guy gives me goosebumps. I was dumbfounded and furious, my face burning.

It’s all because of that bastard Choi Geonyeong. His crazy, thuggish appearance made the joke sound more believable. He was clearly enjoying this. His slimy smile deepened. I shouted as if possessed.

“Hyung! Say it’s not true, now!”

“What?”

Choi Geonyeong shrugged. I felt nauseous, like bile was rising. Woo Seonrim, with an even darker expression, mumbled, “You said you’ve never bottomed. So, you… with your brother…?”

“What, you think I did?”

Choi Geonyeong clutched his chest dramatically, acting coy.

“Oh my.”

Like someone chanting a curse, Woo Seonrim continued muttering darkly.

“With your own brother… How… So even while preparing for marriage, you’re thinking of sleeping with someone else…?”

“Look, technically, he’s my half-brother. Different mothers.”

“Oh… Ohh.”

Choi Geonyeong’s unnecessarily detailed explanation made Woo Seonrim’s expression even darker. I was losing it. I was too exasperated to even bother clarifying. No matter what I said, Choi Geonyeong would just stir the pot further. And Woo Seonrim didn’t seem in a state to accept anything I said.

Putting two crazy people together like this causes chaos. I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if Woo Seonrim met President Choi or my eldest hyung.

Woo Seonrim muttered quietly for a while before glaring at Choi Geonyeong.

“You must’ve seduced the Director.”

Choi Geonyeong burst out laughing.

“The Director can be weird sometimes, but he’s secretly diligent and upright. He wouldn’t have initiated it.”

“Think what you want.”

“Stay away from the Director from now on.”

“That’s not possible. Yisak and I are tied by blood. It’s different from you. Our relationship started differently.”

I fought back the urge to gag and shouted, “Ugh, stop it! It’s disgusting.”

“Little bro, calling your hyung disgusting?”

“Is it fun to mess with an innocent kid? Can’t you see he’s freaking out?”

“Innocent kid? Look at his eyes. He’s glaring at me like he wants to kill me. Taking his boyfriend’s side in front of his hyung. Stop acting pathetic.”

“You’re not one to talk, picking a fight with a kid eleven years younger than you.”

“…Eleven years? That big of a gap? Younger than I thought.”

Mentioning age made Choi Geonyeong hesitate. At the same time, for some reason, Woo Seonrim lowered his head, and the tense atmosphere calmed slightly.

“Mr. Seonrim, you okay?”

I threw out a concerned word. Woo Seonrim slowly released my arm and glanced at me. A flush crept onto his usually pale face.

“Boyfriend…”

Then, uncharacteristically, he mumbled shyly. What? That’s creepy.

“Why didn’t you deny the boyfriend thing…?”

I instinctively stepped back from Woo Seonrim.

“No, is that what matters right now?”

Choi Geonyeong’s teasing word caught his attention at a time like this?

“It matters to me.”

I wondered what kind of mental framework Woo Seonrim operated on. Alert, then shocked, and now shrinking in embarrassment with his large frame. His shyness rubbed off on me, making my face heat up.

Crazy guy… Does he like me too much? As I stood there, lips flapping in confusion, Choi Geonyeong suddenly smacked the back of my head.

“Ow!”

It hurt so much that stars flashed before my eyes. It wasn’t a playful tap but a full-swing hit. My nose stung, and tears nearly welled up, but getting hit like this was normal between us. I’d grumble a bit about the force and move on.

“…Why did you hit the Director?”

But to Woo Seonrim, it seemed like a serious incident. His face rapidly cooled, the flush disappeared, and his complexion turned even paler than usual.

“Mr. Seonrim, I’m fine—”

Woo Seonrim hurriedly wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his embrace.

“…Let, let go.”

This was too much. My head throbbed, not from pain but from embarrassment. I squirmed, pulling slightly away from Woo Seonrim’s hold.

But his hands still gripped my shoulders like a baseball. A cold voice slipped from his subtly twisted lips.

“Who are you to hit the Director?”

“Me? Yisak’s hyung.”

Round two began. The shop’s staff had already discreetly slipped away. No one was here to save me. It felt like I’d stepped into a trashy morning soap opera. Family and lover fighting… Well, not lover, of course.

“Hey, this Woo Seonrim guy’s got some fire. Not what I heard from my guys.”

“…”

“They said he’s quiet and low-energy.”

Woo Seonrim tilted his head slowly.

“Report? Oh, so you’re the one who put a tail on me.”

“Stop saying ‘you’ like that. Didn’t you hear? I’m eleven years older than you.”

“Well… Congratulations on being old.”

Choi Geonyeong glared menacingly, but I froze, shocked not just that Woo Seonrim was tailed but that he’d noticed. I’d expected Choi Geonyeong to have people dig into Woo Seonrim’s background, but they shouldn’t have gotten caught. And now he’s flaunting it in front of him. I had a strong urge to kick Choi Geonyeong’s shin. He’d probably hit back, but at thirty, I was confident I wouldn’t just take it anymore.

Choi Geonyeong felt like a walking time bomb. What if he blabs that I asked for Woo Seonrim’s background check? What would Woo Seonrim think of me then? I wanted him to lose interest in sex or whatever, but I couldn’t afford to ruin my image to the point he’d refuse to deal with me as a person. I still needed Woo Seonrim.

My heart pounded anxiously, but Choi Geonyeong responded to Woo Seonrim casually.

“Oh, you knew?”

“The tailing was sloppy.”

“No way. I put my best guys on it. Little bro, did you tip him off?”

As feared, the blame came my way. I pretended to know nothing.

“What did you do to Mr. Seonrim? This won’t do. We need to talk privately.”

Choi Geonyeong grinned, staring at me piercingly. It was his typical smile when he thought he had something on me.

“Hyung, you said you urgently needed me. Let’s talk outside.”

“Our little bro’s playing coy in front of his boyfriend.”

“I said let’s go outside.”

Suppressing my anger and glaring at Choi Geonyeong, I heard Woo Seonrim mutter softly beside me.

“Boyfriend…”

I was losing it. I had to separate Choi Geonyeong from Woo Seonrim immediately.

“Mr. Seonrim, wait here.”

“…”

Woo Seonrim’s lips drooped, as if pleading not to be left alone, but I had no choice. Leaving him with Choi Geonyeong any longer would only taint him.

۶ৎ

When I dragged Choi Geonyeong out of the shop and shoved him into the backseat of my car, his previously smug face hardened.

“Little bro, stay away from that guy.”

The moment I heard this, I got irritated. I sent Driver Kim out to stand by the car, and as soon as it was just the two of us, I snapped sharply.

“What are you talking about? Why’d you come all the way here? You’re not exactly free.”

“I heard some interesting stuff and wanted to tell you right away.”

“Then spit it out.”

“First, let’s be clear. How long are you going to mess around with that guy?”

“That guy?”

“Woo Seonrim.”

“Hyung, calling a person ‘that guy’? He’s not an object.”

“I’m giving you sincere advice—stay away from Woo Seonrim. He’s not right in the head.”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

Choi Geonyeong paused, then let out a long sigh. Uncharacteristically, his face turned serious. It was a rare sight, making me tense up. What kind of info did he dig up to act like this?

My eldest hyung told me to follow his orders if I wanted to keep protecting Woo Seonrim, but Choi Geonyeong’s saying to ditch him. Can’t the only full siblings in the Choi family get their stories straight? I didn’t know whose tune to follow.

Everything felt shrouded in fog. One thing was certain: both my eldest hyung and Choi Geonyeong were potential threats to Woo Seonrim. That realization had been gnawing at me ever since.

“I got in touch with someone who knows Woo Seonrim.”

And then, from Choi Geonyeong’s mouth, even more unsettling facts started pouring out.

I sat silently, listening blankly to it all.