JD 125

Startled by the name on the screen, Hakyung shot upright. The sudden movement made him sway dangerously, and Muheon quickly caught him.

With a kiss of thanks on Muheon’s cheek, Hakyung hurriedly pressed the call button.

“Hello!”

— Yes, Mr. Hakyung. Are you available to talk?

“Yes, yes! I am!”

He even nodded eagerly, though the other person couldn’t see it. It was cute, but Muheon didn’t love seeing him focused on someone else.

By the time Muheon’s mood had stiffened into a tight line, the ‘yes, yes’–filled call finally ended.

Before Hakyung could even press the end button, Muheon pulled him onto his lap. The grab was lightning fast. One blink, and Hakyung was already sitting on his thigh, blinking in confusion as he explained what the call was about.

“They already scheduled me.”

“Oh yeah? When do you start?”

“Uh… tomorrow.”

It hadn’t even been a full day, and management had already sent a week’s worth of scheduling.

It wasn’t hard to guess that Beom Urim had a hand in it. He clearly planned to handle everything within the one week Muheon had granted.

Even though it was expected, Muheon gave a neutral hum.

Excited about doing something outside of YouTube, Hakyung’s nostrils flared with hot puffs of air.

Muheon gently pinched the tip of his cute nose, then wrapped his arms around him and lay back on the bench.

Hakyung let out a beaming smile, flopping over into Muheon’s broad chest.

“Wow, the sky is so pretty!”

“You’re prettier, Kang Hakyung.”

“No way, Lee Muheon’s the pretty one.”

The two exchanged flattery with sparkles in their eyes as they looked over the schedule email together.

Their jaws dropped at how packed the week was.

“Wait… the filming starts in the afternoon, so why do I have to be at the salon at the crack of dawn?”

“Hmm. Maybe they want to glam you up like for our wedding?”

“Does that mean I can’t wear my hat?!”

Hakyung clutched his hat and cried out in panic. He had only taken it off for the wedding and the amusement park, both very special occasions.

Now he was expected to go without it for an entire week. The thought terrified him.

Muheon wasn’t thrilled either, knowing that without the hat, Hakyung would look even more adorable and irresistible.

Can’t he just wear it anyway?

They exchanged the same worried glance. Hakyung immediately called the team leader and had a long, drawn-out conversation.

In the end, it was a partial success.

“Sigh… They said it’d be best if I didn’t wear the hat tomorrow.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. What should I do? I’m so nervous… Can I really do this on my own?”

Muheon tilted his head.

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

“Hmm? On your own?”

“Huh?”

As Muheon echoed his words, Hakyung tilted his head too, confused.

That’s when Muheon realized, he’d never actually said aloud that he was going with him the whole week.

Sometimes their lack of communication was entirely his fault.

Just like now.

In Muheon’s mind, the plan had always been to accompany Hakyung everywhere. With that bastard still out there, he couldn’t risk letting Hakyung out of his sight.

He just hadn’t said it out loud.

“I’m going with you.”

“Wait… Really? What about work? A whole week?”

“If the company’s golden dolphin can take a week off, the CEO sure as hell can.”

Hakyung pouted.

“I got official permission, though.”

“So did I.”

“From who?”

“From me. I’m the CEO, remember?”

Muheon laughed softly and hugged him again.

Hakyung, once again curled into Muheon’s chest, pulled his pouting lips back in and giggled.

The truth was, his heart had been pounding with joy ever since Muheon said he’d come along.

Just knowing he wouldn’t be alone made all his worries about the hat vanish.

***

Meanwhile, vile curses were pouring from the window of a dingy one-room apartment on the edge of Seoul.

Slamming his fingers against a keyboard, Kim Taeyoung was taking out his rage on everything and everyone around him.

“Fucking hell! That brain-dead bastard Kang Hakyung—!”

He had just seen Hakyung’s posted schedule on the Muilmui YouTube community tab, and his already boiling anger hit a new high.

He nearly hurled the monitor across the room, but the man behind him quickly grabbed his wrist.

“Taeyoung! Stop! You’re going to get hurt!”

“Let go, or I’ll throw you too!”

“I-I’m not letting go!”

The big man refused to release him. Because of that, Kim Taeyoung couldn’t throw the monitor and instead kicked the guy over and over again.

The man tried to shield himself but ended up retreating into a corner.

“Get over here, you bastard!”

“Ow, it hurts… Taeyoung…”

Ugh. Stupid carp bastard. Did he think I was kicking him for fun?

Scoffing, Taeyoung stomped across the room to continue the beating.

After a while, his rage slightly eased, though his mouth still spat insults nonstop.

Kang Hakyung had gotten cast on the exact major program Taeyoung had wanted for himself.

The little shit wouldn’t even know what YouTube was if it hadn’t been for him, and now he was doing broadcast TV?

On top of that, he had the nerve to get married and post a wedding song video online? Fucking hell. A cringy couple act, no less.

The partner in the video? Obviously that freakishly strong “CEO” of his or whatever.

Seething, Kim Taeyoung zeroed in on the schedule.

He’d been stalking Hakyung ever since he escaped the island. And escaping the island hadn’t been easy.

It took weeks just to lure the carp bastard back to Seoul.

He barely kept in contact through a crappy signal, coaxing and manipulating the guy out of that rural hellhole.

Hakyung had ruined his life, dragged him and his innocent family straight into the gutter, yet now he dared to laugh and sing like nothing had happened?

He wanted to carve a line across that smooth, smug face.

He loitered around Hakyung’s company building, hoping for a chance.

But the dolphin always had someone with him. Even just for coffee runs during lunch, there was always a big guy by his side.

Each sighting only fueled Taeyoung’s fury.

Because of that idiotic river dolphin, his once-perfect life had collapsed into filth.

He could’ve been a celebrity, but now people barely even remembered his name.

It was all Kang Hakyung’s fault. That ungrateful bastard.

He had to remind him where he belonged. Under his feet, where he used to be.

Taeyoung grabbed a half-empty beer can and hurled it at the screen showing Hakyung singing.

Thunk! Foam dribbled out of the dented can and streamed over Hakyung’s smiling face.

“Fucking loser.”

He muttered under his breath and beckoned the man still crouched in the corner.

Head down, trembling, the man scurried over at once.

“Hey, carp bastard.”

“Taeyoung… I’m a snakehead fish…”

“Jesus, you live in water, it’s all the same. Carp, snakehead, whatever.”

“O-oh. Right.”

The man nodded like everything he said was gospel. What a spineless idiot.

Kim Taeyoung sneered internally.

His name was Moon Chiwoon, someone Taeyoung had nearly forgotten.

Back when he was banished to the island, he’d called this guy there to be his errand boy. Dumb, but obedient.

And more importantly, easy to manipulate.

Unlike Hakyung, there was no need for elaborate excuses, just a smile, and Chiwoon would hand over his soul.

Kim Taeyoung gave him a smile.

Chiwoon, who had just been pouting about the “carp” thing, immediately grinned back like an idiot.

So easy.

“See that?”

“Huh?”

Taeyoung pointed to a line in the corner of the schedule.

Hakyung’s only out-of-town appearance.

“Daegu Fumaz Park. Singing the anthem and throwing the opening pitch.”

“Get tickets. We’re going.”

“D-Daegu? I don’t… I don’t have any money…”

Chiwoon looked desperate.

He’d already spent everything he had to buy a boat to get Taeyoung off the island. Now he was also paying rent and covering food.

He didn’t even know what he’d eat tomorrow, how was he supposed to afford a train ticket?

But Taeyoung didn’t care.

“Then go do day labor, you idiot. Use your damn brain.”

“U-uh…”

“Get out. If you don’t bring me those tickets, don’t even think about coming back.”

Taeyoung shoved him out without hesitation.

Just because he’d been quiet for a few months didn’t mean his cruel nature had gone away.

Fine.

If he couldn’t get Hakyung alone, then he’d go to where the crowds were.

His finger twitched with rage and anticipation.