JD 133

However, since Hakyung didn’t know anything about Beom Urim’s true nature, he was able to smile back without hesitation. As he watched Hakyung respond with that harmless, innocent smile, Beom Urim finally spoke.

“Nah, I’m just here looking for something.”

At his reply, Hakyung gave a short “Ah,” and nodded. He remembered how Muheon had said he’d asked Beom Urim to take care of a personal task.

Hakyung had tried to show that he was good at googling things too, but it hadn’t worked. He’d felt defeated back then. Apparently, whatever it was still hadn’t been found.

“Is it that thing my husband asked you to look for?”

“Mm-hm. That’s right.”

Beom Urim nodded. The way Hakyung always called Muheon ‘my husband’ in front of others struck him as both laughable and cute. Like a little kitten snarling to protect its own fish, not even knowing that nobody else wanted the fish in the first place.

Still, the reaction was entertaining. He would’ve liked to tease him a little longer, but seeing Kim Hyunsoo jogging over from a distance made it clear he should cut things short and just grab the info he needed.

“So, who was that guy I saw you with in the café just now? A fan of yours?”

“…Huh? You saw that?”

At Beom Urim’s question, Hakyung’s face darkened. The anxiety he’d managed to push down after seeing the two of them was now bubbling up again, filling his chest.

His once-sparkling eyes started shifting uneasily. Seeing that, Ki Sang-oh began to fidget too, not knowing what to do.

Beom Urim quietly clicked his tongue in disapproval at Sang-oh’s reaction, but kept his expression warm and harmless. He didn’t have the actor title for nothing.

Fooled by the friendly façade, Hakyung hesitated but eventually opened up about Moon Chiwoon. The fact that both Sang-oh and Beom Urim were Western Sea beastmen under Muheon’s protection was the only reason he could be honest.

“Well… before I came to Seoul, back in the countryside, something happened…”

And so began a story the two already knew. Still, they nodded and reacted like they were hearing it all for the first time.

That made Hakyung speak faster. As he let it all out, the resentment flared up inside him. He couldn’t understand why he, the victim, had to be the one getting threatened.

“So that’s what happened… Wait, that guy, was he… that bastard, Kim Taeyoung? Is he connected to this?”

“I’m not sure… Last I heard, his whole family ran away in the middle of the night…”

Hakyung shook his head with a confused expression. Whether Moon Chiwoon was connected to Taeyoung or not, he was someone Hakyung never wanted to see again.

Beom Urim smiled faintly as he watched Hakyung shudder in disgust.

“Wow, those are some real scumbags.”

“They’re not friends.”

Hakyung quickly denied it, firmly repeating, “Really, they’re not friends.”

Considering all he’d endured, he could probably talk for three nights and four days straight without sleeping, yet he settled it with a simple “They’re not friends.” Was Kang Hakyung some kind of living saint?

Beom Urim curled his lips. He didn’t personally find such naïve personalities attractive, but apparently they were right up Muheon’s alley.

“Well, yeah! Scumbags like that don’t even deserve to be called your friends!”

Ki Sang-oh huffed on his behalf, nostrils flaring like an angry bull ready to charge.

Heh.

Beom Urim laughed quietly to himself, watching Sang-oh turn red all the way up to his ears and neck. That kind of fiery personality, that was at least entertaining.

“Then I guess you need to be extra careful today.”

“Yes, I plan to be. Not just for me, people with me might be in danger too. He’s really strong.”

Just then, Kim Hyunsoo arrived in front of the café. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized the unexpected visitor.

“Mr. Beom?! What are you doing here…?”

His team leader had just been lamenting over the phone about how Beom Urim had been ghosting them all week, and now here he was, suddenly appearing out of nowhere? Even seeing him with his own eyes, he could hardly believe it.

Beom Urim, meanwhile, showed no sign of guilt. He simply waved at Hyunsoo with a cheerful smile.

“Just a personal errand. Anyway, Hakyung, do well out there. Try not to worry too much. You know they say half the things you worry about never even happen.”

“Thank you.”

Hakyung bowed slightly in gratitude, his face looking a little lighter.

Between the two of them, Kim Hyunsoo stood alone, torn between yelling, Sir, please go back to work! and Please call your team leader back!

***

After sending Moon Chiwoon to deliver his little threat, Kim Taeyoung was feeling pleased.

Just watching Kang Hakyung flinch from a distance had lifted his mood. Knowing that he’d be constantly on edge, unsure of what might happen next, was even better.

He did have some concerns about that so-called CEO of Hakyung’s, but Moon Chiwoon could throw punches with the best of them. He wouldn’t go down so easily this time.

Like rewarding a dog for a job well done, Kim Taeyoung patted Moon Chiwoon on the head.

It was disgusting how the ugly bastard lowered his eyes shyly at the touch, but Taeyoung was a patient master.

“You scoped out the place properly, right?”

“Yeah. I think he’ll come out this way again after the pitch. That’s when the game starts, so there’ll be less attention. And with some fans still outside, the security will be spread thin.”

Moon Chiwoon described the layout of the stadium he’d infiltrated. Thanks to his hulking size and rough appearance, most people mistook him for a security guard.

Kim Taeyoung gave up on the head and patted the thick shoulder instead. Then he gripped the folding knife in his pocket.

This time, he’d end Hakyung using the hand that hadn’t been ruined.

Maybe he’d slice the throat, make sure he could never sing again. Or ruin that pretty face of his.

If all went smoothly, he could do both.

Kim Taeyoung waited in silence, planning to drag Kang Hakyung down into the filth just when he was happiest.

Meanwhile, after receiving that unsettling warning from Moon Chiwoon, Hakyung had told Muheon everything.

Muheon already had a history with Kim Taeyoung in Incheon, and had helped Hakyung back then, even without knowing the full story. That incident had been a huge relief for Hakyung. His affection for Muheon had grown even deeper after that.

“So yeah… I’m a bit worried. I mean, I’m not some helpless kid anymore… but he’s still really rough. And if he is connected to Taeyoung… that guy’s the type who never forgets a grudge. He’ll pretend not to remember a favor, but he’ll pay back every slight tenfold.”

Hakyung scrunched his brows as he laid out Kim Taeyoung’s psychotic tendencies in full. These past few months without him had felt like a dream.

Muheon nodded quietly. He’d lived for hundreds of years and seen his fair share of trash. Normally he wouldn’t care, but this involved his partner.

This time, he had to wipe out the human garbage circling Hakyung for good. Last time he’d shown mercy, and look what it got him, someone trying to turn around and bite.

No honor, no money, no power. A guy with nothing left to lose, only his life. Maybe that’s why he acted like a complete lunatic.

“Don’t worry. I’ll stay close. Look, you’re already getting wrinkles.”

“What? Wrinkles? Where? Are they bad?”

“Yeah. Come here, let me see up close.”

Eyes wide, Hakyung got on his toes and leaned in toward Muheon.

Smooch!

Instead of inspecting any wrinkles, Muheon kissed him. Then another kiss followed right after.

Startled, Hakyung blinked, then gave a hollow laugh once he realized he’d been tricked.

It was a dumb joke. But since Muheon was good-looking, it was kind of funny.

That small moment, those familiar gestures, helped dissolve the fear that had started to creep in.

Before they knew it, ten minutes remained until the game began.

As they moved toward the back of the stadium with the staff, Hakyung kept glancing at Muheon.

Muheon waved gently, like a young groom seeing his bride off. He smiled in that soft, reassuring way, silently wishing him luck.

Hakyung never had to know how Beom Urim and Ki Sang-oh were running around behind the scenes.

Muheon had already received a brief message from Sang-oh right after the encounter with Moon Chiwoon. And seeing Kim Taeyoung move exactly as Beom Urim predicted only confirmed what he already knew:

Crazy people understood crazy people best.

Which is why it would be better to let Beom Urim handle things before he got personally involved.

Muheon didn’t want his sweet, gentle little river dolphin to see even a hint of the ugly side of things.