PHUW 17

“If you go to the lounge, there’s a high table.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Jeong Mok didn’t even look in Haeri’s direction. What’s the point in talking. Let him work if he wants.

Haeri decided not to care anymore. He was in too much pain to turn his head anyway, so he just closed his eyes.

“The building where the accident happened.”

“Huh?”

The sudden topic made him lazily open his eyelids.

“They’ve resumed construction recently.”

“…I see.”

Why is he bringing that up?

“It sat abandoned for about a year. There are parts that need to be torn down and rebuilt, so it’s more of a hassle than I expected. Honestly, it might be easier to just start over.”

So what.

“Am I supposed to know this?”

“Well, kind of. It’s where your accident happened, so I thought you might be interested.”

“I’m not. I don’t have a reason to be.”

“It was originally designed as a pet-friendly café and guesthouse, but I’m revising the plans to also include a training center and a shelter for abandoned dogs.”

He’s not even listening. And now he’s suddenly talking about dog shelters? Is he trying to bring up abandoned dogs again? Like making him cry yesterday wasn’t enough. What kind of person makes jokes that cut this deep? Seriously, what’s wrong with this guy.

“I’m a person. No matter how down-and-out I am, I’m not going to end up in a dog shelter.”

“What are you talking about? Why would you go there?”

“Why do you keep treating me like some poor stray? I already know I’m in a pathetic, hopeless situation, you don’t have to keep poking at it.”

“What are you talking about? I just…”

Jeong Mok stopped, probably because he noticed the tears welling up in Haeri’s eyes.

“Haeri.”

Up until yesterday, even when he was being informal, he still called him “Ahn Haeri-ssi.” Now it was just “Haeri.” So openly dismissive. If he could, Haeri would’ve pointed a finger in his face and demanded to know how someone could treat him like this after even helping him pack. But emotionally and physically, he couldn’t do a thing, and that helplessness brought tears to his eyes.

“Why are you calling me that? Say ‘Ahn Haeri-ssi.’ And don’t drop the honorifics.”

It might sound like the petty whining of a little dog, like a Chihuahua or a Maltese, but he couldn’t help being angry.

“Ahn Haeri-ssi.”

“Yes.”

The fact that Jeong Mok instantly corrected himself when called out just made it more irritating.

“Do you hate being pitied? Or being treated affectionately, like a puppy?”

“Both.”

“Well, that’s a problem. What should I do, then?”

Jeong Mok stroked his chin. He didn’t look serious in the slightest. Haeri was fuming. Even when he huffed in anger, Jeong Mok just smirked.

“I think you’re just too adorable, Ahn Haeri-ssi. If no one came to claim you, I’d want to take you home myself.”

“…What?”

…Is he insane? Did I really just hear that?

“What did you just say?”

Was he hearing things?

“Sorry for treating you like a dog. But no matter how hard I try not to, I keep doing it. So I figured… why not actually try being a dog for once?”

“Are you out of your mind? Are you mocking me right now?”

It was a ridiculous joke. And a cruel one.

“I’m not crazy, and I’m not mocking you.”

He was dead serious, like he’d made up his mind. Not even pretending to read the room.

“Do you enjoy saying stuff that pisses me off? There’s a line, even if you’re trying to help me. Can’t you just not do the things I hate? I’m already busy being thankful. Why do you keep giving me reasons to resent you?”

“It’s because you keep acting like a puppy, Ahn Haeri-ssi.”

His tone was polite, but the words were mocking. Haeri felt like his sanity was slipping away.

“You’re seriously insane.”

“I hear that a lot.”

Instead of being offended, Jeong Mok actually looked amused, his eyes crinkling with a genuine smile.

“It’s not the worst thing someone’s said to me. Think about it. Someone like you, with no home or family… the best-case scenario is ending up in a shelter and getting taken advantage of.”

He was picking a fight. The most infuriating part was that Haeri didn’t even have the strength, or ability, to punch that smug mouth of his.

“Humans have to work to survive. Even when they’re sick. But dogs? They just need a loving owner. They get a house, food, toys, snacks, and even medical treatment, all for free. Isn’t that nice?”

Of course. He wasn’t content being just a little insane. He had layers to his madness.

“Do you know what your biggest problem is, Ahn Haeri-ssi?”

“What?”

Might as well hear him out now.

“It’s that you’re not a dog. You’re human.”

A chill crept down Haeri’s spine.

Maybe a homeless shelter full of perverts would actually be safer than this. Maybe he should apologize to Kim Jeongwook and go back to the facility. Maybe enduring that humiliation would actually be the smarter choice.

“But luckily for you, I think I can treat you like a beloved pet. I’m willing to cover all expenses–room, board, everything. So, what do you say? Want to live as my puppy?”

“……”

What the hell. Life’s really screwing with me. First a creepy civil servant, now an unhinged chaebol.

“But it’s not a bad deal, Ahn Haeri-ssi. You’ll live in my house, recover your health, and do whatever you want. I’ll cover snacks, toys, medical bills, everything. All you have to do is be happy and healthy.”

Wow. That’s one long-winded way to say “be my pet.”

“If you’re gonna say crazy stuff like that…”

“I’m not asking you to do it for free. I’ll pay you a salary.”

“…A salary?”

“I’ll officially hire you as a full-time employee under those conditions. How’s a 50 million won annual salary sound?”

Wait–what? Is this some kind of divine joke?

“If you become my employee, your future medical bills will be covered under company insurance. So you won’t even have to feel guilty about it.”

Haeri was speechless, though for a completely different reason than before.

So we’ve gone from freaky dog roleplay to dropping the dream job offer of a lifetime, just like that? Is that even allowed?

‘What the hell is going on.’

His pride was screaming don’t sell yourself to this guy, but his survival instincts were screaming take the deal before he changes his mind. His one remaining shred of reason was begging both sides to calm down and get more information first.

“Are you… serious?”

Haeri lifted his head from where he was lying.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Look, I’ve got amnesia, okay? I don’t know anything about my past. I don’t even know my education history. What makes you trust me enough to offer something like this?”

“It’s not you I trust, it’s me. I believe we’ll get along just fine. The puppy thing is just a joke. I’m about to get really busy with construction starting again, and I need someone to help out with the smaller stuff. I work from home a lot, and I don’t have a fixed office, so it’d be great to live and work with someone.”

He said it like he’d been planning it all along. But it was clear he only said that because the “puppy” thing didn’t go over well. It reeked of some weird kink. But the terms were so generous, it was hard to brush off as nonsense. Haeri felt himself wavering.

“Whether or not that belief is justified is one thing… but with a 50 million won salary, you could easily find someone willing to live in.”

“There’s a reason I chose you, Haeri-ssi. It’s tied to some personal matters I can’t explain just yet. But I’ll tell you in time. And trust me, it’s harder than you think to find someone who’ll live in. Especially with my standards.”

“Exactly. So why would someone as picky as you hire someone like me? And don’t you think your reasoning is just a little too convenient?”

Jeong Mok narrowed his eyes.

“You’re more suspicious than you look.”

“I don’t have anyone to rely on. That’s why I have to be careful.”

Haeri glared at him. Not that it was very threatening with his face half-buried in a pillow. Sure enough, Jeong Mok just smirked like he found it adorable.

“Wounded dogs don’t trust easily. That kind of trust takes time. So, are you in or not? Just decide already.”

“……”

Here we go again, he was treating him like a dog. But this time, it didn’t feel entirely bad.