RB 12

After Eunho finished washing his face simply and came out, he faced a lavish breakfast table. The smell of freshly baked bread made his hungry stomach stir. The buttery scent that came with every breath was almost overwhelming. The neatly arranged coffee cup and plate were the most luxurious tableware Eunho had ever seen in his life.

“Shall we talk a little while eating?”

Yeorok, who had already taken his seat, naturally offered coffee. Eunho gave a short bow and brought his cup to his lips. The coffee, black like poison, tasted as bitter as it looked.

The only coffee Eunho had ever had until now was cheap vending machine coffee at a cafeteria. The taste was far from sweet, and his brows furrowed on their own.

“If you add cream it will be much better.”

Yeorok kindly pushed the cream pot toward him. But Eunho didn’t know how to use it, he only nodded and did not touch it. Yeorok did not force him. He only watched Eunho’s awkwardness in silence.

After a short silence, Yeorok spoke first.

“From today, Sim Eunho-ssi must throw away all your preferences, tastes, and trivial habits. Think of it as starting again from a blank sheet.”

There will be much to teach, Yeorok added. Then he pressed his tired eyes with his fingers. He did not show it openly, but Eunho’s level made him feel stifled.

“The contract period is one year. Out of that, I expect ten months only for preparation. During that time, it will be said that Choi Yoonho is receiving treatment for drug addiction, and you, Sim Eunho-ssi, will not be exposed to the world. Instead, in the remaining two months, you must completely become Choi Yoonho.”

“…Yes.”

Eunho gave a short reply and held the coffee cup again. Fortunately, he was used to accepting reality.

He forced the bitter coffee down his throat and carefully observed his surroundings. He knew his situation had changed, but the luxurious space was still unfamiliar to his eyes.

Chairman Choi Yeorok, sitting opposite him, also looked unreal. Even though he had been told he did not need to steal glances, Eunho kept sneaking looks at his face.

Choi Yeorok’s expression when he was not smiling was extremely cold. True to a man who pursued only perfection, there was no flaw to be found. Even the neat arrangement of his clothes seemed calculated.

The silver watch wrapped around Yeorok’s right wrist reflected the sunlight and shone. Eunho suddenly realized that Yeorok had been holding the coffee cup with his left hand all along.

Eunho asked very carefully.

“Chairman, are you left-handed?”

Yeorok silently took a sip of coffee. His cold eyes curved playfully.

“Yes, it runs in the family. Choi Yoonho too.”

“…Ah.”

That meant Eunho also had to become left-handed. Had he ever really used it properly? Eunho squeezed his left hand with a troubled face.

“Is it starting to feel real?”

Yeorok asked in a calm voice. To him, watching Eunho slowly realize seemed amusing.

“Yes.”

“I did not mean to scare you from the first day.”

“But I must do it, if it is your instruction, Chairman.”

“That is a good attitude.”

Yeorok’s smile deepened.

Eunho drank the coffee and looked straight into his eyes. The bitterness no longer felt unpleasant. His tongue had already adjusted to the new taste.

When would he ever get used to the man in front of him? To Eunho, Choi Yeorok was still a daunting presence. He only hoped that Yeorok would not be disappointed in him.

After a simple meal, the two of them moved together. Behind the mansion, a separate annex stood apart. Though smaller in size, it was as splendid as a miniature of the main house.

“This is where Yoonho lived. From now on, it will also be where you stay, Sim Eunho-ssi.”

Yeorok briefly explained. He added that he himself had hardly set foot in the annex, and it had been three years since he last entered. There was no need to ask how distant family relations had been, it was clear enough.

When they stepped inside, unfamiliar faces welcomed Eunho as if they had been waiting.

“Hello.”

A man with delicate features greeted him warmly, and Eunho stiffened and bowed his head.

Two people had come to meet him. Because he did not know who they were, Eunho had no choice but to stand there in tension.

“These are people I trust and rely on. They will also help you, Sim Eunho-ssi.”

Yeorok introduced them beside him. This is Seo Taehwa, he said. As soon as he gave the name, the man smiled with pretty eyes and waved his hand at Eunho.

“Seo Taehwa was Choi Yoonho’s exclusive secretary. When it comes to Choi Yoonho, he knows better than me.”

“Hey… that is not a compliment.”

Seo Taehwa lightly scolded him, but Yeorok only raised his brows as if it did not matter. Then he motioned with his chin toward the man standing beside him.

“This is Ahn Jaehwan, he was Choi Yoonho’s personal doctor.”

“Hello, we meet again.”

Ahn Jaehwan smiled gently. The face behind the silver glasses was definitely familiar. Eunho finally remembered. It was the doctor he had seen yesterday at the morgue, the man who had examined Choi Yooho’s body as if he was performing an autopsy.

“Both of them are people I trust. Including Director Hong Namyeong, only the three of them know Sim Eunho’s identity. They will help you sincerely, so you should get close to them.”

“Ah… yes. I look forward to your help.”

Eunho bowed again awkwardly. With that, the short introduction ended and an uncomfortable silence followed. Yeorok glanced at his wristwatch and spoke first.

“Well, that’s enough introduction. Shall we start?”

As soon as his words fell, Seo Taehwa stepped forward. He looked closely at Eunho’s face and furrowed his brows deeply as if he was the one in pain.

“My god… what happened to your face. How much were you beaten to end up like this?”

Eunho touched his cheek. The bandage Yeorok had put on him the day before was coming loose. The swollen bruise was clear under his fingertips.

“The face is certain, so leave it for now.”

Yeorok spoke briefly. He kept his eyes fixed on his phone as if he had something urgent to check.

“Yes, yes, I am sure you would.”

Seo Taehwa wrinkled his nose and carefully took Eunho by the sleeve. “This way.” Eunho slowly followed.

In the drawing room, a sofa was placed in a ㄷ shape. Beyond the wide glass window was a green garden. In such a huge house there were only four people. From now on, they would have to plan their secret schemes here.

“Eunho-ssi Could you take off your clothes?”

“…What?”

Eunho was startled by the sudden request. Seo Taehwa gave an embarrassed smile.

“Sorry, but it has to be checked.”

Ahn Jaehwan already had something like a medical chart in his hand. Just like he had examined Choi Yoonho’s corpse the day before, he meant to examine Eunho’s body as well.

Was this right to take off his clothes in the middle of the living room, of all places? His felt dizzy.

Eunho turned his head without saying anything. Yeorok, who had already taken the center seat of the sofa, met his eyes.

“Sim Eunho-ssi. Take them off.”

Yeorok only nodded. The instruction was short and clear.

“……”

Eunho slowly took off his T-shirt. Hadn’t he already decided to follow without complaint whatever Choi Yeorok told him to do? Even if it was something shameful.

Under the bright sunlight, his skinny body was revealed. Before he knew it, he had taken off even his underwear and was exposing his bare body completely. He covered his groin with both hands brought together politely in front, and lowered his head like a criminal. He forced his expression to stay calm, but goosebumps spread all over his skin.

“Sorry.”

Seo Taehwa smiled faintly and whispered so only Eunho could hear. Then he and Ahn Jaehwan began taking measurements busily.

They were like tailors measuring a mannequin to make clothes. They recorded the lengths and widths of body parts in centimeters, and carefully noted the shape of his muscles and the angle of his spine. They even checked for scars on his body and counted his moles. Eunho learned today for the first time that he had a small mole on the back of his neck.

The embarrassment lasted only briefly. Because they worked so carefully and seriously, Eunho’s shame slowly dulled.

Only Chairman Choi Yeorok’s gaze was staring straight at his bare body, he could not get used to. Eunho deliberately avoided his eyes and fixed his gaze only on the carpet pattern beneath his feet.

In the meantime, fragments of conversation continued.

“He is 2 centimeters shorter than Choi Yoonho.”

“That much can be covered with posture correction.”

“Eunho-ssi has more muscle than I thought. Did you work out?”

“…No. It just formed without me knowing.”

What felt like an eternity of body measurements finally ended after more than an hour. Seo Taehwa handed Eunho his clothes, telling him he had done well. While Eunho dressed at lightning speed, Ahn Jaehwan was still busy writing down information he had not yet recorded.

During that time, Seo Taehwa approached Yeorok. The man who had sat like a crown prince tilted his head lazily.

“How is it?”