RB 28

Choi Yoonho had a very languid way of speaking. His intonation was flat and his voice had no strength. The weary and indifferent manner of speech could easily be mistaken as picking a fight.

Even if appearance was similar, voices varied widely. Eunho’s voice was a little lower than Choi Yoonho’s. But if he adjusted the tone, added the timing of breathing, and mixed in a few speech habits, it sounded convincing enough.

“Ah… wait a second. I think my PTSD is kicking in.”

Seo Taehwa, who had been exchanging lines with Eunho, covered his forehead and asked for a break. As he took a deep breath, Eunho lowered the script in his hand.

“Hyung, are you okay?”

The worried voice was clearly Sim Eunho’s. Or was it? At this point it was hard to tell.

Seo Taehwa shook his head to steady his dizzy mind. The face quietly staring at him from… it felt like the dead Choi Yoonho was silently watching him, and goosebumps ran over him.

“Who are you?”

“What’s wrong, hyung?”

“Say your name, you brat!”

He pinched both cheeks and pulled, and Eunho whimpered as he grabbed Taehwa’s wrist. “It hurts, hyung.” The plea was unmistakably Sim Eunho’s.

So meek that he even teared up, yet he couldn’t strongly shake off Taehwa’s hand. Only then did Taehwa release his fingers and rub Eunho’s flushed cheek.

“Phew, Eunho-ya. How long have you been here?”

“Three months… a little more?”

“Your skill improved a lot. Maybe you really have a talent.”

Eunho laughed and shook his head. He knew better than anyone that he had no talent for acting. Looking like Choi Yoonho was only thanks to his physical resemblance.

“This level is nowhere near enough.”

Eunho erased his smile and murmured. Taehwa exaggeratedly shivered and rubbed his arm.

“That expression just now was exactly the same!”

“…Hyung, are you going to keep joking around?”

His breathing, his glare, nothing was different. It was the result of his grueling effort, to the point where he could mimic it naturally.

No, it wasn’t even mimicry anymore. Now, even without thinking, Choi Yoonho’s actions came out of Eunho. Watching his videos all day had left its mark.

“It’s a compliment. You’re doing well.”

Taehwa roughly patted Eunho’s head. Word had spread that Eunho liked compliments. Not only Taehwa but even Ahn Jaehwan would pat his head whenever they had the chance and praise him, saying he was doing well. Every time, Eunho rubbed his face, unable to hide his awkwardness.

It had already been nearly four months since he decided to become Choi Yoonho. The season had changed once, and Eunho had perfectly adapted to his new life. By now, the annex felt like his own home.

Eunho brushed back his messy hair with his left hand. “I’m still not satisfied…” He glanced at Taehwa, who was still narrowing his eyes. He looked exactly like someone reluctantly facing the real Choi Yoonho.

“Damn it, you’re annoying… are you going to keep making that face?”

Eunho had only read the given line, but Taehwa jumped. Then he even whimpered with a fake crying sound.

“Ah… Eunho-ya. Hyung can’t do this.”

“Please do it. Who else do I have to practice with if not you?”

Taehwa laughed at his lament. Hos prickly expression disappeared, and a smile spread across his face. Taehwa scooted across the floor until he was pressed right against Eunho and gave him ‎warm hug.

“When you smile, now you finally look like Sim Eunho.”

“That’s why I try not to smile much…”

“How is this possible? Just a change of expression and the whole person changes. It’s strange.”

He held Eunho’s face and turned it this way and that. With all the care poured into him, Eunho’s face gleamed with luster. His skin glowed with color, and his lips were smooth without a trace of dryness. Even his bare skin gave off a pleasant scent.

Eunho only blinked with his cheeks squashed. With that innocent expression, there was no trace of Choi Yoonho.

“Beautiful. You’re my greatest work.”

Taehwa pulled Eunho into a sudden hug. The squeeze around his back was so tight it felt like it might snap, but Eunho quietly wrapped his arms around Taehwa’s shoulders.

Eunho himself could feel how much he had changed. It was all thanks to Taehwa and Ahn Jaehwan’s attentive care.

“Will the Chairman… be satisfied too?”

“Ah, it’s today, right? Wait, what time is it now

Taehwa suddenly leaned back to check the time. By 4 p.m., Yeorok would already have landed.

Choi Yeorok had been abroad for a month. His absence meant the weekly Wednesday meetings had naturally been suspended. In that time, Eunho had worked hard on his assignments and felt confident.

“I hope when we meet again, there will be a big change.”

Before leaving, he had said those words.

Eunho had marked the day of Yeorok’s return on his calendar and waited for it while throwing himself into training. He had worked desperately, but he didn’t know what the outcome would be. Would it be enough to meet Yeorok’s exacting standards?

“He just left the airport. He’ll be here in two hours.”

“……”

“Are you nervous to meet Yeorok?”

Eunho nodded without a word. To be honest, he was trembling inside. He carefully touched his chest and felt the pounding heartbeat under his fingertips.

“My heart feels like it’s going to explode.”

“Where did I put the Cheongshim pills?”

Taehwa got up to look for the medicine. He didn’t take Eunho’s words lightly.

‎

‎

Soon, Haegang’s master was returning.

The empty mansion, the annex, both would be wrapped in tension.

The car carrying Yeorok entered the mansion grounds. Taehwa received the news through radio and informed the others of his arrival. Everyone had already gathered on the first floor, waiting for Choi Yeorok.

Eunho steadied his breathing. His thoughts were still scattered, but his heart grew calmer. The pill he had swallowed was working well.

When the wait dragged on, the sound of the front door opening echoed.

Soon a tall man stepped inside.

Choi Yeorok, dressed in a black coat, scanned the room. Everyone stared only at him with nervous faces. He opened his mouth with an expression that showed how accustomed he was to this.

“Why is everyone gathered?”

“Why else? We were waiting for you.”

“Doesn’t feel like a welcome.”

Standing side by side, Seo Taehwa and Ahn Jaehwan looked like students awaiting homework inspection. Their gazes naturally shifted to Sim Eunho. What they hoped was that the work they had crafted would also satisfy Choi Yeorok.

Yeorok had been staring at Eunho from the start. His gaze swept from head to toe, persistent enough to make even those watching from the side nervous. But Sim Eunho, to his credit, stood calm without trembling.

“……”

No greeting, so the standoff dragged on. Sim Eunho was facing Yeorok now as Choi Yoonho. There was no reason for warmth to show in the eyes of a nephew toward an estranged uncle.

Yeorok narrowed his eyes. With his arms crossed, he tilted his chin at Eunho.

Eunho exhaled through his nose and stepped forward. His gait, his reluctant attitude, even his indifferent expression. He looked exactly like someone who no longer existed. Seo Taehwa and Ahn Jaehwan, who had seen this many times, still looked startled.

“It’s been a month since I saw you, and no greeting?”

“Why would I greet if I’m not glad to see you.”

Their exchange carried only coldness.

Sim Eunho seemed possessed by Choi Yoonho. Seeing him staring straight at Yeorok and spouting such insolent words was hard to believe.

The lines Eunho spoke were made up on the spot. He thought this was how Choi Yoonho would answer. After spending his days watching his videos, the way of speaking had naturally become part of him. He could improvise without a script.

Yeorok’s eyes distorted. A crack appeared in the mask he always kept.

“You know how to surprise someone.”

With that short remark, the corner of his mouth curved into a refined smile.

Regardless of his loathing for Choi Yoonho, Sim Eunho’s progress was astonishing. He didn’t need to ask to know how much effort had gone in.

“Well done.”

Eunho’s defiant glare collapsed at Yeorok’s words of praise. Choi Yoonho’s shadow lifted from his face as he sighed in relief. His expression shifted so completely it looked like he had become another person.

“That’s remarkable.”

“…Sorry?”

“Sim Eunho-ssi, you looked like someone possessed.”

Was that supposed to be praise? Eunho scratched his cheek, unsure. He glanced up at Yeorok, who was still looking at him with cold eyes. Then, Yeorok grabbed Eunho’s chin with his right hand without warning.

“Say ah.”

Even at the abrupt demand, Eunho obediently opened his mouth. He tried to stay relaxed, but when the fingers suddenly intruded into his mouth, his whole body stiffened.

Yeorok tilted the chin he was holding and carefully examined Eunho’s mouth. He had received reports that Eunho had dental treatment while he was abroad.

“Three molars with crowns, front teeth laminated. All wisdom teeth pulled.”

Ahn Jaehwan stepped closer to explain.

Sim Eunho had replaced perfectly healthy teeth. His dental health had been excellent, but to replicate Choi Yoonho’s condition exactly, there had been no other choice.

“Sim Eunho-ssi has a mole here.”

Yeorok pulled down Eunho’s lower lip with his thumb. On the red inner flesh was a very small but distinct mole.

“Can’t that be removed?”

“We erased it once when he had his wisdom teeth pulled, but it came back. Does something that small matter? Who would look inside his lip?”

Why don’t you check your own lip? Ahn Jaehwan swallowed the words. He had tried to keep things hushed, but with meticulous Choi Yeorok, nothing escaped. He could only be impressed again by his keen eye.

“Fine.”

Yeorok accepted it with unexpected calm. He took a handkerchief from Hong and wiped his saliva-wet fingers clean.

Eunho remained frozen. The fingers that had rummaged inside his mouth left him dazed.

Yeorok, seeing his face, gave no reaction. He handed the crumpled handkerchief back to Hong and prepared to leave.

“Sim Eunho-ssi has a fever. Check it.”

He casually ordered. Ahn Jaehwan quickly placed his hand on Eunho’s forehead. It was ‎ little warm. Only with careful touch could it be noticed.

In that time, Yeorok left the annex. He had stayed barely five minutes. But his presence had been firmly imprinted in their minds. Those who remained felt it keenly: Choi Yeorok had returned.

“Eunho-ssi, do you feel dizzy or anything?”

Ahn Jaehwan took out a thermometer and placed it in Eunho’s ear. The device beeped.

“I… do feel a little dizzy.”

Eunho stammered as he answered. He had felt dizzy even earlier. He thought it was because of the pill. It had to be something unrelated to meeting Yeorok after so long.