RB 79

Eunho came out of the study after a long time. He exhaled a heavy breath and slapped both of his cheeks to shake off the thoughts in his head.

Then he walked down the long corridor and began to go down the stairs. While his careful steps moved down, Yeorok leaned against the door frame and listened to Eunho’s movements.

His tilted body straightened. Yeorok put both hands into his pants pockets and started walking. Beyond the cornered wall, Seo Taehwa hid like a dead mouse. His face was pale, he must have been really shocked.

Yeorok leaned his shoulder against the wall and took a relaxed stance.

“Was the show fun?”

It was a calm tone for someone who had just been caught keeping a secret.

Seo Taehwa slowly turned his gaze toward him. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, Yeorok standing there shamelessly with his tie all messed up and his shirt wrinkled.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I’ve been crazy since birth.”

Yeorok answered plainly while untying his tie. His voice made it clear how little he cared about the situation.

“You were always curious about who Sim Eunho was sleeping with.”

“……”

“So, did that answer your question?”

Yeorok smiled. It was an annoyingly perfect one.

Seo Taehwa clenched his fists. No way, how could it be you… he muttered words like that. He already knew Yeorok didn’t care about rules, but this went far beyond that.

“He’s a man.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“He has the same face as Choi Yoonho, the man you hate most. Publicly, he’s your nephew.”

His clenched hands trembled. He couldn’t accept what he was seeing.

Choi Yeorok never touched men. That was why Taehwa had kept his own feelings hidden all along. Yeorok had said he couldn’t stand the idea of being with a man, so how could he… Maybe what Taehwa was feeling now was betrayal.

Taehwa’s breathing grew rougher. His eyes were filled with fury as he looked up at Yeorok. He was so angry, yet Yeorok’s face didn’t move with even a trace of emotion, which made the heat inside him rise even more.

“I can understand if it was something you couldn’t avoid. Maybe there was a reason. But why are you still doing it now? Isn’t the training over? Don’t tell me you did that just to show me on purpose?”

Taehwa asked while trying to lower his voice, swallowing his rising emotion.

It was his last attempt to believe there was a reason. Yeorok never did anything without purpose, so if there was an explanation, Taehwa wanted to accept it somehow.

“I just wanted to. Do I need a reason?”

“……”

“I let you keep watching because it was annoying to stop you.”

This talk was just as annoying. It only felt like a waste of time to try to convince Taehwa.

Yeorok slowly straightened his body. His face turned cold again, that meant conversation was over.

“Don’t talk to Sim Eunho.”

“…You’re going to keep doing this?”

“That’s not something for you to interfere in, Taehwa.”

Yeorok drew the line to the end. He brushed his disheveled bangs aside and naturally adjusted his appearance. Even in a moment like this, he was the kind of man who drew eyes without effort.

Seo Taehwa squeezed what was left of his wounded pride. He couldn’t bring himself to grab Yeorok’s sleeve and only looked down at the floor.

“…Let me ask one thing. Do you have feelings for Eunho?”

Yeorok laughed.

He tapped Taehwa’s slumped shoulder twice and walked past him. His footsteps faded away in the distance.

Seo Taehwa stayed in the same place and continued staring at the floor. His head was still a mess. He was furious with jealousy, yet he foolishly hoped that maybe this gave him a chance. It was pathetic.

“He really drains the life out of people.”

Taehwa pressed his eyebrows with both hands and started laughing like he had gone insane.

***

Even as days repeated, time quickly passed by.

The day they had waited for finally came.

“Haa.”

Eunho took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The reflection in the mirror was clear. The perfect Choi Yoonho stood there without doubt.

All the preparations for the foundation anniversary party were complete. His hair was styled naturally, and his clear skin looked radiant. His exposed neck was smooth and clean. Just as Yeorok had said, every trace of the bruise was gone.

He had chosen his clothes carefully. He heard that today’s outfit was something Seo Taehwa had spent days picking out and even got approved by Yeorok. The silk shirt that moved smoothly with each step and the slim slacks that emphasized his waistline fitted Choi Yoonho’s taste.

But even at a party, there was no tie. It was a sign of rebellion.

Even without trying, everything about him looked expensive. That was the power of costly clothes. Eunho stared at himself in the mirror and touched the watch wrapped around his right wrist.

From head to toe, even down to his fingerprints, everything resembled Choi Yoonho, but that watch alone was his own. It felt like proof of his real self.

Eunho stroked the watch and encouraged himself.

Do well. You can do this.

Just then, Seo Taehwa came in holding a flat box. He was dressed up too, ready for the party.

“Yeorok sent this. Wear it tonight.”

Inside the box was a choker necklace. A subtle shine ran across the thin strap. Eunho froze for a moment and looked at it.

Seo Taehwa put the choker around his neck himself. The burgundy choker matched Eunho’s pale, slender neck perfectly. It was a strange mix of decadence and elegance. It completed the look as if it had been made for this outfit.

“It suits you.”

Seo Taehwa’s voice dropped slightly as he tied the ribbon knot. His face was hidden behind Eunho’s back and couldn’t be seen in the mirror.

But Eunho had no space in his mind to notice such details. His head was filled only with thoughts of Choi Yoonho. From his breathing to his posture and facial expression, he had been preparing early to become Choi Yoonho completely.

Seo Taehwa glanced at him and gave an awkward smile because he could tell how focused Eunho was.

“I guess I shouldn’t talk to you, right?”

Eunho nodded slightly.

Seo Taehwa agreed. It was an important day, and tension was necessary. He straightened his back and erased the last trace of a smile from his face.

“Let’s go, Yoonho.”

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The grand ballroom of the luxury hotel was massive enough to overwhelm anyone. The ceiling was high, covered with chandeliers, and the floor was layered with soft carpet.

Guests continued arriving one after another. Everywhere, elegant dresses and tuxedos caught the eye. Every person there looked like a display of wealth.

When Eunho stepped inside, all eyes turned toward him. No one attending Haegang’s party could fail to recognize Choi Yoonho. Some even leaned in close to whisper to each other openly.

Eunho moved with an indifferent face.

“Do I look like an uninvited guest?”

He walked calmly toward the inner section where the champagne tower stood and picked up a glass. He casually ignored everyone and reached straight for alcohol, it was shameless and natural.

The way he held the tall, narrow glass and swirled it was also just like Choi Yoonho. Even with that casual air, he still looked refined. His slightly raised eyes made his features appear even keener.

No one dared approach Choi Yoonho carelessly. Anyone who met his eyes quickly turned away awkwardly instead. That was a relief.

Eunho pretended not to care while scanning the room. He had memorized the guest list, so every face that came into view was familiar. All the people of influence who were hard to meet elsewhere were gathered here. It showed how powerful Haegang was.

While sipping the champagne and turning his head, Eunho’s eyes met someone else’s. Even from far away, Choi Yeorok stood out. His black tuxedo and slicked-back hair made him shine brighter than anyone else there.

Yeorok kept a neutral expression even after seeing Eunho, but his gaze was persistently on him.

“……”

Eunho also didn’t show any change of expression. But he understood the encouragement hidden in Yeorok’s look. In answer, he emptied the rest of his champagne with a cold face.

“Mr. Choi Yoonho.”

An older man approached and greeted him. Eunho searched through the information in his mind and recalled the man’s identity. He was the lawyer in charge of managing the trust contract on behalf of Chairman Choi.

“Hello, Attorney Kim.”

“It’s been a while.”

The lawyer, dressed suitably for the event, stepped closer as if he had something to discuss.

“The trust period is almost over. Time really flies.”

“For me, every day crawls.”

Even at that curt reply, Attorney Kim only chuckled awkwardly.

“You must be looking forward to it.”

“Yes, I’ve been living just waiting for that day. I’m sick of being watched all the time.”

“Watched?”

“Why pretend you don’t know? You know it well. Choi Yeorok strangles me every single day.”

Eunho muttered bitterly.

“A guardian? What a joke. Attorney Kim, I’ve been locked up at home all this time. Isn’t that a breach of contract?”

Attorney Kim gave a troubled smile. He knew all about Choi Yoonho’s reckless habits. He had even heard rumors that Yoonho had been kept in isolation for months for addiction treatment.

But it wasn’t enough to be called a breach of contract. From his view, Yeorok had only acted appropriately. As a mediator, though, he couldn’t take sides.

“There are only a few months left. If you wait, both of you will gain something in the end.”

Attorney Kim handed him another glass of champagne. Eunho frowned as he snatched it from his hand.

“You’re really no fun, Attorney Kim.”

After throwing that rude comment, he walked away first.

The ballroom was now packed with people. While pushing through the crowd with visible irritation, he moved toward a quieter area. Just then, someone suddenly grabbed his wrist.

The sudden touch made his heart drop. The champagne in his hand shook along with him.

“Choi Yoonho, long time no see?”