CI 1.11

Due to his professional conscience, he was worried that acting so conspicuously might ruin the stakeout. However, not as lawyer Son Yeo-il but as human Son Yeo-il, he was secretly glad to see the other man. After all, he had been bored to death just now.

“Chang ja-ga-ja-jang~.”

As the cafe door opened, a mellow humming was heard. Without even looking around the cafe, Boss Won walked straight toward where Son Yeo-il was sitting. Thinking that he might do something outrageous, Son Yeo-il mentally prepared himself for any possibility.

“Honey! Oppa is here!”

However, his mental preparation crumbled miserably in the face of this booming greeting. With cheeks turning bright red, Son Yeo-il stammered.

“No, um, w-what did you just say?”

“Don’t you like it? Well, a wife greeting his husband should be more demure, right? I should try again.”

“That’s enough. What are you trying to say now?!”

As he started fumbling to go back to the cafe entrance, Son Yeo-il grabbed his wrist in panic. Boss Won grinned, eyeing Son Yeo-il’s hand touching his forearm.

“I’m so honored. I shouldn’t even shower today.”

When the flustered Son Yeo-il quickly removed his hand, he teased even more mischievously.

“You can touch me comfortably. If holding my wrist feels awkward, you can hold something else. There’s a stick down there that’s just right for grabbing. Want me to show you?”

As he placed his hands on both sides of his waist and slightly thrust his hips forward, he looked absolutely hideous. Son Yeo-il held his index finger to his lips in disgust.

“Please be quiet. I’m working. Do you want to spread rumors all over town?”

“Yes, yes. I already knew that when I came here.”

“If you knew, why…no, how did you know?”

“I asked Manager Kim, and she told me right away. Come on, it’s almost lunchtime. Let’s go quickly.”

This time, Boss Won grabbed hold of Son Yeo-il’s arm and gently pulled him up to his feet. Since he had just grabbed the other man’s arm himself, Son Yeo-il was startled but couldn’t say anything to him.

“I need to stay here. I told you, this is my job today.”

“It’s okay, you still need to eat. Really, if Representative Bae wants a stakeout, he should do it himself. Why make someone else’s husband do such difficult work?”

His mouth twitched slightly, secretly pleased by the words of support coming from the other man’s lips. But since he couldn’t just follow along, Son Yeo-il waved his hands around with a sense of responsibility to his movements.

“Even so, I can’t just abandon—”

At that moment, with a vroom sound, a small motorcycle appeared and stopped next to Boss Won’s convertible. The motorcycle driver barely removed a helmet that looked somewhat small for his head size, revealing his face. It was a face Son Yeo-il recognized.

“Hey, Hong-shik.”

Boss Won gestured to Hong-shik who was entering the cafe, while his other hand again grabbed Son Yeo-il’s wrist and pulled.

“Come on, let’s leave this to Hong-shik, and Attorney Son can come with me.”

“Leave it to Hong-shik?”

Boss Won narrowed his eyes, seemingly displeased with the title “Hong-shik sshi” again, and said, “Yes. This guy also knows who we need a photo. That hardware store owner, I heard.”

“That’s right, boss. Actually, rumors about the hardware store owner cheating have been all over the neighborhood.”

At Hong-shik’s words, Son Yeo-il’s eyes opened wide. It looked like rumors had indeed spread all over the neighborhood. Perhaps what the client had been firing off about wasn’t completely baseless after all?

“I can recognize the hardware store guy just by the back of his head. Don’t worry. Go ahead and enjoy your lunch.”

Despite Hong-shik’s confident words, Son Yeo-il hesitated. In the end, it was only after Boss Won grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the hot pink convertible that Son Yeo-il was able to leave the stakeout scene.

“Now, now. Fasten your seatbelt. We’re departing, ma’am.”

First it was “Attorney,” then “honey” and “husband,” and now it was “ma’am.” Pushing down the urge to point out each one, Son Yeo-il let it go, and the other man started the car while humming.

There was indeed a sense of liberation as they drove in the convertible, escaping the stuffy atmosphere of the cafe. With the breeze brushing against his cheeks, Son Yeo-il leaned back in the passenger seat and looked at the scenery along the road. The May sky was blue, and the trees were full of spring energy with their green leaves in full display.

“This happens to be the best road for driving from here to that valley road. This scenic road fits together perfectly as if planned in advance. I’m the so lucky-Hee-yeon.”

At Boss Won’s words, Son Yeo-il burst out laughing. What did this man just say?

“Where did you hear such expressions?”

“How is it? I’m studying the latest trends to serve my MZ husband these days.”

“You’re trying too hard. You don’t have to do that.”

“What does that mean? That I don’t need to try because I’m already naturally MZ-like?”

Studying the latest memes forcibly was something only older people did. Usually, it was more youthful to speak naturally. Of course, given Boss Won’s peculiar way of speaking, that might not be the case anyway.

Would it sound rude to say ‘It would be best if you just kept your mouth shut as much as possible’? Or would it sound like he was giving him an opening, implying that he was handsome when he kept his mouth shut?

Son Yeo-il glanced sidelong at Boss Won. He certainly had a good exterior. Even while riding in that ridiculous pink convertible, his face and physique remained steadfastly noir-esque.

His distinct yet smooth nose bridge and chin, the line from his broad shoulders to his thick forearms, and even the veins protruding on his large hands gripping the steering wheel—all looked like a well-composed picture.

Son Yeo-il figured that since the man had eyes and surely a mirror at home, he must know that he was handsome, but in any case, Son Yeo-il had no reason to give him more compliments. He changed the subject, deliberately acting more aloof during the car ride.

“Think whatever you want. But where are we going now?”

“Oh, to eat eel.”

Boss Won winked, closing and opening one eye as if to say “You know?” while tapping his pelvis with one hand. When Son Yeo-il made a disgusted face, he seemed rather pleased.

“Even your glare is pretty. If you keep looking at me like that, my dick will stand up straight without even needing to eat eel.”

“If you keep this up, I’m getting out here.”

“Oh no, that won’t do, I’m just joking. We’re not going to eat eel, but there’s a place near the valley that makes good wild pine mushroom chicken soup.”

“Wild pine…?”

“Wild pine mushrooms. Haven’t you tried them before?”

The only time Son Yeo-il had heard the term “wild pine mushroom” was in the sentence “If you date an older boyfriend, while others are eating chicken and beer at a waterpark, you’ll be eating wild pine mushroom chicken soup at a valley.”

Was that specifically…about me?

Was what he thought was a meme actually a prophecy about his future? Even amid this feeling of deja vu, Son Yeo-il tried to calm himself by thinking that this didn’t count since it wasn’t a date.

At that moment, the car, which had been traveling along the tree-lined road, entered the riverside road. The clear, refreshing river came into view at a glance. As Son Yeo-il’s expression inadvertently brightened at the open scenery, Boss Won began to smile broadly.

“Our date is coming along amazingly, right?”

As the very thing he was worried about came up, Son Yeo-il retorted irritably.

“This isn’t a date.”

“No?”

“No! Of course not!”

“We’ll call it that, then.”

The answer was clearly affirmative, but it didn’t sound like a genuine agreement. Inwardly, he seemed to be thinking, You can consider it not one, and I’ll consider it differently.

While Son Yeo-il was debating whether to probe further or whether doing so would just entangle him more with that slick man, the car arrived at their destination, the valley restaurant.

As with all other restaurants, the owner rushed out to greet Boss Won enthusiastically, offering the best seat in the house. Son Yeo-il sat on a platform where he could look down at the gently flowing water beneath them.

Unlike the shabby-looking entrance, the inside had a good view just like Boss Won said it would. Son Yeo-il, who had been listening to the trickling sound of water, opened his eyes wide at the dark broth of the wild pine mushroom chicken soup served on the table.

“Is this broth really edible?”

“What else would it be? Bathwater? It’s fine. Try it.”

Boss Won replied calmly as he tore off a chicken thigh. Skillfully separating bone from meat as if he’d spent his entire life deboning chicken, he placed it neatly on the plate in front of Son Yeo-il.

The white flesh split along the grain looked appetizing, but Son Yeo-il hesitated to pick up his spoon, concerned about the grayish, mottled broth. Seeing through Son Yeo-il’s thoughts, Boss Won asked rather casually.

“Attorney Son. When have I ever bought you something that wasn’t delicious?”

To be honest, that was never the case. He had been treated to delicious food every time, enough to indulge by overeating. When Son Yeo-il nodded obediently, Boss Won grinned broadly, looking satisfied.

“Why are you smiling?”

“It means your taste and mine match each other perfectly. There’s an old saying that if tastes match, so does compatibility.”

“Why would you and I need to check our compatibility?”

“Ah, right. Nothing more to check? When we grafted last time, it was a perfect fit right away.”

Boss Won frivolously flexed and extended his hands, pressed together in a cross shape. What did he mean by “grafting” people, and what was up with that crude hand gesture?

“Ah, okay. I’ll eat.”

Son Yeo-il picked up his spoon, thinking he should eat quickly and wash his ears. After that, well, there wasn’t much more to say. The chicken was tender, the broth deep and fragrant, and the scallion pancake served on the side was crispy and savory.

Following the repetitive pattern, Son Yeo-il started eating reluctantly but gradually became engrossed in the meal, clearing the food in no time until he was full. Once again, feeling embarrassed, Son Yeo-il could only clear his throat.

“Ahem, ahem. Let’s go now.”

“Huh? Why leave so soon when we’ve come all this way?”

“Because it’s work hours.”

“We already assigned the work to Hong-shik, so it’s fine.”

“B-But it’s still my job. I can’t just slack off like this…”

“Haven’t you heard of a division of labor society? What you’re doing now isn’t slacking offit’s what do they call it…outsourcing! Entrusting it to an expert, that’s what it is.”

Today too, Boss Won was fluent in sophistry. Words that would normally earn a snort from Son Yeo-il now perked up his ears. He was already reluctant to leave this scenic, refreshing place to return to that motel.

Division of labor society…I guess none of this can be helped?

Having haphazardly convinced himself, Son Yeo-il nodded his head. Planning to sit a while longer, he tried to adjust his cross-legged position on the bare floor. With nowhere to place his unnecessarily long legs, he fidgeted his knees and slightly extended one leg under the table.

Oops…!

Before he knew it, Boss Won’s hand had firmly grabbed Son Yeo-il’s ankle. In this sudden situation, Son Yeo-il’s body froze like a deer caught in headlights.

If his ankle were to be jerked upward now, Soon Yeo-il would inevitably collapse to the floor. Boss Won’s voice, tinged with humor, whispered meaningfully.

“Now then, it’s time to do what we need to do, right?”

What needed to be done—what could he mean? Son Yeo-il timidly glanced at his captured ankle. Son Yeo-il’s ankle was particularly thin, and Boss Won’s hand was exceptionally large, so the ankle fit entirely within one hand.

Fingers with protruding knuckles and a wrist that looked hard as stone. Below the shirt that had risen slightly along his arm, with the cuff button undone, a pitch-black tattoo was visible.

If that hand applied even a little force now, Son Yeo-il’s ankle might break. Though he always showed Son Yeo-il a smiling face and spoke nonsense to him, Boss Won was actually quite a frightening person. If he had wanted to overpower Son Yeo-il, he could have crushed him long ago.

Suddenly, fear struck him right then. He wondered what the man might do in such a visible place, but questioned whether that gangster would be selective about location. After all, the reason Boss Won had persistently followed Son Yeo-il was probably for that very purpose.

If he was going to do this, he could have done it earlier. Why be so nice first…?

Just as a hint of resentment emerged, Son Yeo-il realized he had been perceiving Boss Won’s actions as “being nice to him.”

Despite constantly grumbling, “Why is he like that,” “That man must be crazy,” “This is such a bother,” deep down, it seemed he had felt differently.

Amidst these complex emotions, Son Yeo-il’s lower lip was about to jut out. After holding Son Yeo-il’s ankle for quite some time, Boss Won slipped his other hand under Son Yeo-il’s pant leg.

“W-What are you…?!”

“Hush. Stay still.”

Even in this situation, Son Yeo-il, who was fearful that Boss Won might tear his suit pants—of which he owned only two—summoned the courage to protest. But Boss Won, without hesitation, wriggled his fingers under the pant leg and removed Son Yeo-il’s sock.

He starts by removing the sock?

Before Son Yeo-il could be shocked by this maniacal preference, he carefully folded Son Yeo-il’s pant leg up to the middle of his calf. Then, with deft movements, he did the same to the other pant leg.

“Why are you doing this, really?”

“We need to dip our feet in the stream, don’t we?”

Ah? Taken aback by this unexpected development, Son Yeo-il blinked in confusion while the other roughly rolled up his own pant legs. Even as he did so, his eyes remained fixed on Son Yeo-il’s ankles and feet.

“Even my baby’s feet are so fair and pretty.”

Normally, Son Yeo-il would have kicked him for saying such nonsense, but feeling apologetic for his internal misunderstanding, he remained silent. As Son Yeo-il was uncharacteristically docile, the gaze became increasingly intense, until finally, “Attorney Son. Don’t misunderstand, okay?”

“What?”

“Can I just suck your toes once? I don’t mean anything bad by it, just once, gently…oops!”