CRT Ch 17

💎

As soon as the front door opened, Seok Ryu rushed into the living room first. Thanks to his usual meticulous tidiness, the house was in the same pristine condition as when they had first moved in. At Seok Ryu’s signal, Yejun ushered the guests into the living room. Aside from Yoon Inoh, this was the first time guests had visited, and Yejun’s expression was a mix of tension and excitement.

Secretary Yang had a knack for making even flattery sound sincere.

“Your place is so spacious and clean. I feel bad for showing up empty-handed!”

“We’re the ones who don’t have much to offer…”

“Just inviting us over is more than enough. Haha.”

While Yejun showed Secretary Yang around, Seok Ryu hurriedly prepared coffee. He was preoccupied with what to serve these unexpected guests. He didn’t want to be a poor host and embarrass Yejun.

Cha Yilhyun propped the puzzle against one side of the living room and surveyed the space. Seok Ryu handed steaming mugs to Yejun and Secretary Yang. For Cha Yilhyun, he offered a coffee loaded with sugar. Cha Yilhyun’s gaze barely touched the cup before flicking away.

From the car ride to the elevator and up to this moment, Cha Yilhyun had acted as if Seok Ryu were invisible. Would this be how he’d behave if he became Yejun’s follower? The coldness he exuded pressed down on Seok Ryu with a stillness that made his entire body stiffen.

Noticing Cha Yilhyun’s aloofness toward Seok Ryu, Yejun’s voice rose half an octave.

“Sir, if you don’t want coffee, can I get you something else? I don’t know what you like…”

Secretary Yang leaned toward Yejun and whispered, “Is there anything quick to eat? The CEO hasn’t had much since yesterday because of meetings.”

“Seok Ryu can make anything, so just tell us what you want!”

“If it takes too long, why don’t we order delivery?”

“How could we serve delivery to guests? Right?”

Yejun looked to Seok Ryu for agreement.

“Uh, yes…”

Seok Ryu gave a half-dazed response and slowly returned to the kitchen. He poured the coffee Cha Yilhyun had rejected into the sink and rinsed it with water. Hidden by the sound of running water, he let out a quiet sigh. It was just a rejected cup of coffee, yet his chest felt hollow.

It wasn’t uncommon for someone handed over to the master to harbor hostility toward Seok Ryu. It was a normal part of his existence, so it never affected him. Only the master could wound or cause pain to a guardian stone. So why…?

Could it be that he’d unknowingly succeeded in doping earlier? The suddenness of it, without mental preparation, was disorienting. Mental preparation? Disorienting? What was this…?

No, he had averted his gaze first back then, so the effect wouldn’t have taken hold. Besides, he hadn’t passed it to Yejun, so there was no reason for Cha Yilhyun’s attitude to change. There had to be another reason. Maybe because he refused to go to the hospital? Or because he didn’t thank him for finding the choker? His head spun with every possible thought.

He had wanted nothing more than to make Cha Yilhyun Yejun’s servant, so shouldn’t he be raising a toast? Yet, denying his own success in doping left him speechless once again.

While placing a washed mug on the drying rack, his hand slipped, and it fell. The cup shattered on the floor. He couldn’t decide whether to wipe the spilled water first or pick up the broken pieces, his judgment suddenly evaporating. Flustered, he began gathering the ceramic shards.

A heavy sigh came from behind. Someone swiftly grabbed Seok Ryu’s wrist. Cha Yilhyun, with a stern face, pulled Seok Ryu back. He tore a handful of paper towels from the sink cabinet and swept up the shards. After cleaning the floor spotlessly, Cha Yilhyun spoke.

“Let’s just cook some ramen.”

“Ramen?”

Yejun echoed, eyes wide as lanterns. Secretary Yang explained like a kind teacher.

“The CEO likes ramen too. He’s got a bit of a kid’s taste, haha.”

“I see.”

Yejun murmured as if committing it to memory. Seok Ryu opened the upper cabinet and reached for the ramen. Cha Yilhyun stepped close behind him, grabbing the ramen first. When his firm thigh brushed Seok Ryu’s hip, Seok Ryu flinched and stepped back. With Cha Yilhyun right behind him, every nerve stood on edge. Cha Yilhyun pulled a pot from the lower cabinet and straightened up.

“Will this do?”

For the first time, Cha Yilhyun’s gaze met Seok Ryu’s. His eyes seemed to hover between melting and freezing, warning that Seok Ryu’s response would shift their temperature. Seok Ryu swallowed the refusal rising in his throat.

“Yes.”

At Seok Ryu’s compliant answer, Cha Yilhyun’s eyes curved as if in approval. He looked at the ramen he’d grabbed and belatedly wrinkled his nose.

“I don’t eat this kind.”

His petulant tone was surprisingly soft. Had the doping failed after all? Dazed and confused, Seok Ryu responded a beat late.

“It’s all we have. Can’t you just eat it?”

“No way. Once I’m set on something, that’s all I’ll eat.”

He rolled up his sleeves and filled the large pot with water. The sink was too low, forcing Cha Yilhyun to bend deeply. His dangling silk tie got soaked. He held it in his mouth, but finding that inconvenient, he turned his face toward Seok Ryu.

“Hold it.”

Seok Ryu shook the water from his hands and grasped the end of Cha Yilhyun’s tie. Cha Yilhyun glanced at him, briefly capturing and releasing his gaze.

It seemed he’d been upset for some other reason. Why his mood had suddenly lifted was unclear, but it was a relief nonetheless. At that moment, Seok Ryu bit his tongue. A relief, despite failing the doping…?

Yejun rushed into the kitchen, at a loss.

“Sir, please just sit. Seok Ryu can handle it…”

“With someone walking around with a bloody scalp in front of me, you think I can sit comfortably?”

Seok Ryu and Yejun’s expressions froze simultaneously. It could be misinterpreted as Yejun callously ignoring his manager’s injury. But a guardian stone’s regeneration was faster than a human’s, and the wound would heal by morning.

“Yejun told me to go to the hospital, but I said I was fine.”

“Knowing he’s hurt and still putting him to work, huh?”

“It’s not a big injury, and I’m fine now.”

“You were out of it just moments ago. I thought you had a concussion.”

No matter how Seok Ryu countered, Cha Yilhyun seemed ready to pounce. Having chilled the atmosphere, he remained calm and shameless. His gaze shifted to Yejun.

“Am I making you uncomfortable? Should I leave?”

“N-no! Of course not…”

Yejun stammered, his neck flushing. Cha Yilhyun knew exactly who to target. Yejun fumbled for his wallet.

“Tell me what ramen you like, sir, and I’ll get it. I’ll grab some ointment on the way.”

“I’ll go.”

When Seok Ryu stepped forward, Yejun looked at him with a mix of amusement and frustration.

“You said you were fine, so I thought you really were… Sorry, I was short-sighted.”

In this atmosphere, Seok Ryu pushing further would only make Yejun look worse. After Yejun left, Seok Ryu brushed past Cha Yilhyun and went to his room. He grabbed a clean shirt and headed to the bathroom. He wanted to wash the blood from his hair, but it was also to escape the awkward air. His mind was tangled with how to apologize to Yejun when he returned.

He washed his hair and checked the wound. The torn skin stung but would heal soon. Fixing the choker was more urgent. Tomorrow, he’d replace the cord or repair the clasp. He changed out of the glass-embedded shirt and stepped out of the bathroom.

In the living room, Secretary Yang was on the couch watching a variety show. Cha Yilhyun sat beside him, staring at a bottle on the table—Seok Ryu’s jewel-cleaning solution. Without a label or manual, it would be unrecognizable.

Unsure when Yejun would return, Seok Ryu went to the kitchen and lowered the heat. A soft tongue-click came from above. Cha Yilhyun was standing behind him, peering at Seok Ryu’s crown. Seeing the wound wasn’t as bad as expected, his gaze softened.

“If you feel dizzy or get a headache, don’t be stubborn—go to the hospital. You can call me too.”

“I’ll go to the hospital if anything feels off.”

At Seok Ryu’s reply, Cha Yilhyun murmured in a softened tone, “You’re being good today. Must be the head injury…”

Suddenly, his eyes gleamed mischievously.

“Since you’re being good, how about showing me your room?”

He strode off abruptly. Seok Ryu, startled, chased after him. Cha Yilhyun stopped at Seok Ryu’s door, likely having noticed it earlier when Seok Ryu grabbed a shirt. Seok Ryu quickly blocked the door.

“Is it okay to invade an employee’s privacy like this? Open that door, and I won’t let it slide.”

“Anyone would think you’re hiding a body in there.”

Seok Ryu glared at him, his eyes burning. The thought of Shinbi’s grave in his suitcase made him flinch. Cha Yilhyun’s eyes narrowed slyly.

“I crawled on the floor to find your choker, and I can’t even see your room?”

“…”

Come to think of it, without Cha Yilhyun, the choker’s fate would have been chilling to consider. Seok Ryu relaxed his brow and grabbed the doorknob. Before opening, he warned, “I chose this room because I prefer ondol. Don’t get any weird ideas.”

“Noted.”

Seok Ryu bit his lip, opened the door, and flipped on the fluorescent light. The small room held only neatly folded bedding, a suitcase, and a trash can—sparse enough to make the fuss embarrassing. He’d chosen it solely to avoid intruding on Yejun’s privacy while being close enough to respond to calls.

Cha Yilhyun stood at the threshold, scanning the room. Despite the tiny space, his gaze traced a long, slow path.

“A quaint and tidy room.”

Seok Ryu had never attached meaning to this space. Unable to predict when he’d leave, it was merely a place to sleep—nothing more, nothing less. He clutched the damp towel.

“If you’re done looking, please leave.”

He turned off the light and stepped out. But Cha Yilhyun closed the door first. As darkness enveloped the sealed space, a chill ran down Seok Ryu’s spine. He tried to reopen the door, but Cha Yilhyun held the knob, immovable.

Seok Ryu fumbled along the wall for the light switch. A guardian stone’s eyes, akin to night vision, could discern shapes in the dark. But panic blinded him now.

“Move.”

“You think I came here just to see a tiny room?”

A damp hand seized Seok Ryu’s wrist and yanked him forward. A low breath drew near in the darkness. His nape was grabbed, and moist lips covered Seok Ryu’s. He shuddered as if doused with hot water.

“Ugh…”

He twisted his head, swallowing a groan, but Cha Yilhyun’s tongue pursued relentlessly. The door rattled. Trapped between Cha Yilhyun and the door, there was no escape. Cha Yilhyun turned Seok Ryu’s face back, forcing a finger between his molars to pry his mouth open. Stirring Seok Ryu’s tongue beneath his own, he let out a low moan.

His teeth, grazing Seok Ryu’s cheek, slid to his neck. Seok Ryu’s shirt was half-off. In the pitch dark, Cha Yilhyun found a nipple, enveloping it with his lips. Each roll and gentle bite made Seok Ryu flinch uncontrollably. The intense sensation overwhelmed familiar feelings.

Cha Yilhyun lifted Seok Ryu, rubbing his groin between his hips. The unmistakable hardness of his penis pressed through the fabric. His eyes blazed with selfish, savage desire. Secretary Yang was outside. Yejun would return soon. Seok Ryu thrashed with all his strength.

Licking Seok Ryu’s bare shoulder, Cha Yilhyun exhaled uneven breaths. His wet teeth savagely bit Seok Ryu’s neck and cheek. The hand gripping Seok Ryu’s hip twitched briefly. A finger probed inside, moving rapidly. The thrust of his hips grew urgent, lifting Seok Ryu higher.

“Haa, hng…”

His breath vanished into the darkness for a moment. He sucked on Seok Ryu’s lips and tongue for a long while. As his wet lips slowly retreated, Seok Ryu froze, unable to blink.

The sound of the door lock clicked. Footsteps vibrated as Secretary Yang ran to the entrance.

“The pharmacy was closed, so I couldn’t get the ointment. Where’s Seok Ryu?”

At Yejun’s call, Seok Ryu felt his blood drain. But Cha Yilhyun, unfazed, grabbed Seok Ryu’s hand and shoved it into his pants, forcing him to grip his still-hot erection. He pulled Seok Ryu’s mucus-slick hand out and rubbed it across his bare chest and neck.

He marked Seok Ryu with his scent, then smeared semen on the door, knob, and light switch. Stunned by the bizarre act, Seok Ryu stood petrified.

As if finishing a task, Cha Yilhyun shamelessly zipped up his pants. He pulled up Seok Ryu’s fallen shirt and wiped his saliva-drenched lips with a thumb. The sharp angles of his face caught the light streaming through the window.

“I’ll handle things, so rest.”

When Cha Yilhyun left, Yejun’s tense voice echoed.

“…Where’s Seok Ryu?”

“He’s lying down with a headache.”

“I’ll check on him.”

“The water’s boiling. Where are you going?”

“Oh, right…!”

Fearing Yejun’s entry, Seok Ryu scrambled to lock the door. When the smell of broth seeped through the gap, he collapsed, exhausted. He couldn’t even deal with the semen dripping between his fingers. Despite the chemical tang of seasoning, the room’s fishy stench lingered.

💎

Tap—tap—

A sound at the window woke Seok Ryu. He must have fallen asleep slumped by the door. Streetlight glow faintly lit the dark room. The wall clock’s second hand had just passed midnight. Yejun would be fast asleep.

Knock—knock— The window tapped again. He thought it might be rain or a pebble. Lifting the curtain, he thought he was hallucinating. An X-shaped drone hovered outside, its lights blinking. A small pouch dangled from its body.

The drone bobbed, urging him to open the window. Seok Ryu did so, and it glided in, maintaining altitude. Tilting slightly, it dropped the pouch. Seok Ryu caught it reflexively. The silver messenger backed out and floated away.

Seok Ryu leaned out, looking up, but protruding balconies blocked the drone’s path.

Sitting in the room, he opened the pouch. It held antiseptic and ointment. Something glinted at the bottom. Pulling it out revealed a string of diamond beads. Fully extracted, a wine-red pendant swayed.

Seok Ryu let out a faint gasp. It was the garnet necklace from the jewelry store the day he first met Cha Yilhyun. The necklace vibrated softly, resonating with the core stone in the choker on his wrist. It revealed an unexpected truth.

That day, when you were staring at me in a daze, he remembered it. The day you found me, I was chosen by him. He visited the jewelry store daily to meet you again. Until the moment he sent me to you, he hesitated, fearing rejection…

Confessions embedded in each bead pooled in Seok Ryu’s ears. A ticklish sensation spread, sprouting across his cheeks, neck, fingers—his entire body. Was this feeling just a reflex of memory? Was the sudden ache in his heart when thinking of him fake? The vivid sensation of his touch…

With Cha Yilhyun, Seok Ryu often forgot he wasn’t truly human. The deeds he performed for his master sometimes felt like crimes. At rare moments, he felt almost human.

Looking at anyone but the master was betrayal. Using a guardian stone’s power for another was forbidden. A traitor’s fate, like Shinbi’s, was a miserable end, erased even from memory. He didn’t want to turn his master into a demon again.

He must have a concussion. A hallucination of cracking echoed. A gnawing sound eroded from the depths. Fear surged, and his body trembled.

Before the garnet necklace could spill deeper secrets, he hurled it out the window. He locked the window, drew the curtains, and buried himself in blankets, plugging both ears to block all sound.

💎

“Filthy bastard! I’ll kill him!!”

Inoh pounded the driver’s seat, grinding his teeth.

“I’m getting screwed, and you’re just watching?! You call yourself a manager?!”

Manager Jang sighed, waiting for Inoh’s rage to subside. Inoh pictured Yejun’s face, kicking the car seat and smashing his fist against the window. Something had to break or tear to keep him from going mad.

The idea of a leech who’d only fed on others’ blood threatening his position was infuriating. Yejun’s victim act was the most nauseating. He bitterly regretted calling Yejun drunk that night.

Bringing that wretched gem was his deepest regret. Sanho was reportedly beyond saving. To bring another pearl, Inoh would have to abandon all the fame he’d built.

Assemblyman Kim’s black diamond was nearing its expiration. With a critical election looming, he was secluded at his villa for another binding ritual, fueling health rumors.

At the apartment, Manager Jang slowed and entered the gate. Someone darted in front of the car. Jang slammed the brakes, cursing. The man, brushing himself off, approached.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“What?!”

Jang snapped, lowering the window halfway. A man with thick eyelids appeared.

“I’m Hwang Kwangil, reporter from D-Day. I’d like an interview with Yoon Inoh… Hey! Just a minute!”

Jang raised the window without listening. D-Day was a rag that stalked celebrities and scraped by on cheap ads.

Hwang Kwangil, D-Day’s CEO and reporter, was notorious for sleaze. No Songhyul actor was untouched by him, and he’d sparked the rumors about Inoh and Assemblyman Kim.

“Drive, what are you waiting for?! Run that bastard over!”

As Jang started the car, Hwang clung to the side, pleading.

“Wait! I got a shady tip recently, and I thought Yoon Inoh might know about it!”

“What nonsense are you cooking up? Get lost!”

“It’s a real scoop this time! Just one minute!”

Ignoring him risked a vengeful article. Inoh tapped the seat, signaling Jang to stop. Lowering the window halfway, Inoh faced Hwang’s sly grin.

“You remember that incident, right?”