IPSTDS Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Wildcat. I’m a busy office worker, and not only that, I’m the one holding your lifeline. So why do you look so out of it? I’m starting to get annoyed.”

Lee Kangil, sitting across from Nahyuk, had the corner of his lips curled up in a crooked smile. He looked distinctly displeased.

Nahyuk looked at him and thought:

‘If he’s that busy, he didn’t have to come today.’

Come to think of it, Kangil, who had emphasized how busy he was, had no real reason to visit again today. Nahyuk had already received several days’ worth of the experimental drug just yesterday.

But for some reason, Kangil had come to visit him at home again.

Nahyuk sat with him in the garden. Since the weather was nice, he figured they might as well get some fresh air while they were at it.

As they sat face to face at the table placed in the garden, Nahyuk suddenly thought of Kim Daon—the guy who replied late at night.

He hadn’t expected a response to that weird message with a heart on it, and yet Kim Daon…

– Sunbae, when are you free?

He sent a reply that gave off the vibe of wanting to meet one-on-one.

My favorite character asked to meet up. Isn’t this basically the dream of a true fan coming true?

Nahyuk had been so shocked by the sudden message that he hadn’t replied all day. Even now, sitting with Lee Kangil, he was still mulling over how to respond.

Kangil seemed to notice that immediately.

“Sorry. I was thinking about my favorite character. Kangil, do you know what a favorite character is?”

“Favorite character? Are you talking about… digging something up?”

“……”

Nahyuk looked at him like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Do you not watch TV or videos or anything?”

“I don’t even have time to make your medicine. Come to think of it, I’ve been doing nothing but research lately.”

“What’s the last movie you watched?”

“Titanic?”

“……”

When was that even released? Nahyuk felt pity for Kangil and explained the meaning simply.

“A favorite character is… the person you like the most.”

Upon hearing that, Kangil fell into thought.

‘If it’s the person the wildcat likes the most… then Seo Dowoong?’

That would mean he’d been spacing out the whole time they were together because he was thinking about Seo Dowoong.

It was absurd, to say the least.

When trying to get the drug, he acted like he’d given up on Seo Dowoong—but now that he had the medicine, he was showing his true colors. Kangil even felt a sense of betrayal toward Yoon Noah.

‘Who’s the guy next to Mr. Lee Kangil? I don’t know him.’

And yet now he pretends he knows Seo Dowoong again?

Now that he had a sliver of hope for survival, was he trying to return to the love he’d set aside?

Kangil’s expression turned noticeably colder. Even he couldn’t understand why he was so irritated.

He was so annoyed he even wanted to take back the drugs he’d given him yesterday.

But he had already decided to keep this entertaining wildcat alive, so he didn’t.

If this fascinating little thing died now, it’d be disappointing. At least until he lost interest, he’d keep the brazen wildcat alive.

Resolving himself, Kangil spoke.

“So, what about your favorite character?”

“Oh, I texted my favorite yesterday… and got a reply. I didn’t even expect one, but he said he wanted to meet.”

Seo Dowoong asked to meet?

Kangil’s brow furrowed in a way that was almost charming.

It had already annoyed him that Seo Dowoong visited the wildcat in the hospital—and now he wanted to meet privately?

What was Seo Dowoong thinking?

“So, are you going to meet him?”

“Of course. Who knows when I’ll get another chance.”

“…Wow.”

The moment Kangil saw Yoon Noah’s cheeks flush at the thought of meeting Seo Dowoong, he rubbed his face like he was trying to wash away his frustration.

“This is pissing me off.”

His honest reaction escaped before he could stop it. At the sudden harsh words, the other asked back.

“Kangil? Why are you suddenly in a bad mood?”

Did he seriously not know? What was he supposed to do with this guy—couldn’t even kill him.

How could this wildcat not appreciate the effort he made to visit every day out of concern?

With a thin smile, Kangil said something Yoon Noah definitely wouldn’t like.

“Should I give you another condition? If you succeed in this one, I’ll give you a month’s worth of the drug.”

Yoon Noah smiled brightly.

Fool. Smiling just because he mentioned the drug, without even knowing what kind of condition it was. Kangil let out a scoff.

“What’s the condition?”

“This time, try kissing your favorite.”

“…Huh? Are—are you crazy? How am I supposed to kiss him?”

“Not confident? Well, if you can’t, then no drug.”

He said that, but he intended to give the medicine regardless. After all, he had already decided to save Yoon Noah.

Once Kangil made up his mind, he never went back on it.

But apart from that, he just wanted to give the cheeky Yoon Noah a minor punishment.

Kangil pictured the moment Yoon Noah would try to kiss Seo Dowoong.

That kiss would obviously fail.

Even if Seo Dowoong had visited him out of pity, there was no way that cold-hearted guy would kiss him just out of sympathy.

Especially since Seo Dowoong liked Kim Daon.

So if Yoon Noah tried to kiss Seo Dowoong, the outcome would only be one thing:

‘Seo Dowoong’s contempt.’

If Seo Dowoong got irritated, he might even hurl cruel insults at Noah.

‘When that happens, I’ll be the one to pick up the wounded wildcat.’

That way, Yoon Noah would finally realize how precious he really was. With that plan fully formed, a wicked smile crept onto Kangil’s face.

“I’ll find the place for you. Somewhere perfect for kissing.”

“But Kangil. Couldn’t I… do something else instead? Like crawl between your legs? Or even drink your spit?”

Yoon Noah looked at him with eyes begging for mercy. But Kangil didn’t find the look pitiful at all—he answered coldly.

“Denied.”

Watching Yoon Noah’s flustered face was nothing but amusing to Kangil. While he was at it, he figured he might as well make things even more awkward.

“Well, before you kiss this so-called favorite of yours, you could practice with me.”

Kissing him would be something Yoon Noah hated even more than crawling between his legs or swallowing his spit.

“…What?”

As expected, Yoon Noah went pale and made a stunned noise.

Seeing him recoil at the mere suggestion of a kiss made Kangil even more determined not to take the offer back.

“No. Do it with me first.”

The words were firm—and tinged with a deep, burning heat.

Meanwhile, Nahyuk found all of Lee Kangil’s suggestions nothing but troubling.

Kissing Kim Daon… He’d never even hoped for something like that, let alone imagined it.

Though Kim Daon was indeed his favorite character, it wasn’t a romantic or sexual kind of affection.

It was more like a parental feeling—the kind of sincere wish that the person named “Kim Daon” would simply live a happy life.

Besides, Kim Daon wasn’t the kind of person who would easily go along with something like a kiss. In fact, he’d probably hate it.

While Nahyuk was already struggling with that, Kangil had casually suggested that they kiss instead.

That proposal made things even more confusing. It wasn’t the offer itself that bothered him—it was why Kangil would even suggest such a thing. Nahyuk couldn’t guess what was behind it.

“Shall we go practice kissing now?”

Kangil hummed like he was going on a picnic.

‘Is he… actually looking forward to kissing me?’

But Kangil was straight. Sure, he occasionally changed his demeanor and touched him affectionately, but Nahyuk didn’t want to let himself believe something ridiculous.

He knew how devastating it could be to misunderstand someone’s feelings.

Regardless of what Kangil truly intended, Nahyuk didn’t want to question it and risk making him take it back.

His gaze landed on Kangil’s lips, red and ripe like a perfectly ripened fruit.

He felt the desire to touch them. Maybe it was because he already knew how soft and warm those lips were that he longed for them even more.

‘Anyway, I don’t mind kissing Lee Kangil.’

Some might criticize wanting to kiss someone you don’t love.

But to Nahyuk—who had never experienced love properly, who had never even felt the warmth of another person—that act alone felt like a blessing. He had always longed for human connection.

So despite Kangil’s prickly attitude, he was grateful for the man who was sometimes kind and treated him like a friend. When he lived as Lee Nahyuk, he hadn’t even had someone like that.

Regardless of the drug, Nahyuk simply wanted to get along better with Kangil.

“Where are we going?”

After a short pause, Kangil finally answered.

“First, the movie theater?”

“A movie theater? All of a sudden?”

“You looked at me like I was pitiful when I said the last movie I watched was Titanic. I figured I’d take this chance to catch up on a recent one.”

“…I didn’t look at you pitifully.”

“Either way, let’s go.”

Making it clear he had no intention of backing out, Kangil stood up and grabbed Nahyuk’s wrist. Then, with a teasing tone, he said,

“Lord Yoon Noah, allow me the honor of driving you.”

“Thanks.”

Just like that, Nahyuk was dragged along to the garage, right in front of Kangil’s car.

The vehicle, fitting for a top pharmaceutical researcher, looked high-end at a glance.

Kangil even opened the door for him—surprisingly courteous. Nahyuk looked up at him with fresh eyes.

Their gazes met. Kangil gave a quiet chuckle and asked in a low voice,

“Yoon Noah, have you ever kissed someone in a movie theater?”

It was a question that hinted at what was to come.