IPSTDS Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Why I was looking at Kim Daon…

Nahyuk was able to sum up the reason almost immediately.

It was because Daon was incredibly handsome, kind, sweet, and because he had been Nahyuk’s favorite character while reading the novel. Though the thought process was long, the answer that came out was hesitant and awkward.

“Because… you’re just really good-looking…”

The way Kim Daon was looking at him was so vivid that Nahyuk couldn’t speak properly. His lower lip trembled slightly.

“Guess you really do live long enough to see everything. Even getting complimented on my looks by you, hyung.”

“…”

“Remember back when you called me a squid? Said I was ugly and told me to get lost.”

That was probably something the real Yoon Noah had said. Most likely not even sincerely.

Objectively speaking, Kim Daon had a face that lacked for nothing.

His facial features were on the finer side overall, but that didn’t make him look weak. Maybe it was because of his cynical expression, but his pretty face oddly gave off a strong impression.

“If you’re a squid, what hope is there for the rest of us.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah… Oh right, let me get something to drink. I invited you over and didn’t even offer anything.”

Wanting to move away from the topic of appearances, Nahyuk quickly changed the subject. Before Daon could stop him, he hurried downstairs and prepared two drinks.

The orange juice, poured neatly into elegant glasses, looked just right. It would’ve been nice if he’d managed to serve them without a hitch.

“Ah!”

While going back up the stairs, he lost his footing for a moment and stumbled.

He didn’t fall, thankfully, but the juice inside the glass made a big arc and spilled, wetting the tray and his clothes.

Damn it. What am I, an idiot?

Just then, as if he’d heard Nahyuk’s startled voice, Kim Daon appeared at the stairs.

“Hyung? Are you okay?”

With his long legs, Daon quickly came down the stairs and took the tray out of Nahyuk’s hands in one swift motion. His careful eyes scanned Nahyuk up and down.

“I look dumb, don’t I? Couldn’t even bring some juice properly…”

For some reason, he felt especially clumsy today in front of Daon. He’d never been this much of a wreck around Lee Kangil.

“What are you talking about? Good thing the glasses didn’t break. Spilling a bit of juice is no big deal.”

“…”

How is he so endlessly generous?

“I’ll carry these. You go change your clothes. And if the juice leaves a stain, let me know. I’m really good at getting those out.”

And he’s good at housework too?

Kim Daon was practically flawless.

“Thanks.”

“You sure do say thank you a lot, hyung. Go on, hurry.”

With those kind words, Nahyuk stopped berating himself for acting like a fool.

He had a faint feeling that just being around Kim Daon would make him a better person.

“Okay.”

They say being with a good person makes you better too.

Could you be that person?

Unfortunately, in his previous life, Nahyuk had never met anyone like Kim Daon. Maybe that was why he wanted to get closer to him.

Still unable to take his eyes off Daon, Nahyuk followed him up to the second floor.

Daon sat down again on the living room sofa, while Nahyuk went into his room and took off his soaked shirt.

Meanwhile, left alone, Kim Daon wiped down the juice-stained glasses and neatly arranged them in a row on the table.

A satisfying little bit of tidying.

“I ended up cleaning up like it was my own house.”

Just as he finished and was waiting for Nahyuk, a buzzing sound started—like a phone vibrating. The sound came from the phone on the table.

It was Yoon Noah’s phone.

Daon picked it up and checked the caller ID.

[Lee Kangil]

Lee Kangil…

The man who had been spending a lot of time with Yoon Noah lately because of the new drug.

But why, Daon wondered, was this man calling his hyung so late at night? Something about it rubbed him the wrong way.

It wasn’t exactly jealousy over Yoon Noah and Lee Kangil’s relationship. They weren’t even that close yet—at least not enough for Daon to feel something like jealousy.

What he didn’t like was that Lee Kangil had used the experimental drug as an excuse, essentially wagering someone’s life, to push Yoon Noah around.

Was someone’s life a game to him?

Daon, who was sensitive to death, couldn’t understand someone like Lee Kangil.

While he was lost in thought, the call ended. But not long after, the phone started buzzing again.

Without realizing it, Daon furrowed his brow.

How much was this guy planning to harass Noah? Surely he knew that hyung had recently collapsed.

Finally, Daon answered the call.

“Hello.”

– Wildcat, why the hell did you take so long to… Huh? Yoon Noah?

“This is Kim Daon speaking.”

– …Why are you answering his phone?

There was a note of irritation in Lee Kangil’s voice on the other end.

– Where is Yoon Noah?

He sounded oddly urgent.

With a hint of sarcasm, Daon gave a reply that was sure to lead to misunderstanding.

“Hyung is changing his clothes right now.”

– …Hyung?

“Hespilled something sticky on his clothes.”

Nahyuk wasn’t sure what exactly Lee Kangil might have imagined from that response.

But judging by the tone of his reply, it seemed he had misunderstood things exactly the way Nahyuk had expected—no, hoped—he would.

– …Where are you right now?

His voice sounded cold and sinister, unmistakably threatening.

But Kim Daon responded calmly and without concern.

“At hyung’s house.”

From the other end of the line came a string of curses too crude to repeat.

As if Nahyuk didn’t know how to curse, too.

Still, Daon didn’t bother returning the insult. Instead, he simply lowered the call volume and placed the phone face-down on the table.

Right then, Yoon Noah came out of the room, having changed his clothes. Perfect timing.

“Hyung. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I’m fine.”

He was holding his stained shirt draped over one arm.

Something flickered in Kim Daon’s eyes when he saw it—perhaps a spark of inspiration on how to further provoke Lee Kangil, who was probably still silently eavesdropping.

“But that…”

Daon’s gaze fixed on the shirt.

“Oh, this?”

“Want me to wash it for you?”

“…”

“I’m really good at doing laundry.”

Daon had been taking care of his younger brothers for years. He’d done laundry so many times he’d lost count. Especially for Heechan, who constantly dirtied his clothes, Daon had become a master at removing all kinds of stains.

That was the intention behind his offer—but to the twisted eavesdropper on the other end of the line, it likely sounded very different.

Not that Daon cared what Lee Kangil misunderstood.

Completely unaware, Yoon Noah slowly shook his head.

“No, I’ll take care of it. I can’t keep relying on your help.”

With that, he walked off toward the laundry room.

As soon as he disappeared, Daon picked up the phone he had placed upside down. As expected, the call was still ongoing.

He raised the volume and addressed Lee Kangil directly.

“Mr. Lee Kangil. You’re still on the line. I think hyung and I are going to be a little busy now, so I’ll hang up for him.”

– You little…

Something that sounded like another violent insult came through, but Daon hung up before Kangil could finish.

Even though he hadn’t said anything too direct, Daon felt as if he had won. Lee Kangil, clearly furious, might call again—but for some reason, the phone stayed quiet.

Could he really be thinking of coming here?

Before that, Daon couldn’t help but wonder: why exactly had Lee Kangil gotten so angry?

If he had no feelings for Yoon Noah, there was no reason for him to react like that to some perverted misunderstanding. If anything, he should have laughed it off.

But instead, the usually smooth and composed Lee Kangil had clearly lost his temper.

Was it because he didn’t like seeing Yoon Noah having fun with someone else? The same Yoon Noah he’d manipulated using the excuse of a miracle drug and the threat of death?

Or… was it because he actually liked Yoon Noah?

“…Daon? What were you doing with my phone?”

At that moment, Yoon Noah’s voice returned.

Daon decided to be honest and tell him the truth, in case Lee Kangil made trouble later. He didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings with Yoon Noah.

“While you were changing, Lee Kangil called.”

“Don’t tell me you answered?”

“…Yeah. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have answered your phone without permission.”

He replied apologetically and lowered his gaze slightly.

No matter the reason, the fact remained that he had picked up someone else’s call without asking. He wouldn’t have had any excuse if he were kicked out of the house on the spot.

‘But… I guess I’d be a little sad if I actually got kicked out.’

Even though he was bracing for the worst, the answer that came was unexpectedly gentle.

“It’s fine. It’s not like I have anything to hide from you.”

Yoon Noah even sat down beside him and softly stroked his hair.

It was an unexpected reaction. No matter how much a person changed, could someone really change this much?

Daon turned his softened gaze to meet Yoon Noah’s eyes—those suddenly innocent eyes that had shifted so dramatically from how they used to be.

“Hyung. You’ve gotten unbelievably sweet.”

“Maybe I’m only sweet to you.”

Oddly enough, Yoon Noah had been rather cold toward Seo Dowoong.

“By the way, did Kangil say anything? Anything about the new drug?”

“Not really. I just said you were away.”

It wasn’t the full truth, but it wasn’t a lie either.