KTS Ch 11

The next morning, Woojung walked with an awkward gait toward the kitchen of another person’s house.

Dressed in a shirt and tie, Sa Gongjun was leaning back in his chair and looking up at Woojung. Judging by the angle of his reclined upper body, he seemed less like someone who had come to eat and more like someone who had come to observe Woojung’s reaction.

“……”

“……”

There were no words. Not from Woojung, and not from Sa Gongjun. That was understandable, seeing as the only words they had exchanged until now were gasps in bed. It was Sa Gongjun who broke the silence first.

“What are you doing just standing there? Sit down.”

Sa Gongjun’s hand pointed to the empty seat across from him, then came to rest on the edge of the table.

Woojung’s gaze shifted to the back of Sa Gongjun’s hand. The bones on the back of his hand protruded, and the skin covering them was uneven. He had seen similar scars on a loan shark before. Those were definitely wounds from punching.

Woojung quickly sat down.

“Eat.”

On the dining table were warm soup and rice, and so many side dishes that he could not even name them all. It was so much that it was difficult to choose what to eat first.

“I will eat well.”

Woojung, without a second thought, picked up his chopsticks and tapped them lightly on the table. He picked up the most approachable dish, the seasoned bean sprouts. But as luck would have it, the bean sprout stalks were tangled together, and the entire portion in the dish came along.

It seemed like bad table manners to put the side dish he had picked up back down. Indeed, on the other side of the table, Sa Gongjun was eating with impeccable posture, without even the clatter of utensils.

Woojung’s fingertips grew increasingly tense.

I should have just had some soup instead of trying to eat a side dish.

“Good grief.”

Sa Gongjun let out a short sigh. With his chopsticks, he took half of the bean sprouts that Woojung was holding. The tangled bean sprout stalks in mid-air split in half, and sesame seeds scattered between the side dish bowls.

“I laid out dozens of side dishes, and you pick the bean sprouts?”

Sa Gongjun took the rest of the seasoned bean sprouts that Woojung was holding.

“Fuck, you’re so much trouble, day and night.”

Then he picked up a piece of seasoned meat and placed it on Woojung’s plate. Along with it was a piece of pork cutlet, something it seemed Sa Gongjun would never touch.

He looked at the pork cutlet. It was a side dish Woojung had eaten before at the student cafeteria, so his eyes went to it first. But the inside was not at all ordinary. Beneath the fluffy, golden breading, there appeared to be at least twenty layers of thinly sliced, pale meat.

He did want to eat it. But the dining situation was too awkward.

He had eaten meals before to continue having sex, but this was the first time he had properly sat down at a dining table with someone. Sharing side dishes, sharing stew. It felt like his body was creaking every time he moved his chopsticks.

The reason Woojung had been able to endure Sa Gongjun was that he had not invaded Woojung’s daily life. It was enough to package everything that happened in Sa Gongjun’s guest room or bed as an exception.

His throat was parched. He gulped down the water that was placed on the right side of the placemat. As soon as he set the glass down, a staff member quietly appeared from somewhere, refilled Woojung’s glass, and stepped back.

“Don’t drink too much water when you eat.”

“……”

“Fill that space for water with something else and build up some stamina. And stop fainting at the drop of a hat.”

The memories that had been cut off all night connected.

It had started in the car. Sa Gongjun had said he would put his fingers inside Woojung’s asshole to stretch him, but he released too many pheromones, and the memories were spotty.

At some point, the film cut out and then abruptly connected to the bathroom shower stall. He had been crawling on the floor to get out when his waist was grabbed, and with one leg propped on the bathtub, he was fucked until his knees were all scraped.

He had gotten intoxicated by the scent Sa Gongjun released, swayed his hips, and tried his best to match him. But it seemed he still could not last until the very end. He remembered his water-soaked body tilting and collapsing onto the tile floor. The moment a hot touch lifted him into an embrace also came to mind.

His head throbbed. Woojung took a deep breath, trying to lessen the buzzing headache. Something underlying the scent of delicious food filled his lungs.

At that moment, with a feast for a king before his eyes, the space between Woojung’s legs began to grow damp.

He thought he finally understood what it was that had been lingering around him, subtly grating on his nerves.

In the bed, in the bathroom. The scent that had made Woojung’s eyes roll back was steeped into every corner of the house.

It was not a desire expressed in a place they met by chance, but a heavy depth, as if painted over and over with a brush for a long time to ripen, filled every space.

Woojung only then realized it. This was Sa Gongjun’s house. Since it was a space he had resided in for a long time, it was only natural that the scent of its master would be imbued in it.

His arms trembled as if he had carried heavy luggage at a construction site, making it difficult to pick up the side dishes. He only picked at the dishes right in front of him, and then Sa Gongjun called over a staff member who was standing in a corner of the kitchen.

“From dinner onwards, prepare the side dishes in two separate portions. So we can eat individually.”

“…Dinner?”

Woojung asked Sa Gongjun back.

“Are you not going to eat dinner?”

“I was planning to go back and have dinner.”

Sa Gongjun made a dumbfounded expression and stared intently at Woojung.

“Go back where?”

“…Home.”

I want to go back.

The words rose to his throat, but he could not bring himself to say them. But Sa Gongjun said the words Woojung wanted to say for him.

“You’re going home?”

“Yes.”

“How are you planning to go?”

“…Walk out, and take the bus?”

“Mr. Cheon Woojung, it seems you can still walk on your own two feet.”

“Ugh!”

Without any warning, Sa Gongjun stretched his foot between Woojung’s legs. With a look that said I know all about your situation, he slowly rubbed his foot there. Woojung’s ears, which had been meeting Sa Gongjun’s eyes, turned red.

“I wonder if you’d stop thinking such thoughts if I were to crush this place….”

It was a very small voice, but he heard it clearly. Sa Gongjun propped his chin on his hand and looked at Woojung. His other hand tapped on the table. Every time his index finger moved, the sinews on the back of his hand were clearly visible. Woojung hastily changed his tune.

“Then I’ll have dinner before I go.”

“Have breakfast here the next morning too.”

“…Pardon?”

“You don’t want to?”

His lower abdomen grew hot from the foot pressing down gently on his crotch. Woojung ended up dropping the spoon and chopsticks he was holding.

“…No. I’d like that.”

“You’d like that?”

“Yes, ugh.”

“If you like it that much, have the next dinner here too.”

Woojung, who had been nodding, turned pale as a sheet. Having dinner, spending the night, then having breakfast again, and then the next dinner after that. Though it was wrapped in gentle words, it sounded like he was meant to stay here for several days.

His fingertips grew cold. Woojung thought of the glass bottle in the bottom drawer of his room. It was the suppressant he took when his heat cycle came. There were still a few days left before his cycle was due, but the story was different if he stayed in another person’s space, especially an alpha’s residence, while being exposed to pheromones. The possibility of his cycle changing was slim, but it was better to be prepared for the what-ifs.

Woojung lowered his hand and gently wrapped it around Sa Gongjun’s ankle, which was pressing down on his crotch. He caressed the protruding ankle bone as if to soothe it and called to him in the calmest voice possible.

“Executive Director-nim.”

The ankle caught by Woojung twitched. Sa Gongjun’s gaze shot toward Woojung.

“May I go to my goshiwon for a moment?”

“Why there?”

“There’s something I need to get.”

“What could you possibly need to get from there. If you need anything, buy it new.”

He was cut off flatly. Woojung lowered his head and ate his meal in silence. The cruise ship had a hospital and a pharmacy, so he figured he would have to get a new prescription when he went to work. Thinking that, he took a bite of the pork cutlet.

Separate from the situation, the food was really, truly, incredibly good. The soup, the rice, everything was delicious. It was better than the food prepared by the 5-star hotel chef on the cruise. Woojung forgot even the discomfort he felt facing Sa Gongjun and cleaned out his soup and rice bowls to the bottom.

While he was focused on eating, the deeply scooped neckline of his shirt slipped to one side. Woojung’s round shoulder was exposed. On that pale and glossy skin, Sa Gongjun’s bite marks and bruises remained like a brand.

Only after his stomach was full did Woojung straighten his clothes. The cuffs of the sleeves, which he had rolled up, were also bunched up. Since he was borrowing Sa Gongjun’s clothes, they were much too big for him.

As Woojung was adjusting his clothes, he felt a piercing gaze. Sa Gongjun, who had been staring intently at his neck and shoulder, stood up from his seat and said.

“I’m going to work.”

Woojung followed him out. When his father used to go off to sea on his ship, he and his mother would always say goodbye at the door, and strangely, he thought of that today. The word ‘work’ had brought back the memory.

“During the day, you are free to do as you please. If you need anything, ask him, Manager Kim, here.”

Woojung exchanged greetings with Manager Kim Woojin, who was standing beside them.

And then Sa Gongjun took Woojung back up to the second-floor bedroom.

After Sa Gongjun left for work, he firmly locked the bedroom door.

Woojung went into the bathroom, squatted in the corner of the tub, and took off his pants. Embarrassingly, his pants were all wet, so he could not just keep wearing them.

His crotch was so itchy.

Just like the day young Woojung had watched from beyond the door and scratched himself down there, the grown-up Woojung brought his hand down to his front. Then he turned on the shower. To prevent any sound from being heard outside.

A clear voice filled the bathroom. Woojung rubbed his butt on the bottom of the tub and clumsily swayed his hips. Unlike that time, a lightning-like pleasure shot up his spine.

🌸

Woojung greeted the last day of the year alone in someone else’s house.

New Year’s Day was the same.

He used to send ‘Happy New Year’ greetings to his few acquaintances, but this year he could not even do that. His phone was dead, and in this house where everything was state-of-the-art, a jack that could charge Woojung’s phone did not exist. The thought of borrowing a laptop to log into a messenger crossed his mind, but it was a futile act since he could not receive the phone verification.

Woojung sat on a sofa a little ways from the glass window and blankly watched the snow fall. The whole world was dyed white from the snow that had been falling for days. It felt like he was in another world. Only the landmark visible in the far distance informed him that this was Seoul.

Woojung’s daily life had changed.

In the mornings, he had breakfast with Sa Gongjun, and until lunch, he slept to make up for the sleep he lost from being tormented all through the dawn. He would go down to the dining room around lunchtime to eat alone, and until dinner, he spent his day looking at the garden, just like now.

Sa Gongjun’s employees did not initiate conversation with Woojung. Even to Woojung’s requests, they would only reply with, “Yes, I understand.” The only time they showed a hint of trouble was when he asked for a way to go outside.

‘If you need anything, please tell us.’

‘I’d like to get some fresh air. And this.’

Woojung asked, pulling a worn-out phone from his pocket.

‘Could I possibly borrow a charger?’

‘I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can find an employee using the same model in the villa.’

Sa Gongjun had told him to ask them for anything he needed, but it was not easy to bring it up. The villa’s employees were hired by Sa Gongjun, not by Woojung.

Woojung nodded and turned back. I can just charge it when I get back home. He simply thought that.

Then he felt that he had missed something truly important. He was just about to say he wanted some fresh air. Woojung turned back and said urgently.

‘Um, Manager-nim. Then may I go out for a little while?’

‘That would be difficult. If you feel stuffy, I will open a window for you a little.’

At the smile that softened the corners of his eyes, Woojung could only reply, “It’s alright,” and return to the second floor.

Woojung sat in front of the huge electric fireplace attached to one side of the room. When Woojung had huddled close to it, saying it was warm and fascinating, Sa Gongjun had an employee lay down a rug, bring cushions, and cover him with a blanket in this spot.

But the person himself was nowhere to be seen. The Sa Gongjun he saw on the cruise was the epitome of a playboy, but the Sa Gongjun who returned to Seoul was a person whose face was hard to see even once.

At first, he was anxious, not knowing when he might storm in. Day and night, he would watch out the window and wait with a nervous heart for the door to open.

Now he knew. He knew that Sa Gongjun, surprisingly, lived a regular life. He had never once arrived at the villa before 7 in the evening. That meant he had no choice but to spend the entire daytime alone like this.

Woojung’s shoulders hunched as he looked outside.

The setting sun did not enter Yeonhui-dong.

The sun set, and the garden lights turned on. Not long after, the sound of footsteps echoed in the second-floor hallway. Woojung, who had been curled up in front of the fireplace, lifted his head.

Knock, knock—.

The only person who walked with a regular stride, who knocked on Woojung’s door, the first person to reach out to Woojung who had been alone all day, was Sa Gongjun.

The sound of the door opening was particularly loud.

Woojung, who had been lying on his stomach in front of the fireplace, was startled. He tried to get up hastily, but a dull pain throbbed from behind, and he fell forward onto the floor. Woojung pressed his palm against his butt, covering it, and gently rubbed it.

“Welcome back.”

The posture with which he delivered the greeting he had contemplated all day was pathetic. Sa Gongjun, looking down at the scene from the doorway, raised one eyebrow high and then lowered it.

“Yes.”

It was a beat-late reply.

Sa Gongjun, having finished his shower, sat on the sofa dressed in a black knit sweater and cotton pants. His eyes were fixed on Woojung. Woojung, who had gotten up from the floor, approached Sa Gongjun.

Even for Woojung, who had grown accustomed to living alone, he had not seen a single person properly all day, so he almost felt happy to see Sa Gongjun. He hoped to have at least a short conversation.

Before Sa Gongjun could say ‘Suck it’ or ‘Bend over,’ Woojung spoke first.

“Have you eaten?”

Woojung met his eyes and waited for his answer. He exchanged this level of greeting even with people he passed by at his part-time jobs, so he did not think Sa Gongjun would get angry over it.

“Not yet.”

Sa Gongjun tapped the floor with his foot. Woojung thought, I guess we’re doing it on the sofa today, and knelt between his legs. He was waiting for the command that would fall upon him, as it had for the past few days.

“What about you, Mr. Cheon Woojung?”

“Pardon?”

“Have you had dinner?”

Woojung also replied a beat late.

“Me neither.”

A quiet silence settled between them. It was awkward. There was nothing more to say. Woojung was about to place his hand on Sa Gongjun’s fly and bury his face there.

Sa Gongjun grabbed Woojung’s chin with one hand. The large hand turned Woojung’s face this way and that. Woojung, without realizing it, tilted his head to one side and hunched his shoulders.

“Are you spitting out what I feed you behind my back?”

“……”

“Why do you seem thinner.”

Sa Gongjun was self-willed. One day, he would drag Woojung to the bathroom as soon as he got home, other times to the bed, and on yet another day, he would just pull down Woojung’s pants at the door.

He never asked for Woojung’s opinion. It was only natural that Woojung, who always had to be on edge and watch him, would lose his appetite and weight. After dealing with Sa Gongjun with his entire body, his appetite would shrink to less than half of what it usually was.

There were some things that had gotten a little better. Because they frequently made physical contact, having sex with Sa Gongjun no longer came as such a panic as it did at first. However, he was a little scared that he seemed to be getting used to taking the fully swollen penis from behind. Just like this situation. When did his hand get up there? Woojung lowered the hand that was on Sa Gongjun’s crotch and placed it on his knee.

“What did you do today?”

Sa Gongjun’s hand tickled the nape of Woojung’s neck. As his fingers slowly moved up and rubbed the soft skin behind his ear, Woojung’s shoulders shot up. Woojung crossed his feet on the floor and tensed his toes. This kind of conversation was a first, so he was a little nervous.

“…I took a nap, um, and I watched the snow fall.”

It was Woojung’s routine. On the cruise, Woojung had worked while Sa Gongjun enjoyed his leisure, but in Seoul, the situation was the complete opposite. After answering, he felt embarrassed and glanced at him furtively. Judging by appearances alone, it was he who seemed to be living like a playboy with a high-paying part-time job.

“Then why are you in this state.”

Sa Gongjun was stuck on a completely different point and showed no sign of getting out. Woojung found that to be a relief and repeatedly listened to and answered his questions.

“Are you eating well?”

“Yes. Everyone is taking good care of me.”

“I never ordered such a thing. Is there anyone here who takes care of you, Mr. Cheon Woojung?”

Sa Gongjun frowned. His tone, which had seemed to soften for a moment, became sharp again. Did I misspeak? Woojung’s words started to slow down.

“When I go to the dining room, they give me a meal… that’s what I was referring to.”

“Does that fall under the standard of being well taken care of for you, Mr. Cheon Woojung?”

Woojung’s mind raced. This is Sa Gongjun’s house and the staff are his employees, so if I’m going to express gratitude, is it right to direct it to Sa Gongjun? Social life is not easy. Sa Gongjun is even less easy. Woojung hurriedly corrected his words.

“Because you are taking good care of me, Executive Director-nim….”

“Look at this one, going back and forth.”

“……”

“Don’t go around talking so freely.”

This time, Woojung frowned. Just as he was about to retort, Sa Gongjun suddenly asked.

“Shall we start with dinner today?”

“Yes.”

Woojung answered obediently. Hearing that, Sa Gongjun let out a small laugh.

They went down to the kitchen and sat at the dining table.

He thought he would be able to eat well, but it was just a thought. The side dishes and soup were all delicious, but he did not know why his appetite kept decreasing. Woojung moved his chopsticks, thinking of the instant noodles and canned food in his goshiwon drawer.

“Does it not taste good?”

“It tastes, good.”

Woojung excessively took a large spoonful of rice. Then Sa Gongjun kicked Woojung’s knee with his foot. Woojung stuck his spoon into the rice bowl and lowered both hands to rub his knee.

“Don’t force yourself to eat.”

Sa Gongjun briefly called over a staff member and said something about the side dishes.

The staff member bowed, said they would be more careful, and that they were sorry. It was the same greeting Woojung had given Sa Gongjun on the cruise ship someday. He felt uncomfortable, as if he had become someone who complained about side dishes.

“Tell me what you want to eat. If you order it, they’ll make it for you.”

“……”

“I said, tell me.”

Woojung, who had been picking up and putting down his chopsticks, said in a small voice.

“I want to eat ramyeon.”

“…Ramyeon?”

The staff member said, “It’s possible. I’ll prepare it right away. It’s my specialty,” bowing his head repeatedly before disappearing somewhere.

Sa Gongjun ate his meal alone with Woojung sitting in front of him. Around the time his meal was finished, the staff member came out carrying a large bowl.

Woojung accepted the ramyeon bowl with a face full of anticipation, but it quickly turned sullen. In a pale, milky broth, long noodles were curled into a circle, and bok choy and pork were placed on top as garnish.

When one says ramyeon, isn’t it obviously the instant kind in a packet? If he had known it would be like this, he would have been more specific. Still, for the sake of the person who had made the food for him, he decided to eat it deliciously.

“I will eat well. Thank you.”

Woojung said, smiling at the staff member. The staff member smiled back and accepted Woojung’s greeting.

Under the table, the tips of their feet brushed.

Was it a coincidence?

It was much too light to be called a kick.

Suddenly, something flashed through his mind. When he had said those empty words, “Because you are taking good care of me, Executive Director-nim,” hadn’t they ended up having dinner first instead of having sex?

“I will eat well, Executive Director-nim.”

“Again.”

“…Pardon?”

“Try it with a smile. Like before.”

The corners of his mouth, forced upward, trembled. When he slightly closed his eyes to hide his expression, the corners of his eyes drooped downward.

“I will eat well.”

After saying that, he quietly ate the ramyeon. As he ate, it seemed to be alright after all.

Even after finishing his meal, Sa Gongjun remained seated and watched Woojung eat the ramyeon. Thanks to that, Woojung was only able to get up from his seat after forcing himself to eat the entire bowl, leaving not even the bok choy behind.

After finishing the meal, they left the kitchen. They were standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor, having crossed the living room that was as wide as a schoolyard. That was when the front door came into Woojung’s view.

He wanted to go out so, so much.

“Executive Director-nim.”

Sa Gongjun stopped walking and looked at Woojung.

“Can’t we go for one walk around before going in?”

A hard gaze pressed down on Woojung. Just as he was about to give up, thinking, It’s no use today either, an unexpected answer came.

“Do that.”

It was something he had not been expecting, so he was just surprised. Woojung blinked his eyes and asked again.

“Really?”

“What do I have to gain by lying to you, Mr. Cheon Woojung.”

Woojung pulled the corners of his mouth up and smiled. It was the exact same expression as when he had said, “I will eat well,” a little while ago.

How many days has it been since I went out? I need to go out and buy a phone charging jack, send money to the loan sharks, and check my backed-up messages.

Just as he bowed his head and was about to bolt toward the front door, Sa Gongjun snatched Woojung’s wrist. Could he have changed his mind in this short moment? Woojung swallowed dryly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Where are you going.”

“You said I could go for a walk, so I was going to….”

“You have to put on clothes and go.”

“Ah.”

Sa Gongjun’s employee brought an overcoat. The thick down jacket shone smoothly under the lights. There was not a single wrinkle on the sleeves or the waist. It looked like a new coat.

As he hesitated for a moment, Sa Gongjun’s employee helped Woojung put on the coat from behind.

“Thank you.”

After saying thanks, he saw that there was another identical coat on the employee’s arm. His shoulders, which had been raised in excitement, slowly sank.

Sa Gongjun, watching this, tilted his head and looked at Woojung.

“Were you planning to go alone?”

“No. I was planning to go with you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“…It’s true.”

For the first time since arriving at Sa Gongjun’s villa, Woojung stepped out the front door.

His eyes widened. The villa was incredibly spacious, but the size of the garden connected to the backyard seemed several times larger.

The walking paths and trees were better manicured than any decent park, and in the central plaza, there was also a large fountain.

Woojung slowly approached the fountain. Atop a tall pillar in the center stood a statue of a peeing boy, all by itself.

The size of the fountain allotted to that peeing boy seemed wider than Woojung’s goshiwon. It was clearly reality, but it felt unreal. As Woojung just blinked his eyes, Sa Gongjun, misunderstanding that he was interested in the fountain, added.

“In the winter, it often freezes, so we drain the water.”

Sa Gongjun, who was standing behind Woojung, pulled Woojung into his embrace. A large hand moved slowly. The hand that was wrapped around his shoulder kept moving down, to his chest, to his stomach.

There was the sound of clothes rustling. Sa Gongjun suddenly rummaged through Woojung’s pants and put his hand between his legs.

“When the weather warms up, I’ll let you stand here and piss together. It’ll be quite a sight.”

His tone was as natural as if he were talking about flowers blooming in the spring. The image of standing with his lower half exposed in a neatly manicured garden. Woojung’s complexion turned pale.

Sa Gongjun fixed Woojung’s pants and said.

“There’s a separate place worth seeing in the winter, so let’s go there.”

At the words that they would be moving away from the peeing boy statue, he hurriedly followed.

Sa Gongjun took Woojung deep into the garden. Just when he was thinking, Is there some kind of walking trail inside the house? he saw a yellow light. It was a large glass greenhouse.

Sa Gongjun, who had walked ahead, opened the greenhouse door and gestured to Woojung with his head.

“Come in.”

Woojung was standing on white snow, but the inside of the greenhouse was tinged with the green of summer.

In one place, giant leaves that looked big enough to cover a person’s body fluttered, and in another, a cactus as tall as a person boasted its height.

Compared to the size of the fountain, it was much smaller, but there was also an artificial lake. It was filled with colorful fish swimming around.

Woojung squatted down on the spot. Even when he just stretched out his hand, the fish flocked to him. They knew he was going to give them food.

He suddenly remembered seeing the large aquarium on the cruise ship.

“Do you like fish?”

“Not necessarily.”

Sa Gongjun’s gaze went downward.

“I rather enjoy collecting pretty things.”

Sa Gongjun stood in place and looked down at the artificial lake, and at Woojung together. Then he brought fish food from a distant shelf and offered it to Woojung.

“Want to try?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Woojung took the food from Sa Gongjun.

He watched the fish gasping with their mouths out of the water’s surface, then scattered the food. Fish gathered around in overflowing numbers. He had only given fish food, but strangely, his mood improved.

The food bag was empty. He stayed in place for a long while with a sense of disappointment, and then Sa Gongjun pulled Woojung’s hair. Woojung got up from his spot with a mournful face. Sa Gongjun seemed like a person who did not know that there was also the method of taking someone’s hand to help them up.

“Come back and feed them again tomorrow.”

“Can I come again?”

“On the condition that you, Mr. Cheon Woojung, eat all the dinner I give you.”

He thought the nuance was a little strange, but he was just glad he was able to go for a walk, so he just nodded his head.

They started walking along the edge of the greenhouse again.

A phone rang from somewhere. Woojung, without realizing it, put his hand in his pocket and then stopped. It was not his.

“What is it.”

Woojung slowed his pace, trying to distance himself a little from Sa Gongjun’s side. He was trying to be considerate so he could have his phone call comfortably, but Sa Gongjun snatched Woojung’s wrist.

“Ugh…”

Honestly, it hurt a lot.

Somehow, the man seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.

Even a cheap gas stove has low, medium, and high heat control, but this man had no such thing. All his flames were strong, strong, strong, so of course the food would burn.

Haa, Woojung let out a deep breath.

“I’m on my way now, so Attorney Park, you leave now too.”

Sa Gongjun, who had been quietly listening to the other person, spoke briefly and hung up the phone. Woojung gave Sa Gongjun a look and asked.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes. Something urgent came up.”

He, who seemed like he would walk off alone, turned back.

“Go on inside first.”

He said that and flung open the greenhouse door. The sound of him telling his driver to get the car ready rode the winter wind over to Woojung.

There was not even a moment to say goodbye with a “Have a good trip.”

The splendid plants, the sparkling fish. And next to them, Woojung was left behind.

🌸

Sa Gongjun, who had left the Yeonhui-dong villa, headed for the family home in Ikseon-dong.

He left the bustling roads of Jongno and entered an alley. Over the low, traditional Korean-style wall, the gracefully curved eaves were revealed. Sa Gongjun, who got out of the car, looked at the old house surrounded by high-rise buildings, then knocked on the driver’s side window.

“Wait in the basement.”

“Yes, Executive Director-nim.”

A family home employee who was waiting in front of the traditional double doors saw Sa Gongjun. The employee bowed deeply to Sa Gongjun and opened the outer gate.

Sa Gongjun headed for the main building. The smell of disinfectant, which one could only smell at a hospital, was nauseating. Along with it, he could also feel the pheromones of a senile alpha who had been hit head-on by the passage of time.

“The Chairman is on the second floor.”

He went up the stairs. At the end of the long hallway, a sliding door with lattice work appeared. As the family home employee approached and gestured, the door slid open. Inside, on both sides, were people dressed in black suits.

There was another sliding door inside the room. The family home employee opened the door and bowed from the outside. Beside the medical bed, there were two doctors and nurses checking vitals and giving prescriptions.

Sa Gongjun immediately approached the bedside. The elderly alpha lying in the bed had his eyes closed, unaware of who was approaching him.

“What’s his condition?”

“It was an emergency situation until a moment ago, but he is now stabilizing. Still, we need to watch him a little longer for now.”

On a sofa on one side of the spacious room, Chairman Sa’s family was seated. Sa Gongjun’s younger sister, Sa Jaeyeon, and across from her, Sa Gongjun’s younger brother, Sa Jaewoong, and his wife were sitting. All three were in black formal wear.

“You were almost late, big oppa.”

The corners of her eyes were red as she said that.

“He’s a busy man. Not an idle person like some people.”

Sa Jaewoong loosened his tie and leaned back on the sofa. Only his wife, Yoon Yeonsu, who was next to him, got up and greeted him with, “Brother-in-law, you’re here.”

“Oh my? Look at little oppa’s way of speaking. I’m busy too. I came after putting a filming schedule on hold right now.”

Sa Jaeyeon picked up the remote control on the table and pressed the mute button. On the TV visible across from the bed, the drama Sa Jaeyeon was filming was airing.

“How much Dad would have liked it if he saw it.”

Sa Jaewoong said with a snort.

“If Father had seen it, he would have grabbed the back of his neck and passed out. All those countless rumors, dating scandals, and gossip.”

“You’re so unlucky. Does little oppa have the right to say that to me?”

Sa Jaeyeon turned her back to Sa Jaewoong and sat down. She smiled toward Sa Gongjun and said.

“What are you doing, big oppa. Sit down.”

Sa Jaeyeon patted the seat next to her.

Sa Gongjun paid her no mind and sat in the remaining empty seat.

As soon as the three siblings were scattered on three sides, a lawyer who was waiting on one side approached. He unfolded a folding chair and placed a briefcase on the table. Inside it was the will left by Chairman Sa.

The three of them did not move a muscle and waited for hours on end. During that time, a family home employee would occasionally come in, serve warm tea, and blend fruit.

Well past midnight.

The attending physician tidied Chairman Sa’s IV line and reset the medical equipment.

Sa Jaewoong looked at the attending physician and asked.

“What happened?”

“Fortunately, he has passed the critical stage.”

The lawyer adjusted the briefcase he was holding in his hand and exited Chairman Sa’s room.

“Ugh, how many times has it been, really.”

Sa Jaeyeon sighed and slumped onto the sofa, and Sa Jaewoong left behind a curse.

“It’s been three years since we brought Father home, today is the eighth time we’ve been told to prepare our hearts. I think it’s been over five times we’ve had the lawyer on standby for the will issue.”

Sa Jaewoong, who had been tearing at the leather of the sofa armrest, turned to his wife, Yoon Yeonsu, beside him and said.

“Get up, honey.”

“What, little oppa, you’re leaving already?”

“It’s late. We have to go back to Hannam-dong before the kids wake up.”

Sa Jaewoong said it as if showing off, putting an accent on ‘kids’ and ‘the neighborhood.’

Sa Gongjun looked Sa Jaewoong up and down. Their gazes, with no room for compromise, met. The one who broke the sharp silence between them was Sa Jaeyeon.

“These oppas haven’t changed a bit even after getting older. It’s hard for me to breathe, so cut it out. Are you going to have a mounting contest among family?”

The omega Yoon Yeonsu, who was caught between the three alphas, stumbled on her knees.

“Look at this. Can’t you see unnie is having a hard time?”

“Ah, I’m alright, miss.”

“What do you mean alright. Unnie, you go wait in the car for a bit. I’ll make sure nothing happens.”

Yoon Yeonsu nodded and went down.

Sa Jaewoong frowned and glared at Sa Jaeyeon.

“You, choose your side clearly.”

“Little oppa or big oppa. From my perspective, they’re both the same.”

Sa Jaeyeon looked back and forth between Sa Gongjun and Sa Jaewoong and smiled.

“Just don’t touch my share. Then I won’t pay any attention to you two.”

Sa Jaeyeon was interested in LX Fashion. It was the most optimal field for her to operate, making use of her own career, and there were no easier crumbs to pick up from the battle of dragons and tigers than LX Fashion, which was separate from the group company.

Her gaze shifted to the model ship next to the TV.

The cruise was the company that Chairman Sa had first established and operated. He, who had run a gangster organization in a seaside village and organized gambling dens on ships, had acquired a small company and grown it into a corporation, and it was the symbolic parent company in which all his efforts were condensed.

The one who gets their hands on the ship gets their hands on the group. In a chaebol family that values history, system, and tradition, there was no more important evaluation than having inherited the orthodox line.

Sa Gongjun probably would not even care about giving away a small subsidiary. However, Sa Jaewoong was the variable. He was greedy.

“When did you ever run away saying you didn’t need it, and now you’re back slobbering all over it?”

“Can’t you watch your words? And little oppa. These days, things like a lifelong job have long disappeared.”

Sa Jaeyeon said cheerfully and got up from her seat. In one hand she held a black coat, and in the other, she held the latest handbag that had not yet been officially released for sale.

“I’m leaving now. Aren’t you going, big oppa?”

Sa Gongjun got up from his seat. He gave a brief glance toward his father lying in bed and then followed Sa Jaeyeon out.

While walking down the long hallway, Sa Jaeyeon smiled at Sa Gongjun and asked.

“Big oppa, you don’t come to family gatherings these days? Is it because Father isn’t here?”

“I’m busy. I’d rather work in the time it takes to go to such gatherings.”

“For someone who only works, your complexion looks good though?”

Sa Gongjun’s steps came to a halt. Sa Jaeyeon smiled at Sa Gongjun and said.

“If you feel awkward coming alone, you can come with me.”

“We’ll see.”

It was when the two were walking down the stairs side by side. A call came to Sa Gongjun’s phone. It was Manager Kim, who looked after the Yeonhui-dong villa.

— This is Kim Woojin. Are you available to talk?

“Speak.”

— Mr. Cheon Woojung hasn’t returned yet.

“What are you talking about?”

— We thought he would be back soon after you left, Executive Director-nim, but he has still not yet returned.