MPK Ch 13

“Jung Hankyung, why are you always on the floor instead of the sofa? Don’t you like the sofa?”

The penthouse owner now spent less time holed up on the top floor and more time in the living room. As a result, he’d figured out his roommate’s strange habit. His roommate would leave the perfectly good sofa alone and sit on the bare floor, leaning against the seat cushion, or, like now, lie on the floor right in front of the sofa. It was utterly irrational and incomprehensible behavior.

This was Woo Baekyeon’s argument, the main point of his nagging, and I had only one rebuttal.

Why sit on the sofa when the stone floor is so toasty warm in the middle of winter? With a thin blanket spread on top, it’s as good as an ondol bed. Lying here, you could feel the blissful warmth of a sweet potato roasting on a hot plate. Besides, being near the sofa meant I could occasionally roll over to the edge and prop up my legs or lean my back against it… Figuring it wouldn’t get through to him, I gave up on explaining.

“I’m playing sweet potato. Leave me alone.”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon got off the sofa, plopped down next to me, and lay down properly. He demurely placed his hands on his chest, but only for a moment, before grabbing his tablet and going online. In the search bar, he typed “sweet potato play.” When that didn’t yield the desired results, he searched for “adult male sweet potato play.”

“Do you think you’ll find anything?”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon glared at me, chuckling, and sat up. I thought he’d get up and leave in a huff, but he lingered for a moment before speaking.

“Why haven’t you filed a claim for damages to the cafe?”

“It’s fine. I can fix it myself. Your secretary delivered fruit and gift certificates that day. It’s not that I didn’t want to accept them, it’s that it really was enough.”

“I knew you’d say that. So, I’ll offer my services as a consultant.”

“Huh?”

He held out the tablet he’d been looking at.

“I’ll give you some consulting. For the ‘Today is the day’ cafe.”

This guy, he’d actually planned this all along.

“This is the floor plan of ‘Today is the day’ cafe.”

“Where did you get this?”

“It’s Consulting 101.”

“…….”

I sat up. Woo Baekyeon sat cross-legged and placed the tablet between us.

“The initial idea was pretty good. People who need an open learning space apparently prefer a somewhat autonomous atmosphere rather than complete silence. The attempt to devise a middle ground between a study cafe and a regular cafe is decent, but currently, it can’t shake off the impression of being half-baked.”

The floor plan image switched to the next slide. Wait, is this a PowerPoint? The next slide was a map. The cafe was marked with a star in the center, with brief descriptions of surrounding buildings.

“The biggest reason is that it’s close to a residential area, so many customers use it like a ‘regular cafe.’ Especially right after mealtimes, it’s impossible to avoid a boisterous atmosphere.”

Is that, is that so? I think that might be right. I nodded, mesmerized. Woo Baekyeon switched the screen back to the floor plan.

“You can’t pick and choose your customers right now, but if your ultimate goal is to support people who want to study, you need to transform the cafe zone from its current operation into a space for people to hold discussions, tutoring sessions, and so on.”

“Aha….”

“After that, diligently earn money and relocate the cafe to a place where a school district and businesses meet.”

“Where’s that?”

“There are various candidates, but the first floor of Woosung Electronics’ Gangnam office building is the most suitable. There are about four high schools nearby, and there are many office workers, so there will be sufficient users at any time of day.”

I quickly covered my mouth, but a cough-like laugh escaped.

What kind of consulting is so far-fetched yet cute?

“…Not good?”

It was so ridiculously ambitious—Gangnam rent, new large-scale equipment—that it was embarrassing to even calculate, so all I could do was laugh.

“Hmm, it’s iffy. Unless there’s the perk of a beautiful 20-something director coming in from time to time to give kisses.”

Woo Baekyeon, who had been looking at me, quickly averted his gaze. But there were other changes besides his furrowed brows and slightly bitten lip. Patches of color bloomed on his face.

“…If the cafe takes off, I’m thinking of adding a few enclosed meeting rooms inspired by your, uh, study room. It could be possible once or twice in there. Even if we’re caught, the sight of a well-known couple and owners being affectionate will leave a good impression on people…”

Jung Hankyung grinned like a madman as he listened to the rambling.

“Why? Is doing it openly not okay?”

“It’s against the employee code of conduct.”

“That’s a shame.”

“…But you’re not an employee.”

“Huh? Aha… so it’s okay if I initiate?”

“I don’t know. But even if a disciplinary committee is convened, I would win.”

Wow, is it spring already, even though it’s the middle of winter? My face tickled as if covered in pollen, to the point of bursting.

I didn’t know if opening a cafe in the heart of Gangnam would be successful, but I did want to visit Woo Baekyeon’s company someday. See him working, see what he eats for lunch…

Casual conversations in the living room had become a part of our routine. No one mentioned the incident at the cafe again. As if that day had completely vanished from our memories.

However, there’s something I feel like I can ask.

“Woo Baekyeon, where have I seen you before?”

How could I forget someone as pretty as you? Woo Baekyeon turned his head away haughtily.

“Figure it out yourself.”

“…….”

Seeing him so confident means he’s not lying… I felt like I was on the verge of remembering something since that day, but a clear picture wouldn’t form. My attempt to subtly pry it out today failed again.

“Lunar New Year is coming soon.”

Checking the date, I suddenly noticed a string of holidays in mid-February.

“Woo Baekyeon, what do you do for the holidays?”

“I go to my family home. I go only on the day of Seollal for the ancestral rites, see the chairman, and come back early.”

“Ah.”

Right. Everyone gathers for the holidays, but his family home is a bit more… grand. Speaking of family home… My parents’ faces briefly flashed through my mind, but I dismissed them. It would only be awkward for everyone if I contacted them first.

“You go alone? Do I not have to go greet your family?”

“Then who will open the cafe? Go to work.”

“Hey, who works on a national holiday?”

“Given the nature of your cafe, holidays are peak season. People don’t want to be cooped up in a dark study room on a day like that. Also, your cafe is near residential areas in the old town, so there are many families that host extended family gatherings. There will be demand from relatives visiting together.”

“…Is this nagging… I mean, is the consulting not over yet?”

“With such a complacent attitude, you can’t expand your cafe. Jung Hankyung, what do you take running a business for?”

“…….”

Faced with the rebuke of a director from a major corporation, the small business owner was speechless.

In the end, I went to work at the cafe on Lunar New Year’s Day.

Woo Baekyeon even dropped me off at the cafe early in the morning on his way to his family home. He offered a holiday greeting through the open rear window.

“Sell a lot.”

“Yeah, thanks…”

Working on holidays wasn’t anything new since my First Guard days, so it wasn’t particularly difficult. But is it really okay for me not to show my face to his family? Families like that are usually strict about etiquette and greetings… He previously complained about relatives asking why I hadn’t greeted them, so it seemed like he had some dissatisfaction about it.

My mindset had changed since I thought we’d break up after three years. I wanted to be helpful to Woo Baekyeon, even if it meant being used a little, rather than staying in the background.

“Why do you keep trying to protect your sturdy husband? You should be asking him to protect you. He looks as delicate as a pinwheel.”

If he heard this, Woo Baekyeon would probably make a displeased face, flaunting his height, which is a finger-joint taller than mine, and his weight, which is a speck more than mine.

There were some customers until yesterday, but as expected, the cafe was empty on the morning of the holiday. Even the examinee who studied until closing time yesterday seemed to be sleeping in today.

Around 11:00, a student whose face was familiar said, “My mom told me to buy some iced coffee,” and took out five cafe mochas. And then, for 30 minutes, I was alone again.

I couldn’t stand the boredom anymore. I was about to go outside and shovel the snow piled up in front when six large men in black suits entered. It would be a startling sight for a regular cafe owner, but I was used to it. They’re bodyguards. I guess they’re getting a drink each before starting their holiday duties. Is there a trot singer event nearby? Don’t panic, fellow small business owners nationwide. They’re all just people who need their morning coffee. They won’t do a scary background check or drag anyone away.

“Welcome. What can I get for you?”

“Are you Mr. Jung Hankyung?”

“Yes?”

“Are you Mr. Jung Hankyung, the spouse of Director Woo Baekyeon of Woosung Group?”

“…Who are you?”

I backed away from the counter. Still, I was in a disadvantageous position, trapped inside. As I calculated the route to escape over the counter and out the door, someone blocked my path. They’d read my intentions. Each and every one of them looked like a team leader with 20 years of experience at First Guard.

“You’ll have to come with us.”

“Wahaha, what do you mean by that all of a sudden in the morning…”

Chills ran down my spine, breaking the monotonous tranquility. Can I escape? Is it impossible? Why are they targeting me? It must be related to Woo Baekyeon, right? Should I call the police…?

“Put down your phone.”

I held my breath, staring at him. My hand, which had stealthily moved towards my back pocket, froze.

“In the short time it takes to grab and press that, I’ll be over the counter. I’d rather have both hands free for defense. If I give up this low barrier, I’m defenseless.”

“…You’re quite considerate.”

It seemed like they considered my attempts to outsmart them as child’s play. Since there seemed to be no way out anyway, should I just attack with the resolve to break a bone or two? If I could just get out the door and yell…

“You have good eyes. Quick situational awareness too.”

“…….”

The man who approached me leaned over, placing his hand on the counter. Reflexively, I took a stance. I held both fists in front of my face and shifted my gaze, trying to locate the source of the mysterious tap tap tap tap sound. The man’s fingers were tapping the counter with the edge of a credit card.

“Chairman Woo Wonchul requests your presence. Before we go, we’d like six hot Americanos, please.”

“…….”

“You should finish your morning business before leaving.”

The bridge of his nose, hidden behind sunglasses, twitched upwards. …Ah, I’ve been had.

‘So, this person really is Woo Baekyeon’s grandfather.’

Gaining that realization three months into my marriage was quite late. Surrounded by six bodyguards, I was whisked away and placed on an elegant chair after the announcement, “Chairman, we’ve brought him.” The traditional patterns on the ceiling and sliding doors, along with the antique furniture, made it feel like I was in a modern history museum.

The chairman, dressed in blue hanbok, sat across from me, gazing at me with a piercing stare. The familiar composition and feeling reinforced the realization that the elderly man before me was closely related to Woo Baekyeon.

“Hello…”

“Yes, it’s the first time since the wedding. Have you been well?”

“…Yes, thanks to…”

“You seemed a bit bolder back then.”

Well, that’s because the heart-pounding fear from facing a life-threatening situation during my peaceful morning business hadn’t subsided yet.

“Perhaps it’s because the process of being summoned was slightly… terrifying.”

“Was there a problem?”

“Whenever I face someone from the same industry, I can’t help but tense up. You must have been quite skilled in your day.”

The bodyguard who’d come to fetch me answered, his gaze like one looking at a feebly struggling chick. Any remaining resentment… vanished after learning his identity. I couldn’t even fathom the kind of background a person who protects the chairman of the Woosung Group would have. He probably had titles like former special forces, martial arts champion, and so on. It was a good thing I hadn’t acted on my impulsive plan to attack earlier. I might have ended up here with a cast or two.

“To be honest, having seen the young master by the chairman’s side for so long, I was curious about the kind of person his marriage partner would be.”

Ah, so that’s what it was about. I’d probably react similarly if Chaerin brought home a partner, so any remaining animosity dissipated.

“I apologize for the late greeting. I am Jung Hankyung.”

My first and last encounter with him was a “Thank you for coming to the wedding, elder,” offered without recognizing him, so it was a very late greeting. The chairman, seated in the antique chair, raised one corner of his lip.

“Woo Baekyeon probably tried to avoid bringing you here like you’d be eaten alive.”

“…….”

As if on cue, a teacup was placed on the table between the chairman and me. Light green tea filled a white porcelain cup.

“It might not suit your palate since you run your own cafe, but have some.”

It’s best not to mention that our cafe uses store-bought teabags.

“Are you getting along well with Woo Baekyeon?”

“Yes. We’re getting along well.”

Woo Baekyeon and I are getting along well these days, right? Right. But…

“…….”

When I remained silent, the chairman tilted his head. This gesture also resembled Woo Baekyeon.

“Do you have something to say?”

“No, it’s just… I didn’t know you called him Woo Baekyeon.”

When he first said “Woo Baekyeon,” I thought he was drawing a line between us, but hearing it a second time made me realize it was his usual way of addressing him.

My relatives who came to see me, and even my uncle who harbored ill will towards Woo Baekyeon, all agreed that his grandfather, the chairman, adored him. Setting aside whether it was right or wrong to give him special treatment as the eldest grandson, I didn’t expect him to address his beloved grandson by name.

Upon hearing my question, the chairman wore an expression as if he’d never considered it a problem.

“He calls me Chairman too.”

“…….”

“Just because we call each other that doesn’t mean we’re not grandfather and grandson, does it?”

Of course, that’s true, but… I rubbed the area around my neck, feeling an inexplicable tightness.

“I heard there was an incident.”

“An incident?”

“I heard Woo Baekyeon encountered my uncle at the cafe.”

“…Ah.”

So it was about my uncle.

“Were there any issues after that? How is Woo Baekyeon’s condition?”

“He seemed quite shocked, but he hasn’t shown it much since that day.”

“I see.”

“…….”

Wait a minute.

Woo Baekyeon’s kidnapping… when that happened, the man before me would have been the chairman of Woosung Group. And the same when his grandson returned severely injured after being kidnapped… The official culprit of that incident was different from the perpetrator Woo Baekyeon remembered. Could the chairman, the most powerful person, truly be unrelated?

Could it have happened without his tacit consent?

“Chairman, do you know who Woo Baekyeon remembers as the culprit?”

“…….”

No answer. My tense eyes twitched.

“Did you see the evidence from that time?”

“There was no need. The culprit confessed, so there was no need for an investigation.”

“The person who confessed…”

I bit my lip and let go.

“Regardless of the current outcome, do you, Chairman, also believe him to be the culprit?”

“I don’t know how much you know, but we didn’t imprison an innocent man. He was definitely an accomplice who helped in Woo Baekyeon’s kidnapping. And he must have received sufficient compensation from the true culprit to accept a prison sentence.”

At that moment, I understood the reason for Woo Baekyeon’s resignation.

His only family, his grandfather, had condoned the switching of culprits. And that grandfather was a power unmatched in this country.

“So you knowingly let the situation play out that way? Ha… aha, was your son more precious than your grandson? If so, I understand a little. I guess all that about cherishing him as your successor was a lie.”

“The next chairman will be Woo Baekyeon. He will take my place before he turns thirty, or within the next five years at the latest.”

“…….”

“Having his own uncle arrested for kidnapping wouldn’t help Woo Baekyeon’s future at all.”

Seeing that I didn’t understand, the chairman added an explanation.

“My position now. Not just the small subsidiaries Woo Baekyeon currently holds, but everything bearing the Woosung name will become his. It’s the price I pay for failing to protect my grandson, who lost his parents at a young age and had no one to rely on but his old grandpa. Those things will be his strength even after I die. Isn’t it better than him receiving them tarnished?”

Ah, so.

Having a violent criminal in the family is a fatally damaging issue, so he covered it up.

To pass on the Woosung Group to Woo Baekyeon intact.

“So you personally erased the culprit’s crime, or rather, made it disappear, even though you knew?”

“When Woo Baekyeon was abroad, I kept him in Korea under surveillance, and when he returned to Korea, I immediately sent him to an overseas branch. It’s been like that for over ten years, so how is it different from serving time?”

“Are you serious?”

I don’t know what my expression looked like as I asked this, but the chairman, who had been calmly explaining, looked slightly different.

“It’s so… wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

Explaining to someone who didn’t understand something so obvious was frustrating. I wished I could speak as eloquently as Woo Baekyeon.

“If you’d seen his face that day, you wouldn’t be saying that. He was so pale and trembling, like he was about to collapse.”

“…….”

“Woo Baekyeon is still suffering, but the real culprit didn’t pay for his crime and appeared in front of him…!”

“Stop.”

A hand reached out and stopped me. The bodyguard stepped forward to restrain my outburst. My heated gaze, with nowhere to go, landed on him. The bodyguard’s expression was a complex mix of emotions, not quite hostility.

“…Your words to the chairman are excessive.”

Ah, right.

…Didn’t Woo Baekyeon tell me? The statute of limitations had already expired.

Bringing up a settled matter, as an outsider, would only cause unnecessary commotion. A bitter laugh escaped me, carrying the hot, knotted emotions inside.

“What should I do?”

“…Yes?”

“You seem to know what would be best for him, how to best help him now.”

At that question, even my loud mouth shut. For him, who is still terrified and defensive even when bringing up old wounds…

Just then, the area outside the door became noisy. I thought I heard a familiar voice mixed in, and then the sliding door burst open.

“Jung Hankyung!”

“My…”

…Prince. I barely managed to swallow the word, but my expression conveyed my sentiment.

Woo Baekyeon, bending down to meet my eyes, had his clothes fluttering like butterfly wings. He usually wore dark suits, but today he was draped in lavender. A violet tie descended from the neatly folded collar around his neck, and the sleeves extended towards me were white, but the delicate embroidery shimmered like mother-of-pearl.

“Jung Hankyung, are you okay?”

Woo Baekyeon was wearing a hanbok. His face, with his hair slicked back, looked even fairer today.

It’s Disny. A Disny movie set in Korea has finally been released. The princesses from the previous series definitely looked like this. He’s not a prince just because of the nickname I gave him, he actually is one!

“Chairman. What did you say to make my spouse so startled?”

Ah, no. That’s not it.

Looking at the bodyguard watching Woo Baekyeon and me, my eyes flashed. I pulled Woo Baekyeon close and whispered in his ear. Loud enough for the seasoned bodyguard to hear.

“The man behind the chairman brought me here in a scary way.”

“What? That… gentleman?”

“Yeah, totally. I was diligently working, dreaming of expanding the cafe, and I was suddenly dragged here. My heart’s still pounding, and I want to cry, but I’m holding back…”

“…Chief Kook. I’m disappointed.”

“Huh.”

Woo Baekyeon stood in front of me and glared at the so-called Chief Kook with sharp eyes. I hugged his waist and hid, grinning. He said he’d known the young master since childhood, right? Feel the despair of having your young master snatched away by some random guy from who-knows-where.

“Even if you are the chairman, you cannot summon someone who does not benefit from the family in such a manner. We’ll be going now. Jung Hankyung, get up.”

“Woo Baekyeon.”

As I awkwardly got up, following Woo Baekyeon who pulled my arm, the chairman’s low voice called out.

“Meet the doctor here before you go.”

“…Was that your intention?”

“If Mr. Kim had been contacted on time, this wouldn’t have happened. Surely you can spare the time it takes for Woo Baekyeon to see his psychiatrist?”

“Psychiatrist… you mean a doctor?”

“Jung Hankyung, don’t worry…”

“Doctor, come in.”

The door opened, and a neat man carrying a large bag entered. He paused, looking troubled at the scene before him.

“Chairman, this environment…”

“Is there a problem?”

“Will the director… be able to answer comfortably with so many people listening?”

“Everyone leave.”

The bodyguards and secretaries obeyed the chairman’s order and left the room, but the chairman himself remained. I grabbed Woo Baekyeon and asked.

“Why are you seeing a doctor? Are you sick somewhere? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not an illness. I’m not sick right now.”

“Then?”

“Post-traumatic stress counseling.”

“Ah…”

“Let’s wait outside together.”

Chief Kook patted my shoulder as he went out. It was a gesture suggesting we wait together and chat. Apparently, the chairman’s order to leave the room included me as well.

But my feet wouldn’t budge, and I couldn’t let go of his hand. Woo Baekyeon gently pushed my shoulder.

“I’ll be right out. It won’t take long.”

“…Okay.”

I went outside and leaned against the wall next to the door. Despite being sliding doors, the soundproofing was excellent; the moment the doors closed, all sounds from inside disappeared.

“Don’t you smoke?”

Chief Kook gestured outside with his thumb.

“I don’t.”

“Did you quit, or have you never smoked?”

“I’ve never smoked in my life. Not even in the military.”

“Hmm? I heard you were seriously injured, weren’t you exempted?”

“Well, yeah. I fully recovered before I turned twenty, and I was going through a rebellious phase, so I just went.”

“Hmm.”

Why is he looking at me like that? With an expression that seemed to say, ‘Oh, what a great answer’ as if my response had earned me bonus points as Woo Baekyeon’s spouse.

“How many years have you worked as a bodyguard?”

“I did it part-time for a year or two, then I was officially hired. About five years in total.”

“Have you always been with First Guard?”

“Yes. I was a parachute.”

“No way. You wouldn’t have become a regular employee if you were a parachute.”

There was no need to be humble and say, “Oh, you flatter me,” in this situation, so I just didn’t answer. But why does he keep smirking at me, making me so irritated…!

“…By the way, what’s going on inside?”

“It’s a simple checkup.”

He leaned in towards me. Hey, why are you getting so close?

“The young master dislikes coming to the main house, so whenever he visits, the chairman makes him stay and forces him to do this. To check if he’s sleeping and eating well. He can’t ask him directly.”

Why is he lowering his voice so dramatically when there’s no one else around? …And… along with the questions he asked me earlier, this is a very strange family… with a strange kind of affection. I muttered, looking at the sliding door.

“I don’t know about sleep, but he eats like a bird.”

“Our young master skips meals?”

“No, not that, he just eats less than his physique suggests.”

“Ah, I see. Our young master must still be a picky eater.”

No, but… I let the first one slide, but why does he keep saying “our young master” in front of me? This is definitely intentional.

“Really? ‘My Baekyeon’ eats a variety of things with me, even if he doesn’t eat much. It must have been uncomfortable for him to eat with you, Chief Kook.”

Throwing in an obvious jab of provocation, his expression changed to ‘Oh, is that so?’

“Our young master has snatched my snacks countless times, so that can’t be true. You wouldn’t know how cute he looks munching away secretly, would you?”

“It sounds like you’re saying he’s not cute now.”

“Our young master will always be a child to me. I still remember his chubby cheeks from when we first met.”

“…I also remember his beautiful appearance in white clothes on our wedding day… Ha… Ah, you know what I mean. Just stop with the ‘our young master’ already.”

“Why? He is our young master. Are you jealous of this?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, it would have looked bad if you vehemently denied it here, but admitting it cleanly is quite nice.”

“That’s when we were lovers, there’s no such thing between a married couple.”

“Ha… Still, it’s a shame to let our young master go.”

“He’s not ‘your’ young master, he’s my prince now!”

“Prince? Why a prince?”

Huh, you don’t even know that after watching him grow up?

“Because he’s beautiful. And he’s super smart, he’s desperate to help others with his money, and animals go crazy over him.”

But most importantly,

“When I look at him, I want to give him everything he wants and make him smile.”

I knew this person bore no ill will toward Woo Baekyeon. On the contrary, he was full of goodwill. But I had no intention of losing Woo Baekyeon to a connection from a place Woo Baekyeon hated. It might be childish, but Woo Baekyeon right now wasn’t the young master of this mansion, but the prince of the home we shared.

The moment I finished speaking, the person I was facing twitched his lips. Immediately after:

Click.

“Jung Hankyung, stop it.”

“……?”

“It’s too… loud.”

Oh, wait a minute. Don’t tell me.

“This door is soundproof from the outside, but you can hear quite well from the inside. It’s designed that way since it’s the chairman’s reception room for important guests.”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon’s face was completely red. The color went well with his lavender hanbok… My face was burning too.

“Wh-where did you hear from?”

“Come with me.”

Woo Baekyeon grabbed my wrist and pulled me. The last thing I saw through the crack in the door was Chairman Woo Wonchul, left alone. The excessively large room seemed awfully empty.

Woo Baekyeon quickly led me away from the room. As soon as the people around us disappeared, he called me.

“Jung Hankyung.”

“…Huh, huh?”

“It’s not that I eat less, it’s that you eat a lot. Pig.”

“…….”

“You’re also the only one who offered me financial support first.”

“You heard everything from the beginning…”

“…….”

Like a troublesome child, I was dragged along by my wrist. Woo Baekyeon’s hanbok rustled amidst the sound of our two sets of footsteps.

As I walked, being pulled along, I couldn’t keep my head still. Pictures hung on both walls at even intervals, with porcelain and crafts appearing here and there. It looked like a museum exhibition hall rather than a place where people lived. Every time I got distracted, Woo Baekyeon would tug my wrist impatiently.

At the end of the hallway, he opened a door, revealing a vast space. Decorated like a hotel lobby, several sofas were placed there. The people sitting there were also dressed in hanbok.

As we appeared, all eyes turned to us.

“Oh my, it’s the cafe owner.”

It was a voice I’d heard before. It was Woo Baekyeon’s aunt, who had visited the cafe. Her expression seemed to say, ‘I thought you weren’t interested in the Woosung Group?’ But it wasn’t the outright wariness she’d shown before.

“If you’re coming from that direction, I guess you just met the chairman?”

“Yes, briefly…”

“Ah, I see, the sickly grandson’s partner is treated differently. Lucky you. My husband had to wait outside the wall for hours when he first came to greet him.”

“Hey, honey. There haven’t been any instances like that since he got older. He’s not like he used to be.”

“Why are you smiling? Father only changed after realizing he’d failed at raising his children.”

“Aunt, Uncle. May we excuse ourselves?”

“Oh, uh, yes. Go ahead, I’m sure you’re busy.”

“Why are you being so formal with your nephew? Even if things are different, he’s our children’s cousin.”

The aunt’s sarcasm was laced with resignation as well as criticism. I tried to look at Woo Baekyeon, but he turned away first, still pulling my wrist. We exited the building through a large door that resembled a museum entrance.

‘…Can you even call this a house?’

Seeing the inside had altered my understanding of a house’s structure, but seeing the outside made me rethink the very definition of a house. The tile-roofed mansion was beyond grand in scale, and the snow-covered garden stretched endlessly around it. Behind the building where we met the chairman, there was an annex that looked similar but was slightly smaller. Woo Baekyeon dragged me in that direction.

When I was brought from the cafe, I’m pretty sure we got off in a garage, but now we were passing under tiled eaves and crossing a bridge over an artificial pond. At the end of the bridge, a serene stone path appeared. Pine trees, trimmed to the same height with perfect precision, lined both sides.

Woo Baekyeon released my wrist when we reached a deserted area. The unreal backdrop combined with Woo Baekyeon walking ahead of me in his hanbok made me feel like I’d been transported to another dimension.

“Jung Hankyung, this isn’t a breach of contract.”

“Huh?”

“I was forcibly summoned to a family event, but the actions you took after I arrived were clearly voluntary. Also, ‘no obligation to attend family events’ doesn’t translate to ‘must not attend.’ So, regarding the contract…”

I guess we are still in the present. Woo Baekyeon pulled out his phone and showed me the contract.

“Oh, what were you going to say? The clause about not interfering with each other’s work is already half broken.”

He meant to tell me not to worry about being dragged here, but Woo Baekyeon seemed displeased for some reason.

“There was no such clause. If there was, you also… spread strange rumors about me to others while I was in counseling.”

“Oh, about that. I’m curious, isn’t counseling usually one-on-one? Why was your grandfather there? I vaguely remember receiving counseling ten years ago, but I don’t remember it being like that.”

“The chairman receives a report immediately anyway, so it’s the same as him watching from the side. So it doesn’t matter.”

“…….”

Cutting through the cold air, we got closer to the building. I voiced the words that had been lingering in my mouth.

“He’s so interested in you, but he doesn’t seem to be with his other children.”

“The chairman discriminated between my father and his other children, so the relationship between the chairman and his relatives is strained. The chairman believes that the eldest son should inherit all the power. But he still holds absolute power, so they have no choice but to feign good relations with him. Having lost his relationships with his children, he believes that I, the eldest son of the eldest son, must succeed to prove he’s not wrong. That’s why he has no choice but to support me, no matter how lacking I am.”

“…….”

“That’s the state of affairs within the Woosung Group.”

Was that the only reason for the chairman’s actions?

A family all dressed in hanbok, gathered in a huge mansion for the holidays. Having a personal psychiatrist, receiving reports on every move… None of it made sense to me.

But one thing: in this enormous house, among all the people connected as family, not a single person addressed the person in front of me by his name.

…No, wait. There was one. That person, who happened to be his uncle.

White breath puffed out a little further into the winter air.

“Baekyeon.”

Woo Baekyeon turned around. His eyes held a questioning look because of the unfamiliar way I called him.

“Why?”

Baekyeon. It’s a beautiful name. It felt completely different from “Woo Baekyeon” with his surname. Each syllable seemed soft, but together they created a solid impression.

It suited Woo Baekyeon perfectly. It was too precious to be lost among those who called him “Director Woo” or to be tarnished by those who hurt him.

“Baekyeon.”

“Are you teasing me again?”

“No. I think I’d like to call you this from now on.”

“…….”

“Oh, and that doesn’t mean I won’t call you prince. I’ll call you Baekyeon too.”

After taking three steps on the lightly dusted snow, Woo Baekyeon answered softly, having turned his head away again.

“I told you, I’m not good at responding to unprepared situations.”

“Hmm?”

“It means… it will take time for me to adjust to you dropping my surname and changing how you address me.”

Aha. Woo Baekyeon made me burst into laughter again.

“Okay, Baekyeon. Take your time.”

“…….”

“Baekyeon.”

“Don’t call me that too much all of a sudden.”

“Hmm, is it a bit awkward?”

“…Since we’re alone, do as you please for now.”

The sound of the cold wind stopped as we entered the building.

“Okay, Baekyeon.”

He’s so lovely. If no one has called him what he’s worth, then that’s my job from now on.

💍

“Stay here. I’ll be ready to go soon.”

Woo Baekyeon walked to the other side of the room, leaving me behind. He stood in front of a shirt and pants, his back to me.

He lowered his eyelids and pulled at his tie strings. The faint snap of the knot coming undone was clearly audible.

The way he slipped the garment off his shoulders was as graceful as a flowing garden. Under the lavender jacket was a white garment that revealed the lines of his body. Woo Baekyeon draped the outer garment over his elbow and turned to me with a sharp look.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I know it doesn’t suit me, but is it that strange?”

“No, it’s exciting.”

“What?”

“I mean interesting. I misspoke.”

“…….”

Woo Baekyeon pulled his outer garment back up as if wary of a pervert. He retied the loosened strings and draped his coat over it like a cape.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? I haven’t even been sitting for a minute.”

Didn’t you say you were going to get ready?

But Woo Baekyeon was already opening the door and heading out. Following behind him, his hanbok fluttering again, Secretary Shin looked puzzled.

“Aren’t you going to change…”

“Let’s leave. Now.”

Woo Baekyeon and I sat side-by-side in the backseat of the car. Woo Baekyeon leaned his elbow on the windowsill and rested his chin on his hand.

“I’m not wearing this for Chuseok.”

Hmm?

“It’s only once a year, so look now if you want to see it. I’m changing when we get home.”

Ah, he’s so cute I’m going crazy.

So he was about to change just now.

Turning my head slightly to suppress my laughter, I noticed several gazes directed at us from outside the window. The gazes of the people around the main house where the chairman was weren’t very friendly. They seemed to recognize Woo Baekyeon’s car.

“…….”

You’ve been through a lot, Baekyeon. Some might see you as a spoiled rich kid, but nothing I saw today suggested Woo Baekyeon felt comfortable or belonged in any of it.

And he’d probably hate that I’m even thinking this.

The car drove through the crowded holiday roads and arrived not at a traditional Korean house, but at a tall apartment building. We’d only traveled within Seoul for a day, but it felt like returning from a long journey.

I got out of the car before Woo Baekyeon. I held out my hand to Woo Baekyeon, who was gathering his coat and preparing to exit a step behind me.

“Give me your coat. Be careful getting out, your pants look like they’ll drag.”

“…….”

What reached my hand wasn’t his coat, but his hand. Woo Baekyeon took my hand and got out of the car. His long eyelashes brushed against his lowered eyelids. Now that I looked, even his shoes were the kind you see in historical dramas. Woo Baekyeon smoothly gathered the remaining long hem of his hanbok from inside the car. At that moment, I instinctively tightened my grip on his hand.

“Jung Hankyung, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know why… but this is really thrilling.”

“…….”

“My heart’s racing…”

Woo Baekyeon leaned on my hand as if to tell me to stop talking nonsense. If it was a playful jab, I wasn’t about to lose. I quickly lowered my hand, causing him to momentarily lose his balance. I caught his tilting body with my other hand.

Thud.

Ah, this guy wasn’t lying about being heavier than me. Now that I was supporting him, his body felt heavier than I expected. And firm. How does he maintain this physique while barely eating and staying cooped up upstairs?

“Jung Hankyung, why… are you bending your fingers against my chest?”

Looking down, I realized my hand had slightly slipped inside his hanbok…! I quickly withdrew my errant hand. Woo Baekyeon let out a short breath and walked quickly ahead.

His fluttering back kept catching my eye. Just… unusually so today.

“Hey, Woo Baekyeon. Are you really okay?”

“I didn’t fall.”

“Other than that, about everything.”

Woo Baekyeon’s eyebrows twitched as if something was bothering him.

As soon as the front door closed behind us, Woo Baekyeon stopped me. He pushed me against the wall and kissed me as if stealing a shy peck. His hands gripped my shoulders, his long sleeves flowing down my arms.

The suddenness of the situation, along with the visuals unfolding before my eyes, kept my eyes open even as his tongue invaded my mouth.

Suddenly? No, I don’t mind, but…

Soft lips and warmth approached, devoid of any roughness. The hanbok rustled every time our heads moved as our tongues intertwined.

“Jung Hankyung, I have something I want to ask you.”

“Hmm?”

The brown eyes above his wet lips narrowed slightly.

“You’re the one who was dragged to a strange place and harassed, so why are you looking after me? I also exercise, and I’m taller than you.”

“When do you exercise? You’re always cooped up in your room.”

“There’s exercise equipment in the room next to the stairs upstairs.”

“Oh… I didn’t know.”

“Why do you keep trying to protect me?”

Well… there wasn’t a specific reason, but I didn’t like seeing his pretty face upset, or sullen, and especially not when he looked like he might cry… Ah.

“Hey, that’s it.”

“What is?”

That was the reason why the desire to switch positions had completely disappeared. I didn’t want to make Woo Baekyeon cry.

Woo Baekyeon had never cried in front of me, but I often pictured his face wet with tears for no reason. So I wanted him to be free from pain and hardship, at least when he was with me. I didn’t mind if it was just bravado in front of someone pretty.

“Jung Hankyung, why are you thinking to yourself and laughing alone?”

I simply wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Because I’m excited.”

“You didn’t misspeak earlier, did you?”

As I chuckled, the corners of Woo Baekyeon’s lips and the tip of his nose twitched slightly.

The Heaven Castle penthouse has a hallway about ten adult male steps long between the entrance and the living room. Passing through the inner door at the end of it reveals a spacious living room.

We stopped in front of the inner door and kissed again. In our heated state, ten steps was the limit of our ability to resist the urge to touch each other. Our mouths met in a deep kiss, tongues tangling to the point of aching. As if something suppressed had exploded, Woo Baekyeon was aggressive, and I had no reason not to reciprocate.

Groping inside the folds of his hanbok, I could feel the contours of Woo Baekyeon’s body through the thin fabric. His breaths grew ragged between kisses as I boldly caressed his back. Woo Baekyeon made a frustrated face when he got excited first. And, as if mimicking me, he clumsily returned the caresses.

“Jung Hankyung, your clothes are hard to take off today.”

Woo Baekyeon complained about my outfit, a sweater over a shirt.

“As if yours are any better. I feel like I’ve undone several knots, but it’s still the same.”

“There are about ten more in the front.”

“I wonder if I’ll even find half of them before I’m completely naked…”

For Woo Baekyeon, who looked impatient, I took off his sweater myself. As if he hated even the brief moment his face was covered by the garment, Woo Baekyeon immediately pressed his lips against mine. My arms, not yet fully free, were gathered and held above my head. With the sweater obstacle gone, he quickly unbuttoned my shirt. The forcefulness he displayed with his pretty face fueled my excitement.

After a long kiss, we parted our tingling lips. Woo Baekyeon’s eyes, fixed on me, were unusually dark today.

“Jung Hankyung, I want to do what you did to me.”

“What, huh, what are you talking about?”

“Yours. I want to try oral sex.”

“…Suck it? Uh, hey, wait a minute.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it well. I’m good at things I’ve experienced once and replayed dozens of times in my head.”

Before I could stop him, Woo Baekyeon knelt at my feet.

“I don’t mind if you want to try, but really…”

I placed the sweater dangling from my arm on the floor and undid my belt buckle. Woo Baekyeon pushed my hand away and pulled up my zipper with his tongue. Then, catching the zipper between his teeth, he pulled it all the way down. My face flushed.

“Hey, you, you can use your hands. I was only doing that because I was stopping you from…”

Woo Baekyeon nuzzled his cheek against my pants, looking up at me with my thick underwear in front of him.

“Taking off your clothes with my mouth makes me even more excited.”

“…….”

Well, it’s a very visually stimulating sight. Woo Baekyeon even pulled down the waistband of my underwear with his teeth. My cock was already half-hard.

“Can you really do it?”

“Yes.”

After calmly replying, Woo Baekyeon pressed his red lips against my glans. He, who rarely moved his mouth much even when speaking, opened his mouth wide and swallowed my cock from the top. Just the tip being sucked already sent a throbbing sensation through me.

“Hey… uh, I won’t say anything… so if it feels weird, just take it out… ha…”

Contrary to my words, my mind began to race. His actions were clumsy but fervent. I placed my hand on his brown hair. Pushing aside his bangs, I could see his face more clearly as he took my cock in his mouth and puffed out his cheeks. His slender cheeks bulged each time he briefly pulled away and then took me back in his mouth. His disheveled collar, the hem of his hanbok spread wide on the floor… I felt dizzy, as if I’d downed a bottle of alcohol.

“Huu… haa…”

Woo Baekyeon’s knees trembled every time he lowered his head. He tried his best to avoid it, but his teeth occasionally grazed me. Even that became a thrilling sensation. The wetter the sounds, the tighter the muscles in my ass and thighs clenched.

“Ha, feels, ugh, good… ah…”

Even while sucking someone else’s cock, his haughty gaze held a hint of triumph. Am I a pervert for finding that cute and exciting?

Just then, my cock slipped out of Woo Baekyeon’s mouth.

“Can’t do it?”

“No.”

Woo Baekyeon dipped his fingers into his mouth, wetting them with the collected saliva.

My erect cock went back into his mouth, and three wet fingers slipped between my legs, spreading my ass cheeks.

“Hey, you’re trying to do too much for your first time… ugh…!”

After a flash of annoyance in his eyes, Woo Baekyeon shoved three fingers inside without mercy. The sharp pain quickly faded. His fingers rummaged inside, stretching and opening me, quickly finding the sensitive spot. Woo Baekyeon’s repertoire didn’t include gentle caresses. I hadn’t taught him that. He pressed his fingertips against the sensitive spot, pushing firmly.

“……!”

Being sucked while my insides were stimulated sent shivers down my spine. My excitement soared.

My whole body tingled. The pleasure climbed from my navel, to my waist, to my chest, its final destination the place marked with his name. Biting my lip, I gripped my hardened nipples beneath my shirt. The new stimulation accelerated the cycle of pleasure washing over me.

I never thought I’d experience the thrill of having my nipples twisted to heighten my arousal. But now, I wanted to release the pleasure building inside me any way I could. Each touch brought a brief wave of excitement that shook my body, only to be replenished twofold. I couldn’t stop, even though I felt breathless. As my arousal intensified, Woo Baekyeon pushed his fingers all the way to the base, raking through my insides.

“Ugh, ah, Woo Baekyeon, you crazy bastard…”

Woo Baekyeon’s flushed face held a sharp glint in his eyes. I had used a bad word.

“Don’t you think you’re in no position to complain? You have to let it slide when you’ve driven someone this crazy. Haa… ugh, huh!”

My shaft was squeezed harder. When the excitement became too intense, my vision blurred. The back of my head rubbed against the wall repeatedly. The broad back in front of me also began to heave, and the bulge beneath his clothes grew thicker. Seeing that, and feeling Woo Baekyeon’s fingers ravaging my insides, I burned as if he was fucking my cock.

Pleasure coursed through my entire being, rising to the top of my head. Finally, as I squeezed my eyes shut, tears welled up and spilled over.

“Ah, hic, haa… ah…!”

My thighs tensed as if I was about to cum, and the pressure built at my base. Just as I was about to push Woo Baekyeon away, I saw a look of accomplishment on his flushed face as he breathlessly sucked my cock.

Ah, I know that feeling. The moment I thought that, my mind went blank.

Woo Baekyeon didn’t pull away. The evidence of my orgasm went straight into his mouth. I’d doubted the fastidious Woo Baekyeon would swallow, but he showed no sign of disgust, only heavy breathing. Even as he swallowed, his gaze was languid.

As Woo Baekyeon finally pulled away, a sticky string of fluid stretched between his lips and my cock. He wiped his wet lips with the back of his hand. It somehow irritated me that Woo Baekyeon’s expression looked more relieved than mine, even though I was the one who came.

I pulled on his hand, which was tugging at my arm as if to head inside.

“Where do you think you’re going, my prince? Do you think I’m done just because I came? Fuck me right now.”

I turned toward the wall, offering my neck.

“While sucking on the spot with your name.”

Ah, I must be really worked up today.

His hand, bearing my name, covered mine as I braced myself against the wall. As my back pressed against Woo Baekyeon’s body, the rustling sound of his hanbok, distinct from regular clothes, filled the air. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that his hair was damp, probably from the heat of giving me head.

“Huh, uh…!”

He immediately opened me up and pushed his glans inside. It was a tight fit, even after being stretched by three fingers. As his cock entered, Woo Baekyeon pinched the nipples I’d been tormenting earlier. A sharper pain than before bloomed.

My hips bucked along with Woo Baekyeon’s movements. Moving together, the penetration deepened with a thud. Sex standing up had a different kind of pressure compared to being in bed. With my legs tense, the feeling of his cock pistoning inside made my insides feel like they were being pushed upwards.

The vast penthouse usually diluted any sounds made inside into the air. But the relatively narrow hallway was different. My moans and Woo Baekyeon’s groans echoed off the walls. It felt like our frantic lovemaking, before even making it inside the house, was being laid bare.

“Ah… Baekyeon, huu.”

His fingers tightened around my hand. His nose, close to my neck, inhaled sharply.

“Baekyeon, uh, my prince.”

“…You’re teasing me again, aren’t you?”

“Huh, it’s because you’re beautiful. Ah…!”

He thrusted hard. Woo Baekyeon expressed his annoyance by deliberately grinding inside me. His pants, halfway down his thighs, rustled.

I chuckled, but quickly had to surrender. Woo Baekyeon bit down on the spot where my name was. Even though it was a place I usually kept covered, he showed no mercy.

“Ouch! Ah, prince, I was wrong. Haa, ugh!”

The scraping against my inner walls felt incredibly good. My ass clenched, making the thickness of his cock even more pronounced. Woo Baekyeon also let out a low moan. Even though he hadn’t come, I felt his insides grow a little wetter.

Unlike Woo Baekyeon, who’d been hard from the start, I’d expended my energy giving him head, so my supporting legs began to give way. I ended up with my cheek pressed against the wall, pushing my hips back. Woo Baekyeon grabbed my ass cheeks, spreading them apart, and pushed himself deep inside, all the way to the base.

“Ah!”

It felt like a deep part of me I’d never felt before was being opened. His grip was so strong, I felt like I’d have handprints on my ass afterwards.

Each thrust was accompanied by the rustling of his hanbok against my ass and thighs. Every time his glans slipped out, the momentary exposure of my insides felt strange. Woo Baekyeon, sensing my sensitivity there, stretched and opened the entrance with his thumbs. Thanks to that, with each of his thrusts, my knees trembled, and precum leaked out.

“Huk, ugh, ah…”

“Uh… haa, ah…!”

Hot breaths mingled between us. I straightened my shoulders, tensing my back muscles. Woo Baekyeon’s moans grew more intense.

“Uk, uh…!”

As we raced towards the peak of pleasure, Woo Baekyeon thrust deep inside me with a groan. Hot fluid filled my sensitive insides. As his cock, having released its load, softened momentarily before thrusting again deep inside, I also came. In Woo Baekyeon’s hand, which held my glans.

The orgasm was long. As if he’d been truly worked up, his body went limp as soon as he came. Leaning against the wall, our ragged breaths fell out of sync.

“Huh, uh, ah…”

The moment a cock pulls out after cumming is one of the worst parts of sex. It delivers a strong stimulation to a body heightened to its peak, leaving it empty afterwards.

“Ah, huh…!”

He didn’t give me a moment to recover. The hot fluid pooled inside me flowed down my walls. Soon, cum leaked out of my twitching hole and trickled down my thighs. There was so much that a small puddle formed on the floor.

“Woo Baekyeon, you haven’t changed…”

“What?”

“A pink dolphin frolicking in wetness. Cute as hell.”

“……?”

He gave me a look like I was crazy. As I chuckled and turned around, his expression changed to one that suggested Jung Hankyung’s nonsense was nothing new.

Finally, long after we’d arrived home, the inner door opened. On the cold, white floor of the living room, the blanket from last night, where someone had been lying around talking about sweet potato play, lay like a stain. To the right was my room, to the left, Woo Baekyeon’s upstairs domain.

I recalled our conversation on that blanket.

“Please consult me again, Director.”

“About what?”

“Would it be better to open the cafe on New Year’s Day, or take a day off and spend a warm, or rather, hot holiday with my husband?”

“Ha…”

“If you say it’s right to open the cafe even in this situation, I’ll go, of course.”

“Where would you go? Stay here.”

It was the formal speech from Woo Baekyeon I hadn’t heard in a long time. The atmosphere between us was completely different from the last time we used such formal language.

I placed both arms on Woo Baekyeon’s shoulders, adding a few more wrinkles to his lavender hanbok.

“Holidays are best spent with family, right?”

The corners of Woo Baekyeon’s lips turned upwards.

“That is correct.”

His hand, which had been around my waist, moved lower. His fingers gently rubbed between my wet thighs. The stain on his sleeve grew larger. The returning arousal made my lower body throb.

“Huu… if we’re going another round, let’s do it upstairs. Let me in.”

“…….”

“I won’t do it unless it’s on the bed upstairs. Since we’re right in front of the door, I’m going back to work.”