Plin Ch 4.2

It was definitely winter, as the days were getting shorter. It was only 5 PM, but it was already dark all around. The public relations office of the holding company had called Thibeau several times.

‘Our office is deeply concerned about whether to leave the Executive Director’s social media activities as they are.’

‘We are currently sending out official letters to daily newspapers to prevent attempts at reporting, but we plan to obtain the newsstands in advance to make a final check.’

They were making a big fuss. But in most cases, it’s not good for one’s private life to be known and to attract attention. The biggest problem was that the person himself would become annoyed. Normally, Hugo wasn’t so much of a busybody, but it seemed that he was willing to endure the annoyance of being the center of attention because he wanted to make noise about his relationship with Plin.

In addition to the public relations office, reports came in from various places.

‘The preparation of Mr. Plin’s booth is going smoothly. We would like to inform you that we need to transport additional goods, so we have sent a pickup truck to Mr. Plin’s house.’

A report also came in from the so-called <Plin’s Festival Assistance Committee>, which was formed yesterday.

‘As of 17:01, we will be moving to the festival venue within 5 minutes. Mr. Plin is currently loading his belongings onto a pickup truck at his house.’

Separately, the security guards in charge of Plin’s safety also reported faithfully.

Thibeau called Plin’s security guard. He had received instructions from Hugo to take special care to protect Plin because many people might flock to the festival today.

– Yes, Chief.

“I am in front of Mr. Plin’s house now. From now on, I will be escorting Mr. Plin, so all personnel should move to the booth now. Have 2 people inside the booth, at least 15 people outside the booth to prepare for any eventualities, and have 30 people on standby as a spare force.”

– 2 people inside the booth, at least 15 people outside the booth, 30 people on standby. I understand.

The head of security repeated the instructions.

Thibeau sighed and looked at Plin outside the car window.

Despite the temperature being -3 degrees Celsius, Plin’s forehead was sweating as he wore work gloves and helped the worker carry the boxes. He wondered if Hugo knew that this was how the fox he had given his heart to spent his days.

What was he even thinking? There were many things he needed to know, but nothing he knew.

Was he really hiding a bugging device, what did he think of Hugo, was he just trying to use him to find his brother or did he have human or s*xual interest, did he even have a rough idea of the effect of fox bodily fluids?

Plin would be the most important other person in Hugo’s life. That was why he was being very careful, to an excessive degree, not to pry into his affairs.

He couldn’t figure out his inner thoughts, and all he could see from the outside was that Plin was a rare fox who lived his life diligently.

“Mr. Plin.”

Thibeau greeted him, helping to load the box that Plin was holding with both hands. As always, he had a menacing mask, but his expression was gentle.

“Hello, Chief. Thank you.”

“Anything else I can help you with?”

“That was the last box. I’m about to leave now.”

“Please ride in my vehicle. I have something to tell you.”

“Ah, yes…”

Thibeau sat still for a while without even starting the engine. The air inside the sedan was silent. The awkwardness amplified his senses. In the spacious space of the large sedan, where even each other’s breathing could be heard and the outside noise was perfectly blocked, a strange smell of leather wafted through the air.

Plin wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Working in the thick padded jacket that the executive director had sent made him so warm that beads of sweat were forming on his back. Plin, acting like someone with a guilty conscience, picked up his phone, fiddled with the surface, and carefully asked.

“Um, where is the Executive Director now?”

“Why, do you think I might kidnap you, Mr. Plin?”

Thibeau asked with a faint smile. It was a type of humor he had never expressed before. Plin bristled his fur and asked back.

“Yes?”

“No need to be so alarmed. The Executive Director is probably exercising right now.”

Plin tried to respond as naturally as possible.

“…Yes. I saw his naked body before, and he l-looked like he was in shape.”

“You seem very nervous. Are you uncomfortable with me?”

“…I’m a bit introverted by nature.”

“You’re dating and you have the same excuses. It’s like looking at a parallel universe.”

Plin was quick-witted. He realized that Thibeau was making a joke, comparing him to Hugo, who often made excuses. It seemed like a joke that only someone who had known the executive director for a long time could make.

“It seems like the Chief is angry.”

“Accumulating complaints about your master is an occupational hazard. I need to manage my facial expressions better.”

He had no intention of getting along with the fox, but he had to pretend to be friendly.

“I heard that you found a bugging device in the executive director’s office again.”

“Yes. It was the same model as the one Mr. Plin was carrying the other day.”

“…So?”

His voice trembled slightly, but it was a voice filled with resentment.

“Naturally, we are suspecting you, Mr. Plin.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“Really?”

“It could have been the executive director’s father. You said before that he had CCTVs installed.”

He argued earnestly, citing the existence of CCTVs, which had only been a light lie from the executive director. The outline of the reflection in his brown pupils was clear. There was even a hint of defiance in his direct gaze.

“It could be.”

Thibeau took a step back.

Plin didn’t make any further excuses, but his eyes were red with excitement. Thibeau started the engine. During the thirty minutes it took to get to the snow festival in High Forest, the two of them didn’t say a word.

Welcome banners fluttered at the entrance to the square where the Snow Festival was being held.

“Do you have any more to say? You should keep in mind that if you don’t, the executive director will also have no choice but to suspect you, Mr. Plin.”

“…I have nothing more to say. Because I didn’t do it.”

Plin murmured in a small voice. In contrast to the firm content of his words, he lowered his eyebrows and ears, and occasionally twitched his forehead.

Thibeau let out a small sigh and entered the festival venue.

He had a feeling it was unusual from the entrance. It was a popular local festival where many people gathered, and it was natural that the second day would be more crowded than the first, but Plin’s booth area, located in a remote area, was truly a crowd of people.

“It’s a white fox!”

“Where?”

“Isn’t that it, coming out from behind the forest at 9 o’clock?”

“Get the equipment ready!”

“They say that’s a white fox.”

The pointed white ears, hair, and tail were noticed in an instant. Plin pretended to be bold, even though he was very nervous inside, and walked straight towards the booth, but before he could even reach the booth, he was swept away by the crowd. Feeling frustrated, Thibeau stuck close to Plin’s side and fended off the threatening movements. There were far more people than he had seen from afar, gathering like clouds.

“I heard that Executive Director Idrohann has a fox fetish, is it true?”

“Is it profitable to sell Viagra?”

They provoked him, trying to take pictures of Plin’s face, who had his head down. They were already people who were used to treating people as subjects while taking paparazzi photos of celebrities.

Although there were only about thirty people with cannon-like cameras, it was threatening for one person to deal with. In addition, hundreds of cell phones, trying to take pictures of Plin’s hair, surrounded his head. People in the back held their hands high to take pictures.

“Step back. Don’t take pictures! Ah, fuck, where are all the security guards?”

No one listened to Thibeau. It seemed that they were only stationed around the booth, and there were no security guards to be seen in this place, far from the booth. Even though Hugo had recently attracted a lot of attention, it was strange that his lover was attracting this much attention when he wasn’t even a celebrity.

They were pushed around because the minimum distance was not secured. He even felt a sense of crisis that he might fall and be trampled.

“Ouch!”

Someone viciously grabbed Plin’s hair. It was probably not intentional to pull out his hair, but rather an attempt to grab anything while falling, but Plin stumbled greatly from the sharp pain of his scalp being pulled.

Plin squeezed his eyes shut.

“Stay alert!”

Thibeau warned in a strict tone. It wouldn’t be strange if something unexpected happened in this kind of chaotic situation. Thibeau assessed the potential accidents that could occur.