PM Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Just like its exterior, the inside of Taebaekgwan was also decorated in Chinese style, and the interior was quite large. The first two floors were open to each other like a mezzanine, with very high ceilings, and fancy golden lanterns hanging in clusters from above.

All the tables on the first floor were full. People in black suits, tight T-shirts, or shabby clothes had each taken seats. Every one of them had a fierce look. Heeseong instinctively shrank his shoulders and lowered his gaze.

“Oh my! Good evening, President Pyo.”

Several staff members bowed politely in greeting.

“Yeah. Where’s Director Jang?”

“The director stepped out on business.”

Daesik lazily nodded, even at the news that his business partner wasn’t around. Jang Chiwon being absent was a common occurrence, so it didn’t bother him much.

The staff led Daesik upstairs as if it were routine, and Daesik pulled Heeseong along to the second floor. As they climbed the stairs, Heeseong snuck glances at the Chinese-style interior.

It was only once they stepped into a private room that Daesik let go of Heeseong. Heeseong took a seat on one side of the round table, and Daesik sat across from him.

Heeseong carefully flipped open the menu resting on the table and widened his eyes at the luxurious dishes listed. He regretted not saying more earlier, not just jjamppong. A sense of missed opportunity crept in.

Heeseong smacked his lips, lips plump and slightly trembling, learning a bitter lesson. Watching him, Daesik let out a mischievous chuckle.

“One jjamppong enough for you?”

Heeseong peeked at him and hesitated.

“…Well, yes, but…”

“Yes, but? Why? Want more?”

Daesik crossed his arms and furrowed his brows.

“If you’d let me order more… I think I could eat it.”

Heeseong swallowed once and spoke with his fists clenched. He must’ve been mustering all his courage, because his clenched fists were trembling slightly. Daesik tried hard not to burst out laughing.

“You planning to get hit for every leftover dish?”

“I—I can just take the leftovers to go!”

Heeseong flinched but snapped back defiantly. Why was he being so intense about leaving food? He took back everything he thought about the guy being generous. He was stingier than Scrooge.

Heeseong’s eyes narrowed into a sulky glare as he shot Daesik a glance—fearless, despite the fact he’d been trembling with fear just moments earlier.

Daesik found it amusing how Heeseong could still show dissatisfaction despite being scared. Did he have awareness or not? What a strange one. He’d never seen someone like this before. Whoever had sent this kid must have been out of their mind.

“Fine. Order what you want.”

“…Thank you!”

The glare vanished from Heeseong’s face in an instant, replaced with a beaming smile. His emotions were crystal clear. Just who the hell had sent this kid? Daesik’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Heeseong.

Unaware of this, Heeseong was busy telling the staff member his selected dishes one by one.

After ordering, Heeseong puffed up his cheeks in pride and anticipation. His stomach, which had been growling non-stop since earlier, was now leaping with excitement. He drank some water to calm it and picked up a piece of yellow pickled radish. It was delicious.

“What were you doing before you came here?”

Daesik asked casually, resting his chin on his hand. Heeseong answered without hesitation.

“I worked at a kimchi factory.”

The kimchi factory had been tougher than expected, but at least it had a dormitory. Even if it was old and worn out, having a place to sleep was enough. Plus, they gave out holiday gifts without fail and often handed over leftover kimchi marked as defective. While the other employees complained, Heeseong was grateful for even that.

The orphanage where Heeseong had grown up, tucked away in some backwater countryside, had a director who was beyond cruel—practically evil. Under the guise of “education,” the man frequently raised his hand against the kids. Heeseong and the others hadn’t been sent to school properly. Instead, they were all forced to work in factories.

Working from early dawn until late at night, standing in front of a press machine all day, left his hands and feet constantly numb and aching. All the money he earned was taken from him under the excuse that it was the cost of raising him. He never even got to touch the money, let alone receive any gifts. And if he made a mistake or didn’t follow orders, he’d be forced to skip meals, so he was always hungry. Compared to that, the kimchi factory had been nothing short of paradise.

Heeseong, who had grown up barely eating, experienced his omega manifestation later than most. As soon as the orphanage director found out Heeseong was an omega, he tried to sell him off.

If he hadn’t escaped with his brother that night, he would’ve had no way out. Remembering his brother, a lump rose in Heeseong’s throat.

“So how did you end up here?”

“I was living with my brother, but… he suddenly disappeared…”

After that, he’d been dragged away by gangsters. That was when he found out his brother had gambled away all the money Heeseong had earned at the kimchi factory. And that he’d been captured because of the debt. Heeseong’s eyes clouded over as he wandered through the memories of the past.

Daesik watched Heeseong sink like a sulking goldfish and quickly pieced together the situation. From the looks of it, that brother bastard had betrayed him. In this line of work, betrayal by family wasn’t rare—it was so common you could trip over it.

“I was looking for my brother but ran out of money for the taxi, so I got out halfway.”

Heeseong racked his brain and conveniently left out the part about being threatened by gangsters. Even someone as clueless as him knew not to tell the boss that.

Whoever those men were talking about was probably one of the boss’s guests. How could he mention that someone was planning to attack a guest here? If he told the truth, they’d surely take back the job at the motel.

Cold sweat poured down as he lied—a task just as painful as getting beaten by gangsters. The fact that he was lying to a boss who, despite appearances, seemed like a decent thug, made it even harder for Heeseong to bear.

He resolved to at least make sure the boss didn’t get caught up in this.

“You haven’t found your brother?”

“…No. I’m planning to look again once I save up some money here.”

Daesik didn’t offer to help him find the brother. Even if he did, family that turned on you would just betray you again.

Why bother looking for someone like that? Daesik didn’t understand people like Heeseong who clung to their families. What was so important about it anyway? Whatever the case, it wasn’t his business.

Still, even as he told himself that, something about the way Heeseong deflated tugged at him. After being all cheerful and clueless, seeing him so down made it hard to ignore. He’d thought Heeseong was a simpleton, but maybe the kid was more complicated than he let on.

Just then, the food arrived. Seeing the fancy dishes, Heeseong immediately brightened up.

Daesik let out a quiet chuckle at how quickly he perked up again. Maybe he really was just a goldfish.

“Thanks for the meal.”

With a flushed face, Heeseong bowed his head. Then, before Daesik could even reply, he eagerly reached for his chopsticks. He must’ve been really hungry.

Heeseong ate like a little monster. His tiny mouth moved fast and constantly. He even looked like a goldfish while eating—or maybe a squirrel stuffing its cheeks with acorns. Daesik wasn’t particularly hungry, so he just watched Heeseong eat.

Having just devoured a full bowl of jjamppong and picking up some sweet and sour pork, Heeseong blinked up at Daesik. His mouth was stained reddish from the jjamppong broth.

Daesik narrowed his eyes, staring at Heeseong’s lips. Pulling out every trick in the book, huh. He didn’t even consider that the mess might’ve been accidental—he assumed it was on purpose.

“Boss, aren’t you eating?”

The question came way after he’d already been eating by himself. Daesik curled his lips up slightly and waved a hand.

“You eat it all.”

“This one’s really good, though…”

Heeseong glanced at him and slowly slid the plate of sweet and sour pork forward.

The timid gesture made Daesik’s face hard to read.

Wasn’t this the same guy who acted completely clueless earlier? Now he was being all cautious and watchful again. He might not have awareness, but he definitely had fear. Confusing, but somehow amusing.

“Try some.”

Heeseong might’ve been slow on the uptake, but he still had a conscience. It started to prick at him when he realized the boss who bought the food wasn’t even eating. He didn’t stop at just pushing the plate forward—he quickly picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and placed it on the boss’s plate. He remembered his brother saying that if you wanted someone to eat, you had to offer it directly.

Daesik’s gaze dropped to the piece on his plate. One eyebrow lifted slightly, then returned to normal. Without a word, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.