WANL Ch 7

A ladder truck entered the narrow alley. Hyunjae forced open a window that he usually didn’t bother with. Squinting against the harsh sunlight, he looked down and saw the installation workers unloading a huge box onto a dolly.

“I shouldn’t have come. The workers will handle everything.”

Seongwoo patted Hyunjae’s back. Hyunjae turned around and smiled without saying anything.

It was the night before when he received a call from Nanyeong. He asked if Hyunjae could receive a refrigerator the next morning. Hyunjae had been caught off guard by the casual tone of the conversation, especially since it was Hyunjae who had wanted the refrigerator.

“How much can you do for me?”

“Well, let’s see what you imagine.”

“Then… the refrigerator.”

“The refrigerator? How did that come up so quickly?”

Hyunjae remembered Nanyeong laughing loudly at that moment.

Recalling their conversation, Hyunjae’s mind sharpened. Even after he repeatedly told Nanyeong that he didn’t need it and didn’t actually intend to accept the refrigerator, Nanyeong insisted that he had already paid for it and wouldn’t accept a refund.

The promise to buy whatever Hyunjae wanted didn’t seem like an exaggeration after all. Feeling embarrassed, Hyunjae realized that he would need to be more careful about what he said around Nanyeong in the future.

After hanging up, Hyunjae sent Seongwoo an SOS. He couldn’t move the refrigerator by himself. The biggest problem with living in this four-story villa without an elevator was moving appliances and furniture. The only family members he had were his mother and Seongwoo, and his mother was a patient.

Fortunately, Seongwoo, who lived nearby, had the morning off. He arrived with sleepy eyes and slippers before the refrigerator was delivered.

However, to Hyunjae’s surprise, he didn’t have to lift a finger.

“Everyone does that these days. We bought a dryer not long ago, and they handled everything.”

Seongwoo said. Hyunjae nodded silently, acknowledging it.

He had never spent a large sum of money to buy new appliances, so he had no idea. His washing machine and refrigerator were over 20 years old, and while their performance wasn’t great, they had somehow lasted.

At the same time, Hyunjae realized that it felt like he was the only one living in the past. Even small appliances like the rice cooker and the old TV, which had been around for over a decade, weren’t replaced when their lifespan ended. He didn’t need a TV, and he could make rice in a pot, so he got by.

Meeting Nanyeong made him realize how deprived his life had been. Nanyeong was someone who truly enjoyed life. On the other hand, Hyunjae had been so focused on just getting by that he wondered if he had been merely enduring, like a refrigerator nearing the end of its life, barely running on the electricity it consumed.

“Hyunjae, before it gets upstairs, let’s take this out together.”

“Thank you, Hyung.”

While moving the empty refrigerator, Nanyeong’s gift was brought inside. Once it was in the house, it turned out to be even bigger than expected, and they had to find extra space for it. The refrigerator, which barely fit in the small kitchen, was brand new and massive. It looked almost absurd, shining alone in the cramped space.

“Wow, this is huge. What are we going to do with it…?”

Hyunjae’s mother, who had just gotten up from her room, kept stroking the refrigerator, muttering to herself. But it was clear that she was secretly pleased with the new appliance, unable to take her eyes off it.

While they were listening to the installer’s explanation, Hyunjae felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Checking, he saw the name “Nanyeong” on the screen.

He gestured to Seongwoo and his mother, then stepped away.

“Hello?”

― Oh, looks like you’ve already received it?

As soon as Hyunjae answered the phone, Nanyeong’s voice came through from the other end. There was a hint of laughter in his tone, mixed with the noise of the outdoors.

― Is your house on the fourth floor?

At his words, Hyunjae hurriedly approached the window connected to the ladder truck, as if confirming a suspicion. Looking down, he saw a familiar black car parked behind the ladder truck.

Just then, Nanyeong stepped out of the car, opening the door.

“Hyung!”

Hyunjae’s eyes met Nanyeong’s as he stood below, looking up with one hand in the pocket of his suit pants. Squinting slightly against the bright sunlight, his black hair swayed lightly in the breeze brushing his forehead.

“What brings you here…?”

― I was passing by and thought I’d stop to check if everything was delivered properly.

Before Hyunjae could respond, Nanyeong walked briskly toward the villa’s entrance. There was no time to stop him. The sound of footsteps on the stairs echoed simultaneously through the phone and from the building. The door was unlocked, leaving the interior accessible to anyone who wanted to enter. Flustered, Hyunjae quickly moved to the front door, grabbing the handle.

Click. Just as his hand touched it, the doorknob turned.

The door swung open, revealing Nanyeong standing behind the worn and peeling paint of the old door.

“Hello… Oh, you have guests?”

Nanyeong glanced quickly past Hyunjae into the room. In that brief moment, it seemed he absorbed a lot: the shabby state of Hyunjae’s home, the cluttered signs of everyday life, the unfamiliar faces of the delivery workers.

His gaze lingered on the torn flooring, peeling wallpaper, and the futon folded in a corner of the kitchen, which lacked a proper room. Each glance made Hyunjae feel a deep sense of embarrassment, beyond just insecurity.

Before the door opened, he had thought Nanyeong would step in cheerfully. But seeing strangers in the room, he hesitated and stepped back. During that moment, Hyunjae found himself fixated on his face.

He couldn’t help but wonder what Nanyeong was thinking as he took in the scene.

“Hyunjae, is this a guest?”

His mother’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Turning around, he saw his mother and Seongwoo looking in their direction. Still standing outside, Nanyeong politely greeted his mother.

Seongwoo, who still looked half-asleep, stared blankly and muttered in a foolish tone.

“Huh?”

Ignoring Seongwoo’s gaze and comment, Nanyeong smoothly guided Hyunjae outside.

“Now that I see it, I wonder if I bought something too big.”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you. But, Hyung…”

“I just stopped by for a moment, so I need to go.”

Hyunjae had countless things he wanted to say, but Nanyeong ended the conversation there. He added, “I’ll call you later,” before casually turning away. With his hands in his pockets, he descended the stairs lightly and disappeared like the wind.

Hyunjae stood there, dumbfounded. He was grateful for the gift and his visit, but it felt like there was more to it. He couldn’t shake the discomfort of having his home life laid bare.

“Who was that?” Seongwoo asked. Hyunjae gave a short answer, “An acquaintance.”

He couldn’t think of any other way to describe him. Meanwhile, Seongwoo muttered to himself.

“You know another Hyung besides me? You’re not exactly someone with a wide social circle. Who is it?”

“Why are you so curious?”

“I don’t know… He looked familiar.”

“…?”

Seongwoo furrowed his brows, lost in thought. The face was definitely familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen him before. Was it at school? Did he actually know him? Or was it…

“Ah, Seo Nanyeong!”

It was much later, while they were organizing the refrigerator, that Seongwoo suddenly shouted as if a realization had struck him.

Hearing the name, which was both unfamiliar and oddly familiar, Hyunjae frowned and turned to look at him.

“…Seo Nanyeong?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t figure out who he reminded me of, but now I remember. Wow, I feel so much better.”

As he spoke, Seongwoo picked up his phone and showed Hyunjae the screen.

“See? That Hyung from earlier. Look, this is Seo Nanyeong. Doesn’t he look like him?”

Ꮺ

The information Seongwoo provided left Hyunjae feeling utterly confused.

Seo Nanyeong. Thirty-one. And above all, a face that unmistakably resembles his own.

The portal site revealed far more information about Nanyeong than Hyunjae himself knew. Among the plethora of details, the most shocking to Hyunjae was his profession. Nanyeong, who had always insisted he was “just an office worker,” was listed as an executive director of a certain corporation. A corporation established by the elder brother of a chaebol family upon branching out, and one in which Nanyeong was considered a strong candidate to inherit the business in the future.

Seongwoo didn’t seem to realize that the man who had visited Hyunjae’s home was the same Seo Nanyeong, but Hyunjae was certain that the man in the portal search was indeed “that Nanyeong.”

“Ha…”

Hyunjae pressed his forehead, damp with nervous sweat, overwhelmed by the revelation. When he thought Nanyeong was just a moderately wealthy man, it hadn’t even occurred to him to search for him online. After all, it’s not like you can find personal information about the average person this way. But for someone this prominent, it was a different story. Besides…

Even now, searching “Yi Nanyeong” yielded nothing related to him. The search results were limited to an unrelated female professor with the same name. It was expected, yet he felt hollow wondering who this “Yi Nanyeong” really was.

Hyunjae recalled the names of Nanyeong’s siblings: Nanju, Nanhee, and Nanyeong. Searching for the trio’s names together naturally linked to countless articles about their family business.

“I’m named with the ‘Nan’ character. My sisters are Nanju and Nanhee…”

“You have sisters?”

“Ah… yeah.”

A vague response, as if he regretted saying it. Likely because it dropped a clue he didn’t want to reveal.

“So, what’s your family name?”

“…Yi Nanyeong.”

The hesitant response was a delay to fabricate a lie.

Hyper-sensitive about privacy to the point of hysteria over candid photos, casually spending amounts of money no ordinary office worker could fathom, hiding his relationships with men with utmost secrecy—all of it added up. From the very beginning, Nanyeong had repeatedly confirmed that Hyunjae didn’t know his true identity.

The puzzle pieces seemed to click into place.

Hyunjae was tormented by unspoken emotions. All he ever wanted was to know the man in front of him as he appeared. But in the meantime, Nanyeong had built multiple layers of defenses, concealing his true self.

With darkened eyes, Hyunjae stared at his phone screen. The profile photo showed a man in an elegant suit, his face radiating warmth and sincerity as he gazed straight ahead.

Nanyeong had hidden some things while answering others truthfully. His bachelor’s degree from a prestigious university and master’s degree abroad were true, schools Hyunjae had once dreamed of attending.

Another secret he kept was that he had been married once before.

In fact, Nanyeong had never outright lied about this. Hyunjae’s curiosity had only been about whether he had relationships with “men.”

How many other inconvenient truths had he chosen to keep secret, thinking ignorance was bliss? Hyunjae dug deeper and deeper into the private life that Nanyeong would never voluntarily disclose.

Seo Nanyeong had married at the relatively young age of twenty-six. His marriage to a similarly aged heir from another prominent family must have been flawless on paper. The issue was that this obvious arranged marriage had ended after just three years.

He had been divorced for just two years. Even though two years had passed, news outlets were still littered with articles about “Seo Nanyeong’s divorce” and “Seo Nanyeong’s ex-wife,” making it clear why he was so sensitive about his private life.

Oddly enough, just piecing together these bits of information made Hyunjae’s eyes sting with heat.

After a few months of knowing him, Hyunjae had discovered his surname and thought it was beautiful. He had excitedly updated “Nanyeong” to “Yi Nanyeong” in his phone, feeling like a fool now.

He didn’t even know the real three syllables of his name until the very end.

What had he shown me, aside from his body?

Hyunjae covered his warm, stinging eyes with his hand and thought bitterly.

“Ha, I was really dating someone extraordinary…”

Much later, Hyunjae wiped his tears and let out a self-deprecating smile.

Some people might be thrilled to find out that their partner had unimaginable wealth. It’s rare to make such a connection in life, after all.

But at that moment, Hyunjae felt only an intense sense of loss rather than any superficial joy.

Thinking back to the past, when he naively wondered why a chaebol heir wasn’t asking to date him, made him feel pathetic. Not just the past—there was no future in this relationship either. At this level of status, dating or cohabiting with another man was out of the question.

To someone of his stature, Hyunjae was nothing more than a mere toy.

Hyunjae let out a hollow laugh.

At last, he could see just how foolish his feelings had been.

His heart had already sunk too deep, undeniably so. He was the only one desperate to be in a relationship. And yet, clinging to the tender looks Nanyeong occasionally gave him, he had convinced himself that “I must mean something to him.”

Seongwoo had been right.

“You’ve only got your heart, so protect it till the end.”

Hyunjae let out yet another sigh, covering his eyes with his hand.

But even that—hadn’t it been taken from me long ago?

Ꮺ

On a day when Nanyeong hadn’t summoned him, Hyunjae visited his officetel alone. There was something he wanted to confirm.

Walking past the usually empty mailbox, he took the elevator up to Nanyeong’s place. Entering the familiar passcode, he stepped inside. As expected, the apartment was empty.

Hyunjae turned on the lights and took a good look around.

The spotless interior, he had always thought, was a reflection of Nanyeong’s meticulous personality. Walking over to the closet, he saw suits and shirts neatly hung with ample space between them, all in line with Nanyeong’s taste. Despite the limited number of clothes, a Styler stood prominently in one corner of the room.

Passing by the minimalist bathroom with its bare essentials, Hyunjae entered the kitchen. Other than the occasional delivery meals they’d share after sex, no food had ever been prepared in this house—despite it being far better equipped than the old, rundown kitchen in the monthly rental he shared with his mother.

The cabinets held a teapot and teacups prominently displayed, items Nanyeong often used. Other than that, bowls were neatly stacked by purpose. However, there were no signs of typical household items like cooking oil, soy sauce, or seasonings.

After scrutinizing every corner, something became clear. Even for someone as busy as Nanyeong, this home bore no traces of life. Unlike Hyunjae’s rented room, there was no clutter or excess accumulation typical of daily living.

In other words, this place resembled a hotel room, used only when necessary—for his rendezvous with Hyunjae.

At first, Hyunjae hadn’t noticed. He had assumed that all rich people lived like this. But as he grew more curious about Nanyeong himself—his preferences, the space he inhabited—the details that didn’t add up began to weigh on his mind. And even as the unease prickled at him, Hyunjae had deliberately ignored it.

The muted-colored blankets, the perfectly matched dishes, the orderly decor he had thought reflected Nanyeong’s taste—they weren’t really his preferences. These were things bought simply to fill the space, not items lovingly collected over time.

Just then, he heard unhurried footsteps in the hallway outside the officetel. Instinctively, Hyunjae knew it was Nanyeong. His gaze darted to the entrance. Moments later, the sound of the door lock echoed, and the door opened. The motion-sensor light turned on, and as Nanyeong removed his shoes, he paused.

“Hyunjae?”

“……”

“What’s this? I was just about to contact you.”

Nanyeong smiled brightly. Whether he truly intended to call, his expression was genuinely pleased.

“How did you know to come? Are our minds connected because our bodies are? Telepathy?”

Nanyeong crossed the living room, shrugging off his jacket. His slim frame naturally leaned in for a hug. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smell of the outdoor air clinging to his slightly tousled hair. Even that seemed endearing, and Hyunjae thought to himself how deeply infatuated he had become. Running his fingers through Nanyeong’s hair, he murmured quietly.

“Did you leave the car window open?”

“How’d you know?”

“Your hair’s a bit.”

Hyunjae trailed off, motioning toward the back of Nanyeong’s head with his fingers, then smiled. It was a guileless, clear smile.

Watching Hyunjae’s face up close, Nanyeong’s gaze softened into something dreamy as he mumbled.

“This is nice too.”

“What is?”

“Coming home to find you waiting here…”

“Really?”

“I’ve thought about it before. But this is better than I imagined.”

Instead of finishing his sentence, Nanyeong draped his arms around Hyunjae’s neck. Tilting his head slightly, he leaned in closer.

“It feels good.”

As Nanyeong whispered, Hyunjae welcomed his kiss and held him tightly, crumpling the crisp shirt between his fingers without a care.

As their lips parted for a moment, Hyunjae rested his hand on Nanyeong’s neck and, locking eyes with him, asked:

“But Hyung, where’s your real home?”

For a brief moment, Nanyeong’s expression changed.

Was he upset that an unspoken secret had been pointed out and spoken aloud? Or had he genuinely believed Hyunjae wouldn’t figure it out?

How much of a fool did he take me for?

“Why do you want to know?”

Nanyeong’s tone remained gentle, and his fingers even brushed Hyunjae’s bangs off his forehead with tenderness. But Hyunjae could feel the faint trembling of Nanyeong’s lashes, close enough to touch.

Smiling just as softly, Hyunjae stroked the back of Nanyeong’s neck.

“Just curious how many houses like this you have?”

“Ha…”

Nanyeong let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Or maybe how many guys like me you’re hiding away in them?”

“I told you, there’s no one else!”

Nanyeong snapped irritably. Hyunjae merely looked at him with a calm expression, finding his anger peculiar. After all, it was Nanyeong himself who had left room for doubt. This man always seemed to get immediately defensive when confronted with such accusations.

“Was that why you came here uninvited? What did you think, snooping around my house?”

“Sorry. Did it bother you? But there was nothing to find anyway. You hid it all too well, Hyung. I was just curious if there was anything in this house you personally bought. And…”

“And what?”

“And I realized I wouldn’t care if you were hiding something from me. Sometimes, assuming the worst makes it easier to accept reality, don’t you think?”

“Let me go.”

Clearly upset, Nanyeong tried to pull away, but Hyunjae grabbed his shoulders and turned him back to face him.

“There’s something else I’m curious about. You have three phones. I’m wondering what the one you gave me is used for.”

“What’s suddenly made you so curious?”

Hyunjae found Nanyeong more defensive than he’d expected. It wasn’t just annoyance at romantic entanglements—his reaction was emotional. Thinking back, Nanyeong had always been like this: indifferent to others’ feelings but fiercely private about his own affairs.

“You didn’t know anything about me, and you didn’t care either.”

With a frustrated tone, Nanyeong shoved Hyunjae away. Moving to the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and drank. Then, gripping the edges of the dining table, he let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t want to have these conversations with you. I just wanted to see your face.”

Turning back with a somber expression, Nanyeong glanced at Hyunjae’s still cold, hardened face. He lowered his gaze, his expression resembling resignation.

“Do you need anything else besides the fridge? Just tell me. Let’s not argue.”

“Something I need?”

“I’ll pay you properly for it.”

“Pay? What payment?”

Hyunjae felt a sharp, tugging sensation at the back of his neck.

To call it mere anger would be an understatement—it was heavier, more intense than that.

Right now, Nanyeong was treating him like some man interested in extracting money, gifts, or favors—like someone after a few expensive suits, a fridge, and whatever else Nanyeong could offer.

Although disappointed by Nanyeong’s attitude, Hyunjae steadied the turmoil of hurt and betrayal inside him and asked calmly:

“Alright. Can I have that watch?”

Hyunjae deliberately spoke in an even voice. Nanyeong, his reddening eyes glaring at Hyunjae, slowly removed the watch from his wrist. Supposedly worth 1.5 billion won, his hand showed little hesitation as he unbuckled it.

“I can do at least this much for a treasured younger brother.”

And with that, Nanyeong tossed the watch at Hyunjae’s feet. The heavy metallic timepiece clinked against the edge of Hyunjae’s sock.

“Younger brother?”

Hyunjae asked with a twisted smile.

“Yeah.”

“Do you sleep with your younger brother?”

The rude tone, as if poking at him, was enough to make someone angry, but Nanyeong didn’t react. With the same stone-cold expression, he replied curtly.

“What are you talking about?”

Hyunjae frowned. Nanyeong’s voice was so unnaturally calm it felt almost staged.

“Why are you pretending not to know?”

Still, Nanyeong didn’t flinch. Eventually, Hyunjae’s emotions burst out first.

“Then why did you give it to me when I asked for it? Was it so I’d take the watch and leave? Why do you always act like this?”

At that, Nanyeong perched on the edge of the dining table and let out a soft laugh.

“Didn’t you figure it out already? My job, my wealth… once they find out, everyone changes. Just like you.”

“How long did you think you could keep it a secret?”

“I never tried to hide it. I just didn’t say anything.”

“So I guess you’ve dealt with plenty of people like me trying to take advantage of you?”

“It’s fine. Even if people take, my wealth isn’t something that diminishes. Did you think I’d be so stingy over a bit of money that I’d crawl and let myself be blackmailed?”

“Ha…”

Hyunjae closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He felt dizzy. Inside his closed eyelids, flashes of light flickered. This wasn’t it—this wasn’t the situation he had wanted. All Hyunjae had wanted was for Nanyeong to be honest with him first. But Nanyeong was acting as if there had never been anything meaningful between them.

This was worse than being strangers. Nanyeong’s cold and dismissive attitude, which veered further and further in the wrong direction, only made Hyunjae more miserable. With each exchange, it felt as if he was being forced to confirm that his existence mattered less to Nanyeong than the watch now lying at their feet.

As Hyunjae stared silently at him, Nanyeong nonchalantly brushed off his gaze and spoke.

“So, why are you even angry? You don’t have a reason to be upset.”

In a soft voice once again, Nanyeong came closer. With his eyes still closed, Hyunjae thought to himself.

The reason I’m hurt is because I feel betrayed by your attitude. And that’s foolish of me because, until yesterday, I stupidly hoped for a future where we shared equal love.

But if I were to confess that I’m heartbroken because that hope has been unilaterally shattered, Nanyeong would probably just laugh at me.

So he couldn’t say anything at all.

“Hyunjae, don’t be mad, okay?”

“…”

“What can I do to make it up to you?”

Nanyeong’s voice was gentle, his demeanor returning to its usual approachable tone, but it felt insincere. Did he really feel nothing?

Hyunjae opened his eyes. Nanyeong, who had drawn close, was scanning his eyes closely. As if searching for something, those dark irises darted across Hyunjae’s face before Nanyeong leaned in to kiss him.

Hyunjae, his lips trembling, parted them to accept the kiss. As Nanyeong’s hands roamed his chest and body, Hyunjae felt a sudden heat around his eyes.

He hated Nanyeong, who seemed content as long as they could have sex, no matter the situation. He hated even more that he couldn’t help but comply with him.

Fighting back tears, Hyunjae took in Nanyeong’s tongue instead of his own heated breath, knowing that crying at this moment would be the end of everything.

Suddenly, Nanyeong’s hand darted into Hyunjae’s pocket and pulled out his phone. The battered phone, with a cracked screen and a discolored case, was in Nanyeong’s hand.

It took Hyunjae a moment to realize what had happened. Dumbfounded, he stepped back slightly from Nanyeong.

“Why… my phone…?”

Nanyeong, as if the kiss had never happened, had already shifted his focus to the phone in his hand. It was as if that had been his goal all along.

“Were you recording me?”

At those words, Hyunjae felt like he’d been hit with a blunt object.

Calling him a cherished younger brother, pretending not to understand his pointed question about sleeping with him—it had all been because he doubted him.

How many times had this man gone through something like this?

Was I just another passing extra in his life?

A lowly fraudster trying to catch him off guard and blackmail him?

“…Sorry. I misunderstood. Here, I’ll give it back.”

Nanyeong casually apologized as he slipped the old phone back into Hyunjae’s pocket.

Then, he leaned in for another kiss, his hands sliding under Hyunjae’s T-shirt. Hyunjae’s hands trembled as he finally couldn’t hold back his tears. Before his distorted expression could betray him, he shoved Nanyeong away and ran.

Just as he was about to leave, Nanyeong called out to him from the entryway.

“Hyunjae.”

“…”

“Take the watch.”

Nanyeong pointed at the watch lying on the floor. Hyunjae bit his lip hard.

To be treated so miserably the moment he realized his love and discovered who the other person really was… he was still too young and naive to handle such things with a composed face.

Ꮺ

Hyunjae thought he never wanted to see Nanyeong again. He didn’t know what kind of face he should show or what he could even say.

Above all, he didn’t want to keep getting hurt by Nanyeong’s responses, which always surpassed his expectations. He still yearned for the softness of Nanyeong’s lips, the warmth of his body, his scent, and his voice. But outside the bed, Nanyeong scared him.

Maybe that was why he hid his true self, Hyunjae thought bitterly.

He suddenly recalled Nanyeong’s words about focusing on just the two of them when they were together. How many people must have tried to exploit him after learning about his background? It felt like he could vaguely understand why Nanyeong might have gone through such things repeatedly.

But while Hyunjae could empathize with Nanyeong’s circumstances and feel pain on his behalf, he wasn’t sure if Nanyeong ever thought about his feelings in return.

After that, Hyunjae received a few calls and messages from Nanyeong. Even a simple “[I miss you]” stirred emotions he hadn’t realized were there. But he thought he wasn’t ready to face him yet and kept postponing a response, telling himself he could only see him once his hurt had subsided.

Then, one day, a message arrived from Nanyeong.

[I’ll pick you up today. Your shift ends at 4, right?]

Hyunjae sighed. Knowing that he wouldn’t come even if called, Nanyeong had decided to come to him instead.

As expected, when Hyunjae stepped out of the convenience store after his shift, he saw the familiar black car waiting with its hazard lights blinking.

Standing still, he glared at the car, finding it ridiculous to think of running away. The darkly tinted window slid down, revealing Nanyeong’s face.

“Hi.”

Unlike usual, Nanyeong was seated in the back seat. It seemed he had a chauffeur today.

Hyunjae sighed, staring into the distance. For some reason, Nanyeong wasn’t as good at driving as he had thought. In retrospect, the effort Nanyeong had made to drive himself every time he came to see Hyunjae seemed almost endearing. But now, it looked like he had given up even pretending to make that effort.

Hyunjae got into the car. Throughout the ride, Nanyeong silently observed Hyunjae’s profile, his gaze intense enough to burn. Hyunjae turned his head in the opposite direction to avoid it.

Nanyeong, after hesitating for the right moment to speak, eventually looked away.

The car didn’t take them to Nanyeong’s usual apartment. Instead, they arrived at one of the towering buildings in the heart of the city. The car slid into the parking lot, and Nanyeong, familiar with the place, stepped into the elevator, waiting for Hyunjae to follow. His eyes urged him to come, leaving Hyunjae no choice but to comply.

There were no floor buttons in the elevator, suggesting it went directly to a designated floor. Looking out at the changing cityscape, Hyunjae wished this time would just vanish. He hoped that by the time he opened his eyes, he’d already be lying in bed tonight, far away from all this.

When the elevator doors opened, Nanyeong gestured for Hyunjae to step out first. Bright natural light poured onto the pristine marble hallway, free of even a single footprint.

Hyunjae glanced around the space, which looked like Nanyeong’s workspace.

Every line and decorative curve of the interior was clean and precise. The enormous, immaculate space, devoid of any signs of daily life, overwhelmed Hyunjae. Even his sneakers on the floor felt out of place.

“This way. Want something to drink?”

After dismissing everyone else, Nanyeong locked the door. Then, he gestured for Hyunjae to sit on the wide black leather sofa.

Hyunjae shook his head.

“Just get to the point.”

“…”

“If you brought me here to show off your company, I’ve seen enough.”