WANL Ch 9

In the end, things went as Nanyeong had predicted. It was Hyunjae who reached out first.

“Hyung, I have something to talk about. Let’s meet.”

Even with the sudden contact, Nanyeong wasn’t particularly surprised. He simply and calmly arranged the schedule.

― Sure. Should we talk at the studio?

In his voice, there was a sense of ease and confidence, as if everything was proceeding according to his plan.

But the reason Hyunjae had called wasn’t solely about money, as Nanyeong might have assumed.

Hyunjae wanted to stay connected to Nanyeong. To do so, he had no choice but to adapt to the way Nanyeong wanted things.

― The day after tomorrow, at 8.

“Alright.”

The call, focused solely on the purpose, was so brief that it felt almost hollow. After hanging up, Hyunjae let out a deep sigh.

‘Maybe I’m just overthinking it because I’m too young.’

That was the conclusion he reached. When people like Nanyeong and Seongwoo, older than him, all said there was no reason to refuse money, it seemed they might be right. With that thought, he tried to suppress the feelings of what seemed like his first real love.

However, his emotions frequently surged, threatening to burst from his chest. Hyunjae knew those feelings weren’t purely love. After all, it was Nanyeong who had approached him first, acted as though he liked him, and made it impossible not to fall for him. The feelings of betrayal gnawed at Hyunjae constantly.

On the appointed day, Hyunjae arrived early at the studio and waited for Nanyeong. As he entered, using the unchanged door code, the faint smell of dust suggested that no one had visited in the meantime.

Hyunjae sat on the bed where he had once shared intimacy with Nanyeong, waiting for him.

Before long, Nanyeong arrived. Opening the door and stepping inside, the first thing he did was scrutinize Hyunjae from head to toe with sharp eyes. His demeanor was entirely different from when he came with the intent of having sex. Perhaps this was how he acted during negotiations.

Watching Nanyeong behave as if he might leave the moment he didn’t hear the answer he wanted, Hyunjae felt a pang of sadness.

“I… I was wondering how much you’re willing to give me. I’d like that to be clear.”

Hyunjae spoke, carefully suppressing the humiliation he felt and forcing calm into his voice.

At Hyunjae’s words, a smile tugged at the corner of Nanyeong’s lips.

“Of course, it should be clear. You decide how much you want. I’m not the kind of person to be stingy.”

“……”

“But you’re not the type to calculate these things, are you?”

“……”

“I find myself wanting to give more to people who aren’t good at counting.”

Dropping onto the sofa, Nanyeong loosened his tie. There was still a sharp glint in his eyes. Every time Nanyeong acted like this, Hyunjae felt his insides churn. The way Nanyeong stared directly at him, arms crossed, with a face so beautiful, only deepened his resentment.

If he was guilty of anything, it was simply that he found Nanyeong a little lovable.

And that he wanted to deepen their relationship.

It had all been mere fantasies. He hadn’t even confessed or recklessly demanded anything. Yet, for the crime of letting feelings slip into a physical relationship, Nanyeong feigned drawing boundaries, ruthlessly digging into the tender emotions that had only just begun to bloom.

Nanyeong, who coldly rejected any feelings Hyunjae wanted to offer and ruthlessly exposed the realities Hyunjae wished to keep hidden, was infuriating. He was so angry that he wanted to tear Nanyeong’s clothes apart and pin him down again.

Hyunjae suppressed the emotions burning within him and lowered his gaze.

“My mother’s medical expenses.”

“And?”

“My living expenses…”

“And?”

“I don’t know.”

Hyunjae bowed his head. The term “someone who schemes,” which Nanyeong had used earlier, weighed heavily on him. He didn’t intend to be seen that way, and the thought of it was unbearable.

“Hyunjae, come here.”

Nanyeong spoke softly. Step by step, Hyunjae approached him.

“You’re more modest than I expected.”

When Hyunjae stood within arm’s reach, Nanyeong extended his hand and gestured. Unsure of what he wanted, Hyunjae leaned forward slightly. Nanyeong’s hand touched his thigh, giving it a gentle tug.

“Can I tell you what I want?”

“…”

“I’d like you to kiss me.”

At those words, Hyunjae hooked his fingers into the collar of Nanyeong’s shirt, pulled it open, and placed a light kiss on his neck. The neck was one of the sensitive spots Hyunjae had discovered on him. As Hyunjae observed him, Nanyeong tilted his neck slightly, letting out a soft moan.

Watching him with lowered eyes, Hyunjae felt a wave of sadness as he kissed Nanyeong’s neck with dry lips. In the end, if he wanted to stay by Nanyeong’s side, he had to follow Nanyeong’s way.

“My mother’s medical expenses, your living expenses. And? Ask for a bit more… ah…”

“…You just said you don’t like scheming…”

“I’ve thought about it. Even if you scheme, I think it’s cute.”

Instead of answering, Hyunjae brought his tongue to Nanyeong’s ear. Nanyeong’s body relaxed against the sofa.

“Were you afraid I’d call everything off and regret it?”

Hyunjae quietly nodded. Deep down, he feared that if he removed money from the equation and pushed his feelings, Nanyeong would sever all ties with him. That fear had kept him in check.

“I thought so.”

Nanyeong’s eyes curved with satisfaction, as if convinced that Hyunjae was just as materialistic as him.

Hyunjae wondered if his current emotions were invisible to Nanyeong. Did the weight of reality, which made his expression brittle, dilute the affection that came from his heart? While he lamented that Nanyeong couldn’t recognize his love, Hyunjae also felt a bittersweet relief.

“Mm… go lower.”

Following Nanyeong’s words, Hyunjae moved his lips down to the prominent areas of his neck and collarbone. Nanyeong tilted his head back slowly, revealing more of his slender, pale neck. Supporting Nanyeong’s waist with his arms, Hyunjae lowered his head further. This was because Nanyeong gently pressed on the back of his head, urging him down.

Realizing what Nanyeong wanted, Hyunjae hesitated momentarily before placing a kiss on his slender stomach. When he looked up, Nanyeong spoke.

“There’s more. I want you to move into the studio.”

“You mean… live here?”

“Yes, should I put it under your name?”

Nanyeong gently pressed his palm again. With his head pushed down, Hyunjae unbuckled his belt and pulled down his pants. By the time his lips brushed against Nanyeong’s underwear, Nanyeong was leaning back against the sofa, breathing heavily.

Watching Nanyeong’s reaction, Hyunjae slowly brushed his lips against the fabric of his underwear. Even the warmth of his breath seemed to make Nanyeong tense up, his thighs trembling slightly.

“You asked for living expenses, ah… I’ll give you as much as you want. More than your hourly wage. Ha…!”

Hyunjae finally took him into his mouth. In an instant, Nanyeong covered his own mouth with his hand, suppressing a short moan, all while looking down at Hyunjae.

There was no need to delay any further. It was clear what Nanyeong wanted.

Although Nanyeong couldn’t see the emotions swirling inside Hyunjae, the reverse wasn’t true. Hyunjae could now see into Nanyeong’s gaze, wanting to understand his true feelings. Perhaps the only genuine thing Nanyeong had ever said was that he liked Hyunjae’s face. Occasionally, when Hyunjae quietly glanced up at him, Nanyeong’s eyes reddened slightly.

“Quit all your work… everything. Huh…”

At Nanyeong’s command, Hyunjae deeply swallowed him, lowering his gaze.

“Mm, huuh… yeah.”

As Nanyeong twisted his waist, his hands gripped the sofa’s fabric tightly. Hyunjae wrapped one arm firmly around Nanyeong’s waist, preventing him from moving away. His thick tongue deliberately licked the sensitive tip, making wet noises intentionally. As he stroked the length with his hand, stimulating the sensitive spots, Nanyeong bit his lip.

Every time Hyunjae looked up mid-action, their eyes met. Nanyeong couldn’t take his eyes off Hyunjae’s face.

“Ugh, with that expression…”

Stimulated at the front, Nanyeong reached his climax faster than he expected. As Nanyeong’s upper body weakened and started to falter, Hyunjae held him firmly, preventing him from collapsing. With eyes glaring upward, Hyunjae focused on calculating the moment of Nanyeong’s release.

“…!”

Nanyeong’s neck arched silently. When he grabbed Hyunjae’s hair tightly, Hyunjae gripped his hips firmly and swallowed him deeply, taking him entirely into his throat. Even while receiving the oral stimulation, Nanyeong couldn’t steady himself, feeling as if he were being consumed.

“Haah, haah…”

Before the utterly drained Nanyeong, Hyunjae calmly swallowed the remnants left in his mouth. Panting, Nanyeong looked at him with a peculiar gaze, particularly focused on the visible movement of his throat as he swallowed.

“Come closer.”

Hyunjae approached on his knees. As he adjusted Nanyeong’s disheveled clothes, Nanyeong, seemingly satisfied, smiled and patted Hyunjae’s head.

“From now on, you won’t need to go this far. I’ll give you whatever you need.”

“…”

Go this far? Despite intentionally pressing his head down earlier.

But Hyunjae didn’t retort, silently listening to Nanyeong.

“Don’t think of it as a transaction. Forget about me being too harsh. Everyone has those kinds of days. The little disagreements we had… it just wasn’t a good day to talk.”

Hyunjae knew that Nanyeong was speaking convenient truths to suit himself. Pretending to console the feelings he had crushed, he was merely creating an escape route for himself.

Was he pleased with having someone underfoot, or perhaps satisfied with the service provided?

“…Yes.”

“I genuinely want to help you. Okay?”

As he spoke, Nanyeong gently caressed Hyunjae’s chest as if soothing him. It seemed he now thought there was no need to provoke Hyunjae excessively. Or maybe he simply didn’t feel it necessary to pay much attention to the devotion of a younger man clashing and running at him, resorting instead to vague kind words.

Hyunjae thought it didn’t matter anymore.

“…Are you staying over?”

Hyunjae asked. Generously, Nanyeong responded with a simple “Yes.”

“You know, I missed you so much while we couldn’t meet.”

Nanyeong gently stroked the back of Hyunjae’s neck.

“I mean it.”

He must mean he missed the sex. Interpreting it that way, Hyunjae slowly undressed him. Nanyeong silently smiled as he watched Hyunjae kiss his body.

His ability to mask his true intentions with well-phrased words and still get what he wanted was terrifying.

Who could possibly say to such a cunning man, “All I wanted was to lie beside you tonight”?

Ꮺ

The long-awaited matter was set in motion as soon as the decision was made. Nanyeong promised to cover all the hospital expenses for Hyunjae’s mother’s cancer treatment as well as Hyunjae’s living expenses. Just as Seongwoo had said, the rewards were overwhelming for merely satisfying his desires.

The hospital Nanyeong recommended for Hyunjae’s mother was more like a luxury hotel than a medical facility. The clean, high-ceilinged rooms with sunlight streaming through large windows, along with a lobby featuring a waterfall and a small lake emitting soothing sounds, left an impression. The hexagonal ward structure with its open center looked futuristic to Hyunjae.

In this place, his mother changed into a clean patient gown and was hooked up to an IV. Lying on the most luxurious and comfortable bed she’d ever experienced in her life, she appeared entirely like a patient. The sight stirred Hyunjae’s emotions.

“By the way, that friend we saw earlier, his face was so pale and bright he seemed to glow. You have a friend like that?”

“He’s not a friend… just someone I know.”

“Really? Anyway, he’s such a kind person. Helping us like this… No matter how close you are, he’s your benefactor, so be polite and get along well.”

“…”

Hyunjae avoided answering and lowered his gaze at the uncomfortable topic with his mother.

What he did to Nanyeong last night was far from polite. If his mother, who firmly believed that despite not having a brother figure, she had raised her only son to be a decent person, knew what had happened — how Hyunjae had spent the night tangled with that tall, radiant man and sullied his body with his seed — what kind of face would she make? And if she learned that he was receiving money for it…

It was something Hyunjae would never, ever confess to his mother, even at the cost of his life. So he pressed his lips together tightly.

While he found it uncomfortable to even think about Nanyeong in front of his mother, the man himself showed up here without hesitation.

“Today’s the day to take your mother to the hospital, right? Let me come along. I’ll drive you.”

Even though last night had been rather intense and his body probably wasn’t in great shape, Nanyeong stubbornly got up. He winced in pain, saying his back hurt, but that was the extent of his complaints. He didn’t blame or scold Hyunjae for taking the lead with reckless positions.

From the moment they headed to the hospital with their pre-packed luggage, Nanyeong played the role of Hyunjae’s “older brother.” He politely greeted Hyunjae’s mother, not at all bothered by her frail and sickly appearance, and even helped her by supporting her with care.

Throughout, Hyunjae couldn’t help but keep looking at Nanyeong’s neck. He wore a black turtleneck that rose high to cover the marks Hyunjae had left, but his neck was so long that not everything was concealed. Though it was barely noticeable and cast in the shadow under his chin, to Hyunjae, who knew the marks’ exact location, they were vividly apparent beneath the fabric.

What really bothered him was how Nanyeong, dressed like that, lingered around his mother. On top of that, his husky voice, altered from last night’s cries, engaging in conversation with her, made Hyunjae uncomfortable. He wanted to send him away as soon as possible, but Nanyeong stayed through the entire process.

“Aren’t you quite free today? Not going to work or anything,” Hyunjae remarked.

Without answering, Nanyeong just folded his arms and smirked, his expression clearly showing disregard despite the smile.

Before leaving, Nanyeong shoved something into Hyunjae’s pocket. Startled, Hyunjae slipped his hand into his pocket and realized it was crisp, folded bills.

“It’s a hospital visit, so I should’ve brought a gift. Use this to buy some fruit or something.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine for me. I need to do right by your mother.”

“Who’s…!”

His provocation scraped at Hyunjae’s nerves.

But with his mother watching from behind, Hyunjae neither raised his voice nor had the guts to throw the bills back in his face. All he could do was clench the money tightly in his pocket.

Knowing how much Hyunjae disliked the idea of “transactions,” Nanyeong deliberately poked at that sensitivity. He lightly patted Hyunjae on the shoulder with his usual air of superiority before leaving leisurely.

“Make sure you thank him properly. Where else would you find such a kind person in this world?”

His mother’s voice suddenly brought Hyunjae out of his thoughts about Nanyeong. He didn’t want to think about those unpleasant memories anymore.

Hyunjae forced a smile for his mother, who clutched his hand tightly, seemingly overjoyed that she wouldn’t have to burden her son anymore. To her, Nanyeong was nothing short of an angel or savior. Of course, she kept repeating how lucky they were and how they must repay his kindness. Hyunjae didn’t have the courage to tell her the truth — that all of this was the result of being a plaything for that man.

Glancing at the clock, Hyunjae hesitated before speaking. It was almost time for his part-time job.

“Mom, I’ll get going now. Please rest well. If you need anything, just call me… Anytime. Even if it’s late at night.”

“I’m fine, don’t worry. I’ll be just fine. With the doctors here 24/7, there’s nothing to be concerned about. Go ahead.”

Still, he found it hard to leave. As Hyunjae lingered, the caregiver nearby spoke to him with a reassuring smile.

“You can leave her in my care and head out now.”

Hyunjae nodded absentmindedly.

Even the caregivers had been personally selected through interviews. Of course, this was another arrangement made by Nanyeong.

In the past, Hyunjae might have misunderstood this kindness from Nanyeong. He might have thought the man truly cared for him — that, even if it wasn’t love, there was a certain affection toward him that compelled Nanyeong to look after him like this…

But the moment he learned Nanyeong’s true nature, such assumptions lost all meaning. Nanyeong had an army of subordinates to take care of all his mundane needs. It wasn’t even him personally managing these things; it was all done by his lackeys.

“Go on now.”

Hyunjae’s mother waved her hands dismissively from her wheelchair, as if urging him to go.

“Alright, I’ll really go now.”

Even as Hyunjae said those words, he glanced back multiple times.

His mother’s recovery was now in the hands of fate. Perhaps because he knew the likelihood of returning to their small rented room together was slim, he found it hard to leave. Returning to the past, when it was just the two of them living quietly, now felt impossibly far away.

With great difficulty, Hyunjae pushed aside his lingering attachment and left the hospital.

As he stepped outside, a message popped up on the new phone Nanyeong had given him.

Now, Hyunjae had two phones: the old, second-hand one he had been using for years, and the sleek, latest model Nanyeong had given him recently. So far, the only contact saved in the new phone was Nanyeong’s.

A message lit up on the polished screen of the new device.

[Right, can I see you today?]

[You’re alone anyway.]

[Come to the apartment.]

For a moment, Hyunjae hesitated. He had a part-time job to get to later.

[I have work in the evening.]

But as he typed the reply, a thought crossed his mind: there was no way Nanyeong didn’t know about his schedule.

Throughout their relationship, Nanyeong had been mindful of Hyunjae’s commitments. After learning Hyunjae’s repetitive part-time job hours early on, he made a habit of scheduling their meetings outside those times. Surely, he hadn’t forgotten.

Yet, Hyunjae also remembered the times Nanyeong had suggested he quit working altogether.

[I know.]

Of course.

The reply was swift and unambiguous. Hyunjae could tell Nanyeong was pressing him for something.

It was as if, now that his mother’s hospital bills were covered, he was expected to immediately give his time in return. This moment was a clear example of what their future together might look like.

The smile faded from Hyunjae’s lips.

He did as Nanyeong wanted. Calling his boss, Hyunjae asked if he could switch his hours. His boss’s tone hardened. “Do you think this place is a playground? Coming and going as you please?” There was nothing Hyunjae could say except to apologize repeatedly.

That evening, Hyunjae went to the apartment as arranged. Seeing a particularly affectionate Nanyeong waiting for him helped him forget the harsh words from his boss.

From early evening, Nanyeong clung to Hyunjae, asking for kisses and hugs. Trying to dissuade him, Hyunjae gently held his wrists.

“We did this yesterday.”

“So what?”

“It’s hard on my body.”

“I don’t care.”

Even as he embraced this persistent and greedy man, Hyunjae thought that this was enough. He was happy just to hold him and kiss him again. He could forget about the transactional nature of their relationship as long as they could pretend to be lovers, even if only on the surface.

“Hyunjae, I meant what I said last time.”

While kissing, Nanyeong murmured softly.

“It’d be nice if you were always here waiting for me when I come over.”

“You mean moving in.”

“Yeah.”

Hyunjae thought about what his life would look like in the near future—quitting his job, spending all his time waiting in the apartment for Nanyeong. That didn’t feel like his life. The idea of abandoning himself to such a lifestyle frightened him a little.

Hyunjae looked at Nanyeong in silence. What would happen to him as he gradually changed himself to fit Nanyeong’s demands, only to be discarded in the end?

“You wouldn’t come every day, though.”

Hyunjae cautiously expressed his unease.

“I will. I’ll visit often.”

But it seemed that Nanyeong interpreted Hyunjae’s response as closer to agreement. Smiling with joy, he pressed a kiss to Hyunjae’s eyelid. The soft peck made a small, endearing sound.

“That tickles.”

“Do you not like kissing?”

“I don’t like it on my eyes.”

At Hyunjae’s slightly sulky response, Nanyeong laughed.

But deep down, Hyunjae already knew that he would eventually move in here. He would soon quit all his part-time jobs too—because that was what Nanyeong wanted.

In truth, Nanyeong had never forced anything. Hyunjae simply changed himself to fit what Nanyeong desired. Even if there hadn’t been some kind of contract between them, Hyunjae would have done anything Nanyeong wanted. He just didn’t know how to wisely handle these emotions.

This was how Hyunjae always acted, hoping to see the person he liked smile. He would do anything they wanted.

Since Nanyeong didn’t want romantic feelings, even hiding his unrequited love became part of that.

Ꮺ

Before moving into Nanyeong’s apartment, Hyunjae went back to his old home to pack up the essentials and household items. However, when he actually began sorting through his things, most of it turned out to be items he had no real reason to keep—other than the memories of his family attached to them.

“Is this your elementary school journal? You kept all of them. How cute.”

Squatting down to pull out a worn notebook from the bottom shelf of the bookcase, Nanyeong stretched, his spotless suit creasing slightly. Even indoors, he kept his shoes on, which annoyed Hyunjae enough to glare at him briefly.

Nanyeong carefully slipped the notebook out with just his index finger and turned to Hyunjae.

“You’re not taking this?”

“It’s not mine.”

“That can’t be. Your name is written on it…”

“My mom kept those. I don’t care if they’re thrown out.”

Understanding what Hyunjae meant, Nanyeong dusted his hands off and stood up.

“I’m curious, though.”

“Don’t read it.”

“It’s hard to imagine you as a kid,” Nanyeong said with amusement. It seemed that Hyunjae’s childhood journal was the first and only item in the house to genuinely catch his interest. Everything else received dismissive comments like, “It’d be better to buy new ones,” or he simply glanced at them indifferently with his arms crossed.

“Aren’t you taking any photo albums?”

Looking down at the box of belongings Hyunjae was packing for the apartment, Nanyeong asked casually. Hyunjae, however, focused on practical items like an alarm clock, leftover toothpaste and toothbrush, and his old, lagging laptop.

Still, with one hand in his pocket, Nanyeong pulled out the items Hyunjae had already packed and remarked, “You should buy new ones like these. Why bother taking them?”

With so many of Hyunjae’s belongings deemed unworthy of bringing to the apartment, there was hardly anything left for him to pack.

In the end, as Hyunjae neatly piled the household items into the box, he felt a faint sense of futility. All the things he and his mother had struggled to hold onto seemed completely worthless in someone else’s eyes.

There wasn’t even enough to justify renting a large moving vehicle. A car that Hyunjae once called “so outdated it’s embarrassing” was already waiting outside his home.

And so, Hyunjae moved into the apartment alone.

The severely lacking household essentials were gradually replaced with items Nanyeong bought for him. New appliances arrived at the apartment, and Hyunjae became the first to use them, even breaking the seals on the packaging. But it didn’t stop there. Nanyeong personally filled the closet with clothes he deemed suitable for Hyunjae—down to the brand of underwear, which he picked according to his own taste.

This left Hyunjae without the need to think about what to wear. He simply put on the cashmere sweaters, slim-fitting slacks, and shiny watch that fit perfectly on his wrist. He didn’t want to know how much any of it cost. Knowing would have scared him.

Since Nanyeong didn’t want him working, Hyunjae found himself with unprecedented free time and no idea how to spend it. Eventually, he began to find small things to do around the apartment.

He drank the tea Nanyeong had stocked in the pantry, listened to the records he had collected, and read the books and watched the movies he recommended. Bit by bit, Nanyeong seeped into every empty part of Hyunjae. Without even realizing it, Hyunjae began imitating the man he had once admired.

Someone who used to drink only tea bags was now holding a gaiwan, just like Nanyeong. Sitting in a recliner at night, turning on music, and staring blankly at the lights scattered along the Han River was also a habit he had picked up from him.

As he recreated Nanyeong’s routines in his own life, Hyunjae wondered if this would bring him even a little closer to the man he couldn’t quite figure out.

Ꮺ

“How short do you want your nails trimmed?”

When Hyunjae was lost in his own thoughts, the technician who had been filing his nails across from him asked,

“How short would you like your nails?”

“As short as possible, please.”

The technician skillfully ran the file over his nails without hesitation. Grooming his nails and receiving a nutrient treatment was the entirety of Hyunjae’s tasks for the day.

Three times a week, Hyunjae followed Nanyeong’s suggestion to visit a members-only gym at a hotel, building his physique while learning golf and swimming. With his excellent physical condition, Hyunjae quickly adapted to any sport, and his body was sculpted beautifully. Once a week, he also visited the spa and nail salon attached to the hotel for treatments. Since Nanyeong had pre-booked these sessions, Hyunjae had no reason to decline.

Initially, this world felt unfamiliar and overwhelming, but Hyunjae gradually grew used to it, moving through it with an empty mind. Observing others who devoted their time to self-care during the weekdays, he realized that, while unfamiliar to him, this lifestyle was normal for some people.

Thanks to these routines, the weight of reality and the dull shadow over Hyunjae’s face quickly disappeared.

Hyunjae’s appearance was gradually refined to perfection—exactly as Nanyeong desired. From head to toe, Hyunjae was meticulously crafted into an ideal image.

A perfect companion had been created.

Hyunjae looked at his nails, rounded and shortened bit by bit. His once-rough hands, calloused and marred by various labor, were now smooth and polished after many treatments.

“You always keep your nails so short. Most men do, but with your long nail beds, doesn’t it hurt?”

Instead of responding, Hyunjae merely smiled faintly. The reason he kept them short was one he couldn’t share—he didn’t want to scratch or hurt Nanyeong when his hands were on him.

It was a reason he could never explain to anyone else.

Sometimes, Nanyeong would kiss those neatly groomed fingertips or run his tongue over them as if they were precious. When Hyunjae’s hands had been rough, Nanyeong had never done such things. Bitterly, Hyunjae wondered if perhaps there were some advantages to his current situation. After all, someone like Nanyeong, with his refined tastes, seemed to worship visual perfection.

To feel even a semblance of being loved, Hyunjae found it better to comply with Nanyeong’s wishes. To satisfy him, Hyunjae willingly changed his habits, preferences, and even his identity.

“Take care on your way out.”

After the treatment, Hyunjae left for the hotel lobby, where he was greeted with a polite farewell.

Unlike the usual quiet atmosphere, the lobby was bustling with people that day.

While waiting for a taxi after requesting one at the concierge desk, Hyunjae noticed glances directed his way. Looking toward the source, he locked eyes with a foreigner carrying a suitcase. Taking this as an opportunity, the foreigner gathered his courage and approached Hyunjae.

“Excuse me…”

Sensing what was about to happen, Hyunjae raised a hand to politely refuse. But undeterred, the foreigner extended a pen and phone, asking for an autograph. It seemed they had mistaken him for a celebrity again.

Recently, while fewer people had approached him directly, the number of instances where he was mistaken for a celebrity had increased. Some would even secretly take pictures of him without permission.

“Sorry, I’m not a celebrity,” Hyunjae said apologetically.

Disappointed, the foreigner turned and walked away. Hyunjae, feeling slightly awkward, watched them leave until a staff member approached to inform him that his taxi had arrived. Quickly stretching his long legs, he hurried out of the hotel.

“The house feels too barren, so I got this.”

That evening, when Nanyeong returned home from work, he handed Hyunjae a small potted plant.

“I’ve never taken care of plants before,” Hyunjae said.

“Isn’t it just about watering them?”

Taking off his jacket, Nanyeong spoke nonchalantly, making it clear he had no experience caring for plants himself. Hyunjae immediately realized that watering the plant would fall to him. Although it was an added responsibility, Hyunjae appreciated the gift—it showed that Nanyeong had thought about him spending time alone in the house.

“I’ll do my best to take care of it,” he replied with a faint smile.

“Oh, right. I remembered something from earlier today,” Hyunjae said, suddenly recalling an event as he approached Nanyeong.

“When I went to the nail salon, a foreigner asked me to take a photo with them.”

“Really?”

Changing clothes, Nanyeong responded indifferently, his tone revealing little about whether he was interested.

“There have been a lot of people like that lately, asking for pictures…”