ETP Ch 24
by soapaUnaware of how Hwang Yoohyun was looking at him, Seongyeon was just embarrassed.
Other people might see him as a 20-year-old, but he knew, didn’t he?
That he was 33.
Being sulky with someone ten years younger than him seemed petty. Not just a little, but a lot.
Ahem, Seongyeon cleared his throat and reflected on his behavior.
Moreover, he was currently living in Bokseung’s body. He couldn’t leave the impression of being such a petty child.
“Um, Sunbae. After thinking about it, I wasn’t really sulking. I think I was just too busy to reply.”
Hwang Yoohyun couldn’t help but laugh at the blatant excuse.
“Pfft!”
Now, without even bothering to cover his mouth, Yoohyun began to laugh heartily.
Bokseung’s face flushed at the scent of pheromones that spread along with his laughter.
Handsome people really have it easy in this world.
Just by laughing like that, he made you feel like you should do anything for him, like anything was possible.
Still, he was glad things seemed to have ended well.
He should put an end to this issue now. If he argued further, he would surely lose.
Even now, hadn’t he become the petty, sulky one? He hadn’t even figured out why Yoohyun had pretended not to know him.
Seongyeon pouted and looked at Hwang Yoohyun, who was still smiling.
“Stop laughing.”
At these words, Yoohyun’s expression immediately turned serious. As expected, the expressionless Hwang Yoohyun was a little intimidating.
Seongyeon drained the rest of his drink and stood up, a silent signal that he wanted to go home.
Yoohyun, looking at the round face still flushed, also got up.
“Let’s go.”
He had clearly moved first, but when he reached the door, Hwang Yoohyun was already ahead of him.
Annoyed again, Seongyeon compared their leg lengths.
Just like before, Bokseung’s legs were much shorter. If he’d known, he would have made Bokseung drink more milk instead of cola. Seongyeon bowed his head to Yoohyun, filled with belated regret.
“Thanks for the tea. I’ll reply to your messages properly next time. Goodbye!”
As he turned around, his right shoulder was grabbed.
“….?”
“I’ll take you home.”
Yoohyun pointed to his car parked in the alley.
“The buses are still running, and it’s a quick ride.”
“It’s faster by car.”
He couldn’t argue with that. Moreover, at this hour, he’d have to take an express bus, so getting a ride from Yoohyun would save him expensive transportation costs.
Not bad.
Seongyeon quickly nodded.
Staring at Bokseung’s reaction, Yoohyun chuckled.
“Happy to save on bus fare, huh?”
What’s with this guy? How does he guess everything so accurately? Seongyeon rolled his eyes, avoiding Yoohyun’s gaze.
He didn’t even consider that it simply meant he was easy to read.
🍑‧₊ ⋆˙
“Bokseung, heading straight home?”
Hyungseop spoke to Bokseung as he left the PC bang at midnight, the end of his shift.
The small boy, wearing a cute ivory hoodie, shyly nodded.
“Yes. I have to go straight home.”
Hyungseop patted the boy’s shoulder. It was admirable how bravely he was living his life despite going through so much.
“Right, go straight home, it’s dangerous. By the way, I deposited your pay earlier since it’s payday. Did you check?”
“Really? Hold on!”
He hadn’t checked his phone since his last message exchange with Yoohyun earlier in the evening. Seongyeon quickly opened the notification.
[Deposit: Bank Transfer Kim Hyungseop 1,600,000 won]
His precious wages had arrived in his account.
His balance was now 1,687,480 won. It felt like he could finally breathe again.
“Yes, it’s in. Thank you, boss!”
“Ahem! Don’t mention it. I’m more grateful to you, Bokseung, for working so diligently. Be careful going home!”
“Yes, see you!”
Seongyeon smiled brightly at the shy Hyungseop and turned around. It was obvious that Hyungseop had added a little extra.
That guy was all about loyalty.
“Hum hum! Heh heh hum, hum hum hum!”
Seongyeon hummed an unknown tune as he climbed the stairs. He had over 1.6 million won in his account! He wouldn’t have to tremble at the thought of paying for lunch for a while.
It was a simple happiness in others’ eyes, but Seongyeon was genuinely happy.
He was no longer the person who had grumbled incessantly about not wanting to work part-time.
As expected, money brought happiness.
On the last bus home, Seongyeon’s eyes remained glued to the seven-digit number. It was the first paycheck Lee Seongyeon had earned in Kim Bokseung’s body.
Seongyeon decided to get Hyungseop a small gift to commemorate his first paycheck. From Hyungseop’s perspective, it would technically be him paying for his own gift, but it was the thought that counted.
Hyungseop was the only adult looking out for Bokseung right now. So he had to treat him well.
And he should buy the beagle trio some dessert too.
Thanks to them taking turns buying him coffee after lunch, Seongyeon always had delicious coffee. He felt he should buy them each a Starbucks frappuccino, even if it wasn’t expensive, as a gesture of appreciation for their subtle consideration for Bokseung.
Lastly.
He also had to treat Sunbae Hwang Yoohyun to a meal.
Every time they met, he had been on the receiving end of Yoohyun’s generosity. On top of that, Yoohyun always drove him home, saving him on transportation costs.
“Hmm.”
He had received a lot of help. Seongyeon nodded as he pictured the handsome alpha sunbae’s face.
🍑‧₊ ⋆˙
[One Punch: Sunbae, I got my first paycheck! ^^ This time, I’ll really treat you, so how about a delicious meal?]
Hwang Yoohyun was dumbfounded by the message from Bokseung, which arrived after midnight. Yuja, sleeping next to him, let out a small disgruntled meow at the vibration before closing his eyes again.
Stroking the kitten’s soft fur, Yoohyun carefully reread the message.
Anyone would think he’d been waiting for Bokseung’s payday just to get a free meal.
Muttering to himself, he quickly typed a reply.
[Okay]
[One Punch: Great! I don’t have work tomorrow, so how about tomorrow evening?]
[Okay]
[One Punch: Then I’ll see you at 7 tomorrow!]
[Okay I’ll pick you up]
[One Punch: Oh, thank you Sunbae! ^_^!]
[Okay]
“Hmm.”
A satisfactory conclusion.
The next day, the day of Bokseung and Yoohyun’s dinner date, Yoo Sunjung, having nothing to do, naturally went to Hwang Yoohyun’s house.
And as soon as he entered, he witnessed a strange scene. His childhood friend Yoohyun was choosing clothes in his dressing room!
Clutching his pounding heart in surprise, Sunjung walked towards the dressing room.
“What are you doing?”
Even at Sunjung’s shocked question, Yoohyun didn’t answer. He just silently continued choosing clothes.
Sunjung, picking up Yuja, who was rubbing against his leg and mewing, asked again.
“Hey, I asked what you’re doing?”
“Can’t you see? Are you blind?”
Yoohyun stroked Yuja’s chin before answering, his gaze full of disdain.
Yoo Sunjung, suddenly treated as if he were blind, bristled.
But a few seconds later…
“Ahhhh!!”
As if he realized something, Sunjung yelled and slapped Yoohyun’s shoulder.
Yoohyun’s eyebrows crumpled at the impact of his large, bear-like hand. This bastard, had no sense of restraint.
However, Yoohyun’s feelings were not Sunjung’s concern right now. It was more important to confirm whether the person who had just popped into his mind was indeed Yoohyun’s date.
“Holy shit, you’re meeting Kim Bokseung, aren’t you?”
Flinch.
Yoohyun paused at the mention of the boy’s name, and Sunjung, witnessing this, burst into laughter.
“Wow, this is fucking hilarious! Should I help you pick out your clothes?”
“No. Get out.”
“No way, I don’t wanna! I wanna see what Hwang Yoohyun’s gonna wear!”
Yoohyun raised his foot towards the teasing Sunjung. A sudden impact on his thigh elicited a yelp of “Ouch!” from Sunjung.
Despite this, he didn’t budge from the dressing room; teasing Yoohyun seemed to be incredibly entertaining.
Yuja, nestled in Sunjung’s arms, meowed, joining in the commotion.
In the end, Yoohyun had to choose his clothes with Sunjung and Yuja’s nagging as background music.
Usually indifferent to fashion, he tended to buy whatever his personal shopper recommended. Naturally, choosing clothes based on his own preference felt quite awkward.
Sunjung, on the other hand, spared no effort in traveling abroad regularly for new clothes.
“That one’s better. Wear that, yeah! The one you’re holding on the right.”
Yoohyun changed into a neat knit shirt as Sunjung suggested. Beside him, Sunjung admired Yoohyun’s well-built upper body, letting out continuous “Oohs” of admiration.
“Shut up.”
“Hmph.”
At the childish whine, unbefitting his size, Yoohyun glared at Sunjung.
Sunjung, seeing this, laughed again and headed to the living room with Yuja.
“Yuja, your older brother’s going on a date today!”
He didn’t forget to tease Hwang Yoohyun until the very end.