IPSTDS Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Two days later, Nahyuk was discharged from the hospital for the second time. He looked up at the blue sky. The sky was clear without a single cloud, and the sunlight was warmer than ever.

Yet, a sigh slipped out.

‘What am I supposed to do about the deal I impulsively proposed to Kangil?’

Boasting about being the great Yoon Noah now felt a bit regrettable.

Still, he had no intention of taking back the offer he made to Kangil.

After being dragged around by Lee Kangil all this time, he finally had a chance to take the lead. If he missed this opportunity, he’d just end up being pushed around by Kangil again.

And honestly, teaming up with Kangil to knock Seo Dowoong down a peg didn’t sound too bad either.

All or nothing. A man’s word is his bond. One way or another, he’d see it through. Nahyuk firmed his resolve.

“But first, I should go home and rest.”

He stood idly in front of the hospital for a few minutes before a sleek black sedan stopped in front of him.

He thought it might be the chauffeur or Chief Song he’d contacted during the discharge process, but the car was unfamiliar.

Then the window rolled down, revealing a pale face.

“I’ll give you a ride.”

It was Lee Kangil—the same man who always went on about being too busy.

Despite his usual claims of a packed schedule, he had visited Nahyuk’s hospital room frequently, throwing out all kinds of frivolous questions.

‘Wildcat, Seo Dowoong hasn’t contacted you again?’

‘Are you still in touch with Kim Daon?’

‘Don’t I look ridiculously hot today?’

Those kinds of questions. Nahyuk had answered them all without complaint.

The hospital room, barren of other visitors, had felt desolate.

But Kangil’s frequent, almost predictable visits had made the loneliness bearable. Sometimes, Nahyuk even found himself waiting to see when Kangil would show up.

And during his stay, Kangil hadn’t picked any fights, which made their conversations all the more enjoyable.

Now it seemed Kangil was even offering to play chauffeur.

“Not busy today either?”

“Not busy? I’m always insanely busy. But we’re partners, aren’t we? This much courtesy is the least I can show.”

“…Oh.”

“Not getting in?”

“…I’ll get in.”

Without any good excuse to refuse, Nahyuk climbed into the car.

Then he messaged Chief Song, who was probably on his way to the hospital, apologizing and saying he’d be going home in a friend’s car instead.

Chief Song responded with confusion.

‘A friend, sir?’

As if he were talking to someone with no friends at all.

…Yoon Noah. Even the part about not having real friends is just like me.

Nahyuk told him he’d made a new friend recently and hung up. Just then, Kangil’s voice drifted over as he lazily drove with one hand.

“Friendless Mr. Yoon Noah. I think I’ve given you enough time to sort out your thoughts, so I’m asking now. What’s your plan for screwing over Seo Dowoong? Don’t tell me you blurted it out without thinking?”

Sorry, Kangil. I really did blurt it out without a plan.

Unable to admit the truth, Nahyuk gave a passable answer.

“First, let me ask how far you want to take this. Do you want Dowoong totally destroyed? Like, kicked out of the company?”

“No. We’re not mortal enemies or anything.”

“Then?”

“You said you’d make him kneel, right? That’s good enough for me.”

Making Seo Dowoong kneel could be just as difficult as getting him kicked out of the company. His pride was that strong.

He had been born better than anyone and lacked for nothing. His past was spotless, and his future seemed just as perfect.

Any blemish in his life, he turned into a win with his luck and skill.

At least, that’s how he was in the novel Nahyuk had read.

That’s why he had claimed the role of the main Gong.

“You’re not planning to seduce him and toy with his heart, are you?”

“Me, seduce him?”

That was ridiculous. Nahyuk had no intention of seducing Seo Dowoong.

Besides not knowing how, he was sure it would only make things worse.

“Well, he did seem to be warming up to you recently. Though after the Kim Daon incident, it looks like he’s back to hating you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to seduce him. And I told you, I don’t like Dowoong anymore.”

“Then what can you actually do? Your own family treats you like a disgrace. It’s not like you have any exceptional personal abilities…”

The light turned red. As the car stopped, Kangil leaned his face against the steering wheel and turned to look directly at him.

His stare felt like it could burn through his cheek.

“Well, at least your face is decent.”

It’s a good face for seduction. Kangil muttered that as he restarted the car.

Nahyuk finally looked over at Kangil’s face as he faced the road.

‘Feels like he’s testing me.’

In the novel, Lee Kangil didn’t appear often, but whenever he did, he never revealed his true feelings. Sometimes, he twisted his words like a snake.

Didn’t he record Kangil’s conversations once for that reason?

Kangil rarely spoke his mind, but he loved reading others.

This time was no different.

Kangil clearly wanted to know if Nahyuk had a real plan. And sadly, he probably didn’t expect the infamous “Yoon Noah” to be particularly strategic.

In that case…

Thinking quickly, Nahyuk folded his arms.

Then he tilted his chin slightly, exuding an air of arrogance—just like the real Yoon Noah would.

“Kangil. If you’re not sure about me, it’s fine to quit now.”

“…”

“But if you’re the one backing out, you still have to give me the drug like you promised.”

Kangil must have wanted to see how committed he was.

After all, this was the same Yoon Noah who had spent years obsessing over Seo Dowoong, craving even the tiniest scrap of attention from him.

And now, out of nowhere, he claimed to hate him and wanted to make him kneel…

Anyone would be suspicious of such a sudden change.

But it was real. That’s why Nahyuk could say it so matter-of-factly.

“Whether you back out or not, I’m going to make Dowoong apologize to me.”

He had said enough. Kangil would know now how serious he was.

As if weighing Nahyuk’s resolve, Kangil drove in silence for a while.

The hospital wasn’t far from home, so they soon pulled into the driveway.

With flawless precision, Kangil parked the car and casually got out.

Nahyuk unbuckled and was about to get out from the passenger side when the door suddenly swung open.

Kangil looked straight at him.

“Shall we go in, young master?”

Nahyuk ignored the teasing tone and got out.

“Wanna come in too?”

Kangil leaned slightly against the car, hesitated, then nodded.

“Just for a cup of tea. I’ve got time for that.”

“So, what’s your answer? Isn’t it time you told me?”

“My answer?”

Kangil tilted the corner of his lips and took a step forward.

Closing the distance between them, he grabbed Nahyuk’s hand.

“I wanted to see how serious you were.”

So I was right. Nahyuk smiled in satisfaction.

This was proof that what Kangil wanted to know was how firmly he was resolved.

“Do you know now?”

Kangil tightened his grip on Nahyuk’s hand.

“I think we’ll make great partners.”

A perfect pass.

---

Sitting in the well-kept garden and sipping the tea brought by a servant, it felt as if all the negative experiences of late were fading from memory.

Even the bad emotions seemed to be dissolving.

This was why he couldn’t help but love this garden.

But the comfort was short-lived. What began to bother him a little was Lee Kangil, who—despite always claiming to be pressed for time—was now sitting leisurely across from him, enjoying himself.

Since he had managed to gain a degree of Kangil’s trust, he really did need to come up with a concrete plan.

First, let’s organize things.

It would soon be revealed that the person who orchestrated Kim Daon’s accident was Park Sangcheol.

After all, this was a world inside a novel. There was no way the culprit who targeted the protagonist would remain unknown.

When that happened, the misunderstanding with Seo Dowoong would be cleared up.

The real problem was how to make Seo Dowoong kneel.

“Wildcat, you’ve got an ugly wrinkle forming between your brows.”

He must’ve furrowed his brow from all the headache-inducing thoughts. Nahyuk pressed a fingertip to his forehead, trying to smooth it out.

Just then, his phone began to vibrate.

He wondered if it was Daon, but the screen showed an unregistered number.

‘Who is it?’

He hesitated over whether to pick it up, but the call ended on its own.

Out of habit, he checked the call log and saw that the same number had called once before. Judging by the time, it must’ve been while he was asleep and missed it.

Who could it be?

Then, the phone vibrated again. The same unknown number.

This time, Nahyuk answered. A call that came three times was unlikely to be a mistake.