IPSTDS Chapter 43

Chapter 43

After driving for quite a while, the place Lee Kangil finally stopped at was in front of the ocean.

He parked cleanly and stepped out of the car. Then, like before, he opened the passenger door for Nahyuk.

“A sea…?”

Nahyuk was about to ask why the ocean, but the moment he stepped out and was hit with the view of the summer sea, he was at a loss for words.

The sea stretched out endlessly, bluer than ever today.

The horizon, where the sky and ocean met, extended without end. Gentle waves broke along it, scattering white foam.

As he took in a deep breath, the salty scent of the sea filled his nose. The sun beaming overhead wasn’t hot—it was warm.

Standing there after getting out of the car, Nahyuk simply admired the beautiful view.

It felt like all the worries he’d been carrying had vanished. Even the illness tormenting Yoon Noah’s body seemed to fade.

Nahyuk instinctively touched the area near his heart, trying to sense if any pain might return.

“Does it hurt?”

It was Kangil who had been quietly watching him.

Nahyuk shook his head.

“I’m just glad it doesn’t.”

“Then shall we take a walk?”

“Yeah.”

Kangil walked slightly ahead, like someone who’d been here before. Nahyuk stared at his broad back.

The stark black shirt, perfectly tailored black slacks, the jacket slung over his arm, and the sunglasses on his head didn’t match the tranquil sea at all.

That outfit seemed more suited to a bustling fishing dock than this peaceful beach.

At that moment, Kangil suddenly looked back, and Nahyuk flinched like someone caught thinking bad thoughts.

“Hey, you were thinking about me just now and got startled, weren’t you?”

“…Haha.”

Nahyuk decided to steer the conversation.

“Do you come to this beach often?”

“Yeah, I come a lot. I like water. What about you?”

Before he knew it, Kangil had slowed to match his pace.

“It’s not my first time, but it feels like it’s been ages.”

“Ah, must be nice for our little wildcat. Thanks to a handsome driver who’s good at driving, you get a seaside trip.”

“Aren’t you embarrassed saying stuff like that about yourself?”

“If I were, I’d have stopped ages ago.”

Forget it. Beating Kangil in a battle of words was hopeless.

Nahyuk simply smiled. The sun was warm—he’d let Kangil off the hook today.

Eventually, Kangil came to a stop. It was on a low wall by the breakwater.

Though he didn’t look like the type to ever sit down somewhere less than clean, he casually perched himself on the wall. Then he even laid his jacket down beside him.

“Sit.”

“Kangil, why are you being so nice today?”

“You’re always so suspicious. Even when I’m being nice, you talk too much.”

Nahyuk had no choice but to be cautious—he knew the Kangil from the novel all too well. But he’d decided not to doubt him so much anymore.

Over time, a bit of trust had built up alongside affection.

It wasn’t because of any grand turning point. It was simply that Kangil didn’t lie and looked at him with honesty. That alone was enough.

“I won’t doubt you anymore. And I won’t turn down your kindness either. Thanks.”

Nahyuk sat down on top of the jacket.

Since it was a weekday afternoon, hardly anyone was around. It was a calm, silent space where even noise seemed absent.

Nahyuk quietly enjoyed the crashing waves and the soft sea breeze ruffling his hair.

Was this the good thing he’d sensed coming earlier? A smile naturally appeared on his face.

That’s when Kangil’s voice came.

“The reason I like water is because I swam for a long time when I was a kid.”

“…Huh? You used to swim?”

Maybe that’s why Kangil’s shoulders were so broad—like the horizon itself.

Nahyuk quietly observed his strong, solid frame again.

“Yeah. You wouldn’t have known, since you never took any interest in me.”

“Well, I know now… But why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“A bit of a whim? Maybe a shift in how I feel? Or just something I could say because it’s today?”

“I don’t get it at all.”

“Keep listening, and you will.”

“Then I’ll listen.”

Kangil stared out somewhere along the horizon. His eyes were unfocused. It was a face that seemed to be recalling a distant past.

“As you probably guessed, ever since I was little—no, from the moment I was born—I was compared to Seo Dowoong. Our families were pretty close.”

“Yeah.”

“Seo Dowoong was absurdly good at everything. Academics, instruments, public speaking… there wasn’t a single thing I could beat him at. Honestly, I didn’t really care. So what if people called me second-best? What did it matter to me? As long as I was doing something that gave me dopamine, that was enough.”

Now that was a very Kangil-like, self-assured way of thinking.

“But my mom couldn’t stand it. She’s super competitive. She wanted me to beat Seo Dowoong at just one thing—perfectly. Back then, I was too young to disobey her, and after being brainwashed that I needed to beat him, I started wanting that too.”

“That must’ve been hard.”

“A bit. But then, I found one thing I was better at—swimming. So I focused on that. And since swimming was also a competitive sport, the dopamine rush was no joke. That thrill right before a race, when your heart’s pounding so hard it feels like it’ll burst out of your chest—that was addictive.”

“Shouldn’t you see a doctor for that? Sounds like dopamine addiction or something.”

“…Noah, don’t joke about that. That hurt a little. I’m actually a sensitive guy, you know.”

Sure you are.

Still, Nahyuk nodded like he understood. No point in picking a fight.

“Anyway, that’s why I swam for a long time.”

“Yeah.”

“But fate’s cruel. I got a serious injury. My shoulder went out—badly. I couldn’t perform the same after that. I think it was senior year of high school? I gave up swimming cleanly. If I couldn’t be number one, I didn’t want it at all.”

“Are you okay? You’re not too upset?”

“I was fine—better than I expected. But after that, I had to face the same tiresome reality again. That there’s no field where I can beat Seo Dowoong.”

“…”

“You asked me before, didn’t you? Why I feel inferior to him. That’s why.”

Ah—yes, he had asked that back at the Radenar Lounge, in a slightly confrontational tone.

He’d been curious why someone like Kangil, who seemed to lack nothing, was so sensitive whenever it came to Seo Dowoong.

“Maybe it’s because of my mother’s brainwashing, but anything related to Seo Dowoong still sets me off. Sometimes even I think I’m pathetic.”

Nahyuk regretted that day. If he’d known there was such a long, painful story behind it, he wouldn’t have brought it up like that.

“No, you’re not pathetic. And… I’m sorry. I really didn’t think before I spoke that time.”

“Wow, just when I thought I’d finally adjusted to the new, more docile Yoon Noah… now I’m getting heartfelt apologies too. Feels surreal.”

“Should I take it back, then?”

“There it is. That’s more like the Yoon Noah I know.”

Nahyuk had never consciously tried to imitate the original Yoon Noah. Maybe he’d simply adapted so fully to this body that the two were beginning to blend together.

“But you know… I don’t tell my past to just anyone. You’re special—you got to hear it.”

It sounded like he wanted something in return.

“What is it you want?”

“Well… today happens to be another one of those cursed days where I get entangled with Seo Dowoong again.”

Kangil, unlike his usual self, hesitated to say more. Nahyuk tilted his head slightly toward him, waiting for him to go on.

But just then, the phone he had carelessly shoved in his pocket started vibrating. It wasn’t a message—it was a continuous buzz.

“Wait a sec, I think I’ve got a call.”

Nahyuk pulled out his phone and checked the screen. The caller ID read “Demon Hag.”

It was a call from Yoon Noah’s mother, Jang Mi-ae.

‘Is this because I didn’t reply to her text this morning?’

“Kangil, I’ll be back. I just need to take this call.”

“Okay. But I’m warning you—I don’t wait long.”

“Got it.”

Nahyuk had no intention of talking to her for long either. But if he ignored the call, she’d probably just keep ringing. He had no choice but to answer.

He stood and started walking along the breakwater.

The call had ended once already, and before he could even return it, the phone began ringing again. Was it something urgent?

He finally pressed the answer button.

“Hel—”

—Why didn’t you answer the phone? Did you forget I told you to call me?

Before he could even finish his greeting, a sharp voice pierced through.

“…I was busy. What’s going on?”

—Your grandfather’s asking for you.

“What?”

—He wants you at the company tomorrow. Got it? Dress properly, and if I hear you caused any trouble, be prepared to be erased from the family registry.

She was talking about Yoon Taesik, Noah’s grandfather.

Nahyuk had spoken with him once before—at his birthday banquet.

“Why is he suddenly calling me in?”

—How would I know? If I did, don’t you think I’d have told you already? Noah, use your brain! And remember—if your father doesn’t inherit a good chunk of the wealth, you won’t see a dime of it either!

“….”

Instead of replying, Nahyuk let out a long sigh. He really didn’t want to get involved with Noah’s family. But this was getting difficult.

His plan had been to live comfortably off the assets Noah currently possessed, enjoying a peaceful life. He had no intention of getting tangled in succession wars or family politics.

But it seemed Yoon Taesik had taken a peculiar interest in him after seeing his drastically changed demeanor at the banquet.