IPSTDS Chapter 49
by BrieChapter 49
Nahyuk quickly cut in on Chief Song’s words.
“Miss him? I definitely didn’t miss him.”
“…Well, there you have it, haha. Then please enjoy your meal.”
Chief Song excused herself from the conversation, seemingly worried Nahyuk would scold her. Though he was acting differently these days, she must’ve been familiar enough with the real Yoon Noah’s personality to know when to back off.
Her face looked slightly pale as she turned away.
“Are you still bullying Chief Song?”
“What are you talking about? I treat her really well. And stop paying attention to me—just eat and leave.”
Why did he care whether Nahyuk treated Chief Song well or not? Even though he was cold about it, Seo Dowoong seemed stuck on what Chief Song had said.
“She said you missed me.”
“That’s her assumption, not mine.”
“An assumption from someone who watches you up close is usually the most accurate.”
“Say one more stupid thing and I’ll kick you out.”
“Okay.”
Surprisingly, Seo Dowoong agreed without protest. That answer only irritated Nahyuk more. It felt like he didn’t believe a single word he said.
“I’ve told him I don’t like him so many times, and he still doesn’t believe it.”
Seo Dowoong should’ve been relieved Yoon Noah didn’t like him anymore. So why couldn’t he accept it?
Either way, Nahyuk resolved to kick him out as soon as the meal was over.
Just like Kim Daon once said, Seo Dowoong had a small appetite.
Instead of eating, he spent most of the time watching Nahyuk eat. He stared especially hard at Nahyuk’s puffed-out cheeks filled with food.
“…Stop staring while I’m eating.”
“It’s just—you eat surprisingly well for someone who was sick.”
The words “eating well” immediately reminded Nahyuk of Kangil’s suggestive comment.
‘If you eat that well, how come you don’t have any body hair?’
As soon as that ridiculous thought surfaced, he started choking.
“Cough cough”
Nahyuk hurriedly drank water, desperately trying to wipe Kangil’s teasing face from his mind. Why did that guy always tie food to body hair and mess with his thoughts during meals?
Then a weird idea crossed his mind—did Seo Dowoong know that Yoon Noah didn’t have body hair? They’d known each other for years, went to the same school… maybe they’d bathed together at some point.
‘Ugh, what the hell am I even thinking.’
Nahyuk shook his head slightly, trying to rid himself of the thought.
“Do you hate being told you eat well?”
Seo Dowoong must’ve mistaken Nahyuk’s flustered reaction for something else.
“…No. Whether I eat well or not, you’re done eating, so leave already.”
“I always drink tea after meals.”
“…”
Nahyuk looked at him, clearly dumbfounded.
“Seo Dowoong. I think you forgot, but up until just a few days ago, we were constantly fighting. You even wanted to put me in jail. And let me say this one last time—I’m not going to like you again.”
“…”
“We’re not even friends now. I have no reason to serve you tea.”
“If this is your way of playing hard to get, I hope you’ll stop.”
“No! I seriously don’t like you!”
“Then.”
“What?”
“Are you going to like Lee Kangil instead?”
“…No. I only got close to him because of the new drug.”
“First Kim Daon, now Kangil. You can mess with everyone around me, but it’s not going to affect me.”
“Haa… you’re really insane… It’s nothing like that, so stop misunderstanding.”
Nahyuk was tired of denying it. He lost his appetite and set his spoon down.
When he looked at Seo Dowoong, he wore a confident smile—like he was sure he was right.
It was infuriating.
“And Kangil isn’t even that great. Kim Daon’s better.”
That he went out of his way to insult Kangil made him even more annoying. At least Kangil hadn’t hesitated to touch him…
“He’s better than you. Thanks to Kangil, I’m still alive.”
“You’re going to end up hurt if you keep hanging around him. He gets tired of people quickly. He’s only being friendly because we’re in the same league or because our families are close.”
His tone implied he was looking down on Kangil. For some reason, that really rubbed Nahyuk the wrong way.
Maybe it was because he knew the deeper story behind Kangil.
“I don’t care about your situation. And I have plans today. I’m busy, so I’d like you to leave.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Today was the day he was supposed to meet Yoon Taesik. If he started getting ready now, the timing would be perfect.
Seo Dowoong finally nodded slowly.
“Alright, I’ll go. Don’t push so hard.”
Do I look like I’m not pushing?
Even after saying he’d leave, Seo Dowoong didn’t get up from the table. Nahyuk gave up first.
He rose from his seat and went up to his room, thinking that if he started getting ready to meet Yoon Taesik, Seo Dowoong would get the message and leave on his own.
* * *
Nahyuk picked out one of the plain suits he had bought just in case. Yoon Noah’s clothes were too flashy and attention-grabbing—even his suits—so there was no way he could wear them out.
“Good thing I bought this in advance.”
He quickly tidied up his hair and opened the door he’d kept closed the entire time.
It had been an hour since they had breakfast together. Could Seo Dowoong really still be in the house…? With growing concern, Nahyuk peeked over the second-floor railing.
Looking down quietly, he didn’t see the tall, handsome man anywhere. It seemed he had finally gone home.
“Phew. Don’t come back again.”
Nahyuk quietly descended the stairs and was about to leave the house when the chauffeur, who was always on standby at Yoon Noah’s estate, called out to him.
“Young master! You’re planning to take a taxi again, aren’t you? Did I do something wrong?”
“Ah, no! It’s nothing like that. You didn’t do anything wrong. I just feel uncomfortable…”
“Not today! Especially not after you collapsed yesterday. I’ll drive you myself. I’m a paid employee after all—there’s no need to feel uncomfortable.”
The chauffeur’s firm tone left Nahyuk with no choice but to nod. Come to think of it, this was the man’s livelihood, and maybe he had been too dismissive.
His attempt to be considerate might have actually made things harder for the chauffeur.
As they went down to the garage, the chauffeur opened the car door for him and said,
“I’m really grateful you don’t yell at me like you used to… but please don’t avoid me too much. I actually found your shouting kind of cute.”
Though a villain in the story, Yoon Noah wasn’t really disliked by anyone—Seo Dowoong being the one exception.
Nahyuk reminded himself of that fact and nodded.
“So, where are we headed today?”
“Ah, to the Taekwang Construction headquarters.”
Nahyuk checked the message he’d received from Jang Mi-ae again. It instructed him to be at Taekwang’s main office by 4 p.m.
As they got closer to the building, Nahyuk’s heart began to race. It wasn’t the pleasant kind of excitement he felt around Lee Kangil or Kim Daon.
It felt more like that nerve-racking anticipation of going to a job interview for the first time—even though this wasn’t one.
He took deep breaths, wishing more than anything that this would be the last meeting with Yoon Taesik.
Thanks to the chauffeur’s smooth driving, they arrived in front of the dazzling Taekwang headquarters. Nahyuk stared quietly up at the towering building.
“It really hits me now that Yoon Noah is the third-generation heir of a major conglomerate.”
Feeling oddly self-conscious, he adjusted the collar of his jacket and walked forward with awkward, creaky steps like a broken machine.
He had been wondering how to get to the chairman’s office, but that turned out to be pointless. As soon as he entered the lobby, the reception staff rushed out to greet him.
“Young master, welcome!”
It was a familiar scene. Those who knew Yoon Noah’s fiery temper always greeted him early and overly politely.
‘So… he must’ve caused trouble here too.’
Even if he had been cast aside at home, Yoon Noah had probably visited the company a few times—just like when he was invited to Yoon Taesik’s birthday banquet.
In a way, this worked out for Nahyuk. With everyone taking the lead, he wouldn’t have to figure things out on his own.
He gave them a friendly smile and nodded slightly. The three staff members who greeted him seemed surprised by the gesture.
“…!”
Was it really that strange for him to be polite?
Without asking for an explanation, Nahyuk got straight to the point.
“I’m here to see my grandfather.”
“…Ah, yes. Please follow me this way.”
They led him to an elevator tucked away in the back of the lobby—one that didn’t seem meant for just anyone to use.
The elevator stopped at the very top floor.
The entire top floor appeared to belong to Yoon Taesik. The paintings and artworks lining the hallway gave it the air of a personal gallery more than a corporate building. It didn’t feel like the headquarters of a construction firm—it felt like the chairman’s private domain.
The chairman’s office was at the end of the hall.
“Chairman, young master Yoon Noah is here to see you.”
A deep voice responded from inside.
“Come in.”