* * *
A while later, Soohyuk returned with a bucket filled with ice and a towel.
He’d never done this before, but he knew at the very least that when someone had a high fever, you had to cool them down with a cold compress.
As soon as he peeled back the thin blanket, Seo Inho’s bare body came into view.
He hadn’t paid much attention while undressing him earlier, but Inho had a lean, solid build.
Broad shoulders and defined muscles that fit an S-rank—surprising, really.
But what stood out more were the countless bruises covering his body.
The pale skin made the deep blue-black bruises even more pronounced.
Normally, Soohyuk wouldn’t have cared, but lately, every little detail about this man got under his skin.
‘He should’ve treated himself.’
A frown formed between his brows.
Just like before, Inho had a strange tendency to be harsh on himself.
Only a few months ago, he would’ve panicked over a single scratch—now he brushed off serious injuries like they were nothing.
Soohyuk didn’t like that change.
He took out some top-grade potions from his inventory and tossed them into the ice bucket.
Once they were cold enough, he began applying them to Inho’s arms and legs, wiping off the moisture gently with a dry towel.
He brushed aside the little plush bird drooping over Inho’s neck, and as he wiped down his back with the chilled potion, Inho’s blotchy skin slowly began to return to its original color.
Apparently soothed by the cold, Inho’s expression relaxed, a faint smile curving his lips.
That slight upward twitch in the corners of his mouth didn’t fade.
“…More…”
“….”
Prompted by that drowsy tone, Soohyuk dipped the towel again, making sure to carefully wipe from Inho’s nape down to between his fingers.
He wasn’t sure if it was the right method, but cooling the parts where heat gathered seemed the most effective.
As he moved down past Inho’s waist and toward his upper thighs, Soohyuk’s hand began to slow.
Then, he paused—
Raising his head as a thought struck him.
‘Maybe… now was his chance to get an honest answer.’
“…More…”
Rustle.
Soohyuk gently removed the hand tugging at his clothes and climbed onto the bed.
He turned Inho’s face toward him with cautious fingers.
The moment their eyes met, Inho looked distinctly displeased.
“I’ll keep going—but answer me first.”
Inho clearly wasn’t in the mood, annoyance plain on his face, but Soohyuk didn’t budge.
He brushed back Inho’s sweat-damp hair gently, coaxing him with a soft voice.
“…Who are you?”
And to his surprise—Inho answered right away.
“…Jeha.”
“….”
‘Jeha.’
It sounded like a name… but Soohyuk couldn’t tell if it meant anything.
It could’ve been a meaningless mumble from a hazy mind.
He mulled it over briefly before asking another question—not something from idle curiosity, but a doubt that had long lingered deep in his heart.
“That movie you mentioned… what did you mean?”
“…Movie…”
Inho repeated the word over and over, lips moving slightly.
Then, as if something clicked, light returned to his unfocused eyes for the first time.
His expression softened, as if he were recalling a warm memory.
It was a look that could make anyone watching feel at peace.
“…It was fun…”
But at the end of those words, a trace of emptiness lingered—tinged with sadness.
His expression, now awash with conflicting emotions, slowly dimmed.
His complexion, which had just moments ago looked better, dulled again in an instant.
“…You really are good-looking in person.”
He tried to smile, but the corners of his lips twitched like they were fighting back tears.
His heat-flushed eyes curved softly, forming delicate arcs.
That fragile smile looked like it could crumble at any second.
“…I really don’t understand you.”
Soohyuk lowered his head, weighed down by the tangled emotions inside him.
Why was he feeling like this?
Even now, the body heat radiating off Inho was hot enough to scald.
‘Hot.’
Now that he thought about it, summer in the goshiwon had always been stuffy and unbearable.
Even with an air conditioner stuck to the wall, it wasn’t like he could use it freely.
Sure, utilities were “included,” but the minute you kept it on too long, the landlord would show up in a rage.
If he just told you to turn it off, it would’ve been fine—but no, he’d spend a whole hour whining and rambling about his hard life.
Complaining that he was barely making a profit, crying about every little thing.
So over the 8 years he’d lived there, Inho had developed a habit—not of getting used to the heat, but of enduring it.
Rather than listen to all that, he’d rather take an extra shower.
But this… this was unbearable.
It was so hot, he could barely breathe.
“…Just 30 minutes.”
Yeah, if he just turned it on for 30 minutes and then shut it off, the landlord wouldn’t even notice.
Even if he did—surely, with how hot it was today, he wouldn’t make a fuss. If he had any conscience at all, he’d let it slide.
With that thought, Inho’s eyes snapped open.
He shifted, intending to reach for the remote—but found that he couldn’t move.
It took him a full five seconds to assess the situation.
A blanket thrown over his head, an arm wrapped tightly around his waist like a snare, and himself, sweating buckets and buried against a chest hot as a furnace.
That’s when the memory came rushing back—
He’d passed out holding onto Do Soohyuk, trying to share body heat.
“….”
He glanced up, just slightly—and sure enough, Soohyuk was sleeping soundly.
His complexion looked good. Better than expected, actually.
‘Who would doubt he’s a movie star?’
Even in a situation like this, his face was practically glowing.
Just like Woo Jaehyun and Cha Rui—somehow, these guys looked even better in harsh conditions.
‘Is this some kind of main character buff…?’
I found myself zoning out, admiring him without realizing it, until I noticed Do Soohyuk starting to stir.
I flinched instinctively, like a thief caught red-handed.
“Uwah!”
As I reflexively tried to back away, my arm suddenly gave out, and I tumbled straight off the bed—of all places, landing right by the heater.
“Ah—hot!”
“What are you doing?”
Do Soohyuk looked at me with an expression that screamed “how pathetic.”
Since I was wearing nothing but underwear, I hurriedly grabbed a cushion nearby to cover myself.
Only after the fact did I realize that looked even weirder, but by then it was too late to take it back.
“Looks like the fever’s gone down. How’s your body feeling?”
Do Soohyuk sat up and rubbed his eyes, seemingly unfazed.
His sleepy face and slightly mussed hair kept catching my attention, so I tried not to look… and failed.
Maybe it was because it was such a rare, human moment from him.
“I’m… fine.”
I scratched my neck awkwardly, and then noticed a bucket under the bed.
A red-stained towel was draped over it.
I nearly freaked out, thinking it was blood—but on closer inspection, the liquid was more cherry-colored.
Probably something like a healing potion.
‘Wait, what?’
I thought I’d just dozed off for a bit, but apparently not.
When I checked the time, I nearly fainted.
No matter how many times I rubbed my eyes, the digital clock still said 9 a.m.
If I recalled correctly, it was around midday when we arrived at the yacht yesterday.
Which meant—I hadn’t just napped.
I’d been completely knocked out for over 15 hours.
As someone who’d never slept more than five hours straight, that was a massive shock.
Judging by the setup, Do Soohyuk must’ve taken care of me the whole night.
The bucket, the potions—it all made sense. I really had been burning up.
‘No wonder my body feels so light now.’
I peeked into the bucket, and sure enough, half-melted ice and empty potion bottles were piled inside.
Even my skin felt completely clean.
I could already imagine what must’ve happened.
‘With those ridiculously expensive top-grade potions, no less…’
I barely suppressed a sigh rising from deep within.
Still, I couldn’t exactly complain to someone who went out of their way to take care of me.
“You… stayed up all night to take care of me?”
“…Put some clothes on.”
Do Soohyuk avoided the question and handed me my neatly folded clothes.
Even the hoodie that had been soaking wet yesterday was now warm and dry.
Not only had he watched over me all night, he’d even cleaned up while I slept like a log.
‘Did he even get any sleep?’
Now that I looked closer, his face seemed more worn out than before.
“Anyway… thanks.”
I mumbled, pulling on my clothes piece by piece.
CRACK.
A strange sound came from somewhere outside.
I instinctively turned toward the window, and now that I focused, I could hear bursts and crunches coming from all directions.
“What was that?”
As I buckled my pants and stepped toward the window, Do Soohyuk spoke from behind me.
“Monsters.”
“…Monsters?”
Tensing up, I looked outside.
Sure enough, in the distance, small white dots—Yeti-looking monsters—were sprinting toward us. About ten of them.
But before they could get close, I heard familiar sounds and watched them drop, one by one, into the water.
‘Only then did I notice the holes dotting the ground outside.’
“Wait… those holes were…”
How many must’ve swarmed us overnight for the ground to look like that?
There were even monsters awkwardly wandering around, unable to find a solid patch to stand on.
And to think, all of that because of a single heater.
Just imagining it gave me chills.
* * *
