ACTSV chapter 161

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“Why on earth can’t I reach them? He was acting like he wanted to take him away immediately before!”

It would have been nice if he could reach at least one of them, but both phones were still off.

“…Should I ask someone to help find them?”

In a flash, Lee Cheongoh’s face came to mind. Asking him might mean this would get back to Wonbeom, but that would be better than nothing.

Luckily, he had Cheongoh’s contact info. He had gotten it when Cheongoh visited him in the hospital after collapsing from getting caught in the rain.

He’d figured it would be quicker to reach Cheongoh, who was always nearby, in case he fell ill again, rather than contacting the three others.

He hadn’t actually used it since.

“I’ll give it a try tomorrow.”

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Jingyeom glanced repeatedly at Jinwoo, trying to read his expression, as he sent a message to Lee Cheongoh.

Me: Hello! This is Baek Jingyeom! I have a small favor to ask… Could you please keep this a secret from Wonbeom hyung? Please reply via message! (10:38 AM)

He used lots of exclamation marks to make it seem cheerful and not too serious.

It felt like a pretty audacious request, but now wasn’t the time to be picky.

He wasn’t sure Cheongoh would help, but he really hoped for a positive reply.

Once the read receipt disappeared, he anxiously kept checking his phone, waiting for an answer.

After an hour, then two, there was still no response.

He was just about to send another message when the reply he’d been waiting for finally came.

Upon seeing the message, Jingyeom hurried to respond, afraid Cheongoh might change his mind.

Lee Cheongoh: Yes, go ahead. (1:14 PM)

Me: Thank you! I was wondering… could you help me find someone? (1:15 PM)

Lee Cheongoh: Just give me a name and age, and I can find them quickly. If you have a photo or any additional information, it might speed things up. (1:16 PM)

“A photo? I have a picture of Dad at home… do I have one of Sanho?”

Jingyeom remembered the picture of Baek Myungjun that Jeong Sanho had given him previously. But since it was at home, he couldn’t retrieve it now. He gave up asking Jinwoo for help, as that would mean explaining his whole plan.

He decided to send a photo of Sanho instead, recalling that Sanho had once sent him a photo of the two of them together.

“Good, I have it!”

Me: I need you to find two people: one is Baek Myungjun, though I don’t know his exact age—he’s my father! The other is Jeong Sanho, whom you’ve met before. He’s 23! (1:24 PM)

Lee Cheongoh: Yes, I remember him. I’ll investigate and get back to you. (1:24 PM)

Me: Thank you! I’ll be waiting! (1:25 PM)

Jingyeom felt a bit relieved knowing there was someone willing to help him find them, as he had been wondering what to do about the lack of contact.

“Hopefully, this will work…?”

He had already messaged Cheongoh, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was blowing things out of proportion.

Even though he’d asked Cheongoh to keep it from Wonbeom, he didn’t really believe it wouldn’t get reported back.

But he couldn’t think of anyone else to ask.

Besides, he was certain Cheongoh would be able to find out where they were.

Jingyeom sighed softly, lowering the arm that held his phone.

“I need to learn to stand on my own now….”

He knew he needed to handle things by himself, yet he kept relying on others.

He knew it was something he had to change.

“This will be the last time!”

He couldn’t shake the frustration until he figured out why those two, who had been so eager to take him away, were suddenly unreachable.

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“Are you in any pain?”

“No, I’m fine. You can stop now; it’s already been ten minutes.”

“I usually do this for thirty minutes anyway. Seems like your muscles are building up a bit. I can feel the difference.”

As Jinwoo massaged his calves and thighs, Jingyeom flinched and curled his toes.

Normally, he would have felt nothing but gratitude for Jinwoo’s care, but lately, things had felt a bit awkward.

Ever since he cried in front of Jinwoo, the strange tension had eased, but now a different, indescribable atmosphere had replaced it.

“Is it because I know he likes me that he seems different?”

If Jinwoo liked him, shouldn’t he be hesitant about touching him?

Shouldn’t he get nervous or flustered?

Usually, when people have feelings for someone, they’re more careful, or at least a bit hesitant, but Jinwoo showed no signs of either.

Even when Jinwoo had been helping him wash during the week he’d been bedridden and immobile, he hadn’t blushed or looked away.

Whether it was truly Jinwoo who had changed, or just his own perception, Jingyeom wasn’t sure.

But he was certain that Jinwoo’s touches felt much more direct than before.

Calling it “direct” might sound odd, but Jingyeom was sure the casualness of it had intensified.

Not that they’d ever held back when touching each other.

Yet, touches like a hand lingering on his cheek, or a casual slide down his back, or moments of closeness…

“Actually, it’s just the same, isn’t it?”

Come to think of it, maybe it was his own feelings that had changed.

Jinwoo was acting the same as before, but now his own reactions were different.

“I can’t exactly tell him to stop….”

If he truly felt uncomfortable with Jinwoo’s touch, he would have said so, but instead, everything felt more conscious since that day.

Whereas before, he would have brushed it off as sibling-like affection, now that he knew Jinwoo’s feelings, he couldn’t just relax and accept it the same way.

Jinwoo, completely unaware of Jingyeom’s inner turmoil, continued touching him without hesitation.

Of course, this was all part of Jingyeom’s rehabilitation.

Jinwoo was helping him with exercises, bending and straightening Jingyeom’s leg in bed, doing what they could for his recovery in the hospital room.

“…Of course, the muscles are going to build; I’m moving constantly. Didn’t the doctor say I could use the walker soon? Can’t I request it? Walking a bit, even in the hospital room, would be better than just lying in bed. All this muscle will waste away again.”

Jingyeom had been diligent with rehabilitation and physical therapy so he could walk independently again.

Thanks to his efforts, he could now walk slowly with assistance.

He could even grip a spoon without dropping it and hold the showerhead to wash on his own.

Previously, he’d needed Jinwoo’s help even to bathe.

Once he’d regained some mental clarity, Jingyeom had asked for a caregiver.

If things had stayed normal at the mansion, Jinwoo helping him bathe wouldn’t have felt awkward.

But showing his bare body to someone who had feelings for him?

Even Jingyeom couldn’t bear that.

Although Jinwoo had insisted on helping, Jingyeom had firmly expressed his desire otherwise.

Just a week ago, he’d had to let someone else take care of him.

Recalling that time, Jingyeom shivered.

“Are you cold? Should I turn up the heat?”

“I’m not cold.”

“Let me know right away if you feel chilly, okay?”

“Got it. What about my mobility aid?”

Jinwoo kept stalling on the mobility aid that Jingyeom had been insisting on for days now, using the excuse that they’d apply for it a little later.

Jinwoo knew that if Jingyeom got the device, he’d have even less to do, and eventually, there’d be no reason left for him to stay by Jingyeom’s side.

He wanted to delay that day as much as possible.

He hoped Jingyeom would always need him, even if it was for something small.

Whether it was fetching the remote or changing the channel, Jinwoo just wanted to have a reason to stay close.

But lately, he could sense that Jingyeom was slowly trying to distance him.

‘What’s he planning…?’

Jinwoo worried that Jingyeom might try to reach out to Jung Sangho and Baek Myungjoon.

He’d heard that they’d been “dealt with” by Wonbeom, and he also knew that Lee Cheongo had acquired all their debt, meaning the true creditor was now Wonbeom.

This knowledge had put his mind somewhat at ease, knowing Jingyeom wouldn’t need to stress over loan sharks while he was unwell.

Jinwoo felt a deep gratitude for how Wonbeom had handled everything.

‘I keep relying on him…’

He was fully aware of just how much he owed Wonbeom.

Back when he worked as his assistant, Jinwoo had rationalized that being Wonbeom’s “toy” was his way of repaying the favor.

It was a bit of a self-deception, but it had allowed him to shamelessly demand funds for Jingyeom’s hospital and surgery bills.

It had always been a deal, though—one where Wonbeom was the one at a loss.

Jinwoo knew this and took advantage of it.

Now, even though he hadn’t gone to work for a long time, he knew he wouldn’t be fired.

For Jingyeom’s sake, Wonbeom wouldn’t dismiss him.

With this level of support, he could have made even more unreasonable demands, but Wonbeom never did.

For that, Jinwoo was grateful but also felt a pang of bitterness.

‘I wish I could do more for him…’

He couldn’t do the things that Soo-hyuk and Wonbeom could do without a second thought.

Sure, his love and care for Jingyeom ran deeper than anything they could offer, but material support—that was a different story, and it bothered him.

Jinwoo smiled wryly, feeling his thoughts drifting in that direction.

“I’ll apply for it soon. Since you’re still struggling to walk, it wouldn’t be good if you fell, right? I’ll find out when’s the right time.”

“They said walking around the room with a mobility aid could be helpful. I may not be up to roaming the halls, but I can make a few laps here, right?”

“Alright, I’ll check on it… You really want to start walking again, huh?”

“Is that even a question? Of course. It’s so frustrating. I can’t even go to the bathroom on my own or lift a single thing. I guess that’s why you have to stay active. You should go out and walk around with the security guys. I’m stuck here, but you could at least move around a bit. Right?”

Jingyeom wasn’t sure when his hospital confinement would end, but he worried that if Jinwoo stayed here all the time, his muscles would weaken too.

Jinwoo had been by his side, watching over him while he was bedridden, and even now that he was up, Jinwoo hardly left.

Jingyeom was concerned about Jinwoo’s health, wondering if he’d become frail himself.

“I like staying here with you. This… lifestyle… it’ll be over soon enough, so hang in there a little longer.”

“We’ll only be able to leave once that is sorted out, right?”

Jingyeom’s gaze shifted to the TV, where a report was broadcasting the arrest process of President Kim.

Though some time had passed, interest remained high since it was such a big case.

“…That’s true, but it’s almost over.”

“Yeah, it looks like it.”

The prolonged legal battles seemed to be reaching an end at last.

A few days later, a message arrived from Cheongo.

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From: Lee Cheongo
We’ve located the two of them.
2:25 PM

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