* * *
“Why did you even take it?”
“Because…!”
Doyoung, on the verge of snapping back, regained composure and sealed his lips.
“Because I wanted to. Why do you care if I take it or not?”
“Ah… Fine. Just don’t do it again.”
“Why not?”
Why should it matter to you whom I take business cards from?
He crossed his arms, signaling he was ready to hear any justification.
“Because we’re dating now, right? Shouldn’t you consider me a bit in these situations?”
“What?!”
As soon as Beom Sinje spoke, Park Bora let out a gasp.
She had her suspicions, but to hear it confirmed was shocking.
This revelation could cause quite a stir if it got out.
‘Would she know?’
Park Bora thought of Sara, who closely assisted Doyoung.
She was a devoted follower of the former leader.
‘Given her loyalties, this might be troublesome if it comes to light.’
“You two are dating?”
Concerned about the future, she stammered, prompting Doyoung to glare at Beom Sinje in protest.
“Could you please consider the time and place?”
Even then, Beom Sinje, sensing that Doyoung wasn’t outright denying it, let a small smile slip.
“Sorry, hyung. But this is important to me too.”
Despite apologizing, his confidence in not backing down was astounding.
“Well then, um… I’ll go check what those folks discovered. You two keep talking,” the person awkwardly excused themselves, sensing a familiar tension reminiscent of when they first entered the lab.
Doyoung was too busy blaming Beom Sinje, while Beom Sinje wouldn’t back down until he got the answer he wanted, leaving everyone else unnoticed.
‘No matter how I see it, the head of the Cheonho Guild seems likely to win.’
Although Doyoung was the one pushing forward with words, it felt like Beom Sinje had the upper hand, stopping Doyoung in his tracks with just a few words.
“Ha… Alright. Let’s move on from that topic.”
Before parting completely, Doyoung eventually conceded to Beom Sinje’s argument, just as someone had predicted.
‘Hmm… He used to be so decisive.’
It seemed that in front of Beom Sinje, he could show a different side.
‘Well, that’s not necessarily bad.’
At least he wouldn’t try to carry everything alone like before.
Doyoung didn’t know, but Park Bora and Lee Namsoo were among the subordinates who had guarded his office till the end.
They despaired when they heard their leader had fallen to his death.
‘Because we couldn’t protect him properly!’
Their guilt was so deep that they secluded themselves and resented the world for a while.
When they learned he had survived but lived in seclusion, they felt both relief and bitterness.
‘Honestly, it was a bit annoying.’
After all the years they spent together, he disappeared without a trace, though he made sure through his closest aides that they wouldn’t have financial problems.
But now, everything was fine.
‘No matter what, there’s now someone to hold him back from hiding somewhere.’
And that person, the head of the biggest guild who could capture Doyoung with words, made it even more significant.
However, unaware of Park Bora’s complex expression, Doyoung concealed his inner turmoil with a dry rub of his face.
He wanted to argue further, but…
‘It would only spread rumors around. What a disgrace that would be.’
He never thought he’d experience something like this.
‘Being possessed was the problem from the start.’
Maybe the chaos had been predictable since he was recommended that novel by a fellow researcher.
“Alright. Is that a promise?”
“Yes, it is.”
Satisfied with getting the answer he wanted, Beom Sinje turned his head, only to see astonished guild members and Lee Namsoo who had overheard everything.
It was a moment that confirmed the relationship between Doyoung and Beom Sinje.
“So, what does it mean that you have the same business card as Park Bora?”
Realizing that even Park Bora had noticed their unusual relationship, Doyoung, who had been suppressing his emotions, halted.
“What else? It means the guy who gave it to me is related to that terrorist group.”
Though he brought up the truth, Doyoung didn’t reveal everything.
For instance, that he had encountered the guy in a dungeon or that he might be the leader, or that Park Bora got the card while tracking them down.
‘Thinking back, I didn’t identify their leader when we brought them in.’
Had he known, he would have gathered more information back then.
But at the time, he only thought of using them as pawns.
‘This is why doubts should be checked thoroughly before starting serious research.’
Otherwise, those overlooked issues would catch up eventually.
Coincidentally, that was the current situation.
“It could simply be a coincidence that it ended up here, couldn’t it?”
“Unlikely. In cases like this, you’d usually think there’s more of a connection than mere coincidence.”
“Maybe, like with you, they didn’t realize our guild hunters were working there and tried to make a move.”
“You…!”
They were having a serious conversation, and suddenly he said something so unexpected!
Doyoung glared at Beom Sinje, realizing from his faint smile that he was joking.
“Do you really want to say that now?”
“Well, it seems like there’s more connection than coincidence in such cases, so I just shared my opinion.”
“Ha?”
“It’s a remote lab in a far away plains. There’s no reason for a consultant to come here.”
“So what? Is it because of some scheme to lure men at a hotel?”
“Could be.”
“Ha…!”
His neck felt hot, as if his temper was being read, like some mind-reading power.
‘He’s got a knack for annoying people too.’
How could he twist things like that?
“And if I did, what would you do?”
“What can I do? Investigate it, of course. We thought we had nothing, but now we have a potential clue.”
That was true, but why did it leave such a strange feeling? Doyoung crossed his arms and glared at Beom Sinje.
“Hey.”
This might be the first time he called him so brashly.
Beom Sinje’s usual sharp eyes rounded in response.
‘Huh? That’s actually kind of cute.’
Beom Sinje was like a large, fierce dog.
Seeing him like that felt endearing, tickling Doyoung’s heart.
“If you think you can take me lightly just because we’re together…”
“Lightly? I’m watching you intently, even now.”
He cut him off before Doyoung could finish, much to his annoyance, but Beom Sinje remained unfazed and said what he wanted to say.
“I’ve never thought of you that way.”
“Then what was that comment earlier?”
How could he say such things and then deny them?
‘I won’t just let it slide.’
Earlier, with Park Bora around, it was difficult to say more.
Now, with others discreetly inspecting the lab, there were no barriers.
Hence, to make things clear, Doyoung brought up the earlier topic.
‘For now, it’s just starting, but given his past behavior, he could do even worse.’
He had already experienced it—being found after faking death, dragged into a quiet town, and turned into a personal secretary.
‘And now, he practically lives with me, sticking around 24/7.’
So, he might resort to things like tracking or bugging next.
It was necessary to prevent such actions decisively.
“What do you think?”
A sudden soft chuckle escaped, bringing Doyoung out of his thoughts.
He flinched again as he made eye contact with Beom Sinje.
Lately, he couldn’t understand why Beom Sinje kept giving him such looks, as if even he couldn’t comprehend them.
They were complicated yet bitter.
“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
“Ah…”
Without realizing it, the events of a few days ago surfaced in his mind.
He had been trying to get Kim Jinsoo into the guild when he noticed Beom Sinje’s displeasure and pushed him, only to uncover hidden feelings.
“Isn’t it because you like me? Wanting me to only be with you, not smiling or talking to anyone else.”
“You, you…”
How could he say something so embarrassing with such a straight face!
The heat that was only on the back of his neck earlier seemed to spread to his ears, forehead, and cheeks, making his entire face burn.
* * *
