* * *

“I know what you’re worried about. I’ve sorted out as much of the family issues as I can. I’ll make every effort to ensure you won’t feel burdened…”

“Wait, what?”

What did he do?

I blinked. What was he even talking about?

Did I hear him correctly?

He said he sorted out family matters?

Cha Junseong—the one who hadn’t been able to sever ties with his family over three entire volumes, driving readers mad?

Could it be… because of something I said earlier?

Did he really act on it?

“I know my family might not seem like a suitable match for you. But I’ll strive to be a good partner. I won’t ever put them before you…”

“Wait, hold on…”

“…Alright.”

What… is going on?

It was so sudden my mind couldn’t process it, and I struggled to organize my thoughts, which were scattering in all directions.

After catching my breath, I finally managed to sort through the tangled ideas and found the words I wanted to say.

“If you’re asking to form a bond because of my health, like I said before, I’m fine. Really.”

“A bond’s weight isn’t something you can carry on guilt alone.”

But I quickly lost my words again.

Junseong replied calmly, looking straight into my eyes.

Those steady, dark-brown eyes, full of certainty, absorbed my gaze entirely.

“And I’m confident I’ll succeed on the first try.”

Facing those eyes, I unknowingly held my breath.

So, his words mean… he’s willing to share everything with me, mind and body…

“Of course, a bond isn’t something I can initiate alone, and I don’t know how you feel, but… I’m sincere.”

It was only after his eyes lowered that I finally let out my breath.

My mind was a blank, and I found myself staring vacantly at Junseong’s face.

He gave a faint smile and stood up.

“Take your time to think it over. I’ll be going now.”

“G-Go?”

He was leaving?

Dropping a bombshell like that and then just leaving?

Though it’d be more difficult if he stayed… it was strange to see him go.

“I’d stay longer, but if I don’t leave now, it’ll be too late.”

“Late… where to…? Oh, right…”

His look reminded me, as if asking, “Really, you’re the one who’s asking?”

Today was that day.

With all the time spent in the hospital, I’d lost track of dates.

Since I’d been hospitalized, unable to intervene, I’d tried to force it from my mind, and clearly, it’d worked well.

After hesitating a moment, I gave Junseong a slight bow.

“Please, take care of things.”

“Yes. Rest easy; I’ll handle it well.”

After he spoke, he didn’t immediately leave the room.

He paused and gave me a lingering look… with a clear expectation.

Considering what he’d said today, it wasn’t hard to guess what he wanted.

My face flushed again as the realization set in.

I mean… he’s heading off to do something I asked of him, so I shut my eyes.

Then, a large hand gently tilted my chin, and a soft warmth brushed my lips and withdrew.

“…Uh…”

I was stunned.

I’d anticipated a kiss, but only on the forehead.

It seemed Junseong had grown bolder than I’d imagined.

Had he picked up on something strange from Rex?

Was there some sense of rivalry?

Regardless, my position caught in the middle was awkward.

My heart pounded so hard it almost hurt. Pressing my chest, I tried to catch my breath.

But then, even after the brief kiss, Junseong didn’t let go of my chin.

“…Just one more.”

Before I could respond, his long eyelashes lowered again, and he leaned in closer.

This time, he wasn’t satisfied with just a gentle touch.

His hand pressed against my chin, parting my lips slightly, and something soft slipped inside.

Thanks to Eunsoo’s guidance, even though our inner mouths touched, none of his emotions flowed into me.

Instead, an overwhelming warmth seeped into me, a sensation so intense that my body trembled, wrapped in a wave of euphoria, as if I were floating on clouds.

Feeling my strength drain away, I could hardly keep myself upright.

Junseong held me firmly in his arms, locking me in his embrace.

“Haa…”

As I struggled to catch my breath, unable to return his kiss, his fervent lips finally withdrew, as if he’d been holding back from devouring me.

We remained so close that I could still feel his breath.

He whispered to me softly.

“Take your time to answer. Your health comes first.”

Dazed from the lingering sensation of the kiss, I found myself staring blankly at Cha Junseong’s face.

A large hand gently landed on my head, tenderly stroking me as if I were something precious and fragile, then he laid me carefully back into the bed and smiled.

“I love you, Yang Heewoon.”

– Click.

Leaving those affectionate words behind, he closed the hospital door without a hint of hesitation.

Left alone in the quiet hospital room, my mind was in chaos, rattled by Cha Junseong’s string of emotional bombs.

I quickly grabbed any book within reach and flipped it open.

Whether it was the world of the book or a dream, I needed to escape somewhere far from this reality.

---

I’ve been defeated.

No matter how many times I think about it, I can only conclude that I’ve been completely outmaneuvered.

‘I should’ve held back that time…’

Ye Eunsoo sighed deeply.

Yang Heewoon might seem like an innocent rabbit or a slow bear, with that blank look on his face.

But he’s undoubtedly more of a fox than anyone.

Otherwise, how could he have timed his actions so perfectly, swaying me just when my resolve was weakest, bending my will to his?

Nothing ever goes his way when it involves Yang Heewoon, but this time the effect had been especially severe.

It wasn’t even external circumstances that had messed things up—it was Ye Eunsoo’s own heart that had wavered, making the regret even harder to bear.

‘It’s so frustrating…’

It’s already been almost two weeks since Yang Heewoon was hospitalized.

He regained consciousness quickly—just a day after intensive treatment.

Watching his rapid recovery, the medical team once again called it a “miracle.”

Understandable, considering who had performed the emergency treatment.

Ye Eunsoo had assumed that as soon as Yang Heewoon woke up, he’d head home.

After all, there wasn’t anything more the hospital could do for him.

Heewoon should have known that too.

There’s no way he couldn’t realize how badly injured he was.

But strangely, Yang Heewoon showed no intention of being discharged.

As days passed, Ye Eunsoo grew increasingly anxious.

Why was he staying there when he couldn’t even use electronic devices to stay in contact?

Did he not want to check in or even see me?

Bewildered, he had no choice but to go directly to the hospital room, only to witness something he didn’t want to see.

Yang Heewoon was crying, nestled in the arms of those idiots.

He was definitely crying… yet oddly, he looked happy.

Seeing him so clearly relying on them, in a way he never did with me, made my stomach churn.

Overwhelmed, I had to turn around and leave before I did something reckless.

Ye Eunsoo simply couldn’t understand Yang Heewoon.

Why would he give his heart to those who would destroy him, while overlooking the one who could save him?

A long sigh escaped his lips.

‘Every time, it’s only me who’s swayed… Only me who waits, only me who wants to see him, only me who likes him, only me who loves him, only me who worries, only me, only me, only me.’

He covered his face with both hands.

Suppressing his rising emotions with all his might, he forced them down over and over.

Yet, his voice finally slipped out, soaked in all his pent-up feelings.

“It’s so infuriating, Yang Heewoon…”

How frustrating it is that, even though he drives me crazy, I can’t let him go.

But… it’s fine. It’s not too late yet.

In the end, Ye Eunsoo still held the trump card that could turn everything around.

That card was none other than Yang Heewoon’s lifeline.

Depending on how he played it, the possibilities were limitless.

Yang Heewoon would probably want to live.

While he wouldn’t yield to threats, perhaps a contract could work.

I could save you in exchange for something.

Or maybe I wouldn’t even mention it and just keep him in a constant state of half-recovery, indefinitely asleep, without dying.

If he remained asleep long enough, even those idiots would lose interest.

Without the excuse of him being their dedicated guide, they’d probably leave him alone within half a year.

– Beep beep beep beep.

Lost in thought, he pressed the code to his front door.

He knew it so well he could enter it by feel alone.

– Bang. Pop pop!

As soon as he opened the door, something exploded in his face.

He reflexively stepped back, putting up his guard, only to lower his arms once he saw what it was.

“…What is this?”

As colorful pieces of confetti showered over his head, Ye Eunsoo’s expression soured.

The fact that someone had set off a firework on him was annoying enough, but seeing who had done it twisted his stomach even more.

The last people he wanted to see—Yang Heewoon’s three precious espers.

* * *