* * *
As Yeongdeok moved forward, Wonjin watched him, amused by this uncharacteristic behavior.
Even this usually unapproachable person had his awkward moments, it seemed.
In the gallery, there was an array of artworks.
Some conveyed their themes clearly, while others were bizarre and hard to interpret.
Yeongdeok quickly passed by most of them, but he stopped at a painting of a woman cradling a child, possibly a mother and son.
Wonjin read the plaque aloud.
“This piece was inspired by the artist’s mother.”
As if it wasn’t already obvious.
Yeongdeok felt slightly insulted by the need for such an explanation but chose not to complain and continued walking.
Finally, they reached the exit of the gallery.
Just before leaving, Yeongdeok spotted an artwork in a large glass case—an arrangement of paint cans stacked haphazardly.
He stared at it, perplexed by its description as a depiction of “love.”
There was no heart shape or pink hue to express any romantic feeling, just a chaotic pile of paint cans.
Yeongdeok studied it, frowning slightly.
Watching Yeongdeok, so absorbed in analyzing the artwork, Wonjin found him unexpectedly endearing.
But just as the thought crossed his mind, he snapped back to reality, horrified that he’d felt that way, and slapped his own cheek to shake off the thought.
The sound echoed, making Yeongdeok look his way.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, there was…a mosquito.”
A bright red mark bloomed on Wonjin’s cheek.
Yeongdeok thought it was a bit extreme, given they weren’t even indoors.
“So, did you get it?”
“No, it got away.”
Wonjin laughed sheepishly.
Yeongdeok bit back a remark and instead reached out to touch the reddened cheek.
“You hit yourself pretty hard.”
As Yeongdeok’s hand touched Wonjin’s cheek, Wonjin flinched so noticeably that his shoulders shook.
He couldn’t understand why a simple touch would make his heart pound so loudly.
Confused by this strange reaction, Wonjin took a step back, moving away from Yeongdeok.
“I just have to hit it this hard, and it won’t break…,” he murmured to himself.
“……”
“Shall we head to the café now?”
“Sure.”
As they entered the café, just as when they had entered the exhibition hall earlier, Yeongdeok took hold of Wonjin’s arm again.
Wonjin understood that this was just one of Yeongdeok’s eccentric habits, but even so, he felt his heart beating again.
With each beat, he felt his face growing warm, as though blood was rushing up to it.
‘What’s going on with me?’, he wondered, feeling baffled by emotions he couldn’t fully understand as he walked with Yeongdeok to the café.
ꔚ
The reason Yeongdeok had initiated contact with Wonjin in the first place was to lay the groundwork for altering the original storyline of “Ha Wonjin.”
This novel primarily centered around Eungyeol, the main character, and the various candidates competing for his affection.
So Yeongdeok planned to derail the story by pairing the lead characters with different people.
As Yeongdeok opened the door to the café, he spotted the man he’d already arranged, using his money, sitting by the window.
This man bore a striking resemblance to Eungyeol.
His personality was… not at all like Eungyeol’s; he was more of a money-grubber, but Yeongdeok knew he’d imitate any behavior, even barking like a dog, for the right price.
Emulating Ha Wonjin’s ideal type was no problem for him.
Leading Wonjin toward the man, Yeongdeok explained his purpose for meeting today.
“The reason I wanted to meet today was that I had someone I thought you should meet.”
“Uh, what?”
“Go ahead, introduce yourself.”
At Yeongdeok’s gesture, the man quickly stood up and greeted Wonjin.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Seong Eungyeol.”
“Ah…”
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Yeongdeok. You’re as tall and gentle-looking as he said!”
Eungyeol acted exactly as Yeongdeok had instructed him, matching Wonjin’s ideal type.
With his resemblance to Eungyeol and his practiced, innocent demeanor that invoked a sense of protectiveness, Yeongdeok thought this was sure to captivate Wonjin.
Assuming Wonjin’s taste hadn’t changed, he’d surely feel a connection.
Observing Wonjin’s expression, however, Yeongdeok quickly noticed that Wonjin wasn’t exactly pleased.
“An introduction like this is… a bit much.”
“Not interested?”
“If you’d told me in advance, I would have declined.”
Wonjin scratched his temple, looking slightly embarrassed.
Yeongdeok assumed this reaction was due to the awkwardness of meeting someone new.
He was certain that a bit of conversation would change Wonjin’s mind.
“Just try talking to him. I’m sure you’ll like him.”
“Yeongdeok, this is…”
“That’s right, Wonjin! I’d love to get to know you better,” Eungyeol interjected, moving closer and grabbing Wonjin’s arm.
Caught off guard, Wonjin looked visibly uncomfortable.
Confident that Eungyeol could handle the rest, Yeongdeok left the two to have their conversation in peace.
As he walked out of the café, he ignored Wonjin’s calls behind him.
Outside, he turned on his phone, thinking he had made a good first move by introducing a new connection for Wonjin.
If Wonjin didn’t end up liking Eungyeol… well, he could just introduce someone else. It was no big deal.
As Yeongdeok strengthened his resolve, rain began to fall unexpectedly.
He was sure the forecast hadn’t mentioned rain.
Glancing around, he jogged to the nearby convenience store.
“Welcome,” the store clerk greeted him, moving a stack of plastic umbrellas closer to the counter.
Yeongdeok grabbed one, paid for it, and stepped back outside.
As he opened the flimsy umbrella to shield himself from the rain, he noticed how its frail structure shook in the wind.
The cheap plastic seemed likely to tear under the rain at any moment.
He was just about to dismiss it as a shoddy purchase when someone suddenly stepped into his path.
Breathless, the figure before him was none other than—
“…Ha Wonjin?”
“How could you just leave like that? I had to deal with the aftermath.”
Yeongdeok blinked in surprise, watching as the rain soaked Wonjin.
After a moment’s hesitation, he lifted his umbrella to cover him.
Just then, Wonjin reached out, grabbed Yeongdeok’s wrist, and pulled him closer.
Stumbling across the rain-slick pavement, Yeongdeok found himself face-to-face with Wonjin, whose expression was clearly displeased.
It seemed the introduction hadn’t gone over well.
“You didn’t like Eungyeol?”
“No.”
“Then, I can find someone else…”
“No need for any introductions.”
Wonjin tightened his grip on Yeongdeok’s wrist, causing a sharp, stinging sensation that Yeongdeok felt more intensely than the pain.
“Is it because you don’t trust the people I introduce you to?”
“It’s not about trust. This whole setup is too one-sided. Did you even consider my feelings? You just forced this introduction on me.”
Yeongdeok realized he had never truly considered how Wonjin would feel about his plan.
He’d been so focused on altering the story that Wonjin’s emotions hadn’t even crossed his mind.
As he grasped how inconsiderate he’d been, an image of Cha Dowon, the selfish character from the original story, flashed through his mind.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but… this little stunt? It was really disappointing.”
“…”
“I hope you don’t pull something like this again.”
Wonjin forced a bitter smile, leaving Yeongdeok feeling strangely unsettled.
The words of “PetitRolang” echoed faintly in his mind, as if to taunt him: ‘In the end, you’re just Cha Dowon.’
As Yeongdeok rubbed his temples, Wonjin’s concerned voice brought him back to reality.
“Are you all right?”
Complex, conflicting emotions stirred within Yeongdeok, making him dizzy.
He could feel tension gathering between his brows, but he forced a gentle smile.
He couldn’t afford to let things go sour with Wonjin—not like in the original story.
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
Hearing Yeongdeok’s genuine apology, the confusion and resentment in Wonjin’s heart began to dissipate, as if by magic.
“Thank you for apologizing. I’m sorry for speaking so harshly as well.”
With that, Wonjin finally released Yeongdeok’s wrist.
The rain’s chill seemed to make the spot where Wonjin had held him feel especially warm.
“It’s raining… Let me at least walk you home.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got an umbrella; I can just take the bus.”
“Then, let me walk you to the bus stop.”
Wonjin had offered to hold the umbrella, but Yeongdeok politely declined and tilted it toward him.
Unable to sway Yeongdeok’s resolve, Wonjin surrendered and walked in sync with him.
Sharing the flimsy umbrella, shoulders brushing, with the rain pouring relentlessly around them, Wonjin found himself caught in an indescribable mood.
Honestly, Yeongdeok pulling stunts was nothing new; Wonjin could have easily brushed off today’s eccentricity as “just another Cha Yeongdeok moment.”
But the fact that Yeongdeok had introduced him to someone else lingered in his mind, clouding his rationality and stirring something within.
Why was he feeling this way?
The more he pondered, the more it eluded him.
* * *
Awww
Love
Thanks
WONJIN IS STILL NOT AWARE OF HIS OWN FEELING???????? jfc, what a slowpoke.
HAREM+1
Thanks
WAIT PLEASE- PLEASE DONT LET THIS BE THE END OF THE WONJIN TIME THIS ISNT ENOUGH AT ALL !!