* * *

Soohyuk approached Wonbeom, who was still working.

“You weren’t working with the door unlocked all this time, were you?”

“…”

“What would you do if someone caught you using the laptop?”

“They’d think I’m just browsing the internet.”

“…With the cable sticking out like that? Ah, but I guess Jingyeom might not notice.”

Although it was a bit inconvenient, it was better than repeatedly switching the signal jammer on and off, so Wonbeom put up with it.

Wonbeom wasn’t good with technology, so in the beginning, he had help from Mrs. Jeong.

She neatly rolled up the internet cable and hid it under the bed along with the laptop, and Wonbeom would take it out to work when necessary.

“Where’s Jingyeom?”

“He’s sleeping. Once he’s out, he doesn’t wake up easily.”

“That seems to be the case.”

Jingyeom’s phone battery had long died due to the lack of a charger, so naturally, he couldn’t use the alarm function either.

His day only began when Mrs. Jeong woke him up for breakfast.

If left alone, he’d sleep well into the afternoon.

Even while talking, Wonbeom didn’t take his eyes off the laptop screen. With his limited working hours, he was a bit behind on tasks.

Soohyuk and Secretary Yang handled the less important matters, but even those documents piled up considerably.

“Did anyone contact you?”

Soohyuk had left his phone turned off in the car.

With the signal jammed, even if someone contacted him, he wouldn’t receive it.

That’s why he asked Wonbeom, who could use the messenger.

“Secretary Yang asked when you were coming back.”

“Geez. I said I’d leave at dawn, why the rush?”

“Mr. Kim woke up.”

“Really? That’s a relief. If it weren’t for him back then… who knows what would’ve happened…”

If Mr. Kim hadn’t turned the steering wheel in time, Wonbeom might have ended up in the ICU.

Thankfully, Wonbeom escaped with minor injuries, but Mr. Kim was now in the ICU.

To Wonbeom, Mr. Kim was nothing short of a lifesaver.

The person currently in the ICU was Mr. Kim, but to the public, it was known as Wonbeom.

Although he felt sorry for Mr. Kim’s family, they were told that Mr. Kim was on a business trip overseas.

Having checked all the emails, Wonbeom closed the laptop.

“When you get back, keep a tight lid on things.”

Soohyuk nodded in agreement.

“Anything else?”

“There is. This.”

Wonbeom handed him a note that Mrs. Jeong had left earlier.

Soohyuk’s brows furrowed tightly before relaxing again as he read the contents.

“They fired Director Kim? President Kim did?”

(TL: Author didn’t write the first name so it is quite confusing who is who. And there is also the driver Kim. Like couldn’t just the author use different surnames?)

Everyone knew how much President Kim doted on Director Kim.

It made sense, given they were siblings, but their bond was extraordinary.

Many people couldn’t understand why the shrewd President Kim hadn’t let go of his reckless brother yet.

Last time, Director Kim made headlines when he refused to comply with a DUI check, causing a ruckus.

And that wasn’t all—there were violent incidents and gambling, too.

If President Kim hadn’t cleaned up his messes, Director Kim would’ve been kicked out of the company long ago.

Soohyuk rubbed his chin with a grave expression.

“…It seems he’s getting rid of anyone who might pose a problem before the general shareholders’ meeting. I thought it was just a rumor, but he really got rid of Director Kim. We need to start moving too, don’t we?”

It wasn’t completely unexpected, so they had prepared countermeasures.

With the director’s position vacant, they could place one of their own people in the spot, but it required behind-the-scenes negotiations with other shareholders.

“I’ll find out where Director Kim’s shares are going.”

While it would naturally go to President Kim, it was better to confirm just in case there was someone else involved.

Soohyuk looked around and brought over a stainless steel trash can.

After ensuring it was empty, he set the note on fire and placed it inside.

“That lighter…”

“What? You remember it?”

“How could I not recognize that worn-out lighter? Why does a non-smoker even carry that around?”

“It’s for mental stability.”

Soohyuk smirked as he rubbed the worn-out Zippo lighter with his thumb.

“Sometimes it’s needed for things like this.”

The note quickly burned to ash. Waving away the acrid smoke, Soohyuk opened the window.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

As the chilly air rushed into the room, Soohyuk exaggeratedly shivered.

Winter was just around the corner, yet the sound of insects still echoed.

The rustling leaves sounded eerie as they swayed in the wind.

With no bright lights around, the stars in the sky were unusually visible.

Looking up at the sky, Soohyuk thought it would be nice to go stargazing with Jingyeom someday.

Even while talking seriously about the company, Jingyeom naturally came to mind.

By now, he was used to this flow, so it didn’t surprise him.

While Soohyuk looked out the window, Wonbeom separated the laptop from the internet cable and placed it back under the bed.

His side ached slightly as he bent over, but it had improved compared to before.

“Be careful when you go back.”

“Worried I might get hurt?”

“If something happens to you, it’ll be a huge blow to our side.”

“When it’s like this, you can just say you’re worried. Why tack on so much extra talk?” Soohyuk grumbled. The cold wind blowing from behind cleared his mind.

He checked his watch — thirty minutes had already passed.

Time was precious when he was with Jingyeom, and the fact that he had been stuck here for thirty minutes made him click his tongue.

Thinking that there wasn’t much time left with Jingyeom, if only he could, he wanted to grasp every fleeting moment.

“I’m going to see Jingyeom.”

“…Didn’t you say he’s sleeping?”

Wonbeom frowned slightly, making Soohyuk twitch his lips.

“Unlike you, I don’t have much time left to see him. Oh, right. From now on, don’t stay in the room alone with him. If you need help, ask someone else.”

The thought of them together still lingered in his mind, and the fact that he had to leave only made him more anxious.

“Don’t do anything strange to him. You know there are a lot of CCTVs here, right?”

Soohyuk pointed to his own eyes and then jabbed his finger in Wonbeom’s direction.

“Don’t forget I’m watching.”

“Instead of monitoring, you should get your affairs in order. It’d be even better if the boss’s seat is vacant by the time I’m up there.”

“Do you think that’s possible? I’m in touch with a decent prosecutor right now. If I throw in some evidence, he’ll take care of it himself. If he can’t handle a set table, then there’s a problem.”

At Wonbeom’s brazen words, Soohyuk let out a dry laugh.

“I’ll take your farewell in advance. Thanks. Don’t come out. Before you sleep, make sure to close the window. You’ll catch a cold.”

Soohyuk, who was already by the door, said what he had to and then waved as he left the room.

Although not in bed, Jingyeom seemed to be in a deep sleep.

He hadn’t stirred even as the door opened and Soohyuk approached.

He had been dozing on the sofa earlier when Soohyuk left the room, but it must have been uncomfortable, so now he was lying down completely.

Since Jingyeom was sleeping so soundly, Soohyuk couldn’t bring himself to wake him.

He sat on the floor in front of the sofa.

Sitting down like this made it easier to take in Jingyeom’s face, making it a decent vantage point.

“Sleep well.”

Leaning his arm on the edge of the sofa, Soohyuk propped his chin on his hand.

The room was rather quiet since they’d paid attention to soundproofing.

He had often seen Jingyeom like this in the hospital room, and seeing him like this again after so long felt strange.

Back then, Jingyeom had been sick, and now he was just sleeping — but somehow, the two overlapped in his mind.

Even though Jingyeom wasn’t in hospital clothes, Soohyuk’s anxiety resurfaced, making him cautiously place a finger under Jingyeom’s nose.

Feeling the faint breath, he let out a short sigh of relief.

“Secretary Baek must have lived his whole life like this.”

For the first time, a flicker of sympathy for Jinwoo sparked within him.

Knowing that someone you love is unwell is quite difficult.

Of course, Jingyeom would be fine as long as he took care of himself, but it was like living with a ticking time bomb.

He had to be cautious about everything and always stay alert.

He had hoped for Jingyeom to see him off before leaving, but Jingyeom was sleeping so soundly that he didn’t want to wake him.

Instead, he decided to stay and just take in Jingyeom’s peaceful face.

His eyebrows, like his hair, were a light brown shade, and his long eyelashes cast a delicate shadow.

Though his nose wasn’t particularly high, the slightly rounded tip made it endearing, and his lower lip was a bit fuller than the upper.

“Such a pretty boy.”

Though he hadn’t applied anything, his lips were naturally red and glossy, making Soohyuk’s gaze linger.

“Let’s not become a pervert.”

Burying his face in his arm, Soohyuk squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them quickly.

He had to take in as much of Jingyeom’s face as he could.

As he watched, Jingyeom shifted slightly, turning towards Soohyuk.

He curled up his arms and legs a bit, seeming cold.

Since he wasn’t planning to wake him, Soohyuk figured it would be better to let him sleep comfortably in bed.

He carefully lifted Jingyeom.

Despite his effort, Jingyeom was surprisingly light.

Worried that Jingyeom might wake up, he cautiously walked to the bed and set him down.

He was about to pull the covers up to keep him warm when Jingyeom’s eyelids twitched slightly and slowly opened.

“…Are you leaving?”

Jingyeom murmured, not fully opening his eyes.

Soohyuk, smiling at how adorable he looked, tucked him in gently.

“Not yet. I’ll leave in an hour.”

Jingyeom, half-opened eyes blinking rapidly as if trying to fight off sleep, took a deep breath and exhaled.

Soohyuk settled down on the floor by the bed, just like he had by the sofa, and met Jingyeom’s gaze.

The trembling of his eyelids showed just how hard Jingyeom was trying to stay awake.

Watching quietly, Soohyuk spoke with a smile in his voice.

“Just sleep. I’ll go on my own.”

“…But.”

“If you really want to see me off, just give me a hug now.”

It was a comment made without expectation, but the blanket shifted, and Jingyeom’s arm slipped out.

He tried to get up, moving his upper body awkwardly, but gave up and simply extended both arms.

“…Really going to hug me?”

Instead of answering, Jingyeom nodded.

Not letting this chance slip by, Soohyuk stood up and sat on the edge of the bed, draping Jingyeom’s arm over his shoulder.

When the arm, lacking strength, began to slip, Soohyuk gently pulled Jingyeom closer.

Leaning weakly against Soohyuk’s chest, Jingyeom was clearly still half asleep.

“It feels nice, even if it’s just in your sleep.”

“…”

“Jingyeom-ah, I like you a lot.”

Murmuring his feelings quietly, Soohyuk slowly stroked Jingyeom’s back and then hugged him tightly.

The force of it made Jingyeom’s eyes flutter open slightly.

“Waiting is really tough, but I’ll try to hold on.”

Jingyeom, blinking slowly, gradually straightened his posture.

As he moved, Soohyuk loosened his hold.

The light brown eyes captured Soohyuk’s joyous expression.

A moment ago, he had only wanted to fall asleep like this, but now, in an instant, the drowsiness was gone.

That face. That expression. Those eyes he saw just moments ago.

Jingyeom found himself staring at Soohyuk, mesmerized without even realizing it.

“Who told you to look at me like that? It makes me want to devour you.”

At Soohyuk’s words, Jingyeom’s eyes widened in surprise before he squeezed them shut.

“…I didn’t mean close them.”

Seeing Jingyeom’s shut eyes, all the longing he had been holding back surged like a tidal wave over Soohyuk.

“…”

His hand cautiously wrapped around Jingyeom’s nape.

As his touch brushed against Jingyeom’s skin, his shoulders twitched.

Staring at the tightly closed red lips before him, Soohyuk slowly leaned in.

Their lips met in an instant.

* * *