* * *
“Hey, you still haven’t left? Don’t you ever sleep, kid?”
Siwon, who had been dozing off on a makeshift bench by the villa entrance, lifted his head.
The elderly woman, whom he had seen both last night and this morning, spoke to him first.
“…My brother hasn’t come home yet.”
“Oh, you mean that decent young man who lives on the 4th floor? Have you tried calling him?”
“I have his phone with me.”
“So, did you report it?”
“I did, but they said they can’t file a missing person report for a grown man unless there’s a suicide note or something. They told me to wait 24 hours and call back.”
“Oh dear, what a mess. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. These young folks these days, they stay out drinking all night on the weekends, right?”
Siwon dropped his shoulders, bowing his head in thanks.
The elderly woman rummaged through her vest pocket and handed him a candy before heading inside.
Since Ki Taeryu left the hall last night, the atmosphere had been tense.
A group of men in black suits rushed out, and Siwon tried to follow, only to be stopped by the manager.
The manager yelled at him to finish up in the hall properly, but Siwon abandoned his trolley and bolted downstairs.
“Hyung! Junhee hyung!”
The third floor was unusually dark.
He followed the sound of footsteps down but by the time he arrived, the men in suits had disappeared.
Siwon ran around frantically, calling Junhee’s phone over and over.
He searched every nook and cranny until he pushed open the emergency exit for staff.
At that moment, he collided hard with someone coming out, sending both of them tumbling.
“Ah, damn it…”
The large man cursed, glaring at Siwon.
As the man reached for the bag he dropped during the fall, the sound of footsteps made him abandon it and run off.
From inside the bag, Siwon heard a familiar ringtone.
When he opened it, dozens of phones tumbled out.
Among them was Junhee’s phone.
“Hyung, when are you coming back…”
Just as Siwon sighed, staring at his reflection in the cracked screen, an expensive car that seemed out of place in front of the old villa slid to a stop.
He stared at the car in curiosity, and a familiar figure stepped out.
Siwon shot up from his seat.
“Hyung? Junhee hyung!”
“…Jin Siwon?”
“Are you okay, hyung? I was so worried!”
“I’m fine. What are you doing here at this hour…”
Junhee stopped mid-sentence when he saw the man who got out of the car next.
Siwon scowled.
“You were with that bastard this whole time? Do you know how worried I was when you just disappeared like that?”
What angered Siwon the most was that Junhee still smelled like Ki Taeryu’s smell.
“Jin Siwon, I understand you were worried, but watch your mouth.”
Though he despised it, Taeryu was still Junhee’s client.
As much as Siwon’s outburst was cathartic, it was the kind of thing to be reserved for when Taeryu wasn’t around.
“…Yes.”
When Junhee snapped at him with a cold expression, Siwon quickly shrank back, hanging his head.
Ki Taeryu approached with a deliberate click of his shoes, standing beside Junhee, and greeted Siwon with a smirk.
“Good to see you again, Junhee’s little dog.”
“What did you say?”
Siwon glared at Junhee as if asking, “Why is it okay for him and not for me?”
But Junhee couldn’t take sides. Life wasn’t that simple.
Especially for those with nothing, Junhee had learned that through experience. Sometimes, you had to bow first.
“Anyway, I’m fine now, so you don’t need to worry. Director, thank you for bringing me back. You must be tired, please head home.”
All Junhee could do was send Taeryu away quickly and calm Siwon down.
“You’re sending me off without even offering a cup of coffee after I brought you all this way?”
So that’s why he got out of the car. But Junhee wasn’t falling for such a cheap trick.
His apartment was the one place he treasured most, and he couldn’t let Taeryu into that space.
No matter what, he couldn’t compromise on this.
“…The place is a mess.”
“How disappointing. I spent all night taking care of you, you know?”
“Director, I’m sorry, but this is my private space. I ask for your understanding.”
“I dressed you, washed you, and put you to bed…”
“Fine. Come in.”
With a resigned sigh, Junhee motioned for him to come inside. Sometimes, life made you kneel.
“Understood. Let’s go.”
Junhee, as someone with more life experience, was about to show Siwon firsthand that life isn’t as easy as it seems.
Soon enough, Siwon would realize that sometimes you just have to bow when your boss tells you to or cater to the whims of clients.
After guiding them through the narrow hallway and seating them at the low table in front of the TV, Junhee walked into the kitchen.
His hands were rough as he poured water into the kettle, pressed the button, and tore open a coffee mix packet.
‘Is he doing this just to mess with me?’
Junhee couldn’t help but think that Ki Taeryu’s behavior was revenge for yesterday.
Sure, someone of his status might not be used to other people’s messes, but it was just a bit of jelly. It couldn’t have been that disgusting.
…probably.
Still, that’s why Junhee agreed to do him a favor.
‘‘…As long as it’s not something unreasonable or beyond my ability.’’
‘‘Of course. Do you really think I’d ask Assistant Yoo Junhee for something too difficult?’’
‘‘Then, what is it? Please just tell me.’’
‘‘I’m going to be sick next week.’’
‘‘What?’
‘‘So, I need Assistant Yoo to come over after work and take care of me. Simple, right?’’
Junhee swallowed hard. He immediately understood the true meaning behind Ki Taeryu’s words.
Ki Taeryu’s rut cycle.
There was no way he could accept this. It would be a disaster.
As Junhee hesitated, unsure of how to reject him, Ki Taeryu leaned in.
A low, lingering voice whispered near his ear.
‘You’re a beta, Junhee. It’s not like it matters for you.’
Junhee clenched his lips, fighting the urge to spit in either the coffee or his face.
But he held back, thinking Ki Taeryu was the type of lunatic who would probably enjoy it.
Without a tray, Junhee carried the coffee cups by their handles and placed them on the table in the living room.
“Thanks, hyung.”
Not that he had ever expected a word of gratitude, but Ki Taeryu skipped over even that, casually gesturing toward something with his chin.
“What’s that?”
It was a square, flat object, about 50 centimeters on each side.
“A gift from a client. I’m not sure what it is.”
In fact, Junhee had received it during a meeting with Moon Doyoung.
‘Deputy Manager Yoo, help me out, okay? I even got a present for you.’
Junhee had refused repeatedly, but Moon Doyoung was relentless.
Eventually, he shoved the gift into Junhee’s hands and left.
Junhee had been too busy to open it since bringing it home, so it remained in a corner of his living room.
“Seriously, hyung? You got a gift and didn’t even bother to check what it was? That’s kind of rude to the person who gave it to you.”
“Assistant Yoo Junhee really can be cold.”
“Hey, don’t insult my hyung right in front of him. And you are…?”
“Jin Siwon.”
When Junhee shot Siwon a cold glance, Siwon sulked and mumbled under his breath.
“…Hyung only acts this way toward me.”
“Alright, I’ll open it now.”
To ease the tension and cheer up Siwon, Junhee pulled on the yellow string and unwrapped the gift.
After peeling away the layers of stiff paper, what appeared was…
“Wow, Junhee hyung. This would really brighten up your place if you hung it on the wall.”
It was a painting of flowers. A delicate bloom in soft pink, layered and vibrant on the canvas.
That’s when Junhee remembered that Moon Doyoung was a gallery owner who exhibited and sold artwork.
“What kind of flower is this? It looks familiar.”
Like Junhee, Siwon wasn’t knowledgeable about flowers. The answer came from an unexpected source.
“Peonies.”
Ki Taeryu’s eyes were fixed on the red and white canvas.
Should Junhee thank him for the information or praise his knowledge?
As Junhee hesitated, Ki Taeryu continued.
“They symbolize wealth and prosperity… but also, they have no fragrance.”
As Ki Taeryu finished speaking, a heavy silence settled over the room.
Junhee met Ki Taeryu’s gaze, while Siwon looked between them, his lips moving soundlessly.
* * *
Thank you for the chapter
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