* * *

Wonbeom postponed a meeting and went to Jingyeom’s hospital with Soohyuk.

They had heard that Jingyeom had woken up, but by the time they arrived, he had fallen asleep again, so they couldn’t see him awake.

The oxygen mask was still on, but the numerous wires that had been attached to his body were fewer now.

Jinwoo, who had stayed by Jingyeom’s side the whole time, was curled up asleep, as if he had finally let go of the tension.

Wonbeom, watching him, carefully lifted him onto a small bed.

Despite being moved, Jinwoo didn’t wake up, deep in sleep.

“It reminds me of before. Back then, too, Jingyeom was lying here like this, and you carried Secretary Baek.”

“…That’s right.”

Soohyuk approached the bed and quietly observed Jingyeom’s face, which he had seen daily.

It might have been his imagination, but Jingyeom’s face looked peaceful somehow.

“After worrying everyone, how can he have such a peaceful expression?”

Feeling a bit annoyed, Soohyuk bent his index finger and lightly poked Jingyeom’s cheek.

The fullness in his cheeks had disappeared during his time in the hospital.

His hand moved down to Jingyeom’s now longer hair, and he gently rubbed it between his fingers.

“When he wakes up, I guess we’ll need to cut his hair. Or maybe not. It actually suits him like this.”

“Stop touching the sleeping guy.”

“I’m annoyed. I came here because I heard he was awake, but he’s just sleeping. I swear, I’ve seen him lying down more than awake.”

Despite his complaints, Soohyuk’s gaze toward Jingyeom was incredibly warm. His true feelings seemed to seep through his eyes, and soon enough, his expression softened.

While Jingyeom was lying in the hospital, Soohyuk had become the number one person to avoid at work.

Usually friendly and easygoing, Soohyuk’s sudden cold demeanor took everyone by surprise, even the executives.

Some even avoided him altogether, as if the side of Soohyuk that had been trying to help Wonbeom become chairman was all a lie.

It wasn’t just his expression or behavior that changed, but the way he handled work.

Before, he would handle things flexibly, trying to make everything go smoothly, but for two months, he adhered strictly to the rules, not tolerating even the smallest mistakes.

Still, when he was with Wonbeom, he would occasionally crack jokes and smile, but that was the exception.

The moment it was over, he’d erase his expression and focus solely on work.

“Well, at least he’s awake. Now, we need to make sure he doesn’t stay in bed like this anymore.”

Soohyuk murmured softly as he brushed back Jingyeom’s hair.

“So, is today the day?”

After properly adjusting Jinwoo on the bed, Wonbeom stood next to Jingyeom’s bed and asked.

His gaze also stayed on Jingyeom.

The last time they met, Jingyeom had seemed a bit dazed, but he had smiled brightly and waved goodbye.

He had empathized with Wonbeom’s pain and tried to comfort him.

Even though they hadn’t shared many conversations, mainly because Wonbeom wasn’t very talkative, Jingyeom had been so chatty that Wonbeom never felt uncomfortable around him.

‘…It was hard to resist.’

Whenever Jingyeom would wash him, Wonbeom had to muster all his strength to hide his reactions.

Whenever his body’s natural responses threatened to reveal themselves, he had to discreetly cover up with cushions or blankets.

Each time, Jingyeom would think he had hurt him and would be extra careful while washing him.

If Jingyeom had tried washing his legs, he might have been found out, but since Wonbeom insisted that he could wash below his waist with water, Jingyeom had always only washed his upper body.

Remembering that time, Wonbeom found himself smiling faintly.

Back then, he couldn’t properly express his feelings because of the circumstances.

‘But now…’

President Kim was currently tied up in legal battles, still clashing with prosecutors.

Despite the mountain of evidence, Kim’s connections with the prosecutors, police, and legal circles meant that his arrest hadn’t gone through yet.

Wonbeom still had to be cautious, but now that Jingyeom was here, their weak point had already been exposed, and they were doing everything to protect it.

Wonbeom found it fascinating how Jingyeom had made him feel this way, and he wanted to know more.

He thought work would eventually dull these feelings, but he had been wrong.

Now, he found himself waiting for news about Jingyeom, and even though he didn’t want to admit it, he was envious of Soohyuk’s boldness.

He was even envious of Jinwoo, despite him being only a brother in name, to the point where he thought he might be going crazy.

‘I don’t want to give up anything…’

The reason Wonbeom hadn’t approached Jingyeom more closely was because of Daejeong.

He couldn’t let all his efforts to gain Daejeong go to waste.

If Jingyeom had really become a hostage, would he have chosen Jingyeom over Daejeong?

It was a question he had never considered before.

If someone other than Jingyeom had been offered as a bargaining chip, he would have chosen Daejeong.

Even if it was someone who had always been by his side.

‘Isn’t it time to be a little greedy?’

Now that he was in this position, danger would always be lurking around.

There was no avoiding it.

He would have to live with his nerves constantly on edge.

‘I hope it’s not too late.’

He knew well of Soohyuk’s affectionate advances.

And even though Jinwoo wasn’t a real brother, it wouldn’t change the fact that the person Jingyeom trusted and relied on most was Jinwoo.

Even if Jingyeom had collapsed from shock, all of Jinwoo’s actions until now had been sincere.

Determined to act, Wonbeom gently grabbed Soohyuk’s arm, the one that was stroking Jingyeom’s cheek.

“Stop touching him.”

“If you’re jealous, why don’t you do it too?”

“He’s going to wear out.”

“What?”

“His face.”

Soohyuk looked at Wonbeom like he was crazy, then glanced between his own arm and Jingyeom’s face, realizing what Wonbeom meant, and let out a breath of disbelief.

“Wait… You’re saying his face will wear out if I keep touching him?”

Wonbeom didn’t answer, but his expression made it clear he was serious.

Soohyuk let out a bigger laugh.

He couldn’t believe the absurdity of what he had just heard.

And the fact that it was coming from Wonbeom made it even more ridiculous.

Wonbeom had definitely changed.

He used to not care about others at all, but after meeting Jinwoo, he started to change little by little, and now, after meeting Jingyeom, he had finally become more human—at least in Soohyuk’s eyes.

Wonbeom used to frustrate him by not speaking his mind, but now, he casually voiced his thoughts.

As a friend, Soohyuk welcomed the change.

But hearing him say things like “he’ll wear out if you touch him” was a step too far.

‘To think he’s changed two people.’

Soohyuk smiled softly, gazing at Jingyeom as if he were the most precious person in the world.

‘But let’s stop now.’

Wonbeom’s change was welcomed, but seeing him fall deeper for Jingyeom was something Soohyuk didn’t want.

Before, Wonbeom had many obstacles that prevented him from approaching Jingyeom properly, so Soohyuk let it be.

Among those obstacles were Daejeong, Chairman Tak, and Jinwoo.

Wonbeom’s personality also played a role.

But now, the height of those obstacles had lowered compared to before.

Even though Soohyuk had proven that he held a bigger place in Jingyeom’s heart, he couldn’t let his guard down.

Soohyuk stood up, brushing his hair back with one hand as it slipped down while he bent forward.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, go get back to work, Chairman. I have urgent matters to take care of.”

“Let me go with you.”

Even though Wonbeom understood without being told, Soohyuk firmly refused.

“Doesn’t matter how you look at it, the Chairman can’t be seen out and about. What if someone takes a picture?”

“……Then do it properly.”

“Don’t worry, go back to the company. I’ll contact you when it’s over.”

The warmth that had been present on Soohyuk’s face disappeared as he walked out of the hospital room.

---

The five people who had been imprisoned were now dragged somewhere else without knowing why, and forced to kneel, bound in place.

They had no idea why they were taken, or who had brought them here.

They could only speculate, based on their conversations, that either Tak Wonbeom or President Kim was behind it.

However, seeing that Choi Sanghoon and Im Gipyo—who had no connection to President Kim—were also there, they realized Jingyeom was involved and narrowed down the kidnapper to Tak Wonbeom.

The five, sitting in a row, exchanged glances.

They had planned many escapes while locked in a warehouse but had never succeeded.

Yet, they promised not to give up and to run the moment they saw a chance.

As they waited for that chance, a chilling sound that made their hair stand on end echoed as the warehouse door opened.

The light that burst in with the midday sun revealed Soohyuk and Lee Cheongo.

Soohyuk stared coldly at Jeong Sanho with empty, emotionless eyes. Jeong Sanho immediately recognized both Soohyuk and Lee Cheongoh standing before him.

Im Gipyo also recognized Lee Cheongoh and trembled as memories from the past resurfaced.

The other three, who had no idea who the two newcomers were, darted their eyes around, trying to grasp the situation.

“Mm, mmm! Mmmm!”

Jeong Sanho’s muffled screams, his mouth taped shut, filled the empty warehouse.

Soohyuk squinted his eyes at the sound.

“I thought you were on the verge of death… but you’re still lively.”

* * *