The office of Association Team 1 was, as always, a scene of absolute chaos.
The Espers of Team 1, their dark circles hanging heavy down their faces, let out deep, rhythmic sighs as they pounded away at their keyboards.
“I’d rather just go close a Gate…”
“Ugh, I actually miss the monsters.”
The Espers were losing their minds under a mountain of paperwork.
Since their team leader, Hajin, had started dating, he had become increasingly reluctant to show up at the Association.
Now, he only appeared when a Gate opened, or he would drop by occasionally to blast through a massive pile of administrative work all at once.
Naturally, this meant the Team 1 Espers had more days off, but on the days they did work, the intensity was doubled.
Every time they stepped into the office, it felt like they were paying for their sins.
“Esper Lee Jeonghyeon.”
“Who is… gah! Team Leader!!”
Jeonghyeon, who had grown as sensitive as a cornered animal amidst the reports, whipped his head around toward the person who had dared to call him during such a busy moment.
Upon realizing it was Hajin, his face went pale, and he scrambled to his feet.
“You’re here?”
“Team Leader, welcome!!”
The “Hajin Effect” was remarkable.
The Espers, who had looked like zombies just seconds ago, stood up straight and began processing work with sudden, sharp efficiency.
Jeonghyeon turned even whiter when he saw Hajin beckon him with a single finger.
Hajin had softened considerably since getting together with the lover they had seen a few times, but Jeonghyeon was a loyal underling who had been with Hajin since the very beginning of his leadership.
Hajin’s “reign of terror” was engraved into the very marrow of Jeonghyeon’s bones.
Besides, word had it that the Team 2 Leader’s face had been a mess of bruises and cuts recently, and apparently, that was Hajin’s handiwork.
It was a clear reminder that even if Hajin was dating, his core personality hadn’t gone anywhere.
Frightened, Jeonghyeon followed Hajin into his spacious private office, accompanied by the pitying gazes of his colleagues.
Hajin’s private office was as bleak as ever, filled with stark, monochromatic furniture—except for one corner that was now stacked high with large boxes.
“Move them.”
“Pardon?”
Jeonghyeon, trembling while glancing curiously at the boxes, asked back reflexively.
Immediately, cold blue eyes narrowed at him.
“I-I’m sorry!”
Jeonghyeon practically jumped, starting to move before Hajin could crush him.
He felt incredibly lucky that Hajin wasn’t sending him alone to a Gate site or “personally training” him in the gym to improve his reflexes.
Hurriedly grabbing a box cutter, he started with the largest box.
Inside were the components of a white, high-quality sofa.
‘Furniture?’
Jeonghyeon blinked stupidly but soon pushed the thought aside, assuming the leader was finally filling up his empty office.
He was just a poor slave bound to his leader’s commands.
He assembled the sofa in no time.
Sensing where it would look best, he positioned it in a well-lit spot that didn’t look cluttered and then peeked at Hajin.
Hajin was looking down at the sofa with a steady gaze; Jeonghyeon flinched, but the leader didn’t look displeased.
In fact, he was stroking his chin, looking almost… pleased.
‘I must have placed it well.’
His shoulders straightened with pride as he opened the next box.
Then he paused.
Inside were incredibly soft-looking cushions and blankets, meticulously packaged.
It made sense to have cushions for a sofa, but the quantity was staggering.
It was enough to cover the entire L-shaped sofa and then some.
One could practically bury themselves and sleep in that mountain of fluff.
‘Is he planning to sleep in his office?’
These soft items were a far cry from the tastes Hajin had displayed until now.
Jeonghyeon carefully unwrapped them and arranged them on the sofa.
When he opened the remaining boxes, his jaw dropped.
The boxes were filled with bright, cream-colored decor items that all looked like expensive luxury goods.
They were in white tones that suited the room, but… what was all this?
A realization flashed through his mind.
—I am Chae Suhyeon.
‘Is the boyfriend coming?’
Hajin’s lover was quite famous within Team 1.
Although everyone had been terrifyingly silenced after a rumor almost broke out, they still talked about him frequently among themselves.
The man who had popped out of a Gate and somehow became Shin Hajin’s lover—a man so fair, cute, and beautiful it was hard to believe he was with that Shin Hajin.
Yet, despite his appearance, he was an incredible S-class guide.
There were even rumors that he had volunteered to guide a lower-ranked Esper team recently.
Of course, those Espers probably had no idea he was an S-class, but Jeonghyeon had been deeply envious.
As an Esper himself, he wanted to receive guiding from that man at least once.
Of course, if he actually tried, Hajin would surely kill him.
It seemed almost certain the boyfriend was coming.
Why else would Hajin buy such… such fluffy things?
“Esper Lee Jeonghyeon.”
Once Jeonghyeon had finished decorating the room and cleared away the debris of the boxes, Hajin called out to him.
“Yes!”
Jeonghyeon answered sharply, but he stumbled at the next question.
“Do you have a significant other?”
Jeonghyeon unintentionally made a tearful face.
He didn’t know why his leader was poking at a sore spot.
He had been harshly dumped by his personal guide just a few days ago and had been drinking every evening with teammates or friends.
Of course, Hajin didn’t care about that at all.
“Do you think he’ll like it?”
The next question came without waiting for Jeonghyeon’s answer.
Jeonghyeon felt a wave of gloom thinking about his former guide.
“Answer.”
“Ah, oh, yes! Of course, I think he’ll love it tremendously!!!”
Startled by the low voice and the furrowed brow that asked if he had to repeat himself, Jeonghyeon answered in a rush.
“I-is Guide Chae Suhyeon coming over?”
In his shock, he let slip a question he shouldn’t have asked.
Hajin, who hadn’t even looked at Jeonghyeon until now, tilted his head and stared at him.
His blue gaze narrowed.
It was a lethal look, as if asking how a mere thing like him dared to utter that name.
“That shouldn’t be a matter for Esper Lee Jeonghyeon to concern himself with.”
“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry!!!”
Jeonghyeon, hiccuping and sobbing in response to Hajin’s low growl, was promptly kicked out.
‘He always picks on only me.’
That day, after Hajin left, Jeonghyeon sat huddled in a corner, sobbing while his teammates tried to comfort him.
Hajin had decorated the room as much as possible so that Suhyeon could stay close to him and feel comfortable in his private office.
He had picked out the decorations himself.
Since Suhyeon slept a lot when he was at home, Hajin ordered a high-quality sofa and a massive amount of cushions and blankets.
And while it wasn’t exactly for an anniversary, he had prepared a gift while he was at it.
He had ordered a ring.
If anyone else had heard, they might have been shocked—asking, “You’ve been dating and doing everything else, and you still didn’t have rings?”—but this was Hajin’s first relationship.
He was barely building up his knowledge through romance movies and books.
Suhyeon would likely be happy to receive it, but he didn’t seem particularly interested in events or gifts.
Having realized the significance of rings quite late, Hajin wanted to go get them with Suhyeon immediately.
On the other hand, he wanted to surprise him with a gift without saying anything.
A “surprise gift.”
It was a soft, fuzzy term that he never thought would apply to him, but when Suhyeon was involved, things were different.
He already knew the ring size, since he spent all his time playing with Suhyeon’s hands.
Hajin had subtly asked about his tastes so Suhyeon wouldn’t notice.
—Hmm. I don’t usually wear them, but I like everything.
It was a very “Suhyeon” answer, though it was the most difficult answer to work with.
Regardless, Hajin scoured through the designs of high-end foreign brands to find the one that suited them best.
He didn’t want a mass-produced product, so he placed a custom order.
Once the luxury brands heard Hajin was the one who would be wearing it, they competed to start the custom production.
Upon receiving a text that a package had arrived at the first-floor lobby, Hajin stood up from his private office, which had been transformed into a warm space over the past few days.
Since it was a gift for Suhyeon, he didn’t even want to send a subordinate.
It was only right that he handle it with his own hands.
Walking down the hallway with a satisfied heart, Hajin paused unexpectedly as the elevator doors opened.
A man was inside.
The pale man was wearing provocative clothing that exposed his collarbone and shoulders.
Recognizing the familiar appearance, Hajin remembered that this was a guide who had appeared before him quite often.
He also remembered that his name was Lee Jaeram.
Now that he saw him, he remembered.
He wondered why this dull, pale face hadn’t immediately come to mind when Suhyeon mentioned him.
—Let’s go home. Fast.
‘To think a thing like that made Suhyeon make that kind of face.’
Hajin let out a low, mocking laugh as he stepped into the elevator.
“Are you Lee Jaeram?”
The dark eyes, which had been looking elsewhere as if they hadn’t seen Hajin, shook as they fixed on him.
Ting.
The elevator doors closed, sealing the two men inside.
