It might’ve been better to bring in an S-rank Guide and have him on standby, but with the reporters already on high alert, conducting a matching test at the Seoul branch would’ve sent the rumors spiraling out of control.
It wouldn’t matter if the match rate was high and a pairing happened—but if it wasn’t?
That would be a serious problem.
So they quietly requested the Busan branch to run the test instead, as discreetly as possible.
“You know it’s not allowed.”
“Still, you never know. And I heard his name is Haebom.”
Thump. Thump.
Wonho felt his heart drop. His fingertips turned cold, and the world felt like it froze.
He told himself not to get his hopes up, but the name Haebom paired with an S-rank Guide—how could he not?
“Haebom?”
“Yeah, but it’s not the name you’re looking for. You’re searching for Haebom. This one’s family name is Hae, given name Bom. Hey! Wonho! Where are you going? Don’t drive! I’ve already sent someone to the parking lot! You can’t drive like this, got it?!”
Before Jin Seyoung could finish, Wonho was already off the bed and rushing out of the lab.
He could hear Seyoung calling out behind him, but he couldn’t stop.
His heart was pounding hard enough to shake his whole body, screaming at him to head to Busan now.
The moment he reached the parking lot, he made a beeline for his car.
“Ah, hello—”
“Let’s go. Now.”
Wonho glanced at the man standing by his car with irritation.
The man, saying nothing more, just handed over the keys.
Even though Wonho had taken Guiding suppressants, his waves were still unstable.
If it were just the instability, he would’ve driven himself.
But the mere thought that Haebom might actually be in Busan made him hesitate—he might not be able to drive properly.
It would be disastrous if he got into an accident before seeing Haebom again.
As soon as Wonho settled into the back seat, the staff member climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Departing now.”
There was no reply, but the engine roared to life, and the car began to move.
Vrrrrrm—
Beep-beep. Beep.
The gear, the phone—they all kept ringing.
But Wonho ignored it all.
He was frustrated that he couldn’t just teleport.
Every time the traffic stalled, he wanted to blast all the cars in front of him out of the way—but of course, he couldn’t actually do that.
In the tense silence, the staff member drove nonstop, carrying Wonho toward Busan.
As they got closer to their destination, the suppressed waves beneath the Guiding drugs began to stir—as if to say, ‘what you’re looking for is here.’
“Yoon Haebom.”
The elevator doors slid open—and it was none other than Wonho standing there.
For a second, Haebom thought he was dreaming.
He blinked rapidly, reaching out instinctively.
They weren’t close enough for his hand to actually reach Wonho, but it did anyway—because Wonho stepped into the elevator the moment Haebom reached for him.
“Ah…”
His eyes widened, and tears instantly spilled over.
It was really Wonho.
His blurred vision only grew hazier as more tears welled up.
He blinked furiously, but it was no use.
“Yoon Haebom. Haebom.”
“Hnn… It’s really you, right? You’re really Wonho?”
“Of course, fuck. Who else would I be? Haah… I missed you.”
As Wonho said Haebom’s name again, Haebom threw his arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug.
After so long, they finally held each other again.
And it wasn’t just Haebom crying anymore.
Though Wonho let out a dry laugh at the absurdity of Haebom questioning his identity, his voice was thick with emotion as he reassured him over and over: ‘Yes, it’s me. It’s really me.’
“Stop crying. You’re gonna faint.”
The elevator began to ascend as Haebom clung to Wonho’s chest and sobbed.
But Haebom couldn’t care less about where they were going.
All that mattered was that Wonho was here, right in front of him.
“Hic, hrrgh… How did you get here? I was going to come to you… Oh! And why haven’t you been receiving Guiding…! Were you trying to die or something, you crazy bastard? Even if I’m not around, you should still get treatment. Look at your face—what happened to it? You used to be so handsome. Now it’s all messed up.”
“So you’re saying I’m not handsome anymore?”
“No! I mean, you still are handsome, but that’s not the point! Don’t change the subject!”
Haebom snapped, and Wonho let out a low chuckle.
It was the first real expression he’d shown in six months—other than a frown.
If Jin Seyoung saw this, he’d probably be shocked.
Haebom had wanted to ask: ‘What the hell took you so long? Do you know how hard it was for me?’
He wanted to demand: ‘Why did you leave me behind?’
But the moment he saw Wonho’s face, all those feelings melted away like snow.
‘He’s back—that’s all that matters now.’
All that was left to do was make sure he never left again.
Ding—
—Fourth floor.
“Huh?”
Haebom’s eyes went wide as he realized they’d returned to the floor he originally came from.
Wonho raised an eyebrow at his reaction.
Haebom instinctively burrowed deeper into Wonho’s chest, thinking: ‘No way… no one’s getting on, right?’
“Why…”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. What is this, a love hotel? You rent this elevator out or something? What a shitty day.”
The moment the doors opened, someone stepped in.
Even before hearing the voice, Haebom knew who it was—Cha Minjun.
His tone was laced with annoyance as he spoke.
Wonho glanced at him.
Minjun looked like he was about to snap back—what are you looking at*—but paused, squinting at him instead.
‘Why does he look so familiar?’ he muttered.
Then his face lit up.
“Oh! Wonho? It is you. What brings you all the way to Busan? Ahh… I get it. Can’t help it, huh? All because of that S-rank. You’re late, though. I already claimed him.”
Haebom flinched.
Wonho frowned, wondering who the hell is this guy to talk to me like that?
But his expression went cold at Minjun’s next words.
Minjun, still clueless that Haebom was in Wonho’s arms, kept grinning—until his smile froze, eyebrows furrowing.
Then came the string of curses.
“…You claimed him?”
Wonho muttered quietly.
Haebom lifted his head slightly and shook it.
He didn’t know if Wonho was aware that he had awakened as the S-rank Guide of the Busan branch, but right now, what mattered was clarifying: ‘No, that’s not true.’
Their eyes met, and Wonho gave a subtle nod.
“Well… if Esper Wonho’s interested, I guess I could let him have a little ride. They say Guiding doesn’t work on him, right? Famous for it. But the guy’s got a great body and nice skin. Bet he tastes great. And anyway, I’ve got a backup battery, so even if the sync rate is low—”
“Ah… this crazy motherfucker.”
Wonho had planned to stay quiet until Minjun got off, but that was out the window now.
It wasn’t the first time someone said disgusting things about him, so he could take it.
Or he thought he could.
He’d even kicked Minjun in the crotch once, so that was enough payback, right?
But reducing Lee Chanyang—that sweet, innocent kid who gave him everything—down to a backup battery?
That, he couldn’t forgive.
“That’s enough. Don’t dirty your hands. Or your eyes. I’ll clean your ears for you later.”
