SPW 21

“Sarang, when is the call-up date?

“In three days.

“So October 8th in Korean time.

“…

“And the matches?

Florian, who had pulled out his phone to check the schedule, looked at Sarang as he raised his golden eyebrows. His blue eyes held a hint of a smile.

“Tell me in Korean time, Sarang.

“…October 10th, and the 13th. There are two friendly matches on those days.

“Why are you telling me this just now?

Despite the gentle tone, Sarang could not answer readily.

“The Korea Football Association must have been your guarantor.

Sarang felt a little embarrassed.

“Did the KFA withdraw their guarantee today?

Florian correctly inferred the KFA’s petty trick from just a few circumstances.

“The KFA wants to create a buzz, but what do you want, Sarang?

Sarang, who had been shamefully averting his eyes and letting them wander aimlessly, lifted his gaze.

“Tell me, Sarang. What do you want?

Is it okay for me to say it out loud? To honestly say what I want in front of this person.

“I want to be on the national team roster.

The more he spoke, the firmer Sarang’s voice became, and his intonation was precise.

“I want to go to Korea and play in the matches, no matter what.

A streetlight outside illuminated the inside of the car. Florian silently gazed at Sarang’s eyes, which glittered in the yellow light, and then smiled.

“Alright. Let’s do that, Sarang.

“What…?

“I have appointments on October 8th that can’t be postponed. The same goes for the 10th and the 13th.

Sarang, who had answered with little expectation, did not understand what he meant for a moment. The light from the streetlight once again touched his grape-black pupils. Even in the faint light and the confusing situation, Sarang’s eyes were sparkling with health and brightness. For some reason, protecting that felt like a small mission to Florian.

“However, Sarang’s request is also a matter that I cannot postpone.

Silence. Soon, a quiet black ripple gently spread across his silently blinking eyes.

“Let’s go together, Sarang.

“…

By the time they had just passed the center of Canton, the quiet commotion that had stirred in Sarang’s eyes had subsided.

“Why…?

Sarang was asking fearfully.

“Why are you going with me?

To the question laden with so many emotions, Florian answered as if it were a matter of course.

“Because I am Sarang’s legal guardian and also his protector.

“…

At the perfect answer, Sarang unknowingly felt a sense of relief. At the same time, it felt as if somewhere in his chest was throbbing.

“Thank you. Lian.

“Anytime.

Florian responded lightly to the sincere thanks and looked out the window. As if that were a signal, the car that had been driving down the road slid to a stop at the side of the street.

“The mansion is just 30 minutes more from here, Sarang.

“…Ah.

Sarang, understanding belatedly, blinked his eyes rapidly.

“I have more on my schedule, so I have to go back.

“…Lian.

“There’s no need to thank me. Taking responsibility for Sarang is my duty.

Sarang was at a loss for words at the gentle voice.

Why… is he being so good to me? If he was just using me as a trophy to screw with Matthew Kaia, it was all the more questionable. Even if he only pretended to be nice, people wouldn’t have any suspicions. He didn’t have to go so far as to say that taking responsibility for me was his duty.

He could not understand it at all, but whatever the reason, Sarang did not want to refuse Florian’s goodwill.

“Bailey will visit tomorrow. He’ll take care of all the legal issues and procedures, so Sarang, you just focus on managing your condition. You have another match tomorrow, don’t you?

So he knew the match schedule too. Because I… am Lian’s duty.

That realization resolved, at least a little, the anxiety and doubt that had remained inside Sarang like dregs. On the other hand, a sense of emptiness washed over him. Florian, who interpreted the gaze directed at him in his own way, playfully suggested.

“Hmm. When you’re truly grateful, you can just smile without a word, Sarang.

Sarang, unable to interpret the emptiness that occupied a corner of his heart, gave Florian a sweet smile. Florian, who raised his eyebrows slightly as if he hadn’t really expected it, got out of the car. And then he got into another car that had stopped close behind. It seemed to have been following them all the way from the Count’s estate. It seemed the plan from the beginning was to get out and switch cars in the middle of the trip after their conversation was over.

Sarang, who turned his body to look at the rear window, could not hide his disappointment. The car carrying Florian quickly moved away, and even that was hard to see, hidden by the dark window tinting. When it had soon disappeared completely from view, Sarang, who had sat up straight, blinked his large eyes.

‘Because I am Sarang’s legal guardian and also his protector.’

I should be happy, so why does my stomach sting and ache?

‘There’s no need to thank me. Taking responsibility for Sarang is my duty.’

Unable to find the reason for that either, Sarang was quietly carried away in the car.

[Kim Sarang, Florian Arrive in Korea Together!]

[Florian Dietrich Wellington, Arriving with Football Player Kim Sarang?!]

[The Young Duke and the Premier Leaguer’s Suspicious Trip Together!]

[Is the Young Duke Florian Really His Legal Guardian??]

[Young Duke Florian Mobilizes a Private Jet for Sarang!]

[Will Florian Stay Until His Summons is Canceled?]

[A Modern-Day Cinderella, Kim Sarang! His Football Skills are a Question Mark?]

“They’re having a field day, a real field day.

Jaehyeok, who had scanned through the sports news headlines while sitting in the airport lobby, muttered with a displeased face and checked the time. It was almost time for the private jet to arrive. It had seemed like they were giving him the cold shoulder, but mobilizing a private jet to accompany him was a surprise even to Jaehyeok. Are they trying to save face, be it the Ducal family or the Wellington family? Jaehyeok, who had no great fondness for the upper class that felt so unreal, uncrossed his legs.

“Should be about time for them to come out, right?

“Looks like it. The reporters are busy.

Jaehyeok answered nonchalantly to the question from Jeonghun, the only executive with him and a younger guy he knew, who was sitting beside him, and headed toward the gate where the reporters were swarming.

“Oh? They’re coming out!

“Shoot, shoot, shoot!

“Hey, get out of the way! How can you block the view!

“Ah, fuck! Who’s pushing?

“Hey! Don’t push, don’t push, don’t push, you bastard!

“NYC! Lower your camera! Lower that camera over there!

“Are you the only one filming! Hey! Kang Yeongbeom! You son of a bitch, aren’t you going to lower your camera?

“Ah. Hey, if we’ve both quit the company, let’s have some mutual respect!

“That rude bastard!

“Oh, oh, they’re coming out! They’re coming out!

“Player Kim Sarang! Player Kim Sarang!

“Is the person accompanying you Florian?

“Player Kim Sarang! Is the person next to you your legal guardian?

“Player Kim Sarang! Player Kim Sarang!

It had been expected, but Jaehyeok, who was watching the scene, which was no different from a madhouse, as if watching a fire on the other side of the river, nudged Jeonghun’s side with his elbow.

“Manager Jeong Jeonghun. Call our security team, and go get more of the airport security team, too.

“What are you going to do, hyung?

“What do you mean, what am I going to do? I have to make my entrance like a champion of justice. In any relationship, isn’t the first impression the most important thing?

Jaehyeok, who adjusted his clothes and gave a wink, went around the back of the reporters. The security team, which had been on standby for a while, was approaching quickly. Before Jaehyeok even had to tell them what to do, they started doing their job on their own.

“Ugh! What! Who are you people?

“We’re the security team. Please maintain a distance of at least one meter. SBN reporters over there, please step back. If you don’t maintain order, there will be no filming or anything else.

“What security team are you from! Who does a lowly security guard think he is, telling us what to do?

“Hey, hey, hey. Move, move! Hey! One meter! One meter!

“SBN! Let’s maintain order! Don’t you know what 1 meter is? Keep your distance! Keep your distance!

“Are you setting up a photo line?

“Is an interview possible?

“Who is the representative manager for player Kim Sarang?

“Does he have management?

“Who should we contact for an interview with player Kim Sarang?

“Hey, you bastard! I told you not to push!

“Hey! NYC! Are you guys going to keep blocking the view?

Behind the security team, who had quickly set up a guideline and pushed the reporters back a little more than one meter even amidst the pandemonium, Jaehyeok revealed himself. Kim Sarang, surprised by the swarm of reporters, was unable to even step out of the gate. Beside him stood a handsome blond man and a man with plain features and brown hair.

“Hi.

Jaehyeok, standing right in front of the glass door, gave a wave to Sarang, whose eyes he happened to meet. Sarang, who bowed his head without even knowing who he was, just looked bewildered as to what was happening.

He really has no idea of his own influence. No, should I say it’s Mr. Florian’s influence?

Jaehyeok, laughing inwardly, successively made eye contact and greeted the handsome blond man, and also exchanged a nod with the brown-haired man standing beside him. He recognized at a glance that the brown-haired man was the Bailey Jones he had spoken to on the phone.

He looks as terribly fussy as his way of speaking. Well, that’s not bad when it comes to work.

Jaehyeok, smiling faintly, politely extended one arm forward as if to say they could come out now. It was a somewhat exaggerated gesture, but because of who the other party was, it seemed like appropriate treatment. Sarang looked up at the blond man. People tended to seek out the person they relied on most when they were cornered. It seems the legal guardian thing isn’t just for show. Well, if it were a show, there would be no reason to hire management in Korea. Nor would he have so openly accompanied him and flown him over on a private jet. Therefore, it meant that Jaehyeok had to treat player Kim Sarang with the utmost care.