Vol 3 Ch 21

“…….”

 

When he opened his eyes, he remained motionless for a long time. His head ached as if it were about to break.

 

He pressed his hand to his temple, frowned, and then jerked upright as a thought flashed through his mind.

 

The side of the bed was empty, but the traces of intercourse in every nook and cranny of the sheets showed that yesterday hadn’t been a figment of his crazy brain.

 

Lee Wooyeon threw a robe over himself and opened the bathroom door. There was no sign of Inseop.

 

“Mr. Inseop.”

 

He called his name from the second-floor hallway, but there was no answer. His room was empty too. With each step he took, the anxiety he had barely held on to returned.

 

What if this was all a dream? What if even the traces he’d seen earlier were just an illusion created by his drugged brain?

 

“Hah, …this is crazy.”

 

He ran a hand through his hair and frowned. This was the limit. If he couldn’t find Inseop even after checking the first floor, he would have to drive to the hospital where he currently was.

 

“…….”

 

Descending the stairs, he stopped and froze in place.

 

It was snowing.

 

Here, where the average winter temperature was in the tens, it was heavily snowing.

 

Lee Wooyeon stood there, looking out the window, and then he looked down at the snow and burst out laughing. All he could think of as he watched this miraculous scene was, “Finally, I’ve lost my mind.”

 

As he wondered if he should stop by the psychiatric center before heading to the hospital to see Inseop, he saw Inseop open the door, dusting off the snow with a package of gifts.

 

“Are you awake? I left your gift in the car….”

 

“…….”

 

Lee Wooyeon didn’t answer and shuffled ahead.

 

“The garage door is frozen, so it won’t open. I’ll try fixing it later….”

 

Lee Wooyeon pulled Inseop into a hug. The gift package fell to the floor. Inseop, stunned at first, slowly leaned his head on Wooyeon’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around him, then gently stroked his back. Lee Wooyeon felt his frazzled nerves soften.

 

“An asshole like me receiving a gift because you like me. If Santa found out, he’d take a back seat.”

 

He heard a small chuckle from Inseop. Slowly, reality returned.

 

“…Is your grandma okay?”

 

“Yep. I just came after seeing that she’s fully conscious, and she wanted me to tell you thank you for the flowers.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Thank you. They were my grandmother’s favorite flowers.”

 

Inseop remembered that his grandmother’s garden was full of her favorite pink roses. So it was only fitting that he sent it to her. Lee Wooyeon replied, “I’m glad she liked it,” which was a clichéd answer.

 

He pulled Inseop’s head into his arms, buried his nose in the nape of his neck, and spoke slowly.

 

“It was late, you should have come in the morning, it’s dangerous.”

 

“I wanted to see you.”

 

Inseop said again, pulling away from Lee Wooyeon.

 

“I missed you so much, Lee Wooyeon, that’s why I came.”

 

“…….”

 

Lee Wooyeon couldn’t say anything. He wanted to say something, anything, but his mind went blank. So overwhelmed, so happy, so…happy.

 

“You sent flowers, you didn’t forget what I said, and I …I love you for that.”

 

He couldn’t help but notice that his big eyes were telling him the truth.

 

“I love you.”

 

Inseop whispered into his lover’s neck again.

 

Lee Wooyeon took a deep breath.

 

He was helpless. Again and again, he would be whipped into a mess by Inseop and dragged downward. The weight of the heart that believed it couldn’t get any bigger weighed down on him, and one day he would suffocate and die. But it’s still good, so he let it stay that way.

 

“…It’s snowing.”

 

At Inseop’s words, Lee Wooyeon nodded in agreement. The snowy landscape that had seemed so eerie earlier was now so peaceful.

 

“It’s the first snow in almost a hundred years, and the news is calling it a miraculous Christmas.”

 

Inseop looked up at Lee Wooyeon with wide eyes and laughed. Then he said, “Oh, right,” and kissed his cheek.

 

“Merry Christmas.”

 

With that simple greeting, he realized what a miracle he would have for the rest of his life. He lightly kissed his lover’s cheek and whispered, “Merry Christmas,” in return.

 

It was a white Christmas that he will always remember.

 

3.

 

“Hello.”

 

“When the door of the coffee shop opened, and a well-dressed man walked in, Inseop, who was sitting at a table, quickly stood up and lowered his head.

 

“Oh, Inseop. Long time no see.”

 

The man, dressed flamboyantly from head to toe, greeted Inseop warmly.

 

“Yes. It’s been a while.”

 

“Wait, let me order.”

 

“Should I do it for you?”

 

“Never mind, never mind. Just sit.”

 

CEO Kim Hakseung chuckled with his unique laughter and went to the counter. Inseop, who had pre-ordered his coffee, fidgeted while waiting for CEO Kim to arrive.

 

“Was the road clear on your way here?”

 

“Yes. It was fine.”

 

“Good. It’s been quite chaotic around here due to construction in front of us these past few days. Have you had your meal?”

 

“Yes. I’ve had my meal.”

 

“Make yourself comfortable. Don’t be tense as if someone’s going to eat you up. We’re friends.”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

Even as he answered, Inseop adjusted his posture.

 

The contact from CEO Kim came yesterday. There had been no usual greetings from him, and receiving a message asking him to come to the office with a request had left Inseop worried, unable to even sigh. Of course, there was the added request to keep it a secret from Lee Wooyeon.

 

When Lee Wooyeon had suggested breaking up before, Inseop knew that CEO Kim had clearly drawn a line. Worried that he might know about their relationship, Inseop had asked Lee Wooyeon about it once.

 

‘…What if the CEO thinks strangely about us?’

 

‘What are you talking about?’

 

Lee Wooyeon, sitting on the sofa and watching a movie, tilted his head while taking a sip of beer.

 

‘Us continuing living together…’

 

‘Why not?’

 

Lee Wooyeon chuckled lightly and leaned his forehead against Inseop’s shoulder.

 

‘Why say such absurd things so cutely?’

 

‘…But what if the CEO finds out? He might ask us to break up immediately if the stock price falls. He strictly separates work and personal life.’

 

A laugh filled Lee Wooyeon’s elegant eyes. Every time he laughed like that, Inseop’s heart trembled. Lowering his gaze, Inseop wondered if he should ask, “Really?” but stopped himself.

 

‘Yeah. He wouldn’t know. He wouldn’t say anything. Open your mouth a bit wider. Let me kiss you.’

 

Thinking of unnecessary scenes, Inseop lightly brushed his cheek with a slightly heated palm and glanced at CEO Kim.

 

…What on earth could it be?

 

As their eyes met, Inseop quickly lowered his head. There was a discomfort he felt, whether it was because he had something to hide or not. Although Lee Wooyeon had clearly stated otherwise, if by any chance CEO Kim knew and told them to break up, what should he say?

 

…I don’t want to break up. I can’t afford to break up.

 

“Inseop, are you there?”

 

“Yes, yes!”

 

He should say they absolutely couldn’t break up, but he can say they could live separately, but he decided to stick to his commitment!

 

Inseop made a once-in-a-lifetime resolution and clenched his fist tightly under the table.

 

“Have you heard about Seo Jaeha?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

In response to the sudden question, Inseop coughed softly and asked in return.

 

“Seo Jaeha? He’s on the rise these days, appearing a lot on TV. Haven’t you heard?”

 

After thinking for a moment, Inseop replied that he had heard. Although he had promised not to pay attention to the entertainment industry matters when he came to Korea, he, like any ordinary person, had picked up some information.

 

“He’s doing really well these days. It’s rare to find an actor in his twenties with that appearance and acting ability. Of course, there was already Lee Wooyeon from the beginning.”

 

Inseop nodded vigorously in agreement with CEO Kim’s words.

 

“Anyway, Lee Wooyeon is a bit idle these days. He’s very picky about choosing dramas or movies.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Inseop answered with a slightly depressed face.

 

He was aware that Lee Wooyeon’s workload had decreased. While it was nice that Lee Wooyeon spent more time at home, Inseop couldn’t help but worry a little.

 

“Seo Jaeha works like crazy. He takes on anything, whether it’s a drama or a movie. Just like Lee Wooyeon used to do in the past.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“Problem is, Seo Jaeha’s image overlaps a bit with Lee Wooyeon’s. He has a mild face and a good body. Thanks to that, all the ads that Lee Wooyeon used to do are now going to him.”

 

“….”

 

Inseop’s expression darkened.

 

“His appearance fee isn’t high as he’s a rookie, so advertisers prefer using Seo Jaeha with a similar image at a lower cost. ‘Let’s use Seo Jaeha, who’s similar in image but cheaper.’ That’s how it is.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Even if there were many ads that suited Lee Wooyeon’s image, he would reject them one by one, causing them to naturally go to the next candidate.

 

“…Well, ads do come in, but it’s not as much as before. Anyway, that’s the situation.”

 

“So, what I’m saying is….”

 

CEO Kim chose his words carefully, glancing at Inseop’s reaction.

 

“What if you talk to Lee Wooyeon and try to persuade him?”

 

“…Me?”

 

Inseop’s large eyes widened.

 

“Oh, not that I mean anything else. Lee Wooyeon listens to you well. Since you two are close friends, you can discuss work and such.”

 

CEO Kim continued to speak without a break, as if he had prepared in advance. Before Inseop could respond, CEO Kim quickly added another comment.

 

“I also talk to Manager Cha about matters that occasionally bother me.”

 

Inseop immediately understood upon hearing that statement.

 

“We discuss the script selection, but we don’t talk about other matters.”

 

“No talk about advertisements?”

 

“No.”

 

“Good then. So, from now on, you can handle it.”

 

“But even if I say something, shouldn’t advertisements still come in?”

 

“No, that’s not what I meant…!”

 

CEO Kim, who was about to vent his frustration, held it in and sipped his iced coffee.

 

“It’s because of Wooyeon, that guy, who chooses advertisements just like he chooses projects. It’s frustrating for me.”

 

CEO Kim chewed on his anger along with the ice. Wooyeon’s decision-making regarding advertisements was not a one or two-day affair. Since his rookie days, he only accepted advertisements that matched his image, and CEO Kim had complained that he was a picky person. In the long run, Wooyeon’s choices were correct.

 

The problem arose after he returned to Korea. He began restricting the number of advertisements he took.

 

“Aren’t there many advertisements coming in that match his image?”

 

Inseop asked with a worried expression.

 

‘I’ll do one project and one advertisement a year. I won’t do more than that. Do you think I’m trying to make money? Haha, what would I use that small amount of money for? I’m not working for money, so don’t give me that nonsense. It’s annoying.’

 

After being mean and condescending, Lee Wooyeon  smirked and added a threat that if he told Inseop about this, he would see his retirement article the next day.

 

Even if advertisements that matched his image piled up, since Wooyeon refused them one by one, it was natural for those advertisements to go to the next candidate.

 

“…Well, they come in, but it’s true that the quantity has decreased compared to before. Anyway, that’s the situation.”

 

Unable to tell him Lee Wooyeon’s bullshit about not being able to spend enough time with Inseop and not wanting to make him uncomfortable if he was in the spotlight too much, CEO Kim explained roughly.

 

“So how should I convey this?”

 

At Inseop’s words, CEO Kim nodded in agreement and leaned forward at the table.

 

“Stir up some rivalry spirit in Wooyeon.”

 

“Rivalry?”

 

“Encourage Wooyeon’s competitive spirit. Praise Seo Jaeha a little in front of Wooyeon, like saying that the advertisement is really cool or the role seems really good. You know, those kinds of remarks. Wooyeon doesn’t seem like that kind of person, but subtly give him some fighting spirit.”

 

…Wooyeon doesn’t seem like that kind of person, but he wasn’t.

 

If it was something he wanted to say, he would say it even if he died, and if it was something he didn’t want to do, he wouldn’t do it even if he died. Inseop was aware of the fact that Wooyeon wanted to listen to anything Inseop said, so he clung to it with the determination to grab at least a straw.

 

“…Is that so?”

 

Inseop also asked ambiguously.

 

“Yeah, that’s right. Give him some fighting spirit. So, say it gently. Praise Seo Jaeha slightly. Don’t say it too blatantly, just say it like a passing comment, very subtly.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Inseop nodded with a very serious expression, as if he had been given a very important mission.

 

With a smile tearing at his lips, CEO Kim added the most important words.

 

“What I said here today is an absolute secret. Don’t even mention that we met. If Wooyeon finds out about this conversation, there will be chaos because of his pride.”

 

If he found out about this story, rather than his pride, just imagining how much he would ruin things because of his filthy temper made his spine chill and his stomach churn. CEO Kim tapped Inseop’s shoulder and emphasized once again that it was a secret between the two of them.