Vol 6 Ch 22

Lee Wooyeon seemed to act on impulse, but he was someone with clear personal boundaries. Even with his busy acting schedule, he stuck to his routines, exercised regularly, took care of himself, and always kept his home clean. He disliked anything that was inconvenient or chaotic. He even hated having anything cumbersome on his body, so much so that he often slept without wearing a single thread. Since living with Inseop, he had bought pajamas, but he mostly only wore pants, or sometimes nothing at all.

He never engaged in inefficient actions, simply because they didn’t make sense to him. Inseop made an effort to respect Lee Wooyeon’s boundaries, though it wasn’t an easy task. His personality shone through clearly in his relationships, too. He never contacted others unless necessary, and even when someone reached out to him, he rarely replied. Since all work-related communication went through his company, Lee Wooyeon, aside from Inseop, generally didn’t keep in touch with anyone.

A few days ago, CEO Kim had sent him a message.

[Are you free? Even if you’re not, make time. Let’s have dinner together with Inseop.]

Lee Wooyeon didn’t reply to the message. So, CEO Kim texted Inseop instead.

[Inseop, do you have some time? Let’s have dinner, with Manager Cha and Wooyeon.]

Inseop immediately showed the message to Lee Wooyeon, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book. Lee Wooyeon responded disinterestedly, “Really?”

“…Do you have time?” Inseop asked.

Lee Wooyeon promptly closed the book. He then pulled off the sweater he was wearing and even started unbuckling his pants, which startled Inseop.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Weren’t you just trying to seduce me?” Lee Wooyeon replied.

“What?” Inseop was confused.

“Isn’t there another meaning behind asking if someone’s free on a Friday night?”

Lee Wooyeon asked back, genuinely puzzled.

“It wasn’t that. The CEO texted…” Inseop once again showed him the message from CEO Kim.

“Ahh…” Lee Wooyeon responded in his usual flat tone.

“Well, someone just sedu**d me, so I don’t have time for that.”

Lee Wooyeon reached out and wrapped his arm around Inseop’s waist.

“Stop playing around,” Inseop said, trying to pull away, but Lee Wooyeon didn’t budge. Instead of letting go, he tightened his hold, pulling Inseop closer.

“Lee Wooyeon,” Inseop called.

“Yeah,” Lee Wooyeon answered, rubbing his straight nose against Inseop’s waist.

“Should I text back that you’re not free?” Inseop asked.

Lee Wooyeon lifted his head and met Inseop’s large, gentle eyes.

“Does it bother you?”

After hesitating for a moment, Inseop answered, “Yes.” Lee Wooyeon sighed quietly. Inseop, who placed so much importance on manners, wouldn’t feel comfortable rejecting a senior’s invitation. He would surely agonize over it alone, and Lee Wooyeon knew this better than anyone.

“Alright. Let’s have dinner,” Lee Wooyeon finally said.

Inseop’s face immediately brightened. Lee Wooyeon let out a short laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Anyone would think I’ve been locking you up and not letting you meet people.”

“……”

…But it’s true, I haven’t been able to leave for a week.

During the holidays, Lee Wooyeon had holed up in the house and refused to go out. All the groceries were delivered, so there was no need to go shopping, and he didn’t even go to the gym, choosing to work out at home. The problem was that Inseop was also stuck by his side the whole time. Whenever Inseop tried to go to the convenience store, Lee Wooyeon would cling to him, asking where he was going without him, as if he were offended by the idea of being left behind. With the saddest look in the world, he’d accuse Inseop of wanting to leave because he was tired of seeing him laze around the house.

In the end, Inseop never once succeeded in stepping outside. His longest “outing” was taking out the trash, though even that was usually Lee Wooyeon’s task.

“I’ll make the plans for this weekend, then,” Lee Wooyeon said.

Inseop smiled softly and nodded, making Lee Wooyeon stare at him before undoing the rest of his pants buckle.

“Why…?” Inseop asked.

“It’s your turn to make time for me now,” Lee Wooyeon replied.

“No, no. It’s okay—” Inseop started.

“A person should live fairly,” Lee Wooyeon said, though Inseop had no idea how this was supposed to be fair. But before he could protest, Lee Wooyeon kissed him relentlessly, spending the rest of the night devoting his time to Inseop’s body, evenly and thoroughly.

The plans were made two days later.

“Is this the right place?” Inseop asked as he climbed the stairs.

“Yes, it is,” Lee Wooyeon replied.

“…But there’s no sign.” Inseop muttered, nervously looking around from the entrance.

“There never is. This building belongs to the CEO’s father, and they only accept guests on a membership basis.”

Having been here before, Lee Wooyeon confidently opened the door to the establishment. Inseop cautiously followed him inside. The staff didn’t even ask for their names and immediately led them to their reserved table. Inside a private room, Manager Cha and CEO Kim greeted them warmly, having arrived earlier.

“Oh, you’re here!” 

“Come, have a seat,” they said.

Inseop politely bowed and apologized, “Hello, I’m sorry we’re late. We left early, but there was a lot of traffic.”

“At this hour, this area is basically one big parking lot,” Manager Cha chuckled, gesturing for Inseop to quickly sit down. But Lee Wooyeon plopped himself into the spot first, causing Manager Cha’s expression to sour. Inseop awkwardly smiled and took a seat next to him.

“I went ahead and ordered for us. That alright?” CEO Kim asked.

“Yes, that’s fine,” Inseop eagerly nodded.

“Fine? This place is famous for serving super spicy food. Can you handle spicy food now?” Lee Wooyeon teased.

Inseop’s large eyes wavered with anxiety.

“It’s not spicy at all. Don’t worry. He’s just messing with you,” Manager Cha gave Lee Wooyeon a sidelong glance before reassuring Inseop. Lee Wooyeon let out a good-natured laugh and leaned back in his chair. Still, Inseop pulled a water bottle closer to him, just in case.

When the server brought out the appetizers and closed the door, Lee Wooyeon asked, “So why did you suddenly want to meet up?”

“Why? I just wanted to see your faces,” CEO Kim replied with a bold lie, grinning widely. Manager Cha, who was clearly dragged here against his will, grimaced and silently stuffed food into his mouth.

“People who say they just wanted to see your face never do it without some ulterior motive,” Lee Wooyeon remarked, picking up a fork.

“Hey! I really just wanted to have dinner and catch up. Have you been lied to your whole life?” CEO Kim snapped, clearly annoyed.

“Sure,” Lee Wooyeon replied smoothly. He elegantly took a bite of his appetizer before adding, “Then, by all means, enjoy looking at our faces and having your dinner. Let’s not waste time with unnecessary words.”

CEO Kim’s face tightened as he glanced over at Manager Cha, who continued to eat in silence, pretending not to notice.

Help me out, Hyungyu. 

The desperate look in his wrinkled eyes seemed to scream.

Manager Cha, however, remained focused on his plate.

“How have you both been?” Inseop kindly asked, breaking the tension.

“Oh, we’ve been great,” CEO Kim replied enthusiastically, as if a lifeline had been thrown his way.

“And how about you, Inseop? How have you been?”

“I’m just resting at home because of the holiday,” Inseop replied.

“Oh, really? Then you must be having a lot of free time,” CEO Kim said.

“He’s busy,” Lee Wooyeon interrupted before Inseop could answer.

“What could he possibly be busy with?” CEO Kim asked, squinting his eyes, while Lee Wooyeon casually finished the last of his appetizer.

Lee Wooyeon had excellent table manners. At one point, CEO Kim had briefly regretted signing the contract after seeing Lee Wooyeon, thinking he might have signed a mountain-dwelling madman just based on his looks. But after dining with him once, all his worries were put to rest. The way Lee Wooyeon handled utensils, the way he held his fork and knife, the way he took bites of food, even the way he chewed—all exuded elegance. CEO Kim, having grown up in a wealthy family, instantly recognized the natural grace instilled in Lee Wooyeon’s every movement.

After swallowing his food, Lee Wooyeon gave a charming smile, sending chills down CEO Kim’s spine. He discreetly rubbed his arm under the table.

“Do you really want to know?” Lee Wooyeon asked with an innocent smile that barely masked his mischievous undertones, making it clear that if CEO Kim said yes, he’d regret it.

“Uh, no, no. It’s fine. You’re probably busy. I get it. Anyway, about that photo shoot you did the other day…” CEO Kim hastily changed the subject.

“Oh, it’s not that I’m super busy…” Inseop finally chimed in, though the conversation had already moved on.

“What photo shoot?” Lee Wooyeon asked.

“The hanbok photo shoot for the magazine,” CEO Kim replied.

As the courses of the meal continued, so did the casual conversation.

“Why do you ask?” Lee Wooyeon inquired.

“Do you have any idea how insane the response has been? Everyone’s going crazy, saying how incredible you looked.”

A few weeks ago, Lee Wooyeon had done a photoshoot for a magazine, the theme being *flowers and hanbok*. When a few photos were released before the official publication, the internet exploded. People wondered why there wasn’t a historical drama being made just to feature Lee Wooyeon in a hanbok, and comments flooded in about how he was the only person who could look so sensual in clothing that barely showed any skin. Some even joked that half of the year should be legally mandated for him to wear a hanbok. The magazine featuring him on the cover sold out at major bookstores, an unprecedented feat that led to a reprint.

“I see. Are you enjoying the food?” Lee Wooyeon asked, as if the topic were irrelevant to him. He turned to Inseop, who quickly swallowed his food and nodded.

“Yes, it’s delicious. Not spicy at all…”

“Good. Eat plenty,” Lee Wooyeon encouraged.

Manager Cha rubbed his tired eyes while clearing his plate. “Yeah, Inseop, eat a lot.”

“Thank you, sir,” Inseop responded.

“By the way, Inseop, did you see the photos?” CEO Kim asked.

Inseop eagerly replied, “Yes, I did. Just like you said, it was an amazing shoot. I completely understand why the editor had a hard time picking the cover.”

“Right? Not just the cover, but the whole spread was incredible. My favorite was the third photo, the one with the black *yongpo* and the traditional hairpiece.”

“I agree. The next photo after that was amazing as well.”

Manager Cha scowled in disapproval, but the two continued their admiration.

“Doesn’t Lee Wooyeon look perfect in a hanbok?” CEO Kim asked.

“Yes, absolutely,” Inseop agreed.

“See? Even Inseop thinks so. Don’t you think you should wear a hanbok more often, Wooyeon?”

At last, CEO Kim revealed the real reason for the dinner, smiling slyly.

“No, I don’t,”

Lee Wooyeon smiled brightly as he dismissed the suggestion, kicking aside the hidden agenda with ease. CEO Kim glared at him in frustration.

“I don’t just look good in hanbok; I look great in other clothes too,” Lee Wooyeon added shamelessly. No one at the table could refute his bold statement.

“Why? Do I not look good in other clothes?” Lee Wooyeon teased, leaning in closer to Inseop, noticing his lack of support. Startled, Inseop recoiled.

“Do I really not look good?” Lee Wooyeon pressed.

“N-no, you look great in everything…” Inseop replied, trying to stay composed, but his reddening ears gave him away. Everyone at the table noticed, and Lee Wooyeon’s eyes flickered with an unmistakable affection as he gazed at Inseop.

“Ahem, ahem. No one said you don’t look good in other clothes,” CEO Kim jumped in, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “We were just saying that your hanbok style is exceptionally good.”

“What’s the point of a foreigner looking good in hanbok?” Lee Wooyeon shot back flatly.

“What do you mean? It’s for a role!” CEO Kim retorted.

“I’ve already worn hanbok before,” Lee Wooyeon replied coolly.

“But the project flopped before it even got a chance!” CEO Kim suddenly shouted. Inseop, startled by the outburst, shrank back in his chair, his face paling. Lee Wooyeon’s expression hardened in response.

“Why bring up such bullshit at a dinner that was supposed to be about catching up?” Lee Wooyeon wiped his mouth with a napkin. Even in that simple motion, there was an effortless elegance that drew everyone’s attention.

“F**k, and is it my fault that drama flopped?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

It was your fault.

“How was I supposed to control the production company dropping out? Let’s be real, when Kang Youngmo’s career fell apart, so did that drama,” Lee Wooyeon said, his voice cold.

…And it was unspoken, but the others couldn’t help but think,

Yeah, and you were the one who destroyed Kang Youngmo’s career in the first place.

The unspoken truth hung like a cloud over the table. Meanwhile, Lee Wooyeon, indifferent to the tension, casually browsed the wine list and tapped his fingers thoughtfully.

“This one seems good,” he mused, tapping the list with his long fingers. “What do you think, Inseop?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine,” Inseop responded with a smile. Since he had driven, he politely declined.

“Why not? Have a drink. You should take advantage while the CEO’s paying. It’s not every day the stingy boss opens his wallet,” 

“Yes, Inseop, drink. I’ll drive.”

Lee Wooyeon said as he handed Inseop the wine list.

“No, really, you should drink, Wooyeon.”

Lee Wooyeon’s hand caught CEO Kim’s eye as he was about to tell him to stop being a jerk and call a driver.