PARADOX 35

When he first heard about these rules, Gu Jeyi said only one thing.

‘Nonsense.’

It was because he thought Yeo Hanseo was using this opportunity to reveal his dark ulterior motives. Toward Gu Jeyi, who was showing signs of displeasure, Yeo Hanseo shook his head as if it were unfair.

‘It’s a method that actually works. The relationship between an Esper and a Guide significantly impacts guiding. The closer the relationship, the more the guiding efficiency increases, and there are research results… saying that in some cases, the matching rate even goes up slightly.’

The moment he heard those words, he remembered hearing a similar story long ago. It was the idea that the more positive the emotions between an Esper and a Guide, the higher the guiding efficiency. Guides often referred to this as ‘building rapport’ with the Esper.

The reason Gu Jeyi had forgotten this story was that it was a method that had never worked for him. This method basically only had an effect when the matching rate between the Esper and the Guide reached a certain level. Even if it were a relationship where they could give their lives for love, it was useless if the matching rate was below 10%.

But now, Gu Jeyi had a Guide with a 98% matching rate.

‘There’s a saying that physical closeness leads to emotional closeness. If we become a bit friendlier, your subconscious will accept the guiding better than it does now. Then, I’m certain we can drop it below 50% with just contact guiding at the level of holding hands.’

So, Gu Jeyi answered.

‘…Fine. But only until it drops to 50%. If, in the meantime, you perform any action that contradicts the contents of the contract…’

‘The contract is nullified. I know.’

Emerging from his past memories, Gu Jeyi looked down at the table where the food was neatly arranged. Preparing a meal for him couldn’t be viewed as a violation of the contract.

Nevertheless, the reason he felt this uncomfortable was likely because of the story Seong Semin had told this morning. Of course, Yeo Hanseo didn’t engage in the eccentricity of wearing an apron while naked, nor did he utter seductive words that were nauseating just to recall.

Still, wasn’t this, after all, a bit too much like a married couple?

In the end, Gu Jeyi ended up blurting out a word.

“It would be better to eat out from now on.”

“Why? Does it not suit your palate…?”

If it were the Gu Jeyi of yesterday, he would have said, ‘It is burdensome that you are acting as if you are my wife.’ But he knew now that such words wouldn’t help in building rapport. Wasn’t Yeo Hanseo also working hard to lower his wavelength through contact guiding at the level of holding hands? Therefore, it was only right that he put in effort as well.

“Yes, it tastes bad.”

Since Gu Jeyi hadn’t been able to properly taste food for a long time, it wasn’t exactly a lie. However, that didn’t seem to be the correct answer either, as Yeo Hanseo’s expression soured slightly.

Of course, Gu Jeyi didn’t go so far as to realize that Yeo Hanseo was inwardly cursing him, calling him a ‘picky bastard.’

“If you are finished, let’s talk for a moment.”

Having finished the meal, Gu Jeyi immediately requested to fulfill the ‘30 minutes of conversation every day.’ It was due to his personality of hating time-wasting and being unable to leave accumulated work alone.

“Ah, okay.”

Yeo Hanseo seemed a bit dazed by the proactive Gu Jeyi, but he followed his lead quietly.

Sitting on the sofa, they faced each other.

After a long silence, it was Yeo Hanseo who spoke first with a sigh.

“Hyung, what kind of food do you like?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“Then what about food you dislike?”

“Nothing in particular either.”

“…”

“…”

Gu Jeyi also felt that the conversation wasn’t flowing properly. It wasn’t intentional. Come to think of it, he had never properly engaged in private conversation with another person like this. To be honest, a part of him still considered this a useless waste of time.

Fortunately, Yeo Hanseo didn’t give up and threw out another topic.

“Then what do you do on your days off?”

“Days off…”

It was clearly an ordinary question, but for Gu Jeyi, it was incredibly difficult to answer. Only after thinking for a long time did he find an answer.

“I train with my teammates.”

However, perhaps because it wasn’t the expected answer, Yeo Hanseo’s expression turned strange.

“That’s not resting. Is there nothing else? Like meeting friends or going on a trip.”

“…I have never done such things.”

“Well, I suppose that’s possible since you’re so busy. You even entered a Gate on the day of the wedding.”

Gu Jeyi looked at him, wondering if Yeo Hanseo was bringing that up out of resentment, but Yeo Hanseo’s face appeared calm as if nothing were wrong. But he was likely just maintaining his expression while feeling hurt inside.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Hyung, is there nothing you’re curious about regarding me?”

He wasn’t particularly curious about anything, but since he had to talk for 30 minutes, he felt he should say something, so he forced himself to speak.

“What do you do on your days off, Mister Yeo Hanseo?”

“I watch dramas. I also watch things like Youtube on my phone.”

“I see.”

Gu Jeyi responded listlessly. It was an attitude that showed anyone he wasn’t really curious. As if he expected as much, Yeo Hanseo didn’t show any signs of being hurt or disappointed this time either.

“Do you have anything else you’re curious about?”

There was no way there was anything else. Even the previous question had just been a direct copy of what Yeo Hanseo had asked.

Gu Jeyi basically had little interest in others, and he wanted to show interest in Yeo Hanseo even less. It was because, in his experience, people who had feelings for him easily misunderstood even the smallest actions.

They would do so over things as simple as picking up a dropped item or holding a door; if he showed interest by asking this and that, Yeo Hanseo would undoubtedly fall into a delusion.

It was at that moment that something suddenly occurred to Gu Jeyi just as he was about to say there was nothing more to talk about. He asked without hesitation.

“Mister Yeo Hanseo, why do you like me?”

“Wh-why ask something like that…”

Yeo Hanseo’s voice trembled for the first time. It was impossible to tell if he was shy or flustered. Soon, Yeo Hanseo murmured bashfully.

“I told you before. I fell in love at first sight.”

“Just by looking at my face?”

“Huh? No, at first it was like that, but as it turns out, your inner self is cool, so my heart was drawn to you more.”

Doesn’t that ultimately mean he grew to like him after seeing his face?

Gu Jeyi couldn’t understand liking someone just by looking at their appearance. However, separate from his own understanding, it seemed many people felt love because of such trivial things.

He had experienced countless people approaching him based only on his looks. In fact, aside from being a matching Guide, Yeo Hanseo was not a special case for Gu Jeyi. That was also why he had believed Yeo Hanseo’s words about liking him without much suspicion.

But still, shouldn’t there be something a bit more special to say you ‘like’ someone?

Thinking thoughts that Pyo Myeongho might have described as ‘Our Jeyi is too naive because he only works,’ Gu Jeyi considered it a relief that Yeo Hanseo’s feelings were only at this level. It would have been burdensome if the feelings were too deep.

“Um… I’m also doing what I mentioned back then. Sorting out my feelings.”

As if following some thought, Yeo Hanseo added softly.

“It’s almost done now, so you don’t have to feel burdened.”

Gu Jeyi, unaware that Yeo Hanseo was thinking, ‘Since the misunderstanding about my goal is resolved, there’s no need to pretend to like him anymore,’ believed those words were spoken against his true feelings out of consideration for him. Thinking that, Yeo Hanseo’s eyes—which were as large and round as always—seemed somewhat moist as if he were holding back tears.

Gu Jeyi’s lips flickered before he just ended it with a “I see.” He didn’t think adding more words to someone who was sorting out their feelings would be helpful.

“It’s almost been 30 minutes already. Then shall we exchange one compliment each?”

“…”

When Gu Jeyi fell into a long contemplation again, Yeo Hanseo, unable to watch any longer, spoke first.

“Ahem, I’ll go first. Thank you for eating breakfast with me today. I was happy that you ate even a little bit even though it didn’t suit your taste. And I think the way you always strive to save people is cool.”

“Not really, I just did what I had to do.”

“Just accept the compliment. It gets a bit awkward if you deny it.”

“…Thank you.”

With that, it was now Gu Jeyi’s turn. A compliment, something to compliment. Gu Jeyi was lost in thought for a long time while looking at Yeo Hanseo. Just as Yeo Hanseo was beginning to cool off, thinking ‘Is there really nothing about me to compliment?’, Gu Jeyi opened his mouth.

“Mister Yeo Hanseo…”

“Yes.”

“Talks a lot.”

“…”

“…”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

Gu Jeyi thought quietly amidst the long-stretching silence.

It seemed this complimenting was only having a negative impact on building rapport.

As expected, that day’s guiding ended without much progress.