By Zephyria “I don’t know why someone who should know better is arguing about someone else’s surname. If you’re bored, you can grow flowers. You never know. It might help you control your mind.”
The fact that he can be so sarcastic to Councilor Choi In-taek means that he’s really crazy.
“You don’t have to call me for this kind of thing. Let’s just have a video call without wasting time. I’ll let the secretary’s office know when my schedule is free.”
Sung Se-han, spewing nonsense without hesitation even in the face of the assemblyman’s aura, was truly hopeless.
Thanks to that hopeless guy, I also found the courage to look at Assemblyman Choi In-taek. Assemblyman Choi In-taek, with an astonishingly young appearance without a single white hair, was simply staring at Sung Se-han. It crossed my mind that perhaps no one but Sung Se-han could withstand that sharp and deep gaze.
“How peculiar.”
Assemblyman Choi In-taek’s fingers began to tap the sofa armrest.
“The guy I abandoned, saying I didn’t care whether he lived or died, is flying around like this.”
The assemblyman narrowed his eyes and lightly clicked his tongue.
“But the one I raised with such care can’t even function as a human being and is just holding onto his position.”
Thanks to Assemblyman Choi In-taek treating me, sitting right next to Sung Se-han, as if I didn’t exist, I was sitting there listening to all sorts of things.
It was only natural that the person who was “just holding onto his position” immediately came to mind. I had heard what Sung Se-han’s Mom said. He was probably talking about that son of his who was sick.
I really didn’t want to confirm it with my own ears. Even if it was a fact I already knew.
But no matter what I heard, Sung Se-han was wearing such a calm smile. It seemed like no matter what was said, I wouldn’t be shocked anymore.
“Assemblyman, I have a scheduled appointment today. Even if you have more to say, I must be going now.”
Sung Se-han lightly rose from the sofa and looked down at me. As if that was a signal, I also jumped up from my seat.
I wanted to get out of here quickly before Assemblyman Choi In-taek could grab Sung Se-han again. My heart began to pound wildly.
“Do so.”
Contrary to my worries, I gasped for breath without realizing it at the easy permission. But before I could even take a step, a cold voice grabbed my ankle again.
“Se-han.”
Assemblyman Choi In-taek, who slowly rose from the sofa, put his hands behind his back and stared at Sung Se-han.
“I won’t say anything about you playing around with that kid. But from now on, you need to behave according to your position.”
The moment Assemblyman Choi In-taek mentioned me, I gritted my teeth. Rather than vague fear or tension, defiance came first, and I dared to look straight at Assemblyman Choi In-taek.
“Assemblyman.”
My heart lurched at Sung Se-han’s suddenly lowered voice.
“This is Sung Se-han.”
I couldn’t help but feel nervous as Sung Se-han gave a cold smile that was so unfamiliar, raising the corners of his lips as much as possible.
“My name means that I am someone who has nothing to do with you, Assemblyman.”
I clutched my chest with a nervous feeling as Sung Se-han took a step towards the assemblyman.
“Shall I put it simply? It means that you are not qualified to say a single word about my life. Do you understand?”
After Sung Se-han finished speaking, a heavy silence fell in the reception room. In the space where even the sound of breathing could be heard loudly, Assemblyman Choi In-taek only stared at Sung Se-han.
“If you really thought that, you wouldn’t even be here right now.”
When Assemblyman Choi In-taek gave a faint smile, I felt as if I had been hit on the head and my mind went blank. This was because Assemblyman Choi In-taek’s smile was not a conscious expression like before, but a naturally leaked smile that could not be hidden.
“How is it? There’s no one who knows you as well as I do, is there? Isn’t that right?”
Only after hearing the assemblyman’s words did I think about it again.
Even if I thought about it with a dazed mind, it was obvious. No matter how much the assemblyman sent a car, Sung Se-han was not the type to obey so easily. Especially if someone tried to force him. If it wasn’t his own will, he would never have come to this place.
So the Vice Manager must have been watching Sung Se-han with his hands off.
“Ha.”
Sung Se-han, with his hands on his waist, let out a faint sigh. Unable to refute the assemblyman’s words.
“You said you were busy, so go now.”
Step by step. Assemblyman Choi In-taek, leaving the sofa, slowly walked towards the door of the reception room. I couldn’t let go of my tension and stared at the back of the assemblyman with his hands behind his back.
“And, Se-han.”
Assemblyman Choi In-taek turned to Sung Se-han while holding the doorknob.
“From now on, there will be more opportunities to call you often, so keep that in mind. Make sure I can always reach you.”
I couldn’t help but feel repulsed by the attitude of a kind Grandfather sternly scolding. But even so, I politely bowed to the assemblyman who was leaving the reception room.
The only fact that covered all the complicated emotions was that he was Sung Se-han’s Maternal Grandfather. Sung Se-han became even more worrying in the face of the suffocating reality.
When I raised my gaze, Sung Se-han was looking out the window. I couldn’t even imagine what the guy looking at somewhere in the garden with tall trees was thinking right now.
“Sung Se-han.”
I raised my voice because I didn’t want Sung Se-han to be lost in his own thoughts.
“Let’s go.”
I secretly felt relieved when Sung Se-han slowly turned his head and met my gaze. He was different from me, who was soaked in bad thoughts.
I couldn’t find any shadows in the dazzling smile that raised the corners of his lips.
“Just now, did you say you wanted to go with me?”
“No?”
I immediately shook my head and corrected my statement.
“I just said let’s get out of here.”
“Wow, my heart is pounding.”
Sung Se-han, as if he didn’t even hear my words, put his hand on his chest and sighed.
“Sky Blue Lee Tae-kyung wants to be with me. I must commemorate this day.”
My neck stiffened because of Sung Se-han, who was acting out the emotion with his eyes tightly closed.
“Stop joking and hurry up and get out.”
I shook my head and walked towards the door. I had to lightly ignore Sung Se-han’s every word and not react. Otherwise, I would soon be completely drained.
“You didn’t seem to be joking.”
Sung Se-han, who had passed me, opened the door of the reception room wide as if escorting me. I tried to lower my gaze and walked out into the hallway, pretending not to notice.
“What?”
Even while quickly returning the way I came, all my nerves were focused on the footsteps following behind.
“You asked me to let you be with me.”
“Ah, that’s…!”
I opened my mouth to refute, but there was no way I could say anything. Because Sung Se-han would already know. That I really wanted it.
A vague sense of crisis that I might have caused an irreparable accident made my vision dizzy.
Perhaps because my head was complicated and my steps had slowed down, Sung Se-han, who had gone out to the entrance first, opened the door and was waiting for me.
Right. First of all, I had to take Sung Se-han and get out of here quickly.
I quickly put on my sneakers, passed Sung Se-han, and came out of the entrance. But before I could even take a few steps, men in dark suits blocked our path.
“I apologize for the late greeting. I am Kim Jin-cheol, the butler.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised as the middle-aged man bowed deeply to Sung Se-han.
“I have been serving the assemblyman since March.”
I hesitated and stepped back at the sight of the five men bowing in unison, following the man who introduced himself as the butler. Sung Se-han’s long arm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me in.
“Let’s go.”
Sung Se-han, with one arm around me, passed by the men without saying a word. I was flustered, but I quickly walked through the garden, matching Sung Se-han’s pace.
“The assemblyman has instructed us to serve Mr. Sung Se-han as our young master from today.”
The voice that continued to be heard felt like it was grabbing my neck. But Sung Se-han didn’t look back or stop.
While crossing the wide garden that seemed endless, my heart was pounding and trembling.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Sung Se-han, holding my shoulder tightly, whispered above my head.
“Huh…?”
Was I not hungry? Suddenly? When I looked up with a bewildered expression, Sung Se-han gave a soft smile that he hadn’t shown before.
“What kind of food do you like?”
“I….”
Hamburger. Pasta… I didn’t end up saying the words that were lingering in my mouth.
“Guess.”
I realized only after blurting it out. That I was absurdly feeling hurt.
“I think you’d like ice cream.”
I tilted my head because Sung Se-han gave an unexpected answer.
“You think I look like I like ice cream? Why?”
“Um, just because.”
While pondering Sung Se-han’s ambiguous answer, I had already arrived at the gate. I decided not to pay any more attention to the men guarding it. I just quickly came out of the gate and checked if the Vice Manager’s car was still there.
“Sung Se-han, there.”
When I pointed to the Vice Manager’s car, Sung Se-han took my hand.