By Zephyria At the unexpected words, Yu-jin stopped moving and looked at him. The Butler was still waiting for an answer with a blank face.
“Dinner? With me and Angie?”
As he slowly repeated the words he had heard, the Butler nodded.
“Yes, he said 8 o’clock.”
Yu-jin hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to react. Why this sudden proposal? Angela hadn’t opened her heart yet, so would it be okay?
“Okay, I understand. Thank you.”
Yu-jin only said that and turned to enter the bathroom. Left alone, he prepared to wash up while deep in thought.
I don’t know what kind of change of heart he suddenly had…
Even as he turned the faucet back and forth to adjust the water temperature, his mind was complicated. He had looked visibly flustered after hearing Yu-jin’s story. He must have had a lot of thoughts. But that didn’t mean he expected Winston to suddenly change. He had a firm conviction, and it couldn’t be broken down so easily.
Yu-jin couldn’t guess at all, so he stood there for a moment with a serious expression, facing the stream of water.
* * *
Winston came home close to 8 o’clock. Yu-jin, who had fed Angela dinner a little early, was preparing to wash and put her to bed when he found out. Seeing the employees busily moving below the window and the familiar car driving towards the mansion, he soon turned his attention to the child.
“Daddy, where are you going?”
Angela tilted her head, seeing Yu-jin, who had changed his clothes after helping her get ready for bed. Yu-jin gave a vague smile.
“It’s just, something got on me, so I changed.”
Angela easily accepted Yu-jin’s excuse and lay down in bed as he told her to. As always, when he told her a made-up story, Angela soon fell fast asleep. After kissing the child’s forehead, who was holding her favorite doll tightly, Yu-jin turned off the lamp and carefully came out. The Butler, who was walking down the hallway, found him and stopped walking as he approached.
“Are you ready? Mr. Campbell is waiting.”
He inadvertently looked at the watch on his wrist and saw that it was one minute before 8 o’clock. After taking a deep breath, he nodded, and the Butler soon turned and started walking first.
While walking towards the dining room he already knew, Yu-jin forcibly scattered the thoughts that were rising on their own. In order not to have vain expectations.As the Butler passed through the paneling first and Yu-jin entered the dining room, Winston, who had noticed the presence, rose from his seat. Yu-jin inwardly marveled at the sight of him standing straight, waiting for him to sit, and stole glances at him.
The Butler, who had straightened Yu-jin’s chair, turned to the side and opened his mouth.
“Shall we begin the meal? Or shall we wait a little longer?”
Winston turned his gaze to Yu-jin as if asking for his opinion. Yu-jin, still feeling dazed, replied.
“…Let’s eat.”
“Understood.”
Soon after, he bowed alternately and gave a short wink to the employee standing behind him. After he quickly disappeared, the Butler personally poured wine into Yu-jin and Winston’s glasses before stepping back.
Finally alone, Yu-jin suddenly became nervous. What was he trying to say by creating this setting? Anxious, he drank only water, and Winston, having emptied his wine glass, finally opened his mouth.
“Is the child already asleep?”
It was a smooth start. Yu-jin nodded briefly and replied.
“8 o’clock is ambiguous…”
He trailed off, but Winston immediately noticed the hidden meaning.
“And Angie dislikes me?”
Yu-jin was taken aback by the sarcastic tone, but he didn’t deny it since it was true. Winston seemed displeased with his silent profile as he drank only water, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to want to dwell on it.
Just then, the Butler brought the appetizer, placed it in front of each of them, and gave a brief explanation of the food. He rattled on about the ingredients and cooking methods, but Yu-jin couldn’t understand even half of it. He was distracted and simply brushed it off, but Winston didn’t say anything else after that. He occasionally brought up meaningless topics, such as how the food was or how the current political situation was, but even that didn’t last long. This was because Yu-jin couldn’t give proper answers, and Winston also didn’t show any further will to continue the conversation. Time continued to pass like that.
Finally, as dessert was served, Yu-jin couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out directly.
“So, why did you suddenly want to have dinner together like this?”
Winston paused and looked at him at the hasty tone. He didn’t know if it was because he didn’t expect Yu-jin to say something like this first or if he was surprised by the rough tone, but in any case, he couldn’t postpone it any longer. Winston brought the wine glass to his mouth again as Yu-jin stared straight at his face and waited. Unexpectedly, he seemed to be taking his time choosing his words. Of course, Yu-jin immediately scolded himself, saying that the man would never do that.
“I’ve been thinking about what to do in the future.”
“It’s over after the child is born. Is there anything more to talk about?”
As he received the words as if he had been waiting for them, Winston let out a short sigh.
“Yu-jin.”
Surprisingly, he rubbed his eyes with one hand as if he was tired and continued.
“You have to give me time anyway. I never thought I would meet you again like this, and I had no intention of doing so. Of course, you wouldn’t have either. But in the end, it turned out like this, so let’s try to understand each other from now on.”
He seemed to have thought about this and that quite a bit. Seeing his pale complexion, which clearly showed traces of worry, Yu-jin asked with a reluctant feeling.
“What kind of understanding?”
“Well.”
Winston, who had muttered again with a sigh, took his hand away from his eyes and looked at Yu-jin.
“We’ll have to start by building trust in each other. We don’t have that between us.”
“It’s you who unilaterally doesn’t trust me.”
Winston made a gesture of reconciliation, but Yu-jin didn’t accept it. In fact, it was a simple matter. Winston just had to trust him. But they both knew that would never happen.
“Yu-jin.”
As expected, Winston said with a laugh as if he was dumbfounded.
“If you saw me rolling around in bed with Evelyn, would you have believed me?”
Yu-jin had nothing to say and just looked at him. Winston soon changed the subject as if he knew that would be the case.
“Let’s not talk about things that could be each other’s weaknesses. It won’t be resolved, and the past won’t disappear. The important thing is what we do in the future.”
As Yu-jin watched Winston, who had simply ended the topic, cut the brownie that came out as dessert into bite-sized pieces, he opened his mouth.
“So, what do you want?”
Yu-jin sat quietly, watching Winston pour wine into his glass himself. Winston, who put down the bottle, finally opened his mouth.
“Let’s start by building trust in each other. From the beginning again.”
“Isn’t it over if you just trust me?”
Winston chuckled briefly at Yu-jin’s sarcasm.
“Yu-jin, if you want someone to trust you, you have to make an effort first.”
He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a seemingly affectionate voice.
“I’ve opened my heart enough. From now on, it depends on your efforts.”
Yu-jin watched Winston raise his glass as if to toast and drink the wine without saying a word. Thinking that he wanted to smear the brownie all over that arrogant face.
* * *
“Welcome, Mr. Campbell. We have prepared everything in advance as you requested.”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened at the sight of the enormous shopping mall. Winston smiled at the sight of him frozen in place with his eyes wide open and hugged his shoulders, pulling him closer. Yu-jin gasped and whispered softly.
“The floor is as shiny as a mirror, Winston.”
Everything he saw after leaving the mansion was amazing and surprising. Winston made a phone call somewhere next to him, who was constantly looking out the car window and exclaiming, “Wow, wow,” and came here right away. He tensed his shoulders at the sight of the splendid shop, which he had never imagined, and whispered, “I’m scared.” Winston, seeing Yu-jin unable to move for fear of falling, said, “Really?” and suddenly bent down and picked Yu-jin up.
“Ah!”
Winston burst out laughing as he instinctively grabbed his neck in surprise. Seeing Yu-jin’s face turn bright red, he rubbed his nose against his as if to soothe him and said.
“Aren’t you scared if I do this? I’m holding you.”
“U, uh…”
Actually, it was scarier because it was too high. But Yu-jin didn’t want to disappoint him, and he also didn’t want to be separated from Winston, so he just said yes. Winston seemed to like Yu-jin’s reaction and strode forward with him in his arms.