By Zephyria 
“Did you come down together?”
Two people stepped out of the elevator. Butler Do watched Han Seung-jae exit first and then looked behind him. Seo Yi-kyung, with his pale face, walked out.
Han Seung-jae stared at Secretary Park, who was approaching. It was likely because Secretary Park’s arrival at work was later than usual.
Han Seung-jae raised his hand, showing his palm. Secretary Park stopped in his tracks. Han Seung-jae turned around and placed his hand on Seo Yi-kyung’s forehead.
“Porridge would be best for breakfast.”
Whether it was breakfast or dinner, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t eat much. Still, there were a few foods he would finish completely. For example, soy sauce egg rice. However, to Han Seung-jae, it seemed lacking in nutrients. Thus, he requested a mild porridge.
Butler Do’s eyes widened.
“Porridge? Is he feeling very un—”
As Han Seung-jae’s sharp gaze landed on Butler Do, he hurriedly bowed his waist.
“Yes, I understand. I will prepare it immediately.”
Butler Do hurried back the way he came. Han Seung-jae lowered his hand.
“Stay home if possible.”
Seo Yi-kyung gave a barely perceptible nod.
“I understand.”
He wasn’t unaware of why the man was saying this. Since Han Seung-jae would be able to smell even a small amount of pheromones, it was only natural to be worried…
No, it was absurd to think he was worried. It was just…
Watching Han Seung-jae walk away, Seo Yi-kyung touched his forehead as if to shake off the unfinished thought. As if trying to scatter the lingering sensation of Han Seung-jae’s touch.
* * *
After eating a late breakfast, Seo Yi-kyung entered the painting studio out of habit.
Having spent those few days together, the absence of Jin Seon-yu, who used to exchange conversation by his side, seemed to make the silence even deeper. Even the work table he was tidying felt overly large.
He started to put the brush he was holding into a stained drawer, but then lowered his arm and touched a pill that showed signs of having been eaten.
I must have kept and used the suppressants here.
Seo Yi-kyung closed the drawer and placed the brush on the shelf. He looked down at the blue stains on his hand and the hem of his shirt.
“When did this get on me? I wonder if it’ll come out if I wash it…”
When Seo Yi-kyung stepped out of the painting studio, the house seemed unusually hectic. Amidst the chaos, Butler Do, who was walking toward him, quickened his pace.
“Is something happening?”
Seo Yi-kyung rolled his eyes curiously. The helpers moving back and forth with items in both hands were equally busy.
“Actually, I was just on my way to fetch you…”
Butler Do turned and looked in the same direction.
“Director Han says he has sent a gift for the young master.”
For something called a gift, an excessive amount of items were being moved into the dressing room.
Once the helpers exited the dressing room, Butler Do walked briskly, urging him to go see. Butler Do’s face was brighter than ever.
He did not doubt for a moment that Han Seung-jae held Seo Yi-kyung in special regard. At first, he had been incredibly worried after seeing Han Seung-jae’s violent side.
But wasn’t he the one who had ‘very’ tenderly touched Seo Yi-kyung’s forehead this morning, looked down at his illness with ‘pitiful eyes,’ and even told him to make porridge?
While watching Seo Yi-kyung eat the abalone porridge, Butler Do had shredded some beef jangjorim—which is good to eat together to restore energy—and prepared several side dishes. Seo Yi-kyung had finished them all.
And seeing the pale complexion finally take on a comfortable glow, Butler Do confirmed that Han Seung-jae’s intuition had not been wrong.
* * *
Seo Yi-kyung followed Butler Do into the dressing room and was left speechless.
In the center of the dressing room, the suits, dress shirts, ties, and shoes that the helpers had been carrying were hung according to brand.
“Seeing as the sizes are small, it seems everything here is for the young master.”
Butler Do checked the measurements of the clothes while surveying the suits, which made the room resemble a boutique.
“Come closer and see, young master.”
Seo Yi-kyung entered slowly. Looking closely, the cufflinks, tie pins, and watches formed perfect combinations. It was to the point where he could simply wear them as they were arranged.
Butler Do took a tie hanging with a suit in both hands and held it up to Seo Yi-kyung’s neck, alternating between options.
With his fair skin, delicate features, and small frame, the cream-colored suit and shimmering tie suited Seo Yi-kyung as if they were made for him.
“The colors are certainly good, and the texture is excellent.”
Butler Do moved his arms up and down.
“…You mean I’m supposed to pick one of these?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s voice seeped through Butler Do’s constant chatter.
Butler Do withdrew the tie from Seo Yi-kyung’s neck and shook his head.
“No. He said he is giving you all of this.”
To be precise, it was Secretary Park who had contacted Butler Do to deliver the message, but Butler Do didn’t even need to confirm that it was Director Han.
The Secretary Park that Butler Do had experienced thus far was a man of few words and a serious personality. He was not frivolous. Since he was the one who said it, there was no mistake.
As if drawn by the sparkling radiance, Seo Yi-kyung reached out. He soon lowered his paint-stained hand and extended his other clean hand to place it on the display stand.
In an open case, a watch resting on velvet was studded with diamonds. The cufflinks set with blue sapphires were brilliant. The platinum tie pin also overflowed with elegance, far beyond being a simple accent piece.
He looked around the items in front of him for a moment. They looked so expensive that he didn’t even dare to touch them.
“Don’t just look at them; why don’t you try matching them with a suit? It will suit you very well.”
Butler Do draped a tie over his arm and brought over a suit and dress shirt. Meanwhile, his eyes scanned the wingtip shoes. The shoes, decorated with wing-like patterns, were classic yet flamboyant.
When he turned around, Seo Yi-kyung, who had been in the dressing room, was already stepping out the door.
“Young master, where are you going?”
The voice calling him was heard clearly, but Seo Yi-kyung didn’t feel like trying them on.
And for good reason; he spent most of his time in the painting studio, and the only time he went out was to visit an art supply store. Therefore, wouldn’t the reason Han Seung-jae sent such excessive gifts be for him to attend an auction?
Heading toward the second floor, Seo Yi-kyung’s eyebrows drooped. No matter how he looked at it.
‘Instead of having me participate in the auction, was he planning to put me up for auction?’
* * *
Woorim Construction, CEO Seo Young-hwan’s office.
“What do you mean we don’t meet the qualifications?”
Seo Young-hwan, with the phone to his ear, asked back in a voice laced with anger.
On his desk lay the blueprints for the Hyo-eun City Tower, a super-tall skyscraper reaching 120 floors. Beside it were the construction budget and schedules for architecture and facilities, packed densely over the five years until completion. He believed that he would be the one winning the bid.
However, the words coming from the developer over the phone were like a bolt from the blue.
[We’ve given Woorim Construction a lot of leeway until now, considering CEO Seo’s position. We can’t do it anymore.]
“What on earth is the reason? Haven’t we handled everything unconditionally until now? Everything from design to construction was perfect.”
[No, CEO Seo. Does it look to you like this is happening because things weren’t perfect? Why would we trust Woorim with this super-tall tower for five years? If an accident happens, who takes responsibility?]
“Such a thing will absolutely not happen.”
[Hah—this man. How frustrating. I mean, why did you fall out with Myeong-jun? That’s giving me a headache too. Just know that I’ve been very considerate of you, CEO Seo. I’m hanging up.]
Seo Young-hwan stared at the phone after the call was cut and pressed the redial button again. However, only the mechanical voice repeating that the customer was unavailable flowed out.
This couldn’t be happening. The amount of money he had funneled to the developer was staggering. Furthermore, the design he had prepared over five years could not possibly have a problem. Seo Young-hwan had bet everything on this project.
—Why would we trust Woorim with this super-tall tower?
Seo Young-hwan clamped his wrinkled lips shut.
But even Seo Young-hwan, who worked in construction, knew. He knew that you need money to raise a building, and since it was a project spanning several years, it had to be backed by credit.
Until now, everything had gone smoothly because the Myeong-jun Financial Group was there. All Seo Young-hwan had to do was show his sincerity at the right time.
Seo Young-hwan searched for ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ in his phone contacts. It was just as he was about to press the button.
The door burst open, and Seo Dong-hu entered with casts on both hands.