By Zephyria 
Seo Dong-hu, appearing frustrated, sat on the sofa while removing the cast from one of his arms. Behind him, an employee rushed in and set down a coffee filled with ice. Seo Dong-hu had ordered it as if he were at a cafe upon entering.
Seo Dong-hu lifted the glass and drank it down. He was now reasonably able to use his right hand.
“Father.”
As the employee left and Seo Young-hwan, who was sitting at the desk, looked at him, Seo Dong-hu wore a look of grievance.
“How could Yi-kyung do this to me! He ignores all my calls. He absolutely won’t pick up. At this rate, isn’t he really going to abandon us all?”
Seo Young-hwan looked down at the phone he was holding. He had also been about to try calling Seo Yi-kyung.
“Who do you think it was thanks to that he got into that house? If it weren’t for Father, would Yi-kyung have even been able to marry Director Han? Even so, he can’t just enjoy that money all by himself and live a good life.”
Seo Dong-hu found it utterly unfair. He had never imagined that Seo Yi-kyung would suddenly change. This wasn’t what he had planned. He had intended to get investment from Seo Yi-kyung to start a business once Seo Yi-kyung got married and moved into that house.
“I’ll try to meet him.”
At Seo Young-hwan’s words, Seo Dong-hu replied with a brightening expression.
“I’m coming too. Actually, there’s word that Yi-kyung is going to an auction house.”
“An auction?”
Seo Dong-hu had been investigating what Seo Yi-kyung had been doing and how he had been spending his money. However, he rarely left the house, and even when he did, it was only to go to an art supply store. He had thunderously asked the chauffeur what he bought there, only to be told he bought brushes.
“He likes antiques. Does he like things that others have used? Well, that’s probably why Yi-kyung didn’t say a word and used the things I gave him, saying he liked them.”
“By himself?”
“Director Han is with him too.”
Seo Young-hwan’s face darkened. The image of Seo Yi-kyung he had seen at the hospital flickered before his eyes. It was a gaze as if he were dealing with a stranger. It seemed as though he had something to rely on; it must be because Director Han was by his side.
Seo Dong-hu took another sip of the coffee in front of him.
“I have a good plan.”
Seo Young-hwan looked at him and lowered his phone. Trusting his son’s words implicitly, he stood up and headed toward the sofa.
* * *
Seo Yi-kyung, seated at the dining table early in the morning, tried his best not to be conscious of Han Seung-jae in front of him. But it was impossible when the other was staring so blatantly.
Han Seung-jae looked at Seo Yi-kyung’s finger, which had been unwrapped from the bandage, then raised his head to meet his eyes.
“I’ll send a car in the evening, so be ready to come out.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted unconsciously.
“Why? Is something hurting?”
“Ah, no.”
Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly shook his head. Was today the day he was being dressed up and put on display?
Even after Han Seung-jae rose from the table first, Seo Yi-kyung continued to pick at his food with his chopsticks.
He couldn’t tell if he was eating with his mouth or his nose. His mouth tasted bitter, and his throat felt tight. Seo Yi-kyung picked up the water glass beside him and drank the entire contents.
Throughout the afternoon, Seo Yi-kyung spent most of his time in the garden or the second-floor bedroom. It was only when Butler Do came to find him that he appeared on the first floor.
In the dressing room, clothes that Butler Do had laid out were lined up.
“I received word from Secretary Park that the car will arrive at 8 o’clock. Therefore, you must begin preparing now.”
Still, since he couldn’t completely ignore Seo Yi-kyung’s preferences, he had narrowed it down to a few outfits that matched what Han Seung-jae had worn out that morning.
Seo Yi-kyung stepped toward a plain, dark-colored suit. He looked for something that wouldn’t stand out, something no one would pay attention to.
However, Butler Do waved a cream-colored suit in front of him. The tie was even shimmering. It was almost as if it were a temptation.
“I think it’s too eye-catching…”
“Your skin is fair, so it will suit you well.”
Seo Yi-kyung had no choice but to accept the suit Butler Do handed him.
While he was buttoning his dress shirt, Butler Do was preoccupied with preparing the shoes and accessories. Seo Yi-kyung fastened his belt and put on the tie, vest, and suit jacket handed over by Butler Do.
Just then, a helper entered the dressing room.
“Butler Do, Secretary Park is here.”
It was barely past 7 o’clock, but Secretary Park had arrived to announce that the car was already there. Butler Do’s hands became even more hurried.
“These shoes would be best.”
Butler Do bowed deeply and placed a pair of two-tone wingtip shoes beneath Seo Yi-kyung’s suit trousers. The classic suit looked radiant.
Seo Yi-kyung looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror. It was certainly an eye-catching outfit. He felt as though he could fetch a very high price for himself.
Butler Do came out to the living room holding the shoes. Secretary Park, who had been sitting on the center sofa checking his wristwatch, stood up.
There was a cup of tea in front of him, but there was no sign that he had drunk from it at all.
“My apologies. It took some time while preparing.”
Butler Do murmured to Secretary Park. Seo Yi-kyung, who followed him out, spoke up.
“Is Seung-jae coming right now?”
Secretary Park, who had been looking at Butler Do, stepped forward.
“No. He is already here.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked puzzled. Already… where on earth?
If Han Seung-jae had entered the house, there was no way Seo Yi-kyung wouldn’t know. The demeanor of the helpers would have changed.
Crossing the garden, Secretary Park opened the rear door of the parked sedan.
Inside sat Han Seung-jae, wearing a dark-colored suit. He turned his head from the tablet PC he was viewing.
The pale face, slender eyebrows, red lips slightly parted in surprise, the suit and tie he was wearing, and even the shoes. Everything looked perfect.
“Do I have to wait longer? I do still have some work left.”
Toward Seo Yi-kyung, who seemed to have no intention of getting into the car, Han Seung-jae tilted the tablet PC he was holding.
“Have a safe trip.”
With Butler Do seeing him off, Seo Yi-kyung slowly took his seat.
The scent of white sandalwood filled the car. Seo Yi-kyung gasped, holding his breath before slowly exhaling. Since Han Seung-jae was staying there, it was only natural for his pheromones to be present, so why was his heart beating so fast?
After the door clicked shut and Secretary Park took his seat in the passenger side, the sedan glided forward.
“…”
In that short time, Seo Yi-kyung’s heart was thumping. He was cautious even about exhaling, fearing that Han Seung-jae beside him might hear it. He stole a glance at Han Seung-jae, who was working. His deep-set eyes were sharp. The lips paired with his straight nose felt heartless.
The suit enveloping his broad shoulders and the way the lights from the street created discordant shadows on his face made him feel a sense of chilliness.
Seo Yi-kyung turned his gaze toward the car window as if reading the room.
He hadn’t expected Han Seung-jae to have already arrived and be waiting. Especially that he wasn’t inside the house, but in this car.
He had never seen Han Seung-jae wait for anyone. Especially since even the original ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ had always adjusted himself to Han Seung-jae.
He was at a point where he doubted if this was the same Han Seung-jae he had seen in the original work.
Was it an illusion that the scenery passing quickly outside the window felt somewhat familiar? Come to think of it, he hadn’t heard from Han Seung-jae where they were going.
No, he remembered glancing at it when the catalogue was handed to him directly. Art Atelier.
Soon, the car passed through the city center and reached a destination.
“Director Han, we have arrived.”
As the car stopped, Han Seung-jae left the tablet PC in the car and opened the door himself to step out. For the dazed Seo Yi-kyung, Secretary Park opened the rear door.
Seo Yi-kyung slowly stepped out. As he straightened his posture, it looked just like the art exhibition hall he had seen last time.
However, today’s destination was, to be precise, the building next to it. Han Seung-jae climbed the stairs. Many people were already walking there.
“Director Han has come as well.”
“It seems the rumors of your attendance were not merely baseless rumors.”
“What are you planning to buy?”
“I just came to look around.”
Han Seung-jae’s answer was short to the point of being blunt. Despite that, people recognized him and approached him without pause. As the surroundings quickly became crowded, Seo Yi-kyung turned his head away from him. Then, a familiar face caught his eye a short distance away.
He spotted Seo Dong-hu looking down at him from the top of the stairs. He was scowling, as if something displeased him. His left hand was still in a cast.
Seo Dong-hu looked at Han Seung-jae, who was continuing a conversation with people beside Seo Yi-kyung, and then disappeared into the crowd. At that moment, Han Seung-jae turned his head. It seemed he followed Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze toward wherever he was looking, then stepped forward, placing a hand on Seo Yi-kyung’s back. With that alone, all of Seo Yi-kyung’s nerves shifted to his back. His heart was racing far more violently than before.