By Zephyria 
“What were you looking at?”
It was a voice that could have been buried by the surrounding commotion, but because Han Seung-jae’s voice was clear and distinct, Seo Yi-kyung could not pretend not to hear it or look away.
“…….”
The image of Seo Dong-hu’s scowling face flashed before Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes. Would it be better to tell the truth—that he had seen him?
He recalled the sight of Seo Dong-hu, Seo Young-hwan, and Han Seung-jae at the hospital. He thought that would have been enough to ensure they wouldn’t cross paths again. Hadn’t Seo Yi-kyung also made it clear that they should not visit anymore? However, as Seo Dong-hu had said, perhaps the bond of blood-related family was truly tenacious, and that wasn’t enough to sever it. No, it was more likely that Seo Dong-hu was just that tenaciously obsessed with money.
“Did you run into someone you know?”
Han Seung-jae asked as he finished climbing the stairs and stepped inside. Seo Yi-kyung shook his head.
“I think I was mistaken.”
Han Seung-jae seemed to look down at Seo Yi-kyung for a moment before staring straight ahead.
Many people were coming and going in the vast hall. Among them, a familiar face appeared. It was Im Jeong-yun, the director of the Art Clie Gallery.
Im Jeong-yun, who had been conversing with people, began to walk toward them. The clicking sound of her heels grew closer.
“Welcome. I have been waiting for you.”
As Im Jeong-yun gave a bright smile, her lips, coated in a light lipstick, curved softly. She introduced Im Ha-young, whose hair was tied up high like a ponytail, as her younger sister. She exerted every effort to firmly maintain the connection with the couple, Han Seung-jae and Seo Yi-kyung, which had been difficult to establish.
The mere fact that Han Seung-jae attended this event would undoubtedly raise the status of the venue. Compared to its history of about ten years, Art Clie’s standing as a gallery was on the weaker side. Thus, it was only natural that she put particular effort into the two of them.
“I sincerely thank you for taking the time to grace us with your presence.”
Looking closely, Im Jeong-yun and Im Ha-young seemed to have similar smiles. Im Ha-young reached out her hand.
“Seats have been prepared inside. Please follow me.”
As Han Seung-jae stepped forward, Seo Yi-kyung composed himself and walked beside him. He had felt it while climbing the stairs, but just being next to Han Seung-jae made the gaze of the crowd feel different. He felt as though people were watching, attributing deep meaning to every single one of Han Seung-jae’s actions.
In particular, the whispering voices of people wanting to know why Han Seung-jae had visited reached his ears. Isn’t that Director Han? Why on earth is he here? What was on the list for this auction?
Click. Im Ha-young stopped walking and opened a door. As Han Seung-jae entered first, Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly followed behind him.
“…….”
Seo Yi-kyung came to a sudden halt, staring at the interior, which was designed like a private room. There was a screen at the front, as if he had entered a movie theater.
The difference was that there was a large sofa one could practically lie down on, and a table laid with various types of alcohol and fruit.
Im Ha-young, who was standing by the door, spoke with a smile.
“I thought the chairs in the main hall might be somewhat uncomfortable, so we have prepared separate seating for the two of you.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s mouth hung open unconsciously. He couldn’t bring himself to say that this was actually more uncomfortable. As Han Seung-jae took off his suit jacket, a staff member who had followed them in took it and hung it neatly.
While doing so, the staff member explained the drinks on the table. At that moment, Han Seung-jae turned his head back. His sharp eyes narrowed.
“Are you just going to stand there?”
A shiver ran down Seo Yi-kyung’s spine. Frozen as if struck by lightning, Seo Yi-kyung moved toward the sofa. Secretary Park, who had been following in their footsteps, approached Han Seung-jae and whispered a few words.
“They say it will take about two hours, so I will be waiting outside.”
“Very well.”
Then, he bowed and turned around. Just before leaving the door, he did not forget to give a slight nod to Seo Yi-kyung.
As Seo Yi-kyung awkwardly tried to sit on the sofa, the staff member reached out as if preparing to take his suit jacket.
Seo Yi-kyung stiffened his body and took off his cream suit jacket. The staff member pulled the limp garment taut and hung it up.
Seo Yi-kyung barely perched the edge of his backside on the sofa, looking as if he were ready to flee at any moment. Han Seung-jae, sitting beside him, was drinking the whiskey the staff member had recommended.
The staff member, having finished tidying the suit, approached and picked up a button from the table. He handed it to Seo Yi-kyung first.
Seo Yi-kyung took the button and looked down at it. The long button, which looked like a fountain pen, had a pressable end. The staff member explained that a red light would turn on when the button was pressed. He detailed that a number would then appear on the screen in front of them. Following his hand, Seo Yi-kyung looked at the screen; a portion of the screen displayed the list of the next auction items, complete with detailed descriptions.
Seo Yi-kyung fiddled with the cold metal. It looked light like a pen, but the weight felt different.
“If you press the button, a number will appear here.”
Seo Yi-kyung gave a barely perceptible nod. The staff member explained that Seo Yi-kyung’s number was 1202. The button on the table for Han Seung-jae was 1201.
However, it seemed Seo Yi-kyung would have no reason to use this button. He remembered the catalog of auction items he had seen when he received it from Han Seung-jae.
A faded shirt, a discolored scarf, a pocket watch necklace stained with fingerprints, a gold cigarette case full of signs of use and soiled with dirt and fingerprints, a hat, and a sword crafted with an eagle.
Such things meant nothing to the current Seo Yi-kyung. He didn’t think he would develop any great interest in them even if he placed them in his painting studio. Therefore, there was no reason for him to participate in the auction. However, perhaps because of the pressure emanating from the person beside him, clutching something in his hand gave him a sense of stability.
“Please let me know if you need anything else.”
Seo Yi-kyung stared longingly at the back of the staff member who was leaving after the greeting, his lips parting. Rather than needing something, he was bothered by the fact that no one else was in the room.
‘So, I have to be alone with Han Seung-jae in here for two hours?’
The staff member had even dimmed the lighting to a soft glow as he left.
Seo Yi-kyung’s chest, hidden by his vest, rose and fell incessantly. Through the screen, he could see the interior of the main hall and the behavior of the people sitting in the chairs at a glance. But seeing many people didn’t lessen the awkwardness inside the room.
Han Seung-jae crossed his long legs. Just as Seo Yi-kyung was fidgeting and trying to move to the left for fear that Han Seung-jae’s leg might touch him—
“What about dinner?”
“I ate.”
Butler Do had provided a simple meal, worrying that it would get late.
Han Seung-jae brought the glass of whiskey to his lips. Seo Yi-kyung desperately hoped that the tightly closed back door would slide open and someone would enter, but that did not happen.
He stole a glance at Han Seung-jae’s cold profile. He had thought he might be dressed up and put up for auction; perhaps he should consider it a blessing that such a catastrophe didn’t occur.
He recalled how the gazes of the people continued incessantly from the moment he got out of the car and climbed the stairs. It would have been even harder to sit in the main hall, as seen on that screen, while receiving such looks.
Thinking that, the heaviness in his chest lightened slightly. This place, which had felt narrow because he was alone with Han Seung-jae, didn’t feel so bad anymore. If he had been sitting in there, he would have had to listen to the whispers of the people from earlier.
He had acted composed and pretended not to hear anything while climbing the stairs, but pretending not to hear didn’t mean he actually couldn’t hear. He couldn’t cover his ears, and sitting in the main hall would have been overwhelming for Seo Yi-kyung as well.
Two hours will pass quickly. Just think of it as watching a movie… He tried hard to think that way, but Seo Yi-kyung kept tightening his grip. He felt as if his palms were sweating slightly. He squeezed the button that fit snugly in his palm.
* * *
“What? Where did they go?”
Seo Dong-hu, who was sitting in a chair in the main hall, whipped his head back and forth. The face of Seo Yi-kyung, which he had clearly seen at the entrance, was nowhere to be found. He scanned everything from the front seats to the back of the hall, but Han Seung-jae was not visible either. Both of them had vanished without a trace.
“Did they turn back after seeing me?”
Seo Dong-hu moved restlessly. A long button was gripped in his hand. The people in this hall were holding the same buttons. The chauffeur sitting beside him looked anxious.
“I saw him standing there earlier.”
Just then, the lighting in the hall changed. Click, click. Im Ha-young, making the sound of heels, stepped onto the podium where cameras were positioned and spoke. Her long hair, tied up high, swayed with her movements. Her face was shown in a large close-up on the screens attached to the left, right, and ceiling of the hall.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the distinguished guests who have attended today.”
She had invited a large number of people who had expressed interest in bidding, including those online. The people inside were only a small fraction.
After her grand greeting, Im Ha-young’s hand, clad in a white glove, moved. As if waiting for the signal, a staff member pulled back the curtain and stepped out. He presented a glass case he was holding. The pocket watch necklace inside was reflected across the screen.
Im Ha-young went on to explain the watch, but Seo Dong-hu didn’t care. He was simply dying to get up from his seat right now and go find Seo Yi-kyung.
“Then, those who wish to participate in the auction, please press the button in front of you. We shall begin. The starting price for the auction is 450 million won.”
Soon, a number appeared on the electronic scoreboard.
[998.]
Im Ha-young’s voice grew louder.
“Number 998, 450 million.”
The numbers changed in rapid succession.
[423, 2675, 3576, 1788.]
“Number 423, 460 million; Number 2675, 470 million; Number 3576, 480 million; Number 1788, 490 million.”
Im Ha-young did not miss a single number, her eyes as sharp as a hawk’s.
[325.]
“Number 325, 500 million.”
As it quickly reached 500 million, Im Ha-young announced that she would change the bidding increment. From now on, pressing the button would increase the price by 50 million won. Despite this, the heat did not diminish in the slightest.
Especially from those who had seen Han Seung-jae at the entrance to those who had attended knowing in advance that he was coming. The people participating in this auction surely knew that Han Seung-jae was here. Thus, everyone was desperate to snag even one of the few auction items.
He had come in person instead of sending a representative. Since he had visited this place to make a purchase, it must be a precious artifact without needing to verify. Furthermore, it would be a good opportunity to make a significant business proposal to Han Seung-jae using that as a pretext.
“Number 278, 1 billion.”
Eventually, the price began to exceed 1 billion.
When 1.5 billion was reached, a brief silence fell over the hall. But then, the fire was lit again.
It started when a rumor spread through one side of the hall that Han Seung-jae had a great interest in rare items and that he never refused a gift that came his way.
“1.95 billion. Are there any more bids?”
Shortly after Im Ha-young’s shout, no more numbers appeared on the scoreboard.
“1.95 billion!”
If Im Ha-young shouted it three times, it would be finalized. 1.95 billion! Just as she shouted the second call—a number flashed on the scoreboard.
[1202.]
Standing on the podium, Im Ha-young opened her white-gloved palm and shouted with an excited face.
“Number 1202. 2 billion.”