By Zephyria 
“Yi-kyung, take this.”
Min Ra-hyeon approached and held out a gift box. It looked as if he were giving it to Seo Yi-kyung personally. However, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t budge. Seo Yi-kyung was well aware that Min Ra-hyeon was only doing this because he was curious about what was inside the box.
Suddenly, Jin Seon-yu reached up and took it instead.
“Why are you taking that?”
Ignoring Min Ra-hyeon’s frowning remark, Jin Seon-yu handed the gift box straight to Butler Do.
“Butler Do, we’ve run out of tea in the painting studio. Could you bring some more?”
“Ah, yes. I shall do so.”
Butler Do placed the box he was holding on the sofa table and turned around. Seo Yi-kyung left the drawing room with Jin Seon-yu.
Click, Jin Seon-yu closed the door to the painting studio. He gazed at Seo Yi-kyung, who was standing in front of the work table. His complexion looked worse than before. Jin Seon-yu took a step forward.
“My second Hyung mentioned that our house would be sending gifts too. He asked me what would be good. So, I made an excuse and said I’d ask you.”
Even as he spoke, Jin Seon-yu scanned Seo Yi-kyung’s face.
“And Gi-jun also asked what would be a good gift…”
Rumors had already spread far and wide. Especially since the child was that of Han Seung-jae, the man who would lead the Myeongjun Financial Group in the future. Consequently, the competition to make a good first impression had already become overheated.
“….”
However, Jin Seon-yu could not continue. This was because he knew all too well what the canvas beside Seo Yi-kyung signified.
A moment later, the door to the painting studio opened and Butler Do entered. After replacing the empty teapot and refilling the tea, he withdrew. He seemed busier than usual due to the influx of gifts.
“Have a cup of tea before you start.”
As if nothing had happened, Seo Yi-kyung lifted a teacup and held it out to Jin Seon-yu. As Jin Seon-yu took it, Seo Yi-kyung added, “You can finish it today, right?”
Jin Seon-yu almost dropped the teacup. Although he could have finished the painting long ago, he had been refining it over and over, claiming he wanted to paint it more meticulously. He had been trying to delay the completion by any means possible.
However, looking into Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes, he realized there were no more excuses to make. Jin Seon-yu blushed, looking defeated.
“Did I get caught? Fine. I’ll definitely finish it today.”
Jin Seon-yu drank the tea and tied an apron around his neck. He stepped toward the canvas and began to move his brush. Seo Yi-kyung approached and watched as a magnificent winter mountain took shape.
* * *
“Yi-kyung, don’t you want to open the things in the drawing room?”
Min Ra-hyeon, sitting opposite him at the dinner table, spoke up.
“I think they’re all addressed to you. Let’s go open them together after we eat.”
Seo Yi-kyung acted as if he hadn’t heard him, then slowly raised his head to look at Min Ra-hyeon. Meeting his eyes, Min Ra-hyeon asked expectantly, “You’re curious about what’s inside too, right?”
“No. I’m not interested in things like that.”
Having said that, Seo Yi-kyung stood up. He entered the painting studio and reached back to close the door.
He cleaned the work table and organized the items on the shelves.
Seo Yi-kyung looked at the pocket watch necklace in the display case. He stroked the glass surface with his finger. It was something he had accidentally purchased at the auction he attended with Han Seung-jae after pressing the wrong button.
‘Two billion won.’
This tiny pocket watch necklace cost a staggering two billion won. Han Seung-jae had paid the price without a second thought and placed it here. He had even bought the hat.
Seo Yi-kyung looked back and forth between the display case containing the hat. He withdrew the hand that had been touching the glass and slowly looked around the painting studio.
At some point, he had begun visiting this place every day. At first, it had felt unfamiliar, but now he felt as though his own touch was left everywhere. Seo Yi-kyung stepped toward the canvas. Oil paints take time to dry.
Would his heart be sorted out in that amount of time?
He hoped so, but then he thought it wouldn’t be that easy.
And above all, the most important task still remained for Seo Yi-kyung. Giving this painting to Han Seung-jae.
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head and stared at the old canvas. He looked at the faded winter mountain mixed within it. He had chosen this painting not only because it suited Han Seung-jae’s image, but also because it was a painting Han Seung-jae had seen once before.
If it was a painting he had seen, it wouldn’t feel out of place.
Thus, he would be able to avoid Han Seung-jae’s suspicion.
* * *
Although people had been coming and going from the house for several days, Butler Do no longer sought out Seo Yi-kyung. He sorted the items based on his own judgment. Medicinal herbs went to the chef. Baby supplies were moved to an empty room using the helpers. High-priced items were brought into the painting studio and placed to one side.
As usual, after placing a box in the painting studio, Butler Do straightened his back and looked at Seo Yi-kyung standing before the canvas. Lately, as soon as he woke up, Seo Yi-kyung would go to the studio to look at the painting, and sometimes he would stay there all day. However, he no longer seemed to be painting.
Butler Do lifted the teapot and filled the teacup. Seo Yi-kyung turned his head. He stepped away from the canvas and sat in a chair.
“I no longer know what to call you.”
Lifting the teacup, Seo Yi-kyung looked up. Butler Do added with a smile, “I used to call you the Young Master, but now we truly have a baby Young Master.”
Butler Do seemed to be trying to soften Seo Yi-kyung’s sunken atmosphere somehow. Since Jin Seon-yu stopped coming, Seo Yi-kyung had stopped smiling.
However, instead of answering, Seo Yi-kyung drank his tea and pointed to the canvas.
“Please move this to the study.”
“The painting? Ah, were you planning to give it as a gift to Director Han? He will surely love it. I shall do it right away.”
Butler Do set down the teapot and gladly took hold of the canvas. A moment later, a helper entered and carried out the wooden easel.
During that time, Seo Yi-kyung remained in the painting studio.
Seo Yi-kyung finished his tea and stood up. He told Butler Do, who had come down from the second floor, to let him know when Han Seung-jae arrived, and then he entered the elevator.
His eyes locked with Min Ra-hyeon, who was sitting on the sofa, but as the elevator doors closed, Min Ra-hyeon’s presence vanished.
After passing through the long hallway and entering the bedroom, Seo Yi-kyung sat on the bed. However, before long, he opened the terrace door and stepped outside. A cold wind ruffled through his thin hair. If he gave the painting to Han Seung-jae and told him he wanted to leave, what kind of expression would he make?
Would he say no? Or would he tell him to go ahead?
Either way, there probably wouldn’t be much change in Han Seung-jae’s face.
With a sunken gaze, Seo Yi-kyung returned inside the room. In winter, the sun sets early, and the outside quickly turned pitch black. Butler Do knocked on the bedroom door. Knock, knock, the sound repeated. Seo Yi-kyung opened the door and stepped out.
“I have placed the painting safely in the study.”
Butler Do seemed somewhat excited. Because of this, he spoke words Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t even asked for, brimming with anticipation.
“Director Han is currently changing his clothes in the dressing room. He will be up shortly.”
Butler Do bowed to Seo Yi-kyung while watching the floor number change on the elevator indicator.
“I will go down and prepare tea and refreshments.”
Butler Do quickly went down the stairs. Then, as the number on the indicator changed to 2, the firmly closed elevator doors opened.
Han Seung-jae, with his cold features, revealed himself fully. Wearing a dress shirt that followed the line of his broad shoulders, looking impeccable, Han Seung-jae stepped out of the elevator as if he had spotted Seo Yi-kyung. He walked forward, adjusting the sleeves of his dress shirt.
“Why are you out here?”
Seo Yi-kyung turned his body slightly. He took in Han Seung-jae’s back deeply. Suddenly, as if sensing that Seo Yi-kyung was just standing there, Han Seung-jae stopped. He turned around and spoke.
“It’s not bad meeting you like this, instead of always seeing you asleep.”
“Seung-jae.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted. Han Seung-jae turned his body fully toward him. He waited without interrupting.
“There’s something I want to give you.”
“Ah.”
Han Seung-jae seemed to know what it was.
“Did you finish the painting?”
Seo Yi-kyung also thought there was no way Han Seung-jae wouldn’t know. Seo Yi-kyung curled his fingers and squeezed them tight. His heart beat frantically and relentlessly. It felt as if it might rip through his chest at any moment.
Han Seung-jae asked nonchalantly,
“Is it in the painting studio? I’d like to see it right away.”
Seo Yi-kyung slowly shook his head and said,
“It’s in the study now.”
“Is that so? Even better.”
Han Seung-jae turned around without hesitation. He opened the closed door to the study.