#194

Thanks to Chairman Shin’s help, Seon-jae immediately took the man to a university hospital and had him admitted. The surgery was scheduled for the next day. As he was dragged around for pre-operative tests, the man slowly regained consciousness. He now knew where he was and who he was with. However, he barely remembered what had happened before coming to the hospital. He might have been pretending not to, but he consistently played dumb.

After the tests, the man slept like a discharged battery. He fell into such a deep sleep that it was questionable if he should be sleeping that much.

Seon-jae had nothing to do but stay by the Man’s side, so he watched TV and dozed off occasionally. Then, he thought about getting the Man’s clothes laundered. The Man’s clothes were dirty because they had been rolling around on the floor together. As he shook the clothes, intending to dust them off, Seon-jae remembered the man taking something out of his pants to eat. He reached into the pants pocket and found a white pill. It was a half-split Vicodin (a combination drug of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, one of the oral narcotic analgesics).

So, the man had been nibbling on this all along. Seon-jae had seen it three times. It would have been fortunate if he had been splitting it in half to save it, but if he had been eating a whole pill each time, he would have taken at least three pills in three hours. It was an amount that made it strange he was even in his right mind. Kim Bae-dal’s worries were not unfounded.

How he had been okay after taking that, well, he hadn’t been entirely okay, but he had seemed normal for at least three hours.

“Seriously, what a stubborn fool.”

He muttered to himself and turned to look at the Man.

His sleeping face looked just like a boy. Seon-jae’s head was filled with complicated thoughts because of what this beautiful man, who wouldn’t hurt even if he were in his eyes, had gone through. Even the documented events were overwhelming for a boy of that age. And there was more to it than that.

If the Man’s ramblings and hallucinations were true. If that had really happened.

Seon-jae shook his head. He didn’t even want to think about it.

He had to find that son of a bitch Kim Sung-hwan no matter what. As soon as he found him, he vowed to break both of that bastard’s legs.

It was time to use someone other than a Helper. Someone of his own.

There were many people who would greet him warmly if he contacted them. There were quite a few in the private investigation business, and among the police, although corrupt ones, there were more than enough who would rush over to be his bodyguard.

After all, it was a world that moved with money. He didn’t know for sure, but almost everyone would have been looking for Lee Seon-jae to receive 300 million won. Well, there was no need to dwell on things that were already over. He knew the ways of this world.

It was time for Seon-jae to start moving people with money.

Seon-jae decided to contact Bae Young-do, his long-time antenna and informant. He was a man with relatively high loyalty who hadn’t been swayed even when Lee Hyun-joon had tried to buy him off with money. Bae Young-do, who had been in the private investigation business for over 20 years, specialized in finding people. He could create a complete biography of Kim Sung-hwan with just his resident registration number.

Seon-jae gathered the clothes and left the hospital room.

“Where are you going?”

Yong, who was sitting on a chair right next to the hospital room door, asked.

“Laundry.”

“Call me.”

“How would you know where the laundromat is?”

“Isn’t there 114?”

Who didn’t know that?

He was going out for some fresh air and planned to call Bae Young-do, but this guy was so thorough.

“I’m going to buy some snacks while I’m out.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, you have to guard the room.”

“I was ordered by Chairman to protect Lee Seon-jae.”

Yong replied like a soldier.

Ah. That’s right.

He had forgotten Yong’s reason for being there. The the man was important to Seon-jae for Seon-jae’s sake, and Lee Seon-jae was necessary for Chairman Shin. That’s why he had spent a lot of money to save Seon-jae and even given up his own Aide, who was like his alter ego.

“Then let me use your phone for a call.”

Seon-jae insisted on borrowing Yong’s cell phone. He thought it would be dangerous to keep using the cell phone Jeong Jae-jin had given him. Not for himself or Jeong Jae-jin, but for the risk of exposing Kim Bae-dal. Kim Bae-dal was someone Jeong Jae-jin had deliberately hidden, so Seon-jae had an obligation to protect him at least.

At Seon-jae’s request, Yong handed over his cell phone without hesitation. Yong had nothing to lose since Lee Seon-jae’s call would leave a record of the phone number on his phone.

Seon-jae took Yong’s cell phone and went back into the hospital room. Then he dialed Bae Young-do’s number.

“It’s me, Lee Seon-jae.”

No way, who is this? Are you really alive?

Bae Young-do exclaimed in surprise.

No, really, is this really Lee Seon-jae? I’m telling you, I cried for three days and nights when I heard you were dead. Do you even know that? But what is all this? Huh? Your boss put up 300 million won, and you’re rumored to be gay. The rumors are unbelievable.

“Just get to the point.”

Seon-jae said, and Bae Young-do laughed loudly.

It’s Lee Seon-jae, all right. It’s Lee Seon-jae.

Then there was a sniffling sound over the receiver.

Had this guy always been so emotionally sensitive? Except for his effeminate way of speaking, he was a man who looked and acted like a bandit. Nevertheless, he cried at the news of Seon-jae’s survival.

Seon-jae was slightly touched, wondering if he had thought of him that much. Then he was startled. He was moved by the sniffling, which might have been an act. He found himself unfamiliar with this and chuckled.

But I heard you went to Chairman Shin? Is that okay? Will your boss be okay with that?

Bae Young-do fussed as if he had never cried, expressing his concern.

“Were you looking for me too, Hyung?”

Instead of answering the question, he asked this. Then Bae Young-do said, “Aish, just like Lee Seon-jae, he never answers what he doesn’t want to,” and grimaced.

Of course, I did. When else would I ever get to handle 300 million won in my life? But there were so many skilled guys involved, and even scary guys I didn’t want to deal with joined in, so it wasn’t fun to look for you. Besides, they were fighting so much among themselves that I thought they would catch the wrong person, so I quit halfway.

Bae Young-do smacked his lips as if he was disappointed.

But why did you call me? Do you have something you want me to do?

He was quick on the uptake as always.

“Yes. I’m looking for someone.”

That’s my specialty. Tell me.

Bae Young-do said confidently.

“But why couldn’t you find me?”

When Seon-jae asked teasingly, Bae Young-do laughed in vain and retorted.

Let’s get this straight. It’s not that I couldn’t find you, but that I didn’t look for you. No matter how much I like money, would I sell you out for 300 million won? Right?

He had just said he would move for 300 million won, but he immediately changed his tune. Then he started rambling about things he hadn’t even asked about.

You really hid well this time. How did you disappear without leaving a trace like that? Prosecutor Jeong must be pretty skilled too. His guys aren’t that great at their jobs, but he got the right guy. Well, Lee Seon-jae has an eye for people, he sure does.

“Why are you being like this all of a sudden? Praising me when you never do?”

When did I? I’ve always praised you. It’s just that you don’t take it as praise. Anyway, I’m so glad. I’m really so glad to hear your voice like this.

Bae Young-do started to sob again.

Seon-jae, who would have already said what he needed to say and hung up, listened to Bae Young-do’s complaints, nagging, and words of welcome for about five more minutes before saying Kim Sung-hwan’s name.

“Please find out as much as you can as soon as possible.”

Is he someone related to your boss?

“No. Someone I’m personally curious about.”

Is that so? Alright. I’ll show off my skills for the first time in a while.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Wait. I think I heard something strange??

Seon-jae was embarrassed and hung up the phone because Bae Young-do was about to make a fuss.

He couldn’t help but smile.

I’ve changed a lot too, he thought as he looked at the Man, who was still fast asleep.

He had entrusted Kim Sung-hwan to him for now, so it was time to find out Lee Seok-doo’s true feelings. Chairman Shin said he would look into it on his end, but somehow he felt like he already knew the answer to this.

Not something related to Lee Seon-jae’s work, but something related to the Man.

Seon-jae recalled what Kim Young-ja had said. The day Yoon Ki-beom was taken to the police station instead of the precinct, and the day he was slapped for the first time. And Detective Oh Dae-Ho, who had gone to Lee Seok-doo on his own and provided information and received a large sum of money.

* * *

The surgery was successful, and the man woke up from anesthesia quickly. He looked a little dazed, but his appetite and energy were quite good.

Seon-jae made a big fuss about providing nursing care, something he had never done in his life.

“Wait a minute, say ‘ah.’ I’ll feed you.”

“I can use my right arm, though.”

“No, save it. Here, ah. Ah!”

Even though there were only two of them in the hospital room, the man habitually looked around before opening his mouth.

Since it was arm surgery, there were no restrictions on what he could eat, but no matter how he thought about it, the hospital food was terrible. If this was the food they served in a VIP room, what were the others eating? Tsk. He clicked his tongue, took one bite of the guardian’s meal he had ordered for himself, intending to eat it, and then focused on feeding the Man.

The the man ate everything so deliciously.

“Is it good?”

“Yes. Everything is delicious.”

“No, this? This side dish?”

“It’s bland and nice. The rice is sweet too.”

The the man replied brightly.

Then he opened his mouth wide. He readily accepted the rice and side dishes that Seon-jae gave him.

Like Pavlov’s dog, Seon-jae’s appetite was stimulated just by watching the man eat. Naturally, his stomach rumbled.

“Tae-heun should eat too.”

“I’m okay. I’m not hungry.”

“It keeps making noises, though. It’s not like there’s no food, so eat quickly.”

“Alright. I’ll eat it since it’s already ordered, but I’m not hungry.”

Seon-jae pretended to eat reluctantly and pulled the tray that had been prepared for him. The the man smiled as he watched him.

They placed the two trays side by side and took turns feeding the man and eating themselves. At first, they used separate spoons and chopsticks, but soon they were eating together with the same spoon and chopsticks that the man had been using.

It was amazing. It was definitely tasteless when he had eaten it earlier, but for some reason, it tasted great. Just like the man said, it was bland and nice, and the rice was sweet.

Seon-jae thought the man had cast a spell.

“Our Ki-beom is a magician,”

he said.

The the man raised his eyebrows as he received rice from Seon-jae. He seemed to be asking what he meant. Seon-jae said, “It’s just something,” and put a side dish into the Man’s mouth one by one.

The the man chewed and ate it. Then Seon-jae’s appetite was stimulated again, and he took a large spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth, carefully eating each side dish.

“There’s not enough rice.”

Eventually, even these words came out. The the man laughed, saying, “You said it wasn’t good earlier.”

It was really nice just being the two of them. He was happy just looking at the man without any worries.

The the man hadn’t fully returned to normal. The amount of painkillers he had taken yesterday and the day before was quite a lot, and he was sometimes out of it due to the sedatives and painkillers he had received during the surgery, saying strange things. He mistook people, confused places, and occasionally looked for a the child. This time, he hugged a pillow instead of a teddy bear, but anyway, the man was still comforting and soothing Ji-hye, who was still a baby.

Still, he was holding up well, and he was in his right mind most of the time.

The day felt too short for Seon-jae. Before he knew it, it was night, and the two of them lay side by side in bed as if they had promised. It was cramped for two people to lie down, but it didn’t feel cramped at all.

Seon-jae clung to the man and buried his face in his shoulder. He wanted to spend a few more days like this, not saying anything and getting along so well, but he couldn’t do that anymore.

If he wanted what was best for the Man, he had to confess the truth.

It’s nothing big. Even if it is, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Seon-jae slowly opened his mouth.

Chapter 195