By Zephyria 
How did he end up worrying about the Young Master’s lower body situation? He didn’t know. Tae-hwon threw the washcloth into the tub with a splash and rubbed his face with his palms, performing a dry wash. He didn’t know if he was the one who had become strange or if the world had become strange. He wished all of this was just a dream.
A nightmare couldn’t be more terrible than this.
Below, a drop of water that had formed on his chin fell.
***
Autumn arrived after the monsoon season.
Through the window with the curtains drawn, a clear sky was visible. As if finally cleared after pouring out long rains, soft golden sunlight streamed through the window with sturdy iron bars. The leaves were also gradually turning yellow and red, swaying in the cool autumn breeze.
Like the serene natural scenery outside, the room was peaceful and quiet.
Tae-hwon was sitting quietly in the spacious bedroom, and Kwon Rae-i was changing Tae-hwon’s bandages.
Swoosh. The white bandage slowly unwound, revealing the wound. New flesh was growing and healing, but the area where the skin had split was still red. The area around the wound was slightly swollen, and faint purple bruises remained on the skin.
Kwon Rae-i carefully examined the area around the wound, then blew on it and smiled at Tae-hwon.
“Thankfully, it’s healing well. But it looks like there will be some scarring.”
Kwon Rae-i dipped a cotton swab in disinfectant and carefully wiped the wound. Tae-hwon inhaled sharply each time the swab touched him. However, he soon maintained a calm expression again. He had no intention of pretending to be in pain in front of the Young Master.
Following that, Kwon Rae-i took out ointment and gently applied it with his hands. He carefully applied it along the long gash across his upper chest, constantly blowing on it affectionately.
Each time his breath touched the tender area, tension gathered on his forehead, causing it to furrow slightly. It wasn’t painful, but it was awkward. He wasn’t a child, so he didn’t think it was necessary to act so ticklish while changing a bandage.
“Is it ticklish?”
As if he had read his mind, Kwon Rae-i chuckled and asked. Tae-hwon didn’t answer and found a new bandage in the first aid kit himself.
“Are you teasing me? It’s not funny.”
“Just because. I wanted to see Tae-hwon’s reaction.”
Kwon Rae-i blew air again, pursing his lips. Tae-hwon couldn’t help but be drawn to his pink lips, which were gathered into a point. The fact that Tae-hwon knew how soft and how hot those lips were bothered him and made him feel awkward.
Kwon Rae-i took the new bandage from Tae-hwon’s hand and stretched it out. He spread his arms wide to wrap around Tae-hwon’s chest, embracing him as he wrapped it around his back. Tae-hwon turned his gaze away and simply endured without looking at Kwon Rae-i.
“Tae-hwon.”
“……”
“Tae-hwon? Are you ignoring me?”
Even though he didn’t answer, Kwon Rae-i was persistent. One would think he would stop calling him at this point, but Kwon Rae-i seemed to be getting more stubborn, only calling out to Tae-hwon. Eventually, Tae-hwon raised the white flag.
“I was just thinking about something else.”
“Something else? What were you thinking about?”
“Just… this and that.”
“What’s this and that? I’m curious.”
His gaze as he pressed for answers seemed sincere. He really seemed curious. He might want to understand Tae-hwon’s current state of mind or concerns. Tae-hwon pondered for a moment and then just blurted out whatever came to mind.
“Since when have you been living independently? This seems like a private residence.”
“Huh?”
“Are you no longer living in the Gyeongjeong Faction Separate House? As far as I remember, that’s where you were last living.”
“Ah… I got this house recently. I’ve been living in the Separate House until recently.”
“Don’t tell me you got it because of me?”
“Haha, of course. I couldn’t possibly keep Tae-hwon in the middle of the Kyungjung Main Family. It’s a good thing. Even though it’s a house I got in a hurry, isn’t it perfect for the two of us to live in? Like a honeymoon home.”
Kwon Rae-i once again spread his arms and embraced Tae-hwon, wrapping the bandage around him. Each time he got closer, Tae-hwon felt like his long, white eyelashes, which were lowered sadly, would brush against him.
“It’s also my coming-of-age year. And since my father has passed away, there’s no reason for a half-blooded person to stay attached to the Main Family any longer.”
“Is that so…”
“Yes. That’s how it is.”
The newly wrapped bandage comfortably enveloped the wound. After finishing the treatment, Kwon Rae-i now looked down at Tae-hwon’s lower body. Bandages were wrapped around both of Tae-hwon’s thighs, who was wearing shorts.
“Haa… Young Master, you kept saying not to worry about it, but I still need to address this. Chairman Kwon Jung-il’s death is my responsibility. Do you really not resent me?”
“I don’t know. Not really.”
“Not really?”
“Of course, I do resent you. I resent that Tae-hwon tried to abandon me and run away with the money alone. But, as for Father, I don’t know. I actually feel relieved that he’s dead? Yeah, that’s it.”
Kwon Rae-i rolled up Tae-hwon’s pants. The hand that was unwrapping the bandage was moving much slower than before. He was once again bothered by the gaze that was staring intently at his thighs.
“To the point of feeling relieved? He was your biological father and the Chairman of Gyeongjeong.”
“That’s right. And that biological father and Chairman took Tae-hwon away from me. If I had to put a name on it, it’s resentment.”
“……”
“No. Should I call this jealousy? Haha. Tae-hwon being selected as the Chairman’s direct subordinate was a success for him, but it was a bolt from the blue for me.”
Kwon Rae-i chuckled and gently unwrapped the bandage. Then, just like before, he dipped a cotton swab in disinfectant. The cut on his thigh stung. At the same time, Kwon Rae-i pressed on Tae-hwon’s knees, causing his legs to spread even wider. It was because the wound extended to the inside of his thigh, but the sensation of his legs spreading wasn’t very pleasant.
What made it even more uncomfortable and bothersome was that Kwon Rae-i was staring intently between his legs.
The long cotton swab approached as if to poke between his legs, and Tae-hwon twitched his knees.
‘Tsk. It’s unnecessarily distracting.’
If you think about it, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. People walk around naked in bathhouses. Isn’t it the same as that? It’s just a leg. A man’s leg. Two legs with knife wounds. But.
‘Haa…’
Unnecessary force was applied to his leg muscles. He was so tense that he felt sweat gathering on his back. While Kwon Rae-i gently disinfected the wound with the cotton swab, Tae-hwon lifted his head and stared at the ceiling. Golden autumn sunlight flickered on the white ceiling.
“Does it hurt here?”
Kwon Rae-i asked gently and began to apply ointment to his leg. The place where he touched felt like it was burning. Even his low voice felt unfamiliar.
“You seem tense.”
“……”
“Your inner muscles are trembling.”
Kwon Rae-i cupped his knees with his palms and stared intently at Tae-hwon’s lower body. It was difficult to endure the gaze that was persistently pouring down on him.
The Kwon Rae-i in front of him was Kwon Rae-i, but he wasn’t Kwon Rae-i. Similarly, he himself felt like he was Woo Tae-hwon, but not Woo Tae-hwon. Who is that Young Master, and who is he?
“Tae-hwon’s thighs must be weak… Valuable information. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Keep what in mind? You’re mistaken.”
“Really?”
Kwon Rae-i squeezed a generous amount of ointment onto his finger and placed it on the wound. As he gently rubbed it in, his body shuddered and even his hair began to bristle. Tae-hwon clenched his teeth tightly and refrained from showing any reaction.
“It would be a shame if you were mistaken. You seem to be feeling it sensitively.”
The ceiling seemed to be shaking. The focus in his eyes was slightly off.
“For the record, I’m sensitive in my ears.”
“……Hmm.”
“They turn red easily and are ticklish when touched.”
Kwon Rae-i took a new bandage and wrapped it around his thigh. Tae-hwon inwardly sighed in relief and tilted his head back. However, the other thigh was still left.
“Actually, that’s why I sometimes touch my ears when I’m alone.”
What?
Tae-hwon reflexively gasped. Hearing those words, he imagined Kwon Rae-i caressing himself alone, and he was about to go crazy. Unwanted thoughts filled his head.
“Young Master. I don’t think those words are appropriate for me to hear.”
“Haha, I touched myself yesterday while thinking about Tae-hwon.”
“That’s enough. Let’s stop talking about that.”
“Do you want to touch it once to see how it feels?”
Kwon Rae-i smiled as he unwrapped the bandage on the other leg. He couldn’t bear to look at his face as he widened his eyes and approached. His blurred eyes lingered on his ear for a moment before turning to the ceiling in annoyance. However, the pure white ceiling resembled Kwon Rae-i, so there was no point in avoiding his gaze.
“I wonder how much you’ll feel if Tae-hwon touches it.”
“Instead of wondering about such useless things, sit at your desk and study more. Read even one more book.”
“Nagging. Even though Tae-hwon doesn’t like books.”
“The Young Master and I are different.”
“How are we different? I feel with my ears, and Tae-hwon feels with his thighs?”
“No. I said no, why are you being so stubborn?”
“Really? Is that really not it? Then it’s okay if I touch you like this now?”