By Zephyria 
“Absolutely not!”
Moon Gyeon-woo, rubbing his solar plexus as if suffering from heartburn, replied through gritted teeth. A deep river of resentment now flowed between the two of them. Ever since the incident where Choi Hwan’s luxury goods were ruined, all sorts of accidents and mishaps had been breaking out between them several times a day.
“Are you really going to keep being this childish? Why don’t we just ignore each other instead?”
“I could have stopped if that bastard hadn’t spilled cola on my laptop. Of all times, I hadn’t backed it up for days…”
Yeon-rok clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking of how it had to be a sticky drink. As time passed, the mental and material damages between the two grew, and consequently, Yeon-rok’s stress was piling up. Being caught between two people with such a hostile relationship was more exhausting than he had imagined.
Naturally, that evening as well, the moment Choi Hwan and Moon Gyeon-woo locked eyes, they fought violently like cats and dogs. It wasn’t just because of the laptop.
It happened when Choi Hwan, claiming he wasn’t feeling well and was too tired, tried to cling to Yeon-rok. Moon Gyeon-woo suddenly appeared, grabbed Choi Hwan by the collar, and thrust his hand inside. Then, he touched the chest where the name was located. To be precise, he twisted and squeezed it hard enough to make Choi Hwan scream. Yeon-rok’s mouth hung open at the viciousness of that hand, fueled by the grudge over the laptop.
“Now you won’t be lacking in contact.”
“Aaaagh! You crazy bastard! I’m reporting you for sexual harassment!”
“Do it if you can.”
There was no way Choi Hwan, being a celebrity, could recklessly sue him. Trembling with rage, Choi Hwan lunged at Moon Gyeon-woo. Unable to just watch, Yeon-rok barely managed to pull them apart. Then, Moon Gyeon-woo charged at him, demanding to know what he was going to do about the lost research data.
With these incidents repeating daily, it was truly mentally and physically draining. Having barely managed to isolate the two, Yeon-rok returned to his room. For the sake of his mental stability, he stroked the ‘Yeon-ga’ series for the first time in a while.
He stroked the car key of the sports car Yeonji, the attachment dolls Yeondu and Yeoneo, the attachment plant Yeon-pil, and even the attachment gold bar Yeon-geum, while agonizing over his dilemma. Eventually deciding that he couldn’t take it anymore, Yeon-rok went down to the first floor. He knocked on the study door and peeked his head in slightly.
“CEO, are you busy?”
If one wanted to find Yeom Cheon-ho in this house, going to the study was faster than going to the bedroom. In fact, the times he wasn’t in the study were few and far between. Yeom Cheon-ho, who had been working without even changing his clothes since returning home today, shook his head.
“I’m not that busy. Come in and sit down. What is it?”
But the pile of documents today is enormous… Nevertheless, unable to live like this any longer, Yeon-rok entered the study. As he sat in the chair, Yeom Cheon-ho rummaged through a drawer and brought out some snacks. Naturally munching on the treats, Yeon-rok complained to Yeom Cheon-ho about the discord between Choi Hwan and Moon Gyeon-woo. Yeom Cheon-ho nodded.
“I have been receiving reports about it. It seems the conflict is intensifying lately.”
“It is. Is there anything you can do, CEO?”
Yeon-rok asked desperately. However, it seemed Yeom Cheon-ho didn’t have a particular answer either. He slowly shook his head.
“Physical isolation would be best, but it’s difficult due to security and the need to maintain contact. There is a significant difference in physical condition depending on whether one lives in the same space as their name partner or not.”
This was information Yeon-rok had also encountered in the name manifestor community. Simply living together drastically changed the difficulty of maintaining one’s health. It wasn’t for nothing that Yeom Cheon-ho consistently returned home to sleep despite his busy schedule.
“Above all, the fundamental cause isn’t being resolved.”
“The fundamental cause…?”
“The desire to monopolize Yeon-rok-ssi.”
“Uh, right, yes…”
Yeon-rok nodded, unable to deny it. He let out a deep sigh. He was no longer embarrassed or shy hearing such things. It was because he was utterly drained from being hounded by those two rude… no, strongly-individualistic people.
“Then what do we do? I have no intention of dating anyone.”
After staring blankly at Yeon-rok for a moment, Yeom Cheon-ho replied.
“The only way is for the two of them to cultivate an attitude of patience and tolerance.”
Choi Hwan and Moon Gyeon-woo? Patience and tolerance? To Yeon-rok’s ears, it sounded impossible. Yeom Cheon-ho hummed, lost in thought for a moment, rubbing his chin with his finger.
“But since Yeon-rok-ssi is struggling right now… how about taking a break for a few days?”
“A break?”
I’m already resting plenty? Yeon-rok had never spent his life idling at home without worrying about food or money as much as he had lately.
“Mrs. Park mentioned that the amount Yeon-rok-ssi eats has decreased.”
“I have?”
Yeon-rok asked, bewildered. He looked back at his memory, but he had eaten all three meals deliciously today. He had even left nothing but crumbs of the sugar-coated twisted donuts and donuts served as snacks, as well as the sweet homemade cookies Yeom Cheon-ho had just given him.
“She said you only eat snacks once a day and don’t ask for more food during breakfast…”
Yeom Cheon-ho trailed off, sounding worried. Wondering how on earth that counted as eating less, Yeon-rok suddenly snapped awake. Huh? Was I eating like a pig before? I haven’t weighed myself, but I didn’t feel like I gained weight. When was the last time I checked my weight? Am I eating too much compared to how much I exercise?
While Yeon-rok was reflecting on his dietary habits, Yeom Cheon-ho made an enticing proposal.
“I have a business trip to Japan for four days and three nights soon. Would you like to accompany me?”
“Huh. I get to go on an overseas trip?”
Yeon-rok’s heart fluttered at the unexpected proposal. He was more excited than when Moon Gyeon-woo asked him to go to an amusement park. The expected amusement park outing had remained only as a memory of being hounded… but an overseas trip was one of the items on his wish list that he wanted to do with a name partner someday. Despite this, Yeon-rok hesitated and couldn’t agree immediately.
“But if I’m not here, the health of those two will decline.”
“Their health won’t suddenly deteriorate just because we’re apart for a few days.”
“That’s… true.”
Yeon-rok accepted this, as he had once lived for over a week without contact during the time he was mistreated. Since he had been able to endure it, the other two would be able to as well. After a bit of deliberation, Yeon-rok asked, half-excited and half-worried.
“I don’t even have a passport.”
“We can just make one. Manager Kim will take good care of the necessary luggage.”
Yeon-rok fell for Yeom Cheon-ho’s proposal completely.
Thus, after going to the district office with Kim Jeong-seong to apply for and receive his passport, and packing the necessary luggage, Yeon-rok didn’t mention a single word to Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan until the day before departure. They only found out about Yeon-rok’s travel schedule on the morning of the trip, when Yeon-rok came out pulling a sleek, newly bought suitcase.
Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan, who had been glaring at each other wondering how to screw the other over today, bolted upright from their seats.
“What? Where are you going?”
“Yeon-rok-ah, why did you bring a suitcase?”
“I’m going on a trip to Japan. A four-day, three-night itinerary.”
As Yeon-rok declared this, wearing a neck pillow snugly around his neck, the expressions of the two men changed. Moon Gyeon-woo, glancing at Secretary Kim Jeong-seong who was smiling awkwardly beside them, seemed to realize instantly what was happening.
“What do you mean? A trip all of a sudden? Are you going with CEO Yeom Cheon-ho?”
“Yeah. I’ve never been on an overseas trip before.”
“Then go with me! Why go with that man! No, more importantly, what am I supposed to do without you? My schedule is tight lately; I might collapse…”
Choi Hwan clung to him tearfully, but Yeon-rok steeled his heart and pushed him away.
“You held my hand and kissed me yesterday. I know very well that you won’t collapse just because there’s no contact for a few days.”
While he was bickering with the two, Yeom Cheon-ho appeared. He scanned Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan and gave a polite smile. The two men’s gazes fixed on the suitcase Yeom Cheon-ho was pulling. Yeom Cheon-ho checked his wristwatch and asked.
“Yeon-rok-ssi, are you all ready?”
“Yes! I’m all ready. Well, I’ll be back! See you in four days!”
An excited Yeon-rok hurried out after Yeom Cheon-ho. Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan could only stare blankly at the two of them, feeling like dogs chasing a chicken. Thump, the door closed.
This trip was exciting and joyful from the moment of packing. The way to Gimpo Airport, the security check and immigration, eating some snacks in the lounge, and boarding the plane under the flight attendant’s guidance were all wonderful. Seeing Yeon-rok sitting with his nose pressed against the window, eyes sparkling before departure, Yeom Cheon-ho, sitting in the next seat, smiled. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yeon-rok made a random excuse.
“This is my first time on a plane.”
Moreover, it was a private jet. As he looked around in wonder, it was soon time for takeoff. Yeon-rok was completely preoccupied with the plane ascending heavily against gravity and the rapidly changing scenery outside the window. Because of that, he didn’t notice that Yeom Cheon-ho’s complexion was extremely pale. He only noticed something was wrong with his partner when the in-flight meal was served.