Chapter 20 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

Now ​that ​they ​had ​officially ​stamped the documents, it ​was ​time to clear ​away the stale ​past ​and ​make ​a ​fresh ​start. In truth, ​it ​had ​happened so recently ​that calling it “stale” ​was a ​stretch.

“I’m telling ​you, be ​just as ​cold ​and ​decisive in rejecting ​other bastards ​as you were with ​me.”

“Of course, you’re the ​only one who will ​be doing ​the ​guiding, Team Leader Jeong. And back ​then…”

Yoon Ki-hyun tried to ​offer ​a ​gesture ​of ​reconciliation first for ​the sake ​of ​a smooth contractual ​relationship. ​However, Jeong Si-jun was quicker ​to cut ​him ​off.

“Forget it. I ​was ​the ​one ​throwing ​a fit ​and ​demanding guiding ​back then. Let’s call it even. If ​we count all ​the bullshit I ​pulled, I’m the one ​who’s more ​in the wrong, ​so ​I’m actually getting ​the better end ​of the ​deal. ​Honestly.”

Jeong Si-jun ​coolly ​brushed off ​Yoon ​Ki-hyun’s apology. ​Before ​he ​could even start ​saying ​he was ​sorry, ​the ​events ​of that day were settled.

Seeing this, he realized the man had a straightforward personality. From the way he had deposited a massive sum of money all at once as a random, one-sided settlement, to the way he seemed largely unfazed by Yoon Ki-hyun’s sharp tone.

Yoon Ki-hyun naturally thought of the money deposited into his account under the guise of a settlement. While he was glad for the unexpected income, a part of him still felt uneasy.

However, he intended to use that money to pay off at least a bit of his loan principal. Having a large sum of money provides peace of mind and security, but he feared he might unconsciously become extravagant or start thinking otherwise.

“But looking at the contract, the address you wrote… is that place like a goshiwon?”

Why on earth was he looking at something so trivial in such detail? The goshiwon Yoon Ki-hyun had contracted was the kind of place Read on Read BL Novelsthat didn’t [visit our site]even try to hide its identity in its building name.

But what was wrong with a goshiwon? Not everyone could live in a luxury apartment. If there are people living in those, there are bound to be people living in goshiwons or places even worse.

Instead of arguing, Yoon Ki-hyun simply nodded and gave a short reply.

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to live there?”

“Not at all.”

The answer shot out curtly. It was the only way he could respond. Yoon Ki-hyun harbored a slight sense of inferiority regarding his financial situation.

“If you’re okay with it, Mr. Yoon Ki-hyun, I have a spare room at my place. Of course, I won’t charge you rent.”

“No. I’m fine. I can manage my own condition so that it doesn’t interfere with the guiding.”

Jeong Si-jun’s offer wasn’t appealing at all. If anything, it felt like a blow to his pride, or perhaps it was just irritating.

Sensing that Yoon Ki-hyun’s answers were becoming shorter and his tone stiffer, Jeong Si-jun asked cautiously.

“By any chance… were you scammed by a rental fraud or voice phishing?”

It would have been better if there were a scammer he could openly resent.

Yoon Ki-hyun let out a hollow laugh as he thought of his father’s funeral portrait—his father, who had now become a handful of ash. It was a sneer born from the fact that he was a pathetic wretch who couldn’t even resent his father properly to the end.

“Team Leader Jeong.”

“…Yes.”

“I appreciate you worrying about me. But I don’t believe I have any obligation to share such personal details with you.”

Only now did the defensive, almost prickly attitude register in Jeong Si-jun’s eyes.

He had crossed a line. He admitted that.

But he had his reasons too. Was Yoon Ki-hyun an ordinary person?

If he were registered as his personal Guide again, attention would inevitably gravitate toward him, and Jeong Si-jun loathed the idea of people gossiping. It wasn’t as if he lacked money; he couldn’t stand the thought of his personal Guide living in a place like that.

“Now that you’ve become my Guide, if the people at the Center find out you’re commuting from a place like that, what the hell are they going to think of me?”

Jeong Si-jun showed no sign of backing down. He knew the man was a rich boy who lived recklessly, but he hadn’t expected him to be this immature and clueless.

“That’s none of my concern.”

“Ah, then I’ll just get you a house, so live there. You can just move [Read unauthorized copyon Read BL Novels]out of that place and…”

The moment he heard those words, Yoon Ki-hyun felt something snap in his head.

“Si-jun.”

“…”

“Even if I live a miserable life, I still have something called pride. Do you think I actually enjoy using formal language to a brat three years younger than me while receiving a salary?”

The inner thoughts he spat out in a fit of rage became miserable the moment they left his lips.

If he had just kept them inside, the emotion would have remained his alone. He instinctively knew he had messed up the moment he impulsively said things that didn’t need to be said.

But what could he do? Since the words were already out, he had no choice but to clean up the mess.

“…I think I understand what you mean, so I won’t say any more. I’ll put the settlement money to good use. Let me know once you’re registered at the Center and the access badge is issued.”

“…”

“And… I was too harsh just now. I apologize. I’ll be going now.”

Before Jeong Si-jun could respond, Yoon Ki-hyun picked up his muffler and coat and stood up.

His face was so pale that Jeong Si-jun couldn’t even bring himself to stop him.

On the way back to the goshiwon after snapping at Jeong Si-jun, Yoon Ki-hyun ran his hand roughly through his hair.

The cold night wind brushed against his cheeks, but it was insufficient to cool the anger boiling inside him.

“This feels like shit.”

A few messages arrived from Jeong Si-jun shortly after he left the cafe, but he hadn’t checked them yet.

He wasn’t in the mood. He felt that reading them would only ruin his mood further, regardless of whether Jeong Si-jun was apologizing and humbling himself or not.

Returning to the goshiwon, a place he still wasn’t entirely accustomed to, Yoon Ki-hyun placed the contract on the desk. The neatly printed logo in the top left, proving he had received legal counsel, felt an irritating sight.

He slowly looked around his room.

‘…It’s perfectly fine.’

It consisted of a single bed, a small desk with a chair, and a tiny refrigerator that only had a cooling compartment. It was a standard two-and-a-half-pyeong goshiwon with a small bathroom attached, like a shower booth, in the corner.

Honestly, among the goshiwons he had looked at, this was the one in the best condition—even luxurious by comparison.

He hadn’t thought much of it when he left this room to meet Jeong Si-jun. He felt it was enough, as he had a space where he could stretch his legs and wash comfortably.

But why did it suddenly feel strangely unauthorized copystyle="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[Read on Read BL Novels]narrow and suffocating after that argument with Jeong Si-jun at the cafe?

As his chest felt tight, he opened the window. The cool breeze entering through the small window cooled his arbitrarily boiling heart.

Only after a considerable amount of time had passed did Yoon Ki-hyun close the window and head to the desk.

He opened the contract from the envelope and checked the section with Jeong Si-jun’s address. Then, he searched for the apartment name on his phone.

The information that appeared on the search portal was impressive even at a glance. It was listed as a luxury apartment, to the point where he had to double-check if the sale and lease prices were mistyped.

Articles popped up saying a celebrity had caused a stir by purchasing a unit in full, or that the landscaping was decorated with strict security and paintings and sculptures by famous artists.

‘I guess a rich brat would be surprised by a room like mine.’

The gap in their levels was too vast. He was certain that the parking lot attached to the apartment where Jeong Si-jun lived was larger than this entire room.

‘No, fuck. Even so, do you know how much extra rent I paid to get a room like this? Whatever. Everyone lives according to their level. I just have to live tenaciously and succeed.’

Yoon Ki-hyun cut off the spiraling thoughts and checked his phone again. He decided he was now okay to check Jeong Si-jun’s messages.

[Jeong Si-jun: I’m sorry if I offended you. I didn’t say those things on purpose.]

[Jeong Si-jun: I’ll think before I speak from now on.]

Jeong Si-jun apologized via message. There were a few more messages, unauthorized copy[stolen content]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[stolen content]and as he scrolled down, a hollow laugh escaped him.

[Jeong Si-jun: But I had my reasons too]

[Jeong Si-jun: Let’s revise the contract. Instead of just a salary, I’ll cover the housing too]

[Jeong Si-jun: Don’t think of it as looking down on you, just think of it as a benefit]

It was a relief that he looked at them after calming down. If he had seen these messages while he was struggling to control his emotions, his words would certainly not have been kind.

He might have called him to swear or impulsively messaged him to cancel the contract.

Now that his head had cooled, thinking from Jeong Si-jun’s perspective, he could see why the man might worry about gossip. Still, no meant no.

[Even so, I really don’t want to move into Team Leader Jeong’s house]

As soon as he sent the reply, Jeong Si-jun replied immediately, as if he had been waiting. It was a speed that would be impossible unless he had been staring at the chat window ever since the confrontation.

[Jeong Si-jun: I get it. But let me know if you change your mind]

[Jeong Si-jun: I really did it because I wanted to get along with you, Mr. Yoon]

[Jeong Si-jun: I really didn’t know it would sound that way]

At this point, he could feel that Jeong Si-jun was sincerely apologizing.

‘Get along with me? What does he mean by that? We signed a contract, and that’s the end of it.’

Even though he thought that, the emotion he felt toward Jeong Si-jun wasn’t as intense as before. Yoon Ki-hyun wrote a reply with a softened heart.

[I understand. Thank you for thinking of me anyway.]

Since the man had nothing but money, he probably made such a proposal thinking it was the right thing to do. After all, there aren’t many things in this world that money can’t solve.

[Jeong Si-jun: It’s nothing]

[Jeong Si-jun: I’ll contact you once you’re registered at the Center and the badge is out]

[Jeong Si-jun: Also, today’s guiding was the best]

[Jeong Si-jun: Seriously, it was insane]

Jeong Si-jun continued to send messages as if he were writing a diary. Glancing through the messages, Yoon Ki-hyun sent another reply.

[But you aren’t planning to call me “Team Leader” at the Center, are you?]

No matter how used to it he was, Yoon Ki-hyun was no longer officially affiliated with the Center, so continuing to be called “Team Leader Yoon” would be an easy target for gossip.

If he didn’t remind him now, he might end Read [unauthorized copy]on Read BL Novelsup being called Team Leader Yoon even after resigning, coming from the mouth of the Center’s S-class Esper, who could act however he pleased without being corrected.

[Jeong Si-jun: Is it really that weird if I call you Hyung?]

This persistent bastard. Yoon Ki-hyun let out a deep sigh.