Chapter 31 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

3. ​Boundaries

No ​matter ​how much he thought ​about ​it, Seo Yi-kyung’s ​proposal was unappealing.

Moreover, ​there ​didn’t ​seem ​to ​be ​any clear reason ​why ​the ​man felt he ​had to hire him ​as a ​personal Guide.

“Are ​you short ​on your ​salary? ​With ​the amount I’m ​paying? Anyway, ​if you need more, ​talk to me first. ​You… contracted with me ​first.”

“I didn’t ​ask ​about the terms, and I declined ​the offer.”

At Yoon Ki-hyun’s ​answer, ​Jeong ​Si-jun ​wore ​a stunned expression. ​His face ​showed ​that he hadn’t ​expected ​such a response at all.

Seriously, ​what the ​hell ​does this guy ​take ​people ​for?

“This ​place ​is already ​prone ​to gossip; ​it’s stolen stolen contentcontentobvious what they’d chatter about behind ​my back if ​I switched to ​someone else in less ​than a ​month.”

Yoon Ki-hyun continued ​calmly, ​but the turmoil ​in his mind ​didn’t subside. ​He ​couldn’t quite ​shake ​the unpleasantness ​stemming ​from an ​inferiority ​complex, ​feeling as though ​he ​had been ​looked ​down ​upon ​by Seo Yi-kyung.

Objectively, Yoon Ki-hyun needed a lot of money. That was undeniable. His mindset—that he would do anything that paid as long as he wanted to survive—had not changed.

‘Money is great. I love it. But is this necessary?’

Yoon Ki-hyun was satisfied with his current state. While more money was always better, Seo Yi-kyung’s offer simply wasn’t enticing enough to make him want to risk an unnecessary stigma.

“I didn’t even hear the terms. I thought I was doing well enough as it is, so I declined Team Leader Seo’s offer. That’s all.”

Jeong Si-jun absolutely loved the last part of what Yoon Ki-hyun said. He had assumed that Ki-hyun would have at least heard the terms.

‘If he declined without even hearing the terms… doesn’t that mean he likes things as they are? Isn’t he saying he’s satisfied working with me?’

Caught up in thoughts that had begun to run wild, Jeong Si-jun trembled slightly. He couldn’t contain his euphoria.

‘Wow, Yoon Ki-hyun is damn loyal.’

In truth, from the moment he heard Seo Yi-kyung had visited the guiding room, he figured it was only a matter of time.

Seo Yi-kyung. Just thinking of that man’s cunning and sly face made him feel nauseous.

He was a fox of a man who checked him at every turn and subtly got under his skin. As soon as the news that he had registered Yoon Ki-hyun as his personal Guide spread, Seo Yi-kyung had approached him in the conference room with an obnoxious smile.

‘I didn’t expect Team Leader Jeong to bring in a personal Guide… and Yoon Ki-hyun, of all people.’

‘You seem quite interested in my Guide too?’

‘Among the headquarters’ Espers… there aren’t many who dislike Yoon Ki-hyun’s guiding.’

‘What is your point, exactly?’

‘Where did you meet him? Yoon Ki-hyun. A B-rank gate site, perhaps?’

He was a greasy bastard who pretended to be uninterested in rumors [visit visit our siteour site]while being stolen contentthe fastest to pick them up. However, Seo Yi-kyung was different from himself.

Setting aside his excellent reputation at headquarters, he was one of the few Espers whom Yoon Ki-hyun evaluated somewhat positively. That was why Jeong Si-jun had thought Yoon Ki-hyun might void his contract and become Seo Yi-kyung’s personal Guide.

And yet, he had declined without even hearing the terms.

“Actually…”

Jeong Si-jun started, fidgeting with the rim of his teacup with his thumb. He was so overwhelmed by the fact that Yoon Ki-hyun had chosen him over Seo Yi-kyung that he wanted to say something.

Though his mind was such a mess that he couldn’t even figure out what he should say.

“I know you fucking hate me, Yoon Ki-hyun.”

Yoon Ki-hyun looked up at the sudden remark. He wondered what kind of nonsense this guy was spouting now.

“It’s because I acted like a prick in the past.”

“…Why bring up old stories all of a sudden.”

Since he had already received a settlement fee, he had no desire to revisit a past he had decided to bury. Besides, Jeong Si-jun was still quite a prick. Though it was commendable that he was improving.

“Actually, until I resigned, I thought I could receive your guiding whenever I wanted. All the other Espers thought so too. Because you did so much guiding.”

Jeong Si-jun continued his sudden confession. And in a private room of a Chinese restaurant, while waiting for the food they ordered.

Yoon Ki-hyun didn’t have the energy to stop him, nor was the man the type to be stopped. He nodded slightly as he listened to the unexpected confession.

It was true that he had done a lot of guiding. Even knowing that it put a strain on his body, he couldn’t stop.

The sense of achievement he felt when checking his pay stub—where his performance in nearly impossible tasks was converted directly into money—was indescribably addictive.

“Anyway, my point is… damn it, I mean, I get it now. How fucking amazing your guiding is.”

“Aha.”

“I also know now how pathetic it was to take it for granted… Anyway, I’ll make sure [unauthorized copy]you don’t regret unauthorized copycopy -->unauthorized copyrejecting Seo Yi-kyung’s offer.”

He wondered exactly how he intended to make him not regret it.

Yoon Ki-hyun let out a short laugh as he looked at the back of Jeong Si-jun’s neck, which was turning red. Certainly, Jeong Si-jun’s aggressive and unfiltered way of speaking was better than Seo Yi-kyung’s slimy and vaguely unsettling manner. Moreover, considering he was trying to fix it, he was quite commendable in some ways.

‘Yeah. He’s definitely better than Team Leader Seo Yi-kyung.’

It was a bit depressing that there were only two people to compare, but considering the days when he had no options at all, this was a luxury. It wasn’t a bad thing that his employer liked him. Yoon Ki-hyun replied with a small smile.

“I understand what you mean, Team Leader Jeong.”

“If some other bastard offers you better terms, tell me. I can match it or do even better.”

“I don’t see anyone at the center who could offer better terms than these.”

“I’m just saying, you never know. Do you think I’m the only rich guy around?”

Jeong Si-jun gulped down his tea with an uncharacteristic -->visit our siteair of anxiety. Perhaps because he was a young master who thought money solved everything, his pride couldn’t tolerate being outdone financially.

Honestly, the way rich people think is just beyond comprehension.

Just as Yoon Ki-hyun was brushing it off with a nod, a staff member returned with the food at the perfect time.

“Your meal is ready.”

Throughout the arrival of the dishes, Jeong Si-jun’s face remained huffy. He had no idea what kind of delusions were running through the man’s head to make him wear such an expression.

Once the staff member left, Yoon Ki-hyun slowly picked up his chopsticks.

“I’ll try to stay loyal if I can, so let’s just eat first.”

“If you can…”

Jeong Si-jun muttered, as if chewing over Yoon Ki-hyun’s words, and picked up his spoon. He had expected Ki-hyun to ask what he meant by that, but it seemed the guy’s own head was cluttered in his own way. He was glad he wasn’t chirping away with strange comments.

‘Sigh, let’s just eat.’

The food was tastier than expected. With his hearty appetite, Jeong Si-jun never ordered just one dish. He always ordered a variety of side menus to accompany the meal.

As he put a piece of crispy fried chicken with sauce—Yuringi—into his mouth, he felt his eyes snap open.

‘This is delicious.’

It was funny how his appetite, which had vanished when he finished talking with Seo Yi-kyung and locked himself in the guiding room, had returned as if nothing had happened.

After finishing the meal and returning to the guiding room, Yoon Ki-hyun guided Jeong Si-jun. Since Jeong Si-jun tended to subtly forget that he was being guided, Ki-hyun had to stay alert.

Despite hiring him for guiding, the man would often lie face-down on a folding bed reading comics or snacking on crackers, only to disappear whenever he received a call.

Today, by the time Jeong Si-jun—who had gone out for a bit of work after receiving guiding—returned to the guiding room, Yoon Ki-hyun was dozing off, half-leaning against the sofa.

‘…Even the way he sleeps is just like him, fuck.’

If it weren’t for the steady rise and fall of his [unauthorized copy]chest, [visit our site]he would have thought the man was offering a prayer to God. That was how pious his posture was.

With his white, slender fingers interlaced and his eyes gently closed, he looked like nothing less than an angel.

Jeong Si-jun approached stealthily, muffling his footsteps, and crouched down near the sofa. He stared at Yoon Ki-hyun’s sleeping face for quite a while, but he never grew tired of it.

He wondered how eyes, a nose, and a mouth could all fit into such a small face, and the faint scent of soap wafting from him was maddening.

After watching him sleep for a long time, he realized one thing. He wanted more from Yoon Ki-hyun, whom he had hired as a personal Guide, than just guiding.

He didn’t yet know exactly what he wanted to do with him.

But he was certain that he found him arousing. Regardless of sexual orientation, it was a face that made a person horny in many ways. Probably only a eunuch wouldn’t get hard looking at this face.

The day after a drunken Yoon Ki-hyun had stripped off his pants and underwear and kissed him first, he had stubbornly insisted that the sober man take responsibility.

However, the form of “responsibility” he wanted wasn’t necessarily a formal relationship like being lovers. He simply hoped they could continue meeting in a light relationship, like sex partners who rolled around whenever they were horny.

And for good reason, because him and Yoon Ki-hyun dating…

‘Wouldn’t that be weird?’

Jeong Si-jun asked himself while staring at the sleeping man for a long time.

What kind of relationship did he want with Yoon Ki-hyun? He asked the question several times, but a satisfying answer didn’t come.

He picked up the blanket shoved in the corner of the sofa. With careful movements, he covered Yoon Ki-hyun’s body and turned on the mood lamp he had brought in for interior decoration.

Once he turned off the main lights of the guiding room, the lighting became perfect for a deep sleep. As the harsh fluorescent light vanished, he saw Yoon Ki-hyun’s face look much more relaxed.

‘If he’s sleepy, he should just turn off the lights and sleep. Why is he so rigid?’

Though grumbling inwardly, Jeong Si-jun gazed at the sleeping face for a long time. It was rare to see Yoon Ki-hyun’s defenseless face, as he usually only showed a frowning or cold expression toward him.

Jeong Si-jun slowly stepped away. While he silently closed the door of the guiding room and wandered aimlessly around the center building, he couldn’t define his feelings for Yoon Ki-hyun.

As a Guide, Yoon Ki-hyun was an irreplaceable existence, at least to him. But was the human visit our siteYoon Ki-hyun also irreplaceable?

The moment he imagined dating another man, he felt unpleasant.

‘Fuck. The thought of him getting fucked by some other bastard makes me want to throw up.’

He had learned through Yoon Ki-hyun that he could sleep with a man, but the mere thought of Ki-hyun sleeping with someone else made him nauseous.

Then what on earth was this emotion?

It wasn’t a topic he could openly ask anyone. Jeong Si-jun scratched the back of his head vigorously and frowned.

His chest felt tight.