Chapter 45 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

‘Yoon ​Ki-hyun…’

Whenever ​he ​was ​in ​front of Yoon Ki-hyun, ​his ​face would flush ​particularly hot, or ​he ​would ​act ​unlike ​his ​usual self. But ​anyone ​who ​saw that face ​would likely act the ​same way.

‘He’s ​great at ​guiding and ​looks like ​that; ​isn’t ​it only natural ​for a ​person to feel an ​attraction?’

He definitely liked Yoon ​Ki-hyun’s face and his ​guiding. Even ​for ​someone like Jeong Si-jun, denying that ​combination of looks and ​skill ​would ​be ​a ​blow to his ​conscience.

If asked ​to ​sleep with Yoon ​Ki-hyun ​again, he would, but he ​didn’t necessarily ​want ​to become lovers ​or ​anything ​like ​that.

Regardless ​of the ​past, ​they were ​now colleagues. He figured that calling him ​”Hyung” instead of ​the awkward “Team ​Leader” or “Ki-hyun-ssi” would ​look better ​to others, so ​he ​had pushed for ​that for a ​while.

‘Hah, as ​if ​I actually ​wanted ​to do ​that ​for Yoon ​Ki-hyun.’

Jeong ​Si-jun ​gnashed his teeth, ​recalling ​the days ​he ​had ​been ​repeatedly rejected.

‘I might be lacking in guiding, but it’s not like I’m lacking in people to meet.’

No matter how he thought about it, liking Yoon Ki-hyun made no sense.

‘Right, maybe it’s just pity.’

Not only did the man have a disease with expensive medication, but hadn’t he personally confessed that there might be a problem with his memory?

Yoon Ki-hyun rarely spoke about himself. Thus, while it was all mere speculation, Jeong Si-jun knew that the man’s life had not been particularly smooth.

That must be why he kept worrying and feeling drawn to him. Moreover, he was so good at guiding that there were plenty of vultures eyeing him.

‘Yeah. That fox-like bastard Seo Yi-kyung. I’m only paying attention [stolen [unauthorized copy]content]because he keeps asking if Yoon Ki-hyun is doing well.’

If that weren’t the case, why on earth would he be desperate enough to like Yoon Ki-hyun? He had simply clung to Yoon Ki-hyun and brought him on as a personal Guide because he was always thirsty for guiding.

However, the suffocating feeling in his chest wouldn’t go away. His desire to get closer to Yoon Ki-hyun remained unchanged.

‘But how do I actually get closer? This is driving me crazy, fuck.’

It had been a long time since he encountered a problem that couldn’t be solved with money.

Yoon Ki-hyun had prepared a small notebook. After realizing there was a problem with his memory, he intended to keep records, similar to a work log.

He had considered using the memo app on his phone, but he decided against it, fearing that looking at it at home would lead to overthinking.

“What’s with the notebook?”

Today, as soon as he entered the guiding room, Jeong Si-jun strolled over to [unauthorized [Read on Read BL Novels]copystyle="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">visit our site]Yoon Ki-hyun. His profile, as he peered in curiously at the purpose of the notebook, was as handsome as ever.

After their conversation about memory in the car returning to the Center from the hospital, Jeong Si-jun’s attitude hadn’t changed. He just continued to talk nonsense and play pranks as usual.

That made Yoon Ki-hyun even more uncomfortable. He felt that Jeong Si-jun was deliberately not showing it out of consideration for him.

From the perspective of someone paying a monthly salary of several million won, he would surely want to know exactly what kind of disease he had.

Yet, Jeong Si-jun didn’t pry further and simply smiled warmly. He was quite different from the immature person he used to be.

“I’m thinking of writing something like a work log.”

“Ugh. Isn’t that fucking tedious and pointless?”

True to someone who seemed far removed from desk work, his face was one of pure disgust. Yoon Ki-hyun let out a short laugh and looked away.

“Still, I need to write something down so I can check it later.”

“That memory thing… did you mention it to the doctor?”

“My next appointment isn’t until later.”

“…How long do you have to wait?”

“In three weeks.”

“Three weeks?”

Jeong Si-jun blinked.

“Does it take that long?”

“That’s just how university hospitals are.”

Yoon Ki-hyun replied nonchalantly as he opened the notebook. As he scribbled with his pen, recalling the format of a work log, Jeong Si-jun scratched his head vigorously.

‘Are medical intervals usually this long?’

Having donated large sums to university hospitals since childhood to receive various conveniences, he was unfamiliar with standard medical cycles.

Take Jeong Si-jun’s mother, for example. Even when hospitalized at a university hospital, professors—whom some patients only see once a day during rounds—were constantly popping into her room to check on her.

The interval of Yoon Ki-hyun’s treatment bothered him, but there was nothing he could do. The novel excuse of installment payments for a settlement had been blocked, and he had been told explicitly not to bring gifts.

Even if he tried to insist it was for “Guide welfare,” the man wouldn’t budge. If he brought up money for no reason, he would likely only receive a cold glare.

Furthermore, he noticed that Yoon Ki-hyun’s tone became strangely chilly whenever the topic of the disease he was treating came up.

‘…Surely his condition won’t worsen in three weeks.’

Jeong Si-jun tried to dismiss it. While the memory issue was unsettling, the man had brought a notebook for it, so what else could he do? He could only go along with it.

“So, are you really going to write in that?”

“I’m not writing it formally; it’s more like taking memos.”

Typical workaholic. Grumbling inwardly, Jeong Si-jun looked around the guiding room, found a ballpoint pen, and returned.

“Then I’ll write too.”

“…I thought you said it was tedious.”

“Seeing you do it makes it look fun.”

Yoon Ki-hyun’s expression turned sour at the sight of the grinning face [stolen Read on Read BL Novelscontent]clicking the top of the pen.

Some people are doing this because their memory is flickering, and he thinks it looks “fun”? He still had a knack for grating on people’s nerves.

As Yoon Ki-hyun drew lines and wrote the date as best as he remembered, Jeong Si-jun’s pen slid closer. He wondered what he was writing, only to find him scribbling squiggly doodles in the corner of the notebook.

This bastard?

“…Team Leader. Please move that away.”

“But really, isn’t the only work content just guiding?”

“Still, it’s good to record when I did it.”

“Hmm.”

Jeong Si-jun scribbled a [unauthorized [stolen content]style="position:relative;display:inline;">[stolen content]copy]few more doodles before losing interest and pulling away from the notebook.

“So, like, what time you guided for how long… what you said to me. Is that what you’re writing?”

“Wouldn’t I have to do that to remember the details of the conversation?”

“What, this is totally Yoon Ki-hyun’s diary!”

“…Now that you put it that way, I don’t really want to write anymore.”

Yoon Ki-hyun put the pen down. He had intended to write only things related to work, but once it was called a diary, he lost the motivation.

Jeong Si-jun had intended to lighten the mood, but it seemed Yoon Ki-hyun wasn’t pleased. Seeing the face that had been focused on the notebook turn cold, Jeong Si-jun finally offered a clumsy excuse.

“I was just joking.”

“…I’m being a bit serious. The fact that there [Read on Read BL Novels]content" style="display:none;" aria-label="stolen content">stolen contentmight be things I can’t remember is unsettling in many ways.”

“Yes. My apologies.”

Jeong Si-jun apologized while scratching the back of his head. Then, he stealthily leaned back in. Yoon Ki-hyun pulled the notebook toward himself and glared.

“Why are you trying to look at someone else’s diary?”

“You said earlier it wasn’t a diary, but a work log. Therefore, I have to approve it. Even if I’m treated poorly like this, I’m still the employer. The one who pays your salary.”

What is this guy even talking about?

Despite the urge to rebel, Yoon Ki-hyun nodded. If he were to argue, everything the man said was technically true. It was true that Jeong Si-jun was the employer paying his salary, and it was true that work logs required a supervisor’s approval.

‘Ah, maybe I should have just used a memo app on my phone.’

He felt like he was inviting unnecessary trouble, but the milk was already spilled. Yoon Ki-hyun gave Jeong unauthorized [visit our site]copyunauthorized copyEND: unauthorized copy -->Si-jun a look and then slowly moved the pen again, though he hesitated, not knowing exactly what to write.

“The reason you’re writing this is because you can’t remember conversations, right?”

“Something like that.”

“Then are you going to write down everything we talk about?”

“Just the necessary parts. I obviously wouldn’t write things like what manga Team Leader Jeong told me he watched yesterday.”

“Hmm.”

Jeong Si-jun pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

“If Team Leader Seo Yi-kyung talks to you or asks something inside the Center, write that down here.”

“…Even if it’s a private conversation unrelated to work?”

Is this guy insane?

When Yoon Ki-hyun widened his eyes, Jeong Si-jun shrugged and played dumb, saying, “If you don’t want to, then don’t.” He truly was a man who spoke nonsense the moment one let their guard down.

‘Ah, I don’t know what to write because that bastard is watching.’

Eventually, Yoon Ki-hyun scribbled the words “Check Wavelength” in the work column, put down the pen, and held out his hand.

“I’ll check the wavelength.”

“Oh, right now?”

Jeong Si-jun chuckled for some reason, but he obediently placed his hand. For some reason, that was so irritating. Yoon Ki-hyun unconsciously pouted and closed his eyes.

‘I shouldn’t have bought that notebook.’

Wait, how much did he pay for it? Since he had already written in it with a ballpoint pen, he couldn’t even get a refund. Yoon Ki-hyun swallowed a sigh.