5 – TDG 5

The ​female ​lead, ​Jung ​Ah-yoon, was a ​social ​worker ​working ​at ​a community service center.

Then, ​upon ​discovering she was ​a Guide, she ​requested ​a ​transfer ​to ​the ​Center herself. This ​was ​an ​event that would ​have happened about two ​months from ​now. In ​the original ​work, they ​would ​have ​met amidst tragedy ​after the ​story had progressed much ​further, but there was ​no longer a need ​for that.

The ​bridge ​that would connect the love of ​these two—a love that ​would ​begin ​naturally ​and ​comfortably, without any ​conflict or ​pain—would ​be born here. ​By ​my hand, that is. They ​would fall ​in ​love at first ​sight, ​and ​Han ​Ji-hyuk ​would grow ​stronger ​under Jung ​Ah-yoon’s steadfast affection and unwavering trust. As ​a bonus, three ​million lives would ​be saved. Though calling ​it a ​”bonus” felt a ​bit ​understated.

The assigned accommodation ​was a cozy ​space with ​a ​dormitory-style layout. ​For ​the time ​being, ​I would ​be ​staying ​here while caring ​for ​Han Ji-hyuk.

I ​set ​my ​luggage ​down on the chair and sprawled out on the bed.

“Haa…”

It had been a time I couldn’t tell anyone about. A deep sigh surged up from within. I felt as though the time that had always seemed just out of reach was finally starting to pay off. I shouldn’t let my guard down, but surely it was okay to enjoy myself, at least for today.

Rolling around on the bed, I whispered to myself in a voice no one could hear.

Just endure a little longer, Seo Joo-won. Just a little more effort.

And then, when that time comes… I’ll be able to be at peace too.

Even with devices restricting his abilities strapped to his hands and feet, Han Ji-hyuk remained in constant agony. He could only breathe comfortably when I was by his side. Despair, like falling into an endless abyss amidst a searing heat. Though the specific manifestations differed, that was what [unauthorized copy]they called a rampage. According to the [Read on Read BL Novels]descriptions in the original work, Han Ji-hyuk’s ego had been half-torn apart by the sheer shock of his initial awakening. Because that part never healed, he suffered from constant anxiety and exhibited severe Guide dependency until he met Jung Ah-yoon.

That was why Kwon Min-wook had been able to control him so effectively.

Our guiding wasn’t smooth from the start. Unable to bear the pain, Han Ji-hyuk would lunge at me like a beast, gripping me tightly and touching me clumsily, leaving bruises here and there. However, whenever I remained composed and unfazed, he would regain stability in an instant, and his violent, unstable behavior showed noticeable improvement.

A face as neat and beautiful as if it had been sculpted. Whenever those pitch-black eyes, devoid of any reflection beneath thick lashes, looked to me for support, I felt an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

Finally, Han Ji-hyuk had clearly recognized that I was the one who relieved his pain.

Whenever I appeared, Ji-hyuk’s brainwaves would spike significantly, drawing a positive parabola. Every time I saw the changes reflected in the numbers, my heart melted. He would bury his nose in my shoulder and cling to me, falling asleep like a baby as if my embrace were his only sanctuary; he was so lovely that I would often hold him for a long time even after the guiding had ended.

“It’s okay. Relax. Breathe easy. You can let go of the tension.” When I whispered in a soft voice, Han Ji-hyuk would blink and obediently follow my words. Breathing weakly like a young animal, he would nuzzle against me and draw in the guiding like water.

Perhaps because he had such great potential, the amount of guiding he required daily was substantial. In just a few days, I had lost a full 5 kilograms in real-time. It became a daily routine where I would fall asleep as if fainting the moment I returned to my room, but as long as he could rest comfortably, it didn’t matter if I was exhausted.

“Your synchronization rate is quite high.”

I tilted my head at the researcher’s words as they reviewed the data.

“I thought things like that didn’t mean much?”

“That’s true after the transition period, once guiding levels became standardized regardless of the individual. Still, there are certain waveforms that match exceptionally well during pairing. When that happens, the efficiency of the guiding improves. You two are such a case.”

Settings regarding synchronization rates didn’t appear in the original work, but for some reason, it sounded plausible. If so, was [stolen content]it because the [stolen content]‘waveform’ matched well that an Esper and Guide formed a dedicated assignment? The researcher didn’t have the answer either.

A few days later, after it was proven that Han Ji-hyuk’s brainwaves remained stable for a considerable amount of time under my guiding, he was moved to a private space called the living quarters. Of course, he was still wearing the control devices. Consequently, my period of confinement ended, and I was granted the freedom to commute, but since I had no particular reason to go home, I decided to continue living in the dorms.

We lived in different rooms, but we were under one roof with my favorite character. Why would I want to go home when I could see my bias falling asleep only at my touch? Even if I was essentially on a 5-minute standby, I could feel this kind of fresh excitement and joy every single day.

“You look tired.”

As I stepped outside to get some rest while Han Ji-hyuk was asleep, a researcher spoke to me casually.

Usually, these were people who wouldn’t care if I sang rock songs, did a moonwalk, or headbanged in the lab, so my appearance must have been truly pathetic.

“O-oh, really? I should go wash up.”

I left the lab and headed straight for the restroom. Turning on the water and looking in the mirror, I saw that the dark circles under my eyes had deepened from fatigue. Rubbing my face, which had grown noticeably haggard over the past few days, I let out a silly laugh.

Are you really that happy, Seo Joo-won?

You’re tired to death, yet you’re smiling because you’re so happy?

“Of course. I’m thrilled.”

The entrance to the private room opened as I tapped the chip key. The automatic sensor lights turned on, brightening the room, but the person I expected wasn’t in sight. Just as I opened my mouth to call his name with a tilted head, a beast hidden to the side suddenly lunged at me.

“Whoops.”

As I stumbled from the force of the impact, a firm, muscular arm reached out to wrap around my waist, supporting me so I wouldn’t fall. The way he clung to me and nuzzled his face all over mine was so much like a cat that a small laugh escaped me.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Ignoring his own large frame, he pressed his entire body against me, pestering me for a hug. I was pushed back helplessly until my back hit the wall, and only then did his endless onslaught stop. When I stretched my arms as far as they could go to hug him tightly and patted his back, Han Ji-hyuk arched his back like a truly happy giant cat, burying his nose in the crook of my neck and rubbing his cheek affectionately.

“Let me see your face.”

After rubbing his cheek plenty, Ji-hyuk obediently brought his face around and blinked his clear, deep eyes. His thick, lush eyelashes fluttered long every time he closed and opened his eyes, constantly mesmerizing my gaze. At this rate, he could easily balance twelve matchsticks on them.

Let’s see.

Pupils are normal.

No tremors, no tension; his expression and breathing are relaxed.

Since he was in contact with me, there was no way he’d be unstable, but since it was an important routine, I meticulously checked his condition.

The result: all vitals normal. Special notes… the fact that he was folding his massive frame to push his face close to mine just so I could see him better was heart-stoppingly cute.

“How do you feel?”

“Good.”

The protagonist of <Lo.Pa.Da> had a perfect voice. When he lowered his characteristic deep, husky voice even further, whispering softly like words of love, it was so ecstatic and wonderful that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

After moving to the private room in the living quarters, Han Ji-hyuk’s daily life became a bit more free. However, despite being allowed personal time, he tried to stick by my side every chance he got. As if that were the only content in his life, he waited only for me, and when I was wrapped in his arms, he would yawn and lounge about, relaxed and satisfied like a predator that was full without having to do anything.

I had been sick and tired of Espers who clung to me even after the guiding was over, but Han Ji-hyuk was an exception. While the clinging was the same, he didn’t push me recklessly or grope me slyly just to satisfy his own greed like those other guys. That was being a gentleman by comparison. There was even one crazy bastard who pressed down on me so hard he almost cracked my ribs, demanding I give him guiding because he was in pain.

Just look at his face. He’s not that kind of guy.

Even if he said something spiteful or frowned in a huff, if it was a face that felt like a unique charm in itself, everything was forgiven. If they’re upset about it, they should’ve been born looking like that.

In the first place, the basis of guiding is the Guide’s proactive contact, but the majority of Espers are just uninterested thugs.

“What about Hyung? How is Hyung?”

Hyung…

He called me Hyung.

I calmly chewed over the word that surged in my heart like a tidal wave. Since when did the word ‘Hyung’ align with the melody of a sweet symphony?

To think a day would come in my life where my bias would sweetly call me Hyung. The reward for five long, grueling years in Department 7 [stolen content]was this sweet. I thought [Read on Read BL Novels]the emotion might fade and become [visit our site]mundane if I heard it every day, but on the contrary, every time I heard it, it resonated in my chest more grandly than any classical orchestra.

“I’m good too. I saw on my way here that the sky is clear without a single cloud.”

Even at my trivial chatter, Han Ji-hyuk showed immense interest as if it were a fascinating story, nodding seriously. Looking at him now, he seemed more like a puppy than a cat.

In the original work, seeing him smile even once was as difficult as plucking a star from the sky. The fact that I was the only one seeing the youthful and affectionate side of the devastated and chic male lead, Han Ji-hyuk, felt like a global loss.

With one brilliant smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, my accumulated fatigue melted away like chocolate. He was a natural fatigue recovery agent.

I pointed to the food cart I had brought.

“I brought breakfast, so let’s eat together.”

Since contact with the outside was still forbidden and we were together almost every waking moment, it was only natural that I took care of his every move.

Ji-hyuk helped me by efficiently carrying three or four plates from the tray at once. His hands are so big, he can actually do that. As expected of Han Ji-hyuk. After finishing the plating, we sat facing each other.

“Eat quickly. It’ll get cold.”

However, even though I placed the spoon directly in his hand, Ji-hyuk barely touched his food and just kept staring at my face. Strictly speaking, it was because of his Guide dependency, but I am a human with emotions too, and when a male lead boasting super-beautiful looks stares at me as if to pierce through my face, my heart thumps wildly, even if that’s not what he intends.