22 – TDG 22

I ​responded, ​pretending ​to ​remember with a ​familiar ​air.

“I’ve ​changed ​a ​lot since then, haven’t ​I?”

“Of ​course. When I ​first saw you, ​I ​thought ​you ​were ​a ​gloomy little kid, ​but ​when ​I saw you ​the following year, I ​was shocked ​to find ​you’d become ​so bright ​and ​affectionate. ​I thought you ​were a ​different person.”

“…….”

That was because ​I hadn’t fully figured ​out my character back ​then.

“Anyway, you’re ​much ​better now.”

The teacher finished speaking and ​dove back into the ​depths ​of ​her ​work.

I’m ​glad to hear ​that. An ​awkward ​smile crossed my ​lips.

At ​the sound of my phone’s ​alarm, I ​searched ​my unauthorized copyvisit our siteinner [visit our site]pocket ​and ​found ​a ​message ​from Ji-hyuk.

[Han ​Ji-hyuk: ​Have you ​arrived?]

[Image attached]

‘An image?’

When I clicked the full ​message, a full-body ​photo of Han ​Ji-hyuk appeared, dressed in ​a tight ​black uniform from ​top ​to bottom, holding ​his cap in ​one arm.

“!”

I ​let ​out a ​silent ​scream and ​covered ​my mouth ​with ​my ​hand to keep ​it ​from gaping ​open.

With ​pomade ​in ​his hair and his forehead fully exposed, Han Ji-hyuk was radiating a beauty that opened the horizons of a new world. His looks already transcended all limits, yet it was simply astounding that he could get even more handsome.

Even the gold-braided aiguillettes on his shoulders and the silver-cast double-breasted blazer were just cheating.

My god… as I scrolled down, there was another version with a navy blue swing coat draped over it. Even with the collar turned up, his jawline was still sharp! Is this for real? It’s not even my birthday…!

I always thought the Center’s formal uniforms had a somewhat awkward fit, considering they were commissioned from a famous designer, but it turns out they just looked shabby because the [visit our site]people wearing them weren’t good enough [visit our site]clothes-hangers. When put on someone tall with a great build, the true value shines through. I never dreamed they were such beautiful clothes.

Whoever dressed our boy in this… may you be blessed… your year-end bonus is guaranteed at one thousand percent….

Ji-hyuk-ah, Hyung is so glad he’s alive….

While I was calming my fluttering heart, a call came through. He must have called because I hadn’t replied.

“Uh, Ji-hyuk-ah. Hyung arrived. I just saw the text.”

• Did you see the photo?

This kid, was that what he was curious about? Why is it so incredibly cute that a cold beauty, who looks like a block of perennial snow, asks if I saw his photo in a voice full of anticipation? I’m going crazy.

“Is this the photo for the cover?”

I was glad it wasn’t a video call. Even if I pretended to be calm with my voice, I wouldn’t have been able to hide my gaping, lovestruck expression.

When I intentionally changed the subject, his voice became urgent.

• Yeah. That’s what they said. How does the photo look to you, Hyung?

Ugh. He’s too cute for his own good. Look at how he specifically emphasizes the ‘photo.’ I can’t help it. Since it’s putting too much strain on my heart, I’ll stop teasing him and just tell him.

“You look so cool. It came out really [unauthorized copy]Read on Read BL Novelswell. I’ll definitely have to grab a [unauthorized copy]copy when it comes out next month.”

Not one copy, but three. Absolutely.

I need at least three copies: one for collecting, one for promoting, and one for admiring….

• I sent you the photo, so you don’t really need to buy it, Hyung.

This guy really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That and this are strictly different. I can’t precisely distinguish what’s different either, but it’s as different as the distinction between the 3rd and 4th dimensions.

The ‘cover’ mentioned just now refers to the quarterly newsletter published by the Esper Department. Its official name is ‘Esper 24.’ It contains news and events from inside and outside the department, introductions of newly recruited Espers and Guides, and stories from other employees affiliated with the Center.

And Han Ji-hyuk’s photo was slapped right onto the cover of the 3rd quarter issue.

Since he’s a highly skilled S-rank Esper who appeared after a long time, the higher-ups must be expecting a lot from him. Otherwise, there’s no way they’d plug Ji-hyuk as the cover model for Esper 24 as soon as he got his national certification. If you think about it, that’s basically the higher-ups’ version of YouTube.

But seriously…. Setting aside my fan heart, is it really okay for a photo like this to be on the cover of a government publication? Isn’t it too… dangerous?

In the photo, wrapped in his uniform, Ji-hyuk had a cool, expressionless face with a slight frown in his brows, exuding a bored and languid atmosphere. While he was a breathtakingly handsome man, it was true that he was far from the image of a diligent and sincere civil servant who serves as a model for others.

Normally, a photo like this would never be selected… is it just that if you’re handsome and cool, everything is allowed?

• When are you coming back?

“Hmm, probably around four? I’ll be back by Read on Read BL Novelsthen at Read on Read BL Novelsthe latest. Keep doing a great job with the shoot.”

• Okay. Come back quickly.

Hehe.

What power do I have when my baby bird tells me to come back quickly?

Even if I get a speeding ticket, Hyung will race there at full speed.

After ending the call, I suppressed the lingering smile on my face and briefly thought about what happened in the hospital room.

‘I didn’t know Hyung couldn’t see.’

Why didn’t I realize it sooner? Upon learning the truth, Ji-hyuk spoke with a shocked expression, stammering with a hint of self-reproach.

‘It’s because I’m used to it, so it doesn’t show. Not just you, but everyone else doesn’t know unless I tell them.’

‘Still….’

‘No need to worry about it. It’s funny, but I often forget too.’

The boy hesitated, then reached out and carefully touched the area around my eyes.

‘…Can you only not see with the right one?’

‘Yeah. The other side sees perfectly fine. If I wear glasses, I can see well with both.’

‘What happened to make it like this?’

‘Just… an accident.’

Ji-hyuk seemed to want to ask more, but seeing me hold back my words, he tactfully shut his mouth.

Actually, after possessing this body, I didn’t know why one eye was blind, so I looked into it quietly. As a result, I only found out that it was a story that would be absolutely no good for others to know.

If there was an unexpected benefit, it was that Ji-hyuk’s obsession with a dedicated assignment, which he had been clinging to, subsided a bit because of this.

The whirring sound of the machinery stopped abruptly, and the surroundings became silent. Is it over already?

The teacher came out of the workshop and handed me the glasses after wiping the lenses.

“Try them on.”

As I put on the glasses, which had been transformed into something new as if they had never been broken, the Blessing of Remiclubis activated. The dark right eye opened, and the severed vision was reconnected.

I pushed the bridge tight against my nose to adjust the focus and rolled my eyes around in all directions. I couldn’t have been happier to have an open field of vision.

Feeling it anew, it was quite painful not being able to use one eye. Since half of the vision was completely blocked, it was difficult to gauge distance delicately, so I had to be extremely careful when going down stairs. Moreover, reading long texts was difficult, and I couldn’t drive because I got dizzy.

If I hadn’t had the glasses, I probably would have made an effort to get used to living like this. It was also true that the thought that there was little risk of them breaking made me complacent.

“The depth perception is right, isn’t it? Not dizzy?”

“Yes. It’s comfortable.”

“Let’s see.”

The teacher, who held my chin and examined me here and there, nodded with satisfaction. I clung to her arm and spoke with a nasal voice.

“Teacher, you must absolutely never go abroad.”

“Are you joking? You want me to stay stuck in Korea Read on Read BL Novels[Read on Read BL Novels]and fix your [Read on Read BL Novels]glasses for the rest of my life?”

“You know me well.”

“Hah. Just try breaking them again! I absolutely won’t fix them then!”

“I’ll come even if I don’t break them. Is that enough?”

When I joked around, a large fist came toward me and gave me a flick on the forehead. Of course, it didn’t hurt at all.

On the way back, I took the wheel myself. As I entered the highway, I flicked the turn signal button of my piece-of-junk car with all my might.

Run, Asurada! This is the Zero Realm!

After stepping on the gas like crazy, I managed to arrive at the Center just before the filming end time. If I hurry, I might be able to see him in the uniform live. As that thought occurred to me, my pace began to quicken.

Arriving at the studio, almost running in my haste, I found a crowd of people gathered from outside the entrance. Thanks to that crowd, I could be certain that Han Ji-hyuk was still inside. Everyone is so interested. Thinking that all these people gathered because they recognized my boy’s beauty made me feel proud for some reason.

I approached awkwardly from behind the people, standing on my tiptoes and peeking inside. I wanted to go in, but there were too many female employees stationed near the entrance, making entry impossible.

“Look over there, he’s so handsome!”

“This is crazy. Our formal uniform was actually such a formal outfit. Why didn’t I know this until now…?”

“Kyaa! He just looked this way!”

The atmosphere was so heated that I felt self-conscious about asking them to move. I tried to subtly make my presence known beside them, but they seemed so preoccupied with the inside that they didn’t care. I had no choice.

“Um… excuse me for a moment.”

The woman who turned around irritably to see who it was paused upon seeing me.

“…Ye-yes?”

“I’m trying to go in, so I’m sorry, but could you just….”

The woman’s frowned brow smoothed out instantly, and she gave a fresh, fruity smile.

“Oh, of course. Please, go right in!”

She quickly stepped back and promptly signaled visit our siteanother Read on Read BL Novelswoman to clear a wide path. Thanks to that, I was able to enter comfortably. I thought she would be very angry, so I was glad she was a kind person.

There were many people, but no effort was needed to find him. All I had to do was look for the tallest man with the best proportions inside.

‘There he is.’

Even though it was just his back, he was so slender and tall that I could recognize him immediately. Thank goodness he’s still wearing the uniform! Intending to surprise him, I stood on my toes and crept up behind Ji-hyuk’s back.

However, my grand ambition vanished before it could even begin, as Ji-hyuk turned around first and discovered me. “Hyung!” Unlike the deflated me, Ji-hyuk’s face brightened, and he stood before me in just a few steps.

“Did you just get here?”

He must have had makeup done for the photo shoot. He’s already a beauty, but when he’s groomed and dressed up, I can’t help but be in awe.

“Ugh.”

As I covered my eyes and staggered, Ji-hyuk stopped laughing and caught me in surprise.

“Hyung! What’s wrong? Do your eyes hurt?”

I rolled my eyes through the gaps in my fingers and smiled slyly.

“Han Ji-hyuk’s face is just too dazzling….”

As I giggled and took my hands away from my eyes, Han Ji-hyuk, realizing he’d been fooled, looked deflated, then soon arched his eyebrows and glared at me intensely. Look at that. Because of the makeup, his eyes look sharper, making him look like a grumpy Siberian Husky. It’s seriously killing me with laughter.

But this isn’t my fault. Blame your beauty for launching a halo attack regardless of time and place.

“But how did you know I came?”

Ji-hyuk’s grumpiness didn’t last more than three seconds. At my question, he put one hand in his pocket and bragged slightly.

“Why wouldn’t you know that?”

Oh, what an impressive answer. If I were the female lead, that line would have hit me right in the heart.