239 – TIO Side Story 16

The things Jin Seon-yu brought in abundance every time he visited were lined up on the bookshelves and shelves. There were toys and fairy tale books.

“We can read one book together every day. Right?”

Since Seo Yi-kyung lacked stamina, he sat down after walking a little, but Lee Seong-ju continued to walk, checking Ji-un’s face as he held him.

Watching this, Seo Yi-kyung slowly pulled his knees up. It was almost time for Ji-un to sleep.

‘I overthought it.’

Had he unconsciously become unable to trust people because he stayed close to Han Seung-jae? Isn’t it wrong to start with suspicion?

The strange feeling he had earlier must have been a prejudice toward a person he met for the first time.

* * *

Inside the fast-moving car, the tablet PC Han Seung-jae was looking at tilted downward. He turned his head to the side.

A large flower basket was placed in the seat next to Han Seung-jae. It was filled entirely with deep red roses.

The roses resembled the scent of Seo Yi-kyung’s visit [Read on Read BL Novels]content" style="display:none;" aria-label="stolen content">stolen contentour sitepheromones. However, perhaps because he was an extreme dominant Omega, Seo Yi-kyung’s scent was more intense, voluptuous, and slightly moist, making it more alluring.

Still, the scent of fresh flowers filling the car made Han Seung-jae’s gaze linger.

He had never sent such roses to anyone, and furthermore, this contained the meaning of admitting his fault for making a mess of Seo Yi-kyung’s body this morning.

“We have arrived.”

As Han Seung-jae stepped out of the sedan, Secretary Park followed, carrying the flower basket.

He didn’t know how Seo Yi-kyung would receive it. Giving mere flowers wouldn’t make the marks on Seo Yi-kyung’s body disappear instantly. Nevertheless, Han Seung-jae wanted to give him something.

He, who had always been accustomed to receiving without ever losing a bit, had found someone he wanted to give to without any expectation of return.

As he entered the garden, Han Seung-jae’s cold gaze landed on one spot. Seo Yi-kyung, sitting at a garden table with vine patterns, instantly captured Han Seung-jae’s attention.

His white face and delicate features were lost in deep thought. Even just sitting still, he drew all the attention.

As if realizing late that Han Seung-jae had entered, Seo Yi-kyung looked this way.

“Seung-jae.”

While Seo Yi-kyung slowly stood up, Han Seung-jae [unauthorized copy]style="font-size:0;color:transparent;display:inline;">visit our sitereached visit our sitehim. Secretary Park placed the flower basket he was holding on the table.

“This is from Director Han.”

Secretary Park said this to Seo Yi-kyung and then bowed to Han Seung-jae as if to excuse himself. Hadn’t Han Seung-jae asked about how to apologize? In many ways, it was not an atmosphere for him to remain.

“I will come to pick you up tomorrow.”

After that, he greeted Seo Yi-kyung as well and turned away.

No answer came from Han Seung-jae. That didn’t mean he hadn’t heard Secretary Park’s words. Above all, seeing that there were no other instructions, Secretary Park’s judgment was likely correct.

“Were you out here alone?”

At Han Seung-jae’s words, Seo Yi-kyung, who had been staring blankly at the rose basket, snapped his head up.

“I came out to take a short walk after seeing that Ji-un was asleep.”

And Butler Do seemed busy. It was almost time for Han Seung-jae to return from work, and he was a man with many things to attend to.

“…….”

Seo Yi-kyung added a comment to Han Seung-jae’s attitude, as if he were scanning the interior of the house with his eyes. He felt he had to unauthorized [stolen content[stolen content]style="font-size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]copyspeak before Seung-jae could reprimand Butler Do.

“I’m not a child; I can manage a short walk on my own.”

After all, it was just a bit of walking in the garden right outside the door.

Han Seung-jae slowly shifted his gaze to look at Seo Yi-kyung. For some reason, Yi-kyung felt heat rushing to his cheeks. He tried to convince himself it was simply because of the hot weather outside. As he did, he stared at the basket of roses on the table, as if searching for a place to rest his eyes.

Secretary Park had explicitly mentioned that these flowers were from Han Seung-jae when placing them there. Realizing this belatedly, Seo Yi-kyung reached out to stroke the roses.

“The flowers are beautiful. I was actually feeling a bit stifled from staying in my room.”

Han Seung-jae’s eyes softened slightly. He sat at the table, watching Yi-kyung fiddle with the rose petals. Following suit, Seo Yi-kyung folded his knees and took a seat in the chair.

“A new person arrived at the house today.”

“Ah.”

Han Seung-jae trailed off, which was unlike him. Seo Yi-kyung, still fidgeting with the roses and keeping his eyes fixed on them, spoke.

“They seemed like a very bright and good person.”

After returning to the bedroom for a short rest, Seo Yi-kyung had gone back to Ji-un-ssi’s room. [Read on Read BL Novels]There, he had confirmed [Read on Read BL Novels]that Lee Seong-ju was keeping watch beside the sleeping Ji-un-ssi. Only after that had he come down to the garden.

While his mind told him the man seemed trustworthy, he habitually checked on Ji-un-ssi’s well-being time and again.

There was no way Han Seung-jae would have hired just anyone. Therefore, the words he was currently offering Han Seung-jae might actually be intended for the man himself.

“I think it’s safe to leave things in his hands.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Seo Yi-kyung looked at Han Seung-jae with a smile, as if pushing away a strange feeling in a corner of his heart. Their gazes intertwined in the air, and Han Seung-jae asked,

“But are you not painting anymore?”

“Ah.”

A rose petal Yi-kyung had been touching fluttered down. He curled the red petal into his palm and was about to speak—to say that he didn’t feel like painting yet. To be precise, he lacked the courage to face the canvases that looked like complete messes when born from his own hands. So, would it be better to say his interest had shifted toward Ji-un-ssi? Which was actually true…

While Seo Yi-kyung was choosing his words, Han Seung-jae spoke.

“I heard the paintings are coming visit our siteEND: visit our site -->tomorrow, so pick some that you like. I don’t mind if you hang them all in the painting studio.”

Seo Yi-kyung blinked. He realized Han Seung-jae meant that Im Jeong-yun, the gallery director of Atelier, was coming.

“I thought you’d be stifled since you’ve been trapped in the house without being able to go out. Yet, you don’t look happy at all despite my words. Was I wrong?”

“No.”

Seo Yi-kyung shook his head slightly and added,

“Then can I invite Seon-yu to see them too?”

Seo Yi-kyung mentioned Jin Seon-yu while watching the change in Han Seung-jae’s eyes. He missed Jin Seon-yu after all this time. They had been exchanging messages occasionally. He had even sent photos of Ji-un-ssi several times. Every time he did, Jin Seon-yu would clamor about wanting to come and see him in person.

“Do you actually want to look at the paintings together?”

“…….”

“If I say no, will you still do it?”

“…….”

“Your grasp of the situation is……”

…Non-existent. In the end, Han Seung-jae couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. Regardless of the expressions people wore or what they were thinking, it had always been outside his interest. Because of that, he had often been showered with criticism.

However, as Seo Yi-kyung pressed his lips together repeatedly, Han Seung-jae crossed his long legs. His cold voice resonated lowly. Perhaps mixed with the lukewarm breeze, the chill in his tone faded slightly.

“Do as you wish.”

Han Seung-jae reached out and stroked Seo Yi-kyung’s flushed cheek. Was it because of the hot sunlight? Unlike Seo Yi-kyung, whose heat had rushed upward, Han Seung-jae’s fingertips were cool.

“Your cheeks are hot. It would be better to go inside now.”

Han Seung-jae picked up the flower basket on the table with one hand. Seo Yi-kyung slowly stood up and brushed his own cheek. He felt as if Han Seung-jae’s touch still lingered there.

‘I thought he would say no…’

He had expected him to say it firmly and coldly. Wasn’t he a man who ended things once he made a decision? Han Seung-jae was not the type of person to give in just because someone was stubborn. And the person who knew that better than anyone was Seo Yi-kyung.

As Han Seung-jae entered the house first, Butler Do, who had been walking through the living room, approached them in a single bound. He took the rose basket from Han Seung-jae’s hand.

“I will carry this.”

As he did, he noticed Han Seung-jae’s gaze shifting backward.

Seo Yi-kyung, walking slowly, passed by Han Seung-jae and took a seat on the living room sofa. Butler Do placed the flower basket there and turned away hurriedly.

“I will bring some water for you to drink.”

Had he been outside in this hot weather until now? Seo Yi-kyung’s face was far too red. Because of this, Butler Do disappeared into the kitchen even before Han Seung-jae could give an order.

At the same time, the elevator doors opened with a clear ‘ding’.