Chapter 127 – GOY 127

#127

Ignoring ​Joo ​Seung-hyuk, ​I ​shifted ​my ​gaze, and at ​that ​moment, ​the ​number ​flashing on the electronic ​board ​caught my eye.

‘152’

That ​was Do Hyuk-jin’s ​number. ​He ​had ​placed ​a ​bid.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, why…?”

I thought ​Hyuk-jin ​hyung ​had given up ​on the Necklace of ​Nemesild too…?

As ​I looked ​at Joo ​Seung-hyuk in ​confusion, ​he ​wiped the playful ​expression from ​his face and whispered ​softly into my ear.

“Don’t ​worry.”

Do Hyuk-jin placed a ​few more ​bids ​and [unauthorized copy]then stopped. To anyone unaware, ​he would look like ​just ​another ​person ​who ​had aimed for ​the [Read on Read BL Novels]treasure ​but ​gave up due ​to ​a price that exceeded imagination.

It ​certainly looked ​much ​more natural than ​coming ​all ​this ​way ​and buying ​nothing.

And ​finally, the ​bloody battle to claim the Necklace of ​Nemesild came to ​an end.

“Are there ​any more bids?”

Despite the ​auctioneer’s shout, ​no new numbers ​appeared ​on the board.

“Number ​26! The ‘Necklace ​of Nemesild’ ​has ​been sold ​to ​customer number ​26!”

At ​that moment, ​David, ​who ​was across from ​us, ​clenched his ​fist. ​The ​filming ​staff in the box seat hurriedly captured the scene. So number 26 was David. He hadn’t won a single item until now; he must have been eyeing this one.

In the end, unlike in the original story, the fake Necklace of Nemesild became David’s.

I had succeeded in changing the original plot.

While people applauded David, the winner of today’s auction, and some lamented their losses, we stepped out of the auction house.

“Yeon-soo!!”

At that moment, Do Hyuk-jin came running toward me with a booming voice.

“Hyung!”

He was someone I had known since I was young, but facing him after changing the original plot felt different.

I welcomed him with a wide smile, but the emotional hug never happened.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Joo Seung-hyuk grabbed Do Hyuk-jin by the shoulder and pushed him back, preventing him from getting close to me.

“Wow, look who it is. Joo Seung-hyuk was here too. I didn’t notice because your presence is so weak.”

“Your presence is always annoyingly loud.”

The two of them clashed the moment they met. I’m sure they aren’t on terrible terms, so why are they snarling at each other like this?

“Oh! Look, it’s Joo Seung-hyuk and Lee Yeon-soo!”

“They’re fighting! They’re fighting!”

Nearby reporters, smelling a scoop, flocked toward us. Among them, I saw some Korean reporters. It seemed they had come to cover the Achirus Auction.

“You didn’t bid on the Necklace of Nemesild even once. I didn’t even know you’d come.”

“That’s because I have my own Guide. I have no need to rely on something as pathetic as a treasure.”

Joo Seung-hyuk gave a confident smile and pulled me into an embrace.

‘Please don’t drag me into a fight between two people….’

I desperately wanted to go back to the hotel alone, but camera flashes were exploding everywhere.

The reporters were watching us with intrigued eyes.

‘Could he have done this on purpose…?’

Do Hyuk-jin had intentionally drawn attention in front of [stolen content]the reporters and then mentioned that Joo Seung-hyuk hadn’t bid [visit our site]on the Necklace of Nemesild once. And Joo Seung-hyuk, in turn, emphasized once more that he had no interest in Nemesild.

Yes, thinking about it, winning the treasure isn’t the end of it.

The scammers haven’t been caught yet, and there is a possibility they might frame someone else after committing the crime.

Furthermore, the person who became the owner of Nemesild this time was David.

Many people had seen him and Joo Seung-hyuk arguing at the hotel over me, and articles had already appeared in the tabloids.

If something were to happen to David, Joo Seung-hyuk would be a prime suspect.

Therefore, he was announcing in front of the reporters that he didn’t need Nemesild and that we were on good terms.

In that case, I couldn’t just stand there.

I wrapped my arms around Joo Seung-hyuk’s waist and smiled brightly.

“Of course. Seung-hyeok, you have me. I would’ve been upset if you had won the Necklace of Nemesild.”

“…….”

Joo Seung-hyuk’s expression froze.

Why? Wasn’t this the kind of acting he wanted?

“Seung-hyuk-ah, you only need me, right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

My face was reflected clearly in his black pupils. Even though it was just a play for the reporters, the eyes staring directly at me were so clear and deep that I felt strange.

My heart began to beat oddly. Was it because the tension from the auction still lingered?

Forcing down the strange feeling, I spoke to Do Hyuk-jin.

“Hyuk-jin hyung, the reporters are here; is it right to show everyone you’re fighting even when you’re abroad? Why don’t you two make up over a meal?”

Simply appealing that he wasn’t interested in the Necklace of Nemesild and that there were no problems in our romantic front wasn’t enough.

I had been polite to Aaron. I had endured no unauthorized copymatter how rudely he behaved. But when Aaron [unauthorized copy]set his mind to manipulate things, I had no choice but to be helpless.

This time was the same. If an incident occurred and the scammers or the media pushed Joo Seung-hyuk as the culprit, it would be hard to escape.

Moreover, leaving Do Hyuk-jin alone was also dangerous. For all I knew, the Original Plot Constraint might trigger and cause something to happen to him.

It was better for everyone to stay together tonight.

“I’m always welcome to have a meal with you, but I don’t know about this guy.”

Do Hyuk-jin glared at Joo Seung-hyuk. But he probably didn’t mean it.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, let’s eat with Hyuk-jin hyung today. Maybe the misunderstandings will clear up over food.”

“I doubt it, but if Hyung wants it, I’ll do it.”

Joo Seung-hyuk agreed with my opinion.

“I saw a pub with a great atmosphere up ahead on the way. Shall we go there?”

“Sounds good.”

“Anything you want, Yeon-soo, is welcome.”

“Then let’s go there.”

I smiled and started walking.

As we walked, the reporting journalists naturally followed.

Today was the day of the Achirus Auction, which happens once a year, and a day of festival. Free reporting by journalists was permitted. Moreover, I had chosen the pub right in front of the auction house specifically hoping the reporters would follow.

There were a few seats left inside, but I chose an outdoor table. That way, the reporters could see us.

Additionally, since it was near the main auction hall, there were numerous CCTV cameras installed.

In the original story, Joo Seung-hyuk was under constant suspicion because he had no alibi for the time of the crime. Even though it was a strange hour in the early morning, having a perfect alibi would have been more suspicious.

But if we stayed here, I could prove his alibi even if something happened.

This pub usually closes at 2 AM, but it was written that on the day of stolen contentthe Achirus Auction, it operates until 5 AM. Other nearby shops seemed to be [stolen content]the same. So, we could hold out here until 5 and then return to the hotel.

“What should we eat?”

I glanced at the reporters filming us from across the street and asked while turning my gaze to the menu. Then, Joo Seung-hyuk took my hand.

“Eat whatever you want, Hyung.”

“We should pick together.”

“Let’s see what we’ve got.”

Do Hyuk-jin, sitting opposite us, leaned forward to look at the single menu. His face came close.

At that moment, Joo Seung-hyuk’s face twisted, and he pushed Do Hyuk-jin’s forehead away with his index finger.

“Joo Seung-hyuk! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Don’t shove your filthy head this way.”

“What? What’s filthy about me!”

“Stay inside the line of the table. Don’t lean forward, and don’t raise your hand. I’ll cut them all off.”

“Hey! Then how am I supposed to eat!”

“Not my concern.”

“What? Has this guy completely lost his manners!”

These two… they actually get along but are just pretending to hate each other, right…?

Yes, that must be it. They’re pretending to be on bad terms because the reporters are watching….

“Now, stop fighting and pick one thing each. I’ll have the fish and chips.”

After choosing the safest menu item, I passed the menu to Joo Seung-hyuk. He picked one and then tossed the menu to Do Hyuk-jin.

“Hey! Why do you suddenly throw it!”

“You can’t even catch that? Looks like it’s time for you to retire.”

“You little shit!”

…No matter how I look at it, this isn’t acting; they just genuinely hate each other. Perhaps they are arch-enemies who just happen to not want the other to die.

“Seung-hyuk-ah.”

I grabbed the hand of Joo Seung-hyuk, who looked ready to fight right then and there.

“Shall we go place the order?”

There were servers, so there was no real need for us to go order. Sensing that I had something to say, Joo Seung-hyuk nodded and followed me into the shop.

I pulled Joo Seung-hyuk into a corner of the shop where there were no customers and pressed my body close to his.

“Hyung, this is embarrassing….”

Joo Seung-hyuk’s face flushed red. Even if we had to talk secretly, I had pressed too close.

Realizing my mistake, I quickly stepped back.

“Sorry!”

“Not that I hated it.”

He pulled my waist back toward him and grinned. This brat is playing with me.