Chapter 52 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

Yoon ​Ki-hyun ​scratched ​the ​back ​of his neck as ​he ​looked at the ​excessively polite Kim ​Cha-min.

‘It’s ​a ​bit ​much ​to ​just barge in ​like ​this ​next time.’

It certainly ​wasn’t common for a ​Guide to ​wander around ​the annex ​alone. However, ​there ​was ​no other way.

Strictly ​speaking, the ​very authority for Yoon ​Ki-hyun to enter this ​annex was a privilege ​provided by ​the ​Center.

It was closer to the annex ​access being granted because ​Yoon ​Ki-hyun’s ​assigned ​Esper ​was Jeong Si-jun—so ​that he ​could ​provide guiding in ​the ​event of an unexpected crisis.

Yoon ​Ki-hyun didn’t ​want ​to keep coming ​here ​and ​dealing ​with ​the puzzled ​reactions ​of the ​Espers every time. It would be ideal ​if there were ​a lasting improvement ​in Jeong Si-jun’s mother’s ​health, but ​if not, this ​situation ​could happen many ​more times.

Therefore, he ​needed to ​secure ​a way ​to ​contact [Read [Read on Read BL Novels]on Read BL Novels]Kim ​Cha-min ​this time. ​Yoon ​Ki-hyun ​looked up at ​Kim ​Cha-min, who ​had ​been ​gesturing ​and signaling to the Espers inside the lounge.

“Deputy Team Leader.”

“……Yes!”

Startled, Kim Cha-min snapped back into a tense posture. Yoon Ki-hyun had no idea why he had his hands clasped in front of him like that, but he didn’t care.

What he needed right now was a contact number to reach him at any time. Though their employment types were quite different, weren’t they both in the position of cleaning up after Jeong Si-jun?

“Could I possibly get your number?”

“Huh? Whose… number, sir?”

“Your number, Deputy Team Leader.”

Surely he didn’t think he was asking for Jeong Si-jun’s number. When Yoon Ki-hyun quirked an eyebrow as if [[Read on Read BL Novels]class="wm" style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">unauthorized copy]to ask why he was even questioning it, Kim Cha-min couldn’t answer immediately and just flapped his lips uselessly.

What, why, no, yes?

Since he seemed completely lost, Yoon Ki-hyun calmly continued.

“As you probably know better than I do, I don’t think Team Leader Jeong is the type to seek approval or file a report with his superiors before heading out when something similar happens again.”

“Ah, yes. That’s true…….”

Even while talking, Kim Cha-min avoided making proper eye contact.

Clasping his hands politely as if facing a superior was basic, but seeing how he showed even more devotion than he did toward the Center Director, it seemed he walked on eggshells around Jeong Si-jun quite a bit.

Then again, he was a guy who had repeatedly emphasized that Yoon Ki-hyun must not provide guiding to other Espers even after signing the contract. He had certainly given a heads-up to his team members as well.

Yoon Ki-hyun didn’t know exactly what the nuance of that our site -->visit our site[visit our site]warning was, nor did he particularly want to know. Knowing it would only serve to make his mind restless.

“Ah……! Right, that’s correct. Then my number is…….”

Flustered, Kim Cha-min wiped the cold sweat from his palms onto his trousers.

Yoon Ki-hyun’s suggestion made sense. Moreover, looking at that dry face devoid of a single shred of ulterior motive, Jeong Si-jun would likely permit his number to be saved in Yoon Ki-hyun’s phone.

With polite movements, Kim Cha-min entered his number into Yoon Ki-hyun’s phone. After handing the phone back respectfully, his heart was pounding wildly.

“I’d like you to save my number as well, just in case.”

“Uh, yes. Of course. Naturally, thank you.”

Babbbling, Kim Cha-min took back his phone, into which Yoon Ki-hyun had personally entered his number. Once the exchange of numbers—a mix of terror and excitement—was over, Yoon Ki-hyun gave a brief, lingering nod.

“I’ll be going now. I look forward to the electronic approval.”

“Yes, yes. I plan to process it right away. I’ll file the report too.”

Kim Cha-min kept nodding his head, debating whether to follow Yoon Ki-hyun, who had already turned his back.

Should he follow him or not? It felt like a problem if he did, and a problem if he let him go alone.

“Um, shall I walk you to the guiding room……?”

Thinking he should at least accompany him to the front of the annex, he asked ambiguously. Yoon Ki-hyun turned his head slightly and smiled.

“I know the way. It’s fine. Go back to your work.”

“Yes, understood.”

Seeing the face that rejected him so decisively, Kim Cha-min could only nod as if possessed.

I mean, what was he supposed to do when the man said he was fine?

Kim Cha-min stood there until Yoon Ki-hyun disappeared around the corridor, and only then was he dragged back into the lounge.

“Getting the Deputy Team Leader’s number? That’s insane.”

“Wow, seriously, the Team Leader won’t flip out if he finds out about this, right?”

“Ah. Everyone, just shut up for a second.”

Kim Cha-min’s legs were shaking as he put his hands on his hips. He was reviewing the conversation he just had with Yoon Ki-hyun.

The tone and attitude had been polite, and the titles were respectful. He had even saved Yoon Ki-hyun’s name in his phone as ‘Team Leader Jeong’s Personal Guide.’ It was Kim Cha-min’s desperate struggle to ensure Jeong Si-jun couldn’t find even the smallest excuse to pick a fight.

“Is it okay that I just let him go like that?”

Though Yoon Ki-hyun had refused, it weighed on his mind to send him to the guiding room alone. But then again, he couldn’t exactly cling to someone who said they didn’t want an escort.

“Eh, there’ll probably just be a few guys who annoy him by talking to him.”

“If they have a brain in their heads, they won’t touch him.”

Everyone chimed in to reassure Kim Cha-min. Meanwhile, Park Kyung-min, the youngest of Special Team 2, expressed his admiration late.

“Wow, but maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I saw him up close. My palms were actually tingling.”

With flushed cheeks and an excited look, it was a face that clearly showed he had feelings for Yoon Ki-hyun. With a cold expression, Kim Cha-min gestured with his chin toward the guy he treated like a lackey.

“Hey, take care of the rookie.”

“Yes. Got it.”

The man leaped up from the sofa and left the lounge with his arm draped over Park Kyung-min’s shoulder. It was time for a private conversation with the rookie under the guise of ‘physical training.’

Jeong Si-jun exhaled shallow breaths repeatedly. Even though no one was strangling him, he felt like he couldn’t breathe.

The sight of doctors in white coats entering in groups was always eerie. Perhaps it was because their faces were completely unreadable.

“To get straight to the point, fortunately, she has passed the biggest crisis. Compared to last time, the prognosis is…….”

“Haa.”

Jeong Si-jun finally let out the breath he had been holding. Staring at the ceiling, he closed his eyes under the intense white lights.

Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon was truly remarkable. He wasn’t saying it just because she was his mother; he couldn’t help but respect the strength she showed in overcoming several crises with a body that had grown frail from years of battling illness.

The haggard-looking doctor gave a lengthy [stolen content]style="font-size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]wm: stolen content -->explanation. The conclusion of those verbose words was simply that his mother had survived this crisis as well.

However, the doctor once again spouted that same bullshit about how they couldn’t guarantee what would happen during the next shock. Jeong Si-jun sneered inwardly.

‘Bullshit, give me a break. You said the exact same thing two years ago.’

Just as the doctor was saying that visitation was difficult for now but would be possible once her condition improved, Jeong Si-jun stood up first, leaving his father behind, who was listening intently to the doctor’s explanation with bloodshot eyes.

“Jun, are you going home?”

A strange vitality emanated from his father’s dry, withered voice. He was relieved that his lover had once again firmly survived.

“Yes. I have to go to work today. You should get some sleep too, Father.”

“I suppose so.”

Now that the crisis had passed, there was nothing the guardians could do. Therefore, unauthorized [visit Read on Read BL Novelsour site]copythey had to return to their daily lives.

Commuting to the Center as before, entering gates to smash Kaijus, and grumbling while clinging to Yoon Ki-hyun—all while forcibly burying the anxiety that it wouldn’t be strange for his mother to pass away at any moment.

“Drive carefully. Your mother is worried about you.”

“I took a taxi, so the car is parked at the Center.”

“That’s unusual.”

“Someone told me to do it.”

“Since when did you start listening to others so well? Hurry home.”

“You too, Father.”

Jeong Si-jun bowed to the medical staff and his father and left the hospital without hesitation.

At first, he felt guilty about having to maintain a normal daily life while his mother was ill. But after doing this for a long time, he gradually developed a tolerance.

He became able to eat, work, and even daydream without any particular feeling.

‘I’m tired.’

Upon arriving home and checking his phone, he found messages from several places.

A manager wanting him to visit the department store because a pre-ordered item had arrived; the Awakened Management Center Director and the Esper Headquarters Chief worrying about his mother’s condition; and worry-filled messages from Kim Cha-min and his team members, noting that the half-day leave approval and reports had been handled.

Quickly skimming through the contents, Jeong Si-jun stared blankly at one short message. It was from Yoon Ki-hyun.

[Mr. Yoon Ki-hyun]

I’m leaving work now. Contact me if anything happens.

He felt as if he could hear the voice. Brief and to the point, diligent with work. It was a message that perfectly captured Yoon Ki-hyun’s personality.

While it felt dry, Jeong Si-jun felt the distress he had carried all day fade away for the first time today through this one short message.

Ridiculously, even though there wasn’t a single word asking about or worrying for his mother’s well-being.