Chapter 78 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

The ​air ​in ​the ​hospital ​room was sinking even ​heavier. ​Yoon Ki-hyun looked ​down at Jeong ​Si-jun, ​who ​had ​suddenly ​dropped ​to his knees ​on ​the ​floor.

‘What is he ​crying for, as if ​he’s done ​something right. ​I’m the ​one who ​wants ​to ​cry right now…’

He ​had imagined ​how Jeong Si-jun would ​react if he requested ​the termination of the ​contract. He ​had ​considered possibilities ranging from the man ​being appalled and asking ​what ​on ​earth ​he ​was talking about, ​to the ​assumption ​that he might ​surprisingly ​accept it readily.

He had made ​quite a ​few ​assumptions, but he ​had ​never ​imagined ​that ​Jeong Si-jun ​would ​kneel. That ​was because the person in question was ​Jeong Si-jun.

There was ​no way a ​spoiled brat who had ​lived his ​entire life basking ​in ​his own perceived ​brilliance would be ​saddened by ​the ​request of ​an ​A-class Guide ​to ​terminate a ​contract. ​If ​anything, he thought ​the ​man would ​more ​likely ​try ​to solve the problem with money, asking what was lacking.

However, unlike the Jeong Si-jun in his imagination, the man before him didn’t even think to wipe away the tears streaming down his cheeks as his trembling lips parted.

“I know… that you’ve lost all feelings for me, Yoon Ki-hyun.”

His suppressed voice sounded pathetic. He seemed breathless, struggling to hold back emotions that threatened to surge forth at any moment.

“…I’m sorry.”

He knew it was an apology that came too late. He vaguely understood that his feelings would not reach Yoon Ki-hyun, and that this was merely an act of venting his own emotions.

But he felt that if it wasn’t now, he would never have another Read on Read unauthorized copyBL Novelsunauthorized copychance to convey his sincerity to Yoon Ki-hyun.

“Can’t you give me just one more chance? They say people can’t be changed, but you never know. I could be the exception…”

Tears pooled at the tip of his finely trembling chin before falling to the floor.

“…”

The unexpected tears created a faint ripple in Yoon Ki-hyun’s heart. However, it was too weak to reverse a mind already made up.

He no longer wanted to guide anyone.

Everything surrounding him was forcing a single conclusion upon him. Only this man, pleading with tears before his eyes, was begging him to choose a different option.

“I’m not clinging to you to keep guiding me.”

“…”

“You said I shouldn’t guide if I want to cure the illness.”

“That’s why I’m saying I’ll quit. Because a Guide who can’t guide is useless.”

Yoon Ki-hyun’s firm rebuttal was flawless. Thinking rationally, accepting the contract termination was the right thing to do.

After all, the contract established between them from the start was predicated on guiding.

But now, with other emotions mixed in, it wasn’t that easy to judge.

Their relationship had never been equal to begin with. It was always Jeong Si-jun who was the one in need. At first, he needed Yoon Ki-hyun’s guiding; now, he needed Yoon Ki-hyun’s heart.

“Then why do you want to keep a Guide who can’t even guide?”

“Do you have any intention of staying in touch with me after the contract is terminated?”

At Jeong Si-jun’s question, Yoon Ki-hyun fell silent as if caught off guard.

Whether he intended to stay in touch after the contract with Jeong Si-jun ended?

Of course not.

Why on earth would he keep in contact with a guy who acted so selfishly? Once the contract was settled, he would pack his things and find a suitable place to die, just as he had after leaving his previous job.

He didn’t intend to repeat the same mistake as last time. He was currently experiencing enough of the consequences of his previous choice, where he had procrastinated while making all sorts of excuses.

Reading the answer in the silence, Jeong Si-jun laughed as if to prove a point. If he readily agreed to the termination, Yoon Ki-hyun would disappear with a light heart.

“This is exactly why I can’t let you terminate the contract.”

Jeong Si-jun glared into the silent Yoon Ki-hyun’s eyes and slowly stood up.

“I have to stay entangled with you like this, otherwise you won’t answer my calls…”

Still shedding tears, he clenched his fists and steadied his breathing.

“Team Leader.”

Yoon Ki-hyun looked at Jeong Si-jun, who was stubbornly throwing a tantrum. The man, with his lips pressed tight in persistence and cheeks wet with tears, was the first to avert his gaze.

“You know that insisting won’t solve anything.”

Yoon Ki-hyun’s words always made sense. But Jeong Si-jun had no other choice.

What would happen if he simply followed Yoon Ki-hyun’s request? After the contract was terminated and Yoon Ki-hyun was no longer his Guide?

It was obvious what choice he would make—with a face so hollow that no will to overcome the illness or will to live could be found.

He would cut ties with everyone, drink himself into a stupor while holed up in some random city, and eventually decide his own end when the time came. It was too much evidence to call it mere speculation.

‘I know I’m being stubborn. But…’

He couldn’t think of any other clever way. He was the one who had ruined the relationship that was clumsily tied together by a shallow contract.

He shouldn’t have disparaged the man who had rushed to Read on Read BL Novelshis side, [stolen content]even risking danger and signing a pledge just to save his life.

His feelings had been one-sidedly pushed from the start. No matter how resentful he felt that the other man didn’t accept his heart, he should have respected those feelings and approached him in a different way…

It was simply laughable that he had only realized this now, when it was already irreversible.

“…”

“…”

The hospital room fell silent as the conversation ceased.

Yoon Ki-hyun lacked the energy to persuade Jeong Si-jun, who was stubbornly refusing to accept the proposal, and Jeong Si-jun was busy calming his thoughts, which were stained with belated regret and self-loathing.

It was during this awkward silence that Jeong Si-jun lifted his head. The moment his eyes met Yoon Ki-hyun’s, he slowly spoke.

“Do you…”

“…”

“Do you really hate me so much that you can’t even stand the sight of me?”

“…”

“To the point where you feel like vomiting just by looking at [visit our site]stolen contentwm: visit our site -->wm: visit our site -->my face, that I’m not even human, and that being in the same space as me gives you the creeps?”

As he intentionally used extreme expressions, Yoon Ki-hyun seemed to hesitate for a moment.

‘He’s so soft-hearted, as always.’

Jeong Si-jun still didn’t know what went on in Yoon Ki-hyun’s head. He didn’t understand it.

However, perhaps the time they spent together wasn’t in vain, as there was one thing he could be certain about regarding Yoon Ki-hyun.

That was that Yoon Ki-hyun’s heart was far softer than he let on.

Although he had firmly earned a bad reputation through several slips of the tongue, there might still be a chance.

The hesitation—the fact that he didn’t immediately nod or agree to the question. That hesitation was the only thread of hope Jeong Si-jun could cling to.

“Yoon Ki-hyun.”

“…What.”

“Just…”

“…”

“Try seeing me for exactly one month.”

As soon as Jeong Si-jun finished speaking, Yoon Ki-hyun’s expression twisted sharply.

“What did you say?”

“Let’s just see each other for one month. If you still hate me after a month, I’ll give up cleanly then.”

Honestly, it was a one-sided proposal that completely ignored Yoon Ki-hyun’s wishes. But there was no other way.

He had to hold onto Yoon Ki-hyun somehow, but Jeong Si-jun was the type whose brain functioned miserably when it came to these things.

“…Did you actually listen to what I said earlier?”

“Yes.”

Yoon Ki-hyun was speechless at the immediate answer. He was making this proposal while knowing the entire situation?

“I know a full recovery is difficult, but it’s too early to give up.”

Jeong Si-jun even seemed to believe that he would terminate the contract and continue receiving treatment.

‘I’m… not going to get treatment.’

Yoon Ki-hyun’s lips merely twitched.

He hadn’t expected Jeong Si-jun to agree immediately, but he was flustered because he never imagined the man would be this persistent. He thought that if he laid out his situation completely, Jeong Si-jun would have no choice but to back down.

Just how much longer did he have to continue this tedious and nauseating argument? The thought of continuing this meaningless standoff suddenly left Yoon Ki-hyun feeling bleak.

“I won’t ask for more. Just give me one month. Just one month.”

“And after a month?”

“If I can’t win back your heart within a month…”

“…”

“Then I’ll do whatever you want, whether it’s terminating the contract or anything else.”

He didn’t know how much he could trust those words. However, Yoon Ki-hyun didn’t care as long as he could end this fruitless conversation.

His resolve was firm anyway. Even if he saw Jeong Si-jun for a month, nothing much would change.

If he could just get this man—who appealed to emotions by shedding tears that didn’t suit his annoyingly handsome face and pushed his way through stubbornly—out of his sight right now.

“Fine.”

Yoon Ki-hyun was more than willing to accept the proposal.

“One month starting today. Let’s terminate the contract in 30 days.”

When Yoon Ki-hyun mentioned the specific date, Jeong Si-jun’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why 30 days? Some months have 31 days.”

“…”

“I mean, what I’m saying is… that I want to be with you for even one more day, like that…”

“…”

“…Alright. 30 days…”

Jeong Si-jun, who had tried to extend the date somehow, tucked his tail at Yoon Ki-hyun’s cold gaze. He didn’t want to blow the answer he had struggled to obtain with another slip of the tongue.

“And one more thing.”

Yoon Ki-hyun added a condition to Jeong Si-jun, who was now obediently keeping his eyes down. Since he was a guy who grumbled even about the date, there was a need to define the relationship clearly.

“We’re just ‘seeing’ each other; we’re not dating.”

Realizing the meaning of Yoon Ki-hyun’s words belatedly, Jeong Si-jun&#unauthorized [visit our site]wm: visit our site -->copy8217;s eyebrows drooped.

“…Huh?”