DKM 29

“Moyong Hwa was staring at me?”

What on earth is he talking about? I asked, half-doubting.

“Wasn’t he staring at you, not me?”

“If that were the case, there would be no reason for him to hide there and watch. It seems like he has something to say; what do you want to do?”

Moyong Hwa having something to say to me. Nothing specific comes to mind, but if I had to guess, it might be because I cheered for him earlier… I nodded.

“Hmm, I want to meet and talk.”

“Really? Then shall we go meet him right now?”

“Wait a second, Soseo.”

I stopped Soseo, who was preparing to leave immediately.

“You don’t need to come along.”

“Why?”

“I’ll just go and talk with him alone.”

Soseo’s expression soured instantly. He grabbed my shoulder and tried to dissuade me with a worried face.

“…I don’t know what Hwa might do to you. You saw it back then.”

“I know. That he pounced on—no, that he got into a physical scuffle with you.”

Ugh, Myoryeong describes it as ‘pouncing’ so often that I almost did it too.

“But I think it’ll be fine today.”

“Based on what?”

I was immediately speechless. Soseo doesn’t know what happened yesterday.

“Have you already forgotten what I was like before?”

“No, how could I forget that.”

I shook my head. Soseo added, as if he had been waiting for the chance.

“I changed because you were by my side, but he isn’t like that. He’s probably gotten even worse.”

“But I really think it’ll be okay today.”

“So, what exactly are you trusting?”

Soseo asked again, looking truly frustrated.

“Did something happen between you and Hwa that I don’t know about?”

When I hesitated, Soseo sighed.

“I guess you don’t want to tell me.”

Where is this coming from all of a sudden? Startled, I waved my hands.

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s that I don’t want to make you worry.”

“…Doing this right now is making me worry more.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Soseo gently took my hand.

“If you are even slightly sincere toward me, please tell me.”

“…Soseo.”

I gripped Soseo’s hand back.

“When you put it like that, I have no choice but to tell you.”

So please don’t doubt our friendship. I confessed everything that had happened with Moyong Hwa. After listening to the whole story, Soseo let out a deep sigh.

“…As I thought, there was another reason.”

“Huh?”

“That necklace.”

I fidgeted with the bead of the necklace, making an excuse.

“But it’s also true that I wanted to make it obvious that it’s yours.”

Soseo frowned.

“…Myoha, you really are something.”

“Yeah, why?”

“….”

Soseo glared at me with flushed cheeks before abruptly turning his head away.

“I think you’re too unfair sometimes.”

“…Sorry, but you’re unfair too.”

Who told you to act like that with a face like yours? Such cute behavior with such a pretty face—it’s killing me. Soseo untied my necklace to check the wound. Fortunately, the wound had almost healed overnight.

“It really wasn’t a severe injury.”

“You’ve checked, so we’re good, right?”

Soseo nodded. As I stood up, Soseo asked.

“Are you going to talk to Hwa right now?”

“Yes.”

“….”

With my back to Soseo, I picked up the necklace and was about to put it back on when I paused. Ah, come to think of it…

“By any chance, is the necklace not finished yet?”

“Listen, just come with m—”

“Huh?”

Perhaps the timing was off, as Soseo and I spoke at the same time. I turned my head and asked him to go first, but Soseo was also smiling awkwardly.

We blinked at each other.

“Ah, sorry. You go first.”

“No, you go first.”

“No, you first…”

Soseo leaned in close. His wide eyes somehow seemed to be interrogating me, so I continued.

“No, you said the necklace would be finished around evening. I just thought that for making it obvious it’s yours, that one might be better than this…”

“That is true.”

Of course, saying ‘Paeng Clan’ would be more accurate than saying ‘yours’! The words keep coming out wrong. Well, does it matter? Soseo doesn’t seem offended.

Soseo smiled so brightly that his eyes almost disappeared. For a moment, it felt as if light was radiating from his face, and I unconsciously stared blankly at his profile. Soseo took a wooden box and a small pouch out of the drawer. He handed me the pouch first.

“This is for Myoryeong. Please deliver it to him.”

“Okay.”

Soseo opened the wooden box. A gemstone I had chosen yesterday was attached to a sturdy black leather cord. It was incomparably more luxurious than the one I had made. Feeling suddenly shabby, I quickly threw my handmade necklace into the trash and stood before Soseo. Soseo placed the necklace around my neck very carefully, as if I were a piece of glass. I asked in a slightly nervous voice.

“How is it? Does it look okay?”

“It’s more than just okay.”

Soseo grabbed my shoulders and stood me in front of the mirror.

“It really suits you.”

“Really?”

I looked into the mirror to see if it truly suited me unauthorized copyas Soseo said. The gemstone on the necklace was visit our sitesparkling brilliantly against my neck. It really did suit me, but… As my expression gradually stiffened, Soseo tilted his head.

“Why that face? Do you not like it?”

I quickly shook my head.

“No, it’s not that. I really like it.”

“Then what?”

“I just didn’t expect that I’d be wearing a necklace, especially one with a real gemstone.”

The gem shone brilliantly even in the slightest light. Since it was clearly a precious item, I swallowed hard.

“I thought I wasn’t destined for things like acc—I mean, accessories.”

“What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t you be?”

Soseo smiled brightly as he interlaced his fingers with mine.

“You’ll have another one in a little while anyway.”

“…Soseo.”

I looked Soseo in the eye and spoke.

“I don’t know what else you’re planning to give me, but don’t give me too much. I’m truly happy with just this necklace.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“…Answering with a smile like that doesn’t make you convincing at all. You really—”

“But you know.”

Soseo interrupted before I could finish. He gently stroked the gemstone on the necklace and said.

“As expected, this looks more like a collar than a necklace.”

Then he met my eyes, seeking agreement.

“Don’t you think so?”

When I nodded instinctively, Soseo’s smile became even warmer.

“The fact that I’ve become like this is really… all because of you.”

“Huh? What?”

His voice was too low for me to hear. Soseo let go of the gem and repeated himself.

“I mean, have a good talk with Hwa.”

“Got it. I’ll be back soon.”

I’ll go to Hwa right now… Wait, my foot stopped mid-stride. First, I should tell Myoryeong that Hwa is following me. He’ll definitely go on about BL again, but that’s Myoryeong’s joy in life. Since I have to deliver the bracelet anyway, it’s perfect. I ran to Myoryeong’s room and knocked on the door. Strange, he couldn’t have left already. Left with no choice, I opened the door slightly and peeked inside. Myoryeong was sitting at his desk, seriously contemplating something. What, he’s inside. I called out to Myoryeong loudly.

“Myoryeong!”

But Myoryeong didn’t budge. What on earth is he doing? I approached him. Myoryeong was constantly muttering something.

“Is Moyong Hwa the second lead gong, or the second lead shou?”

“Myoryeong?”

“Tsk, I’m not a fan of second lead shous. I really hope he’s the second lead gong. The development where a second lead gong, who originally liked the main gong, keeps the shou in check but gradually unauthorized copyfalls for him is just… No, wait. Isn’t it too early to consider Soseo the main gong? Just because Read on Read BL Novelsthey’ve been together a long time doesn’t make visit our sitehim the main gong. Some stray cat-like guy could suddenly appear and snatch the shou away, or it could be a harem ending…”

“Myoryeong, what are you thinking about so hard?”

Startled, Myoryeong kicked off his chair and stood up, glaring at me.

“When did you come in?! How can you just enter without knocking!”

“I knocked several times, but you didn’t hear me.”

“Ah, really…?”

Myoryeong scratched his head with an embarrassed expression and apologized.

“Sorry, I guess I didn’t hear you because I was too immersed. By the way, that necklace is perhaps…”

“Yeah, Soseo gave it to me. Does it suit me?”

“Totally! He actually managed to make a choker. He didn’t say it looks like a collar, did he?”

“He did. It’s designed that way, after all.”

“He actually said that?!”

“Yeah, and I told him I liked it.”

“I’m going to go crazy. He’s just being blatant about it these days.”

It’s troubling if he’s already this happy. I held out the pouch to Myoryeong, who was thumping the desk with his fist.

“This is for you. Soseo told me to give it to you.”

“Yes!”

Myoryeong quickly turned the pouch upside down. A bracelet made of a transparent bead and a blue gemstone woven with a black cord fell onto Myoryeong’s palm.

“Wow, this is insane. It’s really pretty. As expected of Young Master Soseo. It’s totally my taste.”

Myoryeong smiled broadly as he put on the bracelet. Our confident hamster—his smile is just like sunshine. I looked at Myoryeong with a fond expression. Myoryeong pulled my arm.

“I have to go thank the Young Master right now! Myoha, come with me.”

“Ah, sorry. I don’t think I can go with you.”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you one more piece of news you’ll love. Lean in.”

I told Myoryeong what had happened earlier. After the story ended, Myoryeong took a deep breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, there’s just too much bait, so it’s taking a moment to process. Is today some kind of special day? I can’t keep my head straight.”

After taking a couple more deep breaths, Myoryeong asked.

“So you’re going to talk to Moyong Hwa right now?”

“Yes.”

“Soseo just let you go?”

“Of course.”

“…Wow, Soseo’s personality really has changed a lot.”

I nodded in agreement.

“I think so too. He’s changed a lot.”

In the past, even when he was kind, he occasionally had a coercive side, but now it’s safe to say that’s almost gone. He always tries to respect my opinion. It’s proof that Soseo has matured that much. However, Myoryeong thought differently.

“To reform a scheming gong in just five years… this guy is incredible.”

“Myoryeong.”

I spoke with a serious face.

“Soseo didn’t change like that because of me. It’s because he put in that much effort himself.”

“…You’re saying the same thing you said when I became independent. It’s true that stolen contentwe [stolen content]both put in effort then and now, but to say your influence wasn’t… No, never mind.”

Myoryeong lightly pulled my cheeks and spoke as if sighing.

“You really are a scary fellow.”