By Zephyria 
When Yeon-rok sent the message, Choi Hwan checked it and nonchalantly continued eating his cake. A few seconds later, he naturally and quickly typed back.
[How do you know that?]
[Their symbols are different.]
Recently, while spending time with the followers of the Hwamyeong Cult, Yeon-rok had naturally picked up a few pieces of information. While the Hwamyeong Cult used a tiger pattern as its symbol, taking after the ‘Ho’ in Yeom Cheon-ho’s name, the Heavenly Truth Ming Cult used clouds to symbolize the heavens. This cafe, too, had an unusually high number of cloud-related accessories scattered around.
A cult is a cult, after all. He had heard there were many cults using psychological counseling as a front for proselytizing, and it seemed this place served that same purpose. Then, something chilling happened. The owner, who had rushed out to take a phone call, returned a few minutes later carrying two sandwiches. With a smiling face, the owner spoke to them.
“This is a service for you as a fan. Mr. Choi Hwan, I’m rooting for your artistic activities. Fighting!”
“Thank you so much. You really didn’t have to do this. I’ll enjoy them.”
“Please feel free to stay as long as you like.”
Choi Hwan gave a bright, habitual smile of gratitude, but as soon as the cafe owner looked away, his face stiffened. The timing and action were as if they had been eavesdropping on their conversation. It wouldn’t be surprising if there were listening devices hidden somewhere.
Yeon-rok tapped Choi Hwan’s knee under the table. It was a signal to leave quickly and rejoin the bodyguards. They were already under the surveillance of the Heavenly Truth Ming Cult. However, Choi Hwan—the coward who would normally have bolted immediately—was strangely remaining in his seat, his brow deeply furrowed. Then, he suddenly sent a text.
[Stay still. I have a great idea.]
[What is it?]
Yeon-rok felt an ominous sense of anxiety. Before Yeon-rok could stop him, Choi Hwan shouted loudly enough for the cafe owner to hear.
“The more I think about it, the more I really can’t stand that old fossil Yeom Cheon-ho!”
A horrified Yeon-rok belatedly covered Choi Hwan’s mouth, but it was too late. He turned and gave an awkward smile to the wide-eyed cafe owner, as if it were no big deal. Then, he hissed in a lowered voice.
“What are you doing? Are you crazy?!”
Yeon-rok glared at him with a look that said, ‘This bastard is causing trouble again.’ But Choi Hwan didn’t stop and continued speaking.
“Ah, why? Let’s just vent a bit in a place like this. Aren’t you frustrated being monitored by bodyguards every single day?”
“I know you’re dissatisfied, but there’s a time and place for those kinds of words!”
Being utterly flustered, Yeon-rok—who had not yet grasped Choi Hwan’s intention—spoke sternly. However, Choi Hwan began to pour out a stream of sincere grievances.
“For the record, I play quite modestly for a celebrity. But what? I’m a wild colt? That I just go around causing accidents?”
“Isn’t that somewhat true?”
Choi Hwan played dumb, pretending not to hear Yeon-rok. Why was he acting like this? As Yeon-rok grew anxious, he saw the cafe owner pricking up their ears in the periphery of his vision. …Wait. Could it be? Is he doing this on purpose?
“And while we’re on the subject, that man Yeom Cheon-ho is a total dictator! He pretends not to be, but he subtly gets everything his way.”
“…Did he?”
“We live in the same house, but he decides everything on his own. He violates my privacy under the guise of protection. He flaunts his wealth in the most obnoxious way. Does he think using formal language is everything? He constantly tells me ‘no’ without ever giving a clear explanation.”
At this point, it was practically slander.
The move was likely to provide the most secure residence for security reasons. Furthermore, to Yeon-rok, it didn’t feel like the bodyguards were spying on him. These days, Park Chung-seong and Jeong Bo Eun were on terms almost like friends. The part about being obnoxious seemed to be just Choi Hwan’s personal feeling, and as for being told ‘no’ constantly—wasn’t that because he actually did a lot of things he shouldn’t have?
There were many points to refute, but Yeon-rok held back for now. He had realized why Choi Hwan was suddenly badmouthing Yeom Cheon-ho here.
Previously, Yeom Cheon-ho had warned him not to show closeness with him in public. This was for the purpose of confusing intelligence. The closer one was to Yeom Cheon-ho, the more likely they were to become a target for Yeom Cheon-ryul or be maliciously exploited.
‘But how could things get more vicious than they already are?’
Yeon-rok couldn’t even imagine how much more cruel the already vicious and cunning Yeom Cheon-ryul’s schemes could become. Regardless, Choi Hwan was using that point in reverse, intentionally talking loudly in a cafe used for the Heavenly Truth Ming Cult’s proselytizing. …Though it also seemed like he just wanted to curse at Yeom Cheon-ho.
“Don’t you have any complaints about that man?”
I see. I have to badmouth CEO Yeom Cheon-ho here too. Yeon-rok glanced at the cafe owner, who was slowly tidying up items from a closer distance than before.
“The CEO is…”
When it came time to actually complain, Yeon-rok struggled because he didn’t have any particular grievances. Unlike Moon Gyeon-woo or Choi Hwan, Yeom Cheon-ho had never done anything seriously wrong to Yeon-rok. From the beginning until now, he had always been a kind and considerate person.
“He’s… a bit overwhelming because he’s so big.”
As soon as Yeon-rok said that, Choi Hwan suddenly slammed the table and shouted.
“I’m bigger!”
Confused, Yeon-rok reflexively denied it.
“You’re not…?”
Even by a rough glance, Yeom Cheon-ho was the tallest among the four of them. Not just among the four, but he was on the taller side even compared to the bodyguards. Yet, for some unknown reason, Choi Hwan shouted in a state of extreme agitation.
“You say I’m not?! What do you mean I’m not! You, you, you—did you both see? Did you see! How do you know Yeom Cheon-ho is bigger when you haven’t even looked!”
Only then did Yeon-rok realize why Choi Hwan had reacted that way. Seeing the cafe owner with eyes and mouth wide open due to the content of the loud conversation, Yeon-rok quickly corrected him.
“What are you thinking about right now? I mean height! Height!”
“…Ah.”
Choi Hwan suddenly went quiet. He spent a while clattering around, pretending to be intensely interested in the cake and tea, then asked as if nothing had happened.
“And what else?”
What else? Well, being tall might not sound like a particular flaw. Yeon-rok racked his brain a bit more to deceive the cafe owner. What flaws did the CEO have? He barely managed to find one more.
“I can’t really tell what he’s thinking. So it’s often difficult being with him.”
“Exactly. He’s incredibly devious. And also…”
“Hmm… He’s so busy that he can’t make much time.”
He tried his best to squeeze something out, but nothing came. Since he relied on the man for his basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter, he felt that even fake badmouthing was an act of ingratitude. He felt this was enough and just wanted to leave now. But Choi Hwan, who had been biting his well-shaped lips for a while…
“Lee Yeon-rok. Are you really my lover?”
“Huh?”
“Are you going to keep taking Yeom Cheon-ho’s side in every single thing?”
Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes sharply and began to interrogate Yeon-rok as if he were cheating. Flustered, Yeon-rok asked back.
“When did I ever take the CEO’s side?”
“Always! You always took his side! You’re always scolding me and nagging me. How can you take a stranger’s side more than your own lover’s?”
He’s acting, right? But why does it feel so sincere? Yeon-rok searched through his past memories, but no matter how much he thought about it, he only remembered the man being good to him. Glancing at the cafe owner, he saw them eavesdropping with a look of intense fascination.
“Do you even like me?”
“What? O-of course I like you.”
“Then why are you stuttering?”
Confused as to why he was acting this way, Yeon-rok had stuttered for a moment, and Choi Hwan seized upon it. Then, he began to demand.
“Hurry up and say that I’m the person you like most in the world.”
Yeon-rok hesitated for a moment, then decided ‘whatever’ and opened his mouth.
“…I like you most in the world.”
Choi Hwan smiled radiantly. His handsome features curved round and softly, smiling with eyes that looked as if the other person were indeed the most beloved in the world. The sunlight pouring in from the window was like a spotlight. The spotlight shone only on Choi Hwan. Yeon-rok found his gaze completely stolen.
But that smile was brief. A flicker of bitterness, unseen in the usual Choi Hwan, passed over his face. Then, he began to criticize again.
“Liar.”
How could he change his expression to be so prickly in an instant? He truly was an actor who excelled at acting. Though it wasn’t particularly welcome in a situation like this. When someone infinitely handsome uses their expressions like that, ordinary people are bound to be flustered. Was Choi Hwan intentionally using a honey trap—or rather, a ‘handsome trap’—right now?
“What is it now… I told you I like you.”
“I can’t feel the sincerity!”
At this point, Yeon-rok had no idea what he was supposed to do. Before Yeon-rok could say anything more, Choi Hwan slammed the table and stood up from his seat. Whether this was also part of the acting, surprisingly, the corners of his eyes were trembling, and his face and neck were flushed red.