By Zephyria 
Yeon-rok looked down at his Cherished doll, Lime. In fact, Yeon-rok’s bond with his Name partner wasn’t that strong, so he had often thought that it might be better not to have a Name, but for some reason he felt sad. He wanted to erase his Name, but he didn’t want to erase it. He soon shook his head.
‘Let’s think about something else.’
For example, Moon Kyeon-woo’s ex-boyfriend I met today… But it was a strange thing. As I pondered the words of my ex-boyfriend, I suddenly remembered the time I met my ex-girlfriend.
‘It was really just for a moment. We didn’t even meet a few times… I really didn’t want to fall for her, but she persistently seduced me like a fox.’
‘And then she left as soon as she broke up with Gyun-woo Hyung! She must have approached me with a purpose! She must have been trying to separate me and Gyun-woo Hyung! I’m really upset, upset…….’
It was really nothing to do with me, but I didn’t know why I kept remembering the time I met my ex-girlfriend by chance. Maybe it was just because of the keyword “ex-girlfriend” that I was reminded of it, Yeon-rok thought that way.
After visiting Moon Kyeon-woo’s company, ordinary days passed without any special events. Today, Yeom Cheon-ho seemed to have barely squeezed out some time and grabbed Yeon-rok’s hand with a tired face before leaving. Perhaps that’s why Yeon-rok’s condition was quite good.
No, it wasn’t just because of that. Yeon-rok was sitting on the sofa, diligently putting together a puzzle, when Choi Hwan, who had returned after finishing his schedule, slyly touched the nape of Yeon-rok’s neck. I was so surprised that I jumped, but he was the one who was being unreasonable.
“Does it wear out? I’m touching you because I feel sorry for you, and you’re making a fuss.”
“Go touch your Darling!”
Of course, he didn’t even pretend to listen this time either. Moon Kyeon-woo just glared at Yeon-rok, who was at fault for not controlling his Darling, and disappeared. Yeon-rok, who had lost his concentration because his neck was burning, returned to his room and went to bed early.
Thanks to that, Yeon-rok, who woke up early the next day and came down to the kitchen, witnessed Yeom Cheon-ho at the breakfast table for the first time since moving in. Surprisingly, he seemed to be dozing off in the short time it took Park Yeo-sa to bring out breakfast. He was leaning forward with his arms crossed, and his face was full of fatigue at first glance.
Yeon-rok pulled out a chair and sat down as carefully as possible, but Yeom Cheon-ho keenly noticed the movement and immediately lifted his heavy eyelids.
“Yeon-rok-ssi. Good morning.”
Yeom Cheon-ho greeted me kindly with a face that didn’t seem like a good morning at all. Yeon-rok felt sorry for him because his whites were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
“You look very tired.”
“I’ve been particularly busy lately. Would you mind holding my hand?”
Unlike when dealing with Choi Hwan or Moon Kyeon-woo, Yeon-rok held his hand without hesitation. Yeom Cheon-ho made a sound and tilted his head back. He seems to be feeling quite good as the wrinkles on his forehead are smoothed out. So, I guess his condition is also recovering and it feels good to be in contact with his Name partner… While thinking that, Yeon-rok’s cheeks flushed slightly.
‘I wish this time could last a little longer…….’
While he was thinking that, another person appeared. It was Moon Kyeon-woo. Yeon-rok flinched when he found him, but he didn’t let go of his hand. As if he had been shocked by the fact that all of his Name partners were men, he was now quite used to these things. Moon Kyeon-woo’s gaze lingered on the hands that Yeom Cheon-ho and Yeon-rok were holding, and then fell away.
“Gyun-woo-ssi. Good morning.”
Yeom Cheon-ho gave the same morning greeting as he had given to Yeon-rok. Usually, Moon Kyeon-woo would just give a short answer and end it, but today, unusually, his answer was long.
“Yes. Good morning.”
Yeom Cheon-ho carefully examined Moon Kyeon-woo’s unusual reaction. His face was pale and lifeless.
“Did something good happen?”
Rarely, a bright smile spread across Moon Kyeon-woo’s face. Even Yeon-rok was curious and looked at him.
“There have been remarkable results in the research I’ve been conducting recently. Usually, it’s something that I have to hold on to for a year or two, but it seems like I’ve been lucky.”
“That’s really good news.”
A smile also appeared on Yeom Cheon-ho’s face, perhaps because he was investing in Moon Kyeon-woo’s research. Yeon-rok rubbed the Name on his chest for no reason.
“Hwan-ssi’s recent filming is going smoothly, and my business is also doing well. Yeon-rok-ssi’s health has also improved a lot, so it’s something to be happy about.”
Research, filming, business. Yeon-rok was a little embarrassed that everyone was doing great things, while he was just stuck with his personal health. Moon Kyeon-woo always ignored him, but Yeon-rok greeted him out of courtesy as he was still his Name partner.
“Congratulations.”
I didn’t expect much of a response, but unexpectedly, Moon Kyeon-woo replied.
“Yes, thank you.”
Wow. So, did some progress in the relationship happen because I helped catch the stalker? Yeon-rok was deeply moved as he remembered the time when he used to act up with mismatched toys to get a single answer.
And that night.
Yeon-rok, who woke up in the middle of the night because he was thirsty, yawned loudly. After drinking water, he couldn’t fall back asleep. As his condition improved, his sluggish body and excessive sleep decreased, and he was wide awake. He came down to the first floor to take a walk in the garden until he fell asleep again.
But for some reason, the kitchen was brightly lit. Did Park Yeo-sa forget to turn off the lights? Yeon-rok approached without much thought and stopped. Moon Kyeon-woo was sitting at the table, tilting a bottle of alcohol. I felt a sense of déjà vu.
He looked so happy in the morning. But looking at his deeply bowed head and drooping shoulders, he seemed to be in a bad mood. I was about to run away quickly because I thought he was crying again, but Yeon-rok accidentally bumped into the door frame and made a noise.
Moon Kyeon-woo raised his head sharply. Fortunately, he wasn’t crying, so Yeon-rok was relieved without realizing it. It looks like I won’t have to go through the trouble of comforting someone I don’t particularly like.
“……Come here for a second.”
Moon Kyeon-woo sighed once and gestured. Yeon-rok shook his head. Moon Kyeon-woo stared at me with eyes that had turned reddish at the edges and slowly tilted his glass. The amber-colored liquor was clearly visible as it went down his throat. Yeon-rok reluctantly went closer.
“Why?”
“Sit down.”
“I don’t want to…….”
If he was being picky and cold as usual, I would have ignored him, but he didn’t seem to have the energy to do so, so I couldn’t ignore him. Yeon-rok had no choice but to sit across from him, and Moon Kyeon-woo said this.
“This is really too soft.”
“I’m not.”
Yeon-rok raised his eyebrows sharply because he didn’t want to be treated like a pushover, but the other person didn’t seem to think much about what he had just said. After taking a few more sips of alcohol, he finally complained like a drunk person.
“I really don’t understand…….”
“I don’t understand you either.”
“I’m so good to them, so why does everyone do that?”
“…….”
“Is it my problem?”
“Yeah, it’s your problem…….”
Yeon-rok expected him to tell him to get lost now because he was glaring at him for his indifferent reply. But Moon Kyeon-woo seemed to need someone to talk to, so he quietly pushed forward a plate with cheese and dried fruit. I’m going to have to brush my teeth again, Yeon-rok thought, but he picked them up and ate them.
“I devoted myself, was loyal, and loved, and I didn’t particularly expect anything in return.”
To summarize what he said after that, he bought flowers, gave gifts, went on dates diligently, and was so kind and affectionate that he texted and called every day without missing a single day, but he was always betrayed or dumped. While listening to his past dating history, Yeon-rok replied unintentionally.
“You have to know how to push and pull appropriately, not just pull. It’s burdensome if you act like you’re going to give your whole life. It’s like I can do whatever I want.”
What came to mind was his painful first love. I put my heart and soul into it every day like Moon Kyeon-woo, but the pain of being dumped because it was burdensome was still vivid. Moon Kyeon-woo rested his chin on his hand and blinked slowly as if he were sleepy. I didn’t know it because of Yeom Cheon-ho or Choi Hwan, but he really had a pretty face when I saw him this close…… That’s when Yeon-rok was lost in such emotions.
“Is that your story?”
Because Moon Kyeon-woo said this, Yeon-rok was jolted out of the emotions he had rarely been in. He pushed away the empty snack plate that he had eaten all of and jumped up from his seat.
“……I don’t think you have an eye for people. I’m going to bed now.”
Moon Kyeon-woo didn’t hold Yeon-rok back any longer. As he climbed the stairs, Yeon-rok thought unconsciously. If I had a Darling who was as good to me as Moon Kyeon-woo, I would never betray him.
As he returned to his room in a restless mood, Yeon-rok heard a strange noise. He looked around. The source of the noise was the Bluebeard’s Room. In the dark dawn, hearing someone sobbing alone in the hallway made his hair stand on end.
Yeon-rok, who had been distracted by the Bluebeard’s Room that he had forgotten for a while, didn’t go close and listened to the unidentified noise.
‘I’m sure it sounds like several people are talking.’
Some people seem to be begging, and others seem to be shouting. And at some point, the noise stops abruptly. Yeon-rok listened quietly, frozen. The sound of his tense heart beating loudly echoed in his ears. Should I go check? When he took a few steps without realizing it, feeling an impulsive curiosity. Suddenly, the door to the Bluebeard’s Room opened. Yeon-rok quickly ran into his room.
Yeon-rok showed the wit to not completely close the door in a moment of wanting to peek. And he peeked through the gap. The person coming out of the Bluebeard’s Room was Yeom Cheon-ho. He was walking slowly and rubbing his forehead, perhaps because he was tired. In his other hand, he was holding a small, black sack that looked heavy and damp. Wondering what that was, Yeon-rok waited for another person to follow him.
However, even after a long time had passed since Yeom Cheon-ho went down to the first floor, no one came out of it. Yeon-rok quietly closed the door completely and lay down on the bed, tossing and turning for a long time.