By Zephyria 
With a smiling face, Yeom Cheon-ho kindly explained.
“We’re on our way to a gathering that requires us to bring our Name partners today.”
Choi Hwan’s mouth gaped open. He looked back and forth between Yeon-rok and Yeom Cheon-ho, who were dressed so well that they wouldn’t look out of place at an end-of-year awards ceremony, then suddenly raised his voice.
“Why aren’t you taking me?!”
“Don’t you have a shoot this evening? Shouldn’t you be heading out again?”
Yeon-rok asked, bewildered. He clearly remembered Choi Hwan grumbling yesterday that he suddenly had a late-night shoot. So, whatever the relationship between Yeom Cheon-ho and Choi Hwan, it was impossible to bring him as a partner in the first place. Choi Hwan seemed frustrated, as if he wanted to complain but couldn’t pinpoint the reason.
“I’m a Name Awakened too, why am I being left out!”
Yeon-rok wondered if that was something Choi Hwan should be saying, and when he looked at him, there was even a resentful look on his handsome face. Unable to understand, Yeon-rok was about to ask what his problem was when Yeom Cheon-ho tapped the watch on his wrist as if he was in trouble.
“We have to leave now. Let’s talk later.”
“Oh, okay.”
Although he was a little concerned about Choi Hwan, Yeon-rok turned away from him and quickened his pace, not wanting to be late. He felt a stinging sensation at the back of his head, as if he was being watched.
As soon as they stepped out of the entrance, Kim Jeong-seong quickly ran ahead and opened the door of the car waiting in front of the gate. As soon as the car started, Yeon-rok became anxious and quickly forgot about Choi Hwan.
“Really, I just have to say hello, right?”
“Of course. Even if something happens, I’ll cover for you, so don’t worry. No one will treat Yeon-rok-ssi carelessly.”
Yeon-rok felt much more at ease when Yeom Cheon-ho, of all people, said that. He alternated between looking in the mirror and checking his phone, worried that his clothes might be disheveled, and soon they arrived at their destination. When Yeon-rok couldn’t relax, Yeom Cheon-ho leaned in and asked for his understanding.
“Just a moment…….”
Soon, warm, firm fingertips brushed against Yeon-rok’s forehead. There was nothing out of place, but he simply stroked his young partner’s hair and collar to reassure him. Yeon-rok looked up anxiously, and he gently soothed him.
“You’re perfect. You look perfectly suited as my partner.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Finally, Yeon-rok’s face brightened. His hands, which had been clenched tightly in anxiety, relaxed, and his shoulders straightened. In the meantime, the car stopped in front of the hotel entrance. A doorman quickly approached and opened the door. A bright smile, honed over a long time, greeted the two of them.
“Welcome. CEO Yeom Cheon-ho, partner-nim. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”
Just like when they went to the department store, he recognized them right away just by looking at their faces. Yeon-rok wondered if they knew each other, but he was too cautious to ask and just widened his eyes. Yeom Cheon-ho, noticing this, leaned in. And he whispered intimately in his ear.
“They memorized my car number and face in advance. He seems to be a very experienced doorman.”
“Is that so?”
Feeling amazed, Yeon-rok stuck close to Yeom Cheon-ho and moved along. The gathering was being held in the hotel banquet hall, and they were checking invitations at the entrance. Kim Jeong-seong, who had accompanied them, handed over the invitation, and the staff carefully checked it before letting them in.
Many people had already arrived inside the banquet hall. Yeon-rok’s efforts to dress up seemed futile, as there were gorgeous outfits everywhere. What was particularly interesting was that many of them were emphasizing their Names. They were revealing the shoulders or chests where their Names were located with off-the-shoulder dresses, or highlighting their hands, feet, or necks with elaborate decorations.
This was the first time in his life that Yeon-rok had seen so many Name Awakened in one place. The soft sound of musical instruments playing, the interior decorations in refreshing colors, the fresh flowers, and the drinks and food that filled the place were all befitting of a spring night banquet. Like someone who had fallen into an unfamiliar world, Yeon-rok followed Yeom Cheon-ho, feeling bewildered.
They hadn’t been in the banquet hall for long when someone approached them. Yeom Cheon-ho leaned in and whispered in Yeon-rok’s ear again, as Yeon-rok was distracted by the finger foods and desserts.
“The Chairman of Yujung Steel is approaching us. Shall we greet him together?”
Only then did Yeon-rok’s body stiffen. Soon, a middle-aged man approached with a bright smile and greeted them familiarly.
“CEO Yeom! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Chairman Yoo. I’m always doing well, as usual.”
“It’s my first time seeing you here. Then perhaps…….”
The man subtly gestured towards Lee Yeon-rok, who was clearly frozen. Yeom Cheon-ho smiled even more deeply.
“Yes, this is my Name bearer. I’m introducing him to Chairman Yoo for the first time. Yeon-rok-ssi, this is Yoo Dong-ho, the Chairman of Yujung Steel.”
“Hello, I’m Lee Yeon-rok.”
“So I finally get to meet CEO Yeom’s Name bearer! Haha, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Yeon-rok was inwardly worried that the other person might notice that he was nothing special and show signs of ignoring him. However, there was no such sign at all, and he was friendly and consistently polite until the end of the conversation.
After that, Yeon-rok met countless people and exchanged greetings. They all showed a strong curiosity and interest in Yeon-rok, which was strange. It might have been because Yeom Cheon-ho was by his side. But even considering that, they treated him suspiciously well. All the people he greeted were CEOs, Chairmen, Directors, professors, and celebrities, yet they were all so friendly. It was as if they were trying to impress him.
‘Am I being overly self-conscious?’
His mind was racing, trying to grasp the situation so as not to make any mistakes. After hearing the words “Name bearer,” which he had rarely heard in his daily life, dozens of times, he was finally able to sit down.
Yeom Cheon-ho, reading the dazed expression on his partner’s face as the opening remarks began, handed him a glass of water. Only then did Yeon-rok realize that he was quite thirsty. After emptying the glass, a sweet dessert was placed in front of him. Perhaps it was because the sugar was kicking in, but he felt a little more relaxed.
“Honestly…….”
As Yeon-rok began to speak softly, Yeom Cheon-ho gently took his hand. Yeon-rok flinched and resisted the urge to look around. Instead, he stayed close to Yeom Cheon-ho and spoke so that only he could hear him. He didn’t notice, but many people were glancing at them. And among them, there was a particularly strong gaze.
“I thought I might be ignored.”
“Why did you think that?”
Instead of listening to the opening remarks, Yeom Cheon-ho asked, looking only at Yeon-rok’s flushed cheeks.
“I was afraid I’d look a little inadequate…….”
Yeon-rok’s confidence had been greatly diminished after meeting the Name partners. It wasn’t that high before, but he had been terribly ignored by Choi Hwan and Moon Kyeon-woo. Although their relationship had improved a lot now, the impact of the suffering he had experienced at that time still remained.
“Oh.”
Yeom Cheon-ho immediately saw through him. He leaned in even closer to Yeon-rok, who was embarrassed to have revealed his true feelings.
“You look very lovely.”
“Excuse me?”
Ugh! Yeon-rok almost screamed out loud. He really had no resistance to such words. He clenched the hand he was holding with Yeom Cheon-ho, trying hard to keep his body from twisting.
“I’m a grown man, CEO. Those words really don’t suit me at all.”
“That doesn’t matter. Yeon-rok-ssi is just my precious person.”
“CEO, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but you really say embarrassing things without hesitation.”
Yeom Cheon-ho chuckled softly, as if he was in a good mood for some reason. Yeon-rok, who had been fine even when he heard embarrassing things, suddenly felt his ears turn red when he heard this laughter.
He cleared his throat and quickly drank some water to cool down. And only then did he notice the gazes focused on him. Most of them scattered as soon as Yeon-rok turned his head, but one particularly intense gaze remained.
The well-dressed middle-aged man only hurriedly averted his gaze after making direct eye contact with Yeon-rok. Yeon-rok tilted his head. He was sure he had never seen him before, but strangely, he felt familiar……. Well, it wasn’t the first time he had received such a piercing gaze today.
As he walked around with Yeom Cheon-ho, Yeon-rok realized that his Name partner was an even more amazing person than he had known. There were faces he had only seen on the news, and names that were familiar even to Yeon-rok, who had little interest in the political and business world, were often mentioned. Stories of money and business worth hundreds of millions of won were exchanged countless times. He was also hearing the word “Name bearer,” which he would never normally hear, so often that it felt like a different world.