By Zephyria 
The competent lawyers bundled the continuous child abuse together with assaults against adults, filing them as a single continuous crime. Above all, the evidence the agency CEO had consistently collected was sufficient, making the trial look very favorable.
Perhaps because Choi Hwan had always paid them off and remained obedient until now, his family seemed utterly bewildered. While the family caused a scene every day, Choi Hwan, conversely, looked relieved.
“I endured it partly because I was afraid it would cause problems for my acting career. Now that I’ve just let it all burst out at once, I feel at peace.”
The agency was also very pleased with this turn of events. Not only was a worry regarding their beloved top actor resolved, but the exposure actually helped him because it linked him with his name partner, Yeon-rok. Excited by this unexpected windfall, Jo Jun-ho spoke up.
“Look at all the commercials coming in for you. Oh, and I’m getting tons of synopses for romance movies with name-related themes.”
Usually, having a name partner is a huge blow to a young actor like Choi Hwan, but this time was different. Because it was tied to the long-term exploitation by his vicious family, a romantic narrative had been established.
“I think I can actually do romance really well.”
Choi Hwan shouted confidently, despite having never properly dated anyone in his life. Having gained the image of a romantic through this incident, Choi Hwan’s eyes sparkled as he greedily hugged the collection of scripts Jo Jun-ho had brought. Yeon-rok thought that while he was still a bit immature, it was a relief that he was spirited.
Choi Hwan piled the scripts high on the table, intending to read them seriously. Jo Jun-ho watched the scene with satisfaction before leaving to get some drinks. Taking advantage of that gap, Yeon-rok spoke quietly to Choi Hwan.
“You should be really good to your Manager Hyung and the CEO. Do you know how hard it is to meet people this kind in life? Even the lawyers said so—that the trial would be easier thanks to how much evidence they gathered.”
Choi Hwan fiddled with the scripts and nodded.
“I’m going to renew my contract next time, too.”
“Right… That’s good, but I mean you should also give them health supplements and treat them to delicious meals.”
Knowing well how immature Choi Hwan was, Yeon-rok nagged him. Choi Hwan nodded obediently. He set the scripts down and grabbed Yeon-rok’s hand.
“I feel like I’ve been really lucky since I met you. This shoot, the family stuff… everything is just working out.”
Yeon-rok, who had lived an unlucky and miserable life until now, blinked. He was a stroke of luck for Choi Hwan? With a bright smile, Choi Hwan tapped his chest where his name was located and said:
“Our pattern looks just like a four-leaf clover. I guess it really is a symbol of luck.”
Reflexively, Yeon-rok looked down at his own chest. A four-leaf clover, a symbol of luck. That… sounded quite nice, even to Yeon-rok.
“Wow, finally!”
It had been three weeks! Yeon-rok cheered, lifting his right arm—which was no longer wrapped in anything—high in the air. Today was finally the day he received a full recovery verdict for his fractured arm and had the cast removed. Perhaps because it had been bandaged for so long, the joint wouldn’t straighten easily and the movement felt a bit awkward.
“Congratulations. It must have been frustrating all this time.”
Moon Gyeon-woo, who had intentionally taken a half-day off to accompany him to the hospital, offered his congratulations. Yeon-rok smiled brightly, grateful that Gyeon-woo had made time for him despite being quite busy.
“Still, it was much better than a full cast. Plus, it wasn’t summer.”
Yeon-rok looked out the window at the scenery, where the sunlight was beyond bright—it was practically scorching. It was now May. It was a huge relief that it was the time when the weather was just starting to get hot. Nothing is as frustrating and smelly as a full cast in the summer.
Thinking back, whether it was luck or misfortune, Yeon-rok usually got injured at work, so he had no problem making a living while resting.
“But I think this is an HM Capital designated hospital. I keep getting referred here.”
Whenever he had to go to the hospital, Kim Jeong-seong always came here. The place where he had his last health checkup was also here, and the medical staff were so kind every time that it was almost burdensome. Moon Gyeon-woo answered Yeon-rok’s curiosity.
“To be precise, it’s a place operated by the Hwamyeong Medical Foundation. That’s probably why they send you here. The medical standards and facilities here are quite good, and above all, it’s a place specialized for name manifestors.”
As he listened, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. Yeon-rok asked, wondering if it could be.
“…By any chance, is the HM in the CEO’s company, HM Capital, Hwamyeong?”
“Probably.”
Hearing it as Hwamyeong felt a bit strange. Didn’t it seem like it was taken from ‘flower name bearer’?
Since this hospital is a medical institution specialized for name manifestors, using the name Hwamyeong is understandable. But HM Capital’s name was also taken from Hwamyeong?
He suddenly remembered when he helped Yeom Cheon-ho in the past. There was a corporate foundation called the ‘HM Foundation,’ and if so, there was a very high probability that it was also the HM of Hwamyeong…
Next, the name on Yeom Cheon-ryul’s palm came to mind. Father and son both manifested names? But as far as he knew, names were not hereditary. While recalling past memories, Yeon-rok suddenly felt a sense of incongruity. It felt like he was almost grasping something, but Moon Gyeon-woo interrupted his thoughts.
“Yeon-rok-ah, if you have time, would you like to go to Gangwon-do with me this weekend?”
“Gangwon-do?”
Yeon-rok was bewildered as to why Gangwon-do all of a sudden.
“There’s a hot spring spa in the Gangneung area. Your arm will need rehabilitation therapy for a while, and I think a hot bath would be very helpful.”
Yeon-rok was intrigued. He had never properly gone on a trip in his life. Above all, he knew well that when you wear a cast for a while, that area doesn’t move well, causing quite a bit of struggle. Keenly noticing Yeon-rok’s reaction, Moon Gyeon-woo tempted him.
“We can’t go once it gets any hotter here. Right now, it’s only manageable because Gangwon-do is cool.”
“That’s true…”
“Let’s go eat delicious food and look at the stars.”
“…Stars?”
Since it was a proposal he had never heard before, Yeon-rok’s eyes widened. Having successfully drawn the other’s interest, Moon Gyeon-woo smiled, his eyes curving softly.
“Have you ever seen stars at an observatory?”
And so, Yeon-rok fell completely for Moon Gyeon-woo’s coaxing.
Buzz, buzz. Yeon-rok’s phone rang incessantly. He tried his best to ignore it, but when he reluctantly checked, as expected, Choi Hwan was whining.
[You’re really too much]
[Do you like leaving me behind?]
[Why do you always discriminate against only me]
As messages of that nature kept coming, Yeon-rok shook his head and sent a reply.
[What do you want me to do about you being busy..]
To offer a rebuttal: first, Yeon-rok had never particularly discriminated against Choi Hwan. Second, it wasn’t that he was leaving only Choi Hwan behind. It had been several days since he’d seen Yeom Cheon-ho’s face. Third, Choi Hwan was insanely busy lately. This was because his excited agency had filled his schedule to the brim, saying they should row while the tide is high. Then, someone spoke to him from the side.
“Want some snacks?”
As Moon Gyeon-woo pulled snacks out of his bag, Yeon-rok didn’t decline and reached out.
Indeed, they were currently traveling to Gangwon-do by car. Yeon-rok took some snacks and handed them to those sitting in the driver’s and passenger seats.
“Hyungs, please have some snacks too.”
“Thank you, young masters. We’ll enjoy them.”
Jeong Bo Eun readily took the snacks. Naturally, since the two of them couldn’t go on a trip alone, they had bodyguards with them. Yeon-rok picked a bag of potato chips. He clearly applied force where the ‘tear here’ mark was, but it wouldn’t open. Left with no choice, he grabbed both sides of the top of the bag and pulled. Pop! An ominous sound rang out.
“Aaah!”
Yeon-rok screamed. The bag had opened as if it exploded, sending chips flying everywhere. My precious snacks… While he gloomily picked up the chips that had rained down on his lap and munched on them, Moon Gyeon-woo opened a bag of snacks and held it out.
“Here, eat this.”
Then, he produced a handheld vacuum from somewhere and sucked up the crumbs. Yeon-rok quietly ate the snacks he was given. Meanwhile, as the phone kept vibrating with messages from Choi Hwan, Moon Gyeon-woo, sitting next to him, said in a gentle voice:
“Just block him for a bit. Then it’ll be quiet.”
Although the content was cold and ruthless…
“Still, blocking is a bit much. If he gets sulky, it’ll be hard to handle.”
“I feel like things are quite unfair lately.”
Moon Gyeon-woo glanced at the vibrating phone with a dissatisfied look. While Choi Hwan’s repertoire was that he was being discriminated against, it seemed ‘unfairness’ would become Moon Gyeon-woo’s main habit of speech. However, this claim was quite plausible.
“We’re both name partners, but only Choi Hwan became a public lover.”