By Zephyria 
They say what is meant to happen will always happen. Seo Yi-kyung looked at Min Ra-hyeon standing before him. Min Ra-hyeon smiled, brushing back the hair that fell across his jawline. His eyes sparkled as if he were looking at someone he was incredibly glad to see.
“It’s been a long time.”
He knew Min Ra-hyeon would come. Despite that, Seo Yi-kyung’s knees momentarily gave out, and he barely managed to stand straight. He was able to regain his composure quickly because Han Seung-jae’s hand was resting on his back. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t surprised in this moment, even if he had known in advance that Min Ra-hyeon would visit.
Min Ra-hyeon pushed the suitcase he was holding forward.
“I have nowhere to go. Would it be okay if I crashed at your place for a while?”
Every time Min Ra-hyeon spoke, Seo Yi-kyung felt his heart tighten. His breathing became shallow, and it grew slightly harder to exhale.
Min Ra-hyeon turned his head and looked up at the townhouse. He acted as if, since the house was this large, they could surely spare a single room for him to stay in.
Seo Yi-kyung anxiously observed Han Seung-jae’s composed profile. In the original novel, descriptions of Han Seung-jae’s emotions were thoroughly excluded. Because of that, it was impossible to know what he was thinking. There was no guarantee that seeing him in person would provide answers, but he still wanted to see his face.
What kind of expression was Han Seung-jae wearing right now? Since Min Ra-hyeon had gone abroad to study when they were young, would he feel a longing proportional to the time they spent apart? Would he be glad? Or perhaps…
Seo Yi-kyung stared blankly at Han Seung-jae’s cold expression. This expression had not been in his expectations. Han Seung-jae’s eyes were filled only with a dryness that held no trace of pity.
Min Ra-hyeon, who had been smiling while looking at Han Seung-jae, tilted his head as if he had just noticed Seo Yi-kyung.
“That’s okay, right? Yi-kyung.”
“Secretary Park.”
“…!”
Seo Yi-kyung’s spine flinched at the touch of the palm on his back.
“Yes.”
Secretary Park was still standing by the car as if waiting. Since Han Seung-jae had not entered the house, he had not yet gotten into the car either. Seo Yi-kyung felt a sense of doubt as Secretary Park approached Han Seung-jae’s side.
“Drop him off in front of a hotel on the way.”
Seo Yi-kyung doubted his ears. Was the person who just spoke really Han Seung-jae? In the original novel, Han Seung-jae definitely took Min Ra-hyeon in just like this.
“I will do so.”
Secretary Park looked down at the suitcase Min Ra-hyeon was holding, then turned his head to look at the driver. At that, the driver walked over and lifted the suitcase with both hands.
Min Ra-hyeon shouted in a panic.
“Wa-wait a minute! I don’t even have money to stay at a hotel right now. And if I’m there, my father will find me and drag me away.”
Seo Yi-kyung could understand what Min Ra-hyeon was saying. He was currently facing an arranged marriage. The partner was Kang In-oh, a thoracic surgeon at Haseon Hospital. However, none of Min Ra-hyeon’s wishes had been reflected in the arrangement. That was why he had come to Han Seung-jae’s house.
Because here, no one could take Min Ra-hyeon away. Hadn’t a similar thing happened when Jin Seon-yu stayed here? Neither Jin Tae-won nor Jin Seok-young could forcibly drag Jin Seon-yu out of this house.
Han Seung-jae turned his head with a cold gaze. He removed his hand from Seo Yi-kyung’s back and spoke.
“Go inside first.”
Seo Yi-kyung stepped forward hesitantly. Even after he entered the garden, he couldn’t hear any sign of Han Seung-jae. He had a strong desire to stand in the garden and eavesdrop on their conversation. However, he decided against it as he felt a stinging sensation in a corner of his chest.
Seo Yi-kyung’s mind was in complete turmoil. How should he interpret the look Han Seung-jae gave Min Ra-hyeon?
But Han Seung-jae was originally a man with a cold and chilly gaze. Perhaps he had just misread it. It was also a sudden encounter with Min Ra-hyeon. So, maybe he had simply seen it wrong.
“Young Master, you’ve arrived.”
As the lost-in-thought Seo Yi-kyung entered the house, Butler Do approached.
Seo Yi-kyung took off the coat he was wearing and handed it to Butler Do. Holding the coat in his arms, Butler Do looked at the suit jacket Seo Yi-kyung was wearing and asked.
“Isn’t that the jacket Director Han wore when he went out?”
“Ah.”
“Are you hurt somewhere?”
“It’s nothing major, I just spilled some water…”
Seo Yi-kyung took off the suit jacket he was wearing and handed it to Butler Do. He then looked down at his silk shirt. In the meantime, the moisture remaining on the clothes had completely disappeared.
“Director Han.”
At Butler Do’s words, Seo Yi-kyung turned his head and then turned around completely. He stared at Han Seung-jae as he entered the house. The coat draped over his broad shoulders was impeccable. His sharp gaze was no different from before. However, just as the sound of a suitcase being dragged behind him was heard, Min Ra-hyeon walked in following him.
Han Seung-jae took off his coat and gave it to Butler Do.
“Prepare a room on the first floor.”
At Han Seung-jae’s words, Butler Do bowed. No explanation was needed for the instructions Han Seung-jae gave.
“Understood. Please follow me this way.”
Rattle. Min Ra-hyeon passed by Seo Yi-kyung while dragging his suitcase. A soft smile was spread across his lips.
“Yi-kyung, let’s get along!”
“….”
Seo Yi-kyung followed Han Seung-jae toward the elevator. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button. Get in. As Seo Yi-kyung approached his side, Han Seung-jae released the open button he had been holding.
The doors closed, and they arrived at the second floor in an instant. Seo Yi-kyung spoke while looking at the back of Han Seung-jae, who was stepping out first.
“Seung-jae.”
Han Seung-jae, who was walking away, turned around.
‘Why did you take in Min Ra-hyeon?’
In the original novel, ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ could never ask this. Dreaming of a happy married life with Han Seung-jae, he adjusted everything to suit him. But the current Seo Yi-kyung could not do that.
If he stayed like this, he might end up dying without a doubt. Therefore, he absolutely had to confirm it with Han Seung-jae.
“What did you talk about outside just now?”
After letting Seo Yi-kyung inside, Han Seung-jae and Min Ra-hyeon had exchanged words. Seo Yi-kyung had felt the urge to eavesdrop, but he barely managed to restrain himself and came inside. If he had known his heart would be this anxious, he probably should have thrown away his conscience and just eavesdropped.
“Why are you curious about that?”
Han Seung-jae slowly turned around and pressed the elevator button. Seo Yi-kyung was still standing inside. Separated by a single line, the two faced each other as if they were standing in different spaces. Han Seung-jae opened the closing door again and gestured toward Seo Yi-kyung.
“Why don’t you come out of there first? If I go in, you won’t be able to walk out.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s shoulders flinched. It wasn’t a suitable place for a conversation. He hurried out of the elevator. If he stayed any longer, he might actually have to crawl out, just as Han Seung-jae said. He even had a prior record of that.
Watching this, Han Seung-jae released the button he had been pressing.
“I decided to let him stay at my house for a while.”
How long did ‘for a while’ mean?
Even when the troubled Jin Seon-yu came to this house, Han Seung-jae had suggested a limit of one week. And although Seo Yi-kyung had said it would be better if it were fifteen days, he hadn’t listened. In the end, Jin Seon-yu left before then. Anyway, that wasn’t what was important right now.
It wasn’t even a comparable situation. Jin Seon-yu and Min Ra-hyeon were strictly different beings.
“Go wash up first. I’ll be in shortly.”
Han Seung-jae headed toward the study. Seo Yi-kyung watched him open the door and enter before turning around.
Swoosh—
Upon entering the bedroom, Seo Yi-kyung went straight to the bathroom. He approached the sink, leaned over, and splashed cold water on his face repeatedly. He had to pull himself together. This was no time to be spacing out. Hadn’t he already known that a day like this would eventually come?
Seo Yi-kyung’s face reflected in the mirror was pale. He wiped his wet face with a towel and left the bathroom. He passed through the bedroom and got into the elevator.
“Young Master.”
As the elevator doors opened wide, Butler Do, who was passing by, spoke to him.
“Is there something you need?”
Seo Yi-kyung looked at the tray in Butler Do’s hand and asked. Judging by the direction Butler Do was heading, it didn’t seem to be the second floor.
“Where are you taking that?”
“Ah, the guest asked for hot coffee to be prepared.”
Seo Yi-kyung said calmly.
“Instead of coffee, please prepare a glass of cold water. I’ll go.”
“Pardon?”
Butler Do looked bewildered. Seo Yi-kyung stepped out of the elevator and headed toward the dining area. Butler Do seemed to hesitate for a moment before turning back.
* * *
Knock, knock.
Butler Do knocked on the firmly closed door. However, no sound came from inside. Seo Yi-kyung grabbed the doorknob.
As the door opened, an unpacked suitcase was the first thing that caught his eye. On the bed, the clothes Min Ra-hyeon had been wearing were thrown about. For some reason, the room was deathly silent.
As Seo Yi-kyung entered, Butler Do followed behind with the tray.
At that moment, a muzzle that had been hidden behind the door aimed at Seo Yi-kyung’s head. A metallic click sounded as the safety was released.
Drawn by the sound, Seo Yi-kyung looked toward it. Min Ra-hyeon, who had been hiding behind the door, moved his index finger on the trigger.
Bang—