By Zephyria 
Click. Entering the bedroom, Seo Yi-kyung closed the door behind him and pressed his hand against his chest as if to soothe his pounding heart. Once he became conscious of it, even Han Seung-jae’s slight touch caused him to waver. It wasn’t as if he had released pheromones, yet Seo Yi-kyung had almost collapsed right onto the desk. He had barely managed to hold onto the last thread of his reason to push him away.
The sensation of their lips meeting was still vivid. The way he had gently nudged the inside of his mouth, rubbing and sucking as if tasting a wagashi, even taking the saliva from beneath his tongue.
Seo Yi-kyung approached the bed and sat down. After sitting still for a while and taking deep breaths, he took out the velvet box from his pocket. Opening the lid, he found a bracelet identical to the one he was currently wearing on his wrist.
Seo Yi-kyung snapped the lid shut and opened the drawer of the nightstand. Inside lay a pair of baby shoes and an empty velvet box. He quietly placed the velvet box Jin Seon-yu had given him beside them.
If the bracelet Han Seung-jae gave me ever breaks or gets lost, could I use this as a replacement? It has no effect, but it seems to help mentally… While indulging in such naive thoughts, Seo Yi-kyung paused as he was closing the drawer.
— I don’t want to do it here.
Seo Yi-kyung recalled the conversation he had just had with Han Seung-jae in the study. With those cold features right before his eyes, the words had shot out of his mouth before he even had time to think about what to say.
— I want to do it in bed tonight.
— Tonight.
It was just as the image of Han Seung-jae stepping back after saying that flickered before his eyes.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Seo Yi-kyung shook his head. Shaking off the thoughts, he pushed himself up with his legs. Tonight. That is to say, isn’t today Christmas?
A day for giving or receiving gifts.
Seo Yi-kyung had received more from Han Seung-jae than he had given. Furthermore, everything in this house belonged to Han Seung-jae.
Seo Yi-kyung took the elevator down to the first floor. He entered the dressing room and looked around. Watches, tie pins, belts, and an uncountable number of suits on the display racks.
Since only the seasonal items were displayed, this was just what was currently visible; he suspected Han Seung-jae owned well over several thousand suits. Thus, he couldn’t give him something like that.
The watches he frequently wore were not things that could be purchased in a single day. Therefore, he couldn’t gift those either.
In truth, strictly speaking, he didn’t have the means to gift something of that caliber. Everything Seo Yi-kyung wore, ate, and slept in originated from Han Seung-jae.
Leaving the dressing room, Seo Yi-kyung stared at Min Ra-hyeon, who was sitting in the living room drinking coffee. He might know well what Han Seung-jae would want to receive.
Suddenly, his gaze locked with Min Ra-hyeon’s, who was holding a coffee cup. Min Ra-hyeon, who had been about to call for Butler Do with his finished cup, stared blankly at Seo Yi-kyung. With a face full of things to say, Seo Yi-kyung brushed past him and headed toward the painting studio.
“Butler Do.”
Min Ra-hyeon called him to a stop to let him know his coffee was empty. Butler Do approached Seo Yi-kyung, then turned around to head back the way he came.
Seo Yi-kyung entered the painting studio and looked around. The shopping bag Jin Seon-yu had left that morning caught his eye. Leaning over, Seo Yi-kyung examined the contents for a long time. Most of it consisted of children’s clothes and toys.
Perhaps because they were Christmas-themed products, every toy he touched flashed with bright lights and emitted a soft, pleasant melody. Han Seung-jae probably didn’t have things like this. However, he stopped himself as he imagined giving this to Han Seung-jae.
Ultimately, Seo Yi-kyung pulled out his phone. The recipient was Jin Seon-yu.
After a short ringing tone, Jin Seon-yu’s welcoming voice leaked through the phone. Seo Yi-kyung lightly asked if he had made it home safely, then stated the real reason for the call.
“About earlier…”
Seo Yi-kyung scratched his forehead and lowered his voice while looking around the empty painting studio.
[…A gift for Gi-jun?]
Jin Seon-yu understood the whispered words and asked back. Seo Yi-kyung continued the call, nodding as if Jin Seon-yu were standing right in front of him.
“I suddenly got curious about what you bought. Could you tell me?”
[Minerals.]
“…?”
Seo Yi-kyung doubted his own ears. As a long silence followed because he couldn’t understand, Jin Seon-yu added with a laugh.
[He collects those things.]
Kwon Gwi-jun was also the second son of a steel company called Mirae Steel. It seemed the long-standing family history had kicked in.
Seo Yi-kyung ended the call. It seemed Jin Seon-yu knew what Kwon Gwi-jun liked to receive. The two had known each other for quite a long time…
However, Seo Yi-kyung could not do the same. In the original novel, Han Seung-jae’s inner thoughts were never revealed. Therefore, while others could make guesses, it didn’t work well when it came to Han Seung-jae.
Seo Yi-kyung slowly perched himself on a chair.
A moment later, a photo was sent from Jin Seon-yu. A black object was contained within a box. No matter how much Seo Yi-kyung looked at it, there was no way he could identify it.
Staring at the photo, he looked up and placed the phone he was holding on the work table. The screen displaying the photo flickered.
Han Seung-jae was a man who lacked nothing. In contrast, Seo Yi-kyung had nothing to boast about. Feeling discouraged, Seo Yi-kyung muttered.
“What is something Han Seung-jae doesn’t have?”
Did such a thing even exist?
* * *
“Let’s stop here for today.”
Han Seung-jae closed the documents he was reviewing and set them aside. Secretary Park tidied the desk and took away the empty teapot and the tray containing wagashi. He exited the room and handed the tray to a passing helper.
Han Seung-jae, who had left the study earlier, came back out from the bedroom. He stepped into the elevator with an expressionless face. Secretary Park took his place beside him.
Han Seung-jae looked at his wristwatch. It was slightly past 4 o’clock. The elevator soon arrived at the first floor, and he stepped out.
Secretary Park bowed his waist in greeting to Han Seung-jae.
“You may go. Good work.”
Han Seung-jae slowly looked around his surroundings. Min Ra-hyeon, sitting on the living room sofa, came into view. Han Seung-jae’s gaze shifted elsewhere without lingering.
The helpers greeted Han Seung-jae, who stood in the center, and passed by with quick steps. None of them met Han Seung-jae’s eyes. Fearing he might call them to a stop, they lowered their postures even further.
Min Ra-hyeon rose from the sofa, walked around the table, and approached Han Seung-jae’s side.
“Are you working even on Christmas? Take it easy. You’ll ruin your health at this rate.”
Despite the long remark, there was absolutely no answer. However, Min Ra-hyeon wasn’t particularly expecting one. That was because Han Seung-jae was not much different from how he had been as a child. If anything had changed, it was that he had grown taller and his eyes had become sharper. Those cold pupils still rejected and excluded anyone who approached.
“By the way, what’s with the tree in the garden? It’s unlike you.”
Asking this, Min Ra-hyeon wore a smile on his lips.
“Ah, did Yi-kyung put it there? There’s no way you did it.”
Just as he thought it might be possible if it were Seo Yi-kyung, Han Seung-jae’s gaze lingered on one spot. Min Ra-hyeon, with a smile still on his lips, turned his head.
Butler Do, coming out of the dining room, stood before Han Seung-jae in one breath.
“Weren’t you together?”
Butler Do replied politely.
“He said he wanted to be alone in the painting studio.”
“The painting studio.”
Han Seung-jae’s voice resonated lowly. Butler Do released his clasped hands and stepped forward to manage the situation.
“I will go and bring him.”
“No. I’ll go.”
At Han Seung-jae’s words, Min Ra-hyeon, who had been watching until then, chimed in.
“Why go that far? Let Butler Do go.”
“Young Master!”
Regardless of who was going, Butler Do called out to Seo Yi-kyung with a bright face. Simultaneously, Seo Yi-kyung, who had just come out of the painting studio, stopped in his tracks as if he had spotted Han Seung-jae. Then, after glancing at Min Ra-hyeon once, Seo Yi-kyung continued walking. He drew closer to Han Seung-jae.
“…”
It was Min Ra-hyeon’s laughter that broke the strange silence.
“Pfft.”
Seo Yi-kyung had paint on his cheek. Since he was looking at Min Ra-hyeon without knowing, it was impossible not to laugh. To act so meticulously clean and yet look so unsightly.
There was paint on Seo Yi-kyung’s fingers as well. And on the shirt he was wearing.
“Yi-kyung, what is with your appearance?”
“I will go and bring something to wipe it.”
Butler Do turned around hurriedly. Even so, Min Ra-hyeon’s laughter did not diminish in the slightest. Seo Yi-kyung raised his hand and fumbled where Min Ra-hyeon’s gaze was directed. In doing so, the smudge only grew larger.
“Did you paint?”
Han Seung-jae’s low voice stood out. Min Ra-hyeon looked at Han Seung-jae with a laugh. Soon, the corners of his mouth, which had been holding a smile, stiffened.
Han Seung-jae moved Seo Yi-kyung’s hand away, gripped his chin to lift it, and wiped the paint on his cheek with his fingertips.
“Here it is.”
As Butler Do returned, Han Seung-jae reached out his other hand without even looking.
“Give it here.”
He pressed the wet cloth against Seo Yi-kyung’s cheek. However, it did not erase easily. Despite this, Han Seung-jae rubbed Seo Yi-kyung’s cheek repeatedly.
“I was painting, so I think some paint got on me.”
With his chin still held by Han Seung-jae, Seo Yi-kyung’s voice leaked out softly. While wiping the cheek, Han Seung-jae asked.
“What did you paint?”
“Well…”
Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes flickered toward Min Ra-hyeon. In that moment, Min Ra-hyeon forced a smile onto his lips.
“Yi-kyung is skilled at painting, so whatever he draws must be beautiful.”
“It’s not coming off.”
“…I’ll do it.”
Seo Yi-kyung raised his hand and grabbed Han Seung-jae’s arm, which was gripping his chin, to pull it away. Then, covering his damp cheek with his palm, he headed toward the elevator.
Han Seung-jae handed the cloth he had been holding without hesitation to Butler Do and walked behind him.