By Zephyria 
Despite eating late at night, Seo Yi-kyung felt his stomach was more comfortable than usual. The chef had carefully selected a menu and even warmed the plates to ensure Yi-kyung would have no discomfort while eating.
Until now, Yi-kyung had found it difficult to eat even when delicious food was piled up before him. Consequently, there were many days when he felt completely devoid of strength. He had always been on the frail side, but having a child made it several times harder.
“Then, I shall bring some warm tea.”
The chef lifted Yi-kyung’s plate. Excuse me. He then carefully took away Han Seung-jae’s plate, which remained unchanged from when it was first served.
Yi-kyung looked forward, fidgeting with his fingers beneath the table. Butler Do, who had been moving back and forth until a moment ago, meticulously checking if anything was lacking, was nowhere to be seen. Once the chef, who had been talking continuously, disappeared, a heavy silence lingered between the two men.
“Are you going to drink more?”
It was Yi-kyung who broke the silence, unable to bear it. Although it was Han Seung-jae who was drinking, it was Yi-kyung’s face that was flushed. His cheeks grew hot wherever Seung-jae’s gaze landed.
“I was thinking of doing so.”
At Han Seung-jae’s low voice, Yi-kyung leaned on the table with a hand that had lost its place while resting on his thigh. Step. Yi-kyung took a step forward. As he did, the area between his legs, which had been overworked by Han Seung-jae all afternoon, throbbed.
Nevertheless, Yi-kyung made an effort to approach Han Seung-jae’s side and picked up the whiskey bottle. The neck was narrow, but the curved bottom was large and heavy; supporting the bottom of the bottle with his palm, Yi-kyung filled Seung-jae’s glass, which contained only lonely ice cubes. Han Seung-jae watched him silently.
Eventually, having filled the glass, Yi-kyung slowly set down the somewhat heavy whiskey bottle. If Butler Do had been there, he would have asked him to fill Seung-jae’s glass, but since he was gone, Yi-kyung had moved himself.
However, he soon realized his mistake. Hadn’t Han Seung-jae told him not to do such things? He had even mentioned that bringing tea was Butler Do’s job. That was the reason Butler Do was by Yi-kyung’s side—to handle such tasks.
“It’s just… because I wanted to pour it for you.”
To be precise, it was because he felt like his face would be pierced through if he didn’t do something. Han Seung-jae stared at Yi-kyung for a moment before opening his lips, which had been neatly pressed together.
“Still.”
Han Seung-jae lightly lifted the filled glass.
“You can’t lie.”
Yi-kyung stealthily hid the hand he had been showing. Didn’t Han Seung-jae hate lying? There had been a time in the past when his wrist was gripped tightly because of this. Thus, it was an instinctive defense.
“Actually… there was something I really wanted to give you.”
This much was Yi-kyung’s sincerity. He had been wanting to give Han Seung-jae a painting. However, completing a painting in a single day was nearly impossible for him. He wished he had realized this a bit sooner.
“A painting?”
Han Seung-jae lightly swirled the glass he was holding. Immediately after Yi-kyung, who had been in the painting studio all afternoon, came outside, Han Seung-jae had seen the paint smudges on Yi-kyung’s face with his own eyes. Seeing that he didn’t even know what his own face looked like, it was clear he had been intensely focused on something.
“Yes.”
Yi-kyung spoke softly. Not only was it impossible to deceive Han Seung-jae, but the things Yi-kyung could give him were very limited.
Something that Han Seung-jae didn’t have, and something that Yi-kyung, who had nothing, could give. There was only one such thing, wasn’t there? It wasn’t difficult for Han Seung-jae to guess it was a painting. Yi-kyung continued.
“If I give you the painting, will you pay for it?”
Han Seung-jae answered after drinking the liquor Yi-kyung had poured.
“I could pay you now for the painting I received previously.”
He was likely referring to the canvas of fluttering cherry blossom petals hanging in the study. Yi-kyung shook his head. In truth, he wasn’t even the one who painted that.
“Money wouldn’t be an issue.”
Yi-kyung spoke without avoiding Han Seung-jae’s gaze as he said that. What Yi-kyung wanted was not money.
“What I want is…”
“Why do you keep blocking me from going in?”
Yi-kyung’s voice was buried under the shout of Min Ra-hyeon.
“I told you I’m thirsty and just want some water.”
“I told you that I would bring it to your room myself. And if it’s water, there is some over there.”
Butler Do’s voice joined Min Ra-hyeon’s. Yi-kyung, who had been standing by Han Seung-jae’s side until then, shifted his gaze.
“I’ll handle it myself!”
Pushing past the dissuading Butler Do, Min Ra-hyeon entered the dining room. He stepped forward, looking back and forth between the two. A welcoming smile played on Min Ra-hyeon’s lips.
“You were together?”
He seemed to be speaking to Han Seung-jae. Then, Min Ra-hyeon looked at Yi-kyung.
“I’m sorry, Yi-kyung. I didn’t know you were together. I woke up from a nap and wanted some water, but they kept blocking me. If I had known you two were together, I wouldn’t have come in.”
“I have prepared the tea.”
At the same time, the chef emerged from inside. It seemed it had taken some time because he brought out desserts that would pair well with the tea. However, the atmosphere was not one for drinking tea by any means.
The chef carefully set down the tea and desserts while reading the room. Next to the cheesecake for Yi-kyung stood a Santa and a Rudolph made of candy. The chef quietly withdrew after placing the plates.
“You said you weren’t eating dinner earlier, but it looks like you two were about to eat now.”
Min Ra-hyeon was still smiling. Yi-kyung only looked at him without saying a word.
However, Han Seung-jae soon stood up, and Min Ra-hyeon disappeared from Yi-kyung’s field of vision. Yi-kyung’s head tilted upward as if drawn. Then, Han Seung-jae’s low voice sounded from above.
“If there’s something you want, just say it. If you want the payment for the painting in money, I can give you that too.”
“….”
“Does that answer your question?”
Looking up at Han Seung-jae, Yi-kyung slowly opened his mouth.
“I’ll go up first.”
Han Seung-jae’s answer was enough. Yi-kyung moved his feet. He continued walking, brushing past Min Ra-hyeon. Watching his receding figure, Min Ra-hyeon approached Han Seung-jae and murmured.
“I heard Yi-kyung’s family is struggling a lot. I guess he eventually told you he needs money.”
Min Ra-hyeon added more words to the silent Han Seung-jae. Since he was looking at the door where Yi-kyung had disappeared, he didn’t know what Han Seung-jae’s expression was.
“Sun-woong told me. You know, he said he talked with you at the Alpha gathering.”
Min Ra-hyeon turned his head. He flinched at the glint in Han Seung-jae’s eyes. Han Seung-jae looked down at Min Ra-hyeon and spoke coldly.
“You should think before you speak in front of me. Do I have to make you realize every single thing like this?”
Min Ra-hyeon swallowed hard. Han Seung-jae’s aura was starkly different from when Yi-kyung was present. It wasn’t an illusion. His eyes had turned sharp. Min Ra-hyeon quickly recalled what he had just said and tried to fix the situation.
“I only said it because I’m so worried about Yi-kyung.”
* * *
The elevator doors opened, and a long shadow stretched across the hallway. Han Seung-jae opened the bedroom door, entered, and looked down at the thick duvet. Yi-kyung was covering himself up to his head with the duvet so his face wasn’t visible. Outside the window, where the curtains were drawn back, a Christmas tree was glowing.
—If I give you the painting, will you pay for it?
Han Seung-jae felt Yi-kyung’s voice brushing past his ears. His surroundings were always filled with people who wanted something, asked for favors, or knelt and pleaded incessantly for what they desired.
Yet, Yi-kyung had never asked him for anything until now. And now, he had.
—What I want is…
Had he finally found something he wanted? It didn’t matter if it was money. In fact, for Han Seung-jae, that was much more welcome. It was something he could give more easily and comfortably.
Han Seung-jae already knew from Secretary Park that the situation at Woorim Construction was not good. Hadn’t CEO Seo Young-hwan visited the office several times? Perhaps that was why he had tried to bring Yi-kyung back into the house by mentioning his sick wife.
Han Seung-jae thought there was no way Yi-kyung didn’t know that. Despite that, he hadn’t heard a word from Yi-kyung. But was it different inside? Family, after all, shared blood, and they were beings difficult to ignore and turn away from until the end.
And if Yi-kyung asked him to help Woorim Construction, Han Seung-jae was willing to do so.