By Zephyria 
“Welcome back.”
As Seo Yi-kyung entered the house, Butler Do approached and took the navy coat he was wearing. His pale face was delicate. Perhaps because of his small stature and slow movements, Yi-kyung found himself unconsciously glancing at him.
Watching this, Min Ra-hyeon turned his head and walked ahead. As he grew distant, Butler Do moved alongside Seo Yi-kyung as he headed toward the elevator.
“You look relaxed. Did you see some good paintings?”
For a while, even as the year changed, Seo Yi-kyung had remained shut away in his painting studio. Time and again, he would stop painting halfway through, place a clean new canvas on the easel, and start over.
Despite this, he often wore an anxious expression, as if nothing was to his liking. However, having returned after finally getting some fresh air, Seo Yi-kyung’s face was relatively peaceful.
Butler Do, who had been worried but unable to find any solution, felt that Seo Yi-kyung seemed much more stable than when he had left the house.
“Shall I prepare some tea for you?”
“No. I want to rest for a bit.”
It had been good to see the paintings, but perhaps because of the cold wind, Seo Yi-kyung felt his body becoming rapidly heavy. It was inevitable, now that he was carrying a child.
“Then I shall let you know once dinner preparations are complete.”
Butler Do pressed the elevator button. The doors, which had been stopped on the first floor, opened immediately. Seo Yi-kyung nodded.
Shortly after, Seo Yi-kyung stepped off on the second floor and walked slowly. Suddenly, he looked toward the study and headed that way. He slowly grasped the handle and opened the door to the study.
Step, step. Seo Yi-kyung stepped into the empty study. Despite it being a place filled with rare items, Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze remained fixed on a painting hanging on the wall.
He thought the fluttering cherry blossom petals looked incredibly vivid and beautiful. Because of that, painting something identical to it in a short amount of time was no easy task for Seo Yi-kyung. No matter what he painted, it likely wouldn’t satisfy Han Seung-jae.
Han Seung-jae was not the type to show his emotions openly, but that didn’t mean he was easy to deceive. If he showed the painting he had drawn himself, Han Seung-jae would undoubtedly not like it.
Would he tell him to paint it again, or perhaps, like last time, tell him to paint it in front of him? Because of this, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t help but think of Jin Seon-yu.
‘With Seon-yu’s skill, wouldn’t it satisfy Han Seung-jae?’
Just as he was about to turn around, Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze landed on Han Seung-jae’s desk. The perfectly organized desk reflected Han Seung-jae’s personality exactly.
Seo Yi-kyung reached out and gently touched it. The glass beneath his fingertips felt cold. Just like Han Seung-jae’s body.
* * *
Late at night. Inside a fast-moving car, Han Seung-jae’s expressionless face was reflected in the window. Lights blurred like bruises in his cold eyes. Secretary Park was in the middle of reporting to him.
“Director Im Jeong-yun said he would send the painting within a few days.”
“I suppose there was something he liked.”
“Yes. It is a piece by a French artist named Bisset Flanders. Director Im Jeong-yun praised him endlessly, saying his eye for art is outstanding.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
The “expectation” Han Seung-jae spoke of was likely not about the painting Seo Yi-kyung had chosen or his taste. Han Seung-jae didn’t interfere regardless of what painting Seo Yi-kyung bought.
Han Seung-jae was simply curious about what expression Seo Yi-kyung had worn while looking at that painting. He would be able to tell more clearly once the painting arrived. Because then, Han Seung-jae would be able to see Seo Yi-kyung’s expression as he looked at it.
After the slowing car stopped, Secretary Park stepped out of the passenger seat and opened the rear door, and Han Seung-jae stepped out. He passed through the living room, where dim lights lingered, and entered the dressing room.
Han Seung-jae took off the suit he was wearing and changed into casual clothes. It was just as he was adjusting his sleeves and stepping out the door.
“Are you just getting off work now?”
As Han Seung-jae looked over, Min Ra-hyeon emerged from the darkness.
“I went to see paintings with Yi-kyung today.”
Hadn’t he already heard everything about that from Secretary Park a moment ago? Since the information came from Director Im Jeong-yun, who was more reliable than anyone, Han Seung-jae felt no need to hear it again. Just as he was about to walk away, Min Ra-hyeon added.
“Yi-kyung seemed to be in a better mood; he smiled.”
At that, Han Seung-jae’s steps stopped. Soon, Min Ra-hyeon approached.
“Yi-kyung’s face has been really bad for the past few days. It probably was worse since his family is struggling. Still, when I suggested we go see paintings, he readily followed along.”
After rambling for a while, Min Ra-hyeon spoke as if he had suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, by the way, Yi-kyung’s friend came along too.”
“Who?”
Han Seung-jae’s voice leaked out low. Due to his busy schedule today, he had only been informed of Seo Yi-kyung’s movements and had not heard about who he was meeting. However, if it was someone Secretary Park didn’t feel the need to report, it might not be someone Han Seung-jae needed to keep in mind. Yet, strangely, he felt bothered.
“Yi-kyung called him ‘Seon-yu.’ It seems he asked him to come personally.”
Min Ra-hyeon wore a quite serious expression. He seemed not to know who Jin Seon-yu was. That made sense, as Jin Seon-yu, an Omega, was not publicly exposed, being overshadowed by the two Alpha brothers, Jin Tae-won and Jin Seok-young. But didn’t Han Seung-jae know him well?
“Leave it be.”
As if realizing that fact, Min Ra-hyeon asked.
“What? You know him too?”
Instead of answering, Han Seung-jae walked away. If it was Jin Seon-yu, he was someone Han Seung-jae didn’t need to worry about. It wasn’t as if they were going somewhere strange, either. He had simply accompanied him to see paintings. That was likely why Secretary Park hadn’t reported it.
Moreover, it wasn’t as if Seo Yi-kyung had only started meeting Jin Seon-yu yesterday or today. And since Seo Yi-kyung had always been alone, Han Seung-jae was the one who had left him be, thinking it wouldn’t be bad for him to have at least one friend by his side.
Han Seung-jae took the elevator to the second floor. He started toward the study but stopped and continued toward the bedroom instead.
Han Seung-jae opened the door and entered almost silently. It was well past midnight. It was a time when Seo Yi-kyung would already be asleep. As he expected, Seo Yi-kyung was asleep.
Han Seung-jae looked down quietly at the sleeping Seo Yi-kyung. His slender eyebrows, delicate features, and red lips were slightly parted.
—Yi-kyung seemed to be in a better mood; he smiled.
Min Ra-hyeon’s voice brushed past his ears. Han Seung-jae had also seen Seo Yi-kyung smile. However, it wasn’t directed at him; usually, it was directed at the people residing in the house.
He had never smiled for Han Seung-jae. Because of that, Han Seung-jae recalled the words Seo Yi-kyung had said that night, on Christmas.
If he gave the painting and stated what he wanted, Han Seung-jae intended to grant it, no matter what it was. Asking for help with Woorim Construction was fine, and if he asked to build an art museum, he was willing to do so. Holding an exhibition there would also be good.
If not that, what would Seo Yi-kyung say? Somehow, Han Seung-jae looked forward not only to the painting but also to hearing what Seo Yi-kyung desired. Until now, hadn’t Seo Yi-kyung only made trivial requests and never properly desired anything? More often than not, he had been preoccupied with being frightened and running away whenever their eyes met.
However, the fact that he couldn’t see that smiling face left a lingering regret. Although he had sent Min Ra-hyeon in his stead because he was busy, he wondered if it would have been better if he had gone and seen it himself.
* * *
From early morning, Seo Yi-kyung left the bedroom and appeared on the first floor. After changing out of his pajamas in the dressing room, he headed to the dining room.
“You’ve come down already?”
Butler Do hurried toward Seo Yi-kyung. In fact, Seo Yi-kyung had eaten nothing the previous evening. Since he seemed to have fallen asleep early, Butler Do had been flustered but couldn’t do anything about it. He couldn’t wake the sleeping Seo Yi-kyung.
“Yes. I slept deeply for once, so I feel refreshed.”
Butler Do handed Seo Yi-kyung water with a slice of lime in it. As he took it and brought it to his lips, Seo Yi-kyung’s complexion looked better than usual.
Lately, Seo Yi-kyung had often lost sleep while immersed in his painting. Those were days filled with anxiety because his hands wouldn’t move as he wished. However, after pouring out his circumstances to Jin Seon-yu, the anxiety in a corner of his heart seemed to fade. That was why he was able to sleep deeply for the first time in a while the previous night.
“Yi-kyung, did you sleep well?”
However, Seo Yi-kyung’s mood plummeted rapidly in an instant. As Seo Yi-kyung turned his head, Min Ra-hyeon entered the dining room. He also requested the same drink Butler Do had given Seo Yi-kyung. Then, looking at Seo Yi-kyung, he spoke.
“Seung-jae came home late yesterday too. He told me everything that happened while seeing paintings with you.”
“Here it is.”
Min Ra-hyeon drank the water Butler Do handed him. Watching this, Seo Yi-kyung lowered the glass he was holding.
“Where is Seung-jae now?”
He likely hadn’t left for work yet. Seo Yi-kyung had also woken up early and come down to see him.
Just as Butler Do was about to open his mouth to answer Seo Yi-kyung’s question by saying, ‘He is currently exercising in the basement,’
Han Seung-jae’s low voice drifted from afar.
“Do you have something you want to say to me?”