By Zephyria 
Standing in the painting studio, Seo Yi-kyung looked up at the painting hanging on the wall. The piece, layered with deep colors, lacked any distinct form. Because of that, what one saw and the thoughts that arose while viewing it varied depending on the observer’s emotions. It was dreamlike, making even Seo Yi-kyung, who had little knowledge of art, stare at it incessantly.
Click. The sound of the studio door opening broke his reverie, and Seo Yi-kyung turned his head. The refined features and dark-colored suit seemed to further accentuate Han Seung-jae’s coldness.
He glanced at the painting on the wall once before approaching Seo Yi-kyung, who was standing before it. The platinum pin fastened to his long tie glistened.
“Were you looking at this painting?”
“Yes.”
There was no need to lie. In fact, Seo Yi-kyung had remained alone in the studio, staring at the painting even after Jin Seon-yu had left.
Han Seung-jae shifted his gaze from Seo Yi-kyung to the painting on the wall. In the car on the way back, he had heard the details regarding this piece from Secretary Park—the artist’s name and reputation. However, what had captured Han Seung-jae’s interest most was Min Ra-hyeon’s comment.
Yet, it wasn’t the kind of painting that would naturally bring a smile to one’s face. The image was ambiguous and unclear. Perhaps because the colors were dull, it felt almost profound. Han Seung-jae spoke as he looked at the painting.
“Is it a good painting?”
To Han Seung-jae, who had held some expectations, it looked like just an ordinary painting. He tended to prefer things that were clear. He indifferently shifted his gaze.
On an easel next to the work table sat a canvas that looked half-finished. Han Seung-jae’s gaze traveled from the back of Seo Yi-kyung’s neck, as he looked up at the painting, down to his white fingers. Seo Yi-kyung’s small hands were clean.
Above all, Han Seung-jae’s gaze lingered on Seo Yi-kyung’s profile. Long eyelashes, blinking as he remained unable to tear his eyes away from the painting, cast flickering shadows beneath his eyes.
“I don’t know much about art, so please understand.”
Regardless, unlike Han Seung-jae, who felt no inspiration, the look in Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes as he gazed at the painting was almost affectionate. Even that was different from what Han Seung-jae had expected. He had thought Seo Yi-kyung would smile while looking at this painting. Because of that, his disappointment only grew.
“It’s different from what I heard. Since you like this painting so much, shall I hang it in your room?”
At Han Seung-jae’s words, Seo Yi-kyung shook his head.
“I think it’s better to leave it here.”
Just then, there was a knock, and the studio door opened. Min Ra-hyeon entered abruptly and announced that dinner was ready.
“Fine. Leave the painting here then.”
Han Seung-jae replied to Seo Yi-kyung and turned around. Seo Yi-kyung stepped forward, watching his back.
“Since you said you were going to drink, I decided to join you for a glass. I told them to prepare one for me too.”
As soon as Han Seung-jae stepped out, Min Ra-hyeon approached and spoke. Following them, Seo Yi-kyung left the studio, gripping the doorknob to close the door slowly.
“I should only drink a little today. That alcohol you had last time was really strong. I thought my stomach was going to kill me the next day.”
“Seung-jae.”
At the small voice calling him, Han Seung-jae suddenly stopped and looked back.
Min Ra-hyeon also turned his head and witnessed Seo Yi-kyung holding Han Seung-jae’s hand. Even so, it was nothing more than lightly gripping the tips of Han Seung-jae’s fingers. However, Seo Yi-kyung soon let go of his hand.
“I’ll go up first.”
Seo Yi-kyung still felt burdened by the idea of eating something. In the past, it was because his stomach was small, but now it was a separate issue. After eating, he felt a sharp pain around his chest, as if he had indigestion.
“What did you eat during the day?”
Just as Seo Yi-kyung opened his mouth to answer Han Seung-jae’s question, Min Ra-hyeon wore a pitiful expression.
“Yi-kyung, if it’s hard, just go up first. I’ll tell Butler Do to send some porridge upstairs.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked at Min Ra-hyeon once, then spoke to Han Seung-jae.
“I’ve been painting all day, so I’m very tired. I’ll pass on the porridge as well.”
After addressing the two of them in turn, Seo Yi-kyung stepped away. He pressed the button for the elevator waiting on the first floor and stepped inside. As the doors closed, the image of Han Seung-jae staring at him abruptly vanished from sight.
* * *
Inside the dining room.
The tips of Han Seung-jae’s long fingers moved subtly. Consequently, the half-filled whiskey tilted back and forth. His cold eyes shifted to the side. The side dish prepared for Seo Yi-kyung to eat upon his arrival was merely soup in a small bowl. And the variety of dishes in front of him differed from those in Min Ra-hyeon’s bowl sitting across from him.
Clack. Han Seung-jae placed the glass he was holding on the table. Butler Do, who had been moving about, approached him.
“Shall I pour you more?”
“Is this all he ate?”
“Pardon?”
Butler Do lifted the whiskey bottle and paused.
“Please tell me if there is anything missing. What else can I bring you?”
Butler Do set the whiskey bottle back down and examined the plate in front of Han Seung-jae. There were no signs that anything had been touched. Han Seung-jae pointed to the soup beside him.
“Did he eat something like this during the day too?”
Only then did Butler Do seem to understand Han Seung-jae’s words and look at the same spot. Han Seung-jae was asking what Seo Yi-kyung had eaten for lunch.
Meanwhile, the chef came out carrying a bowl of porridge. He then stood beside Han Seung-jae in a reverent posture and detailed the ingredients inside the soup.
“…These are all the things the primary physician mentioned. Since he seems unable to eat much, we finely chopped or blended them.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s soup was close to a health food. Above all, more time and effort had been put into it to ensure his stomach remained comfortable after eating. That much labor had gone into it.
Similarly, Min Ra-hyeon, who was drinking, chimed in.
“Yi-kyung hasn’t been able to eat much lately. You know that. It’s been even worse since he had the baby. He says the food comes out very late, so he eats a little and goes back in quickly. And a person like that spent the whole day in the studio painting.”
Min Ra-hyeon’s words ended there. This was because Han Seung-jae stood up.
“Where are you going? Aren’t you drinking?”
Han Seung-jae hadn’t touched a single drop of alcohol. Butler Do followed behind him, carrying a tray.
Han Seung-jae entered the elevator. Butler Do, taking a spot beside him, felt his fingertips curl instinctively and his entire body shrink. It was because the gaze of Han Seung-jae reflected in the elevator was fierce.
Ding. A clear sound rang out and the doors opened. Han Seung-jae stepped out first. To Butler Do, who walked behind him, the trip up to the second floor felt like an eternity. Since it wasn’t common to ride the elevator alone with Han Seung-jae, his tense body was stiff with nerves.
Han Seung-jae opened the bedroom door without hesitation. His voice echoed lowly.
“You weren’t sleeping.”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been leaning his back against the headboard, had changed into pajamas.
Seo Yi-kyung stared at the bowl being placed on the nightstand.
“It is abalone porridge, Young Master. It is hot, so please eat carefully.”
After giving that warning to Seo Yi-kyung, Butler Do bowed deeply to Han Seung-jae and withdrew. Han Seung-jae opened the lid of the bowl and picked up the tray. He placed the tray on Seo Yi-kyung’s thighs.
“Eat it while it’s warm.”
“….”
Seo Yi-kyung looked down blankly at the porridge in the bowl. Han Seung-jae added,
“Do you eat like this during the day too?”
Han Seung-jae took off his suit jacket and draped it over a chair. Then, he loosened the cufflinks from his sleeves and placed them on the table. Meanwhile, Seo Yi-kyung picked up the spoon, took a small amount of porridge, and put it in his mouth.
Upon entering the room, Han Seung-jae first released his pheromones. His white sandalwood scent lingered faintly around the bed. At that, Seo Yi-kyung felt his aversion to the smell of food disappear.
Han Seung-jae perched on the chair at the table. As he loosened his tie, he took in the sight of Seo Yi-kyung eating the porridge.
Pushed by the overwhelming gaze, Seo Yi-kyung met his eyes and asked,
“Weren’t you coming after drinking?”
“Ah.”
Han Seung-jae dragged out the sound, then placed the tie, loosened by his fingers, on the table.
“I don’t have a hobby of drinking alone.”
And it ruins the taste. After finishing his sentence, Han Seung-jae stood up. As he did, he unbuttoned the dress shirt near his neck. He approached the bed and lowered his upper body. Seo Yi-kyung felt Han Seung-jae getting closer and closer. The distance narrowed until Han Seung-jae’s lips almost touched Seo Yi-kyung’s forehead.
“Is this enough?”
Seo Yi-kyung blinked. Han Seung-jae’s breath brushed against his forehead, making it tickle. And from the approaching Han Seung-jae, a thicker scent of white sandalwood wafted over. Soon, Seo Yi-kyung nodded.
“I’ll go wash up, so finish eating.”
Han Seung-jae entered the bathroom. Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t take his eyes off his back. At the same time, he carefully touched his forehead. Moreover, he had certainly believed that Han Seung-jae was drinking with Min Ra-hyeon.
Just thinking about it made his mood sink further, and Seo Yi-kyung didn’t feel like lying down and resting comfortably. But wasn’t the meaning of Han Seung-jae’s words just now different?
‘Min Ra-hyeon is with him, so why did he say he was alone?’
Seo Yi-kyung moved his hand slowly. However, for some reason, unlike before, the porridge would not go down. Unanswered questions floated incessantly in his head. Eventually, Seo Yi-kyung concluded that he might be mistaken—that he was simply too conscious of Han Seung-jae’s pheromones.