By Zephyria 
Han Seung-jae’s razor-sharp eyes swept over Seo Yi-kyung’s hand. He looked at the phone Yi-kyung was clutching and spoke as if disappointed.
“That’s not very pleasant to hear.”
It seemed Han Seung-jae had expected different words from Seo Yi-kyung.
“But you really speak as if we’re strangers.”
A strange glint flickered in Han Seung-jae’s eyes. Seo Yi-kyung’s neck stiffened at the suspicious look in Han Seung-jae’s gaze. He realized his mistake. After seeing the article a moment ago, he had wondered if Han Seung-jae was the one who had made Seo Dong-hu that way. In his confusion, he had said “Seo Dong-hu.” Strictly speaking, Seo Dong-hu and Seo Yi-kyung were blood brothers. Seo Yi-kyung should have referred to him as Hyung.
Seo Yi-kyung looked into Han Seung-jae’s eyes and answered slowly.
“We’re worse than strangers now.”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae’s gaze landed on the bandages wrapped around the chest exposed through Seo Yi-kyung’s patient gown. Seo Yi-kyung’s words had a point. Though they were facing each other now, Seo Dong-hu had essentially swung a sword to kill him. If it had been off by just a little, the current Seo Yi-kyung would not be standing before Han Seung-jae.
“That’s not wrong.”
“…….”
Han Seung-jae asked, seemingly having let go of his suspicion.
“Who told you what?”
The article Seo Yi-kyung had seen had been deleted. Therefore, he couldn’t prove it. Furthermore, since he was currently in a hospital room, there was no way to accurately verify if the article was true. He might find out if he asked Jin Seon-yu for help, but that alone wasn’t enough to deal with the Han Seung-jae standing right in front of him.
“……That hand.”
At Seo Yi-kyung’s small voice, Han Seung-jae’s gaze lingered on the tip of his own index finger. It was a tiny scratch, but this was Han Seung-jae. No one was allowed to leave a wound on Han Seung-jae’s body. At least, that was how it was in the original story Seo Yi-kyung knew.
And then, he remembered belatedly. Why the word ‘assailant’ had brought Han Seung-jae to mind. There had been a similar incident before. Back then, Seo Dong-hu’s arm had been broken. And just like now, Seo Yi-kyung had asked Han Seung-jae.
—I met Dong-hu… no, Hyung at the hospital.
—And?
Han Seung-jae’s expression had remained indifferent throughout Seo Yi-kyung’s words. Despite being the one who had made Seo Dong-hu’s arm that way, he hadn’t so much as batted an eyelid.
—Did… did you do it, Seung-jae?
Though Seo Yi-kyung’s words had been slurred and omitted, the meaning would have been conveyed. He was a man whose intuition was superior to anyone else’s.
—Correct. Since I made your hand like that.
Han Seung-jae had answered dryly that day. As if there were no need to hide it. No, it seemed he had no intention of hiding it from the start.
“Ah.”
As if he finally understood the meaning of Seo Yi-kyung’s words, the Han Seung-jae facing him in the hospital room said the same thing.
“I did it.”
There was no change in Han Seung-jae’s expression, but the same couldn’t be said for Seo Yi-kyung. Han Seung-jae noted Seo Yi-kyung’s pale complexion, which looked as if he were in shock. The slender eyebrows, the delicate features, and the red lips parted in surprise. And the tongue inside was even redder. That ripe red tongue looked as if it would be wonderful to entwine, suck strongly, and rub against his cock. However, Han Seung-jae kept his gaze on the bandages wrapped around Seo Yi-kyung’s chest.
“If you receive something, you should know how to give it back.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s pupils trembled anxiously. Han Seung-jae spoke casually, as if it were no big deal.
“So I gave it back.”
Han Seung-jae picked up a spoon from the tray and held it out to Seo Yi-kyung.
After hesitating, Seo Yi-kyung let go of the phone he was clutching and lifted his arm. However, the spoon brushed past Seo Yi-kyung’s fingertips and fell onto the tray. As soon as Han Seung-jae’s finger touched him, Seo Yi-kyung instinctively pulled his hand back.
A momentary silence flowed between the two. Then, Han Seung-jae broke the stillness.
“Seo Dong-hu walked out of my sight on his own two feet.”
“……!”
Seo Yi-kyung blinked. The article he saw had no photos; it simply stated that he had been attacked by a robber. Seo Yi-kyung had even thought that Seo Dong-hu had been retaliated against by Han Seung-jae in some way and had suffered such an accident because his physical strength had plummeted.
“If you can’t believe me, check with Secretary Park. He was there.”
Han Seung-jae’s words didn’t sound like a lie. No, was it even possible for Seo Yi-kyung to distinguish truth from falsehood in Han Seung-jae’s words in the first place?
“Shall I call him?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s heart pounded. Han Seung-jae didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He was so composed, nonchalant, indifferent, and steady that his words felt like the truth.
“Did… did you really not do it, Seung-jae?”
Han Seung-jae took in Seo Yi-kyung’s expression, which still seemed unable to believe him. At that moment, the desperate screams of Seo Dong-hu revived in Han Seung-jae’s ears.
Of course, Seo Dong-hu had been dragged out by strong men supporting him on both sides while unconscious, but he was definitely alive. He felt no need to explain such detailed processes to Seo Yi-kyung.
He had a frail, weak body. He was also carrying a child. And he found no reason to tell the truth to a Seo Yi-kyung who looked terrified just because a scratched finger had touched him. If he did, wouldn’t he just become more afraid and plot his escape?
Thus, there were some things in the world that were better left unknown.
A moment later, Secretary Park opened the door and entered the room. The tray containing the poor side dishes was removed, and Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the lunchbox and the bowl of porridge placed before him.
While Secretary Park repeatedly placed the food on the table in front of Seo Yi-kyung, Seo Yi-kyung looked at him, his lips trembling.
“These are the items I brought after confirming with the attending physician.”
“Good work. Don’t go far; stay right here.”
“Yes, I understand.”
However, even until Secretary Park bowed to Han Seung-jae and stepped out, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t ask about Seo Dong-hu.
“Is it because it’s food for a patient?”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae seemed dissatisfied with this as well. Han Seung-jae once again held out the spoon to Seo Yi-kyung.
“If you don’t like it, shall I call Secretary Park back? He should be right outside the door.”
To Seo Yi-kyung, those words sounded as if he were offering another chance to verify the matter regarding Seo Dong-hu.
Seo Yi-kyung slowly raised his hand and took the spoon Han Seung-jae offered. Han Seung-jae’s elegant fingertips brushed against Seo Yi-kyung’s palm.
“This is enough.”
“That’s good.”
Seo Yi-kyung scooped a bit of the porridge and brought it to his parched lips. Perhaps he wanted Han Seung-jae’s words to be true. Perhaps that was why he wanted to believe.
But he felt there was no reason for Han Seung-jae to lie. He was a man who said he did it if he did, without hiding it. There was no reason to deceive someone like himself, who had nothing to offer. Doing such a thing would bring no gain.
Seo Yi-kyung ate the warm porridge slowly. His gaze occasionally drifted to the pain that flared up around his chest. However, he did not let go of the spoon. This was because the scent of white wood emanating from Han Seung-jae’s body provided a deep sense of stability.
In truth, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t hungry. Because he was carrying a child, his physical exhaustion was greater. Jin Seon-yu’s house was large, warm, and seemed to lack nothing from the outside, but it didn’t have what Seo Yi-kyung truly needed.
Stability. That was something only possible with Han Seung-jae’s pheromones.
“I will do it right away. If you could just wait a moment…”
The attending physician summoned by Han Seung-jae worked hard to move the privacy screen along with the men who had been at the door. Pushed by Han Seung-jae’s gaze, he exerted every ounce of his strength.
Meanwhile, the table in front of Seo Yi-kyung was cleared, and a glass of lukewarm water was placed upon it. It was what Secretary Park had brought and set down earlier.
Only then did Seo Yi-kyung realize there was another bed on the other side of the screen. The screen had been moved in front of the entrance.
“If there is anything else you need, please tell me.”
The physician said this to Han Seung-jae. It implied that he was ready to endure any hardship for a bright future. And his eyes were hoping for praise. The reason Seo Yi-kyung had been able to recover so quickly was entirely because he had supported him with all his heart and resources. He wanted Han Seung-jae to recognize that.
But Han Seung-jae had no reason to care about anyone from the start.
“Take him out.”
Secretary Park led the physician out the door. The physician was pushed toward the exit as if being kicked out.
Once the door closed, Han Seung-jae stood up. He took off his suit jacket, placed it over his coat, and walked over to the bed placed side-by-side with Seo Yi-kyung’s and sat on the edge.
A hospital bed and Han Seung-jae. It was full of dissonance. It looked like a picture that was neither harmonious nor fitting.