By Zephyria 
Should he consider it a relief that the wound had healed? To do so, there was still a scar that drew the eye. He thought it would have been better if it had disappeared entirely.
However, Seo Yi-kyung turned away as if resigning himself. He then left the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed, drying his hair with a towel.
Seo Yi-kyung stared at the empty table. The image of sitting across from Han Seung-jae the previous day played back in his mind. Han Seung-jae had listened to him while drinking whisky.
—And it seems Seon-yu got a bit excited because it’s been a while since he’s been outside.
He had even seen Jin Seon-yu being carried away, clumsily piggybacked on Jin Seok-young’s back. Thus, before the image of Jin Seon-yu worsened further, Seo Yi-kyung had tried his best to smooth things over. There was no need to try and look good to Han Seung-jae, but there was also no reason to be remembered unfavorably.
Only now did he realize that it wasn’t that Han Seung-jae had prevented him from meeting Jin Seon-yu. Therefore, if Han Seung-jae truly told him to keep his distance this time, it would simply be awkward for Seo Yi-kyung.
However, Han Seung-jae merely looked on with an indifferent gaze. He did not do anything to cut Seo Yi-kyung off.
—I felt that way too.
While there was nothing lacking here at Han Seung-jae’s house, Seo Yi-kyung had enjoyed a rare moment of leisure by going outside for a while to meet Jin Seon-yu. Since the weather was nice, he felt a sense of peace for a time, enjoying a panoramic view that stretched far into the distance. Consequently, he felt a desire to come back with Han Seung-jae.
But when he said that yesterday, Han Seung-jae showed no reaction. Was the thing he said in front of the elevator today related to yesterday’s events?
Since Han Seung-jae wasn’t the type of person to be that meticulously caring, there was a high possibility that he was just imagining things. Nevertheless, Seo Yi-kyung pulled down the towel that had been covering his head and looked back. Outside, where he had looked while talking to Jin Seon-yu, a gentle breeze was blowing.
* * *
The second-floor study.
Han Seung-jae sat at his desk, reviewing the documents Secretary Park had piled up. Meanwhile, Secretary Park took a manila envelope out of the black bag he had brought and put it in a drawer. Since Han Seung-jae already knew of Seo Yi-kyung’s activities yesterday, no separate report was made.
It was just as Secretary Park closed the drawer and gathered his bag. Han Seung-jae called him. Secretary Park left the bag where it was and approached the desk. He wondered if there was a problem with the performance report Han Seung-jae was reviewing.
“Did you call for me?”
Han Seung-jae turned a page of the document and spoke.
“Narrow down some places suitable for a date this evening.”
Though unexpected words came from Han Seung-jae, Secretary Park was neither flustered nor surprised. Han Seung-jae usually came to the office even on weekends to review documents. He had mentioned today that he would handle his work in the study. And Secretary Park believed that the reason Han Seung-jae was doing so was not unrelated to Seo Yi-kyung.
“Understood.”
Secretary Park replied as such to first check the details and then turned around. Han Seung-jae seemed to have no further instructions for him. Secretary Park opened the bag he had set down and took out a tablet PC.
Coincidentally, a painting exhibition was being held. However, he couldn’t exactly view it with other people. If people’s attention were focused on them, it would be difficult to appreciate the paintings leisurely.
Han Seung-jae wouldn’t have asked him to find a place where such things happen. If he spoke to Director Im Jeong-yun in advance, the director would prepare to welcome Han Seung-jae after the gallery closed for the evening.
There were only a few hours left until evening. Secretary Park took his phone from his inner pocket to call Director Im Jeong-yun. However, a call came in first.
Buzz—
Checking the screen, Secretary Park lowered the hand gripping the tablet PC and left the study.
* * *
Click. At the sound of the door, Seo Yi-kyung’s head moved.
“……?”
He was sitting in the room filled with baby supplies, drinking tea brought by Butler Do. He had left the window open for ventilation. Through that gap, a soft breeze seeped in, making the mobile shake. Seo Yi-kyung looked at the open door. He then placed the teacup he had lifted back onto the saucer.
‘Is the work finished?’
With that thought, he slowly rose from the table. While Han Seung-jae was working in the study, Seo Yi-kyung had considered going down to the painting studio, but he had instead come into this room to settle in and rest. Lately, Seo Yi-kyung spent more time here than in the painting studio.
He clearly heard the sound of the door opening just now… He wondered if Han Seung-jae had come out of the study. If it was Han Seung-jae, it would be better to call Butler Do to bring some tea. As he headed toward the open door with these thoughts, Secretary Park’s voice reached Seo Yi-kyung’s ears.
“Are you sure?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s steps came to a dead halt.
‘It’s Secretary Park.’
Seo Yi-kyung considered stepping out to show his face, but then turned back. Secretary Park was working right now. Therefore, the person he was talking to would likely be someone related to business, and he had no desire to go out and interfere.
Seo Yi-kyung turned back toward the table where he had been drinking tea. Secretary Park’s voice continued.
“Why did Min Ra-hyeon commit suicide?”
A chill ran down Seo Yi-kyung’s spine. The hair on the nape of his neck stood on end. He doubted his own ears. It was a name he could never forget.
No, it was a person he had never once erased from his mind.
Seo Yi-kyung could never confuse Min Ra-hyeon’s name with anyone else’s. Therefore, there was absolutely no way he had misheard.
Seo Yi-kyung turned his stiff neck to look at the open door. His vision suddenly turned stark white, and he was seized by a rapid dizziness, as if the blood had drained from his body. Seo Yi-kyung raised his left hand to cover his head. His legs wobbled, and his knees buckled weakly, causing him to collapse onto the floor.
* * *
Butler Do climbed the second-floor stairs carrying a teapot. He headed toward the baby room where Seo Yi-kyung was. Since the door was slightly ajar, Butler Do gently pushed the handle and entered.
“I brought some fresh tea as I thought the young master’s tea might have gone cold.”
Butler Do’s eyes widened. He rushed to the side of Seo Yi-kyung, who was slumped on the marble floor. Butler Do set the tray he was holding beside him.
“Are you alright?”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been covering his forehead with unfocused eyes until then, looked forward with a pale face.
“The noise.”
“Pardon?”
“Lower your voice.”
In that moment, Butler Do realized that Han Seung-jae was in the house. Moreover, he was in the study, which was relatively close to this room. Realizing what Seo Yi-kyung was worried about, he grabbed Seo Yi-kyung with both hands and helped him stand up.
Seo Yi-kyung staggered as he moved his legs. He murmured faintly.
“I just got dizzy for a moment. It’s nothing.”
I think I’ll feel better if I rest in the room. The latter part of the sentence almost crumbled and scattered across his pale lips. However, Butler Do acted as if he understood and supported Seo Yi-kyung, leading him to the bedroom.
Seo Yi-kyung’s complexion was very poor. Clearly, when Butler Do had brought the tea earlier, Seo Yi-kyung had a peaceful face, looking excited like someone waiting for something.
After Butler Do laid Seo Yi-kyung on the bed, he straightened the duvet. Seo Yi-kyung’s eyelids struggled to close.
“…….”
Watching this, Butler Do wore a troubled expression.
“Still, shouldn’t we tell Director Han?”
Seo Yi-kyung had collapsed on the marble floor, unable to steady himself. If it was because something was wrong with his health, the primary physician should be called immediately. Furthermore, wasn’t Han Seung-jae on the second floor right now? With only a slight difference in time, Han Seung-jae would soon find out about Seo Yi-kyung’s condition.
“I will go tell him and call the physician.”
Seo Yi-kyung murmured with his eyes closed.
“I’ll be fine if I sleep for a little bit and wake up.”
“But……”
“I want to rest.”
Unable to do anything, Butler Do opened and closed the door and left.
As the surroundings became quiet, Secretary Park’s voice echoed in Seo Yi-kyung’s ears once more. The more it did, the more it felt as if a huge boulder was crushing his chest.
Seo Yi-kyung felt his entire body grow heavy, as if he had fallen into a deep mire. Before he knew it, even breathing became a struggle.
How much time had passed? Long fingers touched Seo Yi-kyung’s sweat-drenched forehead. As Seo Yi-kyung struggled to lift his eyelids, the image of Han Seung-jae in his blurred vision shimmered like a haze.