6 – TIO

Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes wavered. Han Seung-jae was exactly the kind of person who would do such a thing. As if to confirm, Yi-kyung turned his gaze to look at his own wrist. There was no trace of anything. He even put down his chopsticks to scrutinize whether a handprint remained. However, no mark was visible.

Han Seung-jae added.

“Be careful from now on.”

His tone seemed softer than before, but his cold gaze did not loosen in the slightest. It felt as if he were observing every inch of his body.

Yi-kyung knew he wasn’t someone who trusted others easily, but knowing that didn’t make it any more comfortable to be watched so obsessively from such a close distance. Yi-kyung picked up the chopsticks he had set down.

“…….”

With his head lowered, Yi-kyung focused solely on eating for a while. It was only natural, as Han Seung-jae continued to stare. There was no other way. At least while he was eating, Han Seung-jae didn’t ask anything. However, this body had its limits when it came to eating.

Having cleared a bit of his plate, Yi-kyung looked up. I can’t eat any more. When his eyes met Han Seung-jae’s, he vaguely pointed toward the pile of documents on the table. It was an attempt to divert those overwhelming eyes.

“You don’t need to check them?”

Yi-kyung bit his lip. He felt he had brought up a pointless topic.

In truth, in the original story, ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ mainly stayed within the house. His personal activities were limited to going out with the butler to buy painting supplies or visiting exhibitions. Because his range of movement was so narrow, he hadn’t known what Han Seung-jae did outside.

But the Seo Yi-kyung currently in this place was different. He already knew exactly what kind of person he was. Furthermore, Han Seung-jae’s attitude, seen with his own eyes, was more heartless than he had imagined.

“Are you worried that I might lose your money?”

Until now, no one had questioned whatever decision Han Seung-jae made. However, since they were now married, it wasn’t strange for his spouse, Seo Yi-kyung, to take an interest in Han Seung-jae’s work.

“Because I’m confident I can get it back.”

Hearing those words, Yi-kyung’s eyes shook. To hide the awkwardness, Yi-kyung picked up the chopsticks he had put down and placed more food on his plate, even though he wasn’t hungry.

He had asked something unnecessary. He knew clearly whether Han Seung-jae’s words were true. In the original work, he had shown early brilliance in investing and did not hesitate to reach into businesses that others avoided.

Venture capital. Han Seung-jae’s business method was to invest in companies that had technical prowess but lacked capital, valuing their growth potential highly. Since the risk was high, the difference in the returning profit was also great.

He had never suffered a loss. Instead of simply investing as specified in the contract, if profits did not materialize, he would acquire the business for a pittance. Then, using the technology, he would inflate the value and sell it off.

That was Han Seung-jae’s business acumen. Because of this, he met people from all walks of life. Those who came to ask him for favors did so because they all knew Han Seung-jae’s way of working.

Originally, business is like a gamble where one bets their life, so challenge is necessary. While thinking vaguely that even if everyone else failed, he and his partners were different and that they would unconditionally make a profit.

* * *

Butler Do, having stepped outside the building, opened the rear door of the parked sedan. Yi-kyung slowly leaned his upper body in. Han Seung-jae looked down at him.

“Go to sleep first.”

Sinking his back into the seat, Yi-kyung looked up. It seemed he wasn’t returning with him. Yi-kyung gave a barely perceptible nod. Even without a clear verbal answer, Han Seung-jae continued.

“An art exhibition is opening; do you want to go see some paintings?”

Butler Do, standing between the two, widened his eyes. The tone was close to being affectionate, enough to make him doubt if he had heard correctly.

A moment ago, Butler Do had been anxious, staring at the firmly closed door. He had pricked up his ears, fearing that rough sounds might erupt from inside the room. But no such misfortune occurred.

Butler Do stole a glance at Han Seung-jae. He was looking down the entire time. As Butler Do shifted his gaze, hesitation was evident on Yi-kyung’s face.

He was someone who loved going to see paintings the most. Was he perhaps reluctant to go together?

Suddenly, the image of Han Seung-jae roughly grabbing someone’s head from earlier came to mind. It could have been quite shocking for the frail young master. Out of habit, Butler Do opened his lips to step in. However, the words failed to become sound and scattered. It was because Han Seung-jae’s gaze was sharp.

Yi-kyung looked up.

“Alright.”

Upon hearing that short sentence, Han Seung-jae, who had been standing, closed the car door for him. Coming to his senses late, Butler Do hurriedly bowed. He went around to the other side and sat next to Yi-kyung.

Han Seung-jae turned around. He passed by the door Secretary Park was opening and took his seat. The two cars began to move in different directions.

Once the sedan carrying him disappeared from sight, Butler Do let out a long sigh. With a face full of worry, he looked to his right. Yi-kyung’s pale face was close to being calm. Nevertheless, Butler Do arbitrarily judged that he must be trembling in fear.

“What should we do about this……”

Butler Do trailed off. He was conscious of the driver in front. The driver was someone employed by Han Seung-jae. Thus, it was as if there were only two people here he could trust and rely on.

At the sound of Butler Do’s worry-filled breathing, Yi-kyung’s gaze flickered toward him. Butler Do’s face was clouded with anxiety. Yi-kyung looked out the window. The night street, where the lights of neon signs flashed by, came into view.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t surprised. However, he already knew Han Seung-jae’s personality. That was why he had been horrified when he first opened his eyes and saw Han Seung-jae. Despite that, Han Seung-jae had maintained a consistently patient attitude. It was most likely because they hadn’t been married for long.

But hadn’t Han Seung-jae stated this morning that there would be no more consideration?

In the original work, Han Seung-jae had maintained a serious demeanor in front of ‘Seo Yi-kyung.’ That was why he had spoken his mind with a bit of confidence.

—I don’t like you, Seung-jae, so you don’t have to worry about me.

He had intended to keep his distance first and seek a way out. But to think he would throw off the mask so quickly.

Looking back, since ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ never offended Han Seung-jae, he probably never saw him get angry, break things, or treat people like luggage.

Suddenly, Yi-kyung took his phone out of the inner pocket of his suit. Seeing the fingerprint lock slide open made him realize once again that this was reality.

Tap, tap…… He slid his finger, using his nail. He checked the saved list. Hyung Dong-hoo, Butler Do, Father, Mother. Han Seung-jae’s name, which stood out particularly, clung to his thumb like a lingering regret.

Looking through the photo album, there were only photos of canvases with landscapes and photos of exhibition tickets. It was sparse. Even scrolling to the end, no presence of other people could be seen.

As seen in the original work, ‘Seo Yi-kyung’s’ range of movement seemed very narrow. Either the painting studio where he painted, exhibitions, or home……

Yi-kyung leaned his forehead against the car window. Between today’s sudden dinner invitation and everything else, he wondered if this was the same Han Seung-jae from the original work.

Yi-kyung’s small lips murmured. The words that lingered on his tongue soon slid down his throat.

I don’t know how to appreciate paintings, what do I do?

* * *

Past midnight, Yi-kyung, lying in bed, tossed and turned. I slept a bit during the day, so I can’t fall asleep.

Rustle, the sheets bunched up. He placed the phone, which had nothing left to see, under the pillow and pulled the duvet over his head. Whether he lay on his left or twisted his body to the right, it didn’t seem like sleep would come.

Eventually, Yi-kyung sat up and lowered both legs out of bed. Rustling in his pajamas, Yi-kyung headed for the terrace.

As he pushed open the glass door, passing the curtains where faint light seeped through, the night breeze rushed in. There were trees in the garden, giving off a scent that put the mind and body at ease.

After hesitating for a moment, Yi-kyung took a seat in a chair at the table. Resting his chin on his hand, he gazed steadily downward. In the dark garden, lights along the stone steps sat softly. As the surroundings became deathly quiet, he soon fell into deep thought.

Since Butler Do said he had been sick after returning from the honeymoon, he was essentially at the beginning of the story. In the original work, there were no detailed descriptions of Han Seung-jae’s emotions. Therefore, he had no choice but to mostly speculate, but strangely, he had pretended to be gentlemanly in front of ‘Seo Yi-kyung.’

But today was completely different. Was it because of what he had said this morning? Did he think there was no longer a need to maintain such an image?

Just then, the curtains were pushed aside, and the glass door opened. At the sudden presence, the shoulders of Yi-kyung, who had been resting his chin on the table, flinched. When he turned around, Han Seung-jae was looking down at him.

“You came back early.”

“…….”

There was no answer. Then again, wasn’t it late? It was already well past midnight. Yi-kyung awkwardly straightened his legs.

“You’re… late?”

It seemed this wasn’t the desired answer either. Han Seung-jae’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing up?”

Suddenly, a phrase flashed through his mind.

—It’s as if you’re about to run away.

He remembered experiencing something similar to this. Yi-kyung opened his mouth slightly. He wondered if Han Seung-jae was seriously misunderstanding him.

“I slept during the day, so I can’t sleep. I was just getting some fresh air.”

Yi-kyung murmured calmly. He thought it would be better than lying. And it was the truth. Did the truth work? Han Seung-jae turned around. Watching his back, Yi-kyung started to take a step but stopped.

Yi-kyung’s toes fidgeted, and he soon bent his raised knees and perched on the chair. Even if he followed, he didn’t know what he should do. And it wasn’t as if he had been told to come.

However, unlike before, he couldn’t sit peacefully and lose himself in thought. All his nerves were focused on Han Seung-jae in the room. He covered his face with both hands as if to block it out. His head was crowded with disjointed thoughts.

He had never even dated, and then suddenly one day he had a husband—and of all people, the arrogant Han Seung-jae from ‘Omega’s World.’

“Are you going to keep doing that?”

Yi-kyung lowered the two hands that had been covering his face. Han Seung-jae was wearing a bathrobe. Perhaps because he had just finished showering, his hair was wet.

When Yi-kyung didn’t answer immediately, Han Seung-jae stepped onto the terrace.