By Zephyria 
Seo Yi-kyung remained lost in thought for a moment, his complexion pale. Because of this, he didn’t notice Jin Seon-yu taking a beige autumn coat and baby clothes with snowflake-like pom-poms out of a box and shaking them.
“Look at this. It’s only as big as my palm. It’s seriously cute.”
…He had been complacent. Seo Yi-kyung traced back his memories of the family banquet he had attended with Han Seung-jae, where his heat cycle had occurred. Back then, Han Seung-jae had entered the terrace where he was alone first, so no major incident had happened. And he had received suppressants from Han Seung-jae.
He had used them after showing symptoms. After that, when was it?
“Which one do you like better, Yi-kyung?”
Jin Seon-yu turned his head to look at Seo Yi-kyung. He held baby clothes in both hands. Seo Yi-kyung tried to force a smile, but failed. His cheeks didn’t just tremble slightly; they began to twitch. It couldn’t be.
Seo Yi-kyung stopped trying to smile and spoke calmly.
“You don’t have to buy things like this from now on.”
“Why? Do you not like them? Did I pick them too much according to my own taste?”
Regret dripped from Jin Seon-yu’s eyes. He put the clothes he was holding back into the box.
“No, it’s not that. I just don’t think I’ll have a need for them.”
Because in the original story, there was no mention of ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ having a baby. There was no way.
Still…
Even though he only thought that, Seo Yi-kyung felt as if his heart were tightening.
“Sorry. I thought you’d be happy to see these…”
Watching Jin Seon-yu weakly pick up the box case, Seo Yi-kyung spoke softly. Jin Seon-yu turned his head. He nodded subtly while watching Seo Yi-kyung speak in a quiet, measured tone.
Soon after, Jin Seon-yu closed the box.
* * *
Myeongjun Financial Group.
Secretary Park, having reached the door of the Director’s Office, knocked. The face of the person behind him was clearly etched with tension. No one would come with a relaxed face to a place where they had to appeal the technology of their business and borrow money based on its appropriate value.
“Please come in.”
Secretary Park opened the door and gestured inside. The man entered, clenching his hands tightly. The large bag he was carrying looked heavy.
He looked at Han Seung-jae, who was sitting on the sofa. A vest and tie draped over his shoulders. It was hard to find a single flaw in his appearance. His cool features were exquisite. Perhaps intimidated by that alone, the man stood motionless even as a staff member placed a teacup down and left.
“You may sit here.”
Following Secretary Park’s guidance, the man finally took a step, his hands and legs moving in the same direction.
After closing the door, Secretary Park looked at his wristwatch. Generally, the expressions of people coming to such a place were solemn. Consequently, their bodies were tense, standing as stiff as withered sticks that looked as if they might snap at any moment.
The five seconds it took to greet at the door and walk to the sofa. Whether one could borrow money using technology as collateral was usually decided in that window.
Secretary Park lowered the watch he had been looking at. There was about an hour left until the next schedule. That could have worked in the man’s favor.
The man’s hand trembled violently as he held out the documents. Secretary Park took them and passed them to Han Seung-jae. However, Han Seung-jae’s hand didn’t budge. As expected, it seemed he had failed.
Secretary Park stared at the back of the man, who was now unzipping the bag he had brought in. The man seemed completely unaware of any change in Han Seung-jae’s expression. That was because Han Seung-jae’s face was nearly expressionless. However, if one looked closely, a subtle change could be seen. But no one in a state of being crushed by such pressure could afford to look at him even for a moment.
“That will be all.”
Secretary Park’s voice rang out. Han Seung-jae seemed to have already made his decision. Therefore, anything further was merely a waste of time. At that, the back of the man who was taking things out of the bag stiffened. He turned around while pulling out a set of children’s educational toys with both hands.
The man swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty.
“This product, made of natural materials, has bright colors to encourage activity and ensures the safety of children.”
Fearing he would be dragged out, the man rattled off his prepared speech rapidly.
The items the man was holding spilled out next to the teacup. Because he had set them down in a rush, they didn’t just scatter; some rolled all the way to the table in front of where Han Seung-jae was sitting.
Han Seung-jae snatched the documents Secretary Park was holding. He then flipped through the papers indifferently. They consisted mainly of patents, public agency certifications, Ministry of Environment certifications, and documents recognized by the Small and Medium Business Administration. However, it appeared he was unable to realize them due to a lack of capital.
Looking at the documents, Han Seung-jae tilted his head up.
“Drink. Before the tea gets cold.”
“Pardon?”
The man’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. Han Seung-jae pointed to the teacup with the edge of the documents. Inside was a colorful ice-cream-shaped educational toy. It seemed to have fallen into the teacup when he spilled the toys earlier.
“You said it ensures safety?”
Han Seung-jae closed the documents he had been reading and placed them on the table. Cute little items now dominated the space in front of him.
“Y-yes, that is correct.”
“You can’t eat it?”
When the man hesitated, Han Seung-jae added in a cool tone.
“No, it’s not that.”
The man lifted the teacup in front of him and stared at the ice-cream-shaped toy submerged in the steaming hot tea. He pressed the cup to his lips as if to hide his trembling fingertips. Watching the man’s Adam’s apple bob, Han Seung-jae murmured lowly.
“Secretary Park.”
“Yes. Please draft the contract over here. Follow me.”
The stunned man stood up. Without even fully packing the items he had showcased, he hurriedly gathered his bag and followed Secretary Park out the door.
“….”
Han Seung-jae shifted his upper body from where he had been leaning against the sofa. He picked up one of the toys on the table. The object, only the size of one of his finger joints, looked as if it would crumble if he applied pressure. It reminded him of someone. Han Seung-jae tossed the object back onto the table and stood up. He approached his desk to finish the work he had been doing.
Suddenly, while signing, Han Seung-jae’s gaze reached the edge of the desk. The white envelope that Secretary Park always brought in the morning was no longer coming.
As if breaking Han Seung-jae’s reverie, a knock sounded, and the door opened. Secretary Park entered and approached. The employee who followed behind began to clear the table.
“…The contract, including the clause to transfer the patents if not repaid within the deadline, has all been signed.”
Throughout Secretary Park’s report, Han Seung-jae’s gaze remained fixed on the desk. Secretary Park looked at the same spot, then slowly turned his gaze to Han Seung-jae. It seemed the expression full of displeasure from earlier wasn’t solely because of the man.
Click. The door closed, and the employee who had entered left. The table he had cleared was clean. Secretary Park asked cautiously.
“Shall I tell them to submit the report again?”
Since it had been going on for so long, it was understandable that he would be concerned. However, Han Seung-jae simply withdrew his gaze and looked back at the approval documents, giving no instructions.
* * *
In the second-floor bedroom, Seo Yi-kyung stood frozen at the sink in the bathroom for a long time. He couldn’t take his eyes off his hands, looking at them alternately. Soon, his two hands moved closer and touched. Seo Yi-kyung examined the device in his left hand and the device in his right hand.
—Seon-yu, I have a favor to ask…
—Yeah. I got it. It’s not like it’s a difficult task. Just a moment.
What Seo Yi-kyung had asked Jin Seon-yu in the painting studio was if he could buy a pregnancy test on his behalf.
It would have been better if Seo Yi-kyung had gone out and bought it himself, but if he left in a car, the driver would certainly report it. And besides that, there were many people who would relay information to Han Seung-jae.
—I’m not sure, and I don’t want everyone to worry for no reason.
—Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.
So, the method he came up with was to ask Jin Seon-yu.
Jin Seon-yu seemed to make a phone call, and after a short while, he went out after receiving a response and returned after receiving a small envelope from the driver.
—He said he bought two just in case.
—Thanks.
Seo Yi-kyung took the envelope Jin Seon-yu handed him and put it in the drawer where he kept his suppressant pills.
After Jin Seon-yu, who had been staying in the painting studio for a while, left, Seo Yi-kyung started toward the second floor but stopped and went back to the studio. After contemplating for a moment, he took the small envelope and headed to the second floor.
And that led to the current situation.
One line in the left hand, two lines in the right.