Cherry Cake Chapter 13.2

Hurrying to the entrance, Soohyun was met by the man stepping inside, who smirked and groped his butt.

“Why’re you wearing pants?”

The mention of stamina food suddenly came back to him.

I should’ve run. But the regret was fleeting. Seo Soohyun wrapped his arms around the man’s neck, who was pulling him into a full-body embrace, and smiled brightly.

“Gonna go on a date with the Director.”

No matter how you sliced it, the time spent with Gi Taeyeon was when he was happiest.

🍑

“Bullshit.”

Gi Taeyeon clicked his tongue. As expected, all sorts of annoying punks were circling around.

“Turn them all down.”

“Yes, sir. Should I reject the ad offers too?”

“What’re they gonna do with that pocket change?”

“Then I’ll make sure to pass along rejections moving forward.”

Jihwan Seo checked off the instructions with an expressionless face. For most people, the amount would’ve been tempting, but to Gi Taeyeon, it was clearly chump change. His lover, on the other hand, probably wouldn’t dismiss it as trivial, but since he seemed completely uninterested in money matters, who could say?

More than that, Soohyun would likely point out that he wasn’t even using the products himself, so how could he advertise them? It didn’t seem like he’d started YouTube to make money in the first place.

If that had been his goal, he would’ve first figured out how much wealth was already in his name. And once he saw those figures, he probably wouldn’t have even considered starting a YouTube channel.

Take the Hannam-dong standalone house Gi Taeyeon had put in Soohyun’s name—it was worth an amount most people couldn’t even dream of touching in their lifetime.

“What’s the status on the lawsuits?”

Tossing the tablet aside carelessly, the man leaned back in his chair and asked. The chair creaked under his weight, unable to handle the slouched posture, and swiveled slightly to the right.

“Everything’s being prepared as you requested, Director. You’ll be satisfied.”

Jihwan, who had somehow ended up handling issues related to Seo Soohyun as well, responded smoothly as always.

He’d anticipated this ever since overlooking that one night with Soohyun, given Gi Taeyeon’s erratic behavior. Truthfully, the added workload wasn’t all that burdensome. Soohyun wasn’t one for much outside activity. The real issue was his boss, who was overly fixated on every little thing Soohyun did.

Guess you live long enough, you see it all.

It wasn’t Soohyun increasing Jihwan’s work—it was Gi Taeyeon.

To be precise, since Soohyun started the YouTube channel, the management of it had added to his tasks. But in reality, Soohyun didn’t pay much attention to YouTube. He just filmed videos, added subtitles, and uploaded them. He didn’t seem to read the comments, respond to ad or company contract offers, or check unless someone tipped him off. Jihwan figured he only glanced at it occasionally.

Gi Taeyeon, however, received regular reports on Soohyun’s hobby and was now hell-bent on tracking down anyone spewing nonsense. The unnegotiated lawsuits were entirely his directive.

Is the channel getting big the problem?

If Jihwan recalled correctly, when Soohyun first started his channel, Gi Taeyeon would just glance at the videos and chuckle occasionally.

“But, Director, I’ve been curious for a while… What are you watching? You seem really into it—care to share with us?”

“Share my lover’s playtime?”

Even though Soohyun hadn’t advertised his channel, word spread within the company because of comments like that from Gi Taeyeon.

But things changed when part of Soohyun’s face was accidentally exposed, and Gi Taeyeon’s hand and voice appeared in a video. The channel grew rapidly after that.

While casually browsing the tablet, the man furrowed his brow. Jihwan, catching the expression, instinctively knew something shitty had happened again. It was the face he made when something pissed him off.

The silver lining was that Gi Taeyeon didn’t mess with regular people. So, the issue of malicious comments was handed off to a big law firm, which was now monitoring things regularly. With his lover exposed to an anonymous crowd, it was no wonder he was on edge.

Gi Taeyeon still spent little time checking Soohyun’s channel, but from Jihwan’s perspective, the man’s sour mood alone made Soohyun’s hobby less than welcome.

It was why he, uncharacteristically, meddled in his boss’s love life.

“Maybe you should just tell Seo Soohyun to stop…”

Gi Taeyeon rubbed his brow bone, looking at him like he’d said something ridiculous.

“Gonna interfere with my lover’s playtime?”

For a moment, Jihwan wasn’t sure whether to find the term “lover” strange or to rethink what “playtime” meant. He’d heard Gi Taeyeon mention “playtime” to the guys downstairs before, but hearing it now threw his mind into confusion.

“He says it’s fun, Jihwan.”

“…My mistake. We’ll make sure to handle it with extra care.”

He’d expected a “maybe” at most, so the response caught him off guard for a second. But since Soohyun came into the picture, Gi Taeyeon’s unpredictability wasn’t new. Jihwan deftly reined in his emotions and wrapped up cleanly.

Gi Taeyeon, living not just for himself but considering someone else.

It was so unfamiliar it felt like an allergic reaction was brewing.

“Any of his personal info floating around?”

“No, sir. Seo Soohyun’s face hasn’t been fully exposed, and since the videos don’t go beyond the kitchen, there’s no risk of his address leaking. Plus, you’re mostly staying at the standalone house now. Even if the interior’s shown, it’d be nearly impossible to pinpoint the location.”

It felt like caring for a boss’s young kid rather than his lover.

Then again, considering the age gap…

Jihwan stopped himself from thinking further. The strangeness of seeing Gi Taeyeon show such consideration aside, their age difference just screamed Gi Taeyeon being Gi Taeyeon.

“If some stalker shows up, we’ll handle it.”

Gi Taeyeon gave a straightforward answer. Soohyun wasn’t the type to reveal his face or home, so the chances of his info leaking were slim. But if, by some fluke, trouble arose, it’d be easy to deal with. He could take care of it before Soohyun even noticed, like eating cake lying down.

His cold, sharp eyes slowly drifted toward the tablet.

He was only letting Soohyun keep up his playtime because it was fun for him, but the irritations weren’t just one or two. The critiques and nasty speculations about Soohyun were bad enough, but even the other comments were all grating.

Bet it’d feel just like this if someone’s eyeing what’s mine.

If people came to watch cooking videos, they should talk about the food. Why were there so many comments about Soohyun? According to Jihwan’s reports, unless the audience was middle-aged or older, other channels were the same. But just because it was common didn’t mean he was generous enough to overlook personal comments about his lover.

The man twitched his finger. The calloused tip tapped the tablet irritably.

He had no intention of forcing Soohyun to quit YouTube now. It was like telling a kid quietly playing house to stop—adults didn’t do that.

It’s cute to watch, though.

If Soohyun had neglected him over some trivial hobby, he’d have acted on his temper. But Soohyun only filmed when cooking alone at home. The video with him in it was purely coincidental.

Gi Taeyeon remembered that day clearly. Normally, Fuzz-face would’ve come scampering to greet him the moment he opened the door, but not seeing him, he headed to the kitchen. That’s when he caught sight of Soohyun’s back, struggling away.

Why else would I leave work early if not to see him like that?

So focused he didn’t notice a thing, that tiny head grunting away was adorable as hell.

Gi Taeyeon only moved when Soohyun, sensing someone, started to turn. Curious what he was struggling with, he saw him wrestling with a tightly sealed jar. He didn’t notice the camera on the table until after he’d opened the lid.

“What’s that?”

“I was filming a video.”

He’d bought the camera because Soohyun looked uncomfortable fiddling with his phone. Gi Taeyeon didn’t care much about the filming comment. He didn’t care if he ended up in Soohyun’s videos either.

Since he’d been part of why Soohyun started YouTube, he wasn’t about to meddle now.

“Tomorrow, some guys are coming to the house. For CCTV.”

“The house? Why?”

Soohyun’s eyes went wide at the sudden announcement. Exactly as expected.

“Curious what Seo Soohyun’s up to alone at home while I’m working.”

“You got jealousy issues?”

Gi Taeyeon just laughed silently. Lately, he’d been half-wondering if he did have jealousy issues, so the question didn’t feel out of left field.

He wasn’t worried about Soohyun messing around with some other alpha. But when he wasn’t around, it definitely nagged at him. CCTV would ease his mind. He could check in whenever he felt like it.

He wasn’t into voyeurism, but watching Soohyun would definitely be entertaining.

“Suspecting your partner or lover’s a mental illness, they say.”

Even at the mention of mental illness, Gi Taeyeon only curled his lips into a smirk. Soohyun, reading something genuine in that face, scrunched up his own in a frown.

“I don’t like it. Don’t install that stuff.”

“Why not? Gonna mess around with some guy while your lover’s at work?”

“How do you live in this world with no trust? Trust’s the most important thing in a relationship.”

“Trust’s gotta be seen, Boss.”

This time, he sharpened his eyes.

“How’d you feel if I said I’d put CCTV in the Director’s office?”

“Wanna put one in the shower too? Watch me wash?”

Caught off guard by the even bolder response, Soohyun’s lips flapped in confusion.

“…Are you seriously saying you brought up CCTV because you’re curious what I do when you’re not here?”

“Jealousy issues, like I said.”

“Don’t say stuff like that. Even so, CCTV’s a bit much… I’m not some criminal. …What if I film videos to show you instead?”

“What videos?”

“…What I’m up to?”

He added that he couldn’t carry a phone while tending the fields, so he’d only show cooking.

Back then, Gi Taeyeon hadn’t imagined so many people would peek into Soohyun’s daily life. He should’ve foreseen it when Soohyun’s playtime, which started with filming, grew into editing and uploading at the cooking teacher’s nudging. Calling it “daily life” was a stretch—it was just a sliver. But even sharing that tiny piece with others was infuriating.

Isn’t it enough that I know how great he is?

Thankfully, Soohyun didn’t care much about running the channel. If he’d been the type to get sucked into that nonsense, Gi Taeyeon would’ve stopped him from starting.

“Jihwan.”

“Yes, Director.”

Gi Taeyeon lifted his finger from tapping the tablet and tilted his head toward Jihwan.

“You took your father’s surname, right?”

“Yes.”

Jihwan, about to step out, answered sharply despite the random question.

“Ever think about switching to your mother’s?”

“…Sir?”

“Something about you and the kid having the same surname reminds me of that bastard father of his, and it pisses me off.”

“…”

Jihwan stood silently, thinking to himself, What a loud way to be in love.

🍑

Today, too, felt like it’d be a perfectly calm day.

“I used to think dating someone like the Director might get me tangled in noisy messes.”

Soohyun mumbled to himself. Knowing the man wasn’t an ordinary office worker but someone who dealt in dangerous business, he’d braced himself for getting swept up in incidents like in the movies. But dating Gi Taeyeon was less chaotic and more serene, peaceful.

Guess that stuff only happens in movies.

The free movies on TV were all old ones, so maybe back then, those incidents were common, but not anymore.

When the Seoul grandpa first told him the man was a gangster, the other grandpas had reacted like, “Do those still exist?” So things had definitely changed since the old days. Soohyun hadn’t visited his loan office yet, so he couldn’t say how different it was from the movies, but the company where he worked as a director looked like something straight out of a proper drama.

“Better calm than chaotic.”

He’d started the relationship knowing it could get messy. That’s how much he liked Gi Taeyeon. He’d confessed, unable to contain his feelings, despite knowing his entire life could turn upside down. If that didn’t happen, it was all for the better.

And somehow, today felt like it’d flow as calmly and peacefully as ever.

“What’re you thinking about so hard?”

As he was mentally sorting through the day’s tasks, a familiar voice broke through. They’d agreed Soohyun would head to the Hannam-dong house while Gi Taeyeon handled work.

Summer’s summer, huh. The Director’s dressed real light.

With idle thoughts, Seo Soohyun followed the man who’d patted his butt, matching his steps.

“Director, about your loan office.”

“Loan sharks?”

“Yeah. I was thinking I’d like to see it.”

Saying he’d been thinking how peaceful dating the Director was compared to expectations would surely earn him a tease about what his little head was imagining, so Soohyun threw out a plausible excuse. Technically, it wasn’t a total lie since it had crossed his mind just now.

“Hm.”

Gi Taeyeon frowned as he stepped out the entrance.

“Might not be a pretty sight for a while…”

“What do you mean?”

Following him, Soohyun pressed the elevator button.

At first, the odd house layout felt unfamiliar, but now everything was second nature.

“No big deal. It’s just busy there lately, so we’ll go once things settle.”

Gi Taeyeon answered lightly, but something felt off.

Soohyun openly sized up his outfit. True to his “light” assessment, the loose, flashy-patterned shirt was eye-catching as always. The shirt alone could draw attention, but somehow, his gaze kept drifting to that face.

Is it ‘cause the Director’s so good-looking?

It could also be his build making the clothes fade into the background.

Either way, that outfit meant he wasn’t headed to the office but to a site. Whether it was a construction site—Does the Director even go to construction sites? That’s a bit questionable—or, as the Seoul grandpa put it, a gangster site, Soohyun couldn’t tell.

“You’re staring a hole through me.”

Gi Taeyeon teased but grinned as he pulled Soohyun into the elevator. Instead of pretending not to look, Soohyun held his head high and asked what was on his mind.

“Not going to the office, right?”

“If I wasn’t, I’d be hanging out with Seo Soohyun.”

“No, I mean, you’re not going to Seowoo Construction, right?”

Gi Taeyeon raised an eyebrow, as if wondering why he’d ask.

“Just curious.”

“Practically a husband already?”

“Live-in partners can ask this much.”

“Where’d you pick up ‘live-in partners’?”

“Overheard the elders talking.”

At the cooking academy, conversations with the elders, regardless of gender or traits, covered all sorts of topics. Maybe because they were city folks, their stories were different from the village grandpas’, full of eye-widening details.

“Tch, the kid’s all considerate. Not Seowoo—site inspection.”

Even so, Soohyun figured Gi Taeyeon’s world made him more considerate than the elders’ stories, but he didn’t say it out loud. He hadn’t gone into this relationship blind, and as his lover, he’d take his side.

Just then, the elevator reached the parking garage. Soohyun hopped out and climbed into the nearby car—passenger seat.

Last time, Gi Taeyeon’s early workday meant Soohyun drove to the academy himself, but when their schedules aligned like now, he rode with him.

From what the company folks said, he rarely drove himself, finding it a hassle, but it seemed he did it for Soohyun’s sake. Come to think of it, back when he visited Soohyun’s village, someone else always drove.

Is he deliberately not calling the guys?

As Soohyun reached for the seatbelt, Gi Taeyeon spoke.

“Why the sudden interest?”

Soohyun paused mid-buckle and looked at the man in the driver’s seat.

“Your shirt’s flashy, so I asked. I know you’ve got it handled, but still, be careful. Not too worried since you’ve got others with you.”

“You’re the one who needs to be careful, Seo Soohyun.”

Turning the wheel with his left hand, the man suddenly reached out with his right, gripping Soohyun’s thigh hard. The unexpected touch brought back memories of something they’d done in the car before, and his cheeks flushed red. Gi Taeyeon, catching the expression, cackled. A bit miffed, Soohyun snapped back sharply.

“Don’t laugh. It’s your fault I’m blushing.”

“How’s that my fault?”

“Because you…!”

About to ramble on, Soohyun clamped his mouth shut. On second thought, they were both to blame. Sensing this, the large hand dug blatantly into his inner thigh. Not staying still, Soohyun slapped the veiny back of the hand with a loud smack.

“Hitting your lover now?”

“Not when you’re driving.”

“So it’s fine when I’m not?”

“…I’ll think about it a bit.”

He’d meant to shut it down outright, but the memory of that day made him hesitate, and Soohyun softened his words. Sure, it was cramped and tough compared to a bed, but once in a while, it wasn’t bad.

“Oh, gonna think about it?”

Catching the implied yes despite the “thinking,” the man chuckled and let go. Even with the AC on, Soohyun felt heat spreading and shot Gi Taeyeon a pointless glare.

At the same time, he thought he understood why Gi Taeyeon drove himself instead of calling a driver. It probably wasn’t entirely calculated, but it was hard to believe there was no motive at all.

Whatever Gi Taeyeon’s intentions, Soohyun liked this time. Riding together, just the two of them, was nice, and so was keeping others out of their daily life.

🍑

“What time you coming back?”

Soohyun asked, unbuckling his seatbelt.

Talking made the ride pass quickly. Since they’d stayed at the apartment instead of the house yesterday, he’d come to Hannam-dong this morning to check on the bellflowers and deodeok.

In a way, they were living in two homes, but going back and forth wasn’t too inconvenient. If anything, as essentials started piling up at this house, it felt comfortable wherever they were.

Gi Taeyeon had once asked if he should move to the house permanently, but Soohyun shook his head. His lover had his reasons for living in an apartment, and he didn’t want him uprooting his life just for him. Staying here some days and there others was fun in its own way.

He’d never been camping, but it felt like this might be what it was like.

“Won’t take long, so don’t hang outside—laze around inside.”

“It’s not that hot today… The Director’s just too sensitive to heat. I handle it fine.”

He shouldn’t have brought up heatstroke.

Back when Gi Taeyeon acted like he’d never linked Soohyun with the word, it was one thing, but now, the slightest warmth brought warnings. No matter how much Soohyun stressed that people his age rarely got heatstroke, the attitude didn’t budge.

“Disobeying elders again.”

“Then I’ll just peek and head in.”

“Peek or not, snack and wait inside. Got it?”

If he pushed, he’d get scolded. Guess I’ll check with the Director later.

Seo Soohyun nodded meekly and got out of the car. He waved at Gi Taeyeon, not forgetting to turn quickly so as not to get an earful for lingering.

Just a quick stop at the garden? Temptation surged, but resisting the sweet lure, he headed straight into the house. It was a promise to Gi Taeyeon, sure, but he also had a gut feeling that going to the garden now would get him caught.

“Gotta say hi to Bokshil first.”

Turning on the AC out of habit, Soohyun set the remote down and headed to the sunny window. Behind the neatly arranged photo of Bokshil in the cabinet, a small urn was visible.

“Hey, Bokshil, your brother’s here.”

It’d been a few months since he brought Bokshil’s urn from the columbarium to the Hannam-dong house.

Worried it might break in an accident, he’d kept it at the columbarium and visited often, but after dating Gi Taeyeon, he moved it here. Somehow, he felt secure now.

In front of the urn was a framed photo of Bokshil, taken from an old phone. The phone’s age made the images low-quality, but somehow—probably Gi Taeyeon’s doing—the printed photos were all crisp and clear.

Next to it was a picture from an album of his father, grandfather, and young Soohyun. His grandfather, laughing heartily, had his father under one arm, Soohyun under the other, with Bokshil sprawled asleep on the ground beside them.

“Pretty.”

Soohyun didn’t feel down but cheerfully stroked the frame. He was glad he’d grabbed the album when they went to clear out the village store with Gi Taeyeon.

“Should call the grandpas today.”

With the heat lately, they’d likely be home around now.

Seo Soohyun trotted toward the kitchen. Feeling peckish, he planned to wash some green grapes from the fridge first.

🍑

“Wow, flower buds!”

Soohyun carefully reached out. His efforts paid off—the bellflowers had buds. Gently touching the still-green buds, he felt a firm yet soft texture, like stroking pea pods.

“Amazing.”

A murmur of awe slipped out.

It wasn’t his first time growing plants, but seeing them grow like this always filled him with wonder. No matter how much he watered or weeded, their ability to soak up sunlight and rainwater, thriving on their own, felt both admirable and mystical.

The stubby buds, not quite star-shaped yet, were no different. Bellflowers would bloom purple or white, but not knowing which color they’d become made him curious and eager for the not-so-distant day they’d open.

“Hoped I’d see them bloom, and it’s really happening.”

The moment he planted the deodeok and bellflowers floated through his mind. His thoughts naturally drifted back to the first time he saw the garden.

He’d been feeling heavy after hearing about Jeongkyun Seo. In that moment, seeing the garden the man had made for him lifted his spirits instantly. That’s why he’d gone on tiptoes to kiss him. Gi Taeyeon teased him about being a kid, but it was an impulsive act, unable to contain the sudden happiness.

Didn’t know things would turn out like this with the Director back then.

Soohyun rubbed the buds gently, lost in thought. That day had been warm like today. Spring sunlight was softer than summer’s, so it wasn’t odd that his heart had fluttered.

Looking back, that was probably when it started. When he began liking Gi Taeyeon.

It was a feeling like this flutter now.

Wondering if he’d eat the deodeok and bellflowers he grew next year had tangled his heart, but it was because he hadn’t yet realized he liked the Director. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt down imagining a future he’d never worried about before.

Guess love’s something you seize.

After staring at the bellflower buds, Soohyun slowly let go, turning to the vibrant green leaves. Maybe because he was gazing at the eye-soothing green, his mood felt fluffy too. Thinking of Gi Taeyeon always sent his heart dancing, so it wasn’t anything unusual.

He’d never thought his daily life was boring, but lately, each day was especially joyful. Even without anything special happening.

He’d wondered if the shift in environment was making his heart float like this. Living his whole life in the countryside and moving to a big city might’ve brought on late-onset homesickness.

But no matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t the restless feeling of failing to settle in a new place. And it wasn’t just the cooking academy or his new YouTube hobby either—his days had been fun and happy even before those.

No need for long debates to know why happiness was bubbling up. It was because he was dating Gi Taeyeon.

They say being with someone you love makes you happy even without doing anything special.

It made sense on the surface. It felt similar to how his heart softened just watching Bokshil purr in sleep.

Of course, dating a man wasn’t just warm fuzzies—it came with a mix of other emotions, so it wasn’t quite like Bokshil. But those differences made it hit home that he was in a relationship with Gi Taeyeon.

Soohyun had never imagined dating anyone. Maybe because he didn’t hang out with peers at school during the age when love was a big deal, or even in middle school, he wasn’t interested in that stuff.

So he’d never deeply considered what it meant to like someone. But liking someone turned out to be incredibly happy. Every day felt thrilling, and the unfamiliarity of that thrill was both strange and delightful—a truly wondrous emotion.

His gaze, fixed on the bellflower leaves, slowly shifted. Following it, Soohyun took leisurely steps. Right beside them were the deodeok plants, their slightly different-colored leaves catching his eye.

The deodeok hadn’t sprouted buds yet. But by late July, they’d bloom reddish next to the purple and white bellflower field, dropping their light. Their bell-like shape, just picturing it, was adorable.

“It’ll be so pretty when they all bloom.”

Plants each had their own time to root and flower, and it struck him that people’s hearts were no different. He hadn’t cared about liking someone as a kid, but now he was caught up in it, proof that everyone moved at their own pace.

And Soohyun thought his late first love wasn’t bad. If anything, it was good to experience it late. Being able to pour his first feelings entirely into Gi Taeyeon felt incredibly precious.

He didn’t put much weight on his first time having sex, but oddly, he attached a lot of meaning to his first emotions.

The Director seemed to feel that way too.

Soohyun was used to affection directed at him. Growing up surrounded by his father’s, grandfather’s, and Bokshil’s love, plus the village elders’ care, it’d be stranger if he wasn’t.

But being used to it didn’t mean he took it for granted. If anything, the familiarity helped him quickly recognize affection and strive to return it to those who gave it.

Thanks to that, he’d noticed right away that Gi Taeyeon was pouring his heart into him. The thrill and joy of each day came from feeling that affection so clearly.

“Said he’s getting off early today, right?”

Crouching and fiddling with the deodeok leaves, Soohyun peeked up cautiously. He listened intently, but there was no sound of a car pulling in.

Time often flew by when he was out in the garden, inspecting the soil and plants, but it seemed less than an hour had passed since he came out.

He’ll come if I wait. Instead of growing impatient, Soohyun lowered his head again. The fresh texture in his hands felt pleasant.

A person’s heart must be like this too. Like the deodeok and bellflowers growing year after year, love was something that repeated tirelessly. He might not see fruit this year, but next year, there’d be fruit—just as the next day would bring new feelings he hadn’t experienced today.

“Dad said love is something that keeps growing endlessly.”

That’s why he’d never doubted his feelings. It wasn’t because Gi Taeyeon was the first proper alpha he’d met, nor was it a mistake from meeting a dominant alpha for the first time.

He just liked Gi Taeyeon, the man. Knowing he was someone who did bad things, knowing his father and grandfather would’ve been furious and fallen ill if they were alive, he still liked him simply because his heart was drawn to him.

“Fuzz-face.”

“Ah.”

He nearly crushed the leaf he was stroking. Startled, Soohyun let go and stood up. Gi Taeyeon was walking toward him with an incredulous look, as if watching a clumsy performance.

“What’re you staring at? Told you to laze around inside, and here you are, not listening again.”

“It’s not that. Time passes faster in the garden, so I came out to wait for you, Director. Oh, right, Director! The bellflowers are blooming.”

“Where’s the flower?”

“Here, the buds are coming up. Still green, though.”

The man, stepping closer, lowered his eyelids. For someone who’d been out watering at dawn, he looked utterly uninterested. His long eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“How’s that blooming?”

“They’re getting ready to bloom. Flowers start with buds… Even for a Seoul guy, Director, you don’t know much.”

“Well, look at you.”

Or maybe most people thought flowers only counted when petals showed? Ignoring Gi Taeyeon’s teasing expression, Seo Soohyun subtly changed the subject. You shouldn’t take your own experience as the absolute standard, but this time, it was his mistake.

“Anyway, it’s fascinating, so I was looking. They’re a bit rough now, but in time, they’ll turn star-shaped. The green will become white or purple. You don’t look closely when you water, so I’ll let you know when they fully bloom. They’re really pretty and amazing.”

“Guess it’s amazing to a kid’s eyes.”

The man, standing there unimpressed, raised an eyebrow as if recalling something and drawled with a grin. Soohyun asked earnestly.

“Don’t you find it amazing, Director? The more I look, the more incredible it feels. They grow so much without us doing much.”

“Seo Soohyun growing up is more incredible.”

The smirking man patted his butt approvingly, then lifted him in a flash. Soohyun didn’t flinch, snuggling into Gi Taeyeon’s arms. Even held like this, he thought it odd to say he was still “growing” when he was already grown, but the man said strange things sometimes.

“Anyway, it’s good they’re healthy and growing. They need two years to bear fruit, so we’ve gotta keep caring for them.”

“So it’s all about care?”

“Farming’s always about care.”

“I’m not saying anything about playing in the garden, but do it in moderation.”

Moderation? Soohyun openly glared at Gi Taeyeon this time.

“Do it in moderation, and the whole year’s crop fails.”

Anything worth doing deserved your all.

Besides, the deodeok and bellflowers weren’t just being grown to eat next year. Sure, they were for eating, not just looking at, but his initial simple intent had long faded.

The deodeok and bellflowers he was raising held deep meaning for Seo Soohyun.

“Look at those lover-glaring eyes.”

Despite his firm tone, Gi Taeyeon just rubbed his own eyes dismissively. Soohyun kept chattering, unbothered by the man’s large hand freely touching his face.

“And these are really meaningful to me.”

He had to make it clear.

“The first things I planted in the garden you made for me were the deodeok and bellflowers.”

Gi Taeyeon stepped forward, as if urging him to go on.

“So I’m raising them with extra effort. They’re the ones I planted and tended in the garden you first made. And while watering, I had this thought—they won’t be fully grown until next year, but will I still be with you then? You don’t know how tangled my heart got worrying alone.”

“Why’d your heart get tangled?”

“I didn’t realize it, but I must’ve liked you back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought that.”

Seo Soohyun confessed without shame. At the admission of liking him even then, Gi Taeyeon met his eyes.

“Feeling reluctant to part made you think that, huh?”

“You don’t think that now?”

Despite the serpent-like gaze, Soohyun didn’t shy away, meeting it head-on.

“Nope. I’m with you now, aren’t I? I’ve never thought about us breaking up. What, have you, Director?”

“Who’d think such shitty thoughts?”

At the openly crumpled expression, Soohyun patted him approvingly. Maybe because his arms were around his shoulders, Gi Taeyeon looked exasperated, then reached out and pinched his nose. It didn’t hurt, but the sudden block made Soohyun put more force into his hands. The man chuckled, quickly letting go, then tilted his head, burying his face in Soohyun’s neck as if sniffing.

“No dirt smell.”

“I was just looking at flowers, didn’t touch the soil.”

“Keep raising them well.”

After telling him to do it in moderation, now this? Soohyun just stared down at Gi Taeyeon.

“You’re working hard because of me, right?”

“Yeah. They’re the first things I planted in the garden you made, so they’re special, and I’m raising them with care. They’re good for you too. So when they bear fruit next year, let’s make something tasty. Oh, the peppers we planted last month are growing well too.”

Seo Soohyun laid out the blueprints in his mind step by step. It was early summer, but with the heat coming, he was planning how to manage the garden.

He was chattering away excitedly, lightly swinging his legs, when he felt something hard below. Instinctively shutting his mouth and looking at Gi Taeyeon, he met the man’s eyes, his lips curling up.

“Instead of just looking at them, how about checking your lover’s pepper too?”

As always, it was shameless to the core.

“I check the Director’s pepper plenty.”

Since Gi Taeyeon’s comments like that weren’t new, Soohyun replied calmly, thinking he’d probably seen the flesh touching his leg more often than the garden crops.

“Haven’t checked it today.”

“Grandpa said things you see rarely are more exciting than things you see every day.”

Of course, he didn’t want to see it rarely. Being with Gi Taeyeon was always good. He’d even wondered, The Director’s a dominant alpha, so fine, but I’m recessive—should I be this eager? Their compatibility was great, so feeling it strongly made sense, but he’d reflected on whether he was going too far.

But Soohyun soon reached a simple conclusion. Wanting to share warmth with someone you love was a natural desire, wasn’t it? Some only wanted emotional connection, but he and his lover weren’t like that.

Their compatibility in bed and shared values about it were a real blessing.

“What, want me to go on a trip?”

“A trip?”

At the word “trip,” Soohyun’s eyes widened, looking down at Gi Taeyeon. He’d mentioned Incheon Airport before, so a trip likely meant overseas. Since they hadn’t been apart lately, Soohyun had forgotten he sometimes went on trips.

“Said it’s more exciting when it’s rare, right? I’m trying to match my baby’s taste here.”

It’d be hard to do that without being apart, a nod to his limited patience. Soohyun had shared Grandpa’s worldly wisdom, but he didn’t mean it, and Gi Taeyeon was just pretending to be generous.

But Soohyun quickly set aside Gi Taeyeon’s short patience and thin generosity, growing serious.

“Still, I don’t want to go days without seeing you… If you have to go, you have to. I don’t want to mess with your business. But if it’s not that, don’t go. I’d be bored alone.”

The village construction hadn’t started yet, so he could spend time there while Gi Taeyeon was away. There were people in Seoul to chat with too. But the monotony without him wasn’t something laughing with others could fix.

He’d never experienced it, but Soohyun instinctively knew Gi Taeyeon’s absence would bring not just boredom but longing and loneliness.

“Want to come with me?”

Gi Taeyeon smirked, clearly pleased by the unexpected reaction. Seizing the moment, Soohyun slipped in his wish.

“If that’s okay.”

“What’s not okay?”

“It might feel like a bother. I’m not part of your company. But if it’s fine, take me along. I’ll behave and not cause trouble.”

“And not run off.”

Knowing exactly when he meant, Soohyun scrunched his face.

“I told you I didn’t run off then. Why’s a grown man so petty?”

“Petty’s not me—it’s you, Seo Soohyun.”

Arguing back and forth, they were already in the bedroom. The hands supporting him slid, and thick fingers rubbed between his cheeks. His head hit the bed right after.

“So damn tight, a finger barely fits.”

“Ugh!”

About to retort, his voice was muffled by lips crashing onto his. A tongue slipped smoothly between his parted lips, pressing down on his slightly raised tongue meant for speaking. The hand that had been teasing over his underwear slipped out nonchalantly, grabbing his cheeks to force his mouth wider.

“Mmph…”

Soohyun, about to chatter back, let out a soft moan instead. The sensation of his tongue being pinned and his mouth stirred melted his urge to nag. His reflexive grip on Gi Taeyeon’s shirt crumpled it, but the loose fabric only tickled.

“Hnng…”

Unlike the languid moans, his fingertips tensed. The slick flesh moved like a snake, coiling and sucking his tongue, the pressure so strong it felt like being tied up if not for the wet saliva.

But Soohyun was more used to kisses that stole his breath than gentle, ticklish ones. Even the rough invasion, mashing his tongue, brought no resistance—only joy from the familiarity.

As he obediently offered his tongue, raising its tip, the flesh pressing it rubbed, sending hot warmth through him. Gi Taeyeon’s laughter tangled through their locked lips.

“Baby, laugh… hng.”

The question of why he was laughing didn’t come out clearly, scattering as a moan. Even when he tried to speak as their lips parted, Gi Taeyeon didn’t allow the moment, plunging his tongue back in.

The flesh that had been teasing his tongue now grazed the inside of his cheek, stimulating the wet membrane.

Gulp. Swallowing the saliva pooled under his tongue, he tightened his throat, and Gi Taeyeon scraped his lips with his teeth. Soohyun now knew it was to curb excitement.

“Ha, put your arms up.”

The man growled low, lifting his hips as if he couldn’t hold back. Soohyun, panting with a dazed face, clumsily raised his arms. Thanks to Gi Taeyeon’s groping during the kiss, his loose t-shirt came off easily.

“What is this, a newborn kitten?”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled at the static-frizzed hair.

It’s ‘cause the Director ripped my clothes off… Grumbling inwardly, Soohyun reached to pull him closer.

“Hk!”

Just then, Gi Taeyeon grabbed both wrists with one hand, pulling them up and pinning them gently. Confused but following the man’s lowering lips, Soohyun opened his mouth.

With his hands above his head, lying down with bent elbows, it wasn’t too straining. Since Gi Taeyeon often grabbed his wrists or ankles like this, Soohyun didn’t struggle, focusing obediently on the kiss.

Each time the thick tongue licked his soft cheek or rubbed his palate, his limp fingers twitched.

“Why were you outside?”

Pulling away, the man grazed his cheek with his teeth, asking. Not waiting for an answer, sharp teeth moved to his neck. His wrists stayed pinned.

“It felt like time for you to come, ah, ugh, so I went out early to greet you. I said earlier… hk!”

He only remembered their plan to check the garden together after seeing Gi Taeyeon. Eating early grapes and talking with the grandpas had made him forget.

The teeth nibbling his neck didn’t feel accusatory. Just the usual teasing, mildly ticklish, mildly sharp.

Gi Taeyeon, who’d been nuzzling around, tilted his head. Looking down at his crown, their eyes naturally met. The whites of his eyes, stark from looking up, sent a chill through him.

It wasn’t his first time seeing the man aroused during sex, but something about those eyes froze him. Not from fear, but from his body instinctively bracing for the excitement to follow.

“How early is early?”

“Not that long…”

Saying it wasn’t long was a stretch—he’d been in the sun quite a while. And by Gi Taeyeon’s standards, even a few minutes would count as long, so he couldn’t lie outright.

“Oh, really?”

Despite catching that “not long” meant long by his vague excuse, the man seemed to let it slide for once. As Soohyun nodded, relieved, it happened.

“Ah, don’t!”

Gi Taeyeon buried his nose in the exposed armpit. Realizing what he was doing, Soohyun thrashed. It wasn’t full summer, so he wasn’t sweating buckets, but early summer sun was harsh, and armpits were folded skin.

“Don’t what?”

“My armpit, why, hng! I-I haven’t showered!”

“Neither have I.”

But their situations were different. He’d said site inspection, but when Soohyun was in his arms, he’d felt cool, likely from an AC-blasted place. Not Seo Soohyun—he’d been in the garden, surely sweaty.

Even with the experience of Gi Taeyeon holding him while he peed, exposing his armpit was mortifying.

“Hng, it’s, it’s folded skin, ugh, it could be sweaty!”

“You suck my dick, but I can’t suck your armpit?”

…Was that how it worked? He blanked for a moment.

“No fuzz on Fuzz-face’s cheeks. No pubes, and your armpit’s, fuck, smooth as hell.”

The hot, wet flesh finally touched the thin skin where his nose had grazed.

“Hk!”

So shocked, Soohyun gasped loudly. Hearing it, the man laughed heartily, pressing his lips openly and sucking blatantly. Like a dog lapping water, his wide tongue rubbed the pale, sunken spot without restraint.

“Ha, ugh!”

His panicked legs flailed, but there was no way he could push off someone twice his weight. Soohyun couldn’t speak, only panting. Like the first time his dick was sucked, he had no idea how to react.

Over his ragged breaths, the soft slurp, slurp of lips on tender skin mixed in. The tongue pressed hard into the curve, while the free hand groped his chest.

“Ah!”

Unlike the right, his stiff nipple was rubbed by rough fingers.

Soohyun’s hips jerked reflexively. The pain-tinged pleasure from his chest was one thing, but the wet, heavy tongue on his sensitive armpit sparked ticklish arousal. The shame of exposing a private part to Gi Taeyeon played a role too. He’d sucked his dick and hole, but somehow, the armpit felt like a different issue, making it more embarrassing.

“Stop, licking, hng!”

With his arms up, a line formed along his slender arm from the sunken armpit. The man, nose buried in the curve, blatantly inhaled with a sniff. Shame and humiliation hit, reddening his ears.

“Ha, fuck, smells sweet—why stop?”

With muscles and veins passing through, the armpit was rich in pheromone glands. But as a recessive omega, Soohyun’s scent was so faint he wouldn’t notice unless a dominant alpha like Gi Taeyeon sniffed deeply.

“Hng, I, I, barely smell, hk, of pheromones…”

“It’s not that you don’t smell—it’s that other bastards can’t smell it.”

His face was so close that each word brought hot, aroused breaths against Soohyun’s skin.

“As long as Seo Soohyun doesn’t show his armpit or ass to other guys.”

“Ugh, why would I, ah, show anyone!”

“Just try showing off. You’ll get it.”

Gi Taeyeon bit the pale skin like a warning. The persistent licking and nibbling left red marks. With continuous stimulation, his shoulders trembled, shaking his arms, and the man’s hair brushed his bare skin. The ticklish feeling wasn’t just from the hair.

Each time the soft, wet tongue sucked the tender flesh with a slurp, slurp, a ticklish sensation spread from the armpit to his sides and ribs.

“Ha, ugh, hng!”

The same went for his twisted nipple. Used to stimulation, it sparked sharp pleasure even with just a touch, and the hard fingers, unlike a smooth tongue, stirred blissful arousal.

His heated body, ready for an alpha’s cock, leaked thick fluid. He felt his underwear soaking through.

“Director, hk, stop, licking…!”

Even straining his arms, Gi Taeyeon showed no sign of stopping. He slid his lips along the line from the armpit.

Unable to hold back, Soohyun thrashed his legs, rubbing against the hard erection under the man’s suit pants.

“Our Soohyun’s getting clever?”

Gi Taeyeon smirked, pulling back. It wasn’t a trick to stop the armpit licking—his body was too heated to hold out. Foreplay was nice, but he wanted to feel Gi Taeyeon more directly.

“Not that, hng, I want it now. Can’t wait…”

“We’re doing it—sex.”

The man, who didn’t count acts without penetration as sex, teased a red nipple with a grin.

“No, ugh… I want your dick inside.”

Even with his honest plea, Gi Taeyeon just stared. For all his playful nipple-tugging, his eyes were thick with lust.

“Your hole’s all wet…”

“Fuck, look at that aegyo.”

Spreading his cheeks slightly, the man laughed dismissively, yanking off his pants. Not dressed for going out, just the garden, Soohyun wore comfy sweats, easily pulled down. Before he could see where they landed, thick fingers dug into his underwear. The sensation of wet fabric rubbing his ass was vivid.

“Ahh…”

“Already came?”

“N-no, not yet…”

“Your hole came, though. Soaked.”

Cum and fluid felt different, but he knew and said it anyway. Gi Taeyeon teased, groping around his hole. Glancing at the mischievous man, Soohyun shuddered and dropped his head. No pheromones, but the familiar touch made his hole twitch already.

“I’ll fuck you, so stick out your tongue.”

At the commanding tone, Soohyun obediently extended his tongue. The man grinned fiercely, pulling his hand from the underwear and fondling Soohyun’s tongue with fluid-coated fingers. Unfazed, Soohyun slid his tongue to match Gi Taeyeon’s pace.

“Ha.”

Gi Taeyeon let out a breathy chuckle. Despite his loose shirt, his thick chest heaved.

The touch was far from gentle. Saliva-slicked fingers roughly handled the soft, red flesh. They only retreated when Soohyun, tongue out, swallowed hard, unable to clear the pooling saliva.

“Ah!”

The hand stripped off his underwear and plunged into his hole. Piercing the entrance and walls in one go, there was no pain—both fingers and walls were slick. His body, aroused by unfamiliar foreplay, twitched as if welcoming the alpha’s touch.

“Hng, ah, ahh…”

As the fingers widened him, growing to two, his hole swallowed another. The foreign sensation was both uncomfortable and familiar. Each finger pushing in different directions stirred a dull pleasure, heating his body.

“Hnng…”

Heard recessive omegas don’t feel much…

It wasn’t taught in sex ed, so maybe it wasn’t solid info, but he vaguely recalled something like it on TV. With less pheromones, their bodies, opened by pheromones, felt less compared to standard or dominant types.

That’s why Chansuh injected drugs, claiming to give a dominant’s sensation—dominants had bodies far more sensitive to pheromones.

“Aht!”

“Cumming already? So damn sensitive.”

He didn’t need pointing out—his body’s sensitivity was clear.

His erect cock spurted just from the man’s touch. Even without his tightening walls, Gi Taeyeon’s intense stare on his cock made it obvious he’d cum. Yet, instead of stopping, he shoved in a fourth finger, rapidly twisting his wrist.

The already stimulated walls grew wetter, swelling thickly under the rougher thrusting.

“Ah, ah! Ah, ha, Di! Aah! I’m, I’m going, hk, there!”

“Helping you go faster, aren’t I?”

“Aht, noo!”

His hole gushed like water, squelching loudly. The pleasure of being fucked from behind, on top of cumming, made his whole body tremble. Soohyun twisted his hips wildly. Each time the stubborn fingers crushed a plump spot inside, a sobbing moan burst out.

“Hng, ah, aah…”

“Could wash my hands with your hole’s juice.”

The hand tormenting his hole only retreated after his whimpering. Panting heavily, Soohyun barely lifted his eyelids. The veiny hand, soaked in fluid, filled his vision. Not dripping like water, but wet enough to call drenched.

“Don’t, tease, hk… It’s your fault!”

“Then it better be my fault.”

Gi Taeyeon raised an eyebrow as if it were obvious, wiping his wet hand on his pants. Soohyun instinctively swallowed.

Following the hand lowering his pants, a menacingly erect cock emerged. Unlike Soohyun’s flushed cock from cumming, the dark-red shaft looked grim, maybe from the thick hair.

Not fully stripping, Gi Taeyeon pulled out his cock, gripping it and tapping the twitching hole. Fluid from his perineum mixed with the friction, squelching as it clung to the tip.

Soohyun, kicking the sheets with his heels, watched the man between his legs. Even clothed, the man’s presence was intimidating, lazily stroking his cock like masturbating. Each time Gi Taeyeon’s cock brushed his hole, Soohyun’s navel tensed, his slim stomach sinking. The pink, ripe hole opened and closed repeatedly.

“Director, hurry…”

Catching Gi Taeyeon’s deliberate dawdling, Soohyun didn’t hold back his plea. He knew the man would drag it out until he was blunt.

“Hurry what?”

“I saw your pepper, hng, so put it in already.”

“Saw what now?”

“I’ve seen it plenty. Know it by heart.”

Sure, he’d broken a promise, but the man’s teasing was mean. Narrowing his eyes at Gi Taeyeon, Soohyun reached again, groping between his cheeks.

“And when it’s inside, I know exactly how it feels…”

Gi Taeyeon, who’d been pouting playfully, twisted his lips thinly.

“Our Fuzz-face getting better at riling people up?”

“Aah!”

The tip rubbing his hole plunged in without warning. Soohyun flailed his arms. Grabbing Gi Taeyeon’s arm, he heard a low laugh as the man pressed closer. A tongue slid between his parted lips, merging them.

“Mmph.”

With pheromones slowly pouring out, Soohyun struggled to breathe through his nose. Despite stretching him, the tight flesh didn’t yield easily. Slick fluid and his body’s response to alpha pheromones eased the cock’s entry, but its size—bigger than fingers and palm combined—meant the untouched depths opened slowly.

It wasn’t painful. Each time the hot flesh crushed the tightly closed depths, sharp pleasure spread. Not just from hitting his inner sweet spot—knowing he was joined with someone he loved brought immense satisfaction.

Soohyun only realized Gi Taeyeon’s cock was fully in when he felt the coarse friction at his perineum. The man, biting his lips, rocked slowly, starting to peel off his clinging shirt.

“Ah, hng…”

“Ha…”

Unlike usual fast, rough thrusts, he kept his torso upright, moving his hips leisurely, so the stuffed cock didn’t slip out. Forcing a too-big piece into a tight space, the walls clung like melted jelly—a natural result. With fluid movements, not harsh pounding, the locked cock stayed put.

Pop, pop.

Each time Gi Taeyeon undid a button with delicate hands mismatched to their size, a faint squelch sounded.

“Ahh…”

If someone overheard, they’d think Soohyun was masturbating alone, with low, sultry moans and wet sounds mingling slowly.

“Baby.”

“Hng!”

As if he hadn’t been rolling his hips, the man tossed his shirt and suddenly thrust upward. The cock, buried to the root, pressed soft cheeks as if to shove in his balls, then pulled out fast.

Maybe from staying in so long, the stretched hole tugged slightly, scraping the veiny shaft.

But the crude sight was brief. The man, pulling out his glistening cock, slammed it back in without pause.

Thwuck!

“Hoo, satisfied now?”

“Ah, ugh, ugh!”

Fluid pooled in the membrane spurted out as the cock withdrew. Each thrust made a splat, splat! The stretched, reddened hole eagerly sucked the thick shaft as if thrilled to be pierced.

“Ha, good… mmph!”

Gi Taeyeon looked down at his honest lover, lips splitting into a grin. Like a snake baring sharp fangs.

Each upward thrust swelled his firm thighs. Moving so roughly, his black suit pants revealed the stark outline of his muscles.

“Hnng, aah!”

“Gotta, ha, change the bed…”

The man, eyeing Seo Soohyun thoroughly, grumbled briefly. The solid bed headboard was suddenly a source of irritation. If it had been an open iron frame, he could’ve tied Soohyun’s wrists to it.

“Ahh, hng, Direc-, hii!”

They’d had messy sex before, but he wasn’t particularly into restraining others. He had no desire to leave marks on those slender, pale wrists either.

But pinning his arms up would make licking his armpit so much easier. Despite never having done this kind of foreplay, just as he felt no hesitation sucking Soohyun’s hole, he felt no aversion to licking his armpit. If anything, seeing those shame-flushed cheeks made him want to do it more, but that was another matter.

“Fuck you slowly?”

“Mmh, mmph…”

Seo Soohyun nodded. His whole body rocked with each thrust, so it was unclear if the nod was from momentum or intentional, but the clear answer amidst his moans suggested it was deliberate.

“Said you wanted it fast, Boss.”

“Ah, noo, aah!”

Thwuck, thwuck! Unable to keep up with the quickening pace, Soohyun flailed, scratching the hand gripping his waist. It was like a tiny country pup clawing, so light that Gi Taeyeon chuckled, lowering his gaze. That’s when he noticed the ring on his left ring finger. A ring he’d chosen himself.

“Ha.”

Buying the ring was pure impulse. Even so, it reflected Gi Taeyeon’s taste. He didn’t need to ask for Soohyun’s ring size—he could guess just by holding his hand. He’d never seen Soohyun wear a ring, so he didn’t know his taste in them.

Still, seeing him wear it regularly, it must’ve suited him.

Maybe he doesn’t care about taste.

A sudden dark feeling surged, and Gi Taeyeon swiftly grabbed Soohyun’s left hand. Bending slowly, he bit the fourth finger. Just leaning forward shifted the angle, and the tight flesh clung wetly to his shaft.

“Hng, ahh…”

Soohyun whimpered but fidgeted with the finger in his mouth. His attempt to glide his tongue was clumsy, unlike his usual deft touches. Maybe because Gi Taeyeon taught him sex, he seemed eager to mimic everything he did.

It’s not like I’m dating an actual kid.

Gi Taeyeon sucked hard on the nibbled finger before opening his lips. Then he tightened his grip on the hand.

“Soohyun.”

“Hng!”

“Lose this, hoo… and you’ll really get your ass spanked.”

“I, I won’t lose it, ahh!”

Gi Taeyeon never understood giving rings to lovers. He’d never had a relationship worth calling that, so he’d never had reason to give one. Still, he couldn’t fathom why his underlings bought rings for dating or marriage.

If it was an asset to liquidate in emergencies, it made some sense. Precious metals weren’t bad for quick cash—not requiring billions like real estate and easy to store.

But he’d only thought lazily, Wouldn’t gold be better? Gems lose value when resold.

So why put this on Fuzz-face’s finger?

He’d given Seo Soohyun plenty. The land appreciating steadily, this house long in Soohyun’s name. For his birthday in a few months, he planned a gift he’d like.

Soohyun might think the birthday land was ordinary forest, but in less than a decade, its value would skyrocket.

Pouring material things on his young lover while he remained unaware was amusing, so “putting it in Soohyun’s name” stayed Gi Taeyeon’s private hobby. A ring, though, was an unexpected choice even now.

“Hng… Director, I love it…”

Soohyun panted with a wet voice. Suddenly, a clear, unmoaned voice pierced his ears.

“Feeling reluctant to part made you think that, huh?”

“You don’t think that now?”

“Nope. I’m with you now, aren’t I? I’ve never thought about us breaking up. What, have you, Director?”

What had he answered then?

He’d never entertained such pointless thoughts—imagining it alone pissed him off.

Seo Soohyun still felt like a marvel to Gi Taeyeon. The way he scurried around, worked diligently, had only fuzz on his face yet such capable hands—all of it was wondrous. But he wasn’t playing lover just because Soohyun was fascinating.

In his line of work, he met plenty of oddballs beyond mere fascination. Soohyun’s unexpectedness piqued his interest, but that alone didn’t make him bring him home and buy a ring.

“So, I’ll, hng, keep wearing it…”

“Yeah, you better.”

The image of Soohyun standing tall in the lush garden came to mind.

Deodeok and bellflowers. Why obsess over common weeds? They held meaning, he’d said. The first things planted in the land Gi Taeyeon made for him, so they were special.

“First.”

The word felt foreign on his tongue.

He’d never placed meaning in “firsts.”

But if a first ever gained meaning, it’d surely be Seo Soohyun.

Like buying a ring for the first time and slipping it on his finger.

“Fuck…”

His clenched jaw twisted, and raw curses slipped through his lips.

“Ha, ugh, ah!”

Gi Taeyeon interlaced his fingers with Soohyun’s left hand, pressing his body fully against him. He shoved his thick tongue between the panting lips, thrusting wildly like a beast.

“Ugh! Mmh…”

Soohyun gripped the interlaced hand tightly. The feeble strength was more than enough to shake Gi Taeyeon with its warmth.

“Kh…”

With release, Gi Taeyeon exhaled roughly. Between his middle and ring fingers, the ring’s heated, sweat-slick presence stood out.

For the first time, the realization of why he’d bought Seo Soohyun a ring struck like lightning.

What had been buried in his subconscious, masked as impulse, was driven by an entirely different emotion.