Cherry Cake Chapter 8.2

Seo Soohyun chattered as he placed two bowls of rice on the table. Gi Taeyeon glanced at the spread and chuckled.

“What is this, a feast fit for a king?”

On the table were two steaming bowls of white rice and a generous portion of galbijjim (braised short ribs), brimming with potatoes, carrots, and various vegetables.

🍑

Seo Soohyun exhaled slowly, mustering his courage.

“Hello.”

He closed his eyes briefly as he opened the door, stepping inside and greeting the receptionist.

“Hello. Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes. Seo Soohyun.”

“One moment, please.”

While listening to the clicking of the keyboard, Soohyun glanced around. The clinic was much more luxurious than any he’d seen before, but the familiar dental smells and sounds of machinery were still present.

“You said you wanted a full check-up? And you’ve been having toothaches?”

“Yes.”

“Please have a seat and wait.”

Seo Soohyun sat on the sofa as instructed. He knew he shouldn’t be afraid of the dentist, he was an adult, but the unfamiliar environment made him nervous.

‘I had to come eventually….’

He’d be scolded again if he kept putting it off.

Think positive. He was here because of Gi Taeyeon, but he decided to look on the bright side. The pain would be gone soon, and he’d know the cause of the toothache, which would be a relief.

I wonder why it was hurting.

Seo Soohyun fidgeted as he waited.

“It’s your wisdom teeth.”

“Wisdom teeth?”

“Yes. See this area here?”

An x-ray image of his teeth was displayed on the screen. Seo Soohyun stared at the horizontally impacted tooth, so different from his other neatly aligned teeth.

“It’s impacted and lying horizontally. If you’re lucky, it might erupt through the gums like a regular tooth and can be easily extracted, but in this case, we’ll need to make an incision and remove it in pieces.”

“Oh….”

The bottom line was, it had to be removed.

“We’ll use anesthetic, so don’t worry too much. Could you open your mouth for me?”

Seo Soohyun opened his mouth wide. A cold metal instrument pressed against his tongue, and he tasted metal. It was an unpleasant sensation.

“Have you had any recent pain?”

“Yes, but very occasionally, not frequently.”

“It’s still best to remove it, especially since there’s no inflammation…. Do you have anything important planned for this afternoon? If not, we could extract it now.”

“Let’s do it now.”

Better to get it over with.

“Then I’ll prepare the anesthetic. Please wait a moment.”

“Okay.”

Seo Soohyun tried to distract himself to avoid getting too nervous.

Maybe I should have come with the Director.

‘Want me to come with you?’

‘Aren’t you busy?’

‘Kids cry at the dentist. I should hold your hand, promise you treats afterwards.’

‘….I can go alone. And I don’t cry like that.’

His pride had been hurt by Gi Taeyeon teasing him like a child, so he’d insisted on coming alone, but now he slightly regretted it. He wouldn’t have asked the Director to hold his hand, but it would have been comforting to have someone waiting for him.

‘But he probably would have teased me even more if he came.’

Either way, he would have been teased.

Wisdom teeth…. He hadn’t expected that. He’d ruled out cavities since he hadn’t experienced any sensitivity, but he hadn’t considered impacted wisdom teeth. He’d heard they usually emerged during adolescence, and since he hadn’t experienced any problems when his friends were getting theirs removed, he’d assumed he didn’t have any. Apparently, they had just been hiding.

‘At least it’s not a cavity.’

His grandmothers always said you had to take care of your teeth and eyes while you were young. Cavities were easily treated these days, but healthy teeth were still important.

Besides, he would have been in serious trouble if it had been a cavity. He might have been banned from snacks altogether.

‘I should call him after it’s done.’

He was trying to figure out how to explain the wisdom tooth situation without being teased when a shadow fell over him.

“We’re going to administer the anesthetic now. It’ll sting a little, but don’t worry too much. You won’t feel much during the extraction either.”

The dentist and a nurse approached.

“Okay.”

“Would you like to hold this? We offer it to patients who are feeling anxious.”

The nurse held out a stuffed animal, a white hamster with puffed-out cheeks.

“Thank you.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Seo Soohyun accepted the toy and clutched it tightly. He felt a little embarrassed, but it was better than being needlessly defiant.

“Here’s your prescription. You can remove the gauze after about two hours. Call us if the bleeding persists.”

Soohyun mumbled a reply and handed over Gi Taeyeon’s card. He’d find out about the extraction soon enough.

“Take care.”

He bowed to the friendly staff and stepped into the elevator, testing his tongue.

It hadn’t been as bad as he’d anticipated. The anesthetic had stung a bit, but he hadn’t felt anything during the extraction. He’d only struggled with keeping his mouth open wide enough. It had been slightly awkward when they asked him to open wider, even though he was already at his limit.

‘I have to keep this gauze in for two hours. I should call him after I stop by the pharmacy.’

The Director had told him to call after the appointment, but it would be difficult to talk with the gauze in his mouth. He decided to text instead.

He was making plans as he stepped out of the elevator when—

“Soohyun!”

Seo Soohyun, about to head to the pharmacy, stopped as someone grabbed his arm.

“Oh?”

“What are you doing here?”

Lee Chanseo looked surprised.

“I was going to call.”

“I forgot.”

He spoke honestly to Lee Chanseo, who looked slightly hurt as he placed a tray with drinks on a nearby table. They had entered a cafe in the building to talk comfortably. The entire building was a medical complex, so Lee Chanseo must have been here for an appointment as well, but he said he could come back later and insisted on staying with Seo Soohyun.

“Take this and drink it later. Too bad you can’t eat anything after the extraction.”

So they can be packaged like this. Seo Soohyun nodded, looking at the canned drink. It seemed to be some kind of tea; the pale pink liquid contained small, floating flowers, possibly roses.

Remembering that rose tea existed, he touched the can. It felt cool from the ice, which was pleasant.

“How’s your tooth? Does it hurt? The anesthetic probably hasn’t worn off yet…. Should I get you some painkillers?”

Seo Soohyun shook his head. The anesthetic was still working, so he didn’t feel any pain. He didn’t think he’d need painkillers. And even if the pain returned, he had the prescribed medication. He’d take it after dinner.

“When did you come to Seoul?”

“Um…. early March.”

Soohyun rolled his eyes, trying to recall the exact date. He’d gotten used to the gauze, and his speech wasn’t as slurred as he’d expected. The antiseptic taste and faint metallic tang of blood were unpleasant, but he had to keep the gauze in his mouth anyway, so talking to Lee Chanseo wasn’t too difficult. He was also happy to see him after so long.

“It’s been a few weeks then?”

“Yeah.”

“I was thinking of visiting you after midterms…. Where are you staying? Did your Seoul grandmother move to Seoul?”

It would be strange to say he was living with the Director.

But he couldn’t lie. Lee Chanseo knew about the redevelopment of his village and sometimes heard news from his grandfather. It would be awkward if he was caught lying.

“My Seoul grandmother hasn’t moved yet.”

“Then?”

“I’m staying at the Director’s place.”

“Director? That guy from before?”

Seo Soohyun swallowed his blood-tinged saliva and nodded. Lee Chanseo’s expression turned serious, and he bombarded him with questions.

“How did you end up staying with him? You haven’t known him for long. Soohyun, that man is dangerous. I know he doesn’t bother ordinary people these days, but do you remember how rude he was to us? Don’t tell me….”

Lee Chanseo’s frown deepened as a thought occurred to him.

“You’re not involved in anything weird, are you?”

“Weird?”

Soohyun had no idea what he was referring to.

But only for a moment. He’d initially assumed the Director wanted him to work for his gang or a loan sharking business when he’d offered him a job, so perhaps Lee Chanseo had similar assumptions.

That would explain his concerned reaction. His grandmothers had reacted similarly.

“I mean, what if he’s making you….”

“Making me what? I’m not doing anything weird. I cook for the Director.”

Lee Chanseo’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. His expression, initially serious, now turned puzzled.

“He ate at our house before, remember? He must have liked my cooking. He’s been saying he’s tired of takeout lately, so I agreed to cook for him.”

“Why are you doing that?”

Finally understanding, Lee Chanseo sighed and rubbed his temples. His handsome, kind face, so different from Gi Taeyeon’s, expressed his disapproval.

“What’s wrong with cooking? I’m getting paid for it.”

Lee Chanseo’s reaction was similar to his grandmothers’, so Seo Soohyun patiently explained.

“I need to eat too, and it’s not difficult to cook for him while I’m cooking for myself. He usually eats out for lunch anyway. We have a contract, and I’m getting paid well, so don’t worry.”

It really wasn’t a difficult job. He was so bored lately that he’d been considering learning something new.

“And I have to work to earn money anyway. I enjoy it because I get paid for something I like doing.”

He’d been planning to work at construction sites or factories if he couldn’t find anything else, so this was a perfect job for him. Besides, even though he’d never had a part-time job before, he knew how difficult it was to find one that paid three million won a month. And he wasn’t even working full-time. Even on days when he cooked elaborate meals, he worked less than four hours a day.

“You don’t need to work if you live with me. Why bother?”

He thought he’d explained it clearly, but Lee Chanseo still looked unconvinced. Seo Soohyun found his logic more perplexing.

“Why wouldn’t I need to work if I lived with you?”

“Huh?”

“I know you’re trying to be nice to me, and I appreciate your offer to live with you. But I can’t rely on you forever. Even if you were my cousin, it would be too much to ask, and we’re not even related.”

Seo Soohyun firmly believed his grandmother’s words: there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Of course, there were acts of kindness without expecting anything in return, but living with someone rent-free went beyond simple kindness.

He didn’t suspect Lee Chanseo of having ulterior motives, but the offer felt excessive. And he didn’t like being indebted to anyone. He’d refused his Seoul grandmother’s offer for the same reason.

‘Unlike Yiseon, I can’t help Seoul Grandma with her work.’

He’d accepted Gi Taeyeon’s offer because it was something he could do.

“You can pay me back later. I told you, there are many things you can learn in Seoul, so you can learn anything you’re interested in. You like cooking, so you can get a chef’s license or learn baking…. You can pay me back after you start earning money.”

Lee Chanseo clarified his intentions.

“Soohyun, I’m not offering this out of pity. I’m saying this because I care about you. I also want to repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“I understand, but…. I’m doing well, so don’t worry too much. I forgot to call you. You know I don’t use my phone much.”

He’d meant to call Lee Chanseo but had forgotten. It was probably because they weren’t seeing each other every day like he did with his grandmothers. If Lee Chanseo hadn’t gone to college, they would have seen each other all the time, and he wouldn’t have forgotten.

“Haah, alright. I guess my offer could have been burdensome.”

Lee Chanseo fidgeted with his glass, which was covered in condensation, then spoke.

“Are you getting paid properly? Can I ask how much?”

“One hundred thousand won a day.”

“One hundred thousand? Are you a live-in housekeeper? That’s way too little.”

“No, I’m not. I only cook. There’s a separate cleaning lady.”

Lee Chanseo’s suspicion vanished, and he sighed, rubbing his cheek. So he was being paid generously. Soohyun continued with an innocent expression.

“And he deposits the money into my account every day, so don’t worry about him not paying me.”

“He’s not asking you to do anything else, right?”

He wondered what else the Director could possibly ask him to do. Assuming it was housework, he elaborated instead of asking what he meant.

“Nothing like that. I really just cook. Well, the Director helps with setting the table…. So, I just cook. And the dishes are usually done in the dishwasher.”

Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t doing much. He wondered if he was being overpaid, but considering the Director’s spending habits, this must be pocket change to him. It was a good deal for Seo Soohyun, who needed to save money.

‘I should cook him lots of delicious food from now on.’

He’d been seriously considering learning international cuisine. He was bored without a garden, and he could expand his cooking repertoire.

“How old is he?”

Lee Chanseo, who had been staring at him intently, suddenly asked. Seo Soohyun found the question random but answered readily.

“I haven’t asked…. But I think he’s at least fifteen years older than me.”

He knew his grandmothers’ names but not their exact ages. Similarly, he knew the Director’s name was Gi Taeyeon but not his age.

He pictured Gi Taeyeon. His handsome features made it difficult to guess his age, but considering his profession and position, he couldn’t be in his early thirties. He didn’t look like he was in his forties either, so probably mid to late thirties.

“He’s making a kid cook for him despite the age gap….”

Lee Chanseo sighed again, his expression troubled.

“He’s not making me; I’m working for him. And what does age have to do with working?”

The owner of his favorite handmade cookie shop was around his age. The shop was so popular that the cookies often sold out by the afternoon, proving that age and cooking skills were unrelated.

“That’s not what I meant…. Anyway, I understand. I won’t say anything else if you insist. Haah, so how long are you staying there?”

Seo Soohyun hadn’t considered this, and he paused. He clenched his jaw, and the pressure on the gauze sent an unpleasant taste into his mouth.

I want to spit this out. He swallowed his blood-tinged saliva and spoke.

“I’m not sure….”

They had a contract, but it didn’t specify a timeframe.

“But I think I’ll stay until I, or rather, until we find my father. The Director said he’d help me find him.”

Once they found Seo Jeonggyun, he’d get his inheritance back, and the land issue would be resolved for Gi Taeyeon as well.

He hadn’t thought much about what would happen after that. He’d vaguely imagined finding a place to live with the money he’d earned, perhaps somewhere his Seoul grandmother had recommended, but now, that felt like a distant future. It wasn’t just because the Director hadn’t found any leads on Seo Jeonggyun, but also because he’d grown accustomed to his current life.

“Soohyun, actually….”

Lee Chanseo hesitated, then lowered his voice.

“I think I know where your father is. I don’t know his exact address, but…”

“How do you know that?”

Seo Soohyun was surprised. He hadn’t expected this from Lee Chanseo.

“It’s a long story…. I asked my grandfather to look into it after I met you. He’s still legally married to your mother, so there’s information available.”

“Where is he?”

“Seoul. I’ll need to look into his exact address.”

It wasn’t surprising that he was in Seoul, since he’d lived there before.

But why hasn’t the Director found him yet? If Lee Chanseo’s grandfather could find him, Gi Taeyeon should be able to as well.

‘Or maybe not…’

He changed his mind. Lee Chanseo came from a legal family, so he probably had connections with the police, making it easier to find him.

He was lost in thought, biting his lip, when—

“Anyway, I’ll let you know once I find out more. I was going to tell you after I found his address, but I didn’t know you were in Seoul.”

Lee Chanseo looked at him.

“Are you okay?”

Seo Soohyun clenched his fists. He had to find Seo Jeonggyun, not just for himself but for Gi Taeyeon as well.

🍑

“Has… the bleeding stopped?”

Seo Soohyun opened his mouth at the firm grip on his chin. Gi Taeyeon tilted his head, examining the inside of his mouth. He could probably see inside clearly in the bright sunlight.

“Looks fine. Except for your swollen face. You’ll probably get a bruise.”

Seo Soohyun waited until Gi Taeyeon released his chin before speaking.

“They told me to keep the gauze in for two hours, so I took it out right before coming here. The bleeding had already stopped. They gave me some medication; I’ll take it after dinner.”

“Can you eat anything for dinner?”

“Well, they said I should have porridge, but if it doesn’t hurt, I can eat anything except spicy food and soup. I feel fine, so I think I can eat regular food.”

He regretted delaying the extraction. He’d been scared for nothing. It hadn’t hurt during or after the procedure. He hadn’t even suspected his wisdom teeth and had been so worried about the impacted tooth that he’d accepted the stuffed toy, but it had turned out to be nothing.

The gauze had been uncomfortable, but the bleeding had completely stopped by the time he’d left the cafe, and the metallic taste was gone.

“No regular food for you. Just porridge.”

“I’m really fine….”

“Is that why you bought all these snacks?”

Seo Soohyun followed Gi Taeyeon’s gaze. He hadn’t intended to buy any snacks, knowing he shouldn’t eat them, but Lee Chanseo had given them to him before they parted ways. The rose tea was among them.

“Did you use cash again?”

“No, I didn’t buy them; they were a gift. I ran into Chanseo on my way to the pharmacy after the dentist. You know him, right? You met him at my house. I forgot to tell him I was in Seoul, so he was surprised to see me. We went to a cafe to talk, and since I couldn’t eat anything because of the gauze, he bought those for me to have later.”

He saw no reason to lie, so he explained everything, but Gi Taeyeon frowned.

“No wonder you took so long.”

“What?”

He asked, confused, but Gi Taeyeon simply rubbed his slightly swollen cheek and walked towards the table where Seo Soohyun had placed the bag of snacks and drinks earlier, having visited his office after the dentist.

“Want one?”

“You can have more.”

The Director rummaged through the bag and picked up a can, shaking it. Oh, that’s the one Chanseo gave me…. He hesitated to offer it, since it was a gift and the color was pretty, but he didn’t want to make the Director feel awkward, so he nodded.

“But I don’t think you’ll like that one.”

“What is it?”

Gi Taeyeon asked as he opened the can.

“I didn’t order it, so I’m not sure, but it’s flower tea. Not chrysanthemum, maybe rose? The flowers inside looked like roses.”

By the time he’d finished, Gi Taeyeon had already taken a sip.

Seo Soohyun watched as the liquid disappeared rapidly and the Director’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His brow furrowed, suggesting he didn’t like it, but he finished the can in one go.

“They actually sell this stuff.”

He crumpled the empty can and tossed it in the trash.

You could have just not drunk it…. Seo Soohyun thought, but he simply concluded that Gi Taeyeon must not have liked it.

“Oh, Director.”

As Gi Taeyeon sat on the sofa, Seo Soohyun approached and sat next to him, not across from him. He was now used to sitting next to the Director while watching TV together in the living room. They always sat next to each other in the backseat of the car as well.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.”

Seo Soohyun sat with his left leg bent. The Director, who had been staring at the bag of snacks despite not having much of a sweet tooth, finally turned his head. He seemed slightly irritable, probably because of work.

“About my legal guardian.”

“Seo Jeonggyun?”

“Yes.”

“Why now?”

The Director reached for the table again, this time picking up an old pack of cigarettes. Seo Soohyun watched as Gi Taeyeon took out a cigarette and put it between his lips.

“He’s in Seoul.”

The Director inhaled, his cheek hollowing as he lit the cigarette, then tossed the pack and lighter onto the table, raising an eyebrow.

“Who told you that?”

So he knows. Seo Soohyun realized Gi Taeyeon had been looking for Seo Jeonggyun. He must have been planning to tell him the whereabouts once he had the exact address, just like Lee Chanseo. He probably would have presented him with the documents to sign after taking care of everything.

“Chanseo told me. He asked his grandfather to look for him after he met me. His family’s in the legal profession, I think.”

“Ah, that old geezer.”

Gi Taeyeon seemed to know Lee Chanseo’s grandfather, and Seo Soohyun blinked. But he didn’t ask. The Director’s tone had been almost like he was talking to himself.

‘It doesn’t matter to me whether you know him or not.’

He only needed to find Seo Jeonggyun; he didn’t need to know anything else.

“How troublesome.”

Gi Taeyeon squinted as he took a drag of his cigarette.

“So, what were you hesitant about?”

“Well, you haven’t been able to find him, but Chanseo did. I was worried you’d be embarrassed if I brought it up. But it seems like you already knew.”

“I’ll drag him here myself, so don’t worry.”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled, amused by Seo Soohyun’s concern, and tapped the ash into the ashtray.

“I trust you, so I’m not worried.”

Seo Soohyun lowered his leg and sat up straight. He trusted that the Director would find Seo Jeonggyun because he had his own reasons, but he’d also been developing trust in him lately. His grandmothers had warned him against it, but it wasn’t something he could control.

Gi Taeyeon hadn’t given him any reason to distrust him.

He was being paid regularly, and the Director hadn’t suddenly changed his mind about the plants, so it was natural for trust to develop.

“What should I do with him once I find him?”

The Director, who had been silent, finally extinguished his cigarette and asked. Seo Soohyun looked at him, watching the cigarette butt being crushed. It sounded like he was offering to do whatever Seo Soohyun wanted.

“I haven’t really thought about it.”

He hadn’t considered it before, so he couldn’t answer immediately.

“Because he has nothing to do with me.”

Frankly, he didn’t care if Seo Jeonggyun died somewhere.

🍑

“Wow.”

Seo Soohyun gasped involuntarily. He felt like he’d received an unexpected gift.

“Happy now?”

“I didn’t think you’d actually do it. Thank you.”

Ignoring Gi Taeyeon’s teasing, Seo Soohyun bowed deeply and ran towards the spacious garden.

“It’s much bigger than I expected…”

It wasn’t as large as his grandmother’s garden, but it was a sizable plot behind the building, with the kimchi pots from his old house arranged at the edge. The property was large, so even though the garden was behind a detached house, it was quite extensive. It was the perfect size for him to manage on his own.

“But Director, is it really okay for you to do this? Aren’t you sad about the lawn?”

He’d heard that installing a lawn was expensive. And in this case, they had removed the natural grass, brought in soil, and installed a fence, which must have cost a fortune.

“What’s there to be sad about? I didn’t even know this house existed until recently.”

“So I can plant whatever I want?”

“That’s why I had it made.”

“Thank you. I’ll cook you even more delicious food.”

Overwhelmed with joy, Seo Soohyun stood on tiptoe and kissed Gi Taeyeon’s cheek. He was bolder now, having kissed him during their previous encounters.

“Are you a kid? Kissing me whenever you’re happy?”

Gi Taeyeon chuckled and playfully smacked Seo Soohyun’s bottom.

“I only did it to you….”

Seo Soohyun felt a childish pout forming, but he just glanced at Gi Taeyeon and squatted down near the garden bed. He’d been surprised by his own impulsive action, but since the recipient of the kiss didn’t seem bothered, he decided not to dwell on it.

He reached out and touched the soil. He’d heard there were different grades of soil, and although he wasn’t an expert, this felt like good quality soil.

‘Next time I go buy seedlings, I’ll get everything I want. I wanted to grow cherry tomatoes too.’

He’d never expected to be allowed to have a garden.

He’d blurted out the request because he’d been feeling restless.

‘Director, I have a question. I’m not asking you to do anything about it, but….’

‘Get to the point.’

‘About your house, where we put the kimchi pots.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Can I make a garden there?’

‘A garden?’

‘Yes. Not a big one, just behind the house. I’d have to dig up the lawn, though….’

‘Should I have Jipil find a contractor?’

Seo Soohyun’s eyes widened in surprise at the immediate response. He’d expected the Director to at least pretend to consider it, even if it was just to tease him.

‘Are you sure?’

‘What else can I do? I have to cheer up Fuzz-face.’

Seo Soohyun realized Gi Taeyeon had known he’d been feeling down.

The cause of his unease was unclear. He didn’t know if it was because of his father or the impending changes, or perhaps both.

He liked to be active when he felt restless, so he’d asked about the garden, but he hadn’t expected the Director to arrange it so quickly.

Touching the warm, dry soil made him feel better. He glanced up, and the Director, who had been smoking, met his gaze.

He raised an eyebrow, as if asking what he was looking at, but Seo Soohyun felt a sudden sense of ease and fidgeted with his fingers.

What is this feeling?

A warmth spread through him, like sunshine filling his chest.

🍑

“Phew….”

Seo Soohyun wiped his sweat, sighing deeply. Working under the scorching sun was tiring, but he felt a sense of accomplishment, especially after planting the deodeok and doraji.

“I hope they grow well. I won’t be able to harvest them this year, though.”

He tapped the mounds of soil, the texture evident even through his red-painted work gloves. The garden, located behind the house, received plenty of sunlight and had good soil, so they should thrive as long as there wasn’t a flood.

Both deodeok and doraji were perennials, so once planted, he could harvest them year after year, making them ideal spring crops.

“Next year….”

He wondered if he’d still be here next year to harvest them. He’d heard the demolition of the village would begin this summer, so he had to find Seo Jeonggyun by the end of the year at the latest. That meant his time with the Director was limited. After all, he was working for Gi Taeyeon because his father had stolen the land deed.

‘We didn’t set a specific timeframe for the contract, though….’

He wasn’t sure if their arrangement would continue after he retrieved his inheritance. The Director had said he’d work for him until Seo Jeonggyun was found.

He could continue cooking for Gi Taeyeon as long as he enjoyed his food, but he couldn’t predict what the Director would decide. The bigger problem was that Seo Soohyun himself didn’t know what he wanted.

He’d been finding life in Seoul quite pleasant lately. He still missed the comfort of his countryside home and his grandmothers, but his current life wasn’t bad.

His days were now filled with having breakfast with Gi Taeyeon, visiting Bokshil after he left for work, and tending to the garden. He’d go grocery shopping, or sometimes visit the Director’s office. He’d occasionally use his seldom-used phone to find dessert shops and indulge in sweet treats.

He frequented quiet places at less crowded times – except for the dessert shops, which were always bustling, but he could tolerate that – so he rarely felt overwhelmed by the city’s crowds.

Traffic was a minor inconvenience, but overall, he liked living in Seoul.

More than anything, he enjoyed having someone to share meals and conversations with.

But he couldn’t just assume they’d continue living together. Living together required mutual agreement, and their relationship was purely professional.

‘And if the Director gets married, his spouse might not like me.’

He couldn’t imagine Gi Taeyeon married. But if it happened, his partner would likely be a dominant omega, and as an omega himself, he’d probably be seen as a nuisance, especially since he’d slept with her husband.

The thought dampened his mood. He imagined a scene from his grandmother’s favorite drama, a well-dressed omega yelling at him to leave, and the Director standing by indifferently.

He shook his head, dismissing the pointless thought.

“I hope I get to see the doraji flowers. They usually bloom in summer.”

He wouldn’t be here next year to see the deodeok and doraji grow, but he could at least enjoy the purple doraji flowers. He’d chosen to plant root cuttings instead of seeds, so he had a good chance of seeing the star-shaped purple flowers blooming among the green leaves this summer.

He straightened up with a groan and looked over at the deodeok patch. He’d planted root cuttings for those as well. He imagined harvesting them, cleaning them, and making delicious grilled deodeok with spicy sauce, but the uncertainty of next year made him slightly melancholic.

Why did the Director bother making a garden if he doesn’t know what he’ll be doing next year?

He walked towards the outdoor faucet that Kim Jipil had thoughtfully installed, pondering Gi Taeyeon’s intentions. He had to water the newly planted roots.

His thoughts dissipated as he turned on the water and grasped the hose.

The Director probably hadn’t thought much about it. He’d simply agreed to Seo Soohyun’s request without hesitation. He wouldn’t have considered next year in that brief moment.

“I should stop overthinking too.”

He wasn’t usually one to worry about the future, but he’d been doing it a lot lately.

He pressed the nozzle attached to the hose, and water sprayed onto the soil, creating a rainbow.

In a few months, when summer arrived, the water droplets would fall on a garden filled with green, white, and purple, creating an even more beautiful rainbow.

A convenience store plastic bag dangled from his fingertips. It had been about an hour since Gi Taeyeon called to say he’d be working late. It happened occasionally, so Seo Soohyun had simply replied, “Be careful,” and hung up. He was a little disappointed about eating dinner alone but not upset.

He could indulge in slightly unhealthy food like this.

Inside the bag were spicy instant noodles, a tuna mayonnaise onigiri, string cheese, and instant seaweed soup. He’d been craving spicy food after working in the garden, so he’d walked to the nearby convenience store. He didn’t eat instant noodles often, but he craved them occasionally.

Planting deodeok and doraji in the garden, watering them, driving home, and showering had left him feeling refreshed. The early evening breeze was cool and pleasant, a reminder that it was still spring. He looked forward to eating dinner, cleaning up, and relaxing.

Seo Soohyun walked along the neatly paved path. He was now familiar with the layout of the apartment complex, which had initially seemed confusing. That’s why he’d been comfortable walking to the convenience store.

He was walking briskly when he noticed a figure loitering by a wall, and he stopped, his brow furrowing slightly. The back seemed familiar.

“That’s him….”

Although he’d only met him once since he was a child, he had a feeling it was Seo Jeonggyun. He was certain just from looking at his back.

What should I do? He instinctively looked around. Unlike his rural village, there weren’t any readily available objects he could use as a weapon. He didn’t have anything on him that could subdue a larger alpha. The plastic bag in his hand was too light to be of any use.

Should I call the Director?

But even if he called, Seo Jeonggyun would probably be gone by the time Gi Taeyeon arrived. And Kim Jipil was away on business.

Why is he here? Does he know someone in the neighborhood?

He couldn’t have known where Seo Soohyun lived. He knew Seo Soohyun was broke. He wasn’t completely penniless, thanks to the Director’s payments and the allowance from his grandmothers, but Seo Jeonggyun would assume he had nothing.

‘Should I follow him?’

He seemed to have some business in the building, so maybe he could find something out if he followed him. Even if he didn’t, he could at least identify someone Seo Jeonggyun knew, and with any luck, find out where he was staying.

He was considering his options when—

“Soohyun!”

Seo Jeonggyun suddenly turned around, his eyes widening as he strode towards him. Seo Soohyun frowned and stepped back. It wasn’t fear but discomfort at being approached by someone he barely knew.

“Do you live here too?”

Seo Jeonggyun grabbed his arm.

“Are you living with that bastard?”

“Let go.”

Seo Soohyun grabbed Seo Jeonggyun’s wrist, trying to shake him off. But he couldn’t overcome the rambling alpha’s strength. After struggling for a moment, he finally looked at Seo Jeonggyun’s face. He’d looked relatively presentable the last time they’d met, but today, he looked disheveled.

“I said let go!”

He tried to pull away, but Seo Jeonggyun just wrinkled his nose and sniffed his neck.

“It’s definitely his pheromones…. I didn’t want to believe it, but….”

He muttered something unintelligible.

Seo Soohyun took advantage of his momentary distraction and pushed him away with all his might. Seo Jeonggyun, who had apparently relaxed his grip, stumbled back.

“Come with Dad, okay?”

Again with the “Dad” nonsense. He was furious that this man, who hadn’t shown his face for over a decade despite knowing he and his mother were living with his grandmother, had suddenly reappeared after hearing about the redevelopment and stolen the seal. He wanted to punch him.

He’d apparently forgotten about being chased away by Bokshil and getting his head smashed with a soju bottle.

“I don’t have a father like you.”

Seo Soohyun enunciated clearly, in case he didn’t understand.

“Give me back my grandmother’s money!”

“Money? What money?”

Seo Jeonggyun, seemingly unfazed by being pushed, anxiously scanned his surroundings, then ran a hand through his hair and smirked.

“Ah, the money for the land?”

“Yes! You have no right to take it. Give it back!”

Seo Soohyun was fuming. Perhaps conscious of the attention they were attracting, Seo Jeonggyun reached out. Seo Soohyun slapped his hand away. Seo Jeonggyun stared at his rejected hand, then let out a scoff and a forced laugh.

“Your land is with that bastard.”

“What are you talking about?!”

As he frowned, confused, two men in black suits appeared behind Seo Jeonggyun.

“Hey! What’s going on here?”

“Fuck.”

Seo Jeonggyun glanced back, his expression turning anxious at the sight of the security guards. He licked his lips nervously.

“See you later, son.”

He squeezed Seo Soohyun’s wrist hard, then turned and ran.

“You’re a resident here, right? I recognize you. Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Seo Soohyun answered the security guard, his gaze fixed on Seo Jeonggyun’s retreating figure.

My land is with that bastard? What nonsense is he talking about?

His wrist throbbed where Seo Jeonggyun had grabbed him. He was filled with questions.