Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 103

“Keep contacting Cha Haeshin and find out what he’s up to these days. Even something minor is fine, so if you find out anything, contact me immediately.”

“Oh, my, you didn’t have to… Yes, I understand. Should I tell you absolutely everything, even the most trivial stuff?”

“Yeah. Even if it’s just a guess, it doesn’t matter. It’s okay if you’re wrong. Just report everything, no matter what.”

“Yes! Understood, Manager!”

Tucking away the envelope, the boss rose from his seat, squared his shoulders vulgarly like a back-alley thug, and bowed at a 90-degree angle to say goodbye. Youngmin left the room without even properly acknowledging the greeting.

“Report everything you hear from him to me immediately.”

“Yes, sir. Where should I take you?”

“Cha Haeshin’s house…!”

Sitting in the car, Youngmin started to answer the secretary’s question but cut himself off. His heart wanted to go find Cha Haeshin right now and teach him a lesson, but on the other hand, the idea of scurrying all the way to his house felt quite unsightly, making him hesitate.

Until Haeshin had rejected him, Youngmin could enjoy the act of courting him, but now that he had received a adamant message of refusal, the situation was different. From here on out, it was very clearly a situation where Jin Youngmin was ‘clinging one-sidedly.’ Youngmin found that fact unbearably irritating.

“Go home.”

So, instead of seeking out Cha Haeshin, Youngmin headed to his own home. The time for him to plead and cater to Cha Haeshin’s whims was over. He intended to stop trying so hard to coax Cha Haeshin.

He planned to make sure Haeshin could never act arrogantly again, never look down on him again, and clearly show him the hierarchy of this relationship.

“Wow…”

Having changed clothes for work, Haeshin stood before the dressing room mirror and let out a small exclamation of awe despite himself. He liked his reflection in the clothes Taejun bought him so much that he was surprised.

It wasn’t that he’d never worn nice clothes before, but it felt as unfamiliar as if it were the first time. It was likely because, for the first time in his life, he had chosen clothes according to his own taste.

The clothes Jin Youngmin had bought him were certainly expensive and nice, but they were strictly tailored to Jin Youngmin’s taste. Even so, Haeshin hadn’t particularly had any complaints.

To begin with, Haeshin was a person who didn’t really have “tastes,” and since he was grateful for the heart Youngmin showed by giving him gifts, he had even less room to think about things like preferences.

But now that he was actually wearing the clothes Taejun bought him, the feeling was distinctly different. It went without saying that he liked his appearance in the clothes more, but beyond that, the heart Taejun had put into them was so warm and delicate that it felt unfair to even compare him to Jin Youngmin, and his heart fluttered involuntarily.

Before going out to the living room, Haeshin checked his appearance one more time. He was inwardly looking forward to seeing how Taejun would react. Since these were clothes he’d already tried on before buying, it wasn’t the first time Taejun would see them, but he wondered if they would feel different seeing them like this.

“Whew…”

Haeshin, nervous over something so simple, took a small breath and walked slowly toward the living room. Taejun, who had already finished preparing for work, was sitting on the sofa.

“Mr. President, I’m all ready.”

Haeshin spoke, trying his best to hide his excitement. Taejun, who had been checking his phone, turned his gaze toward Haeshin.

“Ah…”

A short breath of admiration escaped Taejun’s parted lips. Haeshin clenched his fists. All his effort to act casual was in vain as his face flushed bright red. It was because of Taejun’s reaction.

Even though he had clearly seen the outfit before, Taejun looked like a man who was newly moved. This was because Taejun’s heart truly felt that way.

Taejun’s hand gripping the phone tightened involuntarily. Haeshin looked so beautiful in front of him that his emotions surged wildly. It wasn’t a simple sentiment like “clothes make the man.”

In Taejun’s eyes right now, Haeshin looked like a person who had found “daily life” for the first time. A person who had escaped from poverty, violence, and oppression, and was finally facing an ordinary life. And Taejun loved the fact that he could help Haeshin reclaim his life more than he could bear.

“…You’re beautiful.”

Ultimately unable to suppress his overflowing emotions, Taejun spoke like a man possessed. Only after the words left his mouth did he realize how embarrassingly cheesy they were, but he didn’t feel like correcting them.

“Ah… thank you.”

Haeshin answered, blushing slightly. Taejun stood up, thinking that next time, he should buy even more for Cha Haeshin, no matter how much he tried to stop him.

“By the way… today is your last day, right?”

Haeshin, naturally moving along with Taejun, nodded.

“Yes. I’m really going to be unemployed now.”

“Why would you be unemployed? You’re getting a salary and working at my house.”

“That’s true, but… honestly, at most I’m just helping with a bit of cleaning; how is this work? I’ve never been this lazy in my life, so it feels strange.”

The voice Haeshin used to say that was quite bright, so it didn’t sound like he was actually feeling a sense of self-loathing. However, Taejun was struck even by those trivial words.

“I guess you’ve never seen a truly lazy person.”

“What…?”

“You’ve lived too hard. So it’s okay for you to live like a truly unemployed person. Do nothing and just eat, sleep, and play.”

Then, with a playful look, Haeshin stared straight into Taejun’s face and spoke.

“Are you perhaps upset right now?”

“What?”

“Did you perhaps get sad because you suddenly thought of my past days, when I worked without being able to sleep or eat properly?”

“Here we go again.”

“Did your heart just start aching, thinking about how much our poor Cha Haeshin must have struggled all alone?”

“…Fine. Fine. I’ll just stop talking.”

Taejun, teased once more, shook his head. However, a smile was lingering around his lips. It was because he knew this kind of teasing from Haeshin was his way of comforting Taejun’s heavy heart.

“Mr. President, do you know something?”

Similarly, Haeshin’s voice was full of laughter. Taejun replied as he personally tidied Haeshin’s slightly messy hair at the back.

“What is it.”

“That you’re low-key cute, Mr. President.”

Taejun’s hand, which had been fiddling with Haeshin’s hair, stopped mid-air. Haeshin continued.

“You’re so cute I honestly want to pinch your cheek.”

“You’re pushing it again.”

“But you like it when I push it.”

Hearing that, Taejun couldn’t help but burst into laughter along with him. His brazenness truly pierced the sky. And Taejun liked that brazenness of Cha Haeshin’s.

To be honest, Taejun had worried that Haeshin might feel an inward sense of debt after learning about his feelings. It was plausible for Haeshin to feel burdened by the thought of having to repay Taejun for his kindness.

But Haeshin hadn’t changed much even after knowing Taejun’s feelings. He didn’t seem uncomfortable or guilty. He didn’t try to force a definitive answer, but he didn’t try to hide his emotions either.

Someone might call it ungrateful, but Taejun felt grateful instead. If Haeshin had seen him as some unscrupulous person trying to buy his heart with a few measly bucks, that would have been truly sorrowful.

“Right. I do quite like that side of Cha Haeshin.”

“Exactly.”

Between their gazes, which met playfully in the air, flowed a fluttery yet comfortable atmosphere. Just like lovers who had been together for a long time.

☂️

“Is that so?”

“Yes. According to the boss, it looked as if he was ready to find Cha Haeshin right away and make him get on his knees.”

“He’s finally showing his true colors. He didn’t go to Cha Haeshin’s old house?”

“No. It seems he went straight home after that.”

“Hmm…”

As Taejun’s expression grew serious, Secretary Choi continued as if to reassure him.

“Everything is prepared for both Mr. Cha Haeshin and Mr. Cha Haeshin’s mother, so it will be alright. I’ve also instructed Ingyu to pay a bit more attention. Still, if you are truly anxious, increasing Mr. Cha Haeshin’s security is one way.”

Taejun rubbed his chin with his finger, lost in thought. His heart wanted to form a whole army of bodyguards for him, but that wasn’t feasible. Taejun spoke with a sigh.

“For now, could you look for one more trustworthy person? Since today is the last day Cha Haeshin works outside, he won’t have much outside activity for the time being, but I can’t just tell him to stay only at home…”

“Yes, then I will scout someone first, so please let me know if you need them. And…”

“And?”

When Secretary Choi trailed off with a somewhat worried face, Taejun gave a chin gesture as if telling him to speak freely.

“What about increasing Mr. President’s security by one person as well?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why. Do you lack confidence on your own?”

Taejun asked playfully with a smirk. It was to ease Secretary Choi’s mind, as the man seemed worried about him.

While they employed separate security personnel for special official schedules, Secretary Choi usually handled Taejun’s security as well. In fact, Secretary Choi was a master of quite a few different martial arts.

But even at Taejun’s overt provocation, Secretary Choi remained unfazed.

“After all, I have to attend to other matters as well. I think it’s best to be as cautious as possible regarding safety issues. If Jin Youngmin is that much of a madman, couldn’t he also try to harm you, Mr. President?”

Because Secretary Choi spoke with such a straight face, Taejun, who suddenly became the one who couldn’t read the room, cleared his throat awkwardly and wiped the smile from his face.

“Well, that’s true. Do as you see fit. I’ll leave it to your judgment.”

“Understood.”

“Call Ingyu and tell him to bring Cha Haeshin straight home once his work is finished.”

“Yes, sir.”

Secretary Choi bowed slightly and left the CEO’s office. Taejun immediately took out his phone and called Haeshin. Although he had passed the message through Secretary Choi, he felt he would only be at ease if he spoke to Haeshin directly.

Jin Youngmin had moved. Taejun had made it happen that way with intent, but the thought that Haeshin could be in danger due to a split-second mistake made his blood run cold.

In a normal situation, there would be no reason to lose in any way to a human like Jin Youngmin, but in this world that made Cha Haeshin die infinitely at Jin Youngmin’s hands, the story was different.

It was because there was no way to know how this god-awful flow, be it fate or a curse would intervene.

—Mr. President!

So he had to be even more careful. There would be no more failures. Han Taejun would definitely protect Cha Haeshin in this timeline.

Taejun made a firm vow once more as he listened to Haeshin’s lovely voice coming through the phone.