Come Looking for Flowers Chapter 7.1 - Moonlight

Here I am again, in this place.

A familiar space, a familiar scene. Yoonjo’s eyes, having circled back to this starting point, were empty and hollow.

The floor in front of the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window, where the outside was clearly visible. Sitting in the spot he had once lingered in tiresomely, Yoonjo leaned his head against the glass and quietly gazed out at the world beyond, just as he had done before.

As if it were only natural, a black dog stayed by his side. It poked at Yoonjo with its pointed snout, made incomprehensible noises, and then settled down again, puffing out air through its nose with a snort.

Whether the dog demanded attention or not, Yoonjo’s gaze never left the window. Without a single change in expression, he merely stared with a blank face at the world flowing by, leaving him behind.

“Mr. Yoonjo.”

His head turned a beat late, following the sound. The housekeeper approached, carrying a small mug on a tray. Yoonjo only looked at him silently, without standing up or reaching out.

“Have a sip of this. I made some hot chocolate, nice and warm.”

Almost everyone in this familiar space had changed. The housekeeper, the men guarding the front of the house, all the staff except for Won Kangho and Manager Jung had been replaced.

As Yoonjo wrapped both hands around the cup, warmth seeped into his palms. Staring at the rippling liquid, he soon set the mug aside in a corner and resumed what he was doing. Not that it amounted to much—just looking out the window.

Strangely enough, since returning here, his body had been recovering quickly. There were no sudden dashes out of the house at dawn, no torment from nightmares, and no days lost to endless sleep.

The meals the housekeeper prepared on schedule, the regular visits from Dr. Choi, the black dog that always clung to his side wherever he went, and—

“Baby.”

That man, too.

The face that appeared in his mind materialized before his eyes. It wasn’t a hallucination. The man who had just entered, peeling off his black leather gloves and tossing them carelessly onto the living room table, carried the scent of winter. A potent, cool pheromone quickly filled the surroundings.

“Having fun?”

“…”

“Why didn’t you drink this?”

The man’s gaze briefly landed on the mug before drifting away as he draped a large blanket over Yoonjo. The contents, once warm, had cooled and sat still.

“Wanna take a bath together?”

A hot hand cupped Yoonjo’s cheek. The eyes meeting the man’s were calm, without a ripple. The man took in Yoonjo’s steady gaze without flinching.

It’s absurd. Himself, for choosing to stay by the side of the man who ruined his life, and this man, who shamelessly tried to keep him close despite knowing everything. It was all absurd and ridiculous.

If this is fate, then what a cruel fate it must be. An inescapable, unchallengeable fate. If this is indeed fate, it could only be a harsh one.

“…I just bathed not long ago.”

“I know.”

The man’s fingertips brushed under Yoonjo’s eyes, removing an eyelash that had been stuck there for who knows how long, and blew it into the air with a soft puff. His voice carried no inflection.

“I just wanted to.”

“…”

“Don’t you?”

After a brief hesitation, Yoonjo gave a small nod. Even with the clear rejection, the man only smiled.

“Alright, then.”

And with that, he stood up and left the spot. There was no trace of lingering attachment in his retreating figure.

The man was still selfish and willful, but unlike before, he no longer tried to force Yoonjo into anything. He treated him as if he were truly a child, just as the nickname suggested.

Naturally, they didn’t have sex either. Though they had set rules when Yoonjo arrived here, he hadn’t believed the man would actually follow them.

“Don’t treat me carelessly.”

How long had it taken him to say those words? To the man, they might have been trivial, but to Yoonjo, they were harder and more painful than anything else.

“Don’t do things I say I don’t want.”

His voice, trembling with fear as it wandered through the past, quivered. The man’s face showed no sign of disturbance.

“And… don’t expect anything from me.”

“…”

“Just treat me like I don’t exist. I’ll live as if I’m here but not here.”

He seemed to have been unable to hold back tears as he said those words. The voice he recalled was soaked with moisture.

Now, as those moments had become a thing of the past, thinking back on them left him unfazed. If there was ever a time his mood felt strange, it was when the man actually complied with those requests.

Yoonjo quietly threw off the blanket. The blanket the man had wrapped tightly around him was filled with a blue pheromone. Looking at it made his chest feel heavy.

Kindness, consideration, compliance. Those words didn’t suit the man at all, and seeing him do things he’d never done before felt utterly unfamiliar. That was why Yoonjo didn’t use the blanket the man had prepared.

It’s strange. Yoonjo pushed the discarded blanket aside and hugged his knees. His once-still heart stirred faintly.

“…No, it’s not.”

He suppressed the strange feeling that kept trying to surface. Burying his forehead into his knees, he shut his eyes tightly. The dog poked its snout into the gap between his arms and legs.

The foolish dog, despite being ignored, rubbed its whole body against him, craving attention and affection. When Yoonjo glanced at it, the dog pulled back its face and sat upright, staring straight at him.

As if urging him to pet it, the dog waved its front paw in the air, and Yoonjo let out a quiet sigh. Straightening his posture, he slowly extended his hand.

“…What’s so great about this?”

As he stroked its solid head, the dog panted happily, sticking out its tongue. Its ears flipped back, and it seemed to revel in the touch, closing its eyes.

The sight of it yearning for unattainable affection stirred pity, and that tenderness moved Yoonjo’s heart.

The dog steadfastly stayed by Yoonjo’s side. It was there when he ate, when he slept, and even when he came out of the shower, it would lie by the door, greeting him as if they hadn’t seen each other in years, jumping up excitedly.

“You’re such a fool, too.”

And so am I.

His voice was so soft that only the one who spoke it could barely hear.

“It really feels like spring is coming.”

Yoonjo’s gaze, which had been quietly sipping tea, followed the sound. The housekeeper, adjusting the heater’s temperature, continued with a smile.

“Personally, I don’t really like winter. I hate how it makes me shrink from the cold, and it’s hard to get up in the morning… What about you, Mr. Yoonjo? Do you like winter?”

As time passed, the seasons changed. Without realizing it, the cold that had enveloped the world began to recede little by little.

Yoonjo stared at the rippling tea, mulling over the housekeeper’s question. There was no need to mull, really. Liking a season or anything like that didn’t exist for him.

“I don’t know.”

“Just my thought, but I feel like you suit spring, Mr. Yoonjo.”

“…Me?”

“Yes!”

A bright smile matched the gentle voice. The housekeeper, cloaked in kindness, was much younger than the others Yoonjo had met before.

Probably in their late twenties at most. For Won Kangho, who always hired older women, employing such a young person as a housekeeper was unusual.

“Let’s get along well from now on, Mr. Yoonjo! Like friends!”

The new housekeeper was warm and approachable, always the first to strike up a conversation or come closer.

At first, it was awkward. Whenever Yoonjo sensed the housekeeper approaching, he’d quickly escape to his room or not come out at all.

But Yoonjo was someone starved for such pure attention and affection. He had no resistance to someone approaching with such warmth and kindness. Opening his heart to them was inevitable.

Thanks to the housekeeper’s efforts, the two had grown close enough to sit together like this, sipping tea and sharing short conversations.

“I’m a beta, so I can’t smell pheromones, but I have a good sense or something, and I can kind of feel the vibe that’s similar to pheromones.”

The housekeeper continued, refilling the tea. A soft steam rose from the cup again.

“And from you, Mr. Yoonjo, I feel the vibe of spring just arriving. Like fresh sprouts just starting to grow?”

The housekeeper was unreserved in dealing with Yoonjo. Unlike the previous housekeepers who were overly formal, this one was different, and Yoonjo found it more comfortable.

“If it’s not rude, may I ask what kind of pheromone you have?”

It was a pure question. Facing those sparkling eyes, Yoonjo hesitated briefly before his lips cautiously parted.

“Freesia.”

That winter when he was nineteen, after enduring days of manifestation pain and regaining consciousness, the first thing he felt was the scent of his own pheromones filling the air. Like stepping into a field of blooming freesias, the scent was rich and vivid.

Perhaps that’s when he started disliking flowers. For an omega, pheromones were like a ticking time bomb, and the more intense the scent, the more dangerous it was. If he unknowingly let his pheromones slip and they stimulated an alpha…

“Freesia, huh. Oh, now that you mention it, there are freesias here too. Have you seen them?”

Yoonjo’s eyes, which had drifted into thought, flickered with interest. He nodded half a beat late, affirming. His gaze turned to where, as expected, freesias stood.

Why did that man plant freesias, of all things? Out of so many flowers, why freesias? The sudden question clogged his throat. His grip on the cup tightened.

“Anyway, I got lucky. Thanks to you, Mr. Yoonjo, I got to come in here. This garden is strictly off-limits to the staff, you know.”

“Off-limits?”

“Yes. The boss said only you’re allowed in here, Mr. Yoonjo. Unless it’s a special case, the staff have to wait outside.”

Only then did Yoonjo understand the earlier situation. When he asked if he could go to the garden, the housekeeper had asked if they could come along.

It hadn’t been like that before. Back then, when he went to the garden, the housekeeper and the men watching him would follow as if it were only natural. It had seemed normal at the time.

But today was different. No one followed him, and from the moment he stepped out of the penthouse, there was no one watching him.

What was that man thinking? The unanswerable question bloomed on its own and faded just as freely.

“I only ever saw it from the outside, but coming in, it’s completely different. It’s beautiful, smells nice, and above all, it’s warm.”

“…”

“You can tell the boss put a lot of care into it.”

Don’t you think? The lighthearted question weighed heavily on Yoonjo’s heart. Every time the man acted differently than before, that weight grew heavier. The warmth from the cup seeped into his pale hands. His palms stung.

“Ha…”

With a ragged breath, he snapped his eyes open. Someone gently patted Yoonjo, waking from a terrible nightmare. His wildly racing heart slowly regained its normal rhythm.

Dreams came in various forms. Sometimes they replayed painful moments from the past, other times they vividly depicted events that never happened, or they brought him to the brink of life, where he felt the agony of his breath stopping.

He hadn’t completely escaped the nightmares. Though he seemed fine, they would intermittently return, tearing through his weakened body and mind. After suffering for a while and waking up, he’d invariably find himself in someone’s arms.

“Shh… You need to breathe.”

Yoonjo knew who was holding him but didn’t push them away. He couldn’t. Holding back the urge to sink deeper into their embrace was already exhausting.

The hot body temperature and cool pheromones wrapping around him calmed his restless heart. It was as if they were comforting him, saying it was all just a dream, that it wouldn’t happen anymore. After a while, his body would slump, utterly exhausted.

“Let go.”

His weak hand pushed firmly against the man’s shoulder. The man obediently released his grip. The fading warmth felt regrettable, an instinct. It was only natural because of their bond, Yoonjo tried to convince himself.

Just as the man seemed to pull away, he came closer again unexpectedly. The blanket covering Yoonjo was whisked away, and the man lifted him up, cradling his knees and shoulders. Startled, Yoonjo instinctively wrapped his arms around the man’s neck.

“You need to wash up and eat.”

“Put me down…!”

“I’ll put you down when we get there.”

A large hand patted his hip. The man, holding a flustered Yoonjo, leisurely headed to the bathroom.

Yoonjo was submerged in a tub filled with warm water, not by his own choice but by another’s. His pajamas, still on, quickly soaked through.

A large hand grabbed his chin and pressed a brief kiss to his lips. The ticklish sensation and sound left heat on his lips. His startled eyes turned to the man. Those well-shaped lips curved smoothly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…”

“You didn’t say you didn’t want it.”

Won Kangho slowly licked Yoonjo’s lips, which twitched as if to respond. Like he was teasing, Yoonjo’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he clenched his empty hands.

Every time the man acted tenderly, a strange feeling arose. Yoonjo didn’t know the name of this unfamiliar emotion.

“Finish washing up.”

After kissing Yoonjo for a moment, the man bit his soft lips once before leaving the bathroom. Unable to even glance at his retreating figure, Yoonjo sat frozen in place.

Was he feeling sorry now, of all times? But the man had never once apologized. He’d even said not to expect an apology.

Biting his stinging lips, Yoonjo slowly peeled off his wet clothes. The water-soaked fabric clung to his body as if reluctant to let go.

After a while, his bare body was clean, without a single bruise. The scars that held the past remained, but at least the pain was gone. That, in itself, was distressing.

Hugging his knees, Yoonjo buried his cheek in them. His gaze lingered on the door where the man had disappeared.

There it was again. His chest throbbed, then felt ticklish, like a gentle breeze. This strange feeling stirred his heart whenever he thought of the man.

“Ha…”

I hate this. Feeling this way.

The man had committed countless unforgivable acts. The past six months had been like hell for Yoonjo. There were times he’d rather have died, and he’d even tried to make it happen.

He couldn’t understand. Not the man, nor himself. Despite the man being the one who etched all those horrific moments, Yoonjo was shaken just because he’d been treated a bit better lately. How utterly absurd.

He forcibly shook off the thoughts. The more he dwelled on them, the less they benefited him. Yoonjo pushed the man, who occupied a large part of his mind, out and filled the space with something else. That something was emptiness.

After washing up and stepping out, the man grabbed Yoonjo as if he’d been waiting. Sitting him on the bed, drying his hair by hand, and even applying cream to his face—those actions shook the resolve Yoonjo had just steadied. His hesitant fingers gently pushed the man’s hand away.

“I’ll do it myself.”

The hand applying cream to his clear cheek froze. Won Kangho looked at Yoonjo quietly, then said, “Alright, then,” and instead of his cheek, grabbed Yoonjo’s hand.

The warmth touching the back of his hand was hot. The man held Yoonjo’s hand, spreading the cream that clung to his slightly flushed cheek. The white cream melted into the heat, gradually losing its color and form.

“Put this on.”

Even until the cream was fully applied, Yoonjo couldn’t push him away. Only after the hand left did he let out a small sigh he’d been holding.

Seeing that outdoor clothes, not his usual loungewear, were prepared, Yoonjo’s eyes narrowed slightly. The man’s voice was calm.

“We’re going out.”

Going out? Where?

“No need to tense up like that. It’s not somewhere weird.”

A large hand gently cupped his cheek. Even with that tender touch, Yoonjo couldn’t relax.

Had there ever been a place he went with the man that was good? He searched his memories, but there weren’t any particularly good ones. To begin with, outings with the man were rare.

“…Where are we going?”

“A nice place.”

Compared to the long hesitation before asking, the answer was frustratingly brief. The man brushed back his now-longer chestnut hair, lifting the corner of his mouth.

“You didn’t seem like you’d go out on your own.”

“…Was I allowed to go out?”

“The only thing forbidden here is avoiding my eyes.”

Going out alone? He’d never even considered it. The surveillance had stopped, but he hadn’t realized that meant he was allowed to go anywhere.

What was this man thinking? No matter how much he tried to read him, Won Kangho’s intentions were hard to discern. Just as Yoonjo hid his own heart, the man was skilled at concealing his.

The man had changed a lot. He no longer forced Yoonjo to eat things he didn’t want or pushed him into unwanted intimacy. And now, he was even saying it was okay to go out.

“Are you going?”

The low voice cut through his thoughts. Looking up at the man, Yoonjo gave a small nod. At least today’s outing didn’t seem like it would hurt him.

Dressed in the clothes the man prepared, Yoonjo stepped outside, and Won Kangho escorted him. Tying his shoelaces and even putting on his shoes for him, the man made Yoonjo’s stomach churn once again.

Manager Jung wasn’t with them for the outing. The man took the wheel, and Yoonjo sat in the passenger seat. The destination became clear only upon arrival.

“Do you have a specific style in mind?”

The destination was a salon. As soon as they entered, a staff member approached Yoonjo, took his coat, dressed him in a gown, sat him in a chair, and started asking various questions.

His unmaintained hair had grown long enough to cover his nape. Looking in the mirror for the first time in a while, Yoonjo belatedly realized he didn’t look great. His hair was messy, his face pale, like a dead man.

“It looks like you haven’t had a haircut in a while. Or are you growing it out? I think long hair would suit you, too, sir.”

The staff kept asking questions, but Yoonjo couldn’t respond. It had been a while since he’d spoken to a stranger, and the gazes of the two people in the mirror made him uncomfortable. His unease manifested as scratching his wrist.

“Just do something that suits him. And don’t bother him with unnecessary talk.”

The man, watching Yoonjo through the mirror, interjected. The staff member’s smiling face froze with fear. The lips that had been curving naturally trembled.

“D-Don’t worry, sir. We’ll style it beautifully to match your look…!”

Perhaps intimidated by Won Kangho’s sharp gaze, the staff stopped talking to Yoonjo afterward. They occasionally asked for his opinion but stumbled over their words, glancing at the man, who was sitting on a sofa in the back, engrossed in his phone, not paying attention to them.

The sound of scissors snipping filled the air as cut hair fell to the floor. Yoonjo looked not at his own reflection in the mirror but at the man reflected within it. The stark white, pristine surroundings clashed starkly with the dark figure of the man.

After staring at the man for a while, Yoonjo slightly lowered his gaze, focusing only on the hair falling to the floor. He still lacked the courage to face his own reflection directly.

How much time had passed? A soft sponge carefully brushed away the stray hair clippings from his face. The designer gently lifted Yoonjo’s head, making him face himself in the mirror.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

The man had stepped away to take a phone call. The staff member’s clear voice rang out, as if they had been waiting for this moment. Yoonjo slowly met his own reflection in the mirror.

His messy, overgrown hair had been neatly trimmed, revealing the face that had been hidden beneath without filter. Rather than feeling pleased or satisfied, his first thought was relief that he didn’t look unsightly.

“But who is that guy? A bodyguard or something? Are you a celebrity, sir?”

The staff member glanced outside and lowered their voice to ask. Yoonjo, quietly mulling over the question, hurriedly shook his head in denial.

“No, not at all.”

“Really? I’ve been in this business for eleven years now, and this is the first time I’ve seen such polar opposites come in together. It’s like, you know, beauty and the be—”

“Done?”

Before the staff could finish, Won Kangho appeared abruptly from behind. The designer’s face turned pale, as if caught gossiping.

“It’s, it’s done! Would you like to take a look?”

With professional diligence, the staff quickly put on a bright smile and guided Won Kangho to Yoonjo’s side. The man approached without hesitation.

Won Kangho stood with his back to the mirror, gently lifting Yoonjo’s chin. As Yoonjo’s head tilted up, their eyes met. A subtle exchange of glances passed between them. Only the music playing through the speakers masked the silence.

“Pretty.”

The comment was simple and brief for how long he had stared. The warmth of the man’s hand lingered where it had touched.

“Pay up.”

“Yes, sir. Right this way!”

As Won Kangho and the staff member walked away, Yoonjo, left alone, absentmindedly touched his chin. His lips felt ticklish, too.

After the haircut, the car carrying the two headed to a department store. It was a place Yoonjo used to frequent before his family’s fortunes declined.

As if waiting for them, people came out to greet them. Entering a private room for the first time in his life, Yoonjo had to try on every piece of clothing prepared for him. The man sat comfortably on a sofa, watching Yoonjo.

“I don’t need these clothes.”

“I do.”

“…Aren’t these my clothes?”

“They are.”

The man’s voice was calm. He chuckled as if amused, then poked Yoonjo’s cheek.

“It’s fun to watch.”

“…”

“It’s fun seeing this face, too. We should do this more often.”

“Sir, would you come this way?” Just when Yoonjo thought he could catch his breath, the staff inevitably led him to the fitting room. The man gave Yoonjo’s back a light push as his face subtly crumpled.

“Go on.”

Resentment filled Yoonjo’s eyes as he looked at the man. Won Kangho laughed as if enjoying himself, picking up a catalog again. The doll-like play continued for a while.

By the time they emerged, exhausted, it was late at night. Leaning his head against the passenger window, Yoonjo looked up at the crescent moon glowing brightly in the sky. No matter how many times he slowly blinked, the moon stayed in place.

“You’re exhausted just from walking around a bit.”

The man’s muttering voice was laced with amusement. Instead of turning to look at him, Yoonjo stared at the man’s reflection in the window. The man’s upturned lips caught his attention.

The car, which would have normally headed to a nearby restaurant, changed course and drove toward the penthouse. It was because Yoonjo’s stamina couldn’t keep up.

After some time, the car pulled into the underground parking lot. The sliver of moon in the sky disappeared, replaced by ceiling lights that stung his eyes. After the grueling schedule, they naturally returned to the man’s house.

The man got out of the car first, and as Yoonjo unbuckled his seatbelt, the passenger door opened. The man, who had opened it himself, extended his hand. Yoonjo didn’t take it immediately, only staring at him.

“What? Don’t want to hold it?”

Won Kangho was acting strange today in many ways. He kept asking for Yoonjo’s opinion.

Just act as you usually do, selfishly. Yoonjo didn’t want to be the one to reach out first. Being swept along felt easier on his heart.

No, honestly, he wanted to hold it. Whenever he touched the man, no matter how he felt about him, his body felt at ease. It brought a sense of stability, calming his restless emotions.

But seeking that comfort should be limited to moments of half-sleep. He didn’t want to do it while fully conscious. Crossing that line felt like it would make him crumble helplessly.

“If you don’t want to hold it, how about I carry you?”

“…”

“I’m fine with either.”

The man gave Yoonjo two choices, his face suggesting he already knew what Yoonjo would pick. He moved his hand a little closer.

After a brief hesitation, Yoonjo cautiously placed his hand in the man’s. Holding hands was better than being carried.

The man played the part of a gentleman, supporting Yoonjo. Their hands remained clasped as they rode the elevator to the top floor. Warmth pooled between their intertwined hands.

“You’re back? Dinner’s ready. Come sit down.”

The housekeeper greeted them warmly as they returned. Even if it wasn’t dining out, the fact that they had to eat together remained unchanged.

Won Kangho led Lee Yoonjo straight to the dining room. The table was neatly set with food for two.

“Eat moderately and leave some. Don’t make yourself sick again.”

Yoonjo, who had just sat down and taken a sip of water, flinched. He carefully set the glass down and nodded. A small “Yes” followed.

Won Kangho no longer forced food on him or pressured him with an intimidating demeanor. Thanks to that, there was no need to eat unwanted food or be on edge during meals. It was something Yoonjo couldn’t have dreamed of before.

The clinking of cutlery filled the silence between them. That quietness gently eased Yoonjo’s heart. It was only natural that drowsiness began to set in.

His head kept dropping as he nodded off. It felt like he might crash into the table at any moment. He tried shaking his head to fend off sleep, but it didn’t work as he hoped.

As his head dropped again, a large hand gently caught his forehead. Looking up along the touch, he saw the man, who had somehow come to his side.

“Such a kid.”

Won Kangho lightly lifted Yoonjo’s sleep-dazed body. As he slightly adjusted him, the man patted his back as if soothing a child. The familiar touch made Yoonjo’s body slump heavily, like water-soaked cotton.

“Don’t fight it. Sleep.”

The hand patting his back moved up, pressing firmly against the back of his head. When the man released his pheromones, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness crashed over Yoonjo.

As they passed through the dark, long hallway, sleep finally overtook Yoonjo. Completely surrendering to the man, he fell into a deep slumber, the first restful sleep in a long time.

Strange and peculiar days passed one by one. The man, as if he had never been cruel, acted kindly and affectionately, and Yoonjo found him unfamiliar.

“Mr. Yoonjo, it’s time for your medicine!”

Yoonjo was sitting quietly on the sofa, staring at a turned-off television. The housekeeper appeared, holding a mug in one hand and a plate of candies in the other.

The herbal medicine he had started taking at some point was brought by the man. The pitch-black liquid, with an unknown composition, had a foul smell and an equally dreadful taste.

He wanted to refuse it, but thinking of the housekeeper who warmed the medicine and prepared candies for him, he couldn’t. And if word got to the man that he hadn’t taken it, things would get complicated.

“Quick, eat a candy.”

“Ugh…”

Yoonjo gulped down the contents of the mug and hurriedly popped a candy into his mouth. The housekeeper, taking the empty mug, grimaced as if they had taken the medicine themselves.

As the candy melted, a grape flavor filled his mouth. The dog, resting its chin on Yoonjo’s thigh, whined with concern. Yoonjo’s pale hand instinctively stroked the dog’s head.

“Oh, right. It’s time for Leo’s walk. Want to come along?”

At the word “walk,” the dog’s ears perked up. Two expectant gazes turned to Yoonjo.

“There’s a nice park nearby for walking. Come with us, okay?”

“Well, um…”

“Leo wants to go with you, right?”

Woof! The dog barked loudly, as if answering affirmatively.

As if to say, “See?” the housekeeper grinned triumphantly. Seeing them, Yoonjo couldn’t help but nod.

The impromptu walk involved three of them: the housekeeper, Yoonjo, and a man holding the dog’s leash. It was an odd and awkward combination.

The weather was chilly, as if the spring that had seemed so close had retreated again. The cold air made his exposed skin feel like it would freeze, causing his body to shrink.

“Is it too cold? I should’ve brought a scarf.”

“It’s fine.”

“If it gets too cold, please tell me. We don’t want you catching a cold.”

“I will.”

Walking outside under the guise of a “walk” was a first for Yoonjo. When he went out with the man, they mostly traveled by car, and even when walking, it was indoors, so he rarely felt the weather.

The cold air filled his lungs. His mind, clouded from being indoors, seemed to clear slowly. His exhaled breath froze white in the air.

“No matter how nice the house is, coming out like this occasionally keeps you from sinking too much and lifts your mood.”

Yoonjo, who had been looking at the ground, turned to the housekeeper for the first time. A smile hung on their lips, though he didn’t know how long they’d been watching he.

“I thought you were staying indoors too much, Mr. Yoonjo, so I wanted to come out with you at least once. Staying inside all the time weighs a person down—body and mind.”

Is that so? Yoonjo neither agreed nor disagreed, just mulling over the words.

His shoulders did feel lighter. Sitting by the window, watching the world pass by, often made him feel stuck in place, but being outside seemed to ease that feeling, even if just a little.

“Try holding the leash.”

They had just entered the park when the housekeeper made the sudden suggestion. Yoonjo quickly waved his hands in refusal, but the housekeeper smiled reassuringly and placed the leash handle in his hand.

“It’s okay. Leo’s a very well-mannered dog. She’ll stick right by your side and walk with you. Right, Leo?”

As if understanding, the dog barked loudly once, just like before. Its eyes sparkled as it lifted and lowered its front paws.

Yoonjo took the leash but remained uneasy. Afraid he might lose his grip and cause an accident, he held the leash tightly, his hand turning pale.

Contrary to his worries, the dog didn’t bolt or act out, staying by Yoonjo’s side and walking proudly. Seeing this, the housekeeper playfully pretended to be offended.

“Leo must really like you, Mr. Yoonjo. Normally, she’d insist on going her own way, but today she’s just following you. She’s picky about looks, huh? Doesn’t like the same gender, I guess.”

Yoonjo’s eyes widened. The housekeeper tilted their head, as if surprised.

“Didn’t you know? Leo’s a girl.”

Just then, Yoonjo’s eyes met the dog’s. She smiled innocently, wagging her tail gently.

She’s a girl. Despite spending so much time together, Yoonjo felt guilty for not knowing her gender and gently stroked her head.

The walk continued smoothly. When Yoonjo got tired, they rested, and the dog matched his pace but eventually wandered off with the man for her own route, seemingly restless.

“Let’s rest a bit and head back. Leo will probably take a while.”

“Okay.”

The housekeeper stayed by Yoonjo’s side instead of following the dog, more out of concern than surveillance.

The two sat side by side on a bench, taking in the surroundings. As time passed, more people gathered in the park.

Elderly folks chatting quietly while walking the track, a man hurrying along with earphones, a toddler in squeaky shoes toddling after their mother.

Yoonjo’s face noticeably hardened as he watched the child. Someone came to mind, and guilt swelled within him.

“Not too cold?”

“I’m fine.”

Yoonjo quickly hid his expression, tucking his reddened fingertips into his sleeves. His awkward smile couldn’t fully mask his melancholy.

“Mr. Yoonjo.”

The housekeeper’s voice drifted like a cloud through the quiet silence. The person sitting beside him stood up, glancing around briefly. As if looking for someone, the housekeeper gave a slightly apologetic smile, wrinkling their nose.

“Can you stay here alone for a bit?”

“Where are you going?”

“There’s a café nearby. I’ll grab some warm drinks since it’s cold.”

“Oh, then I’ll come—”

“No, it’s a bit far, and I don’t want you to get tired. I’ll be quick, so stay here, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”

The housekeeper disappeared swiftly before Yoonjo could stop them, their steps hurried as if chased by something.

What’s going on? Yoonjo fidgeted, tapping the bench with his hands. Waiting for someone whose return time was uncertain was boring but something he was good at.

How long had he sat there? As he waited obediently, his hands and feet began to freeze. His body felt increasingly sluggish.

“You’re such a good listener.”

Yoonjo’s ears, chilled by the cold, perked up.

Were his ears frozen, too? It was a voice that shouldn’t be here. The sound came from behind.

“You waited because I told you to?”

“…”

“Good boy.”

The man approached from behind and wrapped a scarf around Yoonjo’s neck. His flushed cheeks and nose were buried in the scarf, which carried the man’s scent.

Having wrapped the scarf, the man naturally pulled Yoonjo into an embrace. Yoonjo stiffened at the breath and warmth touching his cheek. The man chuckled at his obvious tension.

Without turning around, Yoonjo looked down at the hands holding him. As if proving their turbulent past, the man’s hands were covered in scars, much like Yoonjo’s wrists.

“I won’t be able to come home for a while, so I came to see your face.”

“…”

“Something came up.”

The arms around him loosened. The man crouched in front of Yoonjo, one knee on the ground, holding Yoonjo’s knees with both hands. His gaze was intense as he looked up.

“Can you handle being alone?”

His hand slowly slid up, grasping Yoonjo’s clenched fist. Warmth pooled in his palm. Yoonjo could easily shake off the hand if he wanted to, but for some reason, he didn’t. The skin touching the man tingled.

Yoonjo’s eyes wavered as he looked at the man. Biting his stinging lips, he swallowed the words he wanted to say.

Why are you making that face? Someone might think you’re worried about me.

The unspoken words rolled on his tongue. The edges of the words he couldn’t swallow were sharp.

“No answer, huh.”

“…I’m not a kid.”

“Sure you are. A little kid.”

He hated the man’s curving lips. He didn’t want to face that smile, as if enjoying the situation, finding it amusing. Ridiculous thoughts kept blooming, filling his mind.

“Don’t do anything stupid and stay put. You’ll get in trouble if you don’t.”

“Ah…!”

The man playfully pinched Yoonjo’s cheek, leaving a mark. The man, who had been smiling, clicked his tongue.

“You mark up so easily.”

The red spot grew darker with each touch. Yoonjo, who had been passively accepting the man’s touch, grimaced and grabbed his wrist. His grip had no strength.

“It hurts.”

“That’s the point.”

The man stood, biting Yoonjo’s reddened cheek before stepping back. Yoonjo quickly covered the bitten cheek with his hand. The cheek under his palm was not just warm but hot.

“Boss.”

As Yoonjo looked up resentfully, a familiar voice approached. Manager Jung, spotting Yoonjo, bowed slightly in greeting before turning to Won Kangho.

“It’s time to go.”

The man checked the time on his wrist and nodded. The smile that had been on his face moments ago was gone.

Just as he seemed about to leave, the man approached Yoonjo again. Leaning in close, he slipped his hand into Yoonjo’s coat pocket, pulling something out and waving it in front of his face.

“I gave you the scarf, so can I borrow this?”

A plain beige handkerchief, unadorned, carried traces of Yoonjo’s pheromones. Won Kangho buried his nose in it, inhaling deeply, and smiled with satisfaction.

“Be good, baby. I’ll be back.”

Yoonjo’s gaze followed the two men as they walked away. The absence of a mere handkerchief left his pocket oddly empty. The cold winter air cooled his flushed cheeks.

Dazed, Yoonjo belatedly came to his senses and hurriedly unwrapped the scarf the man had given him. Each time it fluttered, the man’s scent brushed his nose.

Every time the man acted like this, old memories surfaced, causing pain. The only memory from Won Kangho that wasn’t agonizing, a ticklish and sweet moment. The image of the man dropping a small candy into his hand was vivid.

“The boss already left?”

The housekeeper returned, holding drinks in both hands. Yoonjo nodded, taking one of the drinks.

“Sorry about that. The boss told me not to let you know he was coming…”

The housekeeper looked genuinely apologetic, checking Yoonjo’s expression to see if the earlier incident had upset him. Yoonjo shook his head slightly, gripping the man’s scarf tightly.