The House of Three Chapter 3.1

It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon by the time they finished a major cleaning session. The employees of Ignis, who had come in early to sweep and wipe down every corner, gathered in the waiting room as soon as they were given free time.

They had always been busy running around the establishment; this was the first time the employees had gathered together leisurely for a break.

Clustered around a table in the center, the employees laid out snacks they had taken from their lockers and started a festival of chatter. Heeyoung was also sitting in the farthest corner, munching on a biscuit.

“Ah, I wish it were this laid back every day.”

Park Seohun, crunching loudly on a peanut snack, threw his back against his chair and began to lament his lot in life. He said that after working here for eight years, his body was completely worn out. But if he had enough break time like this, he felt like he could work for a hundred more years.

Upon hearing this, Kim Hyungseok, who was sitting next to him, snickered and added a comment.

“Aren’t you super jealous of the guys who went to the Boss’s main house?”

“Freaking jealous. What kind of luck did they have to end up there?”

Heeyoung had expected a thoughtless repartee, but an unexpected story flowed from Hyungseok’s mouth. That he was jealous of the guys who went to the Boss’s main house…….

Heeyoung recalled the image of Gyojin he had encountered before and furrowed his brow. He had been enjoying their conversation until now, but frankly, he wasn’t curious about the Boss’s story, nor did he want to hear it.

However, it seemed their story was incredibly interesting to someone else. The youngest, Juseong, who had been listening quietly, jumped into the conversation and threw out a question.

“His main house?”

“Ah, you wouldn’t know, would you? Among the employees here, some lucky ones get to go work at the Boss’s main house as domestic helpers. He occasionally picks out the ones with nimble hands, who are quiet and diligent, and gives them a chance, but it’s something that might happen once a year, if at all. It’s like plucking a star from the sky, a star from the sky.”

Hyungseok, who had just tossed a small sliver of hope to the newcomer, waved his hand as if to say ‘don’t even dream of it.’ He said it was like plucking a star from the sky, but that it might actually be harder than plucking a real star.

Juseong, who had harbored a moment of anticipation, went, “Aww, what the heck,” and broke his snack stick in half with irritation. When he showed his disappointment for all to see, this time Seohun awakened him to reality.

“Hey, man, think about how comfortable it must be to work at that house if a spot never opens up. Someone has to quit for a chance to get in, but I’ve been tied down here for 8 years, you know? In that time, he’s taken maybe, three people? Something like that. In other words, it’s the same as us having no chance at all.”

“……Unbelievable.”

“Aah! But I still freaking want to go! I’m so sick of waiting on old alpha bastards, I could puke, fuck. I’d rather work by the Boss’s side. Cha Gyojin is handsome, he’s tall, he might have a bit of a temper but huh? He’s a tsundere in his own way.”

Is he serious? Heeyoung glanced at Seohun, who was roaring while tearing at his hair, with a peculiar look. Whether working at an entertainment establishment or at the Boss’s house, wasn’t it all the same? The fact that he had to work to pay back his debt to Cha Gyojin remained unchanged.

No, the very idea of wanting to go work in a loan shark’s house was strange in the first place. To put it bluntly, the customers who came to Ignis were ordinary people, while Cha Gyojin was a gangster who harmed people.

And to call a person like that a tsundere. For a moment, Heeyoung suspected that he might have misunderstood the meaning of tsundere. It wasn’t even tsun…… he was just plain fierce.

The employees were overestimating the Boss more than he thought. His looks, his personality, all of it. Their tastes were certainly unique. It seemed their sense of reality had dulled from only seeing old and ugly alphas here.

The only thing he could acknowledge was his appearance. Yes, honestly, for an alpha, his physique and looks were excellent. But if you went out into the world, there were plenty of alphas with more respectable jobs.

I, for one, don’t want to work next to such an audacious man, Heeyoung thought to himself as he bit into his biscuit with a crunch.

“Hey, you don’t like kids. You’re screwed for life. You can’t even have this much hope.”

Just then, Hyungseok playfully slapped Seohun on the back and said. At the word “kid,” Seohun seemed to have a revelation and exclaimed, “Ah!” his mouth hanging stupidly open.

“Right, there was that little kid, of course. Ugh, Cha Cheonghyun. The thought of having to deal with him does make me a bit hesitant, you know?”

“You piece of trash, why are you like that to a child?”

“Hey, only quiet kids are cute. Cha Cheonghyun is really, hah, let’s not even talk about it.”

Cha Cheonghyun. Seohun shivered as if the mere thought of Cheonghyun’s face made his skin crawl. Hyungseok, while chiding him for being mean to a child, also snickered with a nuance of understanding. Everyone sitting here agreed with the two of them.

But Heeyoung alone did not laugh. A week had passed since he had parted with Cheonghyun like that, and he was worried about whether he was doing well, or if he was being abused by the Boss at home.

Everyone else gave up on going to the Boss’s house because of Cheonghyun, but Heeyoung was the opposite. He didn’t care about the Boss; if it was a house where Cheonghyun lived, he kind of wanted to go and work there.

He was mixed in with the employees who were all of one mind and one heart, but was expressing a completely different opinion, at least in his head.

Clack!

Suddenly, the waiting room doorknob turned violently and the door swung open.

The person who immediately appeared was none other than the Boss, Cha Gyojin.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear; all the employees who had just been saying the Boss’s name a moment ago froze in surprise. Multiple sets of eyes were fixed on Gyojin all at once.

Heeyoung also stared at the massive, tall figure blocking the doorway and gulped down the biscuit he had been munching on.

What is it……? Why, why did he suddenly storm in.

The employees, belatedly coming to their senses, hesitantly began to stand up and greet him. “Hello, Boss,” they said in small voices, bowing their heads, but Gyojin didn’t even pretend to acknowledge their greetings, busy scanning the inside of the waiting room with a fierce gaze.

Before long, Heeyoung’s eyes met his. Was it a coincidence? He tried to look away naturally, but the gaze that was fixed squarely on him did not waver. It was around the time his head tilted sideways with a bit of discomfort and puzzlement.

“You.”

Gyojin pointed at him, looking directly into his eyes.

“Starting today, your workplace is moved to my house.”

And then he dropped a bombshell-like statement.

At the abrupt notification, both the employees and Heeyoung flinched, their shoulders trembling. The thing that was said to be rarer than plucking a star from the sky, happening only once a year, had just happened to him.

“Pardon……?”

Heeyoung asked back, unable to believe it. Why me, for what reason, on what grounds?

It was because he couldn’t understand the motive behind him suddenly storming in like this to take him away.

The employees, apparently feeling the same, were looking at Gyojin with eyes full of longing and curiosity.

However, Gyojin did not look like he had any intention of explaining the detailed reasons one by one. Frowning, he glanced at the watch on his wrist, then clicked his tongue, tsk, and rushed Heeyoung.

“Hey, there’s no time. Hurry up and come out.”

“S-sir, Boss, you need to explain the reason why you’re suddenly…….”

“I said there’s no time to dawdle. Stop standing there looking dazed and pack your things, goddammit. You’re so frustrating.”

It was a truly absurd and unreasonable attitude.

As Heeyoung, having let go of his biscuit, just stood there awkwardly, the manager, who seemed to have been notified in advance, ran into the waiting room and grabbed his arm.

“Heeyoung, what are you doing standing there blankly? Didn’t you hear the Boss?”

“M-Manager. I’m just a little flustered…….”

“Stop talking and pack your things first, quickly. Hey, you guys, move over this way. Let me open his locker.”

The manager shooed away the employees who were blocking the front of the locker and gestured toward Heeyoung. His face clearly said, Get a clue and get your clothes out.

Heeyoung, unable to hide his bewilderment, slowly packed his outerwear and cell phone. Once Gyojin confirmed this, he turned around first and left the establishment.

The employees, who had been holding their breath, finally started to speak, murmuring amongst themselves. Gazes of envy, jealousy, and suspicion pricked Heeyoung’s back.

“Wow, what’s this? He just takes him like this? I’m so jealous.”

“You said it was harder than plucking a star from the sky!”

“Yeah, that’s definitely right, so I’m surprised too. Seriously, I don’t get the criteria. What’s so special about him?”

Right, what is so special about me? What am I that he wants to take me to his house? Heeyoung was genuinely curious too. For now, since he was told to pack his things immediately, he had only roughly stuffed his outerwear, cell phone, and a change of clothes into his bag.

As soon as Heeyoung closed his bag’s zipper, the manager pushed him by the back and led him out of the establishment.

As they got on the elevator, he grabbed Heeyoung’s shoulders, which were frozen stiff, and recited a list of precautions.

“You, be careful when you get to that house. Especially, watch Cheonghyun carefully.”

“I, I don’t understand what any of this is about all of a sudden, Manager.”

When he asked in a somewhat frightened voice, the manager shook his head as if to say never mind and spoke in a firm voice.

“It’s just as it sounds. Your workplace is being moved to the Boss’s home. We don’t have time to be talking like this, Heeyoung. Let’s go, quickly.”

Ding. As soon as the manager’s words ended, the elevator arrived at the parking garage. Perhaps because it wasn’t time to receive customers yet, the empty garage had only a single foreign car, its engine running, parked by itself.

The manager, holding Heeyoung’s arm and walking toward it, clapped his hands loudly as if he remembered something and whispered.

“And I’m telling you this because you don’t seem to know. The Boss, he’s not Cheonghyun’s biological father, so be careful not to misspeak. Making a slip of the tongue to the kid is also forbidden. The Boss may seem rough, but he treasures his kid. Got it, huh? If you got it, then go.”

“What? W-wait, wait a minute, Manager…….”

He felt his mind go blank from the storm of information and the chaotic situation. The manager, who had pulled Heeyoung with a brutish strength, approached the car and yanked open the passenger-side door. Heeyoung had to get into the passenger seat as if he were being pushed.

Finally, as he settled onto the seat, the manager, with a friendly smile on his face, bowed deeply to Gyojin.

“Have a safe trip, Boss!”

Thud.

With that polite farewell, the passenger-side door was closed. Heeyoung stared at the manager outside the window with dumbfounded eyes. Knowing he wouldn’t be heard, he was just calling out, “Manager,” when—

“……!”

He hadn’t even put on his seatbelt yet, but the car took off abruptly, speeding out of the parking garage. He stepped on the accelerator so hard that the screeching sound of the tires squealing echoed loudly throughout the garage.

Thanks to that, Heeyoung’s body was thrown to one side, and he sucked in a startled breath, fumbling for his seatbelt first. Click. Even after safely fastening the belt, his racing heart would not calm down.

Gyojin drove as if he were an outlaw of the road, with no regard for tomorrow. He changed lanes whenever he saw a gap to get through the congested road, and recklessly passed through precarious yellow lights. It was as if he were being chased by someone.

His face pale, Heeyoung barely managed to calm his churning stomach and opened his mouth.

“Boss. The reason you suddenly came and told me to change my workplace, and are just taking me like this, no, I want to know the reason.”

Even though he asked, rambling, no answer came back from him. Gyojin, who had been silently turning the steering wheel for a while, came to a screeching halt at a red light.

Screeeech. Along with the chilling noise, Heeyoung’s body was flung forward before returning to its original position.

Hah, huff……. He almost died that time for real. As he was catching his breath, clutching the seatbelt tightly, he heard a horn honk, beep beep, from behind.

He could also hear the driver of the car behind them yelling something, but Gyojin, sitting in the driver’s seat, paid it no mind at all.

Instead, he glared fiercely at the innocent Heeyoung.

“You.”

“……Yes?”

“What kind of trick did you pull that my kid keeps looking for you? He says he doesn’t even need his dad, this fucker. Does that make any sense?”

And then, he burst out in anger, omitting the subject of his sentence.

At the voice that fell like thunder, Heeyoung instinctively hunched his shoulders. Did he swallow a train whistle? The voice, as large as his build, still seemed to be ringing in his ears.

He glanced furtively at Gyojin and saw that his hot gaze was still on him. Heeyoung calmly organized his thoughts.

So, Cheonghyun was looking for me. And he threw a tantrum saying he doesn’t need his dad? And the Boss is angry because of that……?

Without un-hunching his shoulders, Heeyoung, pressing himself close to the door, asked cautiously.

“Why is Cheonghyun looking for me……?”

At that, Gyojin, who had been scanning Heeyoung with a displeased gaze, started the car again and explained the situation. Frustration and annoyance were written all over his face with every word he spat out.

“He’s been running a fever and raising hell since this morning, and this little punk says he won’t eat his porridge or take his medicine. I tried to stay by his side and nurse him but fuck, he stubbornly refused everything, and then suddenly calls out your name, huh? Lee Heeyoung. He told me to bring you.”

So, that’s why he rushed over like that? It was a reason he couldn’t have possibly imagined.

Growing serious at the news of Cheonghyun being sick, Heeyoung didn’t dig for more reasons and instead asked about the child’s condition.

“What about the hospital for Cheonghyun? You have to take him to the hospital.”

“We went. But he has to take the medicine to get better, doesn’t he? He won’t put anything in his mouth, fever reducer or whatever, so how is his fever supposed to go down?”

His facial muscles automatically tensed at the aggressive tone. The manager had said the Boss treasured the kid, but was this the attitude of a parent who cherished his child? The fact that Cheonghyun was desperately looking for him, whom he had only met once, was strange in itself.

How has he been treating the child for him to look for a stranger even when he’s sick? Imagining Cheonghyun struggling all alone, Heeyoung also began to feel a sense of urgency.

“The fever, what’s his temperature right now?”

“38 degrees.”

The flu had been going around lately; it seemed the child had caught it from somewhere. As he was mentally organizing what to do first, Heeyoung spotted a convenience store in the distance and urgently grabbed Gyojin’s arm.

“W-wait a minute, Boss. Could you please pull over up ahead for a moment?”

“I’m in a goddamn hurry, what do you mean pull over.”

“It’s something Cheonghyun needs……!”

When he was about to ignore him and speed up, Heeyoung raised his voice without hesitation. His voice was not naturally loud, so it was embarrassing to even call it shouting, but fortunately, the outburst seemed to have worked.

Hah, Gyojin scoffed and pulled the car over in front of the convenience store. Heeyoung got out of the car and ran into the store before he could say anything else.

What he hurriedly bought were some jellies that kids would like, candy to give him after he takes his medicine, and a cooling gel patch to put on his forehead. As he got into the passenger seat, rustling a plastic bag full of things, Gyojin, after checking the contents, scrunched up his brow menacingly.

“Where did you get that junk food. Hey, that’s jelly, right? If you feed that to the kid, you’re dead.”

He didn’t even know how to properly care for a sick child, yet he was making a fuss about not feeding him jelly. Heeyoung timidly glared at Gyojin and retorted.

“He won’t die from eating one jelly. If he refuses to take his medicine, you have to coax him with things like this to make him take it.”

“Talking back so meekly.”

He stepped on the accelerator as if he couldn’t waste any more time arguing, and Heeyoung didn’t add any more words either, just staring out the window.

After driving like that for a while, the car entered a relatively quiet neighborhood. During the 15-minute drive, Gyojin received several calls that seemed to be from his company. Most were calls urging him to say when he would arrive.

Is there an urgent meeting scheduled? Heeyoung belatedly understood why Gyojin had been so desperate to pick him up.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a detached house. Perhaps because there were no villas or apartments here, strangely, only tastefully built detached houses were sparsely spread out along the alley.

“Get out.”

Gyojin got out of the car without turning off the engine. Heeyoung also hurried out and took in the sight of the unfamiliar house before him.

*I thought only chaebols lived in neighborhoods like this. So a rich gangster also lives in a magnificent house……. *

The house looked like it had been built recently, its form was incredibly stylish. It was a detached house that used neutral-toned exterior materials to create a modern feel, and the structure, with its wide, open windows designed to receive sunlight from anywhere, was particularly wonderful.

It was his first time seeing such a house up close. While Heeyoung was momentarily captivated, Gyojin strode forward and opened the main gate.

He had naturally expected him to lead the way, but he just opened the gate and stood there silently.

Don’t tell me he wants me to go in alone. When Heeyoung looked up at him, Gyojin jutted his chin toward the house.

“I have to go somewhere right now, so you go in and check on the kid first.”

“…….”

“If you try any funny business with my kid, I’ll snap your neck immediately. Okay?”

It felt strangely unpleasant. Who did he think would try any funny business?

“Well then, I’ll be intruding…….”

Heeyoung gave a rough nod and had just stepped inside the gate when Gyojin, who was about to turn and head to the car, quickly approached and grabbed Heeyoung’s shoulder.

“Hey, go in and feed the kid porridge first. He hasn’t eaten anything since this morning. And make him drink warm water. He fucking hates powder medicine, so make him swallow it in one go. Otherwise, he’ll spit it out and throw a fit. If he spits it out, mix it again and make him drink it.”

Following that, a stream of gruff worries poured out of his mouth. A slightly flustered Heeyoung just stared at him blankly, so he added another irritated warning.

“And that junk food in your hand. Give him exactly two pieces.”

For the first time, Heeyoung felt that he was truly a father. It seemed he did play the role of a dad after all. Just a moment ago, he had been wondering if he was worried about the child or not, thinking his attitude was too oppressive for a parent, but now, even though his tone was rough, he could feel that he was genuinely worried about Cheonghyun.

It seemed that leaving his sick son to go to the office was weighing on his mind. Of course, he must have felt terribly sorry for the child lying in bed. Heeyoung also knew well how heart-wrenching it was to have to leave a sick child alone to go to work.

Heeyoung quickly softened his negative feelings toward Gyojin and reassured him.

“It’s just a cold, so he’ll get better soon if he rests well and takes his medicine. I also bought a cooling gel patch with the jelly earlier. I’ll make sure to put this on him to help his fever go down faster after he takes the fever reducer.”

“…….”

“Um, Boss, you seem busy with work, so please hurry and go. I’ll tell Cheonghyun that his dad, um, had to go to the company because he had no choice, and that he’s always thinking of nothing but Cheonghyun.”

The lovely, mellow voice spoke in a round, gentle manner.

Gyojin stared blankly at Heeyoung’s face, which held no malice, for a moment before letting out a dry laugh. It was a complex, subtle laugh, a far cry from a scoff.

Then, composing his expression, he waved his hand as if to tell him to hurry up and go inside.

Heeyoung bowed his head in farewell and then stepped past the gate, treading across the green lawn that spread out before him. He secretly marveled at the scale of the front yard, the likes of which he had never seen before, and looked up at the picturesquely beautiful house with eyes full of wonder. Even amidst all the novelty, his footsteps quickened out of worry for the child.

Meanwhile, Gyojin, who had been watching his retreating back, turned and immediately got into the driver’s seat. On the cell phone mounted on the holder, calls from his subordinates were coming in nonstop.

He needed to answer the phone right now and tell them he was on his way, but he couldn’t move his hand, lost in other thoughts.

Heeyoung’s clear and gentle face, and Heeyoung’s kind and soft voice, floated in his mind and echoed in his ears.

Booss-niiim, please hurry and go. I’ll tell him his daaad, had to go to the company because he had no choice. A voice like he was talking to a baby…….

“Is his concept at the store something like ‘innocent’? His way of talking is so damn cringey.”

I’ll tell him you’re always…… thinking of nothing but Cheonghyun.

Booss-niiim.

*Well then, I’ll be intruding……. *

The more he recalled the languid tone, devoid of any energy, the more the area around his chest tingled. It wasn’t like it was his first or second time dealing with omegas who clung to him and acted cute, but it felt strange. Was it because it wasn’t mixed with that specific flirtatiousness unique to male omegas working in the entertainment industry?

“Ah, you know, the more I think about it, that bastard is really peculiar, isn’t he?”

Before starting the car, Gyojin took a bottle of water from the console box and gulped it down. After that, the ticklish feeling seemed to fade a little.

Soon, the car that had been parked in front of the main gate quickly left the alley.

The car rolled on very quietly, without a single note of the loud EDM music he always had blaring.

🌿

When he pressed the doorbell on the wall, the door opened right away. The person who greeted Heeyoung was a male omega whose name he did not know. Seeing his overly neat appearance, he seemed to be a domestic helper working in this house. Heeyoung hurriedly bent his waist to bow.

“Hello.”

“Mr. Lee Heeyoung?”

“Yes. The Boss told me to move my workplace starting today…….”

“Please come in.”

Perhaps he had already heard from Gyojin, because the man was not flustered to see him. Rather, as if he had been waiting, he opened the door wide and even neatly set out a pair of slippers for him to change into. Thanks to that, Heeyoung was able to step into the house with some of his tension relieved.

The man said, ‘This way, please,’ and led the way down the hallway. Heeyoung followed behind him, looking around the interior.

The fact that you couldn’t see the living room and all the rooms from the entrance hall meant that the interior of the house, which was magnificent even from the outside, could be described as not just spacious but vast.

The interior was also excellent enough to be called clean and luxurious, but strangely, a feeling of warmth rather than coldness was imbued in every corner.

On the walls where one would expect expensive works of art to hang, there were pictures drawn by a child as if scribbling, and in the spaces that seemed perfect for placing a unique objet d’art, there were lumps of clay molded by a child. It was truly an interior befitting a house raising a child.

Heeyoung, who had been stealing glances at the minor memories of Cha Gyojin and Cha Cheonghyun with a cautious gaze, tilted his ear toward a faint noise he could hear.

“Huuung, heuk, I told you not to touch me! Cough! Hu, huuuung…….”

“Such language. Hey, will you stop crying? My head is throbbing because of your crying. Whining and whining since a while ago, it’s so annoying.”

Someone was expressing their annoyance at Cheonghyun, who was crying because he was sick. It was a cold voice that, to anyone listening, clearly held ill feelings toward the child.

He didn’t know why there were no normal, mature adults around Cheonghyun. They all did not hesitate to use harsh words and actions against a weak and unknowing child.

Heeyoung felt sorry for Cheonghyun, who was not being properly cared for. At the same time, he was also angry at whoever was scolding the sick child. He felt like he wanted to rush in right away and hide the crying child in his arms.

It was when his footsteps became heavy with a mix of wretchedness and faint anger. As he just entered the living room, he saw a pretty-looking man coming down the stairs. He was a man who, despite having sharp, drawn-out eyes, gave off the impression of a young master who had been raised with a silver spoon.

The domestic helper who was leading the way stopped walking and informed the man of Heeyoung’s arrival.

“Mr. Lee Heeyoung has arrived.”

After leaving that short remark, he quietly stepped aside so the two could talk. Heeyoung wanted to grab him and plead, ‘Can’t you please stay by my side?’ It was because, although he didn’t know who he was, he did not want to be alone with the man who was acting like the owner of this house.

The man’s gaze, glaring fiercely with both eyes like a wildcat with its fur on end, was burdensome. His attitude of standing with his legs unevenly crossed and openly revealing his malice was also uncomfortable.

As Heeyoung held his gaze and endured it, the man let out a scoff as if he found it absurd. Then, he mercilessly poured out a torrent of verbal abuse.

“So it’s you? The bastard who wheedled a kid to crawl his way into this house?”

He was incredibly rude, despite it being their first meeting. From the way his eyes looked down on and ignored people, to his tone that lacked even a minimum of courtesy. Every part of the man was unpleasant, but Heeyoung did not bother to respond and simply bowed his head.

“Hello, I am Lee Heeyoung.”

Even when he greeted him obediently, the man did not soften his sharp nerves. Instead, he only narrowed the space between his brows menacingly, as if he disliked Heeyoung’s calm response.

“Did anyone ask for your name? Go and soothe the kid. Don’t make him any louder.”

Saying so, the man glanced up the stairs with irritation, then brushed past Heeyoung, bumping his shoulder. Heeyoung, pushed aside helplessly, stared dumbfoundedly at the man’s back as he headed to his room.

What kind of person is that?

He thought he had experienced plenty of unreasonable troublemakers while working at Ignis, but it seemed there were truly all sorts of people in the world.

Was it when he was chasing the disappearing man with a dazed face? The domestic helper, who had been silently watching the situation, approached and drew Heeyoung’s attention.

“I heard from the Boss that you’d be working in this house starting today. If there’s anything you don’t know while working or if something comes up, you can tell me. I’m Jeong Eunseok, and I’m the team leader in charge of household affairs.”

At his organized and clearly enunciated words, Heeyoung was busy nodding his head. Team Leader Jeong glanced once in the direction the man had disappeared and then continued.

“And that person just now is Mr. Lee Seowon. You can use the title ‘Little Boss’ in front of him. Please be aware that he is currently seeing the Boss.”

As expected, the man, Lee Seowon’s, identity was not ordinary. He wondered who he was to be acting like the owner of the house, and it turned out he was Cha Gyojin’s lover.

How did two people with such violent personalities meet and become lovers? They were a pair who, despite their clear commonality, felt strangely mismatched.

One Boss was already more than enough to handle, but now he had to put up with Lee Seowon as well. It felt like a sigh was rising all the way to the tip of his chin before he even started working.

“Um, then, the work I’ll be doing is…….”

“Ah, Mr. Heeyoung, from now on, please just take care of Cheonghyun. School homework, going to and from school, meals, everything. You just need to focus on Cheonghyun. Also, since you came in a hurry today, once Cheonghyun gets better, please pack your things from the dorm. I’ll give you a room, so you can stay there starting today.”

But then, welcome news came out of Team Leader Jeong’s mouth. He only needed to care for one person, Cheonghyun. Could there be anything more joyous than that? The only thing that bothered him a little was the fact that he had to leave the dorm and come live in Gyojin’s house.

Team Leader Jeong, as if understanding Heeyoung’s feelings, let his eyebrows droop into the shape of the number eight and soothed him.

“There are employees who commute, but Mr. Heeyoung has to take care of Cheonghyun, so you have no choice but to stay in this house. Still, it will be much better to live here than in that old dorm. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

He thought he would be a difficult type to approach, but he was a person with a surprisingly humane feel. Heeyoung felt relieved to have at least met a good superior and lightly pulled up the corners of his mouth into a smile.

Afterward, Team Leader Jeong gave him basic instructions. Heeyoung crammed the information into his head and absentmindedly answered, “Yes, yes.” It was when he was mentally reviewing and memorizing the hard-to-remember points one more time.

Pitter-patter-patter. The sound of urgent footsteps echoed from the stairs, and someone ran straight into Heeyoung’s arms and hugged him.

“Hyung! Heeyoung-hyung! Uaaang, I’m sick……!”

It was Cheonghyun. Heeyoung, startled and shocked, forgot he was even talking to Team Leader Jeong and checked the child’s condition first. After carefully removing the arms wrapped tightly around his waist and facing Cheonghyun’s face, his heart ached.

They said his fever was 38 degrees, and indeed, his face was flushed red and he was drenched in sweat. It must have been hard for him to even lie down, yet he had cried his eyes out and run to him; Cheonghyun was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed right away.

Heeyoung lifted the body that felt like a ball of fire with all his might. The child, who had just started elementary school, was not so light, but he held him without even realizing it was difficult.

“Cheonghyun, are you okay? Your fever is too high……. Let’s go lie down first.”

It seemed like he had to lower Cheonghyun’s fever first. When Heeyoung asked for his understanding with his eyes, Team Leader Jeong quickly took the lead and guided him to Cheonghyun’s room. When he said, ‘This way, please,’ Heeyoung quickly followed, gently patting the back of the child who was sniffling in his arms.

“Hyung, why did you come so late? Huuung, I looked for you so much.”

“You did? Cheonghyun must have been very sad.”

“Ung. Dad said he’s going to work even though I’m sick. So I’m sulking. I like hyung the best…….”

The mumbling voice, exhaling hot breaths, was pitiful. Anyway, it was a relief that the child hadn’t desperately sought him out because he was hurt by Gyojin’s indifference.

He was just sulking. It was a moment where he felt sorry for having doubted Gyojin, even for a moment.

Heeyoung explained it well so that the child would not hate his father.

“I like Cheonghyun the best too. But Cheonghyun’s dad probably likes Cheonghyun the most. You have no idea how much he worried about you before he left for work.”

“I know that too. But if I pretend to sulk, Dad gives me an allowance! There’s a slime I want to get.”

“Huh? What’s a slime……?”

“Li! Quid! Mon! Ster!”

Heehee, Cheonghyun, who was laughing like a troublemaker, shouted in a hoarse voice. Heeyoung blinked his eyes blankly. So he wasn’t really sulking, he was just throwing a tantrum. No, was it a tantrum? His head spun at the child’s unexpected answer.

His education, where did it go wrong?

It would be good to teach him about the concept of money step by step. When he gets better, he thought he should also carefully observe how much allowance he receives and how he uses it.

For today, resting came first, so Heeyoung stroked Cheonghyun’s head without saying much else. When he whispered softly, ‘Cheonghyun, you can’t shout like that or your fever will get higher,’ Cheonghyun squirmed, saying his ear was ticklish.

The atmosphere of the house, which had been chilly just a moment ago with the ceaseless sound of crying, had changed in an instant. Instead of whining, cute giggles could be heard, and the frozen air had melted into a cozy warmth.

Lee Seowon, who had just come out of his room, found the warm air strange and entered the living room. And soon, he witnessed the utterly absurd scene unfolding before his eyes and scrunched up his face.

That Cha Cheonghyun, who was always acting up and causing trouble, was being held obediently in Heeyoung’s arms, smiling brightly. It was a scene that was unbelievable no matter how many times he looked.

Seowon, who had frozen in place, glared at the two people ascending the stairs with a heated gaze.

What on earth happened outside for a bastard who rolls around in an entertainment establishment to tame that bratty kid? How did a bastard like that do something even I couldn’t?

Before long, Heeyoung, who had sensed the gaze full of malice, looked down the stairs. Seowon found even that angle annoying. He found the fact that he dared to look down on him contemptible, so he stared back without avoiding it, and Heeyoung quietly nodded his head in greeting before turning away.

“Then, is hyung going to feed me porridge too?”

“Of course I have to feed you.”

The sound of their affectionate words to each other could be heard clearly down to the bottom of the stairs. Afterward, Cheonghyun’s door closed, and the living room was filled with complete silence.

Seowon, left all alone in the spacious living room, began to chew his lip wretchedly, spitting out a curse.

“Why is that ill-mannered brat suddenly doing something he never does? It was strange from the start that he was looking for someone, fuck.”

It did not take long for the emotion of anger to reach the top of his head. Seowon, who went into the kitchen and gulped down cold water, couldn’t hold it in and threw the glass cup.

Crash!

The shattered glass fragments mercilessly slammed into the sink.

🌿

Heeyoung came into the room, wiped Cheonghyun’s body with a warm, damp towel, and succeeded in feeding him porridge.

According to Gyojin, he had refused to eat porridge or take medicine, but when Heeyoung personally spoon-fed him the porridge, Cheonghyun accepted it well. He was a little shy at first, but as he got used to being cared for, he also learned how to throw a tantrum.

‘Hyung, why aren’t you blowing on it this time?’

‘This carrot is too big for me…….’

It was so cute to see him cautiously say a word or two, so Heeyoung indulged every one of Cheonghyun’s whims.

After finishing a whole bowl of porridge like that, it was time to take his medicine. When Heeyoung held out the powder medicine mixed with water, Cheonghyun firmly closed his mouth and shook his head. It seemed he really hated swallowing the bitter medicine.

“Hyung, can I not take the medicine?”

“You have to take the medicine to get better quickly so you can go to school and play with hyung.”

When he soothed him by gently rubbing his back, Cheonghyun, who had been sitting sulkily, opened his eyes wide and looked at Heeyoung. He had the expression of someone who had just received a long-awaited package.

“Then, is hyung going to stay at our house?”

“Yes, I get to be with Cheonghyun every day. So to play excitedly, you have to get better quickly, right?”

“Yeah! I’m going to get better in one day!”

He was just so grateful to Cheonghyun for liking him this much when they had only seen each other once. Because he treated him like a close friend or an older brother, not a difficult and uncomfortable adult, and acted affectionately, Heeyoung’s heart felt fuzzy every time he saw Cheonghyun.

Watching Cheonghyun pinch his nose with his small hand and gulp down the medicine, he felt like a parent and wanted to pat his bottom over and over. However, he couldn’t carelessly touch the bottom of a child from someone else’s house.

Heeyoung, trying hard to suppress that impulse, gave him one of the jellies he had bought at the convenience store instead of patting his bottom.

“A present because Cheonghyun took his medicine well.”

“Umm, it’s not bitter at all after eating this! Hyung, can I have more jelly?”

At that, Cheonghyun, who had quickly put the jelly in his mouth and was munching on it, held out his palm, asking for one more. Heeyoung gave him just one more and put the bag away before the child could ask for jelly again.

‘And, that junk food in your hand. Give him exactly two pieces.’

It was because Gyojin’s voice, who would have been furious that he fed junk food to a child, lingered in his ears. He thought about closing his eyes and giving him just one more, but Heeyoung recalled Gyojin’s firm expression and shook his head.

In the meantime, perhaps because the medicine was starting to take effect, Cheonghyun, who was fidgeting and lying down on the bed, slowly blinked his eyelids. Heeyoung placed a cooling gel patch on the child’s forehead and sat beside him, patting his stomach.

“Sleep well, Cheonghyun.”

“Hyung, I, I like hyung. I want to get close to hyung too. Hyung is, uh, nice.”

“Then we can just get closer from now on, right?”

“Ung. I want to be with hyung every single day. Hyung, can’t you marry my dad……?”

Was it as he was smiling and responding to the pure confession unique to a young child? A startling remark suddenly came out of Cheonghyun’s mouth.

Embarrassingly, Heeyoung could not hide his surprised expression. Even though he knew it was something the child said without knowing any better, it was strangely difficult to regain his composure.

Marriage with the Boss. It was ridiculous, something he couldn’t even dare to imagine, nor did he want it.

Above all, Cha Gyojin had a lover named Lee Seowon. Cheonghyun must have known about their relationship too.

It was puzzling that he would bring up marriage to him despite that, but Heeyoung quickly understood Cheonghyun’s feelings. It was probably because of Lee Seowon’s violent personality.

Lee Seowon seemed to dislike children very much. Of course, depending on a person’s disposition, one could like or dislike children, but it seemed Lee Seowon harbored feelings of disgust beyond a simple preference. One could tell just by looking at the tone and actions he used with Cheonghyun.

Even Heeyoung, who had just met him today, could sense his disgust; there was no way a child living in the same house would not notice Lee Seowon’s hostility.

Heeyoung, his feelings calmly settling down, corrected his thoughts again. What Cheonghyun had said just now was not something he blurted out without knowing, but something he said because he genuinely wanted to live with him.

“Marriage, you can’t do that because it’s something people who love each other do. But hyung and Cheonghyun can stay together. I told you earlier, that hyung is living in this house now.”

“Then that’s a relief…….”

It seemed his guess was right, as the child appeared greatly relieved at the words that they could continue to live together. Huu, Cheonghyun let out a cute sigh, fiddled with Heeyoung’s hand, and mumbled his wishes.

“Hyung, then now let’s watch my favorite cartoon together, and play cops and robbers at home on the weekend. And do you want to try baking bread? My friend bakes bread at home too.”

When Heeyoung nodded without hesitation, he smiled with his cheekbones raised high. Cheonghyun, who had been listing the things he wanted to do for a while, could not overcome his encroaching sleepiness and fell asleep.

Hiss, hiss, the child’s deep breaths echoed softly in the room. Heeyoung, who was tidying Cheonghyun’s hair, suddenly recalled the image of his younger brother groaning alone in their one-room apartment.

Heemin also had a fever like this once.

At that time, his heart didn’t just hurt, it felt like it was being torn apart. His brother was sick, and he had to go to his part-time job right away. He remembered holding back his tears and putting his brother to sleep in a situation where there was nothing he could do.

And then, when he went to his part-time job, he made mistakes all day long. There was no way he could work with his sick brother at home alone.

That day, as soon as work was over, Heeyoung ran home, crying his eyes out. He hugged his brother, who foolishly didn’t complain even once, and for the first time, he let out a wail.

It was something he had apologized for a hundred times over, but Heeyoung still floundered in guilt whenever he thought of that day.

Would Cha Gyojin be the same? Would he be unable to work right now because he’s worried about his kid? Even though he seemed rough and indifferent, he seemed to be doing a proper job as a father. He also worried a lot about the kid…….

It was around the time he was lost in such thoughts that someone opened the door and came in. It was Team Leader Jeong.

“Is Cheonghyun sleeping?”

“Ah, yes. He just fell asleep.”

He stood on his tiptoes to check on the sleeping Cheonghyun and then waved his hand at Heeyoung. Heeyoung shot up and came out of the room.

“This is his evening medicine. Keep it with you in advance. And there was something I forgot to tell you earlier. The employees’ meals are served at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM, so you can come at those times. And if Cheonghyun wants to eat with you at lunchtime, that’s fine too.”

Team Leader Jeong spoke without missing a single particle, as if he had memorized it. It was important information, but Heeyoung prioritized Cheonghyun’s meals over his own.

“Yes, I understand. But um, I think it would be good to feed Cheonghyun porridge one more time when he wakes up. Is there any porridge prepared, by any chance?”

When he asked cautiously, Team Leader Jeong touched his forehead, saying, “Ah,” and shook his head.

“The employee in charge of the kitchen today took sick leave, so I just quickly made lunch myself. There probably isn’t enough left for dinner.”

He seemed to be in a difficult position with one more task added. He was already holding a laundry basket in his hands, so he would be swamped if he had to make porridge as well.

Heeyoung, who had nothing particular to do besides taking care of Cheonghyun, took the liberty of cutting in on Team Leader Jeong.

“Excuse me, Team Leader. I think Cheonghyun will sleep for at least three more hours, so would it be okay if I made it?”

“I’d be grateful if you would. You can use the kitchen tools as you please. Just please clean up neatly afterward.”

“Yes……!”

At that, Team Leader Jeong nodded as if he had been waiting for it. He even made a joke that if Mr. Heeyoung hadn’t come today, it would have been hectic in many ways. When Heeyoung replied with a cheerful smile, Team Leader Jeong left a word of ‘I’ll be counting on you’ and disappeared into the laundry room.

Heeyoung, who was watching his rapidly receding back, also hurried down to the first floor.

Thinking he should make vegetable porridge, he entered the empty kitchen and saw neatly organized cooking tools. Knives and cutting boards organized by purpose, an island counter large enough for a person to lie down on with room to spare. It was a luxurious kitchen he had never seen before in his life.

“……Huh?”

The sink was also sparkling without a single water stain, so he looked inside and it was full of broken glass shards. Who did this? Heeyoung didn’t delay and started to pick up and clean up the large pieces first.

He was so absorbed in picking up the glass for a long time that he didn’t even notice someone coming up behind him, focused on cleaning the sink.

“Hey, I need to see you for a moment. Follow me.”

He noticed Lee Seowon’s presence when a low voice fell from behind his back. Startled, he turned around to see Lee Seowon standing in front of the kitchen.

He suddenly appeared and gave his notice, then left the kitchen before Heeyoung could even answer. He was a completely self-centered person.

Heeyoung had to silently follow him and step into Lee Seowon’s room.

Seowon’s room was neat and extravagant. The atmosphere was distinctly different from the living room and hallway, which smelled of people living there.

On the wall hung an abstruse work of art that Heeyoung couldn’t understand, and the dressing room, which was naturally connected to the room, was packed with watches and clothes of prices that were hard to even predict.

Furthermore, in a space separate from the bedroom, there was a set for practicing golf indoors and a large desk.

Seowon, who had walked leisurely to the front of the desk, took out an electronic cigarette and put it to his lips, inhaling from the filter. He blew out smoke that had a subtle fruity scent and started to speak.

“You put the kid to sleep?”

Even though it was an electronic cigarette, Heeyoung found that strange and peculiar smell unpleasant. Just smelling it made his stomach churn, and he felt like his brow would automatically furrow in a frown, but he managed to maintain a calm expression and answered.

“Yes. He just fell asleep after eating porridge and taking his medicine. If his fever doesn’t go down by today, I think we’ll have to take him to the hospital again tomorrow.”

As an employee taking care of the child, Heeyoung delivered the report he ought to. He was prepared to rush out with the sleeping child on his back if Seowon were to tell him to go to the hospital right now.

But the only response that came back from him was a scoff. He had asked if he put the kid to sleep, so he thought he was curious about Cheonghyun’s condition, but it seemed he had been mistaken.

Soon, Seowon, with his hands stuck in his trouser pockets, dragged his slippers and approached Heeyoung. He remained silent during that short time, instilling a sense of tension in Heeyoung, and finally, he exhaled a long stream of smoke, laced with a nauseating scent, onto Heeyoung’s gradually stiffening face.

“It’s only been a few hours since you set foot in here, yet you speak as if you’re the owner.”

Heeyoung, who had even forgotten his displeasure at the sarcastic tone, frantically waved his hands. He wasn’t acting like the owner; he had simply been stating Cheonghyun’s condition. He felt wronged to be suddenly misunderstood.

He was about to open his mouth to deny it, saying, ‘That’s not what I meant,’ but he couldn’t even get a word out. It was because Seowon cut him off.

“There’s one thing I’ve always wondered. The bastards who work here, they’re all male prostitutes who were rolling around filthily at the bottom to pay off their debts, but strangely, in this house, they strut around as if they’re something special.”

“…….”

“Pretending to be clean even with filth on them, pretending to be normal. Did they forget their place after sucking old alphas’ dicks and then doing chores in a luxurious house like this? You answer for them. I’m genuinely curious. Because I’ve never lived a trashy life like that.”

He deliberately chose only provocative and insulting words to despise Heeyoung. And was it just him? It was as if he had insulted all the employees who were living each difficult day at Ignis.

They were all people trapped in that bottom-rung world because they each had their own circumstances, with no other choice. Although they sold their smiles to old and dirty alphas, not a single one of them had carelessly given their bodies. Yet, to call such people male prostitutes and what not, his words were too harsh.

Heeyoung didn’t know why he had to be insulted in this room, and by someone he had just met today at that. He hadn’t done anything wrong, so he couldn’t understand Lee Seowon’s wicked disposition, what was so displeasing to him that he had to torment someone like this.

“I have not done anything to deserve being called a male prostitute. Moving my workplace was the Boss’s unilateral decision. I simply followed that decision. I didn’t come here because I wanted to strut around as you said. So I would appreciate it if you didn’t misunderstand…….”

I would appreciate it. Before his words were even finished, Lee Seowon, as if he wasn’t curious about his grievances or sorrow, came forward and pushed his forehead. He had put strength into his delicate fingers, which had never known hardship, and shoved Heeyoung’s forehead.

At that rude act, Heeyoung was pushed back helplessly. As if he had to be pushed if pushed, and had to be quietly stepped on if stepped on, very naturally.

And then, he was made keenly aware of his position. He was clearly at eye level with Lee Seowon, yet he felt as if he were being crushed under his feet.

Their height, build, age, and perhaps even their traits might be similar, but despite that, Heeyoung had no choice but to be the weaker one in front of Lee Seowon.

In an instant, his pride was deeply hurt by that miserable reality. Heeyoung straightened his head that had tilted back and stared at Lee Seowon. He looked at him with emotion in his eyes, but Lee Seowon’s neck remained stiff.

“You talking back to me right now is you strutting around, you impudent bastard. Seeing how you act, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, so if you want to walk around with your limbs intact, let’s live like a dead mouse from now on, you get me?”

The warning voice was chilling. It was a voice that sounded like it would really tear his limbs apart if he didn’t live like a dead mouse.

His hair stood on end, but Heeyoung did not beg for forgiveness or bow down, promising to keep it in mind. He was not foolish enough to obediently bow his head to someone who had suddenly called him in to harm him.

As he kept his mouth shut and held his ground, Lee Seowon snickered. He chuckled hatefully, as if looking down on Heeyoung for trying to protect his trampled pride.

“You have some pride, so you’re holding out, huh?”

“…….”

“Hey, do you understand me?”

And this time too, he did not hesitate to use his hands. Seowon slapped Heeyoung’s thin cheek with his palm, pat, pat. At first, it was clearly just a light touch, but gradually, strength was being put into his fingertips.

Each time the palm struck his skin stingingly, a heavy yet sharp hitting sound echoed. Heeyoung’s head snapped to the side with each slap sound, and then snapped again.

How many times had he been hit? After about the fifth time, his cheek throbbed and his ears seemed to be going deaf.

Heeyoung couldn’t believe this situation. It wasn’t enough to hear verbal abuse and have his forehead pushed, but now he was even getting slapped. He thought he had become numb to violence because of what he had suffered from his father, but facing pain after a long time made his head throb.

“Why are you not answering and just glaring. Do I look like your friend?”

“…….”

“Hey, Mr. Lee Heeyoung. I’m your employer too. Know your place.”

It was when the word ‘employer’ came out of Lee Seowon’s mouth that he came to his senses. Know your place. Yes, Heeyoung finally understood his place.

Lee Seowon was not a customer who came to the establishment, nor was he his colleague. He was an employer in this house, who was called ‘Little Boss’ by the domestic helpers. In other words, he was a person whom Heeyoung should not recklessly challenge, no matter what humiliation he suffered from him.

Heeyoung finally tucked his tail and also softened the rebellious glare in his eyes. It was sad that he had to stay still even after being slapped by a peer, but it was something that couldn’t be helped. Whether at Ignis or in this house, he was nothing more than a debtor who had been dragged here by force.

There were some things that couldn’t be solved just by speaking up and fighting against evil.

When he lowered his gaze, he saw his feet in their slippers. Why did the shabby socks hidden inside suddenly feel so shameful? Heeyoung tried to imagine how his appearance would look in Lee Seowon’s eyes right now.

Shabby clothes that didn’t suit the luxurious room, a deeply bowed head, hands gathered demurely but with fists clenched tightly. Even thinking about it himself, it was ridiculous and pathetic. It felt like being a piece of filth smeared in the middle of a wonderful work of art.

After understanding his place as Lee Seowon had said, the anger that had settled in his chest seemed to calm down. All that was left was resignation.

As silence fell, Seowon, having lost interest, picked up a golf club. He got on the swing mat, took his stance, and gestured with his chin as if to tell him to leave. It was an attitude where looking down on people was completely ingrained in his body.

Heeyoung, left behind shabbily, had to bow his head to Seowon, who wasn’t even looking his way, and then leave the room.

As he came out into the hallway and headed to the kitchen, he gently caressed his slapped cheek. He hadn’t hit him that hard, but because he had been struck several times, the flesh was swelling up. It seemed he had bitten the tender flesh inside his mouth while being hit, because the inside of his cheek also stung.

But Heeyoung did not make a fuss. He would not run to Team Leader Jeong and tattle on what had happened today, nor would he fussily look for medicine to apply.

In the first place, Heeyoung was good at standing up for others but quick to give up on taking care of himself. If it was his problem alone, it was more comfortable for him to just endure it and move on.

This was like a foolish habit he had since long ago. If only he endured, his sick mother’s worries would lessen, and if only he endured, his father wouldn’t take out his anger on his young half-brother anymore. If it was something that could be solved by silently enduring it alone, it was right to quietly persevere.

It was the same this time. All he had to do was live like a dead mouse and follow Lee Seowon’s words. Even if he crushed his pride and habitually resorted to his hands and violence.

Heeyoung moved busily around the kitchen, focusing on the tasks he had to do. He rummaged through the refrigerator to choose vegetables, and took out a cutting board, a knife, and a pot, placing them on the island counter.

He placed the vegetables, washed clean under running water, on the cutting board and finely chopped them one by one. After finishing the food prep, he scrubbed rice in the sink. He rubbed the rice grains hard so that the water would no longer turn milky white, and the front of his stomach got soaked with water.

Before he even felt the cold, his eyes welled up with heat first. Heeyoung shook his head as if to get a grip and squeezed his eyelids shut and then opened them.

‘……It’s okay.’

And then, on the day he was caught by the gangster’s hand and dragged to Ignis, he repeated the words he had resolved to say to console himself.

If I live diligently, someday I’ll be able to return to a normal life. So for now, let’s do the work at hand.

The pot placed on the induction stove was boiling vigorously. Heeyoung poured the rice into it. How should he season it? As he pondered that and looked at the seasonings, he no longer felt sorrowful.

🌿

“How can people who are supposedly educated have less of a knack for work than a gangster bastard.”

Gyojin, who stormed out of the conference room, pulled at his tie and expressed his annoyance. The meeting that had been hastily scheduled had just ended later than expected.

The old men, who had been spouting nonsense for two hours straight, left for a bar amongst themselves as soon as the meeting was over, shouting, ‘We need to have a drink!’, and the employees who had been tormented by them got on the elevator with haggard faces.

Gyojin intended to head straight home. Normally, he would have played along with the old men’s whims to a certain extent, but today, he had to go take care of his sick son as soon as possible.

“Managing Director Cha!”

But then, the chairman’s secretary, who appeared out of nowhere, blocked his path. The secretary, who had run over panting for breath, naturally straightened his disheveled hair and carried out his duty.

“The chairman said he will be summoning you shortly. You will have to wait in your office until then.”

The number of people who sought him out only when he was in a hurry had increased. Gyojin let out a deep sigh, unable to erase the annoyance from his face. It might be different with other people, but the chairman’s summons was something he could not carelessly disobey. So what other choice was there? He could only nod his head.

With this, one more reason for Cheonghyun to dislike him had been added. He was a kid who had sulked, asking if he was going to the company when his son was sick, even as he was leaving the house. The image of him turning his head away with a huff, no matter what he said—I’m sorry, you don’t know your dad’s heart at all, I’ll buy you tteokbokki when you get better—was still vivid in his mind.

Gyojin suppressed the urge to bolt straight home and opened his office door. He intended to deal with the piled-up work until the summons came.

“Oh, oppa!”

But a welcome guest was in the office that should have been empty.

The 20-something woman with her hair tied in a ponytail, slightly tanned skin, and a thin, lanky body clad in flamboyant clothes was Cha Doeun. She was Gyojin’s half-sister and the youngest of the siblings. After graduating from university, she had been traveling around the world and seemed to have returned to Korea without any notice.

Gyojin greeted his youngest sister, whom he was seeing for the first time in a long while, warmly.

“Well, well, who do we have here? Isn’t it our little one?”

As he approached with a playful grin, Doeun shot up from her seat and ran towards him with all her might. She threw herself into Gyojin’s broad arms and said in a cute voice, ‘You missed me, didn’t you, oppa!’

Gyojin stroked his sister’s head as if adoring a puppy.

“You even have to ask? Hey, have you been to see noona?”

But that was also brief, as nagging soon followed. Doeun said, I knew it, and broke away from Gyojin’s embrace, returning to the sofa.

“Of course. Is there any reason to make unni sad? She’s the biggest spender who gives the most allowance, so I rushed over as soon as I got to Korea.”

Gyojin also sat down opposite Doeun and scoffed. It was because his sister, who was hatefully talking to deliberately get allowance, looked cute. He did not hesitate to take out his wallet from his back pocket.

“Look at her trying to start a competition again. If I give you double the allowance, will you come to see me first next time?”

“Aigoo, of course. Next time, I’ll come to see my dear older brother first.”

Doeun, who had brilliantly seized the opportunity to get allowance, smiled with her eyes and held out both hands. Gyojin took out as many checks as he could grab and placed a thick wad in her dainty palm.

Instead of telling her to use it sparingly, he added a remark to spend it lavishly, and Doeun, who was counting the checks on the spot, mumbled playfully.

“Wow, should I really come to see oppa first next time?”

“Forget it. No matter what, show your face to noona first. You have no idea how much she wants to see you.”

“Yeees, yes. Oh, right! Is Cheonghyun doing well?”

The topic naturally shifted to Cheonghyun. Doeun was someone who particularly doted on her nephew. It was obvious that she had probably bought a ton of presents for Cheonghyun on her recent trip as well.

Cheonghyun would also wake up from his sleep and greet his youngest aunt with joy, but unfortunately, he couldn’t do that right now. Gyojin narrowed his brow, recalling the image of his son sniffling with tears due to a fever.

“The kid has a cold right now and it’s a mess. I can’t even go see him because of work, really.”

“What? Why our baby! Should I go see him?”

“No, if you go, he’ll get excited and won’t be able to rest. There’s someone else to look after him, so it’s okay.”

He forced himself to shake his head, but inside, he was full of worry for his son. He hadn’t been able to eat porridge or take medicine before he left, so what would he be doing now? Would Lee Heeyoung be taking good care of the kid?

As he was lost in worry, Doeun, who had been feeling sorry with him, seemed to have remembered something and her eyes sparkled.

“I heard Lee Seowon moved into your house, oppa. He’ll take good care of him, right? By the way, how are things with Lee Seowon? Is it going well?”

When he was with Doeun, the topic of conversation often changed abruptly like this. Doeun’s interest had now shifted to Lee Seowon, and she kept urging him for an answer, saying she was curious about their relationship. Well, since it was something that happened while she was away on a trip, she must have been more than just curious.

Gyojin mercilessly shattered Doeun’s expectations, who must have been imagining a rosy romance.

“What do you mean going well? I wouldn’t want him even if you gave me a truckload. I’m, sigh, barely living, little one.”

At the disgusted reply, Doeun narrowed her eyes and observed Gyojin. Then, realizing that the story she had been expecting didn’t exist, she let out a big sigh, phooo.

“What, so it wasn’t a lie? And here I thought, it was going well…….”

In fact, upon hearing the news that her older brother was living with none other than Chairman Baek Giseung’s nephew, Doeun had been hoping for their marriage. It was because she was worried about what would happen if Gyojin, who had turned thirty-four without ever having a proper relationship, grew old and died alone like this.

But to hear that nothing had progressed at all even after living with Lee Seowon, who was an omega and had a solid family background, was just futile.

Isn’t Lee Seowon pretty good? He was manly yet had the unique elegant body line of an omega, and his face was also on the handsome side. It seemed Gyojin had no intention of meeting someone and dating at all.

“Then, after the cohabitation period with Lee Seowon ends, should I introduce you to an omega I know? What did you say your ideal type was, oppa? Tell me. I have a wide network, you know? There are actors, and idols too.”

Doeun did not give up there and took out her phone, starting to list the names of the omegas saved in her contacts.

At his little sister’s sincere concern, Gyojin let out a laugh of disbelief. At that, Doeun pestered him, saying, ‘Ah, hurry up and tell me your ideal type!’

Could he just stand by when his sister was trying so hard? Gyojin chuckled and played along.

“Someone who genuinely likes and cherishes Cha Cheonghyun. Someone who is so affectionate and kind-hearted that just looking at them makes my heart feel so damn warm.”

At the unexpected answer, Doeun’s eyes, with their thick double eyelids, widened as if they would pop out. She replayed Gyojin’s words several times. It was natural that they had to like Cheonghyun. But, someone so affectionate and kind-hearted that it makes his heart warm……?

“I thought you would only care about external appearances, but you’re more detailed than I thought, huh? No, more than that, isn’t that an ideal type with no conscience for someone like you, oppa?”

As she burst out laughing, saying it was really funny that a gangster liked a kind person, Gyojin shrugged as if there was no problem. Doeun, who had been laughing for a while, wiped her tears and spoke in a tone as if it were no big deal.

“Well, anyway, you’re saying you like a kind person. The world is full of kind people, isn’t it?”

At her utterly naive words, Gyojin looked at his young sister with condescension and denied it.

“Where in the world are kind people in abundance? Humans are all inherently selfish, so it’s hard to find someone who is kind by nature, you young lady. Putting aside enduring my personality, who would love a child who isn’t related by blood as much as I, the father, do? You probably won’t find one even if you search for a lifetime.”

“Hmm, is that so……?”

Doeun, who was listening to his words seriously, nodded as if there was a point to it. Then, she suddenly threw a childlike question.

“But, oppa. What if there is such a person? What will you do then?”

Gyojin curled the corners of his mouth into a playful smile. His blunt and cold-looking impression had softened into a friendly one.

“I have to catch him. I have to catch him tight, put him in the wife’s seat, and let him live a life of luxury forever.”

🌿

After sending Doeun off, Gyojin, who had also finished his meeting with the chairman, went straight down to the parking lot and started his car. As he sped out of the company, frantically stepping on the accelerator, he called Team Leader Jeong, who would be at home, and received a simple report.

—Mr. Lee Seowon called Mr. Lee Heeyoung to his room, and it seems something happened inside.

He had just been curious about whether his son had eaten well, slept soundly, and if his fever had gone down a bit, but the words that came out of Team Leader Jeong’s mouth were unexpected.

It seemed Lee Seowon had caused trouble again. Well, it was impossible that a bastard who had been spoiled since he was young and was living his life with a screw loose would have left Lee Heeyoung, who had suddenly appeared in the house, alone.

Gyojin forgot to ask about his son’s condition and retorted.

“What happened.”

—I don’t know the details, but Mr. Lee Heeyoung’s cheek was swollen as if he had been hit.

It was beyond belief. He thought it would be a verbal argument at most, but to think he had even laid a hand on him. That crazy Lee Seowon had grabbed hold of another innocent person.

By the way, the opponent was the not-so-easy Lee Heeyoung. Gyojin recalled the face of Heeyoung who had fearlessly stood up to him while protecting the child the other day.

“That Lee Heeyoung just stood there and took it? He seemed like a troublemaker who talked back here and there, so it must have been a huge scene.”

There was no way Heeyoung, who had stood up to him, the Boss, would have just quietly taken a beating from Lee Seowon, whom he had just met. He probably shouted, “Why are you doing this to me,” or fought back in his own way.

But Team Leader Jeong gave an answer that shattered Gyojin’s expectation.

—No. We didn’t hear Mr. Lee Heeyoung’s voice loudly from inside, and he came out quietly after the conversation ended.

It was a report he couldn’t believe. As things unfolded differently from his expectation, Gyojin’s right eyebrow shot up.

He just stood there and took it? He was so forward about someone else’s kid.

“So, what next? He must have done something after coming out quietly.”

—Ah, yes. After coming out of the room, he was making porridge to feed Cheonghyun.

A series of absurd answers came back one after another. He had been slapped by someone he had just met, yet instead of crying his eyes out, he was making porridge for the kid. Gyojin let out a breath of disbelief, so flabbergasted was he.

He was not just curious about one or two things, like what had happened in Lee Seowon’s room, and what words were exchanged that led to him even laying a hand on him. But for now, asking about the child’s condition was the priority.

“Has Cha Cheonghyun’s fever gone down a lot?”

—Yes. After taking the fever reducer and sleeping soundly, his fever has gone down a lot. I’ve taken a few pictures, shall I send them to you?

“Yeah. Send them now.”

It was a huge relief that the fever, which had been boiling just this morning, had gone down. Gyojin, somewhat reassured, ended the call after telling him to send the pictures.

Soon, several messenger notifications popped up on his phone’s lock screen. He slowly stopped the car at a red light and began to check the pictures that had arrived one by one.

The first one he saw was a picture of Cheonghyun, who seemed to have just woken up, sitting on the living room sofa watching TV. It was when he was zooming in on the picture with his finger to look at his son’s swollen face. In the corner he had glanced at without much thought, there was an annoying figure standing there.

It was the figure of Heeyoung, warming up porridge in the kitchen. He was captured as if caught at the very edge, and since he was turned around, he couldn’t tell what expression he was making.

Gyojin immediately checked the next picture. It contained Cheonghyun lying in bed reading a storybook, and of course, Heeyoung was captured with him.

Heeyoung was reading the storybook with a faint smile on his face. He didn’t know what he was saying, but his lips, puckered into a round ‘o’ shape, looked quite comical.

When he swiped to the side, a short video appeared last. Gyojin played the video as if possessed.

What appeared on the screen was a scene with the same composition as before. The figure of Heeyoung reading a storybook and Cheonghyun lying down and listening intently to the story. Soon, the voices of the two could be heard.

—The angry magpie pecked the grandfather’s head. Why was the magpie angry?

—I wonder?

—Cheonghyun, you think about it carefully.

—Uh, uh, just! Because the grandfather was annoying!

—No, no…….

Heeyoung did not look dumbfounded even at Cheonghyun’s nonsensical answer. Rather, he let out a soft laugh at the very Cheonghyun-like answer and led the child to develop his imagination. He certainly knew how to handle a child skillfully.

By the way, it seemed he used that ticklish way of speaking equally with everyone. Why was the magpie angry? The mellow voice that raised the last syllable seemed to make his ears particularly more ticklish.

HONK!

Gyojin, who had been staring blankly at the picture without even a hint of a smile, looked up at the rearview mirror at the sound of a horn honking from behind.