Midday Guest Chapter 74

But for some reason, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity, and when he reflexively recoiled slightly forward, Cha Seokjoo clicked his tongue and pulled him into a stronger embrace.

“Close your eyes and be still, so we can at least spend time like this.”

The touch pressing down on his body was the same as ever, but Yiwon’s mind only grew more complicated. Cha Seokjoo, who would normally start by putting his hand inside, kissing, and mixing their bodies, had not touched Yiwon for several days now.

‘Yes, we can meet at the hotel.’

It felt as though his mind had been consumed by strange thoughts. Yiwon curled his body and tried desperately to think of something else. Despite his closed eyes, the sleepless night only deepened. Time flowed slowly.

☼

Cha Seokjoo

A businessman of the Republic of Korea Current Director of Cheongun Construction

Known as the closest confidant of Chairman Kang Changsik, the founder of Cheongun Group, he is recognized as a key contributor who has been with Chairman Kang since he operated the “organization” Cheongun, which is known as the predecessor of the Cheongun Group.

He is an individual known to be at the center of the story of how the company grew into a leading construction group representing South Korea within five years of its founding, by persuading Chairman Kang—who was then operating a small-to-medium-sized labor service company—to acquire a construction firm and successfully securing government project contracts through his personal network.

Though the company once faltered due to a recession in the construction industry, it has recently bid aggressively for redevelopment projects and succeeded, becoming a giant corporation to the point where it is safe to say that virtually no rival construction firm can currently stand against Cheongun.

There appears to be no disagreement among employees that he receives absolute trust as the closest confidant of Chairman Kang Changsik’s line. However, because of this, there is a view that the position of Executive Director Kang Dohyun, the only son of Chairman Kang Changsik, has become ambiguous.

Chairman Kang Changsik is known to have empowered Director Cha Seokjoo, stating, “Cheongun is also my own child.” Employees within the company also unanimously say that Cha Seokjoo’s influence is much more powerful.

However, his origins remain unknown. According to rumors circulating, there is a story that Chairman Kang made repeated efforts to recruit him during the days he led the organization, but this cannot be confirmed. Regardless, at this point, there is no disagreement that Cha Seokjoo is garnering attention as an executive with a sharp business mind rather than for his fists.

The projects and achievements carried out since Cha Seokjoo took office as Director of Cheongun Construction are as follows.

…

In a cafe located in Tsim Sha Tsui, sitting at a window seat, Yiwon skimmed the search results on his phone while taking a long sip of his iced americano.

A person sixteen years older than me, searchable on a business wiki, and someone presumed to have only dated the opposite sex before meeting me.

Yiwon was currently fixated on that last descriptor defining Cha Seokjoo.

It was only natural for a handsome man with a good title to be popular with many people, but it was not common for someone who had only dated women to take an interest in a man. It might be different if he was just messing around once or twice out of curiosity.

Since such cases usually ended with the person leaving to find the opposite sex again, rumors circulated that one shouldn’t even start in the first place if they didn’t want to get hurt. … Of course, a case like Shin Heeyoung, who was full of confidence and believed in getting them into bed first, was an exception. …

Before he knew it, the glass hit the bottom and made a clattering sound. Thinking that it sounded exactly like his own heart, Yiwon left the cafe.

By the time he returned by tram and the clubhouse came into view, the sun had already set. Checking his phone screen to see the time, he saw it was past 8:00 PM.

Because he hadn’t rushed back, his arrival time was later than usual. Inside the elevator going up to the clubhouse, he took out his phone to send a message to Cha Seokjoo, only to find three missed calls and a message waiting for him.

Cha Seokjoo: Go stay in Oh Taesik’s room for a bit.

He was looking at his phone, wondering what this was about, when he pulled the door handle.

Voices of people talking in low tones could be heard from inside the room. One person was Cha Seokjoo, and there was another person who held the lead and was driving the conversation.

Click, the front door closed behind him, and the gazes of the hulking men guarding the entrance flew to Yiwon in an instant.

While he stood blankly in the foyer observing the situation, a loud burst of laughter flowed from the living room area. It was definitely an unfamiliar voice, yet he felt as if he had heard it somewhere before.

After bowing his head slightly and stepping further in, the muffled voices began to sound increasingly clear.

“Director Cha, I’m disappointed. You were courting me so passionately yesterday.”

“My feelings are the same as yesterday. It’s troubling. It’s not like I can open up my heart and show it to you.”

“You think I can’t do it just because you talk like that?”

“I’m sure you would. That’s why I’m stuck here completely caught.”

“You certainly have a silver tongue.”

“I’ve already shown you all my cards. Are you really not interested? I can’t wait any longer.”

“Always so impatient. Fine, one must know when to strike and when to back off.”

“You’ll do it for me?”

“Yes, bring it. Before I change my mind.”

The atmosphere in the clubhouse was harmonious, but Yiwon was quietly sinking. What was all that talk about….

He wanted to listen closer. However, he could go no further. It was because Cha Seokjoo’s employees blocked him from going inside.

But he could tell one thing.

The voice of the woman wearing a red cheongsam and smoking a long cigarette while sitting next to Cha Seokjoo was the exact same as the voice of the CEO Cha Seokjoo had been continuously communicating with lately.

“I will escort you this way.”

He thought that while they called it an escort, it was closer to a forced removal. The hulks, who had surrounded him in an instant, attached themselves to Yiwon’s left and right to lead the way.

In that manner, Yiwon was brought into the building next door.

The structure was identical to the clubhouse where he stayed with Cha Seokjoo, and it seemed his employees were using it as their quarters. Heaps of black clothes were scattered here and there throughout the space.

“There was an order from the Director for you to wait here.”

From a hulk’s perspective, it was quite a gentle gesture and a polite comment. However, Yiwon felt that something about the unfolding situation was strange. When he approached the front door, the hulks blocked Yiwon’s path as if forming a barricade.

“Please rest for a while.”

He tried this excuse and that—saying he would just step out for a moment, or go for a walk—but it was no use. Yiwon was stuck inside the building for several hours. It was effectively confinement.

Eventually, hearing a commotion outside, he approached the window. Parting the tightly closed curtains with his finger, he looked down.

While Cha Seokjoo, the mysterious CEO, and the staff from both sides were all present, two large vans parked closely together. With only their doors open, the two vehicles were exchanging something.

The situation ended before he even had time to question it.

Oh Taesik and Ma Haeyoung boarded one of the vehicles and shared a brief conversation with Cha Seokjoo. Afterward, the situation was settled in an instant. It took less than a minute for the vehicles to pull away again.

Finally, Cha Seokjoo and the CEO remained.

The two laughed while looking at each other. They shook hands and shared a light hug. After talking with the CEO for a while, Cha Seokjoo only adopted a relaxed posture after watching the CEO’s car drive far away.

And finally, Cha Seokjoo tilted his head back and looked up toward the direction where Yiwon was.

It was only from that moment that Yiwon was allowed to go outside.

Yiwon returned to the clubhouse where Cha Seokjoo was staying.

In the space where everyone had left, Cha Seokjoo was leaning his head back on the sofa with his eyes closed, and alcohol and cigarettes were scattered messily on the table.

“Come here.”

He approached reluctantly but did not stay as close as usual. When he just stared at him blankly from the side, Cha Seokjoo pulled one eyebrow way up and asked with his expression.

“What is it.”

“…You smell like alcohol.”

Cha Seokjoo lowered his gaze. He took one look at the mess on the table and let out a long breath. “I did drink a lot,” he muttered in a low, sunken voice.

“Still, come here.”

It was the very spot where the woman CEO had been sitting and smoking a long cigarette just a moment ago. When Yiwon resisted because he didn’t want to sit in the same spot, Cha Seokjoo pulled Yiwon into an embrace.

His firm forearms locked around Yiwon’s back. Holding him so he couldn’t escape, he immediately tilted his face toward him. Lips heated by the alcohol overlapped and bit into Yiwon’s lips.

Yiwon immediately twisted his head to avoid Cha Seokjoo. Cha Seokjoo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Why.”

“…I don’t want to do it right now.”

“I’ve been waiting for only this moment for several days.”

“You seem drunk, so doing it later…”

“This guy is really driving me crazy.”

Overpowered by strength, Yiwon fell onto the sofa. He lay on his back looking at the ceiling, blinking. His heart was beating strangely the whole time he faced Cha Seokjoo.

“It’s also very late…”

“Exactly. We don’t have time, so do you really have to start such a useless argument?”

Looking down at Yiwon, Cha Seokjoo’s hand covered his chest. His fingertips rubbed a nipple that had stood up sharply. The touch, seemingly lost in thought, continued for a while.

Something hard poked firmly under his buttocks. As Yiwon thought, “Oh,” and tried to shift his posture slightly, Cha Seokjoo pressed down on Yiwon’s chest to keep him from moving.

A large hand went under his armpit and pulled Yiwon’s body up. At the same moment he felt his body restrained, their lips met.

“…uht.”