Wedding Ending Chapter 28

Somehow, that seemed like it would be easier. To Min Jaeyoon, only Kang Jion was ‘Hyung.’ Even after he became the CEO, he called him that in private. Now, no one could call him that anymore. That was why Min Jaeyoon considered it even more special. However, in front of ‘Honey,’ even the title ‘Hyung’ felt like no big deal.

“What do you mean ‘Hyung’ between a married couple? Then call me ‘Darling’.”

Kang Seunghyun acted as if he were being immensely generous. Min Jaeyoon glared at him. He stared at Kang Seunghyun standing there with a plain face. Even so, it was an endearment that changed nothing. Just imagining it in his head made Min Jaeyoon’s face flush bright red.

“Why, you don’t like that either? Or do you want to call me ‘Hubby’?”

Eventually, goosebumps broke out all over his arms. Unless he had hurt his head, there was no way such words would come out of his mouth! Thus, the fact that Kang Seunghyun was sick was etched into his mind to the bone.

“….”

Min Jaeyoon took a step back. He rolled his fingers holding the trophy a little tighter. Then, he slowly raised the crystal piece upward.

Watching the sight with only his eyes moving, Kang Seunghyun recited dryly,

“Hitting me with that won’t bring my memory back.”

Min Jaeyoon replied as he stealthily took steps backward,

“Even if your memory comes back, I won’t give the trophy back.”

Kang Seunghyun pulled the towel hanging around his neck with both hands.

“Shall I write an agreement for you? Of course, appropriate compensation would be necessary.”

Kang Seunghyun pointed to the desk with a nod of his head. Min Jaeyoon stared intensely at his face, then turned his body abruptly. A smile settled at the corners of Kang Seunghyun’s mouth. That was why it was even harder to know his true thoughts. He seemed to be playing around, and he also seemed to be teasing. If he didn’t know because he was expressionless in the past, even now, it wasn’t much different.

Entering the room, Min Jaeyoon immediately placed the trophy on the nightstand. As he pulled open the curtains covering the window to the left and right, winter sunlight pushed through. Min Jaeyoon took off his bathrobe and changed his clothes.

Most of his clothes were in the dressing room, but Min Jaeyoon, who spent a lot of time at home, kept extra clothes separately in his room. Stopping just as he was about to leave the door, he looked back.

With strides, his steps headed toward the nightstand. Min Jaeyoon reached out his hand. He moved the trophy to the shelf table.

Min Jaeyoon crossed his arms and admired the trophy. It would be an even better fit if ‘Min Jaeyoon’ were written instead of ‘Kang Seunghyun’, but he knew that was excessive greed.

He stepped back two paces. Unless looking up close, Kang Seunghyun’s name wasn’t visible either. The trophy catching the sunlight sparkled. A faint smile spread across the corners of Min Jaeyoon’s mouth.

💍

“In a little while, there’s going to be a New Year’s party at the hotel.”

Min Jaeyoon, sitting at the living room table, mumbled while chewing. While eating bread, he choked on it and drank a sip of milk.

The two were eating a late lunch. Salad and bread, which Min Jaeyoon lightly enjoyed when he was alone, were today’s lunch menu. Kang Seunghyun, dressed comfortably in a dress shirt, drank coffee instead of milk.

A small amount of lemon juice was sprinkled on Kang Seunghyun’s salad. With Min Jaeyoon’s cooking skills, that was the limit. Still, having seen Min Jaeyoon squeeze the lemon in his own way, Kang Seunghyun was also eating without finding fault.

“You mustn’t make mistakes like slip-of-the-tongue over there.”

Min Jaeyoon’s expression, having emptied half the milk, sank. Worry rushed in. Regardless, the face of Kang Seunghyun, who took a seat grandly at the head of the sofa, was calm. Setting down his glass, Min Jaeyoon raised his eyebrows as high as he could.

“First, you stand with a face like this, and if people approach, shake hands, and politely give New Year’s greetings….”

Recalling Kang Seunghyun’s appearance from the past, Min Jaeyoon narrowed his brows. Kang Seunghyun chuckled softly.

“Was I doing that?”

“You shouldn’t laugh! I’m telling you, you don’t laugh….”

Min Jaeyoon’s voice flowed out desperately.

How nice would it be if Secretary Song were here at a time like this? Min Jaeyoon also attended official events, so there were people whose faces were familiar. But he didn’t know down to the finer details. Whether they were people who would be a gain to Kang Seunghyun, or a loss.

There was no way the current Kang Seunghyun would accommodate every single person who came, but he couldn’t just push them away without weighing their interests either.

“You can just tell me from beside me.”

“Yeah. I’m attending too, but….”

The New Year’s party was an event where even family members all attended. Even if Kang Seunghyun engaged in erratic behavior, Min Jaeyoon could handle up to his parents and younger brother, Seonoh. However….

“Your parents are coming too.”

“My parents?”

Kang Seunghyun set down the coffee cup he was holding. Min Jaeyoon wiped his burning bare face with both hands. Should I say things like this? He moved his lips as if worrying.

“Why? Is the relationship not good?”

Strangely enough, Kang Seunghyun seemed to see right through his inner thoughts. Min Jaeyoon raised his head abruptly. Even so, he couldn’t say no. Min Jaeyoon nodded his head subtly.

“A little….”

“It doesn’t seem like a little?”

“A bit a lot….”

“Tell me the truth. That way, I can prepare myself mentally too.”

Min Jaeyoon caught his breath briefly and opened his lips.

“Do you see that painting over there?”

Min Jaeyoon raised his fingertip and pointed to the artwork heading toward the bedroom direction. Turning inward, there were a few more pieces, but only two were visible from the sofa.

“Your father painted it.”

Kang Seunghyun stood up. Min Jaeyoon followed behind him and left the sofa. Kang Seunghyun looked around the paintings while rubbing under his chin.

The paintings were similar. A cabin in the woods, a house on a field—there were doors, but no windows. Mixed evenly with gray and navy blue, the sky was covered with dark clouds as if war clouds were gathering.

“It’s profound?”

Because Min Jaeyoon didn’t know art well, he merely stared blankly at the same spot. Kang Seunghyun asked,

“What about my mother?”

“She’s the director of Sia Gallery.”

“One draws paintings, and one sells paintings, huh.”

“No. It’s not like that….”

Min Jaeyoon snatched his arm. Kang Seunghyun looked down at his grabbed wrist.

“She doesn’t sell them, she only exhibits them. Your father’s paintings… the ones here are also ones you persuaded him to get.”

Kang Seunghyun’s gaze stayed on the paintings hanging on the wall.

“You’re saying they’re all coming that day?”

“Huh? Yeah… because they did every year.”

Min Jaeyoon felt an unknown sense of anxiety. The more Kang Seunghyun’s eyes sparkled, the more his concern surged. At that moment, the doorbell rang.

“Who is it? There’s no one supposed to come….”

Min Jaeyoon let go of the wrist he was holding. While he stepped away from his side, Kang Seunghyun stared intently at the painting for a long time. Rather than when he first saw it, after hearing Min Jaeyoon’s words, it didn’t look that strange. Kang Seunghyun reached out his hand and fumbled over the picture frame. Looking again at the houses painted without windows, even in the darkness, a strange warmth and cozy feeling seemed to be felt. Furthermore, it aroused curiosity.

“Secretary Song?”

Min Jaeyoon expressed welcome at the silhouette reflected on the intercom. Opening the front door and coming inside, Secretary Song spoke with a resolute face,

“Where is Executive Director Kang?”

Following the tip of Min Jaeyoon’s finger, Secretary Song’s head turned. Kang Seunghyun was still in the middle of looking at the paintings. Putting firm strength into both shoulders, Secretary Song moved his steps.

“Executive Director, I have something to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

Kang Seunghyun answered without even giving a glance.

Min Jaeyoon hesitated over what to do, then chimed in. It was not a suitable place to have a conversation. Because Kang Seunghyun was looking at the paintings, he wasn’t focusing on the conversation at all.

“I’ll bring something to drink. Please go to the study first.”

Secretary Song nodded almost imperceptibly and turned his body. While he moved away, Kang Seunghyun didn’t budge at all. Unable to watch any longer, Min Jaeyoon pushed Kang Seunghyun’s back.

“Didn’t I tell you? Secretary Song is a very important person to you….”

“The one important to me is you.”

“I’m saying he’s someone you need besides me… I’ll bring drinks and go in too. Go in first. Quickly…!”

Min Jaeyoon barely managed to detach his feet, pushed him toward the study, and headed to the kitchen.

Min Jaeyoon opened the refrigerator and poured orange juice into a glass cup. Because he exerted strength, his throat was burning. As he brought the glass to his mouth and gulped it down, his Adam’s apple echoed noisily.

Secretary Song’s face seen earlier was filled with determination. Min Jaeyoon had not the slightest intention of disturbing those two.