Flower Fiancé Chapter 34

That moment, Choi Moohyuk’s voice was heard first, a beat faster. As soon as he heard that voice, his throat choked up again with a surge of emotion. The fact that he had noticed even a small change just through a phone call came as an invisible comfort.

[ Or, did I wake you up? ]

“Ah, no. It’s probably because I just got out of the shower.”

He knew it was a flimsy excuse. What on earth did a hoarse voice have to do with just getting out of the shower.

Feeling awkward for no reason, Ji Yeonwoo hurriedly changed the subject.

“Did all your busy work finish?”

[ It’s not completely finished, but things have quieted down a bit. ]

“Ah… I see.”

[ I have to go back later. ]

“Then I guess you’re on your way home from work.”

As the conversation continued, Ji Yeonwoo’s voice sank, tone by tone. It was because a calculation had already formed in his head—if he was on his way home from work, the chances of not seeing him today were high.

A low breath mixed with amusement came from the other end of the phone. Ji Yeonwoo’s lips jutted out in a pout. His low laugh without an answer sounded a little spiteful. It felt as if he was mocking the faint hope that he might come to see him on his way home from work.

“Why are you laughing?”

[ You could hear that? ]

“Even if my phone is broken, I can still hear all the sounds, you know?”

[ Hm? Your phone is broken? ]

The one who was surprised upon hearing Choi Moohyuk’s returned question was Ji Yeonwoo.

“…Pardon?”

[ You just said so. That it’s broken. ]

“Uh… did I say that?”

Flustered, Ji Yeonwoo even stammered. Silence flowed. From the other end of the phone, which had been quiet, came the sound of breath being drawn in through teeth—sseup.

[ You’re strange today. Rambling and… ]

[ Something did happen, it seems. ]

Without realizing it, Ji Yeonwoo clamped his mouth shut—heup. Because if words had slipped out to the point where he didn’t even know when he said them, he thought that if he said just one more thing, he might end up spilling everything bit by bit.

[ Can you come out for a moment? ]

“Right now?”

[ Yes. Right now. ]

“Don’t tell me, you’re on your way here?”

Having asked, Ji Yeonwoo reflexively looked towards the veranda. The heart he had been trying to suppress began to race uncontrollably.

On a day when both his body and mind were weary like today, he had been thinking all along that he would feel more energized if he saw Choi Moohyuk. But from the morning up until the phone call, Choi Moohyuk somehow seemed even busier than usual, so Ji Yeonwoo hadn’t even been able to show that he wanted to see him.

And yet, at the thought that he might actually get to see Choi Moohyuk, Ji Yeonwoo couldn’t hide his pounding heart.

[ What floor is Mr. Ji Yeonwoo’s house? Was it the 6th floor? ]

Huh? Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes rounded as he stared at the veranda and blinked.

[ That place, the house with the light on—is that yours? ]

What? Already?

With the phone pressed to his ear, Ji Yeonwoo walked with quick steps towards the veranda. He slid open the veranda door, which was heavier than a normal window, and stuck his head out over the railing.

Ji Yeonwoo’s house was on the 6th floor, and moreover it was dark outside so he couldn’t see well, but far down below, the flashing hazard lights of a car were visible.

The man standing in front of the car’s hood had his head lifted, looking up this way.

The outline of his body and face reflected in the faintly shining light was unmistakably Choi Moohyuk.

“Really, is that the Managing Director?”

[ If it’s alright, come down for a moment. So I can see your face. ]

A smile gradually spread across Ji Yeonwoo’s face.

“Just a moment. I’ll be right down.”

When did you get here? Have you been waiting long? Although he was brimming with things he wanted to ask, he decided to put them aside for now.

[ Wear warm clothes when you come out. It’s cold outside. ]

“Yes. Please wait just a little. 5 minutes is enough. No, 3 minutes.”

Ji Yeonwoo hung up the phone hastily and went into the room. He opened the closet door wide and swept his eyes over the neatly hung clothes. It was because he belatedly remembered that, having planned to wash up and sleep, he was in pajamas.

Even in his rush, he matched and changed into a white angora knit top and gray check-patterned pants.

Standing in front of the mirror by the front door, Ji Yeonwoo combed through his still-damp hair with his fingers, slipped his arms into a cardigan, and put on his shoes.

Ji Yeonwoo, having dashed out through the first-floor entrance, caught his breath lightly. The irregularly escaping breath turned into white puffs and spread into the air.

“I’m sure he was around here.”

Ji Yeonwoo muttered, looking around desperately to find Choi Moohyuk. When he saw him from the veranda, he was certain it was near here, but now that he’d actually come down, Choi Moohyuk was nowhere to be seen.

An anxious feeling crept in. He had said he’d get ready as fast as possible, but had some urgent matter come up in the meantime? If he had known this would happen, he regretted not just throwing on a jacket instead of changing his clothes.

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been scanning left and right without spotting Choi Moohyuk, retraced the memory of looking down from the veranda and turned his body in the direction where he was likely to be.

At that moment, from behind him, came the distinctive metallic sound—tick. The step he had been about to take faltered and stopped in its tracks.

It was the sound of a Zippo lighter opening. Ji Yeonwoo knew this sound, made when lightly pushing up the lid of a Zippo lighter with a thumb, better than anyone.

He spun around sharply towards the direction of the metallic sound.

There, where no one had been just moments ago, a familiar figure appeared along with a faint light.

The man was perched on the hood of the car with its engine off, but even just his silhouette gave a sense of his sturdy build. He was just then lighting a cigarette held in his mouth. As he shielded the flame with his hand and tilted his face at an angle, his profile was visible in the subtle glow of the fire. The sharp line of his jaw and his distinct features were visible for an instant before vanishing beyond the extinguished flame.

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been staring as if spellbound, stepped towards where Choi Moohyuk was. Following his increasingly quickening steps, Ji Yeonwoo’s heart raced just as fast.

Sensing a presence, Choi Moohyuk raised his body, holding the lit cigarette between his fingers.

“Managing Director.”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had approached with quick steps, wrapped his arms abruptly around Choi Moohyuk’s waist as he was about to say something.

“…!”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected him to be the one to embrace him first. The body of Choi Moohyuk, held in his arms, was stiffening like a stone statue. With his face buried in Choi Moohyuk’s chest, he couldn’t tell what expression he was making, but the degree to which he could feel his fluster throughout his whole body was unmistakable.

“Mr. Ji Yeonwoo.”

Choi Moohyuk grabbed his shoulders as if to pull him off. Ji Yeonwoo lightly shook his shoulders, shrugging off Choi Moohyuk’s hands, and repositioned his loosened arms to hold him even tighter.

Staggering back from the force of the embrace, Choi Moohyuk was pushed and ended up perched on the hood of the car.

“Just a moment. Let me stay like this for just a little. Okay?”

Ji Yeonwoo said, nuzzling his face against Choi Moohyuk’s chest. Although he didn’t particularly want to act childish just because he was younger than Choi Moohyuk, perhaps because he had gone through something unpleasant, his body was reacting on its own.

A low laugh came from above the top of his head.

“Have you become a different person in the meantime? You’ve gotten more clingy, haven’t you?”

“I’m just glad to see you, that’s why.”

“I contacted you. Was that not enough for you?”

“That’s not it, it’s just that I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you today.”

As he spoke, he tightened his arms holding Choi Moohyuk even more. Choi Moohyuk, who had been passively receiving the touch, extended his arms as if in response and wrapped them around his back and waist. Caging Ji Yeonwoo between his legs, a rough hand stroked long along the frozen line of Ji Yeonwoo’s back. Receiving that touch, Ji Yeonwoo closed his eyes, leaning his face against the firm chest.

Choi Moohyuk simply stayed like that, asking nothing. He was perceptive enough to ask if something had happened just from hearing a trembling voice over the phone, but with Ji Yeonwoo, who was displaying anxiety to the point of reaching out first to embrace him unlike usual, he asked nothing and merely went along with whatever he did.