Flower Fiancé Chapter 76

Park Jincheol had a carrier and a bag in his hands. They were all Ji Yeonwoo’s belongings.

“Good work.”

Choi Moohyuk clapped Park Jincheol on the shoulder and turned toward Ji Yeonwoo.

“I figured you’d need things you’re familiar with, so I told him to pack mainly daily necessities. Take a look inside the bag too.”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had received the bag from Park Jincheol, roughly scanned the interior and smiled loosely.

“Thank you for packing them.”

When he gave his thanks toward Park Jincheol, the man took something out of his pocket and handed it over.

“Ah, and this.”

What he handed over was a disastrously shattered phone.

“I found it under the sofa. It was already in this state when I found it, so it seems it will be difficult for you to use.”

Taking the phone in both hands, Ji Yeonwoo just stroked the phone, which felt rough and jagged from all the cracks.

“It can be fixed, right? I haven’t even had it that long since I switched…”

This was already the second time recently. Even at a rough glance, this damage was more severe than the last time it had cracked from being dropped. That was only natural. Back then, it was a free fall, but this time, it had been thrown on purpose, so it was only natural that its condition was worse.

“If only the screen isn’t an issue, we should be able to transfer all the contacts inside as well.”

“…Do you think so?”

“A phone is something you can just buy again, so don’t worry too much.”

Looking up at Choi Moohyuk, Ji Yeonwoo smiled so broadly his eyes curved completely. Seeing Ji Yeonwoo like that, Choi Moohyuk touched his cheek with his finger as if he found him adorable.

Then, suddenly realizing that Park Jincheol was also present, Choi Moohyuk covered his mouth with his fist and gave a small, awkward cough.

“Will you rest? We have to hold a meeting.”

When Ji Yeonwoo tried to take the carrier and go into the room, Park Jincheol moved swiftly and carried them over for him. When Park Jincheol came back out to the living room, Choi Moohyuk gestured with his chin toward him.

“What about the thing I mentioned.”

“Ah, yes. I did look into it, but his whereabouts have been unknown since then. No matter how much I search… I’ll tell you the details once we’re inside.”

Choi Moohyuk went into the study together with Park Jincheol. Until the study door closed with a small noise, Ji Yeonwoo stood in that spot, just gazing blankly.

He had a rough idea who the meeting would be about. He couldn’t assume it was a business matter, not after the huge incident that had just happened—he couldn’t help but connect it.

As expected, they’re searching for Lee Hyunjoon.

Having felt the clear difference in power, it would naturally be difficult for him to show himself easily. He would know that he wouldn’t be left alone if caught. Yet, Ji Yeonwoo thought it would also be impossible for him to hide for long.

Ji Yeonwoo knew that family’s people well. Perhaps Lee Hyunjoon was already in a situation no different from a son cast out by that family. He remembered that Lee Hyunjoon’s father had always been displeased with his son, who always seemed lacking in some way. But even back then, he hadn’t seemed this broken down, and it was strange how much more unstable his words and mental state seemed compared to before.

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed lost in thought, shook off his musings and went into the bathroom. Perhaps because he hadn’t been able to wash properly while at the hospital, his body felt so grimy it was unbearable. He showered refreshingly under the stream of water pouring over his head, but even by the time he came out, Choi Moohyuk and Park Jincheol were still conversing in the study.

‘…It’s taking a while.’

Dressed in a bathrobe, Ji Yeonwoo sat on the edge of the bed, drying his wet hair with a dry towel. Still, having been here a few times, the bedroom no longer felt awkward. It also seemed to be because of the familiar body scent he always sensed from Choi Moohyuk.

Ji Yeonwoo ran his hand over the cracked screen that felt rough and jagged. As the touch was recognized, the screen lit up. Only parts of the broken screen were dead, and there were many areas that did not register touch.

Seeing that there were many missed calls, he managed after several attempts to press the call app and enter it. Most were missed calls from his friend Seo Eungyeom and his mother.

Thinking of his mother, who would be worried, he pressed the call button. Even that wouldn’t press easily, and after trying this way and that, as soon as the dial tone rang out, his mother’s voice came from the other end of the phone—’Yeonwoo?’

“Mother.”

The moment he opened his mouth, a sigh of relief came through the phone.

[ Yeonwoo, what happened to you. You don’t answer your phone. You’re not at home. Did something happen? Where are you now. ]

“I’m sorry. You must have been very worried.”

[ Do you even need to say that? Do you know how shocked I was? ]

“I should have contacted you in advance… It’s not that nothing happened, but it wasn’t a big deal. I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

He lied. His parents were already worried enough about him possibly running into Lee Hyunjoon, so he couldn’t tell them the truth.

“I… actually, I’m at my boyfriend’s house right now.”

[ Boyfriend? ]

As expected, his mother’s surprised voice followed. Still, he felt this was something he should tell her rather than hide. He thought there was no need to hide even this, since she would find out sooner or later anyway.

“Yes. I’m planning to stay at my boyfriend’s house and get the trait examination done. They said I need a guardian by my side.”

His mother was silent. Though she didn’t let it show, she seemed inwardly surprised. Since she had only ever said it was fine for him to get the examination, perhaps it was only natural that she was surprised.

[ So you’re not coming back home then. ]

After a long silence, his mother spoke in a tone tinged with worry.

“Both you and father are busy. And it’s comfortable here too.”

The other end of the phone was quiet. Only the faint sound of soft breathing and the murmur of conversation with his father beside her could be heard, as if about to cut off. Thinking that he might have been too abrupt and cut out too much context, he was about to add more, but his mother’s voice was faster.

[ If that was the case, you should have told me sooner. I was worried thinking something had happened to you. ]

“…”

[ …Nothing bad happened, right? I heard that bastard Lee Hyunjoon came back to Korea—don’t tell me he went looking for you or anything like that? ]

At the end of the smoothly flowing conversation, his mother’s worry-laden voice suddenly came through. Ji Yeonwoo unconsciously held his breath. As expected, his mother’s intuition was remarkable.

“Nothing bad. It’s not anything like that.”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been trying to deflect and reassure her, felt that wasn’t enough and added more.

“Once all the tests are done, I’ll stop by the house with my boyfriend.”

[ … ]

“He’s a good person, mother.”

Then a voice tinged with a note of disapproval followed.

[ You said exactly the same thing when you came home with that bastard. Isn’t that right? ]

Had he said that? It wasn’t even something he remembered now, and he thought his mother really did remember all sorts of things.

[ Yeonwoo, money or whatever, none of that matters. Just someone who cherishes only you for a lifetime is enough. You know that, right? ]

Ji Yeonwoo hesitated and closed his mouth. It was only a moment, but many thoughts flashed through his mind. His heart ached at the thought that the scars left on Ji Yeonwoo might perhaps be left on his mother in exactly the same way.

[ Anyway, you said nothing’s seriously wrong, so that’s fine. I’m relieved to hear you’ve decided to get treatment. ]

“I’ll contact you again later.”

Around the time they exchanged goodbyes and hung up, voices could be heard from the living room. It seemed the meeting had finally ended. Carrying both a sorry feeling and worry toward his mother, Ji Yeonwoo got up from the bed when his phone rang again.

This time it was a call from Seo Eungyeom.

“Hey, Eungyeom.”

When he answered, Seo Eungyeom’s voice, full of worry, came loudly through the phone.

[ Hey, Ji Yeonwoo. What happened to you? Did something happen? ]

The moment he picked up, Seo Eungyeom fired off words like a rapid-fire gun.

[ Mister went to buy flowers and said the door was closed. But the Bosses nearby were worried, saying the door hasn’t opened for days, and instead they asked me. Asking if something happened to you. ]

“…”

[ I called but you didn’t answer, there’s no one at your house. Do you know how shocked I was, thinking something had happened to you? I couldn’t even contact your mother because I was afraid she’d worry. ]

“I just… a few things happened.”

[ What things. Are you sick somewhere? Is it another problem with your pheromones again? ]

“It’s not that…”