The Perfect Vol. 4 Chapter 7 - Main Story End

The muscly man couldn’t hold back and took a swig from the soju bottle. I looked at Yangsimless in surprise rather than shock. There was no cheesiness in his voice. He had reached a level where he could say such things with a straight face and normal tone. He had naturally embodied it without the cheesy look and smile. The problem was that after hearing it for over a week, I had gotten used to it and could take it in stride even sober. Embarrassingly, I kind of liked it.

“Did you know that the head of the special agency has left? I received an order that my contract as a cooperative employee on this side has been canceled, and I have to return to the special agency starting next week. Or else, I have to quit the company.”

I added what the internal affairs department employee had said. Then Yangsimless asked,

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to keep working, of course.”

Even I need a stable job to make a living.

“Keep working.”

“But the internal affairs department said they would make it an issue…”

“Then I’ll quit.”

Everyone looked up at his words.

“Where?”

“4K.”

“…That’s Director Kook’s company.”

“Then let’s just shut it down.”

Unlike me, who was touched, the three who suddenly became unemployed stood up from their seats at the same time. However, their mutism was not yet cured, so someone else intervened.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

It was CEO Na. That’s right, he was also in the office. Seeing him come out with a frown, I felt a sense of embarrassment that wasn’t there before. This is why good-looking faces are needed in society. It reminds you of the reality you had forgotten.

“Do you think I can’t do it?”

Yangsimless asked expressionlessly. CEO Na still frowned and then met my gaze. For a very brief moment, I felt a sense of longing in his eyes, but he quickly looked away from me.

“You can’t just do whatever you want. Don’t talk recklessly in front of the employees.”

“No. I can do whatever I want. I can say anything in front of anyone. Especially in front of you, I can do anything except one thing.”

I was curious about what that one thing was, but the atmosphere in the office was not good for asking.

“What is that one thing?”

Of course, there was someone who didn’t read the room. We glared at the clueless drunk who asked that question. This is not the time to ask such things!

“Having sex with Mr. Han Jemyung.”

The answer was also inappropriate. It was a damn answer. Yangsimless, worried that CEO Na might not understand, pointed at me and himself with his finger and explained.

“I don’t mind if you see me having sex, but I don’t want you to see Mr. Han Jemyung having sex.”

“I won’t watch, you bastard.”

CEO Na cursed. As expected, Director Kook was a man who could make even Buddha curse, and the employees’ faces showed relief. That’s the Director Kook we know, they nodded. But it was still too early for them to recover from the shock of the baby bird. As someone who was also involved in the cursing, I couldn’t help but add a word.

“Director Kook, please shut up.”

Yangsimless turned to look at me.

“Should I?”

“Yes, and don’t talk about closing the company anymore.”

“Okay.”

He nodded and replied coolly. The 4K employees who were watching were once again struck with mutism. This time, even CEO Na looked at him in disbelief.

“My aunt should have seen this.”

“If my mom saw this, she would have praised me.”

That’s true. CEO Na admitted it and smiled at me. He looked somewhat disheartened.

“Mr. Han Jemyung, don’t worry about the special agency matter. Director Kook may not be reliable, but if I talk to them, you can continue to work as a cooperative employee in our office without any problems. I’ve built relationships of trust and faith for times like this. Unlike someone.”

Although it was aimed at Yangsimless, he just snorted.

“Keep building it, see if it makes you money.”

“I’ll build more than you, who invests and loses it all.”

“From now on, I’m going to recover it. Want to bet on who can build more?”

“Start by saving the investment company. Don’t be greedy and ruin it.”

“Is that what you call advice?”

“Yes.”

“Got it.”

With Yangsimless accepting the advice, the conversation ended. What is this emptiness? Although it was better than a brutal fight, the two men’s conversation was still absurd. The 4K employees seemed used to it, as their gazes were already elsewhere. Namely, on me. Just then, CEO Na took Yangsimless into the office, saying he had something to discuss regarding work. Left alone with the 4K employees, an awkward silence fell. I tried to break it.

“Well, I have something to do, so I’ll be going…”

“No, sit down right now.”

So, I sat down on the guest sofa. The three of them surrounded me and started whispering among themselves. Of course, I heard everything.

“What did I say? I told you Director Kook was interested, right?”

“Chief Bae, that’s not the point right now.”

“Exactly. It doesn’t matter who Director Kook is dating.”

Then what does matter? I almost interrupted their conversation, but fortunately, my turn came.

“Tell us. Is Director Kook really into Mr. Han Jemyung?”

The question wasn’t surprising. Given Yangsimless’s personality, anyone could ask that question. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it.

“Yes.”

“How on earth did he develop such a terrible taste?”

The drunk asked in an agitated tone. I was puzzled. Hadn’t he praised Yangsimless’s appearance before?

“Well, his appearance is perfect.”

“Of course, his appearance is perfect. That’s not what we’re asking about.”

The muscular man nodded. Then what are they asking about? Just then, the drunk suddenly interjected.

“Is the sex also perfect?”

“Ah, come on. Chief Bae.”

The muscular man scolded him and then asked me seriously,

“What we mean by ‘taste’ is Director Kook’s weird way of speaking. Baby bird, damn, fluttering, stuff like that. Is that really his taste?”

It is his taste.

“At first, I couldn’t adapt to it, but now I’m used to it, so it’s okay.”

I vaguely trailed off the part where I was going to say it’s actually very good. Three disappointed gazes fell on me.

“He’s been brainwashed. He’s already been brainwashed.”

The drunk shook his head, and the other two sighed.

“It’s all because of that damn novel.”

“I didn’t think the novel would ruin two people’s lives.”

Knowing which novel they were talking about, I felt a bit indignant.

“If you mean <Love, Purity, Passion, Its Name is the Burning White Rose>, I would like to say that’s a misunderstanding.”

“Huh? You still remember the title?”

“…It was memorable.”

Indeed. It was memorable. Everyone nodded.

“But taking the side of ‘Lovesapu’ without even reading it is your misunderstanding.”

Hearing them shorten it to “Lovesapu” added to my indignation.

“Exactly. You don’t know how terrible the cringeworthy scenes are in ‘Lovesapu’ if you haven’t seen them.”

I’ve seen them. I wrote them.

“Especially this latest installment, it was the epitome of all cringeworthy scenes. Wow, I finally understood what the burning white rose in the title meant.”

Amid my anger, I pricked up my ears at the drunk’s words.

“That was a shock to me too. I thought the author just came up with the title without any thought.”

“It’s not like that?!”

I excitedly interjected, then awkwardly added under everyone’s gaze,

“I mean, it’s the title, so it must mean something, right?”

“Well, whatever. The important thing is that the protagonist has started dating, and we, who have gotten used to the novel, find it utterly cringe-worthy. And hearing Director Kook’s lines from the novel coming out of the real Director Kook’s mouth is shocking us.”

Well, I was also surprised when Yangsimless embodied James.

“The Kingdom of Pure Love should be banned by the country.”

What?! Just because it’s a bit cringe-worthy?

“It’s torture just reading the novel, but now we have to hear it in real life? How is it different from Director Kook reading The Kingdom of Pure Love out loud?”

The muscly man was particularly angry. I was angry too. Can’t Yangsimless quote famous lines from The Kingdom of Pure Love?

“Honestly, the only person who can accept this change in Director Kook is the author of The Kingdom of Pure Love.”

I flinched. The drunk man’s words startled me so much that my shoulders shook. The clicky guy noticed my movement with sharp eyes.

“Manager Bae, don’t say such terrible things. You scared Han Jemyung. He looks pale, as if he got caught writing it himself.”

My face now looked like a corpse.

“Yeah, Manager Bae. The Kingdom of Pure Love is something you can’t write with a sound mind. It’s the kind of cheesiness that only comes out when someone who has been repressed all their life decides to abandon their past.”

I wanted to award the muscly man a PhD in psychology immediately. How did he know? My lower eyelid trembled slightly.

“So, naturally, ordinary Han Jemyung would never…”

He stopped talking and looked at me.

“Why?”

“Well, Han Jemyung isn’t exactly ordinary either. There’s no way Han Jemyung could be the author of The Kingdom of Pure Love, right?”

“N-no, of course not.”

“Haha, of course not. I don’t think Han Jemyung is that crazy, so don’t worry.”

No, you should be worried.

Siwoo spent a dreamy month on the island with Director Kook and then returned to the office. Meeting people for the first time since becoming a couple with Director Kook made his heart race. What if people hated him for not being a suitable match for Director Kook? With worry, he opened the office door. Suddenly, pop! Fireworks exploded, and flower petals rained down. Oh, this is…

“Congratulations, Wi Siwoo! You’ve finally become the atrium of Director Kook’s heart!”

Wi Siwoo’s face turned red. Atrium? The atrium increases the volume of blood that the ventricle can hold during relaxation, thereby increasing cardiac output. In short, it means he makes Director Kook’s heart race. The Office of Director Kook, filled with elite staff, was full of the best metaphors.

“But many will be sad about Wi Siwoo’s relationship.”

Some employees looked at Wi Siwoo with sad eyes. If it weren’t for Director Kook, they might have dared to try, but he was chosen by the company’s owner.

“Sad? More like…”

Siwoo made a sad face. Everyone was shocked and helped him to a seat. Siwoo calmed down with his colleague’s comfort and continued speaking.

“My half-brother had a sudden accident abroad.”

“Accident?”

“He was sleeping, and the house suddenly collapsed…”

“Oh no! A sinkhole!”

Siwoo nodded with sad eyes.

“The hole reached the Earth’s mantle, so we can never recover him.”

Though his half-brother vanished into the Earth, the celebratory mood couldn’t be dampened. Wi Siwoo soon overcame his sadness and responded to the congratulations with a smile.

“We all thought no one but Wi Siwoo could be Director Kook’s match.”

“Me? But I lack so much.”

“No!”

The employees were angry at Siwoo’s humility.

“Wi Siwoo is such a good person.”

“That’s right. Wi Siwoo is a good person. But it’s also true he’s not perfect.”

A sharp comment was made. Everyone was shocked and turned around. Director Kook stood there, wearing a hemp suit selected as the best haute couture piece at the Paris Collection this spring. The yellow hemp suit, praised for blending Korean tradition with Western fashion, shone beautifully in the sunlight. He walked towards Siwoo like a model in the light.

“But Wi Siwoo doesn’t have to be perfect. Do you know why? Because only when Wi Siwoo and I are together do we become perfect.”

Thud! Siwoo staggered, overwhelmed by a great shock. That was it. He had been searching and waiting for perfect love and the perfect person, but the answer lay within him. It was because of himself that his partner became perfect.

“All thanks to you. With the perfection I lacked, I have now become the best in the world.”

Director Kook fiercely embraced Siwoo, the roughness of hemp touching his cheek. A hot tear trickled down Siwoo’s face. He felt perfect love in his heart. Love, purity, and passion merged into one in the atrium, flowing into the ventricle and making his heart burn. Oh, white rose, burn forever!

“I can’t believe it. I really can’t believe it.”

The producer said the same thing several times. She was looking at the final manuscript I brought. I had printed the last chapter on paper, despite the expensive cost, and it was worth it. The words looked more impressive. The producer meticulously reviewed the final chapter, and even after seeing the word “The End,” she asked again.

“Is this really the end? It was Director Kook all along?”

“Yes.”

“I’m relieved it was the most supported Director Kook, but I still feel a bit disappointed. Ah, of course, I’m glad it’s concluded.”

The producer glanced at the final page and smiled.

“I like how the last paragraph is so characteristic of you.”

“‘Oh, white rose, burn forever’? I got chills writing that.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It felt like completing a masterpiece. It was really moving.”

“Masterpiece?”

No, masterpiece. Although comparing my novel to a masterpiece was embarrassing, I thought the final sentence was unparalleled.

“I’m glad at least you were moved. Oh, of course, there’s someone else who will be moved. Soondungi.”

I couldn’t help but stiffen. The producer continued while looking at my manuscript.

“Did you know Soondungi was an enormous supporter of Director Kook? You’d think Soondungi was Director Kook himself.”

He is.

“I’m curious about Soondungi’s thoughts on the final chapter. He’s your most passionate fan, after all. Honestly, even in other novels, such fans are rare. You can take great pride in having a fan like this, even if your novel wasn’t popular.”

“…”

“Now that it’s concluded, why don’t you contact him? You don’t need to meet in person, but at least send a message of thanks. He’ll be thrilled.”

I nodded vaguely and left. Unlike the excitement when I entered with the completed novel, I felt much calmer leaving. It was because of my passionate fan, my source of pride. Suddenly, I felt guilty for deceiving him.

Of course, I had many deceptions weighing on me, but I thought I could be honest about the novel. I just wanted to be truthful about one thing. I might regret it later, but it didn’t matter. I decided to follow my current feelings. When I called him, the phone rang a few times before he answered.

“Director Kook, where are you?”

Before, he would have asked, “Why?” with suspicion, but he answered right away.

[Near you, Mr. Han Jemyung.]

I quickly looked around.

“Where?”

[A messy office.]

A messy office. What does that mean? Where?

[Near XX Station.]

He was really close. Just two subway stops away.

“How did you know I was nearby?”

[I guessed.]

“…Have you ever tried the lottery?”

[Of course, I have.]

True. If he had won, he wouldn’t risk his life on bets to pay off debts. I once again felt the greatness of the lottery. The lottery was fair even to someone as skilled at guessing as Yangsimless.

“It’s a 20-minute trip, so I’ll come to you.”

[Why?]

The final “Why?” made me laugh.

“I have something to say, and I wanted to see you.”

The messy office was indeed messy. Papers were strewn everywhere. That was my first impression. I couldn’t get a closer look because as soon as I entered the office, someone grabbed me and kissed me. I didn’t even know where I was when he held me. Without taking his lips off mine, he pushed me onto what I assumed was a sofa and climbed on top of me. There were a few unspoken rules that had solidified while having sex with him.

“Do you know how much I missed you?”

First, he uses informal language. Instead of answering, I observed him for a moment from below. When he was excited, his eyes were similar to the fierce look he had when ruthlessly killing heartless people. For me, who had always lived a life of controlling emotions, his eyes were fascinating. That’s why I kept looking at them. They were frighteningly captivating. His chin looked arrogant, but his eyes narrowed. His hand pressed down on my neck.

“How much did you miss me?”

His hand around my neck was choking me. I felt a moment of fear that if he applied just a bit more pressure, I might die instantly, like the heartless people he killed so easily. Of course, on the other hand, there was a greater sense of relief and pride knowing that he would never kill me.

“Well, a little.”

I muttered, and he smirked.

“That’s not enough to even use one hand.”

Second, his caresses changed depending on what I said. My answer not being enough to use even one hand meant that there would be no foreplay, and we would start immediately. My pants were roughly pulled off. I had to grab the sofa with my hands to keep from falling off, as my body was flipped over so roughly that gel splattered behind me.

A slight chill made me shiver. Perhaps I had anticipated his penis entering me without any preparation. No matter how many times we did it, I could never get used to his size at first. My whole body tensed, but his large penis forced its way inside me.

The earlier chill turned into a different kind of electricity, running down my thighs. It hurt, but it felt good. Fuck, I was already feeling a tingling sensation in my ass. Just having him inside me was enough to excite me. His penis, which had only gone in halfway, suddenly thrust deep inside.

“You like it this much, but you say ‘a little’?”

He asked coldly. His penis quickly pulled out and then slowly entered again. The feeling of it brushing against my inner walls was chilling. It was an intense sensation that enveloped my entire body. I gasped and twitched.

“Then what is this throbbing?”

He kept his penis fully inserted and rubbed his lower body against my ass. Then he suddenly pulled out his penis and started thrusting hard again. The pain took over my body once more. It hurt so much that I felt like my body was being split in two. But I would never tell him to stop.

Even in the midst of the pain, my lower abdomen was tingling. At some point, the tingling spread throughout my body. I shivered all over. A rough, panting breath escaped my mouth on its own. Behind me, Yangsimless’s voice was still cold as he thrust into me.

“A little? That’s laughable.”

His voice sounded like he was gritting his teeth, but his penis inside me grew even larger and harder. And it was hot. Every time he thrust into me, he released heat as well.

“Ha, ha, ugh… huh, uh!”

Only the sound of my panting filled the air. The sound of our bodies slapping together grew faster along with my breathing. But the speed that had increased suddenly stopped. He pulled out his penis. Before I could even turn my head, he flipped my body back to the front. My legs were spread so wide it felt like they were being torn apart. He positioned himself between my legs and thrust his penis back inside me. The excitement that had paused resumed its normal pace. But he didn’t move and asked me again with his cold eyes.

“How much did you miss me?”

I know. He wants to hear the words he desires from me. But I am also waiting for that moment. The moment when he finally gets what he wants from me, after being angry and annoyed trying to get a small answer from me.

“To death. Ha, so much that I couldn’t breathe.”

I panted as I answered. His penis started moving again. His eyes were filled with a sparkling desire. Like a joyful child who doesn’t hide his happiness, he grinned and started panting like me.

“……Where is this place?”

I asked again, doubting my ears. If there’s one thing that masturbation and sex have in common, it’s that after the deed, reality comes rushing back. Especially now, it came crashing down like a tsunami.

“It’s a law office.”

“Director Kook’s law office? The lawyer who gave me a gift certificate and constantly threatened and bribed me?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

“It’s about time for him to arrive.”

Oh, fuck! I cursed internally and moved the mop in my hand even faster.

“You should have told me this was the lawyer’s office beforehand!”

Not just any lawyer, but that tough one?

“Would it have made a difference?”

“Yes! At least…”

I pointed to the sofa.

“I wouldn’t have done it there.”

I had cleaned the dirty spots with a cloth and cleaner, but the sofa couldn’t be cleaned that way.

“Is there a place to wash the entire sofa?”

“Why bother with this trash? The cushions are old and worn out.”

You’re the one who completely ruined it just now.

“Just throw this junk away.”

“Isn’t it the lawyer’s?”

“Do you think it’s mine?”

I squinted at Yangsimless. Did he have some leverage over the lawyer? Money owed, perhaps?

“How can you just throw away the lawyer’s stuff?”

“Just make him throw it away.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed some orange juice from somewhere and was about to pour it on the sofa. Luckily, I caught his hand before he could spill it.

“No, don’t make it worse…”

“What are you two doing?”

Startled by the office owner’s voice, I let go of his hand.

“Gasp!”

“Gasp!”

The lawyer and I gasped simultaneously. The juice had spilled. He stood at the entrance, looking horrified.

“What are you two doing to my sofa?!”

“Why are you here 10 minutes early?”

Yangsimless finally showed his true colors to the shocked sofa owner. The lawyer’s eyebrows twitched like caterpillars. I worried he might collapse from high blood pressure. Fortunately, he took a deep breath, showing his resilience.

“I came 10 minutes early to see what you were up to. What are you going to do about it?”

“Good job.”

Even the experienced lawyer twitched at Yangsimless’s praise.

“Do you even know what you’ve done to my precious sofa?”

“If you’re talking about this trash sofa, I did it all for you, so no need to thank me.”

“Ha! Haha! Oh, this brat is bringing back my old temper. What did you say? Trash? Do you know how precious this sofa is to me?!”

“I don’t.”

This time, the lawyer’s jaw twitched. Yangsimless crossed his arms and looked down at the lawyer arrogantly. The lawyer gritted his teeth.

“Listen carefully, you brat. This sofa was used when my son lived with me. It’s the only remaining memory of my son.”

I didn’t know much about the lawyer, but his voice made me feel guilty. I realized how much I had wronged him. I stepped forward to apologize, but Yangsimless spoke first.

“How long are you going to live off memories of your dead son? That’s why you’re always so pathetic.”

Who was the one who threw a fit over a limited edition T-shirt from his grandmother? Unlike my shock, the lawyer’s face became calm.

“No matter what you say, I’ll make sure you both pay for the emotional and sofa damage.”

The familiar word “compensation” made my knees tremble.

“Expect an unimaginable amount…”

“Or get your son back.”

“What?”

The lawyer blinked in surprise.

“My son is dead. What are you talking about? I saw the body. How can I get him back?”

“Make another one.”

“If you’re suggesting I remarry…”

“I’ll be your son.”

Yangsimless’s posture was still arrogant, but neither the lawyer nor I noticed.

“What? You’ll be my son?”

“So what? We have similar tempers.”

It was an insult to others, but not to the lawyer. He just frowned and advised.

“Take care of your living parents. Stop talking nonsense.”

“Yeah, take care of the living. Don’t cling to your dead son.”

“…”

Everyone has a bathtub plug. When you pull out the small black rubber plug, everything drains slowly at first, then faster like a whirlpool. The lawyer’s plug was his dead son. After a long pause, he spoke.

“Do you think you can even match my son’s toenail? I’ll keep holding on to my son. What does it matter to you if I cling to the past?”

“You’re causing me trouble. Act your age.”

The lawyer wasn’t the only one who found this infuriating. So did I. But his advice left us both speechless. That included me.

“The past isn’t a jewel to cling to tightly, nor a bomb to let go and turn your back on. With time, you must know when to let go and when to look back.”

Yangsimless aimed his words at the lawyer, but they also struck me. A long silence followed as the lawyer stared at the sofa. His gaze seemed sorrowful.

“Should I throw it away?”

“Of course. Unless you want to saddle me with this trash.”

And so, the time for all regret, sorrow, and introspection ended. The lawyer’s eyes rekindled with a fighting spirit.

“No, I will make you pay. Claiming you’ll be my son to avoid compensation, I almost fell for it! You two better prepare yourselves!”

“Excuse me, lawyer.”

I quickly called to him.

“Then if I become your son…”

“Get out! Both of you, get out of my office now!”

‘XX Sofa Restoration, Cleaning: We return your sofa to its original state. When you see your sofa, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled back in time, experiencing the magic of forgetting your age.’

‘OO Sofa Cushion, Leather Restoration: Experience the miraculous touch of a state-unapproved restoration expert. Entrust your sofa to the hands of an expert who seems state-approved.’

As I skimmed through sofa cleaning ads, the word “expert” struck me with trust. Yeah, I’ll contact this one.

“Why are you looking at that without a sofa?”

I jerked my head up. It was the culprit, Yangsimless.

“Why did Director Kook come to my room without a sofa? And I’m looking at it to clean the lawyer’s sofa.”

“Why?”

“Because you spilled juice on it.”

“We spilled it together.”

“I was trying to stop you… Anyway, I think I’ll trust this expert who seems state-approved.”

“There’s no need. He’ll cancel the compensation claim soon.”

How do you know? Did you guess? Thankfully, he didn’t guess.

“If he claims compensation, I’ll pay it with insurance money. Then the lawyer will be annoyed and cancel the claim.”

“What’s wrong with receiving it through insurance?”

“The lawyer invested in the insurance company.”

Ah, so he wouldn’t be happy taking money from a company he invested in.

“Then he’ll cancel the claim against me too?”

“No. He’ll definitely collect from Mr. Han Jemyung.”

With trembling hands, I looked for the expert’s number again.

“But he’ll throw away the sofa before that.”

I hesitated and looked at him.

“How do you know?”

“It’s time to get rid of it.”

“I heard his son passed away only three years ago. It might not be time for him yet.”

“I wasn’t talking about time. It’s dirty. It has to go.”

I looked down at the restoration expert’s ad but couldn’t tell Yangsimless about the expert. The word “time” lingered in my mind. After a long contemplation, I looked up. Yangsimless had been smiling at his phone whenever we weren’t talking.

“What are you looking at?”

“Love, purity, passion, the name is the Burning White Rose.”

“Oh, that novel.”

“Only one more chapter to go before it’s complete. So I’m rereading it from the beginning.”

“You really like that novel.”

He nodded with a smile.

“It’s fun. Mr. Han Jemyung read it too, right? You know Gukgeokgik, Gukgeokgok, and Gukgeungguk.”

Ah, that. I mumbled and wondered how to respond.

“By the way, what did you want to say? You called me before coming to the lawyer’s office for that.”

“Director Kook, actually, I… I write novels.”

I took a deep breath and added,

“You’ve read one of my novels.”

I thought he would be very surprised. However, he merely raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“I had some suspicion.”

Really? Seriously? I stared at him, more surprised.

“You knew, but you didn’t say anything?”

“It’s not important.”

Not important?

“But, well, you liked my novel so much…”

I’m the author of “Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose.” And yet it’s not important? I was so taken aback that I couldn’t finish my questions. Yangsimless responded coolly to my words.

“Yes, it was okay. But honestly, it’s not as good as ‘Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose.'”

What are you talking about?

“What do you think my novel is?”

“It’s the novel I found in the bag in the desert three years ago. The one written by the person I was going to have a showdown with. Mr. Han Jemyung, you wrote it, right?”

“Uh, yes, uh, yes.”

I was at a loss for words. This unexpected revelation left my mind in a whirl. Did this mean he knew who I was?!

“Director Kook, that’s because I…”

“Unbelievable. A relay novel.”

What?

“Not only do you share the same taste in novels, but you even write them in relay format. Increasing team spirit among department members through such a method. Is this a new training technique?”

A new fool has appeared. A real fool!

“If you keep trying, Mr. Han Jemyung, you might write a masterpiece that surpasses ‘Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose.'”

“…Thank you for the advice.”

“Don’t mention it. From now on, I’ll review and advise on every sentence you write. If I had known the author of ‘Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose,’ I would have critiqued every word. It could have been a more perfect piece.”

“….”

“And in the final chapter, the author should kill everyone except Director Kook. If CEO Na survives, he’ll find the author and lock them up in a basement to rewrite it.”

I saw misery in my fan’s eyes.

“Is the only thing you wanted to tell me that you wrote a relay novel three years ago?”

“Yes.”

I added firmly,

“I never wrote anything like ‘Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose.'”

I returned to the lawyer’s office, holding a tonic that was once a common gift but had become expensive. I couldn’t bear waiting for the bill from the lawyer. However, I couldn’t bring myself to enter the office.

“What are you doing? Come in.”

The lawyer’s words pushed me forward.

“Did you change the sofa?”

“Yes. What’s that in your hand? Is it for me?”

Yes. I approached and placed the tonic on his desk. The lawyer, looking weary, immediately downed a bottle in one go.

“Ah, good. The government asks for all sorts of annoying things, but at least you have a conscience. This is a bribe, right?”

“Haha, of course not. I just wanted to greet you.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I send the sofa bill?”

“It’s a bribe.”

Hmph, I figured. The lawyer scoffed and walked towards the sofa. He sat in a single chair and pointed to the new sofa.

“Sit. You deserve to be the first to sit.”

“Do I really deserve it…”

“Yes. You’ll pay for this sofa. Either compensate me for the mental shock or pay for the new sofa. Your choice.”

“I guess I do deserve to sit.”

I quickly sat down. It was a cheap vinyl sofa, not real leather.

“Did you throw away the old sofa?”

He didn’t answer but rubbed his face.

“As I age, I tire quickly. I need to take care of my health.”

Yes, right. After a few meaningless exchanges, I was about to give up on getting an answer.

“I threw away the sofa.”

“….”

“Like the state suggested, it was the right time. It wasn’t a big deal after all. Throwing away the sofa doesn’t make me forget my son. The emptiness from the missing sofa and the unfamiliarity of the new one are only temporary.”

Despite his words, his expression was empty. He stared into space, mumbling to himself.

“Eventually, I’ll be able to remember my son and cry and laugh appropriately.”

The lawyer looked up.

“But I’ll never let go of my son until I die.”

I believe his wish will come true. The lawyer had learned to look at the past appropriately. That meant he was learning to forgive himself.

“You can still curse and get angry at Director Kook.”

“Of course. That damn guy ruined my stuff.”

The lawyer’s eyes burned with revenge.

“So, I have no intention of quickly processing his name change request. I’m even considering applying for a different, ridiculous name instead.”

“Name change? Director Kook is changing his name?”

Yeah, didn’t you know? The lawyer asked and added,

“He’s changing it to James. Hmph, James, my foot. I’ll apply for ‘Gukppoji’ instead. Let him live a new life with that name!”

The second place I visited with the tonic was the hospital. It was the first proper meeting with the department head since seeing him at the ant nest. Despite crying like an idiot when I found out he was alive, I hadn’t visited him again. Because I had returned to being Han Jemyung. I believed the past couldn’t mix with Han Jemyung’s present. The department head shattered this illusion as soon as he saw me.

“You can’t get the pension, right?”

The past figure slipped into reality without any awkwardness. Oh, right. I had forgotten. The department head’s specialty was attacking and shaking his opponent at unexpected moments.

“…It doesn’t matter.”

“Don’t lie. You were brooding over not getting the pension. If a credit card bill had come, you would have cried again.”

“I didn’t cry.”

“You cried inside.”

“Whether I cry inside or play the guitar, it’s none of your business.”

“You can’t even play the guitar.”

I almost left but approached him instead. However, seeing him up close was painful. His face was scarred, one leg was useless, and his body was thin. He had aged ten years in just three. The only constant was the book in his hand, just like three years ago. He still read old, yellowed second-hand books.

“Why do you look so old…”

“You’ve aged too.”

He attacked first. Before I could counter, he launched another attack.

“Do you not exercise at all? You’ve lost muscle. No wonder you can’t handle a single Heartless.”

“They weren’t ordinary Heartless. You saw how strong they became after taking the drug.”

“I saw how I ended it with one shot.”

Damn. I went through so much…

“Go exercise if you understand. The area around the hospital is good for running.”

“I don’t hunt Heartless anymore.”

“It’s not Heartless that hurt you in life, but ordinary people.”

The department head focused on his book. I watched him read for a while before leaving the room. I didn’t say goodbye. I planned to come back and bother him. Should I annoy him daily, like the Restoration Department head who bothers me? While running around the hospital as he suggested, I stopped when I saw someone.

Among the slowly walking patients, one stood out. He was sweating profusely, doing pull-ups on a bar. He had a strong body that didn’t look like a patient’s, but one leg was missing below the ankle, replaced by thick bandages. He only came down after doing pull-ups until his face turned red and his arms trembled.

His face showed satisfaction, having achieved his goal. Then he recognized me. His expression hardened for a moment, but he soon approached me on crutches. It was impressive. L&Y’s CEO Ryu was adept with crutches and walked quickly.

“You came to see the department head.”

“Yes. Are you okay?”

He laughed incredulously.

“Okay? Now or at the ant nest?”

“Now. I don’t regret deceiving you at the ant nest.”

“I know. Someone like me deserved to be deceived and ruined.”

“….”

He looked down at his body.

“Well, I’m like this now, but I’m okay. I can still fight. I’m thinking of turning my crutches into weapons.”

He still seemed intent on being a hunter. I had seen how he fell at the ant nest. I thought he would never want to see me again, but I was wrong. He looked at me directly.

“Did you think I would quit being a hunter? It’s understandable if you did. You saw how pathetic and foolish I was at the ant nest. But this is my job, so I’ll keep doing it.”

“I asked because L&Y is under investigation for corruption. The company must be in chaos, but you seem relaxed.”

“It is chaotic. More than half of it will probably be downsized. But even if we save half, we can start over.”

“That’s surprising. Saving even half.”

He chuckled.

“Internal investigations always need insider testimony.”

Ah, so he switched sides to survive this time. But I didn’t want to criticize him. Instead, I found him impressive. Building L&Y into the top hunting company at a young age wasn’t a coincidence. He had the tenacity to survive no matter what. So he didn’t hesitate to face his painful past.

“You’re still working at the Special Department, right?”

“Yes.”

“Please take care of me. I’ll be starting from the bottom as an A-grade.”

He left after saying goodbye. I watched him enter the hospital for a while before turning away. I took a step towards home. My body moved forward, but I felt like I wasn’t moving at all.

When the final chapter of “Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose” was released, Yangsimless was in a bad mood for days.

“How can there be no retribution for CEO Na? How?”

No one shared his anger. Instead, others expressed different frustrations.

“A sinkhole? The Earth’s mantle? Why did the half-brother have to die?”

It was the muscly man.

“Keeping that sly, subhuman Na character alive until the end makes sense?”

“Many characters died in the novel, but they all had reasons. But the half-brother sacrificed himself for Wi Siwoo and went abroad. He made a self-sacrifice, and this is how he dies?”

There were four fans of “Love, Purity, Passion, The Name is Burning White Rose” at 4K, but none celebrated its conclusion. The clicky guy and the drunkard also complained.

“If Director Kook and Wi Siwoo got together, they should have had a lot of romance. Ending it with them just getting together? What kind of conclusion is that?”

“Director Kook is so rich. If he got a lover, he should at least buy drinks for all the employees. If they became a couple, he should at least buy soju.”

The drunkard’s gaze turned to the real Director Kook. Of course, Yangsimless continued to rant about CEO Na being alive in the novel, and the other three kept talking about their own issues, making the 4K office noisier than a 60-year-old ladies’ year-end party. And as always, the conclusion was the same.

“We need to find the author and make them revise it. Damn it, who and where is this author?”

It’s me, damn it. With everyone talking about finding the author, I had nightmares for days and couldn’t sleep properly. Fortunately, I had CEO Na. He rushed into the office with work. The three, except Yangsimless, followed him inside.

“Why aren’t you going in, Director Kook?”

“I’m waiting for a call from the lawyer.”

A lawyer? Is it something important?

“I’m changing my name.”

“….”

“I’ll tell you the new name later. You’ll be surprised.”

Yeah, you’ll be really surprised. Gukppoji.

“Director Kook, why are you changing your name?”

“To surprise you, Mr. Han Jemyung.”

His eyes sparkled with anticipation. I guess I will be surprised when the Gukppoji ID card comes out.

“If it’s because of me, you don’t have to.”

“But you never call me by my name. Don’t you like it?”

“….”

“I’ll change it to a name you’re familiar with.”

Director Kook. I called him seriously and pre-dialed 119 on my phone just in case.

“What is your name?”

“Whose name?”

“Director Kook’s.”

“……”

“My name is Han Jemyung.”

His eyebrow twitched. Fortunately, he seemed to think this was a playful introduction.

“Guk Gibo.”

“What?”

“Why?”

Well, it’s just. I blinked.

“Isn’t the name cute? Not rustic at all.”

I quickly added, showing a bit of disappointment.

“Sorry, I heard the name was rustic. But it’s a good name.”

Gibo. It’s not rustic at all. Rather, it’s a cute and endearing name. Gibo. Gibo, that’s it. I mumbled his name a few times, forgetting the situation. When I looked up, Yangsimless was staring at me.

“Don’t change it.”

“I won’t.”

After a moment of silence, he suggested.

“Let’s leave work.”

Before I could answer, he grabbed me and led me out of the office. We went home and had a good time together, knowing his real name. Maybe it felt like I was with a new person. It felt even better. I understood now when he said he wanted to learn more about me.

Back then, I thought I had nothing to share. But now my thoughts were different. With one novel finished, I opened a blank page to write a new one. This might be something no one ever sees. But it doesn’t matter. Right now, I need to write this past confession.

He joined the TP department when he was 14. This secret department handled only high-risk Heartless and had never failed. The head of the Restoration Department, tasked with recruiting TP members, brought him in. His grandmother had died in a sudden Heartless attack, but the 14-year-old boy survived. The Heartless he killed was E-grade. The head of the Restoration Department noticed the boy had a special ability. To the boy who had lost his only family and was in shock, the department head asked,

‘Want to come with me?’

‘Where to?’

‘Have you heard of the TP department?’

No. The boy shook his head. The head of the Restoration Department explained at length about the TP department and added,

‘It’s an amazing place. Even the name is amazing. TP, The Perfect. How about it? Isn’t it cool?’

‘No.’

‘Soon, it will be an amazing name for you too. Just like your name.’

‘Do you know my name?’

‘No. What is it?’

‘…Han Jiwoo.’

‘Siwoo?’

The boy shook his head. Jiwoo. Han Jiwoo. My name is Han Jiwoo.