SWZ Ch 10

What is it with men fighting?

Is it a process to prove the meaning of a male’s existence? An inevitable instinct of a being with a desire to conquer?

It’s all nonsense. In movies, they swing nunchucks and kick in style, but in reality, victory is determined by who has longer or shorter arms, a vulgar flapping.

The last fight I saw among friends in high school was just like that.

— Jinhee, what are they doing? Right now.

— They’re fighting.

— How ugly…….

If the meaning of a male’s existence and instinct could be proven by something as trivial as arm length, Han Jungwoo was willing to quit being a male. Just quit, why not.

Jungwoo thought fighting was that barbaric. But then,

“Oh my god, senior!”

“Hyung!”

Jungwoo looked down at Joonhyung, who had collapsed like a paper doll on the gravel. His nose was already swelling up purple, indicating at least a fracture.

‘Crazy. One hit.’

Seeing two handsome guys fighting wasn’t shabby at all; it felt like he should be sitting in the audience.

The end of the world isn’t all bad. You see all sorts of strange sights living through it.

Jungwoo suppressed his rising smile and glanced at the shocked face of Shin Jiyeon and the slightly stiff smile of Junghyuk.

Junghyuk, rubbing his reddened knuckles, grinned wickedly and nudged the fallen Im Joonhyung with his shoe.

“I’ll just break your nose so you can still eat. These days, teeth are more valuable than your face, right? You gotta eat to live. I don’t wanna be a murderer over a few broken corn kernels.”

This time, Jungwoo was taken aback.

I thought demons only existed in hell, but apparently, they’re here too.

‘I apologize for asking if you were good at fighting, Cha Junghyuk. I’ll be less cheeky from now on.’

Jungwoo respectfully clasped his hands and straightened his posture. His crooked smile tightened into a straight line.

Im Joonhyung, 30 years old. He started his entertainment career as a child actor and debuted as a model at sixteen.

Thanks to a good agency, he became a somewhat famous star model who frequently appeared in the media within five years of his debut. He was truly on a roll.

Until Cha Junghyuk appeared.

A hedonistic, morally bankrupt 23-year-old rookie model. Cha Junghyuk.

He was notoriously self-indulgent and hedonistic, but his skills were undeniable.

From his debut show, he made a strong impression and caught the eye of the designer of the gothic fashion brand ‘Gotham Formal.’

The designer of Gotham Formal had a unique preference for selecting muses who were rookies within five years of their debut.

That year, the muse was South Korean rookie Cha Junghyuk, who also became Gotham Formal’s last muse.

This meant that Cha Junghyuk became the muse and, just six months later, exposed the designer’s misdeeds.

[Breaking News] Model C’s Revelation! G Company’s Muses Endure Designer’s Harassment for Generations.

He exposed the designer’s corruption and harassment.

This caused an uproar in the industry.

To put it elegantly, ‘an uproar occurred,’ but honestly, it was like setting an anthill on fire with a torch.

Gotham Formal was known as a gateway for rookie models. However, due to Junghyuk’s revelation, a major gateway was effectively closed, causing alarm across all agencies.

Many in the media worried about the backlash Cha Junghyuk would face, but surprisingly, his fellow models had no complaints about the revelation.

Although Junghyuk was often criticized for his outrageous personality, this time, his fiery temperament gained subtle support.

His juniors called him ‘Red Cape Cha Cha,’ which says it all. It’s said that a crazy ally can be useful when it comes to beheading the enemy commander, and that was exactly the case.

Those who expressed dissatisfaction were some seniors and agencies who had benefited from the designer in the past.

People who reached the top of the pyramid through unjust connections, corruption, and bribes with the designer.

Im Joonhyung was one of them. He thought, ‘If I lie low for a while, this will blow over. I’m not a rookie anymore, and honestly, the circumstances of the new rookies are none of my business.’

Until then, Joonhyung thought that way. He didn’t realize that Cha Junghyuk, this fresh-faced junior, was a certified madman who wouldn’t stop until he finished what he started.

As the dispute between the designer and the industry continued, Junghyuk kept exposing more. This time, the revelation was fatal for Joonhyung.

[Breaking News] Model C’s Second Revelation.

Industry insider Y knew about G Company designer’s harassment and did nothing, instead pressuring and threatening juniors.

That’s right. That ‘industry insider Y’ was none other than Im Joonhyung.

‘Fuck, threats? Complicity? I just gave those spoiled junior bastards some discipline.’

If Sherlock Holmes existed in modern times, he would surely be a Korean netizen.

Through people’s relentless tracking, Joonhyung’s identity was finally revealed, and his career ended in an instant.

Rookie model Shin Jiyeon’s career was cut short for being related to the designer, but she didn’t blame Junghyuk. Instead, she humbly accepted the truth. She had indeed benefited from her family connection to debut.

In the end, only Joonhyung was left in the lurch.

‘No one’s on my side. No one’s helping me.’

After that, Joonhyung spent his days waiting for the day Cha Junghyuk would fall. That bastard will screw up someday. And when he does, I’ll crush him myself.

One day, Joonhyung happened to run into Junghyuk at a drinking session with colleagues who had become has-beens for similar reasons.

— Hey, isn’t that Cha Junghyuk? The guy who ruined your life.

— Fuck. Perfect timing. I’ll beat the shit out of him this time.

Drunk and fueled by resentment, Joonhyung confronted Junghyuk and spewed nonsense.

Hey, enjoying your clean modeling career? Rumor has it your personal life is a mess. A truckload of sex scandals, huh? So, you must have slept with the designer too, right? If you had, your career would have skyrocketed, and innocent juniors wouldn’t have suffered. People like you should be left alone in a ruined world to realize, ‘Fuck, I lived a shitty life.’

Of course, that nonsense didn’t last long. Junghyuk cut him off mid-sentence and turned his insides out.

— Oh, I see what you’re saying. Do you want to be my partner too, senior? Sorry, but you’re not my type.

A clear counterattack. But Joonhyung, half-drunk and filled with resentment, threw a punch without thinking.

— You fucking bastard!

The next thing Joonhyung knew, it was the next day.

‘What? An unfamiliar ceiling.’

A scene straight out of an old internet novel. He was lying in a hospital bed.

Joonhyung had thrown the first punch, but he was also the one who got knocked out. He had no memory of what happened.

At least he had dental insurance.

When he came to, two of his front teeth were broken.

⋮

……And today, his nose was broken.

Now he has no insurance and no JungHyuk Hospital.

Joonhyung looked up at the awkward young man standing in front of him, perched on the trunk of a sedan.

“What do you want……?”

He couldn’t spew harsh words like before. No, he couldn’t.

Junghyuk had said, “If you talk shit again, I’ll knock out all your teeth,” and it didn’t sound like an empty threat.

Based on past experience, Junghyuk was the type to ponder whether to turn his teeth into popcorn, onion-flavored or honey-comb-flavored.

“Um, I’m Han Jungwoo, twenty-one years old. I’m Cha Junghyuk’s survival partner. My partner hurt you earlier.”

Joonhyung’s eyes narrowed with anger. So what if he hurt me? Did he come to gloat?

“Fuck. So what? Did you come to laugh at me? A guy with a good physique getting beaten up by his junior?”

He gritted his teeth, and Cha Junghyuk, standing far away, turned his head sharply.

Joonhyung quickly corrected his tone. Teeth are precious.

“……I am very curious about what you want me to do.”

Jungwoo squinted, then sighed as if at a loss for words.

He shook his head and handed Joonhyung a floral handkerchief.

Joonhyung’s face twisted strangely as he received it. It was more like a piece of cloth with frayed edges than a handkerchief, reminiscent of something from a grandmother’s closet in the countryside.

“We ran out of tissues. Use this for now. Your nose is still bleeding.”

Joonhyung took the handkerchief and held it under his nose. He wondered why it smelled so strongly of fabric softener, but figured it was better than nothing.

“So, you came all this way just to give me this?”

“For now, yes. I don’t know the details, but I heard you two aren’t on good terms. Still, given the situation, now isn’t the time for us to be fighting each other.”

Looking at the bloodstains on their car, it seemed like they had recently encountered a zombie. So, I came to check on you and offer help. We need to support each other to survive.

Then, he handed Joonhyung two caramels.

“Share these with Shin Jiyeon. Sugar is the quickest way to boost your energy.”

Joonhyung couldn’t hold back his anger and rolled his eyes. Who did this guy think he was, pitying him? And of all people, Cha Junghyuk’s partner. His pride was crushed.

“Fuck off. I’m not eating it. You eat it.”

“Take it when it’s offered, Joonhyung.”

He flinched involuntarily.

Suddenly, Cha Junghyuk was right beside him, resting his chin on the shoulder of the much smaller young man.

Joonhyung’s face paled as he replied,

“……I don’t like caramel.”

“He says he doesn’t like caramel, Jungwoo.”

“Oh…… okay.”

Jungwoo admired Joonhyung’s quick change of attitude and put the caramels back in his pocket.

There’s a traditional Chinese performance where a slight hand movement changes the performer’s face.

“Let me know if you’re hungry. I heard from Shin Jiyeon that you’re almost out of food.”

“Ha, you don’t need to worry about that, kid.”

Joonhyung forced a smile, his mouth twitching. It looked like the smile of someone who hadn’t been to the bathroom in days.

Unable to watch any longer, Jungwoo sighed and elbowed Junghyuk in the side. Junghyuk yelped, “Ow, that hurts,” and grinned innocently.

Joonhyung’s face froze.

‘What the hell?’

He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Did he get hit somewhere other than his nose? Was his vision impaired by a broken cheekbone? Cha Junghyuk smiling innocently? It didn’t make sense.

Come to think of it, Junghyuk was unusually kind and gentle to this kid. The kid had no idea how evil Junghyuk was, laughing and joking around.

Joonhyung cautiously spoke up,

“Excuse me, but…”

“Joonhyung, if you know it’s rude, keep your mouth shut.”

“Hey! Cut it out! He’s not a kid!”

Junghyuk shrugged lightly. Jungwoo pushed him back and stood in front of him. Joonhyung quickly continued,

“What’s the deal with you two?”

What do you mean, what’s the deal? Jungwoo blinked slowly.

“Didn’t Junghyuk just say? ……We’re partners.”

Partners. Joonhyung, who had been staring blankly, suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”

“……You mean partners as in…?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but yes, either way, it’s correct.”

This time, Shin Jiyeon chimed in, her face flushed with shock.

“You’re really partners?”

Junghyuk sighed lightly and kicked a pebble with his shoe.

“Joonhyung, don’t be so nosy or pick fights.”

“Ha, you keep calling your senior by his name…”

“Stop with the seniority stuff. The Korean Peninsula is in ruins, so who cares about seniority? Keep it up, and you’ll be a senior in the afterlife.”

Let’s keep it friendly. He patted Joonhyung’s shoulder firmly and returned to the van, calling Jungwoo to follow.

“Han Jungwoo, stop wasting time and come get some rest. You said your back hurts.”

Jungwoo, standing awkwardly with his hands behind his back, unwrapped a caramel and popped it into his mouth.

“I don’t know what happened between you two, but Junghyuk seems pretty sensitive. I’ll try to keep him in check, so let’s both be careful.”

Joonhyung watched in a daze as Han Jungwoo returned to the van.

Keep Junghyuk in check? Him? How?

Part of him wondered, but he also had a feeling that this young man might just be capable of it.

Who was this Han Jungwoo? He didn’t know for sure, but seeing how Cha Junghyuk was somewhat tamed by him, he must be extraordinary.

Maybe he was rich, good at fighting, or exceptionally skilled in bed to satisfy Junghyuk’s peculiar tastes.

“Who the hell is that kid? I’m curious.”

His eyes gleamed.

If he could win over this young man, he might find Cha Junghyuk’s weakness.

Meanwhile, Han Jungwoo knew nothing about Joonhyung’s past or his true feelings.

“What a weird personality.”

Are all models like this? No, that’s not true. Shin Jiyeon seemed nice.

He glanced out the car window at Joonhyung, who had climbed into the parked sedan and hadn’t come out since.

The fact that he chose the sedan over other perfectly good cars showed that he still had a lot of pride.

Jungwoo casually asked Junghyuk, who was sitting next to him,

“Hyung, are all models bad-tempered? That guy seems pretty prickly.”

“Jungwoo, I was a model too.”

“But Hyung, you don’t have a good personality either. Admit it.”

The two, sitting side by side in the back seat, shared the remaining caramels. The sweet taste lingered, making Junghyuk’s eyes narrow.

After a moment of silence in the car, Junghyuk reluctantly spoke up,

“Han Jungwoo, what do you think of that guy?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“What’s your first impression of him?”

First impression? Jungwoo summed up his thoughts in one line.

“He seems like Hyung’s ex-boyfriend.”

“What the hell?”

“Remember earlier? I thought we were in a love triangle drama. I stepped away for a moment and came back to all sorts of weird conversations.”

“I’d rather be a monk for life than have him as a lover.”

Being a monk seemed a bit extreme. Clearly, the two didn’t get along.

Han Jungwoo, unaware of what had happened between them, was simply curious.

“By the way, why ask about first impressions?”

“I saw your eyes.”

“Huh?”

Junghyuk poked Jungwoo under the eye with his index finger. He was smiling, but his eyes held a fierce glint.

“Do you go for anyone who’s good-looking, whether they’re trash or not?”

“Ah…”

“We’ve only been together for a day. Are you already thinking of switching partners? You seemed quite taken with his face.”

Damn it, I forgot. This guy can read my expressions and even knows my preferences.

Jungwoo coughed awkwardly and rolled his eyes.

Truthfully, he found Im Joonhyung very attractive. But he hadn’t considered switching partners.

“It’s a misunderstanding. I do think he’s handsome, but I never thought about getting involved with him.”

“So, you do think he’s handsome. …Jungwoo, I can tolerate a lot of things. But having multiple partners is a deal-breaker.”

“Why?”

When Jungwoo asked, Junghyuk narrowed his eyes as if to say, ‘Why do you even ask?’

“It hurts my pride.”

This time, Jungwoo’s eyes narrowed.

It wasn’t an unreasonable explanation. Pride could be hurt. If Junghyuk had multiple partners, Jungwoo would feel uncomfortable too.

This was a natural human instinct.

It was more about a sense of self-worth than jealousy. It made him wonder if the sex wasn’t good enough.

But Jungwoo’s furrowed brow had another reason behind it. A question had popped into his mind.

“Hyung, I’m new to this, but is a sex partner like a lover? Do you only have one at a time?”

He wondered if he had been rude to Junghyuk.

He and Cha Junghyuk weren’t dating. So, he thought it was okay to show interest in others.

But if that was considered rude even among sex partners, then it was a problem.

If it was as inappropriate as cheating on a lover, then he had made a mistake.

Jungwoo broke into a cold sweat at the thought.

Meanwhile, Junghyuk hesitated, his mouth half-open.

What did Han Jungwoo know, and what was he asking?

In Junghyuk’s experience, typical ‘players’ often had multiple sex partners at once, sometimes as many as five or six. Junghyuk was one of them.

He kept it to four to avoid rumors, but having multiple partners was normal for him. It meant his partners changed daily.

‘Does he know and is asking, or is he genuinely curious?’

Junghyuk was confused.

Of course, Han Jungwoo’s question was purely out of curiosity.

If showing interest in others while having a sex partner was as inappropriate as cheating, he wouldn’t do it.

However, Junghyuk took it differently. It was as if he was asking, “You’re a player who sleeps around with multiple partners, so why can’t I?” It was like the pot calling the kettle black.

When no response came, Jungwoo pressed on,

“Is it rude for me to show interest in someone else while being your partner? If it is, I won’t do it.”

Rude? In this world, there’s no such thing. As long as you use a condom, that’s all the etiquette you need.

If you like someone, see them. If they’re attractive, sleep with them for a night. If you get bored, move on.

But Junghyuk didn’t feel like telling Han Jungwoo this straightforwardly.

He took a light breath.

“Yes, it’s rude. Bad manners. It’s trashy behavior.”

It was a lie, spoken as smoothly as breathing.

“Oh, I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, I figured you didn’t. Keep it in mind from now on.”

“I really thought Im Joonhyung was handsome, but I didn’t have any ulterior motives. Besides, his personality is terrible…”

It’s understandable if you didn’t know. I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t do it again. Junghyuk patted Jungwoo’s shoulder, feigning leniency.

The naive Jungwoo nodded, unaware of the dark intentions.

In reality, the true trash was not Han Jungwoo for looking at someone else, but Cha Junghyuk for deceiving him.

“Do you not like sleeping with me?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“Or is it because my dick is too small?”

“Ha! No, not at all…”

“Then don’t look at anyone else. Let’s respect each other’s pride.”

Of course, Junghyuk’s words were nonsense.

Respecting a sex partner’s pride by being faithful? That’s ridiculous. If his former colleagues heard this, they would have slapped him for talking nonsense.

Seeing Jungwoo accept it without question, Junghyuk finally smiled in satisfaction. He ruffled Jungwoo’s hair like a puppy and pulled him into a hug, lying down in the back seat.

‘I feel like I’ve been slightly tricked. Why is that?’

Jungwoo also felt a bit uneasy, but he knew so little about these matters that he couldn’t argue.

In the end, Jungwoo forgot about asking Joonhyung what had happened between them and pulled the blanket over himself.

At least having someone behind him made the bed warmer.

The next day, Jungwoo thought Im Joonhyung and Shin Jiyeon would have left.

After what Junghyuk did to him, there was no reason for them to stay in the same place with their enemy.

But the sedan was still there. Joonhyung was squatting on the gravel, glaring at the van with a fierce expression that seemed to say, ‘Come out, anyone.’

Jungwoo had come out early for a morning stretch and found himself cornered by Joonhyung.

His handsome face, despite the bruised nose, was right in Jungwoo’s face, acting friendly.

“Your name was Han Jungwoo, right? How old are you again? You look so young.”

With Junghyuk gone, his tone had quickly become casual and abrupt.

Jungwoo looked at his striking face, despite the bruises, and sighed.

‘Damn it. Life is full of tests.’

He had short hair and distinct double eyelids, giving him a sharp yet somehow delicate appearance.

‘What do I do? His face is almost exactly my type.’

Just then, Junghyuk’s words echoed in his mind.

Respect each other’s pride and don’t be trashy.

Jungwoo thought of his partner sleeping in the van and desperately tried to convince himself.

That face is tempting but poisonous. Cha Junghyuk, who even Junghyuk called trash, must be the king of trash. Being unfaithful to your partner is bad manners. Don’t fall for that face, Han Jungwoo.

He answered Joonhyung’s question with a blank expression.

“I’m twenty-one this year.”

“I see. I’m thirty. Cha Junghyuk, that bastard… I mean, Junghyuk, is one year younger than me.”

“Oh, Hyung is thirty-one?”

“You didn’t know? He’s thirty-one in Korean age.”

Jungwoo’s eyes flickered slightly.

Oh, thirty-one. I had guessed he was around thirty or thirty-one from a magazine, but I didn’t know for sure.

Hearing it from someone else didn’t feel great.

Reading Jungwoo’s expression, Joonhyung continued with a pitying look.

“Cha Junghyuk is a bit mysterious, isn’t he? He didn’t even reveal his age.”

“Well, age isn’t that important. What matters is the person themselves.”

That’s a lie. In fact, until recently, he thought it was very important. Extremely so!

But at this point, he had given up trying to figure it out.

“Junghyuk is a good liar. It must be tough being around him sometimes.”

“It is, often. But I’ve benefited a lot too. Hyung has helped me out a few times and even taught me self-defense.”

“What? Cha Junghyuk did?”

Joonhyung’s voice cracked in genuine surprise.

Jungwoo was startled by the reaction and shrank back. He didn’t think it was that surprising. On the other hand, he indirectly realized what kind of person Cha Junghyuk was.

“It seems Junghyuk really likes you.”

“I think it’s because I’m good with machines. He probably likes me because I can fix cars.”

“You’re an engineer at such a young age?”

“For now, yes. I learned a lot by watching others since I was young.”

Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned being an engineer. What if he asks me to fix his sedan?

Jungwoo regretted his slip of the tongue. If Hyung found out he fixed that junk sedan, he’d probably flip out, wondering why he fixed that guy’s car.

But Joonhyung’s next words were far from asking for car repairs.

“Now I see why Cha Junghyuk likes you.”

“Huh?”

“You’re very useful. He judges people like that—useful or not.”

Jungwoo let out a small gasp of realization.

This was true. The reason Junghyuk kept him around was because he was useful.

He knew that half of Junghyuk’s compliments about him being funny or interesting were just flattery, and the other half came from treating him like a toy.

Joonhyung removed his arm from Jungwoo’s shoulder and held out his hand.

“Let’s walk. Morning stroll.”

It was an awkward moment to refuse. Jungwoo hesitated before briefly touching Joonhyung’s outstretched hand.

The two decided to take a slow walk around the parking lot, exchanging meaningless chatter.

“You’re so young. Have you ever dated?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Is Junghyuk your first?”

“No, Junghyuk isn’t a romantic partner. So, I still haven’t dated anyone.”

Joonhyung confirmed his first impression of Jungwoo: naive and gullible.

No dating experience and little sexual experience. Naive and gullible.

Whenever the topic of romance came up, his face would turn pink, and when his partner was mentioned, it would flush red. Meanwhile, the corners of his mouth would twitch with unknown thoughts.

He seemed much more eager than he appeared. Just by glancing at his expression, one could tell he was having perverted thoughts.

Why Cha Junghyuk was interested in such a naive kid was a mystery, but it was probably better that he was clueless. Naive kids are easier to manipulate.

“It must be tough hanging out with Junghyuk. You must do all the dirty work.”

“Mostly. Hyung doesn’t like getting his hands dirty.”

“That’s a bit unfair. He’s using you.”

Joonhyung casually mixed in his main point while chatting.

As expected, Jungwoo’s gaze lingered on Joonhyung’s mouth at the mention of being used, then looked away.

“I know Hyung is using me. But I use him too. It’s a give-and-take relationship.”

“What do you give and take?”

“I drive for him, and Hyung…”

Jungwoo’s face flushed slightly. Joonhyung seemed to catch on and smirked.

Ah, so that’s why Cha Junghyuk chose this kid as his partner. Joonhyung had a lightbulb moment.

“Junghyuk is charming. But be careful who you associate with. Looks aren’t everything. He’s got a terrible personality.”

“That’s hard for me. I’m really attracted to good-looking people.”

“You like handsome guys? That’s fine. But if you keep getting used like this, you’ll regret it even as a zombie. You’ll still be chasing good looks?”

Jungwoo looked down at the ground.

“But Hyung isn’t cold-hearted enough to let an innocent person die.”

“You never know. You trust him too much.”

A pebble on the parking lot rolled under Jungwoo’s foot. He complained internally.

‘We have a mutual relationship, so why does he keep saying it’s one-sided? It’s annoying. I use Hyung too. I use his big dick and handsome face…’

Seeing Jungwoo’s discomfort, Joonhyung seized the moment to change the subject.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“Our Jiyeon was a successful model. Cha Junghyuk ruined her career. He blew things out of proportion when he could have just let it go. That’s why we fell out.”

Jungwoo, who had been sulking, looked up and met Joonhyung’s eyes.

“What exactly happened between the two of you?”

“Cha Junghyuk didn’t tell you? Again?”

Joonhyung began to speak calmly.

In short, Cha Junghyuk had exposed the private life of a designer he had a falling out with, causing chaos in the industry. This led to a halt in opportunities for newcomers, and Joonhyung’s career was also cut short due to misunderstandings.

Of course, the story was tailored to be favorable to Joonhyung, with some details omitted and embellished.

“He’s such a selfish bastard.”

“So that’s what happened.”

Jungwoo’s expression, unlike when he emerged from the van earlier that morning, was now dark and sullen.

He seemed troubled, his lips tightly sealed as he scuffed his shoe against the ground.

“Have you heard of ‘Gotham Formal’?”

“Yes, it’s a famous gothic fashion brand.”

Gotham Formal was a renowned gothic fashion brand known for its unique style. Although the designer had caused a scandal that tarnished the brand’s reputation, it remained famous.

Even Jungwoo, who had no interest in fashion, knew about this brand. He was familiar with it not because of the clothes, but because the models and concepts in the brand’s magazine aligned perfectly with his tastes.

He often spent time in the magazine section of the bookstore, where the new muses of Gotham Formal always caught his eye.

“Actually, Cha Junghyuk was one of their muses when he was a rookie.”

…But I never saw Cha Junghyuk’s face in the bookstore. Damn it.

Jungwoo’s face began to cloud over like someone who had just received shocking news.

A model for Gotham Formal? Cha Junghyuk? The same con artist who had been with him until yesterday was actually the main model for a magazine he used to admire?

Joonhyung, thinking Jungwoo was shocked as intended, excitedly continued.

“Did he tell you about his job?”

“He’s a… freelancer in the fashion industry.”

“Haha, is that what he said? Cha Junghyuk was originally a model for the agency. After the scandal at Gotham Formal, he worked as a freelancer. Since then, Gotham Formal hasn’t used young muses.”

“So, the scandal… that was the incident you mentioned earlier?”

“There were several others. His messy personal life caused a lot of rumors and gossip.”

So that’s why Junghyuk was the last rookie muse. That’s why I didn’t know. There weren’t any magazine features yet…!

Jungwoo muttered to himself as if he had uncovered some great secret.

Joonhyung, not hearing Jungwoo’s muttering, smiled victoriously to himself.

This naive and foolish young man had no idea who his partner really was.

“After the scandal, he worked as a model for some obscure underwear brand and did nude shoots for adult magazines. Did you know that when he was a rookie, he seduced someone five years older than him…?”

He began to reveal all the sordid details of his despised junior’s personal life that he had kept buried for years.

If he talked more about Junghyuk’s promiscuous partners, Jungwoo would surely feel betrayed and their relationship would sour.

Then, with a few well-placed words, he could separate this simple-minded engineer from Cha Junghyuk.

Joonhyung imagined Cha Junghyuk’s smug face crumbling in defeat.

But there was one thing Joonhyung hadn’t anticipated—Han Jungwoo’s unique way of thinking.

Right now, Jungwoo’s mind was filled with just one thought, not betrayal or shock.

‘Damn it, I should have tried on more clothes when we went to the clothing store yesterday!’

How often does one get the chance to meet a former muse of a famous fashion brand, let alone have them as a sex partner?

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Han Jungwoo. He immediately added a new item to his mental bucket list.

‘Make Cha Junghyuk wear a black suit.’

“So, Junghyuk has three partners and enjoys sadistic pleasures. His former partners all…,”

Seeing Jungwoo’s face pale, Joonhyung thought the situation was going as planned and kept talking.

‘What formal clothes did I bring this time? I think there was a shirt. Damn it, Han Jungwoo! If you brought a shirt, you should have brought a jacket, tie, and slacks too!’

Han Jungwoo wasn’t listening to a word Joonhyung was saying. He already knew that Junghyuk’s personal life was messy from their first meeting.

“…He’s slept with enough people to fill a truck. He’s a notorious, promiscuous bastard.”

“Aah! Jacket! Tie! Slacks!”

“Yeah, jack…. What?”

Only then did the two look at each other.

There was a moment of silence.

‘Why does this guy look like that? His eyes are empty.’

Han Jungwoo scanned Joonhyung from head to toe with a hungry look.

Joonhyung felt an inexplicable chill.

“Excuse me.”

“….”

“Are those slacks you’re wearing?”