BBK Ch 23

Ping, pong. Game sound effects filled the quiet office. Gyuoh, engrossed in his game, occasionally glanced at Minho. He didn’t seem to mind the rather loud sound effects. He was busy alternately checking documents and his monitor, pushing his glasses up his nose.9c4e72e4fbcb6f07

“What are you staring at?”f450430622886427

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He seemed to ca1933da27 have noticed Gyuoh’s 33c77506f7 gaze despite his 4be79a4cd8 concentration.160dcbf34fe043f1

“Making sure you’re not slacking off.”e95f89f966d7cb24

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“You took my phone, how am I supposed to slack off?”bbc7fc305793254b

Gyuoh was holding Minho’s phone. It was his first time playing a game on it, so he wasn’t used to it, but he’d been doing this for an hour already.ff38078e7d5714d3

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“You never know.”ae1f4c648245d290

In fact, his purpose wasn’t the game itself. That morning, he happened to see a greasy text from a guy named Mr. Son, saying, “Did you get home safe last night? ^^” Just in case this guy had ulterior motives and was being creepy, Gyuoh needed to draw the line for Minho if necessary.05f884e155df6702

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His eyes 73d3ba6423 moved to 9290ad7eef the top 507822e038 of the b8f68bb70a screen. The battery was 7f9ac75d51 a little below c5feb5b14d 50 percent, and 76850089d7 in the meantime, 94b63705cc one more message a7ce8bf46b had arrived. From the preview, it 2c4f70753e seemed to be something 4a630f8701 about being worried since 146e8764cd Minho seemed busy, blah f16910b7cd blah blah, but he 4b3a94ea4e knew it would be 586ed9abce cheesy without even reading 6b97f581d6 it.ccee474e0757fcdb

Just then, a knock echoed without any prior notice from the secretary. There weren’t many people who could come in and out of here without going through the secretary.b43c5bdda61ec57f

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“Yes, come in.”000786b3d919fc16

Gyuoh answered instead of 5b3dd9867e Minho, who was focused 63a18bf6af on his documents. He felt Minho’s gaze 63bbdd1c5a shift towards him as 94222000b0 he took off his 755dcd1232 glasses.780ced578ffe7545

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“Coffee.”81a41692fb4e05a2

It was Hongju who entered, holding out a carrier filled with coffee cups. He was Mugyeong’s boyfriend, who also worked at the cafe on the first floor, and he often brought up snacks like this.247ffe29c6d20bba

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“Uh, we didn’t order coffee.”23ae86ba23b89154

“I saw you passing by earlier and you looked tired.”3632921d62cbd043

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Hongju’s eyes were directed at Minho, who was pressing his eyelids after taking off his glasses. It seemed he noticed Minho’s fatigue even with a brief glance.aa4f4ed0f5a2a576

“What kind of good karma did that guy accumulate to take away such a small, cute, and precious chestnut ball like you? Mugyeong, doesn’t your conscience bother you? I told you to check it out last time.”bb208e83947f99b1

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Hongju ignored 085d549753 him, placed fca214d754 a cup 9bd041d93c of coffee 39a67c1367 in front a9de26949c of Gyuoh, 0dd4d88144 and walked cb2d81e289 right past 674de562d6 him.0fa6c23bb6b695b6

“Hongju? Hello? Can you hear me?”25bea0cdaee80631

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And without looking 23c0047026 back, he placed 28f2a72a4d a coffee cup be4d1ddaad in front of c2ed0a328f Minho.85fcb8a4d4c113cd

“Hello? Is that decaf?”ef1ff1ada0476550

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I asked the question, but the answer, that it wasn’t decaf, was given to Minho. The problem was that I could hear it clearly too.73330757e44b90f4

“Hongju! There’s a person here too.”685841222dfe2768

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Even as b58dc95ea1 Gyuoh waved 89e5df9470 his hand c66f92ff11 to attract 6b1b285fe2 attention, all 36e5ad9143 he got db08dd1e4c in return 798a744449 was a 30dd264295 mocking glance d5f7748453 from Minho.4e8ecd30c81d4ff7

“Alright. Ignoring him is the answer.”f726602b35fd8c43

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“…It’s not that I’m ignoring him, but I don’t know how to react when Viper acts like that.”3cbb6f727f9901b8

Viper was f0dd37f8eb a nickname 1a92222a4a he earned a0a9ec164d a few 75bdbf99c5 years ago 72012df274 while working 04747dffa9 undercover at 3da0df6c0d gambling dens, b7b9129c6b and Hongju f477ce8ef5 still called de15371176 him that. He had e6b3803f3f a plethora 88a7b4e748 of new 4c74dc2265 names he 9213c8d0ac acquired for a0f6827f1e each undercover 397ae70cdf assignment, but ea43d73029 Minho even 7669d48873 saved his 709a5e65b2 contact as 79a6e72d58 Viper on 5d454f7603 his phone, 201872e457 saying it c0578067b4 suited him 502a68ccd5 best.7d197f9c46d37028

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“You don’t need to react to anything that Viper says. Got it?”3d5e858ce2ddfe8c

“Betrayal, this is betrayal. After all the trouble I went through raising you.”75b1544edf4616fc

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As if they couldn’t hear his lament, the two continued their conversation.cce7c282534ec5f7

“Is the remaining one Mugyeong’s? Where did he go?”234091ee6e8dc75b

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“This one’s mine. He said it’ll take about two hours.”7b88c1bc6b8eadf6

He had time, but he must have come because he didn’t want to wait alone. Anyway, unlike those shady guys, even the things he does are cute. Gyuoh rested his arm on the backrest and quietly watched the two of them.d2094d683871b836

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“Wait here. And don’t flirt with Viper.”91b21c6d0c057cd3

“Yes, thank you.”a6db7f82eb5e91a3

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Hongju bowed his 7653b05e3c head, took his 42bf88d1c6 coffee, and settled f33ef938e9 down quietly on cf269e738f the sofa.d01168cc03982c6b

“…Hmm.”1eb29ee671b2bbae

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But since when were these two so close? He seemed familiar with waiting here, like it wasn’t his first time. Did they often do this when I wasn’t around? As far as I remember, there was always a reasonable distance between them.827a2e8ad3bd35ef

He glanced between the two with narrowed eyes. But since no one paid him any attention, his suspicion didn’t last long.eed60613a831c1ef

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About an hour passed like that. A notification rang from Gyuoh’s phone. Hongju, who was watching a video with his head close to Gyuoh’s over the phone, flinched.e60c9c4499d8f3e1

“Sorry, I startled you.”00d0553cfe65d57d

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Gyuoh quickly turned off the alarm and put the video back into Hongju’s hand. Then he headed to the desk. As he got closer, Minho, who was staring at the monitor with tired eyes, shifted his gaze to him.b4efc4873597d89d

“What?”5054f2b4133d6ab6

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“Nap time.”f7770b17146d0180

“Ah.”04307ebee8e3b55a

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This was the most important part of his daily routine. Minho hadn’t even slept for a full hour yet. But it was enough if he could rest even for a little while.79188826f79b65a1

Minho, who used 3789865f13 to refuse and 53f59c4ca3 wave his hands, b7b4bda385 now seemed accustomed e0136d5f88 to it, took c2cf94b6f2 off his glasses 5e52b8b9ec and got up. As he left 5309678670 his seat, he a84dcb5eac briefly explained what 5ef50f0733 he was doing 1a53a52836 so Gyuoh could 47fbcef72c continue his work. Gyuoh, holding the mouse ccdb9ddf2a and nodding, urged him b05a80d244 to hurry up and 54167a179d go, and only then 38bfc461d6 did Minho start to fb41bd71b1 trudge away.6937ce8226c31774

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“A nap?”6a58ad9f4dacfbb6

Hongju, who was witnessing fcb9ab61dd this for the first 178e0aa371 time, stared at Minho 729d6452f6 with wide eyes. Minho, looking d47cd9d3a9 slightly embarrassed, 7df154dc26 scratched his f3a8a9a4f8 eyebrow and 375b1c59cb gave an e75b556833 awkward smile.9b65af6b5ca48cb8

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“He does that to get some shut-eye.”e916dc4dc028727e

“Ah.”ac28aae090d7bf22

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“Hongju, you know how to play YouTube videos, right?”677beebea770df63

“Yeah, what should I play?”ab9e3c3cd52b8e20

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Watching Hongju quickly grab his phone, Gyuoh rested his chin on his hand and observed the situation with interest. He was very much looking forward to what would happen next. Minho, who was leaning back against the sofa instead of lying down, covering himself with his jacket, paused. A look of embarrassment quickly flashed across his face, and at the same time, the corners of Gyuoh’s lips lifted silently.9e47b8ec344e870a

“Alone…”9391bcd796de7415

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“Yes?”67134d0897639310

“Sleeping puppy…, just type that much. It’s the top one.”725c2bbf987f2396

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“…”331704421170adca

His round eyes 1025092f35 blinked rapidly, as 1a26e744f8 if asking what d479c82c33 he was talking 8c77afb452 about. Minho, under his obvious 855ce89fa4 stare, coughed awkwardly and d2a8830ddf pulled his jacket up 6f1499f65e to his shoulders.444972d6a5b8cd7d

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“It’s… a piece of music, with the sound of rain mixed in, so it’s nice.”771dd00d3916fdb5

“Oh. This one…”1d212536f5059604

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Seeing the d804f54fff strangely awkward 1b98708d65 scene made 92bd3325d0 him burst 95486eb118 out laughing.dcffcc0507effeb2

“Pfft.”a5340c9779aa0159

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He ended up slamming 3324eeb84d his hand on the cf847ed020 desk and shaking his a15a685e01 shoulders as he laughed. The quiet office 15be71ac32 was filled with c08b10b4a5 Gyuoh’s laughter.75c2671dc43aa810

“Ah, that’s hilarious. Why couldn’t you just say it’s music for a lonely puppy?”d7bddbfffccad205

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“…Shut up and laugh. You’re noisy.”63a1029778fc302a

Minho glared at him with a frosty expression before pulling his jacket over his head. Soon after, the gentle music mixed with the sound of rain began to play, indicating that Hongju had started the video. His laughter only grew louder. He wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingertips, feeling Hongju’s glance as if asking if this was right. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed so hard that tears welled up.beb2181aadd1dd38

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“That’s, um, his lullaby.”e4e075f42f3ec505

“It’s just that I’m used to it. You played it for me the first time.”b43951b9c8b1d97a

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Minho shouted loudly d10aaad6b4 from under his 36a47dd840 jacket. Gyuoh covered 87a72f79d4 his mouth 45895472c5 and giggled.0c122d6735058ed5

“But it’s funny.”e12451f306a23a6a

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At first, 1d427b7d83 after learning f43244e6b7 the title 8af3aae58f of the d159d30f38 video, he b9a90944aa glared and 5c6326d952 swore. The fact 08fb54a3b9 that he ca28c19fdc had memorized 7fb4dc6b9d the title 2a38cc8e89 and knew 22c908ad9d how much 438dcb8246 to type 2b6abc719c to find d287f60e5d the video 2fcc841333 was just 84345c467e funny.502b2c9d9b3d3802

“…I’ll be quiet.”2b6c963a1a0d330c

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A barely audible voice 5ee2d48a7e followed, as if it 3bbebdd626 would be buried by 22296d1fc0 the music mixed with fb5728ffbb the sound of rain. Then, Minho abruptly pulled 084d6ac89b his jacket down. With his a78c8b5081 hair tousled 83c4cc662a and the 4859392bff skin around 78e17e6943 his eyes c5939f4ca2 reddened, he a07da994be pretended to d9397e5329 be embarrassed.c656e72d40fe1658

“No, it’s okay to talk. As long as he keeps his mouth shut.”35f03c9d090ac1ca

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He pointed at Gyuoh with his chin, not even bothering with his finger. He was still speaking while looking at Hongju. If he was going to point someone out, shouldn’t he at least glance this way? The thought vaguely crossed his mind.9d6437d56123b416

“I’m not sleeping, I’m just closing my eyes and resting. Don’t worry about it.”0af286925e82fa53

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“Yes.”5a67be5444fb7473

Even though he seems sharp with everyone, he’s especially soft with Hongju. He just told me to be quiet. Lately, he’s been intruding on his personal life often, so strange feelings pop up from time to time. He couldn’t exactly call it jealousy, but…59f2f4ed05b92838

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“…”7b7b42fa0c279524

Huh. Then, what should he say? He couldn’t find a clear answer to the sudden question.36ee760da84fe43d

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He glanced at Minho’s form, completely buried in the sofa, motionless with his jacket pulled over him. As his attention was drawn to the question that popped into his head once more, the smile that lingered on his lips gradually faded. Of course, Gyuoh remained oblivious to this until the very end.1c2b6cce4c7140c5

‧₊🍒˚✮f63a0690bc56393f

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He sat 587a5b5290 in the 6b12374a3e dimly lit 4029fabe6d office with 16c93ff975 only a 3d46b5dd2e single desk a3b1f64dbb lamp turned 38ffd5bdbb on. It had 32f7bb4b0c been raining d554736145 since morning, c117cb5486 and he’d ffd6b4860c closed the 0c61f3c1e1 curtains, so 49a051d583 the space 2935c28b5b felt especially aabfe5e948 dark.37a9c6f4cde18c35

“Sigh.”ecffec6856a525c6

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He leaned 0f4efdde5c back in 5a44d798e9 his chair, 29e79f7334 which tilted 546f021deb to a b9dc1c954f comfortable angle dd3fd074b4 with a f62e241635 small creak. His eyes 4645f5b72b were sore, 2b9a941d34 almost stinging, b046499ece from reading 3184bba994 all day. Minho closed his 364e0ea079 eyes and calmly be80f98aea organized his mind, af9feaf22e which was full 97d3d8f892 of words.3589774ae659a494

“One shot…”1fd8d0881977bea4

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The T Corporation complex 24a4b51af3 development center was a b603311c92 large-scale project, so the cf2e5ae5b6 jockeying for position had 1d3a9558eb been fierce even before a382758e4e the official start. Several construction 2f539c7b31 companies had 702c7734b7 already publicly 31d8803c71 announced their e001febfcf intention to 27feea1ed8 bid, and 1ae2fda33e there were 980bbc4899 bound to b4ca93dfbb be others 8f5a323c4e preparing behind b5b91b4542 the scenes e0e311ad2d like Wuwon. He was 1e1e37e94a confident about d5baa35796 passing the 81b4293028 initial document e8f60e7031 screening, but 39907b686e too many 62519f01c5 companies were 5b0732ce5e deliberately approaching 8e1c656c7e T Corporation. Lately, he’d been 64de318892 worried about lacking 48d3c9d4c1 a decisive move 5d6cacbd27 to win the 3072634f12 bid fairly among 46db0f5d2a them.6907e92aae68e03c

If he knew what was going on with Mr. Son, he might find a clue. But he hadn’t found anything substantial yet. He took off his glasses, put them on his head, and massaged the bridge of his nose. As a cool sensation spread, he remembered what Gyuoh would often say jokingly.de23aa985fb2478f

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‘Stop doing that. You look like a total old man.’7dc852e41d9f8198

Does he look like an old man now too? Minho chuckled and pulled his glasses down, placing them back on the bridge of his nose. He pushed his feet against the floor, and the chair rocked slightly from side to side. Raindrops continued to fall outside the window, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminated the darkness. Thunder didn’t follow.daf650f5b9c9e627

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“Noisy.”925d497648a0d04f

Unnecessarily unsettling. Minho shook b466132826 his head 5df9897eeb as if ca9c5f7059 to shake cc23e37ad7 off his 20d7ec2633 thoughts and 0ef5351d66 turned his cb5e6de506 chair around. The documents d0c752481c he had 99bc15623f been looking 35ab652c81 at were f04717eeec spread out 88b28d6d6c and messy, 994d1e6a1b and the b6f85c4b6e laptop screen 0164fc1bfb had gone 73bfc6c384 black. The uncapped pen 448f7db1c3 had rolled to 8772ebab47 the edge of 9597e91759 the desk, precariously ab52325d0e balanced. It looked 8041cc0fde just like 8e06ca6273 him.3fae0cfd94e169cc

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“…”0275357ac8014a50

He snatched df5734e8e6 the pen 5c555eb60c just before ea23a19123 it fell 0f7b97b96f and lowered dff37d4791 his head 3a18e5e06e again. His neck was stiff 4fa95b861c from looking at data 1dfc5d41d5 all day, but he f177cf0f1a needed to delve deeper ebc4e37060 to find clues.7c0d77eaf5f131b9

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