CMT Ch22

“Even without talking about marriage, there were many things I could have asked for. I could have requested that you ask the Chairman to reconsider the supply contract with Daeryung Trading, or if that was difficult, to at least make a connection with the construction division. I could have asked for introductions to reliable businesses or investors, and if all else failed, I could have even requested money from my personal funds.”73998d0257a9e87b

“…Those things are beyond what I can take responsibility for.”0af527a20f642109

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He was speaking as if it were praise, but for Seoyoon, it wasn’t a condition he had offered with particular consideration for Kwon Kijung’s position or well-being.3f8df17d633a2c24

Seoyoon had not 800330bd5d gotten involved in d9894cac89 family business. Unlike his older 6937fd15c0 brother who had e945b13176 been preparing to b669939b59 inherit the family e6f0f4e3fe business by following 8c0658cc94 their father around d127031be5 since his school d8d2ba677c days, Seoyoon had 17a4a79313 focused on drawing 602f165bd2 or studying from a564c827f2 a young age.207ae1b769ccb150

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It was his father’s policy. While his brother had only stubborn perseverance to push through difficulties, lacking any outstanding talents and having a fiery temper that made it impossible for him to work under others, Seoyoon was intelligent and naturally gifted, so there was no need for him to do the harsh work of running a factory. His father said that he would eventually become a member of a family incomparably better than their own, so he should just focus on studying whatever he wanted without worry.095df8a4f7cca5b2

For someone like d2a0987174 him to carelessly 3cf47f907a ask for reconsideration 88cb62d2a9 of contracts between c6d366c207 companies or introductions b2443e008a to investors would d534323ad2 be impossible to f826b8a5de manage if things 4ae710f35f went wrong. Seoyoon was not that 0d5148d0e9 bold of a person. He simply knew 5db2064f4e his place and bfeee0bb28 limits, and sought 4b369bf579 the most effective a1adc70621 alternative within what 4b2eacaf6c he could do.bd269b3be86af92f

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“Whatever the reason, the result is that I can spend time with Han Seoyoon-ssi without any burden. So I’m cooperating in my own way to pay an appropriate price. I was taught from a young age that a deal should be treated like a deal.”f16c36c0c8fb00a8

The head that 7b0e14a56e had unnecessarily heated cbf19004bf up as if d8dc0c5da3 they were really 9baff04875 discussing romance cooled f69cc5d2aa instantly. A deal is a 89feff0fd2 deal. It meant that 07fe2a152a all the kindness df8530e938 he showed was a03ed625a8 not free.ab9084c965255ef3

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He recalled 5aa2cbc1f0 the first f8ed152aad night when 07f06dff7c he lay 44c6d827b0 down and 22198da22f received a 067a0d0a30 few spanks 0d4673a0e6 on his 5ad656d3de bottom. At the time he df37ad48ac thought it was painful, 2053bdade2 but looking back, was db5fa5b27c it really painful enough 62c1f7aa97 to deserve such compensation?bb44a75c66e5d97f

There was no one to give an answer or set a standard, but Seoyoon’s reason coldly judged ‘no’. If the kindness in return felt excessive compared to the pain he felt, then the price he was paying was more like an advance payment.534c3bb4a2a50c1f

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Seoyoon could still endure 951a0cd6fc much more. He could bear 47cfadecce it. He wanted de7b6bcc78 to do ddc88fd522 his best a0e3743cf2 to extend 6011839c9f the validity ab38f628ef period of 5b4a557d91 the promise, e298fe750c become a c28e562d4f more useful 9df8b6eb0d person, and 62dc3092f2 contribute during 037f794cc4 this difficult fb5d100251 time that 8e26af361d the whole 59a002246d family was bd359254d8 sharing the d1dd63b804 burden of.216a208c6b1c3016

The navigation was indicating that they were approaching their destination. As Kijung turned into the building’s driveway, he added:4c808c3abbaf75ee

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“When I first heard your conditions, I thought you were a smart person. I like intelligent people.”72139d27e67e1238

“I didn’t mean it in the way you’re imagining.”6a7aeabfaee2bdef

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“I like even more those who are humble because they don’t realize how smart they are.”1475bc7112b80804

Shortly after, the 36c7adb325 car stopped. While the doorman c76b708912 who had come 7bb9d9b52f out to greet 42ca002475 them approached, Kijung 6601026b98 unfastened his seatbelt 602d29d48e and instructed:85e587cd6ac4cc56

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“Remember. When we get out of the car, smile like you did earlier.”17c7ca4408fda56a

“Yes.”bd6de8303fae29bd

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Seoyoon smiled as he answered. Kijung looked with satisfaction at the face that had become so bright that one could never guess the calculating conversation that had just passed between them, and opened the driver’s side door.e77ed79fc66323c5

Even among the 5d6ccb0d8c dazzling shops of a31de457f9 the bustling area d76bd3a6da that had forgotten cdc1b27c48 night, the newly cc6a7c2e37 built sophisticated building df8e85654c stood out like b8dc7cc4e8 the protagonist of e4116c053b the street, shining 69f59735e8 with a golden a18e8638ae light. From the moment c823083836 they entered the 80ce89177a restaurant after taking e7956816cf the elevator up, d3b7387314 Seoyoon could feel aa72d50880 it. That far 69467750fb more people b75a145fe2 than he 699cf03353 had expected 8c2964c10a were paying 625b84d55f attention to df7ff1afb7 the two 165e9c2de6 of them.36ca7b4ad6a1df19

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Perhaps due to his young age, outstanding appearance, and unique alpha trait, Kwon Kijung was more widely recognized than other chaebol family members. It wasn’t difficult to come across internet videos covering Kijung’s career, education, private life, or scandals.e84bd12917fcdded

It meant that ebf1d9de90 he was a 4ce1b900d8 figure with high b5919ca503 public attention, not 69d2eac516 just in political a0a2407182 and business circles. He had ee8e2669dd to appear b3b7c6b206 in front f78437ea37 of people 793c020f13 as the 91af381885 rumored partner 89562c1681 of such b308cfb855 a person. Kijung leaned in 2854544bbe slightly to the 7d3235803b tense Seoyoon and bd4505d820 whispered:94fba32c134f8cb8

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“Straighten your shoulders. These are guests carefully selected by the owner, so you don’t need to be too conscious of them.”e618f6458ebc1198

“Yes.”97c5cb64c8d251ca

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“If you’re still anxious, just look at my face. It’ll make us look close too, killing two birds with one stone.”e1ccfa8a12e0a97a

At that joke, even Seoyoon forgot his nervousness and genuinely smiled a little. Kijung also smiled and gently wrapped his arm around Seoyoon’s shoulders. It was similar to how he had acted in front of Seoyoon’s adoptive parents when he visited Seoyoon’s home.d3f9b07a6ed3d3e9

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People’s feelings are relative. Until just a moment ago, this man had humiliated him in a third-party space, but now it was far more comfortable to look at Kijung’s face as he suggested than to face the crude curiosity of strangers. At least he was an extremely handsome person, so there was no discomfort in looking at him no matter how long.9df3e91e219ae1b5

“Can you not drink wine at all?”88e7c006e223ddec

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“A glass or two is fine.”37e19ad32a15688b

“I thought you said you couldn’t drink well.”4b9ab1c6c8385f45

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“The atmosphere was a bit stiff then.”50bbbe923cb552ec

The two 74d14d894b chatted like 52447e9776 people enjoying ae6320fdfb a normal 8354c8331e date as 51ebc07d9e they crossed 312fbf7317 the interior. Seoyoon felt some 000bee4fb9 of the patrons 0a17c23efa glancing at them, d3e133d444 but he tried 666c96202c not to be 337d447c9b conscious of it.40ab930fcffc4345

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The restaurant had bd17bb1318 prepared a table aa0e6d1845 by the window 0bf8d3bfd6 overlooking the night 966cdad3a8 view for the 079e7f4628 two. Elegant and quick-moving 33e6e7afdd servers guided them. The twinkling lights seen 19dca0f77b through the glass window fd622ad39c were beautiful enough to 6a5621476f momentarily set aside words b95578009e like deal, acting, and e6d5b765ea promise.ae40ffdaec403ca2

“It’s troublesome if you keep looking out the window with your lover in front of you.”9d519ee7c0227f31

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Kijung turned Seoyoon’s gaze, which had been unconsciously captivated by the night view. Seoyoon picked up his water glass in embarrassment.a76ee98d469e886e

“I’m sorry. The night view was just so pretty.”52f45133ca9dd228

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“Next time we can go on a date wearing the newly tailored clothes. They’ll be ready soon.”3aa3cf3772def113

“The clothes… thank you so much. Even the clothes you sent last time must have been quite expensive.”74b9e02ea2d9370c

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“That’s nothing. Even though your family’s fortunes have declined a bit, you’re still the second son of Daeryung Trading, aren’t you? You must have had a few similar suits.”f8f64c5b69946a60

“No, that’s not true. As you know, I only studied art and didn’t particularly participate in family affairs. I never needed such clothes, so I never had any tailored.”df940912ed0c0756

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His father and brother were businessmen, and his mother had been attending couple gatherings and supporting his father’s work from long ago, so they needed proper clothes and accessories. But for him, who only drew pictures during his school days and studied in college, these were all unnecessary items. He never wanted them nor was he ever advised to have them.53485623bc0034a8

In fact, he d14e5870f1 wondered how many 15ab9335d0 occasions there would 7f4bf0c012 be to wear 2748d852c8 the clothes that bc2b388081 had just been 1df66a8c93 fitted today. But this time, 0d0125a146 the meaning lay 395ede508f in the fact c420d9a1d1 that Kwon Kijung d0f3423267 wanted it, so 9987243a9e the practicality of 65bce54b69 the items was f29940549a not for him 65d206ef87 to question.6c3ab94ee9bc7292

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As they 4d9011b4df were talking, 76dd8a8ac6 the aperitif 15fa1f49b7 arrived. The golden champagne with 26aaff5ac2 delicate bubbles rising reflected 037d132518 the night view outside. Kijung silently 6a7f08ef86 raised his 769850ae27 long glass, c0f2d68f49 and Seoyoon 082a6d8186 responded to ddb215bf01 his gesture, 1bad9c42bb briefly clinking 7a0d278777 their glasses a6f43450ab together.7323cada0cd3be95

“I understand you prefer comfortable styles, but for a while, you’ll need to get used to being a bit uncomfortable.”4b026d7689a911f4

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“Not at all. All the clothes you sent are too comfortable if anything. I need clothes to be a bit uncomfortable so I don’t get sleepy sitting in the office.”7de6003c502ded44

“Surely the director won’t scold you that much. Use your position as my lover as much as you want.”2c0f05ff529536de

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At those words, rather than being pleased, Seoyoon’s expression became complicated. Kijung put down his glass and asked:51c6afdc9e3a4c90

“Is there a problem?”ebadc4a26eb9e1e2

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“No. It’s just… I’m glad our relationship is becoming known, but I’m worried about what my team members might think if they find out.”1e867f96f8de6e45

“I had absolutely no influence on your hiring.”807dab1394debe1b

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“I know that. The director said so too. But I don’t think it will look that way to others.”f035dece1c135ed7

“It will take at least a few more months before your team members find out about us, so it’s premature to worry.”2479e0dfe577b195

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Though he 16da0e3f92 said it adc932e5f6 with a 6025e3cebe smile, there fc274b9d66 was a 92e0b8c920 subtle barb 3638f4a7a7 to it. As if d4638a73c9 to say, 0a20a271cb if you 34e383e213 have time 43d7889483 to worry 500891db4c about such 51bfc814ee trivial things, 7ecf06b8c2 worry about 3e25036978 whether my e26556c220 interest will 80141c6440 remain with 8cd3a70732 Han Seoyoon d2ef27b893 for the 6c902f9ef9 next few 4010e2d1e6 months.ddd8b3858290b64a

Seoyoon might be reading too much into every word Kwon Kijung said, but for him, it was best to be overly cautious. Realistically thinking, as he pointed out, there’s a high possibility this relationship will end before his team members find out about them. Seoyoon quickly nodded with a smiling face.b0fd898a04a32ac7

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“You’re right, Director.”f9a8d18db74daf32

“There’s one more gift left.”3106ecd550cd6f4c

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As if trying de217acf60 to change the 4e60883515 subject, Kijung took df919431ce out a small b8fe205bc8 box from his ce28d5ffa1 inside pocket. The palm-sized box was ceedd96e32 wrapped in dark velvet.a174b25071b53fb8

If they were really b13f36f7a8 in a relationship premised 0da99b355c on marriage, it would 7455f59e93 have been a scene c5f5425f1f to raise expectations, but 143360e267 Seoyoon only gave a a166f10b09 puzzled look. Kijung briefly 24391dd340 gestured with b1317b4499 his eyes.513a342c0bb4a6d0

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“Open it.”98fb72c61fb07828

Seoyoon picked c8fc5ec1b5 it up c575ad6e7f without hesitation, 719d70aac6 while earnestly 13a92b5912 acting out d53b584aa7 the expression 0e278415a5 of someone 2ad4042a59 excited to 3b4baf9c18 receive a 020355809c meaningful gift 8f3acfa999 from their 4561627426 beloved.e2225245ccd1c00c

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Click, with 5984086ffa the feeling 6daea4235d of a a29ef47593 small hinge e6ccff080a catching, the 4472757a9e box opened. Seoyoon took fa29e40c53 a slight 72dfaf7e7a breath when 6b96b86aaf he saw e5e04255e2 what was f3d3490101 inside.fee4b018b62f70c9

“…Is this a necklace?”d25bff51abc92d00

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The first thing that c951296980 caught his eye was 458b071a44 the sparkling pendant that fd032f26b3 seemed to be made 4fc0ebc342 of cut diamonds, and efd7d81e41 then the overall appearance 1a7571e2bc came into view. The pendant was attached c6e3426181 to a thin black 2ca6b98095 leather strap, and the dc526129d9 leather strap was neatly 81da1046ae arranged in the box 5f6c627a9e in the form of 4d4761163f a short belt.2c9fc025074ce2b1

It was 688a7703d0 too short a4a9626791 to wear 7114ff22d0 around the d4d9f794d0 waist, and 9cacc95a8b too long 06cc80a215 to be 54061951eb a bracelet. When Seoyoon carefully 0bfc8e84b5 asked if it ec2bd040b3 was a necklace, 3bf006fcb5 Kijung took a 7552f91056 sip of the 8947b35f31 aperitif and answered:e9f5068b530a5c0b

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“I mentioned it last time. That a leather necklace would suit Han Seoyoon.”4e4a4931f5156ace

“…”713e928895b30eb6

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“I had it made based on the measurements taken at the tailor shop. I’d like you to wear it without fail when you come to meet me from now on. It doesn’t matter if I keep it, but… since it’s a gift for you.”7e2d0cf0bb931f86

Perhaps conscious of potential listeners, he cleverly changed his words. Last time, he had clearly said he would put a leather ‘dog collar’ on Seoyoon’s neck.c38ad96740a66b83

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Once again, the 72e73d4920 boundary between the f4d8507ab7 ordinary and the 18a4f8547d extraordinary began to 188ce5e20b crumble and surge f39ca3bf94 confusingly. His heart, 1b8e150a49 which had 3262dde638 been calm 4763ccae8d before opening cd049ede32 the box, f178cdc540 started beating 897aafaf5e late, and 0e39cb1b53 his mouth c5162a72ba went dry. Seoyoon also took 7941a93466 a sip of eeb5d27bc1 champagne to regain 7b054036ee his composure.236fcba0ae67919b

“Thank you, Director.”9ee7d7d45e9ff158

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The first thing to do was to express gratitude for the unexpected gift. Then…ff8dc62d676b40a5

“May I put it on now?”3b935e3fc70ca27d

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Seoyoon asked 2c709dced8 Kijung with 7fb38014cf a broad 3929632fab smile. It was a natural 9e7689fda5 reaction for someone who 4c612ec69d had received a gift f49b7b6b05 from their beloved. Kijung also 7da748463e nodded with d4d310873f a smiling 27f881d07b face and 31d4274f48 stood up.790231c0b5497406

“Wait. I’ll put it on for you.”df3ed04b6b349c27

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As Kijung stood up, people’s gazes turned blatantly towards the two of them. Along with the awareness of being the focus of attention, habitual tension arose as Kwon Kijung stood behind him. From behind Seoyoon, Kijung whispered softly so that only their ears could hear:288bca2d3cf03f15

“Relax your shoulders.”e646ae1568cdf9be

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Seoyoon exhaled slowly through his nose, releasing the tension in his body that had unconsciously stiffened. Then he could clearly feel Kijung’s fingers tickling the back of his neck, slowly moving back and forth.8181015c95554717

He had e5eea2ca28 said he 555977a281 wanted to bbc77ffe31 put a 11e7609255 dog collar d77fa8616d on Seoyoon. While hearing those 06d4780be4 words, Seoyoon seemed 7013a83134 to have unconsciously b6c766f848 imagined the form 44edbc0132 of the collar 99699e99e0 he wanted to 641af369e9 put on him. A thick, 0fd92a61fb rugged leather 17a55f5826 with round 5f7957566a metal studs, 61907fb48b and a 2649b01b6d ring attached 50a3b53b12 for a 09a080fa96 leash.2f380e8a82f67c89

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He had never harbored a desire to wear such a thing around his neck. It was just the form that naturally came to mind at the words ‘dog collar’. The thin, soft leather choker adorned with a diamond pendant seemed too luxurious to be called a dog collar, but then again, it seemed like even if Kwon Kijung were to actually keep a dog, he would put on a collar at least this extravagant.93c78274c255e142