IWDAR Chapter 21

Wooyoung, without a phone, required Taewook to seek help from Lilac Entertainment to contact him. More precisely, through Wooyoung’s former manager, Chae Soohee. 

 

Tae-uk arrived at the address Soohee provided at the designated time to personally pick up Wooyoung, and upon seeing him with the female manager, he slightly furrowed his brow.

 

Though the exclusive contract hadn’t been officially signed yet, considering Wooyoung’s potentially confusing situation due to the abrupt changes, Han Wooyoung was already completely done with Lilac Entertainment. 

 

Yet, for a former trainee and their manager to be together on a weekend… It was certainly a situation more than sufficient to irritate Tae-uk.

 

“Ah, I’m currently staying with my manager. The place you visited earlier today was also her house.”

 

“Your manager is a woman?”

 

“Yes…”

 

Feeling the sharp edge in the question, Wooyoung unconsciously glanced at Tae-uk, gauging his mood. Tae-uk exuded an air that made it difficult to even utter unless he was smiling. Just like now.

 

“Although the contract isn’t finalized, Han Wooyoung is now part of ON Entertainment. A soon-to-debut idol trainee living alone with a woman… that’s not good.”

 

“Th-That’s exactly what I’m saying!”

 

“…”

 

Wooyoung raised his voice, unusual for him. Tae-uk’s subtly furrowed brows twitched for a moment.

 

“Soohee is too unguarded. I’m a grown man…” 

 

“…Ahem, is that so?”

 

“Of course, until now, I had no choice but to rely on her because I had nowhere else to go.”

 

Wooyoung drooped his shoulders with a dejected look. The reason Wooyoung could easily bring up such personal matters was because he knew Mo Tae-uk wouldn’t ask “why.” Just as he hadn’t asked how he got injured, the man wouldn’t press him for uncomfortable answers.

 

“Even if there are circumstances, Han Wooyoung, you must be careful about every single action you take from now on. It would be best to move out of that house immediately.”

 

“Yes, yes. I’ll move out as soon as the contract is finalized.”

 

Wooyoung nodded resolutely, as if he had been given a crucial mission. Being cautious in his actions wasn’t particularly difficult for Wooyoung. He had always lived that way. 

 

Taewook, staring at Wooyoung’s innocent face, spoke,

 

“The dorm will be vacant next month. Even though they were expelled, they were long-time trainees, so we gave them about a month to pack up. You can move in after that. Do you have a place to stay in the meantime?”

 

“Uh…”

 

Next month was indeed less than a month away.

 

“Monthly contracts are available at goshiwons, so even if it’s just for that time…” 

 

“How about staying at my place for a while?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“It’ll be difficult to find a goshiwon near ON Entertainment. It’s an expensive area, and they’re very sensitive about even small businesses opening up. And it would be burdensome for you to commute from another area to the agency every day.”

 

The entire conversation flowed as naturally as water. The tone was as casual as “The weather’s nice, isn’t it?” so Wooyoung almost unconsciously responded with, “Yes, it is.”

 

“…”

 

The question lingering in Wooyoung’s mind deepened. Even if ON Entertainment was in a hurry due to the new member issue, Wooyoung had already clearly expressed his intention to accept the contract. 

 

Was it really necessary for the CEO himself to drive his own car to meet him on a weekend? 

 

Furthermore, although he’d refused today, wasn’t it unnatural for the CEO of such a large agency to have a meal twice already with a trainee who hadn’t even signed a contract yet?

 

They could be interested in his talent. Wooyoung had seen enough of such people in his life. 

 

But the resulting value was already evident in the contract before him. Everything else, such as Mo Tae-uk’s excessive kindness, was unrelated to Wooyoung’s talent.

 

With the recurring question, Wooyoung finally came to a conclusion.

 

‘Ah, this man wants something else from me.’

 

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈•  ｡ﾟ

 

“Did you have a good time?”

 

“Yes, I had a comfortable stay.”

 

“Really? You don’t look comfortable at all.”

 

At the nonchalant tone, Wooyoung, who had been fidgeting with his toes, shifted his gaze.

 

Ultimately, Wooyoung accepted Mo Tae-uk’s offer. Now that it was difficult to continue relying on Soohee, he had nowhere else to go, and if Tae-uk was making this generous offer because he wanted something, it wouldn’t be difficult to fulfill his request.

 

‘Although I still don’t know what the CEO wants yet…’

 

He just wondered if it was related to the year of the rabbit, which Soohee and Hyun-jong had repeatedly mentioned. 

 

It wasn’t as if he was the only person in the world born in the year of the rabbit, so he couldn’t fathom how that could be of any help.

 

“Here, a housewarming gift.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Tae-uk, who had fully entered past the entrance, placed cute little boxes in Wooyoung’s arms. The sight of Wooyoung suddenly holding light blue and pink boxes suited him perfectly, just as he had imagined. 

 

Wooyoung’s nose twitched slightly, hugging the boxes. A faint sweet scent emanated from between the boxes. The sight of him was so harmless, like a rabbit sniffing the air after playing in a field, made Tae-uk’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“You didn’t have to do this… Thank you, I’ll enjoy them.”

 

“Did you unpack everything?”

 

“I didn’t have much luggage to begin with. Since I’ll be leaving soon anyway, I just organized a few clothes.”

 

At Wooyoung’s answer, Tae-uk stopped walking. The man tilted his head slightly and looked at Wooyoung. It was hard to read the emotions that surfaced in his dark, staring eyes, so Wooyoung unconsciously held his breath.

 

“Even though it’s a temporary residence, it makes me sad that you’re already talking about leaving.”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

His small lips mumbled that he hadn’t meant it that way. Tae-uk was a little taken aback. His momentarily unpleasant mood had completely washed away at the sight of those trembling lips.

 

Unaware of Tae-uk’s inner thoughts, Wooyoung glanced at him cautiously and carefully opened his mouth.

 

“Have you… eaten?”

 

“Not yet. I was going to eat with you.”

 

With those simple words, Wooyoung’s expression brightened instantly.

 

“Oh, good. The housekeeper made haesintang for us to eat together when you arrive.”

 

(T/N: Haesintang is a Korean seafood stew, considered a delicacy and often eaten on special occasions.)

 

Tae-uk, staring intently at Wooyoung, chuckled.

 

“It seems you’ve already become close with the housekeeper.”

 

“She’s just… very kind to me.”

 

When he lived with his foster parents, the only people Wooyoung felt attached to were the housekeepers who helped in the kitchen. 

 

The housekeepers always felt sorry for Wooyoung, who was as thin as a rail, and perhaps because of that, they often slipped him food when his foster parents weren’t looking. It was one of the few pleasant memories that remained deep in his heart.

 

“I’ll just change and be right there, so go ahead.”

 

“Yes, take your time!”

 

At his well-behaved, cheerful demeanor, a faint smile formed on Tae-uk’s lips. It was a smile he wasn’t even aware of. 

 

Wooyoung stood there, staring blankly at Tae-uk’s retreating figure as he disappeared down the hallway. Only after the motion-sensor lights, which had turned on following his movements, flickered off one by one, did Wooyoung head to the kitchen. 

 

The housekeeper had finished preparing the meal and left for the day, timed for Tae-uk’s arrival. Now that he thought about it, it occurred to him that Tae-uk might have intentionally arranged it for him.

 

Standing at the entrance of the dining room where the meal was prepared, Wooyoung unconsciously looked around at the neatly set table and the quiet surroundings.

 

This inexplicable sense of déjà vu he had been feeling since earlier, or rather, since he stepped into this house, what was it?