IWDAR Chapter 27

Wooyoung opened his eyes. In the pitch-black darkness, he thought,

 

‘It’s a dream.’

 

There was no particular reason for him to realize he was dreaming. He just vaguely felt that way.

 

Standing alone, Wooyoung slowly looked around at his unseen surroundings.

 

Strangely, he wasn’t afraid, even though he was alone in a completely black space. Perhaps he had a vague feeling that he wasn’t alone after all.

 

Just in case, he moved his hands and feet, confirming they were all fine.

 

Hesitantly, Wooyoung started walking forward. He walked and walked.

 

Not once did he look back.

 

There was no reason to.

 

As he passed through the place that felt like a vast ocean without a single point of light, something came into the corner of his vision.

 

He felt like he needed to reach that place.

 

Wooyoung ran.

 

And what he found at the end of his sprint was—

 

“Uh…?”

 

Han Wooyoung.

 

That is, Han Wooyoung of ‘this place.’

 

“Hello.”

 

Han Wooyoung, with a somehow carefree expression, greeted him with a light shrug.

 

His clothes and hair were a mess, as if he had been rolling around somewhere, but at that moment, Wooyoung thought that everything about the boy seemed surprisingly peaceful.

 

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈•  ｡ﾟ

“…Young, Mr. Wooyoung.”

 

“…….”

 

Wooyoung’s eyes snapped open, and he took a slow, deep breath.

 

A faint light was filling the previously pitch-black darkness.

 

He realized it was the bedroom lamp because of Tae-uk’s face, staring at him expressionlessly.

 

“…CEO?”

 

“Sorry to wake you. You seemed to be having a nightmare.”

 

“…….”

 

“You look lost.”

 

Tae-uk’s large hand lightly touched Wooyoung’s forehead, which was damp in a cold sweat.

 

A warm sensation seeped into his skin.

 

Wooyoung’s heart had been pounding since a moment ago, making his ears ring.

 

“You don’t have a fever, but did you have a bad dream?”

 

A bad dream?

 

No, it wasn’t that.

 

Wooyoung knew.

 

It wasn’t anything like a bad dream.

 

‘Rather…….’

 

Tae-uk stared intently at Wooyoung, who was staring blankly into space, and slowly stroked his messy hair.

 

It was a natural touch.

 

A kind gesture, devoid of any ulterior motive.

 

‘Really? Was there truly no ulterior motive?’

 

With a habitual question, Wooyoung’s mind snapped back to attention.

 

“If you think you’ll have trouble falling back asleep, do you want to come out for a bit?”

 

Wooyoung finally noticed that Tae-uk was still wearing his outdoor clothes.

 

The same outfit he had been wearing in the morning when Wooyoung spaced out.

 

It seemed the man had just returned to the mansion.

 

“You can stay here and sleep if you want.”

 

“…I’ll come out.”

 

At Wooyoung’s small reply, Tae-uk smiled gently.

 

“Alright.”

 

A low-lit lamp illuminated the bar in the dining room.

 

Pretty glass displays, a coffee machine, and neat accessories created a cozy atmosphere.

 

“Have you ever had alcohol?”

 

“Just a little wine…”

 

Wooyoung almost reflexively said he hadn’t, but then decided to be honest.

 

He was an adult now, and perhaps it was because he had just encountered Han Wooyoung of this place in his dream.

 

‘What was that dream just now?’

 

Since his meal with Soohee, no, even before that, since he saw his resident registration card, Wooyoung had been frequently thinking about Han Wooyoung of this place.

 

They say dreams are streams of consciousness. Was it simply that?

 

But the dream he had just experienced was too vivid to be dismissed so easily.

 

“I guess you like wine?”

 

“No, actually, I haven’t had much alcohol. Wine is what I’ve had the most, but even then, anything too acidic…”

 

Lost in thought about Han Wooyoung, Wooyoung belatedly realized he had said more than he needed to.

 

He reflexively looked up at Tae-uk.

 

The man’s dark gaze was quietly fixed on him.

 

A heavy silence filled the space between them.

 

“Han Wooyoung, you sometimes seem like a well-bred young master.”

 

“…Anyone can easily access wine.”

 

“I wasn’t talking about the wine.”

 

Tae-uk’s eyes crinkled at the corners. His icy expression softened.

 

A stranger might have felt a sense of warmth.

 

But Wooyoung couldn’t bring himself to smile back.

 

He knew how powerful people like Mo Tae-uk lived.

 

Having recently dealt with the trainee issue, Tae-uk would have probably investigated his background first. He wouldn’t want to carry two risks before a major undertaking.

 

The reason Wooyoung was able to sign a contract with ON Entertainment without any issues was probably because there was nothing significantly problematic in his life history.

 

‘Or maybe the problems were taken care of.’

 

Wooyoung still remembered Tae-uk’s words from their first meal together.

 

‘If it were just one or two people, the agency could have easily handled it—’

 

He had been reminding himself to be careful while staying at Tae-uk’s mansion, but today, he had unknowingly let his guard down.

 

Ultimately, Wooyoung chose silence. As always, he hoped Tae-uk wouldn’t ask any difficult questions.

 

“You have a schedule tomorrow, so it’s best to avoid anything too strong.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

As expected, Tae-uk backed off again. He didn’t ask Wooyoung anything further and instead retrieved a bottle of wine from the well-stocked dining room.

 

Feeling strangely drained, Wooyoung watched blankly as the red wine filled the wide-bowled glass.

 

“This one has the lowest acidity and the highest sweetness. I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste, though.”

 

“Thank you for your consideration.”

 

Wooyoung accepted the glass and hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should drink first. Tae-uk raised his glass and gently clinked it against Wooyoung’s.

 

A flicker of surprise crossed Wooyoung’s face.

 

It was his first time “cheers-ing” with someone while drinking. This trivial act made his heart flutter strangely.

 

‘This isn’t good.’

 

Wooyoung carefully brought the glass to his lips.

 

A tangy grape aroma accompanied the sweet taste that swept across his tongue.

 

There was a slight bitterness characteristic of alcohol, but the rich flavor made it hardly noticeable.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

 

Wooyoung immediately brightened and nodded, making Tae-uk smile.

 

“I’m glad.”

 

With his small lips around the wine glass, Wooyoung stole a glance at Tae-uk.

 

In a crisp white shirt and with his hair styled neatly, Tae-uk looked like a shining actor under the lighting.

 

Tae-uk swirled the sweeter-than-usual wine in his mouth and looked at Wooyoung before him.

 

Their eyes met.

 

Under the soft lighting, their eyes reflected the same light.

 

Wooyoung slowly inhaled.

 

Perhaps because of the alcohol, his cheeks felt even hotter.

 

“Did you just get back?”

 

“I had some business at my family home. Did you have dinner?”

 

“Yes, the housekeepers are amazing cooks. I might gain 3 kilograms within a month if I stay here.” 

 

“You could gain a bit more weight, Han Wooyoung.”

 

Manager Park had recently checked Wooyoung’s height and weight and told him not to gain even 1 kilogram. 

 

That had been weighing on his mind, so he only had one serving of dinner today. Hearing Tae-uk say that made him feel a little embarrassed.

 

The cool wine glass and the warm presence of Mo Tae-uk.

 

Quietly savoring the peace of the current reality, Wooyoung hesitantly opened his mouth.

 

“CEO Mo, I got a call from Manager Park today. He said it’s alright for me to move into the dorm early next month.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“Yes. Thank you so much for letting me stay here.”

 

“I think it’s a little early to be thanking me.”

 

Tae-uk put down his wine glass and spoke quietly.

 

“So, please tell me now.”

 

Their gazes locked. Tae-uk’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

Wooyoung’s round eyes, holding a clear, unwavering gaze, looked at Tae-uk.

 

“What can I do for you, CEO Mo?”