IWDAR Chapter 28

“What can I do for you, CEO?” 

 

Wooyoung’s voice was calm, as always. Han Wooyoung’s voice had the power to draw attention, even without saying anything special. 

 

One might simply feel it was an innate quality, but Tae-uk didn’t think that was all there was to it. 

 

The reason why every word Wooyoung uttered sounded so gentle was…

 

“Have I been a burden to you, Han Wooyoung?”

 

“No.”

 

Perhaps it would have been better if Tae-uk had truly been a burden. During his stay at Tae-uk’s house, Wooyoung had only eaten three full meals a day and rested. 

 

That was all. 

 

He occasionally went to On Entertainment for contract matters or visited the hospital, but he always received Do-hoon’s help. 

 

Tae-uk cited Wooyoung’s recent removal of his cast as the reason for his overprotectiveness. It meant that Wooyoung would be moving his body a lot in the future, and now that his muscles were still weak, it was the time he needed to be most careful.

 

“If I haven’t been a burden, I don’t know why you’re suddenly saying this.”

 

“I know there’s another reason why you’re letting me stay here.”

 

“…” 

 

Tae-uk’s jet-black eyes keenly observed Wooyoung. It was a well-honed gaze, like a predator lurking in the darkness, watching its prey. 

 

An ordinary person would have been terrified, but Wooyoung was just calm. Han Wooyoung was always like that. 

 

He feigned this innocent attitude, creating a small opening, and eventually dug his way into Tae-uk’s heart. 

 

It was a love that was utterly insignificant. He would shake Tae-uk to his core like that, and then when he should be most afraid, he acted like a human whose emotions had been severed. As if he had become a machine that felt nothing.

 

“Why do you think so?”

 

“Because everything you’ve shown me and given me has already far exceeded the scope of simple kindness and generosity.”

 

Tae-uk let out a sarcastic laugh and slowly stroked the wine glass, sparkling like starlight under the light. There was a blatant provocation in the large fingertips of the man wrapped around the slender wine glass.

 

“It’s not easy to give you anything, Han Wooyoung.”

 

“I think I’ve already received all I can receive.”

 

“If you’re simply referring to the act of receiving, then yes, your answer isn’t wrong.”

 

Rolling the flavor of the wine over his tongue, Tae-uk observed Wooyoung. 

 

Being in the entertainment business, he encountered small and young things to the point of being sick of it. Most kids were simple, and no matter how cleverly they tried to act, they were just kids. 

 

Sharp wit, an extraordinary mind, outstanding talent. All of that meant nothing in front of Mo Tae-uk. It would have been the same for the small, young thing in front of him, but…

 

“It could also be that I simply want to put everything, even the smallest things, into your hands.”

 

“But you’re a businessman.”

 

A person who entered the business world and made a brand this successful never lost money. Even if it was just a kid’s pocket money.

 

Noblesse oblige? 

 

That was just something outdated philanthropists and fools babbled about. Tae-uk, who had placed the empty glass on the bar table, slowly raised the corners of his lips. It was a smile full of violent charm.

 

“What if I said I was interested in you, Han Wooyoung?”

 

“…”

 

“‘If I say I’m interested in you, Han Wooyoung, doesn’t that explain everything?’

 

Wooyoung’s eyelids blinked slowly.

 

He had a habit of fluttering his eyelids slowly like this when he was deep in thought.

 

It was a habit of Wooyoung’s that only Tae-uk could notice, having seen his face several times already.

 

He was thinking that the light filtering into his eyes and the eyelashes covering them were quite beautiful when…

 

“Is it simply interest in an agency trainee?”

 

“If I were to say it’s more than that, would you believe me?”

 

“No…” 

 

At Wooyoung’s firm and resolute answer, Tae-uk’s lips hardened.

 

“That can’t be true.” 

 

Wooyoung gazed at Tae-uk with calm eyes.

 

“I know very well that that can’t be true, CEO.”

 

Not even the slightest bit of hopeful anticipation could be felt from Wooyoung. A chilling coldness that choked his breath rose over Tae-uk’s face. 

 

Wooyoung, who had been moving his lips, slightly lowered his head to avoid Tae-uk’s gaze. 

 

Tae-uk’s eyes sank even darker.

 

“So, before I leave this place, please let me know exactly what you want.”

 

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈•  ｡ﾟ

 

“Good morning.”

 

“Mr. Choi.” 

 

Do-hoon had come to work separately from Tae-uk today, as he had an outside schedule early in the morning. 

 

He gave a light greeting to the secretary in front of the CEO’s office, whom he had stopped by to see for a report, but the response he received was far from welcoming.

 

At the secretary’s somehow stiff expression, Do-hoon asked with a hardened face,

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“The CEO doesn’t seem to be in a good mood today.”

 

Do-hoon raised both eyebrows.

 

“The CEO is always in a low mood.” 

 

He’d been in a slightly better mood lately.

 

Until the contract with Han Wooyoung, the overall atmosphere within the company, including the executives, had been unsettling. 

 

The product they had worked so hard on had almost been scrapped. That didn’t mean that Mo Tae-uk looked particularly happy before the issue exploded… 

 

Anyway, the default emotion that made up Mo Tae-uk was close to nothingness.

And a slightly more unpleasant emotion added to that nothingness was the usual Mo Tae-uk.

 

Do-hoon sometimes wondered if his boss didn’t know emotions like love, happiness, or enjoyment at all.

 

‘Of course, the absurd situation he’s in is a big reason for that.’

 

“It’s okay, so don’t worry too much and do your work.” 

 

At Do-hoon’s nonchalant reaction, the secretary closed his mouth. The words he couldn’t bring himself to say disappeared without a trace between the tightly closed doors.

 

‘Oh, dear.’

 

Upon entering the CEO’s office and facing Tae-uk, Do-hoon understood why the secretary had given him that unnecessary heads-up.

 

“…Good morning, sir.”

 

“How’s the lease going?”

 

“Yes, it seems to be proceeding without any issue.”

 

Recently, On Entertainment had been planning to relocate its office as its size had grown through mergers with several other agencies. 

 

Due to the scale of the move, the tax implications were significant, so they decided to lease rather than build a new building or purchase one. 

 

The current On Entertainment building was personally owned by Tae-uk, and the remodeling before the relocation was also intended to further increase the building’s value. 

 

It would take a considerable amount of time before the move, but they had been racking their brains for a while because they couldn’t find a decent site, so this was positive news. He had expected Tae-uk to be somewhat pleased, but his expectations were completely off.

 

“And they say they plan to release news about the next group to the media sometime this month. From then on, we plan to focus on intensive monitoring of online communities and social media―”

 

“When you give a report, state the exact date. If you say sometime this month, how am I supposed to know?”

 

“It’s the third Friday of this month, sir. I apologize.” 

 

Do-hoon, realizing his mistake, immediately apologized. 

 

Tae-uk preferred things to be quick and certain, apologies or otherwise.

 

Mo Tae-uk wasn’t the type whose mood dictated his behavior. 

 

He wasn’t the style to throw tantrums or raise his voice when things didn’t go his way.

 

Rather, at times like that, he tended to be more reserved than usual or keep his distance from others, so the employees only had to be moderately mindful and then they could just go home after work. 

 

Today wasn’t much different, but the atmosphere surrounding Mo Tae-uk was too eerie. Even someone who didn’t know him would feel suffocated by the pressure he exuded and would instinctively avoid him…

 

“It’s almost lunchtime now. How should I prepare your meal?”

 

“Let’s go out.”

 

“Yes, I understand.” 

 

Tae-uk, aware that his secretaries were currently watching his every move, deliberately chose to leave his office.

 

He knew they would have a more peaceful lunch hour if he wasn’t there at all.

 

Do-hoon, who had made a reservation at a nearby Chinese restaurant they frequented, left the building with Tae-uk. Then, Do-hoon’s phone rang.

 

Mr. Do-hoon, thank you for telling the driver.

Thanks to you, I arrived safely. ^^

It’s almost lunchtime, I hope you have a delicious meal.

 

It was a message from Wooyoung. 

 

Wooyoung, who had received his phone from Tae-uk, often sent thank-you messages like this to Do-hoon. 

 

Since Wooyoung had said he was going to the agency building alone today, it seemed he had noticed that Do-hoon had given the driver special instructions. 

 

Normally, Do-hoon would have taken Wooyoung to the agency building himself, but today he couldn’t because of the lease issue. Do-hoon, whose lips curved into a gentle smile, spoke to Tae-uk before starting the car.

 

“CEO, Wooyoung seems to have just arrived at the building. How about having lunch together?”

 

Tae-uk, who had been closing his eyes nonchalantly, slowly opened his eyelids.