NB | Chapter 8

The fougère scent from the man tickled Woohyun’s nasal passages as usual, but the alpha pheromones were completely absent.

“You should guide me.”

“Oh, right. Yes.”

Caught off guard, Woohyun answered dumbly. As he turned his foot, still a bit dazed, the man added while standing still.

“I want to drink quietly today.”

It seemed he wanted to be shown to a room. Woohyun glanced over the man’s shoulder, specifically outside the glass entrance door, but there were only passersby, no one coming in.

“Are you with someone?”

“I came alone.”

He smiled broadly, asking for a room despite being alone. Determined not to fall for his charm, Woohyun spoke firmly.

“Rooms are for groups of five or more…”

But then he caught the eye of the owner standing by the kitchen entrance, shaking his head desperately as if knowing what Woohyun was about to say.

“…but I’ll make an exception and show you to a room.”

It wasn’t charm; it was capitalism.

The two walked across the hall, maintaining a slight distance, heading to the corridor leading to the rooms. Woohyun felt Kang Jiwon following silently behind.

Unlike the modern atmosphere of the hall, with its dim lighting and monochrome interior, the room was furnished with antique furniture, emphasizing a classic feel.

Woohyun glanced at the man settling into the comfortable sofa. He knew the modern, sophisticated look suited him, but now he seemed more like a classic beauty.

Jiwon murmured, still focused on the menu booklet.

“I want to meet Seo Woohyun, but I keep meeting Seo Deokbae.”

“For ‘every time’…”

We haven’t met that often.

He was about to retort but wisely kept his mouth shut. Even to him, it felt more like a complaint than a correction. With no response, Jiwon smiled, still looking at the booklet.

“I told Director Lee you were missed, and now you’re making me feel the same. I didn’t think Seo Woohyun was like that, but you seem to know how to make people anxious.”

The thick pages turned smoothly under Jiwon’s fingers. Woohyun, standing at ease, couldn’t help but clear his throat awkwardly.

“Why? I’m talking to Seo Woohyun, not Seo Deokbae. Do you have something to hide?”

“Do people often say you leave them speechless?”

“Sorry, but it’s the first time.”

Truly shameless behavior.

Jiwon closed the booklet with a sound. Woohyun thought he could finally take the order and leave, but Jiwon spoke again.

“When do you get off work?”

“Tell me what it’s about first, and I’ll let you know.”

“You must have something to say to me.”

At that, Woohyun became acutely aware of the business card tucked inside his phone case in his uniform pocket. It seemed he had heard from Director Lee about the camera test.

It was understandable if he felt slighted. After all, Woohyun had claimed to have lost Director Lee’s card but then contacted him first.

Woohyun avoided the piercing gaze by bowing his head slightly.

“…I’ll be back during my break soon.”

˚˚˚

While the side dishes were being prepared, Woohyun went to the storage to find the wine Jiwon had kept. He polished the already spotless glass again before placing it on the tray.

Seo Woohyun hadn’t contacted Kang Jiwon first on purpose. He judged that depending on its use, Kang Jiwon’s card could be anything from a mere piece of paper to a powerful joker card.

The man had said it was up to him. Those words made Woohyun cunning. A lottery guaranteed to win whenever scratched could become a wish card depending on how it was used.

Therefore, wishing for an immediate exclusive contract was foolish. The fact that Kang Jiwon had come to meet him proved it.

However, he couldn’t hide the fact that he had interpreted the card to his advantage. He didn’t think he could deceive Jiwon with lies. So the only way was to be straightforward.

A moment later, Woohyun entered the room Jiwon occupied alone and closed the door. The first thing he felt was a gaze sweeping over his chest. The name tag Jiwon seemed to be looking for was in his pocket. He still felt confident he understood Kang Jiwon’s intentions.

“Want to sit?”

“I’ll stand.”

“Alright, then.”

A sudden silence fell. Woohyun watched Jiwon wet his lips with red wine before speaking softly.

“I met with Director Lee at the production company a few days ago.”

“Sounds like a confession of an affair. Go on.”

“…I called the director first because I was going to throw it away, but meeting you changed my mind.”

Woohyun rummaged in his pocket. He had brought something from his bag before entering the room as evidence. The crumpled business card from Director Lee Byungho looked like paper trash to anyone else.

“You said your card was a lottery limited to me. You didn’t set a usage deadline. So I thought I had two chances. I figured I needed a solid foundation to survive in this industry.”

In short, he had interpreted the abstract conditions to his advantage. This kid’s bold. Jiwon laughed aloud, realizing his mistake.

“I thought I’d be your lifeline, but it turns out I was your foundation.”

“I’m sorry if it upset you. I figured since you intended to sign an exclusive contract with me, wasting the opportunity of your card like that wasn’t the best way.”

It was clear from Woohyun’s eyes that he was confessing the truth without any impurities.

“You’re so honest it’s surprising.”

Jiwon felt a rare sensation of his head tingling. It was an answer far from his expectations.

What should he call this feeling? It was like poking out of curiosity and getting pricked instead. He hadn’t ruled out the possibility that lying was Woohyun’s specialty, but his complacency was mostly to blame. However, it also proved that his judgment wasn’t wrong.

He knows how to think, seems to act well, and most importantly, has the resilience to say what he needs to without being intimidated.

Jiwon thoroughly scanned Woohyun’s entire body. Having long discarded any sense of shame, he had no qualms about his gaze exploring every inch.

His neck was thin and straight, but his Adam’s apple protruded ruggedly. His body was lean, with little fat, yet his broad shoulders made his muscles appear quite impressive when he moved.

It was hard to determine if the lines that made him up were thick or thin, and his face was the same.

With a blank expression, he seemed like a worldly adult, but a slight smile made him look so innocent. He seemed both boyish and youthful, and the mysterious beauty blurred reason.

Woohyun certainly had a captivating presence.

“Good. I’m curious to see how you’ll use me.”

The easy approval came. It was a smooth response, devoid of any personal feelings, but Woohyun instinctively felt itchy, wanting to scratch his arms and neck where Jiwon’s gaze had lingered.

Every time they met, this man had a moment of intensely observing him. Just a moment ago was one of those times. Even though it was just a gaze, it felt sticky and persistent, as if it were touching him. He thought he had assessed his value, but maybe not.

As he brushed his cheek with a dry palm, Jiwon spoke.

“I saw the camera test video.”

Woohyun clicked his tongue inwardly. He had no idea how the video ended up in Jiwon’s hands. It seemed unlikely that Director Lee had handed it over, as he had seriously advised him about the exclusive contract, and Jiwon didn’t seem like someone who would extort it.

Most likely, it was due to Director Lee Byungho’s loose lips.

Woohyun watched Jiwon refill his glass and asked.

“What did you think?”

“You follow directions well.”

The unexpected answer made Woohyun let out a dumbfounded sound. Even his mom had never said he was obedient.