SU | Chapter 3.5

As the man scrutinized Yoo Han, the latter also took the opportunity to observe him. Close up, Yoo Han noticed a modest silver piercing on the man’s nose and several long earrings dangling from his ears, making him appear from an entirely different world.

“Are you a client? I can help guide you. Or you can just order a drink…”

Stationed behind the counter with his arms crossed, Yoo Han blurted out anything to ease the awkward tension. The man smiled as he looked at Yoo Han’s large, rolling eyes.

“Uh, just a glass of cold water then.”

The man commanded as if it were the most natural thing, and Yoo Han, feeling somewhat relieved, sat him at a well-visible table. As the man pulled out his phone and started searching for Ji Youngwon’s contact, he sighed heavily after several unanswered rings.

Yoo Han cautiously watched the man’s mood as he poured water into a tall glass and placed it on the table, ensuring a coaster was underneath. The man didn’t bother with a thank you and chugged the water filled with ice. After slamming the glass down, he caught Yoo Han as he was about to return to the counter.

“Where’s Director Ji Youngwon now? I heard from Executive Director Gu that he came in today.”

Clearly, this was no ordinary client. The man’s directness suggested he might be connected with the investigative services.

“I’m not sure, but he went out about five minutes ago.”

“Oh, really? That’s too bad. Missed him.”

The man shrugged and pushed his empty glass forward.

“One more glass.”

Yoo Han refilled the glass and returned to the counter, ignoring the man’s slightly condescending tone.

“What’s your name?”

Yoo Han peeked out to respond.

“Yoo Han.”

“That’s pretty. Can I call you Han-ssi?”

“Yes, feel free to.”

As Yoo Han poured another glass of water, the man popped out a pill from a small tin case and chewed it vigorously. After swallowing the pill, he took a sip of the water Yoo Han had handed him, his head tilting back and his eyelashes fluttering.

Yoo Han hesitated, noting the man’s relaxed demeanor. The man tapped the table with his index finger, signaling Yoo Han to sit across from him.

“Ah… Director Ji won’t pick up, so maybe you can try calling him, Han-ssi?”

“Me?”

“Just tell him President Sung stopped by. He’ll get it.”

President Sung? Yoo Han’s face was a picture of bewilderment. Unable to respond quickly, the man looked at him quizzically.

“What’s up? Is there a problem?”

Yoo Han internally debated whether this man was the same ‘President Sung’ the staff often gossiped about with the director. It occurred to him that there was no hint that President Sung was a woman in any of those mockeries.

‘President Sung? It doesn’t seem like Director Ji’s type.’

‘What does style have to do with it? The guy’s got a killer body, though.’

The man in front of him certainly had the looks and stature of a model. Regaining his composure, Yoo Han shook his head.

“Ah… No, sorry, but I don’t have the director’s number.”

“You don’t know it? And you work here?”

“I’m a temp, actually.”

“If you’re lying, you’ll be in trouble with me.”

The man narrowed his eyes, issuing a veiled threat. Yoo Han spread his hands, earnestly denying it.

“Really, I don’t know. The director is so busy I haven’t had a chance to ask. I usually work with Manager Gu….”

The man seemed satisfied with Yoo Han’s answer and flashed a broad smile.

“Ah, so Director Ji is busy, huh?”

Reluctantly, Yoo Han nodded. It was hard to keep up with the man’s fluctuating tone and energy. He hummed a tune as he texted Ji Youngwon, then leaned back comfortably in his chair.

Yoo Han stayed seated, unsure whether to get up, as the man’s soft hair caught his eye, and snippets of conversation about President Sung echoed in his ears like an auditory hallucination.

‘Busy with President Sung, huh?’

But from the looks of it, meeting the director wasn’t easy for the man either.

After rambling on for a while, the man stood up. The director still hadn’t answered his calls, and the man checked his watch as if pressed for time.

“See you next time, Han-ssi.”

He waved and left the coffee shop. Yoo Han bowed awkwardly. The man had only stayed for about thirty minutes, but it felt as if he had drained Yoo Han’s soul.

While Yoo Han was minding the cafe, Ji Youngwon, who had just returned from a short outing, headed straight to the office on the second floor. As soon as he arrived, Gu Kangsan and the constant team greeted him with a bow.

“What’s up?”

Ji Youngwon asked the bustling Gu Kangsan and the team.

“About the couch you mentioned last time. You said it was too hard, so we tried to find a used one.”

Ji Youngwon stepped aside to watch the team move the couch around. A portable heater got in the way.

“It’s in the way. Take it away.”

“Yes.”

They moved quickly. The old couch, its stuffing sagged to just the frame, was gone, replaced by a used beige one that took over the corner of the office.

“Director, this one really feels different.”

Gu Kangsan chose his words oddly as he bounced on the sofa. Ji Youngwon was too tired to correct him.

“Guess the rat’s happy with its new bed?”

Someone snickered.

“Stop messing around and bring the backlog of reports.”

Gu Kangsan and the constant team hurriedly got up from the sofa.

Ji Youngwon’s meeting dragged on for about two hours. Rubbing his tired eyes, he started to leave but paused when he noticed a black bag rolling next to a stack of takeout food. It seemed to have swollen quite a bit.

“……”

Ji Youngwon glanced at Yoo Han’s bag for a moment before looking away.

***

Returning to his bedroom, Ji Youngwon tousled his wet hair with a towel. Donning a robe, he sat at the edge of his bed and habitually picked up the remote control. The wall-mounted TV filled with the view from the CCTV footage. Ever since the stalker incident involving Yoo Han, Ji Youngwon had become more vigilant in monitoring him.

Over twenty feeds displayed in a grid, the building’s darkened interior was pitch-black, except for a few brightly lit ones at the left end. There, Yoo Han could be seen curled up on a sofa, apparently asleep with the desk lamp still on, his deep slumber clearly visible on the screen.

“He doesn’t care about wasting electricity, does he?”

Ji Youngwon muttered as he watched Yoo Han for a while. Yoo Han, curled up as if dead, soon turned over. He jerked his shoulders violently and suddenly rubbed his hands together as if swatting flies. Sensing something off, Ji Youngwon’s eyes narrowed sharply.

It was well past one in the morning. After a moment of clucking his tongue, Ji Youngwon rose, changed his clothes, and made his way to the second floor. The screeching of the office doorknob echoed down the hallway as he opened the door.

“Hey.”

Ji Youngwon, hands in his tracksuit pockets, strode over to where Yoo Han lay. Expecting Yoo Han to wag his tail like a happy puppy, he found him instead silent and still, curled up on the sofa. Yoo Han was gasping for breath, unable to even open his eyes.

“This kid, wasting electricity and—”

Ji Youngwon started to speak but paused. He walked around the sofa to face Yoo Han, casually kicking aside a glass table and crouching in front of the sofa. The office was chilly enough to see his breath.

“Hey, rat.”

Though he had come with the excuse to scold Yoo Han for the electricity, it was clear that Yoo Han’s condition was far from normal. Yoo Han was groaning, sweating coldly, and from his breath came the heat and the sickly sweet smell of illness. His cheeks were flushed pink as if touched by paint. Ji Youngwon then pressed the back of his hand against Yoo Han’s forehead. He was burning up.

Shaking his head, Ji Youngwon stood up, reached into his pocket for his phone to call Gu Kangsan, then paused, noticing the heat touching his thigh. Yoo Han, as if driven by instinct, had grabbed his pants tightly. His lips parted as if to speak but then closed again.

“Are you awake?”

As Ji Youngwon asked, the strength left Yoo Han’s hand. His thin, branch-like hand dropped powerlessly to the floor. Ji Youngwon sighed heavily.

“Damn… Always something with you.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ji Youngwon effortlessly carried Yoo Han up to the fifth floor. The motion-sensor CCTV flickered as they entered Ji Youngwon’s penthouse, which was decorated like a royal suite. Clinging desperately to Ji Youngwon’s neck, Yoo Han moaned as the heat from his body made Ji Youngwon’s skin flush.

“Damn…”

Ji Youngwon cursed at his own inappropriate actions as he walked across the marble floor to his bedroom. Apart from housekeepers and occasional overnight guests, no one else was allowed in his private space. With no guest rooms equipped with beds, Ji Youngwon had no choice but to bring the “rat” into his personal domain.

He passed through a corridor that resembled an art gallery and entered his open-plan bedroom, dropping Yoo Han onto the bed. He brushed back his fallen hair, still feeling the breeze he had whipped up around his neck.

Yoo Han’s clothes were pitiful— a long-sleeve striped t-shirt inadequate for the winter, and grey sweatpants that were baggy at the knees.

Ji Youngwon fetched emergency medicine from his study. Returning with antipyretics, water, and a wet towel, he settled on a stool next to the bed and placed the towel on Yoo Han’s feverish forehead.

“Stay still and lie down properly.”

Yoo Han swallowed dryly and shook his head, his actions childishly petulant. The towel slipped off to the side of the pillow.

“Want a smack?”

Ji Youngwon swallowed his irritation and smacked Yoo Han’s forehead lightly.

“Uh.”

Yoo Han let out a cracked moan and seemed to come to his senses, fluttering his eyelashes. His barely open eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

Ji Youngwon sighed and spread the towel from Yoo Han’s forehead to the back of his head. The damp towel made the back of his head and the pillow wet.

“If you’re awake, take your medicine.”

He handed over the antipyretics and water left on the nightstand. Yoo Han barely managed to part his lips, too weak to respond. Losing patience, Ji Youngwon forcibly sat him up, grabbed his cheeks, and forced his mouth open. The dizzying motion made Yoo Han gag.

“Huh?”

Pills and water entered Yoo Han’s mouth.

“…Guh.”

It was agony. His throat was so swollen he could barely swallow, and someone kept shaking his head roughly. After finally swallowing the pill, Yoo Han gasped for air.

Ji Youngwon let go of his cheeks and dropped his hands. Yoo Han coughed and collapsed back onto the bed. Confirming Yoo Han was lying down, Ji Youngwon quickly replaced the lukewarm towel on his forehead.

“What the hell are you doing, flailing about in the office like this?”