TL | Chapter 19 | Scout

Even though work hours had already started, Iden seemed relaxed. Seowon, who was about to ask if he wasn’t going to work, checked his phone screen and realized it was Saturday.

“Are you staying home all day?”

Iden, who was sitting in the living room looking at his tablet, looked up at Seowon’s question. He didn’t reply but instead looked at him quietly and lifted the corner of his mouth in a small smile.

“What’s with that reaction?”

“Because it’s amusing.”

Not understanding what he found amusing, Seowon frowned, making his smile soften even more.

“Is there a reason you switch your tone when we’re home? You’re so formal outside but casual here.”

At his remark, Seowon swallowed a groan. Sure, calling him Director outside was his way of keeping some distance, but it wasn’t something he was entirely comfortable with. Yet, he avoided speaking formally to him at home for a good reason.

If I call him Director at home, he’ll definitely get mad.

Outside, whenever he addressed him formally, his eyebrows would twitch, though he’d hold back, likely for the sake of appearances in front of others. If he tried to keep that distance even at home, it would only provoke him more.

Seowon was starting to figure out that Iden’s personality here was a little different from what he’d known, and he was learning how to manage it. At home, it was better to take a lighter tone to avoid riling him up.

He had no intention of explaining his thoughts, so he just kept silent. After watching him quietly, Iden let out a shallow sigh and shook his head. He was also getting used to his current demeanor, knowing by now that once he went silent, no amount of prodding would make him respond.

“In about ten minutes, I’ll be heading out for a bit.”

“Then, I’ll get ready to go with you…”

“No, you stay home.”

Iden refused his offer to accompany him.

“It’s not the kind of place that needs protection.”

He even drew a clear line, stating it wasn’t relevant to Seowon’s “security duties.”

“I’m just meeting an old friend, so no need to worry.”

Meeting a friend made it harder to insist on going with him. With all the people in the Luciano building, there was no choice, but there was no need to announce that Ha Seowon was alive to his private friends.

“Who is it?”

He was still curious about who he was meeting.

“Would you know them if I told you?”

His expression hardened at his question. There wasn’t anyone close to Iden that he didn’t know, but in this world, who could say? There might be people associated with Luciano whom he didn’t know.

“A high school friend.”

Watching his stiff expression, he added a casual explanation.

“You had friends from high school you stayed in touch with?”

He was surprised, as he’d heard he went to the United States during his first year of high school, ten years ago.

“I do have a few.”

Iden answered lightly and stood up.

“Kang Ijun. He was my closest friend before I left for the U.S.”

“Oh…”

It was a name Seowon recognized. Kang Ijun was Iden’s childhood friend, someone he would sometimes have drinks with.

“Looks like you know him.”

Iden observed his expression. Every time he dropped some new detail about this place, he’d watch Seowon’s reaction closely. He understood that he was looking for differences between the current Seowon and his past lover, Ha Seowon.

“Want to come with me?”

Since he recognized the name, he offered to let him join, but he shook his head. It felt wrong to run into someone familiar here.

“It won’t take long. Two hours, maybe?”

Iden checked his watch to estimate the time he’d be back.

“Go on. I’ll find something to do while you’re out.”

Iden’s eyes narrowed briefly at his response, but they returned to normal before he noticed.

Once Iden left, Seowon sat quietly for about five minutes, then checked the view outside one more time. He went to the walk-in closet in the bedroom and changed clothes. Considering his two-hour estimate, he’d have enough time to go out and back.

He had seen a bike parked in the garage. When he checked the key holder above the shoe cabinet, he found the bike key right there. It didn’t seem like the heir to Luciano would be riding around on a bike, so it was probably Ha Seowon’s.

Seowon hadn’t owned a bike before, though he’d often thought about getting one if he had the chance. Iden had opposed it, calling it dangerous, so he kept postponing it. But since Luciano’s Iden did far more dangerous things than riding a bike, there was no point in arguing, and money was hardly an issue here. So if Ha Seowon had wanted a bike, it was likely Iden would have bought him one without hesitation. Testing this theory, he put on the helmet on the bike, and it fit perfectly.

At the café, Jian frowned as she saw the “Closed” sign on the door. Normally, she would have left, but this time she didn’t hesitate, opening the door and stepping inside. Sure enough, Iden was sitting alone inside the empty café.

This felt familiar.

“Isn’t this place closed? Are we in the right place?” He had once asked over the phone, and Seowon had awkwardly laughed, telling him to just come in anyway. Confused but following instructions, he’d walked in to find Seowon and Iden waving him over.

But today, it was only Iden, and he could guess why he’d come, especially since he’d run into Seowon just yesterday.

“We met at the funeral, so it hasn’t been too long,” she greeted, sitting across from him with a prickly tone. Thinking about how they’d even staged a funeral for someone still alive made her like him even less.

Iden didn’t react to her gruff words.

“Let’s keep this brief. I don’t want to sit with you too long.”

At that, Iden gave a faint smile. He slowly took a sip of the coffee he’d ordered beforehand and looked at her again.

“We might end up seeing each other more often.”

Jian’s brow furrowed. What was he talking about?

“I’m here to scout you, Choi Jian.”

“Scout me?”

Her voice went up, sounding incredulous. She had a vague idea of what the Luciano company did, which was one reason she wasn’t thrilled about Seowon being involved with them.

“I need someone to help Seowon.”

The mention of Seowon’s name made her pause.

“You met him yesterday, right?”

Of course, Iden already knew Seowon had met with her yesterday.

“As you know, his position is a bit tricky right now.”

“For someone who made it tricky, you sure talk like it’s not your fault.”

Iden didn’t argue, though she was clearly blaming him.

“He’s technically deceased, so certain things can be inconvenient. Like yesterday.”

Yesterday. That word made Jian’s face harden.

“Could you get me a heat cycle suppressant?”

Seowon had directly asked her for help with that yesterday.

“Why? You don’t even need it, do you?”

For years now, Seowon hadn’t needed a suppressant. He only used it if Iden couldn’t make it back from the U.S. during his heat cycle. And since college, he had mostly stayed in the U.S. with Iden, so it hadn’t been an issue. Iden couldn’t bear the thought of Seowon enduring his heat cycle without him.

Although having a Marked Partner around was the best method, Jian always thought Iden was excessively controlling about Seowon’s heat cycle.

“That guy wouldn’t leave you alone anyway.”

But Seowon had looked troubled by her words. He hadn’t pressed, but it was clear they had issues if he was looking for a suppressant rather than relying on Iden. She’d just agreed to help without further questions, telling him she’d contact him once she got the medication.

And now, a day later, Iden was here, bringing it up. Judging from Seowon’s reaction yesterday, it didn’t seem like he would have told Iden directly. Was Iden testing her?

“You can only sneak out so many doses of suppressant before you run into trouble, Choi Jian.”

Iden’s direct mention of the suppressant left no room for doubt. Whether Seowon had said anything or not, he was already sure.

“Seowon’s the one in trouble, not me. And he’s in that situation because of you.”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. If not for Iden, Seowon wouldn’t have to come to her for the suppressant.

“Which is why I’m taking responsibility.”

Iden responded with a bright smile. It was unnecessarily handsome, but it didn’t work on Jian.

“He needs someone who can manufacture it whenever he needs it. You’re perfect for the job.”

“I’m not a pharmacist.”

“No, but you are the chief researcher at the biggest pharmaceutical company here.”

Meaning she was fully capable of making the suppressant. She couldn’t argue with that.

“I’ll take care of everything necessary, so it won’t be troublesome for you. And the pay will be three times your current salary.”

Iden continued with an easy confidence, as though this was a win-win situation. And it was, except for the fact that Luciano’s company was a mafia organization.