SB Ch 11

It seemed he had gone ahead and made a reservation. He was thorough like that. Following the polite staff member, Seo Haeyoon walked into the restaurant.

He was led to a table by the window overlooking a small, understated garden that had a certain charm. Chae Beomjoon arrived just as Haeyoon was sipping warm tea and reading the menu for the fifth time.

Through the window, Haeyoon spotted him crossing the garden. He was dressed in a flawless three-piece suit, no different from last time. Despite the heat, there wasn’t a single drop of sweat on him. He looked as though he was born to wear suits, his style immaculate.

While on a phone call, Chae Beomjoon noticed Haeyoon inside the restaurant and stopped in his tracks. Smiling faintly, he approached and tapped the glass right where Haeyoon’s lips were, chuckling.

What’s that about?

When Haeyoon frowned and looked up, Beomjoon burst out laughing. His softly curved eyes were irresistibly seductive, and his handsome face was a feast for the eyes.

Resting his chin in his hand, Seo Haeyoon openly stared at the man standing in front of him, still on the phone. Beomjoon’s perfectly shaped lips moved as he spoke into the phone, his expression surprisingly serious, completely unfazed by Haeyoon’s gaze.

Did I make him come earlier than he could manage? Haeyoon frowned, glancing at the man he had asked to meet two and a half hours ahead of schedule.

Suddenly, Beomjoon leaned forward and exhaled onto the glass, fogging it up. Then, with a light stroke of his finger, he began drawing.

• ɞ•

What is that?

When Haeyoon continued to stare, Beomjoon added a squiggly line beside it, resembling a worm. That’s when Haeyoon realized it was supposed to be a chick, or some kind of baby bird, and his jaw dropped. It was a picture completely at odds with a man standing at nearly 190 cm tall.

Seriously…

It was so absurd he couldn’t help but laugh. Only after a smile crept onto Haeyoon’s lips did Beomjoon finally leave the window. Haeyoon stared at the fading drawing until his eyes shifted back to the seat across from him, now occupied.

“Did you skip lunch because of work?”

He had mentioned wanting sex over the phone, not food. But here they were, at a restaurant. Haeyoon’s question hinted at his curiosity, but Beomjoon only smiled in response. Pouring tea into his cup, Beomjoon took a slow sip before replying.

“I figured if I fed you well, you’d last longer.”

It was a welcome remark. Implied in his words was the promise of a longer-lasting relationship, which made Haeyoon glance sharply at him. Beomjoon, however, was now focused on the menu, lowering his gaze. Confirming that Haeyoon hadn’t ordered anything, he rotated the menu for him to read more easily.

“I booked this place in a hurry; it was all I could find. Do you like halal food? If not, I can explain the menu.”

“It’s fine. I like this stuff.”

Beomjoon didn’t know Haeyoon had lived in New York. The two had never really talked about their personal lives. All Haeyoon knew about Beomjoon’s workplace was information hastily blurted out in the hotel lobby, which he had overheard from Ahn Yewon.

This time was no different. Watching Haeyoon choose a platter without explanation, Beomjoon seemed momentarily surprised but nodded without further questions.

“Did you just get off work?”

“Yeah.”

As they waited for their food, light conversation filled the air. Every time Haeyoon spoke, Beomjoon observed him quietly, as though studying him.

Haeyoon didn’t sit still either, his gaze roving over Beomjoon. At some point, their eyes met in midair, but the glance quickly turned into a smoldering stare that swept across Haeyoon’s face. Feeling the weight of Beomjoon’s gaze lingering on his lips, Haeyoon deliberately wetted his lower lip before locking eyes with him again. Watching Beomjoon’s deeply suggestive gaze, Haeyoon thought for a moment about skipping the meal and heading straight to bed. Then a sudden question struck him.

“Are we going to a hotel today too?”

“No, we’re going to my place.”

“Okay.”

As expected. It made sense to transition to visiting his place regularly. Hotels were not only expensive but also inconvenient, with the need to coordinate check-out times.

If Beomjoon was opening his home, Haeyoon would eventually have to do the same. But he wasn’t particularly concerned. Apart from the fact that Beomjoon exuded a certain kind of temptation every time they met, he didn’t seem like a dangerous person. In fact, Haeyoon had almost forgotten that Beomjoon was the right-hand man of some crime boss.

After a light meal, they headed to the parking lot. Beomjoon gave Haeyoon an almost knowing look as he climbed into his bright yellow SUV, then got into the sedan parked beside him. Haeyoon was briefly surprised to see it was a Bentley but figured he was likely borrowing the car from his employer. Entering the address Beomjoon had sent into the GPS, Haeyoon followed along.

“What the…?”

The destination turned out to be a neighborhood Haeyoon knew very well. Passing Seoul Forest on his left, he caught a glimpse of his own home and realized something surprising: Chae Beomjoon lived in the same neighborhood as him.

They had more in common than he initially thought—both enjoyed halal food, loved sex without a fondness for romantic relationships, and lived in the same neighborhood. On top of that, they even shared similar tastes in books. Though his earlier encounter with Chae Beomjoon holding a book upside-down was comical, the worn edges of the book revealed it had been thoroughly read. That detail spoke volumes about how often the man had revisited its pages.

Adding it all up, the situation felt promising. Their relationship seemed destined to continue in a delightfully straightforward and casual manner, and Seo Haeyoon couldn’t deny he was looking forward to that.

🔮🌙

Instead of taking the private elevator, Chae Beomjoon led Seo Haeyoon toward the general elevators located on the opposite side of the parking lot.

The place where Chae Beomjoon brought his sexual partners wasn’t his actual residence on the 42nd-floor penthouse but a second apartment on the 38th floor. While not as grand, the 38th floor was still a large unit, almost 50 pyeong, complete with a bedroom, dressing room, and study. It was also stocked with items he rarely used, like a piano, tea utensils, and an array of cooking equipment.

Though Chae Beomjoon usually relied on deliveries from a high-end catering service or ate out, he preferred to personally prepare meals when seducing someone. From the moment they stepped inside until they found their way to the bedroom, everything had to be impeccable.

But today, with nothing prepped, he’d opted to meet Seo Haeyoon at a restaurant. His packed schedule had left his fridge empty.

Next time, I’ll invite him straight to the 38th floor, he mused, already considering asking Haeyoon about his favorite dishes.

“Haeyoon,” he called out.

“Yeah?”

“Watch closely.”

Gesturing for him to look at the keypad, Chae Beomjoon placed his palm on the scanner to activate the door lock, then entered a code: 1004*. The door unlocked.

The simplicity of the code made Seo Haeyoon glance at him with an expression that practically screamed, Seriously?

“Are you just inviting someone to rob you? Do you even own anything worth stealing?”

“There’s quite a bit of alcohol. Do you like wine?”

“I do.”

“Tell me what you like, and I’ll make sure it’s stocked.”

Stepping inside, they took off their shoes. Chae Beomjoon placed a pair of house slippers by the hallway for Seo Haeyoon and turned on the lights in the living room.

The sun hadn’t set yet, and the shimmering reflections on the Han River stretched out beautifully below them. It was a rare sight—one Chae Beomjoon seldom got to enjoy due to his usual late working hours.

But today was different. His schedule had ended early, thanks to a trip to the basement level where the operations team’s headquarters were located. It was a place he disliked visiting, and Shin Kyoyeon, knowing that, had wrapped up their business early as a courtesy.

“Do you live alone?”

“Were you expecting kids to greet you?”

“With you, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had two running around.”

Seo Haeyoon’s teasing remark brought a quiet chuckle from Chae Beomjoon. It wasn’t entirely misplaced, though. He had undergone a vasectomy as soon as he reached adulthood—a decision he made after objectively acknowledging that he wasn’t the kind of person who could shoulder the responsibility of parenthood.

A playful man, indeed. That’s true, he murmured in vague agreement while shrugging off his jacket and heading to the fridge.

Although they had already eaten outside, he could still serve a sweet drink. Luckily, there were some dried fruits and cheeses left over.

“Do you prefer dry wine?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

“Then I’ll pick something I like.”

“Sure thing, Mister.”

Grinning playfully, Haeyoon gestured toward the hallway. “Can I look around?” he asked.

Chae Beomjoon nodded. Watching Haeyoon’s tall, lean figure saunter away, he turned back to wash his hands at the sink. Then he pulled out dried apricots and cream cheese.

With a small chef’s knife, he halved the flat, round apricots, gently prying open their moist centers. Using a butter knife, he carefully layered cream cheese in the middle. Once plated, the glossy orange apricots resembled flower petals, with the smooth cream cheese forming delicate petals in the center.

The arrangement was beautiful enough to make anyone pause and admire it.

Satisfied, he placed the appetizer on a plate he rarely used, then retrieved osmanthus jam from the fridge. Picking out fragrant petals, he dabbed a few drops of jam here and there for added color and aroma, creating a dish that could have easily come from a high-end restaurant.

“Mister!”

Just as he was admiring the finished product, Seo Haeyoon’s voice called out from the end of the hallway.

Without responding, Chae Beomjoon washed his hands again and reached for a wooden tray. Placing the appetizer plate on it, he retrieved a bottle of Tokaji Aszú from the wine cellar.

It was a wine often chosen not as an aperitif but as a prelude to sex. Tokaji Aszú, a botrytized wine made by fermenting grapes infected with noble rot, hailed from Hungary and was characterized by an aroma and flavor so sweet it felt more like syrup than wine.

The mere scent of it left a lingering sweetness in the mouth. Humming a tune, he uncorked the bottle and nestled it into an ice bucket. Just as he reached for two glasses, a voice called out from afar.

“Beomjoon-ah!”

In his pleasantly clear tone, Seo Haeyoon called out his name, urging him to hurry over. Beomjoon-ah. From the very first time he’d heard it, the nickname had struck him as absurd. Yet, coming from this man, it felt oddly fitting, as if it couldn’t be any other way.

It was audacious and sexy, no less. Watching those full lips form the words “Beomjoon-ah” gave off the impression that they were silently asking for a kiss.

Wait. He answered internally, taking his time as he opened the cabinet. Surveying the variety of wine glasses, he selected a set with delicate gold rims. But just as he lifted them out—

“Grandpa!”

“…Ha.”

Chae Beomjoon’s mouth fell open in disbelief. With an incredulous expression, he glanced toward the hallway and then shook his head, picking up the tray with both hands. His leisurely pace quickened. Unable to suppress his exasperation, he made his way to the open door at the end of the hall.

“You called me ‘Dad’ a few days ago, and now I’m ‘Grandpa’?”

As he stepped into the piano room, he asked the question. Seo Haeyoon, who had been skimming through sheet music, gave him a sidelong glance, smirked knowingly, and shrugged.

“Well, you didn’t respond. I thought maybe your hearing wasn’t so great anymore.”

“The nickname’s so absurd it didn’t even register.”

“Oh, was it?”

“There are plenty of pleasant one-syllable titles to use instead.”

“…”

At the clear hint that he could call him hyung, Seo Haeyoon shut his mouth. His defiant personality was evident at a glance, but it felt like it was about time he started using the term. As Beomjoon gave a faint smile, entertaining the idea, Haeyoon’s eyes gleamed mischievously, and his mouth opened—though not upward as expected, but sideways.

No way.

Raising a brow, Beomjoon glared at him, and Haeyoon quickly pressed his lips together, then burst out laughing. Chuckling brightly, he shook his head.

“No matter what, that’s not it.”

“…So you do know some boundaries, huh?”

There was no doubt he had been about to call him ya. Clicking his tongue, Chae Beomjoon stared at the man who seemed utterly untamable. Still, he thought to himself, at least Seo Haeyoon was obedient in bed. Perhaps his duality—his unpredictable nature paired with moments of submission—was what made him so captivating.

Smirking softly, Chae Beomjoon placed the tray on the small table beside the Steinway grand piano. Despite being the one to call him over urgently as if he couldn’t wait, Seo Haeyoon was now idly circling the piano, as if he’d forgotten all about it.

“Mister, do you play the piano?” he finally asked, turning his head to look at him.

From the calluses covering Seo Haeyoon’s hands, it seemed evident that he was a musician of some sort. The fact that he was drawn specifically to the piano among the many hobby remnants in the room only added to the impression.

“I do.”

“Liar…”

Beomjoon answered while pulling the wine bottle from the ice bucket, but Haeyoon didn’t believe him. Not that it was unexpected—skepticism was practically in the man’s nature.

“Haven’t fixed that suspicious nature of yours yet?”

“Didn’t you just buy it to use the lid as a surface for sex?”

“…Well, considering all the things I’ve done on the bed besides sleeping, why not? The word multitasking exists for a reason.”

At Beomjoon’s absurd excuse, Haeyoon broke into laughter. His large eyes crinkled slightly, and his full lips parted into a smile.

For a fleeting moment, Beomjoon was tempted to kiss those lips. But kisses unconnected to sex? That was for people playing at romance. Since he wasn’t yet planning to undress him, Beomjoon simply poured Tokaji Aszú into both glasses and asked:

“Any song you’d like to hear?”

At the confident tone of Chae Beomjoon’s voice, Seo Haeyoon finally began to take his words seriously. After handing a glass to Seo Haeyoon, Beomjoon loosened his wrist elegantly and walked toward the piano. Perching lightly on the edge of the firm piano stool he rarely used, he rested his hands on the keys and glanced back at Seo Haeyoon.

“What should I play for you?”

Without answering, Seo Haeyoon tilted his glass, inhaling the aroma of the wine. His large eyes slowly swept over the golden liquid of the Tokaji Aszú. His long, lowered eyelashes were the height of elegance. Chae Beomjoon found himself holding his breath as he took in the picturesque sight.

Eventually, Seo Haeyoon tilted his glass and gently moved his exquisitely shaped nose. His graceful jawline, a delicate line in itself, lifted toward the ceiling, his slender neck rippling slightly. Beomjoon watched intently, waiting for the words that would spill from those moist lips, freshly coated with the sweet wine.

“Danse Macabre.”

Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre. A piece he was well-acquainted with.

Think I can’t play it? Chae Beomjoon smiled with his eyes, turning his body fully toward the piano. Spreading his arms slightly, he rested his hands on the keys, taking a short, shallow breath as though he were about to play.

His broad shoulders rose as if he were preparing to perform immediately. Yet, just at the last moment, instead of pressing the keys, he suddenly turned his head back to Seo Haeyoon.

“Maybe I’m getting forgetful. I can’t seem to recall the sheet music. I used to be quite good at it, though.”

Unfortunately, the only pieces he actually knew were a handful of New Age compositions. He was entirely unfamiliar with classical music. His playful excuse brought a burst of laughter from Seo Haeyoon.

“Mister, you’re hilarious.”

Seo Haeyoon laughed so much that even after setting his glass down on the tray, he had to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes as he approached. Then, without hesitation, he hugged Chae Beomjoon from behind. The sudden friendly gesture surprised him, and before he could react, Haeyoon’s lips were so close to his cheek that they were almost touching, laughter still escaping him.

“You’re such an idiot.”

When Seo Haeyoon spoke, the sweet scent of grapes, oranges, and flowers filled the air. Though the wine contained no trace of actual petals, it felt as though flowers were blooming in his words.

“Kiss me.”

The piano hadn’t been played yet. Kissing wasn’t supposed to come until later, but faced with Seo Haeyoon’s smile and parted lips, Chae Beomjoon couldn’t resist. Though the deviation from the scenario he had imagined when bringing Haeyoon home felt like a cliffhanger ending, it wasn’t bad. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to be the protagonist of a poorly structured romance for once.

🔮🌙

Chae Beomjoon sat with his chin resting on his hand, staring intently at the monitor. However, the investment analysis report filling the screen wasn’t what occupied his thoughts. Instead, his mind kept returning to Seo Haeyoon’s provocative face, which had haunted him persistently over the past two days.

Every five minutes? No, every single minute without exaggeration, the sex from two days ago flashed vividly in his mind.

“Chief, your expression looks so serious. Should I contact the analysis team and tell them to redo this?”

Two days ago, when Seo Haeyoon called to suggest moving up their meeting, Beomjoon had been in the processing team’s basement. It had been a grim but oddly captivating scene, and the call had come at a moment that felt almost perfectly timed.

“No, hold on a moment. They won’t be upset, right? Have you ever seen me lose my temper?”

When they had first encountered each other at a hotel and ended up in bed together, Beomjoon had been careful. Haeyoon, who had looked like a startled deer, seemed as though he might bolt at the slightest pressure. For various reasons, Beomjoon had exercised as much restraint as possible to keep him from running off.

The more he was captivated by Haeyoon’s bare self as they intertwined, the more determined he became to conclude their encounter properly if he ever wanted to hold him again. So, Beomjoon had been even more mindful of his manners than usual.

“But I’ve never seen you with that kind of expression before. You look really serious…”

Two days ago had been different, though. At the time, Beomjoon needed something to lift his spirits—something like a long, drawn-out session of intense sex.

Fortunately, Haeyoon had been just as eager that day. He was the one who had called to move up their meeting significantly and had demanded a kiss before Beomjoon had even thought about taking off his clothes.

And so, Beomjoon had done as Haeyoon wanted, fulfilling his own desires in the process. The result? Seo Haeyoon, sobbing and begging atop the bed.

“Uh, Chief…?”

There are stages to climax: pleasant excitement, mind-numbing pleasure, piercing moans. Beyond all of that lies a state of silence, trembling, and tears.

At the peak of ecstasy, there is no sound. Like someone who has lost all control over their body, there is only trembling and tearful expression.

“Chief… Should I bring the head of the analysis team over?”

Even now, recalling Seo Haeyoon’s tearful, flushed face and swollen lips brought a throb below. His erection, hard for what felt like ages, was starting to ache.

“Chief…?”

Chae Beomjoon tried not to be conscious of his lower body hidden under the desk as he looked up. He was good at multitasking, so he was listening to his team members’ conversation while doing something else. He had known for a while that they misunderstood his expression.

It was a fortunate misunderstanding. Thanks to it, he could avoid the situation.

“No, I’ll go myself later. I think it’s better to show it to the CEO first.”

Smiling, Chae Beomjoon took out a file from the desk drawer. He stood up, hiding the empty file under his arm.

The secretarial staff, who had been glancing at him, sighed in relief as they saw him heading to the CEO’s office. They concluded that the report might not be as bad as they thought if he was going to show it to the CEO.

“It’s Chae Beomjoon.”

After knocking and announcing himself, he heard a voice from inside telling him to come in. Chae Beomjoon entered the CEO’s office, sighed, and moved the file that was hiding his lower body to the side.

“Click.”

Shin Kyoyeon, who had been looking at the door wondering if there was something to report, clicked his tongue when he saw Chae Beomjoon’s bulging crotch. He glared at him with a look that said, ‘Is he crazy?’ and then silently turned his gaze back to the monitor. Ignoring him, Chae Beomjoon approached the sofa in the center of the office.

“Excuse me for a moment, CEO.”

His tone was polite, but his actions were not. Although Chae Beomjoon usually kept a respectful distance from the CEO, sometimes he would shamelessly close the distance like this. After all, they had been friends for thirty years.

“Haa.”

Almost lying down on the sofa, he shook his legs and stroked his chin. He tried to calm himself down as much as possible before returning to the secretarial office, but instead of calming down, his lower body was swelling more and more as time passed.

He was supposed to meet Seo Haeyoon this afternoon. They had planned to be together until Saturday, and he was already looking forward to it. He was curious about what she would say to tease him this time. The more Seo Haeyoon teased him before sex, the more pleasure Chae Beomjoon felt in bed.

Although she had some quirks, Seo Haeyoon was carefree. She had high self-esteem, so she rarely got upset and was not easily intimidated. She was fundamentally healthy, both physically and mentally.

Being close to someone like this was enjoyable for Chae Beomjoon. He could talk freely, and she could handle it well. So, the past few days had been fun. Just imagining what positions to try with a new sex partner made time fly by.

Chief Hong Hyekyung of the Scent Office 3

Chief, hello. This is Hong Hyekyung, the chief of the symphony orchestra office^^ Are you unable to attend the practice today as well~? You missed meeting the new double bassist, Mr. Seo, last time. He asked about you last time^^ He said he really wants to meet you and thank you. 11:12

While debating whether to go down to the car and masturbate, a message arrived. Slowly taking out his phone, Chae Beomjoon remembered what he had forgotten when he saw Hong Hyekyung’s message.

He had not yet met the double bassist he had personally selected after listening to his performance. He had planned to visit during the first joint practice, but he had to leave in a hurry to run an errand for Shin Kyoyeon’s stockings, so he didn’t see his face and left the scent.

Come to think of it, he might not have time today. Chae Beomjoon replied, estimating the time of his appointment with Seo Haeyoon. 11:17

Is that so? Then I’ll visit today. Has the first phase of the box seat construction been completed?

Chief Hong Hyekyung of the Scent Office 3

Due to unexpected leaks, the construction was delayed, but the concrete is currently curing^^

According to the facility manager, it should be completely finished within three weeks. I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Chief. 11:19

The Suwon Grand Theater was an old building. It had been fine until a few years ago, but recently, problems had started to occur one by one, so sequential remodeling was underway.

Due to the frequent VIP invitation performances, the central box seats, which had a full view of the stage, were constructed first. Because of this, Chae Beomjoon had used the right box seats, which only had a view of the left side of the stage, last time.

This was why he hadn’t seen the double bassist’s face even though he had attended the first practice. In the orchestra arrangement, the double bass was located on the right side of the stage, so it couldn’t be seen from the right box seats of the small Suwon Grand Theater.

He was supposed to meet Seo Haeyoon at 8 o’clock today. So, he had enough time to attend the practice and meet the performer briefly afterward.

Chae Beomjoon, who had scheduled an appointment with the performer through Hong Hyekyung, returned to his seat after the situation settled. Tasks that didn’t require his direct involvement were handed off to Kim Jiyeon and Im Seonggyu, while he only paid attention to duties that required confirmation.

Afterwards, he informed Shin Kyoyeon in what could barely be called a notice: “This afternoon, you’ll need to handle HR matters in your capacity as the deputy director of the symphony orchestra you’ve been neglecting.” Then, he left the office. Fortunately, no one stopped him.

Driving toward the Suseon Grand Theater, Chae Beomjoon played the piece he had been immersing himself in for over a week.

Je Te Veux.

No matter how many times he listened to it, the unique and intense performance echoed heavily in the car without losing its impact.

Whether they were a man or a woman, that double bassist’s rendition was significantly slower than the original tempo. Yet, it gradually sped up, catching up to the original tempo by the latter half of the piece.

It felt like it was portraying the crescendo of intimacy, which he found enthralling. He knew interpreting everything as sex wasn’t exactly a healthy perspective, but it wasn’t like he was going to share this with anyone.

In any case, the message he had written on the card sent to the performer wasn’t merely a metaphor for a standing ovation. That person’s performance was genuinely sexy enough to provoke a visceral reaction.

For a while, he deliberately avoided asking Hong Hyekyung about the performer’s name, gender, or age, so he could simply enjoy the music. Today, though, he would finally see their face. He figured it would be fun to match their appearance to the unique characteristics of their performance.

Upon arriving at the grand theater, Chae Beomjoon parked not in the underground lot but in a small executive parking area at the back of the building. Noticing he had some time before rehearsals began, he stopped by the pond and took a photo of daffodil shoots just beginning to sprout.

[Photo]

12:50

Sunhwa, they’ve only bloomed this much so far.

Sunhwa

Still, they’re already beautiful~~ ^^ Did you eat, Joon? It’s getting colder, so eat well and stay healthy, okay? 12:51

I ate. What about you, ma’am? Did you have something delicious?

Sunhwa

Yes~ I had something tasty. As you get older, you need to take care of yourself~~ That goes for you too~ ^^ 12:52

How could you say such a thing… 12:53

[Photo]

Cutting her nagging short to bring up his age, Sunhwa amused Chae Beomjoon enough to make him chuckle. He sent a reply and then immediately took a selfie, pretending to bite into a daffodil bulb by the pond in a playful manner. 12:54 

How old do you think your son looks, ma’am?

Sunhwa

😥

Eighteen~~ 😭 12:55

Threatened with eating the bulb depending on her answer, Sunhwa replied with a “model” response and an upset emoji. Laughing out loud, Chae Beomjoon called her.

“Sunhwa, where are you?”

The way he addressed her—Sunhwa, ma’am—was as endearing as it was familiar. Sunhwa, who loved Chae Beomjoon as much as her five biological sons, laughed warmly as she answered his call. After a brief moment of filial affection, Chae Beomjoon finally entered the grand theater.

Climbing to the upper floor with the box seats, he faintly heard the discordant sounds of instruments being tuned in the concert hall below. However, as soon as the conductor’s baton signaled the start of the performance, the orchestra would seamlessly produce beautiful harmonies, as if those earlier sounds never existed. That harmony was one of the reasons Chae Beomjoon had grown so fond of symphony orchestras.

“Oh, Chief! Hello! I was just about to call you.”

As soon as he entered the hallway leading to the box seats, Hong Hyekyung, who had been waiting for him, greeted him warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, they stepped inside. As usual, everything had been prepared for him.

A comfortable armchair was positioned facing the stage, with a stool in front for him to rest his legs.

In front of the wall, there was a table with hot water and various tea bags and coffee, ready to brew at any time. After pouring water into a cup and adding a black tea bag, the rehearsal for the first piece of the program began, as if on cue. Beomjoon stood in place, listening intently.

It was the fourth movement of “Tales of the Magic Tree: IV. Spider Knows His Craft,” a contemporary classical piece by Belarusian composer Alexander Litvinovsky.

The introduction, which seemed to whisper mysterious legends, enveloped the concert hall. The instruments, as if covering their mouths, told the tale of the magic tree, quickly captivating the audience.

At the center of the harmony spreading across the wide space stood the steadfast magic tree. Was it burning? Or struck by lightning? It’s unclear, but it’s evident that the magic tree harbors a mysterious secret.

From the start of the piece until the silence that follows, dozens of musicians busily move to uncover that secret. As the melody reaches its climax, a tense moment arrives, making it feel like one might stop breathing, and finally, a clue to the secret is revealed, bringing the performance to an end.

However, rather than ending there, the piece made one even more curious about the story that follows. The perfect performance supported that narrative.

It was excellent.

Chae Beomjoon thought there couldn’t be a more fitting piece to open the Halloween special performance. Smiling, he removed the well-brewed black tea bag and sat down.

He could have moved the armchair forward to see the stage, but he didn’t, wanting to focus solely on the music. Chae Beomjoon, feeling leisurely in the rare peace, buried himself in the chair and listened to the performance.

During the first rehearsal he attended after the new double bassist joined, the performance frequently stopped. They would pause midway and take long breaks after finishing. The conductor, in a gentle voice, gave feedback to the new double bassist several times.

But today was different. The musician was much more naturally in place than before.

In fact, distinguishing the sound of string instruments is extremely difficult for non-specialists. Even when only the cello and double bass are played, it’s hard to tell the sounds apart, and recognizing the individual tone of the double bassist in a situation where multiple instruments are played simultaneously is nearly impossible for the average person.

However, perhaps due to training his ears by distinguishing hundreds of groans or repeatedly listening to this musician’s “Je Te Veux,” Chae Beomjoon could now clearly distinguish his performance.

The individuality that captivated Beomjoon during the blind audition occasionally stood out but also showed that he was excellently adapting to the orchestra, blending in perfectly at times.

It was a somewhat impulsive decision. Bringing such a strong personality into the symphony orchestra was certainly a risky move.

But the musician was adapting well to the orchestra, making Chae Beomjoon feel no need to worry. That fact was so….

Chae Beomjoon smiled, closing his eyes gently. He listened for the talented musician’s tone, which blended seamlessly into the cacophony of instruments but couldn’t completely erase his presence.

The three-hour rehearsal didn’t feel long at all. Chae Beomjoon listened to the performance without moving, finally opening his eyes.

The beautiful tone gradually faded, and the sound of greetings could be heard. The noise of people busily tidying up their places. Hearing the announcement that the joint rehearsal had ended, he withdrew his hand. His palm was completely covered in semen, having excitedly stroked his cock while listening to the near-perfect performance.

He reached out with his left hand and took out a wet tissue from the drawer of the table. Wiping his sticky fingers, he began to tidy up the place where he had stayed.

After clearing the teacup and throwing away the trash, he picked up his coat and checked his phone. Confident that no one would disturb him, he had switched it to silent mode, and in the meantime, a few messages that needed checking had come in. They were comments from CEO Shin Kyoyeon on the investment analysis report he had handed over just before leaving work. The comments were so harsh that they were almost unbearable to read.

“So long-winded….”

It was Chae Beomjoon’s job to refine this psychopath’s comments and package them in a more human-like manner, knowing Shin Kyoyeon’s filthy personality inside out. Instead of leaving immediately, he sat back down in the chair, took out his tablet, and began organizing Shin Kyoyeon’s messages.

Anyway, it would take some time for the double bassist he was supposed to meet to tidy up and go to the waiting room. He had also scheduled the meeting with enough time to wash his hands and straighten his appearance, so there was no need to rush.

Fortunately, the work itself wasn’t difficult. It wouldn’t take long.

“……”

In the midst of tapping the keypad in the silence, if a sudden solo performance hadn’t started, Chae Beomjoon would have finished the work soon.

But from the moment he heard the eerie sound of the double bass echoing through the hall, he couldn’t focus on anything visible.

The low, rough, and explicit performance. His pulse naturally began to quicken, having been excited to the point of his heart bursting from listening to that performance more than once or twice.

It’s him.

Having immediately identified the musician, Chae Beomjoon put down the tablet. He stood up and approached the railing, leaning forward dangerously.