PBWY - 16

“Yes, Joonjae.”

Yeonhee subtly turned her back to Junghoon and picked up her phone. It was a call from Joonjae, who was in Korea.

Even though she had made it clear that there was nothing between her and Joonjae, Junghoon remained deeply wary of him. The fact that Joonjae was a man and a long-time friend seemed to bother him quite a bit.

At one point, Junghoon had even asked a ridiculous, childish question like, “Are you closer to me or that Joonjae guy?” Of course, Yeonhee answered immediately.

“Of course, I’m closer to you, Junghoon.”

And she gave him a kiss to soothe him.

For a moment, Junghoon just smiled, but it didn’t seem like he fully believed her. His guard didn’t come down either. Just now, when Joonjae’s name appeared on her phone screen, he narrowed his eyes and glared at it, pretending not to care.

Of course, if she told him that Joonjae was gay, his anxiety would disappear instantly. But she had no intention of revealing that to Junghoon. That was Joonjae’s private matter.

- Yeonhee, do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?

Joonjae’s cheerful voice came through the phone. Yeonhee thought for a moment and soon replied.

“Tell me the bad news first. I’ll celebrate the good news afterward.”

- I can’t get married! I’ll probably die without ever putting a wife’s name on my family register!

Even though he called it bad news, Joonjae’s voice was incredibly bright. Was this really bad news?

Yeonhee raised her eyebrows in confusion when she suddenly felt warmth behind her. Junghoon had rested his forehead on the nape of her neck and was pressing his lips against her shoulder.

Every time he playfully kissed and nibbled her shoulder, Yeonhee’s body stiffened. She tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge.

‘Junghoon, what are you doing?!’

She whispered-shouted, then focused back on the call with Joonjae.

Anyway, it was only natural that Joonjae, being gay, wouldn’t marry a woman. Yeonhee tried to move away from Junghoon and mumbled something that wasn’t quite a congratulations.

“Okay, so you’re not getting married. But is this really bad news? So, what’s the good news?”

- My dad finally accepted me!

“Huh? Accepted? …Really?”

Before she could even ask what he meant, Yeonhee immediately understood. It seemed that Joonjae’s father had finally acknowledged that he was gay. After years of avoidance and denial, he had finally faced the truth.

That alone would make Joonjae incredibly happy. Yeonhee was even happier and smiled brightly.

“Oh my god, oh my god! Congratulations! You’ve finally thrown off that burden!”

- Yeah! I really wanted to tell you this right away…! Wow… I might cry hearing your voice! Forget marriage, my dad said I should just live well on my own!

Yeonhee’s heart swelled with emotion. She had been by Joonjae’s side, witnessing how much he had struggled.

Congratulations, really, congratulations! She was about to burst with joy when a hand suddenly reached over her shoulder. Without hesitation, Junghoon’s hand grabbed her chest, leaving her no room to stop him.

“Ah!”

She let out an involuntary gasp, and Joonjae’s concerned voice came through the phone.

- What’s wrong, Yeonhee?

“Ah… A fly just flew by…”

Downgrading her boyfriend to a fly, Yeonhee tightly gripped Junghoon’s hand. She gritted her teeth and whispered, “Stop it!” but his hand only slid further inside her bra.

“Why, Yeonhee? You’re having a secret conversation with another man behind my back.”

While slowly licking her neck, Junghoon asked. With his lewd breath felt over her skin, and the touch of his hand that began to caress her chest, Yeonhee ended up dropping her phone.

“Ngh...!”

“Stop the call.”

Junghoon sucked on her neck as if to make a hickey, and whispered as if whining. His large hand gently caressed her swollen flesh and slowly stimulated her nipples.

“Junghoon... stop... please!”

“When you’re with me, only look at me. Huh?”

Yeonhee twisted her waist to avoid his touch and hurriedly picked up her phone.

-Yeonhee? Hello? Can you hear me?

Jun Jae’s voice calling her could be heard.

She tried to concentrate on the call again, but Junghoon was relentlessly persistent. He grabbed Yeonhee, who was running away, bit her earlobe, and persistently stimulated her nipples. He even induced Yeonhee’s excitement by attaching his erect member to her lower body and slowly rubbing it.

At that point, Yeonhee blocked her phone and had no choice but to yell.

“If you keep doing this, you’re not allowed in my house anymore!”

“......”

That was quite effective. He ignored Yeonhee’s resistance, which he had pushed away with force, but quickly turned his tail at her short, threatening words.

When the timid Junghoon stopped his actions, Yeonhee avoided him and quickly got up from the sofa.

“A fly keeps bothering me. Wait a minute, Jun Jae.”

Yeonhee glared at Junghoon and went straight out to the terrace.

Junghoon hurriedly got up after her, but Yeonhee locked the door without mercy, leaving him standing there like a doorkeeper.

“Don’t come!” Yeonhee glared at Junghoon and gestured with her finger. Junghoon helplessly grabbed the terrace glass.

“...I’m watching you with my eyes wide open here. Don’t cheat on me.”

Junghoon shouted with a slightly anxious face.

Yeonhee shook her head and sighed, muttering.

“I might as well really have an affair...”

Throughout her call with Jun Jae, Junghoon remained quietly attached beyond the glass window. With a face full of dissatisfaction, his gaze only stared at his phone, quite ferocious and sharp.

Yeonhee avoided Junghoon’s gaze and hid as far as possible into the corner of the terrace. But Junghoon’s gaze, which followed her while turning her head, was so stinging that she eventually turned her back and ignored him altogether.

Was that person originally like that... was he originally that type...?

Yeonhee put her phone back to her ear. Jun Jae’s voice was still lively.

-Anyway, I’m so happy right now that I feel like I’m flying in the sky!

“Yeah, yeah. This is something we really need to meet up and have a beer while talking about!”

-So I’m really going to fly in the sky!

“Huh?”

Yeonhee stared at the sky meaninglessly.

-I’m going to get on a plane to Hong Kong now! Hurry up and send me your address! I’ll buy you a beer and come find you!

“...Uh?”

-See you later, Yeonhee!

And before she could even say anything, the call was cut off. Yeonhee blankly stared down at her silent phone before blinking her eyes.

‘So Jun Jae is coming to Hong Kong to see me?’

It’s a happy thing. It’s a joyful thing. It’s something to welcome with open arms when a friend comes to visit. But.

Yeonhee quietly turned her back and stared at the terrace door. She could still see Junghoon standing there ferociously.

But how could she suddenly tell him, “Joonjae is coming to visit”? And how could she tell Joonjae, “I have a boyfriend now, and it’s Team Leader Min Junghoon”?

Junghoon would glare at her, and Joonjae would fly into a rage. He’d ask if she had no self-respect and why she was seeing that man again.

In conclusion, it was clear that both statements would be bombshells. And Yeonhee herself would have to be the one to drop both bombs.

Avoiding reality, Yeonhee stared at the distant sky and finally let out a deep sigh.

“Ha…”

“Yeonhee! I’m here!”

Not long after her call with Joonjae, the doorbell to Yeonhee’s accommodation rang. It was Joonjae. Just five hours ago, he had been at Incheon Airport, and now he had rushed all the way to Causeway Bay.

As expected, the rich have a different scale when it comes to visiting. Yeonhee muttered to herself as she opened the door.

“You must’ve had a hard time getting here, Joonjae.”

She smiled brightly at her friend who had come to see her. Joonjae tossed his trunk by the entrance and hugged Yeonhee tightly. It was a gesture filled with joy and longing. There was no tension of the opposite sex—just pure, affectionate friendship.

“Hey, hey, I really wanted to share this happy news with you so badly that I rushed here—ugh!”

But his words were cut short. A hand suddenly appeared from somewhere and forcefully pulled Joonjae away from Yeonhee.

Junghoon, standing over 180 cm tall, effortlessly separated Joonjae from Yeonhee as if peeling a magnet off a fridge. He didn’t even bother to care about Joonjae, who stumbled and nearly fell, as he wrapped his arms around Yeonhee.

Junghoon’s eyes flashed sharply as he muttered toward Joonjae.

“If you’re happy, just be happy. Why are you hugging someone else’s girlfriend?”

His gritted voice echoed in the hallway.

Joonjae’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden situation. He didn’t even fully process the words “someone else’s girlfriend.”

Yeonhee slapped Junghoon’s arm, which was tightly wrapped around her neck, and when he still didn’t let go, she pinched the back of his hand hard.

“Let me go. Why are you acting so embarrassing? You’re not a child.”

Finally, Junghoon reluctantly released Yeonhee with a displeased expression.

Yeonhee approached Joonjae, who looked utterly bewildered. She helped him up and dusted him off.

After Joonjae had announced his visit, Yeonhee had come clean to Junghoon. She told him that her friend was coming, and it was Lim Joonjae, whom he already knew. Of course, she assured him that there was nothing romantic between her and Joonjae and asked him to trust her.

Junghoon had made a very displeased face but eventually nodded reluctantly. However, he insisted on being present as well.

And so, the two men found themselves face to face.

Yeonhee pulled Joonjae, who was still blinking in confusion, and stood him in front of Junghoon. An awkward introduction began.

“Joonjae, you’ve met him before, right? This is… Min Junghoon. Junghoon, this is my friend, Joonjae.”

Once the introduction was over, Junghoon smiled shamelessly at Joonjae as if they had never met before. His hand, extended for a handshake, was equally confident, as if he hadn’t just thrown Joonjae to the ground moments ago.

“Hello, Lim Joonjae. I’m Min Junghoon. You’re just a friend of our Yeonhee, right?”

“Uh… Our Yeonhee…?”

Joonjae instinctively shook Junghoon’s hand. Soon, he made a sound like “Ugh!” and mouthed to Yeonhee.

‘Hey! What’s with this guy? His grip is insanely strong! It hurts!’

Yeonhee forcibly separated Junghoon from Joonjae. She slapped Junghoon’s hand, which was gripping Joonjae’s hand as if trying to crush it, and pushed his solid body further inside the doorway.

Why was he acting so childish? He wasn’t an eight-year-old.

Of course, it wasn’t that she didn’t understand Junghoon’s reaction. To Junghoon, Joonjae might be as detestable as an enemy.

Joonjae had been with Yeonhee when she accidentally ran into Junghoon at the hotel while avoiding his calls. After breaking up with Junghoon, Joonjae had been by her side on her birthday. The rumors about her having a male friend were also about Joonjae.

Yeah. It made perfect sense. It made sense, but…

Yeonhee patted Joonjae’s shoulder, who was wearing an extremely aggrieved expression.

Of course, she understood Junghoon’s feelings, but Joonjae had done nothing wrong. In fact, he had only been caught in the middle of her and Junghoon’s relationship, suffering the consequences. All Joonjae had done was care for and support her as a friend.

“Hey! That’s him, right? That Team Leader Min!”

Joonjae whispered into Yeonhee’s ear, so quietly that Junghoon couldn’t hear. Yeonhee glanced at Junghoon and then whispered back to Joonjae.

“Yeah, it’s him.”

“What? Did he follow you all the way here?”

“Yeah…”

“Wow, that’s insane. Is he a stalker? But why is he here? Are you two back together?”

“Uh… he’s my boyfriend now.”

“What? So you’re living together here?”

“No, not that.”

Joonjae finally let out a loud yelp.

“Hey, are you crazy!”

He shouted so loudly it felt like the hallway might collapse, but then he immediately covered his mouth, startled by his own voice. He mumbled through his fingers.

“You said you were over him! You said you gave up! Why are you seeing that jerk who only hurt you again? Why are you jumping back into the fire?”

“I know. He’s a bad person, but I jumped back in anyway.”

Yeonhee laughed awkwardly as she answered. It was true that he was a bad and terrible person, but saying it out loud like this made her feel a little guilty.

Now that he wasn’t doing bad things or acting petty anymore, it felt a bit unfair to badmouth him like this…

Joonjae fiddled with his collar and slumped his shoulders.

“Since when have you been together? Why didn’t you tell me? I’m really hurt. I tell you everything… when I get a new boyfriend, when I break up, even that I don’t have to get married anymore… I tell you all that stuff…”

“I’m sorry. The situation was a bit complicated.”

“Am I not good enough for you…?”

Seeing Joonjae pout made Yeonhee feel incredibly guilty. Joonjae had been the one who worried about Junghoon with her, the one who comforted her when she was heartbroken.

But it wasn’t that she didn’t tell him because he was “not good enough.” It was because she felt ashamed. She was embarrassed by her own decision to accept Junghoon back into her life.

It wasn’t embarrassing that Junghoon was her boyfriend, but she was ashamed of herself for accepting him despite the pain he had caused her. The reality of being with him again, after all the hurt, was something she couldn’t bring herself to confess.

“I’m sorry, Joonjae. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d be disappointed.”

“I’m not disappointed in you. I’m always on your side…”

Yeonhee patted Joonjae’s dejected shoulder. Cheer up. I’ll explain everything to you step by step. Junghoon isn’t that bad of a person. Well, he is, but he’s changed a bit now, so it’s okay. She rambled on, trying her best to lift Joonjae’s spirits.

“Can we stop there?”

Junghoon’s cold voice suddenly cut in.

The two of them, who had been hugging and whispering to each other, turned their heads stiffly. Junghoon stood there with his arms crossed, his eyes flashing like blue lightning as he glared at them.

Leaning casually against the doorway, his posture was as elegant as a masterpiece, but his expression was like a demon’s.

Junghoon smirked coldly.

“Are you two having a family reunion? Why don’t you come inside and talk? Let’s not make this into some boring melodrama.”

I’m annoyed. The last part was muttered so low it was almost inaudible. A chill dripped from his tone.

Joonjae flinched for no reason, and Yeonhee clicked her tongue.

‘He’s being difficult again, so difficult…’

By now, his attitude no longer surprised her. Nor was it frightening. It felt like dealing with a rebellious sixteen-year-old caught in the storm of adolescence. That’s exactly how she felt.

Dragging Joonjae along, Yeonhee stepped inside the entrance and then smiled brightly again.

“Alright, come on in. First of all, welcome to Hong Kong!”

“Uh… yeah, thanks…”

Joonjae scratched the bridge of his nose as he walked in. The heavy sound of the iron door closing behind him muffled his muttering.

“I don’t get why that guy is so scary… So embarrassing.”

Glancing around, Joonjae soon sat down on the sofa, blowing on the Americano Junghoon had handed him before starting to chatter away.

“You know what, Yeonhee? Hyung-nim’s shop went under.”

“The bakery he just opened? Really?”

Yeonhee absentmindedly fiddled with Junghoon’s hand, which was resting on her shoulder. Her brother’s shop had gone under? And it hadn’t even been open for long. She had even taken out loans to fund it. Of course, Junghoon eventually paid off all those debts, but still.

Now that she thought about it, her mom had been calling nonstop lately. When she didn’t pick up, texts trying to coax her into responding started coming in. When she ignored those too, they turned into venomous messages filled with curses.

Things like abandoning family bonds or how being so unfilial would ruin her life. In the end, she remembered changing her phone number altogether.

So her mom must have reached out again because she needed money.

To be honest, Yeonhee’s family wasn’t dirt poor. If they were, they wouldn’t have been able to send her older brother, Yeon-jun, abroad to study in the first place. But they weren’t exactly rolling in endless wealth either. They always seemed to need money to clean up after whatever mess Yeon-jun had made.

The first sucker was Dad, and the second sucker was Jeong Yeonhee.

But when Sucker #2 suddenly disappeared, it must have left quite a hole.

So that’s why Mom had been reaching out… because the shop went under.

Yeonhee silently squeezed Junghoon’s fingers, lost in thought.

Sensing her unease, Junghoon leaned her cheek against his shoulder, brushing back her hair as he whispered,

“Don’t let it bother you, Yeonhee. It’s all his own doing.”

Her silence clearly unsettled him. Yeonhee nodded slowly.

“You’re right, it’s his fault, and there’s nothing I can do about that… but my feelings are complicated.”

That said, she absolutely had no intention of giving them more money.

“You’re not planning to give them money again, are you?”

“Of course not. Never again.”

“You’ve made the right decision.”

With a gentle smile, Junghoon kissed her forehead. It was a natural, almost habitual display of affection. Yeonhee giggled softly, accepting it as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Watching this exchange, Joonjae’s expression shifted subtly. His eyes narrowed slightly. The memories were still vivid. How anxious Yeonhee used to be whenever she met Junghoon.

He knew well enough how deeply Yeonhee loved Junghoon. The way her voice softened when she mentioned his name, the look in her eyes—it all revealed the intensity of her feelings. But even when she was with him, her eyes were always clouded with anxiety.

Her love for Junghoon never seemed to bring her happiness. She only clung to him desperately, pleading for scraps of affection. Knowing this, Joonjae had always hoped they would break up.

Though he never intended to meddle in her love life, he wished someone else would take his place and fill her heart with new love. He wanted nothing more than for her to be happy.

So when she finally broke up with Junghoon, he couldn’t have been happier. They even celebrated by raising glasses of soju together.

But…

Joonjae observed the two of them with calm eyes.

Junghoon lounged casually on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. When Yeonhee dropped some crumbs while eating snacks, he pulled out a tissue and gently wiped them from the corner of her mouth, smiling softly.

“You’re such a kid, making a mess like this.”

His simple joke carried deep affection.

“Well, people drop crumbs sometimes. You’re the real kid here, Junghoon.”

Yeon-hee simply shrugged her shoulders as she casually returned the joke. 

Joon-jae let out a thin, knowing smile. 

There are things that become clearer when viewed through the eyes of an outsider. Love was one such thing. Having met many people in his life, Joon-jae easily saw through the emotions flickering in Junghoon’s eyes. What filled Junghoon’s gaze was pure affection directed at Yeon-hee. It was love—genuine and impossible to hide, no matter how hard one might try. 

‘Yeon-hee looks happy.’ 

There was no longer any trace of anxiety or restlessness in Yeon-hee’s eyes. No hint of deception remained in Junghoon’s gaze either. Their relationship seemed completely natural, as if being together was the most ordinary thing in the world. 

Joon-jae smiled with relief. 

A little while later, Yeon-hee, who had been flipping through a magazine for some time, gestured toward Joon-jae. 

“Joon-jae, look at this. Isn’t this the chain store my brother was running?” 

“Yeah, that’s it.” 

Whether it was an advertisement or something else, Yeon-hee pointed at the bakery chain ad printed at the bottom of the magazine page and muttered under her breath, 

“He could’ve at least done it properly if he was going to do it at all. What a waste of my money…” 

Junghoon, who had been looking over the magazine beside her, casually tossed out a comment. 

“Don’t get upset over such a small amount of money. Wasting your emotions on it is more of a loss.” 

Joon-jae chimed in as well. 

“You’re right, Yeon-hee. Just think of it as your last donation. It’s not like it’s a big deal.” 

Yeon-hee looked up from the magazine and scanned the two men sitting beside her. One was her wealthy friend, the art gallery director; the other was her equally rich boyfriend whose exact background she didn’t fully know. Both had polished, smug expressions on their faces. 

With a sharp snap, Yeon-hee closed the magazine and crossed her legs. 

“That’s easy for you two to say. Such entitled talk. Are you showing off because you’re loaded?” 

“…” 

“…” 

As if on cue, both men fell silent simultaneously. 

Tsk tsk. Yeon-hee clicked her tongue and shook her head. Honestly, these two had no sense of reality, none at all. 

Perhaps trying to smooth things over, Junghoon awkwardly changed the subject. 

“A business is still a business, even if it’s a small shop. Jumping into it without proper market research… When a competitor pops up nearby, it’s bound to collapse. That’s why there’s nothing for you to worry about, Yeon-hee.” 

He rambled on unnecessarily, clearly trying to soothe her. But Yeon-hee raised an eyebrow, finding something odd about his words. Then, without looking at Junghoon, she turned her gaze toward Joon-jae instead. 

“Joon-jae, why did my brother’s shop go bankrupt?” 

“Well, a new bakery opened across the street. The pastry chef had an impressive résumé, the food was good, and the prices were cheap, so all the customers flocked there. He ended up losing everything—just paid rent and maintenance fees before giving up.” 

“…” 

Yeon-hee turned her head back slowly and stared intently at Junghoon, who was now trying to maintain a neutral expression. 

She asked him directly, 

“How did you know that, Junghoon?” 

“What do you mean?” 

His reply came out a little awkwardly. 

“You just said it earlier—that businesses crumble easily when a competitor shows up. How did you know to say that?” 

Junghoon paused for about two seconds before answering confidently. 

“I guessed.” 

The brazen smile he added only made things worse. 

Yeon-hee’s expression crumpled. Guessed? There was no way. She was certain the man in front of her had pulled some kind of scheme.

Even when he was a team leader at work, he had been like that. He seemed easygoing with no lingering grudges, but once he fixated on something, he would relentlessly dig into it until he saw it through to the end. He was a relentless person. 

Knowing this, Yeon-hee couldn’t take Junghoon’s joke about “just guessing” at face value. 

A silent battle of wills ensued between Yeon-hee and Junghoon. Joon-jae sat there dumbfounded, observing the two of them. 

It didn’t take long for Joon-jae to piece things together. So, the reason Yeon-hee’s brother’s shop went under was related to this Min Junghoon guy. But why? Why would he ruin his girlfriend’s older brother’s business? 

Joon-jae ultimately couldn’t figure out the reason. 

In the end, Junghoon lost the staring contest. 

Trying to placate her, Junghoon spoke softly. 

“You don’t like your brother, Yeon-hee. You’ve hated him ever since you were in the U.S., so much that you cried because of how hard it was.” 

“…Hmm.” 

Unable to deny it, Yeon-hee let out a small hum. Junghoon gently rubbed his thumb under her eye. 

“If tears came from Yeon-hee’s eyes because of him, then blood should come from Yoon-jun’s.” 

“…” 

“That’s why I did it. That’s all there is to it.” 

Junghoon didn’t even bother defending his actions. He simply stated it calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yeon-hee could only let out an incredulous laugh. 

“You’re younger than me, but still… isn’t that too harsh? He’s my brother, after all.” 

As she spoke, Junghoon, who had been stroking her cheek, smiled gently. 

“In that case, I’ll call him a ‘damn bastard’ instead of a ‘fucking bastard.’” 

“…” 

The way his eyes crinkled warmly made it seem as though he were delivering a tender love confession. 

“I’ll keep getting in the way of whatever that damn bastard does from now on. There’s no point in trying to stop me, so just give up on that, Yeon-hee.” 

“…” 

It was a violent declaration delivered with a kind smile. 

At this point, Yeon-hee had no choice but to accept it for what it was. 

Yes. From the very beginning, this man had been self-centered and merciless toward others. To her, he was as warm as spring sunshine, but to those he disliked, he was utterly cruel. 

Yeon-hee placed her hand over his, which was still touching her cheek, and smiled. 

“Revenge should’ve been my job… but since you have more money, I’ll leave it to you. Just don’t go overboard. If my family goes completely bankrupt, I’ll be the one stressing out again.” 

“Alright. I’ll make sure Yoon-jun learns his lesson, but not too harshly.” 

“Okay. Thank you.” 

Hearing her gratitude, Junghoon looked as though he had gained the entire world. 

Meanwhile, Joon-jae, who had been sitting there like a sack of barley, blinked blankly. Watching the two of them exchange absurd banter as if feathers were flying everywhere, he thought to himself: 

‘Wow… how did these two perfectly matched people end up together?’ 

One was kind, while the other was ruthless. One was prickly like thorns, while the other was soft and gentle. Two completely different individuals had met and fit together perfectly, leaving no gaps between them. 

That was just how they were. 

Joon-jae let out a breathy sigh, utterly baffled. Looking at Junghoon gazing at Yeon-hee with overflowing affection, he silently resolved to himself: 

‘I must never get on bad terms with that Min Junghoon guy… never.’ 

After chatting with Joon-jae for a while, Yeon-hee got up from the sofa. 

“I’ll get ready and come back out. Wait just a moment.” 

Since Joon-jae loved noodles, they planned to go to a famous Yunnan noodle restaurant for dinner. Once Yeon-hee disappeared, only Junghoon and Joon-jae remained. 

“…”

“……” 

A heavy silence hung between the two men. 

Joon-jae sat up straight, awkwardly glancing around. The window was quite large… he could see everything below… oh, there was a franchise burger joint, so it’d be convenient for Yeon-hee to grab burgers… 

Unlike Joon-jae, who seemed stiff and tense, Junghoon lounged comfortably on the sofa as if he were in his own home, leaning back with his arms crossed. 

Joon-jae felt a twinge of unfairness. He had known Yeon-hee longer, and they had spent more time together. So why did he feel like a guest while Junghoon acted like the master of the house? They were both guests here, after all. 

Moreover, Joon-jae didn’t like how he kept shrinking in front of Junghoon. Why should he feel intimidated? 

Trying to appear relaxed, Joon-jae leaned back into the sofa. He shifted around, attempting to find a comfortable position. 

“……” 

“……” 

The awkward moments dragged on meaninglessly. Joon-jae fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve. No matter how much he moved, he couldn’t get comfortable. Being in Junghoon’s presence made him feel a hundred times worse. 

Joon-jae cleared his throat a couple of times. 

“Uh…” 

Instead of replying, Junghoon simply turned his head. Meeting Junghoon’s piercing gaze, which seemed to look down on him, Joon-jae reflexively widened his eyes to avoid being overpowered. 

“I understand that you don’t really like me,” Joon-jae began, “but don’t be so guarded. And don’t suspect anything between Yeon-hee and me.” 

“Then stop acting suspiciously.” 

Junghoon’s emotionless voice was indifferent as he stretched out further, resting his arm on the armrest of the sofa and propping his chin up. As his head tilted slightly, his hair softly fell over his handsome forehead—a defiant attitude toward someone he clearly didn’t care to impress. 

Joon-jae swallowed hard and forced himself to reveal a secret. 

“I’m gay.” 

Junghoon’s eyes widened slightly. 

It was a confession meant to protect Yeon-hee, though it wasn’t much of a revelation. Everyone who needed to know already did—even Joon-jae’s father had accepted it. There was no reason not to say it for Yeon-hee’s sake. 

“Besides, my type is more like you than Yeon-hee. So don’t go accusing or pressuring her unnecessarily.” 

“……” 

Junghoon lightly rubbed his temple, seeming to contemplate how to respond to this sudden confession. 

After a few seconds of thought, he finally spoke. 

“I’ve never suspected Yeon-hee, nor have I pressured her. How could I ever pressure Yeon-hee?” 

The idea was absurd. His tone was flat but resolute. 

Joon-jae felt a renewed sense of the reality of their situation. Suddenly, he remembered something Yeon-hee had once said to him: 

‘Hmm… well, it wasn’t exactly a fight. It was more like I just got yelled at… Back then, I didn’t even have the guts to fight.’ 

When Yeon-hee told him about breaking up with Junghoon, she had described herself as too powerless to stand up to him, turning away sadly. 

Now, their positions had completely reversed. Joon-jae recalled Junghoon’s earlier words: 

‘How could I ever pressure Yeon-hee? The very idea is absurd, dare I say.’ 

Dare I say. Joon-jae couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh at how naturally Junghoon had said it. It amazed him how their relationship had evolved, and how Junghoon could now openly share his feelings in front of him. 

Lost in reflection, Joon-jae impulsively blurted out: 

“Take good care of Yeon-hee.” 

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately regretted them. It sounded like the kind of pathetic line an ex-boyfriend would say, dripping with lingering attachment. 

Fortunately, Junghoon didn’t react strongly. Instead, he calmly replied in a surprisingly gentle voice: 

“Alright. I’ll take good care of her.” 

“……” 

“A guy like me, who loves her and tells her she’s beautiful—what kind of angel is she to put up with that? I’ll never let her go, our Yeon-hee.” 

“You’re aware of your personality, aren’t you?” 

Junghoon lazily brushed his hair back as he spoke indifferently. 

“If I weren’t, I’d be an idiot.” 

Sunlight scattered through his hair, highlighting his elegant lashes, straight nose, and delicately sculpted features. 

Impulsively, Joon-jae, who couldn’t deny Junghoon’s perfect looks, asked: 

“You know you’re good-looking, right?” 

Junghoon smirked faintly. 

“If I didn’t, I’d be an idiot.” 

“……” 

“Yeon-hee likes my face. It’s a stroke of luck.” 

His smile under the sunlight was unusually radiant.

The rice noodles they chose for dinner were a success. The three of them enjoyed their meal together and stepped out onto the street, basking in the cool evening breeze. Walking with Jung-hoon trailing behind her like a guard, Yeon-hee leaned closer to Joon-jae and whispered softly.

“Joon-jae, Jung-hoon isn’t coming tomorrow. Let’s catch up properly and gossip all we want. You can tell me more about why you’re not getting married.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“Thanks for coming to Hong Kong. Seeing you makes me so happy and excited.”

“I’m really glad to see you too after such a long time. When are you coming back to Korea?”

“Just one more year left.”

Joon-jae grinned and nodded.

The evening was transitioning into night, and under the dazzling glow of neon lights, Yeon-hee smiled brightly. Watching her radiant smile, free of any worries, Joon-jae felt an unexpected pang in his nose and absentmindedly rubbed the bridge of it.

“You look happy, Yeon-hee.”

Thank goodness. He had worried so much about her—more than ever before. She looked happier than she ever had, and seeing her like this made Joon-jae feel truly happy as well.

Yeon-hee nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah, I’m happy.”

Joon-jae glanced cautiously over his shoulder at Jung-hoon before hesitantly speaking in a low voice.

“I want to give you a hug and pat your back, but… I guess I shouldn’t do that anymore, right?”

Jung-hoon answered on Yeon-hee’s behalf.

“Control yourself.”

His voice cut through the air like an icy winter wind—sharp and cold. Apparently, he had heard what Joon-jae thought was a whisper.

“Yes.”

Joon-jae obediently nodded. If he was told to hold back, he would. Though he had never worked in an office, he suddenly felt like an employee standing nervously in front of a terrifying boss.

They walked for a while longer until they reached a crossroads. Joon-jae waved his hand, already halfway turned toward the hotel where he would be staying.

“I’m heading out! See you tomorrow!”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow, Joon-jae.”

“Sleep well! …Goodnight to you too, Mr. Jung-hoon.”

Joon-jae gave a small nod to Jung-hoon, then waved his arm vigorously at Yeon-hee before disappearing from sight.

Yeon-hee kept waving until Joon-jae was no longer visible. Though she hadn’t been able to have a proper chat with him today because of Jung-hoon, tomorrow would be different. Thankfully, Jung-hoon had understood and even encouraged her to spend time alone with Joon-jae.

Jung-hoon ambled over lazily and naturally draped his arm around Yeon-hee’s shoulders. Pulling her close as if embracing her, he began walking slowly with her.

“Tomorrow you’ll be spending time with another man, so tonight you’ll stay at my place. I’m too jealous to let you sleep alone.”

“Are you going to make me something delicious?”

“Whatever you want, Yeon-hee.”

Feeling the warm weight of his arm wrapped around her neck, Yeon-hee curled her lips into a soft smile.

Joon-jae had said it.

“You look happy.”

And she had replied.

“Yeah, I’m happy.”

She meant it. She was happy. Incredibly, indescribably happy. So much so that she found herself smiling for no reason at all.

Yeon-hee, who had once resolved to leave him behind, had completely done so.

Jayden Hayes. Team Leader Min Jung-hoon. She had let go of them entirely—the twisted, crooked versions of them.

And she had met Min Jung-hoon, stripped of his deceitful shell, and started anew. She had fully embraced him as he revealed every part of himself, unmasked and raw. 

With the love he gave her, she covered the wounds that had once painfully pierced and torn her heart. Piece by piece, she mended her shattered emotions and turned them toward him once more. In the end, here they were, standing together. 

Walking through the glittering streets illuminated by lights, Yeon-hee walked alongside Jung-hoon. His scent enveloped her. 

She listened to the sound of his breathing and etched the colors and emotions of this moment with him deep into her heart. 

“What are you thinking about?” 

He kissed the corner of her eye and asked. Yeon-hee swallowed the laughter bubbling up from within and whispered softly, almost inaudibly: 

“I was thinking about someone I love.” 

“Ah, you were thinking about me? How touching.” 

His voice carried a playful lilt as he kissed her eye again. 

“I love you, Yeon-hee.” 

Instead of a proper response, she simply nodded and murmured, “Mm.” 

“Say it so I can hear it.” 

“…I love you.” 

After her shy confession, Jung-hoon’s low chuckle rippled through the air. Yeon-hee rested her cheek on his shoulder and laughed too. She just laughed, without words. The world felt fragrant and alive. 

Their smiles clung to their footsteps like shadows. The street, lined with buildings, seemed to bloom into a radiant green glow. 

A sense of complete fulfillment seeped in. It was a cool, refreshing night, brimming with just the two of them—him and her.