# Chapter 34
Jiho’s car carrying Yeomin stopped at an apartment complex in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
“Are you really going to be okay, hyung? You said his family would be there too. Let’s just go back to our home…”
“Our home? It’s ‘your’ home.”
“You seem to deliberately say things in a bad way.”
Yes, that’s right. He hit the nail on the head.
Yeomin unfastened his seatbelt. Jiho, seeming reluctant, grabbed Yeomin and said:
“I’ll call you.”
“No, don’t. I’ll contact you when I’ve decided.”
Jiho seemed troubled by Yeomin’s resolute attitude.
“You said you’d decide by tomorrow for sure.”
I should have given a more generous timeline, like next week. Why did I say I’d answer by tomorrow?
Though he regretted it, it was already too late to take back. Jiho definitely wouldn’t agree to wait longer anyway.
“Alright.”
As soon as he answered, thinking about getting rid of Jiho quickly, Yeomin felt his shoulder being pulled.
When he came to his senses, Jiho’s chin was touching the crown of his head, his shoulder was wrapped in Jiho’s arm, and Jiho’s chest was right in front of his face.
Feeling awkward and unadapted to this, Yeomin didn’t dare move.
‘Even now it’s like this, so… could I really handle a contract relationship?’
Yeomin struggled and pushed away Jiho’s shoulder. Then he quickly got out of the car like he was running away.
After closing the car door with a bang, he headed toward the apartment building where Taeyang lived.
Until he entered the building, Jiho’s car remained fixed in place, with no sound of departure.
“This is driving me crazy… how am I supposed to have a fake relationship like this, Joo Yeomin.”
Yeomin muttered, clutching near his heart with his hand. Standing at the outer entrance of the apartment, Yeomin glanced back slightly.
Jiho’s car was still parked in the same spot. Jiho had even gotten out of the driver’s seat and was looking at Yeomin.
With an expression like he might run over at any moment.
“…”
“Joo Yeomin! What are you doing there, not coming in?”
If it hadn’t been for Taeyang who had come out to greet him, Yeomin might have been caught by Jiho again.
“Let’s go in. Quickly.”
Yeomin deliberately hurried along after Taeyang into the apartment. Only when the automatic doors smoothly closed behind him did Yeomin realize:
‘I really escaped from Seol Jiho.’
Before entering Taeyang’s home, Yeomin had a conversation with him in the apartment hallway.
Taeyang welcomed Yeomin.
“Good to see you, Joo Yeomin. My mom’s been bored lately, so make yourself at home.”
“Taeyang.”
“Huh?”
Yeomin mumbled:
“You know. I’ve never even attempted something like dating.”
“I know.”
Taeyang knew better than anyone.
Occasionally someone would confess to liking him first, but inevitably things would fizzle out with Joo Yeomin.
Of course, he had never been to group blind dates or setup dates, and even when people around him wanted to introduce someone, Yeomin would always reject them.
From Taeyang’s perspective, who considered dating a hobby, it might have seemed like Yeomin was wasting his youth.
No, it would be more accurate to say he had no youth to waste. If he had the luxury to date, he’d rather use that money to eat a full meal.
Yeomin spoke as if in a monologue:
“Apart from my situation… I’ve never really liked anyone that much before. So I thought I was asexual.”
“Asexual? You’re a money-sexual.”
“What?”
“Joo Yeomin, who only shows genuine smiles in front of money and free stuff. You’re famous for that.”
Taeyang teased Yeomin.
“…You’re right.”
As he listened, it sounded plausible, and Yeomin admitted it. Strangely, this made him feel more at ease.
So maybe that was it. Because he was a ‘money-sexual.’
He had always thought of romance as something that happened to other people, never once feeling envious or wanting to try it.
Even watching Taeyang with his numerous relationships, not once had he felt envious…
“I’ll do anything as long as there’s an hourly wage.”
“I think that’s an admirable attitude toward life.”
‘So that’s why I was tempted. A relationship where you get paid hourly feels like it would be so sweet and honey-like? …I really was a money-sexual all along.’
Thanks to his conversation with Taeyang, Yeomin felt much more relieved.
Yeomin thought he should contact Jiho tomorrow. As soon as day breaks. As soon as possible.
It doesn’t make sense for a money-sexual to give up money. Absolutely not!
* * *
Although Yeomin is now an older student relegated to the background, he too once had a fresh, green freshman period.
First year of university. The new semester when everyone was busy playing eye-contact games trying to flirt with someone. Even though Yeomin was working part-time jobs even then, he had experienced something… somewhat like flirting.
‘Yeomin. You’ll come to the class gathering tomorrow, right?’
‘I have a part-time job.’
‘Really? That’s too bad. It would be nice if you could come.’
The girl who liked Yeomin then gave him chocolate with a look of disappointment and left. Was her name Sujin?
It was perfect timing since his blood sugar was low. As Yeomin unwrapped the chocolate and put it in his mouth, Taeyang made a big fuss.
‘Joo Yeomin~ This is how you end up in a relationship~’
‘You’re talking nonsense again.’
‘Im Sujin likes you, it’s all over the rumor mill. She said so at the drinking party yesterday.’
Yeomin had been working his part-time job the day before too, so he couldn’t attend the drinking party. He felt both curious and uncomfortable about the conversation that must have happened about him when he wasn’t there.
Ignoring Taeyang’s exaggerated reactions, Yeomin sucked on the chocolate. Taeyang, acting like it was his own business, urged:
‘When are you going to start dating?’
‘Date what? I don’t date.’
‘Why don’t you date? It’s so good.’
‘…It’s bothersome.’
‘Joo Yeomin, you’re talking like someone who’s never hungry.’
Back then, Taeyang accused Yeomin of playing hard to get. But Yeomin was completely sincere at the time.
In a daily life where he was busy just making sure he ate three meals a day, to take care of someone else’s meals, to push thoughts of someone else into a head already full of his own worries, to bring a complete stranger into his already cramped space…
Don’t you think that’s too bothersome no matter how you look at it?
To Yeomin who was thinking this way, Taeyang gave advice pretending to be a life senior:
‘When you date, it doesn’t become bothersome. You actually become more diligent.’
‘No thanks.’
‘No, no. It’s not that it’s not bothersome, it’s that dating is precisely doing things with someone who doesn’t feel bothersome at all, no matter what you do together!’
Although Taeyang was singing praises of dating, Yeomin couldn’t sympathize at all.
The idea of having to share his impoverished and petty heart with someone else seemed nearly impossible.
* * *
And Yeomin’s thoughts remained the same even now, several years later. However…
“Mmm…”
Taeyang, who had fallen asleep, put his leg over Yeomin’s body. It felt like being crushed by a rock. Yeomin groaned and pushed Taeyang’s leg away.
He had often visited Taeyang’s home before and had slept in his room many times. But today, it felt strangely unfamiliar.
Is it because it had been a while? But it seemed to be more than just that.
‘I’ve gotten too used to Seol Jiho’s house.’
Why did it feel like he should be on the sofa in Jiho’s house, not here?
Yeomin tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep easily.
‘Then I pretend to be celibate, claiming I’ve suffered a lifelong trauma, and get an excuse not to marry. You get the contract money I give you, plus a sum you couldn’t earn in a lifetime all at once. How about it? Isn’t this a pretty good proposal?’
Yeomin mulled over Jiho’s proposal. While it sounded completely absurd, the more he thought about it, it seemed like a deal where he absolutely couldn’t lose.
‘No? To be honest, it’s a “total gain” for me!’
If there was one thing bothering him… it was not knowing how Jiho might obsessively cling to him like a madman again.
Even if that happened, he could just walk into the Ian Group president’s office and say, “I want to break up with your son, so please give me some money.”
‘After that, couldn’t I just take the money and flee abroad?’
If a poor “boy” like him said he’d stay away from their son, they might even charter a private jet for him, coming from such a family.
Yeomin muttered while looking at the ceiling:
“There’s no favor in this world without a price.”
And added:
“…Without favor, there’s no price either.”
There must be input for there to be output. Yeomin was overflowing with confidence that he would not only show favor for the price but would do his best.
What would he do first when he got money from Ian Group? Which country would he go to? What should he learn in preparation for working abroad in the future?
By the time Yeomin had imagined opening a three-story cafe in a foreign country, the phone at his bedside lit up.
A message at this time… it was obviously from Jiho, more persistent than spam.
The current time was 2 AM. As expected, it was a message from Jiho.
[Sundoli: I’ll come pick you up tomorrow]
This guy is ridiculous. Who said I’m going? Yeomin replied with a forced laugh:
[I never said I was going back to your house?]
[Sundoli: …]
[Sundoli: That’s really mean]
Yeomin could imagine what Jiho’s expression looked like now, and it made him laugh. Yeomin covered his mouth to muffle his laughter when Taeyang stirred.
Then he sent a reply to Jiho:
[I’ll give you my answer in person]
[Come at six]
[Sundoli: In the morning?]
As if it would be morning. This guy is so impatient.
[No– evening]
[Sundoli: Why does it take so long to think about it?]
[Sundoli: You could just say okay]
[Should I not think about it at all?]
[Sundoli: No… take your time thinking]
It was quite enjoyable having Jiho wrapped around his finger.
[Come at the right time]
[Don’t come early]
[Sundoli: Shall we have dinner together outside tomorrow?]
[We’ll think about that tomorrow]
[Do you know what time it is now?]
[Sundoli: I can’t sleep because you’re not beside me]
Look at him flirting, really. He seems to have not just nine tails, but ninety-nine.
While pondering how to reply, another message came from Jiho:
[Sundoli: Want to talk on the phone?]
A call at 2 AM? Yeomin had never called anyone at such a time before.
There’s no reason to call at dawn, right? Unless you’re lovers, that is.
Yeomin firmly refused:
[No, Lee Taeyang is sleeping now]
[Sundoli: Don’t tell me]
[Sundoli: You’re not sleeping next to him, are you?]
[I am]
There was no reply for a while. The number 1 had clearly disappeared from the message notification.
[Sundoli: You absolutely refuse to sleep in the same bed with me]
[Sundoli: This time you’re really mean]
[Seeing you talk nonsense, you must be sleepy]
[Go to sleep, I’m not checking my phone anymore]
After sending the reply, Yeomin suddenly felt bothered by Seol Jiho’s name being saved as <Sundoli>.
No matter how he thought about it, he’s not a ‘Sundoli’! This is an insult to Sundoli.
Even Sundoli, who crossed the rainbow bridge N years ago, would feel wronged in dog heaven!
Rather than a country dog with such an innocent name, he’s more like a Doberman or Siberian with a name like “Louis Williams Henry III”…
After careful consideration, Yeomin changed Jiho’s saved name.
<Beware of Dog>
It was a quite satisfactory naming. After changing the name, there was already a reply from Jiho:
[Beware of Dog: Okay, sleep well]
[Beware of Dog: Dream of me]
Is he telling me to have a dog dream right now?
