“Thank you, customer. Would you like to look at the casual wear too?”
At the generous purchase, Kim Sara’s service became even more attentive than before. Yu-shin picked out clothes from the hangers that would suit Jun-wan one by one.
“Hey… pick some prettier ones. I went through the trouble of bringing the latest arrivals.”
“This is Park Jun-wan’s taste.”
Things that don’t show off luxury brands as much as possible, styles that aren’t trendy, clothes that are comfortable to wear rather than flashy.
What wouldn’t suit him anyway? Actually, that face itself was so striking that what he wore was better kept a bit plain. On top of that, Jun-wan wore clothes well. With his naturally square shoulders, long arms and legs, and sleek body lines, he looked good even in just a t-shirt and track pants.
“Such old-fashioned taste.”
“Don’t badmouth Park Jun-wan.”
Yu-shin immediately glared at her. Kim Sara snorted as if she’d seen everything.
“Are you crazy?”
“It’s offensive.”
“Anyone would think you married for love. Isn’t it funny how you’re protecting him when you’re a show-window couple?”
“Aren’t you also a show-window couple, noona?”
“You wanna die?”
“Would you be happy if I badmouthed hyung Hyun-woo?”
Kim Sara’s large eyes rolled around. After thinking for a moment, her answer was:
“I think I’d join in badmouthing him.”
A sigh escaped naturally. He was starting to feel sorry for his brother-in-law who married Kim Sara. Yu-shin gave up on persuading her and just pulled out his wallet.
“Just process the payment.”
Combining the summer clothes, Jun-wan’s suits, and the special order he’d requested separately, the amount seemed to come out roughly similar to what Kim Sara had mentioned. Though it was a large sum, Yu-shin took it in stride since it was the expected amount.
“Just asking, but you don’t like Park Jun-wan, do you?”
It was a ridiculous comment. Yu-shin tried to take back his credit card. Quick-witted Kim Sara swiftly pushed the card into the terminal.
“No, but what you’re doing is really suspicious. Buying him clothes is one thing, but getting all fierce just because I badmouthed Park Jun-wan a bit, does that make sense? Mom said so too. You used Dad’s name to have Cheongryugwan make a lunch box? This is why I’m suspicious, I can’t help it.”
“What’s wrong with taking care of family?”
“It’s weird. Really weird.”
Kim Sara shook her head while printing the receipt. While she briefly stepped away, Yu-shin sprawled on the sofa and looked up at the white ceiling.
Like him? What nonsense.
Just because he had no dating experience didn’t mean he was so oblivious he couldn’t understand his own feelings. If he were facing someone he liked, his heart should be beating like crazy, but even lying in the same bed with Jun-wan, he didn’t feel anything special.
At most, it was favorable feelings, the camaraderie of comrades carrying out the same mission. Park Jun-wan probably felt the same way. Right? Or did he not even feel favorable towards him?
While he was pondering, Kim Sara returned. She was holding a black box in her hand. He immediately recognized it was the watch he’d ordered.
“Check if the condition is okay.”
What Yu-shin had ordered was an old vintage watch. It had been discontinued long ago, so new products were impossible to find, and even used ones commanded their own price.
Yu-shin wanted to replace Jun-wan’s wedding gift watch. Not something to keep preciously displayed in a case, but something he could wear every day.
Like fate, a product caught his eye perfectly. The classic design leather watch seemed as if it had been designed for Park Jun-wan.
He immediately asked Kim Sara. He’d anticipated it wouldn’t be easy to obtain since the product had such high rarity value. But she eventually succeeded, and the watch’s condition was even comparable to new.
“It’s really good?”
“Hmph, I’m Kim Sara.”
Kim Sara swung her long hair and put on airs. Yu-shin smiled with satisfaction only after checking the warranty and authenticity certificate.
“Thank you.”
“I hope your money was well spent.”
It better be. Yu-shin gently stroked the watch case that had come into his possession.
***
Jun-wan returned home. The urgent fires had been put out and he could finally breathe. It was his first time home in thirteen whole days.
Dragging his exhausted body, he entered through the front door. Jun-wan was left speechless at the sight before his eyes. It looked like he’d stepped onto a construction site rather than into a house.
“……”
Instead of carpet on the floor, there were boxes laid out, and half the house was covered with protective plastic. And what about the living room? It was full of unidentifiable luggage with nowhere to even step.
He’d heard they were doing construction, but this was excessive. The house was such a mess that any thoughts of wanting to rest disappeared instantly.
Yu-shin stood forlornly in the middle of the chaotic living room, observing Jun-wan’s complexion. Jun-wan, who had been staring at him with a face full of things to say, sighed and turned around.
“Call me when it’s cleaned up.”
As he tried to go back to the entrance, Yu-shin quickly ran over and grabbed him.
“Upstairs is fine. Come in.”
Yu-shin’s forced smile showed clear signs of effort. He pulled again at the silent man’s wrist.
“It’ll all be done tomorrow. I’ll clean it up nicely. I really promise!”
“……”
He had no intention of resisting the pleading. Jun-wan pretended to give in and entered.
An uncomfortable sensation reached the soles of his slippers. With every breath, dust floating in the air rushed into his nose. Just how magnificent a painting is he planning to create that the preparation process is so chaotic? Jun-wan couldn’t understand.
As Yu-shin said, the second floor was clean. The organization was acceptable too. Instead of the dust smell, there was a familiar fragrance. His mood softened naturally.
“The person helping with housework must be skilled.”
“Ae-gyeong is amazing. Do you have anything you want me to tell her?”
“Tell her there’s no need to clean the study. I’ll take care of that myself.”
Jun-wan detested others entering his personal domain. The study was the only private space he could have in this house.
“You’re going to wash up, right? I’ll bring you clothes to change into.”
Yu-shin volunteered to attend to him. His slightly curved eye corners were quite suspicious. Jun-wan didn’t want to react to that. Already exhausted to the limit, he conserved his words.
After showering, Yu-shin was waiting in the second-floor reception room. His glances suggested he wanted to talk.
Jun-wan leaned his body against the sofa as if collapsing. It was quite unfortunate that he couldn’t rest properly even at home. But as a married couple, they had no choice but to continue carrying this inconvenience.
“Are you done with being busy?”
“The situation is under control. Other research projects have also started, so I can’t say I’m free.”
“You’re coming home every day though, right?”
Yu-shin’s question was unexpected. It sounded like he wanted him to come home. Jun-wan buried his head in the sofa while stroking his crookedly raised eyebrow.
“Wouldn’t it be better for Kim Yu-shin if I wasn’t around?”
“That’s what I thought for a few days. But living alone, I got a bit lonely.”
“Even if we’re together, it won’t particularly give you a sense of security.”
“That’s not true. I feel really secure right now.”
Yu-shin didn’t make empty remarks. From his eyes meeting his directly, it was clearly evident those words were sincere. Instead of responding, Jun-wan just rubbed his innocent lips.
“Once the studio is ready, are you going to start painting right away?”
He deliberately changed the topic to Yu-shin’s affairs. He was curious. What kind of paintings would this lazy young master actually draw? Was it really a profession and not just a hobby?
It was a novel interest for Jun-wan, who had no interest in anything outside research. He propped his chin at an angle and intently watched Yu-shin sitting across from him diagonally.
Yu-shin was also in a relaxed posture. His crossed leg swayed back and forth.
“I need to plan it out slowly. I haven’t held a brush in a long time, so I need to loosen up my hand too.”
“How long has it been since you painted?”
“About ten years.”
“You couldn’t have majored in it, so did you study under someone separately?”
“At first I painted alone, then I got a teacher.”
“What’s your teacher’s name?”
“Um… Do you know Master Han Jeong-seon?”
Jun-wan’s eyes widened rarely. How could I not know Master Han Jeong-seon? He was a figure called a master of Korean painting. It was hard to believe he’d been taught by such a renowned person.
“It couldn’t have been easy to make that connection.”
“It was my father’s introduction. I studied for about… three years?”
So he benefited from his family connections. It wasn’t anything surprising in a yangban household.
