On one side, employees dressed in white shirts and black pants stood in a row. Seo-jin threw Hwi-gyeom onto the sofa like a pile of luggage, then disappeared without a word.
When Hwi-gyeom unconsciously followed Seo-jin’s retreating figure with his eyes, Yong-gyu approached Hwi-gyeom. With an expression like coaxing a crying child with candy.
“Honey, from now on you’ll spend time with me. Don’t worry too much. It’ll be a very sweet time.”
Yong-gyu clapped his hands twice. The waiting employees rushed toward Hwi-gyeom. Hwi-gyeom’s shoulders flinched. It was because a faint madness lingered in the eyes of those looking at him.
“Shall we eat something sweet first? Honey, you’re too thin, you could gain some weight.”
One employee placed a three-tier tray filled with various desserts in front of Hwi-gyeom. Juice and coffee came with it. Spotting a glossy egg tart, Hwi-gyeom gulped. The hearty food he’d eaten for lunch had long been digested after sleeping.
When Hwi-gyeom glanced around and picked up the tart with his hand, Yong-gyu smiled contentedly. Then he sat next to Hwi-gyeom and checked his skin condition.
“Didn’t you sleep well? You have some dark circles. Oh my, oh my. But look at those invisible pores. Do you go to a dermatologist? Can you introduce me?”
This was also a first for him, so Hwi-gyeom smiled awkwardly while eating the tart. The shop director’s personality was extraordinary for someone Seo-jin brought. Is he incredibly skilled? As he pondered in his head, Yong-gyu stroked Hwi-gyeom’s cheek with the back of his hand. At the sudden contact, Hwi-gyeom froze and Yong-gyu patted his shoulder to help him relax.
“I need to do some makeup on you later. Also need to cover up these bruises.”
When Yong-gyu pointed to his own neck, Hwi-gyeom’s face darkened. A sigh escaped from Yong-gyu’s mouth. A beauty’s sad expression had the power to make the viewer sad too.
“Um, but…”
After finishing one tart, Hwi-gyeom cautiously spoke up.
“Yes! Honey, your voice is so nice to hear too. What is it, what is it. Ask anything you’re curious about.”
Yong-gyu looked ready to applaud just because Hwi-gyeom spoke. Though slightly burdensome, thanks to Yong-gyu’s naturally jovial personality, the strength in Hwi-gyeom’s rigidly stiff shoulders relaxed considerably.
“Where did Director-nim go?”
He’d only told him to clear out the entire evening, but hadn’t told him what they’d be doing, so he was curious. Seeing that he’d brought him to an atelier, was he going to buy him clothes? Maybe get some grooming done too.
But did he really need to get makeup done? Various questions circled in his head.
“The Director also went to get set up. Originally I’m the Director’s exclusive stylist, but today, well, he assigned me to you?”
When Hwi-gyeom’s expression became puzzled, Yong-gyu laughed heartily.
“You don’t know where you’re going today? There’s a party at the Felr Hotel. A secret party where only the young crowd from the political and business circles gather.”
Ah, so he brought me here because of the party.
At the finally solved mystery, Hwi-gyeom nodded inwardly. The first time he met Seo-jin was also at a party. He thought it was some kind of fundraising event. Back then, the agency president had presented the body’s owner like a mannequin in front of various people.
Because of the people who scanned him with eyes filled with lust, the body’s owner didn’t even have time to feel what kind of atmosphere the party venue had. Many people had their eyes on Hwi-gyeom at that time. There was even a grandfather in his 70s. Among them, Seo-jin was chosen because he had the greatest power.
The body’s owner wouldn’t agree, but Hwi-gyeom thought it was fortunate to be sponsored by Seo-jin. Because it would be better than a grandfather with wrinkled, sagging skin.
“Then darling, shall we get up now?”
When Hwi-gyeom’s expression seemed a bit more comfortable, Yong-gyu stood up from his seat and held out his hand. Hwi-gyeom carefully took his hand.
After that, everything progressed swiftly. He washed his hair and sat in the chair in front of the mirror, receiving care from head to toe. Not only hair and makeup, but his nails were also trimmed. His shortly cut nails changed to a round shape.
Receiving a hand massage with nicely scented lotion, his eyelids grew heavy. Gently. When he opened his eyes at the tickling sensation on his cheeks, he saw the most radiant face he’d seen in recent times.
“Wow, really, your face is a gift from God. How is it. With makeup, it’s flawless, right?”
Yong-gyu’s skills were as impressive as his unique manner of speaking. Once the shadows under his eyes were hidden, his characteristic gorgeous appearance shone. The bruise marks on his neck weren’t visible either. Even the faint wound remaining at the corner of his mouth had disappeared without a trace.
“Now let’s get dressed, darling.”
Looking to the side, he saw a dark navy three-piece suit prepared. With velvet incorporated into part of the vest, it was both refined and sophisticated.
When putting on the ivory-colored shirt, Hwi-gyeom almost let out an exclamation. The fabric of the shirt flowed softly over his skin. He thought expensive clothes really were different.
Even wearing the slightly burgundy-tinted dress shoes, he looked not like an unfortunate unknown actor receiving sponsorship, but like a very well-raised young master of a wealthy family.
As Hwi-gyeom listened to Yong-gyu’s admiration while gazing at the mirror as if entranced, it happened. A low voice was heard from behind.
“Jeong Hwi-gyeom.”
When he turned his head, unlike Hwi-gyeom, he saw Seo-jin dressed in a classic black suit. Only the tie pin had a blue tint.
He already knew he had a handsome face, but Seo-jin looked really splendid especially today. His body with no excess fat showing he exercised consistently and his exceptionally long legs were artistic. Especially the pomade hairstyle with all his hair swept back behind his forehead attractively brought out his characteristic cool atmosphere.
Seo-jin’s gaze slowly scanned Hwi-gyeom. Hwi-gyeom hardened his expression with nervous feelings. Actually, he wanted to spin around once in front of him to show off how stylish he was right now.
“Come here.”
Seo-jin extended one arm toward Hwi-gyeom. Hwi-gyeom swallowed dry saliva and walked toward him. As soon as he approached close, Seo-jin’s arm wrapped around Hwi-gyeom’s waist.
Hwi-gyeom reflexively glanced at Yong-gyu and the other staff. Because he was conscious of two men being like this.
“Where are you looking.”
At that moment, a cold warning brushed past Hwi-gyeom’s ear. Hwi-gyeom turned his creaking head to look at Seo-jin. The moment their eyes met, he felt like a butterfly wrapped tightly in a spider’s web.
He felt passion in Seo-jin’s dark, pitch-black pupils. Right now, he seemed to be desperately suppressing the urge to push Hwi-gyeom down on the floor and penetrate him as is.
Hwi-gyeom’s fingertips also grew hot. Heat rose as his belly tickled. If he hadn’t been in his right mind, he would have kissed Seo-jin right away. The fact that he could touch Hwi-gyeom, but Hwi-gyeom couldn’t touch him freely was lamentable.
When he got in the car led by Seo-jin, he had some expectations. Inside the car was a space where Seo-jin always humiliated and ravaged Hwi-gyeom. He thought that once the car door closed this time, he’d be made to kneel, but it went differently than expected.
Seo-jin didn’t lay a single finger on Hwi-gyeom. He leaned his arm against the car window, looked outside, and acted as if Hwi-gyeom wasn’t beside him.
Leaving his regretful feelings behind, Hwi-gyeom clasped his hands together and occasionally glanced at such Seo-jin. He looked forward to what would happen at the party venue. Yong-gyu had told him that only the young crowd would gather. Then he thought it might not be a typical party atmosphere.
A space where guys with money and power plus vigorous energy gathered. Thinking that there would be plenty of people similar to Seo-jin, his heart pounded.
How will Seo-jin try to break me this time? While maintaining a dark expression, Hwi-gyeom spread his imagination inside his head.
Finally, the car stopped in front of the Felr Hotel. The hotel, exuding a splendid atmosphere from the entrance, was considerably large even though it was in the middle of Seoul. Sports cars worth hundreds of millions were lined up in front.
Jin-tae got out of the car first and opened the back door. Hwi-gyeom soothed his pounding heart and stepped onto the ground.
Walking shoulder to shoulder with Seo-jin, everyone whose eyes met with his bowed politely. The feeling of being treated well was unfamiliar.
They passed through the hotel lobby, took the elevator, and entered the banquet hall where the party was being held. Hwi-gyeom put strength into his lips that were about to part on their own. Just passing through one door, the flow of the air changed. Subtle classical music brushed past his ears.
People wearing suits and dresses were playing instruments directly on one side. When he saw crystal glasses stacked high as a mountain, Hwi-gyeom felt like he was indirectly experiencing the lives of wealthy people.
All the men were dressed in three-piece suits, and the women were all wearing dazzling dresses without exception. While looking around smoothly, Hwi-gyeom held his breath when he saw people whose faces looked familiar.
He saw not only the center of a famous idol group but also an actor who won a newcomer award a year ago. The space filled with dazzling handsome men and beautiful women felt like another world.
Then he suddenly realized something strange. There were noticeably many same-sex couples, and those with familiar faces mostly had partners with ordinary or unremarkable appearances beside them.
Seo-jin had looks that would overshadow any actor even standing next to them, but the others were not like that. Overall, it felt like mostly people in their 30s, with some already balding at the crown or with bellies swollen like Namsan mountain.
Could this be a sponsorship gathering?
The party where he first met Seo-jin had a similar atmosphere. The difference was just that the age range was even more diverse then than now.
