# Chapter 41
Yeomin couldn’t remember how he managed to eat dinner. Throughout the meal, he was so busy answering President Ahn’s questions that he didn’t even know where his food was going.
President Ahn seemed to have many questions for Yeomin. How he met Jiho, how he came to tutor Jiwoong, what Jiwoong’s attitude was like during lessons, if he had any difficulties with the tutoring, and then…
“According to Director Ahn, Jiho is indebted to you?”
“Yes. We lived together at my place for a while.”
“That’s surprising.”
President Ahn spoke with a tone of great interest.
Yeomin glanced at Jiho, unsure if he had answered correctly. But Jiho was just picking out peanuts from the side dishes with a completely blank expression.
‘You bastard. Why did you bring me here…’
“So now you’re living with Jiho at Director Ahn’s place?”
“There was an issue with the place I was living, so Jiho is helping me out.”
“I see, so that’s how it is…”
President Ahn mumbled, repeating the same words.
Yeomin swallowed dryly, feeling tense like he was in a job interview.
“How is it going? Two men living together in one house. Especially since he’s not the type to live with others.”
“The house is… spacious, so it’s fine.”
“We even slept together in a palm-sized room, so what’s the big deal?”
Jiho suddenly chimed in, having been quiet until now.
No matter how you looked at it, palm-sized was too much of an exaggeration. Even if his studio apartment was small, it wasn’t that tiny.
“…Slept together?”
President Ahn’s lips twitched. The phrase “slept together” could be interpreted with an intimate nuance. That’s probably why Jiho deliberately phrased it that way.
Yeomin didn’t bother to make excuses. Actually, he was considering whether to play along. After all, he and Jiho came here today with that intention.
“Ha. Haha! Slept together soundly~ I see you had a good night’s sleep!”
Director Ahn tried hard to smooth things over with laughter.
“…”
“That’s right.”
But Yeomin remained silent, and Jiho didn’t laugh either. President Ahn also paused with her spoon, seemingly lost in thought.
In the suddenly solemn atmosphere, Jiwoong muttered, “Lost my appetite,” and got up.
‘This is harder than I thought. Becoming a true gay, a proud couple…’
Yeomin felt as if his back was soaking with sweat.
After some thought, President Ahn made a suggestion.
“If there’s a problem with your place, I was thinking of finding you a new place to stay. You can’t both stay at Director Ahn’s house forever.”
Yeomin was inwardly surprised by President Ahn’s suddenly proactive attitude. Under the pretense of helping with Yeomin’s housing issue, he could sense her trying to gauge their intentions.
Jiho simply rested his chin in his hand and watched, as if waiting to see how Yeomin would respond.
What would be the model answer in this situation? If he were really Seol Jiho’s lover?
Yeomin did some mind control.
‘I am now Seol Jiho’s lover. I am having the love of the century with Seol Jiho. I like Seol Jiho insanely right now. I don’t want to be apart for even a moment… I’m going to marry Seol Jiho…’
“I’m going to mar-“
“Mar?”
He almost blurted out exactly what he was thinking.
Seeing President Ahn’s increasingly rigid expression, Yeomin hurriedly added:
“Ma, match well with him, so I’m not at all uncomfortable staying there now. Jiho takes good care of me.”
“Jiho… takes good care of you?”
“Yes.”
“How does he take care of you?”
Why am I being interrogated? Yeomin panicked, feeling cornered. Even a pressure interview wouldn’t be like this.
Trying to think on the spot, Yeomin couldn’t recall anything nice Jiho had done for him, but all the irritating things came flooding back simultaneously.
“Um… well…”
As Yeomin hesitated, making eye contact with Jiho, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“…He treats me cute.”
Damn it… should I bite my tongue and die? Why did that word of all things come to mind?
But there was no use regretting it after it was said. Yeomin wept inwardly.
“…He treats you cute?”
“Yes.”
“That’s mean, hyung. I do lots of other nice things for you. See, you really are cute.”
“Ha… ha…”
The atmosphere sank further into an inescapable swamp.
President Ahn’s expression visibly soured, Director Ahn gave up trying to salvage the situation and fell silent, Jiwoong sighed and left the table, and Seol Jiho just smiled broadly regardless of the atmosphere.
It was truly the perfect recipe for indigestion.
* * *
After dinner, Jiho was summoned by President Ahn.
Meanwhile, Yeomin stubbornly continued eating dessert.
‘Is Seol Jiho getting chewed out? Well, it’s not me getting grilled, so it doesn’t matter.’
Yeomin crunched on fruit.
Jiwoong was watching him with his legs crossed, looking disgusted.
Yeomin preemptively struck first.
“If you’re going to scold me, just get it over with.”
“Teacher, are you in your right mind?”
Before Jiwoong could launch into a lecture, Yeomin speared a piece of watermelon with his fork and held it out.
“This is crazy! It’s super sweet. Try it.”
“The watermelon isn’t the issue right now!”
“Then what is the issue?”
Jiwoong swallowed a sigh.
“Teacher, what are you thinking? What’s your plan? Wait, do you even have a plan? I guess you wouldn’t have any contingency plan either.”
His expression had been poor throughout dinner. Jiwoong seemed like he was about to burst.
Fair enough. If Yeomin were Jiwoong, he’d be annoyed too. How uncomfortable and creepy it must be to have your brother and tutor giving off strange vibes in front of your parents.
‘But teacher has already received an advance payment… and there’s the absolutely certain justification of a “contract,” my child.’
“What are you trying to do with Seol Jiho?”
“Hmm. What am I doing with him? …I don’t know either.”
Despite Jiwoong’s pressing, Yeomin only gave ambiguous answers.
“Don’t talk about it like it’s someone else’s business. What are you trusting about Seol Jiho?”
“I don’t trust Seol Jiho, though?”
‘I only trust money.’ He barely held back those words in front of Jiwoong. If it had been in front of Jiho, he would have definitely said it.
Yeomin felt even more at ease. Even if everything falls apart in the end, he would still have the ‘money’ left.
Yeomin asked what he was actually curious about.
“And you, what makes you worry about me so much?”
“…Pardon?”
Yeomin found it interesting that Jiwoong was being so emotional and meddling.
“Are you afraid of what I might do with Seol Jiho?”
“What kind of crazy talk is that.”
Jiwoong recoiled in disgust. But why were his ears turning red?
He really does have cute aspects because he’s young.
‘Did Seol Jiho have any cute sides when he was that age?’
Hmm… somehow he doubted it.
“If you really hate it, you can fire me from tutoring. I won’t hold it against you.”
“…”
“But if possible, let’s continue together. Teacher will treat you well. I teach well, don’t I? And I don’t nag. Right?”
Yeomin narrowed his eyes and asked again. It’s so easy to act cute and flutter your eyelashes at an eighteen-year-old, isn’t it?
But he was sincere. He didn’t want to quit tutoring Jiwoong. If a situation arose where he absolutely had to quit, then that would be unavoidable…
But he still enjoyed teaching, and just in case, Jiwoong could be quite a useful card for his future.
“Just tell me you won’t fire me for now.”
“…It depends on what you do, teacher.”
“I’ll work super hard, I promise!”
Jiwoong grumbled.
“Stop bringing Seol Jiho home. It’s annoying seeing his face.”
That’s not really up to me… but I’ll try.
Yeomin stuffed his mouth full with a sweet piece of watermelon.
* * *
Jiho was in President Ahn’s study. It had been ages since mother and son had been alone together.
Rather than the warm atmosphere that should exist between them, the study felt ice cold. President Ahn ordered without a hint of a smile.
“Move back to the main house.”
“Do I have to?”
‘Do I have to?’ Look at that disrespectful answer.
President Ahn’s brow furrowed.
“Director Ahn is still commuting from a hotel because of you. Why are you taking over someone else’s perfectly good home?”
“It’s not like he’s sleeping on the street, so what’s the problem?”
“What are you trying to do with that kid?”
President Ahn’s voice lowered.
When was the last time she had a gentle conversation with Jiho… Actually, she couldn’t even remember if they’d ever had one. Likewise, Jiho had never properly answered any of President Ahn’s questions. Not even once.
“Who knows. What should I do? I want to do everything I can with hyung.”
“…”
“But why should I report that to you, President Ahn?”
Jiho smiled coldly. Though he was her own flesh and blood, she could never understand what was going on in his head.
Jiho looked around the study. As he ran his fingers along the densely packed books, he stopped in front of a frame on the bookshelf.
President Ahn. A young Jiho. An even younger Jiwoong. The photo had one end deliberately folded, as if erasing someone’s existence.
Looking at that photo, Jiho spoke chillingly.
“I never let go of what I like. I won’t stupidly let it go just because someone asks me to, and I won’t accidentally lose it either.”
“…Seol Jiho.”
“I learned it from Mom. I thought, ah, I shouldn’t live like that.”
Jiho said what he wanted to say and left the study without lingering.
As soon as he opened the door, he ran into Director Ahn who was standing outside.
Jiho walked past Director Ahn, who was awkwardly pretending not to eavesdrop, and disappeared. Only then did Director Ahn hurriedly rush into the study.
President Ahn’s expression was ominous.
“What were you discussing so seriously?”
“Hyungju.”
President Ahn called Director Ahn. Her voice was calm, but her eyes flashed sharply.
“Look into that student, Joo Yeomin.”
“What about him?”
“Everything you can find. Down to how many spoons he has at home, search thoroughly.”
“…”
Why do the people in this family only give me orders? The fact that mother and son speak in such eerily identical ways… that was what amazed Director Ahn.
Student Yeomin, I’m sorry in advance…
