I don’t know why he’s angry, but even without looking back, I could tell Seo Hanryul’s expression. Though he was trying hard to suppress his emotions, his trembling voice was clear.
What did I say wrong? I’m speechless at this unexpected reaction.
“Why are you so twisted?”
“…”
“Ha… I’m not angry. Sorry if I startled you. …Don’t casually say you’re going to die. It drives people crazy.”
“What are you suddenly saying…”
“Just don’t talk.”
He came forward, bent his knees, and looked at me—he had a sad expression that looked like he’d cry if I touched him. I wanted to say, I’m the one in pain, so why are you making a fuss, but if I said one more word, it seemed like he’d really cry, so I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth.
Why this sudden display of weakness? He’d never shown me such a side before. It’s quite an ambiguous situation—I don’t know how to respond.
‘I have nothing to say.’
“Even if you pretend to be better, who do you think doesn’t know you can’t even eat properly? Why is someone who’s sick pretending to be fine and putting on airs?”
“What are you talking about now? I’m really fin…”
“Don’t brush it off as nagging. I’m worried. …Why don’t you understand people’s hearts?”
Now he’s even burying his face in my knee and making whining sounds. I did notice that Seo Hanryul had forgiven Cha Jaehyun, but even considering that, the behavior he’s showing now seems somewhat excessive.
The behavior Seo Hanryul is showing now… Yes, it’s similar to the reaction shown when someone you love comes back from the brink of death. I couldn’t understand why he was doing things to me that he would only do to a lover.
“Fine. Let’s head back for today. …Just don’t be in pain.”
‘…?’
Today is especially strange. In the end, I achieved what I wanted. Though it concluded in a somewhat awkward situation, I was going back to the hospital room as I wanted. The guy who was chattering earlier about going on an outing or whatever didn’t say a single word on the way back.
“I just spoke with the hospital director. He says your condition has improved a lot. He says there’s no problem with you being discharged tomorrow.”
When I returned to the single room that was too luxurious to be alone, the Chairman and Executive Director were waiting for me. The Chairman ordered that I should be discharged tomorrow and start getting ready to leave soon.
‘Finally, I can go home.’
Thinking about ending this tiresome hospital life and returning home somewhat lifted my uncomfortable mood. I want to go home and rest alone for a bit.
“Yes, Chairman. I’ll prepare immediately.”
“Don’t take what I said before lightly. I said absolute rest is necessary, so don’t even dream of running around as a manager or going to America again.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
Cha Taesan said this while glaring at me and Seo Hanryul alternately. Don’t run around. I ended up like this because of the characters here, yet I’m the one receiving the unjust punishment in the end.
I won’t be able to dream of America for a while. Or has that ship completely sailed? Should I be grateful that I was able to experience it for even two months…
Having caused trouble here and there, I thought that perhaps it had been too greedy from the start to make plans to flee to America without thinking of the consequences.
‘Right, what business do I have going to America with this fate…’
“When you’re discharged, come straight to the main house. Stay at the house continuously for the time being.”
For me, Cha Jaehyun’s main house is another word for prison. I was briefly happy to hear the news of discharge. But as soon as I heard the word “main house,” my happy feelings disappeared as quickly as a spark being extinguished.
“Chairman, I’m fine going back to my own house. I don’t want to be a burden anymore. My head seems completely healed now. It doesn’t even hurt…”
“What are you, a doctor? The doctor makes that judgment. If you go back home alone saying you’re fine and then collapse, who will help you then? Are you rebelling because you want to see someone grab the back of their neck?”
“Haha, collapse? Chairman, that won’t happen.”
“I knew you were lacking before, but seeing you today, it’s even worse. Your head is cracked right now. Yet you’re thinking of running around alone. Your head must not be cracked enough.”
“Hyung is absolutely right. Don’t even dream of leaving the main house until you’re fully recovered.”
Even Cha Taehan, who had been quiet, started chiming in, making it a fait accompli that I’d be going to the main house tomorrow. Don’t even think about going outside—I really am going to be locked up in prison.
Han Woojin is also a problem, but separately from that, my head injury was because of Lee Dojun. I didn’t work hard to see this outcome, yet I’m ending up locked in prison. Yet that shameless Lee Dojun showed no signs of losing interest in me even after I got injured.
‘Damn bastard.’
Next time that bastard appears before me with that smug face and brings up photos or whatever, I’ll go all out too.
I came back from the brink of death, and seeing the Chairman, it seems America is goodbye, so there’s nothing left to fear. If Lee Dojun wants a mud fight, I’ll gladly oblige.
‘No more being a pushover.’
“Then I’ll expect you at the house starting tomorrow.”
While trembling inside thinking about Lee Dojun, the source of this imprisonment, the Chairman threw out his announcement in a loud voice and left.
‘The main house again in the end.’
I wanted to ask Cha Taehan, who remained in the room, when I could leave the main house, but I knew very well that if I brought it up, I’d only get scolded, so I kept my mouth firmly shut.
* * *
“Aren’t you sick of this? Just go now.”
When the Chairman and Executive Director left, Seo Hanryul immediately returned to the hospital room. I thought he’d left, but it seemed he’d just been waiting for those two to leave.
“Seeing you grumble so energetically, it does seem like you’ve recovered…”
Seo Hanryul ignored my words and swept back my hair.
‘Why is he touching my hair again?’
“You said you’re going home. You can’t not eat there either. Push forward shamelessly according to your personality. Don’t lose heart.”
“When did you hear all that?”
Seo Hanryul didn’t remove his hand from my head. No matter how I think about it, this is strange. I suddenly recalled what that guy said when we went for a walk earlier, asking why I didn’t understand his heart. No matter how much he forgave Cha Jaehyun, this guy’s recent behavior doesn’t make sense for any ordinary reason, considering his usual personality.
“Hey, what’s with you? You did something wrong to me, didn’t you?”
“…Ha, forget it. You think I’m going to tell you? Think carefully about it.”
“Fine, that works for me too. When I go home, I can rest well without doing anything.”
“…”
Seo Hanryul looked at me with distrustful eyes, an expression saying there’s no way you can rest comfortably there. His hand now moved toward my forehead and began fiddling with the scar. The sight of him looking gloomy as if the scar had formed on his own forehead was quite something.
‘I should grow out my bangs first thing after discharge.’
A scar that remained faintly at the end of my forehead. It’s not a big scar, but when the forehead is exposed, a scar that can be discovered if looked at carefully has formed. Though something as terrible as a skull fracture didn’t occur, since a scar was made on the forehead of someone whose only asset is a smooth face, I had no choice but to somewhat understand why he made such a fuss when we met in the dream.
“Stop touching someone else’s forehead?”
“When you get home, don’t ignore my calls.”
“…Why would I? Well, fine.”
I answered him lightly with the mindset that I could at least answer his calls. I decided not to think too much about it, but Seo Hanryul kept touching the scar, which made even my heart feel unsettled. What if Cha Jaehyun later uses this one small scar as an excuse to say something else?
“Look, look, you’re so pretty and nice when you listen well like this.”
Seo Hanryul tapped my cheek. The sight of him looking at me and smiling slightly felt very awkward. How long is he planning to stay here?
“I’ll just give you the home address, so if you’re worried, come visit. Though I don’t know if you’ll be able to get in.”
“Getting snippy again. This isn’t bad either though…”
“Hey, stop with the weird talk and really leave now. Let me sleep.”
I’m not getting used to his gentle attitude as if handling a child. I haven’t changed at all. But Seo Hanryul has changed. Usually this would lead to an argument. The guy before me now doesn’t seem to have any intention of fighting with me at all.
This is ominous. Could it just be momentary kindness or whim occurring because I’m hurt? I always wished this guy would become a better person, but now that he’s actually become one, I don’t feel refreshed.
* * *
After discharge, when I returned to the main house, the location of my room had changed. This is quite intentional.
It’s a room located very close to Cha Taehan’s study, and the room size has been upgraded incomparably from before. However, the previous room wasn’t bad either, and it was quite a satisfactory room in that it was tucked away in a corner of the house where it wasn’t easily seen by others.
Giving me such a room clearly shows the intention to monitor me. Living in this room, I’ll encounter the Chairman and Executive Director at least once a day.
“Young Master, you must eat.”
I was sighing at this hopeless location when I heard the ajumma’s unfailing call. Food again. I was about to respond habitually when I noticed something strange. Originally at the Chairman’s house, I only ate breakfast, but now it’s lunchtime.
‘Since it’s the weekend, are they eating lunch too?’
“My stomach isn’t feeling well, so I don’t think I can eat.”
I’m tired of forcing down food I don’t want to eat. Rather, thinking that maybe the Chairman would get angry and kick me out if I act out as I please, I expressed my refusal.
“Young Master, the Chairman specifically ordered me to bring you.”
The ajumma made a very troubled expression. If I refused and held out, the innocent ajumma would suffer in between, so I had no choice but to go for the meal.
The meal atmosphere was somewhat more boisterous than usual. There were more than one or two changes, but the most curious thing was that Cha Taeha began talking to me even with Cha Taehan in front of him.
I’d feel more comfortable being treated as an invisible person, but they kept making me talk, so a sense of burden and discomfort began filling my stomach.
“In the past you’d cause nothing but trouble every day and give me heartburn, now you crack your head open and give me heartburn. Looking at you, even making people’s insides rot seems to be a great talent.”
“Grandfather, don’t nag Uncle.”
Cha Taeha, who had been chattering away, ended up making a bewildering statement. Upon hearing Cha Taeha’s words, Cha Taesan began glaring not at his grandson, but at me.
‘Cha Taeha, please just shut your mouth and eat.’
“Haha, Taeha. I’m fine. Don’t worry about Uncle and eat your food.”
After my response, a brief silence flowed, and everyone looked at me for a moment. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I tried to just eat quickly and quietly and be done with it, but it doesn’t seem like the meal will end quickly.
‘So much for eating quietly.’
ughhhhh these mfs pissing me off, ykw I should be the male lead atp