“Anyway, eat something. They said you need to start with rice porridge.”
Wonyoung asked, watching Siyeon’s back as he got up.
“What about your work? How many days was I lying down?”
Siyeon took out what seemed to be pre-made rice porridge from the refrigerator and heated it in the microwave while answering.
“Three days?”
“…I was lying down for quite a while. Sorry, Siyeon.”
“What’s there to be sorry about? You woke up safely, that’s what matters.”
Wonyoung stared intently at Siyeon who heated the porridge and came to sit in front of him, then said.
“Then thank you instead of an apology.”
“…”
“I know you worried a lot. I survived thanks to you. You were shocked, weren’t you?”
Only then did Siyeon let out a sigh of relief.
“I couldn’t even yell at a sick person. When I saw hyung collapse, I thought I was going to die, seriously.”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry.”
“Don’t do that anymore. Really.”
Wonyoung, who suddenly recalled Siyeon seeming to cry when he collapsed, nodded his head.
“I won’t.”
“Promise.”
Wonyoung intertwined his finger with the pinky finger Siyeon held out. Soon Siyeon said quietly.
“And no matter what happens, don’t suffer alone. I’m here too… and even if not me, lean on that psychopath or something. Okay? I’m on hyung’s side, and that psychopath bastard… is probably on hyung’s side too.”
“…”
Wonyoung bit his lips for a moment, then nodded. His nose tingled for no reason.
“Rae!”
And at that moment, the hospital room door swung open and a tall, slender beauty appeared. It was Heegang.
“Rae, have you come to your senses?”
He rushed over, pushed Siyeon aside, and examined Wonyoung’s body. Wonyoung patted his arm to soothe the growling beast—no, Siyeon—and smiled toward Heegang.
“I’m fine. I didn’t know you’d find out too.”
“That gangster bastard didn’t tell me? What trash.”
“What did you say?”
“Guys! Guys, I’m in pain!”
Wonyoung desperately prevented another fight from breaking out. The two handsome men who became childish whenever they met glared at each other sharply, then each turned their heads away. They really were no different from little children.
“I was wiretapping when I heard that gangster surprised about you and rushing to the hospital, so I came right away. I removed the surveillance camera so I didn’t even know you were sick. Sorry.”
“…No, thank you for removing it. When did you take it out?”
“When you got yourself locked up. I took it out thinking I could lock you up anytime.”
If you were going to do that, why didn’t you remove the wiretapping device too? Wonyoung desperately held back from asking that.
“I had an urgent schedule, so I finished just that and came right away. I’m really sorry.”
“No, what’s there to be sorry about?”
As Wonyoung waved his hands dismissively, Siyeon spoke in an indifferent tone.
“Still, that bastard did take turns with me guarding hyung. I’m telling you in case he picks a fight saying I didn’t mention it, you psychopath.”
“Right, Rae. That gangster bastard was busy doing gangster things.”
Seeing Heegang speak as if he’d been waiting, Wonyoung’s head started to ache. Can I trust these guys? Worry began to come first.
Still… he was grateful.
Even if they were just thinking about Narae.
And that night, Wonyoung called Taerim. Of course, the other party didn’t answer the phone, but Wonyoung left a voice message. Text messages would just turn into gibberish anyway.
—Director, this is Narae. I know you don’t want to see my face or hear my voice right now.
—No matter what I say, it won’t be any use, but I swear I wasn’t trying to deceive you, Director.
—Still, it’s true that I lied to you, Director. You can report me or forget about me entirely. Whatever punishment you give, I’ll accept it willingly.
—However, what I want to tell you is that I’ve never disclosed your weakness to anyone. And I won’t in the future either.
—I’ll settle things with Director Kyung Taehyeok myself.
—Thank you so much until now, and I’m sorry.
Wonyoung hesitated, then added one last thing.
—Take care.
* * *
The next day, Wonyoung, who discharged himself from the hospital right away without Siyeon and Heegang knowing, submitted his resignation to the company. He knew that sudden resignation would be an inconvenience, but even in his own opinion, he wasn’t a useful talent, so it seemed there wouldn’t be a big problem.
Of course, Taerim never came out of the director’s office to see Wonyoung.
The employees who had been glancing around and pretending not to notice him sneakily followed Wonyoung out when he left the office and asked him.
“Rae-nim, did something happen? Resigning so suddenly. By any chance, did something happen with the Director…?”
“The Director has been in such low spirits lately. We’re scared, but we’re also worried since he’s even skipping meals…”
Wonyoung smiled bitterly and conveyed his apology to the employees.
“I’m sorry, it’s because of me for no reason. He’ll be fine soon.”
“Rae-nim, are you really leaving like this…? At least say goodbye to the Director before you go.”
“I’m sorry. The Director won’t want to see me. Please take good care of the Director, everyone. And Director Kyung Taehyeok went to the construction company as president, right?”
“Yes, that’s right, but why do you ask…”
Wonyoung answered that it was nothing and turned around. Then as soon as he left the company, he got in a taxi and headed to HS Construction headquarters. It was to settle things with Kyung Taehyeok as he told Taerim.
In the bag he carried was 100 million won in cash. It was money he made by taking on debt again. He planned to return this money to Kyung Taehyeok.
Doing so wouldn’t make what happened with him disappear, but he couldn’t just stay still after receiving 100 million from him.
‘The debt… I’ll pay it back eventually by working part-time again.’
He knew it was foolish. But it wasn’t because this world was virtual. Though Narae started it, he just thought he should finish it himself.
Even if he really didn’t know, no one would believe it, and in the end, he had to be Narae in this world.
‘Stupid pushover bastard. Why did you accept 100 million, why.’
Wonyoung cursed the Narae from before he started playing while heading toward Kyung Taehyeok.
Soon Wonyoung, who arrived at the building, approached the front desk employee.
“I’m here to see President Kyung Taehyeok.”
“Do you have an appointment with the President?”
“If you say Narae, he’ll know.”
The employee nodded and made a call somewhere. Then soon ended the call and said.
“He says to come up to the president’s office.”
Wonyoung calmly went up to the president’s office on the top floor. When he entered the president’s office guided by the secretary, a vase flew toward Wonyoung’s face.
Crash. The vase that narrowly missed shattered against the wall.
“You fucking bastard! Where do you think you are to come here?!”
Who was it that told me to come up. Wonyoung wasn’t particularly surprised and cursed inwardly while approaching Taehyeok.
“Here, the 100 million won you gave me. I’m returning it.”
“What?”
“It’ll be difficult to pretend nothing happened, but I hope we won’t have to meet after this.”
“Are you kidding me?”
As expected, Taehyeok’s reaction wasn’t favorable. Wonyoung continued speaking, thinking this wouldn’t end easily.
“Then what should I do? Director Kyung Taerim already found out everything, so I can’t act as a spy anymore.”
“You must have found something out. Spill it. I sent you to earn that money, but did you pathetically fall for Kyung Taerim or something?”
“Pardon?”
“Look at you. What, did you already spread your legs for him? Stupid bastard. Do you think Kyung Taerim would even be interested in someone like you?”
At the considerably hopeless remarks, Wonyoung also started to get heated.
“If you have nothing to add to my stupidity, let’s be moderate, and just take the 100 million and go our separate ways?”
“What? This bastard’s way of talking…”
“Am I in the Joseon Dynasty right now? Are you a nobleman and I’m a slave? Did you time-slip alone?”
“What?!”
“If you’re enjoying yourself in that position, show some manners. So uncultured.”
Slap! With a sharp friction sound, Wonyoung’s head turned. Wonyoung felt the tingling sensation on his cheek, then raised his hand and likewise slapped Taehyeok’s cheek.
“Hey!”
“What!”
At Wonyoung’s vicious answer, Taehyeok looked at Wonyoung with his mouth open as if dumbfounded. His expression said, what kind of thing is this?
“You really want to die that badly?”
Soon Taehyeok glared and raised his hand again.
But then, the door swung open and someone stood in front of Wonyoung. Seeing the now-familiar broad back, Wonyoung widened his eyes.
“Director…?”
“Kyung Taerim, how did you…”
Taerim, who turned to look at Wonyoung with a frown, saw his swollen cheek and frowned even more.
Wonyoung thought. If it were Narae, he would have cried already…
[That person hit me, Director!]
[Just wail silently.]
Wonyoung smiled wryly. Who knew choices could be this welcome?
Traditionally in times like this, silently shedding tears is more dramatic.
“Hic, huhuhuk…”
The tears that hadn’t come out even a drop when he was slapped and cursed at began pouring out like a fountain as if nothing had happened. In fact, Wonyoung was crying on the outside, but laughing on the inside.
Kyung Taehyeok, you’re dead now.
“Narae-ssi.”
Taerim, who hurriedly cupped Wonyoung’s cheeks, looked back at Taehyeok with sharp eyes.
“Did you lay your hands on this person?”
The chill in the low voice was enough to make Wonyoung’s fine hairs stand on end.
“Hey! I got hit too…”
“Huuuk! Huhuhung…!”
Taehyeok, sensing danger, hurriedly opened his mouth, but Wonyoung beat him to it and wailed loudly.
“I’m sorry, Director. I was just trying to, hic, return all the money I received… huuuung…!”
After that too, Wonyoung mumbled words that were impossible to tell if he was crying or talking. Well, anyway, it’s to say it had enough effect to stoke Taerim’s anger.
