* * *
“……Ha.”
Kang Siwon let out a sigh from deep within his chest and sat down on the bed.
‘Siwon, do you know what common sense really is?’
‘…….’
‘It’s not doing spy work…….’
The words Ray Jun had cruelly whispered just moments ago echoed in his ears. It was a side completely incompatible with words like ‘kindness’ or ‘affection’ that Kang Siwon had always associated with Ray Jun. Even as that Ray Jun felt like someone with a split personality or a psychopath…….
‘Are you upset because I didn’t give you a heads-up? Then Siwon, why didn’t you give me a heads-up either.’
Just as Ray Jun said, he himself hadn’t told Ray Jun anything either, so it was absurd to blame him for that issue. When he thought of his own faults, even feeling hurt by him seemed unjustified.
“Hoo…….”
He let out another sigh as he looked out the window. The view overlooking from Macau’s luxury resort, and among those, from the most splendid guest room, was fantastic. However, perhaps because it didn’t feel like a place where he belonged, it felt like watching well-made CG footage.
“What’s this, the windows don’t even open so I can’t even jump out.”
He was startled by the words he’d carelessly muttered. The bedroom door opened at the same moment.
“Hm? What did you just say? That was Korean, right?”
“……It’s nothing.”
If he answered truthfully, it seemed like all the windows would be replaced with iron bars that very day. Even Ray Jun probably wouldn’t go that far, but in any case, it wasn’t something good to say.
“Haa, that’s too much. I worked so hard teaching you Chinese, but Siwon won’t teach me even a single Korean word…….”
“……I said I want to leave quickly. Satisfied?”
Ray Jun, joking playfully, was exactly as he knew him to be. Sociable, fun, and friendly……. It was precisely those aspects that often confused Kang Siwon. Sometimes he felt as unfamiliar as a complete stranger, then the next moment his attitude would change like a dear roommate.
“Ah, sorry. Did I keep you waiting long? Let’s go now.”
“Wait, let me change my clothes.”
Kang Siwon took off his loungewear. Ray Jun’s gaze blatantly followed, but he ignored it. There was no need to be embarrassed about showing a bit of bare skin at this point.
“You wear that t-shirt a lot.”
“Yeah.”
“Is it your favorite t-shirt?”
“Just comfortable.”
“Yeah. It suits you well. Still, sometimes it’d be fine to wear something other than black. Should we go clothes shopping together later?”
“No thanks.”
Ray Jun persistently kept talking. It wasn’t that the t-shirt mattered—he simply seemed to want to continue the conversation. But Kang Siwon wasn’t in the mood, so he only gave short answers.
“Wait, Siwon.”
Just as he was about to leave the bedroom, Ray Jun, standing at the door, blocked his way. He gestured with his chin toward something over Kang Siwon’s shoulder.
“Aren’t you taking your phone?”
“Huh?”
“It’s right there by the pillow. Aren’t you going to take it?”
Kang Siwon turned his head to glare at the troublesome thing. Usually he hid it deep in the nightstand drawer, but sometimes he kept it nearby like this. If no sound was transmitted, the Baeksa Faction would find it suspicious, so he deliberately let everyday noises leak through. It was the same now.
However, there was no need to bring his phone when going out. If by any chance Ray Jun said something important, the Baeksa Faction would hear it, and he couldn’t condone that.
“It’s fine. It’ll just make my pocket heavy.”
“From just one phone?”
“……I won’t have any use for it anyway.”
“What do you mean no use, if we happen to get separated while walking around, you won’t have any way to contact me. Why don’t you just take it?”
The way he insisted again despite being told it wasn’t needed made it seem like he was deliberately testing him. Kang Siwon muttered in a small voice.
“We just won’t get separated.”
As if it was an unexpected answer, Ray Jun’s eyes widened. Soon those eyes curved beautifully.
“Yeah, you’re right about that.”
“Just hurry up and let’s go.”
Kang Siwon suppressed the inexplicably rising emotions and left the bedroom. Ray Jun followed behind him.
“Let’s go together. You can’t go out alone anyway.”
Reaching the entrance, he tagged a card key to the reader on the wall. The front door opened with a beep. Even when passing through the short corridor and getting on the elevator, they had to use Ray Jun’s card key. Kang Siwon’s gaze naturally turned to the card key in his hand. If only he had that, he could go out freely too…….
“Want it?”
Ray Jun wouldn’t have failed to notice that look. Since there was no need to hide it anyway, Kang Siwon nodded deeply.
“Of course.”
“Then you can try to take it.”
Was he serious? Though dubious, Kang Siwon reached out his hand, thinking he had nothing to lose. However, Ray Jun immediately hid the card key behind his back.
“What?”
“What do you mean? I said you can try to take it, I didn’t say I’d let you take it easily.”
I knew it would be like this. Kang Siwon, provoked, lunged at him, but Ray Jun cleverly dodged again this time. An impromptu game of ‘try to catch me’ unfolded inside the elevator. The moment Ray Jun raised the card high and Kang Siwon stood on his tiptoes and reached out his hand.
“…….”
Kang Siwon realized their faces had become far too close. When he came to his senses, he had cornered Ray Jun against the elevator wall. Anyone watching would think they were about to kiss.
Belatedly coming to his senses, he hastily stepped back. At the same time, the elevator door opened.
“Time out.”
Ray Jun said playfully as he put the card key in his pocket.
“You never intended to give it from the start.”
“That’s not true? I was going to give it if you kissed me right then.”
“Are you kidding? There was no such condition.”
“It’s the game’s hidden rule.”
“Ha…….”
Kang Siwon thought it was a hundred times better that he hadn’t brought his phone. If the Baeksa Faction heard this kind of conversation, he’d have to find a mouse hole to crawl into. Though he wasn’t sure if there would be mouse holes in a flashy place like Sovereign Resort.
As they exited the VIP-only corridor, the surroundings became bustling. Only now did the scenery of Sovereign Resort that Kang Siwon knew unfold before his eyes.
“What do you want to eat, Siwon?”
“Anything.”
“There’s no such menu item.”
“Then whatever you want to eat.”
Ray Jun’s eyes narrowed, displeased about something. He had a smile on his lips, but now he knew that was the expression Ray Jun made when dissatisfied. Sure enough, spiteful words sprang from Ray Jun’s mouth.
“Really? I want to get pizza or hamburgers to go and eat in the room. You’re saying that’s fine, right? Or should we just go up now and order?”
“……So this is how you’re going to be.”
“What am I doing?”
Ray Jun blinked his eyes. That innocent expression was infuriating. Kang Siwon blurted out in anger.
“Shameless bastard.”
“Ah, so you wanted to eat shameless bastard. We can eat that if we go upstairs too. What do you want to do?”
Kang Siwon took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Getting angry here and being swept up in Ray Jun’s pace would only be a loss for him. More than anything, there were too many people around and he didn’t want to draw attention with an embarrassing topic.
“……Yeonhwagak.”
“You want Chinese food?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. Then let’s go to Yeonhwagak.”
Yeonhwagak was one of the top Chinese restaurants even within Sovereign. The prices were so high that Kang Siwon had never dared to try it, but he planned to take this opportunity to bleed Ray Jun’s wallet dry. Though even that probably wouldn’t pose even a small threat to Ray Jun’s bank balance.
Come to think of it, just how much money did Ray Jun have?
He’d heard that Ray Jun was scheduled to inherit some of Sovereign’s CEO’s shares, but to put it another way, that also meant he ‘hadn’t inherited them yet.’ Yet it was strange that he was wealthy, and he was curious where the money came from. At the same time, he felt like a materialistic person for having such questions.
But it wasn’t just curiosity about money. More than that, he was curious about the person called Ray Jun himself.
Even after reaching this point, he still couldn’t cut off his interest in him.
* * *
Under a lantern that cast a subtle glow, Kang Siwon sat facing Ray Jun.
Yeonhwagak was an antique and elegant space, as if it had been modeled after a celestial realm. Moreover, this wasn’t the main hall but a private room, giving off an even more secretive atmosphere. The lattice door constructed of natural wood felt like a boundary separating the world from Yeonhwagak, and the walls were made of silk embroidered with cranes. From any angle, it didn’t seem like a space just anyone could enter.
In reality, Yeonhwagak was a restaurant where it was difficult to dine on the same day without a reservation. However, Ray Jun easily solved that obstacle. Just by calling the manager and exchanging a few words, a vacant seat was immediately arranged. And it was a nice room like this that probably wouldn’t even accept reservations easily.
Watching the series of events, Kang Siwon thought once again. Just how far did Ray Jun’s abilities extend…….
“Siwon, I’m sorry about earlier.”
At the words Ray Jun carefully brought up, Kang Siwon stopped his thoughts.
Ray Jun was sulking with a deflated look. He looked so pitiful it would raise sympathy that didn’t exist before. Even though he knew Ray Jun wasn’t someone the likes of him should pity.
“I was too harsh with my words, wasn’t I? You keep trying to avoid me, so I was feeling hurt and just…….”
“……It’s okay.”
It was an apology in form, but somehow it sounded like he was shifting responsibility onto him. However, Kang Siwon decided not to think too deeply about it. Because he himself hadn’t done anything right either.
