# Chapter 49
Originally, Jiho and Yeomin’s fake dating contract included “mandatory public dates” and “boyfriend stand-in” as basic clauses, but…
For several days, Yeomin didn’t leave the house. No, it would be more accurate to say he “couldn’t” leave.
“I told you not to do it on my body!”
“Hyung, getting wet is sexy.”
He never listens. Getting his body dirty was one thing, but he was worried about having to wash the expensive bedding if it got dirty.
Of course, the housekeepers replaced it daily anyway.
‘It’s embarrassing…’
For the past few days, Yeomin had skipped both his PC bang shifts and Jiwoong’s tutoring sessions, just rolling around at home with Jiho.
The first time is difficult, but the second is easier. By the third time, it was as easy as eating cold porridge.
Jiho’s hand touched Yeomin’s body, which had become as soft as slime.
“I’ll wipe you clean.”
“Don’t touch down there…”
“But that’s where most of it is?”
Look at him snickering with that eye-smile. Yeomin stopped resisting.
Jiho then meticulously wiped Yeomin’s entire body with tissues. The initially careful touch suddenly became more intense at some point. Just as Yeomin felt something was off, Jiho winked and made his move.
“One more round?”
“You make it sound like some kind of deal. …We’re out of condoms.”
“I can go buy some.”
It didn’t even take Jiho 10 seconds to spring up.
‘He’s become quite disciplined.’
They no longer did those awkward public dates or that crazy hand-holding in front of others, but the message had probably been properly conveyed to Ian Group. How these two were sticking together these days.
Changing bed sheets daily, used condoms in the room’s trash can, buying bags full of condoms every time they went to the convenience store.
‘If I were President Ahn, I’d probably want to bury me in the mountains…’
Would it hurt a lot to be buried in the ground? As Yeomin was lost in thought, Jiho gently kissed his forehead.
His lips separated with a ticklish sound.
“I’ll be back soon. You’ll be okay alone for a bit, right?”
“You’re treating me like I have separation anxiety. Can you handle going out alone?”
“I am a bit anxious…”
Before, Jiho would get anxious when Yeomin was unreachable and came home late, but now, after just a few days, he got anxious just being away from Yeomin’s arms.
Jiho regretfully kissed the bridge of Yeomin’s nose too.
Sensing this could go on endlessly, Yeomin pushed Jiho away.
“Go quickly. Bring back some ice cream.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Watching him flutter away like a puppy, Yeomin thought:
The Dog President said there are no bad dogs in the world. Then perhaps there are no inherently bad sons of bitches either?
Perhaps Seol Jiho wasn’t just straightforwardly bad… that was Yeomin’s amusing wish.
* * *
Director Ahn was summoned to the president’s office today.
‘Both Seol Jiho and my sister definitely treat me like a yard dog.’
“You called for me, President.”
Despite grumbling the entire way here, Director Ahn entered the president’s office with a respectful 90-degree bow. This is what office life is all about.
President Ahn gestured slightly as she turned her chair. Though she was his sister, she was unpleasant.
“I’m busy with work, so if you could keep this brief—”
Before he could finish speaking, something was thrown in front of Director Ahn. It was a pile of photos in a transparent folder.
Director Ahn’s eyes widened as he casually scanned the photos.
“This is…”
There were pictures of Jiho buying condoms at a convenience store, Jiho leaving the store with a bag, and Jiho returning home.
‘That crazy bastard. He’s really enjoying himself.’
Director Ahn cursed inwardly.
President Ahn interrogated him with eyes so fierce they seemed ready to snap his photo next.
“Didn’t you say there were no special developments?”
“I didn’t know Jiho had a hobby of collecting condoms. Haha…”
“No one enters or leaves the house, that student Yeomin hasn’t shown any signs of leaving the house for days, and he comes out faithfully once a day to buy this?”
President Ahn already looked like she had figured everything out.
All of Director Ahn’s efforts to divert evidence and submit false reports had been in vain.
He had tried to inform her as late as possible, but…
She wasn’t the type to blindly trust just him. It was unlikely she had only instructed him to monitor Jiho’s movements and investigate Yeomin.
Director Ahn quickly admitted:
“I told a white lie because I thought you’d be too shocked to hear your son is gay.”
“You dare deceive me?”
Director Ahn’s mouth shut at President Ahn’s anger.
Based on his database of experience, President Ahn was currently about 30% pissed off.
In situations like this, the best strategy was to lie flat and submissive.
“I was going to investigate more and report back. Really!”
“Find out if that student is the reason Jiho suddenly broke off his engagement last year.”
Director Ahn’s eyes widened.
“No way. It’s only been a few months since he met Yeomin… Wait, is that really it?”
Director Ahn’s expression changed from ‘suspicion’ to ‘shock’.
President Ahn was already convinced.
“I thought it was strange that he caused that mess at the L Card dinner but then just diligently attended school… That’s where it was. Seol Jiho’s honey pot.”
Like the powerful figure of a major corporation that she was, she had a look of seeing through everything.
Director Ahn felt both amazed and doubtful.
“Could Seol Jiho really be… that devoted?”
Since last summer, that’s at least a year, right? Goosebumps rose on Director Ahn’s arm.
With an expression more serious than during quarterly performance reports, President Ahn gave him instructions.
“I need to see him soon. Arrange a meeting with that student Joo Yeomin. Ah, of course, without Jiho knowing.”
Her frightening gaze implied that if he messed this up too, she would hang him alongside Seol Jiho from the Ian Group building.
Suddenly treated like a bat caught between sides, Director Ahn bowed his head deeply.
“As you command, President!”
Nephew, I’m sorry. Your uncle is the type who always sides with power.
* * *
It was the seventh day of being confined at home with Jiho. Now it really felt like being subjected to a test of human limits.
Blankly staring at the ceiling, Yeomin painfully turned his head. Jiho was asleep with his arm wrapped around Yeomin’s chest.
“Shhh…”
Yeomin carefully removed Jiho’s arm from his body so as not to wake him. Then, as soon as he slipped out of bed, he headed straight for the bathroom.
What if Seol Jiho wakes up and comes in? What if he comes running with another “hyuuung”? Yeomin anxiously showered quickly.
Then he grabbed some clothes from the dryer, hastily put them on, and left the house.
“Whew… I finally feel alive.”
How long had it been since he felt the sunlight, breathed outside air? Even walking on two legs felt like something he hadn’t done in ages.
Yeomin was filled with emotion. How many bestial days had he spent? Days with no reason or thought, just pure instinct…
‘Haah, mmm… there, more, more… ahhh!’
Sex with a man. Not just any man, but Seol Jiho. And the fact that it wasn’t bad. He even ejaculated while crying!
Yeomin didn’t know he was someone who could sleep with a man, nor did he know he wouldn’t regret it afterward.
‘Was I always this blinded by carnal desire?’
Yeomin felt like his entire life had been turned upside down.
“Ah. I need a cigarette…”
He wanted to empty his head, even briefly, of the fragments of their lovemaking that filled it.
Yeomin went to a nearby smoking booth and lit a cigarette. While looking for his cigarettes, he realized:
‘Come to think of it, I didn’t bring my phone.’
“…I hope Seol Jiho hasn’t woken up.”
He was sleeping so soundly. He should sleep at least 30 minutes more.
As the cigarette smoke entered his lungs, his mind gradually emptied. And thoughts like ‘Whatever, let’s just live casually! Life, just take its course!’ took their place.
“Right. It’s not so bad, is it? It will end someday. When that time comes, I’ll take my benefits and leave this place.”
Just as his cigarette was almost burned out, the door to the smoking booth opened.
Yeomin was about to move aside to let the person pass, when he was startled.
“Director Ahn?”
Having met him several times before, he was actually quite glad to see him. After all, this was his first time meeting someone other than Jiho in the past week. It was understandable.
“Are you back at home?”
“In this world, it seems like student Yeomin is the only one happy to see me.”
Director Ahn muttered dejectedly as he took out a cigarette case from his inner pocket.
“By the way, student Yeomin, you look much thinner since I last saw you.”
“Ah… There were some reasons.”
“Right. You should at least eat well.”
Yes. As Yeomin awkwardly nodded, Director Ahn lit his cigarette.
‘Director Ahn shouldn’t see the state of the house…’
Yeomin felt dizzy as he recalled the house with traces of their lovemaking.
Meanwhile, Director Ahn spoke:
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll be quick. Ah, I can speak comfortably, right?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Keep our meeting today a secret from Jiho. I’m here because someone else sent me.”
Director Ahn spoke rapidly enough to qualify for ‘Show Me The Money.’ Even as he spoke, his eyes constantly surveyed outside the smoking booth. As if afraid someone might come.
“Since when have you known Jiho?”
“Huh? Well, from school—”
“When did you start getting close to Jiho?”
“We were in the same department, but we had no contact points and never even talked.”
“Hmm.”
“Last semester, I found him collapsed drunk near my neighborhood and took him home, so that’s basically when we first really met.”
‘Why is he asking this now? And so secretively?’
Though suspicious, Yeomin told the truth because Director Ahn’s gaze was so desperate. And Director Ahn didn’t seem like a bad person.
“You really never spoke to Jiho before that?”
“He rarely came to school…”
To be precise, there was no reason to. Just because they attended the same school didn’t mean they were in the same circle.
“Even with Seol Jiho’s personality, that’s him attending school very diligently.”
Is that supposed to be praiseworthy? Yeomin kept his mouth shut.
Thinking again, it seemed there was nothing good that could come from saying too much in front of Director Ahn. If it became known that he and Seol Jiho were in a contract relationship, things could go wrong… and then his retirement fund would be gone too.
“But why are you suddenly asking this?”
“Did Jiho tell you why he was collapsed in that neighborhood?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Why is he only asking what he’s curious about and not answering my questions? Yeomin was getting annoyed.
Well, what can I do, he’s an elder…
“He said he left because he didn’t like how his family was trying to control his life…”
“Aha?”
“He said he didn’t want an arranged marriage.”
“Arranged, right. So that’s what our Jiho said…”
Director Ahn laughed as if he’d lost his mind.
Regardless of that, Yeomin was getting anxious. He needed to get back before Jiho woke up.
He cursed his adaptability for having adjusted to this semi-captive life.
“So what is it you really want to say? Stop beating around the bush and just tell me.”
Yeomin hit the nail on the head. Even so, Director Ahn didn’t seem flustered.
“What could I possibly have to say? Just asking you to take good care of our Jiho. He lacks social skills, so please teach him with affection whenever that happens~ He seems to listen to you well anyway.”
“…”
“Well, I’ll be going now. Ah! Today’s meeting is truly a secret.”
Director Ahn made a gesture of zipping his lips and left the smoking booth.
“What was that all about…”
Yeomin muttered, feeling more uneasy. How is it that everyone in this family is so devious in the same way? It must be a family trait.
