Chapter 90: Fate Woven with Red and Blue Threads
Dohyuk insisted on taking Yeon home. There was no way to dissuade him from his determination to personally check where Yeon lived. After sending Director Choi ahead, they came to the apartment where Yeon lived.
“It’s small compared to your place, Kang Dohyuk-ssi.”
Yeon warned as he opened the door. The apartment, around 20 pyeong (about 700 square feet), obviously wouldn’t meet Dohyuk’s standards, but it was sufficient for Yeon to live alone. As expected, Dohyuk didn’t like it; his face hardened from the moment he stepped into the entryway.
“If you insist on living alone, move to another place. Somewhere with better security. I’ll find one for you.”
So it wasn’t the size that was the problem, but that.
“This is enough for me. I don’t have anyone with malicious intent toward me that would require such security.”
When Yeon explained that unlike Dohyuk, his social circle was extremely limited, Dohyuk didn’t seem pleased but didn’t force the issue either.
“Come in. I’ll make you some coffee.”
“I don’t drink instant mix.”
Yeon couldn’t help but smile at his immediate response without even a second of consideration. This is definitely Kang Dohyuk. It struck him anew how characteristic that was of him. Come to think of it, both at his office and at his home, there were machines that ground coffee beans to brew coffee.
“I’ll brew coffee for you. I don’t have a coffee machine, but I do have a manual coffee grinder. I learned at the café.”
Although Yeon offered to make the type of coffee Dohyuk preferred, this time there was another issue as he frowned.
“No, next time.”
Dohyuk was still standing in the entryway without even taking off his shoes.
“If I come in now, I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself.”
Wondering what he meant, Yeon just blinked. When he saw Dohyuk’s sharp gaze flowing from his face down to his body, he belatedly realized the meaning of those words.
“Ah…”
Not knowing how to respond, Yeon’s lips moved slightly, and Dohyuk gestured for him to come closer. As he approached, Dohyuk’s arm wrapped around his shoulder, pulling him slightly into his embrace.
“Don’t bring men home casually. They might not all think of you the way you think.”
“I think you’re about the only one who has such feelings for me.”
Yeon could be sure of that.
“That’s fortunate then. I won’t have to go on a rampage killing anyone who touches you.”
Uncertain whether this was a joke or not, Yeon pushed against Dohyuk’s chest and looked up at his face. His black eyes, serious to the point of gleaming darkly, were focused on him.
Not a joke. It really did seem like if Yeon ever cheated, Dohyuk would capture him without anyone knowing and throw him into the sea.
“No one has come here except Lee Yeon-ssi. And that was just because she helped me find this place.”
Yeon meant that he hadn’t brought any men over, but Dohyuk’s hardened expression didn’t soften.
“Women aren’t allowed either.”
What was the point of arguing further? Feeling that further squabbling would be meaningless, Yeon obediently nodded.
“Now that I’ve checked where you live, I’ll go for today. But I can’t wait long.”
Dohyuk reached out and lightly ruffled Yeon’s hair before turning around. Yeon, who had thought Dohyuk might kiss him, sat down on the spot after the door closed, burying his flushed face between his legs as he wondered what he was thinking.
When had kissing Kang Dohyuk become so natural? It was no longer a memory from the past. He knew too vividly how hot Dohyuk’s breath was, what it felt like when their tongues intertwined.
Today too… Unconsciously, he raised his hand to touch his lips, and a flush of heat rose to his earlobes. If his heart fluttered this much just from a kiss, what would happen if they did something more? If they engaged in the same acts as in his memories…
Just imagining it made him feel like his head would explode with a bang. He was crazy. What was he thinking? He quickly shook his head and went to the bathroom to wash his face with cold water first. Now that he didn’t have to worry about the ill-fated connection with Kang Dohyuk, he kept having inappropriate thoughts, which was troublesome. He felt embarrassed just thinking about how to face Dohyuk the next time they met.
***
Almost daily, Kang Dohyuk frequented the Heavenly Fate fortune-telling café. He didn’t only come after work. Sometimes he’d visit during lunch, occupying a seat and working while drinking coffee. As a result, a rumor spread through social media that an incredibly handsome man always came alone to spend time at the Heavenly Fate café, causing an increase in female customers.
“Do something about that guy. He’s disrupting business.”
“Oh, come on, he’s not disrupting business, he’s actually helping increase sales!”
When the employee countered Lee Je’s words, he scrunched his face and left. Yeon was troubled too. He had said it was fine for Dohyuk to visit and that he would take his calls, but he hadn’t expected him to come every day, even twice a day. The Kang Dohyuk that Yeon knew was a busy person who would even cut down on meal times to work. Moreover, now that he was Chairman rather than Managing Director, he should be even busier. The fact that he brought work to the café was evidence of this.
“Could you please make sure Kang Dohyuk-ssi doesn’t overexert himself?”
Finally feeling it was too much, Yeon asked Director Choi, who smiled awkwardly with a troubled expression.
“I’m sorry. But if he doesn’t do this, our secretarial staff would suffer too much.”
When Yeon didn’t understand, he added an explanation. While Yeon had just been listening with a “I see” when told that during the time he thought Yeon was dead, Dohyuk had been indescribably prickly and his trademark cool-headedness had collapsed, he was left speechless upon hearing that Dohyuk had been prescribed and was taking sedatives.
“It’s only when he comes here that he even eats meals. So I’d actually like to request something of you. Please at least have dinner with the Chairman.”
Director Choi pleaded with Yeon in turn.
“He wasn’t eating properly?”
“He really just ate the bare minimum to stave off hunger, or often skipped meals entirely. It was surprising that he didn’t collapse and managed to endure.”
“Stop saying unnecessary things.”
Dohyuk, who had approached from behind without anyone noticing, cut off Director Choi’s words. When told it was time to return to the company, Director Choi bowed respectfully to Yeon and left with Dohyuk.
“He’s more desperate than I expected.”
Lee Yeon, who was manning the counter in place of Lee Je, leaned her upper body forward to watch Dohyuk’s retreating figure and made a comment.
“I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to apologize for? I think his devotion is nice to see, why?”
Lee Yeon smiled brightly. Thanks to her, Yeon was able to let go of some of his guilty feelings.
“But why don’t you live together? He must be going crazy with the desire to be with you.”
Lee Yeon asked while looking at Yeon’s hands.
“That’s what a fated partner is. No matter how much you try to push them away, they pull strongly toward you. No matter where you are, they’re the person who will inevitably find you.”
At Lee Yeon’s words, Yeon bit his lip firmly.
“Can you see it too, Lee Yeon-ssi?”
At Yeon’s sudden question, Lee Yeon thought for a moment before gesturing toward a spot with her eyes.
“That blue thread?”
So it wasn’t just his imagination. For the past few days, he had been repeatedly looking at the blue thread that had appeared on his hand, wondering if it was just an illusion created by his desperate wish.
“Why? Are you anxious?”
“Is it anxiety? I’m not sure.”
It felt like a churning sensation inside. When he met Dohyuk, he felt reassured but also somehow impatient. This feeling intensified the more he sensed that Dohyuk was changing. It felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable, as if he wasn’t the person Yeon knew.
“Human feelings are always like that. When you’re having a hard time and suffering, you wish for comfort and happiness, but when things actually become peaceful, you can’t accept it. Because you’re not used to it. You become afraid that this stability will break.”
Maybe that was it. Yeon had never once imagined what happiness might be like. His time at Muryeong had been quiet and calm, but different from happiness.
“But if you completely turn away because you’re scared, won’t you lose the chance to be happy altogether?”
Lee Yeon spoke as if she had entered and exited Yeon’s mind, seeing right through him.
I’m scared.
He agreed with that. He was scared. Even if the tenacious ill-fated connection had disappeared, and even if fortunately he hadn’t died because of Dohyuk’s ill fate this time, Dohyuk was someone who could create new ill-fated connections at any moment. Could he guarantee that Dohyuk wouldn’t hurt him again as he had before?
Lee Yeon, who had been quietly watching Yeon lost in thought, patted his shoulder.
“It’s good to worry, but don’t be too afraid. You’ve already gone through a lot and overcome it to be here. That’s enough. You’re allowed to be happy.”
Lee Yeon smiled prettily. It was a smile that seemed to say, It’s okay.
I see. The trials have already passed. He realized that the time spent with Dohyuk had always felt like being in the midst of a storm, which was why this current tranquility felt unfamiliar, and this realization brought him relief.
“Besides, even if you’re bound by fate, if you ignore them too much, they might stray?”
Lee Yeon added mischievously. Stray? He had never even thought about such a thing. Neither Dohyuk nor himself had lived lives with enough leisure to think about dating. But now such things were possible.
‘I can’t wait long.’
He belatedly recalled what Dohyuk had said the day he’d taken him home. Yeon had understood it to mean that Dohyuk wouldn’t watch this current state continue for long, but that wasn’t it—his feelings could change.
Kang Dohyuk changing. Him looking at and embracing someone other than Yeon. The mere thought made his heart throb painfully.
As Yeon became emotional, the blue and red threads tied to his hand also fluctuated. Lee Yeon, who had been watching the two colors of thread waving in the air, shook her head, then smiled when her eyes met Yeon’s. His face felt hot, as if she had seen right through him.
Zzzing. The phone in his pocket vibrated. He quickly took it out and saw Kang Dohyuk’s name on the screen. Had he forgotten something after just leaving?
“Hello?”
[Is everything alright?]
“Pardon…?”
It hadn’t even been 10 minutes since he left the café, and he was asking if everything was alright—it was puzzling.
“We just saw each other. Nothing’s happened.”
[Something could have happened in the meantime.]
Had Kang Dohyuk always been such a worrier? He used to be someone who responded coolly, if not coldly, to everything…
[I suddenly had a strange feeling. If nothing’s wrong, that’s good.]
He quickly hung up after confirming Yeon’s safety. Yeon continued to look at the red and blue threads waving in the air. Perhaps his emotional fluctuation had been transmitted to Dohyuk through these two threads.
Yeon reached out and grasped the blue thread. Unlike when he touched the red thread, a warm sensation climbed up his fingertips.
Could he trust it? Could he believe that now, neither of them would be hurt anymore and they could be together… That this blue thread was evidence of that?
While holding the thread, Yeon’s eyes rippled with a deeper blue than usual, as if resonating with the thread. As Dohyuk’s face naturally came to mind, it felt like something warm and fluffy was slowly spreading inside his chest.
– I have something to talk about when we meet later.
After leaving a message for Dohyuk, a reply came back within a minute that he would finish work earlier than usual. Thinking that he didn’t need to rush so much, a smile spread across Yeon’s lips.
Today, he wanted to tell Dohyuk about this blue thread. Since Dohyuk was always anxious about Yeon leaving someday because only the red thread existed, he wanted to tell him that he didn’t need to worry anymore.
He wanted to let him know that from now on, a time different from the past would flow.
-fin.
tl/n:
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