“I heard you’re the best. My son has been making a fuss about his leg bones hurting since a while ago, and the bone condition has become like a sponge.”
Chairman Lee stopped speaking for a moment and frowned as if in pain. Currently, the leg bones of his son Lee Seonghun were in such a weakened state that it wouldn’t be strange if they crumbled at any moment. The expression “sponge” was exactly accurate.
“I’ve run countless tests, but the hospital couldn’t find the cause. When I was feeling frustrated, Commissioner Kim said it might be the work of a yokai or ghost, so I called shamans too, but there was no effect. It’s certain there’s something in my son’s body, but they all shook their heads saying their power didn’t reach it. Incompetent fools. Anyway, since things turned out this way, you’ll have to look at him. I’ll give you as much money as you want.”
Eun Seonmyeong scoffed looking at Chairman Lee, who commanded like dealing with a subordinate. He seemed not to recognize Eun Seonmyeong at all. Though it was already 12 years ago so it might be natural, to Eun Seonmyeong, who remembered even the smallest grudge, Chairman Lee was still the same as an enemy.
“You’ve made a wasted trip.”
Eun Seonmyeong said coldly.
“What do you mean?”
“I said several times that I’m busy with work and can’t accept requests, but it seems Commissioner Kim didn’t convey that?”
“Cancel the other requests. I’ll pay all the money for breach of contract. So save my son first.”
His arrogant attitude that money could solve everything was the same as 12 years ago. The unchanged appearance even made him feel a bitter sense of welcome.
“You don’t seem to understand what I’m saying. Did your ear holes get blocked from old age? It’s not a matter of money but a matter of trust. Look for someone else.”
“What did you just say! What kind of manners do you have! How dare you, do you know who I am!”
Chairman Lee turned red and blue at Eun Seonmyeong’s tone full of insolence and rudeness. Regardless, Eun Seonmyeong picked his ear as if asking whose dog was barking. Chairman Lee’s face became even more flushed with anger at that sight.
“CEO Eun! Let’s talk for a moment!”
When the atmosphere turned ominous, Kim Intaek stepped forward to mediate, but Eun Seonmyeong ignored him.
“I’ve said it painfully many times, but I’m busy. Even if I weren’t busy, I won’t accept requests from that bastard.”
“Th-that bastard? Commissioner Kim!! You called such a rude bastard the best?!”
“Chairman Lee, though CEO Eun’s words are a bit rough, his skills are the best. Didn’t you say you’d heard about the Eun family?”
“Hmph, at best he’s no different from some shaman trash, a lowly bastard. Forget it! I can’t entrust my precious son to such a bastard!”
Chairman Lee was thoroughly angry, glared fiercely at Eun Seonmyeong once, then left. Kim Intaek, who had hurriedly chased after Chairman Lee, came back and sighed. Then he reproached Eun Seonmyeong.
“CEO Eun, what was that attitude just now!”
“You’re noisy, and Commissioner, please leave too.”
“Eun Seonmyeong!”
“Will you leave on your own feet? Or will you be chased out like a dog?”
Though the tone was calm, it contained the meaning that if he didn’t leave on his own, he would be kicked out even using force. Kim Intaek wrinkled his brow and said “Today doesn’t seem to be the day. See you again,” and left.
Shim Iyul, who had been sitting on the daecheong swinging his legs and watching while Eun Seonmyeong, Kim Intaek, and Chairman Lee talked, hopped down. Then he approached Eun Seonmyeong, who was obviously in a bad mood, and poked his side.
“What’s your relationship?”
Eun Seonmyeong glanced at Shim Iyul and furrowed his brow.
“You don’t need to know. I’m going out to the shop, so fox, you don’t cause trouble and guard the house well.”
“Am I a dog? What do you mean guard?”
“Aren’t foxes and dogs both of the canine family?”
“Are you treating me, a noble Fire Fox, like a dog right now?”
It was a considerably insulting remark. Shim Iyul’s face flushed red with humiliation.
“This much would make you dog-like.”
After running the back of his hand across the chin of Shim Iyul, who trembled saying “How dare you treat me!”, Eun Seonmyeong left just like that. Since he’d prepared his keys and wallet from the start, planning to go straight to the shop after just giving Shim Iyul allowance, there was no hesitation in his steps.
“That damn hunter bastard……”
Shim Iyul, who had frozen for a moment at the unexpected action, belatedly spat out a curse, but Eun Seonmyeong had already left. Resentment surged. Shim Iyul rubbed vigorously with the back of his hand where Eun Seonmyeong’s hand had touched his chin, then felt his groin tighten and collapsed. It was heat that had come after a long time.
Fortunately, the heat disappeared after about ten minutes. Shim Iyul, who had barely crawled up to the daecheong and groaned while pulling his legs in as much as possible, wiped the sweat on his forehead and stood up.
“At this rate, I’ll produce a sarira from my body.”
Come to think of it, this wasn’t the time to tease Eun Seonmyeong. Though not a virgin, Shim Iyul also hadn’t used it for a long time. Shim Iyul looked down sadly at his junior, which had grown considerably then collapsed without even functioning properly.
‘Did I make a pointless promise?’
Should he have just rolled around with anyone when heat came? It seemed he couldn’t meet a lifelong companion since he had no more expectations for humans. Master Wonmi is dead too, so why keep the promise? Just live a lifetime promiscuously as he pleases, that’s all. Isn’t that Fire Fox-like behavior? He thought with a snort, but only briefly. Still, he should keep his integrity, he concluded. The promise kept for 120 years was too precious, and there was no human he wanted to roll around with. Right before meeting Master Wonmi, his reason had gone out from anger so he’d rolled around with humans as he pleased, but he had discerning eyes despite appearances. Unless it was at least someone like Eun Seonmyeong, he didn’t feel like rolling……
‘What kind of nonsense am I thinking right now?! That if it’s someone like Eun Seonmyeong, I could roll with him!’
“Evil spirit, begone!”
Shim Iyul shook his head vigorously to shake off far away the absurd thought that had briefly occurred.
Feeling he needed to shower and change clothes, Shim Iyul returned to the annex and saw Eun Seonmyeong’s clothes gently placed on the bed. Shim Iyul narrowed his eyes and glared at the clothes, then took out the money he’d put in his pocket.
“What’s 50,000 won?”
To give pocket change as allowance. How petty.
Anyway, humans were really strange beings. Why did they give and receive allowances or gifts just because it’s the new year? Well, was it only the new year? They attached all sorts of meanings to days and celebrated. New Year, birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, White Day, 100 days, 1000 days, etc., etc., etc.
Even though he’d lived among humans, perhaps because he wasn’t a perfect human, it was a psychology Shim Iyul found difficult to understand, so he’d never bothered to observe any special days. Well. He didn’t have any humans he’d formed deep connections with worth observing them. If he had to say, maybe Old Man Kang. But he and Old Man Kang weren’t in such a ticklish relationship.
‘The hunter was also just another human after all.’
Shim Iyul looked at the 50,000 won bill for a long time. His heart felt a bit strange from a single crumpled bill that had been in his pocket.
Come to think of it, this was the second time he’d received something from a human to commemorate some day. The first was a bouquet of flowers he’d received from Mr. Park.
When they’d lived together for fifty days, he had picked a bouquet of wildflowers and held them out to Shim Iyul.
“My bride, thank you for living with me.”
The affection contained in his eyes as he said that seemed sincere. When Shim Iyul smiled brightly and accepted the wildflowers, the lips that said ‘Let’s be together 5,000 days, 50,000 days from now too’ also felt like they were speaking the truth.
Shim Iyul shook his head. Perhaps because of the dream, he kept thinking of the betrayer today and his mood was sinking.
‘Shopping is for times like this.’
Shim Iyul hurriedly washed up and left the house. He went to a nearby department store and stopped by every luxury brand section to sweep up everything he liked, then hesitated while trying to return in a good mood. It was because the crumpled bill that stingy Eun Seonmyeong had given as allowance came to mind.
‘I’m not such a shameless fox who only receives.’
Thinking that, Shim Iyul turned around. Instead of washing the clothes as promised, he’d generously buy new ones.
Shim Iyul, with shopping bags hanging all over his shoulders, stopped by luxury boutiques again. But perhaps because unlike himself who looked beautiful in anything, he couldn’t easily decide on Eun Seonmyeong’s clothes. So later he asked for recommendations.
“The height is about this much. Show me clothes for a man with a very good body.”
“How about this?”
The store employee brought and showed several clothes. Shim Iyul carefully examined what she showed while smiling shyly, but wasn’t quite satisfied. Some had bad colors, some had mediocre designs.
“I’ll come another time.”
“Yes, customer. Please visit anytime. Definitely.”
Leaving behind the employee who chased out to the store entrance to greet him, he stopped by another boutique and similarly explained Eun Seonmyeong’s height and physique and requested recommendations. Then he suddenly flinched.
‘What? Why am I choosing so earnestly? I could just buy anything for someone like the hunter!’
Even if he bought sackcloth for Eun Seonmyeong, it would be glorious for him—it was absurd that he’d been absorbed without realizing it. Shim Iyul, who was dumbfounded, pointed to one of the clothes the employee brought out saying “Please ring that up.” It was a blue knit. He didn’t check the size. If it didn’t fit, he’d exchange it himself.
Shim Iyul, who paid, left the department store with a relieved face.
