When he raised his head just like that, Yeom Cheonho’s eyes were glinting suggestively. Yeonrok’s breathing stopped for a moment. He stiffly creaked out an answer.
“……A little, maybe?”
“There were some parts of the conversation that could be misunderstood, weren’t there?”
“Just a tiny bit……?”
From earlier, Yeonrok couldn’t give any answer other than “a little.” Words like burying, not killing properly, and reporting to the police floated around in his head. The story of Bluebeard came to mind along with them. Yeom Cheonho quietly looked at Yeonrok, then soon said with a laugh.
“Actually, it’s nothing serious. Among the businesses I manage is the livestock industry, and this time an epidemic spread, so we had to mass cull pigs. The damage wasn’t insignificant, and more than anything, disposing of the carcasses was quite tricky. If it’s not done properly, complaints come in about noise or foul odors.”
“Ah! Oh, I see. I thought…….”
“Hahaha! To anyone listening, it sounded exactly like the words of a serial killer, didn’t it?”
“Haha! Hahaha! It really did!”
Even while laughing together, Yeonrok slyly pulled his hand from Yeom Cheonho’s grasp, pretending to open his lunch box. He was convinced by the explanation about disposing of dead livestock, but it was still a bit scary……. The pigs were pitiful too……. He quickly changed the subject.
“Um, I got some help from Park Yeoin-ssi and packed a lunch.”
“It must have been troublesome, but thanks to you, I get to have a delicious meal.”
At Yeom Cheonho’s words, Yeonrok felt like someone supporting their lover. It was the first time Yeonrok had packed lunch for anyone, so he awkwardly picked up his chopsticks. Judging from Choi Hwan’s reaction, he was confident it was delicious, but he was still nervous. Yeom Cheonho, who had taken a spoonful of rice and side dishes, smiled broadly.
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad! It should be all Park Yeoin-ssi’s handiwork.”
“Indeed it is. Yeonrok-ssi, you’re really quite skilled with your hands.”
Since Yeom Cheonho praised him too, Yeonrok’s shoulders lifted with pride. The other person was still difficult, and now had become somewhat scary, even suspicious, but he was the only one among his Name Partners who treated him well. In the warm atmosphere, Yeonrok’s heart melted softly. He had deliberately packed a lot, and Yeom Cheonho cleaned it all up without leaving anything.
Feeling proud, he was gathering up the empty lunch boxes and preparing to leave when Yeom Cheonho made a suggestion.
“That’s right, if you don’t mind, could you help me with some work today? I’m so busy these days that I need to borrow even a cat’s paws.”
When someone, especially his Name Partner, said they needed him, Yeonrok’s face brightened. Yet he said hesitantly.
“I can help as much as you need. But I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ve never done office work before. I probably won’t be much help.”
“It’s not that difficult. It’s just documents I can’t entrust to anyone due to security reasons. Now, would you like to take a look?”
Yeom Cheonho took Yeonrok’s hand and pulled him to his feet, then led him. The seat Yeom Cheonho sat him in was none other than the president’s seat. Yeonrok’s eyes widened as he found himself sitting in the heavy executive chair that was obviously shouting “I’m the CEO’s seat,” at the gleaming desk with the shining gold nameplate that read ‘CEO Yeom Cheonho.’
“Uh, here, this seat is…….”
“It’s fine. Sit comfortably.”
Yeom Cheonho patted his shoulders as if telling him to relax, then headed to the cabinet behind them. He pressed the password to open the door and took out a stack of documents. He selected a few of them and placed them in front of Yeonrok along with a tablet.
“Compare these documents with the data on the tablet, and if there are any parts where numbers or words differ, please mark them with a highlighter. Can you check even the very small text?”
“Uh……. Yes! I can do it!”
If it was like spot-the-difference, even inexperienced Yeonrok seemed capable enough. Yeom Cheonho told him he was counting on him and left Yeonrok sitting in the president’s seat, while he took the remaining documents and went to sit on the sofa. Yeonrok gulped and carefully began cross-checking the data.
As he read comparing word by word until his eyes hurt, he could tell. These were documents related to the details of goods delivered or to be delivered to a place called HM Foundation. Seeing that it had the same name as Yeom Cheonho’s Capital, it seemed to be an affiliate. While checking different numbers and words, Yeonrok unnecessarily gave himself away and asked Yeom Cheonho.
“But is it really okay to entrust me with these documents?”
He didn’t know what Yeom Cheonho was trusting to give him such important-looking documents. At Yeonrok’s words, Yeom Cheonho answered without even taking his eyes off the documents.
“Of course. Don’t you share a Hwamyeong with me? You’re closer than anyone else, so I can trust and entrust you with this.”
Hwamyeong—in modern terms, Name. Yeonrok recalled how the orphanage director and some adults used to call it Hwamyeong when he was staying at the orphanage. Whether because it was an old term or because Yeom Cheonho said it, it suddenly felt like quite an elegant title. At the words that he was closer than anyone else so he could be trusted, Yeonrok’s heart completely melted. Yeom Cheonho added in a refreshing voice.
“If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.”
Since the other person laid the groundwork like this, Yeonrok hesitated, then carefully brought up something he had been really curious about.
“If you don’t mind, may I ask where your Name is located?”
Actually, he was curious about where other people’s Hwamyeong locations were too. But since it was hard to ask Choi Hwan or Moon Gyeonwoo, he’d just been curious all this time.
“Of course. I can even show you.”
Yeonrok’s head shot up with a sparkle. Yeom Cheonho, who had just taken his eyes off the documents to meet his gaze, gave a relaxed smile. Just straightening his upper body that had been leaning forward naturally exuded an intimidating presence, perhaps due to his build.
“Shall I show you?”
“If you don’t mind, President……?”
As soon as the words ended, Yeom Cheonho stood up from his seat. He came close enough that Yeonrok had to tilt his head back, then took off the suit jacket he was wearing. Then a mature scent that had been clinging to his skin wafted over. Yeonrok was already an adult too, but it was a body scent he had no other way to describe besides that.
Yeom Cheonho folded the jacket once after taking it off and placed it on the wooden desk. Then he loosened his necktie. The sliding sound was strangely loud. Because he placed the long navy necktie on top of Yeonrok’s wrist, Yeonrok couldn’t move his hand at all.
Then the long, pale hand unbuttoned the dress shirt. One, two, three…….
He was right in front of him, but it was just another man unbuttoning his shirt, yet strangely Yeonrok’s face flushed hot. How many times had he seen guys with the same equipment undressing and dressing while working? He’d even used the showers together without a second thought. But for some reason, Yeom Cheonho’s undressing made Yeonrok extremely nervous. He couldn’t even breathe carelessly.
Yeom Cheonho, who had unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his muscular abdomen, turned around. The white dress shirt that had been covering his broad back lowered. Yeonrok’s wide-open eyes followed the dress shirt and stopped.
On the right latissimus dorsi muscle, clearly defined from how much he must exercise, was a pattern that looked exactly like Yeonrok’s. This was Yeom Cheonho’s “Name.” It looked exactly like the pattern he’d seen every day had been put in a mold and stamped out.
Not noticing that the necktie resting on his wrist had fallen, Yeonrok unconsciously reached out his hand. The moment his fingertips touched the clover-shaped name, Yeom Cheonho’s back flinched and stiffened. Yeonrok was startled too.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
His fingertips felt hot. Even when simply holding hands, he’d felt his condition improve, but when touching the pattern, it was even more than that. This feeling of his body welcoming the other person at the cellular level was truly unfamiliar yet fascinating. In Yeom Cheonho’s eyes as he turned to look at Yeonrok in surprise, a strange light was also swirling. It was clearly the first time someone had touched his “Name” too.
“……It’s fine. Thanks to you, my condition has really improved.”
Speaking politely, Yeom Cheonho put his dress shirt back on. Yeonrok curled his fingers, feeling a strange sense of regret. His cheeks burned, so he coughed awkwardly.
“I, I don’t have any more questions! I’ll…… get back to work.”
As Yeonrok floundered, Yeom Cheonho laughed softly while buttoning his dress shirt. He bent at the waist to pick up the necktie that had fallen to the floor and casually dusted it off. Before the flustered Yeonrok could apologize for dropping the necktie, he lightly adjusted the collar of the clothes he was wearing.
“Come to think of it, you’re wearing the clothes I bought. It looks good. As I thought, they suit Yeonrok-ssi well.”
Saying that so nonchalantly, he put on the necktie and returned to his seat to start working. Unlike the composed Yeom Cheonho, Yeonrok’s face turned bright red as he struggled for a long while.
