Perhaps unable to find words to say, Choi Hwan just pouted his lips. Though slight, he seemed to be reflecting somewhat. Yeom Cheonho spoke to Choi Hwan in a firm voice.
“From next time, don’t let there be such immature behavior.”
Well done. Scold him more… Even though Yeonrok’s stomach was full, he felt his appetite growing more, so he ate his rice deliciously while inwardly cheering for Yeom Cheonho. Choi Hwan avoided Yeom Cheonho’s stern gaze and didn’t answer with his head turned to the side.
“I’m not just talking about Yeonrok-ssi’s matter. You’ve ditched your security detail quite a few times.”
Moon Gyeonwoo opened his mouth as if to defend him, but judging that the security issue was definitely related to his lover’s safety, he closed his mouth again. Still without answering, Choi Hwan just rolled the half-eaten celery around on his plate. He was shaking his legs, as if the situation of being scolded itself was very uncomfortable.
“Even though I’m speaking nicely, you show no remorse.”
Choi Hwan flinched. Finding it strange to see him unusually more cowed than usual, Yeonrok tilted his head. It didn’t seem like he was acting. Yeom Cheonho put down his utensils and coldly pronounced.
“I will freeze your cards for one month.”
Only then did Choi Hwan’s head snap up. So shocked was he that he dropped his utensils with a clatter.
“Freeze my cards?! Then, then how am I supposed to live from now on?”
“I don’t think it’s too harsh a measure. It’s not like Hwan-ssi has no income, and I’m taking care of all your food, clothing, and shelter.”
Yeom Cheonho spoke coldly, and the content was so reasonable that Yeonrok unconsciously nodded. Someone like Choi Hwan must have tremendous income, yet his overreacting appearance was just fascinating. Choi Hwan quickly began begging and pleading, which he hadn’t done earlier.
“I really did wrong. From now on, I really absolutely, absolutely won’t do it again.”
“It’s too late. I don’t even feel sincerity.”
Watching the despairing Choi Hwan was so satisfying that Yeonrok felt he could eat plenty of rice even without side dishes… And sure enough, Moon Gyeonwoo interfered again with biased words about his lover.
“Even so, wouldn’t it be troublesome if you suddenly confiscate his cards? Then give my portion to Hwan.”
“Hyung…”
When Choi Hwan looked at him with a moved face, Moon Gyeonwoo said affectionately.
“Lovers are supposed to share both joy and pain together.”
Having lost his appetite again, Yeonrok looked at Choi Hwan and Moon Gyeonwoo with a sour expression. Perhaps feeling similarly, Yeom Cheonho smiled a strangely crooked-looking smile.
“I understand well your heart to share the pain as a lover. Then let’s freeze Gyeonwoo-ssi’s cards as well.”
“No…”
Moon Gyeonwoo made a reluctant expression. Since it was money that Yeom Cheonho had generously given in the first place, he couldn’t demand it back. Seeing both their money supplies cut off at once, Yeonrok’s appetite returned. Following that, Yeom Cheonho made an even more fair judgment.
“And I will have Hwan-ssi compensate Yeonrok-ssi for damages in the amount equal to the average of what he spends monthly.”
Yeonrok’s face brightened. So the words “damage compensation” could sound this good? Unlike when Kim Jeongseong had proposed it, Yeonrok readily accepted Yeom Cheonho’s offer.
“Thank you! I’ll use it well!”
After such a pleasant dinner ended, Choi Hwan anxiously lingered around Yeonrok. When Yeonrok pretended not to see him, Choi Hwan cleared his throat. Then he spoke to Yeonrok cautiously and pitifully.
“Can’t you give me back just a little…?”
“I don’t want to.”
Choi Hwan bit his lip hard. He looked like a tragic male lead, but in reality he was just an immature person stamping his feet because his allowance was suddenly cut off. Yeonrok couldn’t understand why Choi Hwan was struggling like this. He must make tremendous income from shooting just one commercial, so why was he like this?
“And you make good money.”
“I don’t have any…”
“What don’t you have?”
“I don’t! I don’t have money! I spent it all!”
Yeonrok doubted his own ears. It was absurd for an actor so famous in Korea that not knowing him would make you a spy to say he had no money.
“What the hell are you talking about? You must have money you’ve saved up until now?”
“I only have a few tens of millions of won in my bank account! That’ll be gone after some shopping! There are still three weeks until settlement day! I’ve maxed out my credit cards too…”
As Choi Hwan tore at his hair, saying how was he supposed to go buy new hats and pants tomorrow, there wasn’t a trace of sympathy on Yeonrok’s expression. From now on, he could feel free to extort money more diligently.
But on the other hand, it was a bit strange. It was hard to accept that Choi Hwan must have earned at least hundreds of billions of won by now, yet had only that amount in his bank account. Yeonrok became newly concerned about Choi Hwan’s spending patterns.
“Where the hell did you spend all that money?”
“I don’t know.”
At the insincere answer, Yeonrok shrugged his shoulders.
“If you don’t want to answer, then don’t.”
“I really don’t know. My mom manages it for me.”
After answering sulkily, Choi Hwan became gloomy and dragged his feet back to his room. Yeonrok was seized by an uncomfortable feeling. For someone his age to have his mom manage his settlement money? Choi Hwan normally spends money so carelessly that she couldn’t stand it and manages it for him, right?
But for some reason, he kept remembering Choi Hwan’s face from the day they went to the club, how his expression had hardened when the call from his mom came. Surely not… Yeonrok shook his head and erased the thought he’d just had.
* * *
[I completed one piece today ^^]
Lee Seongmyeong sent a photo of knitting. Though there were many sloppy spots, since it was the first completed work, Yeonrok congratulated him using lots of emoticons. Currently in the knitting group, Lee Seongmyeong was called Yeonrok’s “partner.” Perhaps because most of the group members were middle-aged and older with quite an age difference from Yeonrok, they used such very affectionate terms in the knitting group.
The two partners got along well enough to frequently exchange texts. Waiting for Lee Seongmyeong’s reply, Yeonrok suddenly opened his banking app. And he checked the amount that was still unbelievable even looking at it again. It was the money Yeom Cheonho had sent yesterday as damage compensation.
Looking at that tremendous deposit amount, Yeonrok thought. How much does this crazy guy spend in a month? And could this money really be seen as damage compensation for what Choi Hwan did? It wasn’t even received from Choi Hwan…
Anyway, since he had this money, Yeonrok resolved to use it for good causes. While looking up various charities and sending donations, he suddenly remembered when Lee Seongmyeong had bought him a meal last time. When he said he’d buy his partner a meal in return, Lee Seongmyeong readily accepted.
“Where else should I spend it?”
Yeonrok stared intently at his bank balance. Recently he’d bought lots of clothes and shoes, and other than that, all necessary food, clothing, and shelter were provided by Yeom Cheonho, so there was really nowhere to spend money.
‘Should I buy a car too?’
Driving a sports car like Choi Hwan was out of the question, so maybe he should buy something moderately suitable for just casual driving… While contemplating, Yeonrok, who had come down to the first floor to scrounge for snacks, paused. Choi Hwan and Moon Gyeonwoo were sitting on the sofa, but keeping more distance than usual. Neither of their expressions looked very pleasant either.
“Did they fight?”
He unconsciously muttered to himself, but Moon Gyeonwoo, who somehow heard it, snapped back in a sensitive voice.
“What are you talking about? We didn’t fight. Hwan and I get along so well. We just had a slight difference of opinion.”
Usually he ignored him even when spoken to, but now he was going on and on without even being asked in detail. Of course not caring, Yeonrok replied reluctantly.
“Uh, okay…”
Not knowing what it was but not wanting to get involved, he quickly passed the two and headed to the kitchen. When he opened the refrigerator, Ms. Park had thoughtfully prepared a late-night snack in advance. He took out a smoked duck and wild chervil salad and was eating it deliciously when Choi Hwan appeared, sauntering over.
He looked enviously at Yeonrok eating it drenched in mustard sauce and took out a pure vegetable salad without even meat and sprinkled oil dressing on it. Then after crunching through a few bites, he suddenly asked Yeonrok this.
“Hey. In your opinion, between me and Gyeonwoo hyung, who seems like they should bottom?”
At the completely unexpected words, a piece of duck got stuck in his throat. After Yeonrok coughed violently, he looked at Choi Hwan with a dumbfounded expression. He couldn’t believe the content of the question he’d heard. Choi Hwan urged an answer.
“I’m asking who seems like they should bottom.”
“I don’t know! Don’t ask that kind of thing! I really don’t want to know!”
Even though Yeonrok was disgusted, Choi Hwan didn’t even pretend to listen and continued talking as he pleased.
“Honestly, I’m taller and bigger than Gyeonwoo hyung… Visually speaking, I’m the top, right? And besides, I’m a virgin.”
“Ugh, I said I don’t want to hear that!”
But once he hears it, he can’t help but imagine it.
