# Chapter 104
Shadows began to fall across Sano’s face as he watched his partner being lured away by food during their non-stop conversation with Hyeseong over drinks. Unfortunately, Iyeon failed to notice this mood change.
“What kind of restaurant is it?”
“I understand it’s fusion Western cuisine… But if you don’t like it, we can go somewhere that Iyeon-ssi prefers.”
He even gave him the choice of menu. Thump… Iyeon’s cheeks flushed.
Iyeon’s attitude changed completely in an instant. A passion incomparable to moments ago began to infuse their conversation. Do you like seafood too? Ah, I’m absolutely crazy about it. What about meat? I can’t get enough of it. Fusion food too? Leave it to me. I can eat a lot, you know. I have plenty of money. His straightforward answers, like a refreshing storm, were captivating. Iyeon looked at Hyeseong with sparkling eyes.
He’d thought Hyeseong was a strange person, but they got along better than expected. From what he could see, Hyeseong didn’t seem to be picky about food, and he said he’d pay. I’m looking forward to eating with this person… A dreamlike gaze poured toward Hyeseong. Iyeon was so focused on Hyeseong’s conversation that he unknowingly began to twist his upper body. Soon, all Sano could see was Iyeon’s fidgeting back.
This was absolutely infuriating.
His green eyes flashed brightly, like a burning fire. The entire restaurant shook slightly with a “thud.”
“What was that?”
“An earthquake?”
The customers in the restaurant looked around in bewilderment, but fortunately, no other sounds followed. Soon, the pleasant sounds of conversation filled the restaurant again. Hyegang, who had been sipping his beer, briefly looked at Sano with a somewhat suspicious gaze, but without confirmation, he didn’t say anything.
“That startled me. Must be a mutant battle somewhere.”
“There haven’t been any requests. Someone’s having a hard time at this hour.”
Iyeon and Hyeseong also commented curiously before raising their beer glasses again. The cheerful sound of clinking glass resonated.
“It must be nice to live with family again after a long time.”
Iyeon rested his elbows on the table and propped his chin. His attitude was completely different from when they first entered the restaurant. His internal affection had exploded during the process of making dinner plans with Hyeseong. Iyeon’s gaze, alternating between Hyegang and Hyeseong, grew warm.
“I really enjoyed it too, before my parents passed away.”
Hyegang looked at Iyeon with slight surprise. It was rare for him to voluntarily talk about his family. Hyeseong, unaware of the circumstances, replied nonchalantly.
“That’s right. When the weather was nice, I used to go to the nearby mountains with my parents. Hyegang, do you remember that?”
“I don’t remember at all.”
Hyeseong laughed lightly. It was different from the polite smile he showed Sua, or the calm expression he had for Iyeon. It was a face that showed he couldn’t help but find his much younger brother adorable.
“Well, you were a baby then. I found it really annoying, but our parents insisted on going. I climbed up while whining.”
“Your parents were very active.”
“Looking back now, all of that becomes precious memories.”
Having said that, Hyeseong turned his head back toward Hyegang.
“It would have been nice if you could remember too.”
Although Hyegang himself was indifferent, Iyeon somehow liked that conversation. He had been alone since birth, and even when he had parents, he didn’t have siblings. His longing for what he never had was as tall and solid as a steel tower. Just watching them closely made him feel like a corner of his heart was melting.
So he blurted out:
“I’ll be in your care from now on.”
“Huh?”
Hyeseong, who had been looking at Iyeon in confusion, soon put his arm around Iyeon’s shoulders and exaggeratedly pretended to be close.
“Sure. I’ve decided to take a break for a while, so contact me if you want dating advice or something!”
“I don’t need that…”
Iyeon’s hair was roughly rubbed by Hyeseong’s hand, who was taller. He was treating him completely like a younger brother. In terms of age, Iyeon was indeed much younger… As Iyeon, trapped in Hyeseong’s arms without being able to escape or relax, maintained an awkward posture—
BANG.
There was a sound of something being forcefully slammed down next to them. In an instant, everyone’s attention shifted to behind Iyeon. Sano sat like a wooden statue, gripping his beer glass firmly.
It seemed he had made the loud noise by forcefully putting down his glass. Fortunately, the glass didn’t break. Though his actions were rough, he wasn’t the type to act noisily. Iyeon asked Sano in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
The eyes that finally met after being turned away the whole time showed a puzzled light, as if they knew nothing. And then there was someone else’s arm covering that face. Sano’s already twisted mood twisted even further. Irritation suddenly raised its head and climbed over his heart.
“You’re falling for such trashy words—”
“Oh my, Sano-ssi. Are you drunk?”
Sua, who had approached after hearing the loud noise, asked in surprise. Thanks to her, Sano’s words were perfectly cut off, and the topic changed.
“Drunk?”
Iyeon looked at Sano’s glass. Come to think of it, it was half empty. This was the first time Sano had drunk alcohol in front of him.
But having a limit of half a beer glass, isn’t that too weak? Before Iyeon could tease him about this rare opportunity, Hyeseong muttered in a dumbfounded voice.
“…Sano? Je Sano?”
Come to think of it, with Sua’s barrage of questions, Sano and Hyeseong hadn’t had the chance to introduce themselves. Hyegang stretched his neck from beyond Hyeseong to answer on their behalf.
“Ah, Hyung Sano somehow ended up helping us with our work.”
“Mugunghwa… tier 5? That Je Sano?”
“Yeah. Amazing, right?”
Hyegang laughed as if telling a joke. Hyeseong, still glancing at Sano who was glaring intently at Iyeon, whispered.
“Isn’t Je Sano freelance?”
“He’s still technically freelance.”
Iyeon, still caught in the side hug, answered instead. That guy’s arm showed no signs of letting go. The dark eyes suddenly lit up with a bright blue light again.
Sano, not hiding his irritated demeanor, abruptly removed Hyeseong’s hand from Iyeon’s shoulder. Iyeon, who almost fell over from the pushing force, barely regained his balance by hitting the back of his head against Sano’s chest.
“Ah.”
“What’s wrong? Are you drunk?”
Only then did Hyeseong notice the situation and lower his arm, while Iyeon’s gaze turned to Sano. From Iyeon’s perspective, Sano’s strangely slow reactions suggested that he was indeed somewhat tipsy.
“From my view, it looks like he’s jealous. Hyeseong-ssi and Iyeon-ssi have been close the whole time.”
Sua said teasingly. Surprised by those words, Iyeon shook his head.
“Come on, jealous… It’s not like that.”
“How would Iyeon-ssi know?”
Because we’re not actually dating… Unable to honestly say those words, Iyeon awkwardly closed his mouth, and Sua patted Iyeon’s shoulder, calling them a quarrelsome couple, before heading back to the kitchen. Th-this isn’t right. While Iyeon was flustered, even Hyeseong apologetically adjusted his posture that had been leaning toward Iyeon.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”
Instead of denying it, Sano just glared at Iyeon. The fact that he wasn’t listening to what others were saying suggested he was indeed drunk. Should I send him home first? Before Iyeon could hesitantly suggest this, Sano’s voice dropped first.
“You’re the one who should lie down and sleep quietly if you’re drunk.”
Somehow, his voice sounded like he was grinding his teeth. However, Iyeon stubbornly shook his head. Though the gathering had been inadvertently arranged due to an unfortunate incident, he didn’t dislike this gathering.
“I’m fine. It’s a long-awaited sibling reunion, so let’s stay a bit longer.”
Sano’s face grew even fiercer at the answer, which was the opposite of what he wanted. Nothing had pleased him since Hyeseong’s appearance. His irritation only multiplied as time passed.
Since Sano had been watching Iyeon all day, he clearly understood how Iyeon had come to like Hyeseong. That aspect further provoked his temper.
Iyeon had complained a lot about being mistreated by Hyeseong, and he maintained an incredulous expression throughout. However, there was a small sparkle in his eyes as he glanced at Hyeseong and Hyegang conversing. The warmth in his face when he said it must be nice to see each other after a long time was higher than usual.
Sano had seen those eyes before. A dry sigh was swallowed inside his lips.
“It’s really good that Hyeseong-ssi came. Right?”
“…”
“Hyegang has been alone all this time.”
After glaring at that blank face for a while, Sano eventually loosened the force in his hand. He seemed to have been sharper in the past, but it was hard to guess how much more stupid he had become during that long period.
“What do you mean alone? He has Hyung Iyeon and Hyung Sano.”
At Hyegang’s quick rebuttal, Iyeon burst into laughter.
“Right, we’re one. Should we make a toast to that?”
At those words, everyone except Sano raised their glasses. Sano continued to scrutinize Iyeon with disapproving eyes, but he didn’t suggest leaving again.
