# Chapter 14
“Ahh!”
Realizing the situation, Wonyoung screamed and quickly snatched the comic book from Siyeon’s hands. But several BL manga that Wonyoung had bought were already neatly stacked next to Siyeon.
“Oh my god!”
Wonyoung hurriedly gathered them all and threw them into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. But immediately, a voice came from right behind him.
“Those are new books. They’ll get all wet.”
“Eek…!”
When Wonyoung turned around, Siyeon had somehow approached to within inches of his face. Seeing Wonyoung startled, Siyeon laughed softly.
“Why have you been so jumpy since earlier? Are you afraid I’ll do something bad?”
“…”
‘No, it’s the penalty… Another penalty is coming!’
[This statement is inappropriate for your character. Warning count: 6. Penalty will be applied.]
[Penalty Level 2 ‘Random Status Effect’ has been activated.]
‘What does Random Status Effect mean, again?’
[Due to penalty application, your status has become ‘About to faint from embarrassment’.]
[Status: About to faint (◎﹏◎)]
Wonyoung looked up at Siyeon with extreme tension. Aside from the penalty, the atmosphere with Siyeon felt strange. Siyeon’s half-lidded eyes had a peculiar gleam, as if looking at delicious prey. The affable person from earlier was nowhere to be found.
When Wonyoung slightly backed away with an uneasy feeling, Siyeon closed the distance even further, as if he’d been expecting it. With the gap nearly close enough to touch, Wonyoung inhaled sharply and bit his lip. Suddenly, the phrase “Adults Only” floated through his mind.
‘No adult content, no adult content allowed.’
But contrary to Wonyoung’s desperate prayers, Siyeon looked down at the trembling Wonyoung trapped within his arms and whispered:
“You seem to like aggressive stuff. Looking at your books, they’re all that kind of thing.”
“…Well.”
“Are you expecting that from me too? I’ve never tried it, but… don’t worry. I’m pretty good at anything in bed.”
“Huk.”
Wonyoung couldn’t speak. His breathing was labored, and his head was spinning. It felt like he had a fever of 40 degrees.
[About to faint. Health decreases by 1.]
“What are you trying to say, hyung?”
“My, heart, is too…”
“?”
Looking at Wonyoung with a questioning expression, Siyeon placed his hand on Wonyoung’s chest as if to check.
“Oh? Hyung…? Your heart is beating way too fast.”
‘Now there’s all sorts of bizarre penalties…’
Watching his health rapidly decrease, Wonyoung’s mood plummeted.
There was no time left. He continued speaking without thinking, though in reality, his voice was half air, half sound.
“I, I’m, so, nerv… ous… my heart feels like it’s going to burst…”
“…”
“I, I can’t, even, breathe…”
“…”
Wonyoung looked up at Siyeon desperately while gasping for breath. Before any game or penalty, it felt like he needed to call 911 to prevent angina.
Siyeon’s expression as he looked at Wonyoung was somewhat ambiguous. He seemed to be contemplating how to respond, or perhaps thinking of something else entirely. He had misunderstood Wonyoung’s desperate explanation as a tactic to avoid the situation. Naturally so—who faints because their heart is racing?
Fortunately or unfortunately for Wonyoung, the problem was that his health had now been completely depleted. He couldn’t take any more. Wonyoung wondered if dying in the game would mean game over or actual death.
‘If it’s game over… surely I don’t have to start from the beginning again? Having to take off my pants again…?! That can’t happen!’
…And with that final thought, Wonyoung heroically passed out.
When Wonyoung barely woke up a moment later with 5 health, Siyeon was fanning his flushed face.
Conscious of reality, Wonyoung couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes.
‘I want to die, seriously.’
Fainting because his heart fluttered at the sight of a man? Faced with this unbelievable situation, Wonyoung felt an overwhelming sense of self-loathing. He deeply regretted not throwing himself into the bathroom along with the books earlier.
“Ow!”
With a sharp sound, Siyeon lightly hit Wonyoung’s forehead. As Wonyoung was about to get angry at the sudden flick, Siyeon beat him to it.
“I know you’re awake. Why are you pretending to sleep?”
“…”
Wonyoung had nothing to say, even if he had ten or a hundred mouths. This time his face flushed not because of the penalty, but for real. Siyeon looked at him and chuckled.
“Since you’re cute, I’ll let it slide.”
“?”
Was he seeing things? Wonyoung stared directly into Siyeon’s eyes. Even in a game, for someone who fainted from nervousness to be seen as cute… Besides, there was no way Heo Wonyoung could be cute. Was it thanks to Narae’s face? Either way, Siyeon was quite thick-skinned.
Unaware of Wonyoung’s thoughts, Siyeon gently rubbed Wonyoung’s forehead, which was scrunched in confusion. As Wonyoung was grumbling internally about giving him both the disease and the cure, a phone rang. It was Siyeon’s.
As Siyeon finally moved away, Wonyoung exhaled in relief. He’d survived. Somehow. Looking at the status window, his status had returned to normal. It was nothing short of divine intervention.
After checking the caller ID on the phone beside the bed, Siyeon slightly furrowed his brow and declined the call. Then he extended his phone to Wonyoung, who was standing there blankly.
“Put your number in.”
“Why should I… Okay, sure.”
Faced with another warning message, Wonyoung reluctantly took Siyeon’s phone but added:
“But let’s not use such a commanding tone.”
“You keep mentioning ‘forceful,’ which makes me more suspicious, hyung. Strong denial means strong affirmation, right? Whatever your preferences are, I’m fine with them.”
“Um, no.”
“Whatever. Let’s say it’s not.”
Wonyoung briefly glared at Siyeon, who quickly returned to his playful demeanor, then turned to the phone and paused.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, uh… sorry, but I just realized I’ve forgotten my phone number.”
Siyeon snorted at Wonyoung’s answer.
“If you don’t want to give it to me, just say so, hyung. I mean, who would want to share personal information with a gangster? It’s all my fault.”
“No, that’s not it…”
Wonyoung’s voice trailed off as he took out his own phone and pressed various buttons, but Narae’s phone number wasn’t displayed anywhere. He had already thoroughly checked the phone before but couldn’t find the number. Maybe, since this was a game, it didn’t exist? Perhaps they hadn’t programmed a phone number setting?
“Do you really not know it?”
Seeing Wonyoung continually fidgeting with his phone in confusion, Siyeon showed a genuinely perplexed expression for the first time. With a red face from embarrassment, Wonyoung made up an excuse.
“Actually, I changed my number recently. Haha.”
“…”
At that moment, meeting Siyeon’s gaze, Wonyoung thought that for various reasons, pursuing this guy was hopeless.
Siyeon snatched Wonyoung’s phone, called his own number, personally saved the contact, and then handed it back. Then, showing the number displayed on his own phone, he said:
“This is your number. Memorize it well.”
“I got it… You didn’t need to save it for me.”
“I thought you might have forgotten how to use a phone too.”
‘This guy is subtly good at getting under people’s skin.’
Grumbling internally, Wonyoung checked the saved contact and immediately frowned.
<Siyeon with the nice body and pretty face>
“Ki Siyeon, are you joking right now…”
[This statement is inappropriate for your character. Warning count: 7. If warnings accumulate beyond a certain threshold, penalties will be applied.]
Suppressing his rising irritation, Wonyoung spoke as gently as possible.
“Siyeon, what is this name?”
“It’s the truth, so don’t change it.”
“But…”
Wonyoung momentarily faltered at the voice of reason saying that having a nice body and pretty face was indeed factual. Meanwhile, Siyeon picked up the suit jacket he had hung on one side.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, Siyeon is such an important talent that people are looking for me everywhere.”
“…”
“Hahaha, your expression is funny.”
It was actually welcome news that he was leaving, especially since the cramped house felt suffocating with a bear-like guy occupying it. Wonyoung didn’t like the awkward atmosphere and feared more embarrassing situations might arise.
Siyeon smiled as he watched Wonyoung following him with a prim expression.
“It might be overstepping, but go to the hospital later.”
“I will. And thank you, hyung.”
Surprised by the sudden expression of gratitude, Wonyoung averted his gaze. His conscience pricked him, knowing he had only saved Siyeon because of the game, not out of genuine concern.
Whether aware of this or not, Siyeon continued with a serious face.
“And I’m sorry for doubting you briefly. You know how people in this world value loyalty, right? I’ll definitely repay the debt I owe today. Not right away, but for sure.”
Wonyoung was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but seeing Siyeon’s sincere expression, he changed his words.
“Mmm, sure.”
In reality, there was no need to be stubborn with someone so much younger than him. His nature didn’t seem bad—how did he end up in that world? Wonyoung felt a bit sorry for him.
“Then I’ll go.”
Would Siyeon get involved in dangerous situations again, like yesterday? Thinking of his blood-covered body, Wonyoung watched his back ascending the basement stairs and said:
“Come back for your shirt later.”
Turning around with a “Huh?”, Siyeon listened as Wonyoung continued.
“It had blood on it, so I put it in the washing machine. Come back to get it.”
Siyeon thought for a moment, then grinned.
“Sure, I’ll come back.”
