Lowering his voice, Yoo Hajin explained with an arrogant expression.
“‘They’ leave something called a mark on the owner of the blood they’re attached to. If you receive it, you gain power that transcends humanity.”
“Power that transcends humanity…?”
“I thought Song Hanyeong-ssi considered you important since he carried Surim-ssi away from the banquet hall, but I guess not. Ah, then I’ll be going now. Thanks.”
Yoo Hajin smiled brightly and walked into the store with long strides.
He couldn’t quite understand what had just happened. Surim, who was fidgeting his fingers with an anxious face, heard the sound of the store door opening with a rattle and raised his head.
“Manager-nim.”
“Sorry for making you wait.”
“Um, I met someone just now…”
“Let’s talk while we walk.”
Song Hanyeong said while putting his arm around Surim’s shoulder and leading him. Just before turning around, Surim made eye contact with Yoo Hajin, who had a completely distorted expression inside the door. As soon as he made eye contact with Surim, he twisted the corners of his mouth with hostile eyes.
“…Manager-nim, did something happen with Yoo Hajin?”
“Yoo Hajin? Who’s that?”
“The man who went into the store just now. A little taller than me and pretty-looking…”
“I’ve never seen a man prettier than Surim-ssi.”
“Manager-nim!”
When Surim blushed and pushed his chest with his shoulder, Song Hanyeong chuckled.
“He asked me to bite his neck.”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah.”
“…He asked me how much I eat vegetarian. I answered without thinking. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Whether they eat vegetarian or not, I’m the type who doesn’t eat things that aren’t tasty.”
Saying that, Song Hanyeong looked down at Surim. Conversely, that meant he was eating because Surim was tasty. Was it because they’d been doing too many naughty things lately that he picked up a lewd nuance from the word “eating”?
Surim rolled his eyes in confusion before slipping out of Song Hanyeong’s arms and running to the front of the car’s passenger seat.
“I need to go home quickly today.”
“Quickly? Why, is someone waiting at home?”
“That’s right. Kkamang will be waiting for me.”
“…Ah.”
It was an excuse he’d pulled out inadvertently, but after saying it, it felt like it was really true.
“These days when I come home from work, he scratches the door right away. He must be waiting for me somewhere and then coming.”
“I see.”
Surim slipped into the car through the door Song Hanyeong opened and took out his phone. When he entered the gallery, a photo of Kkamang he’d taken yesterday appeared first.
“Look. Isn’t Kkamang really cute?”
“……”
“What? He’s cute. Look at this shiny black fur and sparkling eyes.”
Song Hanyeong, who had been staring intently at the black cat lying in a languid position, soon gave an answer with difficulty.
“Yes, he’s cute…”
“Right? I wish Manager-nim could see him in person. Maybe because Kkamang is a bit shy with strangers, he doesn’t come out when Manager-nim is around…”
Inside the car smoothly leaving the parking lot, Surim endlessly went on about Kkamang. Each time, Song Hanyeong just roughly nodded or answered, “Yes.”
* * *
Strangely, yesterday, every time he tried to take a photo, Kkamang would swing his front paw and swat the phone. Had he developed some bad memory associated with phones? It didn’t seem like anyone would have thrown a phone at him, but he felt bad thinking that someone might have hit him while pretending to pet or photograph him.
‘I really need to bring him inside soon…’
Surim, who was putting cat hiding houses, food, treats, litter box, litter, etc. into his shopping cart on a cat supplies sales site, suddenly realized that it was noisy outside the research lab.
A voice that seemed familiar rang out clearly shouting something, and Lee Myeongho firmly cut in with something decisive. After listening to the murmuring sounds for a moment, Surim felt curious and headed toward the iron door.
“Manager Lee, what’s going… huh?”
“Jin Surim-ssi! Good timing.”
Yoo Hajin, who had been held back by Lee Myeongho, shook off his hand and approached Surim.
“Yoo Hajin-ssi, what brings you here…”
“I came because I have business with Song Hanyeong-ssi.”
“What?”
“I came to deliver a gift on an errand from Director Song Chanhyeok. Ah, you might not know who Director Song Chanhyeok is? He’s Song Hanyeong-ssi’s uncle.”
It was a story that he came looking for Song Hanyeong on an errand from Song Hanyeong’s uncle. Surim looked back at Lee Myeongho in bewilderment.
“…It’s true that Song Chanhyeok is our Manager Song’s uncle. But as far as I know, they’re not on friendly enough terms to be sending gifts and whatnot like this.”
There was a subtle hostility in the voice calling out the name Song Chanhyeok. There were definitely circumstances Surim didn’t know about.
“That can’t be. He went out of his way to prepare a special gift.”
“Anyway, I can’t let you in just because you came like this. Please leave.”
“Why are you deciding that?”
“Well…!”
Lee Myeongho, who was about to say something, glanced at Surim and continued.
“Because I’m practically Manager Song’s secretary. Besides, why would I trust and let in someone who barged in without even contacting us properly?”
“I’m telling you Song Hanyeong-ssi will think differently. Hey, Jin Surim-ssi. Can you call Song Hanyeong-ssi? I really didn’t come here with weird intentions. I’ve been eating only vegetables for a month and a half because of today’s work. You know what I mean, right?”
Now he couldn’t not know. This man was an excellent vegetarian’s blood prepared for Song Hanyeong by a family elder who was Song Hanyeong’s uncle.
Surim backed away with a stunned face. He didn’t want to tell Song Hanyeong that this man had come. What would happen after that?
Just as he was about to shake his head, familiar footsteps approached from behind.
It was Song Hanyeong.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry, Manager Song. I was trying to kick him out quickly…”
“I asked what’s going on.”
“Well… it’s a gift sent by Song Chanhyeok.”
Yoo Hajin took a big step toward Song Hanyeong. Surim barely held back the urge to block between the two.
Thinking that Song Hanyeong might drink another person’s blood made him feel confused somehow, and his heart pounded anxiously with unease.
It was strange. Just as Surim ate various foods and sometimes wanted to eat meat broth, Song Hanyeong also had the right to eat various blood. Especially when a family elder prepared a vegetarian human to suit his taste like this, even more so. He knew that was natural, but strangely he felt resistant.
The desire that had surged up when he learned Song Hanyeong was attending the banquet blazed up again.
However, unable to reveal it outwardly, Surim lowered his head and glared at the tips of his shoes.
“Exactly as it sounds. I didn’t mention it yesterday, but actually Director Song Chanhyeok sent me.”
“So?”
“…What do you mean ‘so’? Aren’t you going to accept? I’ve been eating only vegetables for a month and a half for today. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”
“So.”
Song Hanyeong tilted his head as if tired and said as if annoyed.
“It’s a gift from a family elder, so you’re not thinking of sending it back like this, are you?”
“A gift from a family elder…”
A cold gaze pierced through Yoo Hajin. Song Hanyeong grabbed Yoo Hajin’s chin and turned it this way and that as if examining the condition of the gift. Then he snorted and pushed him away.
“Tell him I don’t like it.”
“I’ll taste better than that person next to you. I know your meals aren’t just simple meals. I’ll do better, and I’m much better-looking too.”
“Lee Myeongho-ssi, kick him out. Right now.”
Song Hanyeong said that while embracing Surim’s shoulder and turning back toward the inside of the iron door. As soon as he took a step, Yoo Hajin struggled to shake off Lee Myeongho blocking in front of him and shouted.
“Song Hanyeong-ssi, right now there are rampant rumors that you can only eat that thing. This is a chance for you to erase useless rumors too.”
“……”
Song Hanyeong, who had stopped abruptly, slowly turned his head to look back. Surim couldn’t tell what expression he was making, but he could roughly guess seeing Yoo Hajin’s face turn pale as he backed away.
Because Song Hanyeong is really scary when he makes a cold expression.
“Then I’ll accept it.”
“Great!”
Yoo Hajin’s expression brightened completely. Conversely, Surim’s expression darkened, but he just quietly clasped both hands together with his head lowered.
Yoo Hajin, who shook off Lee Myeongho and approached Song Hanyeong, linked arms familiarly.
“Then shall we go somewhere quiet?”
“Lee Myeongho-ssi.”
Song Hanyeong, who quietly but firmly removed the linked arm, looked back at Lee Myeongho.
“Yes, Manager-nim.”
“It won’t suit your taste, but take it. It’s a gift.”
In that moment, Surim’s eyes widened.
“May I do as I please?”
“As much as you want.”
Yoo Hajin, who had been blankly watching the conversation between the two, shouted in alarm.
“What does that mean? A gift, how can you do as you please with me…”
“Haha. Since Manager Song received the gift, how to handle it afterwards is up to Manager Song. Isn’t that right?”
Lee Myeongho, who grinned, grabbed Yoo Hajin’s wrist.
