chapter 29

While Se-hyeon was deeply engrossed in examining the album, the vibration of his phone interrupted his concentration. As soon as he checked where the call was coming from, he answered the phone.

"Yes, sir."

- Is it still not finished?

"I apologize. I will wrap it up."

He hadn't paid attention to whether everything else was finished because he was focused on something else. Realizing his mistake, he quickly picked up the album and stood up.

When he stepped outside, he noticed that everything he had spread out was neatly organized.

Se-hyeon spoke to the still-ringing phone.

"I will quickly check and leave."

- Please do so.

After concluding the call with Shin Tae-oh, Se-hyeon absentmindedly fiddled with his phone, feeling a pang of regret.

"How can I get distracted while looking at the photos?"

Even though it was clearly working hours, Se-hyeon blamed himself and set the album aside.

Meanwhile, Shin Tae-oh, with his arms crossed, tapped his phone while glancing at Yoo Jinhyeon's studio. he quickly rush over without buying due to the phone call...

Although Se-hyeon's actual figure was not visible, it was evident that he was diligently moving around.

"If you came, why didn't you come in? What were you doing here?"

"I went in and came back out."

"Why did you come out then?"

"I saw something I shouldn't have seen."

Shin Tae-oh's response had a meaningful undertone, and a sinister smile formed on Yoo Jin-hyeon's face. It seemed that he had figured out who the person Se-hyeon had confessed to was.

It was regrettable that Shin Tae-oh's unrequited love might not be reciprocated once again, but curiosity was curiosity.

"How does it feel to find out something you didn't know?"

Well..."

Shin Tae-oh's head tilted, and a shadow fell across his face. His three-dimensional features stood out under the sunlight, emphasizing the depth of his concerns.

"That's interesting."

"I thought you would dislike it."

Yoo Jin-hyeon sent an unexpected look.

"You didn't have feelings for Ahn Se-hyeon, did you? If that's the case, him being confessed to by someone else wouldn't affect you?. If you say so, then maybe that's how it is. Do as you please."

"Yoo Jin-hyeon."

Yoo Jin-hyeon turned back at Shin Tae-oh's call, giving him an annoyed look.

"What?"

"How was I in the past?"

"What? Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?"

Yoo Jin-hyeon stammered and raised his voice. He had already given an album to Se-hyeon, so was he caught in the act? His feet started itching uncomfortably.

"I'm asking whether I was innocent or demanding."

Shin Tae-oh's words pierced through, leaving Yoo Jin-hyeon flustered.

"What's wrong?"

Yoo Jin-hyeon, realizing that he hadn't been caught, relaxed and furrowed his brows.

Was Shin Tae-oh playing with his emotions?

"Why would someone look at me like that?" Shin Tae-oh murmured remaining the  previous scene, there is a smile  appeared on Shin Tae-oh's lips but vanished as if it were a lie the moment someone else came into the picture.

"Boss?"

"I came back because I have something to give Jin-hyeon. Let's go together while we're at it."

"Understood."

Se-hyeon quickly opened the rear door and waited.

Without saying a word to Yoo Jin-hyeon, Shin Tae-oh turned around, and the two of them got into the car.

As they drove off without even a greeting, Yoo Jin-hyeon's gaze became uneasy as he

watched Shin Tae-oh leave.

"He was strange even when we were young, but now I can't guess what's going on inside him."

***

"Wait a moment."

The car came to a stop at Shin Tae-oh's command, and Se-hyeon quickly looked outside. Se-hyeon spotted the luxury boutique that Shin Tae-oh often visited and got out of the car first.

Just like when Shin Tae-oh got into the car, Se-hyeon opened the rear door and waited.

First, long legs emerged, followed by a sturdy body, revealing Shin Tae-oh's refined face. The heavy pheromones emanating from him seemed like an added bonus, even among alphas.

Pretending not to notice the pheromones, Se-hyeon stood calmly until Shin Tae-oh began walking ahead, only to stop.

"Why are you doing this?"

Shin Tae-oh turned around, his hand in his pocket, lost in thought. He alternated his gaze between the still car and asked se-hyeon who was quite confused what he was talking about.

"I've been doing everything you told me to do?. I mean.....What? What do you mean by that?"

Who was telling whom what to do?

Se-hyeon had always interpreted Shin Tae-oh's ambiguous words and responded accordingly, but now he felt slightly perplexed. He had no idea how to interpret it.

"you open the door for me to get in and open it again for me to get out."

"Ah..."

Se-hyeon nodded his head. He followed Shin Tae-oh's instructions and opened the door for his convenience. But if Se-hyeon interpreted Shin Tae-oh's words literally, it was also true.

Since he opened the door for him to get in and out as Shin Tae-oh pleased as his  secretary.

"I'm not a child, so you don't have to open the door for me."

"Understood."

In the end, he meant that he would open the door himself.

Why does he have to express it in such a roundabout way? It was impressive, but his expression feigned seriousness as if he had acquired new information.

Satisfied, Shin Tae-oh turned around.

"Oh, now that I think about it."

"What are you talking about?"

"The reason you treated me like a child."

I've never treated you that way, my child.

With a restless physique and a face more mature than anyone else's, what could it be...

"Well I do have a somewhat innocent side." Shin Tae-oh continued his strange behaviour.

"I will remember."

He opened his diary and wrote it down.

[Why is this person like this?]

"Well, you don't have to open the door, if you think differently. For example, if you find it charming and handsome walking me out"

Se-hyeon was so done with Shin Tae-oh antics today "I will keep that in mind."

As they approached the front of the shop, Se-hyeon unconsciously reached out towards the door but hesitated. He was unsure whether to open it or not.

If he opened it, he would be treating Shin Tae-oh like a child. If he left it closed, Shin Tae-oh might respond by calling him a flirtatious person.

Why do I have to struggle with this decision?Why give him this choice?

Then it happened. Warmth touched his back, which he had considered to be just a step away.

Realizing it was Shin Tae-oh's chest, Se-hyeon couldn't move. He felt trapped between the door and Shin Tae-oh. No, between two doors.

"If you're unsure, I'll open it this time."

Shin Tae-oh's outstretched arm passed Se-hyeon's arm and reached the door. As Se-hyeon stared at Shin Tae-oh's large hand, he noticed the prominent veins on the back of it.

His hand was unusually large compared to others, and whenever he held a phone or a tablet, objects appeared smaller in his grasp. And now, as he thought that the thick veins extending from his hand were oddly captivating, he couldn't take his eyes off them.

"Shall I stay here?"

Shin Tae-oh's breath whispered in his ear.

Considering the proximity, his voice would have been heard at close range...

"I'm sorry."

The cause of Se-hyeon pounding heart was simply a surprise. There was nothing else to it.

As Se-hyeon entered inside, he distanced himself, briefly placing a hand over his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. It felt like he was holding his breath, as if he couldn't take a deep breath.

Shin Tae-oh, who had quietly followed him inside, stood beside him.

"Look around."

Unable to interpret Shin Tae-oh's intention, Se-hyeon looked up at him.

"Why?"

In response to his vague question, Se-hyeon took a step back. Creating distance also meant creating a psychological distance.

"Because of what you said earlier, I suppose."

"If you speak so ambiguously, I can't understand."

"I asked if you like gifts."

Shin Tae-oh, who claimed not to understand, smiled as if he had anticipated it.

"I'll say it again, you don't have to buy me anything."

He rejected Shin Tae-oh's attempt to spend money on him, using any means necessary. He didn't let his guard down because se-hyeon didn't know how he would react.

"Well, I'll say the same thing. Who would I deceive, other than anyone else?"

Shin Tae-oh looked around the store.

"Just looking around is fine. I won't buy anything."

After receiving a definite answer that he wouldn't give me a gift, Se-hyeon looked around with a slightly softened heart. Memories of giving gloves brought here to Yujin came to mind vividly. They are at his home.

With that thought, Se-hyeon's gaze naturally shifted towards the coats. The gloves were thin but provided good insulation. So, the coats here must be lightweight and warm as well.

As if on their own accord, se-hyeon footsteps led him towards the coats, and he forgot about Shin Tae-oh's gaze on his back.

While browsing the coats, I sneakily checked the price of one that caught my eye. I quickly realized that it was an amount I couldn't afford even with a bonus. I lowered the price tag, thinking to myself, What's the point? The coat I was currently wearing was warm enough.

Moreover, with the money I earned, my parents wouldn't have to work so hard, so any lingering regret quickly dissipated.

Just as I was about to see what Shin Tae-oh was looking at, our eyes met.

Surely he wasn't still looking at me, right?

"If you've seen everything, shall we go?"

Shin Tae-oh turned away without any lingering attachment to something in particular. Se-hyeon quickly followed behind him. Once again, Shin Tae-oh opened the door.

***

"Are you sure I can drop you off?"

"You had a busy day today."

Se-hyeon had gone to the studio and then to the office, and it was well past working hours when he came out. Without offering any further explanation, Shin Tae-oh seemed to be implying that he would give me a ride.

"Thank you."

There was no need to say more, as it would only prolong the interaction. Se-hyeon quickly created distance to avoid any further interruption.

"See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, go inside."

With Shin Tae-oh's ordinary farewell, the window rolled up, and the car smoothly

disappeared down the narrow alley.

"Innocence, charm..."

Following Shin Tae-oh today, Se-hyeon murmured two memorable words. No matter how much he thought about it, they seemed distant and yet were mentioned together, leaving him with an uneasy feeling....

Thinking it was just his imagination, Se-hyeon turned around, only to be there was a car parked near his house and a looming figure, casting a large shadow right in front of him.

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Here you go ,next chapter gonna be interesting (⁠✷⁠‿⁠✷⁠)