Vol. 2 Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Vol. 2 Chapter 19:

Translated by Naralara

Edited by Naralara

Inseop, who was pushing the chair, asked, looking at manager Cha’s expression.

“I’m okay. It’s only a broken leg, not a fatal disease. Everything is fine except for the leg. Ha ha ha ha ha.”

Manager Cha answered in a cheerful tone. As if to prove his own words, his skin was shiny like a boiled egg.

“I’m glad you look good.”

“Well then. My digestion is good and my headache is better. Ah, this world is worth living.”

Manager Cha muttered with his eyes closed like he was savoring the sunlight. Then, as if he had suddenly remembered, he looked back at Inseop and asked.

“But what happened? So suddenly.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Ha ha ha. It’s nice to see your face once on this occasion. Okay, is everything okay?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing special.”

Inseop’s voice that answered like that was weak. Lee Wooyeon’s dating rumor was heard through CEO Kim, and he was well aware of it. Scandals for hiding something else were common in this field. But compared to contractual marriages, a dating scandal was nothing.

However, Inseop was in a relationship with the person who was the center of the scandal. The only people who knew about it were CEO Kim and himself. No matter how showy the scandal was, it was different for Lee Wooyeon, whose nerves were made of steel. It was clear that Inseop was suffering from heartache.

“That’s… No, is Lee Wooyeon very upset?”

“No. It’s not like that. Rather, I’m only causing trouble.”

Inseop hurriedly shook his head.

How kind and beautiful his heart was!

Manager Cha quickly wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his hospital gown. Other people didn’t know, but he knew. Lee Wooyeon, who revealed his true nature, behaves like a dog to his manager.

“What trouble? Talk to CEO Kim and get a lot of salary. If you’re trying to hold your words just because it’s a temporary job, tell me. I’ll scold him.”

“No. I’m sorry for giving you so much trouble.”

Inseop smiled and replied.

“Is your body okay? Come to think of it, your face looks a bit damaged.”

Manger Cha felt remorse when he saw Inseop, whose complexion was paler than that of the patient with a broken leg.

“I’m just a little tired because I couldn’t sleep last night. It’s okay.”

“Yesterday? You couldn’t sleep because you were doing something. Ah ha ha ha yeah you couldn’t sleep. It could be because it’s hot.”

A text message sent by CEO Kim yesterday flashed through Manager Cha’s head. It was a message full of swears aimed at Lee Wooyeon, who took his credit card and reserved a hotel suite. Who did he share the hotel suite with? It was obvious who he would have used it with.

“A movie is coming out.”

Manager Cha quickly changed the subject.

“Yes. The movie promotion will start the day after tomorrow, so I will be busy.”

“They say that this movie is good.”

“I think it came out really well. I hope it will be opened soon and many people will see it.”

The excitement in Inseop’s voice as he said that was evident.

“Inseop seems to be really a fan of Lee Wooyeon. How come he expects more than Lee Wooyeon himself?”

“Yes. Of course I look forward to it… Because I am a fan.”

Inseop felt sorry for deceiving Manager Cha by saying that he was a fan of Lee Wooyeon.

“Hmmmm, don’t go there. Inseop”

Manager Cha cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“As I said before, if you have any concerns, you can tell me. Think of me as a hyung.”

When Inseop opened his eyes wide, Manager Cha scratched his cheek as if embarrassed.

“Sorry. Am I too old for a hyung?”

“No. It’s just… it’s a bit strange because I don’t have a hyung.”

“Are you an only child?”

“I’m the oldest.”

Inseop murmured softly. It was embarrassing, because he’d always heard that they were not similar at all. He had a weak body and a timid personality, so he doesn’t look like the eldest at all.

“Do you have any younger siblings? How many?”

“Three of us.”

“Wow. It’s a big family. I think you’ll get along well with your younger siblings. Do you have any pictures?”

Inseop found a family photo in his cell phone photo album and showed it to Manager Cha. Cha opened his eyes wide and alternately looked at Inseop and the phone screen.

“Cute, right?”

“Hahahahaha… he’s big.”

Among the brothers, Inseop looked the youngest. The expression “cute” suited Inseop, not his younger siblings.

“They grew up, but they are all kids. You don’t know how noisy it is when we get together.” Inseop’s eyes were full of affection as he looked at the photos on his phone.

“You don’t want to see your family?

“…I miss them.”

Inseop put the cell phone back in his pocket.

“Isn’t America more comfortable than Korea?”

“Yes. Maybe. But I’ve adapted a lot.”

“Are you going back to America after you graduate?

“No, that’s not it… Nothing has been decided yet.”

He just told his parents that he wants to study in Korea. No concrete plans have been made since then. To stay here with Lee Wooyeon, he had to find a proper job.

“I’m thinking about this and that. I’m worried.”

The last words were mixed with a sigh. Manager Cha tried to tell him that he was worried about useless things with so many men next to him that even if he played and ate all his life, his money would rot and disappear. But he had a very plausible feeling that Lee Wooyeon would stick out his back to insert a straw, make him take a sip of his own bone marrow, and then make him pay a very high price.

“Why don’t you go to the States or something before the vacation is over?”

“I’ll decide after seeing the situation. I’m busy now.”

Inseop quickly smiled.

“Then take a vacation and go somewhere to get some fresh air with your friends. I’ll tell the representative. You’ll be fine for a few days.”

Inseop smiled silently. Manager Cha carefully asked.

“Are there any friends you keep in touch with in Korea?”

Inseop shook his head slightly.

“Not even one?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, goodness. This friend.”

Manager Cha put on a look of genuine regret.

“I’m kind of bad at things like that. You don’t even know how to hang out with people.”

“If you can get along with Lee Wooyeon, you can get along with anyone.”

Inseop laughed at Manager Cha’s sincere joke.

“I’m serious. If you? put your mind to it, you’ll make a hundred friends.”

“That would be nice.”

Inseop slowly pushed the wheelchair.

“Then is Lee Wooyeon your only friend?”

“Ah, yes… he is.”

Inseop lowered his eyes and answered.

“You know, Mr. Inseop. I’m not saying this because I hate Lee Wooyeon a lot, I’m saying this because I think of Inseop….Can you communicate with Lee Wooyeon?”

“…”

Inseop missed the timing to reply. Manager Cha let out a sigh as if he knew that would happen.

“It feels like you’re talking to a wall, right?”

“It doesn’t happen often.”

Lee Wooyeon’s ability to empathize has declined. He adequately compensated for that with acting in front of people, but he didn’t even bother to act with someone who knew his personality. There was a particular lack of empathy for very trivial and small parts. He felt very sorry for Lee Wooyeon, but Inseop felt lonely every time. He thought that he would never be able to get sympathy from this person for this kind of problem.

“Aren’t you lonely?”

It was a question that ran through his head.

“…Sometimes.”

Inseop revealed his true heart without even realizing it.

“you should have met someone else before you got your nose pierced…“

“What?”

Inseop was surprised and asked back.

“Ah, no, I mean… make other friends. A tree needs many small roots to be strong. It’s the same with human relationships…”

Inseop nodded his head with a serious expression.

“Have I been too arrogant?”

“No. Not at all. You’re the only one who tells me this. I really appreciate it.”

“Think of me as a hyung. A very older hyung.”

“Thank you.”

Inseop felt very happy, even the nape of his neck turned red.

“Yeah. Don’t you have anything to talk about with your hyung?”

He thought the answer would come back, but Inseop hesitated and wiggled his hand. Manager Cha urged Inseop, saying, “Tell me.”

“Mr. Kang Youngmo.”

“Kang Youngmo?”

The only people who knew the truth of that day were CEO Kim, Manager Cha, and Choi Inseop. And Kang Youngmo’s name was a taboo word among the three.

“Why about Kang Youngmo? What’s the matter? Did Lee Wooyeon cause trouble again?”

Manager Cha asked, breathing hard. For the first time since he was admitted to the hospital, he had a sick day.

“No, it’s not like that at all. Just… Is he a big influence in the entertainment industry?”

“Yes. He’s good at acting, but the head of the agency is from Kang Youngmo’s wife’s family. The agency is very big.”

While answering, Manger Cha couldn’t hide his anxiety.

“Does Kang Youngmo often run into Lee Wooyeon?”

“I can’t say no, but I’m trying my best not to run into each other…Is there really nothing going on?”

Inseop hesitated for a moment. If he said what Kang Youngmo said to him, it’ll unintentionally result in Lee Wooyeon being outed. No matter how trustworthy Mr. Cha and Mr. Kim were, this was a completely different matter.

“Yeah. It’s nothing. I was just asking because I was worried.”

Inseop thought it was fortunate that he was pushing the wheelchair. Looking at Manager Cha’s face, he had no confidence to lie calmly.

Manager Cha sighed for a moment, then continued,

“Just in case. If Kang Youngmo and Lee Wooyeon run into each other, Mr. Inseop will stop them. First of all, drag him somewhere else. If it’s from Inseop, Wooyeon listens well.”

Inseop thought about asking CEO Kim to use another manager. However, he thought that if he did that, there would be a misunderstanding, and he was the only person who could stop Lee Wooyeon in the event of an emergency, as Manger Cha said.

“I will do that,”

Inseop nodded as if he were determined to himself and said,

“But it’s really fortunate. There is someone like Inseop next to Lee Wooyeon.”

Inseop couldn’t raise his head at Manager Cha’s words.

When he woke up this morning, Inseop initially thought he was dreaming. It was only after looking at it for a while that he realized it wasn’t a dream. It was amazing. It was the first time he had woken up before him. Lee Wooyeon’s hair was messy and disheveled. He had taken a shower and slept without properly grooming his hair.

He looked younger than usual. Lee Wooyeon smiled like a boy sometimes. He didn’t know if he was aware of it, but especially when he played a practical joke on Inseop or said a joke. And he really liked that look. Every time Lee Wooyeon smiled at him like that, he felt like he had become an idiot. He was dizzy and his heart was pounding.

It would be nice if he always smiled

Inseop stared blankly at Lee Wooyeon and swallowed the fleeting feeling. And at that moment, like a dream, Lee Wooyeon opened his eyes and smiled like a boy.

Perhaps he was asleep, Lee Wooyeon immediately closed his eyes again. His heart beat like crazy. He was afraid that the sound would wake Lee Wooyeon. He knew the meaning of Lee Wooyeon’s defenseless appearance. How much he cares for him, and how much he cares for him, too.

‘Whether it’s a settlement hospital or a prison, I don’t want to be locked up in either.’

The blood splattered pale face and Lee Wooyeon’s smiling like a boy overlapped. He was worried that something else might happen to him because of him. The happier he was next to him, the greater his anxiety grew.

“Of course, from Inseop’s point of view, a friend like Lee Wooyeon… would not be good.”

“Oh, no, it’s not like that.”

“If Lee Wooyeon behaves badly, just throw him away. Because you can make as many friends as you want. Understand?

“Thank you for your concern.”

As Manager Cha was about to say a few more relationship advice, his cell phone which was tucked into the patient’s gown began to ring.

“Wait a minute. Hello?”

Manger Cha started talking on the phone. Choi Inseop took out his cell phone. Before leaving the hotel, he asked CEO Kim to hold Lee Wooyeon for an hour. The answer came back saying, “I will, so don’t worry and take care of yourself.” He left a text message to Lee Wooyeon asking if he had left the office. Fortunately, there was no contact yet.

Lee Wooyeon called him in the middle, but he didn’t answer. No, he couldn’t. It was obvious that he would be caught sneaking out if he answered the phone. When he sent a text message apologizing for not answering the phone, Lee Wooyeon replied that he would come later because things would be a little late. It was fortunate that things turned out better than expected.

“That’s weird. The hospital staff wants you to come quickly”.

Manager Cha finished the call with a questionable face.

“Hospital administration?”

“Yes. It’s urgent, so a guardian was asked to come as soon as possible. It’s strange. There’s nothing urgent.”

“Then I’ll go there.”

It took some time to push the wheelchair and move.

“I’m sorry. You’ll have to go a bit, but it’ll be next to the information desk on the first floor of the department of staff.”

“Okay. Shall I get a drink while you’re coming?””

“Buy me a bottle of bottled water. I’ll give you the money when I go up to the hospital room.”

“That’s all right. Then I’ll be right back.

As soon as Inseop left, Manger Cha took out a cigarette from his pocket and asked if he could smoke. Smoking was inconvenient in front of non-smokers. Then, a hand extended from behind lit a lighter and handed it over.

“Thank….”

“What?”

The cigarette dropped from Manager Cha’s mouth.

“Can the patient smoke?”