Vol. 2 Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Vol. 2 Chapter 43:

Translated by Chef

Edited by Chef

“Ha.”

When the elevator door closed, Inseop let out a sigh.

It will be fine. He didn’t say that she didn’t treat him coldly, avoid physical contact, or stop seeing him.

And above all, Lee Wooyeon was so kind.

“It’s okay, it’ll be okay.”

Inseop muttered in a small voice.

He desperately endured it, but the whole time he felt bad. A love affair that he could not confide in anyone required more courage than he thought.

When he decided to follow Wooyeon to Korea, he wasn’t just happy. No, he was very afraid. He decided to take revenge, and he was several times more scared than when he got on the plane to Korea. Back then, he had faith that if everything was over, he would be okay. But this trip to Korea was different. When everything is over, will he be able to handle the aftermath?

“… will I be okay?”

Inseop grabbed Lee Wooyeon’s jacket with trembling hands.

He returned to Korea and remembered the first time he saw Lee Wooyeon.

‘Welcome, you worked hard to come here, it’s been a while.’

Without even saying a word, he grabbed Inseop’s wrist and dragged him. He never returned an answer to the question of where they were going. As soon as they got into the car parked in the parking lot, Lee Wooyeon showered him with kisses. It was a kiss so passionate, urgent, and affectionate that he never thought anyone might see it.

When he came to his senses, almost two hours had passed. When he stopped kissing him and their eyes met, Lee Wooyeon burst into laughter at him. The moment he saw his laugh, his forgotten fears snapped.

If this relationship ends, what will happen to him…

He may be ridiculed for being stupid, but Inseop read dozens of love theory books before coming to Korea. , , , etc.

He studied by underlining the book and organizing the parts that needed to be memorized.

Seeing the statistical results that the more independent people are and the more they respect each other’s private sphere, the longer the dating period, Inseop decided to live alone, not live together. He wanted to avoid choices that had negative consequences on his relationship. Lee Wooyeon suggested living together several times, but he stubbornly shook his head, thinking that doing so would hasten a bad ending.

It wasn’t that there were no quarrels after coming to Korea. Occasionally, Lee Wooyeon got angry for reasons he couldn’t understand. But he had never doubted his affection. He believed he would too. Even if understanding and sympathy for each other were not perfect, he thought that there was no lie in their hearts.

“If you work hard, you will get better.”

Inseop repeated the words to soothe himself.

The problem was that he had no idea what to do.

If he knew it would be like this, he would have studied harder.

Inseop looked up at the elevator dashboard with a sullen face and then turned around. He was thinking of walking up for exercise. He opened the emergency exit door when he heard a bell ring in his pocket. The moment he saw the name on the screen, Inseop opened his eyes. It was Yoon Ahreum. She seldom called.

“Hello. This is Choi Inseop.”

He answered the phone right away. His heart pounded, wondering if something had happened to the cats.

“Yes. It’s okay. What happened?”

Inseop deliberately climbed the stairs slowly and answered.

“Really? How?”

‘Father probably won’t send the kids away. I didn’t think he’d be picky about the person…’

He asked in surprise because he clearly remembered the contents of the text that Ahreum sent him not long ago.

“Good for them. It went really well.”

“Thank you. I am also very grateful to your father.”

Inseop bowed his head in the air and thanked him.

After Yoon Ahreum let out a sigh, she continued.

“What? Tomorrow?”

“Today?”

She said that it would be difficult to see Arthur and Isaac again if it were not today. Although Yoon Ah-reum stepped forward to rescue and adopt the cat, Inseop felt entirely responsible.

“All right. I’ll come today.”

Every time he went to see the cats, his hands were always heavy with presents.

Having even received a side dish from Yoon Ah-reum’s mother, he wanted to repay anything.

“Still..”

After saying thank you, Inseop ended the call. Inseop looked at the window leading to the hallway. It was the perfect weather for a date.

“… I’ll do it next time.”

He put his phone in his pocket and swallowed his regret. He thought it was fortunate that he didn’t bring up the topic of eating with Lee Wooyeon. He’s delayed his appointment before, so he won’t be able to postpone it again.

On the way home, Inseop climbed the stairs, determined to stop by the library and borrow a love book. When he entered the office, Assistant Manager Jo greeted Inseop.

“Inseop, you’re here?”

“Hello, manager.”

“What do I do when you come to me every time? It’s nice to see Mr. Inseop’s face.”

Deputy Assistant Manager Jo smiled warmly and handed Inseop Lee Wooyeon’s schedule.

“Has anything changed?”

For Actor Lee Wooyeon, almost all schedules were set up a month in advance. Interviews or trivial matters can be added, but big events are all caught before that.

“There is nothing other than the postponement of the event next Thursday morning.”

“Is it Thursday?”

Inseop wondered if he was misremembering, so he took out his notebook and checked it. He also delayed his schedule last Thursday morning.

“Yes. Wooyeon told me not to schedule on Thursday mornings for the time being. What is he doing?”

“I haven’t heard anything either, so I’ll check it out and tell you.”

Did he change his workout time?

Inseop tilted his head and put the notebook in his pocket.

“You must have finished your schedule early today. Aren’t you going somewhere nice?”

“Today…”

Inseop, who was about to answer, turned his head to the commotion coming from the entrance.

“You shouldn’t be doing this here.”

The security guard stopped the man with disapproval.

“Why not? What’s the problem? Huh? I’m asking for Lee Wooyeon, but what’s wrong!”

Inseop’s face turned pale.

“Isn’t that Kang Youngmo? Why is that person looking for Lee Wooyeon?”

Assistant Manager Jo whispered to Inseop, disgusted. Inseop, who was completely frozen, did not respond.

What should he do? Why is that person here? First of all, if he contacted Lee Wooyeon not to come down to the office, no, he would come down right away…

While Inseop was unable to do this or that, Kang Youngmo’s eyes met his.

“Uh! You!”

Kang Youngmo, recognizing Inseop, approached him with his eyes shining terrifyingly. Inseop hesitated and tried to step back, but it was already after Kang Youngmo came close.

“Where is Lee Wooyeon? Bring him right away.”

“He, he’s not here right now.”

Inseop answered in a trembling voice. His eyes flashed. Kang Youngmo hit Inseop on the head hard. The people watching gasped and held their breath.

“Not here. I came up after I saw his car parked here.”

“He went home first.”

Inseop responded as calmly as possible. Kang Youngmo snatched Inseop’s lean jacket from his hand and unfolded it.

“Is it your clothes? Aren’t they too big for you to wear? Since I’m saying nicely, are you playing with me right now?”

Kang Youngmo shouted ferociously and threw his jacket at Inseop’s face.

“If you do that, I will call the police.”

Assistant Manager Jo got up and tried to stop Kang Youngmo, but to no avail.

“Police? Call them. Damn, who would be more pissed off if the police were called?”

Inseop shook his head at Assistant Manager Jo. The intervention of the police only made matters worse.

“I’ll take you to the conference room inside.”

First of all, he had to prevent Kang Youngmo and Lee Wooyeon from running into each other. Hiding his trembling hands behind his back, Inseop spoke as calmly as possible. Kang Youngmo swallowed a smile.

“Call Lee Wooyeon. Don’t make me say the same thing over and over again.”

“If you wait inside, I will contact the representative…”

Before he could finish speaking, Kang Youngmo raised his hand. Surprised, Inseop shrugged his shoulders, and Youngmo giggled and touched his cheek as if pushing him away.

“Are you scared? That’s why you said that to me? Does CEO Kim not give manager training?”

Knowing Kang Youngmo’s notoriety, none of the people in the office dared to step forward.

“I won’t talk for a long time. Go and bring Lee Wooyeon.”

Anunpleasant slapping sound echoed through the office. Inseop bit his lip. It didn’t hurt like before, but the humiliation rolled over.

“You just have to tell him what’s going on.”

Inseop desperately held back his tears. He couldn’t cry in front of people. Moreover, as Lee Wooyeon’s manager, he had to somehow end things.

“There are many people watching. If you do this here, it will not be good for Mr. Kang Youngmo. Please.”

When Inseop didn’t budge, Kang Youngmo’s mood was distorted with anger.

The coffee on the desk next to him caught his eye. Kang Youngmo pushed Inseop away and picked up the coffee. Surprised, Inseop closed his eyes tightly and turned his face to the side. However, even after a long time, the expected situation did not come.

The surroundings were too quiet. Hearing the suffocating silence, Inseop slowly turned his head.

“…”

The sweet aroma of coffee wafted through. Lee Wooyeon, covered with coffee, was standing there. Even after being drenched in coffee, Lee Wooyeon did not frown or even get angry. It was a scene so static that one would believe it was a scene from a movie or advertisement, as if someone would shout, ‘cut!’.

He made eye contact with Inseop, but Lee Wooyeon did not budge. Coffee dripped down his chin and soaked his collar. Inseop finally came to his senses and took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Lee Wooyeon’s face.

“Are you okay? Don’t do this, go to the bathroom…!”

Lee Wooyeon grabbed Inseop’s chin and made him tilt his head.

“You didn’t get hit?”

A low voice made his heart race. Inseop quickly shook his head. The situation was similar then. No, it was more serious.

“No. It didn’t hit me. I’m fine…”

The back of the man’s hand touched Inseop’s cheek. Inseop held his breath. His hand, which smelled of sweet coffee, felt exceptionally cold.

“I think I got it right?”

Lee Wooyeon’s gaze reached Kang Youngmo. He glared at Lee Wooyeon with an expression full of energy.

“What do you see? No top or bottom? You saw me, but you didn’t even say hello?”

“Hello.”

A sharp hostility towards the opponent was revealed in a monotonous tone. Kang Youngmo cursed and threw the cup in his hand.

“You’re the reason why they can’t even greet properly. What the hell did you do…“

“How many times did you get hit?”

Before Kang Youngmo could finish his words, Lee Wooyeon abruptly asked. Lee Wooyeon’s gaze was fixed on Kang Youngmo as if it had been nailed to it.

“What?”

“How many times did you get hit? It must have been painful.”

Only then did Kang Youngmo realize that Wooyeon was talking to Inseop, not to him.

“What if he gets hit a few times? Are you going to secretly follow me and hit me with a brick from behind?”

Choi Inseop’s face turned pale. It was a place where his words turned quickly.

Regardless of whether it is true or not, the more irritating rumors spread, the faster they spread. Above all, it was not a useless rumor, it was true. If he could, he wanted to shut Youngmo’s mouth and drag him outside.

However, Lee Wooyeon only looked around him with a relaxed expression.

“What are you looking for?”

“I was wondering if there was something to replace the bricks with.”

Lee Wooyeon answered Kang Youngmo’s words for the first time. The people who were agitated held their breath at once and doubted their ears. These were not words that would come out of the mouth of the polite and kind Lee Wooyeon.

Inseop was on the verge of fainting. He forgot. The fact that the priority is to block Lee Wooyeon’s mouth, not Kang Youngmo’s.

“But why do you think I did it?”

“What do you think?”

“I heard that I hit you with a brick. Wasn’t the culprit caught?”

“Why is a Korean-Chinese bastard who doesn’t even know me hit my head for no reason at all? Besides, why did he suddenly confess? No matter how much I think about it, it makes no sense.”

“Then, if there is a reason, can I hit you?”

It looked like a child asking questions. However, the pure innocence revealed without any intention gave a rather eerie feeling.

“This bastard, don’t tell me… Forget it. That’s it, and you said something to Director Lee Chulhwan.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Then why are there orders to end the drama that is currently airing early!”

Lee Wooyeon tilted his head. Coffee still dripped from his head.

“Did the drama end early? It’s a pity. It was good work.”

It was a look of genuine regret. Then he asked.

“But why do you think I did it?”

It was the same question as before.

“Of course, because you did something, Director Lee Cheolhwan made such a decision!”

Kang Youngmo’s neck stood out with veins. His face was noticeably more emaciated than before. Rumors went around that every drama and movie he appeared in had failed, and that this work was being filmed with great care. He even went through the trouble of losing 10 kilos to match his role in the play.

Even so, the viewership ratings were the lowest for each day. It was the broadcasting industry that cried and laughed at the ratings. The early end of the show was a big blow to the producers and writers, but it was also an indelible insult to the leading actors. In particular, it was a shame that could never be passed on to an actor like Kang Youngmo, who had a strong sense of pride.

“Did I? Why do you think so?”

Lee Wooyeon smiled and returned the same question as before.

Inseop got goosebumps. It was like having a broken machine in front of you.

“What the fuck is that, saying that from a while ago. Who else would do that? Don’t act like you’re nice, asshole. Do you think I don’t know what’s dark inside of you? I’ve been working in this field for 15 years. A bastard like you, I know it when I see it. You visited Chae Yeonseo yesterday. I’m sure you must have gone there to play around with your tongues rolling.”

The title of the article, “Lee Wooyeon, who came to visit the hospital for his lover,” was posted all over the place. Kang Youngmo could not have missed it either.

“So you’re saying that I hit the back of your head with a brick and made the drama end early?”

“Yes!

Lee Wooyeon said “Ah” and nodded his head slowly.

‘But why?’ he asks. Kang Youngmo could not stand it any longer and rushed at Lee Wooyeon and grabbed him by the collar.

“Let’s see…!”

“What am I going to do next?”

“Why are you asking me that! You crazy bastard.”

“You said you knew when you saw it. Isn’t that why you came to visit me? There’s no proof that I did it.”

Lee Wooyeon showed a good-natured smile. It was actually a coffee-scented smile. The speechless Kang Youngmo pursed his lips and glared at him.

“Without proof, you just thought I did it, so you came all the way here. Hey, didn’t you hit my person because you felt bad?”

At the expression “my person”, Inseop hair stood on end. Even if it wasn’t, Kang Youngmo doubted the relationship between Lee Wooyeon and himself. He had to put an end to this debacle somehow quickly.

“I am okay. So, you two…”

“You stay out of it. Who’s this fucking asshole who keeps interfering!”

Kang Youngmo pushed Inseop away and he screamed violently. Lee Wooyeon swallowed a short bitter smile. Seeing the tendon in his hand, Inseop quickly clung to Lee Wooyeon.

“You can’t.”.

Tears welled up in Inseop’s big eyes.

“Don’t do that. Please, please.”

Lee Wooyeon stared at Inseop and lightly shook Kang Youngmo’s hand that was holding him by the collar.

“You bastard. Follow me right now.”

Kang Youngmo sighed and left the office. Lee Wooyeon, who was about to follow, was blocked by Inseop.

“I’ll go out and talk. Mr. Wooyeon, stay here…”

Lee Wooyeon passed Inseop without answering.

“Wow, I heard rumors that Kang Youngmo was an asshole, but it’s beyond imagination, right?”

“He must be crazy. The drama ended early due to low viewer ratings. Why is he making a fuss with Wooyeon?”

“It’s crazy. But how could Lee Wooyeon do that? There is no such thing as an adult soldier. If it were me, I wouldn’t have left it alone.”

Only then did people begin to spit out the words they had been holding back.

“Mr. Inseop, are you okay? What should I do? The CEO isn’t answering the phone. Neither is Mr. Cha. Should I call the police?

Deputy Assistant Manager Jo asked Inseop, at a loss for what to do with the phone in his hand.

“I am okay. Please do not contact the police. Please contact the representative.”

Inseop hurriedly followed Wooyeon.

“Lee Wooyeon”

Grabbing Lee Wooyeon’s hem, Inseop pulled as hard as he could.

“No.”

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re angry.”

People praised Lee Wooyeon for his calm demeanor, but only Inseop could tell. The bleak anger in Lee Wooyeon’s eyes.

“Does it look like that?”

Lee Wooyeon smiled and asked, but his eyes did not smile at all.

“What are you doing! Aren’t you coming?”

Kang Youngmo shouted at Lee Wooyeon. Lee Wooyeon turned his head to Kang Youngmo and moved on, with a smile on his face.

Lee Wooyeon took a card from his wallet and put it on the elevator sensor. When moving the entertainment company building to the new building, CEO Kim paid special attention to the parking lot. A die-hard car fanatic, he used the entire third basement floor as his private parking lot. The third basement floor was only accessible with a card. Opening and closing the elevator door, even pressing the floor, all required a card. In other words, it was a space that could be a perfect closed room for people with cards.

Of course, Lee Wooyeon was one of the few people who had the card.

When the elevator door opened, Kang Youngmo entered first. Lee Wooyeon lightly pushed away Inseop, who was trying to follow him.

“I’ll talk to you for a bit and come back.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Inseop stubbornly grabbed Lee Wooyeon’s sleeve.

“Mr. Inseop”

Lee Wooyeon’s voice raised at Inseop quietly. Inseop lowered his gaze and hung his head.

“If you weren’t going to put up with it, you wouldn’t have been there earlier.”

Inseop tightened his grip on his sleeve. It seemed that if he let go of this hand, he would miss Lee Wooyeon forever.

“But I don’t think I would be able to stand it if he touched Inseop one more time. Okay?”

Lee Wooyeon removed Inseop’s fingers one by one and lowered his head.

Then he whispered in a very low voice.

“So, Mr. Inseop, wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

Lee Wooyeon laughed as he removed his last finger and pushed it away as if tossing it aside. Inseop’s weeping eyes were visible through the crack in the elevator door.

“Oh my. He’s very loyal. Following you around like tha. No, that I see it, is it Lee Wooyeon’s unrequited love? Isn’t that why you hit me from behind?”

Kang Youngmo giggled and took his cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. Lee Wooyeon pressed the button on the third basement floor with his card key on. The elevator started moving.

“Do you really think it was me who hit you from behind that day?”

“Who else but you?”

Lee Wooyeon said ah, and lowered his head slightly. He thought for a moment before he slowly raised his head.

Lee Wooyeon looked at Kang Youngmo, who was still talking. It was the look of an innocent boy who had never done anything bad in his life.

“Does anyone who really believes that want to be alone with me?”

Lee Wooyeon revealed his neat white teeth, and he smiled as he approached Kang Youngmo.