Bang Manager had already arrived at Seo Hae’s studio.
He knew that Seo Hae’s home and studio were in the same building, but this was his first time visiting in person.
Since the studio was set up in a spacious Oppisteul, its basic layout was similar to an apartment.
In the Living Room, Pilates equipment was arranged, and on one side, a comfortable Sofa was prepared for relaxation.
There was also a Kitchen, complete with an Island Counter, a dining table, and a large Refrigerator.
Before they could even admire the sweeping view that was as refreshing as the one from the Living Room of the home upstairs, the three of them sat down together at the dining table in the Kitchen.
Yoon Jooho, who was sitting with his back against the wall rather than the back of the chair, looked uninterested.
He unfolded the folded part of his turtleneck to cover up to beneath his nose and slouched in his seat, just like a rebellious high school student.
Bang Manager, seated across from him, was the first to show interest, pulling his chair closer.
“How is it? Do you think there’s something fishy going on?”
Song Hyunsoo nodded.
“I think so.”
He placed a Business Card on the table.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a hospital Jung Sungwon recommended.”
“A hospital? Are you sick?”
Yoon Jooho, who had been acting indifferent as if it was someone else’s business, pulled his turtleneck down below his lips and asked Song Hyunsoo.
“It’s not for me, I recommended it to you, Sunbae. A Sleep Clinic.”
“And what’s so suspicious about that?”
“I just… It didn’t feel like he was recommending it out of pure concern. It was like he came specifically to talk about it from the start.”
Song Hyunsoo took a small Recorder out of his pocket.
Though small, it was a proper Recorder—one of those models that could record with clearer sound quality than a phone, even in your pocket.
Yoon Jooho asked, “What’s that?”
“A Recorder.”
“You recorded the conversation?”
“You said you learned it that way too, Sunbae. Be suspicious, document every promise, record everything.”
The day when Yoon Jooho’s Parent and Yoon Jooho had that bloody argument right before his eyes—Song Hyunsoo had heard those words himself.
Yoon Jooho let out a helpless chuckle. He looked genuinely amused.
“You never know. What Jung Sungwon said might end up being evidence someday.”
He placed the Recorder in the center of the dining table and pressed play.
Even though it was just the part where they exchanged greetings, the mood radiating from Yoon Jooho wasn’t great.
[Things started to get weird. Sunbae’s parents… they misunderstood the relationship between me and Sunbae.]
Even though everything had been planned out in advance.
It felt bad to play a clip where their relationship was being denied.
Since his mouth and nose were covered by the turtleneck, it was hard to read his expression, but it was clear that Yoon Jooho wasn’t unaffected either.
[So, you’re really saying there’s nothing between you and Sunbae Jooho?]
Jung Sungwon’s voice.
Song Hyunsoo glanced sideways at Yoon Jooho. Leaning back against the wall, he was watching Song Hyunsoo.
His gaze was not resentful or blaming. If anything, he looked a little lonely or sad.
It would have been easier if he’d just gotten angry and snapped…
[Do you really think this will help, Sunbae?]
[Of course. Sleep is the best medicine, you know.]
At that point, Song Hyunsoo stopped the playback.
Bang Manager, who had been examining the Business Card while listening to the recording, nodded with a look of conviction.
“It definitely smells fishy.”
“Right?”
“So, what’s the next plan?”
At the quiet question from Yoon Jooho, Bang Manager answered.
“We have to go to this hospital. We need to find out if Jung Sungwon really is one of the representatives’ plants.”
Clicking his tongue with a troubled expression, Bang Manager added,
“To be honest, right now it all seems pretty certain…”
“Fine, I’ll go.”
“Really?”
Surprised by Yoon Jooho’s willingness to cooperate, Song Hyunsoo turned to look at him.
Yoon Jooho pulled his turtleneck down and lifted the small Recorder from the table.
“Isn’t this what you brought it for in the first place?”
“Of course I’ll set up a safety net in advance. Who knows what kind of tricks they might try at that hospital.”
Nodding at Bang Manager’s words, Yoon Jooho stared at him with a crooked silence.
“What, what is it?”
“Hyung, don’t you have anything urgent to do?”
“Urgent? At this hour?”
“Isn’t it about time you left?”
Because Yoon Jooho so blatantly suggested he wanted to be alone, Song Hyunsoo’s face turned red. He didn’t have the courage to look at Bang Manager.
“Can’t you be a bit more polite when you kick someone out?”
“Either way, I’m still kicking you out. What’s the point in pretending to have manners? That’s all empty formality.”
“Fine, you brat. I’m leaving, I’m leaving.”
Song Hyunsoo awkwardly stood up and saw Bang Manager to the door. When he came back, Yoon Jooho had moved and was now sitting on the Sofa.
As he picked up the Beer Bottle from the table, Yoon Jooho patted the seat beside him.
“Is beer okay?”
The gesture to sit beside him made Song Hyunsoo feel a strange tickle inside, so he nodded and rubbed the back of his neck.
Even after Song Hyunsoo sat on the Sofa and took a few sips of the beer he was handed, Yoon Jooho didn’t say anything.
Then, standing up, he went to the Kitchen and came back.
“Play the rest of the recording.”
“Sorry?”
He held the Recorder out to Song Hyunsoo.
“There’s more left, right? Play it.”
Hurriedly, Song Hyunsoo snatched the Recorder from his hand.
“T-the important part’s already over. The rest is just idle chatter.”
“Now I’m even more curious about the rest, seeing your reaction. What if the next part is even more interesting? Huh?”
“Ah, seriously, stop it!”
Yoon Jooho, setting his Beer Bottle down on the table, made up his mind and lunged, eventually snatching the Recorder away.
Then, as Song Hyunsoo tried to reclaim it, Yoon Jooho trapped him in a tight hold at his side, operating the Recorder with his other hand.
Skipping through the unnecessary parts, Yoon Jooho paused at a particular segment.
[By the way, Hyunsoo-ssi.]
[Yes?]
[If there’s really nothing between you and Sunbae Jooho… then, do you not like dating men in general? Is there really no chance at all?]
Yoon Jooho’s brow furrowed as if his face had been crumpled up like paper.
“Se– Sunb… mm. Mm.”
Yoon Jooho quickly clamped his hand over Song Hyunsoo’s mouth, who was about to speak.
[Even if you’ve never dated a man, you have experience, right?]
“What a crazy bastard.”
[To be honest, you’re my type, Hyunsoo-ssi. I thought you were really cute from the first time I saw you.]
“Knew it, I warned you, didn’t I?”
A vein popped on Yoon Jooho’s temple.
[What do you think of me?]
“How do I feel? Damn it, I can’t stand this.”
[Hearing that just makes me want you more. What am I supposed to do?]
“If you want something, what are you going to do about it?”
Yoon Jooho was commenting on every single thing Jung Sungwon said.
At this point, it was impossible to stop him. He was the type who, once he got hold of something, had to see it through to the end. I know him well.
Song Hyunsoo gave up trying to intervene and just drank his beer, resigned.
[Even if you don’t have feelings yet, your body can still react, right? I’m pretty confident in my looks.]
“……”
This time, there was no retort.
Yoon Jooho bit his lip and roughly ran his hands over his face.
[That’s… I don’t think it’s possible.]
[Not possible?]
[I don’t think I’ll be moved by anyone but that person.]
Still rubbing his face, Yoon Jooho turned to Song Hyunsoo beside him.
“You wouldn’t complain if I ruined that actor’s career, right?”
“I turned him down clearly, didn’t I? Isn’t that enough?”
“Enough? How is it enough? It doesn’t change the fact that bastard came onto you.”
Yoon Jooho picked up the Beer Bottle and practically chugged it.
“Maybe he was just fishing for more information…”
“And you’re still saying that after hearing this?”
“……”
“He wavered, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“If there was any chance he could get with you, he would have taken you out of the ‘Yoon Jooho Ruin Project.’ Don’t you get it?”
Yoon Jooho gulped down the rest of the beer again.
『“I don’t know about you, Hyunsoo-ssi, but I’m giving you a chance right now.”
“What kind of chance, exactly?”
“Jooho Sunbae and the representatives. It’s a battle of whales. I could get you out of the middle entirely.”』
Listening to Jung Sungwon, Song Hyunsoo couldn’t deny it, since he’d thought the same as Yoon Jooho.
He slid a bit closer, scooting his hips along the Sofa, and wrapped his arm around Yoon Jooho’s waist, who was nervously drinking his beer.
“Don’t do this ever again. Don’t meet, don’t talk, don’t even say his name. Don’t watch anything he’s in—TV, magazines, articles, YouTube. Nothing. Got it?”
He rested his forehead on Yoon Jooho’s shoulder and nodded.
Even though he knew it was a serious moment for Yoon Jooho, he couldn’t help but smile.
Clack.
He heard the sound of the Beer Bottle being set down, and then the shoulder he was leaning against shifted.
“Mmm…”
At the same time, Yoon Jooho’s hand cradled the back of Song Hyunsoo’s head, and his lips met his.