Chapter 188: Dissolve: His Last Choice

As soon as they stepped out of the restaurant—once an old single-family home, now renovated—the chilly night air felt surprisingly refreshing.

Song Hyunsoo and Jung Sungwon, each holding a cup of takeout coffee the restaurant had prepared, paused for a moment on the porch terrace at the entrance.

“Thank you for the meal today, sunbae. And for listening to my worries, too.”

Jung Sungwon looked at Song Hyunsoo, who bowed deeply at the waist, with a slightly hurt expression.

“If you’re that formal with me, I feel kind of left out, you know?”

“Still… you’re very much my sunbae.”

“I thought you came to talk to me because you felt comfortable around me. Was I wrong?”

“No, you’re right. I couldn’t think of anyone but you to talk to about this.”

Was he buying it or not? Hands shoved into the pockets of his light spring coat, Jung Sungwon gave a faint, ambiguous smile.

If you just looked at his appearance, he really did seem as gentle and warm as his image suggested.

Well, if we’re talking looks, even our Yoon Jooho is almost flawless.

“Hyunsoo, do you smoke?”

Jung Sungwon pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and offered one to Hyunsoo.

Although Hyunsoo wanted to leave now that his objective was accomplished, it was clear he’d be stuck here until they finished at least one cigarette and Jung Sungwon’s car arrived.

They lined up in the designated smoking area, both holding their cigarettes between their lips.

Jung Sungwon reached out to light Hyunsoo’s first.

“I’ll do it myself.”

“Let me, at least this much. It’s a sign of closeness.”

The lighter flared, and Hyunsoo cupped his hands to block the wind.

He could feel Jung Sungwon’s gaze lingering on his face, flickering in the firelight, but chose to ignore it.

Once his own cigarette was lit, Jung Sungwon exhaled a puff of smoke and spoke.

“But Hyunsoo.”

“Yes?”

“If there’s nothing going on between you and Jooho sunbae…”

“……”

“Then do you dislike the idea of dating men in general?”

“……”

“Is there absolutely no possibility?”

“…What?”

Why was this conversation suddenly going in that direction?

Hyunsoo swallowed dryly before he realized it.

He had been recording their conversation from the start, just in case he needed it as evidence later.

He also intended to share it with Bang Manager and Yoon Jooho after parting ways with Jung Sungwon.

Because of that, Hyunsoo felt as tense as if Yoon Jooho himself was standing opposite, listening in on this exchange.

He could almost see Yoon Jooho, arms folded and leaning on one leg beside Jung Sungwon, keeping a close eye on him.

Yeah, go ahead and answer, Hyunsoo. Didn’t I warn you that bastard had ulterior motives for you? — The look of raised eyebrows flashed vividly in Hyunsoo’s mind.

“Ah, well, I’ve never really thought about it… ha ha.”

He tried to laugh it off, but Jung Sungwon pressed forward rather than backing down.

“I thought I made it clear I was interested from the moment we first met. Judging by today, maybe it didn’t get through.”

Jung Sungwon took a sip of coffee and then brought the cigarette to his lips, his gaze settling on Hyunsoo.

“Even if you’ve never dated a man, you have some experience, right?”

“……”

What, does it say so on my face or something? Even Yoon Jooho once said the same thing to me.

“Ha ha… Sunbae, that’s kind of sexual harassment, you know.”

Already planning to edit out this part from the recording during the car ride later, Hyunsoo forced a smile.

“To be honest, you’re my type, Hyunsoo. From the first moment I saw you, I thought you were really cute.”

No, that’s not true! You’re lying to yourself! Shut up! Just shut up already!

Hyunsoo wanted to stop recording, but couldn’t risk pulling the recorder out of his pocket now.

“What do you think of me?”

What did he mean, what did he think?

Was that really a question a man could toss out so casually to another man in the Republic of Korea in this day and age?

Jung Sungwon, known as a harmless gentleman with great manners, was unexpectedly this straightforward type.

Maybe Yoon Jooho was right when he said Jung Sungwon was quicker than he looked.

“Well, you’re good-looking, sunbae, tall, all that. I’m sure you’re popular enough even without me…”

“Maybe not as much as Jooho sunbae, but I can protect you in this business, too.”

That statement brought Hyunsoo’s mind back to clarity. He felt like he could cut Jung Sungwon off cleanly.

Taking two or three quick drags from his cigarette, Hyunsoo glanced down at Jung Sungwon’s chest, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I appreciate you feeling that way about me, regardless of gender…”

Then he raised his gaze to meet the man in front of him head-on.

“But I don’t get involved with people just because someone says they’ll protect me or anything like that.”

Jung Sungwon shrugged and grinned broadly.

“Hearing you say that just makes me want you more. What am I supposed to do?”

“I already like someone.”

Hearing Hyunsoo’s firm response left no room for hope, and Jung Sungwon’s face stiffened for a moment.

He tapped the ashes into the prepared tray, eyes narrowing as he looked over at Hyunsoo.

“Since you say ‘someone you like,’ I guess you’re not actually together. How about giving me a chance?”

“A chance?”

“You might not have feelings for me, but your body could respond, right? I am pretty confident about my looks.”

“Are you talking about a chance to sleep together?”

Hyunsoo almost wanted to scoff.

The one I sleep with is Yoon Jooho. And compared to Yoon Jooho, no one else even catches my eye.

Jung Sungwon gave a vague smile, fiddling with his coffee cup.

“Maybe you don’t realize, but I’m giving you a chance here, Hyunsoo.”

“So what is this chance you keep talking about?”

“Jooho sunbae and the company presidents—it’s like a whale fight. I could pull you out from between them for good.”

“In exchange for sex?”

Jung Sungwon’s eyebrows drew together.

“That’s harsh. I’m just earnestly pursuing you, Hyunsoo.”

“I’m afraid… that’s impossible.”

“Impossible?”

“I don’t think I could ever feel that way about anyone except that person.”

Hyunsoo stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette in the tray and tossed his coffee cup into the trash.

Then, for the last time, he gave a very polite bow at the waist.

“Let’s just pretend this conversation never happened.”

“……”

“Then. I’ll be going first, sunbae.”

He spotted a black RV Van waiting across the street.

Jungho was supposed to pick up Hyunsoo and head to the Pilates Studio on the west coast.

He would meet Yoon Jooho and Bang Manager there.

He hurried away without looking back, pulling the recorder from his pocket to hit stop.

As he drew closer to the car, the back door opened automatically—Jungho must have been watching.

Relieved to have escaped from Jung Sungwon, Hyunsoo jumped into the car.

As he was about to flop into the second-row seat, an arm suddenly shot out from the third row and dragged him toward the back.

Struggling upright from where he’d nearly fallen onto the seat, Hyunsoo found Yoon Jooho right in front of him.

With a devilish grin, Jooho asked in a cold tone,

“Did you enjoy your date?”

The way he sat, legs crossed and arms folded tight, was just as Hyunsoo had imagined earlier.

“What the— You scared me.”

Yoon Jooho tapped the window above with his fingertip, pointing at Jung Sungwon.

“If you finished eating, you should’ve left right away. Why stand there, smoking and flirting over coffee?”

“F-flir… What are you talking about? We just had a smoke after eating.”

He’d done nothing wrong—he was completely innocent.

Still, for some reason, Hyunsoo couldn’t meet Yoon Jooho’s eyes.

Adjusting his posture, he used the excuse of putting on his seatbelt to avoid his gaze.

The car started to move slowly. He glanced around and saw a curtain drawn between the driver’s seat and the second row.

“Why’d you come here? I thought we were meeting somewhere else.”

“Be glad I didn’t barge in in the middle.”

“I told him to stay put at least three times, hyung!”

Jungho’s voice came loudly through the curtain from the driver’s seat.

Pfft. Imagining Yoon Jooho sitting here, gritting his teeth while staring out the window, made Hyunsoo chuckle.

“Are you laughing? After coming back with another guy’s scent all over you? What are you smiling for, huh?”

Sniff, sniff. Yoon Jooho leaned in, smelling Hyunsoo’s clothes—shoulder, arms.

Then he suddenly buried his face deep in Hyunsoo’s neck.

When Jooho’s nose and lips drew a breath across his skin, Hyunsoo shuddered.

Catching the reaction, Yoon Jooho looked up, eyes narrowing.

“You felt that?”

“Ah, come on.”

Hyunsoo reflexively glanced toward the driver’s seat, pushing Jooho’s face away.

Jooho pretended he’d bite Hyunsoo’s fingers in protest. Good. He didn’t seem to be actually angry.

Still, even as Jooho laced his fingers tightly through Hyunsoo’s, he looked clearly dissatisfied.

“That bastard must’ve bathed in cologne. Terrible etiquette—who douses themselves like that for dinner?”

“You used to wear heavy cologne yourself.”

“Is he anything like me?”

Jooho nipped at Hyunsoo’s fingertips.

“Yeah, you’re different. Totally different. Not the same at all.”

“He’s just a cheap knock-off trying to copy me.”

Even though he knew Jungho could probably hear, Hyunsoo couldn’t help but smile at Jooho’s antics. Jooho was grinning, too, about halfway.

Leaning his head back on the headrest, Jooho turned his whole body toward Hyunsoo and stroked his cheek with the back of his hand.

“What’d you talk about? Tell me everything, start to finish.”

“Ah… um… I’ll tell you when we get there.”

“You can’t look me in the eye. Did you do something you’re guilty about?”

“Ah, come on, seriously. I’m going to have to repeat everything to Bang Manager anyway, right? I’ll… talk… when we get there…”

Hyunsoo’s words gradually trailed off, his eyes darting anxiously.

Ah… I didn’t delete the end of the recording. I’m screwed.