“Grandma got hurt and you cried… still a baby, aren’t you?”
“A baby, sir? I’m all grown up! You saw it yourself, didn’t you, President!”
“Saw what?”
Muheon curled a thick eyebrow, glancing sideways at Hakyung with an expression mixing genuine curiosity and mild amusement.
Where exactly was he seeing all grown up?
His eyes flicked to a certain area, lingering just a bit too long, as if silently teasing.
It was impossible for Hakyung not to notice the mischievous glint in his gaze.
Even without words, Hakyung felt he understood precisely what Muheon was implying.
The subtle but pointed look was difficult to miss, especially given how Muheon’s gaze never strayed far from the unmistakable hint he was dropping.\
His eyes, which had been moist moments ago from tears, now dried completely as he bristled beneath the teasing stare.
Hakyung wanted to snap back immediately, to retort and prove him wrong, but the truth was — he had only felt the change with his own hands.
He had no definitive proof to outright refute Muheon’s playful insinuation.
So instead, his cheeks puffed out into a stubborn pout, lips pressed tight in frustration.
Muheon was truly infuriating, always so mischievous and teasing, never giving Hakyung the satisfaction of a clear answer or acknowledgement.
“President, are you going to keep discouraging your boyfriend?” Hakyung challenged, narrowing his eyes but unable to suppress a hint of a smile.
Muheon chuckled softly, reaching out to gently touch Hakyung’s cheek once more, his fingertips light and warm.
“I just thought you were cute, that’s all… Is that really enough to discourage you?”
Hakyung huffed, cheeks still puffed out but his mood lightened.
The playful impropriety in Muheon’s gaze melted away into something softer, more tender.
As the car smoothly started to move again, Hakyung felt the tension in his chest ease.
The worry he’d been carrying over his grandmother’s injury now felt distant and less heavy, replaced by the simple comfort of Muheon’s presence.
They stopped at a rest stop along the way — a small, unplanned detour that caught Hakyung by surprise.
He hadn’t expected to stop anywhere, but now he found himself excitedly gazing out the window at the passing scenery, pointing out little things that caught his eye.
The atmosphere was light, joyful, even festive in its own quiet way.
As Muheon fed him small, warm baked potatoes, the simple act felt like a balm to Hakyung’s spirit.
His fingers brushed Muheon’s large hand with innocent gratitude, savoring not only the food but the quiet intimacy of the moment.
Time seemed to slip away quietly until, before he knew it, they had arrived in Seoul.
Hakyung quickly tidied up his seatbelt and turned to Muheon with a sincere smile.
“Thank you so much for coming with me. If I’d moved by myself, I’d still be stuck on some bus somewhere.”
“Of course. Let’s go together again the weekend after next,” Muheon said gently, reaching out to take Hakyung’s fumbling hand and pat it reassuringly.
The thoughtfulness in his tone made Hakyung’s nose tingle with a sudden rush of warmth.
Without hesitation, Hakyung stretched out his arms and wrapped them tightly around Muheon’s thick neck.
“I can’t live without you, President, really. Where else in the world would I find such an amazing boyfriend!”
“You can’t live without me?” Muheon asked, a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Uh-huh! And you, President? You can’t live without me either, right? Right?” Hakyung insisted, forcing Muheon’s head into an affirmative nod with playful determination, then squinting his eyes in exaggerated satisfaction.
Muheon accepted the cheeky behavior with ease.
His hands moved to grasp Hakyung’s slender nape, pulling him closer with deliberate tenderness.
Finding the narrow space between the driver’s and passenger’s seats inconvenient, he lifted Hakyung effortlessly and settled him onto his lap.
Like a child bouncing on a sturdy lap, Hakyung kicked his feet gently against Muheon’s firm muscles, then lowered his lips onto Muheon’s in a sweet, playful kiss.
What began as a light peck naturally deepened into a long, profound kiss, full of warmth and unspoken promises.
***
Ki Sang-oh returned after being away for some time.
Hakyung greeted Sang-oh warmly, genuinely happy to see him again after such a long absence.
“Sang-oh ahjussi, hello!” Hakyung called out brightly.
“Oh, young Hakyung! Have you been well?” Sang-oh replied, his deep voice carrying both warmth and the familiarity of an old friend.
“Yes! Thank you. The President said you were on a solo business trip — weren’t you tired going by yourself?”
For Sang-oh, who was nearly two meters tall, built like a doorframe, and a shark suin — a beast-man of the sea — traveling alone was hardly tiring.
It would be true if this was just any ordinary trip. But this wasn’t.
Ki Sang-oh had returned from a journey ordered by Muheon, one that had taken him to traverse every ocean imaginable.
Not only had he sailed South Korea’s three bordering seas, but he had also ventured far beyond — into the vast Pacific, the mysterious Indian Ocean, and even the Dead Sea.
The trip was a week-long ordeal that pushed even the most capable sea suin to their limits.
Barely suppressing a deep sigh rising from his core, Ki Sang-oh turned the corners of his mouth up in a slight smile.
“It wasn’t bad.”
“Oh, I see. That’s a relief. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen you in a while, but you look a bit gaunt, so I was worried.”
The young Kang Dolphin chattered with small lips, innocence shining through his words.
He seemed like the kind of person who could get along with anyone, and perhaps even go to the sea without feeling intimidated.
If only he could go to the sea, that is…
Because of an incident when he was young, Hakyung nearly had a fit just hearing the letter “S” for “sea.”
The main concern was whether he could even be persuaded to go near the ocean at all.
Ki Sang-oh decided to leave that particular challenge to Muheon for the time being.
Checking carefully, he made sure the precious medicine he had hidden securely in his inside pocket was still there.
It was a rare remedy he had obtained from the Dead Sea — the final stop on his journey — after following numerous rumors and leads.
“Young Hakyung, I’ll go see Muheon-nim first. I have a report to make.”
“Ah, yes! Understood!”
Hakyung waved fondly in farewell.
The simple and slightly ticklish gesture made Ki Sang-oh raise his right hand to wave back almost unconsciously.
He felt like an uncle watching after a kindergarten nephew.
After exchanging appropriate goodbyes, Ki Sang-oh knocked gently on the President’s office door.
A quiet voice beckoned him to enter.
“Muheon-nim, I’ve returned.”
“Good.”
One might expect Muheon to be eager to ask whether the medicine had been obtained or inquire about its components, but he said nothing.
His silence was profound and expectant.
Seemingly accustomed to this demeanor, Ki Sang-oh naturally produced the medicine from within his clothes and carefully placed it on the desk.
It was encased in an ornate box, the substance inside faintly glowing with a mysterious, otherworldly light.
At first glance, it resembled a black pearl, smooth and shimmering softly.
“This is a medicine that allows humans to live in the sea,” Ki Sang-oh explained. “It’s said to be an elixir created by a king who fell in love with a sea suin several hundred years ago.”
Muheon remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the glowing object.
“Its effectiveness has been verified many times,” Ki Sang-oh continued.
“It’s even documented in historical records and is secretly traded in that world. After all, everyone is curious about the world of the sea suin.”
It’s said we know less about the ocean just a few kilometers beneath us than we do about the universe, which is billions of light-years away.
This is because the crushing water pressure prevents any technology from functioning below a certain depth.
As much as humans yearn to explore space, they are equally fascinated by the sea.
Thus, any sea suin — a being part human and part animal — is met with overwhelming curiosity.
Even so, sea suin don’t live in the deep ocean; even they cannot descend below a certain depth.
When deep-sea creatures occasionally float to the surface, it becomes an event of wonder.
This applies to ordinary sea suin, but Muheon’s very essence was different, setting him apart.
He was a being composed of various supernatural elements unrelated to science.
In truth, humans should have been most curious about something else entirely.
But the sea suin held him in awe and affection, never revealing his true nature to humans.
“Side effects?” Muheon finally asked in a low voice.
“There are reports of frequent low-grade fevers, nausea, and headaches,” Ki Sang-oh replied.
“Beyond that, there are no symptoms beyond those typical of prolonged diving.”
Muheon furrowed his brow slightly.
Even minor side effects displeased him.
Quickly, Ki Sang-oh added, eager to ease his concern.
“That said, they’re not severe enough to interfere with daily life. Also, cases of such side effects are very rare.”
“What if it’s Kang Hakyung?” Muheon asked sharply, protective instincts surfacing.
“Then… I’ll get another one!” Ki Sang-oh exclaimed, bowing deeply, his upper body nearly at a 90-degree angle.
Secretly, he hoped that if he circled the Earth three more times, he might find a better remedy.
Muheon alternated his gaze between the deeply bowed Ki Sang-oh and the mysterious medicine on the desk.
While not perfect, it was the best option at the moment.
Even with his ability to control the weather, he lacked the power to change a living being’s fundamental nature or species.
Muheon clicked his tongue softly, a short “tsk.”
Simultaneously, Ki Sang-oh straightened his back carefully, as if recovering from a longbow.
“Straighten up your back. You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you!” Ki Sang-oh responded with a wide grin, his cheeks flushed crimson from the rush of blood and the satisfaction of having brought back results that pleased Muheon.
Muheon waved his hand, signaling Ki Sang-oh to leave.
The sea suin offered one more robust greeting before exiting the President’s office.
***
Even after a week’s absence, the office appeared unchanged, as if time had simply paused and resumed with no interruptions.
Ki Sang-oh rotated his stiff shoulders and sank heavily into the office chair beside Park Geo-woong.
The chair groaned under his weight, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet room.
“You’re back?” Park Geo-woong greeted in his usual calm voice.
“I’ve returned,” Ki Sang-oh affirmed proudly.
“Did you get it all right?”
“Who do you think I am? Am I not the man who would do anything for Muheon-nim? Of course, I got it!” Ki Sang-oh declared, thumping his broad chest and lifting his chin with pride.
Park Geo-woong gave him a slow, measured clap, acknowledging his friend’s success.
At that moment, a yellow hat slowly emerged from beneath the partition opposite them, followed by a small face popping into view.
“Gasp! Young Hakyung!” Ki Sang-oh exclaimed, eyes wide enough to threaten to tear.
Meanwhile, Geo-woong, normally slow-moving, retreated swiftly, almost as if moving at the speed of light.