While cleaning the pool, Soo-hyun spotted something shimmering beside a sun bed. Upon closer inspection, it was a glittering gold necklace. Though not pure gold, the pendant was quite large. Score! After pocketing it and starting to clean up, he heard the door opening. Looking up, he saw Kim Woo-young leaning against the entrance, holding a bottle of alcohol.

“Were you cleaning?”

He appeared to have just woken up, wearing only pants. He seemed to have been drinking all night, yet was already having beer for his hangover… quite the remarkable person in many ways.

“Yes…”

“It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you, but what’s with your face? You look pale.”

Soo-hyun rubbed his cheek. Truth be told, he hadn’t been able to sleep properly since visiting his father at the nursing hospital. What could those five numbers Baek Gwang-mu had written on his palm mean? He’d pondered it thoroughly but couldn’t figure it out. Searching the internet yielded nothing either. On top of that, Seo Min-jun still hadn’t contacted him. Everything was irritating.

“You should eat well. Yang doesn’t like people who are too skinny.”

He took a sip of beer and smiled mischievously. Ignoring him, Soo-hyun finished tidying the pool and headed out, with Kim Woo-young trailing behind.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Can you let me watch you two having s*x?”

Soo-hyun turned around with a frown.

Kim Woo-young’s expression showed genuine curiosity rather than teasing.

“I just can’t imagine it. Yang having s*x with a man.”

“Ask him yourself.”

“No way, he’s scary.”

Soo-hyun wondered if someone truly scared would ask such a question.

He hadn’t seen Ho-beom for three days since the hospital visit. He didn’t reach out first. Ho-beom would probably show up when something came up. That’s exactly what their relationship was—meeting and contacting each other only when necessary. Come to think of it, it wasn’t much different from hookup app partners. Suddenly, he became curious about Ho-beom’s parents. They had passed away, but how much did Kim Woo-young know?

“Have you… ever seen Director Yang’s parents?”

Kim Woo-young was sitting on the sofa with his legs up on the table, drinking beer.

“My deceased uncle?”

“Yes…”

“I never saw him. Why?”

“Just… curious…”

“Did Beom talk about his parents?”

When Soo-hyun didn’t respond, Woo-young tapped his temple with the bottle and narrowed his eyes.

“That’s strange. He rarely talks about them.”

“He didn’t say much.”

“To be precise, they were estranged from grandfather and died in a car accident.”

Soo-hyun’s eyes widened at the mention of estrangement. Woo-young elaborated.

“His mother, my aunt, was deaf. His father was a photographer. He went to the countryside for a shoot and fell for a girl working at a flower shop. The Yangs are quite the romantics, you know.”

Soo-hyun asked, “And then?”

“What do you mean ‘and then’? You know how terrible our grandfather’s temper is. He was already unhappy with his son wandering around doing art, and then he brought home a girl who couldn’t speak. You can imagine how that went. They eventually ran away, had a child, and that child is—”

“Yang Ho-beom?”

“Yes. Your beloved Director Yang.”

“Love has nothing to do with it…”

“But why do you sleep with him?”

Soo-hyun’s lips twitched in displeasure. Rich coming from someone who constantly sleeps around with different women.

“Was Ho-beom there when his parents had the accident?”

Kim Woo-young took another sip of beer, nodded, and sighed.

“I heard he escaped just before the car flipped and caught fire.”

“By himself?”

“No. His father died instantly, and his mother, despite her disability, tore open the broken window and pushed her young son out to save him. Her legs were trapped, so she couldn’t escape.”

“…”

“Women are amazing. Even in that situation, they’ll do anything to save their children, right?”

Soo-hyun pressed his lips together. Suddenly, he thought of his dead mother. Yes, maternal love is incredible. It makes you choose your child over yourself even in the face of death. Not everyone is like that, of course.

His thoughts returned to the numbers. What could those numbers his father gave him mean? Could his mother possibly be alive? If he could, he’d go to Baek Gwang-mu and ask ten or twenty times. Where is my mother? Did you meet her? If she’s dead, where is she now?

While his mind was racing, Kim Woo-young cut in abruptly.

“Can I ask something I’m curious about now?”

“What?”

“They say a man’s hole feels different when it tightens. Is that true?”

Oh, really. Soo-hyun made a disgusted face, and Woo-young smiled slyly.

“Want to secretly film it? I’ll pay you well.”

He rubbed his thumb and index finger together, proposing a deal, and Soo-hyun scoffed.

“Think about it. Yang’s interest lasts a month at most. Don’t cry when he dumps you—secure something for yourself.”

“I won’t cry even if he dumps me, so don’t worry.”

“Don’t be so sure. Other guys ended up grabbing his pant legs while crying.”

Kim Woo-young laughed and shook his beer. He added that just because junk food tastes good doesn’t mean you can make a meal of it. He had a talent for subtly getting under people’s skin. Soo-hyun turned away, silently mouthing a curse, and walked in another direction. Just then, his phone vibrated. It was Kim Woo-jin. Unconsciously checking if Woo-young was watching, he checked the message.

[When do you get off work? Want to meet briefly?]

***

Finding Kim Woo-jin among the crowds wasn’t difficult. The tall boy had removed his usual glasses and was wearing a coat, looking mature enough to pass for an adult. Well, he would be twenty in ten days anyway.

Approaching him, Soo-hyun was about to surprise him with a “Boo!” when Woo-jin turned around first. Startled, Soo-hyun flailed his arms and nearly fell, but Woo-jin caught his shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“You startled me. How did you know I was coming?”

Woo-jin pointed to the store window. Ah, he saw my reflection. Soo-hyun looked at Woo-jin’s hands on his shoulders. Woo-jin quietly removed them. Perhaps due to the cold weather, his ears and nose were tinged red.

“What brings you all the way here?”

Woo-jin hesitated before holding out a shopping bag he was carrying. The black bag featured the logo of a famous brand. Confused, Soo-hyun stared at it, and Kim Woo-jin placed it in his hands.

“Christmas is in five days. I bought you a small gift…”

Ah… He hadn’t realized Christmas was approaching, much less expected to receive a gift.

“I didn’t prepare anything…”

“That’s okay. Instead, have dinner with me today.”

While Soo-hyun was considering, Woo-jin reached out. When Soo-hyun flinched, he zipped up Soo-hyun’s jacket. You should have dressed warmer. It’s cold. Soo-hyun couldn’t help but smile at how cute he looked, acting like an adult despite wearing just a coat himself.

“Can I choose the restaurant?”

“Sure.”

With permission granted, Kim Woo-jin grabbed his arm. Let’s go. His hands were large, though not as large as Ho-beom’s. And his fingers were pretty. After briefly looking at them, they walked to the taxi stand.

During the ride, Soo-hyun realized Kim Woo-jin was wearing cologne, something he hadn’t done before. He only then noticed how much effort Woo-jin had put into meeting him, making him feel guilty for coming so unprepared.

Due to year-end traffic, they arrived at a Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong well past dinner time.

“I came here with my parents last year. It’s quite good.”

Upon entering, an employee greeted them. The interior was modern, but traditional patterns were maintained in the lighting and decor. The bamboo view through the window gave an exotic feel.

After taking a seat by the window, an employee brought menus. It was a course meal with unfamiliar ingredients. After ordering with the employee’s help, including champagne, Soo-hyun turned his attention to the gift.

“Can I open this?”

“Yes.”

He took out a ribbon-tied box and opened it to find a red cardigan. The texture was soft and the color vibrant, but it wasn’t Soo-hyun’s taste. Hiding his dismay, he held it against himself.

“Does it suit me?”

“Yes. Your skin is fair, so red looks good on you.”

Soo-hyun smiled broadly. In truth, he didn’t particularly like red. When he lived with Kim Do-han years ago, that man had given him a similar knit as a gift.

“This color suits you. Do you know how much it turns me on when you wear this color?” he’d said. Then he’d made Soo-hyun wear only that while he had s*x with him multiple times. Even bringing his friends over.

Suddenly thinking about that made his throat sting. As he drank water, Kim Woo-jin commented.

“I expected it, but it really is sexy.”

Pfft, he nearly spat out his water. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Soo-hyun forced a smile. He and Kim Woo-jin had been exchanging messages frequently.

Most were greetings or trivial stories about their day, but whenever Woo-jin tried to cross the line like this, Soo-hyun would cut him off.

“Next time we meet, please wear it…”

Uh, s-sure. After his awkward response, the appetizers arrived, and the employee poured champagne into their glasses. Woo-jin raised his glass to Soo-hyun.

“Early Merry Christmas.”

Merry Christmas. After clinking glasses, Soo-hyun gazed toward the restaurant entrance. An employee was attending to guests, and his back view resembled Ho-beom’s. Thinking such a build was uncommon, the man turned his head. Soo-hyun’s eyes and mouth opened simultaneously. It was definitely Ho-beom, and he wasn’t alone—he was with a woman. He headed not to the opposite hall but toward the private rooms.

Noticing Soo-hyun’s bewildered expression, Woo-jin turned to look.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have seen anything.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… nothing at all.”

Yet his eyes stubbornly stared at the corridor where Ho-beom had disappeared.

Woo-young’s words from earlier echoed in his mind.

[Yang’s interest lasts a month at most. Don’t cry when he dumps you—secure something for yourself.]

Thanks to that, the champagne that had tasted sweet moments ago now felt particularly bitter.

Soo-hyun stared at the pale yellow champagne before calling out to Kim Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin.”

Kim Woo-jin, who was eating with his fork, looked up.

“Should we form an alliance?”

“An alliance?”

“Yes.”

“What would I get out of it?”

“Hmm… when I get money, I’ll give you a generous cut.”

Woo-jin put down his fork and brought the champagne to his lips. Gulp, gulp, his Adam’s apple moved with each swallow. He pushed the glass aside and smiled leisurely.

“I want something else. Give me that, and I’ll consider it.”

“Something else? What?”

Woo-jin glanced around once before making a secretive gesture. Come closer. When Soo-hyun leaned forward expectantly, Kim Woo-jin grabbed the back of his head and pulled him in. Before he could push away, his lips were captured by the boy’s.

Surprised, he hastily pushed against Woo-jin’s shoulders, and they separated with a smack. Despite everything, his lips had been remarkably soft. Kim Woo-jin moistened his mouth with champagne as if nothing had happened, while Soo-hyun looked around with an incredulous expression.

“Hey, you…”

Then, belatedly spotting a tall man in the distance, his face turned pale.

That bastard, how long has he been standing there?

Even from a distance, the intimidating aura was palpable, so he quickly lowered his head to avoid eye contact. Thud, thud, footsteps approached. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them to find black shoes right in front of him. Slowly raising his head, he saw Yang Ho-beom with a cold gaze and a smile at the corner of his mouth.

“What are you doing here?”