4.3

“You have no manners, Han Chaeyoon.”

Seonho chuckled while looking at the kiss mark on his nape. In the midst of the chaos, he had taken care to leave marks on her only where they wouldn’t be visible.

It was a fitting description: chaos. Watching Chaeyoon lustfully during that fervent moment, it would have been strange to remain composed.

The kisses they shared, her beauty surpassing that of flowers, her moans floating through the air, and the pleasure she gave while they were entwined—it was all exquisite.

Of course it is, because Chaeyoon is the best.

It was a night of pleasure that no amount of superlatives could describe. Thus, Chaeyoon had marked herself anew in his memory.

Like the kiss mark on the nape of his neck, where no one else’s lips had ever touched him before.

After placing a bandage over the kiss mark, Seonho dressed and stepped into the living room. Any signs of the previous night had been cleaned up; the table was spotless.

Looking at it made everything that happened yesterday felt like a dream, so Seonho touched the bandage with his finger, as if to assure himself it wasn’t just a dream.

“Breakfast is set outside.”

Junsu said this as he walked through the door leading to the veranda.

Junsu, who would soon become Seonho’s secretary, had been managing Seonho’s minor tasks since they were young. 

Hence, in private, Seonho referred to him as ‘hyung’ and they spoke comfortably without formalities.

“You came early?”

Seonho said as he sat down in a chair in front of the breakfast table on the veranda overlooking the peony-blossomed garden.

“The farewell party ended early.”

Junsu replied as he sat down across from Seonho.

“Did you come early to say goodbye to Chaeyoon?”

Seonho picked up a warm garlic baguette and popped it into his mouth.

“Yep. I heard Seokhyun is here too. I thought we’d all gather after a long time, but why did it end so soon? I thought we’d eat lunch before saying goodbye.”

Junsu had originally planned to attend the farewell party, too, but he had a family gathering and couldn’t make it.

“I see.”

Seonho stroked the band-aid with his finger again. He deeply regretted letting Chaeyoon go in his half-asleep state.

Why did she leave so early? Did she run away?

“Did you start another quarrel with her? No wonder, I thought it was odd that you’d easily lend your villa for the farewell venue.”

Junsu said with a knowing look.

“Start a quarrel?”

Seonho gave him a confused look.

“Even elementary school kids nowadays confess to someone they like instead of picking a fight. Not just them, even kindergartners do. If you’re interested in someone, you should confess, not pick a fight.”

“So, you mean I’ve been picking fights with Chaeyoon because I’m interested in her?”

“Maybe? Or not.”

“How can you be so irresponsible? Saying one thing then another.”

“I just remembered how complicated it would be if you really were interested in Chaeyoon. It’s already a crisis with Seokhyun and Joo-eun tangled up.”

Junsu sighed lightly.

“You’re so cold, Hyung. Both you and Chaeyoon. I think if you were close, you’d support each other.”

“We’re not regular friends. We have our own rules.”

Junsu’s father was once the personal secretary of Seonho’s Grandfather, a now-retired honorary chairman. Seokhyun’s parents were housekeepers in Joo-eun’s family, and Chaeyoon’s mother was the secretary to Joo-eun’s mother.

Because of this, the three often crossed paths and became close due to their similar circumstances. They exchanged information and tacitly helped each other, and they had their own kind of bond.

“What kind of rule?”

“The rule that family-related matters is the priority.”

“You mean you don’t let your emotions get the best of you?”

Seonho chuckled.

“Common decency.”

“And where does that morality come from? The family? Or the person?”

Seonho’s eyes were sharper than usual as he looked at Junsu.

A problem-solver and a watchdog for bothersome matters.

Junsu was a double-edged sword. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he knew almost everything about Seonho.

“Do you want to demand my loyalty? But here’s the thing. To earn my loyalty, you need to be more powerful. Become my direct boss.”

“Who is your direct boss?”

“The Vice Chairwoman.”

“It’s good to be honest.”

“This is the loyalty I’m showing you now. Consider it an investment for the future?”

“Your ability to play both sides is quite exceptional.”

“It’s a long-standing know-how passed down from my family for generations.”

Junsu wore a sly expression.

“Yeah, that’s your ultimate goal, right? To become a president of a subsidiary like your father.”

“Right. But what are you going to do? Soon there will be talk of your engagement with Joo-eun.”

“Why would I get engaged to Joo-eun?”

“You’re not going to? Why? Because Joo-eun is dating Seokhyun?”

“Of course not.”

Seonho snorted.

“Right. You’re not the type to care about that.”

Seonho’s parents had made the most rational marriage of convenience and somehow ended up with two sons, but until now, they had been coexisting just fine by having their fair share of affairs as needed. 

Having observed this all his life, Seonho didn’t see his unmarried partner’s affairs as infidelity. Even if there were infidelity after marriage, he wouldn’t care much.

For both the family and Seonho, ‘benefit’ was always the priority.

“But why not go through with it? Eventually, those two will break up, and marrying Joo-eun would be the most beneficial move since the Vice Chairwoman has been working on this for your sake for a long time.”

“I’m just not drawn to it. Maybe because we know each other too well?”

Seonho fiddled continuously with a bandage stuck to his neck.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“For now, I’m just going to leave it be. What’s to say they won’t get engaged first?”

“Huh? What? Why does it feel like you’re helping their relationship?”

“I’m not helping; I’m just staying out of it.”

“That is helping. As long as you don’t interfere, Joo-eun is free to do whatever she wants.”

Suddenly, he remembered Chaeyoon’s face when she asked.

‘You’ll keep their dating a secret, right?’

Was that why she said it? For Joo-eun’s freedom?

“There’s no need to say anything in advance when it’s just going to be a hassle.”

“Given the Vice Chairwoman’s temperament, it would definitely cause a commotion.”

Junsu nodded in understanding.

“By the way, the designs for the swimming pool you requested are ready. Choose the one you like, and we’ll proceed with the construction.”

Junsu handed Seonho a tablet PC displaying the pool designs.

“Never mind. Cancel it.”

“Cancel the swimming pool construction?”

Junsu asked again for confirmation.

“Yes. How often will I swim anyway? Instead, hire a skilled gardener to take better care of the garden. Make sure it has flowers all year round. Plant hydrangeas too.”

“Flowers all year round? Hydrangeas? Do you even know what hydrangeas look like?”

Junsu looked oddly at him, surprised by Seonho’s sudden interest in flowers, knowing he usually wouldn’t even notice them.

“What do you know?”

Seonho remarked nonchalantly as he sipped his coffee, staring at the flamboyantly beautiful peonies.

He knew Chaeyoon would never come here again. That’s why he wanted to preserve them just as they are.

Such trifles also count as memories.

If only she had told me she wanted to sleep with me much earlier. We could have had more time together.

No, who am I to blame? The biggest fault lies with me, for never managing to properly speak up amidst the harsh, cold winds.

Seonho mocked himself silently. The black coffee in his mouth tasted unusually bitter.