CH 22

“What are you eating?”

“――!”

Choi Inseop, who was sitting in the car and drinking the medicine with a straw, turned his head in surprise. Lee Wooyeon, who had already finished filming, was tapping the car glass with his finger.

“Oh, are you here?”

Choi Inseop lowered the glass.

“What are you eating?”

“It’s a medicine.”

“Do you take something like that?”

“… The manager gave it to me at the office today.”

As he spoke, Inseop was choked up by the fact that he was not worthy of such kindness.

After receiving the precious medicine, Inseop stood outside the office holding the medicine box for a while, with a grateful, but a sorry heart. He couldn’t do it because he was afraid he would look too spoiled if he returned it to manager Cha, and when he ate it, he felt like he was stabbed in his conscience and couldn’t swallow it. Even so, he couldn’t throw away that precious thing.

In the end, Choi Inseop, who had been hanging around with a medicine box outside the office for 30 minutes, received the medicine as a gift and changed his mind that one day he had to pay back to Manager Cha. Of course, in his notebook, he wrote it down three times with a bright red ballpoint pen saying that he had to repay Manager Cha.

“The Manager?”

“Yes…”

Lee Wooyeon opened the passenger seat door and got inside. The Benz, which he always rode, had a problem and he was driving the car he borrowed from the office today. However, Inseop couldn’t help but panic when Lee Wooyeon got in the passenger seat without hesitation.

Inseop watched with anxious eyes as he pushed the medicine box placed on the passenger seat to the back seat.

“What?”

Lee Wooyeon, who felt the gaze, asked.

“Aren’t you sitting in the back seat?”

“It’s fine.”

“…”

Unable to say that he wasn’t okay, Inseop put the medicine he was drinking back into his mouth and started sucking on the side. Lee Wooyeon, who watched the round cheeks fluttering and moving, said with a smile.

“You’re eating well”

“Yes. Because I received it.”

“I don’t really like the black goat or soft shell turtle ones. Other medicines are fine.”

“… What?”

Choi Inseop raised his eyes and asked if he had misunderstood. There was confusion as to whether the black goat and soft shelled turtle mentioned by Lee Wooyeon were the words he knew.

“I didn’t take it well. Well, I’ve never run out of stamina to eat medicine.”

“No, not that. What do you not take well?”

“The black goat and turtle.”

“…”

Choi Inseop looked down at the plastic pack of medicine he was drinking. There, with the blazing sun in the background, was a humorous picture of a black goat and Soft shell turtle holding each other’s shoulders.

The dark brown liquid in Choi Inseop’s mouth dripped down. After feeling the hot liquid dripping down the nape of his neck, he came to his senses and quickly took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his lips.

“Sorry, I’m sorry.”

Fortunately, the car seat was unharmed. He wiped the medicine from his mouth with a handkerchief and apologized again to Lee Wooyeon. Lee Wooyeon, who was smiling with his eyes bent, asked.

“Then, did you know what you were eating?”

“…Medicine.”

“I guess you didn’t think about what type of medicine it is.”

“…”

Manager Cha  had vaguely said that it contained oriental mysterious medicines that were good for the body, but Inseop had never thought deeply about them.

“Black goats are good for your health.”

“… eh…”

Inseop, who remembered an image of a black goat in his head, covered his mouth with his hand and grimaced. The corners of Lee Wooyeon’s eyes gradually curved softly.

“If the manager had done it, one animal would have properly been used. One black goat, one soft shell turtle.”

“Ugh….”

“It’s amazing. That one black goat becomes this kind of liquid.”

The more Lee Wooyeon spoke, the more Inseop’s expression became distorted. Lee Wooyeon pretended not to notice it and continued talking.

“Because the turtle is boiled thoroughly, it will be good for physical recovery. Take good care of it.”

“…”

Inseop, who was holding the medicine bag that had not yet been emptied, looked like someone who had received poison. When Lee Wooyeon gestured to him to finish up, Choi Inseop’s eyes quickly turned red.

Just a black goat was enough, but a turtle.

However, he could not throw away the expensive medicine he received as a gift in front of Lee Wooyeon.

He can do it. He can do it. He’d done more than this, just a Black Goat and a turtle were no big deal..

Choi Inseop closed his eyes tightly and poured the remaining medicine in the pack in one mouthful. It felt as if the turtle and the black goat were dancing together in his mouth, but he remembered Jenny and swallowed the rest of the medicine.

He felt like he was going to vomit, but he struggled to endure it and started the car. He was already worried that Lee Wooyeon was next to him, but he was careful to even breathe because it felt like a disgusting smell would come from his mouth.

“Three times a day. 30 minutes before meals.”

When Lee Wooyeon read aloud the words written on the pouch of the medicine, Inseop shuddered and shook his shoulders.

“Eat well. You have to take care of yourself.”

“Yes… thank you.”

Choi Inseop answered in a melancholy voice, not at all thankful. Even when he emptied one bag, he made a sound as if he was dying, and Lee Wooyeon wondered if Inseop would be able to eat all the medicines in that box. He felt good at the thought that he had something to check after every meal. 

While turning the steering wheel, Inseop continued to glance at Lee Wooyeon, who was sitting next to him. As usual, Lee Wooyeon was reading the script with his head on the window, holding the script in one hand.

“It’s dangerous.”

“What?”

“It’s dangerous if you don’t focus on driving and glance at me like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

Lee Wooyeon turned the script back one page. Beside the lines, the phrases he wrote with a pen were densely written. Seeing that, CEO Kim used to say it was inappropriate sincerity. However, it was an unavoidable task for Lee Wooyeon. In order to act properly, he had to understand the emotional lines between the people around him, and that was more difficult for Lee Wooyeon than other people.

Knowing why people were angry and in a good mood, and acting it out, was the difference.

When the signal was red, Inseop glanced at Lee Wooyeon’s profile as he was reading the script.

“You like it?”

“… What?”

“Is it so good to have the celebrity you admire right next to you? Aren’t you looking at me too much?”

Lee Wooyeon covered the script. It was hard to tell if he was joking or being sincere. Choi Inseop gave strength to the hand that was holding the handle.

Don’t overdo it, just say it naturally.

“It’s interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“Yes. I was watching from afar, but now you’re so close…”

It wasn’t a lie.

Inseop always watched Lee Wooyeon from afar. He thought he was from another world. He never thought he’d be able to have a conversation like this.

At that time.

“Peter!”

Excitedly, Jenny ran into the room. Peter closed the notebook he was writing in.

“What? What were you writing?”

“Nothing.”

Knowing that Peter had a habit of taking notes of useless things all the time, Jenny started talking about herself without asking any more questions.

“Why don’t you come see the prince?”

“What? Prince?”

“Yes. Today is the day of the practice match. Let’s go see him right now.”

“Now? Right now?”

Peter frowned as if worried. He didn’t even wash his hair, so he stretched his hair out, and there were things that had to be finished by tomorrow. Instead of going to school, Peter always gave himself homework and was tested by his mother.

“Why? You just need to change clothes and go out.”

“My hair…”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s lovely.”

Jenny pushed Peter on the back and urged him to quickly change his clothes. Peter had no choice but to wash his face and change his clothes before leaving. Jenny’s cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her face quickly turned red. It was to the point that he wondered if it wasn’t hypothyroidism. Seeing that, the girls in the same class made fun of Jenny as a stupid pig. Jenny didn’t care. No, she pretended not to care. Peter felt sorry for her. He told her that whenever she blushed, her face was dyed rosy. Then she smiled broadly. Peter liked seeing Jenny smiling.

With a face even more red than usual, Jenny grabbed Peter. The hot weather made her sweat a lot, and Peter had a hard time breathing too.

“Wait, wait…”

“You just have to go a little bit further. Quickly. If you don’t go now, there won’t be a seat in front. There are always swarms of bees on the fence on the day the prince appears in the game.”

“After a little rest… ha…”

He opened his mouth wide and tried to breathe in, but his lungs were still hurting and his heart was pounding. Jenny kept tumbling about to get a good spot.

“Hurry up, Peter, quickly…  uh…”

She stopped talking with her mouth open. Peter noticed that Jenny’s gaze stopped behind his back and turned his head.

A group of men passed by him. Peter could recognize at a glance who the prince Jenny was talking about. A man with shoulders that were not inferior to those of Westerners due to genetic differences in physique caught Peter’s eyes.

Quarterback shoulder.

The man with the shoulder that Jenny always spoke of walked across the street. He had the same black hair and black eyes as you, but it was a completely different feeling.

As he passed by, Peter unknowingly stared at his back as he walked away. He compared himself with him on a scale of one to ten. No, it was impossible to even compare. He was living in another world.

In Peter’s eyes, the prince was not a person in the world he lived in.

“… changed.”

“…”

“The signal has changed.”

“Ah… sorry.”

Inseop, who was lost in thought for a moment, quickly stepped on the accelerator.

“It’s really weird”

“What are you talking about?”

“Usually, you seem very calm and meticulous, but sometimes you are sloppy. Which is the real you?”

His stomach churned. The black goat medicine he drank earlier now felt like it was dancing in its stomach. Inseop was trying to pretend to be calm.

“That’s right. Everyone has a hidden side to some degree.”

“Yes…”

Inseop, who was caught in the red light of the traffic light, thought that it would be better for him to pay attention to his driving. It wasn’t the first time he had driven with Lee Wooyeon, but it was the first time he sat next to him. It bothered him. He was not used to it. He didn’t know what would come out from Lee Wooyeon’s mouth, so the hand holding the steering wheel was sweaty.

For some reason, Lee Wooyeon covered the script he was reading and leaned against the seat to look at Inseop. Feeling the pressure of having to say something, Choi Inseop started saying what came to mind.

“You have two magazine interviews today. You have to have a movie premiere, and you have to do a dating program interview late in the evening.”

“I know.”

There was nothing more to talk about.Lee Wooyeon moaned as if he was enjoying it and looked at the manager’s face who was looking for something to talk about.

“I gathered everything related to the interview and put it in a file.”

“Yes. I will read it.”

“I have prepared the clothes to wear to the premiere.”

“Thank you.”

“…”

He couldn’t stand it anymore..

He couldn’t have a conversation with Lee Wooyeon unless it was a work-related topic. In the end, Choi Inseop grabbed the steering wheel and looked only at the windshield with his eyes wide open. 

He felt like he was going crazy from Lee Wooyeon’s gaze that was on his cheek. According to the original plan, he was the one making the observation, but today the situation had been reversed. Inseop had to constantly moisten his chapped lips with his tongue because his lips were dry.

“Turn left.”

“Yes?”

“You should have turned left here.”

“Ah… sorry.”

He missed the timing to change lanes because he was concerned about Lee Wooyeon sitting next to him.

“You can’t make a U-turn in front of this, so you’ll have to cross the signal and make a T-turn. You have plenty of time, so don’t worry too much.”

There were many celebrities who swore at their managers if they even took a wrong turn. If Lee Wooyeon’s attitude was any better, he would be in a good position. However, the problem was not Lee Wooyeon’s tone or attitude.

“Is there something on my face?”

Inseop, who received Lee Wooyeon’s gaze for about ten minutes, couldn’t stand it anymore and asked.

“No.”

“…”

But when it was his turn to ask why he was looking at him like that, Inseop kept his mouth shut. It seemed that it would be seen as excessive self-consciousness for a man himself to speak like that.

“Where will you be for the interview today?”

“I will be in the car.”

“Don’t do that, sit next to me.”

“…”

Why was he doing this to him today?

Swallowing what he wanted to say, Choi Inseop slowly turned the steering wheel.

“I think today’s interview is going to be long. It’s hard when you’re alone in the car.’

“Okay. Then I will be nearby.”

It had been a long time since he had thought that he could get any information about Lee Wooyeon from an interview. Although Lee Wooyeon gave a favorable interview, he was not an actor who gave interesting interviews. Inseop, who watched the interview in which only words were changed appropriately within a set frame, came to the conclusion that it would be better to get enough sleep during that time.

Someone like reporter Kim Haeshin, who interviewed him before, should appear. The reporters who decided to interview today were only entertainment reporters who were rumored to be polite.

A long and tedious interview was expected. Inseop sighed.

“Why?”

“What?”

“You were sighing now. What are you worried about?”

“No. Nothing.”

If he was worried, it was that he couldn’t find any flaws in Lee Wooyeon, but the only thing was that time was passing. A month had already passed.

“I will do whatever I can to help.”

All he wanted was his dirty nature. Even if he asked for it, he would never give it to him…

“Thank you for your words.”

When the hard answer came, Lee Wooyeon smiled and leaned back. He tried to pretend to be blunt, but he could feel how tense Inseop was with his whole body.

It felt like he was watching a boy general trembling while wearing hard armor. What kind of expression would he make if he took off all that armor?

While thinking about various things, Lee Wooyeon watched Inseop’s side view as he was driving.

“We’re here.”

Choi Inseop stopped the car.

“Then I will go first. Park and come up.”

“Yes. All right.”

He dropped off Lee Wooyeon first, and Inseop went to the parking lot. The car was smaller than the van he usually drove, so parking was easy. Someone grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him out of the car.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Wooyeon oppa by chance, is he having an interview here today?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

There were many fans who followed after their favorite star. One of the manager’s jobs was to control them well. However, there were bound to be people who were out of control. Inseop noticed that the woman in front of him was the fan who had previously poured coffee on him. Even Lee Wooyeon, who didn’t have a hard time expressing himself in front of fans, turned his head when this woman appeared. The woman did not give in to that, but suddenly appeared and yelled at Lee Wooyeon to look at her. In addition to that, how did she even find out the information of an unofficial interview location or filming location.

“Can you give him this?”

The woman held out the envelope. Choi Inseop hesitated for a moment. Lee Wooyeon adhered to the principle of not accepting gifts from fans.

“A letter is fine.”

As if she knew why Inseop was hesitating, the woman smiled as she held out the letter.

Well, a letter would be fine.

“All right.”

Choi Inseop took the letter and put it in his pocket. He bowed his head to the woman and left the parking lot. When he entered the French restaurant on the second floor, Wooyeon, who was seated, gestured to him.

After bowing to the reporter, Inseop sat down at the table next to him. The interview continued on the other side. Boring stories about new dramas and acting philosophies came and went. Inseop opened the book he had brought and began to read. Sleeping or reading books in his spare time were the greatest luxuries he could enjoy today.

Once he kept his promise to Jenny, he would be able to do whatever he wanted to do. He will be able to enjoy those moments without guilt, where he can write, travel, take pictures, read books, and fantasize to his heart’s content.

…Will the day ever come when he would be free from guilt?

“I’ll be away for a while.”

Lee Wooyeon apologized to the reporter and stood up. Inseop followed his back with his eyes, then turned his gaze back to the book.

“What book are you reading? Is it a novel?”

The reporter spoke to Inseop, wondering if the waiting time was boring. Inseop quietly picked up the book he was reading and showed the title.

“This book will save your life? What kind of life saving story is it?”

“It’s a novel.”

“Is it fun?”

“Yes. Until now.”

“Oh right. I’m late to introduce myself. I’m Yoon Ahreum, a reporter for Monthly Blue.”

“I am Choi Inseop. I am Lee Wooyeon’s manager.”

The reporter with her hair neatly tied back handed her business card to Inseop. Inseop didn’t have a business card to give, so he hesitated for a moment, then wrote his name and cell phone number in the corner of a paper and handed it to her.

“Sorry. I haven’t made a business card yet.”

He had no intention of ever making it.

Reporter Yoon Ahreum, who took the paper, said, “Oh,” and looked at the other person’s serious expression and burst into laughter.

“Okay. I’m going to use it really well.”

“What? Ah… Yes.”

He wondered what mistake he had made again, but he didn’t have time to ask about it. Lee Wooyeon, who had gone to the bathroom, returned.

“What interesting things were you two talking about?”

Of course, Inseop was going to answer it was nothing. However, Yoon Ahreum spoke first.

“Lee Wooyeon’s manager gave me his phone number.”

“What?”

“――!”

“I gave him a business card and he gave me his phone number.”

Reporter Yoon Ahreum smiled as she waved the paper that was handed to her earlier. Lee Wooyeon looked back at Inseop with a slightly stiff expression. Choi Inseop waved his hands to express his denial, but the paper in her hand clearly had his name and phone number written on it.

“I don’t have a business card, so…”

“Let’s talk about it later. It’s okay.”

Lee Wooyeon interrupted Choi Inseop’s words. Inseop wanted to make an excuse that it wasn’t like that, but he couldn’t intervene in the interview.

Hearing the two of them having a conversation again, Inseop opened the book. He read the text, but he understood nothing. In the end, he had to close the book without even going over 30 pages in the two hours.

“Thanks for the interview.”

“I am very grateful. It was a great time.”

Seeing Lee Wooyeon shaking hands with the reporter, Inseop stood up.

“Then I will go first.”

“Yes. I will also be cheering for Wooyeon’s drama.”

“Thank you.”

“Goodbye.”

Choi Inseop also bowed his head to the reporter. Reporter Ahn Ahreum smiled and waved her hand.

“By the way, can I really call this number?”

“Ah… If it’s a business thing, that’s fine.”

“I’m just joking. See you next time.”

“Yes. See you later.”

Lee Wooyeon didn’t say anything until she left the restaurant and got into the elevator. When there were only two people left in the elevator, Lee Wooyeon opened her mouth.

“She must be your type.”

“What?”

“Ideal type.”

“Oh, no. Not that… I don’t have a business card. I got a business card… Sorry. I did not give her my phone number with that intention. I’m sorry if you misunderstood.”

Lee Wooyeon, who watched Choi Inseop flustered and apologing to him, smiled deeply.

“What is the misunderstanding? If you like, you can give your contact information.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Really?”

The elevator door opened with a ding sound. While going to the place where the car was parked, Choi Inseop was constantly making an upset face. Even though he wasn’t the type to make excuses for his actions, he seemed to want to make an explanation for this incident.

Lee Wooyeon, who sat in the passenger seat, asked while putting on his seat belt.

“Then what kind of person is Inseop’s ideal type?”

Inseop, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, turned his head with a puzzled expression. Like someone who didn’t hear right.

“I’m sure you have an ideal type. Do you like a neat and feminine type like Yoon Ahreum from earlier?”

Inseop quickly closed the car door and fastened his seat belt. Muttering, “Let’s leave,” he started the engine. Lee Wooyeon persistently asked the question.

“You don’t have an ideal type?”

“…”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t have an ideal type?”

“…”

Why was this person like this? Why would someone do this to him?

He wanted to yell at him to stop teasing him if he could. But, what would come back was probably a notice of dismissal.

“ There is. An ideal type.”

“What?”

“…A friendly person.”

“And?”

“That’s it.”

At Choi Inseop’s resolute answer, Lee Wooyeon laughed lowly.

“Do they just have to be kind?”

“Yes.”

“It’s easy. Mr. Inseop.”

Another word that he did not know how to interpret was said. In-seop, who thought about it for a while, shook his head.

“A kind person is harder to find than you think.”

“Really?”

Choi Inseop seems to have misunderstood the meaning of the word easy. They just need to be kind. The fact that such a person still existed was surprising to Lee Wooyeon.

“Have you ever been in love with a friendly person?”

Inseop’s eyes fluttered as he was reversing the car. He knew that the other person was uncomfortable with the previous question, but Lee Wooyeon pretended not to know and asked again.

“Was your first love a kind person?”

“…”

Choi Inseop bit his lip. Lee Wooyeon wondered what he was desperately thinking in that little head.

“Who was it?”

Inseop’s expression gradually darkened. If he pushed him a little more, he was even about to shed a tear.

It was like his first love died. How pitiful.

Hiding his twisted heart, Lee Wooyeon whispered to Inseop in a friendly voice.

“Who was it?”

Inseop’s head throbbed at the persistent interrogation. If he could stop Lee Wooyeon’s slew of questions, he would answer everything.

Whatever will be, will be.

“… they were a bad person.”

A word like a sigh came out of Choi Inseop’s mouth.

“Bad person?”

“…”

“A bad person was your first love? No, you had your first love. Hahaha, sorry. It’s not that I’m teasing you, because Inseop seems far from that kind of thing.”

“… ”

Choi Inseop firmly shut his mouth at the thought of saying something useless. Biting his lip, he rummaged through his pockets and held out a pale pink envelope to Lee Wooyeon.

“What?”

“It was given to me by a fan.”

Realizing that this was the biggest turnaround he could possibly have, Lee Wooyeon almost burst out laughing out loud.

It was such a clever piece of work.

“It wasn’t a gift, so I took it… Ahh!”

Inseop, who was talking, screamed and opened his eyes wide. A car driving out of the parking lot made a loud noise and came to a sudden stop. A woman suddenly jumped out of the front and approached the window in the passenger seat with a slow smile. The woman knocked on the window with her palm. The moment he saw the woman’s face, Lee Wooyeon’s expression hardened.

“Oppa. I love you.”

After the dark confession of love, the woman smiled and walked away. An accident could have occurred. Lee Wooyeon was very annoyed because of the woman who persisted like a cockroach even when ignored.

If he had been holding the steering wheel, he might have pretended it to be a mistake and stepped on the accelerator.

He shook his head, and ruffled his messy hair with his hand. 

“Are you surprised? Originally that girl… Why are your hands like that?”

“Whats? Ah… uh?”

As Wooyeon pointed, Inseop realized that blood was flowing from his hand. Confused, he rummaged through his pocket with the other hand and quickly wrapped the wounded hand with the handkerchief he pulled out.

Without a word, Lee Wooyeon took the letter from Choi Inseop’s hand and opened the blood-stained envelope. As expected, it had several blades stacked inside it.

“This… ”

He clenched his teeth and swallowed the rising swear words. Lee Wooyeon opened the window and threw the envelope, then grabbed Inseop’s hand.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“No, no.”

“There is a lot of blood.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m going to call Manager Cha, so wait a minute…”

“Don’t!”

Choi Inseop desperately grabbed Lee Wooyeon.

“Don’t. Don’t call Manager Cha. Don’t even tell your representative. I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

If he was to let them know that he was injured, they would have a pale face and open their eyes wide as if it was a big deal. Lee Wooyeon didn’t know but Choi Inseop thought that he had caused a great inconvenience to the two of them. That was why Choi Inseop was desperate.

“I can drive. The bleeding will stop soon. Really. Look. I’m not that hurt…”

Blood dripped from Inseop’s hand as he unfolded the handkerchief that was wrapped around the wound. The moment he saw the pinkish flesh, his stomach became nauseous.

“Ugh…”

He hurriedly covered his mouth, holding back his nausea. Countless times, Lee Wooyeon tied Inseop’s wound with a handkerchief.

“It doesn’t look like the wound is deep, but you still need to go to the hospital.”

“…Yes.”

“As requested, I won’t tell the manager and the CEO that you were injured.”

“Thank you.”

“Inseop, please listen to my request instead.”

Lee Wooyeon took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from Inseop’s hand. The hair on Choi Inseop’s head stood at his friendly behavior, which was obviously acting.

“Will you please?”

A friendly voice pierced Inseop’s ear like a sword.