CH 42

“Are you rich?” 

As soon as I pressed the first floor of the elevator, the madman, who got on first, asked from behind. Checking that the numbers on the 3rd and 1st floors of the basement he pressed beforehand were red, I turned my head to see what he was talking about. Then he pointed his chin at the button I pressed.

“You said you don’t want to get in my car.”

“What does me not getting in your car have to do with money?”

I asked and then noticed that he was talking about a taxi. That’s why bour… What was the word? Anyway, the rich. I picked up my watch and with my other hand I tapped the scratched glass. 

“The first subway train runs at this time.”

I raised one eyebrow. As I turned around, I remembered something important. How can you talk about the capital of Lithuania without knowing this basic common knowledge? I was about to call him a dumbass right away, but the elevator stopped on the first floor and the doors were just opening, but the madman passed me and got out first. Suddenly, I couldn’t get off because I was left speechless that he left me behind, but the guy turned around and urged me.

“What are you doing?”

“Why are you getting off?”

“You said you’ll take the subway?”

When did I? I was just saying that the first train was running. I was in a hurry to open the elevator door that was about to close again, so the retort didn’t come out. However, through the open door, the madman opened his mouth first.

“Why? People like me who are bour…”

He stopped talking abruptly, then narrowed his eyes and looked at me. 

“What is the slang for a rich man that starts with ‘bour’?”

There was also a little fear mixed with the resentment that rose from within at this moment. Did this guy get a revelation from God about what I was thinking?

“Bour what?”

“Bour… jortext in paragraph?” 

I looked into his round eyes and knew I was wrong. I realized that I had lost my chance to tease the guy who started snickering with his hand against the wall.

***

Fortunately, it was early in the morning, so no one noticed that I went to work on the subway alongside the prolific Director Yoon. I got off the familiar third floor and called the manager. The signal didn’t go off a few times, but then his nervous voice was heard.

“Where are you?” 

[Uh? T- Taemin? I’m sorry, but I’m a little…]

His voice, hardened by tension, trembled slightly. Perhaps he also received the news in the morning and was called to the company. The news that the sky will fall that he is the culprit.

“I heard the news. I am at work now.”

Silence flowed over the receiver as if breathing had stopped, then the manager said firmly. 

[Taemin-ah, I’m not like that.]

“I know. So I’m here. Where are you?”

After hearing about the place from him, I hung up my phone and headed for the stairs.

I jumped up several floors at once, and when I reached the seventh floor, I saw the hallway leading to the executive room. Inside the security door blocking the hallway, the manager stood with a haggard face. As if he was waiting to open the door, he saw me and opened the door from the inside. 

“How do you know? The company wouldn’t have contacted you…”

“Is Song Myungshin in there?”

I started asking questions and went ahead, but there was no sound coming from behind. When I turned around, the manager was still standing in front of the door with a serious expression.

“Do you know anything? I suddenly got a nonsensical call early in the morning and I ran here, but I still have no idea what they’re talking about.” 

He asked calmly, swallowing a gulp of saliva.

“Is Myungshin involved in this?”

“Perhaps.”

“…” 

“Go ahead.”

I added as he stepped aside.

“You can just run away.”

After a while he straightened his shoulders and walked past me. I followed him to the middle of the hallway and stopped in front of the room the manager knocked on. 

Inside, a voice was heard from the manager asking for understanding.

“sorry. The kid I am in charge of was worried and will be with me.”

He signaled me who was standing in the hallway and I entered a large, carpeted conference room. When I lifted my eyes from the long black table occupying the center of the room, I saw three people standing in the middle of the room. Chief Park, an employee who was close with Myungshin, and Myungshin. Myungshin’s eyes narrowed, but the voice responding to the manager’s words drew attention.

“Do you need a babysitter? If this has nothing to do with you, then get out.” 

Across from the three of them, the madman, who had half his hips on the table looking down at the laptop, raised his eyes and smiled at me. The polite smile you would usually see.

“Get out if it’s none of your business.”

The corners of Myungshin’s lips rose at his firm voice. I looked straight at him, the face of Director Yoon.

“Pa’r gfifnjca. P tjnf mbwf ab afralos. Zs wjcjufg kjr klat wf ja zzz obg atf ktbif wbcat.” 

“Cii wbcat? Cr ojg jr P xcbk, Zjcjufg Jtbl tjr rabqqfv ys atf boolmf rfnfgji alwfr lc yfakffc.”

Ktf mbcnfgrjalbc P tjv ja tlr tberf pera jc tbeg fjgilfg kjr gfqfjafv. Ktf ijaafg qjga kjr j ilaaif vloofgfca.

“And, according to the computer records, the date of the file was first saved when Manager Choi came to the office.”

Checking something on his laptop, he said more details, but I didn’t listen because I was thinking about something else. 

What, didn’t the culprit rush to plant evidence because of me? He planted the evidence on the same day the manager came to the office? Did he prepare it in advance?

“Anything else?”

I raised my eyes at the languid voice and snorted.

“Other than that, I’ll listen to the situation and tell you.” 

With a slight dimpled smile, he immediately turned to look at the three men opposite him.

“I hope this information is accurate as I woke up for this from the best sleep I’ve had in years.”

Contrary to the smiling face, the eyes staring at the three fiercely were of the force to kill if they made a mistake. After a moment of silence, Chief Park, who seemed to shake his hand, took the first step and gave a brief report that had already been expected.The traces of frequent access to famous entertainment sites where evidence was posted, and the funny story was that evidence files still remained on the computer.

Chief Park also made a small addition, perhaps he felt sorry for the manager, saying that it was an entertainment site that everyone goes to, and it was not clear if it was the site where the first material was posted. Then the problem is the evidence file. As to which idiot leaves the evidence without erasing it, Song Myungshin stepped forward and pointed to my manager. 

“I know him well. Manager Choi is not good at computers. He thinks that if you just throw a file in the recycle bin, it will be completely deleted. Besides, he’s done the same thing before.”

The surprised manager opened his eyes wide and shook his head.

“What are you talking about? When did I…”

“Don’t you remember? At that time, you posted dirty pictures of my competitors’ past on the internet. It wasn’t until later that another employee found photos in that folder with info that weren’t even posted on the Internet, then I knew you were the culprit.” 

“It’s not me…”

“It was your computer. What do you have to say?”

Contrary to Myungshin’s relaxed face, the manager was clenching his teeth. ah yes I looked at Myungshin and the manager alternately. That kid had done this once before. So this time, as usual, he blamed the manager. That’s where I’m connected… Gathering everything up at dawn and setting the stage.

If that prick had prepared evidence in advance, the situation would have been more serious than expected. What should I do? Excited about framing the manager, Myungshin lightly pressed on rebuking the manager and continued talking to Director Yoon. Looking at them as if he was bored, I remembered his advice to think of a way faster. 

But how? The hint is another traitor, manager Cha Jungwoo. If it was just revealed that he was the culprit, there would be no evidence right away, so the crime of framing would be added. Even if the madman gives the evidence, it is not a very clever method. It’s only going to look like a false accusation, and it’s enough to piss off Myungshin…

“Manager Choi, stop using such dirty methods now. Don’t you think what you did this time is a little funny? Slandering a top star who has nothing to do with it…”

“I said no.”

I stepped forward and stood in front of Myungshin. Then, as if waiting for me, he forced a smile on his mouth. 

“Can’t you see the evidence?”

I glanced at the files on the table and raised my eyes expressionlessly. Before heading to Myungshin, I saw the madman who looked at me with interesting eyes, but now I didn’t have the time to stare at him. The guy was right. There was a way. A very staggering one that will hopefully reverse this in one shot.

I smiled slowly at Myungshin. Contrary to my smile, I opened my mouth to the guy who turned cold.

“Evidence? Then I’ll prove it. That my manager is not the culprit.” 

“… What? proof? How can you prove that…”

Myungshin, who was exhaling sharply, was conscious of his surroundings and quickly smiled.

“How are you going to prove it, Lee Taemin?”

As if transforming, his voice and even the viciousness in it had disappeared, mixing a relaxed laugh into his voice. As if the spotlight came on and the person started acting, the eyes that were glaring at me disappeared. 

“It sounds as if I’ve been out here since dawn and lying on purpose. Hey, do I look like such a free man?”

“You look free.”

Watching the twitching, rising eyebrows, I added slowly.

“Yotext in paragraph.” 

“Is that so? Gosh, I am a very busy person.”

He smiled arrogantly, and he mimicked me and added ‘yo’ belatedly.

“Then again, you can’t even see the evidence in front of you, so you don’t even know how busy your senior artist is.”

“Yeah, if that senior artist is not a great actor, I don’t care whether he is busy or not.” 

It seemed as if a voice filled with emotion would come out of his tightly closed lips, but Myungshin managed to hold himself back. His smile deepened as if he was about to spit out those trivial words effortlessly through one ear.

“It’s the proof of someone who doesn’t know much about the world… What is it?”

After staring at me for a moment, he glanced at Director Yoon.

“I am really curious. Of course, Director Yoon will believe my words, even if it’s not as great as the words of a trainee whose name is unknown. Come on, tell me.” 

I’ll listen to it, give it a try. Myungshin crossed his arms, acting nonchalant. Thank you so much for listening. So I turned away from him lightly. I opened my mouth to Director Yoon, who was listening to our conversation as if it was fun.

“Would you mind getting rid of this not-so-great senior? I just want to speak to you, Director Yoon.”

“Hey! Who do you think you are?”

“Who are you, then?” 

I stopped talking and took a step forward.

“Are you responsible for this? Or are you an executive from the company who will be receiving the report?”

“…”

Finally, looking at the guy whose smile had disappeared, I turned to Director Yoon. 

“Since you heard what he has said over there, please listen to me as well. However, my manager has been framed, so I am reluctant to speak in front of someone.”

At the word ‘someone’, I pointed directly at Myungshin. At that moment, I could see the face of the guy who was gritting his teeth, but I didn’t get a chance to hear his reply.

“That makes sense.”

He turned around and ordered the rest. 

“Now that you heard that, everyone, except for Lee Taemin, should go out.”

“Director Yoon, don’t tell me you really believe that trainee’s words…”

“Song Yoohan.”

When my name was called, Myungshin closed his mouth and looked at the other person with a nervous face. The slowly growing smile made the dimples, but the non-smiling eyes turned to Myungshin. 

“I told you before. As I woke up from the most pleasant sleep I’ve had in years, I hoped it would be accurate information. However, the recollections of the past that Song Yoohan testified are not worth hearing at such an early morning.”

As his dimples deepened, a sweet voice followed.

“Fucking bastard, did you wake me up for that?”

Not only Myungshin but the others stiffened as if surprised by the sudden swearing. In particular, Chief Park’s face looked pale. However, it was a soft voice that made the atmosphere fierce. 

“… That’s all I can think of. Or do you have any real surprising evidence other than that?”

Myungshin didn’t answer, and he bit his lower lip slightly. Director Yoon urged him.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going out?”

As soon as the words came out, Chief Park ran out of the conference room as if he was the first to run away. As Myungshin took one last step, he didn’t forget to look at me. He even gave me a little encouragement when passing by. 

“Try hard in vain.”

Bang.

The door closed and the manager and I remained, Director Yoon asked my manager.

“Aren’t you going?” 

“Y- yes?”

The manager looked at him and me in turn and stuttered with a bewildered expression.

“S- should I go out too, but what Taemin is going to say…”

“I will listen.” 

He cut off the words and pointed with his chin at the door, indicating for him to leave. The manager looked at me with a face full of things to say and went out as if being chased out. Silence fell again with the sound of the door, and I looked back at my ally, whom no one was aware of yet.

He got up from the table and walked towards me. I tried to tell the approaching guy the way I was thinking first. But even when he came close, his speed did not slow down. What was he doing now? Meanwhile, my shoulder was grabbed. By the time I came to my senses, his arm was wrapped around my waist. Now, as usual, I pushed his shoulder and tried to get him off me.

“What are you doing?”

He pulled my back closer as I struggled to get out, speaking dryly over his head. 

“Did you think of it?”

Knowing he was asking about the way to prove the manager’s innocence, I stopped moving. Turning my head to the side to look up at him,I met his eyes which were looking down. As I saw his gaze that said ‘Tell me’, I left a gap between us and muttered the way I had come up with. I don’t know if this is the interesting way he was thinking of, but it was the best I could think of. The best twist that can be taken from the fact that manager Cha Jungwoo was a traitor.

“Is that so?”

Is it like what you thought? When asked with a little caution, he slowly raised the corners of his mouth. 

“Okay.”

With the answer, the hand that wrapped around my waist went down. I flinched, unknowingly nervous, and twisted my upper body roughly. Soon a soothing voice was heard.

“I’m not doing anything.”

Then his hand was groping my ass. 

“You are already doing it.”

While I was making a face, the guy touched my eye with his other hand and talked nonsense.

“You have puffy eyes.”

“You aren’t…” 

I refuted, turning my head to avoid his touch, then looked at his face and swallowed. He had only slept for a few hours and woke up in the morning tired, but his face was fine.

“Yeah, it’s nice that you don’t look swollen.”

He raised one corner of his mouth and replied in a dry voice.

“Well, it’s swelling down there.” 

I was a man too, so I immediately knew what that meant, but I felt it first from the lower body that was in contact with it. It’s not the first time I’ve experienced him in heat, but I’m not used to it. Why was this jerk standing because of me? Still questions filled the inside. However, the guy’s next words turned my attention to the original topic.

“Resolve it in three days. Until then, your manager’s issue will be prevented from leaking out.”

“Does that mean I can do it ‘that’ way?”

To prove it, I needed the permission of Director Yoon. Of course, since it was the method he came up with first, it was as if he had already allowed it, but to be honest, it was a bit surprising. The manager’s ability was important for this to be successful. But I believed in him since he was my manager, so I pushed for it, but it’s even strange that even the madman thought the same way. 

“Sure. I am responsible for the company’s permission. I will prepare all the necessary documents perfectly. But, three days.”

I was worried about the laughter behind his voice, but the three-day period came first. There was a breakthrough, but the worries did not go away. Can you really do it in the given time? Then I remembered what I needed.

“Tell me before that. Proof that manager Cha Jung-woo betrayed him… Mmph!”

His lips suddenly stopped me from speaking. The guy’s hand, which had already grabbed the back of my head, prevented me from escaping. Is it because of the hand holding it that it hurts as if it’s about to bite? For a moment, I couldn’t even tell if this was a kiss. The ferocious tongue that forcibly occupied my mouth like the hand that grabbed my head with all his might, it just felt like I was being succumbed to power. 

Ha-!

The only thing I could barely do on my own was to take a breath. It was only then that I recognized his kiss as he frantically sucked me in and rushed through me. But by the time I barely came to my senses, the kiss, that had already begun unannounced, had ended. All the pressure on my body was gone. It happened in such a short moment that I was stunned. When he opened his eyes, he took a step back and twisted his body as if nothing had happened.

This jerk…

“Hey.” 

I called him on the way to the door and took a step.

“Why the hell is it like this?”

He tilted his head to the side and looked at me and narrowed his eyes. It was as if he didn’t know that, so he barely suppressed the breath he was running quickly with excitement.

“You say nonsense like it’s your taste to be excited by me, but why is it like this?” 

“What is?”

He smiled and asked, but I couldn’t come up with a detailed explanation. Because if I brought it up, it really seems like it would be true. Being drawn in by sexual attraction, let’s just say its that lunatic’s taste to want to fuck me, but this was different. This, no, the previous bathroom kiss and this… there was something that just couldn’t be explained with just sexual excitement.

“I asked ‘what’.”

“It’s strange. Your kiss is awkward.” 

As I mumbled, he smiled and accepted it immediately.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it soon.”

“What ‘get used to it’…”

“It has nothing to do with your feelings.” 

A cold voice suddenly changed and echoed in the spacious conference room. Suddenly, the expressionless face that had lost the smile turned towards me.

“It’s the first time in my life that I have endured this much, so you just keep your mouth shut and accept it. If you want to, I can go into heat right here so you don’t feel awkward.”

As he approached me, his dark eyes that I couldn’t tell the emotions in were shining.

“My limiting the pace is only to slow things down. I don’t care whatever feelings you have.” 

When I stared at him without losing my gaze, he returned to his original smile.

“So, don’t misunderstand that I am being patient because I’m considering your feelings.”

“Fuck, I don’t have that misunderstanding.”

There’s no way I’d ever think that a jerk like you was being considerate of my feelings in the first place. Swallowing inside, I brought up the springing inevitable curiosity. 

“Then why are you holding back?”

As he was about to turn back, he answered lightly.

“In case I’ll ruin it.”

With his head turned halfway, I met his emotionless eyes. 

“If you finish your revenge or whatever, I think you will get out of my hands before I really enjoy you. You can’t stick to a rotting corpse for the rest of your life, right?”

Are you saying death is the only way out of his hands? In addition, among the unfortunate words, only the word ‘rest of your life’ was heard particularly clearly. It felt bad, but I wasn’t angry. The creepy side I sometimes see, it’s rare to see the real him. In any case, if you have an opponent you need to escape from or fight with later, you have to get used to the real thing.

And it’s also due to the fact that the desire for fighting I had in the past days is still there. The excitement I felt as I attacked even the most unlikely opponent. So, when I look at the madman, I feel a faint but warm feeling in my heart that thought that everything had disappeared.

“You’re underestimating yourself. If it were you, you could go into heat and fuck even the bones of a skeleton.” 

I made a sarcastic remark and headed towards the door like a guy, when I heard a serious rebuttal.

“Then it doesn’t have that tight feeling .”

I stopped walking and looked up at the guy who was really complaining. This crazy bastard.

“Then put a rubber band on it.” 

He twisted his lips and rejoiced at my solution.

“Can only you do that with a rubber band?”

I tried to respond right away to the compliment that wasn’t pleasing at all with a retort that the rubber band is much tighter than I am, so wear that. However, I soon closed my mouth when I saw the smile in his eyes. Eyes like when I said “bourjor”. Damn, you don’t have to entertain me with this useless conversation. I approached the door first with pride as big as an ant, and the man following me spoke as if passing by.

“So you can’t die without my permission.” 

I paused. I was reaching for the door, but then stopped and turned around. But as if something had happened, he grabbed the door handle and turned it first. However, before opening, he told me one thing.

“The evidence of the military service scandal that had spread on the Internet is a recording file. The broker and Cha Jungwoo met and talked in person. Find it and turn the volume up to the max and listen. You can find something interesting in the background music.”

Is that proof that manager Cha Jungwoo is the culprit? As I thought about it, click. The door opened. And everyone’s eyes were on us all at once, they seemed like they were waiting through the open door.

“Three days. Until then, while Lee Taemin proves it, everyone should ensure the issue doesn’t leak out.” 

Director Yoon, who ordered towards them, at the end of his words, looked back at Myungshin and the staff close to him and added,

“And three days later, we will find the real culprit.”