CH 11

The name was indeed a great camouflage.

Seung-joon was then unable to pass the snack bar in front of the SJ Entertainment building and was chewing on fish cakes even after ordering tteokbokki with tempura, sundae, and gimbap because it wasn’t enough for him.

Because he was so mesmerized by the flavor of the tteokbokki soup with sundae, Seung-joon was just listening silently to CEO Oh Seok-hyun’s report that he had signed a contract with Ji-an. CEO Oh recognized Seung-joon as the subordinate of the mysterious investor ‘Jang Ki-do.’

Seung-joon had no plans to appear in front of Ji-an even at this point. The plan went awry with the unexpected appearance of On Ji-an, who he thought had just gone home after finishing his business.

Seung-joon, who was preoccupied with eating, saw Ji-an poking his head out from the left, and his heart sank. It was fortunate that the fish cake, which had passed through the esophagus, did not reflux. He quickly hid the hand that was in his pocket behind his back and pulled out the loose wedding ring, but he broke out in a cold sweat and slipped several times.

When Ji-an saw Seung-joon, who was 15 years younger, he looked confused. But his distinctively clear eyes, which appeared to see right through the insides, sparkled. But for some reason, the moment he heard the name ‘Seon Woo-young,’ he fully let down his guard.

When he saw this, he understood that a person’s name was a part of their personality.

When Ji-an heard the name, his description of Seung-joon changed from ‘a strange boy who resembles Seung-joon enough to win an award’ to ‘Seon Woo-young.’ To Ji-an, Seung-joon was a 20-year-old Alpha who was an old-fashioned and cute trainee at the same entertainment company as him.

Seung-joon suddenly remembered what Ji-an had said the day he brought in the divorce papers.

‘I can’t use a single credit card in my name in this house, right?’

And Seung-joon asked Ji-an if the reason his marriage had to fail was only because of ‘your name.’

He might not have realized the importance a name could have. Seung-joon was unaware since the value of his name had never been taken from him. He never felt it till his body had changed. This realization frequently occurred to Seung-joon, particularly in convenience stores.

“I will check your ID.”

A young part-timer at a convenience store said, blatantly scanning Seung-joon up and down. Seung-joon looked down at the four cans of beer that were placed in front of the cashier. He took things that were off limits to minors and put them back on the refrigerator shelf with his big hands.

Seung-joon already owned all the goods in the world. On the other hand, Seon Woo-young couldn’t even buy beer at will. That’s what it was like not having a name.

Seung-joon stuttered as he hung a convenience store bag with five bags of sweets, a pet soda, and ten sausage sticks on his wrist. He had blue soda flavored ice cream in his mouth.

‘I need to find a temporary place to live.’

Seung-joon put down the convenience store bag on the table at Secretary Jang’s house and sighed.

He had no intention of changing the password of the mansion where he had lived with Ji-an since they were newlyweds. Therefore, it would not be surprising if Ji-an entered the house given how risky it was.

It was embarrassing to show this appearance to more than 30 employees who came and went frequently. However, he did not want to confront the union by making people who were working well become unemployed overnight.

He thought it would be better to have a temporary residence close to Ji-an’s accommodation. As long as Ji-an completely believed that Seung-joon was ‘Seon Woo-young’, there was no reason for Seung-joon to avoid him.

Seung-joon preferred to spend a full day keeping a close eye on Ji-an. The remaining period was spare time because it was impossible to go to work or engage in outside activities with this look.

‘I’m not the kind of old-fashioned guy who gets mad when a young lover says, ‘Hey, you, baby.’

Seung-joon was dizzy for a while at Ji-an’s shocking remarks.

Ji-an’s behavior even though he firmly believed that Seung-joon was an outsider named ‘Seon Woo-young’ was a spectacle. The smile on his face and the gesture of stroking his shoulder was overly sensual. If Ji-an comes out like this and you didn’t turn to look at him, you were not an Alpha.

Seung-joon has never received such flattery from Ji-an. He only had a captivating charm about him, but he always behaved neatly. Seung-joon couldn’t help but think like this.

‘Was this really your taste for younger people?’

Seung-joon was uneasy at the strange feeling of seeing Ji-an hitting on him and witnessing the scene of his wife’s affair. Ji-an made a great timing to scratch Seung-joon’s stomach.

On Ji An:

Director Woo 6:24 p.m.

Are you sure you need to go to court to get your act together? 6:24 p.m.

Keep chewing on me. 6:25 p.m.

He had a great affinity with the young Alpha with whom he had no contact before, but this was his bluntness toward his husband. The desire to have a younger lover was so strong that he worked hard to get the divorce papers signed.

Seung-joon clenched his teeth and exhaled angrily. The adrenaline rush caused his pulse to pound in the back of his neck. He replied just and threw his phone on the sofa.

Woo Seung-joon:

Did you hear me say that there is no agreement from my side? 6:28 p.m.

You have two choices. 6:29 p.m.

Either file a lawsuit or give up. Do what you want. 6:31 p.m.

Ji-an was eager to meet a younger man, despite being warned about the consequences of having an ‘affair’ as one of the terms of his agency contract.

He couldn’t allow it. It would not have been possible even if Seung-joon died and was buried in the ground and dirt got into his eyes. Even if Seung-joon became a ghost, he wouldn’t overlook Ji-an’s meeting with another Alpha.

***

Seung-joon grunted in his sleep that night. It was because he had nightmares of a night when he was drunk and didn’t even know that his body returned to his twenties.

The dream began with the words of a bartender he had never seen before, despite the fact that he had been coming to the cocktail bar all week.

‘I said it clearly. If Director Woo drinks this, you will die.’

Looking back, no one at the bar knew Seung-joon was ‘Director Woo.’ The bartender called the title as friendly as he called an old regular customer. In the dream, the bartender smiled like a fairy from a lamp.

‘If you are to be born again, is there anyone you want to be, Director Woo?’

Seung-joon in his dream answered the bartender. Hearing his answer, Seung-joon raised his upper body on the bed and let out a terrifying scream.

His entire body was drenched in a cold sweat. It was still dark outside the window as if it were early morning, but the thunderstorms in the sky made the room sometimes brighter than usual. Heavy raindrops pounded on the window, creating a sound similar to hail. Seung-joon murmured while frowning, causing his brows to be misaligned on the left and right sides.

“The man that On Ji-an wants.”

And On Ji-an, who preferred a younger man, desired an Alpha that was eight years younger than him. Seung-joon never thought it could be himself.

In other words, Seung-joon returned to his 20-year-old body because of his own wish.

***

Seung-joon had his secretary, Jang Ki-do, check the cocktail bar he was intoxicated as soon as the next morning dawned. According to the cocktail bar owner’s testimony, the bartender with the impression Seung-joon described was never hired. Seung-doubts joon’s were transformed into distressing convictions as a result of this.

Seung-joon lingered in the middle of Secretary Jang’s living room, chewing his lips. Secretary Jang’s eyes quietly followed Seung-joon as he walked back and forth in the living room with bored expression. Seung-joon informed Secretary Jang of the conclusion he had reached after much deliberation.

“The way to break this curse is to become the man that On Ji-an wants.”

There was a hint of pity on Secretary Jang’s face, who was watching. It seemed like an explanation was needed.

“I told the suspicious bartender that I wanted to be ‘the man that On Ji-an wants,’ and Ji-an wants Alpha, who is eight years younger than him. So that’s how it happened. So, if I can make On Ji-an want me again, I will return to my original form.”

“Like the romantic comedy movies that were popular 10 years ago?”

Seung-joon stopped in his dizzy steps. He crossed his legs together and looked at Secretary Jang. Secretary Jang didn’t seem to realize that the plausible explanation would be even more ridiculous. From the perspective of Secretary Jang, it was because it was someone else’s business. Seung-joon hated criticism without an alternative the most in the world.

“Secretary Jang. Is there a better explanation than this? Tell me.”

Secretary Jang’s skeptical attitude was understandable. However, Seung-joon believed that he had no choice but to follow his intuition to solve problems that could not be explained scientifically.

On the one hand, the curse on him somehow felt like an opportunity. It was like a godsend to make Ji-an come to love Seung-joon again.

Perhaps Seung-joon was too engrossed in a fantasy novel called <Second Life, It Begins Now>, which he finished a while ago.

The main character of the novel returned to 5 years ago with only memories of the current life, achieved a long-cherished dream, and finds happiness. In any case, the protagonist of all modern fantasy becomes happy only when they completed the task assigned to them by an unknown person.

“Let’s assume that Director Woo’s hypothesis is correct.”

As if he couldn’t come up with a better idea than Seung-joon’s hypothesis, Secretary Jang had been half-agreeing. Then he looked at Seung-joon with a blank face that was hard to read.

“It is said that if you change On Ji-an-ssi’s heart, you can return to your original form. What will happen after that?”

Seung-joon blinked and frowned. Seung-joon expected Secretary Jang to play the role of a quiet assistant in a romantic comedy movie. Secretary Jang was eliminated as a supporting role.

“Is it possible to make On Ji-an fall in love with Woo Seung-joon with that look? Not Seon Woo-young.”

“… Usually, the supporting actors in romantic comedy movies don’t scrutinize like this!?”

“Seon Woo-young is a non-existent person, Director Woo.”