“I’m Yoon Taehee, the chief of Team 1 of Naryecheong Exorcism Department.”
“Ah. Uh, yes. I’m Jeongju. As you know, I’m of the fox clan…”
Instead of his right hand in a half-cast, Yoon Taehee raised his intact left hand and offered Jeongju to handshake. Guided by his skilful lead, Jeongju unconsciously took his hands.
“I assume you know about Naryecheong and exorcists to some extent.”
After Yoon Taehee withdrew his hand, he calmly continued.
“First of all, I want to apologize. It’s a shame, what happened that day. The exorcists of the Ceremonial Instruments Department did great damage. Even though it has nothing to do with me, apart from that, I also feel a moral responsibility as an exorcist.”
Suddenly, his expression became serious, and his voice was calm yet low. Jeongju was inwardly surprised. He did not know that he would suddenly confront him about this head-on. On the other hand, Jaegyeom was looking at Yoon Taehee with a face of disbelief.
It was a far cry from the attitude he showed him when they were alone yesterday. He had said that he had no regrets or nothing to reflect on, and hadn’t done anything wrong. Jaegyeom had a rough idea of what he was up to. He was trying to win favor by coaxing the other person with fanciful words.
“Sometimes, among the exorcists, there are people who persecute others like that and are frantic to take advantage of them somehow. It is a tragedy created by human selfishness. It’s unfortunate. However, I want you to know that not all exorcists are like that.”
It’s really baffling, so baffling… Jaegyeom turned his head with a grumpy face. He was tempted to snap and say “Aren’t you like that too?”, but he decided to just hold it in. Anyway, because he decided to collaborate with Yoon Taehee, if they were on the same side, it would have been better to have Jeongju and Mesani trust him rather than suspect him.
“Then why did you ask Jaegyeom to become an exorcist?”
At that moment, Jeongju asked with an expression that suggested he did not understand. From what he heard, he didn’t seem to think too positively about exorcists himself… At Jeongju’s question, Jaegyeom secretly looked at Yoon Taehee. He would not possibly tell the truth.
Then, Yoon Taehee opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“I wish that Naryecheong will move in the right direction. I believe that if I am with someone like my lord, we can bring about good changes. That’s why I asked him to be my colleague. Because he is an upright person.”
Jaegyeom stared at Yoon Taehee with dumbfounded eyes at the glib monologue. What grease did he have in his mouth… Jeongju would not even know in his dreams that the ‘right direction’ that Yoon Taehee refers to was to destroy Naryecheong.
It sounded so plausible that Jeongju was already agreeing with Yoon Taehee’s words. That’s right. Our Jaegyeom is upright. Mesani was also nodding his head beside him.
“I know you have a lot of concerns. I understand. I promise you, in the name of the chief, that nothing like the last time will ever happen again. I intend to protect you and help you stay safe.”
Yoon Taehee handed over the document envelope that was in his arms.
“If you open the envelope, you will find three documents. One is a screenplay for Jeongju’s comeback, and one is Jaegyeom’s, I mean, my lord’s new image. One is the documents related to the house you are moving into.”
Accepting the envelope, Jeongju’s jaws dropped with a puzzled look.
“Yes? What do you mean by my comeback screenplay?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Vlcmf P kjr atf mjerf, P klii ajxf gfrqbcrlylilas obg ws ofiibk fzbgmlrar.”
Tbbc Kjftff, ktb rwlifv, revvfcis jrxfv, “Afbcupe, vb sbe xcbk Glgfmabg Bkbc Vbbcmtfbi lr?”
Afbcupe, ktb tjv yffc tfrlajca, cbvvfv tlr tfjv.
“Yt? Tfr, bo mbegrf P xcbk. Vtf’r j sbecu ufcler bo atf oliw lcverags.”
Director Kwon Sooncheol, whom Yoon Taehee spoke of, was a person with a reputation for making high-quality films, and was an object of envy to Jeongju. Director Kwon participated in many overseas film festivals and had a worldwide reputation. However, she was known for her single-minded temperament, and somewhat reclusive.
It was a dream of every actor to work with Director Kwon. However, Director Kwon’s standards for appointing actors were so difficult that not many people were able to seize the opportunity. It was the same with Jeongju. He just wanted to make some connections, so he made inquiries here and there, but it was all in vain.
Yoon Taehee smile, but slightly lowered his voice.
“Actually, she’s a gwijae. There was a time when she got involved in a troublesome business, and I happened to help her, so I’ve known her ever since. Oh, you can’t tell me anywhere, it’s a secret. If Sooncheol noona finds out, I will be scolded.”
Jeongju was startled by the friendly name, and his eyes widened.
‘Sooncheol noona’?! It’s surprising that they just know each other, but ‘Sooncheol noona’… ?! Calling her ‘older sister’ meant they were not common acquaintances. When Jeongju gulped down with a dumbfounded face, Yoon Taehee naturally drove the nail into the coffin.
“I heard that a new work is coming in the second half. If you don’t mind, I’d like to help you out a bit. I don’t think it’s bad chance for a comeback. How about it? If it’s by Director Kwon, the public reaction will be pretty good. I put the screenplay inside, so please read it.”
That bastard… Jaegyeom narrowed his eyes and looked at Yoon Taehee.
“No way, Director Kwon Sooncheol’s new film…”
Before he knew it, Jeongju was holding the screenplay tightly in his arms with a thrilled face.
Are you still a fox… ?
“Take off your tail, you.”
Jaegyeom murmured and clicked his tongue. Yoon Taehee must have heard it as well. He seemed to know at once what he was thinking.
“And, as for the personal information of our lord, I’ve been working on it myself.”
After Yoon Taehee rolled his sleeve to check his watch, he calmly continued his words.
“To briefly explain, I removed the link with Jeongju-ssi through paperwork and made a new profile. Even if anyone dug up information from either side, they won’t know that you are related to each other. It will be easy to hide your identity. Take a closer look at it later.”
When Jaegyeom was born, the headquarters would search for Jaegyeom’s personal information. If that happened, it was only natural that Jeongju, with whom he was related on paper, would be on the radar of the headquarters. Just as Yoon Taehee himself dug into the relationship between the two before.
Yoon Taehee had a lot of authority as his rank was high. Becoming today’s ally from yesterday’s enemy, he volunteered to provide reliable support. As he had said before, if Jaegyeom was on his side, he would be on his side as well.
“If you need anything related to public matters in the future, do it through me. It will be much safer that way. If you need any other help, feel free to contact me at any time.”
Yoon Taehee made up for the mistakes made so far.
Jeongju, who had been frowning that he did not want to live in the house Yoon Taehee introduced them, was rummaging through the papers and looking at a copy of the register of the house they were moving into, and Mesani was hovering around Yoon Taehee like he was mesmerized by something, even as he maintained his silence. At that, Yoon Taehee grinned and gently patted the little boy’s hand.
“Child.”
Mesani looked at him and cautiously approached. Yoon Taehee squatted down in front of Mesani, matching eye level. Then he rummaged in the pocket of his hoodie for a moment, and then revealed his palm with a “ta-da”. Chocolate wrapped in bite-size pieces and a handful of candies came out in the palm of his hand. Yoon Taehee had a huge sweet tooth and used to carry his snacks in his bag and in the pockets of his clothes.
Mesani’s eyes widened as he looked down at his palms. Yoon Taehee, who had discovered something, exclaimed, “Ah.” A small lighter was mixed in between the sweets. He quickly hid it, raising the corner of his mouth.
“Except for this…”
Yoon Taehee smiled bashfully and put his lighter back into his pocket.
“Here, take it.”
Mesani unwittingly spread his hands side by side. After Yoon Taehee put a handful of sweets in Mesani’s hand, explaining, “This has jam inside, and this has almonds inside…”. Meanwhile, Jaegyeom stood at the side and stared blankly. Yoon Taehee was showing a surprisingly normal appearance today. He was sensible, polite, and sweet. It was like the first time he met him in the library.
“…”
Jaegyeom suddenly remembered the moment he first met Yoon Taehee. If he hadn’t seen his true nature, he thought that he might have been fooled even now. But now he knew. That there was a cold face behind that kindness. When he didn’t know that, would have been fooled again and again. Jaegyeom vaguely recalled the disappointment he once felt in Yoon Taehee. The prickly feeling of that moment.
Yoon Taehee put a band-aid on him and asked him to come over often. Yoon Taehee, who lent him a tie and asked to be his friend. Yoon Taehee who said, ‘You did very well.’. Yoon Taehee, who left a music box by his bedside while he was asleep…
What the heck was real and how much was made up?
“… Hey.”
Jaegyeom, who was thinking of the library scene, opened his mouth unconsciously. Yoon Taehee, who was crouching down giving chocolate to Mesani, lifted his head.
“Yes?”
Jaegyeom lowered his gaze slightly.
“Then… You’re not going to school anymore… ?”
At the wilting question, Yoon Taehee looked at Jaegyeom in silence for a moment.
“No, I’m not.”
Perhaps conscious of Jeongju, Yoon Taehee had been politely using honorifics from earlier.
“Then who is in the library now?”
“Well… I’m not sure…”
Yoon Taehee raised his eyebrows and mumbled, then he whispered in a small voice.
“I’m no longer interested in school without my lord.”
This son of… Jaegyeom, who was trying to glare him with a frown, glanced at Jeongju out of the corner of his eye. Jeongju was fluttering through his papers, his eyes twinkling.
“…”
Jaegyeom looked at Yoon Taehee again with a sour expression, then opened his mouth.
“Anyway. How did you know my number?”
“How do I know? There are ways.”
“What? What did you do behind my back, you?”
“I did it from the front, not from the back, yo.”
Yoon Taehee replied playfully, putting his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. At that, Jaegyeom made a puzzled face. From the front? He, who was new to mobile phones, did not know that Yoon Taehee took his number right in front of his eyes. It had been so quick.
“What did you do in front of me?”
To his question, Yoon Taehee replied that if he was that curious, he would show it to him. “Give me your phone.” Being handed his phone, he put his shoulder close to Jaegyeom, and began to explain in a low voice. “Here. By dialing my number. If you call like this…” He took out his own phone. “If you call here like this…” Jaegyeom blinked his eyes and nodded.
After realizing how the number had been stolen, Jaegyeom said,
“How cunning.”
Yoon Taehee smiled at the sarcasm.
“Just found out?”
Jaegyeom scowled at the sly words, and then their shoulders touched and they withdrew their bodies quickly.
Thank you for d chap
Thank you!