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Editors: Spade & Asterope
“Mm…”
An unfamiliar ceiling came into view through his hazy vision.
What was this? Where was he?
Juwon’s drowsiness instantly faded away. When his eyes suddenly opened, a drowsy voice reached his ears.
“Are you awake?”
“Oh…”
A large hand tidied up his hair. His wariness faded away, no longer caring about where he was. Responding with a “yeah,” Juwon turned to face Inheon.
“Ah…?”
Turning over had been the only thing he’d done, yet every bone in his body creaked, and his muscles felt sore. The hand, which had been tending to his hair, slid down to massage his nape.
An “ugh” escaped on its own, but he felt more refreshed than pained. Inheon began to earnestly work on his body, as if he had been waiting for Juwon to wake up just to offer a massage. The hand that ran down his neck to his shoulders gently rubbed his knotted muscles.
“Ngh…”
A raw moan, devoid of any lust, escaped.
As his consciousness gradually returned, the memories of what had happened the previous night resurfaced as well. They had done it in the parking lot of the house Inheon had just bought. Only then did he fully comprehend the muscle pain that his entire body was experiencing.
Although it felt like he came several times from both his ass and his dick, his body currently felt soft and dry; it appeared that Inheon had cleaned him up after he had unknowingly lost consciousness in the car park.
A tranquil scenery could be seen outside the window where the winter sunlight was streaming through. The grass and trees that had been planted in the garden were so green that it was hard to discern the season. Unlike the warm indoors, the leaves outside occasionally rustled, as if swayed by a cold breeze.
It gave off a peaceful feeling, contrasting with the view from Tera Palace as it overlooked the bustling city centre of Seoul. Although it felt a little unfamiliar to Juwon, he considered this place his home as well, since Inheon was here with him.
“…I’m hungry.”
With his stiff muscles relaxing, he felt considerably more refreshed, and hunger began to gnaw at him. It felt like he had used so much energy last night that the skin of his stomach was clinging to his back. Inheon massaged the inside of his thighs with pure intentions, unlike yesterday, and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
“Anything’s fine…”
When Inheon tried to get up, Juwon grabbed his hand and pulled him down to lie beside him. While he appreciated Inheon’s cooking and massages, being held in his arms in this manner was what he liked most.
“Just order something…”
Inheon reached for his phone on the nightstand and opened a food delivery app. Reminiscing back on the first time they had sex together and how neither of them had had any delivery apps installed, Juwon chuckled. Inheon chuckled too, though Juwon wasn’t sure if he knew what he was thinking of.
Their entirely naked bodies pressed against each other’s, with even their thighs becoming entangled. A large hand rubbed the smooth curve of Juwon’s back.
Juwon began to doze off once more in the warm and secure embrace. When he awakened to the scent of fruits combined with an aromatic aroma, a pizza was placed on a bed tray before him.
“…Looks good…”
As he struggled to sit up, the dull pain spread throughout his entire body again. The area of skin and the nipples that had been grazed by the blanket felt both sore and prickly. Glancing down at his body, he realised that his skin was all mottled. The red and blue marks refused to be washed away.
Juwon turned his head to look at Inheon. Inheon picked up a slice of pizza with gooey cheese and fed it to Juwon.
“Juwon-ah, it’s 12 in the afternoon.”
“…Already?”
It was time for the National Singing Contest to air. When they turned on the TV, a guest singer was cheerfully performing a song. Slouched together on the bed, they evaluated the participants’ performances and ended up finishing the entire pizza before they even realised it.
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.
<The grand prize! Lee Sangdong-ssi, who sang <Unconditionally> for us!>
Cmmbwqjclfv ys atf rbecv bo ojcojgf, atf gfulbcji ubnfgcbg qijmfv j ubiv wfvji jgbecv atf klccfg’r cfmx.
“I think the university student who sang <To You> did the best, though.”
“Tfjt, yea wjsyf la’r yfmjerf atflg ygfjatlcu uba j ilaaif gbeut ogbw atf vjcmf atfs vlv.”
“Leryjcv, lo sbe ub bc atfgf, sbe’v ufa atf ugjcv qglhf. Tbeg ygfjatlcu kbc’a yfmbwf gbeut cb wjaafg ktja vjcmf sbe vfmlvf ab vb, gluta?”
“The problem lies in the singing…”
“Oho, so you’re confident in your dancing skills?”
As they engaged in casual conversation, the channel changed, and a pleasant voice emerged from a home shopping video.
<The newly released premium dishwasher! No need for a rough rinse, all you have to do is put it in and get a clean…>
“Heon-ah, let’s buy that! It even says there’s no need for rinsing, doesn’t it?”
“Honey, I never knew you were so gullible…”
“Why? Doesn’t it seem convenient?”
“If you don’t do any rinsing, the drain will be clogged.”
Inheon took the remote control from Juwon’s hand and changed the channel. Juwon, who had little experience with dishwashing since he rarely ate at home in the past, and had either an employee or Inheon do the work now, couldn’t say much else and simply nibbled on the pizza crust.
The channel they settled on featured an entertainment program that had aired a few years earlier. They both burst into laughter at the scene of someone carrying a tray on their head while running through the rain and slipping between the ridges of a rice field.
Feeling his abdominal muscles ache, Juwon groaned as he laughed, and Inheon offered to give him a massage, starting to rub his stomach. When Juwon removed his hand and told Inheon that he made it hurt even more, Inheon placed his hand on him again, promising to ease his knotted muscles. They continued to bicker under the blanket when a commercial slipped by.
Numerous brands from various companies flashed by in a 15-second time frame. Looking at the diverse screen, Juwon suddenly spoke up.
“Yesterday, you…”
“There’s nothing to watch, huh…”
Inheon threw away the remote control and kissed Juwon. Juwon tilted his head slightly and asked, “Were you upset because of the nonsense Director Min was spouting…?”
Inheon remained silent for a moment before shrugging.
“She won’t have any more time to speak nonsense or organise things like charity parties from now on. You’re not close enough to visit her in the detention centre, are you?”
“…What?”
“I sent the Lips of Finn to Prosecutor Choi.”
Juwon’s mouth fell open. If he was talking about a Prosecutor Choi, then he could only be referring to Prosecutor Choi Cheolhan, the person currently investigating BH. He had a rare and unwavering sense of duty that even BH had long been plagued by.
The Lips of Finn was a potion that forced people to speak only the truth once drunk, and it was so rare that it didn’t even have a market price. While it was common for potions to only affect the awakened, the Lips of Finn worked on civilians as well, contributing to its lack of price. Wasn’t it said that a bottle would go for about five billion won these days? However, there was an extreme scarcity in the supply, so that was merely the starting bid.
Seemingly having read Juwon’s expression, Inheon said, “BH’s tax evasion and slush funds will exceed thirtyfold, so it’s a national profit.”
“…You do know that evidence secured through potions or abilities isn’t recognised, right?”
“They’ll handle things on their own from there,” Inheon, who had been appointed as an honorary ambassador for the National Tax Service for five years as a model taxpayer, casually said. Juwon simply nodded.
“Yeah, the tax evasion committed by chaebols is a long-rooted evil that needs to be eradicated…”
Even the old Juwon wasn’t able to win against Inheon and regularly paid his taxes. Of course, he used some tactics to reduce the amount he had to pay, but that wasn’t what was important… Juwon went on, “So you were upset after all…”
“Um…”
Inheon’s throat moved up and down. If he were to answer Juwon’s question about whether or not he was upset, then honestly, he was. However, he found everyone bothersome, including Min Seungah, so if he were to unleash his anger at it all, then there’d be no end to it. After some time passed, Inheon spoke in a low voice, “I’m just a little narrow-minded.”
Juwon had originally been an existence that was like the full moon in the night sky. Even when he didn’t open his heart to anyone, all eyes were drawn to him.
“It’s not like you can help being pretty, either…”
Juwon almost spat out the cola he was drinking. Inheon patted Juwon’s back as he coughed.
“Would there be anyone out there who wouldn’t like you? Still, I know that you’re always doing your best.”
Juwon, having barely stopped his coughing fit, straightened his back and sat up properly. Inheon’s focus point had been sounding strange for a while now.
“Excuse me, Hunter Kang-nim?”
“……?”
“Shall we have a proper conversation about what happened yesterday?”
Inheon’s nonsense seemed even more serious than Min Seungah’s. Juwon also had some unresolved emotions from the past.
“Would there be anyone out there who wouldn’t like you…? Are you talking about yourself? Who are you calling pretty right now? Don’t even get me started. You do realise that you still occupy the position of the number one groom candidate, right? Do you know how pissed off I am because of that?”
Inheon asked in wonder as Juwon’s voice gradually got higher and higher, “Isn’t that just a joke?”
“…A joke?”
“You gave a large-scale interview to all the media outlets out there telling people not to choose me as the number one groom candidate, so it riled people up even more to pick me.”
“Ha, what kind of nonsense is that…? Why would they make a joke out of their votes…?”
After saying that, Juwon had a strange feeling and turned on his phone. Kang Inheon’s name appeared in the autocomplete search even if he only typed the word “groom.” He played the edited clip of the magazine interview that appeared at the very top.
<Finally, what would you like to say through BOSS?>
The Juwon inside the screen furrowed his brow and said,
<There was something I wanted to touch on. You see, Hunter Kang Inheon was chosen as the number one groom candidate this time as well. Although it may be true that Hunter Kang Inheon is the number one groom, it’s already been said many times before that he’s not a groom candidate… The word “candidate” refers to someone with an already established qualification or eligibility. Hunter Kang Inheon has already entered into a civil union with me, so he doesn’t have the qualification to be a groom candidate, does he? Casting meaningless votes goes against the principles of democracy…>
At some point, thousands of comments had been posted beneath the video.
Who chose Inhunter again?! Stop, stop it!
Those votes require real name authentication, but the total number is a whole twelve million..
┕Twelve million? Is he perhaps the winner of a trot singing contest?ㅎㅎ
Do you guys still think you have a chance??? Haven’t you seen the insane bone structure of your faces??
┕We must never… give up hope, until the end..!
┕It’s game over the moment we give up
He doesn’t seem like it, but he’s a total fucking romanticㅋㅋㅋㅋ
┕Same here though, if Kang Inheon was my husband, I’d automatically become a romantic too
Press like if you agree with the law prohibiting the act of voting for Kang Inheon as a groom candidate
Pls press like if you agree with the motion of voting for Kang Inheon as a groom candidate♥♥
“T-these people…?”
Juwon threw his phone to the floor. It nearly fell to the ground, but Inheon easily caught it.
Juwon was aware that some of the things he said were fanning the flames of the fire, but in reality, nothing had changed. The scariest thing was the sincerity hidden within such jokes.
Nevertheless, there was an abundance of evidence beyond that. So, Juwon presented another piece of compelling proof.
“Then, what about your fanclub? Wasn’t it created because just that many people like you?”
“They like me because they like you.”
“What do you mean?”
“My popularity is your popularity…”
“Wow… You’re even shifting your popularity onto me now…”
Incapable of comprehending what kind of new nonsense Inheon was spewing this time, Juwon hit his chest.
“Hey, Inhunter? Aren’t you the one who’s objectively and globally more popular? Shouldn’t I be the one feeling anxious?”
Inheon’s face turned wry. From his point of view, Juwon had several misconceptions about the situation. He contemplated whether he should clarify things for him.
What people like isn’t me, but the facade I stole from you. So, in reality, the one they like isn’t me, but you.
Despite the fact I stole from you, despite knowing my worst points, you’re the only one who chose to love me.
So, even if it was only a mask, he was glad that he appeared decent enough to Juwon. If Juwon were to perhaps regret it one day, he could use that as an excuse to ensnare him.
When Juwon was surrounded by people, Inheon wanted to squeeze in through the gaps of the crowd and kiss him. On the other hand, though, he didn’t want to reveal the expression Juwon made when being kissed to anyone else. He was entranced by the brilliant light that shone like the full moon, but his greed stirred within, unwilling to share that radiance with anyone else.
It was an anxiety he had to bear, for he couldn’t just blind the eyes of all those who looked at Juwon, nor could he lock him away. Could one be blamed for gazing at the moon? It was much harder not to love Juwon.
The winter sunlight of a tranquil afternoon filtered through the window. Juwon downed his flat coke and mumbled as if talking to himself, “…A couple is one in body and soul or whatever, is that what you mean…?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Inheon kissed Juwon and licked the remnants of coke in his mouth. It was sweet, as if his mouth had been coated in sugar.
He liked the way Juwon tried to decipher the meaning behind his pointless words. So, there was no need for Juwon to know every little detail of his dark and damp inner thoughts.
“Whatever it is, husband, don’t overthink it…” Juwon continued, pushing Inheon’s shoulders away slightly and parting their lips, “Just do things the way you wish.”
When their eyes met, Juwon lifted the corner of his mouth like a villain.
“I won’t stay still either if someone dares to flirt with you.”
Inheon’s heart raced. His chest felt constricted, knowing just how horrible Juwon was back when he had been considered a villain. He knew that it’d never happen, but he wanted Juwon to act terribly jealous. He loved it too much whenever Juwon would declare him as his husband.
Juwon wrapped his arms around Inheon’s neck and kissed him. His twisted emotions melted under the warmth of Juwon’s touch; it had always been Juwon’s touch that kept Inheon from falling deep into a murky swamp.
orcinus comments:
inheon-ah… your yandere jumped out a little at the end…
Wanting your husband to act yandere for you! Inheon ah tsk tsk hahahahah Really feeling 🤩 for this two hahahah
I really like that he has the bad bad thoughts but don’t act on it ? Like that’s kind of healthy even if he is a yandere. True love 👍
YES! Like, my man is f*cking crazy but the worst thing he did was when juwon died harmed a couple of civilians only because he was provoked and about to kill himself
A chapter where Juwon acts super jealous UUUUUUUU THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE!