Red Mansion

In the end, he held the document envelope. Chungrim smiled slightly and exhaled a puff of smoke. After getting out of the car, he leaned into the open window.“This is your last chance, so make the most of it.”His light tone carried a clear threat. He emphasized the word “last.”“Yes, I understand. Yes…”Chungrim straightened up and tapped the car body.“Go.”The engine started, and the car slowly pulled out of the alley. It would likely arrive at the police station in less than ten minutes.Unlike before, there was no Red Mansion to allow drug deals, and the market was heatedly promoting the creation of a clean city after the mansion’s demolition. Even if his brothers tried to drag him down, it wouldn’t be easy. He hadn’t started any major business yet, and there was no record of the deals made at the Red Mansion. His brothers would never be able to catch him.He thought he’d probably spend a few years rotting in jail. When he returned, he would take all their positions so they wouldn’t have any foothold left. He would return the sense of loss he had felt. Chungrim checked his watch and walked back to the hospital.He took Sung-kyung, who had finished his counseling session, and got into the elevator. They waited until there was no one around before getting on. As the doors were softly closing, a man in a suit urgently called out.“Wait a moment…!”Sung-kyung made eye contact with the man. Standing by the buttons, Sung-kyung instinctively reached out, and the doors, hitting his hand, opened again.“Hey!”Chungrim quickly grabbed Sung-kyung’s wrist and checked it thoroughly. There was no mark on the back of his hand, but anger boiled up. The man stepped in, panting.“Oh, thank you.”He bowed his head to Sung-kyung, expressing his gratitude between heavy breaths. Sung-kyung looked at Chungrim instead of responding. Chungrim puffed out his cheeks, raised his eyebrows, and then let go of Sung-kyung’s hand, closing his mouth.“…”It seemed he had made Chungrim angry by doing something unnecessary. Sung-kyung bit his lower lip and kept glancing at Chungrim. After getting out of the elevator, he stayed close behind Chungrim, worried he might leave him behind. He even held onto Chungrim’s clothes, but Chungrim didn’t adjust his pace. Their height difference and walking speed made it hard to keep up.Luckily, Chungrim didn’t abandon him. He quickly got into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt without being told to get out. However, they didn’t talk the whole way home. Sung-kyung looked around nervously, unsure of what to do.What should I do? Why did I do that? Why did I care if a stranger got into the elevator or not? Maybe I thought I was a normal person after taking my meds and going to counseling. Why did I make eye contact? He continued to blame himself until they arrived home.“Don’t wash up, just sit down.”“Yes.”He quickly answered, afraid of angering Chungrim more. He sat on the sofa, the padding rustling loudly.“Don’t take it off.”“Yes.”The room was warm, and he started to feel hot. He managed to unzip his jacket, but he could feel sweat running down his back.Meanwhile, Chungrim seemed to have washed up alone and came out. Unlike usual, he was only wearing a large towel around his waist. He ignored Sung-kyung on the sofa and started doing his own thing. Sung-kyung was the only one feeling anxious.After feeding Mero and finishing a call, Chungrim finally stood in front of Sung-kyung. Sung-kyung looked up, trying to read his expression. Chungrim’s face was still stiff.Chungrim lightly kicked Sung-kyung’s feet, spreading his legs apart. His strong thigh came between them, and the sight of his naked upper body made Sung-kyung nervous. His body felt hot, and he swallowed dryly.Chungrim untied the loosely wrapped towel, grabbed Sung-kyung’s chin, and made him look up. Then, he started masturbating, the lewd sound of flesh slapping and rubbing filling the air.Sung-kyung predicted what he’d see if he looked down and tightly closed his eyes. Chungrim’s grip on his chin tightened.“Who said you could close your eyes?”Forced by Chungrim’s harsh words, Sung-kyung opened his eyes and looked at him. Chungrim’s prominent brow furrowed, and his red lips parted, letting out hot, sticky moans. It seemed like he was intentionally breathing that way.“Ha, ha…”“….”Chungrim stimulated Sung-kyung’s senses. His arm muscles rippled as he moved his penis, and veins bulged on his forearms. Sung-kyung involuntarily tensed his thighs, and Chungrim, seeing this, bent down and pushed his thin legs apart.“Don’t close your legs.”“Ah.”Chungrim kept panting lightly as he masturbated, biting his lower lip and looking down at Sung-kyung with a heated gaze. Sung-kyung, equally aroused, subtly moved his hips. Chungrim then grabbed his cheek firmly.“Don’t move. Stay still.”“Ugh…”Sung-kyung let out a faint moan, biting his teeth hard. His underwear was already soaked from arousal. The sound of Chungrim’s hand stroking his firm flesh was stimulating.Chungrim closed one eye, cursed softly, and then released Sung-kyung’s chin to press his head down. Chungrim’s erect, wet penis was right in front of his pale face.“Don’t suck it.”As soon as he finished speaking, the muscles in his solid thigh bulged, and his erect penis began to ejaculate. The semen splattered all over Sung-kyung’s face and chest, soaking him. Even while ejaculating, Chungrim kept stroking his penis frantically, making a mess of his own thighs and lower abdomen.Sung-kyung’s lips parted slightly as he looked at the wet glans and the column with veins standing out. Just then, the hand pressing the back of his head gripped his hair and pulled his head up. Their eyes met again. The semen smeared on his cheek dripped down to his lips.“I said don’t swallow.”Despite his remaining excitement, Chungrim repeated himself. He smiled leisurely, but his eyes were still hard.Chungrim sometimes tormented Sung-kyung like this when he stepped out of line. Sung-kyung clenched his fists, struggling not to lick the semen.“Haa…”Chungrim’s muscular chest heaved up and down with hot breaths. They were so close that Sung-kyung could see the veins on his skin.“You’re hard too, huh?”Chungrim pressed his knee between Sung-kyung’s legs. Sung-kyung tensed his lower abdomen and straightened his back, prompting a mocking laugh from Chungrim. Chungrim dragged Sung-kyung, who didn’t know what to do with his erection, to the bathroom and commanded again at the door.“Strip.”With trembling hands, Sung-kyung took off his padded jacket and all the clothes underneath. His sweatshirt and pants were stained with Chungrim’s semen. Chungrim, looking slowly over Sung-kyung’s naked body, lightly ran his fingers over Sung-kyung’s erect penis. Each touch of his warm skin made Sung-kyung’s cock swell as if it would burst and sent shivers through his body. Sung-kyung grabbed Chungrim’s forearm and bent over.“Go in and wash.”It seemed Chungrim had no intention of joining him, merely pointing to the bathtub with a nod. As Sung-kyung walked slowly toward it, he reached down to his throbbing member. Immediately, a harsh voice echoed from behind.“Who said you could jerk off? Don’t touch.”Unresolved excitement filled his eyes with heat. Tears welled up as Sung-kyung got into the tub. He wanted to touch himself. He wanted to cum thinking of Chungrim, to ease the throbbing and itchiness by thrusting Chungrim’s cock into himself. But Chungrim, leisurely washing his hands at the sink, even put on a robe.“….”Sung-kyung tore his gaze away from Chungrim and turned on the shower. He wetted his body and used the body wash Chungrim had pointed out. While he washed, Chungrim sat on the edge of the tub, watching.“See? Who told you to do something you weren’t told to do?”Chungrim’s voice mixed with the sound of falling water. He had performed an act of kindness that hadn’t been asked for, in front of Chungrim no less.He couldn’t suppress his anger when Sung-kyung strayed from the predetermined path. Unlike before, he couldn’t bring himself to hit Sung-kyung’s pale skin. So his twisted revenge was to choke him tight and watch him tremble.“Do you think I waited to ride with some stranger?”Chungrim’s growling voice sounded especially seductive to Sung-kyung’s ears. His erection pressed against his lower abdomen grew hotter. Soon after Sung-kyung awkwardly bent his waist, he ejaculated without touching himself. As semen splattered around, he quickly turned around.“Ha.”Chungrim’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile. Sung-kyung stood dazed under the shower spray. Chungrim stood up and left the bathroom, saying, “You came, so I guess we don’t have to do it.”“….”Sung-kyung bit his lower lip and stared at the semen pooled at his feet. He continued to watch until all the liquid, mixed with soap suds, was washed away.That night, Chungrim woke up to the sound of sobbing. He quickly checked on Sung-kyung lying next to him. His trembling lips let out small sobs, and tears flowed down his cheeks to his ears.After constantly looking out for approval, he seemed finally distressed or was it another nightmare? As Chungrim reached out to wake him, he heard a small murmur from Sung-kyung’s parted lips.“M-mom.”The voice was so faint it was almost inaudible under his breath, but Chungrim understood. He must be dreaming of his parents. Waking him up now would mean separating him from them even in his dreams.“….”Chungrim turned on his side towards Sung-kyung. He lightly patted Sung-kyung’s chest, which rose and fell with his uneasy breathing. Soon, Sung-kyung’s sobs quieted, and he began to breathe evenly again.Even after a while, Chungrim continued to pat Sung-kyung’s chest and then leaned over slightly. He pressed his lips to Sung-kyung’s wet eyelids, licked away the tears on his eyelashes, the corners of his eyes, and his ears before finally lying down comfortably. But he couldn’t fall asleep until morning.＊＊＊Today was the day to visit the columbarium. Chungrim, somehow knowing about the recent dreams of Sung-kyung’s parents, brought it up first. It was clear he could read all of Sung-kyung’s thoughts. Dressed in the clothes Chungrim had prepared, Sung-kyung sat on the floor by the sofa.While waiting for Chungrim, who had gone into a room to make a phone call, Sung-kyung pulled out a notebook hidden under the sofa. Mero, who had been lying on the cat tower, slowly walked over to Sung-kyung. He petted Mero, who nudged his thigh, and opened to the last page of the notebook. Using a blunt blue crayon, he began to write.He needed to finish before Chungrim ended his call. Chungrim might be watching him even now, but he hoped Chungrim would understand if he said he was writing a letter to his parents.“What are you writing?”“Just… it’s been a while.”He hesitantly handed the folded paper to Chungrim. Chungrim glanced at the paper briefly and then looked away, showing no interest. Sung-kyung swallowed a laugh as he watched.“Well, I guess that’s understandable for you.”Chungrim seemed to consider the year and a half of Sung-kyung’s memory loss in his calculations. Sung-kyung had expected that Chungrim wouldn’t verify it. He had shown the paper to demonstrate blind obedience.“Let’s go.”The neatly folded paper ended up in Sung-kyung’s pocket. It was the only thing that hadn’t been checked by Chungrim. Did he not check it because he trusted what was written on it? As much as Chungrim showed trust in him, he had to reciprocate.“Yes.”He quickly responded and followed closely behind Chungrim.After traveling for about an hour, they finally arrived at a quiet columbarium. The surroundings were filled with trees. It was a tranquility rarely seen at the Red Mansion. His parents must be looking at this kind of scenery these days. On the bare branches, a thin layer of unmelted snow lay lightly.“Follow me.”After going through the verification process, he followed Chungrim. Had Chungrim been here before? There was no hesitation in his steps.“The very end.”“……”Sung-kyung stumbled forward a bit from the push on his back. Wasn’t he coming along? When Sung-kyung glanced back, Chungrim pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and shook it.“I’ll be smoking here.”“……Okay.”There was no promise to meet in a few minutes, no instructions on where to go. Still, he didn’t feel anxious anymore. He knew Chungrim would be waiting for him until he came back out. The sound of Chungrim’s footsteps on the quiet corridor gradually faded away.A vague memory surfaced. He had come here when his mother passed away, but that memory was really hazy. Feeling nervous for no reason, Sung-kyung took a deep breath and stepped forward.Kim Guhyeon, Park Heesook.The names were inscribed side by side along with a small urn and a few flowers left by someone unknown. That was all. Other spaces had photos and letters, but the place where his parents were was modest. But in a way, that was better. They had lived their whole lives in a cramped and chaotic shop. Here, at least, they could rest cleanly.“It would be nice if there were at least a photo…”There was no way there would be one. His parents had lived while being chased from place to place, and when they came to the Red Mansion, they had nothing but a few pennies. They had managed to find a small room and gave birth to and raised him, running a shop among the rough and rowdy Mansion folks.“You’re comfortable now, right? You don’t have to eat that tasteless porridge every day, and it’s neither too hot nor too cold.”He recalled the time when they had to cut painkillers in half because they couldn’t afford them. He remembered his mother scratching her neck saying it felt tight. The expression of suffering in pain was vivid before his eyes. His parents had spent their whole lives in pain and then passed away.Sung-kyung blinked rapidly with dry eyes. The reflection of himself in the clean glass looked somewhat sad. His throat felt rough, and he cleared it unnecessarily.After staring at his parents’ names for a long time, Sung-kyung pulled out the paper he had kept in his pocket. It was a roughly torn piece of notebook paper, too shabby to leave in front of his peacefully resting parents.“I don’t know when I’ll be able to come again, but… rest in peace.”With his weak left hand, Sung-kyung tore the paper into pieces.The Red Mansion is gone now. No more business, no more admission fees. I’m living in a new place. But it’s still the same. Chungrim is watching over me, and I’m trying to live in compliance. I pretend to have forgotten, but I will remember for the rest of my life how you two died. That memory can’t be erased. It came up when I was on medication, and it came up when I cut my wrist. It will live with me forever.Mother, I told you then, didn’t I? That this person seems to think I’m special. You both see it too, right? I’ve never had anything since I was born, but now I do. The only thing I have is Chungrim. So, I won’t part from him while I live.Sung-kyung put the torn pieces of paper into the trash bin and crossed the corridor. His steps began to quicken. The warm winter sunlight began to filter into the dark interior. At the end, he saw a familiar figure. Chungrim, who said he would be smoking, stood at the entrance with his arms crossed.“……”Mother, it seems I’m not the only one. Chungrim seems to have only me too. Sung-kyung smiled silently as he looked at Chungrim waiting for him.That night, his parents did not appear in his dream. Instead, the old shop number 3 of the Red Mansion appeared. It was the fleeting season between summer and winter. Sung-kyung was wiping the lid of the ice cream freezer, which had fewer customers due to the chilly weather. At that moment, a chubby man appeared in the shop. He pushed Sung-kyung aside and reached into the open freezer. Then he unwrapped an ice cream and bit into it without permission.“Excuse me, you need to pay for that. It’s a thousand won.”“Do you take cards?”“No, cash only.”“Ah, damn, what a hassle. I don’t have cash. Put it on my tab.”No place in the Red Mansion accepted cards. Did he think Sung-kyung wouldn’t know he only had a card when he frequently came around for collection? Sung-kyung gripped the damp cloth and approached the man again.“No tabs.”Even if it was someone who lived here, they might get an exception, but this man was clearly an outsider. He could just stop coming with the next collection.When Sung-kyung insisted on the payment, the man threw the half-eaten ice cream at his chest. The melted green ice cream from the man’s saliva trickled down his apron and fell at his feet. When Sung-kyung glared fiercely, the man instead raised his voice in a fit of anger.“What are you staring at? Did I say I wouldn’t pay? I told you to put it on my tab.”“I said no tabs.”“Dammit, who do you think you are?”The man’s large hand swung in a wide arc.“Hey, you punk.”At the end of the corridor, a voice stopped the man’s hand. The eyes that were glaring at Sung-kyung turned towards the voice. In an instant, a look of panic spread across the man’s face.“If you don’t have money, don’t eat. What are you, a beggar?”A man, with his thin coat fluttering, crossed the corridor. It was Chungrim. He was said to be the youngest of the twin brothers. Sung-kyung had heard about him but had never seen him in person. Still, he could recognize Chungrim because of his striking resemblance to the twins and the way he called the man a “punk” without flinching.“Why do Hyung bring these idiots around?” Chungrim, who had sneered, pulled out his wallet from his coat pocket. Although Sung-kyung knew nothing, he could instantly tell how expensive it was. It looked that luxurious and nice.Chungrim took out a few ten-thousand won bills and stuffed them into Sung-kyung’s apron pocket. A bandage was wrapped around his wrist, which was sticking out of his coat. Sung-kyung looked down at his wrist for a while, then snapped back to reality and lifted his head. The ice cream cost a thousand won, but the money in the pocket seemed well over fifty thousand won.“Keep the change, and bring me another flavor.”Chungrim plopped down on the chair where the bulky man had been sitting earlier. Then, with his shiny shoe, he started lightly kicking the man’s calf.“They say the third floor is short on hands, and here you are, eating ice cream. Living the good life, huh?”“Ah, um, I’ll go now.”The man scratched his short hair roughly and smacked his lips. After giving Sung-kyung a glare, he headed for the stairs. It was as Sung-kyung was thinking he wouldn’t sell anything to the man if he came back.“Hey. What are you doing not bringing it?”Chungrim gave Sung-kyung a sidelong glance. His eyes, cold without double eyelids, looked even fiercer when he glared like that.Oh, ice cream. Sung-kyung muttered softly and took a step. He grabbed the first thing he saw. He wasn’t sure if Chungrim would like it, but he had asked for a different flavor from the man. Sung-kyung picked up a strawberry-flavored ice cream. Chungrim tore open the bag and started eating it from the end.“Tastes like crap. No wonder that guy gets pissed.”“…….”Sung-kyung didn’t answer and brought a rag to clean the melting ice cream on the floor. It had smeared stickily on his apron too, so he thought he’d have to wash it. He took off the apron and hung it on the convenience store door handle. As he turned around, Chungrim was standing right behind him. Just before he almost collided with Chungrim, who was holding the half-eaten ice cream in his mouth, Chungrim stepped back.“What?”He smirked while biting into the ice cream. The weather was close to winter, so it must have been very cold. The red ice cream was breaking into small pieces between his lips.“First time meeting, and you’re already hugging. So easy.”As he got closer, a refreshing and nice scent wafted from him. It was a pleasant smell, completely different from the musty, sweaty smell Sung-kyung was used to. Maybe it was because it was a scent he’d never encountered before. Suddenly, his heart started pounding rapidly.“…….”Leaving the flustered Sung-kyung behind, he walked out of the hallway. The sound of his shoes echoed for a long time in the chilly hallway, and the scent of strawberries lingered for a long time.It was from that day. Kim Sung-kyung started waiting for and looking at Kwon Chungrim, and began writing down everything about him. He couldn’t take his eyes off Chungrim, who was wrapped in expensive items he had never owned and acted and spoke like a thug.The feelings Sung-kyung had for Chungrim began with envy and admiration, but soon turned into jealousy and envy, and eventually, all his emotions were taken over by Chungrim. It didn’t take long for Kwon Chungrim to become everything to Kim Sung-kyung.Sung-kyung woke up, trembling slightly. The pounding he felt the day he first saw Kwon Chungrim continued into reality. An familiar ceiling came into view. The scent he had smelled in the dream filled the room.Sung-kyung turned his head. Of course, Kwon Chungrim was sleeping right beside him. He was the one who had taken all of his emotions.With a somewhat overwhelmed expression, Sung-kyung turned his body to the side. As he hugged Chungrim’s waist tightly, even in his sleep, Chungrim accepted him into his arms. He turned his body to gently pat Sung-kyung’s back, and then, after a long time, he lifted his head to check on him.“What are you doing awake?”Since it was early morning, his voice was lower and rougher. Instead of answering, Sung-kyung shook his head and closed his eyes. The hot breath spreading across his face seemed to tell him that Chungrim was watching him. The palm of his hand touched and left his back several more times. Slowly, Sung-kyung lifted his eyelids again.“…….”Looking up at Chungrim’s face, who had fallen asleep without any guard, he smiled. Chungrim, who had taken all his emotions. Now, having Chungrim’s emotions in his own hands made him unbearably happy. Trying to calm his overflowing heart, Sung-kyung wandered around for a long time before falling asleep again.＊＊＊Two springs had passed. Kim Sung-kyung had still not managed to get his license this winter. Yet, the car was still waiting for its owner, asleep in the parking lot. Although he had stopped counseling, he was still taking his medication. Kim Sung-kyung watched Kwon Chungrim every day, and Chungrim found comfort in that gaze. However, whenever the craving arose, Chungrim would open the worn-out notebook marked with Sung-kyung’s touch.It was something Sung-kyung had stubbornly brought from the store before. Sung-kyung didn’t know the notebook existed. Chungrim had hidden it in case Sung-kyung remembered. Although it was an unusually old and worn-out item for Chungrim’s house, he couldn’t throw it away. It was a record of obsessive observation and interest. As he flipped to the back of the notebook, he could see the two of them getting a little closer. It wasn’t really getting closer; it was just his one-sided curiosity acting up.Kwon Chungrim might have thought of me as special. He might have wanted to talk to me, get closer, and become intimate… Just like I had dreamed.Kim Sung-kyung was just one of the hundreds of residents. The convenience store owner whose name wasn’t even necessary to remember. Yet, he called his name, touched his skin, and found comfort in him. The change, something he’d never experienced before, was surprising even to himself.Calling at the exact time. Not talking back. Not asking why. Not touching. Not making noise. Not looking back. Not saying more than three words. And asking for permission to move.He wanted to have those who voluntarily wanted to stay by his side completely in his grasp, to cage them in his fence. That was a common desire and greed anyone could have. But no one remained by his side. It was something he realized too late, that it was his own issue, separate from his twin brothers driving people away with money. The suffocating rules that choked everyone who came close. The only one who stayed by his side following those rules was Kim Sung-kyung.He was pitiful and obedient. Why didn’t I pet him? Was it because his fur wasn’t as soft as Mero’s? No matter how much I washed, there was no fragrance on my body. Only musty smells grew, and bugs started to gather.He couldn’t read the record of the time he was lost in his own hallucinations and spouting nonsense for long. The latter part of the notebook was filled with absurd fantasies rather than stories about Chungrim.Chungrim closed the notebook and checked the pad screen. It showed Sung-kyung, deeply asleep in bed, and the gray furball curled up at his feet. After watching the scene for a long time, Chungrim checked the time.“We should eat and start heading out.”Since the grand opening of the hotel, he had finally taken a breather. There had been many things to report while preparing, and the process of hiring staff was quite hectic. Although a professional manager was attached, there were countless things to handle, giving him headaches. Nonetheless, the reason he could see it through to the end was the thought that he would someday pass this hotel on to Kim Sung-kyung.Since he had been living a rough life selling drugs and whatnot from a young age, and had even turned his back on his Hyungs, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone who had it in for him or his Hyungs, who had gone mad, stabbed him to death any day. Even though he was now pretending to live a normal life, it had only been a few years since things were different.If he suddenly died one day, there needed to be something for Kim Sung-kyung to live on. Of course, Kim Sung-kyung didn’t seem to appreciate or want anything he gave him. Nevertheless, this was why he diligently paid attention to the hotel despite the stress it caused.He checked his phone screen, which had just lit up with a message alert. It mentioned that a drug addict had been causing trouble at the casino frequently. Since he had received similar reports several times before, he decided to go there personally today.“Get up. Aren’t you going to work?”As Chungrim approached, Mero stretched and purred. He stroked the round head a few times before tapping Sung-kyung’s cheek, who showed no sign of movement.“Wake up, Director Kim.”“Yes…”With messy hair and half-open eyes, Sung-kyung looked disheveled. Chungrim couldn’t help but clench his fist slightly at the sight.The weather soon turned warm. In no time, the height of summer and the rainy season would arrive. When that happened, Chungrim and Sung-kyung would shut themselves in their home, not taking a single step outside. Chungrim hated the heat, and Sung-kyung didn’t want to be away from him. They would stay hidden like people in a bomb shelter.The road they were driving on was familiar to Sung-kyung, as it led to Red Mansion. He recalled the time he had run away from home to find Chungrim and wandered around looking for Red Mansion. The path he crossed in his crazed state, asking for directions from someone at the park, and the bus stop where he fell—all these memories resurfaced. They were clearer than ever.“…”Sung-kyung slowly took his eyes off the road and looked at the man in the driver’s seat. Those memories didn’t matter anymore. His Hyung had once told him to forget everything. Even if the memories came back, he was to just forget them, as they weren’t good. He planned to live his life thinking only of the present.The hotel that began to come into view was large, luxurious, and splendid. Just a few years ago, the surroundings were nothing but wasteland, but now there were convenience facilities, and cars frequently passed by. It was hard to believe that this was the same Red Mansion that used to be filled with trash.Though it was the same place, it felt entirely different from where he had lived, which always gave him a strange feeling. Chungrim’s voice broke his reverie.“When we get there, I’ll take care of things quickly, so just stay put.”“Again? Aren’t we going together?”Chungrim, who had parked in his designated spot, unbuckled Sung-kyung’s seatbelt. Sung-kyung then got out of the car, as he was used to, and followed Chungrim to the elevator while receiving greetings from the staff. Chungrim pressed the button for the floor with the security team, not the basement level where the casino was located. On his left wrist was a silver watch.“The director should be in a safe place. Don’t you know that?”Chungrim still liked flashy things. Even now, he wore a shirt as luxurious as the ones he used to wear when frequenting Red Mansion. It suited him perfectly, like someone on television. Sung-kyung looked down and fluttered his own shirt. It didn’t seem to suit him.Chungrim insisted that a director should dress like this, from the watch to the shirt and shoes, even spraying cologne. Sung-kyung, who had only used cheap apricot soap, felt it didn’t suit him. Everything felt awkward, but he endured it because Chungrim liked it.“Why do you have to go if it’s dangerous?”“They’re making a fuss, demanding to see the director. If Kim Sung-kyung goes, he’ll probably get beaten up. It’s better if I go, right?”His chuckling mixed with the soft classical music in the elevator, creating a pleasant atmosphere. When the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened, they walked across the lobby and headed straight to a corner. Chungrim stopped in front of the security office and tapped Sung-kyung’s back.“Where’s your phone?”Instead of searching his own pocket, Sung-kyung reached behind Chungrim. He retrieved his phone from Chungrim’s back pocket. When his hand brushed near his bottom, Chungrim laughed and playfully grimaced.“Don’t grope me.”“I didn’t.”Feeling wronged, Sung-kyung quickly answered, having tried his best to avoid touching Chungrim’s bottom. Chungrim always did this. If he didn’t want to be touched, he shouldn’t put the phone in his back pocket. He purposely put it there and then teased Sung-kyung about groping or having bad hand habits. Sometimes Sung-kyung thought it would be better to just touch him and get scolded.“Don’t touch other people’s butts and stay still. Got it?”“…Yes.”After hearing the answer, Chungrim opened the door without knocking or showing any courtesy.“Ah, you’re here.”The security team was used to Chungrim barging in like this, as it happened frequently.“Who’s in charge today?”The hotel’s security was just as strict as the home’s. Even though the existing security team was substantial, Chungrim hired a private security team as well. This was partly because of the drug deals in the casino and partly because of his twin Hyungs. Although the twins’ release was still far off, it was better to be cautious, as their hot-headed associates could show up anytime. Unlike his Hyungs, who wasted money recklessly, Chungrim was strategic with his investments.Chungrim visited the security office often enough to know that the security team rotated every eight hours and that the team head changed regularly. This was to ensure that he could leave Kim Sung-kyung there while he worked. It was safer than the counseling office they had stopped visiting. If he hid Kim Sung-kyung among the security team, no one could easily take him away.“It’s me.”A large man stood up and raised his hand. He was about the same height as Chungrim but more solidly built. The name tag on his suit pocket identified him. Sung-kyung, who avoided looking at people’s faces, usually identified them by the name tags on their chests.The man named Kim Seung-ho was the security team leader, whom they had encountered a few times in this manner. Although Sung-kyung felt a twinge of familiarity, he didn’t show it.“Show the director some TV.”“Yes, this way.”Hundreds of CCTV screens filled an entire wall. The team leader pulled up a chair in a familiar corner. That was where Sung-kyung would sit until Chungrim returned. Following Chungrim’s instructions, Sung-kyung slowly sat in the chair. Chungrim bent down and whispered softly in his ear.“What did he say?”“Three times—.”As soon as the answer “three times” came out, Chungrim stomped the tip of his shoe hard on the ground. Allowing him to say up to three words, it was annoying how he subtly mixed words with the staff in the restaurant. Of course, he was asking for tissues or water, but that could have been resolved through him. Kim Sung-kyung didn’t do that because he disliked it. Even the allowance of saying just three words was taken away entirely.“Not anymore.”“I thought it was only in the restaurant. I won’t talk.”“I’ll check everything when I get back.”After tapping Sung-kyung’s shoulder a few times as he nodded quietly, Chungrim straightened up. The entrance to the casino seen on the CCTV screen was plenty noisy even without sound.“I’ll be back soon.”“Yes. What floor are you going to?”“The casino.”“Yes. Have a good trip.”Now, all the CCTV screens visible to Sung-kyung would change to show the second basement floor where the casino was located. The work Chungrim usually did at home, Sung-kyung would handle entirely when they came here.The noise grew louder as Chungrim entered the second basement floor. The voice shouting curses was hoarse.“You bastards, you’re going to report to the police? Selling drugs here? Huh? You think you can ignore people just because they have no money?”“Please calm down, sir.”Despite this, the man recklessly pushed his body forward. When the large security guard hardened his face and raised his hand as if to say “don’t come any closer,” the man stepped back. After walking back a few steps, he fell to the ground on his own. The security guards nearby laughed incredulously.“Ah! Damn it, are you hitting people? Huh? Hey, mister. Did you see this? Call the police!”“Sigh.”The man shouted at the passing casino guests as well. Seeing the security guard’s chest rise and fall greatly, it was clear how angry he was.Such guys couldn’t be handled with words. He was just like the punks who dealt drugs at Red Mansion. Seeing him wear long sleeves and long pants in this weather suggested he had significant injuries. He seemed to need the drugs desperately, given how wildly he was acting.“Call the police! Bring out the boss!”This was a man who had been blacklisted for causing a disturbance after several attempts to buy drugs on credit failed. What did he think would change by calling the police when he was a drug addict himself?“Here.”Chungrim raised his hand to catch the man’s attention. The man, sprawled on the ground, glanced at Chungrim.“The boss is busy. Want to talk to me instead?”“Bring out the boss! Or get lost.”The staff and security guards blocking the entrance exchanged troubled looks.“He’s just a figurehead, too busy watching TV to care.”Chungrim smirked and jerked his chin. Immediately, two security guards grabbed the man’s arms and forcibly lifted him. Following Chungrim’s lead, they dragged the guest to a closed emergency exit and threw him there.“Oh, oh, dear.”The man flailed his limbs, and the security guards dusted off their hands. Chungrim bent his knees to lower himself and rolled up the man’s sleeve. His arm was covered in festering wounds, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot.Chungrim clicked his tongue, grabbed the man’s shirt collar, and pulled him close. He whispered something in the man’s ear for a while. The words didn’t reach the security guards standing behind him, but seeing the man’s face stiffen and turn pale suggested they weren’t pleasant.“Got it?”Straightening up, Chungrim fixed the man’s collar and patted his shoulder a few times. Standing up, Chungrim spoke to the security guards.“The guest is leaving. Let him pass.”Kicking the man’s feet lightly, he prompted him to get up. The man hesitated for a moment before quickly walking away past the guards.“Good job.”One security guard, watching Chungrim walk away, spoke up.“Isn’t Director Kwon the real boss?”That’s what they thought. One guard scratched his head.“He is, but you know the person who’s always with him? That person is supposed to be his successor.”“What?”The man tilted his head. He had seen that person coming and going with Chungrim but never taking the lead in management or such trivial matters. Among the staff, there was only gossip that he was Chungrim’s hidden lover.“Promoting a lover to boss? Why? What’s he betting on?”Another staff member looked disgusted at the mention of a lover. Still, having worked at the hotel a few more months, he had heard more rumors. He nudged the man’s shoulder with his elbow.“Want to hear something even juicier? That guy is married.”“What? He’s married, but he’s doing that with a man? Crazy. He looks so innocent. What’s this double life?”The two men’s voices grew quieter as they continued their secret conversation, almost whispering in fear of being overheard.“When you see him, he’s wearing an insanely expensive ring, right? The server at the lounge saw it the other day and was shocked, and Director Kwon smiled and said—”“That’s his wedding ring. Looks insanely expensive, right?”“So, he’s married, and yet he’s running around with a man, and in the end, he even gets a hotel? He looks young, so when did he get married? What about his wife? His family? No, but even with such rumors going around, they’re openly together like that? Are they in their right minds?” The one who had been speaking in short bursts finally covered his mouth in shock.The two men talked about Chungrim and Sung-kyung the entire way back to the casino entrance. The rumors grew more bizarre and mixed with absurd facts.Chungrim knew about these rumors, but he didn’t bother correcting them. If he was seen as a person with no answers, no one would touch Sung-kyung. It was more comfortable that way.It took the two men a long time to leave the hallway. Meanwhile, Sung-kyung was watching all of this unfold on CCTV. Until Chungrim entered the security room and grabbed his left hand, the one with the ring on it.