Red Mansion

“Delivery…”What am I going to do about deliveries for the time being? Realistic worries overwhelmed him, but there was no one to blame or to solve this problem. It was all up to Sung-kyung. He consciously tried not to think about the bicycle as he gripped the store key in his hand. The old key reeked of metal just from holding it.He threw open the aluminum door that had been locked tightly all night. Since he hadn’t opened the windows, a faint fishy smell still lingered in the air. Sung-kyung silently lifted the corners of his mouth. Really, it wasn’t a dream.He stood on the threshold and looked around the store. The bench his knees had touched, the roll of toilet paper his hand had brushed, the cap of the hand cream that had been thrown on the floor, and the shriveled tube were all still there. He was recalling last night’s events, reviewing the scene where it all happened.“Hey, you bastard!”As soon as he turned his head, a strong force slapped his cheek. His thin body tumbled instantly, making a loud noise as his back hit the drawer.Before he could even feel the pain, violence poured down on him. Instinctively, Sung-kyung raised his arms to protect his head and curled up his body. A hard stick struck him from unexpected directions. When it hit near his shoulder blade again, it became hard to breathe, and he gasped for air.“Where did you hide it! Damn it, tell me!”The voice was familiar. It was Dari, the drug addict. Through his hands shielding his face, Sung-kyung looked up at the man. He couldn’t understand why he was so angry. Though used to violence, he needed to know why he was being beaten.“What are you talking about?”Crash! Everything on the counter spilled out. Cup noodles rolled on the floor, crushed under Dari’s foot, and boxes of snacks fell from the shelf.“Ugh.”Whatever it was, it hit his head hard. The pain was blinding. Sung-kyung, who had stopped breathing for a moment, groaned as he touched his forehead with his hand. Something warm stained his palm. He thought it was sweat, but it was blood.“Where did you hide the drugs! Tell me before I tear your mouth apart!”Sung-kyung’s bloodshot eyes scanned the cement floor. The safe was wide open, and coins had spilled out in a mess. Anger flared up like dry wood catching fire. His vision flashed. It happened again. He couldn’t control his rage.“What are you talking about, you crazy bastard!”He screamed in anger and kicked Dari’s knee. His sharp voice echoed through the hallway. The drug addict holding the baseball bat staggered. The man, who barely regained his balance by leaning against the wall, cursed as he contorted his face.“Damn, this bastard. Do I have to cut off your fingers to make you talk?”Then he swung the baseball bat through the air, drawing a big arc. Sung-kyung gritted his teeth and charged at him. They tumbled to the floor of the store, entangled. At that moment, multiple footsteps were heard through the open store door.“Get this bastard!”Before the words were even finished, hands reached out from all directions. They grabbed Sung-kyung’s hair and arms, pinning him down.“Let go!”He screamed and struggled, but there was no escaping. Everything felt unjust. He had just delivered the drugs as usual, so what was he accused of stealing? With his mouth forcibly shut, Sung-kyung was dragged away. Through his dizzy vision, he saw the store door that he hadn’t fully closed.After that, he was subjected to such intense violence that he couldn’t even stay conscious. He forgot why he was being beaten. What did they say earlier, that he had stolen something?He surveyed his surroundings with eyes that were now too swollen to open fully. Six or seven men were kicking him. He recognized two of them. The talkative man who had escorted him to his room last night, and Dari. It finally dawned on him. Ah, he was being beaten because of the drugs.“His parents worked themselves to death and got sick, and here he is doing this shit.”Sung-kyung let his body go limp, completely drained of strength. Puddles had formed in spots on the green paint-peeling floor, but the rain no longer poured in. The rain had stopped. Where am I? The hot sunlight wrapped around his dangling ankles.“Did you call the twins?”“Yeah, nothing found at his house or the store, except for some stashed cash.”He felt as if he were in a completely detached space. He tried to listen to the two men’s voices droning on, but he couldn’t make out their words.What about the store? I didn’t lock the door. The people here have sticky fingers, so they must have stolen everything. If I tell Dari to pay for it all, would he even listen?“Hey.”A forceful grip on his hair lifted his head. Sticky blood flowed over his cheek covered in cement dust. Sung-kyung’s unfocused gaze landed on the mold growing on the concrete wall. His whole body felt itchy, but he was too weak to scratch.“Where did you hide it? You’d better answer before the twins get here.”“……”“The drugs! Where did you hide them, did you do it?”Dari leaned in and inhaled near Sung-kyung’s neck. Smelling only blood, he forced his eyes open to meet Dari’s gaze. He let Dari do as he pleased and struggled to speak.“I delivered… properly…”“Properly? The person who was supposed to receive them didn’t get them, properly?”The rough shaking of his head made his skull throb. The third flower bed to the right of the elementary school gate. The man in blue sneakers. He remembered the man had shown his finger. He hadn’t made any mistakes.“Pay… for the delivery… damn it!”It was clear they were doing this because they didn’t want to pay. He had even helped with the packaging, enduring the smell of chili oil. And now they were stabbing him in the back. Sung-kyung glared at Dari with eyes full of anger. His dark eyes glinted beneath his swollen eyelids.“How dare you glare at me—”“Good morning.”At that moment, the rooftop door opened noisily, and a light greeting that didn’t match the atmosphere was heard. Dari stood up, seemingly puzzled, as if expecting the twins.Unlike Dari, Sung-kyung didn’t bother to turn his face to see who it was. He knew just from the voice. The cool scent carried by the sticky breeze also announced his presence. If it wasn’t a hallucination, it had to be Chungrim.“Feeling energetic this morning. You’ve messed up his face pretty badly, huh?”“Oh, this bastard’s the one who did the delivery, but he won’t open his mouth. The client’s raising hell, and this fucking bastard keeps insisting he didn’t stash anything away… So, we’re trying to find out where it is.”Dari explained, cursing as he went.Sung-kyung felt wronged. Stash something away? Me? I know what happens if you do that. Chungrim, who was with him when he delivered the drugs and could prove his innocence, had shown up. Yet, Sung-kyung kept his mouth shut.“You cleaned up the trash that well. Are there still idiots left with guts?”Chungrim spoke in a tone of feigned disdain, with a slight smile. He had witnessed the person taking the drugs at the delivery point and now pretended not to know. It almost seemed like Chungrim was putting on a play.However, Sung-kyung didn’t mind. He felt a strange desire to play along as if they were starting a secret act. Chungrim knelt in front of the sprawled Sung-kyung. The pleasant scent made his lips twitch into a smile.“Let’s see, whose guts are so big. Show me your face.”Even though he clearly knew it was Sung-kyung, he deliberately said so. Chungrim grabbed a handful of Sung-kyung’s hair and lifted his face.“Oh, he’s smiling?”A large hand lightly tapped Sung-kyung’s cheek. The brief touch of warmth made his eyes burn with emotion.“What’s so funny that makes you smile like that?”Yesterday, he was so reluctant to be touched. The touch on his cheek wasn’t rough, but rather leisurely. Sung-kyung willingly played along with Chungrim’s rhythm, feeling as if they were sharing a secret.“I’ll, take it.”His voice was muffled as his lips barely moved. Chungrim leaned in closer, tilting his head.“What? I can’t hear you. Speak up.”Sung-kyung’s bloodied lips slowly curved into a smile. Blood spread as his tightly closed teeth gradually parted. A faint whisper escaped between his crimson lips.“If you throw up, I’ll take it.”If you throw up, I’ll take it, so your clothes won’t get dirty.It was the same conversation they had yesterday. Something only the two of them could know if they had been in the suffocating store last night. Chungrim bent his head low, his broad shoulders shaking slightly, as if laughing.“Everyone out.”The people who had been watching from behind were puzzled. Chungrim’s glance turned cold in an instant.“Get out. Unless you want to get searched instead of him.”His previously raised lips hardened, and his voice sank. Chungrim was different from the twins. The twins would at least show predictable anger and address the residents with a semblance of respect.But Chungrim did none of that. He issued commands without hesitation, even to those clearly older than himself. And he was more emotional. He often changed his expression swiftly, as he did now.To avoid trouble, they had no choice but to leave. The men glanced back at Chungrim repeatedly as they hurried off the rooftop.Click. The door closed, leaving just the two of them. Chungrim carefully examined Sung-kyung’s battered face. The wounds, blood, and dust were plastered on his face, and strangely, it suited him.“You’re really stupid.”“…”“If you had just said you were with me, you wouldn’t have gotten beaten up like this.”“I, I didn’t want to say it.”If he had just mentioned his name and that they were together, he wouldn’t have been beaten so senselessly, and his life here might have been a bit easier. So why didn’t he say it? Chungrim rubbed his chin thoughtfully, meeting Sung-kyung’s bloodshot eyes.“Why?”“There’d be rumors… and I’d have to explain everything.”Sung-kyung looked somewhat embarrassed. His already wounded cheeks flushed even more.“Why we were together, what we were doing… things like that.”His voice wavered as if recalling the previous night. Chungrim narrowed his eyes, staring at the intermittently trembling lips. The rooftop, devoid of any breeze, felt oppressively hot.“They’d imagine things, about you. I didn’t want that…”It was unbelievable. He acted like a lover enjoying a secret tryst. They had just shared a ride and ended up having sex. What’s the big deal?Chungrim was well past the age of feeling embarrassed or hiding such things. Sung-kyung’s answer felt unexpectedly fresh. He seemed tough but was holding back for this kind of reason. He kept his mouth shut over such a trivial matter?“You didn’t want those bastards imagining dirty things about me?”Sung-kyung nodded after a brief hesitation. He didn’t care what others thought of him, but he couldn’t bear the thought of them having sordid fantasies about Chungrim. He hated the idea of Chungrim being talked about, and it felt enough that he alone at the Red Mansion harbored such twisted fantasies.“You’re fucking imagining being with me, wetting yourself?”Chungrim tapped Sung-kyung’s forehead with his finger. It was a very light touch, yet Sung-kyung’s head tilted back helplessly before returning to its place.“…It still hurts down there. It’s torn.”“Haha.”Laughter finally broke out. It was like saying don’t forget we shared that act, as if reminding him they had been together. The small voice silenced Chungrim’s laughter. He was speechless for a moment, unable to say anything.“Crazy bastard.”The funny thing was, this crazy bastard seemed quite endearing.“Get up.”There was no gentle touch to soothe his wounds. Maybe he was too embarrassed to do something so sentimental since he had never done it before. Sung-kyung watched Chungrim take his phone out of his back pocket without blinking. He even listened to the call while trying to stand up on his own, his body feeling as heavy as lead.“Yeah. No need to come.”Chungrim fumbled in his pocket, seemingly searching for something but not finding it. He clicked his tongue and frowned slightly before standing up.“That thing?”He walked ahead, his hand still in his pocket. Sung-kyung, supporting himself with trembling hands, struggled to follow. He couldn’t afford to lose him since Chungrim wouldn’t wait.“It’s mine.”Chungrim glanced back, tilting his head slightly. Still wearing a faint smile, Sung-kyung mimicked his expression. Chungrim’s dark eyes briefly glanced at Sung-kyung’s split lip before looking away.“You used to do whatever you wanted.”The rooftop door burst open. The men who had been beating Sung-kyung earlier stepped back in surprise, scattering like cockroaches when a storage room is opened.“What the hell is this?”Listening in like rats? Chungrim muttered curses, causing the men to sheepishly retreat. He continued his phone conversation as he walked through the path they cleared.“Just. Guess he’s interested now.”Sung-kyung exhaled, his breath smelling of blood, and began to move. His ankle hurt, making him limp similarly to Dari, a resemblance he found distasteful. As he focused on his steps, Chungrim started descending the stairs. He quickened his pace, feeling anxious.“Anyway. Stop worrying about it.”With a dismissive remark, Chungrim ended the call. His actions were filled with irritation as he slipped his phone back into his rear pocket. After descending a few steps, he turned around.“Hurry up.”“…”At those words, Sung-kyung quickened his steps, and Dari wore a strange expression.Things are going weird. Why is Chungrim taking him to the store? His face showed confusion. Chungrim, sensing Dari’s gaze, casually brushed his hair and beckoned towards him.“Oh, right. Deliver the drugs again. I’ll send extra.”“…Okay.”Dari responded with a reluctant expression. Everything seemed strange. Even Sung-kyung, with his battered face, was smiling. Despite limping, he seemed to enjoy following Chungrim. They descended the stairs separately but together.“…What? Did he confess where he hid it?”“Then why is he sending more drugs?”A small commotion broke out among the clueless onlookers. Having only delivered drugs while living at Red Mansion, they struggled to comprehend the situation. Dari watched the two shadows descending the stairs for a long time.It took a while to reach the store from the rooftop. Sung-kyung’s back was drenched in sweat. He wanted to stop by home and shower, but he worried that the store might have been ransacked. His worry turned out to be valid.“Look at this mess.”Through the wide-open store door, they saw the disarray inside. Chungrim, who had entered first, kicked an overturned cup of ramen. The container, emptied of its contents, rolled away.“Your store’s ruined. What now?”There was no sympathy in his mocking voice. Leaning against the counter, Chungrim surveyed the chaos. Food and valuables had been taken, leaving only an empty safe and open drawers behind the counter.“…”It wasn’t as infuriating as expected, perhaps because it was anticipated. With a ruined life already, further ruin didn’t seem significant. He felt almost resigned.“You have debts to pay and an entrance fee due. What will you sell to pay it off?”Chungrim tilted his head, arms crossed.It was a form of coercion but didn’t feel oppressive. Sung-kyung exhaled deeply, repeatedly glancing at the lowest open drawer beside Chungrim’s shoe. He had kept his tips from Chungrim there. Though most of it had been used to pay off debts recently, a few tens of thousands of won should have been left.He wiped the sweat from his chin and lowered himself before the drawer, limping. There was nothing left. He was quite angry to find the money Chungrim had touched had been stolen. Sung-kyung gritted his teeth quietly.“Should I find a place to sell your organs?”Weakly, he started organizing the scattered documents. He gathered the messy ledgers and labels and carefully closed the notebook detailing Chungrim’s actions, dusting it off. It was the most valuable thing left, so he laid it at the bottom of the drawer.“They’re good at it, won’t hurt much.”“…”“You can live without one.”Holding a pile of useless papers, Sung-kyung stood up. Passersby peeked into the store, not out of concern but to see if there were any leftovers. Those peeking out of greed quickly turned away upon seeing Chungrim inside.“I’ll pay back.”“Do you think you’re the first to say that? They run away or die.”He scattered the carefully stacked papers. The counter was once again a mess. Without guilt or malice, Sung-kyung found Chungrim’s demeanor enviable.“I’m not like that.”I won’t run. I won’t die. If I were going to run, I would have done it when I was younger. If I wanted to die, I would have done it long ago. When my parents fell ill, I took over the store and endured until now. Why would I run?“I’ll find the money.”＊＊＊Sung-kyung carefully restacked the papers that Chungrim had scattered. His expression remained unbothered. Watching him, Chungrim felt a sudden surge of sadism.“How about you sell yourself?”Sung-kyung’s scarred hands hesitated for a moment. Was he wavering? Chungrim’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light as he watched with expectant curiosity. What would Sung-kyung do now?“To you…”Blood welled up in Sung-kyung’s mouth, cutting off his words as he swallowed hard. Chungrim, unable to wait even for a moment, hurriedly asked again.“What?”“Is it okay if I sell myself to you?”This kid was truly out of his mind. Chungrim bent over laughing. This conversation was getting more absurd by the minute, making Chungrim wonder if Sung-kyung had lost his mind from being beaten so much.“Would you really want to buy someone as shabby as you?”He reached out and roughly pushed Sung-kyung’s disheveled bangs aside. Sung-kyung’s eyes remained fixed on Chungrim’s fingers, his expression unmoved. The lifeless stroke revealed a forehead stained with dried blood.Chungrim slowly looked over Sung-kyung’s pale, scarred face. Living in the Red Mansion had left his skin as white as snow, with a dark brown mole beneath his left eye. His black pupils followed Chungrim’s fingertips intently.So this is the guy who’s been spying on me? With this very expression? Chungrim felt his blood boil beneath his tongue.“Hey.”At the low call, Sung-kyung shifted his eyes to meet Chungrim’s without saying a word. Normally, Chungrim would have slapped him for daring to look him in the eye like that, but strangely enough, he didn’t feel any anger or irritation. Chungrim pulled his phone from his back pocket and held it out.“Put your number in.”Sung-kyung hesitated for once. Number, number. He muttered softly before finally speaking.“Is the store’s number okay?”“Will that work?”Chungrim tapped Sung-kyung’s shoulder with the phone’s corner. Sung-kyung, stumbling slightly, mumbled his response.“Uh, then I don’t have one…”Annoying and clueless, disgusting and pitiful. Sung-kyung was the type of person Chungrim usually couldn’t stand. Yet, he found himself oddly fascinated by him.Was it because he had enjoyed what happened last night so much? Did he find some kind of twisted pleasure in forcing himself on this guy? Otherwise, why did he feel no disgust?“Why don’t you have one?”If not, maybe Chungrim was simply being lenient with him.“I got rid of it recently. The fees were too much, and the cost of keeping it under my name…”Considering the situation, Chungrim thought it was a wonder any of the Red Mansion residents had proper identification. Most would be lucky to have their names properly recorded anywhere. Chungrim shook his head slightly.“Forget it.”Putting away his phone, Chungrim stood up, ready to leave. Sung-kyung quickly reached out to stop him.“Wait.”“…”“What about the drugs? You saw who took them yesterday.”They had indeed seen the man together from Chungrim’s car. A man in blue sneakers, drenched in rain without any umbrella, had been digging in the flowerbed. His face was blurry, but Sung-kyung remembered him.“That guy? Just…”Chungrim dragged out his words. His eyes traced each of Sung-kyung’s wounds, marking his face and arms.He knew exactly who had taken the drugs because he had orchestrated it. Yesterday’s mishap was a trap set by Chungrim to cause disruption, reduce deliveries, and incite chaos in the Red Mansion. It was the first of many such moves. Running into Sung-kyung had been pure coincidence.Seeing Sung-kyung’s battered body made Chungrim briefly regret his actions. Maybe he should have let it slide. He scratched his forehead with his index finger.“Forget about it.”He pulled a wad of cash from his wallet. Sung-kyung stood staring at the thick wallet filled with bills.Even though Chungrim seemed around his age, he always carried lots of cash and wore expensive clothes, living in a completely different world. With his wounds throbbing, Sung-kyung gritted his teeth.“For delivery fees and the bike. I always pay my dues, right?”Chungrim’s laugh was mocking. Despite having pulled out so much cash, his wallet was still full of checks and cards.“…”Sung-kyung couldn’t even respond, feeling like he had inhaled mold. His mouth tasted bitter.“I’m leaving.”Sung-kyung watched Chungrim’s silhouette until it was out of sight. Despite Chungrim’s violent reputation, he hadn’t laid a finger on Sung-kyung this time. Although he hadn’t cleared Sung-kyung of the theft, he hadn’t hit him or demanded accountability.Sung-kyung regretted canceling his phone plan a few months back. It had been a chance to get Chungrim’s number. Clutching the cash Chungrim had left, Sung-kyung could still sense his presence. He stood there until he could no longer hear Chungrim’s footsteps.By the time sweat was running down his back, Sung-kyung finally moved. He cleaned up the ransacked store, collected the money, and organized everything. Strangely, his mind felt blank. Instead of worrying about tomorrow’s business or where to get the goods, his thoughts were empty.Though the store and Sung-kyung were both in shambles, he couldn’t afford to close up. Thanks to the locked freezer, the ice cream and drinks were still sellable. After quickly wiping off the blood with a damp cloth, Sung-kyung sat behind the counter until 10 PM.Some might call Sung-kyung ruthless, but to him, it was simply a necessity. Earning a living was more important than the pain.Before turning away, he obsessively checked the locked store door several times. Not feeling reassured, he locked and unlocked the door two or three times before sweating his way up to the fourth floor. He then stood for a long time with his ear pressed against the front door, a habit ingrained in him.Room 422 was a mess when he finally entered after some time had passed. It seemed untouched since Dari’s gang had come by and ransacked it earlier. Naturally, his bedridden parents couldn’t clean it. Maybe he should have tidied up earlier. No, it was more profitable to sell even one bottle of water at that time. Sung-kyung shook his stiff head.Luckily, it seemed his parents weren’t hurt. Perhaps they were spared because they were patients or known acquaintances. Sung-kyung scoffed.Even as midnight approached, Sung-kyung remained busy. He roughly tidied up while sweating profusely and then opened the small fridge. When he checked the vegetable compartment, he found that the 200,000 won wrapped in newspaper was gone. He cursed aloud.“Those bastards.”Not only did they not pay the delivery fee, but they also stole his money. Sung-kyung took out a large container of kimchi. There was little solid food left, just broth and seasoning. When he poured it into the sink, a plastic bag that had been hidden inside was revealed. He washed the bag, opened it, and confirmed the wad of bills wrapped in plastic wrap. Fortunately, this stash had not been stolen. Though it was not enough to restock the store or pay the rent, it was his only remaining emergency fund. He hid the money back in the vegetable compartment and cleaned the sink.While others were winding down their day in comfort, Sung-kyung couldn’t rest. Not even for a moment after entering the house.After washing his parents, Sung-kyung was drenched in sweat. Even after washing off the sweat, he had to keep moving. He cleaned up the spilled porridge and did the dishes. Then he opened a pill bottle and took out two half-pills.“Dad, try to sit up for a moment.”He supported his father’s back and gently lifted his upper body. Sung-kyung’s father slowly blinked his eyes open and moved his lips.“Sung-kyung, earlier, Dari’s… came…”“I know. You need to take your medicine.”“Okay.”When awake, he could somewhat hold a conversation, but perhaps because of the medication or drowsiness, he couldn’t get out a coherent sentence today. Every time he saw his parents growing thinner and older, Sung-kyung’s head throbbed and his heart pounded.“Why didn’t you eat? You keep wasting food.”“…”He slipped the pill into his father’s dry lips. Maybe because of the bitter taste, his father pushed the pill out with his tongue. The saliva-coated pill stuck to his lips before falling to the floor.“You need to eat the medicine. It’s what keeps you alive. I bought it at a high price. You need to take it to get better.”You need to get better so you can work at the store again. All three of us need to earn money to breathe a little easier. Do you know how hard it is to live like this, struggling alone? Your illness has made our expenses skyrocket. Do you realize that?Sung-kyung muttered quietly, his eyes hollow. It was a faint sound, barely loud enough for his father to hear, and his voice trembled a bit at the end.When he put the now-damp pill back in his father’s mouth, his father spat it out again. After repeating this a couple of times, Sung-kyung’s frustration boiled over. A hot rage enveloped his chest like a sudden fire. The frequency of his anger outbursts had become alarmingly high recently.“Why won’t you take your medicine?”Sung-kyung’s fierce shout pierced the darkness. He shoved the pill into his father’s lips and poured water into his mouth. His father’s throat reluctantly moved.“Swallow it quickly. You need it to live!”His suppressed voice trembled. His bloodshot eyes looked reddish. He no longer cried.“Ugh.”Caught off guard, his father swallowed the pill. He didn’t get angry or frown. He acted like a mannequin without emotions. His chest was wet with water, but he didn’t complain.“Don’t open the door for anyone. You’re too weak to do anything, so why open it?”“…”He didn’t even try to protect us, just let them in. Why did you open the door when you can barely move? Now we’ve lost money and everything. Sung-kyung had to swallow these accusations like bitter medicine.Sharp pain stabbed at his nape. Sung-kyung endured the familiar pain and moved his hands. He patted his father’s dry chest and back. The doctors said even drinking water could cause indigestion because his digestive system had weakened. Despite patting him for a long time, his father just closed his trembling eyes and didn’t say a word.“…”Although he regretted his impulsive actions, he didn’t feel remorse. Looking at his father’s wet front, he felt like cursing. When he gritted his teeth, the inside of his swollen cheek throbbed with pain.Sung-kyung wiped up the spilled water with a towel and showed no emotion. He put out the flames of his anger alone. Exhausted, he woke his mother and also gave her the medicine.“Your face. What happened to your face?”His mother finally asked. Her vision was supposed to deteriorate over time, yet it took this much bruising for her to notice.“…I’m sorry.”Sung-kyung touched his swollen cheek and lowered his head. His mind was filled with sharp, unspoken words.I’m sorry. I got angry over nothing. I’m sorry. I didn’t listen to you when you said to keep the door locked. The store was ransacked. The hidden money was stolen. We didn’t get paid for the delivery. What are we going to do now?All the worries that he had suppressed at the store came flooding out when he was back in room 422. But Sung-kyung didn’t say a word. The worries were his alone. Talking about them wouldn’t change a thing. It would only be exhausting.He lay down sideways in front of the bathroom door. Finally, Sung-kyung’s tiring day came to an end.＊＊＊There were few people around when he opened the store. It was early morning, and not many people in the Red Mansion were that diligent. But today was different. The sound of a cart echoed in the hallway.“Ah, now you come? Oh dear, what happened to your face again? Didn’t you apply the ointment?”Despite the worried words, Sung-kyung’s gaze remained fixed on the piled-up boxes.