Episode 14



The dead phone was no different from a mere brick. Even if he wanted to check his contacts, if he turned on the phone again, he felt like he would receive a call from his secretary, and there was no way the location tracking wouldn’t work.



“Should I go to the university?”



Maybe if he walked around there, he could meet familiar faces… If he was lucky, he might even run into Park Han-soo. So Tae-seo, who was about to take a step, hesitated again. His secretary had seen him hanging out with him lately, so he wondered if he shouldn’t call him.



Then he thought about going to another hotel to buy some time to think, but that was also out of the question. If he used his card, it would be no different from sending a signal for him to come find him.



“This is driving me crazy.”



It wasn’t mourning, but he had nowhere to go. Thinking it was a good household, he had let himself be imprisoned. It was his fault for not being independent.



The phone, now useless, felt heavier and heavier as he put it in his coat pocket. And just as he was about to lift his head, thinking of going to a café or something, he felt something poking his index finger. It felt blunt yet sharp enough to prick his fingertip, so Tae-seo’s attention turned entirely to his pocket.



Since he had only been carrying around his phone and wallet, he couldn’t immediately recall what he had put in his pocket. So he absentmindedly squeezed and pulled it out. Although he felt like he could vaguely grasp what it was, with the sensation of it crumpling in his hand… When Tae-seo lowered his gaze and unfolded what he was holding in his hand, his pupils dilated.



***



“So, it worked out well?”



[You call that an excuse? Today’s atmosphere was no joke, you know?]



Barefoot in slippers, Park Han-soo, with an ice cream in his mouth, switched hands while moving the phone to the other side. The phone was heating up, but since the other person didn’t seem to have any intention of hanging up, it was a way to protect his ear.



He had arranged the blind date as a kind gesture, so he was willing to listen to some feedback, but that was only up to a certain extent. He didn’t want to hear about what happened between the two of them for more than 30 minutes.



“So, if the blind date went well and the atmosphere was good, that should be enough, right? Why are you dragging this on for so long?”



[Well…]



As Park Han-soo bit into his ice cream and mumbled, Han Mi-rae hesitated, not as assertive as her usual fiery self.



“We need to schedule our next meeting. Will you answer if I contact you?”



“Huh? Tae-seo could contact you too, you know. And he said the atmosphere was good.”



“That’s true, but we don’t know when he’ll contact us.”



“You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. You had a blind date today.”



But it was ridiculous that she was already pondering how to arrange their next meeting. However, on the other hand, considering how interested she had been in the other person and arranged the blind date, he could somewhat understand her feelings.



“We go to the same school anyway. What’s the problem? If waiting for a call is too difficult and you don’t have the courage to do it yourself, just naturally bump into each other at school.”



“Is that so?”



“You’re worrying over nothing. Do you really like Yoon Tae-seo that much? Just because he has a handsome face doesn’t mean everything else about him is great, right?”



The Yoon Tae-seo I know is handsome, but he’s a difficult person. But even though he has as many flaws as he does strengths, Han Mi-rae didn’t think she could see that right away.



“His face should be enough to spark some initial interest, right?”



“But Yoon Tae-seo’s personality isn’t just something that can end with initial interest, is it?”



“Anyway, I fell for his personality when I met him today.”



“His personality?”



Did he meet someone else today? Park Han-soo lowered his phone, glanced at the name “Han Mi-rae,” and then put the phone back to his ear.



“He listened well, was attentive, and kind. His heart was more beautiful than his face.”



“I’ve got goosebumps now, so let’s stop there. Anyway, whether you want me to make arrangements for you two again or just contact him yourself, it’s not like I’m asking you to do it.”



“Please, buddy.”



“Think about compensating my ears for the sacrifice of listening to that.”



As soon as he heard an okay answer from Han Mi-rae, Park Han-soo ended the call without hesitation.



“You’re really into him, huh?”



Yet, there wasn’t a single call from Yoon Tae-seo. Park Han-soo put his silent phone back into his pocket and took another bite of his ice cream. Anyway, as the matchmaker, he didn’t receive any curses, so he hummed a tune.



“Park Han-soo?”



At that moment, a tall figure blocked Park Han-soo’s path.



“Huh? You look familiar. Who are you?”



“I’m Han Dong-hwa.”



The man handed his business card to Park Han-soo. Taken aback for a moment as he accepted it, Park Han-soo glanced at the card. After scanning the name and phone number, Park Han-soo replied.



“I’m not interested in becoming an entertainer.”



“…I’m Yoon Tae-seo’s secretary.”



“Oh, that’s why you look familiar.”



Even though he initially mistook it for an entertainment casting, Park Han-soo accepted it without any embarrassment. Whether it was a casting or just some religious recruitment, he figured he’d give it a shot, but if not, then whatever.



“Have you received any separate calls from the young master?”



“Tae-seo? I only called him during the blind date this morning.”



Park Han-soo replied with a smirk, and Han Dong-hwa nodded, tapping his phone.



“Then, if you happen to receive a call, could you let me know?”



“Oh, sure.”



It was a simple request. With Park Han-soo’s acknowledgment, Han Dong-hwa seemed to have nothing more to say as he turned away. Park Han-soo heard him saying, “It seems like he hasn’t met his friend,” as he held the phone to his ear.



Watching Han Dong-hwa suddenly appear, say his piece, and vanish like the wind, Park Han-soo just stared at the business card in his hand.



“What, is giving one business card all he’s got?”



He needed to explain what was going on.



***



“I didn’t expect things to turn out like this when I gave you my business card.”



Tae-seo, standing in front of the blunt door, began to make excuses as if it wasn’t his fault. Seeing the fierce security guard, he worried if he could even get inside. When the guard, who noticed his hesitation and reluctance to approach, approached with a guarded look, Tae-seo only showed the business card. But this simple card seemed to serve as a VIP pass, instantly granting him access to Kang Se-heon’s house.



Due to his sudden arrival, Tae-seo, still bewildered, couldn’t bring himself to confidently raise his hand to ring the doorbell prominently displayed next to the door. He remembered what Kang Se-heon had said when he gave him his business card. He chuckled at the silly joke about ringing the bell and running away, but now it had become a reality.



“Well, you won’t run away, will you? …You could change your mind and leave.”



Tae-seo murmured softly, lips pursed. It hadn’t even been half a day since he received the business card, and he kept hesitating because he was worried about what to say when unexpectedly visited without any prior contact. Even justifying that he could change his mind after ringing the bell was because of this.



“But since I’ve come this far…”



Tae-seo clenched his lips tightly and raised his index finger. He was ready to ring the bell at any moment. Right now, Tae-seo had no other option but Kang Se-heon.



He couldn’t turn on his phone, and he didn’t have much cash. He hadn’t been in this world for long, so he didn’t know much, and the only person he could call a friend was Park Han-soo, but he would know where he lived. He had thought about just hanging out at a café, but it didn’t seem like everything would be resolved today.



In that regard, Kang Se-heon was like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle found in a rough place. He wasn’t even connected through his parents, didn’t ask who he was, didn’t know much about him, and crucially, knew his home address, so the destination was clear.



“Everything’s fine, everything’s good, but the problem is whether he’ll accept me. Ugh!”



Suddenly, as the door opened, a startled Tae-seo jerked back, clutching his heart. Kang Se-heon, standing in the doorway, leaned against the door with his arms crossed, looking down at Tae-seo. His gaze seemed to suggest that he knew why he was here.



“Why did you hesitate after ringing the bell? You were going to catch me if I ran away.”



“…Could you please say you were being cautious?”



“So you rushed over here right after I gave you my business card?”



“Well, that’s…”



Fortunately, Kang Se-heon’s way of speaking, which was so intimidating that it blocked the other person’s words, was known. Although he hesitated in front of him, Tae-seo had simulated various ways to talk to him before meeting him. But… whether it was okay.



Tae-seo raised his eyes from the floor and met Kang Se-heon’s gaze.



“I have something to say.”



“Yeah, I figured.”



“I must have left an impression on Se-heon.”



“…”



Kang Se-heon’s face, which had initially seemed to expect Tae-seo to have something to say, stiffened. It was fascinating how his startled emotions were clearly revealed just by gathering his eyebrows, without much movement of his eyes, nose, or mouth. Soon, Kang Se-heon sighed, placing a finger on his forehead.



“You really came here to play around, huh.”



Tae-seo retorted, completely unfazed by Kang Se-heon’s accusation that he hadn’t even rung the bell properly.



“I’m serious. I keep thinking about you, and I can’t stand your arrogance.”



So, what if the scent he perceived from Kang Se-heon was pheromones? He hypothesized that maybe imprinting occurred during their interaction. This idea had just occurred to him since he came here. It seemed plausible enough, and he hoped this would persuade Kang Se-heon.



And it was true that Kang Se-heon kept coming to mind. Well, he didn’t necessarily want to see him or meet him, but just thinking of his name sufficed. He had reached a reasonable conclusion by connecting the dots, so there was no reason to be swayed.



Kang Se-heon’s reaction to Tae-seo’s confident deduction was succinct.



What’s wrong with this guy?