Chapter 141

Who do you think you are?

He felt pointlessly contrary, but he could not say it out loud, so Gyeol only muttered softly.

“...Should I cry where you are, then?”

After saying it, he realized this was just as contrary. Thinking this was not the right timing to act like this toward Yo Han, he lifted his gaze to correct himself, but Yo Han, who was looking closely into Gyeol’s face from inches away, was smiling.

“That would be nice.”

“.......”

Without answering, Gyeol placed his hand on Yo Han’s wrist. Reading the meaning of the action, Yo Han lowered his hand smoothly without resistance.

I wish you wouldn’t look at me with eyes so full of acceptance.

The words he could not say in front of the cameras only kept increasing.

Then, suddenly, curiosity rose in him.

“...Why?”

“Mm?”

“Why would I cry in front of you?”

At the unfiltered question, Yo Han looked briefly surprised. But without giving Gyeol even a moment to regret his question, he quickly smiled as if crumbling.

It was not even funny. Yet he kept laughing this way, as if every single thing Gyeol said and did was amusing to him.

“At least I can wipe your tears.”

“.......”

Tears were something tissues or a sleeve were more than enough for.

“I can hold you in my arms, too.”

“.......”

He could just hug a pillow.

“Next... should I say more? In front of the cameras?”

At the added question, his lips tugging upward, Gyeol’s face flushed hot all at once. In truth, Yo Han had not expressed anything explicitly at all, yet Gyeol had read the nuance before he knew it. Gyeol hit his chest with a solid thud.

“Ow... An Omega keeps beating up an Alpha.”

Even as he said that, Yo Han straightened up as Gyeol wanted, putting distance between them, and let out a laugh.

“That’s because you....”

“I what?”

“.......”

With his face heated, Gyeol glared at Yo Han.

“Scary.”

“You’re not scared at all.”

“I really, truly am scared.”

“I can see you’re enjoying this. You like it when I act like this.”

“You’re turning me into someone with perverted tastes in an instant.”

Yo Han touched his own chin and let out an impressed sound.

Gyeol felt as if his face were growing even hotter.

If there weren’t cameras, I wouldn’t let you get away with this. You know that? I’m holding back for the sake of managing my image.

When Gyeol, red all the way to the crown of his head, clenched both fists and stared at him, Yo Han burst out laughing.

“All right, I’m sorry. I won’t tease you.”

It was a bright laugh, almost like a boy’s. His eyes, half-folded, and his evenly revealed teeth looked unbearably refreshing.

That laugh is cheating. Why are you laughing like that? It’s making my spite disappear on its own.

“You’re too late....”

Gyeol clenched his teeth with a click and deliberately muttered ominously. Yo Han bent his knees altogether and brought himself to eye level with Gyeol.

“Really? I’m late?”

“...Yes.”

“What should I do to not be late?”

“What can you do when the bus has already left?”

“I’m good at running. I’ll chase the bus.”

“Excuse me?”

Throughout the entire conversation, his face was so richly full of smiles that it felt extremely unfamiliar. It was an expression that seemed to have stripped away one more layer of something.

So I told you not to smile like that.

Gyeol narrowed his eyes, then suddenly realized that their surroundings were strangely quiet.

Tommy and Hee Jun Kang, who had been noisy among themselves, were now holding their breath and watching them.

The moment their eyes met Gyeol’s, Tommy made an oops sound and coughed for no reason.

“H-Hee Jun. So what were we talking about?”

“It’s already too late, giant potato.”

“Ah, cooperate with me!”

Tommy made a whining sound.

Oh? Gyeol spread his index and middle fingers, pointing from his own eyes to Tommy’s eyes in turn. At that, Tommy looked like he was about to cry as he clung to Hee Jun Kang’s arm and pestered him.

“Hurry and say something, Hee Jun.”

“I’ve never seen actor Yo Han Sung smile like that before.”

Hee Jun Kang threw an unexpected fastball.

Tommy grabbed his own mouth and gasped loudly. He had asked for help! He had asked for help!

Without wiping the laughter from his face, Yo Han answered gently.

“How was I smiling?”

“Mm.... Like you had the whole world.”

As if quoting something, Hee Jun Kang playfully folded his thumb. Then he folded his index finger and continued.

“Honey dripping from your eyes.”

“Aha.”

“...Hee Jun?”

Yo Han reacted as if amused and tilted his head, while Gyeol, who felt betrayed by Hee Jun next after Tommy, called his name without meaning to.

Grinning, Hee Jun Kang stubbornly added the final line.

“I was even thinking of getting engaged to you—mmph.”

“Stop!”

Tommy covered Hee Jun Kang’s mouth from behind. Hee Jun Kang, who had been reciting song titles, made an exaggerated motion as if telling him to let go.

Yo Han let out a low laugh without denying it, and Gyeol grew confused as he looked at him.

Is he taking it seriously? Is he pretending because of the business gay performance?

Even after receiving a confession, Gyeol still had no sense of reality at all. Of course he didn’t. The other person was none other than Yo Han Sung.

Perhaps the defense mechanism inside Gyeol still found it difficult to accept Yo Han’s words exactly as they were.

The man was far too extreme. It was not just sweet and salty alternating. It was more like being dunked into a hot bath and a cold bath every five minutes.

“Giant potato. Now you’re covering my mouth too, hm?”

“You were saying things you shouldn’t say...!”

“If you keep doing this, I won’t order French toast at Ivory Mansion.”

“That’s cheap!”

Watching Tommy and Hee Jun Kang bicker, Gyeol could not help but laugh too. The funny atmosphere seemed to brighten his heart a little along with it.

“Gyeol, save me...!”

“Let’s each handle our own problems.”

“That’s so mean.”

Yo Han’s gaze lingered for a long time over Gyeol’s face as he smiled softly.

***

And so, it was their third entry into Ivory Mansion.

This time, Gyeol and Yo Han used the main building again.

“...I’m coming back here with the same person again.”

“Would you have preferred coming with someone else?”

Yo Han threw him a mischievous question.

“I know you’re only asking because you want to hear me say no.”

When Gyeol cut him off without leaving any room, Yo Han gave a small laugh and headed to the bedroom, saying he would put his luggage down.

Watching his back disappear down the hallway, Gyeol let out a light breath.

For Yo Han, this is his third visit to the main building.

Considering that, Gyeol had thought they might be assigned to the annex this time, but unexpectedly, Yo Han had wanted the main building. That seemed to have matched Producer Yoo’s hopes as well.

From Producer Yoo’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse Yo Han’s request. If the two people who had gone on the first date visited the same place again, she could get an interesting picture out of it.

He could already see the YouTube videos or online forum posts stitched together to compare then and now.

Producer Yoo aside, why would Yo Han want this?

Surely it was not for some romantic reason like retracing memories. Maybe it was simply more comfortable for him to visit the same place.

Turning the thought over, Gyeol looked around the room with a very different feeling from before.

When he had first come here, he had been too out of it to really take anything in, but now that he looked, there was nothing in any corner that was not harmonious and beautiful. For example, the way the interior added a modern sensibility to a European style, completing a living room that was classic yet open and refreshing; the furniture, perfect in craftsmanship and color; even the decorations on the curtains adorned with fresh flowers suited to the season.

There was a reason the contestants and viewers admired Ivory Mansion so much. Moreover, this space was not open to outsiders.

Gyeol slowly crossed the living room, brushed the texture of the sofa leather with his fingertips, then approached the window and looked out at the swimming pool. As he did, he felt as if he had become someone from the hotel review videos he often watched.

...Can an Ivory Mansion date count as a hotel vacation?

A vague fantasy he had held began to quietly raise its head.

When the hotel-vacation boom first began in South Korea, Gyeol was still a trainee. Naturally, he had not been in a position to even dream of such a thing.

He had vaguely dreamed that once he debuted later, he too might be able to visit nice places like other celebrities, but after he debuted, he was busy; later, he failed; after that, he had no money; and finally, Yuli was born.

There was no way he could go on something like a hotel vacation when he was busy paying off his older brother’s debt on his behalf and raising a baby. Even when he had a little lump sum, he was busy saving it for Yuli’s future.

Yuli would probably like a place like this too.

Even if he could not give Yuli an expensive experience like a hotel vacation, in summer he had taken him to children’s water playgrounds set up at parks, or gotten a ride in Kisoo Yang’s car and visited valleys near Seoul. Mostly places that cost less money.

At those times, Yuli would get excited, wear a tube, and paddle around like a water beetle.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

A voice came from behind him. Yo Han had returned after going to put his luggage in the bedroom.

“You didn’t even notice I was coming.”

Gyeol took his eyes off the swimming pool and looked back at him.

“Ah, sorry. I was thinking this place is really nice. Coming back, I’m noticing more than before. It feels almost like a waste to come alone.”

Yo Han’s gaze went over Gyeol’s shoulder toward the swimming pool. Looking at Gyeol again, he answered casually.

“Should we all come together next time?”

“What?”

Gyeol’s eyes widened at the sudden remark.

“Later, let’s take everyone you want to bring and go somewhere with a swimming pool.”