Chapter 163

It was Jaekyung Park. Apparently furious and badly agitated, he urgently seized Gyeol’s arm and said,

“I need to tell you something. Please give me some time.”

He did not seem angry at Gyeol, but even at a glance, his state was far from normal.

Feeling the desperate strength in his grip, Gyeol answered calmly.

“Of course. I can give you as much time as you need, but....”

Gyeol’s gaze naturally shifted past his shoulder.

Toward Hanseul Ga, the person Jaekyung had been arguing with just moments earlier.

Hanseul raised his voice with a sneer.

“So now you’re going to back out and pretend you’re the only noble, innocent one?”

Jaekyung’s face twisted as he clenched his molars hard. Unlike Hanseul, who was openly lashing out, Jaekyung seemed to be suppressing his anger because he was trying to watch what he said.

No explanation was necessary. The combination of the two people involved and the atmosphere between them was enough to grasp the situation roughly.

It was not surprising.

It felt as though something that had been bound to explode had finally gone off.

A brief argument continued.

It was just as Gyeol had expected. Gyujin had left for an Ivory Mansion date after choosing Isu instead of Hanseul or Jaekyung, whom he had been sounding out all this time. On top of that, Hee Jun, who had served as a brake between the two, was absent as well. That seemed to be what had caused the trouble.

At the sound of the commotion, the door to the Alpha lodging opened, and Yo Han and Sun appeared. They too seemed to understand the situation quickly. Rather than stepping in rashly, they watched what was happening. Judging by the low conversation brushing past Gyeol’s ears, they apparently intended to intervene if things grew worse.

“Go have a nice talk with him. And don’t forget to tell him that you badmouthed Gyeol too.”

“Hanseul!”

Jaekyung’s face flushed red and blue at Hanseul’s mockery. He hurriedly checked Gyeol’s expression.

From Gyeol’s perspective, it was not especially surprising. He could not know the details, but based on Hanseul’s behavior until now, he had already guessed that people had been talking behind his back. Jaekyung had shown a subtle attitude at times too.

In the end, what was bound to happen had happened.

Of course, it was not pleasant. Who could hear that people had been speaking badly about them and remain perfectly calm?

Even so, judging rationally, the best approach to something like this was to pretend not to know and let it pass. Arguing over provocation, blame, and who was right or wrong was something better suited to the hot-blooded days of youth.

Now, his choices no longer ended with him alone.

Because he had something to protect.

Ever since Yuli was born, Gyeol seemed to have handled most things that way.

He tried to avoid unnecessary friction and not take major risks. He hid cowardice beneath the wrapping of flexibility, the kind of conduct the world praised as mature.

But now that he had been forced into a direct confrontation, Gyeol’s final destination was ultimately his true nature.

“Gyeol, that isn’t it... Let’s go somewhere else first. Somewhere Hanseul isn’t, and talk calmly....”

“What are you going to say when you get there? That you’re innocent? That Hanseul made you insult Gyeol?”

Even then, Hanseul’s provocations showed no sign of stopping. Jun, unable to watch any longer, stepped in front of him.

“Calm down, Hanseul. We’re filming.”

“So what? It’s not like I’m making anything up. Honestly, the production staff are probably thrilled right now too. They’re going to get plenty of footage out of this.”

Hanseul snorted and spoke sarcastically. He seemed to have completely lost his reason.

Now, after everything else, he had begun provoking the production staff as well.

It was a perfect verbal blunder.

“Everyone’s ridiculous. It’s all Gyeol, Gyeol, Gyeol. Is this whole thing rigged?”

Just as Yo Han and Sun moved as though they were about to step forward, Gyeol called the person at the center of the problem first.

There was no longer any value in tolerating him.

“Hanseul.”

At the same time, anger surged within him toward someone who had crossed the line by far.

“When you look into it, maybe Gyeol has some incredibly powerful backer behind—”

“Hanseul!”

At the shout, Hanseul and everyone else abruptly stopped speaking. Quiet fury was embedded in the booming voice.

No one had expected Gyeol to produce a voice like that. He always spoke softly and quietly, giving the impression of being composed and gentle.

Gyeol clenched his fists tightly and stared directly at Hanseul.

“What do you think you’re doing right now?”

“What?”

Hanseul, who had been struck speechless, let out an incredulous laugh as he asked back. He still did not seem to understand the situation.

“Can’t you see what’s happening around you? Can’t you see everyone else?”

“Hah. Are you treating me like I’m blind? I’m doing this because I don’t care about any of that—”

Gyeol cut through the rambling spilling from his mouth sharply.

“We’re working right now.”

Since Hanseul did not seem likely to understand properly, Gyeol even explained it for him.

“This is a workplace. You, me, the cast—and every member of the production staff here. All of us are working.”

Hanseul’s face went blank.

“Are you an ordinary private citizen, Hanseul? Aren’t you a celebrity?”

He reacted as though he had never once considered it.

“No matter how much of a reality show this is, this is still a workplace. And when many people work together, there are basic professional ethics that have to be observed.”

“I know that—”

Perhaps deciding that he could not allow himself to ? NоvеIight ? (Original source) be pushed back like this, Hanseul hurriedly composed his expression and opened his mouth.

Gyeol cut him off without mercy.

“It didn’t seem like you did.”

“I did.”

“It doesn’t seem like you even thought about it.”

“I said I did!”

“Would someone who had thought about it behave like this?”

“.......”

“Take a good look back at everything you’ve said and done, Hanseul.”

Hanseul scanned his surroundings with anxious eyes.

The mood among the production staff was cold. Producer Yoo was sitting with her legs crossed, looking crookedly at nothing but the monitoring screen.

The production staff being pleased that Hanseul generated controversy on his own had been limited to the early days. As time passed, his arrogant behavior went further and further beyond the line. He refused to cooperate with filming, talked about withdrawing from the show, and finally began running his mouth as he arbitrarily judged the production staff’s intentions. There was no one left who had not grown weary of him.

Hanseul hurriedly shifted his gaze toward the other contestants.

Would no one—just one person—take his side?

But not a single person remained who would support Hanseul, after he had personally ruined every opportunity and relationship available to him.

In the end, all Hanseul could do was cling to Gyeol and continue making a scene until the very last moment.

“You’re making it sound as though I ruined the filming....”

It did not work in the slightest.

“I never said that.”

“.......”

“I suppose that’s what you think, Hanseul.”

Hanseul parted his lips but could not say anything.

Only after hearing those words did he finally become aware of his own feelings.

The anxiety that had lurked in one corner of his mind even while he accelerated uncontrollably like a car whose driver had slammed the gas.

The thought no human being could entirely avoid.

The ominous judgment that he might be doing something wrong.

But he had already gained too much momentum. Blinded, unable to see anything around him, he had run onward while rationalizing everything until, at the end of it all....

“Honestly, I don’t care what feelings you have toward me or what you did because of them. Even if you refuse to return my greetings or respond coldly, that’s your choice, and I have no right to interfere.”

It had brought him here.

“But this is wrong. No matter how hurt or angry you are, there are still lines you have to respect. You’re an adult and a celebrity.”

In the end, he was forced to confront every detail of what he had done.

“Your private life is none of my concern. But don’t abandon the responsibilities you’ve been given.”

There was no room for excuses.

He had brought this on himself.

“The people working with you now, and the people who will work with you in the future. Don’t forget the trust of those who believe in the person named Hanseul Ga and ask you to work with them.”

Hanseul pressed his lips tightly together and forced strength into his eyes. He could feel heat surging up the back of his neck.

Shame was washing over him.

It was embarrassment toward himself that had come far, far too late.

***

After the situation was brought to a close, Producer Yoo and the production staff sorted everything out.

“I think everyone should take a break and cool their heads. We’ll resume filming this evening at six, so please rest until then.”

Hanseul had already shut himself inside his room, and the Alphas returned to their lodging on their own.

Jaekyung, who had been standing there blankly without knowing what to do, followed Gyeol into his lodging.

“...I’m truly sorry, Gyeol.”

As he continued explaining what had happened and apologizing for it, he eventually began to cry.

“I’m really sorry. You helped me, Gyeol... You were the one who helped me, and I still....”

Gyeol patted his back as he listened.

It was true that being misunderstood had felt stifling. He did not particularly want to say that it was fine, and he did not think Jaekyung wanted that kind of light forgiveness either.

“Even if it’s only for the time we have left, let’s try to get along. I’ll do better. I truly will.”

But Gyeol was not the kind of person who could coldly cut off someone who regretted and repented of what he had done. So he simply gave the best answer he could offer.

“Me too. I’ll try as well, Jaekyung.”

***

I’m tired....

After Jaekyung left the lodging, Gyeol sprawled flat across the bed with his arms and legs spread wide.

His eyelids closed on their own. It seemed the release of tension had brought exhaustion crashing down on him.

I wouldn’t ask for anything else if I could just hold Yuli and sleep deeply for a while.

He missed the soft scent unique to a child. The fluttering strands of hair, the childlike smell at the crown of his head. That powdery fragrance.

Still, I only have to hold out for a few more days before I can see him....

As his consciousness gradually blurred, Gyeol continued thinking about Yuli.

Come to think of it, he had joined the show because he wanted to raise Yuli well, because he wanted to earn money, because he wanted to succeed somehow. But people truly could not know anything before experiencing it. He had never imagined that so much would happen.

Have I done well so far?

Had he handled everything well?

The question circled through his hazy mind.

Then, at some point, he fell asleep.

***

Through the thin veil of sleep, he sensed someone’s presence.

Someone was sitting beside his head, stroking his hair.