The silence lingered, as if the air in the room had thickened. Seonyeong, sitting in the middle, crossed his leg and, with a weary look, shifted his gaze from one to the other. He wished they would shake hands, briefly apologize, maybe even hug, and end everything right there. But he knew perfectly well that human relationships couldn't be fixed that way. Even children in an orphanage, if forced to reconcile, only get angrier.
From his point of view, it would be ideal if these two found common ground. But he didn't expect miracles—feelings don't change on command. Gyuhyeok was magnanimous, but an ordinary person in his place would have long ago severed all ties with the one who dragged him into such a story. Seonyeong glanced at Jihwan, the very person who insisted on this meeting, and quietly sighed: courage is commendable, but it is not always rewarded.
Maybe they are uncomfortable with me sitting here? a thought flashed. But leaving now would also be strange.
The phone briefly chirped. A message. From Park Kichul.
«Help.»
For the first time in his life, Seonyeong was genuinely happy to receive his text. He abruptly stood up.
— I think Kichul has a problem. I'll step out for a minute.
Jihwan flinched and looked at him with eyes full of pleading—don't go. But Seonyeong just shook his head, feeling as if he was leaving a stray puppy by the road.
— Talk calmly, — he said. — I'll be back soon.
— Of course, come back, — Gyuhyeok nodded cheerfully.
Kichul's problem turned out not to be a catastrophe. Just a drunk client who decided she could hit a person for refusing her. A look from Seonyeong was enough for her to understand that there wouldn't be a second time. He said a few words, the guest fled, and Kichul, clutching his reddened cheek, looked like a beaten cat.
— Why do you keep attracting people like that? — Seonyeong asked.
— No idea, — the other man groaned. — I thought I'd be lucky just once. Apparently, my luck has run out.
Seonyeong patted him on the shoulder. Being a host wasn't for the weak. Sometimes he thought that if things got worse, he would just sell "Vermilion". This business was born out of loneliness—and when that disappears, the meaning of keeping the bar will also disappear.
He returned to the room five minutes later—and found a strange scene. Jihwan looked as if he had just been struck, though there was no trace on his face. Gyuhyeok, on the contrary, radiated calm.
— What happened? Why the gloomy aura? — Seonyeong asked.
— We discussed something serious. He's sad now. Should I bring some drinks? — Gyuhyeok suggested carelessly.
Jihwan sat slumped, as if all the clouds of Lirein had settled on him. Seonyeong looked at his hands with doubt—no traces, no blood, no bruises.
Did Gyuhyeok hit him? No, then the furniture would be broken too.
— Alright, — Seonyeong said. — If you're done, I'll go.
— Of course. — Gyuhyeok nodded easily.
Seonyeong took Jihwan's hand and led him outside. Jihwan walked obediently, like a sleepwalker, and didn't even notice where he was going. They turned into a quiet park on the outskirts. The air smelled of cold grass. Seonyeong seated him on a bench.
— What happened? Did you argue while I was gone?
— No, — Jihwan chuckled. — I apologized, he accepted everything.
— And didn't hit you?
— Ha, unlikely. Though I was ready.
Seonyeong raised an eyebrow.
— Then why did you want this meeting at all? I told you, Gyuhyeok let go of everything a long time ago.
Jihwan looked away.
— Just... before truly being with you, I wanted to apologize to those close to you.
Seonyeong blinked in surprise.
— You—and suddenly this realization?
— That way, the chance of you abandoning me will decrease even slightly.
Seonyeong laughed.
— If you continue like this, I probably won't have to abandon you.
Jihwan shifted his foot slightly, tapping his toe against the stone. Then he suddenly asked:
— But you haven't dated Gyuhyeok before, have you?
— What? — Seonyeong raised his eyebrow. — I just praised you for your sanity, and you're going crazy again?
— Just tell me.
— God... — he rolled his eyes.
Jihwan, looking away, muttered:
— After talking to him, I realized he was 100 percent in love with you.
— And what exactly did you discuss?
— Secret.
Seonyeong shook his head.
— Of course, he loved me. I helped him get out of all that. He respects me. But do you think he's the only one? — he smirked. — Do you want to be jealous of everyone?
— No. Only him. He's too close.
Strange conviction. Jihwan clenched his fists.
— His feelings aren't important. I'm interested, — he looked up, — were you ever attracted to him?
— How many times do I have to repeat it? He's like a younger brother to me. Before you, I didn't even think about men.
A slight blush appeared on Jihwan's face.
— Why?
— I don't know. Men are too big, rough. I like soft, small ones.
Jihwan's expression darkened. Big and tough—that described him. But a second later, he unexpectedly grabbed Seonyeong's face with both hands and quickly kissed him on the cheek.
— I have soft spots too. If you look.
— What?! — Seonyeong froze, speechless.
He wanted to scold him for his audacity, but Jihwan's gaze—bewildered, warm—took his breath away. His heart suddenly pounded faster. How long would this idiot be so endearing...
Their eyes met. The air grew hot.
— Listen... — Jihwan began.
— Ah! — Seonyeong exclaimed, quickly turning away. He clutched his chest. — It's fine, just... my legs gave out.
Damn it, one more second—and I would have suggested going to my place myself.
He hastily changed the subject:
— Are you even sure you can run after me like this every day? What about Neura Labs?
At the mention of that name, Jihwan's face became serious.
— We are preparing a new stage. Nothing dangerous yet, but we won't see each other for a few days.
— Dangerous? — Seonyeong repeated.
— Well... not entirely safe, — he evaded. — But I'll try not to die. Because I need to meet you afterward.
These words struck right at his chest. Seonyeong swallowed.
— Then, maybe... come to my place?
Jihwan nodded instantly, smiling.
— I was just about to suggest that.
They exchanged a brief, understanding look. And somewhere in the park's shadows, someone had been watching them—from the very beginning.
***
Seven a.m. On the outskirts of Lirein, where grey clouds always hung low, stood a windowless concrete building. It resembled a tomb—heavy, silent. People in the vicinity had long been accustomed to avoiding it. Some said it was a logistics center warehouse, others—a former military base. No one knew the truth. It had stood there for fifty years, surrounded by a wall, and anyone who tried to find out who owned the plot received the same answer: private property.
A black car stopped in front of the gate. A short man with a neatly trimmed moustache and a briefcase in his hand got out—Director of the Central Laboratory of Neura Labs, Kim Sodan. He was met by three armed guards. The inspection was thorough: metal detectors, scanners, document verification. Only after being satisfied that everything was in order was he let through.
Inside, everything was different—dazzling white marble, soft artificial light, green plants along the walls. On the second floor—a library, a private cinema, a golf simulator, and bedrooms furnished like luxury suites. The house belonged to one man, whose name was rarely spoken aloud—the Chairman.
Sodan entered the bathroom. There, in a snow-white bathtub, a man with pale skin and jet-black hair sat with his eyes closed. He looked no older than thirty, but there was no age or warmth in his face.
— Forgive the late visit, — Sodan bowed.
The Chairman opened his eyes. His eyes—black, shining like obsidian—immediately absorbed the light of the room. He held out his hand, and a maid presented a glass with a thick red liquid. The man took a sip, licked his lips, and asked in a low, husky voice:
— What made you come at such an hour?
Sodan handed him a tablet.
— I found something important.
On the screen—a blurred frame from a surveillance camera: a young man with reddish hair and another, in a mask, nearby.
The Chairman zoomed in on the image. The corner of his mouth twitched.
— You found him... After all the years of searching. Lirein, Mariah, Singapore—all in vain. And you succeeded.
— Is this the one? — Sodan asked.
— I'm almost certain. All thanks to Ms. Lo. She was looking for the man she encountered at the hotel, brought the camera footage—and I recognized him.
Sodan adjusted his glasses:
— The name he is currently using is Ryu Seonyeong. Works at a bar. Should I prepare the extraction?
— At a bar? — the Chairman chuckled. — How amusing.
He took another drink. The red liquid trailed down his lips.
— Prepare everything. I want to see him personally. Alive.
— Yes, Chairman. — Sodan bowed. — But... may I ask why you need him?
The man looked up. His face became icy.
— Since when do you ask questions?
— Forgive me! — Sodan bowed lower.
— I merely wanted to know whether to keep him in the mansion or transfer him to the lab.
The Chairman slowly smirked.
— Are you wondering whether for autopsy or for pleasure? — he licked his lips, and his scarlet tongue gleamed against his white skin.
— We'll see. Why not combine the two? Beautiful people are always more exquisite when they scream.