Midnight Interview

After seeing Yoon Taerim, his standards had already risen to the highest level. Even if he looked for other options, he wondered if he could be satisfied, and his worries only grew.Before he knew it, Seo Jungyoon had formed an image of the protagonist in his mind. From the moment he met Yoon Taerim face-to-face, he unconsciously shaped the character. It had to be that person. He wanted to hear the story by any means.As his sighs deepened, his phone vibrated for a long time. Seo Jungyoon straightened up to find his phone stuck in the corner of the sofa. It was a call from Jaehyuk.“Hello, Hyung.”— Jungyoon.A voice laden with melancholy came through the speaker. Seo Jungyoon turned his head to glance at the wall clock. It was half past two in the morning, quite late.“You just got off work?”— I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion. I wish that damn company would go bankrupt.Jaehyuk was unusually whining. Seo Jungyoon had heard he was busy lately. With no time even for meals or bathroom breaks, Jaehyuk had been out of touch. Hearing his voice was only possible when he was about to leave work.He usually wouldn’t work past 10 PM even with overtime, so was this the reason for being so busy?Seo Jungyoon looked down at the proposal in his hand. Kang Jaehyuk, who works at the back office, is part of the hotel’s strategic planning team. Maybe Kang Jaehyuk had planned this promotion.“At least they give you overtime pay, right?”— Seo Jungyoon, you’re really hopeless at romance.“What did I do?”When he retorted grumpily, Jaehyuk on the other side of the speaker let out a tired laugh. He said that this was the time when he should be comforted gently, although he hadn’t really expected it.— Ah, I’m really exhausted. I want to sleep while hugging Seo Jungyoon.“Come to my place.”— Can’t do that. I have to be at work by 7 tomorrow. If I go to my studio apartment, I’ll pass out immediately and then have to wake up again soon.Jaehyuk yawned languidly. His exhaustion reached Jungyoon’s ears.“…Hyung, listen.”— Hmm.Seo Jungyoon’s lips moved as if to say something. He was about to mention meeting Yoon Taerim today but quickly changed his mind. Let’s talk after making a decision. After giving himself more time to decide, he deliberately changed the subject.“Never mind, just go home quickly. Be careful driving; it’s raining.”— You go to sleep too. Don’t stay up all night again.“Yeah.”After the brief call, Jungyoon flopped back onto the sofa. Then he started re-reading the proposal from the beginning.He didn’t feel like sleep would come. It was a deep, contemplative night.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁The novelist Seo Jungyoon, taking a break, was the epitome of laziness. His life was that of an unemployed person, spending days aimlessly without plans.Today, too, he didn’t wake up until past noon. Having slept crumpled on the sofa the previous night, his body ached here and there.Due to low blood pressure, he couldn’t easily wake up. Seo Jungyoon, still sitting on the sofa, closed his eyes and dozed off. In his hazy state, he heard a faint clattering sound from downstairs. Only then did he realize it was Thursday, the day when the housekeeper came to help.He staggered downstairs to find the middle-aged woman, who was dusting the furniture, acknowledging him.“Are you awake?”“Hello.”Seo Jungyoon answered with a deep, sleepy voice. Seeing Jungyoon still unable to open his eyes properly, the housekeeper just laughed it off.She was quite a quiet person. Perhaps due to her previous experience working in wealthy households, she only did what was necessary without any unnecessary conversation.She visited once a week to quietly clean, take out the trash, and occasionally make simple side dishes if there were ingredients lying around in the fridge. Whether Seo Jungyoon was asleep or not, she did her job and left without fuss.He liked her unpretentious actions. That’s why they got along well.“Mr. Author, did you wash the bed sheets yourself?”“Ah, …yes.”After Kang Jaehyuk had stayed over, the bed sheets were left with traces of sleep. He had put them in the washing machine and then into the dryer but forgot to take them out. When was that? Over a week ago?“The sheets were still damp when they were put away, so they smelled, so I washed them again and hung them out. Can I clean this floor now?”“…Yes.”Hearing that his clumsy laundry was redone, Seo Jungyoon’s face reddened. The housekeeper was adept at house chores, so perhaps she noticed something. Jungyoon rubbed his flushed face and sighed quietly.While the housekeeper went upstairs with cleaning supplies, Jungyoon headed to the kitchen.He put bread in the toaster while brewing some tea. Although the movements for a late meal were somewhat lackluster, they were quite smooth.He sat at the dining table with the simple meal he had prepared. He spread jam on a well-toasted slice of bread and forced it into his mouth. His expressionless chewing made him look like he had no appetite, but he was actually enjoying it quite a bit.The jam that the editor had brought recently had a unique taste with the crunch of orange peel. After swallowing the bread, Seo Jungyoon quenched his dry mouth with tea.Drinking jasmine tea, with its fully bloomed yellow petals, made him think of Yoon Taerim again.“…”Was it a coincidence that jasmine tea was served that day? It must have been a coincidence. There’s no way that man would know his preferences.After contemplating all night, he made a decision. Seo Jungyoon put down the half-eaten bread and picked up his phone. Even after finding the saved contact, he hesitated for a moment. A text seemed more convenient than a call.[This is Seo Jungyoon. I’m contacting you regarding the proposal you made earlier; we need to discuss it.]He placed the phone on the table and continued with his meal. Being a busy person, the reply would come much later.While he was chewing mindlessly, his phone suddenly started vibrating. The vibration shook the table, making Seo Jungyoon jump. He didn’t expect a call to come this quickly.“Hello?”— This is Yoon Taerim.The voice through the phone hit his eardrums heavily. Yoon Taerim’s low voice was mixed with the typical outdoor noises of a busy place, indicating he was probably moving somewhere.— What kind of discussion are you referring to?“About the filming, I’d prefer if you could shoot without showing my face.”— Do you really dislike having your face shown that much? You should have some confidence.Seo Jungyoon rubbed his cheek for no reason. Even though it was just a phone call, it felt like he was talking face-to-face with Yoon Taerim. He didn’t know how to respond to such business-like praise.Feeling embarrassed, he scratched the table with his fingertips. Seo Jungyoon, staring blankly at his hand, said,“I think a silhouette or just hands would be okay.”— Let’s do that then.Surprisingly, Yoon Taerim readily agreed.— I’ll send a lawyer with the organized documents by today. You’ll get a separate contact.“Okay.”Relieved by the surprisingly straightforward outcome, Seo Jungyoon thought the business was concluded and it might be time to end the call. As he was secretly timing his goodbye, a low voice spoke up.— Author Seo Jungyoon.“Yes?”— Did you just wake up?Jungyoon blinked his large eyes and instinctively tidied his tousled hair.“…Yes.”— Definitely not a morning person, are you?The monotonous voice continued. It wasn’t teasing, and there was no inflection, yet for some reason, Jungyoon’s ears felt hot.— Let’s meet next Wednesday.Yoon Taerim ended the call without hesitation.The lawyer arrived about two hours after the phone call.Seo Jungyoon awkwardly welcomed the guest. The somewhat strict-looking lawyer spread out the documents he brought on the living room coffee table.“The contract clauses have been changed as you requested. Please take a look.”Seo Jungyoon, wearing his glasses, meticulously examined the text on the contract. His forehead creased slightly as he checked for any missed details.“Yes, this looks good.”“Then, please look at this one too.”The lawyer presented another contract. Seo Jungyoon, puzzled, opened the file. He saw bold letters saying “Confidentiality Agreement.”“What’s this?”“It’s a statement that you won’t disclose Yoon Taerim’s personal information to anyone else.”“…”As Seo Jungyoon read through the content, his eyes widened. His gaze through the silver-framed glasses turned towards the lawyer.“Do we really need a confidentiality agreement?”“It’s to prevent any unfortunate incidents in advance, so I ask for your understanding.”“So, our meeting is to be kept secret?”“Yes, that’s correct.”“But Editor Ko Eunju already knows about it.”“We plan to have her sign the agreement as well.”“Thorough, aren’t we?”Seo Jungyoon let out a wry laugh. Not that it was particularly funny.With so many things to consider, a slight headache came on, and he rested his head on his left hand, massaging his temples. The back of the pen tapped on the confidentiality agreement. After some contemplation, Seo Jungyoon spoke up.“There’s one more person who needs to know.”“…”“There’s someone who works at the Royal Peak Hotel. We’re like family, so… it’s hard to keep it a secret from him.”The lawyer showed reluctance at this unexpected condition. His thin eyes narrowed even further before he pulled out his phone from his suit jacket pocket.“Excuse me, I need to make a call.”“Okay.”The lawyer stood up silently, put on his shoes, and left.Jungyoon leaned back in his chair, looking straight ahead. Through the large window, he could see the lawyer passionately talking to someone, probably Yoon Taerim.The lawyer returned surprisingly quickly from the call, resuming his polite demeanor as he sat back down.“That has also been approved.”“…”“If you could tell me who it is, we will arrange for them to sign the agreement as well.”With everything proceeding smoothly, Jungyoon had no more objections. He twirled the pen in his right hand while scanning the contract one more time. He wrote the date and his name on the last page, then signed it.“Um… But there’s no specific duration for the contract.”There were four versions of the hotel promotion. Seo Jungyoon thought it would be over once these were done, but there was no specified duration for the interviews with Yoon Taerim.The lawyer checked the contracts again before speaking.“He said he would give you as much time as you need.”“It seems like Yoon Taerim is at a disadvantage here.”“I think so too.”Being Yoon Taerim’s lawyer, he staunchly supported his client. With a cold face, he gathered the documents and slowly pushed his chair back to stand up.“Thank you for your time.”“Thank you for coming all this way.”“Then, I’ll be going.”Jungyoon escorted the lawyer to the entrance. As soon as the door closed, he let out an exhausted sigh. Why did this feel so draining? He dragged his feet towards the bathroom, deciding to take a refreshing bath before thinking about what to do next.“Hyung, are you very busy?”— Yeah, Jungyoon. Sorry, but I can’t talk right now.“I’m at your studio apartment right now.”— What?“I wanted to talk for a bit. I’ll wait, even if it’s late.”After a call that lasted less than a minute, Jungyoon looked around the quiet living room. The small studio apartment in Samseong-dong was clean because it was newly built. Jaehyuk, unlike him, didn’t clutter things up, which might make it look even cleaner.Although it had been over a year since Jaehyuk moved here, Jungyoon had only visited a handful of times. It was always Jaehyuk coming to Jungyoon’s place.He looked around his lover’s apartment after a long while. The bedroom was small but neat, while the study was a bit messy. Jungyoon first examined the bookshelf packed with books.The places where his hand often reached were filled with thick textbooks. Surrounding those were self-help books and TOEIC, TOEFL-related books filling the gaps.Jungyoon skimmed through the books and found a box at the very bottom. Opening it, he saw a pile of manuscript papers stored like treasures.“He still has these.”Jungyoon sat leaning against the desk, picking up one of the bundles of papers tied with string. Just seeing the rough handwriting on the manuscript paper made him smile faintly.Although his major was in business administration, Jaehyuk had once aspired to follow the path of literature. He was also a disciple of his grandfather.‘You’re Seo Jungyoon? Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Jaehyuk. Just call me Jaehyuk Hyung.’That was when they first met, in the summer when he was 18.‘Jungyoon, isn’t it boring just staying at home? What? You read books? Your eyes will get bad, man! Oh, you wear glasses when you read? You don’t know, do you? Wearing glasses for a long time makes your eyes smaller?’While others treated him like the grandson of Professor Seo Taeseon, Jaehyuk approached with silly jokes, filling the lonely gaps in Jungyoon’s life, seamlessly blending into his daily routine.The one he followed like a brother had become his lover before he knew it. Life is truly unpredictable.“…It would be nice if he kept writing.”Though he regretted Jaehyuk giving up his dream, it was his life, his choice, and Jungyoon had no right to interfere. He closed the manuscript papers and put Jaehyuk’s past back into the dusty box.Around past 10 PM, the door lock beeped. Surprised by the earlier-than-expected return, Jungyoon slowly walked to the entrance. Jaehyuk, who entered after opening the door, looked extremely exhausted from repeated overtime.He smiled faintly upon seeing Jungyoon waiting for him.“Wow, it’s really Seo Jungyoon. Is this a dream?”Then he rushed over and lifted Jungyoon in a hug. Jungyoon, surprised, pushed against his shoulders, struggling.“Why are you doing this! Put me down, I’m heavy!”“Not heavy at all. You could gain another 10 kg.”Jaehyuk carried Jungyoon easily to the sofa, where he finally set him down before quickly removing his crumpled jacket.What seemed like a simple hug escalated into more intimate contact before Jungyoon could stop it.“Wait, Hyung. Don’t do that.”“Uh, Jungyoon. Just a little.”Jungyoon pushed Jaehyuk away as he tried to suck on his neck, finally managing to straighten up. Today, he had to talk to Jaehyuk, no matter what.“I came here because I had something to say.”“What is it?”Perhaps because being rejected was an inner wound, Jaehyuk sighed and straightened up. His already tired face was now shadowed with disappointment.“I met Yoon Taerim a few days ago.”“Who?”Jaehyuk, who had been brushing his disheveled bangs, gave a sidelong glance. It seemed like the name ‘Yoon Taerim’ didn’t quite click.“It can’t be the Yoon Taerim I know.”“Right. That CEO Yoon Taerim.”“…How did you meet that person?”“I was introduced. For the interview for my next novel. I think… we’ll be meeting quite often for a while.”Jaehyuk froze, his hand clutching his bangs. His mouth was wide open in disbelief.It was certainly shocking. Jungyoon, after taking a breath, continued.“In exchange for the interview, I agreed to help with hotel promotion. There’s a summer promotion, right?”“You’re going to do that promotion?”“Yeah. I’ll stay at the hotel and write an essay.”“Wait, just wait a minute.”Jaehyuk let out a laugh of disbelief. He bowed his head and covered his weary face with both hands.“I’m going crazy; our team is working our asses off on that.”“Yeah… I thought it might be like that.”“When was this decided?”“Yesterday.”“Why didn’t you tell me until now? You could have at least said something while you were deciding?”“Sorry. I had no choice.”“…”“I’ll be careful not to let anyone know about our relationship.”Jungyoon replied calmly while standing by his side. Suddenly, Jaehyuk turned his head sharply.“Are you saying something weird? Who’s worried about that?”“I’m worried because it’s your job, Hyung.”Jungyoon knew well how terrifying outing could be. It didn’t matter for him as he stayed holed up at home, but for Jaehyuk who had to face people at work, it would be a significant blow.Still unable to calm his emotions, Jungyoon slowly stood up while watching Jaehyuk. He sat on Jaehyuk’s thighs with his knees on the sofa, facing him. As he stared into Jaehyuk’s eyes, Jaehyuk’s eyes narrowed.“It’s no use. Don’t try to charm me.”Jungyoon cupped Jaehyuk’s face with both hands. Leaning in until their lips were almost touching, he said,“Calm down.”“Ha, you really are…”In the end, unable to resist, Jaehyuk hugged Jungyoon, burying his nose in the slender neck. Jungyoon’s scent pooled in the hollow of his collarbone like warm spring water.“You don’t understand why I’m upset right now.”“Yeah, so tell me, Hyung.”“…I don’t like you meeting someone better than me.”At this, Jungyoon, who had been sitting straight, gave a wry smile and replied,“Do you think I might fall for CEO Yoon?”“…”But Jaehyuk didn’t laugh. He just hugged Jungyoon’s slender waist tightly without a word.On the contrary, he was worried that Yoon Taerim might take an interest in Seo Jungyoon.He knew it was a narrow-minded thought, but he wanted to keep Seo Jungyoon locked away at home. While he knew most people didn’t have sexual feelings for the same sex, Jungyoon could be an exception. Even he, who was close to being straight, was only moved by Jungyoon.It was reassuring that Jungyoon never revealed himself even after becoming a famous novelist. Jungyoon’s personality meant he had very few interactions and preferred to stay secluded at home. That was good. Because no one knew Seo Jungyoon, he could keep him to himself.If he revealed such true feelings, how would Jungyoon react? Even Jaehyuk thought it was abnormal, so he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he roughly pulled off Jungyoon’s shirt. He expressed his desperate feelings that way.For once, Jungyoon didn’t resist and followed Jaehyuk’s lead. Jungyoon gently stroked the head of the man buried in his bare chest, hoping his mood would lighten by giving in.The deep night was passing.[Are you awake? How’s your body feeling?]Jaehyuk sent a message during a brief break. It was past three in the afternoon, so Jungyoon must be awake. After a short wait, a reply came with a glowing screen.[You bastard.]At the uncharacteristic harsh words from Seo Jungyoon, Jaehyuk burst out laughing. He then sent an emoji of a dog kneeling and begging.At that moment, long hair fluttered over Jaehyuk’s shoulder. Turning around, he saw the new strategist from the planning team smiling brightly.“Mr. Jaehyuk, are you looking at something fun?”“Just a message.”“With whom? Your girlfriend of eight years?”“Something like that.”Despite the line being drawn, the new employee didn’t lose her smile. She was full of energy and cheerfulness.“Are you sleepy? Should I go buy coffee? For the whole team?”“Coffee sounds good.”“Let’s go together; I’ll buy!”“Can I really get coffee from a new employee? Let’s use the corporate card.”Jaehyuk pushed his chair back and stood up. He too had dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping all night.Heading to the coffee shop in the lobby with the new employee, people in suits began to line up at the entrance gate for no apparent reason. Both Jaehyuk and the new employee stopped.Yoon Taerim was entering the lobby. The lined-up people bowed in unison. They then followed him like a tail.As the man at the front strode forward with long legs, the people in the lobby naturally parted like the Red Sea. Of course, Jaehyuk was one of them.Hearing the sound of footsteps, Jaehyuk bowed with his ID card necklace pressed against his palm.Yoon Taerim passed by him swiftly, leaving no eye contact or words of encouragement, just an impressive scent behind.“…Ha.”Jaehyuk laughed hollowly while staring at the smooth marble floor.The man was the epitome of an alpha male, an existence hard to compare to. Jaehyuk felt no sense of defeat in the face of such clear difference.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁Wednesday night arrived. A taxi stopped in front of the Royal Peak Hotel.Seo Jungyoon got out of the back seat. Despite the late hour, the air was muggy due to the tropical night.Jungyoon hurried inside to avoid sweating. As soon as he passed through the revolving door, the cool, pleasant air greeted the visitors.He passed the hotel reception and went straight to the elevator. When he touched the card key hidden in his palm, the round buttons lit up.Jungyoon’s index finger pressed the button for the top floor, and the elevator began its heavy ascent.Amidst the silence, only his heart seemed to beat loudly. Jungyoon tried to calm his nerves with deep breaths. Meanwhile, the elevator quickly reached the 24th floor.There were only two presidential suites. Jungyoon followed the signs on the plush carpet to the right.Arriving at room 2401, he checked the time on his phone. There was still some time left before the appointment, so he waited for a moment. As the exact time arrived, Jungyoon swallowed hard.Ding-dong—A clear chime rang. They had agreed to meet at midnight, but there was no sign of anyone inside.Seo Jungyoon, after some hesitation, rang the bell again. With no response, he stood there unsure of what to do.He fidgeted with the card key still in his hand. Slowly bringing it to the door, the door suddenly opened wide.Then, he met eyes with Yoon Taerim, who had his shirt half unbuttoned.“…Ah.”Was it because of the sudden encounter or his unkempt appearance? All plans to act composedly upon entering the hotel were instantly diminished.While Seo Jungyoon was visibly stiff, Yoon Taerim seemed unfazed. He opened the hotel room door wider, nodding his chin towards Jungyoon standing outside.“Come in.”“…Excuse me.”Seo Jungyoon entered the room cautiously. The place where Yoon Taerim was staying was far from an ordinary hotel room. The corridor walls from the entrance were already intimidating.He walked down the long corridor. Jungyoon then realized he was not alone with Yoon Taerim in this space. In what looked like a reception area, two adults, a man and a woman, were already seated.One of them was an acquaintance. The lawyer, who was sorting through a pile of documents on the sofa, straightened up and nodded slightly at Seo Jungyoon. Jungyoon also bowed his head in acknowledgment.At that moment, Yoon Taerim’s large frame blocked Jungyoon’s view. He checked the watch on his wrist, slightly furrowing his thick eyebrows.“I apologize. I wanted to finish within the time, but the job isn’t done yet. Could you wait a moment? It will take about ten minutes.”“Yes, it’s okay. Please take your time with your work.”“I’ll escort you to another room.”A man who had somehow approached offered to guide him. He introduced himself as Yoon Taerim’s personal assistant with a courteous bow.Seo Jungyoon followed the assistant to another location. As befit the hotel’s highest-tier room, the space was vast with several doors.How many rooms were there? He tried hard not to show his surprise as he followed the assistant.“You can wait here.”They arrived at what seemed to be a study. Jungyoon was captivated by the dark-toned bookshelves, desk, softly lit indirect lighting, and the display cabinet filled with liquor and wine bottles.“Would you like something to drink? What would you prefer?”“Oh, I’m fine.”“If you need anything, please let me know anytime.”The personal assistant finished his task with a polite bow and disappeared. Once the door closed, the study was enveloped in silence.Jungyoon took slow steps forward. Approaching the window behind the sofa, he could see the night view of Seoul’s city center. It was quite a spectacle. The lights decorating the streets and the Han River flowing leisurely came into view at once.One of the advantages of the Royal Peak Hotel was said to be this night view. Indeed, it was something to boast about.Before he knew it, both tension and worry were forgotten as he enjoyed the sight. Standing in front of the window for a while, he heard a knock at the door. As he turned his head, the door opened.Yoon Taerim appeared, neatly dressed with his tie straight. He walked past Seo Jungyoon, who was standing there awkwardly, and headed towards the display cabinet.The tension that had loosened with his entrance tightened again. The atmosphere in the room became heavy, and only the sounds of Yoon Taerim moving filled the quiet silence.Still unable to act, Jungyoon stood rooted by the window. Sensing his discomfort, Yoon Taerim, while scanning the display cabinet with his back turned, asked in a low voice,“Would you like to have a drink with me?”“No, thank you.”Yoon Taerim did not offer a second time. He deferred Jungyoon’s presence to later and focused solely on choosing his drink.Yoon Taerim’s back, standing in front of the smooth wooden cabinet, was as captivating as the night view. His height was significantly taller than that of an average adult male, and the proportions of his limbs matched his stature.His sturdy body, unlike that of typical white-collar workers, made the shoulder line of his shirt much longer than standard off-the-rack clothing. Yet, the lines fell without any excess, suggesting custom tailoring.His straight shoulders and back looked like a sculpture. Even in small movements like picking up a bottle, choosing a glass, and adding ice, his shoulder blades under the shirt moved prominently. His lean waist without an ounce of fat was evidently a result of disciplined self-care.While habitually observing his back, Yoon Taerim turned around with his glass filled. He walked to the sofa, glass in hand.As Yoon Taerim sat on the plush leather armchair, Jungyoon quickly took the vacant matching armchair opposite him.“Are you staying here?”Surprisingly, it was Seo Jungyoon who started the conversation. Yoon Taerim raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if amused by the question.“I haven’t found a house I like since I returned to Korea. Just for the time being.”“I heard you have a separate family home.”“A man my age can’t live with his parents.”Well, being the hotel CEO, he wouldn’t worry about where to sleep. There are plenty of empty rooms.Jungyoon nodded in agreement and then rummaged through his bag. Yoon Taerim watched with interest as Jungyoon pulled out a notebook and a pen, his eyes fixed on Jungyoon’s white hands.“Note-taking, huh? You prefer a classic method, surprisingly.”“Usually, I use a recorder.”Jungyoon answered calmly, opening his notebook. The preparation didn’t take long. After checking the feel of the pen by scribbling on the corner of the note, he continued,“I thought you might not like being recorded.”The man in front of him gave a light chuckle, crossing his long legs and leaning back leisurely.“Then let’s start.”His low voice signaled the beginning. Seo Jungyoon exhaled slowly. Despite not being his first interview, he felt oddly overwhelmed.Adjusting his grip on the pen, he scanned the questions he had prepared. He decided to start with the basics.“How old are you?”“Thirty-four in Korean age.”“Have you been living abroad all this time?”“I lived in Korea until I was ten, then went to the U.S. for education. I studied and worked there.”“Considering you’ve lived abroad for over twenty years, your Korean is perfect.”“The family tradition was quite strict. My grandfather said he wouldn’t pass down the inheritance if I didn’t maintain my mother tongue.”The conversation naturally flowed towards what Jungyoon was curious about. Seizing the opportunity, he gripped his pen firmly. Jungyoon asked as plainly as possible.“What is your family relationship like?”“My grandfather has passed away, and my parents are still married. Officially, I’m an only child, but…”Yoon Taerim paused, tilting his glass. The golden light from the room reflected on his smooth face, much like the honey-colored whiskey in his glass.“This much can be found with a simple internet search. I’m sure Seo Jungyoon has something else in mind.”“…”“I have about three half-brothers. They aren’t on the family register, but we do meet several times a year.”“Half-brothers, you mean…”“Different mothers. A common story in a conglomerate family with illegitimate children. My mother also has several lovers. Marriages in these families are for show at public events.”Yoon Taerim spoke about his parents’ affairs and the complicated family ties without any hesitation. His tone was so matter-of-fact that even Jungyoon felt like it was just an everyday occurrence.“It’s a bit surprising that you get along well with your half-brothers.”“Did you think we would fight over inheritance, cutting each other down with greed?”“Maybe.”“I’m sorry to disappoint your expectations, but we get along fairly well. They live comfortably without envy, and I was taught from the start not to covet what is mine. If you act foolishly, you might lose what you have, so there’s a certain restraint.”“There are invisible lines even among blood relatives, it seems.”“Let’s say there are lines that need to be maintained.”The sound of ice melting and rolling around in the glass Yoon Taerim was holding made a clear sound in the momentarily silent space.The man took a sip of the chilled alcohol and shook his crossed leg leisurely.“How about you tell me about your family?”“What about?”“What’s your family relationship like?”Surprised by the question turned back on him, Jungyoon was momentarily speechless. As he hesitated, looking at Yoon Taerim’s straight legs, the other man waited patiently for his answer.“I…”Eventually, Jungyoon opened his lips slowly. After all, it would be absurd for only him to hide when Yoon Taerim had revealed his circumstances.“My parents passed away when I was young, and I have no siblings. My grandfather raised me, but he passed away eight years ago.”“Then who is the person you consider like family?”Jungyoon slowly raised his gaze. Despite the casual question, Yoon Taerim’s expression was serious, devoid of any humor.For some reason, Jungyoon felt his throat tighten. He took a deep breath to swallow the heavy air.“A close… hyung.”“He must be very close. People usually don’t call unrelated individuals family.”Jungyoon pretended not to hear and lowered his head, eyes fixed on his notebook. He felt like he would be swept away by Yoon Taerim’s pace if their eyes met.“What’s your usual schedule, Mr. President?”“I usually wake up around 6 AM. After exercising and skimming through newspapers and news articles, I head to work around 8 AM. There’s no fixed time for leaving work.”He was a workaholic to the core. It was astonishing to see a man who showed no signs of fatigue despite getting far less than the average amount of sleep.“Do you rest on weekends?”“Since gatherings and events are concentrated on weekends, it’s not quite rest.”“So you have no leisure time at all? Like meeting friends?”“Friends…”As if hearing an unfamiliar word, Yoon Taerim covered his smiling lips with his glass.“Many of the acquaintances I made in the U.S. have come to Korea. Since they’re mostly from prominent families, we see each other at various gatherings. If that counts as friendship, then yes, they are friends.”“Your life seems quite hectic.”“Meaning it’s not fun. I agree.”Yoon Taerim murmured, stretching out his lips. His dark eyes, which had been on the glass, met Jungyoon’s face.“How about you, Mr. Seo Jungyoon?”“I…”Returning the question, Jungyoon had to reflect on his day. It was a chaotic day without any set schedule to think about.Compared to Yoon Taerim, the epitome of a morning person, Jungyoon was more like an owl, not even eating meals on time, let alone exercising. His only leisure activity and joy was being holed up at home, buried in books.“Thinking about it, I might live an even less exciting life than you. Not hectic, but dull.”“Shouldn’t you be enjoying friends and romance in your twenties?”“I dropped out of high school early. Now that I think about it, there’s no one I can call a friend.”