Midnight Interview

“Then that close hyung is your only friend.”“…”Why was the conversation drifting back in that direction? Jungyoon couldn’t handle the gaze meeting his and bowed his head deeply.He crossed out the part of his open notebook that read ‘Romance? Partner?’ with thick lines. Asking about that would only trap him further.Sensing his discomfort, Yoon Taerim skillfully changed the subject.“How long does it usually take to write one work?”“It varies.”“What about your most recent work?”“It took about a year and a half, including the preparation period.”“Was becoming a writer always your dream?”“Rather than it being a dream, I naturally ended up on that path. I lived with my grandfather from childhood, and the house was always full of books, with many writer uncles around. I was always in an environment conducive to writing wherever I went.”“Just because others write doesn’t mean your tastes will follow. And you have talent.”“Talent is…”“Are you saying that having three bestsellers annually is just luck rather than talent?”He was at a loss for words. Arguing against it wouldn’t convince Yoon Taerim, and admitting it felt embarrassing. Jungyoon doodled aimlessly on his notebook, avoiding the gaze directed at him.“What about you, Mr. President? Did you have dreams?”“It’s similar to you. From the moment I was born and grew up, my path was decided. By following the carpet laid out by adults, I became a manager. I never even considered anything else.”“Are you satisfied?”“It’s not bad. It suits my aptitude pretty well, and considering the skills I’ve built up, I think there are some achievements.”“Seems like more than just ‘some’.”Yoon Taerim graduated from an Ivy League university in the U.S. and immediately joined the Royal Peak Hotel in Chicago as a regular employee. After rapid promotions, he reached the position of Vice President. Up to that point, it could be considered due to family influence.But one couldn’t belittle his capabilities. During his tenure as Vice President in Chicago, the projects he led boosted operating profits by 45%, according to public records. Perhaps because of this impact, since Yoon Taerim took over as CEO, Royal Peak’s stock price had been consistently rising.“Let’s stop praising each other here.”“Yes, that would be good.”Fortunately, the conversation concluded neatly. Since it was the first day, they weren’t intending to delve into deep topics anyway. Jungyoon skimmed through the notes he had taken during the interview.“Have you ever been in a presidential suite?”Suddenly, Yoon Taerim spoke. Jungyoon slowly shook his head.“I’ve never stayed in a hotel.”“There’s still time left, would you like to take a look around?”“Sure.”There was no reason to refuse. He had been curious about the luxurious interior of the hotel.“Good, good. Hearing about a presidential suite at a hotel is one thing, but experiencing it firsthand is rare.A spacious living room with a panoramic night view of the Han River, multiple bedrooms, a dressing room, an open kitchen and dining area equipped with a state-of-the-art kitchen system, and a bathroom complete with a grand jacuzzi tub and a dry sauna.So this is what a luxury hotel is like.Seo Jungyoon clicked his tongue at the seemingly endless space. His expression barely changed, but he was quite taken aback.Not every room in the hotel would be like this, of course, but the presidential suite was even more extravagant and opulent than he had imagined. The sheer level of wealth on display was almost intimidating.Even so, he made sure to carve every detail into his memory, knowing it might come in handy one day.The furniture and lighting all looked expensive, and every corner of the room was impeccably tidy. The overwhelming neatness was a stark reminder that this was, indeed, a hotel.“How much does a place like this cost per night?”Walking beside him, Yoon Taerim answered nonchalantly.“It depends on the season, but right now, it’s around 20 million won.”“I wouldn’t even dare consider it.”“It’s usually reserved for state guests or foreign VIPs. Occasionally, there are people who have more money than they know what to do with and want to book it out of vanity, but we don’t rent it to them.”“…Ah.”There was another identical suite next door. While one was occupied by Yoon Taerim, the other was deliberately left empty, not even accepting guests.“Is that okay?”“What do you mean?”“I mean, leaving such an expensive suite vacant.”Suddenly, Yoon Taerim stopped walking.“Are you actually concerned about the hotel’s revenue?”A low chuckle slipped into Jungyoon’s ears. Feeling like he had overstepped, he rubbed his flushed earlobe.“The presidential suite isn’t operated for profit in the first place, so it’s fine.”“I see.”“For the record, I’m also paying for my stay here, so I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”“I think you’ve teased me enough now.”After making a round of the suite, the two moved to the dining area.With an effortless sense of hospitality, Yoon Taerim handed him a glass bottle of water. Jungyoon, who happened to be thirsty, accepted it gratefully.Seated across from each other with a long wooden bar between them, they continued their conversation.The topic revolved around the hotel—its clientele, the age groups, economic classes, and professions of those who frequent luxury hotels. It was a professional subject, but Yoon Taerim explained it so clearly that Jungyoon had no trouble understanding.During a brief lull in the conversation, Jungyoon’s gaze wandered to the neatly arranged kitchen. He found it fascinating. He had heard of residences having kitchens, but never a hotel suite.“Do you cook for yourself?”“I can manage simple dishes, but I don’t like cooking in the suite because the smell lingers. Room service is more convenient.”He had heard that people from chaebol families were particular about what they ate. Some children weren’t even allowed to touch instant food or street snacks.That made him curious. After all, Yoon Taerim had been born into wealth.“You’ve never had ramen, have you?”“Do you like ramen?”Yoon Taerim countered with a question of his own. Jungyoon pulled an ambiguous expression—neither agreeing nor denying.“Not that I like it, but it’s an easy meal.”“That makes sense.”“You seem to enjoy alcohol, but have you ever had soju?”“Once or twice, I think. I recall not liking it.”“I see.”Jungyoon tried to picture Yoon Taerim in a noisy pub or alone in a quiet space, pouring soju into a cup with a pot of ramen in front of him. The image was absurdly out of place.The thought made him chuckle, and seeing that, Yoon Taerim let out a small smile as well. He tapped the sleek bar table with his fingertips and asked,“Writer Seo Jungyoon, what’s your alcohol tolerance?”“Around three bottles of soju.”Yoon Taerim’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. Contrary to his delicate appearance, Jungyoon was quite a drinker.Jungyoon took a sip of water as if he were drinking liquor.“My grandfather could hold his liquor well.”“Must be genetic.”“Probably.”They continued exchanging casual conversation until their scheduled time was up. As he placed his hands on the table and slowly stood up from the high chair, Jungyoon felt a sense of relief. For a first interview filled with tension, it had gone surprisingly well.“I should get going. Thank you for your time.”Even as he prepared to leave, Yoon Taerim remained seated at the bar, watching him intently before speaking.“Where do you live?”“Buam-dong.”At that, Yoon Taerim subtly tilted his chin in a certain direction. His personal secretary approached soundlessly and stood in front of Seo Jungyoon.“We’ll take you home.”Jungyoon waved his hands in refusal at the unnecessary gesture.“No, I can take a taxi.”“We were already waiting to escort you home.”The realization that someone had been waiting for him this whole time made him feel even more burdened.“…Just for tonight, then.”Reluctantly, Jungyoon nodded.“You worked hard today, Writer Seo Jungyoon. I’ll see you next time.”Yoon Taerim’s deep voice carried his farewell. Jungyoon returned the sentiment.“See you next time.”Following the secretary, he stepped out of the suite. The elevator took him straight down to the underground parking lot, where he got into the back seat of a large luxury sedan. The ride was unbelievably smooth.The car slowly rolled forward, exiting the sloped parking lot and merging onto the road. Since it was late at night, the streets were quiet, and the city lights flickered in the darkness like stars.As they passed Hannam Boulevard, he caught sight of the Royal Peak Hotel rising beyond the dark river.Standing like a castle among the city’s skyscrapers, the building felt unreal—as if he hadn’t just been inside a few moments ago.The lavish presidential suite, the man who occupied it—Yoon Taerim. It all felt like a dream, detached from reality.Jungyoon leaned his head against the car window, absentmindedly watching the scenery pass by. Before he knew it, they were turning past Gyeongbokgung Palace and entering Buam-dong.As the number of high-rises dwindled, trees, houses, and closed art galleries filled the view. The familiar neighborhood surroundings made reality sink in.The sedan that had driven him home disappeared at the alley’s edge.Clutching only the handle of his worn-out briefcase, Jungyoon stepped through the gate. As he crossed the small garden, he noticed the house lights were on. Through the glass windows, he caught a glimpse of someone inside and quickly entered.As expected, Jaehyuk was there. Though he often dropped by on weekdays, he usually let Jungyoon know beforehand.The air felt unusually tense. Observing Jaehyuk’s stiff face, Jungyoon took off his shoes neatly and stepped inside.“When did you get here? You didn’t say anything, so I thought you weren’t coming today.”“What was that car outside? Did Yoon Taerim bring you home?”His tone was sharp.“No, his secretary did.”“You could’ve just taken a taxi. There were plenty in front of the hotel, so why did you get into that car?”“……”Jungyoon gave up on responding. It was ridiculous to explain himself over something so trivial.Without another word, he brushed past Jaehyuk. His limbs felt heavy, as if soaked in water. Now that the tension had dissipated, exhaustion crashed over him.“Seo Jungyoon. I’m not finished talking.”“Talk. I’m listening.”“Stop doing that interview. It doesn’t have to be him. Just find another way.”Jungyoon, who was setting his bag down on the living room table, turned his head at those words and looked at Jaehyuk.“Why?”“…….”“What’s the reason? Give me a valid one.”Jaehyuk couldn’t respond. He couldn’t bring himself to admit that ever since seeing Yoon Taerim up close, an inexplicable sense of defeat had settled in his heart.It was only natural. The other man was impossibly perfect, someone he couldn’t even begin to compare himself to. It was embarrassing to even call it jealousy.“I already signed the contract. And where else am I supposed to find someone with those conditions?”“So what, you met him and decided you liked him?”“Yeah. He was well-mannered and nice. Two hours flew by.”“Are you really using Yoon Taerim as material for your writing? Or were you just flirting with that bastard?”Jungyoon couldn’t understand why Jaehyuk was suddenly raising his voice. It was as if he had committed some kind of betrayal.“Are you even listening to yourself right now?”“…How would you feel if it were me? If I spent two hours in a hotel room with some other woman, huh?”“It’s work. Don’t be ridiculous.”“That damn contract—just cancel it. I said I don’t like this. Can’t you even do that for me? Is your novel more important than me?”“…….”Jungyoon pressed his lips together tightly.They had known each other for over ten years. At this point, they could read each other’s thoughts just by looking at each other’s faces.Jaehyuk caught the faint shift in Jungyoon’s expression—trouble, guilt, and a slight hint of irritation.Seo Jungyoon’s writing always came first. That was an unchanging fact.Jaehyuk swallowed down a bitter smile.“Yeah. You’ve always been like this. I don’t know why I even asked.”Being second place was something he had long since gotten used to. Of course, he wanted to support Jungyoon’s work, to help him focus on his writing in any way he could.But today, he couldn’t shake off the heavy feeling weighing on his chest. That ugly inferiority, the kind he couldn’t even admit out loud, made their eight-year-long relationship waver.Maybe all the frustrations he had bottled up until now were finally spilling over.“Do whatever you want. I’m tired of having this conversation with you.”Jaehyuk turned and left without looking back. He shoved his feet into his shoes carelessly, pulled open the front door, and slammed it shut behind him. The sound was filled with so much emotion it was practically noise.“…Haah.”Only after Jaehyuk had left did Jungyoon let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.It wasn’t the first time they had fought, but today, he just couldn’t bring himself to entertain Jaehyuk’s irrationality.It was absurd. How could he even think there was something going on between him and Yoon Taerim?Jungyoon gathered his things again and stomped up the stairs to his workspace. As soon as he entered, he unpacked his bag.He opened his planner and sat at his desk. He needed to type up his notes before the details faded from his memory. He even added in a few conversations he hadn’t managed to write down earlier.His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard—until, at some point, they slowed, then stopped completely.Jungyoon rarely touched his phone while working, but this time, he reached for it.4:30 AM.There were no messages from Jaehyuk.Even by morning, his phone remained silent.Jungyoon, who had stayed up all night, just stared at the blank screen.He could reach out first, of course. But this time, for some reason, he didn’t want to be the one to yield.It left a bitter taste in his mouth. The summer heat only made the discomfort worse.Ding-dong—Just then, the doorbell rang.Who would be here this early? He wasn’t expecting anyone, which made the sound even more unusual.He went downstairs, slipped on his sandals, and stepped outside.When he opened the iron gate, a man wearing a motorcycle helmet was standing there.The man lifted the visor and asked in a rough voice, “Are you Seo Jungyoon?”“Yeah, that’s me.”“Delivery service.”The man handed over a single envelope, then turned and left without another word.The roar of his motorcycle engine was just as rough as his voice.All that remained in Jungyoon’s hands was the unmarked envelope.Curious, he opened it right away.Inside were three A4-sized pages, a black envelope containing a hotel voucher, and a business card.[Royal Peak Hotel, PR Team. Manager Kim Hyemin.]Jungyoon flipped the card over, then closed the gate.“Mutual benefit.”The phrase, so common it was almost dull, left his lips.It seemed the time had come to repay Yoon Taerim’s generosity sooner than expected.