RT 11

Chapter 11

He was helpless. As Woo-kyung’s gaze, meeting his without a single gap, looked down at him, Lee Yeon’s heart began to beat uncontrollably.

Was it because he had been living with Cha Woo-kyung? It seemed his immunity, which was strong in other matters, had grown peculiarly weak when it came to anything related to him.

Moreover, as his wandering eyes trailed downward, the firmly defined abdominal muscles and shoulder lines came into view. On top of that, the scene he’d witnessed in the bathroom suddenly resurfaced in his mind. He was so flustered he didn’t know where to look.

But he didn’t want to show his flustered state. Holding on purely out of stubbornness, Lee Yeon bit his lip and spoke decisively.

“Step aside, please.”

A brief silence fell after Lee Yeon’s words. Within that silence, Woo-kyung’s gaze remained distinctly clear as it lowered onto him.

“Do you really hate it?”

Lee Yeon just blinked silently without a word. His lips quivered slightly, as if searching for an answer.

“Doesn’t look like you hate it that much.”

Woo-kyung let out a soft laugh and closed the distance a little more.

Lee Yeon, swept up in tension, clutched the innocent sheets tightly and caught his breath.

“Why are you really doing this? I’m tired right now. So… please stop.”

“I’d like to as well, but it’s really strange.”

The corners of Woo-kyung’s eyes curved mischievously. Soon, his gaze, which had been indifferent, slowly settled on Lee Yeon’s face. Lee Yeon’s clear eyes widened roundly, and his flustered expression filled Woo-kyung’s vision; each of those small reactions tickled his nerves.

An impulse to tease him crept up. But strangely, a corner of his heart felt numb.

The feeling of wanting to tease him flipped in an instant, and instead, he felt like he was the one being shaken.

A hollow laugh, mixed with self-deprecating irony, flowed inside him.

*This is driving me crazy.*

“When I look at you, I can’t really tell if it’s a joke or not.”

Lee Yeon tried hard to avert his gaze, but his mind was already filled with his expression and the look in his eyes.

*Why on earth is he acting like this?*

It was uncomfortable, yet strangely thrilling.

The more he tried to push the feeling away, the deeper it seemed to dig in.

Just then.

*Knock, knock.*

The sound of knocking on the door and a familiar voice caused a look of annoyance to flash across Woo-kyung’s face.

“Young Master, my apologies for visiting so suddenly. This is Secretary Jin. The Chairman says he has an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

As the silence was abruptly broken, Lee Yeon instinctively sat bolt upright, his body which had been tense without him realizing. Lee Yeon looked at him, his cheeks flushed red hot through his loosely disheveled hair.

“I think your grandfather is here.”

As a wave of relief washed over the depths of his chest, Lee Yeon’s frantically beating heart gradually calmed.

Feeling a liberating sense of having narrowly avoided a crisis, Lee Yeon quietly let out a breath.

*Thank goodness.*
*That was really close.*

Meanwhile, Woo-kyung got off the bed with an irritated expression and picked up his t-shirt.

After properly putting on his t-shirt, Woo-kyung headed for the door, then glanced at the disheveled Lee Yeon and said firmly,

“Don’t you come down.”

“Wha…?”

Lee Yeon’s eyes widened, and he answered with a puzzled face. But Woo-kyung’s gaze captured Lee Yeon’s startled eyes and the still-present tremor in his lips as he half-sat up at the edge of the bed.

*If he comes down with that face, Grandfather will definitely interrogate him thoroughly.*
*Did I give him access to the house for nothing?*

Woo-kyung swallowed shortly and went straight down to the living room. Spotting his grandfather sitting on one side of the reception room with a stern air, Woo-kyung asked bluntly.

“What’s the matter?”

“You rascal!”

At Woo-kyung’s sharp tone, Chairman Cha shook his head from side to side and clicked his tongue.

“Where’s Lee Yeon?”

“He’s sleeping.”

“Already asleep?”

“Don’t tell me you came here because you were curious about that?”

*I thought he’d improve a bit after getting married.* Chairman Cha, observing his grandson’s attitude which still lacked any trace of warmth, furrowed his brow.

“I met Chairman Ko of Shin Yoo Group this afternoon. He said some mere lawyer is stirring up trouble and asked for our help, saying he’s in a difficult position.”

“And did he not say who that ‘mere lawyer’ is?”

At Woo-kyung’s calm reply, Chairman Cha, who had been letting out heavy sighs from between his wrinkles, slowly tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest.

Like someone burdened with a troublesome task.

“Even without asking who that ‘mere lawyer’ is, I could tell right away. Woo-kyung, if you’re making a move knowing full well that he’s on friendly terms with this old man, it means you’re that confident, right?”

Unfazed by Chairman Cha’s authoritative tone, Woo-kyung shrugged his shoulders and slightly lifted the corners of his smooth lips.

“When have I ever disappointed you, Grandfather? I haven’t. So you should trust me.”

Looking at his grandson answering so glibly, Chairman Cha clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded.

“Fine. But since it’s something you started, don’t even think for a second about solving it by borrowing my power.”

“That was my intention from the start. So there’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about, Grandfather.”

Although Chairman Cha had been worried that Woo-kyung’s unrestrained temperament might face a backlash, he let out a brief sigh.

*’Well, he’s capable and knows what he’s doing, so it’s better to leave him be.’*

With a somewhat softened expression, Chairman Cha brought up the real reason for his visit.

“Right, about Lee Yeon.”

“What about Lee Yeon?”

“I’ve finished talking with his school. I’ve arranged for him to work as an intern at our firm, so you should know that.”

“Why are you deciding that, Grandfather?”

“With Lee Yeon’s grades, any place would want him anyway. What’s the problem with us making the first move?”

The corners of Woo-kyung’s lips twisted slightly.

Lee Yeon was someone who always strictly drove himself and shone quietly in his own place.

The thought that Lee Yeon might get caught up in unnecessary gossip because of him made Woo-kyung feel uncomfortable. Moreover, in a place like a law firm where rumors spread fast, the entire office would likely be buzzing within a single day.

Woo-kyung, who had been silent for a moment, added in a low voice.

“I understand. However, please make sure our relationship isn’t known within the firm.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Chairman Cha quietly narrowed his eyes. A faint smile spread across his lips as he recalled how Woo-kyung, uncharacteristically, had just defended Lee Yeon.

*’The kid who used to run away at the mere mention of marriage is now worrying about someone to this extent.’*

Until now, whenever the topic of marriage came up, Woo-kyung would detest it and always brush it off as a joke. Even when discussing the firm’s future, he would laugh and say, ‘I’m just not suited for marriage.’

But now, his grandson’s expression was clearly different from before.

*It seems he’s finally starting to act like a proper person and care about others.* Chairman Cha sighed shortly to himself and relaxed his shoulders.

His grandson’s capricious personality had always been a concern. He was full of responsibility but tried not to show his emotions; Chairman Cha had always worried he might hurt someone’s feelings with an insincere relationship.

An unconscious, satisfied smile spread across Chairman Cha’s lips.

“Then I’ll be going now. Next time, come visit the main house with Lee Yeon.”

As if genuinely disappointed not to have seen Lee Yeon, Chairman Cha got up slowly from his seat with a displeased face. At that moment, Woo-kyung suddenly spoke up.

“Oh, and from now on, don’t just barge into the newlywed house without notice like this. You ruin the mood.”

“What?”

As soon as Woo-kyung finished speaking, the wrinkled corners of Chairman Cha’s mouth trembled slightly.

*’Hoho, look at this kid. Now I’m being treated like a nuisance.’*

He had never dreamed, after raising him so preciously, that he would hear such words.

But before bitterness could set in, a sense of absurd laughter found him first.

“You’re not offended, are you?”

“Enough, you brat.”

After scolding Woo-kyung, Chairman Cha let out a hollow laugh, shook his head, and left the house.

***

Lee Yeon took a deep breath in front of the building housing the Jeongyul Law Firm.

His face reflected in the glass exterior looked exceptionally tense.

A few days ago, when Lee Yeon had gone to the professor’s office, he received an unexpected proposal.

*’Lee Yeon, would you be interested in doing an internship?’*

When he was too flustered to answer immediately, Assistant Kim, who was organizing documents in the corner, quietly lifted his head and began to mutter.

*’Lucky guy. What’s so special about him to get an internship? And at Jeongyul Law Firm, no less?’*

The assistant’s inadvertent murmur was laced with jealousy and sarcasm.

But Lee Yeon acted as if he hadn’t heard it and calmly turned his gaze back to the professor.

And he found out later, through Woo-kyung.

That it was a position arranged by Chairman Cha.

But Lee Yeon couldn’t bring himself to refuse outright.

If this was also part of the path to the success he desired, he had no luxury to turn down a given opportunity.

*’It’s okay. In times like this, focus even more.’*

Repeating the affirmation to himself numerous times, Lee Yeon stepped into the building.

The law firm office he entered after getting off the elevator was a clean space with team-partitioned glass walls and subtle lighting.

By the time Lee Yeon arrived, two other interns were already there.

One woman and one man. Both were from prestigious law schools no less than Lee Yeon’s, exuding confidence.