The car itself was one thing, but what really startled him was that the license plate was identical to his friend's. It seed that any parts the author had left blank were automatically filled with elents from Heemin’s own mories, seamlessly blending fiction with reality.
Without hesitation, Heemin opened the passenger door and sank into the seat. The lack of a strong pheromone presence from Iheon made him feel as if he had truly returned to the real world.
He did feel guilty about making Iheon take suppressants continuously since that day. Still, it was nice to enjoy a mont that felt like reality again. Perhaps this was what ‘Seo Heemin’ had always longed for—a relationship between two Betas.
"What did you talk about with Kwak Yoonseong?"
As soon as Heemin clipped his seatbelt into place and sat quietly, Iheon got into the driver’s seat and cut straight to the point. After all that ti pretending not to care, he was suddenly interrogating him, as if he had to find out exactly why Kwak Yoonseong had started calling him "son" and searching for him now.
"He asked to help him. Said his position in the company has beco unstable."
"And? Are you planning to help him?"
Iheon’s unreadable gaze locked onto his.
After rushing over the mont he heard the news and practically chasing Kwak Yoonseong out, why was he now pretending to test him? Was he asking because he already knew the answer?
The mont he deliberately left out the part about the job, a guilty feeling gnawed at him. Still, keeping his expression neutral, Heemin replied coolly.
"No. Why would I help him? Now that things have co to this, I might as well wait for the right mont and ship ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ him off on a deep-sea fishing vessel."
"That deep-sea fishing boat again?"
Iheon let out a breathy chuckle, as if exasperated. The idea that Heemin thought a fitting revenge was sending him off on a tuna boat was apparently amusing to him. Given everything he had taken from Kwak Yoonseong piece by piece, draining him dry wasn’t even enough in his eyes.
With a low rumble, the engine started. Other than that, Iheon didn’t react much, aning he wasn’t asking to test whether Heemin was lying—he was probably just making conversation.
"Hey, Do—"
He had almost asked if Do Junyoung had really made a big mistake. But suddenly struck by a thought, he cut himself off.
"Do what?"
"Ah, nothing. Just... I would never help Kwak Yoonseong."
At his timid response, Iheon gave him a look that said What a ridiculous guy, before gripping the wheel. Soon, the accelerator was pressed, and the car smoothly pulled out of the underground parking lot.
As Heemin stared at Iheon, deep in thought, he recalled that in Silence, Do Junyoung was described as an exceptionally capable man—so much so that Seo Jae-han had considered him as his successor.
Even knowing that ‘Seo Heemin’ had been captured by Cha Iheon, Do Junyoung had remained calm and professional to the very end. Soone like him wouldn’t have committed a serious mistake.
It was probably his doing.
Iheon must have orchestrated everything, using Do Junyoung—Seo Jae-han’s close associate—to push all the bla onto Kwak Yoonseong.
It was completely within his capabilities. Just like how he had spent years sharpening his blade to cut off Seo Jae-han’s limbs one by one, he had likely been waiting for the perfect opportunity to eliminate both of them in one strike. After all, when it ca to others—not ‘Seo Heemin’—Iheon never showed even a sliver of rcy.
Lost in thought as he gazed at the passing cityscape, Heemin eventually spoke up, his tone cautious.
"Don’t send Kwak Yoonseong sowhere far away. If he’s out of sight, he could pull sothing unexpected. You have to destroy him where you can see him."
Iheon had likely intended to tighten the noose slowly rather than cutting his throat in one blow, but Kwak Yoonseong was far more persistent and ruthless than he gave him credit for.
As long as he had access to the company’s internal secrets, they couldn’t afford to leave even a chance for betrayal. Otherwise, he might end up as an easy offering for Shin Seungbeom, who was already hungry to expand his influence.
Hearing the seriousness in his voice, Iheon shot him a sidelong glance.
Then, at a red light, he stopped the car. He remained silent, simply watching Heemin with a deep, lingering gaze.
Had he overstepped?
Just as he was about to regret speaking up, Iheon’s half-lidded eyes curved slightly, and he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
"When soone is out of sight, they pull unexpected stunts."
"...What?"
"That sounds like sothing you would do."
"What did you just say?"
"Actually, no. You’re even worse. You’re unpredictable even when you’re right in front of ."
Given how often he had done things ‘Seo Heemin’ would never have done, it wasn’t exactly a wrong statent.
But comparing him to Kwak Yoonseong of all people? That was crossing a line. Heemin scowled and shot him a glare.
"I am nothing like Kwak Yoonseong, okay? He has that kind of malice—I don’t. Where else would you find soone as kind as ? Seriously, this is too much."
Indignant, he pounded his chest with his fist.
Not only was he being treated like a kid, but now like a bouncy ball.
Sure, he was planning to sneak around behind Iheon’s back tomorrow, but that was to save this man’s life, not for any selfish reasons.
I’m going through all this just to make sure this story ends with ‘And they lived happily ever after.’
And yet, all Iheon did was tease him.
Of course, it wasn’t like he could just blurt out, This is a novel, and I know exactly how it ends. Even if he tried, Iheon wouldn’t believe him, and he’d only waste his breath.
No matter how frustrated or wronged he felt, he had to endure it.
"Sigh..."
He let out a deep, exhausted sigh and turned toward the window.
The light changed, and Iheon started driving again. Then, breaking the silence, he spoke.
"Heemin."
"What now?"
"Put your hand inside the inner pocket of the jacket you're wearing."
"I don’t want to."
"You’ll regret it."
So this was the ssage—Bow your head and submit before I even have to scold you.
How fitting for a gangster. Intimidation was second nature to him.
It was odd that he told him to put his hand inside rather than just take out what was inside, but Heemin had no choice but to comply.
The mont he slipped his hand into the pocket, his fingers brushed against sothing thin, flat, and smooth like glass. He knew exactly what it was just from the familiar texture alone—he had felt it pressing against his chest with every step.
"Here."
Heemin pulled the phone out from the inner pocket and handed it to him.
He had expected to see the usual jet-black device, but instead, what erged was a white phone—his preferred color. The unexpected sight caught him off guard.
White? That doesn’t suit him. Isn’t black the default setting for Cha Iheon?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Yet, despite asking him to take it out, Iheon didn’t reach for it. His hands weren’t occupied—he was only using one to steer—but he kept his gaze fixed ahead, continuing to drive as if he had never spoken.
What is this situation? Is he subtly flexing that he got a new phone? Trying to make jealous?
"Why aren’t you taking it? Didn’t you ask for your phone?"
"That’s yours."
"...Huh?"
"It’s yours."
"You’re serious? This is mine?"
Even after hearing it, he couldn’t believe it.
One mont, he was teasing him about being worse than Kwak Yoonseong, and now he was pulling sothing like this?
"Do you not like it?"
Iheon casually pulled his own phone out of his pocket. It was the sa model as Heemin’s, only in black.
"So, this is... a gift from you?"
"It’s not exactly a gift."
"Then why? You swore you’d never buy a phone."
His voice was full of suspicion, but his lips had already curled into a wide grin.
The sleek, newly launched phone, the kind he had only seen in TV comrcials, was his.
His rationality betrayed him as his cheeks lifted so high it was embarrassing. His heart pounded with excitent.
"You said you wanted to seduce ."
Iheon’s deep gaze locked onto him.
"If you’re going to do it, at least do it properly."
The kind of line you’d only see in novels. It made him flinch for a second.
But instead of being put off, the frustration he had felt earlier completely vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.
His eyes curled into crescent moons as he bead.
"I’ll use it well, hyung. Thanks."
Maybe it was just an indirect way of telling him to stop borrowing other people’s phones.
But he had no doubt that the ssage Heemin sent today had changed his mind.
Good thing I didn’t accidentally send him so chain letter.
Now, he could finally look things up on the internet, read e-books with ease, and—most importantly—contact him directly without going through soone else.
Of course, the phone was probably cloned, aning all his browsing history and location data would be sent straight to Iheon.
But he didn’t care. He was just happy.
"What’s the plan? Is this one of those stingy plans with, like, only 300MB of data?"
"What kind of person do you think I am?"
Iheon shot him an incredulous look.
"I-I didn’t an it like that. I just worried it might only allow calls and texts... I wanted to send you pictures of what I was doing, but if there’s no data, I’d be sad."
Realizing how childish he sounded, Heemin mumbled excuses under his breath.
Still staring ahead, Iheon gave a short answer.
"It’s unlimited."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, this is great. Thanks, hyung. I’ll text you often."
Well, knowing how straightforward Iheon was, there was no way he would give him a half-baked phone plan.
Finally reassured, Heemin eagerly started setting up his phone.
He downloaded KakaXTalk, YouXube, and various e-book apps while Iheon focused on driving.
As expected, ‘Seo Heemin’s’ email matched his own, allowing him to log in without any issues.
His phone number was probably the sa as well.
010-9X24-0709.
As he entered Iheon’s number into his contacts, sothing unexpected popped up.
Cha Iheon.
The na had already been saved.
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