Chapter 16: After Dinner

“Manager… that was really Cha Eun-gyeol, right?

He… he actually ate meat someone else fed him….”

“Right?

That was Han-geon’s chopsticks, wasn’t it?

He really ate it, didn’t he?”

The manager and Yujin were murmuring to each other, wearing expressions of utter disbelief.

Meanwhile, the one who had actually fed Eun-gyeol—Han-geon—just blinked, clueless as to what the big deal was.

Cha Eun-gyeol had always been famous for being a picky eater.

He barely touched food most of the time, so back then Han-geon would tease him by feeding him side dishes—and Eun-gyeol would open his mouth like a baby bird.

This time he’d just fed him naturally, like in the old days.

Was that really so shocking?

“Wow… if his previous manager had tried that, he probably would’ve thrown the chopsticks at their face and told them to get lost.”

“Right?

This is… honestly kind of scary.

Are we sure that’s actually Cha Eun-gyeol?”

“I’m tired.

If you’re all done eating, can we wrap this up already?”

Eun-gyeol finally snapped, sounding irritated.

At the same time, Yujin and the manager exchanged looks and nodded.

“Okay, yeah.

That’s the real Cha Eun-gyeol.”

“Yup.

Definitely him.

Alright then, shall we call it a day?

Eun-gyeol has script reading tomorrow.”

The manager clapped his hands twice, his face flushed red from the alcohol.

Now that they thought about it, it was already past ten.

They all gathered their things and stepped outside.

Everyone was pleasantly tipsy, bellies full.

In the thick, muggy summer air, the smell of alcohol and grilled meat drifted out with them.

“Let’s work well together from now on, Han-geon-ssi!”

“Yes, I’ll be in your care as well!”

“Oh?

By the way, Han-geon-ssi, did you call a chauffeur service?”

Han-geon, who had been shaking hands with everyone one by one again, blinked at Yujin’s question.

Come to think of it, he had to take the company car back home, but he’d had drinks—there was no one to drive.

He should’ve called a chauffeur when the manager ordered one earlier instead of spacing out.

Han-geon took out his phone and called out to the manager.

“Ah, I’ll call a chauffeur too.

Manager, could I get that driver’s business card…?”

“Yeah, here.”

Just then, as Han-geon reached out to take the card from the manager, Eun-gyeol grabbed his wrist and pulled it back.

“I’ll do it.”

“…Huh?”

Han-geon and Yujin both widened their eyes.

Yujin stammered.

“You—you’re saying you’re going to drive?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow… I never thought I’d live to see Cha Eun-gyeol driving his manager around.

This is honestly incredible.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

The manager and Yujin clicked their tongues again in disbelief.

Unbothered, Eun-gyeol held out his hand toward Han-geon.

Face flushed red, Han-geon reached into his pocket and handed him the car key.

Just then, the chauffeur the manager had called arrived.

“Oh, the driver’s here.”

“Alright then, Han-geon-ssi, see you tomorrow at the script reading dinner!”

“Yes, get home safely!

See you tomorrow.”

The noisy, alcohol-soaked goodbyes finally came to an end.

Except for Eun-gyeol and Han-geon, the other three all got into the manager’s car.

Once the car pulled out of the parking lot, Eun-gyeol climbed into the driver’s seat of the large van first, then tilted his head toward Han-geon.

“What are you doing?

Get in.”

“I just… feel bad…”

Han-geon scratched the back of his head, his face flushed red.

Was this really okay as a manager?

He should be the one driving, but he was making Eun-gyeol drive even before their first schedule together had begun.

As Han-geon hesitantly climbed into the passenger seat, Eun-gyeol gave him a brief laugh.

“What’s there to feel bad about?

It was a dinner to welcome you.

Of course you should drink today.”

“Yeah… still, I feel bad.”

“Enough about that.

Apologize for something else.”

“For what?”

Han-geon blinked blearily at Eun-gyeol’s arrogant tone, eyes hazy with drink.

After staring blankly for a moment, he licked his dry lips with the tip of his tongue.

“Oh—because you’re on a diet, and I was sitting there eating like crazy right in front of you.

Sorry.

I’ll try to restrain myself next time…”

“Why the hell would you apologize for that?

Not that.

Something else.”

“…There’s something else?”

He genuinely had no idea.

Han-geon trailed off.

At that moment, a rough hand suddenly reached out and gently pinched his earlobe.

“Ah—ow, you jerk.”

“See this?

Look how red it got.

All because you were drinking with that punk Kim Geon-ho.”

“I said… it hurts.”

“It pisses me off.

Aren’t you my manager?

Don’t go drinking like that with some other guy while sitting right next to me.

Got it?”

It was absurd nonsense.

Han-geon wasn’t even someone who got drunk easily, nor had he ever caused trouble while drinking.

But still—Eun-gyeol was being petty.

Even while spouting such unreasonable complaints, his face didn’t waver at all.

But they had just wrapped up a pleasant dinner, and fighting over something like this now wouldn’t lead to anything good.

Above all, Han-geon didn’t want to get into a pointless argument with Eun-gyeol.

Letting out a breath laced with alcohol, he nodded.

He could have pried the hand off by force, but instead he gently wrapped his fingers around Eun-gyeol’s wrist and soothed him like calming a sulky kid.

“Okay.

I get it, so… let go.”

Only after hearing that obedient answer did Eun-gyeol seem satisfied enough to release him.

Vrrm—the way he naturally started the engine, his expression calmly returning to normal, made it seem like nothing had happened.

“I’m starting the car.”

Come to think of it, had Han-geon ever ridden in a car driven by Eun-gyeol?

No—never once.

Seeing Eun-gyeol behind the wheel felt unfamiliar, yet it filled Han-geon with curiosity and a kind of fanlike admiration.

If he could, he wanted to capture that sight—Eun-gyeol driving so smoothly and confidently—take a picture and look at it a thousand, ten thousand times.

But a manager taking pictures of his celebrity friend because he looked cool while driving… grinning at the wheel like an idiot?

He absolutely couldn’t let himself become that kind of screw-loose idiot.

So he settled for appreciating it only with his eyes.

Resting his head slightly against the window, Han-geon kept stealing secret glances at Eun-gyeol.

‘Ha…’

Rubbing his flushed, drunken face with one hand, Han-geon let out a hot sigh.

It was just… a pleasant, buoyant kind of night.

Even though he felt nervous about starting his schedule as Eun-gyeol’s manager the very next day, he was also excited.

Above all, just like now—being able to sit beside Eun-gyeol and look at him all day long—felt like a dream.

The large van slid smoothly into the inner alley.

Eun-gyeol pulled over and turned off the engine.

“We’re here.”

“Uh… thanks for dropping me off.

I called a taxi, so go ahead and leave.”

“Okay.”

His voice was sweet—like he’d never been sulking at all.

Seeing Eun-gyeol respond in such a pleasant tone, Han-geon lifted his hand to shyly cover his flushed face.

The earlobe Eun-gyeol had pinched earlier was still throbbing with heat.

Soon after, the taxi Han-geon had called on his phone arrived.

He waved as Eun-gyeol—cap pulled low—climbed in and shut the door.

As he glanced at the taxi number to memorize it, the window slid down with a soft whirr.

“Sleep well.”

It was a playful, sweet tone.

Han-geon nodded and waved again.

“…Yeah, you too.

Driver, please take care of him.”

“Yes, sir.”

The driver answered dryly and gently pressed the accelerator.

Han-geon stood there until the taxi completely disappeared from sight, seeing Eun-gyeol off.

[Text me when you get home.]

After sending the text, Han-geon hurried to take a shower.

Even under the running water, he kept murmuring the taxi number he’d memorized earlier.

Before drying his hair with a towel, he turned on his phone screen and checked it again and again.

Nothing should happen, of course—but the kid was so famous.

He felt like he wouldn’t be able to relax until he heard that Eun-gyeol had arrived safely.

[I got home fine.]

Only after confirming the message that arrived with a buzz did Han-geon finally allow himself to lie comfortably on the bed.

Rolling around as he happily replayed the events of the day, he turned off the lights early to get ready for sleep.

Tomorrow would be his first day at work.

He’d have to wake up earlier than usual to prepare.

***

Maybe because he was too nervous, he woke up at 5:30.

He considered doing his usual weight training but decided that draining his energy on the first day wasn’t wise, so he only did a light run.

After showering, he put on a crisp shirt and fixed his hair.

Finishing breakfast, Han-geon left home shortly before seven and drove toward Eun-gyeol’s place.

Having wandered around all over the place with the company car the day before, he had already grown comfortable with the steering wheel.

Driving with familiarity, he checked the time.

The script reading started at 10 a.m., and they said arriving around 9:30 would be fine.

It took about twenty minutes to get from his home to Eun-gyeol’s, and from Eun-gyeol’s place to the reading site would take about an hour even with traffic.

In short, he had about an hour to spare.

It felt kind of overzealous to show up so early.

Feeling a bit sheepish, Han-geon slowed down as Eun-gyeol’s apartment came into view.

The company car was already registered, so he could enter without any separate clearance.

He drove down to the underground parking lot and parked in the designated spot.

Across from him were a few of the cars Eun-gyeol cherished.

Two sports cars and two sedans.

Seeing the flashy-colored sports cars, Hangeon let out a small laugh.

Seriously, his taste…

Should he call?

After hesitating, Hangeon finally made the call.

Eun-gyeol had always been the type to sleep heavily in the mornings.

He didn’t want to wake him, but it was about time for him to get up and start getting ready anyway.

— Mm?

Hangeon had expected he’d have to act as a morning alarm for a while, but surprisingly, Eun-gyeol answered right away.

“You’re already awake?

I’m in your underground parking lot.

Get ready and come down.

I’ll wait.”

— Why would you wait there?

Come up.

“I thought I might distract you while you’re getting ready.”

— What are you talking about.

Just come up.

A long yawn slipped into his words.

After saying “Alright,” Hangeon hung up.

He grabbed the tumbler of drinks he’d brought, and the lunch he’d prepared because Eun-gyeol was guaranteed to skip breakfast otherwise, and stepped out of the car.

Using the card key he’d gotten from Eun-gyeol beforehand, he tapped it and pressed the button for the 55th floor.

His ears clogged slightly as the high-speed elevator shot upward.

The first time Eun-gyeol bought this place and invited him over for a housewarming, he’d been stunned.

It was a completely different world from the one-room he lived in.

Come to think of it, this was only his third time here.

He met up with Eun-gyeol all the time, but Eun-gyeol overwhelmingly preferred visiting Hangeon’s place.

When the elevator reached the 55th floor, a single front door came into view.

As Eun-gyeol had said—that he’d left it open so Hangeon could just come in—the door wasn’t locked.

Maybe because he’d only been here a few times, he suddenly felt nervous.

Pulling the door shut behind him with a click, Hangeon blinked as he stepped inside.

“Every time I come here, seriously…”

It was a place that made you involuntarily let out a sigh of admiration.

The penthouse, built as a duplex, was open from top to bottom, giving it an even more spacious, airy feeling.

Through the huge windows that stretched across both floors, it felt like you could see the entirety of Seoul.

And yet—whether it was thanks to some clever adjustment or design—the natural light never felt overwhelming.

As he walked further in, Hangeon heard the faint sound of running water in the distance.

He must be showering.

He set the lunchbox and tumbler he’d brought on the long kitchen bar and sat down on one of the chairs.

It wasn’t long before the water stopped.

Footsteps approached from the other side.

“Did you sleep we—”

Halfway through greeting him, Hangeon suddenly bit his lip and flushed red.

He jerked his gaze away and grumbled instead.

“…If you invite someone over, maybe put some clothes on.”

“Choi Hangeon, why so shy today?”

With an effortless lilt to his voice, Eun-gyeol strolled closer and—letting out an impressed little “Oh”—picked up the tumbler Hangeon had brought.

Hangeon frowned and subtly pulled his body back in the chair.

He was way too close.

His firm, beautiful body.

And the… important parts, too.

“It’s good…”

“You okay?”

“Mm.

I think it tastes even better because my manager made it for me.”

Eun-gyeol took a few sips of the green-grape ade, then set the tumbler back down on the bar.

A couple of droplets of water clinging to the ends of his hair fell onto Hangeon’s shoulder and pants.

And somehow, that alone made his ears burn again.

“Go put some clothes on.”

“Why are you nagging me so much?”

Eun-gyeol scrunched his brows slightly as he rubbed his hair with the end of the towel hanging around his neck.

Then, suddenly, his eyes sparkled—and he broke into a mischievous grin.

“Why?

Seeing me naked makes you want to eat me up or something?”