Chapter 125: Side Story 3: The Weight of One-Sided Devotion

Hae-jin knew his obsession wasn’t normal. He had secretly visited hospitals and met with famous counselors, but they all repeated the same thing: his feelings were overflowing because of the trauma of losing his imprinted partner and the overwhelming gratitude toward the Guide who saved his life. They said that as time passed and they grew more familiar with each other, the obsession would fade.

However, as time went on, the obsession didn’t shrink—it grew larger every day.

Sensing the unusual tension in the air, Lee Chae approached the window and took Hae-jin’s hand.

“So, you’re bothered because you think the CEO of the ad agency has ulterior motives toward me?”

Hae-jin nodded silently. Until now, Hae-jin had compromised on everything he wanted, yielding to Lee Chae. He was terrified that Lee Chae would grow tired of him and leave. But this time, he couldn’t back down.

“Then let’s do this.” “How?” “Their proposal was for me to appear, but they didn’t specify the co-star.” “And?” “What do you mean ‘and’? Instead of using the actor they designated, you act as my partner. You can stay right by my side and guard me!”

Lee Chae smiled radiantly as he spoke.

“…Can’t we just not film it at all?”

“No, we can’t. This is a chance to cut advertising costs in half. Logically, does it make sense to kick away an opportunity like this? So, please, listen to me this once.”

Lee Chae clung to Hae-jin’s arm and nuzzled his cheek against him. It was a behavior the usually blunt Lee Chae only displayed when he wanted something. Even though Hae-jin knew this, he had no choice but to give in—the one who loves more is always the one who loses.

“Fine. I’m letting it slide even though I know what you’re doing.”

“As expected, you’re the best CEO. And the best husband material, too.”

Lee Chae pressed his lips to Hae-jin’s, who was still looking at him with a dissatisfied expression. He knew exactly how much Hae-jin was holding back.

After the war ended, society shifted to value ability over rank. Lee Chae, who had always felt inferior about his rank, had a stronger desire for social recognition than anyone. And Hae-jin understood that ambition.

Though he didn’t like it, he allowed Lee Chae to work as a director on the operations team and even sent him to occasional company dinners with non-Awakened employees. Of course, Hae-jin would always “coincidentally” appear at a nearby table to monitor him personally. However, because Hae-jin would smile kindly and pay for everyone’s drinks without acting like an arrogant prick, Lee Chae’s social life remained intact.

Hae-jin, his face full of thought, retied his loosened tie and began gathering his documents. Lee Chae narrowed his eyes at him. Usually, at a time like this, Hae-jin would demand skinship or try to negotiate for something he wanted. Seeing him act so submissive and quiet was suspicious.

“…Hyung?”

Hae-jin, who was putting papers into a file, stopped abruptly.

“Do you only call me ‘Honey’ when you need something? And the rest of the time it’s just ‘Hyung’?”

Hae-jin’s voice sounded different than usual. His low tone sounded weary, as if he had resigned himself to something, or perhaps even hurt.

‘Why is he like this? Did he really hate the idea that much?’

Lee Chae considered his words while looking at Hae-jin’s deeply furrowed brow. Feeling troubled by that wounded expression, he clung to Hae-jin’s arm again.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

Hae-jin sighed and pulled his arm away as if it were a nuisance.

“It’s nothing. Go back to work. It’s still a long time before we can clock out.”

Having said that, Hae-jin left the office alone, leaving Lee Chae standing there. Lee Chae blinked blankly at the closed door.

“Ha, how unfair. It’s not like I’m dying to film a commercial!”

Living together, they had their small bickers, but Lee Chae tried his best not to fight. Yet, Hae-jin would still get sulky like this, seemingly unaware of Lee Chae’s efforts.

Well, he’ll probably get over it by tonight.

Lee Chae brushed it off, grabbed his laptop, and headed out. Seung-yong, who had been peeking around the corner, approached with a worried face.

“Dambo, the Leader went upstairs with a terrifyingly angry face. You should go and soothe him.”

“No, right now isn’t the kind of situation where soothing him will work.”

“Sigh… Can’t you just not do the commercial? I don’t know if it’s worth making your partner feel bad.”

Jae-hyung chimed in. “Don’t say that. If he gives in every time, it’ll just keep happening…”

“Jae-hyung, you’re too cold. I think I understand the Leader’s heart. I’d be upset too if someone looked at you and called you pretty.”

Jae-hyung shamelessly wrapped his arm around Seung-yong’s shoulder. “I do everything you want me to do, so what’s there to worry about?”

“That’s true! Our Jae-hyung is very obedient. He’s pretty, handsome, and even at night—”

Jae-hyung quickly covered Seung-yong’s mouth and smiled awkwardly at Lee Chae.

“Aren’t you two being a bit much in front of someone who just fought with their partner?”

As Lee Chae walked back to his own office, Hae-jin’s pained expression weighed heavily on his mind.

Back in the CEO’s office, Hae-jin pulled out a cigarette he had hidden deep at the bottom of a drawer—a “break glass in case of emergency” stash. He opened the window and took a drag, feeling the suffocating weight in his chest ease slightly.

Why do I feel so shitty?

It wasn’t just because Lee Chae insisted on the commercial. The wise Jung Lee Chae had tried to comfort him by finding a compromise.

The problem was always himself. No matter how hard he tried, his obsession wouldn’t fade, and seeing Lee Chae grow weary of it—realizing the difference in the depth of their feelings—drove him madder as time went on.

He finished the cigarette and was processing work when there was a knock. Hae-jin frowned. He had told Lee Chae dozens of times he could enter without knocking, but Lee Chae always stuck to the formality.

“Come in.”

Lee Chae entered with a bright expression. He seemed to have finished the negotiation with the ad agency. He approached with a lovely face as if he were about to throw himself into Hae-jin’s arms, but then he paused, sniffed the air, and his face hardened.

“Hyung, did you smoke?”

“Yeah.”

Lee Chae set his documents down and walked right up to the desk, staring Hae-jin in the eye.

“We agreed you wouldn’t smoke. Are you planning on sleeping in separate rooms for five days?”

Hae-jin looked up at him, incredulous. Lee Chae was usually so sensitive to his moods, yet here he was, bringing up the “rules” over a single cigarette when the atmosphere was clearly heavy. Hae-jin knew that Lee Chae viewed following these rules as his own way of expressing love, and because he loved him, Hae-jin had endured it.

But today, using physical affection as a weapon during a disagreement felt unbearable.

“Jung Lee Chae.”

His voice was icy. Lee Chae’s eyes sharpened. He looked as if he were asking what gave Hae-jin the right to use that tone.

“Do you really have to stick to those damn rules even in a situation like this?”

Lee Chae looked at him in disbelief, then picked up the documents and stood opposite him.

“What ‘situation’? I found a compromise because you said you hated the idea. Don’t use this as an excuse because you wanted to smoke.”

“Why am I the only one who has to compromise?”

“Compromise? What did you give up? Wasn’t I the one who yielded this time?”

“Yielding, my ass. Yielding would have been saying you wouldn’t do the commercial at all.”

Their glares intensified, and their words grew faster. During a brief silence, Lee Chae took a breath to calm himself and opened the file.

“You were worried the ad agency CEO was hitting on me, weren’t you?”

“So you do know.”

Lee Chae pointed to an email. It stated that co-starring was possible.

“That’s why I negotiated this myself. But you don’t even recognize my effort; you just go and do the one thing I hate. Isn’t that right?”

“…Fine. It’s always my fault.”

“Hyung, why are you being so childish?”

“…”

Speechless, Hae-jin just glared. Even now, Lee Chae’s face was frustratingly beautiful. He knew if he apologized, the kind Lee Chae would tell him it’s okay just this once and soothe him with a kiss. He knew that, and he hated the time being wasted right now.

Yet, a part of him felt he couldn’t back down this time. If he did, Lee Chae would continue to use skinship as a weapon to get his way. Today it was a commercial; tomorrow, it might be asking him to “understand” when he had to hug or hold hands with other men for work.

His emotions, once sparked, overflowed uncontrollably. Despite knowing he shouldn’t, Hae-jin continued to hurl sharp words at Lee Chae.