Chapter 28: An Unexpected Intruder

“Ah, are you going to eat it with ketchup?”

Ijeong held up the ketchup bottle as he spoke. Yaehyun shook his head.

“No.”

“I thought you wanted me to bring it because you were going to eat it.” Ijeong tilted his head, holding the bottle.

A flash of realization crossed Yaehyun’s expression. “Ah… it’s a habit.”

It wasn’t Yaehyun who liked ketchup on omurice. The reason he had asked for it was different.

“Yeseo won’t eat without ketchup, so I guess I said it out of habit.” Yaehyun scratched the back of his neck, thinking of Yeseo.

He had been so worried about how to tell her, wondering if Yeseo would understand when he suggested they live separately. But Yeseo had just nodded excitedly.

‘This is awesome! Wow, I saw that place on TV. It looked super expensive and nice…’

Yaehyun had looked at his younger sister with mixed feelings as she agreed without even asking why.

“You must be really close with your sister.”

“We are. She’s family.”

At Yaehyun’s words, Ijeong made a slightly sour face for a moment. But as if nothing had happened, he smiled again and quietly picked up his spoon.

“It’s good.”

“Does it suit your taste?”

“Yeah, totally.” Ijeong gave a thumbs up.

Yaehyun thought he would let it slide today, but he couldn’t make egg dishes every day. He picked up his spoon, wondering what to do from next time.

“Are you an only child?” Yaehyun asked Ijeong. It was his attempt to make the meal less awkward.

“No. I have an older sister four years older.”

“Does she look like you?”

At Yaehyun’s question, Ijeong thought about Yujeong’s appearance. Did they look alike? Since Yujeong was also a dominant Alpha who inherited the same genes, she had quite a few similarities to Ijeong.

“Not a lot, just enough that if you said we were siblings, you’d think, ‘Ah, I see’?”

“Then she must be very beautiful.” Yaehyun said without thinking. Kang Yujeong was indeed beautiful.

Ijeong shrugged and answered, “Yeah. She is.”

“You’re not very close with your sister?” Feeling something odd about the unusually lukewarm tone, Yaehyun glanced at Ijeong’s expression as he spoke.

Oops, had he unconsciously felt bad thinking about Kang Yujeong? Ijeong smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.

“It’s not that. We’re not super close, but it’s not like we have a bad relationship either.”

When Ijeong said that, Yaehyun, who had been watching him, seemed somewhat relieved.

“I see. I’m curious what she’s like. It’s interesting that there’s a woman who looks like you.”

Yujeong was a famous third-generation chaebol and the next head of EH, with photos appearing on any portal site search, but Yaehyun didn’t seem to think of searching.

I don’t know if this means he’s interested in me or not, Ijeong thought and said, “What kind of person is she? Hmm, she’s a very scary person. My sister.” Ijeong unconsciously bit his lip slightly as he spoke.

“Did you get scolded a lot when you were young?” Yaehyun spoke casually and looked at Ijeong.

Ijeong found Yaehyun fascinating. He must know that Ijeong was the grandson of a company everyone knew by name, but did he not even watch dramas? Such innocent questions. But that part was very Seo Yaehyun.

“I wouldn’t say scolded, but I learned a lot.” Ijeong smiled faintly. “The age gap is awkward, so we’re not as affectionate as siblings with a bigger gap. Now I’m an adult, and we don’t meet often, so it’s even more so.”

“I see. A four-year gap is an awkward difference.” Yaehyun nodded and continued eating. “Have you contacted your sister?”

“She said she’s loving the rich experience and going crazy. Ha… No, it’s better that way. I’m glad she’s at ease.” Yaehyun thought of Yeseo, who was just happy to live in an expensive house without knowing anything. There was no point in telling her about the stalker. It wouldn’t do any good.

“I was really surprised when I heard from Jaeryun-hyung too. It happened on a busy day, so I heard about it late.” Ijeong’s face quickly turned worried. It was such a gentle expression that one couldn’t even imagine he thought the stalker wouldn’t stay still, just that he didn’t expect such quick and bold action. “I’m sorry. I thought I was completely out of it, but I even dragged hyung into this…”

He bowed his head apologetically, looking pitiful. Yaehyun, unaware of Ijeong’s inner thoughts, was flustered.

“You don’t need to apologize. Lift your head. What are you doing stopping in the middle of a meal?” Yaehyun put down his spoon. “It’s fine. It’s also my fault for not checking properly even after hearing there was a stalker. I heard you’ve been through a lot too. You probably didn’t have time to think.” Yaehyun comforted Ijeong. “I can’t do anything for you… but I hope the stalker gets caught soon so you can be less anxious.”

Yaehyun offered clumsy consolation. They say worrying about celebrities is the most useless worry, but still, seeing someone in pain right in front of him, how could he just ignore it?

“Of course. That way hyung can feel a bit at ease too…”

“Enough. Don’t worry about me. This is a 2 million won per month part-time job anyway… It would be weird if it went smoothly.” Yaehyun said something he didn’t mean to reassure Ijeong.

If he had known there was a risk of direct harm to Yeseo, he wouldn’t have taken it even for 5 million, let alone 2 million. Yaehyun thought that and forced a smile.

“Anyway, I felt it last time too, but this place is really nice. The lobby and other facilities look great.” Yaehyun changed the subject to lift the gloomy mood. “I’ve never seen an apartment with a swimming pool before.”

Yaehyun recalled the facilities within the apartment complex he had seen while looking for the management office. They said the maintenance fee alone was several hundred thousand won per month. Indeed, an apartment that charges that much has to be different, with numerous facilities inside.

“It’s amazing. It feels like a hotel, not an apartment.”

To Yaehyun, who had lived in one place his whole life, everything was fascinating. But to Ijeong, who had lived in wealth his whole life, it was different. Of course, he chose this place because the facilities and security were better than others, but it didn’t matter much to him. Ijeong’s family home was a mansion with all kinds of facilities.

These facilities were only amazing to someone who came from a place with nothing. To Ijeong, who had lived in a place with the same facilities he could use alone, they didn’t have much appeal.

“If you’re registered as a resident, you can use them. Is there any place you want to see?” But Ijeong didn’t show any of that and spoke.

“No, I don’t particularly want to see…”

“I wanted to go too, but I felt like I’d just stand out if I went, so I didn’t.” Ijeong made a disappointed face. “It would be nice if hyung went.”

“…Huh?” Yaehyun answered with a flustered expression. He hadn’t meant that. “No. I don’t have time anyway because of work…”

“It would be good if you could go while you’re here. I can’t go, but hyung can…”

Yaehyun tried to refuse, but seeing Ijeong’s gentle eyes, he reluctantly nodded. “…Okay. If I have time.”

“Wow. That sounds fun. Be sure to tell me how it was.” Ijeong smiled with his eyes crinkling.

“Ugh… What am I doing here?”

In the end, Yaehyun couldn’t resist Ijeong’s urging and registered at the fitness center in the apartment complex. Ijeong said not to worry about the cost and even registered Yeseo, but Yeseo said exercise on precious weekends? No way, and ran off, leaving Yaehyun to come to the fitness center alone.

‘I want to take care of you as much as possible while you’re here. And you’ll be bored just staying at home.’

The culprit who sent Yaehyun here, Ijeong, left early in the morning saying he had additional filming. Yaehyun, having nothing to do and no courage to go outside the complex, visited the fitness center.

I’ve never been to a place like this. Should I start with running? Yaehyun awkwardly approached the treadmill.

“Hmm…” How do you operate this? Not knowing the machine, Yaehyun looked around helplessly. “Ah, got it.”

Finally figuring out the basic operation, Yaehyun sighed and started running slowly. It was awkward because it was his first time, and he felt embarrassed running in front of people, but it was also fascinating.

Whenever he went out, there were expenses, big or small, so he used to stay home on holidays to save money. Even though the situation wasn’t very satisfactory, he decided to try his best since he was doing it anyway. Yaehyun ran on the treadmill.

“But how long am I supposed to do this…?”

However, there was no way the first day of someone who came to the fitness center knowing nothing would go smoothly. He was getting out of breath, but since he had no idea what to do after getting off the treadmill, Yaehyun could only keep running like a hamster on a wheel.

Beep.

The person who pulled Yaehyun out of that endless loop was someone he never imagined he would meet again.

“Who…”

“Ha.”

A woman strode over and turned off Yaehyun’s treadmill, looking at him with disbelief. “How did you get in here?”

Huffing, the one speaking to Yaehyun was none other than Gyujin’s young lover.

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