Chapter 13: A Boundless Gift

Yoon Heesu stiffened, unable to even draw a breath.

Han Suyeon’s breath drew slowly closer.

A dry, deep, yet faintly sweet natural scent.

And the woody perfume that complemented it so perfectly.

Involuntarily, pheromones began to leak from his body bit by bit.

The sweet, refreshing fragrance mixed with a hint of soap naturally blended with Han Suyeon’s pheromones.

However, the moment Han Suyeon caught the thick scent of his natural pheromones, he pulled his hand away from Heesu’s cheek, clenched his fist, squeezed his eyes shut, and took a step back.

Yoon Heesu, who had been certain a kiss was imminent, could do nothing but blink in a daze.

Had he done something else to displease him?

Or did he truly feel no special attraction to him, other than the base biological pull between an Alpha and an Omega?

“…”

The scent of the two of them still lingering in the air was bothersome.

Yoon Heesu spun around, walked to the window, and flung it wide open.

A cold wind rushed in as if it had been waiting, replacing the heated air of the room with the dry scent of winter.

He could see the sea outside, and his body began to tremble immediately from the biting air.

He heard the click of dress shoes behind him, and Han Suyeon approached to drape a padded jacket over his shoulders.

Yoon Heesu reflexively batted the hand away.

The jacket fell to the floor, but Han Suyeon didn’t seem to care; he picked it up, turned Heesu around, and bundled the jacket into his arms.

He wanted to be more stubborn, but since it was undeniably cold, he had no choice but to put it on.

Even so, after about ten minutes, the air in the room became unbearably freezing, forcing him to close the window.

Still, those ten minutes had been enough to air out the room completely.

Han Suyeon, who had waited in silence while Heesu stood by the window, tilted his head as if to ask if he was satisfied once Heesu turned around.

“Come here.”

“I have something to say.”

He spoke nonchalantly.

Yoon Heesu had enough pride not to respond with an “Okay, I understand,” and trot right over.

However, when Han Suyeon sat down on the sofa first, picked up an envelope from it, and waited, his feet moved of their own accord.

The room was still cold.

Wearing the thick padded jacket, Yoon Heesu sat opposite Han Suyeon.

Han Suyeon checked the contents of the envelope once before sliding it over to Yoon Heesu.

“What is this?”

“Debt repayment documents.”

“What?”

The sudden word left Yoon Heesu so bewildered he forgot everything that had happened until now, blinking blankly.

His eyes widened as he opened the envelope, which Han Suyeon was shaking as if urging him to take it.

– Repayment Amount: 1,100,585,000 Won

– Repayment Amount: 374,200,000 Won

– Repayment Amount: 800,300,000 Won

– Repayment Amount: …

And below the amounts, along with the statement, ‘We confirm that the debt relationship between PB Financial Co., Ltd. and Mr. Yoon Heesu has been terminated,’ was Kwon Seungjae’s seal.

PB Financial was the name of the loan shark firm operated by Kwon Seungjae.

The documents continued endlessly.

The dozen or so pages detailed the disappearance of the billions of won in debt that had shackled Yoon Heesu’s life.

Yoon Heesu scanned the documents from the beginning once more, unable to believe it, before lifting his head to ask.

“…Are these forged documents, by any chance…?”

“No.”

“Then, were you blackmailing Kwon Seungjae…”

“No, I just paid him off and ended it.”

“…”

I just paid him off and ended it…

Yoon Heesu ruminated on those words for a moment.

Had billions of won ever been such a trivial sum?

To him, it was a mountain of money so vast he had long since given up on even repaying the interest.

Memories of the things he had done for that money flickered past him in an instant.

Hah.

A hollow, bewildered sigh escaped his lips.

How was he supposed to accept this situation?

An unexpected stroke of luck?

Or a misfortune that would return as an even greater debt?

Han Suyeon tapped the table.

“What are you thinking about so hard?”

“…The things people usually think when they find themselves in a situation like this.”

“Like someone trying to hold leverage over me, or that there’s some hidden scheme…”

Han Suyeon clicked his tongue, having seemingly guessed his thoughts.

“I have no intention of using that debt to coerce you into anything.”

“I just happened to have the money, so I paid it off for you, and that’s the end of it.”

“It’s not that much money to me anyway.”

“You… you wouldn’t coerce me, right?”

“What would you even see in me?”

He was so flustered he even stuttered.

But it was true.

What value could he possibly offer that Suyeon would use him while going to the lengths of paying off his debt?

A useless, dirty body—and one steeped in drugs at that.

In fact, didn’t he look like he didn’t even want to kiss him?

As Yoon Heesu lowered his gaze to the floor, Han Suyeon sighed, rose, reached across the table, and lifted Yoon Heesu’s chin.

“Stop thinking like that.”

“…”

His tone was one of weary exasperation.

Yoon Heesu’s shoulders cringed.

“You drive people mad, Heesu.”

Kwon Seungjae’s words surfaced in his mind.

“You drive people crazy with your attitude.”

“Your attitude in every single thing you do… that’s a talent too, isn’t it?”

He had always said his passive, self-deprecating attitude was what annoyed people.

Was Han Suyeon any different?

The emotions people felt toward others should all be the same.

The seat became uncomfortable.

As he twisted his body to escape Han Suyeon’s hand, Suyeon gripped his chin firmly and kissed his forehead.

It was just a light touch that parted instantly, but his heart felt as though it had plummeted.

Han Suyeon returned to his seat, pulled a brand-new smartphone from his back pocket, and set it on the table.

“Anyway, as of today, you have no debt.”

“And this is a phone opened under your own name.”

“…I’m here, so how did you open a phone under my name?”

“Is there anything money can’t do?”

“I even have your ID.”

“…”

For a moment, the forehead kiss and everything else flew out the window, and he was left speechless with pure absurdity.

Han Suyeon slid the phone toward him with a casual hand.

The phone, already fitted with a clear case, was far prettier than the old model Heesu had been using.

He picked it up, finding it wasn’t too heavy, a perfect size for Heesu’s long, slender fingers.

The pearlescent dark blue was incredibly sophisticated.

Yoon Heesu stared at the phone blankly and asked.

“Is this also… fitted with a location tracker and everything?”

“Yes.”

He was so unabashed he didn’t even feel ridiculous anymore.

The question of why he was doing this to him also withered away.

Instead, only this escaped his lips.

“I think you’re truly insane.”

“That may be so.”

Even at being called insane, Han Suyeon didn’t blink an eye and continued.

“But I did leave the payment function open.”

“I’ll get a notification of everything you buy, but buy whatever you want.”

“I’m the one paying, after all.”

“Can I buy a Ferrari?”

“You can’t buy a car with mobile payments.”

The calm reaction extinguished any remaining mood to joke.

Yoon Heesu let out a sigh, set the phone down, and looked at Han Suyeon.

Hazel eyes were gazing at him steadily.

“…Why are you really doing this to me?”

It was a question he had wondered about throughout, asked every time, yet never once answered.

And Han Suyeon gave the exact same answer as before.

“I told you, I don’t want to watch you die.”

“Isn’t this going far beyond that?”

“How can you spend billions of won…”

“Either way, as long as that debt existed, your life was in danger.”

“…”

As long as the debt existed, his life was in danger.

Because that was Kwon Seungjae’s money.

He had said never to meet Kwon Seungjae again.

It was clear he identified Kwon Seungjae as the primary threat.

Of course, Yoon Heesu knew better than anyone.

That if he stayed with Kwon Seungjae, he wouldn’t live out his natural lifespan.

Because Kwon Seungjae did not treat Yoon Heesu like a human being.

Yoon Heesu’s lips parted to say something more, then closed.

In truth, there was something else he wanted to ask, beyond that.

Not why are you doing this… but why now?

But the words wouldn’t come out.

He was afraid of looking too pathetic.

‘The reason he’s doing this now…’

Could it be… does he still have feelings for me?

Is he doing this because he still has lingering attachments?

Just thinking about being found out made his face feel like it was burning up.

That couldn’t be it.

Judging by Han Suyeon’s actions, this was merely kindness.

Just kindness, which only seemed like a profound sentiment because Han Suyeon’s wealth was on a different scale than others.

However, that very question came not from Yoon Heesu, but from Han Suyeon’s own lips.

“Why.”

“Huh?”

“Are you curious why I’m doing this now?”