Chapter 44: The Owner of the Leash

The two of them ordered the same drink upon arriving at the cafe.

The small rural cafe was already bustling with people seeking refuge from the heat. Yunhwan didn’t mind not finding a seat, but Seonghye’s face was etched with blatant displeasure. As soon as their drinks were ready, Seonghye expertly steered Yunhwan into a newly vacated spot.

He then mentioned he needed to step out for a quick phone call.

“Um… I won’t listen, so why don’t I come with you?” Yunhwan’s eyes grew cautious again.

Seonghye gave a refreshing smile as he set the bags on the table. The small round surface was instantly crowded with black plastic bags, but he managed to leave plenty of space in front of Yunhwan.

“I’ll take the call on the terrace right in front.”

Through the window, the terrace was visible, shaded by an awning but empty because everyone else preferred the air conditioning. Yunhwan nodded to Seonghye, who was still standing there waiting for his response.

Instead of going far, Seonghye took a seat on the terrace exactly where Yunhwan could see him. He tapped his fingertips against the glass. When Yunhwan looked up, Seonghye smiled.

As he started his call, Seonghye kept glancing back at Yunhwan. Even with the large window between them, they were within arm’s reach. Despite the proximity, he made it clear that even this distance bothered him.

Yunhwan watched Seonghye’s profile. Over the last few days, between the hospitalization and the rut, Seonghye had lost some weight, making his jawline appear smooth yet dangerously sharp. Despite the sweltering heat outside, not a single bead of sweat touched his forehead. He looked alien, as if he were occupying a different space entirely.

Just as Yunhwan was about to look away, their eyes met again.

Seonghye’s fingers, still resting against the glass, moved lightly as if playing a piano. While Yunhwan offered a small smile, he felt a vibration from the crowded table. A call was coming in.

He looked down and checked the caller ID. He reached for it immediately.

“Yes, Manager,” Yunhwan said, clearing his throat after pressing the green button.

[Everything okay?]

In that brief moment, the window was tapped—louder this time. Yunhwan turned his head and met Seonghye’s gaze.

[Nothing specific, it’s just that I haven’t been able to get through to Seonghye lately.]

‘Who is it?’

Between the voice in his ear and the lip-read question through the glass, Yunhwan’s pupils shook. As he narrowed his eyes at Seonghye, the face staring at him through the window slowly turned expressionless.

“Ah, well… I’ll talk to him about it.”

[Since I can’t reach him, I keep thinking something’s happened. I’m worried.]

‘I’m asking who it is.’

“Manager Park—no. Seonghye is on a call right now. I’ll tell him to call you back as soon as he’s done. Nothing is wrong. He’s doing well. Yes.”

Seonghye, his face suddenly stripped of all warmth, stood up from his chair. While Yunhwan’s head followed Seonghye’s movement, Manager Park’s voice continued through the phone.

[Is there anything he wants to eat? Tell me. I’ll send it over.]

“Um… something like… health food?”

[What kind of health food? If you put it that way, I’ll scrape together every tonic I own and send it.]

The cafe door opened, letting in a gust of hot summer air along with the tall man. [What, do you want me to send snake wine, Kwon Yunhwan-ssi? You can die if you drink that wrong.] At the unsolicited comment, Yunhwan shook his head vigorously.

“No, not that. Maybe… ginseng? Or soft-shell turtle?”

“This is driving me crazy. Why have you been looking for those things since earlier?”

Seonghye reached out and pulled the phone away from Yunhwan’s ear. As soon as he saw the caller ID, he took the device entirely.

“We don’t need ginseng or turtle, so just send an air conditioner.”

Seonghye sat back down across from Yunhwan. While talking to Manager Park, he moved a few bags from the table to the floor. Then, he suddenly looked at Yunhwan and smiled.

His neat eyes folded softly, like grass bending in a breeze. It was such a pure, clear smile that one could hardly remember his expressionless face from a moment ago. He reached out and wiped the sweat from Yunhwan’s forehead.

“I’m not a child, so I’m starting to wonder why you’re so obsessed with keeping in touch.”

Seonghye’s voice dropped significantly. Even after drinking through the straw, he didn’t seem satisfied; his cheek puffed out as he bit down on an ice cube. The sound of it being ruthlessly crushed echoed from his mouth.

“…Are you crazy?”

His voice spiked suddenly. The tone, now sharp and grating, was filled with unmistakable anger.

“Let’s stop there. I’m starting to get annoyed.”

Yunhwan turned his head awkwardly as the phone conversation took a turn he couldn’t ignore. As he moved his gaze, Seonghye’s eyes followed as if by reflex. He looked at Yunhwan with a meaningful glint.

“Ah, the rut.”

The tips of Yunhwan’s fingers on the table flinched. Seeing this, the corners of Seonghye’s mouth pulled back.

“It was good. I was satisfied.”

“…!”

As embarrassment flooded Yunhwan’s face, Seonghye’s lips parted into a soft whisper. “The medicine worked well, too.”

Then, a deep sense of playfulness flickered in his eyes. Without hesitation, Seonghye reached out and pulled Yunhwan’s hand toward him. Yunhwan’s shoulders leaned forward.

Their gazes locked at close range. Seonghye stared into Yunhwan’s eyes with his characteristic indifferent expression. As Yunhwan stared at that smooth face, he found himself swallowing dryly.

“Next time, I’d like to put more effort into selecting the location.”

Seonghye used his fingertips to gently scratch Yunhwan’s palm, feeling like a cat’s tickle. Yunhwan, who had no immunity to such sensations, shrunk his shoulders. Seonghye simply pulled the hand that was trying to escape even closer to himself.

The moment they returned home, their bodies, which had been under the summer sun, slumped as if soaked in water.

As soon as Yunhwan crossed the threshold, Seonghye pushed him toward the bathroom. Although the heat from outside followed them into the house, Seonghye didn’t seem to mind.

By the time Yunhwan finished showering and came out, Seonghye was on the phone again. Unlike this morning, his expression was quite serious. Trying not to disturb him, Yunhwan attempted to slip into his room, but he blinked in surprise when Seonghye grabbed his hand and refused to let go.

“Yes, he is doing well.”

Reading Yunhwan’s reaction, Seonghye pointed toward the kitchen and mouthed a single word:

‘Medicine.’

Yunhwan snapped out of it and hurried to get the meds. Seonghye’s lips curled up silently. As he watched Yunhwan prepare the pills and water, his smile deepened.

[Nothing’s happened, right? How is your body? Is the treatment difficult? If you need anything, call your father immediately. Don’t worry about Manager Park.]

Recently, Chairman Min had been calling Seonghye frequently. Since their last meeting had been in a hospital, he seemed particularly anxious.

On the day the amnesiac Seonghye had met the Chairman privately, Seonghye had coughed up blood and suffered a seizure. Witnessing this, Chairman Min had collapsed from the shock. A man who had stoically accepted the death of his first wife and his separation from Seonghye’s beloved mother had stumbled at the sight of his youngest son fainting.

His love for the son he had late in life was extreme and exceptional; even today, his anxiety was palpable.

“I’m fine. I’ve already received everything I need through Manager Park.”

[Received… indeed…]

“I’ll contact you if I need anything.”

[I’d like to see your face soon. They say the weather will cool down soon, so I shall head down there.]

The Chairman added this with a suggestive tone, but Seonghye’s gaze remained obsessively fixed on Yunhwan. Yunhwan, having gathered the pills and water, pulled out a chair at the dining table. He gave a small wave to Seonghye, indicating he should ignore him and finish his call.

Seonghye stared into his eyes and replied dryly, “I’ll call you back.”

A heavy, dissatisfied sigh echoed from the phone. The Chairman seemed ready to snap at the barren, loveless tone, but his anger dissipated quickly, and the call ended.

As the phone moved away from Seonghye’s ear, Yunhwan stood up with the medicine and water. He approached Seonghye slowly, his hand holding the pills clenched into a firm fist. His expression was dead serious, as if determined to make up for his earlier oversight.

Min Seonghye took the tablet and stared down at it silently.

Yunhwan’s voice came out cautiously. “…Why?”

It had been a week since the treatment changed from injections to oral medication. Since he started the pills, Seonghye hadn’t complained of his previous anxiety, but whenever he stared at the medicine with such indifferent eyes, Yunhwan felt his heart skip a beat.

And more than that…

‘Don’t you dare touch the imprint.’

That was the warning that had come from the mouth of the “Old” Min Seonghye whose memory had briefly returned.