Chapter 51: The Lunatic Who Took His Guide to a Luxuryily-Owned Superyacht

“Slow down a little. You’re going way too fast.”

“Scared?”

“Who said I’m scared…?”

“There are no cars on the road—no chance of crashing.”

“That’s true, but there’s still something called the speed limit. If you keep driving like this, I’m never getting in your car again.”

“Fine, I’ll slow down. So dramatic over nothing…”

Haejin grumbled but eased off the accelerator. Lee Chae glared at him, yet couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from rising. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d left the city.

“By the way, hyung, where are we going?”

“Somewhere dark, deserted, and creepy.”

Haejin’s face looked downright sinister as he said it. Lee Chae curled up. Grades weren’t out yet, so it probably wasn’t anything weird… right? He sneaked a glance—Haejin burst out laughing and immediately corrected himself.

“Okay, okay, where do you want to go?”

“…”

Lee Chae had assumed he already had a plan since he’d dragged him out so confidently. How could someone live this impulsively and plan-less all the time? Because he’s a rich young master? Or is it just his nature?

Lee Chae didn’t understand him, but at the same time he was a little jealous. He’d never lived like that even once. So just this once, he decided to follow Haejin’s lead completely.

“Somewhere with no people, wide open. A place where I don’t have to do anything.”

“Knew it. I read Jung Lee Chae perfectly.”

Haejin grinned wide and floored it again.

“Didn’t you just say you didn’t have a plan?”

“I was going to take you somewhere else if you said no.”

“You’re not supposed to play with people like that—”

Haejin’s hand clamped down on his thigh. The unexpected skinship shut Lee Chae up instantly. He raised a hand to slap it away—then saw a few strands of Haejin’s hair falling over his forehead, that deep, crinkling eye-smile underneath. That bewitching smile froze Lee Chae’s entire body.

Haejin stroked his knee and asked,

“Babe, didn’t you promise to just follow me today?”

“Sh-shit… take your hand off before you talk.”

“You told me not to curse at you, but you’re worse.”

“There’s no one else here right now.”

“So I’m not a person—I’m a dragon?”

Lee Chae finally burst out laughing. He was in such a good mood that even that dad joke cracked him up; his pride was wounded.

“You’re not a dragon, you’re Cha Haejin. And Cha Haejin isn’t a person—he’s just Cha Haejin.”

“Right, exactly. If Jung Lee Chae says so, it’s all true. Hold on tight—I’m flooring it.”

Haejin raised the soft-top, then slammed the accelerator. The convertible shot forward even faster. Wind whipped their hair wildly. They hadn’t even arrived yet, but the stuffiness inside Lee Chae already felt blown wide open.

The place Haejin brought him wasn’t dark and creepy—it was a bright, wide-open, nearly deserted beach.

The sea he hadn’t seen in forever was refreshing. Being out here instead of studying or working part-time made him feel like he could fly. He kept smiling like an idiot no matter how hard he tried not to.

“It really is nice…”

“That’s your whole reaction?”

“What, you want me to strip and dance?”

“I mean… the mental image is nice, but I’m not asking that much. Just give me your backpack.”

On reflex, Lee Chae clutched it tight. Every time Haejin stole his bag or books in the past, it ended in a sweaty chase—he was on full alert. When he refused to let go, Haejin suddenly sighed with a grave face.

Why did his mood flip like that? He was smiling a second ago…

Lee Chae started worrying he’d ruined the vibe. He was about to hand the bag over when Haejin spoke.

“You said it, remember?”

“…Said what?”

“That you hate hearing people talk shit about me, so you want me to live properly.”

“So what.”

“I want to do something for you too.”

His voice was dead serious. Lee Chae almost nodded automatically.

But the more Haejin tried to give back, the heavier Lee Chae’s heart became—he’d only ever received until now.

Over Haejin’s shoulder, seagulls soared high. Haejin suddenly continued,

“Lee Chae-ya. Every time I look at you, I feel bad. You’re still so young, but you carry way too much weight.”

“…”

“That’s why I want to teach you that your time can be spent on you, that there are fun and worthwhile things in the world besides studying and working. The same way you want to teach me how to live properly.”

Lee Chae couldn’t process it all at once. He just knew that right now, Cha Haejin looked more mature than usual—and insanely sexy because of it.

Maybe that’s why— The gentler and softer Haejin’s words became, the more a wave of sorrow rose inside him. He’d felt this before, that time they went to buy a new phone…

“To do that, we should probably take off what’s weighing down your shoulders first, right?”

Lee Chae froze, hands still gripping the straps. Haejin placed a hand on his shoulder and continued,

“Trust me with your time. I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”

At those words, Lee Chae’s fingers went slack. Haejin slowly lifted the backpack off his shoulders.

“Haa…”

The moment the bag was gone, a long breath escaped. It only had one textbook because of finals week—it wasn’t even heavy. Yet handing over that single light bag made him feel like every burden in the world had fallen away. At the same time, something surged up from deep inside, and the left side of his chest stung sharply.

“Shall we go?”

Haejin extended his hand. Lee Chae took it without hesitation. The instant their palms touched, electricity shot through him.

Their real destination was right there.

“Holy f*cking shit—alone together!”

Jae-hyung rolled on the floor clutching his stomach after seeing the photo text from Haejin. Jin-woo glanced over.

“What’s wrong? Food poisoning?”

“No! Look at this!”

Jin-woo took the phone. A refreshing ocean view and a yacht filled the screen.

“Wow… he really took Lee Chae there. That thoughtless bastard—if a gate opens while they’re out, what then?”

Jae-hyung let Jin-woo’s nagging go in one ear and out the other and started full-on whining.

“Why just the two of them? We should’ve gone too! He always says Legion is one, that we help each other in hard times, but when it’s fun he ditches us… Seriously, what happened to Haejin hyung’s personality…”

“You absolute choco-bar-brained idiot. He’s building trust with his exclusive guide—why would he bring third wheels? And what if a bunch of high-rank espers go on vacation together and war breaks out? Who handles that?”

“Still! I wanna go too! I need to build trust with Yong-yong!”

Jin-woo, unable to watch anymore, smacked Jae-hyung’s back.

“Why does an esper need to build trust with a dragon?”

“I don’t know! I’m building it anyway. He’s never escaping my side. I’m raising him myself…”

“Raising him to eat him?”

Jae-hyung grinned wickedly. Jin-woo shuddered and fled the office.

Left alone, Jae-hyung clutched his stomach again looking at the photo. No matter how many times he saw it, it hurt.

“In times like these, the best comfort is hugging baby Yong-yong and nibbling on him.”

Determined, Jae-hyung jumped up and yelled, “Yong-yong-ah, meat time!” as he ran out. Yong-yong’s belly was destined to bulge again today.

The place they arrived at was a yacht marina. Lee Chae blinked several times, unable to believe his eyes.

First, he was shocked that in a country where over half the population worried about tomorrow’s meal, ultra-luxury facilities like this still existed. Second, he was shocked again by the long line of yachts.

They said the richer the rich get, the poorer the poor get as the economy collapses—this was exactly it.

While Lee Chae stood dumbfounded, Haejin finished a simple procedure and came back.

“What are you doing? Let’s go.”

“I did say I’d leave everything to you, but… this feels burdensome. Isn’t it expensive?”

“If you’re worried about money, you don’t have to be.”

It looked insanely expensive—no way that was true.

Lee Chae had no intention of letting it slide.

“Then explain why it’s not expensive. Don’t try to brush it off.”

He glared. Haejin’s handsome face scrunched, then relaxed with a sigh.

“You really never let anything pass easily.”

“That’s why you like me.”

“Fine, I lose.”

Haejin laughed loudly and started explaining why the superyacht was “free.” When two or more family members are S-rank and have major contributions to the country, the government gives benefits—one of them is a yacht. Most recipients never have time to use it, so it just sits there, and someone has to take it out once in a while.

Lee Chae listened without much change in expression, but he felt strange. The gap between them suddenly felt painfully real.

“In a world where kids are starving to death… this is so f*cked up.”

He muttered—whether to Haejin or to himself, he wasn’t sure—and looked down.

Haejin gently stroked his hair.