Precious Thing

The weather was nice. Even though the windows were tightly shut, the scent of sunlight lingered near the bedside, and the fresh air drifted quietly, weightless. The rustling sound of the blankets made Tae Woowon feel lazy, and the warm presence of Lee Yesin in his arms exuded a pleasant fragrance. So, he kept sleeping endlessly until the vibration of a phone dragged his mind up from the depths of slumber.“Mm…”Tae Woowon gently held the head of the slightly stirring Lee Yesin, burying it against his chest and stroking it a few times. Then, he reached for the persistently ringing phone. He rummaged through Lee Yesin’s bag lying beside the bed, silencing the noise first. With half-lidded eyes, he saw the name “Heechan” displayed on the screen. He was about to ignore it, but as his eyes caught the current time, he frowned and quickly checked the screen again. It was 1 p.m. Lee Yesin’s first class today had been at 10:30 a.m., and he had classes until 5 p.m. Oh no.Tae Woowon cupped Lee Yesin’s cheek, lifting his head. Despite his earlier fuss about not being able to sleep, now he was breathing softly, completely motionless.“Lee Yesin, are you going to school?”He asked quietly into his ear. Whether tickled or annoyed, Lee Yesin furrowed one eye and tried to push away Tae Woowon’s hand, which was cradling his cheek. Ignoring the gesture of refusal, Tae Woowon lightly brushed his thumb across the soft skin of Lee Yesin’s cheek.“I asked if you’re going to school.”“…No.”With a frown, Lee Yesin finally pulled Tae Woowon’s hand away and burrowed into the warmth of his arms. Oh, if he realized he’d snuggled in on his own, he’d be mortified. Tae Woowon wrapped an arm around Lee Yesin’s shoulders, pulling him close. Despite the long sleep, the drowsiness came over Tae Woowon once again.The second time Tae Woowon woke up was about two hours later. He sensed small movements nearby, and eventually, his groggy mind began to pick up on the sounds around him.“Ah, shit…”Lee Yesin, still trapped in Tae Woowon’s arms, muttered quietly. Whenever he’d woken up, he had been trying to free himself from Tae Woowon’s limbs wrapped around him. Although Tae Woowon was fully awake now, he found the situation amusing and pretended to still be asleep. After finally managing to free one arm, Lee Yesin struggled with Tae Woowon’s leg. He sighed irritably, turning his back to Tae Woowon, seemingly intending to crawl out of bed. Tae Woowon considered pulling him back in playfully, but just then, Lee Yesin muttered under his breath.“Stupid jerk, all you’ve got is brute strength…”Even after letting him sleep so comfortably, all Tae Woowon got in return was a curse. No wonder he can’t sleep at night with that temper. Grumbling inwardly, Tae Woowon stayed still, missing his chance to rise. Lee Yesin finally slipped out of bed and hurried into the bathroom.As the sound of the shower began, Tae Woowon sat up quietly, stretching his neck. He glanced at the spacious bed Lee Yesin had left behind before stepping onto the floor. Since they had slept on the blanket, the bedsheets remained clean. Taking the blanket with him, Tae Woowon left Lee Yesin’s room. He tossed the blanket into the laundry room, then headed to his own room to check his phone. Missed calls had piled up. Most of them were from Baek Hyeyun, with a few from Kim Yeonseong mixed in.While the reason for Kim Yeonseong’s calls was unclear, Baek Hyeyun’s seemed to be related to a request from two weeks ago. Tae Woowon dialed Baek Hyeyun as he headed for the bathroom. She picked up before he could even take off his clothes.“Hey, I called you—”— Why didn’t you pick up! You scared me!Baek Hyeyun immediately yelled, her voice loud enough to sting his ears. He set the phone down near the sink, wincing at the noise. As he started undressing, Baek Hyeyun’s yelling grew so loud that it couldn’t be ignored.— I thought you’d been arrested! Do you know how long I spent digging through the internet?!With a sigh, Tae Woowon threw his T-shirt into the laundry basket and picked up his phone.“Calm down. You’re giving me a headache.”— Ugh, this is so frustrating. I worry about you, and this is what I get.“Anyone listening would think we talk every day. You’re freaking out just because I went silent for a few hours.”Leaning against the cold tiles, he looked into the mirror. His hair was a mess from lying on one side while sleeping.— At least let me know when you’re going to go off the grid.“Then from today, I’m going off the grid.”— Hey!Baek Hyeyun was quick to react, which made teasing her fun. Tae Woowon chuckled as he raked his fingers through his hair. Then, he brought up her reason for calling.“You called because of the last job, right? I’m not doing it.”— Give me some time to convince you.“You’ve got one minute from now.”— No way. Let’s meet in person.Her voice was firm. Since Lee Yesin said he wasn’t going to school today, he’d likely stay home all day. Leaving him alone felt uncomfortable, so Tae Woowon was about to refuse when Baek Hyeyun dangled a tempting offer.— I’ll be working in Barcelona. I know a really good informant there. He’s extremely capable.Barcelona. That was the last city Tae Woowon’s father had been seen in. His con-man father had disappeared not long after Tae Woowon became an adult, and he hadn’t resurfaced since. While Tae Woowon didn’t need him in his life, there were things he needed to ask and items to retrieve from him. And Baek Hyeyun knew Tae Woowon was looking for him.“It better be good information.”— You can count on it.“I’ll call you later.”Without waiting for her reply, Tae Woowon ended the call. Staring into the mirror for a moment, he finished undressing and stepped under the shower. Somehow, everything felt like it was getting more complicated.٠ ࣪⭑“Over here.”As soon as Tae Woowon entered the café, Baek Hyeyun, sitting by the window, raised her hand high. He quickly walked over and sat across from her.“Order something. It’s on me.”She handed him a menu, but Tae Woowon set it aside without even opening it.“I left while looking after a kid. I have to head back soon.”“…A kid?”Baek Hyeyun asked, bewildered, and Tae Woowon gave a small “yeah” in response.When he finished showering earlier, the driver was waiting outside Lee Yesin’s house. Apologizing for the lack of notice, Tae Woowon had asked the driver to keep an eye on Lee Yesin for a bit, jokingly adding that if he tried to leave the house, he should follow him. The driver, likely used to these kinds of requests, nodded without hesitation.“Let’s get straight to the point.”Tae Woowon took a sip from Baek Hyeyun’s iced coffee, which was sitting in front of her. Frowning, she quickly took the cup back from him.“Hearing you talk about a ‘kid’ is kind of scary. I’ll stop asking.”“Even if you ask, I won’t tell you anything. Enough small talk. Let’s get to it.”“Fine, fine,” Baek Hyeyun muttered quietly before pulling a small envelope out of her bag and handing it to him. Tae Woowon opened it and checked the contents. There was a photo inside. The man in the photo, holding a cigarette in his mouth while browsing street vendors, was Tae Woowon’s father.“When was this?”“Three months ago.”It had been two years since they’d found traces of his father in Barcelona. Whether he had left and come back or stayed there the whole time was unclear, but the former seemed more likely. Tae Woowon had spent a fortune two years ago scouring Barcelona, and they hadn’t found him then.“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you’d given me this before, I’d have thought it over seriously.”At Tae Woowon’s remark that he’d wasted the last two weeks, Baek Hyeyun scowled deeply. Without sparing her a glance, Tae Woowon continued to stare at the photo of his father. Behind the unchanged figure of the man from two years ago, the Columbus Monument in Barcelona was visible.“Last time, I didn’t have any solid evidence. And the deal wasn’t finalized either. But now, if this job goes well, the informant promised to give me more information. I made sure to secure the deal properly.”Baek Hyeyun proudly tapped her chest as she spoke. Tae Woowon slipped the photo back into the envelope and handed it to her.“If you’re lying, you’re dead.”“That’ll never happen.”Tae Woowon reached for her coffee cup again, popped an ice cube into his mouth, and gestured lightly with his chin.“When’s the job happening?”Baek Hyeyun pressed her lips together, grinning broadly. She raised her arms in a silent cheer and mimed a few punches in the air before letting out a short breath and straightening her disheveled clothes. Her reactions were always so animated.“Actually, last time, I purposefully gave you a super tight deadline, including the prep time. But since the big star is making an appearance, I’ll handle all the preparations. You just need to show up a few days before the job. So, roughly five weeks from now, May 14th. Spain in the season of roses—sounds nice, right? I’ll give you the D-Day and the detailed briefing when you arrive in Barcelona.”Her wide grin made it clear she was excited. Still, she was cautious about security until the very end, fitting for a thief. Tae Woowon pulled out his phone, marking the departure date on his calendar, and crunched the ice in his mouth.“That it?”“Yep, that’s it. Oh, by the way, ‘Well’ called, asking if I’d heard from you.”‘Well’ was code for Kim Yeonseong. People in their world used codenames or aliases and didn’t reveal their real identities, even to close colleagues. Likewise, ‘Kim Yeonseong’ and ‘Baek Hyeyun’ weren’t their real names, and neither of them knew Tae Woowon’s real name.“Tell him no, I’ll reach out.”“Yeah, you should. He’s been hanging on to you for years.”“I never asked him to. And I’m not into guys.”Tae Woowon stood up as he spoke, but Baek Hyeyun grabbed his arm and made him sit back down, eyes twinkling with curiosity as she asked, “Why?” It annoyed him to be stopped over such a trivial question, but since the conversation had ended earlier than expected, he wasn’t in a rush.“Tried it once, wasn’t for me.”“…Do you ever date?”“You do it.”Ha! She let out a loud scoff. Shaking her hand off, Tae Woowon stood up, saying, “I’m leaving,” as he exited the café and got into his car, which was parked on the side of the road. Baek Hyeyun had given him five weeks, but it would be better to join sooner rather than later. Delaying might cause problems closer to D-Day. Which meant he had to get that necklace out soon…. With a blank expression, Tae Woowon turned the wheel.٠ ࣪⭑“You’re back already.”“Yes, you can head in. Thanks.”When Tae Woowon returned home, the driver was casually sitting in the living room, watching TV. As he moved toward the door, the driver hesitated, looking at him nervously. Tae Woowon paused, halfway through taking off his shoes, and stared at him. The driver gave an awkward smile before speaking.“The young master ordered pizza.”“…So?”“I was wondering if I could stay and eat. No one’s home today. Everyone’s out for the day.”Tae Woowon was baffled by the situation. It seemed odd that the driver was asking him for permission over such a trivial thing. In terms of experience, the driver was senior to Tae Woowon, and he was at least ten years older. Their roles were too similar for any clear hierarchy to exist between them. Tae Woowon didn’t understand the driver’s overly cautious behavior, but he simply nodded without probing further.“Go ahead.”“Thank you.”Why ask me though? Tae Woowon thought as he headed to his room.The pizza arrived about 20 minutes later. Lee Yesin, being generous as always, had ordered two pizzas, pasta, and chicken wings, all paid for with his card. The three of them sat around the table, the hot steam rising from the pizza in front of them. The TV in the living room was chattering away, providing just enough background noise to keep the atmosphere from feeling awkward.“Thank you, young master.”“Yeah.”Lee Yesin gave a short reply and placed a slice of pizza on his plate. He was wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and a cardigan draped over his shoulders. The long sleeves of the cardigan dangled dangerously close to the edge of the plate. Unable to stand it any longer, Tae Woowon grabbed his wrist just before his sleeve touched the pizza, stopping him.Then, Tae Woowon neatly rolled up the ends of the sleeves. Lee Yesin was someone who required constant attention. After adjusting both sleeves to his satisfaction, Tae Woowon slid the plate in front of Lee Yesin.“Eat.”“…I’m the one paying.”“Yeah, I’ll enjoy it, then.”With a casual response, Tae Woowon grabbed a slice of pizza and brought it to his mouth. He hadn’t eaten properly today, so his mouth watered even before taking a bite. He devoured the slice quickly and unwrapped the neatly packaged pasta, mixing it with a fork.“Shall I serve you?”In line with respecting elders, he asked the driver first. The driver, unable to hide his excitement, nodded eagerly with his cheeks puffed out. Tae Woowon served some pasta onto the driver’s plate and then neatly twirled some onto Lee Yesin’s plate as well.“Eat more if you want.”“……”Lee Yesin, with a somewhat sulky expression, silently chewed his pizza.“This reminds me of the old days,” the driver said, after finishing his bite and dipping a pickle. Lee Yesin glanced at him briefly but stayed quiet. The driver chuckled and continued.“Remember how we used to sneak food at home? Hangyeol liked pizza too…”“Mister.”Lee Yesin addressed the driver as “mister.” Judging by the way he referred to this being a long-standing job and how he brought up old stories, it seemed the driver had known Lee Yesin since childhood. Despite his rebellious nature, Lee Yesin still spoke politely to the driver. Their relationship wasn’t particularly close, but they didn’t argue often either. However, the atmosphere felt particularly tense now.“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about the past.”“…I overstepped.”The driver lowered his head, his face pale. Lee Yesin quietly stared at his fingertips. Then, he suddenly tossed his half-eaten pizza slice onto the plate.“Eat and then leave.”With a screech, Lee Yesin pushed back his chair and stood up. As he made to leave the table, Tae Woowon grabbed his wrist.“Finish your food.”“You eat it.”“What kind of behavior is that, leaving your food just because you’re upset?”Ha! The people on the TV burst into laughter. Tae Woowon looked up at Lee Yesin. His lips, greasy with oil, were tightly pressed together. Sensing the growing tension, the driver jumped to his feet with a shocked expression.“It’s my fault! I’ll leave. Young master, I’m truly sorry.”“Driver, please finish your meal. If you’re uncomfortable, take it to go.”Tae Woowon pulled a tissue from the table, wiped his own mouth, and then wiped the hand of Lee Yesin, who he was still holding. Then, he stood and pulled Lee Yesin along.“Let go of me!”Whatever he was upset about, Lee Yesin dug his heels in, trying not to be dragged. Tae Woowon bent down, slung him over his shoulder, and carried him.“Let me go! I don’t want to!”Whatever he didn’t want, Tae Woowon didn’t ask. He silently carried him to his room and set him down on the sofa in front of the TV. Lee Yesin, now sitting with a thud, looked up at Tae Woowon, confused. Tae Woowon grabbed the remote from the low table, turned on the TV, and flipped through the channels until he found something suitable.“Have you seen this movie?”“…What?”“I asked if you’ve seen this movie.”It was a foreign comedy about spies completing a mission, packed with humor. It had been well-received domestically as well.“This one’s funny.”He turned on a nearby light and handed Lee Yesin a cushion. Lee Yesin continued to stare at Tae Woowon, looking bewildered. Tae Woowon gently turned his head to face the TV screen, then left the room and approached the driver, who still hadn’t moved.“Please, eat.”“No… I should go. I’m so sorry.”It wasn’t an apology Tae Woowon needed to hear, but he sensed that if he didn’t accept it, the driver would be troubled by it all night. So, Tae Woowon replied, “It’s fine,” while taking a bite of the pizza Lee Yesin had left behind. He placed a fresh slice on his plate, filled his empty glass with cola, and even piled some chicken wings onto a tray. All the while, the driver remained hesitant to leave.“Do you want me to pack up the food for you?”“Oh, no.”The driver, staring blankly at Tae Woowon’s hand, waved it off hastily before rushing out of the kitchen. There was the sound of the front door opening and closing. Tae Woowon turned off the living room TV, went back, and closed the pizza box. He placed the tray on top of it and carried everything into Lee Yesin’s room.Lee Yesin, who had been hugging a cushion with his legs pulled up, turned his head. Ignoring his gaze, Tae Woowon set the food down on the table, pulled down Lee Yesin’s legs, and placed the tray with the food on the cushion. Tae Woowon grabbed a slice of pizza for himself and, considerate of Lee Yesin’s slight case of germophobia, used a plate and leaned back against the sofa. Just then, a funny scene from the movie came on.“That scene’s funny.”He chuckled, anticipating the upcoming moments. Already slightly full, he still steadily ate the pizza. Lee Yesin, who had been quietly watching Tae Woowon, turned his gaze to the TV. After hesitating for a while, he picked up a chicken wing from his plate.Blaring sirens. The secret agents had failed to breach the security system and found themselves in trouble. In their panic, they made ridiculous mistakes as they noisily ran away. Tae Woowon let out a soft laugh. While chewing on the chicken wing, Lee Yesin stole a glance at him.٠ ࣪⭑A deadline was finally set for what had been a relaxed job. Now it was time for Tae Woowon to fully dedicate himself to the original mission of stealing the necklace. However, he hesitated. Not only had he not opened the safe he had found, but he also made no effort to search further for the necklace that might not even be in there. Instead, he spent his days as Lee Yesin’s bodyguard. He hadn’t abandoned the mission or grown tired of stealing. Yet somehow, the theft had taken a back seat. It was Kim Yeonseong who reminded him of his priorities.— Were you ignoring my calls on purpose?“No.”In truth, not returning the calls was just like ignoring them, but Tae Woowon lied without a second thought. Tossing the towel he had been drying his hair with onto the back of a chair, he sat down on the bed. Whether Kim Yeonseong caught the lie or was just annoyed by Tae Woowon’s relaxed attitude, he sighed in frustration.— It seems like you’re having trouble. No news yet, huh?“……”The first response that came to mind was I’ve been busy with Lee Yesin. But when he was about to say it, he realized it wasn’t a valid excuse. Looking after Lee Yesin wasn’t his real job. It was merely a cover, and there was no need to put much effort into it. So how did it end up like this? No matter how much he thought about it, his mind was blank.— Is something going on? Do you need help?“…I’ll let you know if I do.”Normally, he would have said “no” right away, but this time, he couldn’t bring himself to. It wasn’t like he didn’t know his priorities, but why was he stuck? After ending the call, Tae Woowon was left alone to dwell on it. Just then, Lee Yesin knocked on the door. It was too early to sleep, but he walked in and handed a towel to Tae Woowon.“Wash my hair for me.”Lee Yesin’s hand was almost fully healed. Both he and Tae Woowon knew that. But Tae Woowon didn’t ask why and simply stared at him for a long moment. To be fair, the delay in the necklace heist wasn’t entirely Tae Woowon’s fault. While it had been a while since Lee Yesin asked him to wash his hair, he had started frequently knocking on Tae Woowon’s door, claiming bits of his time.Lee Yesin no longer asked for medicine. Instead, late at night, he would slip into Tae Woowon’s bed. From Tae Woowon’s perspective, it was easier when Lee Yesin took the medicine and slept. Yet Tae Woowon neither offered the medicine nor pushed him away when he crawled into bed.“If you’re busy, never mind….”Lee Yesin’s arm, still holding out the towel, slowly lowered. Tae Woowon stared at his fingertips for a moment before standing up. He reached out and brushed his hand through Lee Yesin’s already soft and clean hair, then walked with him to the bathroom. Let’s finish this quickly. He’s just the owner of the necklace, Tae Woowon reminded himself. With that in mind, he wordlessly wet Lee Yesin’s hair.After Lee Yesin had injured his hand, there were a few times when Tae Woowon had washed his hair. Thanks to the first day’s training, Lee Yesin usually closed his eyes quietly. But perhaps he had forgotten, because this time, he stared right up at Tae Woowon with wide eyes. In these situations, Tae Woowon would usually splash water in his face and tell him to close his eyes. This time, though, he said nothing and did nothing.“Is something going on with you?”As Tae Woowon rinsed his hair for the last time, Lee Yesin suddenly asked. Tae Woowon, still focused on the ends of his hair, looked up to meet his gaze. In Lee Yesin’s clear eyes, Tae Woowon’s reflection appeared.“Why?”“You just… seem like you’re in a bad mood.”“Mind your own business.”After turning off the shower and roughly squeezing the water out of his hair, he pressed it down with a towel. Then, he stepped out and plugged in the hair dryer. Lee Yesin, who had just come out of the bathroom, stood before Tae Woowon with a towel draped over his head. Tae Woowon removed the towel, placed it on the vanity, and began drying Lee Yesin’s hair with the dryer.“Lift your head.”Lee Yesin, who had been hanging his head low, straightened up. Tae Woowon could feel his gaze, but he remained expressionless, focusing only on drying Lee Yesin’s hair. Once the moisture was completely gone, Tae Woowon turned off the dryer and unplugged it. While putting it away in the drawer, Lee Yesin stood quietly, his head once again drooping low. As Tae Woowon glanced at him and started to leave, Lee Yesin softly spoke up.“…Did I do something wrong to you?”He stopped in his tracks. For some reason, his mind became chaotic in an instant.“Why?”“……”“There’s nothing like that.”Since no reply came, Tae Woowon left the room. He shut the door behind him with a click and leaned against it. After standing there for a long while, Tae Woowon irritably tousled his hair and headed back to his room.Whenever Tae Woowon washed his hair, Lee Yesin would always sleep peacefully. Expecting the same tonight, he went to bed earlier than usual. However, sleep eluded him, and Tae Woowon, his mind filled with complicated thoughts, forced himself to close his eyes as if he were throwing a bomb into his head. Just when the descending darkness began to lighten his body, contrary to his expectations, Lee Yesin knocked on Tae Woowon’s door.“…Are you asleep?”Lying on his stomach, Tae Woowon half-opened his eyes. Lee Yesin stood at the threshold, his face innocent and clear. Tae Woowon blinked his sleepy eyes a few times and wordlessly lifted the blanket. Cautiously, Lee Yesin stepped forward. After closing the door behind him, he slowly slipped under the blanket next to Tae Woowon. The rustling of the blanket was touched by the dark blue hue of dawn.“What time is it?”“…A little past four.”“When did you lie down?”“One…?”It seemed he’d been struggling for at least three hours. Tae Woowon shifted from lying on his stomach to turning towards Lee Yesin. Then, he pulled Lee Yesin, who was teetering at the edge of the bed with his back turned, closer by the waist, hugging him tightly.There was no way to assign blame for the slow progress of things. Although it was Lee Yesin who had taken up Tae Woowon’s time, it was also a result of Tae Woowon’s own will. But now, it was time to get serious. It was time to finally open the safe. It was time to steal the necklace from Lee Yesin’s hands and leave this place for good. As Tae Woowon thought this to himself, sleep that had receded earlier began to return. Without much effort, it crept up to him, and when sleep nearly washed over him, Lee Yesin carefully lifted his hands, which had been resting on his chest, and placed them on Tae Woowon’s arm. Tae Woowon was quickly pulled into the warmth of unconsciousness.٠ ࣪⭑The opportunity came during Lee Yesin’s midterms. As a senior, Lee Yesin didn’t have many exams, but he had written tests in one or two theoretical and general education classes. So, claiming to study, he and Kwon Heechan frequented the school library, a place he rarely visited otherwise. Whether he was actually studying or just chatting, Tae Woowon didn’t know, but every evening, Lee Yesin would get into the car looking tired, the moon high in the sky.“I’ll be heading home for a bit.”On the third day of Lee Yesin’s diligent trips to the library, Tae Woowon decided to leave for a while. He didn’t expect to run into the senior who had hurt Lee Yesin at the library, and he figured today would be just like the day before.“Yes, have a good trip.”The driver, who had been watching a drama on his phone, laughed and replied. Ever since the pizza incident, the driver had become unusually diligent and respectful toward Tae Woowon. Because of that, Tae Woowon left the school with a light heart and headed toward Lee Yesin’s house.If the safe proved difficult, Tae Woowon planned to just check the model. If it was easy, he would crack it immediately. Since it wouldn’t take long, he moved with ease. After arriving at the house, Tae Woowon turned on the living room lights, entered the study, and put on gloves. He checked to make sure the curtains were properly drawn, then sat down in front of the right bookshelf and removed a few books.Why couldn’t I do this before? Clicking his tongue at himself, he grabbed the edge of the wallpaper he had partially peeled back last time and gently pulled. As soon as he turned on the flashlight, a metal door appeared. It seemed as if there had been no real attempt to hide its contents, as the safe was an outdated model. It was so easy to crack that Tae Woowon couldn’t help but sigh. After staring at the small, embarrassingly exposed safe for a moment, Tae Woowon pulled out a specially made key from his pocket.A lot of time and money had been spent creating this. It looked like an ordinary radio antenna, but when inserted into the hole, it automatically adjusted to fit perfectly. The only issue was that the thickness needed to be adjusted depending on the hole size, and Lee Yesin’s safe had a very small hole. Tae Woowon adjusted the key to the appropriate size and inserted it into the hole. Then, he turned the number dial. Click, click. Listening carefully to each sound, he loosened his grip. Tick. At the faint sound of the cogs aligning, he stopped and turned the key halfway. Then, after finding the next number, he turned the key all the way. Clunk.Tae Woowon removed the key and opened the safe. The shallow, narrow interior didn’t hold much. There was a small A6-sized album, a notebook, and a plastic name tag. The name tag had only a name engraved on it, the kind that would usually be attached to a school uniform.Tae Woowon set the name tag aside and opened the album. The first photo showed Lee Yesin in his school uniform, smiling brightly alongside the owner of the name tag. As he flipped through the pages, their ages seemed to reverse. The last page featured them as children, dated back to when Lee Yesin was around seven years old.In every photo, Lee Yesin was smiling. His thin eyes were sweetly crinkled, and his even teeth gleamed beautifully. It was the smile of a child who seemed to have all the happiness in the world, with no hint of sorrow. The owner of the name tag, stuck closely to his side, was smiling just as radiantly. Go Hangyeol—that was the name Tae Woowon had once heard from the chauffeur.Why did I even look at this?Ignoring the question that struck his mind, Tae Woowon flipped back to the album’s first page. Even though it had only been six or seven years, Lee Yesin now seemed so different that he couldn’t take his eyes off the photos. His face hadn’t changed, but the smile that filled the pages felt so foreign that it was disorienting.Tae Woowon closed the album quietly and picked up the thin notebook. There was no need to look inside; the necklace wouldn’t be hidden in a notebook. He had no reason to be curious either—Lee Yesin was nothing more than a fleeting distraction. But Tae Woowon opened the notebook anyway.The handwriting was neat and densely packed, as if it were notes from a class. It was written meticulously in various colors of ink. As he flipped through the pages, he came across another set of handwriting, different from the first. It seemed like a conversation between two people in writing.‘Later, with the earrings I make, and the clothes you make.’The rougher handwriting initiated the conversation, accompanied by a grinning emoji. Below it, the notebook’s owner responded with neat handwriting.‘Then my clothes will stand out more.’‘Watch your mouth. I’ll succeed before you do.’‘Sure. Then I’ll have to sell my clothes using your fame.’‘Try growing on your own.’‘Whose fault is it that I didn’t study abroad?’‘Did I tell you not to go? You said you didn’t want to go when I said I wasn’t going. You cried so cutely, too.’‘I did NOT cry!!’The exclamation marks were large. After some more playful banter, the conversation ended there. A few more pages later, their conversation resumed, with the neat handwriting starting this time.‘There’s going to be a fashion show for our final year exhibition. It’s freaking nerve-wracking.’‘…You haven’t even graduated high school yet.’‘It’s good to prepare early, kid.’‘That’s hilarious. You’ll probably make something weird, but I’ll still go to see it.’‘Bring flowers. Huge ones. Intimidate everyone else.’‘You’re such a jerk. Don’t you have any shame?’‘That’s your job. Now bring those flowers on the subway.’‘You’ve lost your mind, seriously….’Similar conversations continued on. It was clear that Lee Yesin, with his neat handwriting, and Go Hangyeol, with his rougher script, were close friends, comfortable enough to exchange playful insults. Yet, through their words, a deep affection was evident. As Tae Woowon flipped through the notebook, his hand paused just before the end. There was a drawing.‘What do you think of this design? We could assign a symbolic meaning to the gem in the center, like a birthstone, and change it up. Is the stone too big?’‘No, it’s pretty. If it were smaller, it wouldn’t stand out. Just make it a complete symbol of wealth by going really big. I’ll be the first to buy it for you.’‘Really? What gem do you want?’‘You know I only care about blue. If it’s not blue, I don’t want it.’‘Blue gems don’t match gold, though. You clearly don’t know anything.’‘Then make it silver, whatever. But it has to be blue! The most expensive one.’The necklace drawn in the notebook resembled the one Tae Woowon was searching for. While it wasn’t an exact match, it looked similar enough to be an early design concept. It was unlikely Go Hangyeol had made the necklace, but perhaps the Sandrite necklace held great value to Lee Yesin.Tae Woowon closed the notebook and checked the inside of the safe. He carefully inspected the space, making sure nothing else was hidden, then replaced the items exactly as they were before and closed the safe. He checked the shelves in case there was another hidden compartment, but nothing else turned up. Satisfied, Tae Woowon returned the books to their original positions and stood up. He double-checked the room for any signs of disturbance before turning off the flashlight.Had raiding the safe been helpful? Not really. He had uncovered unnecessary information, leaving his mind even more tangled. The more Tae Woowon learned about Lee Yesin, the more he became a bundle of questions. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He still didn’t know the exact location of the necklace, and given that Lee Yesin was a chaebol heir, the security around him was likely intense. Tae Woowon had planned to stick close to him for that very reason. Yet, somehow, his focus had shifted elsewhere.Tae Woowon took off his gloves and lit a cigarette.