Precious Thing

“Ah, look at all the blood… What do we do…?”Students murmured one by one, witnessing the horrific scene. In the middle stood Lee Yesin, his face dazed, holding a knife in his hand.Tae Woowon immediately approached Lee Yesin, pried the knife from his grip, and pushed it far away. Then, he turned to the man writhing on the floor in front of them. The man was clutching his stomach, groaning in pain. Blood oozed slowly from between his rough fingers.“Did you call an ambulance?” Tae Woowon asked a girl standing with her phone. She quickly nodded, her face serious. Tae Woowon grabbed a thin cloth lying on a nearby table, tore it long, and wrapped it around the man’s waist, pushing his hands aside before quickly tying it. The wound wasn’t deep. It looked more like a long cut than a stab.“Ugh…!” The man groaned as his eyes bulged, but Tae Woowon merely glanced at him before grabbing a thicker cloth and pressing it firmly over the wound, telling the man to hold it down with his hands. After completing the simple first-aid, he turned to Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin was still staring blankly at the bleeding, twitching man.“Lee Yesin, look at me,” Tae Woowon called out, shaking the blood off his hand. But Lee Yesin didn’t turn to face him.“That bastard… It wasn’t me…” The man with the wound was muttering angrily, his tear-streaked face glaring at Lee Yesin. Kwon Heechan, who had been unnoticed until then, stepped between them. He grabbed Lee Yesin’s arm and shot a determined look at Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon glanced around at the whispering students, some of whom were holding up their phones, possibly recording the scene.“Follow me,” Tae Woowon said, pulling out his phone and gesturing for Kwon Heechan to follow. Kwon Heechan nodded and held onto Lee Yesin, who still appeared dazed, trailing after Tae Woowon.With the elevator stuck on the first floor, they opted for the stairs. Tae Woowon quickly made a call to Park Jonghyun as they hurried down.“Yes, Ji Geonwoo. What’s going on?” Park Jonghyun answered with a sigh.“You’ll need to spend some money.”“…How much?”“Not sure yet, but a student’s been cut with a knife.”“What?! Are you serious? Don’t tell me… was it the young master?”There was a loud clatter on the other end of the phone, as if Park Jonghyun had shot up from his seat.“Yes. The ambulance is on its way.”“Damn… Don’t let him leave the house. Make sure he stays put.”“…Understood.”After hanging up, Tae Woowon arrived at the first floor and looked up at Lee Yesin and Kwon Heechan slowly descending the stairs. The murmurs around them had only grown louder. Some people were openly criticizing Lee Yesin, while others snapped pictures. Unable to stand it any longer, Tae Woowon climbed back up the stairs and wrapped an arm around Lee Yesin’s shoulders, pulling him into his chest and swiftly escorting him out of the building. Lee Yesin, who had lost all strength in his legs, practically floated down the stairs in Tae Woowon’s arms, and as soon as they reached outside, Tae Woowon loaded him into the car.Just as Kwon Heechan rushed over to get in the car, Tae Woowon stopped him.“Explain what happened.”“I’ll tell you as we go.”“I don’t need you. Just explain and leave.”Kwon Heechan paused, blinking slowly as he stared at Tae Woowon. The frantic look in his eyes disappeared, and he tilted his head slightly.“Already done?” he mumbled to himself, then let out a small laugh. When Tae Woowon didn’t respond, Kwon Heechan dropped the smile and nodded.“There was a knife hidden between Yesin’s notebooks. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt, but a fight broke out over who did it, and, well… as you can see, it escalated from there.”“So you’re telling me Lee Yesin swung the knife during the fight?”“Yes.”Kwon Heechan’s wide eyes and nod seemed almost unnatural in the situation. He wasn’t acting like himself, and the strange smile earlier added to the unease. This wasn’t the same Kwon Heechan who had been around Lee Yesin before.“Ji Geonwoo…” The driver rolled down the window, quietly calling out Tae Woowon’s name. When Tae Woowon looked down, the driver, wearing a troubled expression, nodded toward the growing crowd around the car where Lee Yesin was seated. With a clenched fist, Tae Woowon circled the car and climbed into the passenger seat, and the driver promptly hit the gas.The ride home was silent. Lee Yesin didn’t speak, nor did Tae Woowon or the driver. When the car stopped in front of Lee Yesin’s house, Tae Woowon told the driver to head inside and guided the dazed Lee Yesin into the house.Lee Yesin couldn’t even manage to take off his shoes properly. Tae Woowon bent down, pulling the shoes off his feet, then led him to the living room sofa, sitting him down. Lee Yesin’s eyes, slightly parted, were unfocused. Tae Woowon sat beside him, gently pulling his cheek to make him face him.“Lee Yesin.”He lightly tapped Lee Yesin’s cheek. Slowly, Lee Yesin blinked and focused on Tae Woowon. The faint light caught in his glassy eyes.“Tell me what happened.”Lee Yesin stared at him as if pinned in place. Tae Woowon waited patiently, softly touching his cheek, until Lee Yesin’s gaze sharpened and focused on him.“…I just… stabbed him,” Lee Yesin said quietly, removing Tae Woowon’s hand with his cold fingers. He glanced down at Tae Woowon’s bloodstained hand, then at his own equally red hand.“He pissed me off… so I stabbed him.”Lee Yesin spoke softly, clenching his fist. Then he slowly stood up, but before he could take a proper step, he collapsed onto the floor. It seemed that the trembling he had been suppressing had finally overtaken him. Tae Woowon picked up the fallen Lee Yesin, carried him to his room, and headed straight for the bathroom. He sat him down roughly on a wide wooden mat and began to fill the bathtub with warm water. After washing his hands in the sink, Tae Woowon glanced back. Lee Yesin was sitting with his knees pulled to his chest, his head hung low. His small frame appeared even more diminutive.“Lift your face,” Tae Woowon said, kneeling beside him on one knee. Despite clearly hearing him, Lee Yesin remained still. After observing him for a moment, Tae Woowon forcibly lifted his face to check his condition. He looked over his body, then began to undress him piece by piece. The thin green knit, the white short-sleeved shirt underneath, the leather belt, black pants, black underwear. Even the accessories on his arms were removed. Without resistance, Lee Yesin gripped Tae Woowon’s shoulder in silence.Tae Woowon lowered him into the warm bath. The water, half-filled, barely reached Lee Yesin’s navel.“Are you cold?”“…….”“I asked if you’re cold.”“…No.”Lee Yesin curled up again, drawing his knees to his chest just as he had before. Sitting close to the tub, Tae Woowon unwrapped Lee Yesin’s arms from around his legs and pulled his hands out. His dry, hardened blood made the lines on his palms starkly visible. Tae Woowon carefully washed his hands, cleaning out even the blood trapped under his nails, before gently wrapping Lee Yesin’s arms back around his legs. Lee Yesin, biting his lip, rested his forehead against his knees.When the tub was sufficiently full, Tae Woowon turned off the water. The loud dripping of water subsided, leaving the bathroom eerily quiet. Only a few remaining water droplets fell into the tub with a soft, intermittent plop. Tae Woowon rested his arms on the edge of the bathtub and leaned his head on them, gently swishing one hand in the water. He was struck by how soft the water felt. After a while, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Before lighting it, he glanced at Lee Yesin, who remained huddled in the same position. After staring at his slender neck for a moment, Tae Woowon lit the cigarette. He cupped some water in his hand and splashed it onto Lee Yesin’s exposed shoulder. Lee Yesin flinched and raised his head. Tae Woowon exhaled smoke, deliberately away from his face.“Want one?”Lee Yesin gazed at him for a moment before nodding slightly. Tae Woowon placed the cigarette between his lips. Lee Yesin took a deep drag, leaned his head back, and exhaled a long stream of smoke.They shared the cigarette in silence. Lee Yesin didn’t lift a finger, inhaling the smoke each time it was offered, while Tae Woowon scooped out the ashes that fell into the bath and occasionally splashed water onto Lee Yesin’s shoulder. When the cigarette was reduced to just the filter, Tae Woowon put it out with water and tossed it into the distant toilet.“Where do you draw the line?” Lee Yesin asked, resting his temple against his knee as he looked up at Tae Woowon. The warmth of the bath seemed to have cleared his mind; his eyes were no longer clouded. Tae Woowon, resting his chin on the edge of the tub, stared at him blankly. It wasn’t a difficult question, but neither was it easy to answer. After a long pause, Tae Woowon finally responded.“Until you swing at me.”“…I never swung at you.”You told me to be your man. The response lingered in his mind but never made it to his lips. Saying that would only lead to a predictable conversation. The fact that Tae Woowon was hired by Chairman Lee to monitor Lee Yesin would come up, and the gentle atmosphere between them would be ruined instantly. Tae Woowon didn’t feel like picking a fight with the small figure before him. So, for once, he changed the subject.“Should I wash your hair?”“…Yeah.”With wet hands, Tae Woowon gently stroked Lee Yesin’s hair.After washing Lee Yesin’s hair and shedding his own wet clothes, Tae Woowon left the bathroom and took a shower in the guest bathroom. He then prepared a simple meal, knowing that Lee Yesin, while not a picky eater, wasn’t one to eat small portions. Tae Woowon toasted several slices of bread and served them with peanut butter, strawberry jam, milk, and coffee on a tray. He entered Lee Yesin’s room and set the tray down on the table in front of the TV after confirming Lee Yesin’s silhouette sitting on the bed. He approached him.“Come eat.”“…You’re acting strange.”Lee Yesin looked up at Tae Woowon with clear eyes and spoke. It was an unexpected remark, but Tae Woowon didn’t question him.“You’re like a pervert.”Tae Woowon let out a short laugh. Smirking, he massaged the back of his neck and leaned against the opaque partition.“Why?”“…I don’t know. I just feel that way.”Lee Yesin, adjusting his loosely tied robe, got up from the bed and approached the TV. After turning it on and selecting a channel, he grabbed a slice of the bread Tae Woowon had toasted. Tae Woowon watched him move from a distance. Lee Yesin spread a generous amount of jam on the bread, took a bite, and glanced over at Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon finally moved, sitting next to him.On the variety show playing on TV, the cast members were shouting over each other. They stepped forward one by one, raising their voices in a bid to explain their grievances. A popular actress finally gained the floor, passionately defending herself with logical arguments.“Want me to spread some for you?” Lee Yesin asked, his voice closer than the noise of the TV. Tae Woowon looked down. Lee Yesin, having finished one slice of bread, was spreading strawberry jam on another.“Eat it yourself.”Tae Woowon lifted the cup from the tray, drinking some coffee before grabbing a slice of the now nearly cold toast. On the TV, the cast had made peace, now cheering each other on. The mix of loud laughter and low voices filled the room, but to Tae Woowon, the atmosphere felt oddly quiet, like the calm before a storm.After finishing their meal, Tae Woowon placed the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink and returned to Lee Yesin’s room, tossing him a rag. Lee Yesin, who had been staring blankly at the TV, shot a brief glance at Tae Woowon before cleaning the table littered with breadcrumbs. Tae Woowon watched him for a moment before turning away, but then Lee Yesin spoke.“Put me to bed.”Lee Yesin, having finished cleaning the table, approached Tae Woowon and placed the rag in his hand. It seemed the spoiled young master had no intention of going to the kitchen himself.“Right now?”“Yeah.”Tae Woowon checked the clock hanging in Lee Yesin’s room. It was only 8 PM. He carefully held the dishcloth to prevent the crumbs from falling off.“Go brush your teeth.”Then he headed to the kitchen.After finishing his preparations, he entered Lee Yesin’s room. Before the Cold War, it was common for Lee Yesin to barge in at dawn claiming he couldn’t sleep, but it was the first time he requested to be put to sleep from the start. Tae Woowon was curious about what he was thinking at that moment.“Lie down.”He moved to sit next to Lee Yesin, who was leaning against the headboard of the bed. In his pajamas, Lee Yesin squirmed and lay flat on the bed. Resting his head on his palm with his elbows propped up, he placed a hand on Lee Yesin’s chest, patting it gently like a baby. With wide-open eyes, Lee Yesin turned his head toward Tae Woowon.“…This doesn’t help me sleep.”“Then?”A shallow wrinkle formed on Lee Yesin’s forehead. Until now, Tae Woowon had always been the one to put him to sleep. Lee Yesin would only fall asleep when held close with a suitable weight. Although Tae Woowon knew that, he pretended not to and continued to stroke Lee Yesin’s chest. As Tae Woowon moved his hand nonchalantly, Lee Yesin bit his lower lip slightly and turned his back to him. Then, with a large movement of his upper body, he brought his head just below Tae Woowon’s chin. Lee Yesin’s shoulder touched Tae Woowon’s chest. Although he boldly asked to be put to sleep, he stubbornly resisted in this odd way.Tae Woowon grabbed a pillow and placed it under his head, slipping his arm beneath Lee Yesin’s head. Then, with his free hand, he pulled Lee Yesin’s waist into his embrace. Lee Yesin swallowed hard. Tae Woowon’s hand reached Lee Yesin’s chest. Lee Yesin loosened the hands he had been holding together and wrapped them around Tae Woowon’s forearm. He could feel Lee Yesin’s heart racing, thumping faster under his palm.At a glance, it seemed peaceful. Upon closer inspection, tension was palpable, and if one looked for a long time, they would find resignation and anxiety mixed together. Tae Woowon and Lee Yesin closed their eyes, setting aside all these emotions. They didn’t want to forcefully disrupt the naturally fragile peace. At an early hour for him, Lee Yesin, who had warmed up, exhaled first, followed by Tae Woowon who fell asleep.Then, in the deep dark of the night, the doorbell rang, piercing the silence. The constant, harsh noise that was meant to wake them up echoed throughout the quiet house.The first to wake was Lee Yesin, and the first to open his eyes was Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon brushed his hair back and sat up. He looked down as Lee Yesin, who had been curled up, slowly opened his eyes. Even then, the doorbell didn’t cease.“…You’re not on my side.”Lee Yesin spoke in a hoarse voice. It was more of a statement than a question. Without replying, Tae Woowon got out of bed.He rubbed his face and opened the front door. A man he had never seen before bowed his head with an expressionless face. It was hard to believe that he had pressed the doorbell so vigorously; he didn’t seem in a hurry at all. In fact, he looked rather calm.“Chairman Lee is looking for you.”This was the situation Tae Woowon had anticipated since calling Park Jonghyun. He said, “Please wait a moment,” and closed the door. He entered Lee Yesin’s room. Lee Yesin had already washed up and put on clothes. Tae Woowon glanced at Lee Yesin for a moment. Lee Yesin did not look back at Tae Woowon. After closing the door, Tae Woowon turned around and prepared to leave his room. In the quiet atmosphere, they left the house together. They got into the black car waiting in front of the house.They arrived at Lee Yesin’s family home. The large three-story house was surrounded by high walls. As soon as Lee Yesin got out of the car, he pressed the doorbell, and soon the front gate opened. When he reached the main house, the door opened automatically. With his back straight, Lee Yesin took off his shoes and stepped inside. Tae Woowon quietly followed behind him.“You’re here.”Chairman Lee and Lee Yesin’s father, Lee Juho, the president of Yeho Construction, were seated on the sofa. Lee Yesin lowered his head slightly and sat across from Lee Juho. Tae Woowon stood a little away from the sofa. When they settled into their places, Chairman Lee, who was seated in the higher position, raised his glass and took a sip of tea. He then handed the glass to Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin extended his hands, which were resting on his knees, to take the glass. Clink. Immediately, Lee Yesin’s head turned sharply. Chairman Lee slapped Lee Yesin’s cheek and poured tea from his teapot into the glass Lee Yesin was holding. Thud. After finishing his task, the teapot touched the table, and clink. Once again, Lee Yesin’s face turned away.“Drink.”Lee Yesin’s hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly. However, that was all; he did not empty the glass.“I don’t want to.”Chuckle. Chairman Lee laughed. He looked down at Lee Yesin with a disdainful expression. Disdain was evident in his eyes. Watching this, Lee Juho clicked his tongue. He took the teacup from Lee Yesin’s hand and slammed it down loudly on the table.“This is what happens when you raise a kid like this.”Chairman Lee’s accusation turned back to Lee Juho, but Lee Juho simply replied with a dull expression, “I’m sorry.”“Yesin. What did I say when you drove while drunk?”“…”“If you cause a scene one more time, what did I say I would do?”“…”As Lee Yesin remained silent, Chairman Lee picked up the teacup in front of Lee Yesin and threw it. The cup shattered into pieces upon hitting the marble floor. Before the sound of shattering even faded from his ears, he reached out and struck Lee Yesin on the head.“Are you going to stab someone?”Chairman Lee’s face turned red with rage as he hit Lee Yesin’s head two more times.“This isn’t right, is it? How much dirt should I throw on your father and grandfather’s faces to feel better? We’re not asking for much. Is it that hard to live quietly like everyone else?”“Yesin, tell him you’re sorry.”Glancing down at his wristwatch, Lee Juho spoke to Lee Yesin in a tired voice. However, Lee Yesin’s mouth refused to open, and Chairman Lee slowly shook his head.“Enough. I’ve already processed your school dropout, so know that and leave.”Lee Yesin, who had been keeping his eyes down and sitting quietly, raised his gaze. His slightly bulging Adam’s apple moved. Pressing the inside of his lips together, he opened his mouth hesitantly.“…Chairman.”“Even if you say you’re sorry now, it won’t change anything. Get out.”“…Please let me continue attending school…”“Shut your mouth!”His teapot shattered at Lee Yesin’s feet. The hot tea soaked his toes, but Lee Yesin remained still, staring at Chairman Lee. His face grew paler by the second.“Selfish brat. You never think about what you’ve been given, only about what you’ve lost. Fine, let’s lay it all out. What’s so unfair to you? What’s got you so angry, huh? The clothes you’ve worn, the food you’ve eaten, the house, the car! Even down to those fancy pieces of fabric you cling to! Whose pocket did all that come from? You’re the one who spent my money lavishly, playing the hypocrite. Yes, everything you’ve done is hypocrisy. You just needed someone to blame.”Chairman Lee pointed aggressively, glaring at Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin’s lower lip trembled. His half-closed eyes welled up, and his throat moved ceaselessly as if trying to swallow back rising emotions.“Who made me like this…?”“You’re really insane. Where do you get off running your mouth? Do you want to see your mother lose her mind?”Lee Juho kicked the table viciously as he spoke. The heavy table twisted and collided with Lee Yesin’s leg. Chairman Lee, who had been watching Lee Yesin’s face, twitched his lips briefly. Unable to suppress his impulse, he slapped Lee Yesin across the face. Lee Yesin’s head snapped to the side and stayed there. Chairman Lee ran his hand through his disheveled hair, still hot with anger. Then he motioned quietly to Tae Woowon, who had been observing the situation.“Come here.”Tae Woowon’s heart thudded. He erased his expression and approached Chairman Lee.“I heard you gave him a good spanking with your hands on the first day. I had high hopes for you. Now, I wonder if I was too hasty.”“……”Tae Woowon hadn’t reported that incident. Likely, the only witness, the driver, had spilled the story.“I didn’t think you’d express a need for money this way. I’ll give you as much as Yesin’s university fees on top of what you’re getting. Just make sure you don’t leave his side.”Tae Woowon had never said he was short on money. Still, Chairman Lee wasn’t exactly mistaken. He was just isolating Lee Yesin.“I’ll take care of the driver. I’ll give you a car, so when Yesin goes out, you take him wherever.”“……”“I’ll give you all the money you want. Just make sure that brat lives quietly.”“Say something.”Lee Juho, sitting with his legs crossed and staring at Tae Woowon, spoke in a low voice. Tae Woowon didn’t turn to him. He simply looked down at Chairman Lee’s glistening forehead.“That’s enough. It’s only because you’re here that we’ve managed to keep things under control. I’m counting on you. Keep filing your weekly reports as thoroughly as you have.”Lee Yesin’s body, within arm’s reach, moved slightly, ever so slightly. What was going through his mind? The warmth that had lingered in the quiet hours of the night was rapidly slipping away.Tae Woowon rode home in the same car they’d arrived in. He quietly followed Lee Yesin as he walked into his room. Tae Woowon turned the doorknob. The door was locked.“Open the door.”A soft rustling sound came from inside. After a long while, the door opened. Lee Yesin’s left cheek was swollen, but he looked up at Tae Woowon with a numb expression, without so much as a groan. When Tae Woowon tried to enter the room, Lee Yesin stretched out a hand to block him and stepped back. A gap the size of an arm formed between them.“This is where I draw the line.”“Lee Yesin.”“Don’t cross it. Don’t touch me.”“……”“If you do, I’ll kill you.”Bang! The door slammed shut in Tae Woowon’s face. Left alone in the icy silence, Tae Woowon brushed his knuckles across his mouth. He thought back to the scale he had once created in his mind. One by one, he placed weights on it—curiosity, emotions, values, opportunity costs. For now, Lee Yesin was still lighter. For now.٠ ࣪⭑Lee Yesin came out of his room not long after. Sitting on the living room sofa, staring out at the still-dark window, Tae Woowon turned his head and silently observed him. His outfit was more extravagant than usual. He was wearing a necklace adorned with gems Tae Woowon had seen in a display case, and a few rings sat on his fingers. His clothes, though simple—a white t-shirt and jeans—looked expensive enough.“Taking a taxi?”When Tae Woowon just stared at him silently, Lee Yesin tilted his head and asked.“…Wait.”Tae Woowon fetched the car keys from his room. He approached Lee Yesin, who had already gone outside, and unlocked the car Chairman Lee had sent. Sitting in the back seat, Lee Yesin gave Tae Woowon an address. Tae Woowon had thought it might be a club at the tail end of dawn, but the destination turned out to be an apartment building about thirty minutes away in a busy part of town. Tae Woowon entered the address into the GPS and started the car.Surprisingly, Lee Yesin didn’t seem to be in such bad shape. Though he’d issued a threat the night before, telling Tae Woowon he’d kill him if he touched him, he hadn’t accused him of betraying his trust by reporting everything to Chairman Lee, nor had he sarcastically sneered at the kindness shown over dinner, asking if it was just a preemptive gesture. Tae Woowon had expected a scene when it became clear that Yesin wouldn’t be able to attend school anymore, something he had seemed passionate about in the past. But Yesin remained relatively quiet.Tae Woowon remembered a time early on when, even while drugged, Yesin had insisted on getting up to go to school. He had spoken of the need to design clothes as if it were his destiny. Tae Woowon had assumed it was something crucial to him, but apparently, it wasn’t as important as Tae Woowon had thought. As he relaxed, Tae Woowon began to organize the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind.But all of Tae Woowon’s conclusions and assumptions turned out to be wrong in the short time it took to reach the apartment building. It was only then that Tae Woowon realized why people called Lee Yesin a maniac.“Long time no see. I wondered if something had happened since you didn’t contact me for a while. Been playing with someone else?”The man who opened the apartment door pulled Lee Yesin into a hug, grinning mischievously as he roughly rubbed the back of his head. Lee Yesin wrapped his arms tightly around the man’s waist and pressed his face into his shoulder.“No, you’re the first since the last time we slept together.”“Wow, how long has it been? Didn’t your little hole get itchy?”“It did. I’m going crazy even now.”The man chuckled, pulling Yesin inside while embracing him. Tae Woowon grabbed the door before it could close. He stepped inside with one foot, and the man, looking puzzled, glanced back at him.“What, is it a threesome tonight?”The man asked Yesin, who had his face buried in the man’s chest. Yesin shook his head.“He’s a voyeur. Don’t mind him.”Lee Yesin raised his head and pulled the man’s neck down. As he sucked on the man’s plump lips, he moved his body softly, as if dancing a waltz, pushing in deeper and deeper. Tae Woowon closed the door behind them. The man, who had been kissing Lee Yesin, glanced at Tae Woowon. Then, with a grin, he broke away from the kiss and lifted Lee Yesin in his arms.“I’ll go down on you. Let’s go.”“Just going down isn’t enough.”“Got it. I’ll make sure to pound you until you cry. Enjoy the show, patient.”After placing Lee Yesin down on the bed in the middle of the studio apartment, the man flashed a smile at Tae Woowon as he quickly undressed Lee Yesin.Tae Woowon, who had slowly swept his hair back, sat down on a small sofa away from the bed. The man didn’t know, but this wasn’t the first time Tae Woowon had seen him. Tae Woowon had seen him with Lee Yesin at a club when he was stalking Lee Yesin. The image of Lee Yesin touching the man’s thigh and the man playfully tapping Lee Yesin’s chest replayed in his mind. Tae Woowon pulled a cigarette from his pocket with an expressionless face.“Is this a no-smoking area?”“…You can smoke.”The man, who had been removing Lee Yesin’s underwear, turned his head slightly and replied. Tae Woowon lit his cigarette, his veins bulging on the back of his hand.“You should have worn the panties I bought you. They’ve got a hole in the back, so damn sexy.”“They tore while I was with someone else.”“Wow, you wore my gift and slept with another guy?”“Sexy, isn’t it?”They laughed together. Soon, the sound of lips touching and separating echoed in the room. Tae Woowon took a deep drag of his cigarette, making sure it reached his lungs, then exhaled a thin stream of smoke. He mentally placed another weight on the scale marked “Lee Yesin.” As he gazed at the perfectly balanced scale, memories of today came flooding back. What had he been thinking as he watched Lee Yesin get beaten? He wanted to smash Chairman Lee’s head and take Lee Yesin away. But what about now, seeing Lee Yesin being stretched open by another man? …Who knows.“Ah, ah! More, loosen up… It’s not in yet!”“Ah, Yesin, don’t underestimate your ass. I broke it in, there’s no way you can’t take it after just a few months.”“Uhh!”Thud. The cigarette Tae Woowon was holding snapped at the filter. The lit end fell onto the rug at his feet. Tae Woowon picked up a glass of water from the table and poured it over the cigarette. He tossed the glass and the filter back onto the table. Then, he pulled out a new cigarette, lit it, and put it between his lips. It was time to rethink his priorities.“Ugh, deeper… Push it deeper.”“Ah, damn it, seriously. Huff, Lee Yesin, ha… I’ll take care of you, so don’t throw me away, okay?”As dawn approached, Tae Woowon listened to Lee Yesin’s wet moans and reassessed his position.٠ ࣪⭑For weeks, Lee Yesin had been living recklessly. He was usually drunk, rolling in bed with a different person every day. Whether in club rooms, hotels, or at his sex partners’ homes. Although he occasionally slept with women, the vast majority were men. Lee Yesin only seemed satisfied when someone pounded his backside.“Ah, ah, huh.”“Hyung, lift your hips a little more.”The younger guy, thrusting a dildo into Lee Yesin’s hole, exhaled heavily as his face came close to Yesin’s flushed rear. He meticulously inspected the reddened, wrinkled hole, pulling the slippery dildo halfway out before thrusting it back in. Lee Yesin shivered, dimples forming on his buttocks. The young man snickered and smacked his ass. Smack! The playful sound reverberated through the hotel room. Clearly enjoying the sensation, the young man licked his lips, his eyes gleaming. After a few more slaps, he spread his hand wide and squeezed Yesin’s buttocks hard. Only when Lee Yesin groaned did he finally release his grip.“Did it hurt? Sorry, hyung.”Laughing as he apologized, the younger guy grabbed the end of the dildo and twisted it inside like he was stirring something. Feeling his insides stretch, Lee Yesin yelped and crawled forward on his knees. Unable to move further because of the bed’s headboard, he twisted his upper body toward the side—right in front of Tae Woowon. From the chair across the bed, Tae Woowon watched Lee Yesin with a disinterested expression. Taking the cigarette out of his mouth, he mouthed the words: “Enjoying it?” Lee Yesin, face clouded with pleasure, silently opened his mouth.“Hyung, I’ve always wanted to try this. Is it okay?”The young man pulled out a short, cone-shaped adult toy with a handle. Lee Yesin, not even looking, replied with a soft “Yeah.”“This thing’s meant to stop stuff from leaking out. Let’s fill it with lube and my cum just once. Don’t worry, I got tested recently. I’m completely clean.”Lee Yesin, who had been staring blankly at Tae Woowon, slowly shifted his gaze. After chewing on his bottom lip, he nodded. Not afraid of anything. Tae Woowon exhaled and stubbed out his cigarette in the nearby ashtray. It had been over two hours since they had entered the room. The ashtray was overflowing, and the continuous chain-smoking had left his head spinning.“Spread your hole a little. I like it looser, but yours is way too tight from the start.”Lee Yesin turned his body back toward the headboard, just as he had earlier. He reached one hand behind him and spread his hole. The young man, seeing the small opening, squeezed an excessive amount of lube into it. Then, he tossed aside the condom he’d been wearing and inserted his bare cock into Lee Yesin. His mouth went dry.“Ah…”“Damn, this feels amazing. Seriously, hyung, you’re the best.”Gripping Lee Yesin’s waist tightly, the younger guy pulled halfway out and then slammed back in. His rough movements from the start suggested he wouldn’t last long. Sure enough, after just a few more thrusts, he buried his cock in Lee Yesin’s hole and shuddered as he came. Unlike the younger guy, who moaned and trembled, Lee Yesin just frowned, gripping the bed sheets. His toes curled as if the warmth spreading inside him was unfamiliar.“Ah… I think I came more than usual.”The young man, now breathing steadily, carefully pulled back. To prevent the cum from leaking, he lowered Yesin’s waist and raised his hips.“I’ll put it in now. Don’t take it out for a bit. When you do, the stuff inside will spill out, and it’ll feel amazing. You’ll love it.”“Ugh…”The cone-shaped plug slid fully into Lee Yesin’s hole, leaving only the flat handle exposed. The widest part was even thicker than the young man’s cock, causing Lee Yesin to let out a long, thin moan. Tae Woowon pulled his hand from his pocket and lit another cigarette. Just as he was about to light it, his phone, lying on the side table, began ringing loudly.“Uh, it’s my phone.”A young man, naked and with his small genitalia exposed, climbed down from the bed. Tae Woowon handed the phone to him and lit a cigarette. Whether it was because he had done this for a long time or because everyone seemed used to dealing with Lee Yesin, Tae Woowon knew that Lee Yesin’s messy sex life couldn’t be allowed to get out. That’s why he always collected the electronic devices of anyone sleeping with Lee Yesin before things got started. No one else would have created such a ‘safe sex environment’ as an assistant.“Hyung, I’ll go take this call. Oh, don’t lie down; keep your back straight. If it goes too deep, you’ll need to douche. Want to?”Lee Yesin, clutching his lower abdomen, furrowed his brow and raised his upper body. Kneeling on the bed, he bit his lip. The young man, smiling brightly, checked the scene before leaving the suite to take the call in the living room.“Ugh…”Lee Yesin twisted his back, seemingly uncomfortable with the feeling in his stomach. Tae Woowon, exhaling a long puff of smoke, looked at Lee Yesin’s erect nipples, his slender waist, his messy genitalia covered in semen and gel, and his red-handled butt plug. His gaze traveled across these areas and finally rested on Lee Yesin’s face.“Do you like it?”Lee Yesin’s eyes were red from the alcohol, and he licked his lips as he looked at Tae Woowon.“…Yeah.”“Fucking ridiculous.”Tae Woowon chuckled, and right then, the young man returned from his call.“Shall I pull it out now?”The boy, chirping like a kindergarten teacher, pushed Lee Yesin towards the bed’s headboard, positioning him on his knees and spreading his legs wide by smacking the insides of his thighs.“Want to watch, too, Hyung?”The boy glanced back at Tae Woowon, offering as if doing him a favor. Tae Woowon, flicking the ash from his half-smoked cigarette, glanced at him briefly.“Don’t talk to me.”The boy shrugged and grabbed the flat handle. Slowly, he began twisting it. Lee Yesin groaned, tightening his hips in response. The boy grabbed one of Lee Yesin’s buttocks and pulled it aside, rotating his wrist a bit more.“Just take it out in one go, ugh!”Before Lee Yesin even finished speaking, the boy roughly yanked the plug out, causing Lee Yesin’s head to jerk back. His thin neck and waist curved into a graceful line as his hole gushed out semen. Apparently, it felt good, as the trembling in his legs lasted longer than Tae Woowon had expected. “Wow! You weren’t kidding about feeling good, huh!” The boy’s cheerful voice rang out as Tae Woowon snuffed out his cigarette. Heat surged behind his eyes.٠ ࣪⭑At 3 a.m., the quiet was broken only by the sound of their breathing as Tae Woowon returned home with a staggering Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin’s routine was a mess. Sometimes, he would suddenly head over to a partner’s house for a late-night rendezvous, or he would start a solo drinking party in an empty bar in broad daylight. He would dance at a club from early evening until it turned into morning, and then head to a hotel, or start at a hotel and finish at the club. Once something began, he always saw it through. After sex with acquaintances, he’d part ways quickly, but with long-term partners, he’d stay until the morning, watching the sunrise. Because of this, Tae Woowon’s sleep schedule was shrinking day by day.“Walk straight.”Lee Yesin wobbled, bracing himself against the living room wall. He was so drunk he could barely stand. Tae Woowon stood behind him, pressing his throbbing head. He felt nauseous from smoking too much. After massaging his temples, he let go, but Lee Yesin suddenly slumped onto the floor. Tae Woowon sighed deeply, knelt down in front of him, and asked:“Want me to get you some water?”“…You.”The smell of semen clung to Lee Yesin’s breath. He hadn’t showered before leaving the hotel, likely because he wasn’t that close with the young man he had just been with.“You think I’m disgusting.”Lee Yesin, who had been gazing at the floor, lifted his eyes to look at Tae Woowon. His eyes were glazed from alcohol, shining with an unsettling sheen. Tae Woowon stood up and went to the kitchen, returning with a glass of water. He offered it to Lee Yesin, who stared at it for a moment before knocking it out of his hand. The glass shattered with a loud crash against a nearby display case. Tae Woowon instinctively reached out to grab Lee Yesin’s arm but barely managed to stop himself. Lee Yesin, biting his lip, glared at him.“Every time you look at me like I’m trash… it makes me sick.”“Face it. You are trash right now.”“…Bastard.”Lee Yesin’s insult was barely audible. Tae Woowon ran a hand through his hair and nodded towards Lee Yesin’s bedroom.“Go sleep.”“Since when did I ever listen to you?”Lee Yesin raised his wrists, rubbed raw from rope burns, and wiped at his eyes. Ever since he told Tae Woowon not to touch him, Tae Woowon had obeyed. He wouldn’t even offer a hand when Lee Yesin stumbled, and when passing him things, he made sure there was no chance their hands would brush. It was Lee Yesin who had demanded this, but in the end, it was he who felt hurt.“Get up. I’m tired.”At Tae Woowon’s cold words, Lee Yesin bit his lower lip, propped himself up, and staggered towards his room. Tae Woowon watched him peel off his clothes and head into the bathroom. He sat on the sofa, waiting for Lee Yesin to finish and get into bed before leaving the room.Lee Yesin only slept well when he had warmth around him. After sex, he would fill both night and day with sleep, leaving his bottle of sleeping pills untouched for days. Recently, Tae Woowon had noticed that Lee Yesin’s pill count hadn’t changed. He slept better when he shared his bed with close friends, nestling into their arms and breathing comfortably until he woke up fully rested. Tae Woowon, however, would stay awake, watching it all unfold. It was like having a hammer pounding away at his brain.“…Lee Yesin.”About an hour after Lee Yesin had gone to bed, Tae Woowon returned to his room to check if he was fully asleep. After glancing down at Lee Yesin’s pale face for a moment, he turned and left. He got into his car and drove to a quiet, 24-hour café, the place they had arranged to meet. After parking, he pulled out a small monitor and checked the footage of Lee Yesin sleeping in his bed before heading inside.It had only been a few days since Lee Yesin began throwing himself into an endless spiral of sexual indulgence when Tae Woowon installed a camera in his room. Lee Yesin’s fashion had grown more extravagant by the day, and unfamiliar accessories were appearing more often. Through the camera, Tae Woowon discovered that these accessories came from the second floor of Lee Yesin’s villa. He should have figured it out sooner. Lee Yesin had purchased the entire four-story villa and was using several rooms and the living room on the second floor. There was a hidden staircase leading from his room’s balcony. It didn’t seem like it was meant to be hidden—just something added for convenience during renovations, but it was why Tae Woowon hadn’t noticed the second floor before.When Tae Woowon finally discovered where the expensive accessories were stored, he thought it would bring him satisfaction. Or at least he imagined he’d feel hollow, realizing how close he’d been but hadn’t noticed. Instead, he felt nothing. In fact, he felt more detached than ever.The second-floor living room had a small runway. Large mirrors, fitting mannequins, and racks of clothes were everywhere. A room mirroring the layout of Lee Yesin’s own had been turned into a workshop, complete with a sewing machine, threads, fabrics, and pattern papers, all neatly organized. Lee Yesin was truly serious about making clothes.