I felt the coolness of the wine bottle in my hand.

In case my sweaty palms might miss the wine bottle, I held it tightly and licked my dry lips. Late at night, an unfamiliar shadow fluttered in the dimly lit house with only a few lights left.

After hesitating for a while, I carefully knocked on the study door.

“Come in.”

Permission was immediately granted. As I gently opened the study door, I saw a red carpet, a tea table, and a sofa in turn. The person standing in front of the bookshelf and reading the book raised the corner of his mouth and smiled.

“Why did you come here this time?”

“……”

“What are you hiding behind?”

Hesitating at the playful voice, I pulled out the wine bottle and two wine glasses I had been carrying in front of him. Tak, he closed the open book and put the book on the bookshelf.

“It was surprising that you came here, but you even brought alcohol…”

His platinum blonde hair shone like a jewel in the soft light of a lamp. He walked slowly across the study to me and took the wine bottle from my hand.

“Right. It’s better than coming without anything.”

“…if you are okay with it.”

“Of course, I’m okay. No one else, it’s you who asked to have a drink first, is there any reason to refuse?”

Naturally, he grabbed my waist and led me to the sofa. He easily opened the screw cap-type stopper and poured the wine into the glass with a skillful and elegant gesture.

“What is it?”

He smiled at me as I stood still and looked at the wine glass gradually being filled.

“Sit down.”

Funny enough, the thought of wanting to run away suddenly came up. Now there was no turning back. After hesitating for a while, I slowly bent my knees and sat down on the sofa. The suit I was wearing today felt like a snake wrapped around my body.

“Well, then…”

After pouring wine into two wine glasses, he sat across and leisurely crossed his legs. A chill was felt in the silver-grey eyes visible under the long eyelashes.

“You seem to have something to tell me.”

“That…”

I rubbed my cold palms on my thighs in a cold sweat, thinking about how to get out of luck. As silence fell in the study, he was the first to open his mouth as he turned the wine glass around with a relaxed face.

“If you don’t have, get out.”

“No.”

He was a man who didn’t have much patience by nature. I quickly raised my head and said.

“Director. Today I…”

“Ung.”

“Seok-jae was injured and I was told he wasn’t receiving treatment.” (Seok-jae was mentioned at chap 98)

“Maybe. Because that’s what I ordered.”

I bit my lip at the answer that came out without hesitation.

“The reason… may I ask?”

“The reason.”

A long finger with a prominent bone tapped the wine glass. Tiing, with a clear sound, the wine in the glass shook finely.

“There’s a reason to do that. He’s just being punished for not working well.”

“He is seriously injured.”

“I know.”

I was starting to get nervous at his dull attitude.

‘Calm down.’

There was nothing beneficial about being hasty. I licked my dry lips once more.

“The doctor in charge told me that his right leg might limp for the rest of his life. We need surgery as soon as possible.”

“That’s too bad.”

He stared at my lips for a moment then turned his gaze to the wine bottle.

“Director.”

“Are you here just to say that? You want me to let Park Seok-jae get surgery?”

Laughing at me while stroking his chin, he immediately ordered.

“Come here.”

“……”

I slowly got up and walked towards him.

“Closer.”

I stopped by the sofa and he grabbed my wrist. He set me up between his legs, tilted his head back, and made eye contact with me.

After that, I knew what to do even if I didn’t have to listen to the orders. Blinking slowly, I bent my legs and knelt down on the floor.

“Correct.”

As if he was proud of me, a white, cold hand brushed my forehead.

Tuk, tuduk. The faint sound of raindrops hitting the study window was heard. He caressed my face without saying a word while a few drops of rain poured down enough to wet the window.

“Se-hyun-ah.”

By the time my folded legs trembled faintly, the smooth lips finally opened. I bowed my head slightly and answered in the most submissive voice possible.

“Yes.”

“Why did you bring wine? To bribe?”

“It’s not.”

“Kind of cute.”

A bumpy and scar-filled hand with protruding bones, held my chin with force. A strong grip engulfed me in pain. I swallowed a moan, trying not to wrinkle my forehead.

“I feel like you come here to sell your body for some reason. Is not it?”

“I’m sor…”

“No, don’t apologize. Why don’t you sell your body to me? It’s actually fun.”

Whether it was really fun, he smiled brightly as if he was having a lot of fun.

“It’s nice. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a submissive figure thanks to Seok-jae. Should I punish him more often from now?”

“Director.”

“Just a joke.”

His thumb passed through the eyebrows and down to the cheeks, reaching the lips. He asked, stroking my lips with an unknown expression.

“What should I do, Se-hyun-ah?”

“……”

“I don’t want to forgive Seok-jae with only wine.”

“……I.”

My whole body tensed up again at the cold words. I continued, feeling my hands trembling.

“I will be punished instead.”

“Hmm.”

“So, so that Seok-jae can get surgery… Please allow it.”

His thumb came in with my lips wide open. I got goosebumps at the sensation of passing through my hard teeth, pressing my tongue, and sweeping down the roof of my mouth.

“Will be punished instead…”

He muttered following my words, putting his thumb and index finger into my mouth.

“I think I’m too weak for you, Se-hyun-ah.”

“Hu, uh…”

“Next time, wine won’t be enough.”

His fingers grew to four in an instant. The wide-open chin was pulled stiffly. The corners of my eyes were distorted by the fingers that voluntarily stirred in my mouth and my breathing became harsh.

“You should at least take off your clothes.”

It was getting harder and harder to forcibly swallow nausea. I hurriedly grabbed his thigh and looked up. However, the opponent was adamant without going easy on me.

“You have to do it properly.”

“……”

I closed my eyes tightly at the low voice and forced my stiff tongue to move. I licked his hard fingers and swallowed it deeply as if I was sucking it. He laughed softly as if he was satisfied with my behaviour.

* * *

A white light filled the blurry vision. I blinked in a hazy mind and raised my gaze to the hand that tapped the back of my nose.

“Good morning.” (In English)

“……!”

I could see Park Geon-ho’s face with a refreshing smile that matched the morning sunlight. Reflexively, I turned my body to other side, but this time, I was horrified to face Woo Seo-hyuk, who looked very tired.

“Woo, Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi.”

“Are you awake?”

It was then that I realized that I was lying between Park Geon-ho and Woo Seo-hyuk and got up quickly. Park Geon-ho, who was lying on my side for a long time and watching leisurely, said in a playful voice.

“Don’t you have a hangover?”

“I’m ok, ahem. I’m fine.”

I coughed to relief my neck and looked around. Seeing Park Geon-ho and Woo Seo-hyuk wearing comfortable clothes in an unfamiliar bedroom brought back memories of drinking last night.

“You won’t be allowed to go somewhere and drink recklessly, Han Yi-gyeol.”

“…yes. I will keep that in mind.”

Park Geon-ho giggled and raised his upper body, perhaps it was quite funny to see me touching my forehead and sighing deeply.

“How much do you remember?”

“I barely remember Team Leader dried my hair after washing, but after that…”

“That’s good enough.”

I nodded and agreed. Strictly speaking, it was because I couldn’t stand the drowsiness and fell asleep, not because I was drunk so I didn’t lose my memory.

‘I’ll have to be more careful when I drink from now on.’

In a tired state, I drank without snacks and got drunk quickly, but Han Yi-gyeol was very weak in drinking even though he was an A-rank. I was fortunate to find out how much I could drink before I made a bigger mistake.

“Are there any pains?”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who came down from the bed with me, asked.

“I’m fine.”

I smiled awkwardly and looked at him carefully. Woo Seo-hyuk, who always wore a suit with his hair back straight, was now wearing loose-fitting clothes with his hair down. The look was very new.

“Han Yi-gyeol-ssi?”

As I continued to stare without saying a word, he blinked and tilted his head slightly.

“You look very tired.”

“It’s because I can’t sleep, but it doesn’t matter for a day or so.”

“Really?”

I looked back at Park Geon-ho. Unlike Woo Seo-hyuk, Park Geon-ho, who stretched out his long arms, looked very refreshing. It seemed that only Woo Seo-hyuk was awake while Park Geon-ho and I were sleeping soundly.

“I told him to sleep. It was Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk who refused.”

Park Geon-ho shrugged his shoulders and spoke like an excuse at my question.

“More than that, how did all three of us lie in the same bed? You said you have a spare room.”

“I’m sorry. Even if Team Leader Park Geon-ho’s going to die later, he said he would sleep next to Han Yi-gyeol-ssi.”

“I’m just going to sleep on my bed.”

“I don’t think I have to listen to it anymore.”

Park Geon-ho, who laughed at my words, got out of bed and opened the bedroom door. I followed him out of the living room and checked the clock. It was just past 9:30 in the morning.

“Anyway, thank you for letting me sleepover. I’ve caused you trouble.”

“If you’re sorry, why don’t we eat at a nice place today?”

“That will be next time.”

As I stayed overnight at Park Geon-ho’s house, all of my subsequent schedules were turned upside down. Reorganizing the plan in my head, I received a glass of water from Park Geon-ho.

“Let’s have breakfast and go back to the guild. Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk. Coffee?”

“I will drink it. Let me help you prepare breakfast.”

“I would appreciate it.”

I drank water, staring blankly at Park Geon-ho and Woo Seo-hyuk, who were moving as if they were well-matched.

Seriously, they usually fought like that even when they just made eye contact, but at times like this, they got along perfectly.

‘Come to think of it, when we fought at the gates of the N23 Area, it was similar to what they are now.’

If they were on good terms, it would have been a useful combo. I put down the glass of water that I drank with an absurd thought.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Hm. To help… But Han Yi-gyeol. I heard that you’re really bad at cooking.”

“Pardon?”

Park Geon-ho smiled brightly as he rolled up his sleeves and blocked me from entering the kitchen.

“Healer Min Ah-rin told me that you can’t even cut an onion.”

“It’s true that I haven’t done it before, but I’m confident that I can handle a knife well…”

“I and Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk are enough here, so go wash up.”

“Wait…!”

Park Geon-ho, who grabbed my shoulder and pushed me out of the kitchen, opened the bathroom door personally. I accidentally entered the bathroom and smiled in vain as I looked at the stupid Han Yi-gyeol reflected in the mirror.