CHAPTER 30: STILL A BAD ADULT

SO, GARAM ended up running away from Song Sihyuk.

Had he stayed, the Alpha might have really ended up teaching him how to use his tongue in a kiss.

Come to think of it, Song Sihyuk was like that.

Aigooya.

"You deserve it, Hyung," Finn said proudly while giving Garam a double thumbs up. "You’ve worked hard in the military, after all."

Aka high-end stuff without the branding all over the place.

"Instead of a mini-album, just let Lim Garam release a digital single. One song with an MV— that’s it," Song Sihyuk said, refusing to back down. "There’s no need for a proper promotion either. Those fansign events? Forget it."

I just hate the fact that I have to share him with his fans.

"This is the kid’s idea?"

I mean, I know we’re going to do that soon— but I need to prepare mentally first.

Lim Garam needs to stay where I can see him anytime I want.

"I’m gonna have myself checked."

Lim Garam is busy with work, so we can’t meet yet.

"But, sir, Garam-ssi will be disheartened if he’s the only one among the group who doesn’t have any solo activities," Myung Hyesu insisted. "Plus, the kid’s solo fans are quite aggressive. If they think the company is mistreating Garam-ssi, then they’ll send us protest trucks. They will definitely make it go viral on the internet. If that happens, then Garam-ssi might gain sympathy even from non-fans. So, he’ll still get more popular either way."

Seong Kyungmin’s face beamed. "Oh, the kid has a good head on his shoulders. I like him already."

"Hyung, you’re home?"

"But it will help increase Garam-ssi’s popularity—"

"No. I’m here to get tested for HIV and other STDs."

But Song Sihyuk wanted to know what exactly his wife was busy with, and he wanted to hear it straight from Myung Hyesu.

***

Song Sihyuk didn’t lift his head since he was busy reading emails on his phone.

Then he bombed me with the long story behind his sudden disappearance. Worse, the story was hard to digest because it involved shamans. I don’t really believe in the supernatural. But as long as it’s not a cult, I’m willing to be more understanding.

"Exactly," Song Sihyuk said, cutting off the CEO again. "Lim Garam doesn’t need to be more famous than he already is. I don’t want more people to discover and love what’s mine. It’s already irritating to see his face everywhere."

"I want you to check on Lim Garam."

Hence, he summoned the CEO to his penthouse to listen to her report directly.

"Only accept endorsements for their group, forget about offers for Lim Garam alone."

It wasn’t because he didn’t like seeing Lim Garam’s face.

Song Sihyuk didn’t care if Seong Kyungmin was mad at him, though.

Oh, they’re having ramen for midnight snack.

I’m the only one allowed to see Lim Garam’s cute side.

"I told you our friendship was already over the moment you joined the Cho Triplets with their experiment," Seong Kyungmin said coldly while glaring at Song Sihyuk. "Miracle pills? Seriously? And you’re making the poor kid take those drugs when they’re not even clinically approved yet?"

"Exactly."

"Welcome back, Hyung."

***

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But that relief wouldn’t last long, though.

"It’s because the kids are good, sir," Myung Hyesu said defensively. "They’re talented, charismatic, and they have a good group chemistry since they get along well—"

To be fair, as the fashionista in the group, he should have expected Finn to recognize his watch right away.

f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m

"No, thank you," Garam said, patting his stomach. "I’m still full."

"Are you sick?"

Chaebols are really on another level, huh?

So much for being a friend.

Garam just smiled awkwardly, and then he changed the topic. "Is Eunsang home?"

"Hyung, did you go shopping?" Finn asked excitedly while looking at Garam’s watch, and then he looked up at him. The boy’s eyes were sparkling. "This is the first time I’ve see you splurge. Good for you, Hyung. I’m happy that you finally know how to spend your money properly."

Yeah, miracle pills are basically illegal drugs.

It was also obvious that Myung Hyesu genuinely cared about Lim Garam.

That was true.

I’ll lose my mind if my wife gets more popular overseas. Plus, working with foreign brands would mean Lim Garam would be out of Korea most of the time.

He still had time left before going back to work, but he was already starting to prepare for it. Hence, he spent the past few days in his penthouse.

"I hate talking about the Cho Triplets, so why would I do that?" Seong Kyungmin scoffed, knitting his eyebrows. "Where are you going?"

"It’s our rest day tomorrow, Hyung," Kwon Jigu said. "Should I cook ramen for you?"

Song Sihyuk hated the idea.

Myung Hyesu looked confused. "What do you mean—"

It was ridiculous how his husband had to wear ’cute costumes’ while doing aegyo1.

Aigoo.

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Garam gulped hard. "Half a million Korean won, right?"

Garam was relieved to hear that Lee Eunsang had finally bounced back.

"Hmm? What are you talking about?" Garam asked, and then he pointed at his watch. "Do you know this brand?"

I mean, I’m not completely ignorant about fashion and luxury brands since our group has a few ambassadorships under our belt. But, admittedly, I only know famous brands. Sihyuk Hyung is probably used to brands that most people consider as ’quiet luxury.’

"Since when did you care about things like that? You’re an irresponsible son of a bitch who doesn’t care about your partners. The only thing you do is take contraceptives for Alphas to make sure you won’t get anyone pregnant."

"Sihyuk-ah, I only deal with Alphas and Omegas."

"Tsk."

Song Sihyuk was annoyed that he hired such a competent person to handle Lim Garam’s career.

I ate a lot at the restaurant earlier.

***

"Whatever. Handle the group however you want. But limit Lim Garam’s activities."

"SEONG KYUNGMIN, are you still mad at me?"

Seong Kyungmin scoffed. "Of course, it won’t. Do you think it’s going to be easy to turn a Beta into an Omega? It shouldn’t be done in the first place."

He still entered his friend’s private consultation room at the hospital where he worked, and then he sat on the chair across from Seong Kyungmin.

He once saw a viral video of Lim Garam’s fansign event.

"That’s the old me, Kyungmin-ah. My wife convinced me to get tested, and I can’t say ’no’ to him."

Garam was already overstimulated by Song Sihyuk’s sudden return.

Thank goodness.

"I recognize the brand because I’m a fan of them, but I think it’s the first time I’ve seen that design," Finn said while admiring the watch around Garam’s wrist. "Clovv’s designs are simple, but they stand out because of their craftsmanship. So, I’d say they are worth it even if some of their most luxurious pieces cost at least half a million."

"Really?" Song Sihyuk asked indifferently, and then he lifted his head to give Myung Hyesu a cold look. "Reject all the offers then."

"You overdid it, Myung Hyesu," Song Sihyuk said sternly. "I told you to make Lim Garam’s group moderately successful— just popular enough so Lim Garam wouldn’t feel like a failure. But what did you do? You turn their little group into one of Korea’s best boy groups. They even chart high in the US."

Garam smiled when he saw Finn and Kwon Jigu in the kitchen.

Or things that are really expensive and made with really nice materials, but don’t look like it. Apparently, quiet luxury is associated with old money people who don’t flaunt their wealth.

Lim Garam being famous domestically was already pissing him off.

"You already accepted a brand deal from my cousin’s cosmetics company— that should be enough for now. His group has several endorsements under their belt anyway," Song Sihyuk said. "And that offer from a luxury fashion house? Turn it down. I have no intention of making Lim Garam a global popstar."

"Do you not have schedules for tomorrow?" Garam asked worriedly. "Your faces are gonna be bloated later."

Finn shook his head. "USD, Hyung."

Tsk.

"I’m going to bring Lim Garam here later," Song Sihyuk said, getting up. "Don’t mention the Cho Triplets to him once you meet my wife, okay?"

"Yeah. I stopped doing this shit after I stayed abstinent for the past five years."

"It doesn’t seem to be working on Lim Garam, though."

"We’re almost done preparing for Garam-ssi’s first solo mini album," Myung Hyesu said excitedly. "Moreover, Garam-ssi has received several love calls from PDs and advertisers. Variety shows want him, and brands are fighting to get him as their endorser. He even received an offer to sing the main OST for a drama that’s predicted to be a hit. But the biggest offer we received was from a giant fashion house. They want Garam-ssi to be their first ever global ambassador."

"Yah. Lim Garam is mine."

Song Sihyuk only gave Seong Kyungmin the middle finger.

"What?"

I’m wearing an apartment around my wrist.

"SIHYUK-NIM, while Garam-ssi was in the military, our team had already started planning his solo activities."

My friend is finally a doctor now.

I should have just hired one of my useless relatives.

"Don’t worry— I don’t go after kids that young."

"Yes, Hyung. He’s already sleeping, though. He got knocked out as soon as he hit the bed," Kwon Jigu said, smiling. "But our Eunsang seems to be doing better now. He probably fell asleep right away because he finally feels relaxed."

Acting cute.