CHAPTER 82: NO ONE CAN HAVE YOU BUT ME

Joon bluntly muttered, pausing his work as he looked up at him from the desk like he was a forlorn soul. Cheon Areum didn’t mind the judgment, not when Joon could still give him what he wanted. Without wasting another second, he stepped closer and tugged at Joon’s chair, pulling it out from the desk. Then, he crouched down and slipped into the pit beneath the desk, curling himself into the narrow space to hide—just in case Yoon Seoyul or Lee Nari stepped out of the office and caught him eavesdropping.

"Now tell me word for word what they are talking about."

"Do you really want to listen in? I don’t think it will be anything pleasant."

Joon calmly pulled his chair back into place and removed his glasses, placing them neatly on the desk. His fingers briefly pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, taking a moment to rest them.

"Master just asked Lee Nari to leave if she is done."

"No. Not like this. Just say the name and the exact words."

Cheon Areum spoke as Joon rubbed his tired eyes—perhaps rethinking his life choices for the tenth time today—but he soon began to speak again.

"Lee Nari: You’re seriously going to ignore it?"

"Master: I don’t have time to waste. Leave if you are done here. Areum is waiting for me at home."

That’s it? She’s going to leave? I don’t even have a single clue about what they were talking about...

"Lee Nari: Did you not hear me? He’s a ticking time bomb that can blow up everything you have built for yourself, and you still want to go back to him?"

Huh?

"I personally looked into Park Gunwoo myself. After seeing all this proof, you still think he’s not the one who did it? Cheon Areum can try to hide his true nature, but he can’t fully conceal that side of him. Do you really think you can handle him?"

Cheon Areum was listening attentively while hugging his knees when Joon stopped speaking. It was quiet. Either no one inside the office was talking, or Joon had chosen not to speak further.

"Master hasn’t spoken yet. There is the sound of paper flipping."

He’s going through the files?

Dread slowly crept up Cheon Areum’s spine as he waited for anyone to speak again. The silence continued for a while before Joon spoke again.

"Lee Nari: Did you already know about all this? You don’t seem so surprised."

"You already knew from the start, didn’t you? You don’t even care about your public image now? If word of this got out, you’ll take down the whole guild and everyone with you, Yoon Seoyul."

Say something... Yoon Seoyul.

"Master: Is this all you have?"

"Lee Nari: This isn’t enough proof for you?"

"You can stop now, Joon."

It hadn’t even been a full day since he made the decision to go after Yoon Seoyul, despite all the risks stacked against him—yet Lee Nari had already managed to rattle the fragile foundation he was trying to build.

"Master."

Joon spoke, gaining Cheon Areum’s attention once again as he glanced up at him.

"Master: I know more about him than anyone can ever find out. If you think I’ll leave Cheon Areum alone after this, you’re deeply mistaken. Will you leave now, or do I have to call the security?"

Just as Joon finished his words, the office door slammed open and shut with a loud thud. Lee Nari’s heels clacked sharply against the floor, each step laced with fury as she stormed toward the elevators at the end of the hallway.

He already knew from the start?

Cheon Areum stayed hidden in the same place as Joon got up and into the office, bringing Yoon Seoyul out and exposing his hiding spot.

The chair scraped quietly as it was pulled out. Yoon Seoyul crouched down beside the desk, steadying himself with one hand on the surface. Cheon Areum, hidden beneath the desk, locked eyes with him, and with zero hesitation, he reached forward and forcibly tugged Yoon Seoyul by his tie, pulling him in until their faces hovered just inches apart. The silk tightened between his fingers as Yoon Seoyul’s right knee touched the floor. They stared into each other’s eyes as Cheon Areum spoke in a low but steady voice.

"I’m putting all my trust in you, Yoon Seoyul. Don’t betray me."

"I won’t."

Unbothered by the tug or the setting, Yoon Seoyul responded with calm composure. As the distance between them vanished, Cheon Areum’s smile flickered across his lips, the barest hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. He brushed his lips lightly against Yoon Seoyul’s—soft, teasing—before leaning in fully, sealing the space between them with a slow, gentle kiss.

Joon cleared his throat with an exaggerated cough from the side, making his presence impossible to ignore. Cheon Areum reluctantly released Yoon Seoyul’s tie, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary before pulling back from the kiss with visible non-willingness.

"Yoon Seoyul. You need to give Joon two million won. I had a deal with him."

Yoon Seoyul nodded. Sliding his arms under Cheon Areum’s, he placed a firm hand on the back of his head. In one smooth motion, he lifted him out from under the desk. Cheon Areum didn’t resist, letting himself be brought out of hiding, avoiding Joon’s glares.

"And why did you come to the office?"

Pecking the corners of his eye, Yoon Seoyul asked, fixing his hair by brushing it with his fingers. Cheon Areum’s heart pounded erratically, loud and wild like a drum echoing against Yoon Seoyul’s chest, threatening to burst through his ribs. Cheon Areum wanted to step back, but the arm around his waist didn’t let him.

"Yesterday’s report—you didn’t ask for it, so I thought I would come and write it in the office with you."

"What were you doing under the desk?"

"I bribed Joon to tell me what you and Lee Nari were talking about."