CHAPTER 389: LET THE PAST BE THE PAST—WE’RE GOING GOLFING

"Sorry," I said between chuckles. "I just realized... maybe I’m not built for horseback riding."

Seo-Jun groaned as they helped me to my feet to make sure my legs were fine.

"You’re not built for giving me heart attacks either."

"And yet," His words made me laugh more and I grinned, "...here we are."

"Let’s take a break," Min-Cheol suggested and carried me, leaving Seo-Jun no room to argue.

He carried me to the benches by the stable wall.

"I can walk, though," I said, but my words were ignored.

"You just fell off a horse," Seo-Jun muttered. "So this much is fine."

Should I be glad they weren’t calling a doctor then?

"I’m fine, though. After all, you both tackled me," I pointed out, giving them a look.

Min-Cheol sighed as he placed me down on the bench, brushing invisible dust off my shoulder.

"Hyung, let’s just call it a day, okay? We’ve had enough excitement." He said but I shook my head.

"No, I’m fine," I said firmly, though I found out my legs were still trembling a little. "I don’t want to ruin the fun."

"Fun?" Seo-Jun raised a brow. "You mean that near-death experience?"

"I’m still alive, aren’t I?" I said, straightening up. "Besides..."

My gaze drifted toward the fields where Jie-Yu’s laughter carried in the wind. She looked completely different from the quiet, flustered girl who’d sat across the table this morning.

Her hair streamed behind her as her horse galloped across the open plain, her smile bright and carefree.

She must’ve been through a lot. I thought as I watched her. It was nice seeing her look that free. So I didn’t want to just end things here.

"Anyway, since I’ve proven that horseback riding isn’t my destiny, how about we go play golf instead?"

"Right. We were supposed to play golf." Min-Cheol said. "Maybe we should’ve started with the golf."

"Well, we can still play now," I said. "No one can fall off a horse if there’s no horse involved, right?"

That earned a snort from Seo-Jun.

"You’re determined to keep pretending you didn’t almost break your neck."

"Let the past be the past," I said, realizing it was pointless to argue any further. "We’re going golfing."

"Fine," Seo-Jun sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "But I’m driving the cart this time."

"You’re not driving," Min-Cheol said immediately. "You drive like you’re running from a pack of wolves."

"I am fast, efficient, and precise." Seo-Jun gave himself credit that I don’t think he deserves, ahem.

"You’re reckless." Fact.

But the fact that they were arguing again made me groan and I mumbled.

"Not again."

If I let them be, they’ll argue nonstop and then turn to me, asking who I wanted to pick. I don’t think I want to be involved in this shuttle.

The guards approached just then, carrying the large golf bag on their backs, like it weighed nothing.

Behind them, one of the stable hands pointed toward the small fleet of golf carts waiting under a shaded archway. The course itself lay farther west, past the wide expanse of trimmed grass and the faint glitter of water sprinklers.

Ah, did I happen to miss that view or did they just magically create such a course? I probably didn’t notice it, haha.

"Let’s stop here," I said to them. "If we’re going to argue it out then..." I clasped my hands together. "I would like to drive the cart."

But the moment I suggested that, they suddenly came to a compromise for the other.

"You know what? I don’t think I have the zeal to be a driver anymore. Brat, you drive the cart." Seo-Jun gave up.

"I knew you’d come to your senses soon enough, you old man. I’ll ride the cart well."

I stared in disbelief. What did they take me for?

It was as if they were indirectly saying it to my face that they didn’t trust my riding skills. I mean, I’ve never ridden a cart before, and I don’t even have my driver’s license, but I was sure I could manage somehow.

I pouted. This was so unfair.

Min-Cheol laughed awkwardly.

"It’s alright, Hyung. You can sit next to me and watch me ride it." He said. "Then you can try riding afterwards," his suggestion piqued my interest, and my ears tickled.

"Oh? If that’s the case then alright." I said and he sighed in relief.

I made sure Jie-Yu knew we were heading for the golf course in case she wondered where we were going.

She said she’d catch up with us in a while and wanted to ride a little longer. Well, she was enjoying herself so she could do that for as long as she wanted.

"Sure, have fun," I said and watched her gallop away.

While we were heading out, I noticed Seo-Jun placing two guards to watch her.

Not just because he didn’t fully trust her yet, but also to protect her.

It would be a huge problem if she suddenly got hurt.

As we climbed into the cart,

He hit the pedal, and the cart jerked forward before smoothly picking up speed, the breeze ruffling my hair as we drove across the estate grounds.

I might not look it but the fact that I nearly fell off the horse and broke my neck made me shudder at intervals. I mean, it was scary.

I brushed it off then, so I wouldn’t worry my masters, but... I just didn’t expect horse riding to be so dangerous.

It was all due to my stubbornness. I shouldn’t be reckless anymore.

But despite the earlier scare, I found myself smiling. Can’t let a one-time accident ruin the fun, you know.

The golf course spread wide, the grass so evenly trimmed it almost looked fake. A few white flags flapped lazily in the distance, and the air smelled faintly of cut grass and faintly expensive leisure.

I’d never been on a golf course before, but just looking at the strict maintenance, everything about it screamed ’money,’ and I felt like I should bow before even stepping on it, or maybe take off my shoes, haha.

"Wow," I exclaimed as I stepped down from the cart. "It’s quite beautiful."

"Right?" Seo-Jun said, his nose pointed to the sky with such sky-high pride, but then I snorted.

"Well, it’s a place for old men to hang out with other old men to pretend they’re busy," I said automatically, then paused my lips tightly together when Seo-Jun gave me a side-eye of disbelief and ’can you imagine?’ "—But," I added, "...of course, a very elegant place for old men, ahem."

"Nice save," Min-Cheol snickered, grabbing one of the clubs from the caddie bag the guards had brought.

It’s not like I was calling Seo-Jun, who used the golf course, an old man but he seemed to take it that way, and Min-Cheol too.

I was just stating what I remembered. You know, a country club for rich men who play golf when they claim to be supposedly busy with work. Well, it was an interactive club where you could widen your connections.

Golf was just like that.

Seo-Jun simply clicked his tongue, looking a bit disgruntled, and began selecting his own club.

As he stood straight, his eyes eyeing the end of the good course and his club in his hand, I could say he perfectly looked the part.

Only, he wasn’t wearing the right outfit for it.

Neither of us was, since we were just coming back from horseback riding.

But then, I noticed him signalling one of the guards. He approached with a pack and I curiously watched to see what was going on.

The same went for Min-Cheol and before I knew it, they were taking off their coats and then unbuttoning their shirts.

I gasped inwardly and covered my face with my palms, but spread my fingers wide enough to see the spectacle in front of me.

They... They were changing.

I watched their chests, the linear movement they made when they moved those muscles with their actions.

Chests... Ripped chests and abs... they were beautiful to look at. And probably great to the touch.

My face burned red.

Heat had already rushed up my neck, my ear, and arrested the hue on my face.

I definitely did not see this coming.

Just before they wore the shirts that had been provided, both suddenly glanced at me, as if expecting a reaction from me, and when their eyes met mine, I flinched.

I wanted to look away and pretend I was admiring the sun, stars, and moon, but my eyes refused to tear away from their glory.

"Hyung," Min-Cheol called and suddenly started walking towards me.

Wait, what was he doing? Why was he coming closer with that chest on full display?

"What’s wrong, Hyung?" He inched closer and one of my feet found its way back. I felt threatened. "You look red. Are you hot? Do you want an umbrella?"

"N-no," I said, my eyes rolling in spirals. "I’m fine," I added and finally looked towards the side, only for that spot to be blocked by yet another heavenly chest.

"You don’t look fine though," Seo-Jun said, his grin spreading so wide that you could practically draw it. "What is it? See something that got you nervous?"

"Just..." I looked up at their faces, and they were grinning. I knew they were definitely doing this on purpose. "...I have weird thoughts again."

"Hm? What sort of weird thoughts?"

"I want to touch your chest,"