“How could you deceive me this thoroughly? If I hadn’t checked myself, were you planning to keep pretending you knew nothing until the very end?”
Madam Lee trembled as she clenched her fists, while Chairman Choi pressed firmly against his aching temples.
He had done everything possible to keep his wife from finding out, but a woman’s intuition was not something to underestimate.
In the end, she had gone to the temple herself to confirm it—and learned that their son had disappeared.
“Calm down. We’re searching everywhere. We’ll hear something soon.”
“What if he was kidnapped?”
Her face darkened as old memories surfaced in her mind.
Chairman Choi understood exactly why she reacted that way, but he also believed there was absolutely no chance of that happening.
Who would dare kidnap Choi Wonjoon?
His wife still remembered their son as the soft-hearted child who cried easily when he was young.
If she knew the truth, she’d probably faint on the spot.
Barely managing to stop her from reporting it to the police, Chairman Choi had one of the employees escort her back to the bedroom.
She had exhausted herself so badly she nearly stumbled several times on the way.
Chairman Choi adored his wife to death, and seeing her like that made his insides feel scorched.
Where the hell did that brat disappear to?
At first, he’d assumed Wonjoon was doing this deliberately to torment him over the arranged marriage discussions.
But as time passed, even he began to grow uneasy.
No matter what, Wonjoon was still the late-born son he had raised with excessive care and affection.
And yes, spoiling him rotten had undeniably twisted his personality.
Still, he was a child so precious it wouldn’t hurt even if he were placed inside his father’s eye.
Frustrated, Chairman Choi lit a cigarette.
Just then, Secretary Kim entered the office carrying a file folder.
“Chairman. We found him.”
Chairman Choi immediately rose from his seat.
“Where?”
Secretary Kim opened the folder and spread the documents across the table.
“As a precaution, we checked whether any emergency calls had been made nearby that day. There was one report that matched the description. We also confirmed Choi Wonjoon’s image on the CCTV footage from the hospital where he was admitted.”
“He was suffering from amnesia when he arrived. Since he couldn’t remember anything, the person who found him was registered as his guardian.”
Chairman Choi stared blankly for a moment.
“Amnesia?”
“Yes. He couldn’t remember his name or age. According to the attending physician, he believed he was a child.”
“Hah.”
Chairman Choi slowly sank back into his chair in disbelief.
He’d only ever seen amnesia happen in dramas.
“The personal information of the first person who found him is also included.”
Chairman Choi reached for the documents.
Secretary Kim continued calmly.
“Kim Yieum. Twenty-eight years old. Graduate of the National Police University. Currently assigned to Violent Crimes Unit Two at Seobu Police Station.”
“A detective?”
“Yes.”
“The two of them came to Seoul together and are currently registered as living in the same residence. We’ll need to meet him personally to determine whether his memory has returned.”
“If his memory had returned, there’s no reason he’d still be pretending like this.”
Chairman Choi’s eyes turned cold as he read through the file.
Then he gave a disbelieving laugh.
Kim Yieum’s family information was listed there as well.
Every member of the family except the mother worked in law enforcement.
Even the eldest brother had once been a police officer before switching careers to become a prosecutor.
Then one particular name caught his attention.
Kim Chun-sam.
Chairman Choi frowned deeply as he searched through old memories.
“Kim Chun-sam?”
“Do you know him, sir?”
Of course he knew him.
It was from forty years ago—back when Chairman Choi himself had still been a gangster.
In those days, money could buy absolutely anything.
Police and prosecutors would gladly look the other way after receiving a few bills.
Except for one stubborn bastard.
One man who relentlessly chased him down, dragged him all the way to court, and ultimately sent him to prison.
That man had been Kim Chun-sam.
“And now of all people… his son.”
“What should we do, Chairman?”
Chairman Choi crushed his cigarette into the ashtray and tossed the file onto the table.
“Bring him back immediately. Nothing good can come from getting entangled with that damned family.”
After showering, Yieum came back out carrying a beer and a glass of juice from the refrigerator.
He poured the juice into a cup and handed it naturally to Wonjoon.
“Here. Drink.”
“Thank you.”
Click.
The tab of the beer can snapped open, foam bubbling up instantly.
Yieum immediately pressed his lips to the can and chugged the entire thing without stopping.
Glug, glug, glug.
Watching him drink, Wonjoon narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Youngsik. Do you have something you want to say?”
Wonjoon hesitated.
Should I ask for beer too?
No. He’d definitely get suspicious.
If Kim Yieum realized his memory had returned, getting thrown out would only be a matter of time.
Actually, Wonjoon had planned to leave and return home earlier during the day.
But strangely enough, he kept worrying about Kim Yieum.
Had he gotten attached after sleeping beside him for several nights?
At the very least, he wanted to see his face once more before saying goodbye.
Still, he didn’t understand why he couldn’t simply admit the truth and kept pretending to be a child.
“Mister.”
“Yes?”
“Who do you take after?”
The unexpected question made Yieum blink once.
Seen up close, his skin looked even paler.
He was a police officer, so he should spend plenty of time outdoors.
Was he simply born this way?
Even his eyes were pitch-black.
Like polished Go stones.
While quietly admiring Yieum’s profile, Wonjoon listened as he finally answered.
“I take after my mom.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Why?”
“I was just curious…”
Wonjoon lowered his brows pitifully.
“I probably have a mom too, right?”
“Or maybe I don’t?”
“We’ll know once we find your family…”
“What if I don’t have one?”
Wonjoon looked straight at him.
“Will you live with me then, Mister?”
“What?”
“Or are you going to abandon me?”
Kim Yieum froze, lips slightly parted as he blinked helplessly.
It was painfully obvious he was desperately trying to think of a way to answer without hurting his feelings.
The expression was so cute it made Wonjoon want to tease him even more.
“You’re not allowed to abandon me. Okay?”
“……”
“Youngsik will get sad.”
“……”
“Promise me. Hurry.”
Wonjoon held out his pinky finger.
Yieum simply stared at it.
“Hurry up.”
After being pestered repeatedly, Yieum finally hooked fingers with him reluctantly.
Only after the childish promise was fully sealed did Wonjoon finally let go.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Trying not to show anything, Wonjoon smiled faintly and drank his juice.
Then Yieum stood from his seat.
“Do you want to sleep first? I still have work to do, so I’ll be up late tonight.”
Immediately, Wonjoon put on a disappointed expression.
“Won’t you put me to sleep first?”
“……”
“I can’t sleep if you’re not there, Mister. Pat me a little. Please?”
Unable to refuse after seeing that pleading face, Yieum eventually got dragged into the bedroom.
Wonjoon lay down on the bed and tilted his head to look up at him.
Since Yieum simply stood there awkwardly, Wonjoon grabbed his hand and placed it against his chest.
Only then did Yieum reluctantly begin patting him.
Though he said nothing aloud, his face clearly screamed:
Why the hell am I doing this?
Wonjoon quietly studied his face.
Large eyes.
Long eyelashes that fluttered lightly.
A tall nose.
Soft, full lips.
He was undeniably handsome, but the longer you stared, the prettier he somehow became.
As Wonjoon continued gazing at him intently, Yieum asked cautiously:
“Can’t you sleep?”
“Mister.”
“Yes?”
“Do you like me?”
“……”
“Do you hate Youngsik?”
Wonjoon deliberately made himself look sad.
Yieum hesitated before forcing out a small smile.
“I don’t hate you. You’re a really good person, Youngsik.”
“Will you still play with me after my memories come back?”
“Well…”
Yieum scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“You probably have your own job and life. Would we even have time to meet and play? Besides, the place you used to live is far away, isn’t it?”
“I’ll just move next door to you, Mister.”
Taking it as childish nonsense, Yieum burst out laughing.
“Haha. Do whatever you want.”
Then he pulled the blanket up to Wonjoon’s shoulders.
“Now go to sleep.”
As Yieum gently patted his shoulder, Wonjoon shifted closer.
A faint scent drifted toward him.
Feeling strangely content, he rubbed his face against Yieum’s shoulder.
Yieum’s entire body stiffened instantly.
With the innocent expression of someone who knew absolutely nothing, Wonjoon wrapped both arms around Yieum’s waist.
“Wait a second, Youngsik. This is a little…”
Yieum tried to pull away.
Wonjoon tightened his grip instead.
His body was firmer than it looked.
Wonjoon imagined the skin hidden beneath his clothes as his hand slowly wandered before burying his face against Yieum’s chest.
“You smell nice, Mister. Sweet.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Yieum’s body froze completely.
He tried pushing him away, telling him to stop.
So Wonjoon clung even tighter, pretending to be an innocent child who knew no better.
Eventually, Yieum let out a defeated sigh and relaxed.
Only then did Wonjoon finally settle comfortably in his arms.
Strangely enough, sleep overtook him almost immediately.
Even as his eyes drifted shut, Wonjoon found the feeling bizarre.
He’d tried countless drugs and all kinds of methods to treat his insomnia, yet nothing worked.
But here, he fell asleep the instant he closed his eyes.
Still, he couldn’t remain here forever.
The other man was a police officer.
And beyond his worried family, he also had to return to the company.
Though admittedly…
It was a real shame he wouldn’t get to tease this rookie cop anymore.