One plus One Delivery Service

“Yes.”To the eyes of someone who hadn’t even started college life, everything seemed fascinating.A company CEO riding in a car driven by a secretary and rearranging the next day’s schedule.Being in such a moment with someone like that felt unfamiliar yet intriguing—perhaps an instinctive reaction as a human being.Gi Myunghoon recognized that instinct.The thoughts of a 22-year-old were predictable.Having already walked that path, Gi Myunghoon could easily see through such thoughts by simply reflecting on his own past.Even if today’s generation was different from his, the company received dozens of interns around that age every year, so he had naturally accumulated plenty of observations and knowledge.Thus, Gi Myunghoon’s interest didn’t lie in Han Jooan’s appearance or the shallow emotional expressions of youth.His focus went deeper—toward something more intrinsic.“Ask me anything you’re curious about.”A touch of kindness and warmth.And the unmistakable air of a dominant predator that men instinctively recognize when alone together.“Are you curious about the company, or about me?”Gi Myunghoon, who held social status, wealth, and even a promising future in his hands, delivered a provocative question that stirred something in Han Jooan.It was on a completely different level from the petty rivalries among peers who argued over who was better or worse.This man was at the apex of the social hierarchy.Accepting such a person’s attention and goodwill was tempting, yet it also evoked an overwhelming sense of rejection.‘So why me, of all people? Surely there are plenty of others around. Why me?’Until that question was answered, Han Jooan couldn’t easily open his heart to Gi Myunghoon.Not until he uncovered the hidden sharpness beneath his smile and soft demeanor.Before the subtly tense atmosphere could fully develop, Yoon Min’s voice interrupted.“We’ve arrived.”The car stopped in front of an unfamiliar hotel entrance.It was a five-star hotel nestled among the skyscrapers.Even though work hours were over, the lights in the offices remained brightly lit, making the entire city shimmer.Han Jooan looked up at the hotel, which he had only ever heard of, and grew visibly tense.He said we’d eat, but….“…Was it at a hotel restaurant?”Gi Myunghoon leaned closer.As the distance between them shortened, the subtle musk scent that had lingered faintly became stronger, tickling Han Jooan’s nose.Gi Myunghoon’s long arm, encased in a pristine suit, reached past Han Jooan to grab the car door handle and pushed it open.“I felt like having a relaxed meal in a private room. You can get out, Jooan.”It was a simple act of opening a door, but Han Jooan couldn’t hide his unease, his face remaining tense.As Han Jooan cautiously stepped out of the car, Gi Myunghoon’s gaze lingered on his back.Han Jooan was still filled with confusion.‘Are all CEOs like this? He’s acting like he would with a woman….’He seemed slightly arrogant yet inscrutable, as if he’d placed Han Jooan in the palm of his hand, manipulating him however he pleased.Han Jooan had no idea how to respond.“This is driving me crazy.”How clumsy and foolish must he look in the other man’s eyes?‘Damn it.’Swearing inwardly at himself, he unbuttoned just the top button of his shirt.He had put effort into his outfit, but his cheap shirt was a world apart from the luxurious suit Gi Myunghoon wore. No matter how much effort he put in, he couldn’t even come close to Gi Myunghoon’s level, and the realization filled him with embarrassment and shame.‘I just want to go home….’The kinder Gi Myunghoon was to him, the harder it became for Han Jooan to simply accept that kindness. His mind grew increasingly restless.‘Why should I care about connections when I’m not even running a business? Chasing that is just destroying my self-esteem.’Gi Myunghoon’s voice, his scent, his gaze, and his every move felt like a snake tightening its grip around his neck.It might be humiliation.Before his jumbled thoughts could settle, two hotel staff approached. Yoon Min handed the car key to the valet parking staff. Gi Myunghoon gave Yoon Min a nod.“You can clock out now, Yoon.”Without hesitation, Yoon Min bowed in farewell.“I’ll see you tomorrow.”“That’s a quick answer.”“Isn’t efficiency what you prefer, sir? The faster the response, the better.”“You really can’t help but talk back.”Gi Myunghoon let out a soft chuckle and gestured with his chin.“Go on.”“Yes, enjoy your meal.”Yoon Min walked toward the subway station at a brisk pace.Taking his eyes off Yoon Min, Gi Myunghoon turned to escort Han Jooan.“Let’s head in.”By now, Han Jooan had started to think of Gi Myunghoon’s escorting as natural.‘This is just how he is. I need to get used to it… get used to it… ha….’Shaking his head to clear his cluttered thoughts, he followed Gi Myunghoon’s lead.The reserved spot, arranged by Yoon Min, was at a Korean restaurant.When they entered the private room, Han Jooan’s earlier whirlwind of thoughts vanished completely. Anyone stepping into this space would widen their eyes in awe.“Wow.”The first thing that caught his eye was an inner courtyard with bamboo. The ceiling had exposed hanok-style rafters, and a small, beautiful bonsai pine tree adorned the table. Gi Myunghoon, who had followed him in, naturally placed his hands on both of Han Jooan’s shoulders.“You can sit down and take it all in.”As if entranced, Han Jooan sat in the chair. While looking around the luxurious Korean restaurant, a question finally came to him.“Is this place really expensive?”“It’s fine. It’s on the corporate card from the general affairs team.”‘What does the general affairs team even do again? Do they handle accounting? Or is that a separate team? I remember the team manager explaining the corporate card during my modeling gigs, saying it’s a card the company lets you use freely.’With little experience in the working world, Han Jooan tilted his head in confusion. Noticing this, Gi Myunghoon added an explanation.“It’s a card issued by the department that manages expenses. It means we can charge the cost without worry, even if it’s pricey.”‘What does “charge the cost” mean, though….’This time, Han Jooan didn’t ask further. Instead, he spoke like someone who had lost some confidence.“I must be frustrating since I don’t understand.”“Not at all.”‘Liar. He probably thinks I’m not a suitable conversation partner.’As if sensing Han Jooan’s inner thoughts, Gi Myunghoon spoke again.“It’s normal not to understand. That’s my fault for not being considerate.”“…”“I’m not belittling you. It’s completely natural for someone your age. It means you don’t need to feel self-conscious about it.”Hearing that, Han Jooan shifted his perspective.‘Right, how could someone in their early twenties be on the same conversational level as an adult with so much experience? I’ll treat this as a learning opportunity and stay humble.’Instead of entertaining thoughts that dragged down his self-esteem, he decided to view this as a chance to learn from someone older. His voice regained its spirit.“Then I’ll gratefully enjoy the meal.”“Good, that’s the way to go.”Smiling, Gi Myunghoon took off his suit jacket. When Han Jooan saw him in just his dress shirt, his eyes widened, as surprised as when he first saw the restaurant.‘What the…? He’s ripped.’The suit jacket had concealed it, but in just a shirt, his muscular build was clear. His arms and chest filled out the shirt completely, and his broad shoulders could easily make someone believe he used to be a swimmer. There wasn’t much fat between his well-defined muscles, and his waist and back showed no excess. This wasn’t a body built in just a day or two of exercise.“Do you work out?”While rolling up his shirt sleeves twice, Gi Myunghoon casually replied,“I work out so I don’t die.”Han Jooan didn’t get the joke, blinking in confusion. Seeing this, Gi Myunghoon chuckled and added,“It’s one of those concerns you won’t understand in your sprightly twenties. When you get to my age, your whole body aches to the point where you feel like you might just drop dead. I have to force myself to keep it in check so I don’t collapse.”Hearing his excuse delivered with a laugh, Han Jooan couldn’t help but feel incredulous.‘What a fraud.’Anyone could see that his naturally broad frame was exceptional. Claiming he worked out to maintain an aging body was absurd—this was clearly a physique built and maintained over years of diligent care. It wasn’t humility; it was downright deceit.“For someone who’s supposedly forcing himself, your body looks too good,” Han Jooan remarked.At that, Gi Myunghoon smiled faintly, his eyes narrowing slightly.“How could you tell when I’m fully dressed?”“Oh, uh, well…”“Doesn’t staring at my body make you feel embarrassed?”“Uh, h-hum, I’m sorry.”“You seem to pay a lot of attention to bodies. Don’t most people your age focus on faces first?”‘What does he take me for, some kind of pervert?!’Trying to defend himself, Han Jooan began explaining, though his words started running away from him.“Well, since I work as a model, I’ve started paying more attention to body maintenance. That led me to notice others’ physiques as well, and… oh, um.”As he tried to salvage his explanation, Gi Myunghoon merely smiled, listening with an amused expression that made the younger man feel even more flustered.‘Ah, this isn’t going the way I meant.’Han Jooan’s voice grew smaller and smaller.“It’s just… I have low muscle mass and body fat, so building muscle is really hard for me. Because of my body type, even if I wanted muscles like yours, Sir, it’s not easy. So, uh, I guess I just… admire it…”His justification kept spiraling out of control, digging his own hole further with each word.“I notice physiques because of my job, and my body type is why… And my ideal type is more about the body than the face…”Eventually, Han Jooan clamped his mouth shut.There was no saving this.As the phrase “completely unsalvageable” crossed his mind, his face turned bright red, and he lowered his head deeply.“I’m sorry, Sir.”Gi Myunghoon, who had been smiling the entire time, spoke in a voice so gentle it gave Han Jooan goosebumps.“So, your ideal type is based on physique. Noted.”“…”“By the way, are you planning to keep calling me ‘Sir’? That’s kind of distant.”After a long hesitation, Han Jooan cautiously spoke.“Ajusshi…”Hearing this, Gi Myunghoon smiled as well.“See? Isn’t that so much easier to say?”What a mess.Not only had he failed to treat a grown adult with proper respect, but he’d also babbled on about physiques in such a pointless manner. On top of that, he ended up calling a powerful corporate CEO “Ajusshi.”‘If I’d known it would be like this, I should’ve learned how to host adults properly when I was modeling.’Before Han Jooan could wallow in self-reproach, the door opened.“We’ll start serving the food now.”Staff dressed in uniforms began bringing in dishes.Clink, clatter.From appetizing side dishes to hot stone pot rice, soup, sashimi, grilled short ribs, and roe wrapped in laver, the table was laid out with dishes worthy of a royal feast. Han Jooan, who had expected something simple like a soup meal, couldn’t even pick up his chopsticks, utterly stunned.Gi Myunghoon had already grown accustomed to Han Jooan’s constant reactions of amazement.“Stop being so surprised and start eating.”He accepted a high-end soju bottle from one of the staff. To Han Jooan, the sleek porcelain bottle looked like something that belonged in a museum. After the staff finished setting up and left, the bustling atmosphere calmed again. Only then did Gi Myunghoon open the bottle and pour a drink into an empty glass.“I didn’t get an answer to the question I asked in the car earlier. Will you answer now?”The clear liquid poured into the small glass with a soft trickle. Gi Myunghoon handed the bottle to Han Jooan.“Hm?”Gi Myunghoon held out his empty glass, prompting for a response. Caught off guard, Han Jooan hesitated but politely held the bottle with both hands and poured. As the clear liquid flowed, he recalled the question from the car.“Are you curious about the company, or are you curious about me?”No matter how much he thought about it, Gi Myunghoon’s choice of words seemed problematic.“At his age, I guess it’s natural to be cunning… but who even asks like that to another guy? It’s so flustering and awkward.”Han Jooan’s face, already flushed red, showed no signs of cooling down. He felt like he was going to die of embarrassment, but this wasn’t someone he could just brush off and walk away from.Gi Myunghoon, however, seemed intent on getting an answer. Holding his glass, he called out his name.“Jooan.”‘Ugh, might as well just be honest. It’s not like I can lie to this guy; he’d see right through me anyway.’When lying, you have to consider your audience.“You, Ajusshi.”Gi Myunghoon smiled in satisfaction.“As always, so honest.”He raised the glass Han Jooan had poured for him.“Cheers.”Clink.The clear, delicate sound of porcelain glasses rang out. Gi Myunghoon easily emptied his drink.“So, what are you curious about when it comes to me?”Following Gi Myunghoon’s lead, Han Jooan downed his glass in one go, only to feel his throat burn as if it were on fire.“Cough, cough!”“Oh dear.”Han Jooan covered his mouth with a napkin, coughing a few more times before finally calming down.‘Why is this so strong?!’He quickly grabbed the porcelain bottle with its elegant design and checked the label. The traditional soju boasted an alcohol content of 35%.“This isn’t baijiu or anything…”Seeing Han Jooan’s flushed face and coughing fit, Gi Myunghoon simply kept smiling.“Such a kid. Can’t even handle that.”Perhaps emboldened by the high-proof alcohol, Han Jooan responded cheekily.“Well, it’s not like I’d have tried traditional soju when I don’t even know how to expense it.”“So, your first experience is with me, then.”“Pardon?”“These are your firsts, right? What you’re doing now.”‘Well, that’s true, but…’For a moment, Han Jooan stared at Gi Myunghoon.‘Why does that sound suggestive? Is it because of the phrase “first experience”?’Oblivious to Han Jooan’s thoughts, Gi Myunghoon calmly placed a piece of grilled short rib on his plate. Not wanting to seem immature for overreacting to a single phrase, Han Jooan tried to act nonchalant.“Why would I be having new experiences with you, Ajusshi? It’s not like you’re a pretty girlfriend or anything…”“Oh? Do you have a girlfriend?”“….”“No? Don’t tell me you’ve never been in a relationship.”“….”“Alright, I won’t ask anymore.”Han Jooan poured himself another drink and downed it in one gulp. Even on the second try, the fiery sensation burned his throat. He followed it up by eating the short rib Gi Myunghoon had given him, swallowing it before he could savor its tender, juicy flavor. For some reason, he felt like whining. Maybe it was because Gi Myunghoon kept treating him like a child, and it made him unconsciously match the behavior.“How am I supposed to get a girlfriend? I don’t even have money to go on dates.”Without missing a beat, Gi Myunghoon naturally moved more side dishes onto Han Jooan’s plate as he replied.“You said you work three part-time jobs, right? Can I ask why you’re doing so many?”“It’s hard to rely on my family, so I have to save up the money for college myself.”“Hmm.”“Ajusshi, you might not get it since you’re well-off, but there are lots of students like me. We all work hard to get by.”“That’s admirable.”“Right? Even I think I’m pretty admirable. I don’t mess around or anything.”Han Jooan, his face flushed from the alcohol, let out a small laugh. The sight of the usually cautious Han Jooan, who resembled a stray cat, babbling tipsily was endearing enough to leave him alone.“Ajusshi, I’m sure you don’t really understand kids like me, but I don’t understand you either. What’s so special about meeting me as a delivery rider that you’d come find me in person, buy me such fancy food, and all that?”“I didn’t approach you with pure intentions.”“No matter how much you try to get anything out of me, I’m broke. You picked the wrong person.”“Do you really think I’m doing this for money? I’ve got plenty of that.”“Wow, what a cocky thing to say.”“It’s true.”Unable to argue with the undeniable fact, Han Jooan just shrugged. Gi Myunghoon, a corporate executive living in a luxury apartment, probably had more money than Han Jooan could earn in a lifetime.“Then what is it? Why are you being so nice to me? It’s scary.”“Scary?”“Yes. I’ve learned there’s no such thing as kindness without strings attached.”“You’ve learned well. When you receive kindness, you should be cautious. You have to be able to give something back.”Han Jooan pouted.“Ugh, I already told you I don’t have any money.”“I told you it’s not about money.”Han Jooan blinked, then asked again.“Are you that desperate for a meal buddy?”“I’d like to share meals, yes. I don’t usually sit across from someone I’m not close to and eat like this.”“Wow, good for you.”“But you’re different.”“Why?”“What do you think?”Han Jooan stared intently at Gi Myunghoon. Even under his gaze, Gi Myunghoon remained calm and unbothered, as if inviting him to look and judge freely. He even casually undid the top button of his shirt.‘Should I just ask outright? Why are you doing this to me?’But honestly, Han Jooan was afraid of Gi Myunghoon’s answer.‘If he says it’s out of pity or just for fun, I don’t think I could hide my reaction.’Defining this relationship was far more difficult for Han Jooan. If they kept things light, enjoying good food and pleasant conversations, these enjoyable moments could continue. However, the moment they tried to define the nature of their connection, it would likely demand an emotional toll he wasn’t ready for.Han Jooan dodged the core of the issue and grumbled instead.“You’re such a sly old fox, Ajusshi.”“Where’s the fun in spoon-feeding answers?”“Do you think this is all for fun? I’m only asking because you’re acting weird.”“Are you dropping honorifics now?”“No, I was talking to myself.”Grumbling, Han Jooan emptied his glass. For someone who had been coughing and struggling with the strong alcohol earlier, he was now pouring for himself. Watching him, Gi Myunghoon’s gaze, partially hidden behind his glasses, appeared amused. The light reflecting off the lenses made his already enigmatic expression even harder to read.“Why don’t you tell me why you think I’m doing this? Then I’ll let you know if you’re right.”‘Sly fox indeed. Is that just how people turn out as they get older?’Han Jooan found Gi Myunghoon’s roundabout way of speaking frustrating. Perhaps in defiance, his tone grew more direct.“If it’s something that’ll hurt me, I don’t want to hear it.”“Do I seem like someone who’s pushing this hard just to hurt you?”“…Are you just playing with me?”“No, what kind of thoughts are you having?”‘Huh? So it’s not out of pity or for fun?’That honesty made Han Jooan reconsider.‘Then I’ll ask.’He couldn’t let go of his curiosity about why it had to be him.“Then is it because you’re an adult who can’t eat alone, so you call me?”“If that were the case, I could just have dinner with my secretary before going home.”“Then is it to learn how college students survive, or to hear about the lives of ordinary people?”“You’ve been watching too many dramas. Why would I do that?”“Hmm, then is it because you want to hang out with young people?”“You’re getting closer. That’s part of it.”Han Jooan leaned his upper body over the table, his curious eyes fixed on Gi Myunghoon.“So, you want to eat and hang out with a young person?”“Why don’t you think about why it specifically has to be you?”“If it’s me… then…”Han Jooan’s eyes darted around as if trying to search for a reason. Watching him, Gi Myunghoon reached out his hand. His fingers brushed against Han Jooan’s cheek, which still had traces of baby-soft fuzz, and traveled to his ear, his thumb gently rubbing the curve.A shiver ran through him.Han Jooan’s ears were one of his sensitive spots.“Ugh, Ajusshi…”He flinched and pulled his shoulders back in rejection. If it had been anyone else, he would have snapped, “What are you doing?” and swatted their hand away.But this was the president of Gwanghwa Corporation. He couldn’t be rude to someone who had even treated him to such an upscale Korean meal, so he just sat there, silently fuming.Seeing this, Gi Myunghoon chuckled.“Even when I cross the line, you just let it go. Are you naturally this gentle?”“…What?”“You’re incredibly gentle.”“No, I’m not. I swear a lot.”“I’ve never heard you swear.”“I can do it.”“Go ahead.”The invitation made Han Jooan freeze up even more. He couldn’t back out now without losing face, so he forced his lips to part.“Shi…”‘…it.’But the second syllable wouldn’t come out. He had never sworn directly at an adult before, and his upbringing held him back. Gi Myunghoon laughed aloud.“Hahaha, you can’t even finish ‘ssibal’?”“……”“You really are gentle.”“…No, I’m not.”“Now you’re sulking.”“I said I’m not!”Nothing was going his way. Han Jooan pouted in frustration, his dissatisfaction written all over his face. Gi Myunghoon spoke softly, as if to soothe him.“Everyone around me is so hardened and cynical. You’re the first person I’ve met who’s this pure and untainted.”“I’m plenty worn down by the world…”“You’re at the age to think that way.”Gi Myunghoon’s hand moved toward Han Jooan’s face again. As his fingers gently stroked Han Jooan’s ear—the spot that made him flinch—he murmured softly.“You look sharp, but why are you so gentle? Even though you’ve worked as a model, you don’t seem to care about the value of your own body. You know who I am, you know I’m being kind to you, but you’re not scheming to get anything out of me. You’re not cunning, and you don’t even really understand how the world works.”“Are you insulting me?”“Half-right. If you live like that, you’ll get stabbed in the back. You need to be a bit more ruthless.”The hand that had been stroking his ear moved to the slightly overgrown hair at the back of his neck, which he hadn’t trimmed in a while. Gi Myunghoon, watching how Han Jooan didn’t reject his touch or gaze, whispered in a voice barely audible.“I have an exceptional eye for people. I’ve spent my life dealing with people, so I’ve developed a picky sense for assessing them. If they’re not exceptional, they don’t catch my attention. They have to align perfectly with my preferences.”“Are you talking about appearance?”“That’s just like a cover letter. To get to the second and third interview stages, I’d need to assess their disposition and personality too, don’t you think?”Han Jooan blinked.‘Is he talking about me? We’ve only met two or three times, and in that time, he thinks he knows me well enough to call it an interview?’Gi Myunghoon, who prided himself on his ability to read people, continued.“When I first meet someone, I can size them up completely in three seconds.”‘That’s absurd…’It sounded like he was claiming some kind of supernatural ability. First, he had criticized Han Jooan, and now he seemed to be bragging about himself. Han Jooan, whether due to the alcohol or his lack of social finesse, struggled to follow the flow of the conversation. He couldn’t even grasp the atmosphere of the moment. He just quietly watched as Gi Myunghoon led the exchange.To Gi Myunghoon, Han Jooan looked as cute and endearing as a kitten. Even someone as guarded as Gi Myunghoon couldn’t help but mutter honestly in that moment.“Where did something like this just roll in from?”The hand brushing the back of Han Jooan’s neck pressed down slightly. The gentle pressure pulled Han Jooan’s head forward, closing the distance between them to just a handspan. Han Jooan stared at Gi Myunghoon with an expression as if he had forgotten how to breathe.‘Huh…?’He wanted to ask what was going on, but his voice wouldn’t come out of his slightly parted lips. Gi Myunghoon, gazing down at him, spoke in an even lower tone.“You’re my type.”The meaning wasn’t immediately clear to him. It felt like a deliberate choice of words, akin to using a provocative term like “first experience.” Han Jooan thought there had to be a hidden meaning behind it—no sly adult would answer so bluntly. But this time, Gi Myunghoon meant exactly what he said.“You looked into my divorce, didn’t you?”“…”“It’s because I’m gay.”Once again, Han Jooan froze, holding his breath, unable to respond.‘Gay…’In his 22 years of life, he had never met someone who openly identified as such. They were humans like anyone else, but they felt like a completely different kind of person to him, almost like another race. Stammering, Han Jooan finally spoke.“But… you were married to a woman.”“My ex-wife knew that when she married me.”“What?”“It was a marriage of convenience. Personal preferences were secondary because our companies’ interests were at stake. My ex-wife benefited as well and agreed to the divorce. One of the subsidiaries merged with her family’s business, you see.”“A marriage of convenience?”“Something like that.”“I thought that only happened in dramas.”“Sometimes reality is stranger than drama.”What an entirely different world.‘There are people who think of marriage as a contract or a business transaction?’Gi Myunghoon, watching Han Jooan’s wide, astonished eyes, gently stroked the back of his neck. It was the kind of affectionate touch you’d give to a puppy or kitten. His smile spread slowly, restrained yet genuine. It was such a stunning smile that Han Jooan couldn’t say anything in return.All that filled his head was the question, ‘Why?’“I just want to take care of someone like you.”