Story Of A Villain

The money Gu Wonjae dropped for Cheongwoo was 600,000 won.It seemed like he just pulled it out haphazardly, but the amount was oddly precise, which was a bit curious.‘Want to come to the annex?’After bluntly asking if he was poor, he asked if Cheongwoo wanted to come to the annex where he was staying. Cheongwoo remembered the scene of the man’s hand, raised to smoke, covering his lips. The cold, slow-moving gaze and languid breath.Clearly, the man’s intentions were impure.Even if Cheongwoo was naive, he understood that much. That money wasn’t given out of simple pity or pure kindness. It suggested the man wasn’t a good person either.Nevertheless, Cheongwoo picked up the money that had fallen to the ground. He shook off the dust and put it in his pocket. The man’s money felt as frightening as the man himself, but he had no choice. Right now, even a hundred won rolling on the ground was precious.‘Let’s think simply.’It was just like receiving a tip that everyone else gets. Since he couldn’t earn tips today due to the manager’s bad mood, he considered it a good thing to have obtained twice as much.Returning to his dormitory, Cheongwoo put the money the man gave into the front pocket of the backpack placed in the corner of his room. In there, he had diligently collected tips and meal allowances for the entire month.Now, he just had to go to town on payday to deposit the money. He had been repaying only the interest for about a year, but since the term was up, he started paying back the principal last month. Principal with a monthly interest of one million won. Thankfully, it was possible to make equal payments of principal and interest.While rummaging through his apron pocket wondering if there was any more money, he felt something clatter between his fingers. When he pulled it out, it was acorns he had picked up in the morning.“…”Maybe he should go to the office tomorrow and call his grandmother. But hearing her voice might make him miss her even more. She always cried when they talked on the phone.Cheongwoo looked at the small, glossy acorns for a while. Then he poured them all into the front pocket of his backpack and zipped it up tightly.🧸The wake-up time for Dowonhyang employees is 8 AM. The kitchen staff, however, get up two hours earlier to prepare meals.Right then, the chefs from the communal kitchen were unloading fresh seasonal ingredients from a truck that had just arrived at the main gate. Cheongwoo, passing by, hunched his neck and dashed to the staff cafeteria. If they spotted him now, they’d surely make him work all morning under the guise of needing more hands.“Oh, Yeon Cheongwoo. What brings you here for breakfast?”“I’m not eating breakfast; I’m going to have cup noodles.”The meal ticket costs 5,500 won, but cup noodles are 1,000 won. After hesitating for a while in front of his backpack upon waking up, Cheongwoo had taken out exactly 10,000 won from his savings. He came to the staff cafeteria and bought one cup noodle instead of a meal ticket. While filling a cup with hot water in the corner, away from the central Korean buffet setup, he felt a familiar voice and a gentle pat on the shoulder. Turning around, it was Taesung.“I knew you’d do that. But what’s with your face, sticking out like that in the morning?”“Ah, don’t hit me… Why are you here, hyung?”Cheongwoo asked in an unusually stiff voice, not even looking at Taesung.“Don’t you usually eat with the VIPs at Dachaewon? They say the food there is amazing.”“Oh, you’re upset.”Taesung laughed out loud.“Why? Did you snitch about me picking up food from the table to the manager?”“…”He had hit the nail on the head.Taesung might have meant well, but Cheongwoo thought it was a bit of an intrusion. Shouldn’t he have spoken for himself if he wanted to say something? Because of it, Cheongwoo was dragged to the VIP annex village by the manager without being mentally prepared.“It was for your own good, man.”Taesung playfully put his arm around Cheongwoo’s pale neck.“If you hadn’t apologized quickly, it would’ve gone straight to the boss’s ears today. And you should stop the habit of secretly taking food from the guest tables.”“…I won’t do it anymore.”Cheongwoo’s ear tips turned slightly red as he grumbled, embarrassed for having picked a fight without gaining anything in return.“Hey, I was stuck at the annex all night, and I’m here to sober up. Stop acting tough and get some kimchi. I still feel hungover.”Taesung, who had casually bought cup noodles, immediately got some hot water.Cheongwoo suddenly looked at the man next to him with renewed interest. Taesung was once an idol trainee, which might explain why he was good at talking, singing, and moving. He also had no flaws in his looks. Right, returning in glory was something for people like him.“Did you apologize well?”As soon as they sat facing each other at the end of the cafeteria, Taesung asked. Cheongwoo nodded.“Yes.”“Really?”“He said he would accept the apology well…”“Oh, he’s gentler than I thought?”After a brief silence, Cheongwoo muttered quietly while stirring his noodles with chopsticks.“But something felt off.”“Off? What do you mean?”“Well, his tone was gentle, and he seemed kind, but I didn’t feel like he was a good person.”“Good person, you say.”Taesung chuckled.“I’ve never seen anyone here talking about good people. Hey, the people who come and go here are either walking wallets or total freeloaders. You don’t know how selfish rich people can be.”Cheongwoo couldn’t help but look serious. If that was the case, he must be on the freeloader side.“He suddenly asked if I was poor. Then he gave me money out of nowhere.”“He gave you money? How much?”“600,000 won.”“He’s a good person.”“…”“He gave you 600,000 won for nothing, not even for serving or anything. Oh, I’m so jealous. I wish I could get involved somehow.”Taesung’s eyes sparkled as he shook the unopened chopsticks between his fingers. Cheongwoo felt confused as well. As Taesung said, regardless of what conversation had happened before, he had readily given money. Maybe he really was a good person…?Suddenly, his head started to hurt. He remembered the low voice asking if he wanted to come to the annex, but he didn’t feel the need to tell Taesung about it.“Cheongwoo, sorry, but can you go to the office and get some medicine for me?”Just as they were leaving the cafeteria after finishing their cup noodles, Taesung furrowed his brows and muttered. Now that he mentioned it, Taesung hadn’t looked well since earlier, probably due to his hangover.“What kind of medicine?”When Cheongwoo asked, Taesung answered with a sigh.“Painkillers and ointment for the back.”“…”“Fuck, it still hasn’t closed. I think it’s torn.”Muttering swear words like he was talking to himself about how shitty it was to be treated like a gigolo, Taesung took out a cigarette with an irritated expression.A few weeks ago, Taesung had also struggled to walk for a while after serving a male VIP all night, complaining about swelling down there. Knowing this, Cheongwoo couldn’t say anything for a while and just moved his lips.Cheongwoo learned here for the first time that men could also engage in penetrative sex with each other. But because of that, it seemed like the process and aftermath were even more arduous for men.“Hey, I barely made 1 million won for taking care of someone’s thighs all night. Mr. Shin, that bastard, trying to squeeze every penny out of me.”“…Thighs?”When Cheongwoo asked with a blank expression, Taesung glanced at him. He was silent for a moment.Looking into the distance and taking a few more drags of his cigarette, Taesung muttered as he crushed the butt in an outdoor ashtray shaped like a jar.“I’ve been telling you to switch to being a host for a while now.”“Yes.”“Don’t do it, just forget it.”“Yes…”Cheongwoo nodded weakly.The VIP annex village was located on the south side of a hill, away from the main area of Dowonhyang, in a secluded spot.Surrounded by walls, the private houses were spaced apart, perfect for anyone to relax, each with a main gate and a side gate for staff.Cheongwoo had never been inside the main house, but he often saw the large courtyard and the garden while cleaning. The wide courtyard had a round pond with fish, a stone pagoda, a pavilion, and beautifully landscaped trees, while behind the main house, there was a small, well-kept garden with a traditional pottery stand, flower beds, and a private hot spring under a maple tree.Cleaning of the annexes usually happens after the guest checks out. However, for long-term stays, cleaning is done four times a week with prior permission.— No. 7.Around the time lunch ended, Cheongwoo’s tube earphones rang.— The inside of the main house was steam-cleaned yesterday, so leave it, just clear the fallen leaves in the courtyard. Make sure to collect the leaves in plastic bags.The manager insisted. Apparently, Dowonhyang grows a lot of organic vegetables in a huge greenhouse for member meals, and the fallen leaves are used as fertilizer there. Additionally, sometimes the staff would gather leaves into piles in front of the servant quarters and roast sweet potatoes or corn for a small amusement.— Oh, and while you’re there, clean up after their meal.“Ah. Did the member eat in the annex?”— He always does. Never run into him. Got it?Hearing that, a sense of unease flashed through Cheongwoo’s mind.“Could it be that the person staying in that annex is…”— Yes, it’s Director Gu. So be extra careful. He should be sleeping, so be quiet. Don’t cause any trouble, just clean and get out.The manager hung up abruptly after snapping at him. Cheongwoo swallowed hard, suddenly tense.It was autumn, so the sun was strong.Inevitably, Cheongwoo put on a cleaning hat and mask. Equipped with familiar work gloves and carrying a tray with cleaning supplies, he headed to the annex village. A middle-aged couple was just coming out of No. 2 annex and gave a light eye greeting. Cheongwoo bowed politely as usual.No. 7 annex was at the end of the village road. Behind it was a dense forest, allowing for a cool breeze. It was said to be the most expensive house due to its privacy and beautiful scenery.He gently pushed the iron handle on the main gate. The door opened smoothly without a sound. He didn’t go in immediately but peeked inside to check the courtyard. The VIP’s annex was as quiet as a dreamland, with only the sound of leaves rustling on the grass.Once inside the courtyard, Cheongwoo slightly opened his mouth, involuntarily taking in the picturesque scene.‘…Grandma would love this.’If he makes a lot of money later, he should rent a place like this for a few months with his grandma. Of course, since Dowonhyang is members-only, that would be impossible.Shaking off the pointless thoughts, Cheongwoo secured the tray and started on his task. The courtyard was littered with fallen leaves.First, he took a large rake and briskly went around, gathering the leaves. After piling them up and putting them into bags, he had to be careful not to make noise, which took longer than usual.Sweat dripped down. Cheongwoo took off his mask and hat, wiping his sweaty forehead with his forearm. After loading the pile of leaves onto the tray, remembering he needed to clean up after the meal, he walked straight towards the main house.There was a table on a balcony-like terrace where he saw a tray of food.Quickly stepping onto the deck stairs, Cheongwoo carefully picked up the tray. But it was too heavy. Confused, Cheongwoo lifted the lid to find the food neatly set out but untouched.‘…Looks like he didn’t eat at all.’Can I just clear this away?Feeling anxious, Cheongwoo paused and looked towards the sliding door inside the terrace. Beyond that door would be the bedroom connected to the terrace. Then, from inside the sliding door, a cold, shadowy voice came out in a low tone.“Who is it?”Cheongwoo’s shoulders jolted.“Ah, I was just going to clear the meal… I’m sorry.”“…Wait.”At that moment, the sliding door was flung open.Already taken aback, Cheongwoo, who had been slowly retreating, froze with the tray in his hands.The man also stopped upon seeing Cheongwoo. Smoke from the cigarette he held diagonally in his lips spread out slowly and roundly.Cheongwoo had only seen him with his hair slicked back with something, so he was momentarily dazed. He thought the eyes were strange. The gaze was cold, but the pupils looked dreamy.This was the first time he had felt that someone was so handsome it was almost frightening. The blue veins on the back of the hand that was bringing the cigarette to his lips bulged.“You said you didn’t want to come.”The end of the low voice, which sounded like he was talking to himself, seemed slightly cracked. Cheongwoo snapped out of it belatedly.“I’m really, really sorry. I disturbed your sleep again…”“It wasn’t noisy.”It seemed he had only opened the door because he recognized Cheongwoo’s voice.“But it’s somewhat bothersome.”Clatter, clatter, clatter.The hands holding the tray were trembling, making the dishes on the tray clatter loudly. At that moment, Gu Wonjae, dressed casually, took another step closer to the terrace, and Cheongwoo stepped back, holding his breath. The broad shoulders seemed threatening. Observing him for a moment, Gu Wonjae asked in a calm tone.“Are you scared?”‘Are you poor?’The question seemed to echo over his low voice.Cheongwoo, who had been only moving his lips for a while, bowed his head deeply and mumbled. No, that’s not it…“It’s not that… I was just startled. Just startled.”“…Startled.”The man’s lips curved slightly as he repeated the word.“Why were you startled?”Cheongwoo’s words got stuck again.Sweat kept coming, but he couldn’t wipe it since he was holding the tray with both hands. He felt his bangs, which covered his forehead, getting damp. Sweat rolled down, making his neck itchy. Gu Wonjae’s gaze sank with a strange feeling as he watched.“…Ah.”Cheongwoo answered belatedly.“It’s because you’re too tall… tall and broad-shouldered… so.”It was a jumbled explanation. Pink spread across Cheongwoo’s pale face. Gu Wonjae swallowed a chuckle and then half-sat lazily on the windowsill.“You seem to be easily startled, being a squirrel?”“…”“Rather than me being tall, isn’t it because you’re small?”At the word ‘small,’ Cheongwoo almost bristled. Like many boys his age, Cheongwoo was sensitive about his height. However, he was of average height. Though, even standing straight, he would barely reach the other’s chin…“Are you going to take that?”He was asking about the tray in Cheongwoo’s hands. Cheongwoo nodded hesitantly.“Yes… since you haven’t eaten, and it’s all cold now. I can take this away and bring you something fresh.”“Where are you taking it?”“To the communal kitchen. We do the dishwashing there. All the dishwashers are there too.”Despite sweating profusely, Cheongwoo answered earnestly. Gu Wonjae leaned back more against the windowsill, his voice still husky from sleep, his eyes slowly scanning Cheongwoo’s face with an amused look.‘Does he think I was going to take it for myself again? But I really wasn’t…’Cheongwoo felt his skin twitch wherever Gu Wonjae’s gaze landed. He felt like he was on display.“…Um, this tray is very heavy. If there’s nothing else you need, I’ll just…”Trying to slip away with a vague greeting while constantly glancing around, a lower voice suddenly rang out.“Yeon Cheongwoo.”Cheongwoo froze again. What? How does he know my name…Then he realized his name tag was clearly visible on his staff T-shirt.“I called you.”“…Ah, yes. Sorry, I’m sorry…”“Do you write ‘Cheong’ as in ‘clear’ and ‘u’ as in ‘rain’?”Cheongwoo’s face became blank at the question.“How did you know?”Gu Wonjae tilted his head slightly as he exhaled the remaining smoke.“I just know?”Cheongwoo’s words evaporated again at the ordinary expression. As he stood there with his mouth open in bewilderment, it seemed like a faint smile touched Gu Wonjae’s cold gaze.“Age.”“Ah… I, I am twenty-one.”“Twenty-one.”Gu Wonjae repeated the words. His calm eyes slowly brushed over Cheongwoo. The young, crisp hair in the sunlight, the eyes with a hint of a blush like cotton rose petals, the soft cheeks covered with fine down, the gentle line of his neck, and the transparent droplets of sweat flowing down it.It was a persistent gaze, like licking. Cheongwoo wanted to retreat from those eyes again.“You’ve grown up, at twenty-one.”“…”“You must know everything by now.”Sssh, suddenly, a chilly wind blew through the courtyard.Gu Wonjae’s jet-black hair, which had been covering his forehead, fluttered. His thick eyebrows and cold gaze were clearly revealed. Every contour of the man’s face was distinct, sharp, and deep.Cheongwoo vaguely understood why this man was so frightening. His aura was literally ‘mysterious.’ So beautiful it was eerie, and no other word could describe it.The memory after that was somewhat blurred.Gu Wonjae handed Cheongwoo another tip, and this time too, it was all yellow bills. He gestured towards the tray Cheongwoo was holding and said,“Don’t scavenge around; if you’re hungry, take that and eat it. It’s untouched.”And he added with a faint smile,“See you again.”🧸The men of the Gu family look at people’s energy with their eyes.It wasn’t clear when this started. Some said it was because their distant ancestors had the blood of a nine-tailed fox, while others said that ancient people mistook the mystical abilities of the Gu family for those of a nine-tailed fox.The Gu family has long been known as the family of clairvoyance, accumulating wealth and connections over time. However, in the present, this ability has become diluted. Now, they can only see the energy of objects, with nothing particularly special about it.Not all men in the Gu family can see energy. Only the direct descendants with particularly strong blood can.Gu Wonjae can see energy. It’s not something he learned but something he does as naturally as breathing.When he uses his ability to look at people, energy swirls over their shoulders. The energy of the wicked is a dull, ash-like color, while that of the virtuous is generally a soft, beautiful hue. Those with murderous intent have red energy. The blood-red color is so bright that it hurts the eyes to look at.‘Find the rainwater. The clearest rainwater that will save you.’Otherwise, you’ll end up like your great-grandfather, the shaman had firmly warned. His great-grandfather, who didn’t find his own rainwater, died before he turned forty.The terrible exhaustion that plagued Gu Wonjae now was due to the overuse of his ability from childhood. He was more outstanding than other direct descendants, so he could also discern the energy of places. With this ability, he distinguished between those to kill and those to save, good land from bad land. This is how he continued the lineage of the family.But over time, his ability was depleting, and his vigor was waning. Even if something spectacular was placed before him, he felt no particular excitement, spending most of his day asleep. Furthermore, he couldn’t even get an erection.It was truly a shitty legacy.“Master, we’ve sent nutritious food from the main house. Where should I put it?”“Anywhere.”Chief Choi, who had gone to Seoul, returned in the afternoon. It seemed like the attendants were unloading health foods from around the world, sent by his mother, outside up to the front of the annex. The noisy sounds disturbed his sleep. It was already evening.“They’re very worried since they couldn’t reach you. Please call them today.”“Okay.”“Oh, and don’t use the hot spring in the annex garden today; go to the one at the back mountain. President Shin Junmo has arranged a spot.”Without replying, Gu Wonjae left the bedroom, lighting a cigarette. Talking was bothersome, but phone calls were even more so.Ah, something felt okay until just now.He briefly thought about what had made him feel better recently despite his general apathy. Then, the name came to mind.Yeon Cheongwoo.He was a young man with an energy he’d never seen before. The color of that energy was amusingly a soft, light blue, like his name. This fine, swaying energy would freeze like a hologram when the person was scared.There wasn’t much excitement, but it was quite appealing. Not just the energy but also his appearance.‘Hey, that squirrel was cute.’He remembered what Shin Junmo had said, snickering, as they headed to the golf course.‘Fuck, you should peel it off gently and enjoy it properly.’Gently, huh. Is that possible… A fleeting, sharp light passed through Gu Wonjae’s dreamy eyes as he exhaled smoke.“Chief Choi.”“Yes, Master.”He started speaking to Chief Choi, who was moving food at the time.“Tell the manager in charge here to assign a dedicated server to my annex.”“Ah, not a host, but a server? Who should I request?”He remembered those eyes, pure and soft like spring willows. Eyes that would look even prettier when they cry. Gu Wonjae murmured the name softly through his lips.“Cheongwoo.”Clear rainwater.🧸In the evening, Cheongwoo gathered up all the over-the-counter drugs from the infirmary and brought them to the inn where Taesung was staying.He had also heard somewhere that a half-bath was good for a sore butt, so he frequently checked for an available hot spring while serving. However, the only available hot spring today was the private one attached to the VIP annex.“Hey, you’ve got some medicine stuck on your chin.”“…”“You’ve been picking at the guest tables again.”He took one more careful step back. At that moment, there was a crack, the sound of a twig breaking under his sneaker. He held his breath. Though it was unlikely such a small noise would carry that far, his back went cold with self-inflicted fright.“Huh?”At that moment, someone made a sound. It was Shin Junmo, who had been sitting on the edge of the pool with his arm around a host’s slender waist, looking for his drinking glass.“Hey, isn’t that the squirrel?”Shin Junmo’s playful voice echoed loudly through the mountains.All the guests’ eyes turned towards the old tree where Cheongwoo was hiding. Cheongwoo, startled out of his wits, gasped silently. His mind went blank.That wasn’t the intention. A sense of shame, as if he had been caught peeping, overwhelmed him.“What’s that?”“Hey, you, come here.”The menacing-looking men spoke in a low, threatening tone. Is he taking pictures or something? Go check him out. Someone added. At that, several lower-ranked attendants who had been waiting at the back of the entertainment area started quickly approaching Cheongwoo. His face turned deathly pale.“Ah, I just wanted to check if the hot spring was empty… I’m sorry. I wasn’t peeping.”The attendants approached without responding and searched Cheongwoo’s pants pockets, even checking his back pockets thoroughly. When they confirmed he had nothing, they stepped back a few paces. Shin Junmo, who had been watching the situation with his arms resting on the rocks surrounding the pool, chuckled.“Why scare the kid? Hey, kid, you know us, right? Come here and pour us some drinks.”Shin Junmo gestured playfully like he was talking to a child. However, the fierce dragon tattoo under his wet hair made him look anything but kind.“I’m really sorry. I have a friend who isn’t feeling well… I was just looking to see if he could take a half-bath.”“Yeah, buddy. Who said what? If your big brother calls, you should come, no questions asked.”Irritation began to seep into the voice that was speaking carelessly. Cheongwoo’s heart started to pound.With no other choice, Cheongwoo finally stepped out from the dark entrance towards the lit area of the hot spring.His throat felt parched. His posture was awkward from fear. A man with his hair tied back, smoking in the pool, looked Cheongwoo up and down. The hosts had kept silent, holding their breath since earlier, while Cheongwoo clasped his hands in front of him as if he had committed a crime, his fingers trembling.“‘Kid’?”At that moment, he heard that familiar, excessively low voice. Cheongwoo reflexively lifted his head and looked to the side.The man casually sitting on the wide rock with only his ankles in the hot spring water was Gu Wonjae. Upon recognizing him, a complex emotion, whether relief or fear, flickered through Cheongwoo’s chest.Gu Wonjae was wearing only a thin, black gown loosely tied around his waist. His slightly wet black hair was slicked back, revealing his languid expression clearly. He silently observed Cheongwoo’s hunched shoulders, then saw his characteristic frozen energy. His well-colored lips slightly curled as he muttered to himself.“Why call him a kid? He’s all grown up.”“Then what would you call him if not a kid? Look at that fluffy down.”Shin Junmo, snickering, reached out towards Cheongwoo.“But it looks like he doesn’t even have facial hair. Hey, do you have hair down there? Let’s see.”And then he suddenly grabbed Cheongwoo’s trouser leg.Cheongwoo, terrified, grabbed his wrist with a short scream.“Please… don’t.”“Oh, you won’t let go? I just want to check. Just check.”In this unbelievable situation, Cheongwoo could only open his mouth in shock. What is this? What are they checking? Why was he suddenly caught up in this?So this was it. Shin Junmo, who so abruptly grabbed Cheongwoo’s waistband and giggled, was exactly the kind of ‘drunk rich asshole’ Cheongwoo had always tried to avoid.“Look at him resisting. Wants to die?”There was no time to react. Shin Junmo, laughing, forcefully pulled Cheongwoo’s waistband. Despite trying to resist, Cheongwoo was easily dragged forward.“Aaah!”Splash!The men burst into raucous laughter.There wasn’t even time to feel the heat of the hot spring water. His breath was cut off. His ears buzzed underwater. Clamping his mouth shut, Cheongwoo floundered for a moment before he could barely get his face above water. Sshhh, the hot spring water cascaded over his head like a waterfall.“Ah… huh.”Steam rose from his body as the cold air hit his wet skin. His cheeks, once white as steamed buns, turned a bright red. Hot water dripped from his wide-open red lips. Cheongwoo couldn’t think of anything, only gasping for air and trembling as if in shock.“Fuck, he’s so smooth.”Shin Junmo, looking down at him from close by, laughed, showing his teeth.The white staff T-shirt was soaked through, clinging to his skin. Through the transparent, wet fabric, his pink nipples, the size of red beans, were clearly visible.Cheongwoo made a choking sound as he tried to back away, but his trouser leg was still held. His large eyes shimmered with tears.“Why… why are you doing this? I want to go. Let me go.”“If you go down like this, soaked, you’ll catch a cold. Don’t do that; come sit on big brother’s lap. Stay for just ten minutes, okay?”Asshole. Cheongwoo shook his head, gripping his waistband. Shin Junmo, who had been pulling his trouser leg in the water, stood up entirely. Cheongwoo, with his arms held behind him by someone, started to struggle like he was caught in a trap.“Take it easy, President Shin. You’re splashing water everywhere.” The men around them, while scolding, couldn’t help but smirk and laugh. Their attitude was as if they were watching some kind of entertainment.‘President Shin.’So it was this guy. That realization flashed through his mind. It didn’t take long to understand that this man was the one who had made Taesung’s movements uncomfortable. His breath quickened. As fear peaked, his limbs stiffened even more.“How can a guy be so pretty? Let’s see. Is your little thing soft too…?”Shin Junmo, now overheated with excitement, whispered slyly as he clung to Cheongwoo’s back. He then tried to slip his hand into Cheongwoo’s trousers. At that moment, a low voice came from behind.“Junmo.”Gu Wonjae, who had been watching silently with an unreadable expression until a moment ago, spoke slowly.“You seem to be having fun.”The laughter that had been sporadically echoing around stopped abruptly. The steam was carried away by the wind. A slightly amused voice continued.“I’m not having fun right now.”Shin Junmo’s hand, which had been moving, slowly stopped in surprise.For a while, only the sound of water flowing around the rock pool where the small waterfall circulated could be heard.Gu Wonjae lit a cigarette in the silence he had created, neither hurried nor slow. An attendant standing behind him quickly offered a light. His eyes, illuminated by the bright flame of the lighter, looked unusually clear compared to their dreamy state just moments before.‘Don’t get on Gu Wonjae’s bad side.’A phrase Cheongwoo had heard from Joohye once echoed in his wet ears. He could feel Shin Junmo’s grip on his arm tensing with nervousness. It seemed like the sudden reprimand had sobered him up.What exactly had gone wrong in Gu Wonjae’s eyes was unknown. However, it seemed that even Shin Junmo was included in those who shouldn’t offend Gu Wonjae. He thought they were friends, but in reality, everyone was under Gu Wonjae’s feet.“…”No matter what, it didn’t matter. Cheongwoo looked at Gu Wonjae in the distance with eyes full of unspoken plea. His cheeks, holding back tears, twitched pitifully.At that, even Gu Wonjae’s expression, which had seemed bored and indifferent, changed slightly. One eyebrow lifted.“Should I help?”Faint cigarette smoke and a low voice dispersed, and Cheongwoo immediately nodded.“Yes…! Please, help me.”Gu Wonjae smiled.“Then you should make a request.”A request?Cheongwoo was momentarily stunned and asked.“How should I make this request?”“Make it fun?”“…”“Words are boring, so do it with action.”Pfft. The men who had been holding their breath until then burst into short laughter.Shin Junmo also stepped back with a scoff and reached for the floating alcohol barrel in the hot spring.“Ah, fuck. I’m done for today. I’ll just pick some mulberries and drink.”With that, the previously tense atmosphere seemed to ease a bit. Only Cheongwoo felt lost.It was hard to grasp the meaning of the words. Make a request with action… Did he mean to kneel or something?The cold night air chilled his wet body. While shivering from the cold, Cheongwoo looked around. With Shin Junmo backed off, no one was holding him anymore. Could he just leave now?He started to move his feet in the water cautiously, watching for any signs. At that moment, the dark-clad attendants moved in unison to block his path. Among them was a man with a scar on his face.“I told you to make a request, Yeon Cheongwoo.”It felt like he was being hunted. Or like a ball being tossed from one hand to another.“I’ve been saying I’m not having fun.”Cheongwoo looked at Gu Wonjae with a face full of perplexity. Gu Wonjae just maintained an ordinary expression.‘Don’t scavenge around; if you’re hungry, take that and eat it.’‘See you again.’He remembered the subtle kindnesses from before. Accepting apologies graciously, giving tips, asking for his name, looking after his meals.But even amidst that, Cheongwoo never once thought of him as a good person. He found it strange, and now he felt like he was seeing the true nature of that unease.Again. He looked around calmly. The onlookers lazily leaning against the rocks at the edge of the pool, their eyes sneering as they sipped their drinks. And Gu Wonjae.Taking a deep breath, Cheongwoo widened his round eyes, focusing so his voice wouldn’t tremble.“I don’t really understand what kind of request you’re talking about since earlier.”“Don’t you know how to make a man happy?”“I don’t.”Cheongwoo shook his head, looking down.“The guest… Director Gu, seems to not understand. I’m just a server, not a host.”“Yeah, I don’t get it.”“…”“To me, you look like a host.”His ears burned hot. Gu Wonjae, returning to his characteristic languid expression, brought the cigarette to his lips, casting an even deeper gaze. Those eyes slowly scanned Cheongwoo’s wet body from top to bottom. Ah. Sensing an instinctive threat, Cheongwoo hunched his shoulders, attempting to cover his wet upper body. The attempt was so clumsy that the men watching let out low jeers.Bastards.So they were all the same. His whole body trembled. His breath came in short gasps as he tried to hold back tears.