JD 20

In the end, there was not a single condition about the president that could change. The sliver of hope that had barely climbed into the positive dropped right back down to zero.

Considering the life he’d lived and the environment around him, it was hard to imagine that a twenty-four-year-old just starting out in the world would seem appealing to someone like him. Hakyung let out a deep sigh at the uphill battle that was his love life and stood up. He kept the blanket Muheon had given him tightly clutched in his arms.

“Well then, I’ll head back down to work now.”

“Don’t overdo it—take it easy. If I keep spoiling you, you’ll get used to it.”

It was a rather irresponsible bit of advice coming from the guy who signed his paycheck. And yet, despite being completely devoid of romantic intent, those words made his heart race way too much. Honestly, Hakyung’s feelings had grown this much mostly because of the president himself.

He pouted and stomped his foot, though whether Muheon picked up on that small, petty display of dissatisfaction was anyone’s guess…

“Mr. Muheon, your next destination is Songdo, Incheon.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, and apparently a hotel heavily funded by Chinese investors just opened up in that area. They’ve sent an invitation… I think it wouldn’t hurt to stop by while you’re there.”

Muheon gave a short nod as he recalled his schedule. He would need to make an appearance anyway, and it was better to get everything done in one trip than to go back and forth.

With that, Gi Sang-oh began mentally reviewing everything that would need to be prepared.

“Let’s take Kang Hakyung along, too. The kid’s probably never been to a hotel before.”

He hadn’t expected the river dolphin to be included in the list of preparations, so when Hakyung’s name popped out, Gi Sang-oh paused for a beat before answering that he understood. If Mr. Muheon wanted to bring someone along, there was no need for a reason.

“Alright, I’ll get everything ready for the both of you.”

“Do that.”

“Should I let Hakyung know?”

“No. I’ll tell him myself.”

Once again, Gi Sang-oh gave a respectful nod and left the office. With an unexpected addition to the travel party, he’d have to move quickly.

As the broad-shouldered Gi Sang-oh stepped out, the office suddenly felt more spacious. Hakyung never made the place feel cramped or stuffy… Without meaning to, Muheon found himself comparing the two and naturally siding with the river dolphin.

In any case, it had already been a few weeks since the strange but adorable Hakyung had arrived in Seoul. The only place he’d really been to was the shopping mall they’d gone to together, so he must’ve been getting bored.

A hotel funded by Chinese investment meant it would be massive, and maybe it would add a little fun to his dull life in Seoul.

Muheon hoped working in Seoul wouldn’t be too hard for the river dolphin—and that he’d enjoy it enough to stick around for a long time. Because that way, he wouldn’t leave Muheon’s side. With that, he began quietly planning how to keep Hakyung close.

Just imagining Hakyung squealing with joy made the corners of his lips start to tug upward.

Knock knock knock! “Boss, I’m here to clean!”

Speak of the river dolphin and he shall appear. Hakyung poked his head in after knocking on the door himself.

“Come in.”

“Yes!”

Answering loudly, Hakyung stepped inside with a rag in hand and started moving around. Lately, he’d been using cleaning as an excuse to slip into the president’s office. Even if the future looked hopeless, what could he do? Just one day without seeing his face, and it felt like thorns sprouted inside his mouth…

They say the one with something to lose always gives in. Hakyung had never actually fought with the president, but lately, that’s exactly how he felt.

The office was already clean, but the one Muheon used was spotless—no dust at all. It was a shame he couldn’t come in more than twice a day.

“Kang Hakyung, sit down for a bit when you’re done cleaning.”

“Huh? Oh, I actually just finished.”

As if he’d been waiting for the invitation, Hakyung quickly answered and plopped down onto the sofa.

His behavior was more puppy than dolphin, and Muheon chuckled as he sat across from him. Hakyung, on the other hand, secretly ogled the muscles in his thighs and grinned to himself like a pervert.

“Have you ever been to Incheon?”

“Huh? Incheon? No?”

All Hakyung really knew about Incheon was that it had an airport. He shook his head, and Muheon, half-expecting that response, continued.

“Then do you want to go?”

“Wait… what? Why? Am I being kicked out? But I haven’t even been here a full month yet!”

At the sudden mention of going to Incheon, Hakyung jumped in alarm. Incheon? When all he wanted was to settle down here after falling head over heels for the president’s face?! Absolutely not.

He’d even taken his backpack and told him to stay by his side—now he was trying to send him away without even understanding his feelings? A wave of disappointment at the president’s thoughtlessness rose inside him.

Seeing Hakyung’s face crumple like he might cry at any second, Muheon quickly waved his hand with a start.

“I’m not kicking you out. I meant I want you to come with me on a business trip to Incheon.”

“I don’t want to—wait, huh? A business trip? To Incheon?”

“Yeah. I’ll be there for a few days. Want to come along, Kang Hakyung?”

“You’re not just sending me off alone, right?”

Muheon let out a small laugh at the suspicious expression poking out from under Hakyung’s cap. The bright-eyed puppy who had trailed after him a few weeks ago seemed like a completely different person now.

Of course, whether then or now, he was still just as cute. In any case, Muheon figured he’d ease Hakyung’s doubts once they got unauthorized copyto Incheon—right now, there was something else he wanted to give him.

He pulled out a chocolate bar that Do Minhyun had dropped off that morning, saying kids these days were obsessed with it. Normally, Muheon would’ve handed it right back, saying, you eat it, since he didn’t care for sweets—but not today. Today, he had his sweet-toothed little river dolphin to give it to.

“Here, eat this.”

“Huh? Wait, this is from Minhyun-hyung! You got one too, boss? Wow, yours is way bigger than mine!”

“You got one too? Well, now you’ve got another one.”

That morning, Do Minhyun had handed Hakyung a finger-sized piece of chocolate, saying he’d waited in line with his girlfriend to get it. Hakyung had nibbled on it while cleaning, and it was so good it nearly blew his mind.

Since he didn’t know Seoul well, he was already fretting that he wouldn’t be able to go buy more. So when the president handed him a palm-sized piece, a song of joy burst out of him.

“Chocolate, a palmful, full of love, sweet sweet sweet! Oh so sweet, chocolate!”

It looked like he might break into a tap dance at any moment, so Muheon Read onquickly grabbed his wrist to stop him. At the unexpected, bold touch, Hakyung’s singing came to an abrupt halt, and his face flushed bright red.

Still, he didn’t want to say let go, so he let his wrist rest quietly in Muheon’s hand. Just like the chocolate melting in his palm, he wished he too could melt and stick to the president’s hand, clinging to him in the same sweet way.

Ugh. Naughty river dolphin! The scandalous thought filled his head so suddenly that he stomped his feet in place. The president wasn’t thinking anything remotely like that, but here was Hakyung, off in la-la land, fantasizing like a fool.

“You’re really going to eat it, right?”

“Yes, yes! I’m going to eat all of it!”

Most people would offer to share a bit with the one who gave it to them, but Hakyung claimed the chocolate as if it were his birthright. Muheon found it endearing and gently stroked the soft wrist in his grasp.

“……!”

The unconscious gesture made Hakyung’s heart pound wildly. He barely held back the urge to snort out a shaky breath and quickly pulled his wrist free.

If he stayed like that any longer, he might lose control and pounce on the president. Reining in his lingering disappointment, visit our sitehe tucked the chocolate safely into his pocket.

“Thank you! I’ll enjoy it! Uh, is there anything I should bring for the trip to Incheon?”

“Nothing you have will be of use.”

That was harsh, considering how close he was to having absolutely nothing. Brow furrowed in offense, Hakyung gave a deep bow and stomped out of the office. Muheon chuckled under his breath at the obviously sulking figure.

This was why teasing Kang Hakyung had become his daily source of amusement.

***

His luggage was sparse—just a phone charger and a few changes of clothes. He wanted to pack more, but there was simply nothing else to take. As a final step, Hakyung called his grandmother to check in.

She usually called every evening, so getting a call early in the morning made her voice rise in alarm.

— What’s this! Something happen?

“No, nothing happened! I’m just calling to let you know I’m going on a business trip to Incheon starting today. Remember I mentioned it a few days ago?”

— Ohh, so it starts today, huh?

“Yeah! I’ll do my best and learn a lot while I’m there!”

— Alright, then. Try and score some points with your boss while you’re at it, okay?

Hakyung gave an awkward laugh at her urging to score points with the president.

Part of him hoped that seeing the president at work would be enough to kill his feelings for him. But truthfully, he also hoped that what the president did wasn’t anything dangerous or shady after all.

By the end of this trip, how would his feelings change? There was no way to know.