Chapter 22
"I'm just returning the favour. You did the exact same thing earlier when I was on the phone with Hana."
Gyeongjae ran a hand through his white hair, acting completely nonchalant.
Confused for a split second, Yeonho furrowed his brows. Had he really heard that right? Or was he just overthinking things?
Trusting his gut feeling, he decided to test Gyeongjae right then and there.
"Alright, let me make this clear. What I did earlier was only to help you get through the effects of the drug. It was just a favour. But what you did just now? That was while I was talking to the man who takes care of me…"
He trailed off mid-sentence, letting his natural acting skills kick in instantly.
"What? Go on. Keep talking." Gyeongjae waited, his gaze fixed sharply on him.
"Listen to me. That man on the phone isn't just anyone. Sure, I slept with you, but that only happened because of the circumstances. And I know you won't go running your mouth to Hana about any of this."
The room fell quiet. Gyeongjae went silent, finding Yeonho's words more suspicious by the second.
Yeonho didn't give him time to overthink, and kept right on talking.
"Don't get me wrong — I enjoyed every second of it. But you can't just interrupt me like that. That man is the only one who has ever treated me right and spoiled me like a princess."
'Keep listening, Gyeongjae. I know you're dying to know exactly what Han Jiseok is to me.'
He turned away and sat down on the chair in front of the desk, glancing at his own reflection in the mirror.
And surely, Gyeongjae's curiosity was already eating away at him.
Gyeongjae tracked his every move closely, hanging onto every single word. He couldn't help but wonder if Yeonho had always spoken this way.
Still, something about it bothered him. Yeonho looked so relaxed and confident. Yet there was a sharp edge to his tone that didn't quite match that easy demeanour.
Yeonho twisted around in his seat to face him again, a bright, knowing smile playing on his lips.
"...In short. Don't ever bother me when it comes to him. You have absolutely no right to interfere between us. Do you understand?"
'He won't like that. Hahaha'
Yeonho knew exactly what Woo Gyeongjae and all the other male leads were like — they were all obsessed with being in control, through and through.
And this was nothing more than a small test of patience. If Gyeongjae listened, things would be easy. If not, it would take a little more work, but Yeonho was fully confident he could handle it either way.
Gyeongjae's dark gaze locked onto his.
"You should know where our boundaries lie, Gyeongjae… Unless…"
He slowly pushed himself up from the chair and closed the small distance between them until he was standing right in front of Gyeongjae.
"Unless what?" Gyeongjae asked, with a smug look on his face.
Yeonho leaned in until their faces were only inches apart.
"Unless you're willing to cheat on Hana and choose me instead. I can see how much you're itching for more, but you're holding back because of her."
He stared deep into Gyeongjae's eyes, his bright blue gaze almost hypnotic as he watched every tiny shift in the man's expression.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Gyeongjae's neck.
A sharp tremor ran through Gyeongjae's entire body the moment he heard those words.
He stared back at Yeonho's grinning face, the soft warmth of his skin brushing lightly against him, making it almost impossible to think straight.
Annoyed at his own reaction, Gyeongjae let out a dry, disbelieving chuckle.
"You think that cheap trick works on me? You really believe I'll fall for all your nonsense?"
He tried his best to push down the messy feelings rising inside him.
"Looks like it's already working to me." Yeonho leaned even closer.
"I won't. Just like you said — you helped me, and this whole thing is nothing but a mistake." Gyeongjae insisted firmly.
"Funny hearing you say that. You're the one who pounded me and filled me up earlier. Hahaha." He shook his head, laughing.
'That's my cue. Time to leave and see what he does next.'
With a satisfied smile, he turned away and started walking toward the bathroom. He was sure Gyeongjae would hate the fact that he couldn't control him.
After all, Yeonho was nothing like Hana — innocent, pretentious, and always playing the helpless victim who needed protection.
And just as he predicted, Gyeongjae reacted immediately.
Watching Yeonho walk away so casually and unbothered only made Gyeongjae feel even more irritated and restless.
Yeonho was so different from his twin sister
Yet he couldn't deny how confused and desperate he was to have more of him. Deep down, he already knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Moving fast, Gyeongjae stepped forward, swept Yeonho right off his feet and carried him easily in his arms, bridal style.
"What are you doing?" Yeonho asked, feigning surprise but inside, he was holding back his excitement.
"Shut up. I'm not done with you yet." Gyeongjae didn't even glance down, his jaw clenched tight as he strode quickly toward the bed.
Wrapped safely in his hold, Yeonho hid a smirk and let out a quiet chuckle.
'He took the bait. So easy '
"Hahaha! Told you so. I knew you wouldn't be able to hold back. Now forget about Hana for a while and focus only on me."
He openly teased the man, whose expression was dark and twisted with barely contained desire and frustration.
That night, they continued where they left off. Gyeongjae poured every bit of his confusion, anger, and lust into Yeonho, who welcomed every second of it with pure enjoyment.
Nothing else in the world mattered anymore, only the two of them, lost entirely to their own desire.
Round after round they went, as if there was no tomorrow, only stopping once the first pale light of dawn began to peek through the curtains.
.
.
.
.
Morning light streamed through the windows, bright and soft, spreading across every corner of the room. Under the sheets, Yeonho and Gyeongjae lay tangled together.
"...Ugh, my back…"
Yeonho's throat felt dry and rough. He stirred slowly, shifting his body as his eyes fluttered open. Blinking to adjust his vision, his long blonde lashes swept gently against his cheeks.
He turned his head to the man beside him — Woo Gyeongjae was still sleeping soundly.
'Right… last night — shit, my back hurts'
He pressed a hand to his lower back, wincing at the dull soreness left from their intense activities.
Glancing down, he found Gyeongjae's arm still wrapped firmly around his waist. His gaze drifted back up to rest on the man's sharp, handsome face.
"Look at this gorgeous face… Soon you'll be mine. And the rest of the male leads too."
He murmured softly, brushing his fingers lightly over Gyeongjae's perfect features.
He stayed like that, admiring him up close for a full five minutes, only pulling his hand away when Gyeongjae shifted slightly in his sleep.
'Still a lot of work ahead. Oh right… the old man is visiting today. Better get myself ready and looking pretty.'
Yeonho sat up and stretched his arms, working the stiffness out of his muscles.
"And you…" He pointed a finger at the still sleeping man.
"Whatever." He waved his hand dismissively before starting his routine.
Gyeongjae was no trouble at all — in fact, if Jiseok happened to walk in and see them, Yeonho would be more than pleased.
"First things first… a bath."
He checked the time — it was exactly 8:00 in the morning.
After cleaning up in the bathroom, he picked out a loose white shirt and shorts. Simple casual wear, nothing fancy, but it fit perfectly to show off his soft, flawless skin.
And of course, being the thoughtful man he was, he didn't forget to wash Gyeongjae's clothes as well.
Once satisfied with how he looked, he headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, he tried his best to prepare something to eat, but nothing seemed to turn out right.
"I said I'd cook… and I can barely do it. Way to go, Yeonho."
He immediately regretted telling Jiseok he would make a meal. He only knew how to fry eggs and do a little baking, nothing more.
Still, since his guest was coming soon, he didn't stop — he just kept making a mess of the kitchen.
Upstairs in the master bedroom, Gyeongjae stirred. He tossed and turned a few times, slowly opening his eyes.
"Where is this?"
The ceiling above him was unfamiliar. Even with his vision still blurry, he was sure this was not his penthouse, nor any place he recognised.
He sat up, rubbing his face with both hands, and froze.
He glanced down and realised he was completely bare from the waist down. He widened his eyes as he looked around the room, and in an instant, every memory from last night came crashing back.
Yeonho's flushed, blissful expression.
The feeling of being buried deep inside him… The heat, the pleasure, round after round, switching positions, losing control like animals in heat.
"Fucking hell… Choi Yeonho, you sneaky bastard."
Gyeongjae growled as he rubbed his temples.
He kept telling himself it was a mistake, yet he couldn't understand why he felt no regret at all.
He was even the one who kept pulling Yeonho back for more, completely provoked and addicted by the man's attitude.
"Fuck, I really messed up…" He muttered.
Reaching for his phone on the bedside table, he checked the time. It was almost noon — lunch time.
He had slept way longer than usual, something he had never done before.
Standing up, he spotted his own clothes and a towel hanging neatly on the rack near the bathroom door.
"That's mine… I better take a shower first."
He stepped inside. The space was huge, with a warm, homely design that felt odd to him, but he paid it no mind. Washing off the night's sweat was far more important.
After his shower, he got dressed, and immediately caught a soft scent.
'Smells like fabric softener… Did that brat wash these?'
He sniffed at the clothes again to confirm it, then checked his reflection in the room mirror. He looked as perfect as ever.
Leaving the master bedroom, he walked downstairs. The overall layout of the house felt strangely familiar, though that bedroom still felt completely foreign to him.
He was still looking around when he heard sounds coming from the kitchen. Without wasting time, he walked straight toward it.
There stood Yeonho, looking fresh and glowing, his long hair falling loosely around his shoulders. He wore that oversized shirt that slipped off one shoulder, revealing the curve of his neck and nape.
The fabric barely covered his thighs, giving him the look of someone wearing their lover's shirt.
Gyeongjae's gaze travelled slowly down his legs, unable to look away.
"Damn it… why is this so hard? Cooking is such a pain." Yeonho huffed, staring at the mess of litchi ingredients in front of him.
Gyeongjae cleared his throat loudly to announce his presence.
Hearing the familiar voice, Yeonho turned around with a soft smile on his face.
"You're awake. How was your sleep? Feeling refreshed now?" He walked over to Gyeongjae and offered him a glass of water.
"Good. The effect of whatever drug you used on me is completely gone now." Gyeongjae replied, his tone sharp as usual.
Yeonho paused second, then gently placed the glass down on the counter. The smile never left his lips.
"Don't ruin my day, Gyeongjae. I told you before — I never drugged you."
'Maybe it's time to show him the proof… but is it too early?'
He wondered still unsure if he should reveal everything just yet.
"How can you lie right to my face? Do you have no shame at all?"
Gyeongjae sat down on the chair beside him, crossing his legs with an air of confidence.
'Not this again...'
Yeonho sighed inwardly, already growing tired of repeating himself. If this was going to go in circles, he might as well end it right here and now.
As for Gyeongjae, he was absolutely certain Yeonho had no evidence to back up his claims. In his eyes, Yeonho was nothing but a smooth liar trying to turn things around.
But to his surprise, Yeonho only let out a light chuckle.
He turned around and walked away for a moment, coming back shortly after with a laptop held firmly in his arms.
"What's this? Are you finally going to show me something?" Gyeongjae raised an eyebrow.
"Well obviously… duh." Yeonho replied, his voice carrying that usual sassy, unbothered tone.
As he moved to set the laptop down properly, Gyeongjae found himself unable to look away. There was something about Yeonho's movements that looked so soft and pleasing to the eye.
'Why do I keep finding him this pretty?'
It made no sense to him. Sure, Hana was beautiful too, but he had never looked at her this way.
Ever since what happened last night, Yeonho had been stuck in his mind, messing up his thoughts and leaving him more confused by the minute.
Gyeongjae kept his gaze fixed on him until Yeonho spoke again, pulling him out of his daze.
"Stop staring so hard, big guy. Look at what I'm about to show you instead."
The screen lit up, ready to play.
"Watch carefully, Gyeongjae. See exactly how your little girlfriend tried to drug you."
Yeonho stood beside him and pressed the play button.
As the video played, Gyeongjae's expression slowly shifted. He saw Hana, beside her was a standing waitress, handing over a small bottle.
Then right before his drink, she poured a fine white powder into his glass.
"… What? Hana?" He muttered, eyes still glued to the screen in disbelief.
The footage continued, showing Hana acting as if nothing had happened at all.
A moment later, Gyeongjae himself walked back to the table, drank every drop, and the clear effects of the substance started showing on his body right after.
The video came to an end.
"Why would she do that? If she just wanted to sleep with me, she could have simply said so."
Shock washed over him. In his eyes, Hana had always been sweet, naive, and completely innocent — he never imagined she was capable of something like this.
"Just look at your reaction… I almost feel bad for you." Yeonho turned away, walking over to the refrigerator to take out a slice of cake.
"No… Hana would never do something like this." Gyeongjae still refused to believe it, shaking his head.
"Oh please, the video shows it all clearly. If you still doubt me that much, go check the CCTV cameras of this hotel yourself or should I say your hotel"
Yeonho sat down opposite him and took a small bite of the cake on the plate.
"Wait… here? This hotel? Are you telling me this is all recorded here… And this place is mine?"
"Yep. You see, I live here. You just never knew it until now." Yeonho said casually, taking another bite.
Gyeongjae's gaze suddenly turned sharp and serious in an instant, but Yeonho didn't flinch even a little bit.
'Oops, He's mad'
"How long have you been living here? Have you been hiding yourself here all this time?"
He reached out and grabbed Yeonho's arm tightly, demanding answers.
"Just ask your staff. Now tell me, what do you think of Hana now? Do you feel surprised or something?"
Yeonho crossed his arms, curious.
It was a simple question, but Gyeongjae found himself unable to give a proper answer.
"Do you still like her?" He pressed again.
Slowly, Gyeongjae loosened his grip, pulled his hand back, his voice sounding steady.
"Of course I do. Why should I stop just because she made one small mistake?"
Hearing that, Yeonho suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, no way! You really are that blind, huh." He calmed down a little then continued.
"Well, I guess it is just a minor accident to you, so of course you'd forgive her right away… but still, hahaha!"
It was almost funny to him. No, it was hilarious.
If Gyeongjae could easily excuse something this big, winning over the rest of the male leads would be even easier.
"Do you really have to laugh like that? Is my relationship with Hana that entertaining to you?"
The whole atmosphere shifted instantly.
Gyeongjae's gaze turned cold and threatening, but Yeonho only leaned forward, closing the distance between them, staring right back with equally fierce eyes.
"Yes, it is very much entertaining"
Gyeongjae didn't say a word, but Yeonho can see the veins on his neck, clearly holding back his anger.
"You should know I'm—" Gyeongjae tried to speak but was cut off by Yeonho.
"Stop acting all high and mighty. You were the one who fucked me all night long until dawn. Do you really think Hana would be so forgiving if she found out what you did?"
Gyeongjae froze. Before he could even react, Yeonho pulled his phone out from the pocket of his shorts and tapped the screen.
Seconds later, a notification popped up right on Gyeongjae's own phone.
Gyeongjae opened it, only to see a photo of him and Yeonho tangled together naked in bed, fast asleep.
"You little—!"
"Surprise! Look how handsome you look while sleeping, hahaha."
Yeonho teased openly, clearly enjoying every second of getting under Gyeongjae's skin.
Enraged, Gyeongjae slammed his hand hard against the table, making the glass and the plate of cake shake and rattle loudly.
"What exactly are you trying to do, Choi Yeonho?" Gyeongjae asked, eyes murderous.
"Glad you asked. It's actually very simple..."
He leaned close on Gyeongjae's ear, then whispered with a grin on his face.
"I'm going to steal you, and everything else that belongs to Hana, right from her hands."
Out of nowhere, Gyeongjae lunged forward, wrapped his hand tightly around Yeonho's neck, squeezing hard.
It was outrageous, despicable — how could he ever think Yeonho looked beautiful when his heart was this rotten, his personality was nothing but trash?
"You can't do that, and you never will. I'm warning you. Stay far away from Hana. And let me make this clear once and for all. What happened between us is nothing. You hear me? NOTHING!"
Yeonho could feel the pressure tightening around his throat, cutting off his air little by little. He was choking.
One wrong move and he could really die right here.
He gripped the edge of the table to steady himself, just as a sound came from the front door, stopping both of them in their tracks.
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang clearly, someone was waiting outside.