CHAPTER 68
Seungjo ignored him, utterly dismissing the heavy exhale Yeonho had let out.
But before Seungjo could turn his head, Yeonho reached out, grabbed him roughly by the collar, and pulled him in for a messy, aggressive kiss.
"—Mmph!"
Seungjo's eyes flickered with a sudden, dangerous mixture of shock and rage.
This was the third time Yeonho had pulled a trick like this on him.
But Yeonho was far from finished.
He needed the location sent by Hana, and he was going to get it no matter what it took.
Climbing straight onto Seungjo's lap, Yeonho broke the kiss for a split second and shoved him back, sending the driver's seat launching backward with a heavy mechanical click.
"I'm one step away from—!"
Before the he could even finish, Yeonho snatched the phone out of Seungjo's grip, scrambled back into the passenger side, and slammed his fist dead center on the car horn.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
The sharp, deafening blare echoed relentlessly inside and out onto the sidewalk.
Yeonho kept his palm planted firm, refusing to let up.
Outside, pedestrians and people walking by began turning their heads, slowly gathering near the car to see what the commotion was about.
"YOU BASTARD! MAKING A SCENE NOW?!"
Seungjo growled, shoving himself back up.
[ Seungjo?! Where are you? What's going on? ]
Hana's voice echoed clearly through the car's speakers—Yeonho had already flicked the call onto speaker mode.
Keeping his eyes locked on the screen, Yeonho quickly scanned the chat log, memorizing the text in a fraction of a second while Seungjo reached over, his hand aiming straight for Yeonho's neck to take the phone back.
'Seol, South Heaven Street, VIP dining area. That sounds fancy.'
The address locked firmly into his memory just as Seungjo's hand closed in.
Now that he had what he came for, Yeonho pulled his palm off the horn, letting the blaring noise drop dead silent and allowing Seungjo to yank the device back.
'I'm so dead.'
Yeonho thought, watching Seungjo's shadow loom over him.
Seungjo snatched his phone, his other hand flying out to grab Yeonho by the front of his shirt. He drew back his fist, seconds away from launching a punch straight into Yeonho's face, when Hana's frantic voice cut through the speaker again.
[ Can you hear me? What's going on there? Why do I hear a car horn? Are you driving right now? Who are you talking to?! ]
"Hana, listen to me—!"
Knock, knock, knock.
Both of them froze instantly.
A police officer was standing just outside the driver's side, leaning his face close against the glass, trying to peer through to see what was causing the disturbance.
At that moment, Seungjo looked like he was one second away from snapping completely.
The veins along his neck bulged against his skin, his teeth grinding together so hard his jaw twitched. His eyes held a dark, violent edge that looked entirely capable of tearing someone apart.
Yeonho swallowed hard, a sudden chill running down his spine.
Men like Seungjo—those who kept their cool under pressure and rarely lost their temper—were always the scariest when they finally hit their limit.
He knew Gyeongjae was short-tempered and hit first, and Min-Hyuk provoked people while keeping a polite smile.
But Seungjo was different. He was stoic, usually calm, and exercised control—which made it far worse when he was pushed past his limit.
Watching him right now, holding back pure rage by a single thread, Yeonho knew he was walking a razor-thin line.
That was why his patience was terrifying.
Men with that much self-control were absolute monsters when they finally snapped.
And looking at him right now, Seungjo was using every ounce of his remaining willpower just to keep from breaking Yeonho's neck.
Yeonho had no desire to end up in a hospital bed when he had a dinner to crash.
Sensing the danger, an idea flashed in his head.
Leaning in close, he whispered barely above a breath so Hana wouldn't pick it up over the line.
"Hold the call. Tell her to wait, then mute the mic."
"I am one step away from hurting you," Seungjo spat, his voice dropping into a razor-thin growl.
"Don't you dare order me around like you have control here. Best believe I will ruin you."
"I know. I know, I'm sorry," Yeonho urged, keeping his voice down.
"Just listen to me. The police are right at the window. Is the glass tinted?"
Seungjo didn't answer right away, staring at Yeonho as if weighing the pros and cons of throwing him out onto the pavement and letting the officer arrest him.
[ Seungjo? Why aren't you answering? I'm getting worried here. Say something! Are you fighting someone?! ]
Hearing Hana's voice forced Seungjo to pull back his temper slightly, though the situation was spiraling fast.
The officer outside knocked harder, his knuckles rapping sharply against the glass.
"Do what I told you if you don't want her catching on," Yeonho pressed softly.
Seungjo took a harsh breath, bringing the phone to his mouth, finally yielding to the reality of the situation.
"I'm here," Seungjo said into the phone, forcing his voice to level out.
"Can you wait a moment? Something came up."
[Where have you been? You're making me anxious. What's going on?]
"I'm sorry, just give me a minute. It's urgent."
[ Fine... ]
Seungjo immediately tapped the screen, muting the microphone before lifting his head to glare at Yeonho.
"Is the window tinted?" Yeonho tapped Seungjo's arm, signaling for him to let go of his collar.
"Why?"
"Just answer me. Is it?"
"Yes," Seungjo muttered, shoving Yeonho's hands off him, releasing the the shirt.
Yeonho bit down on his lip, running through the risky plan forming in his head.
It was completely absurd, but he didn't have another move to play.
Seungjo's eyes narrowed. The way Yeonho bit his lip told him everything he needed to know—the brat was about to pull something completely out of hand.
"I'm sorry, but bury your face in my neck. Now."
"What?"
"Do it now!"
Yeonho flashed a quick, nervous smile and slammed his finger onto the window control button.
The driver's window began to slide down, and in one swift movement, Yeonho reached up and tore open his own shirt collar, exposing his neck and collarbones to the open air.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Seungjo hissed, his eyes widening in pure disbelief.
"What in the world are you doing, for God's sake?!"
"No time to get mad! Just act like we're a couple!"
Yeonho grabbed the back of Seungjo's head, yanking his face down flush against his skin.
"Right here!"
"CHOI YEONHO!" Seungjo growled into his bare shoulder, his teeth practically skimming the skin.
The window stopped halfway down. It was just enough for the officer to get a clear, unobstructed view of two men tangled up on the driver's seat in broad daylight.
Right in the middle of a busy city street.
Clutching Seungjo's head tightly against his neck, Yeonho immediately put on his performance, offering the officer a flustered, embarrassed smile.
The officer's eyes nearly bulged out of his head at the sight inside the vehicle.
A young man was sitting directly on another man's lap, his collar torn open, while the other man was burying his entire face into his shoulder.
"You're causing a commotion in a public area," the officer said sternly, clearing his throat.
"You couples need to take this somewhere private. You're disturbing the peace out here."
"We're so sorry, officer," Yeonho offered with a bashful laugh, his voice sounding entirely innocent.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time... My husband here gets a little too touchy when he's excited."
The police officer shook his head, his gaze shifting suspiciously toward the man hiding his face. It wasn't the first time he had dealt with public displays of affection, but doing this in broad daylight on a main road was far past the line.
Yeonho caught the officer's strict expression as he leaned slightly to the left, trying to get a look at Seungjo's face.
Worse, a small crowd was beginning to form on the sidewalk nearby, people slowing down to peer into the car out of curiosity.
'This is bad. If anyone recognizes Seungjo's face, he's completely ruined.'
"I could easily file charges against the both of you," the officer said, pulling a notepad from his pocket and flicking it open.
"Parking in front of a commercial building, public disruption—that's a violation. I need both of you to step out of the vehicle right now. I'm reporting this back to the station and having you brought in. Open the door."
He clicked his pen, ready to write down the details.
Yeonho leaned slightly closer to Seungjo, keeping his head positioned to block the officer's line of sight.
"Hold my waist tighter. "Yeonho whispered directly into his ear.
"And I'm going to need your wallet. Sorry in advance."
"I'm going to strangle you." Seungjo ground out against his skin.
"I like that but save it for later."
"You bastard..."
"Just do as I say"
Seungjo slammed his arm around Yeonho's waist.
Yeonho reached back, slipping Seungjo's leather wallet out of his back pocket, and pulled out a massive stack of thick cash.
It was the only fast way out of this.
He was going to bribe his way free.
"Officer, sir," Yeonho pleaded softly.
"Can you please let this slide just this once? I promise it won't happen again. Right, honey?"
Yeonho tapped Seungjo's head, but Seungjo remained dead silent.
The officer crossed his arms, staring at Yeonho looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Your husband isn't saying a word. What a nuisance. After all the trouble you caused—a baby in a stroller literally woke up crying because of your car horn!"
He pointed toward a family standing near the curb, the mother trying to soothe a crying infant in a stroller while the father glared at the car.
Yeonho let out a strained, awkward chuckle.
The entire situation was turning into an absolute nightmare.
"If you want to apologize, both of you step out. I don't care how much your husband loves you. You disrupted the public, and you're getting cited for it."
"Please, Officer! We swear we'll leave right now! Honey, say something to the officer!"
He gently patted the back of Seungjo's head again.
'Asshole, at least say something or we're both going to jail!'
Seungjo, whose patience had completely worn through, gritted his teeth in silence for a long time.
Yet he knew he had to speak up. If he refused, the officer would force the door open, and the moment a corporate chairman was caught locked in an embrace with another man in broad daylight, his entire life would collapse.
The headlines would write themselves:
Chairman Baek Seungjo, owner of Baek Entertainment and suitor to Choi Hana, caught with a man by the police.
The Chairman is gay.
He likes men.
He's sleeping with Choi Hana's twin brother.
Just visualizing his board of directors and employees whispering those words made his blood boil. It would destroy his reputation, his stock prices, and his company in a single afternoon.
So, as much as he despised playing into Yeonho's lie, he dragged himself along with it.
Absorbing the humiliation, Seungjo tightened his hold on Yeonho, pulling him deeper into his lap until their chests were pressed completely together.
He leaned into Yeonho's neck, pretending to brush his lips against his skin, kissing it while speaking in a deep, commanding voice.
"This won't happen again. I promise you that," Seungjo grunted out, his tone forced while feigning affection against Yeonho's neck.
"My wife... I just missed him. I would appreciate it if we could negotiate this here."
The authority in his deep voice caught the officer off guard.
"...What are you saying?" The officer narrowed his eyes, trying to peek past Yeonho's shoulder.
"Turn around and let me see your face so we can talk properly."
"No. My wife will handle it," Seungjo replied coldly, hiding his face deeper against Yeonho's neck.
"I need to see—"
"Wife. Talk to him."
Seungjo demanded, sounding less like a loving husband and more like a CEO ordering an assistant around.
The officer blinked, looking bewildered.
"Hey, are you drunk? Are you two actually married?"
Yeonho let out a sweet, delicate laugh, though internally he was screaming at Seungjo's terrible acting and at the officer.
'Why do you care if we're married, you idiot cop?! Just take the cash and go!'
"I'm so sorry, officer. My husband sounds a bit strange... he's a little sick," Yeonho said, rubbing the back of his own neck while sweating bullets.
"He's sick. Homesick. He just got back in the country."
"Right. And your husband mentioned negotiating. What is that supposed to mean?"
"Ah, yes. Here... please take this."
Yeonho extended his hand out the window, offering the heavy stack of bills.
The police officer's eyes widened for a split second before his face quickly smoothed back over into an indifferent expression.
"Will you please let us off with a warning this time?" Yeonho asked softly, leaning forward.
"My husband and I... we just love each other very much. I'm sure you understand how it is when you're away from the person you love."
Seungjo let out a faint, dry huff against his skin. Yeonho immediately jabbed an elbow into Seungjo's ribs to shut him up.
"So...?" Yeonho pushed gently, watching the officer's face.
The officer looked at the money, then at the two of them, before reaching out and taking the entire stack of cash. His fingers quickly shoved it deep into his uniform pocket without a second thought for the onlookers on the sidewalk.
He cleared his throat, adjusting his belt, and offered Yeonho a quick bow.
"I suppose I can let it slide just this once. Don't let me catch you doing this again."
"We won't! Thank you, officer!" Yeonho said, offering a relieved smile.
The officer stepped back.
"Make sure it doesn't happen again. I hope your marriage stays strong. Your husband should be grateful to have a wife like you."
"Oh, my," Yeonho giggled, pretending to look embarrassed.
"Don't say that, he'll get jealous."
"I won't," Seungjo muttered. Yeonho jabbed him with his elbow a second time.
The officer shook his head, sensing something bizarre about the dynamic, but with a pocket full of untraceable cash, he didn't care to investigate further.
"Goodbye. Have a good evening."
He bowed once more and walked away, dispersing the small crowd on the sidewalk.
The moment the officer turned his back, Yeonho slammed the window button, rolling the glass up until it sealed shut.
Slumping against Seungjo's chest, he let out a long, exhausted breath.
"That was close."
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