Chapter 35
Having Min-Hyuk alone was a stroke of luck. Yeonho stepped closer, closing the distance between them.
"No, Mr. Kang. She isn't hiding anything."
"I heard you two talking about getting rid of something," Min-Hyuk said, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me what it is."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Kang, but I can't do that. My client's privacy is important to me, so it's best if you drop it."
Min-Hyuk suddenly lowered his head, leaning straight into Yeonho's space. He stared hard, flashing the lazy, practiced grin of a total flirt.
"But you said you're a fan of mine. You said I was your idol."
'He's cheating, using that face card of his. Tsk.'
Even though Yeonho wanted to give in, he held his ground. The plan was to make Min-Hyuk impatient, to feed his curiosity until Yeonho was the only thing he could focus on.
"As much as I'd love to tell you, Mr. Kang, I won't." He gave a forced smiled
"Ms. Choi is entitled to her privacy. And please, don't get so close. I know you're a handsome model, but you don't need to shove it in my face."
Yeonho stepped back. Min-Hyuk mirrored him, stepping away with a low chuckle.
"You're funny. I don't think I've ever been rejected before."
That was the cue. Yeonho's voice filled with pure confidence.
"I'm not rejecting you, Mr. Kang. This is just work. I'd gladly date you if I wanted to, but I don't want to mess with Ms. Choi's boyfriend."
Min-Hyuk raised a brow, watching intently as Yeonho drifted toward a nearby rack of hanging fabrics, sorting through them as if he hadn't just said something wild.
"You're pretty bold and straightforward. You sound serious, too. Am I really that big of an inspiration to you? Enough to make you want to date me?"
'Oh, please. I'd let you absolutely ruin me in bed if you wanted to—just like Gyeongjae did.'
As if he could ever say that out loud. Yeonho bit his lower lip. Just the thought of how Gyeongjae destroyed him on bed sent a quick thrill through him. He checked himself, focusing then turned back to face Min-Hyuk, who was already walking back over to him.
"We could do a lot more than just date. There are plenty of options, but I won't. Ms. Choi would fire me on the spot if she caught her personal stylist flirting with her boyfriend."
That should have done it—or maybe not. Honestly, Yeonho couldn't tell, because
Min-Hyuk just stood there, staring down at him in total silence. But one thing was certain, though: Min-Hyuk was finally paying attention.
"What?" Yeonho asked, meeting his gaze.
"You're interesting…"
"Glad to hear it."
Yeonho turned away again, rummaging through the fabrics and pins. He walked off for a few seconds, returning with a heavy mannequin.
Tracking Yeonho's every move, Min-Hyuk found it thoroughly entertaining. Still, standing around wasn't getting him answers.
He decided to push again.
"So, are you going to tell me what Hana is hiding, or are you just going to keep working?"
"I'm working, Mr. Kang. I need to finish this early."
"Why the rush? You should be taking your time to make Hana's dresses perfect. It's for her birthday."
"Mr. Kang, I am doing exactly what I'm supposed to do. You, however, are a massive distraction. You're slowing me down—though I only tolerate it because it's you."
Keeping up the frantic pace was necessary; Gyeongjae could walk through that door at any second.
If Min-Hyuk saw Gyeongjae here, it would create the perfect storm. Two male leads, completely tangled up in his hands at the exact same time.
Over the next five minutes, Yeonho moved through the boutique's workshop, offering sharp critiques and ideas to the designers and seamstresses. He suggested subtle details to elevate the quality of their pieces before instructing everyone to wrap up and assemble the components.
They would resume the project tomorrow, and he warned them that Hana might drop by at any moment to inspect the progress.
The staff moved efficiently, quietly respecting Yeonho's commanding, professional demeanor. They hung on his detailed instructions, clearly impressed by his expertise.
Min-Hyuk watched from the sidelines, thoroughly captivated by this side of Yeonho.
As the workshop began to clear out, a young woman approached Yeonho timidly.
"Mr. Yeonho, I'm really grateful you noticed my fabric wasn't aligned properly earlier." She bowed deeply. "Thank you for saving it."
Yeonho gave her a genuine, warm smile.
"Don't worry about it. I just want to ensure your piece is flawless before we assemble the final gown."
"Yes, thank you again! I was so nervous, my pins were all over the place." She laughed awkwardly.
"Me too, Mr. Yeonho," another woman chimed in, stepping forward. "Thanks for spotting that tear on the seam. I almost overlooked it and called it a day. I really appreciate your eye for detail."
The praise warmed Yeonho from the inside out. He had missed this feeling—the simple joy of being recognized for doing what he loved.
"I'm glad I could help," Yeonho said, his smile widening. "I hope your final pieces turn out beautifully enough to rival my own. Good luck to you both."
The two women bowed, smiling brightly, before returning to their stations to pack up.
As Yeonho watched them go, a sudden warmth brushed against his ear. Min-Hyuk's voice whispered from right behind him, so close it made him startle.
"Looks like you've won everyone over already."
Yeonho spun around to face him.
"Mr. Kang, please don't creep up on me like that. And yes, I'm aware. I work with passion, and I give them the motivation to match. That's all."
He began walking toward a wall lined with hanging suits and trousers, Min-Hyuk falling into step right beside him.
"You're confident and straightforward," Min-Hyuk observed, studying him.
"But at the same time, you keep people at arm's length."
"I'm just guarded. This is my first time working for someone of Ms. Choi's status. The stakes are incredibly high."
"Hana is important, yes, so it makes sense you'd want to do your best."
Min-Hyuk paused, clearing his throat.
"Now… tell me what she was hiding from me earlier."
Yeonho froze, looking directly into Min-Hyuk's eyes. He stayed silent, drinking in the sight.
'Look at that face… Damn it.'
The sheer symmetry of the man's features was a dangerous weapon, and Min-Hyuk knew exactly how to use it. If Yeonho weren't such a sucker for a gorgeous man, he wouldn't be wavering like this.
Maybe it was time to spill the secret. Then again, he was still waiting for Gyeongjae to arrive to maximize the chaos.
Min-Hyuk leaned in, waiting as Yeonho let out a heavy, defeated sigh which made
Min-Hyuk's lips curved into a smug grin, assuming he had finally cracked the stylist's defenses.
"That sigh sounds like a surrender," Min-Hyuk murmured, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Out with it. What is Hana keeping from me?"
"Fine. I'll tell you, but—"
Before the words could leave his mouth, a sharp ring cut through the air. It was Yeonho's phone. Pulling it from his pocket, a wicked smile slowly spread across his face as he read the caller ID.
Min-Hyuk's brow furrowed. The dark, calculating look on Yeonho's face struck a chord of familiarity—he had seen that expression somewhere before. It was oddly familiar to ignore...
"You…"
"Excuse me for a moment, Mr. Kang. I need to take this."
Yeonho brushed past him without a second thought, his entire demeanor shifting instantly.
Min-Hyuk felt a prickle of irritation. He had been a second away from getting the truth, and now Yeonho was walking away toward the restroom, radiating a completely different, chilling energy.
The abrupt transformation left Min-Hyuk burning with curiosity.
"Maybe it's a girlfriend," Min-Hyuk muttered to himself, turning back to look at the busy workshop, settling in to wait.
A few minutes earlier, across town in his own hotel and penthouse room, Gyeongjae was spiraling.
He sat slumped in front of his monitor, watching the CCTV footage for the twentieth time. On the screen, Hana moved with practiced innocence as she slipped something into his drink.
The camera had captured it flawlessly.
Even though he said to Yeonho that he still loved Hana and would likely forgive her, a sickening knot twisted in his stomach, uncomfortable enough to doubt Hana.
Hana had always been his angel, his golden standard. The fact that Yeonho, the perpetual villain on Hana's life—was the one to strip away her mask was tearing at his sanity.
Yeonho was supposed to be the bad guy. Hana was supposed to be sweet and pure.
He couldn't wrap his head around why she would drug him. If she wanted to sleep with him, she could have just asked.
He loved her, but doing this behind his back, stripping away his consent… it pointed to a much darker motive.
Leaning back in his chair, Gyeongjae buried his face in his hands, exhaling a ragged, heavy breath as the video played on a loop in his mind.
"Why, Hana… Damn it."
He dropped his hands and stared back at the monitor. His eyes caught the figure of Yeonho sitting in the background, disguised perfectly as he quietly ate his dinner.
It was the exact same outfit Yeonho had worn when Gyeongjae helped him set up his computer. He blended in so seamlessly that nobody would ever look twice.
Then, Gyeongjae's mind drifted to the old man, Han Jiseok. He remembered those cold, piercing eyes and the chilling claim the man had made: that Yeonho didn't remember him, but Jiseok had known Yeonho since he was a child.
Jiseok had acted so possessive, talking about Yeonho as if he were a piece of property.
"Disgusting if it's true," Gyeongjae muttered, slamming the video player shut.
Right then, his phone buzzed. It was an unknown number, but he knew the digital footprint all too well. It was Yeonho.
When the string of photos showed, Gyeongjae's jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached.
His grip tightened around the frame of his phone until his knuckles turned white.
Without a second thought, he hit dial.
Back at the boutique, Yeonho slipped into the relative safety of the restroom to take the call, locking the door to ensure absolute privacy.
The moment the lock clicked, his playful disguise vanished. His expression relaxed into something cold and calculated.
Staring at his reflection in the mirror above the sink, tapped the speakerphone button, eager to hear the voice on the line.
"Gyeongjae! How's your day going, big guy? Miss me already?" Yeonho smirked at his own reflection.
[ Where is Hana? Are you with her? And those photos—what the hell are you planning? And is that guy. Kang Min-Hyuk, Shit…]
Gyeongjae's voice was laced with a violent gravity, far heavier than Yeonho expected.
But it was perfect.
"Why don't you come here and see for yourself? It's much more entertaining in person."
A heavy, jagged sigh came through the speaker. Yeonho could practically hear Gyeongjae and imagine holding back his temper, which only made him giggle.
"Why so quiet, hm? Gyeongjae-ah, say something. Or do you need me to make some noise for you? Haha! Just get down here. After this is over, I'll let you do whatever you want to me. We can even hop back in bed if you want."
[Stop talking bullshit. I'm not sleeping with you. And if you touch a single hair on Hana, you better be ready for the consequences. You know damn well I'm holding back right now, Choi Yeonho.]
Yeonho bit his lip, a thrill of pure adrenaline rushing through him as he pushed Gyeongjae's buttons, casually adjusted a stray strand of his wig.
"Geez, calm down. I haven't even touched her. Besides, shouldn't you be directing that rage at Kang Min-Hyuk? You should be jealous. They are having the absolute best time right now on their little date. Hana is practically glowing, blushing up a storm. Haha."
Setting the phone down on the porcelain edge of the sink, Yeonho pulled out his compact to touch up his makeup, noticing his foundation looked a bit washed out under the fluorescent lights.
[You… what the hell are you playing at, Choi Yeonho? What do you actually want? Is this some sick revenge scheme against Hana? And Min-Hyuk… are you targeting him next?]
Yeonho patted a layer of powder over his skin, his voice dripping with casual malice.
"So many questions. I'll answer all of them, but you have to come get me first. My feet are killing me, and I need a ride home. As for Min-Hyuk? Oh, absolutely. He's my next target. Just like I did with you, I'm going to let him ruin me. I'll have him in my bed in no time."
[Choi Yeonho!]
Gyeongjae's roar exploded through the speaker, echoing violently off the restroom tiles.
Yeonho could perfectly picture Gyeongjae's face—flushed, furious, and utterly losing control. The sheer power of it made his blood sing with excitement, remembering the night they slept together.
"Haha! If you don't get here fast, I might just actually do something right now. Hana first, and then Min-Hyuk next!"
[You crazy bastard! I'm on my way right now! Don't you dare move!]
The line went dead, cutting off Gyeongjae's blind rage. Yeonho giggled softly, thoroughly satisfied with the chaos he had just set in motion.
He finished adjusting his makeup, admiring his handiwork in the glass, completely oblivious to the fact that the trap had already sprung.
"Choi Yeonho, so it really is you."
Yeonho froze. His breath hitched, and his eyes went wide with shock as he stared at the reflection in the mirror.
Slowly, dread pooling in his stomach, he turned toward the doorway.
Standing right inside the threshold, watching him with an unreadable expression, was Kang Min-Hyuk.
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