FK 3 [Fortune Killer] - Nevereverland

Chapter 2 (UNEDITED)

Lain felt that the term ‘struck by lightning while sleeping’ is used at times like this. After being dogged by Edan since yesterday afternoon and barely getting off work, he woke up late at night dreaming of growing organic vegetables when he got a phone call. The content of the phone call was simple.

Korean idiom which means something unexpected happens and causes great trouble.

[Come out.]

There was only one word. Ergo, he was confused about the disconnected call and while checking the number, he was surprised to find out that it was Edan's number, and secondly, he was enervated by the fact that it was only 4 a.m. at that time. He was trying to ignore it and just go back to sleep since he thought this was crazy, but he got a call again. And the content of the second phone call was simple.

In Korean, it’s just 나와 (nawa).

[Drive to my villa in 30 minutes. If you late, you’re dead.]

Although he was puzzled by Edan's unilateral attitude of ending the phone call, he quickly checked the time, got up from his bed, washed his face and changed his clothes. If he’s calling at this time, there must be something big going on. Thinking that he finally had a chance to work as a lawyer, he hurriedly dressed up in a suit and left the apartment with his suitcase and car key.

If the incident takes place at 4 a.m., it is highly likely to be drunk driving, drugs, or a collision or assault. He’s dealt with civil cases often, but he’s never tried a criminal case before, and he’s quite excited so he just got on the bumper-crushed Jaguar and drive quickly on the quiet road and arrived in front of Edan's villa.

As he was about to turn his car around to enter the underground parking lot, he saw a man standing on the side of the street in the dark of the dawn, raising his hand and waving it that way. Lain slowed down the car and turned on the car's high beam, and Edan, wearing a comfortable white shirt and jeans was seen under the roadside tree. As he stopped the car in front of him wondering what’s going on, he climbed into the back seat and began to nitpick at him at the same time.  

"It took 32 minutes. Why are you so late? Lazy!"

Despite driving as fast as he could, Lain calmly responded to Edan's uncomplimentary attitude as soon as he saw his face while enduring the rising annoyance.

"…it's a miracle that I come all the way here from my neighbourhood at this time……."

"If I tell you to come in half an hour, then shouldn’t you do so?"

What kind of unreasonableness is this, and while barely pressing the words down his throat, Lain slowly asked him.

"What's going on at this hour? Is there an accident?"

"Go to Fire Island."

"What?"

"Don't you know Long Island?"

"I know that. Why all of a sudden? Is something wrong?”

"I want to see deers.”

"……huh?"

"I want to see deers playing there. Hurry up and go."

If you wanted to see deers then why not go to the zoo instead of Fire Island where he had to drive for more than an hour at dawn, he really wanted to ask that, but before that, he had a more urgent question.

"Wait, excuse me……. Is that why you called me?"

"Then you thought I'd go to a drive-in theatre with you at this hour?"

Of course, it's not like that, but.… he was so nervous thinking about why is he calling a lawyer at 4 a.m., could it be at least a drunken rampage, or worse, drunk driving, but Fire Island...…. and at 4 a.m. too....…. what kind of game is this?

"Why don't you drive yourself?"

There was a pile of cars in the garage, and if you want to go so badly then you should've gone alone. Why did you call me? And when Lain was about to add that, Edan, who was sitting at the back, stares at the rear-view mirror in a very slow motion and smiles as if he feels absurd.

"You want me to do such a menial job?"

Lain began to suspect that this person’s arm might actually be a little impaired. If you can't carry a bag, can’t clean, can’t cook, can’t travel on road and can’t drive, you’re physically disabled. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense that an adult man, or a 33-year-old man, can't do anything. Either his arm is disabled or his brain is disabled.

"Hurry up. We have to arrive before the sun rises."

"Well, I'm sorry…….”

"Stop apologizing and won’t you leave now?"

“Are you unable to drive?”

At that moment, Lain just spewed out the question that popped into his mind. It is ridiculous that a person who even went to France alone can't drive by himself to Fire Island, which is just nearby. There are only two reasons for that. Either Edan Blake is very bad with directions or he can't drive. However, the former is an exception because there is the navigation system, the darling of modern science.

If so, there is only one reason. The only reason why he bothers calling him at this new dawn is that he can't drive. And Lain's prediction was right.

"As I said earlier, why should I do such a trifle? From the moment I was born until now, I am a person who only rides cars driven by others. And I’m never going to hold the steering wheel with my hands again.”

"But isn't it uncomfortable?"

Lain thought it was truly amazing because it was his first time seeing an unlicensed adult in New York. When he sneaks a peek into the rear-view mirror with a face asking how he could not have a license, Edan kicks the back of the driver's seat with his long leg as if he saw the expression.

"Hurry up and go? What if I arrive after sunrise because of you?"

Lain let out a sigh and eventually took his foot off the brake pedal, feeling like he’s going to shoot him alive if he arrive after sunrise. He looked around the deserted street and was about to step on the accelerator, when Edan, who sat leaning against the seat, closed his eyes and added another hateful sentence.

"Wake me up when you arrive."

Fortunately, the sun had yet to rise in Fire Island, and he arrived exactly an hour at dawn since there was no traffic. Lain, who was driving slowly along the coastal road looking at the dark early morning sea, turned on the heater at the sudden drop in temperature as he came near the beach, and searched for a place to pull over.

Located at the end of Long Island, Fire Island was not well known to foreign tourists and thanks to this; it was a well-preserved land in its natural state. Lain had also been here with his friends about twice, but he preferred walking along the Fire Island trail rather than tanning or surfing. Through the wooden streetlights and rich forests, deer can even approach people without fear, almost like a dog. If he thinks about it in a good way, he might say, "Let's enjoy it because we're in Fire Island for the first time in a while," but the problem still remains.  

It takes about half an hour to get to Fire Island by boat. And he knows that there is no boat operating at this time. Are you thinking of swimming at this dawn, Edan Blake, even when it’s past the time people can swim here. He might just call a helicopter and ride it there like in the movie. Don't tell me that you have a private jet and a yacht - because he saw in an article that he took a private helicopter and a yacht to Cannes this year - but you don't have a helicopter. 

Lain, who soon found a parking lot near the dock after touring the dark beach, drove there and parked closest to the dock. He stepped on the brake, pulled up the handbrake switch, and looked back with a stiff grip. Lain, who was about to wake Edan, let out a small sigh unconsciously at his sleeping face as he slept soundly at the back seat in the dark.

Naturally flowing blond hair and sculpted face. With that face, he guessed he would still look nice even if he sleep with his mouth wide open and drooling. That beauty, that wealth, that honour. The idea of who he saved in his previous life and was blessed like that immediately fills his mind. Even if someone studied with a bloody nose, they will end up paying off their debts for the rest of their life, but someone is already a millionaire in their teens, a billionaire in their 20s, and even a world-class star and beauty.

That's why he has such a personality. There is no such thing as a perfect human being.

"When your face is crazy, your personality goes crazy too.”

As soon as Lain mutters that quietly since he was tired after a day of abuse, Edan, who was sleeping quietly with his eyes closed, opens his eyes.

"Who's crazy?"

Lain stopped breathing at the sight of him who opened his eyes so naturally as if he had never slept. What kind of eyes open like a dead body in a horror movie?

"We're almost there."

"I know. I’m asking if you said I was crazy.”

"……because you're so beautiful. That's what people say these days, right? It’s crazy beauty. You're beautiful like crazy."

Edan’s expression somewhat softens as if he liked the words although Lain just bluntly praises him with a face that does not seem like Lain at all, omitting the phrase, ‘your personality is insanely bad.’

"Well, that’s a given. What time is it now?"

"It's 5:30."

At Edan’s question, Lain checked the time on his wristwatch and told him the time roughly, and Edan, who glanced at the digital clock in front of the driver's seat, raises one eyebrow.

"Tell me exactly.”

"……It's 5:32."

“Do you know how important a minute is? Keep your sense of time straight. I hate people who just spill a minute or two.”

How can such a person run to France silently then? And as Lain was about to say that, he decided to accept it because what he said was right.

"I'll be careful."

What a mega picky guy, and as he swallows his words, Lain looks at Edan wondering what he is going to do and the next moment, Edan opens the door of the back seat and steps out.

Lain also opened the car door seeing him get off first and leave. At that moment, a terrible sea breeze blew. The waves in Fire Island are extremely high. And high waves mean strong winds. It’s still in the early autumn but due to the terrible wind, Lain, who was wearing a suit jacket, shrank his shoulders, yet Edan, wearing nothing but a thin shirt and jeans, trudged out of the parking lot as if nothing happened.

"Where are you going?"

It was still dark. Although the dawn is slowly coming, the sparsely lit road with the roadside trees felt very dark and strange.

As he follows Edan in front of him, who is strolling along the beach in the perfect atmosphere for murder and crosses the beach as if nothing were wrong with the terrible sea breeze, walks for a long time until he stands in front of a white building on the beach.

Walking on the sandy beach in his suit and shoes, Lain was irritated by the grains of sand coming into his shoes. He should have told him that they were going to the beach when he called him, so he wouldn't have appeared with a gag outfit that didn't fit this situation.

Lain, who was walking carefully on the sandy beach while staring at Edan Blake, who was handsome even from the back of his head, arrived in front of the establishment when Edan began knocking mercilessly on the door. It was an extraordinarily serene beach, so the sound rang out loudly, and Lain ran to Edan in a sagging posture, feeling resentful.

"What are doing knocking on the door of an establishment that hasn't even opened? There is no way they’ll open the door at this time...….”

….wouldn't they. Despite Edan's cranky cue, a light soon turns on from inside and a shadow looms around looking out through the glass door, and the door was opened with a sigh.

"You have bad taste. Why are you telling me to open the door at this hour?"

When a man with dark brown curly hair and an exceptionally large figure grumbles at him but soon gives way, Edan enters it as if it were natural. 

"I’ve told you on the phone."

"I mean, so what if you call me at 4 a.m. and say, 'I'm coming' and then hang up? Is this your own private restaurant?"

"You have to open it if I want you to."

Lain, who was looking at Edan with a blank face as he went inside and said it righteously, was wondering what kind of magic he was doing. How do you even make the establishment open at this hour?

"Oh, what about you?"

"Yes, nice to meet you. My name is Lain Jang. Edan's new...….”

He’s about to say ‘lawyer,’ but Edan, who entered the establishment, cuts off his word as he pleases.

"Nevermind. Coffee and a simple breakfast, please."

Despite the blunt tone, the man smiled and reached out to Lain as if nothing had happened.

"My name is José Sanchez."

"Nice to meet you."

"You're having a hard time because of Edan, right?”

"Yes."

When Lain speaks like he was exhausted from working one day with him, José smiles brightly.

"Right? I knew it. He can't fix his temper. Go in and sit down. If you came all the way here together, you must have been tired from driving, so get some rest. How would you like your coffee?"

"Espresso, please. I slept for 3 hours and I'm about to die.”

"Yes."

Saying so, the gentle and impressionable man then headed towards the kitchen, turned on the light, and began to rustle. When he disappeared, Lain also walked into the quiet establishment and went to the window where Edan sat and sat opposite Edan.

Perhaps because of the cold weather, he shivered slightly and looked at the sea, and he could see the sun is slowly rising from further away. It's been a long time since he saw the early morning sea, so he was looking at the sea that was slowly turning into a red glow, until he sensed a piercing gaze. Turning his head to the stinging gaze, he could feel Edan, who was sitting right in front of him staring at him.

"Why?"

When Lain asked him back, wondering what was on his face from his intense gaze, he(Edan) slowly leaned forward. Then he(Edan) reaches out his hand.

"Hand."

When Lain reflexively puts his hand on his hand, he smiles. As Lain is mesmerized by the tender smile he sees for the first time, Edan says again, with his blue sea-coloured eyes twinkling.

"The other hand."

Edan's smile brightened up when he lowered the hand on his hand and put the other hand on his hand. He’s just like a child. Of course, he was more mischievous compared to a good-natured kid and he was a bit awkward, but he had a really beautiful face. The kind of beauty that makes you feel better just by looking at it too, and Edan smiles as he holds Lain's hand.   

"You're like a dog.”

With such a bright tone, Lain couldn't think of the meaning of the words so he just smiled and soon ruminated on his words and then his face stiffened slightly.

"……What?"

"You look like a dog. You look like my old Wally that I used to raise."

For a moment, that reminded Lain of an article he saw as a child back then. He figured it was from Live Magazine, and it was a photo of him who is still a teenager smiling brightly while hugging his dog. The caption of the photo was ‘Wally is My Companion for Life’. There was only one reason why he remembered exactly the content of the article, which is already more than a decade old, even though he was not a fan.  

It was because the dog hugged by the angelic, madly handsome man was too ugly. The dog breed was probably a Bulldog.

"I look like that..... your dog?”

"Yes, do you want to see the picture?"

Seeing him suddenly searching through the back pocket of his jeans, Lain looks at him with anticipation just in case.

Wally doesn't necessarily have to be that dog. There could be Wally II or III. And the other dog could be a Siberian Husky or a Labrador Retriever, or at least a Pug. While waiting for his wallet to open, inside his head Lain is hoping for goodness’ sake that the content of the article he saw was wrong, when Edan opens a simple black wallet and pushes a picture in front of Lain and proudly says.  

"Isn't he lovely?"

For a moment Lain thought that this man was picking a fight with him.

How can you stick that picture in front of me and say I look like that dog, and as he was thinking whether he could say that, Lain once again confirmed the breed. Maybe the picture has been swapped.

"……it's a Bulldog…….”

As he gently beat around the bush from saying, ‘You know what this picture is?’ Edan squints and smiles.

"He’s a Bulldog."

"So, it’s truly a Bulldog…….”

"Isn't he pretty?"

“…….”

"He was the ultimate beauty. He has lived his whole life with this face. His personality wasn't honest, but his face was so pretty that he could live comfortably next to me all his life. Dogs are great. Is it possible to make a living on just the face? This guy had an amazing talent for running and pooping. He's so lively and cute."

He doesn’t know if he's being serious or making fun of him, but Edan was serious anyway. He was so serious that he wondered if he was crazy.

"You look like him. If it were someone else, I would have kicked them out, but I let you off because you looked like him." 

Well, in case you didn’t notice, I’m using ‘he/him’ when Edan is talking about his dog since it’s more personal for him but I’ll be using ‘it’ if it’s someone else so I hope you grammar police out there don’t mind this. Besides, there’s no pronoun whatsoever here in Korean. You know, the usual thing.

Rather than being happy, Lain rose to his feet in a tangled mood, pressing down on his pounding head.

"I need to go to the restroom."

"Left wall."

"Thank you."

As Edan Blake kindly informed him of the location of the restroom, Lain, who’s about to go out of his mind hurried to the direction Edan told him with only his cell phone in hand and headed along the long hallway where the restroom sign hung and quickly found the shortcut number on his cell phone and pressed it.

And as he waited for a moment, he heard Ellie's cranky voice.

[What's going on at this hour? I told you I was busy.]

Ignoring Ellie's grumbling that she’s been working 18 hours a day, Lain quickly asked Ellie with his face still in shock.

"Do I look like a Bulldog?"

 

After the question 'Do I look like a Bulldog?' Ellie laughed for exactly five minutes.

In the meantime, he heard something is bumping and falling, so judging from the sound, it seemed that she dropped her cup, spilt on the file and fell off the chair.

[Hey, thank you. I had to appear in court at 7 o'clock, and I slept for two hours and was getting ready, but thanks to you, I’m wide awake.]

"I'm glad it helped. So what do you think? Do I look like a Bulldog?"

[Who said that? You look like a Bulldog?]

"Edan Blake."

[Oh, come to think of it, I think so too.]

"Hey!"

[Edan Blake's imagination is unique. But you do look alike. You know that species right? You look a lot like the ones with protruding eyes.]

"Then he can just go with a Pug. Pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, how many are there? It's not like I’m asking for Pekingese or Shih Tzu. I just want him to see me at least as a Pug. Why does it have to be a Bulldog?”

[Maybe that's what you look like to him. But hey, it's a hit. Bulldog. Though you’re too pretty for a Bulldog?]

"Right? I'm pretty, right? I’m not ugly, am I?”

[You’re pretty. The problem is that you're annoyingly pretty.]

At Ellie's straightforward statement, Lain gasped.

"Am I the annoying type of person?”

Although there were friends who he didn't get along well with and they talked to each other sometimes - mostly cheerleaders and popular people at school - he was good with most of them, so Lain wondered if that’s why they cut him off first and when he asked timidly, Ellie clicked her tongue. 

[……You're so annoying with this attitude. I’m saying your facial features are so pretty. Not handsome like a man, but pretty. That's why I'm annoyed. Why is your face smaller than mine?]

"Oh, is that so? I don't have an annoying personality, do I?"

[You’re annoying at times like this. Anyway, Bulldog is too much so ask him to change it to a Pug. Bulldog was really awful.]

"Right? You think so too, don't you?"

"Yes, Pug."

"Alright, Pug. Thank you."

[What? I'm wide awake thanks to you. But are you with Edan Blake at this hour?]

"……There are circumstances deeper than the sea. Anyway, let's talk on the phone later. Good luck with your trial."

[Okay. You too, fighting.] 

Korean version of ganbatte. I think you already know this.

"Yes."

After the brief phone call, Lain sighed as if relieved and washed his hands in the restroom. Lain, who had just washed his hands in cold water and raised his head, was frightened to see his face reflected in the washbasin mirror.

Why do I see a Bulldog in the mirror?

 

"Why are you so late?”

Edan mercilessly attacked Lain, who returned almost 10 minutes later including after hearing Ellie's resounding laughter. In response to the grumbling voice, Lain, without saying a word, sat on his seat where a cup of espresso was placed, looked at Edan in front of him, and began suggesting in a polite manner.

"Let's go with Pug."

"What?"

"Let's settle with Pug instead of Bulldog."

At first, Edan, who was wondering what this was about, soon understood the meaning of the word, folded his arms and asked back with a slightly unpleasant face.

"Why?"

"Bulldog is a bit harsh.”

"What?"

"……It’s so ugly."

When Lain candidly argues that his own face doesn’t look that bad, Edan's eyes sink coldly. As Lain secretly looks at him who seems to be very displeased, Edan asks again in a low voice after a while.

"Are you insulting Wally?"

"I'm not insulting it, I'm asking you to respect my position. Let's go with Pug."

"Bulldog."

"Pug."

"Bulldog."

When he(Edan) looked into his eyes as if saying ‘Either you're a Bulldog or die,’ Lain fell into confusion as to why he had to engage in a meaningless Bulldog-Pug dispute with this man. What does it matter if he's a Bulldog or a Pug when he doesn't even have to be his pet. Yeah, it doesn't matter. It’s the same difference anyway. What does it matter even if he's not going to call himself a Bulldog. But...  

"Then let’s mix it."

When Lain took a step back and offered a final concession, Edan, who still had a disapproving face, accepted the compromise as if he was exhausted.

"All right, mix."

"That's what you agreed on?"

"What did you come to terms with?”

While the two continued their useless conversation, José stepped forward with two plates in hand and served them.

It was a simple menu on a simple plate with scrambled eggs, two slices of baguettes and fruits, and pancakes, but the smell was just right. When Lain holds a fork with his eyes sparkling at the appetizing smell and pretty appearance, José gently talks to Lain.

"I made it according to Edan's taste so the seasoning may be a little weak."

"It's okay. I'm not a fan of salty, sweet and greasy food.”

Moderately puffy yellow pancakes, scrambled eggs that are not very greasy and baguettes and fruits. It was Lain's most ideal dream breakfast.

"That's a relief. Eddie doesn't like sweet, salty and greasy food either.”

"Yes, organic."

When Lain smiles as though he was sick and tired of the organic talk and feeling like he had been almost brainwashed by Jerry yesterday afternoon, José chuckled and replied the same as if he understood. 

"Yes, organic." 

"I'm sorry for showing up so early in the morning. It's not even open yet."

"It's okay, this is actually Eddie's. Feel free to drop by and call me anytime. I'll come out even if it’s 3 a.m.”

"Oh, Edan is the owner of the establishment?”

"You can say that. Edan opened this establishment for me.”

When José pointed at Edan with his hand, Edan grumbled while drinking his coffee.

"Aren’t you too talkative today?”

"Haha, that's just how this guy talks. Have you met my mother? Oh, Melissa Sanchez is my mother.”

"Oh, I couldn’t greet her yet. I've been working since just yesterday."

"I see. At one point, I was kind of lost and used to go in and out of prison too, but this guy set up this establishment, so I'm doing my best with this business. Come and call me whenever you want. I'll make you your favourite.”

When Lain’s eyes glitter at the thought of an establishment he can frequent to, Edan, who looks around José and Lain, asks José as if he were talking nonsense.

"With whose permission?"

"As I please."

"You said this is my establishment. Why would you accept anyone as a guest in my establishment? Did you receive all the customers like that so far?”

Fighting with Edan is useless, and José shrugs his shoulders.

"That's not true. But you like him.”

"This guy? Who said that?"

"No? He's the only one you brought to our establishment except for Jerry and Alex."

"That's because of circumstances. There’s no way I could drive here.”

"Huh? Why?"

"Jerry went to LA for a while today. He has something to do."

"Really?"

Lain tilted his head at the conversation between the two.

He definitely heard that Jerry is going for a medical check-up, so did he go to LA for a medical check-up? Lain, who was eating pancakes while alternating between the two, stopped moving with his mouth open at Edan's gaze when he was about to put the pancakes in his mouth. Edan, who was looking at him, gave him a word of permission a moment later.

"Eat."

When Lain puts the pancake straight into his mouth like a dog who was waiting for its owner's words, Edan looks excited and smiles satisfactorily. As soon as Lain tilts his head at the relaxed-looking smile, Edan mutters quietly at that instant.

"Sure enough, you look like Wally."

When he heard that, the word ‘f*ckin’ bastard’ instantly hovered around Lain's mouth. 

Ssibalnom… This is how you curse a male in Korean. Ssibalnyeon is for female. You can say that ssibal is the standard curse word for Korean. Honestly the exact meaning for the curses doesn’t really matter coz when you curse you just curse, right? So, ‘f*ckin bastard’ underlined there could be son of a b*tch, f*ck you and etc but I’m just using the nearest meaning. More later. I’ve never read so much cursing except in this novel. At least now you know if someone curses you in Korean hahah.

 

"Let's go."

Edan, who stood up as soon as he finished his meal just like someone who get up from their seat when they had finished their business, trudged across the establishment first, leaving behind only the words ‘let's go’ this time. When José told him to be careful on his way as he left without saying goodbye, he just waved his hand without looking back. Lain, who had a slightly unhappy face as he’s in a dire need of sleep, hurriedly got up, said thank you to José for the food, and hurriedly followed Edan.

When they came out of the establishment, the sun had already risen. While Lain was admiring the distant view of the sea, Edan was walking fast toward the parking lot where the car was parked. As Lain ran after him, Edan, who crossed the white sandy beach and went to the front of the car, gestures with his chin as if asking him to open the car door.

"Aren't you going to ride a boat?"

When Lain asks, wondering why he suddenly wants to get into the car when he wants to see the deer on Fire Island, Edan glances at Lain.

"Who said I’m getting on the boat?"

"Didn’t you say you're going to Fire Island?"

"I'm not going."

"Why?"

"I've changed my mind. I want to go home and sleep."

Then why the hell are you waking me up at dawn? And when he’s thinking of saying that, Edan makes a gesture with his chin once again.

At the signal to hurry up and open the car door, Lain, who took the car key out of his pocket and unlocked it, got on the driver's seat with a very dissatisfied face. Edan, who got on the back seat before anything else, leaned comfortably and sat with his long legs stretched out.

"Play the radio."

".....Yes."

When he turned on the radio after starting the engine, a deafening sound of music erupted from the radio. Lain earnestly felt a deep sentiment for the rap lyrics that seemed to desperately sound like "I'm on a boat."

I should learn how to rap starting tomorrow.

 

It took an hour to get there, but it took about an hour and 40 minutes to come back because it happened to be the time for rush hour. Lain, who drove for about three hours of round trip while being deprived of proper sleep, began rubbing his eyes as he took the elevator up to the villa. Arriving inside the quiet villa accompanied by a chime, the two soon walked inward. While Lain was hesitating about what to do now, Edan decisively settle on what Lain should do.

"Do some housekeeping first. Except for my room. And change the sheets in my room."

With that said, Lain dropped his shoulders as he watched Edan flop himself in the parlour. To tell the truth, there was something he wanted to tell Edan since yesterday. However, he couldn't do it because he missed the right timing to talk, but now he feels like he had to do it.

"……Well, I've been meaning to say this since yesterday.”

Edan, who sits on the sofa and turns on the TV, doesn't even turn his eyes as he asks Lain back.

"What?"

"I'm not a housekeeper."

"So what?"

"I'm not a driver either."

"And then?"

And so Lain gave up everything at the way he’s speaking which seemed to be the problem in the first place. He has to do it anyway if he tells him to, is there any other choice?

"……What drink can I get for you?"

"Orange juice. With what is bought today. And organic."

Pushing down on the word ‘f*cking organic,’ Lain made an offer to him in a soft voice, recalling that he hadn't gone grocery shopping yet today.

"Just eat what you have. I didn't go grocery shopping yet.”

When Lain’s tone became somewhat harsh due to Edan's attitude that tends to make the impossible possible, Edan slowly looks back at Lain.

"……What did you say?"

"Whether I bought it yesterday, or I bought it today, fruit is fruit. Organic or not, fruit is fruit."

"So what?"

"I haven't gone grocery shopping today, so I have no choice but to make it with what I bought yesterday. If you're going to care so much about the freshness, then just do an organic farm instead.”

Consumer's taste is important, but what doesn’t work is important too, so when Lain pinpoints what cannot be done in the future, Edan smiles at Lain.

Looking at his face with a somewhat evil vibe makes Lain feel a little prickly, but what cannot be done, cannot be done. He can't go out to the supermarket again just to make that fresh organic juice. Above all, it was such a waste of the things piled up in the refrigerator.

“Really? You want me to do a farm?”

"I mean, that's the way to put it in a roundabout manner. How can someone who is so concerned about freshness buy and eat fruits from a supermarket? And in fact, you can't just believe that it's organic without seeing it for yourself."

When Lain retorted by citing conspiracy theories as though this was the only thing he could do, Edan’s eyes narrowed thinly. Then he raises the corner of his mouth and smiles brightly.

"That's a good idea."

"Right?"

I'm glad it got through to him, and as Lain tries to cheer, Edan turns off the TV and stands up.

"Let's go out."

"What? Now?"

"Yes."

As soon as they got here now he wants to leave again, and Lain looked at Edan with a face that he didn't like a little bit. He’s sick of driving now. Jerry said yesterday that he was a little unpredictable, but this is not a little, but very unpredictable. How can a human being be so unplanned and just do what he wants to do whenever he wants to.

"Where are you going again?"

"To buy soil."

"What?"

"The soil, and I need to buy a shovel too. And oh, saplings too, right?”

"What?"

"You told me to do an organic farm?"

"Where?"

"It can be done on the flowerbed."

"Flowerbed?"

When Lain asks back, Edan points his chin toward the veranda. Over there, there was a splendid garden with good landscaping laid out.

"Whoa….”

"It’s going to be planted over there.”

Doing organic farming is okay if there is land and money.

With the eat-well-and-live-well culture booms, there are many people who buy organic food at almost two to three times the price, and these days, it has become a trend to intentionally buy land from afar and do organic farming.  

If you have a garden of that size in your house, it is also good to grow organic vegetables yourself at home. The question is, will this human being named Edan Blake, dig the ground and plant saplings when he considered driving a burden? For a moment, Lain felt a chill coming up his spine. He had a very bad feeling. At the terrifying and giddying sensation, Lain slowly raised his right hand and asked Edan.

"I'm sorry, but I want to ask you one question. The farming, who’s going to do it?”

When asked by Lain, who was trembling with anxiety, Edan showed his white teeth and smiled very brightly. Then he came up to Lain and tapped Lain on the shoulder for the first time since meeting him.

"Of course, you have to do it."

 

Lain, who returned to the villa after stopping by the market to order fertilizer-mixed soil, saplings, and various seeds, was sitting on a flowerbed next to the veranda digging the ground exactly an hour later.

”<You f*cking jerk. Son of a b*tch. Organic farming bastard.>” 

From now on I’m going to use these symbols whenever the dialogue is spoken in Korean. I haven’t added this yet in the Prologue since there are just 2 of them and it’s pretty obvious. Anyway, make sure you look out for these symbols next time okay.

While hoeing and huffing, Lain did not forget to spit out all the swear words he knew at the same time.

"I’ve had suspicions that it was weird. You said your salary is too high, right? I knew this would happen. But how come I have to farm? Huh? Why me?"

While hoeing and grumbling with a feeling of self-doubt about himself, Lain quickly pulled out all the flowers in the brightly managed garden as if they were planted by a landscaper and looked around the flowerbed.

"<Son of a b*tch! I'm gonna kill you. Eat the organic farm products and die! You're worse than Edward Clark!>”

"<Son of a b*tch?>”

At any rate, Lain, who was pouring all kinds of curses in Korean since Edan was inside the villa, stiffened with the hoe in his hand at the sudden voice coming from behind him. Slowly, stiffly, and turning around very unhurriedly, Lain quickly wrack his brain when he saw Edan in a comfortable T-shirt and sweatpants.    

Perhaps because he is an actor, his ability to memorize when he listened to it just once was very good. The pronunciation was so accurate that he wondered if this person knew Korean. Or maybe, he didn’t really know, and while looking at Edan's face, Lain was palpitating at the thought of it. He sometimes curses at him in his in-born language when he’s not around, but that's because the other person cannot discern it. Even if you learn the language from all over the country, you shouldn't curse where your curse target is. You can get beaten up if something goes wrong.

In a movie that Edan Blake filmed 4 years ago, he even lost 10 kilos to play the role of an unknown boxer and he actually learned boxing for 6 months that he even won an amateur boxing competition, which speaks that Edan had enough skills to beat him. So, he doesn’t really care about Edan, but strangely Lain knew all about Edan's profile very well.

"What's that? <Son of a b*tch?>"

It was only then that Lain was relieved to hear Edan ask that. As expected, Edan doesn't know Korean. It was a good thing. Lain, who hesitated for a moment, slowly organized his hair. There is no need to aggravate the situation by telling the truth. All is well that ends well. 

Ssibalsaekki….. which is ssibal + saekki. So ssibal means f*cker or f*ckin’ and etc and saekki is an offspring or a young of an animal, but actually, here it means bastard. This makes ssibalsaekki = son of a b*tch but some say it as madafaka. Anyway, standalone it could mean something else and combined would be something else. Hope u geddit. Apparently, making sense of the curse is quite challenging.

"In Korea, people say that when they see a very handsome man. A person who’s extremely handsome.”

"Handsome guy?"

"Yes. <F*cker> is an adjective like handsome, cool, gorgeous! <Bastard> is a noun that refers to an adult man. In English, it means man."

It's ridiculous actually, and when he managed to explain it with plausible words, Edan furrows his brows as if he feels a little strange.

"I think it's a curse……….”

"What do you mean a curse? It's used by young people in Korea. <D*ck,> <f*cker,> and <sh*tty> are all popular words among young Koreans.

"What's <d*ck>?"

"It means very good. The best!"

"What about <sh*tty>?”

"It means you're super sexy."

"Hmm. That's weird.….”

Edan still seem suspicious as he didn’t forget to keep his eyes on him. He seemed to have sensed that the tone of the words was not very good.

"Then, when I want to say ‘hey, buddy,’ do I say, <Hey, bastard>?"

"Of course."

"To say that looks ‘dashing,’ can I say it's <sh*tty>?”

"Yes, you have good language skills. You’re such a <f*cker>!”

"Then I'm a <sh*tty> man."

Looking at Edan with a big smile, Lain barely managed to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out.

"Yes, you’re a very <sh*tty bastard.>"

For a moment, he felt like his heart which was tightly blocked while hoeing just now was finally opened. Suddenly feeling better as if he’s walking on air, the smile on Lain’s face looked very pleasant. Edan also smiles softly at the smiling face that looks just like a child with a round face and big eyes and replies to him.

"As expected, you look like Wally."

At that moment, Lain's forehead was very subtly turned bloodshot. Damn organic farming and Wally. Holding back the rising anger, Lain forced himself to smile. It was at this moment that he desperately considered those flowers which were horribly pulled out today as Edan Blake, and that he felt he should trample on them like he was stepping on barley so as to not leave any trace behind. 

Just some trivia. Stepping on barley is a Korean custom once upon a time and typically done in winter to prevent overgrowth of the above-ground part before winter so that the seedlings do not sprout and take root well and to promote tillering after winter.

 

By 2 p.m., his whole body was soaking wet. Sitting on the flowerbed with only a shirt on, Lain, who was mixing the fertilizer-mixed soil with the original soil of the flower garden, glanced slightly toward the parlour with dripping sweat. 

There was only one glass window between them, but the man beyond that glass window was sitting on the sofa and leisurely sipping his coffee while resting his legs on the table as he look this way. When Lain looked at him frustratingly at the unfair situation, Edan, who was staring at him while enjoying the air conditioner breeze blowing from the ceiling, waves his hand as if telling him to continue his job.  

"Excuse me."

Lain tried to ask if he could open the window and let the air conditioner breeze blow to this side too, but the closed window made it seems like the voice couldn’t be heard on that side. So when he left the hoe he was holding and opened the door with his gloved hands, a cold breeze blew into the hot outer veranda.

Unlike the scorching veranda, the fresh and cool air inside the parlour made Lain inhale a long breath as if he wanted to live there. But Edan, looking dissatisfied with his appearance, hurriedly waved his hand as if asking him to close the door.

"It's hot. Close the door."

"……I'm hot too. Can't you leave the door open?"

"No, I can't."

"Why? It doesn't matter anyway."

It's not like the air conditioner works twice as well just because the air conditioner only blows in this space, so let's share it, and Lain pleaded with him along these lines, but Edan rejected the remark at once.  

"The dirt will scatter. And the smell of manure will come in."

You’re making me hoe under the scorching sun when it’s not even my job, and does it make sense for you to wave your hand and enjoy the air conditioning inside when you bastard are the one who’s going to eat it, and Lain wanted to protest, but...… he held back because he thought that he might open the window even slightly to the outside.

"I'm the one who’s going to do the housekeeping anyway. I'll clean it up, so let's open it."

"It’s not possible because of the smell of manure. And when the dirt scatters, it sticks to my clothes. It might even stick to the skin."

When Edan had the audacity to ask back, “Do you know how bad it feels to have grains of dirt stick to your body?” Lain could not stand it anymore and began to get angry.

"Do you know how hot it is out here? It’s really hot, and hot to death! How horrible the autumn sun is!"

"It is horrible. That's why I'm not going over there.”

"So please open the door."

"UV rays will come in."

My skin is expensive, and in response to Edan's ignorant remark, Lain clenched his teeth hard and pointed out exactly what he was wrong about.

"Even with the door closed, UV rays pass through the windows anyway?”

When Lain asked again wondering if he (Edan) thinks UV rays fly in together with the wind, Edan blinks as if he was surprised.

"What? Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, that's a big deal. UV rays are the enemy of skin aging...….”

Edan, who was muttering seriously, soon nodded as if he was convinced.

"Then it can’t be helped."

Edan, who was looking around, then held the remote control next to him and pressed a button.

Do you still feel like watching TV in this circumstance? As soon as Lain tried to shout that, the intensity of the sun, which was blazing as if to kill people, suddenly weakened.

As the heat, which had been stinging at the back of his neck faded away, Lain looked back in a strange mood. And the moment he looked back, Lain opened his mouth wide in surprise. The outer windows, which were transparent until just now, had changed to a translucent state.

"Whoa."

While Lain was looking around the outer windows connected to the flowerbed that has turned into milky white windows, Edan asks Lain again.

"Does it still coming in if it’s like that?”

"……I don't know."

As Lain hesitates, Edan murmurs quietly, worrying whether it can pass through the translucent windows or not, and presses the button again.

"Maybe I should tint it.”

How are you going to do the tinting? The moment he tried to say that, something like film slip down on it and the milky white windows turn black in an instant. And at the same time, the light disappeared. As if the sky is covered by a black cloud, Edan with obscured face presses another button from inside, and bright lights pour into the parlour. This was a system he’s never seen before.

"What's this?"

When Lain asks, pointing to the window with a surprised look, Edan smiles proudly as if what he just did was nothing to be surprised about.

"Electronic shading."

You envy me, don't you? As soon as Edan said that, Lain almost cursed him. If there's something like this, you should’ve done it sooner; instead of only letting it down because you're afraid of your skin getting burned when you heard of UV rays.

"It's really a <sh*tty> window."

"Right? Now, close the door."

"The UV doesn't even come in, so let's leave it open."

"No. Close it."

At the sight of him being grumpy and smiling with a pretty face while telling him to close it, Lain endure it as he came closer like he wanted to close it, then abruptly turned around. When he turned his back and grabbed the hoe again with the attitude of ‘I have nothing to regret, so take care of it yourself,’ Edan's voice, which was still grumpy, can be heard from behind.

"You won't close it?"

“…….”

"Are you sure you don't want to close it?”

"I’m working now. If you want it closed, close it yourself."

Heat melts the brain, and excessive exposure to the sun can drive people crazy. Worn out by the heat and vexation, Lain decided to go for broke and just said “Walk up and close it yourself,” and started to focus on hoeing again after spitting out the words.

As he was waiting while thinking of making Edan walk over after saying, "Walk up and close it yourself," he heard a gentle sound of the door closing from behind. He couldn't feel any signs of a person around, so he hurriedly looked back and Edan, sitting far away in the parlour, smiles and shakes the remote control. It appears that the windows in this villa can be closed with the remote control.

"Goddamn fully automatic system."

While pledging that as soon as he goes to work tomorrow, he’ll take out the battery of that remote control first, Lain again reached out and tried to open the door. However, no matter how hard he tried, unfortunately, the door wouldn't open.

"What's this?"

Are you intending to lock me up here from the outset? When Lain looked at him as if protesting, Edan, who was waving the remote control and laughing, presses something again. At that moment, the interior window between them also turned translucent milky.

The outer windows with black film on the back and the translucent inner window at the front. Trapped in a garden with an enclosed outer veranda, Lain muttered quietly.

"Sh*tty Edan bastard."

Now he could understand what ‘unpredictable’ Jerry spoke of as if he was spilling the beans yesterday. But, no matter how grumpy he is, this is too much. There are many other ways to bully people. At that moment, Lain looked down at his hand holding a hoe with gloves on. And as soon as he saw his sweaty face with muddy pants reflected on the black film covering the outer windows, he felt an intense confusion of identity that he had never felt before since he come to the United States. 

"Who am I…….”

He was definitely a lawyer, but now he looks like a farmer, and when he looks back at what happened this morning, he looks like a driver, he looks like a housekeeper, and he is ambiguous. It felt like he had a clear idea of who he was and what he was doing all his life, but now he’s not.

Who are you...….

Lain, who was vaguely reflecting on himself in repeat, suddenly looked back at the sound of tapping on the inner window. At that moment, Edan was seen smiling brightly while standing at the door. Then he pushes the window open and calls Lain with a smile.

"Wally, I'm hungry."

 

"Why the hell am I so good at planting saplings! Why! Am I so good at sowing seeds!"

Lain, who utilizes his experience of working part-time in a farm during college to dig the ground and sow seeds at a terrifying speed, was in the car on his way home, professing, "I must be crazy to actually do everything he told me to do."

He felt like he wanted to get his nose stuck in the water in the plate if he could. What kind of glory did you want to achieve by mixing fertilizer and planting seeds with all your might? Plus, you even do such a great job by planting them at a very precise interval. 

This is usually used for a situation in which one is desperate and frustrated or a metaphor for a terrible situation in which one will die by poking his nose in the water in a plate. In this case, Lain wished he could die by the latter because of the former.

"Someone like me should just die.”

Lain, who had been repeating, "I'm such a moron," looked down at his cursed hands and shouted once again.

"Why are my hands so good at farming!"

If you're going to be like this, you'd better go to a quiet and secluded area and live there by farming corn, why did you graduate from law school with that terrifying tuition fees?

"I'm going crazy.”

At this rate, he could receive $1,000,000 in annual salary, not $500,000.

If he had known Edan Blake’s temper would be like that, it’s not wrong to mention a million to Alex and Lain was desperately regretting it. To come across such a dark street, Lain was plagued by self-deprecation and self-hatred. 

I think the idiom that was used here was modified by the author so the meaning slightly changes. And I guess it means to land yourself a shady job.

It was one instant to blame himself once again for doing whatever the hell that man told him to do, but the biggest problem is the fact that he has overflowing nerves of a slave. As the traffic light changed and he stepped on the brake and waited, a ringtone rang from somewhere.

At the unfamiliar ringtone, Lain, who first looked for his cell phone, soon realized that it was not his cell phone but the ringtone of the PDA and hurriedly picked up the PDA. 

"Yes, Lain Jang here."

[Isn't this Alex's PDA?]

"Oh, I’ve been asked by Alex to take the call on his behalf for the time being. Who is this?"

[Oh, I see. My name is Jessica Holt. I'm an affiliate of CBN drama. There’s no response from Edan yet, and I haven't been able to get through to Alex.]

"I'm not sure what he thinks about that.”

[Did Alex give you any instructions?]

Come to think of it, I think he said if I get a call from the agency through this PDA, he told me to tell the agency to accept it no matter what. And I remembered he said to ask them to send the screenplay later.

"I think Alex asked for the screenplay to be sent to him(Edan) because he(Edan) would definitely do it. I'm not sure about anything else."

[That's what Alex thinks. Those people(We) want Edan Blake's answer.]

"I'm not with him right now, so I don't know.”

No matter what Alex's instructions were, it's not something he should answer instead, so when Lain sneakily avoids answering, the woman beyond the phone sighs for a long time.

[He’s really giving me a hard time in many ways. Then, let's do this. I’ll go there and bring the screenplay tomorrow. How about around 11 a.m.?]

"I don't think there's anything scheduled at that time."

[Then let's do that. I'll see you tomorrow.]

"Yes, of course."

Somehow Lain was a little nervous at the cold, blunt voice of the woman and hurried to end the call. She was controlling her emotions well, but she sounded like she was very angry as she clenches her teeth. Well, if you’re working with him, your teeth might have been broken and you might already be wearing dentures.

Anyway, this is why you cannot get involved with rich and handsome people. People with overly good faces must have problems with their heads. That’s why Edan Blake or...….

"Edward Clark."

…...are so alike.

When he saw the traffic light change, Lain took his foot off the brake and the name, which springs back to his mind, made him sigh for a long time. In fact, he accepted Alex's sudden offer was because he knew it would be impossible for him to work at a New York law firm for the time being. A personal relationship with a client is not the problem here.

So exactly two days ago, he throws the ring on Edward Clark's face immediately after he was fired, and he clearly remembers what Edward Clark whispered in his ear as he passed by.

- You're the first one to throw stuff at me. So….. -

Until he said that, that bastard really had a crush on him, so he kept his mouth shut with the goosebumps that covered his whole body when he asked him to get married. But the words that followed were more horrifying than he imagined.

- I'll make sure to crush you for good, miserably, perfectly, Honey. -

"Please, get these wandering psychos out of this city! What the hell are the authorities doing? Letting them walk around normally like that!"

He’s worse than a serial killer, raged Lain after saying that. Of course, no amount of Edward Clark would be able to stop him from getting a job at a law firm in New York City. A small law firm is good enough to settle in. Or setting up an office himself is also one way.

However, with Edward Clark's influence, the office is doomed in no time. He’s the type of person with carp-level memory where he forgets things as soon as he turned around – unless it’s about money – so he just hopes to forget about it in a month.

"I hate handsome and rich men very much.”

Grinding his teeth at the two human beings who immediately came to mind, Lain smoothly turned the steering wheel and headed for his apartment. Now there is no more anxiety that the house will catch on fire or that natural disasters will sweep through New York. Thanks to Edan, his dramatics of being suspicious as if it’s a disease has faded away.  

Essentially, the human being named Edan Blake is already a disaster for himself. He can be assured that he will suffer no worse disaster than him in his life. Indeed, he was a disaster worth exactly $500,000.  

"911, no, he’s worse than Katrina." 

911 is actually 119. I’ve explained this before but I’m keeping it as 911 because the setting of the novel is in the US okay. And what Lain meant by 911 is that Edan is the kind of disaster that will make him dial 911, I guess. And Katrina refers to Hurricane Katrina, August 2005.

He couldn't afford to worry about how he would be toiled around tomorrow. Forget about showering, he just want to go straight to bed as soon as he got home since he was aching and sore all over. Lain, who slowly pulled into the apartment parking lot, dragged his heavy body with his briefcase in hand and climbed into the elevator.  

Waking up just after three hours of sleep, driving back and forth for three hours, bending his back under the scorching sun in the afternoon and working all day, now his muscles all over his body made him wants to scream in pain. If he knew this would happen, he should have exercised a little, but it's too late to regret it. His shoulders, arms, and thighs were all stiff, making it difficult to even take a step forward. 

Lain, who was groaning against the elevator wall, finally arrived on the floor where his apartment was and got off the elevator, dragging his leg. Then, as he walked slowly, he saw a woman slumped with her back stuck in front of the door of his apartment.

"Ellie?"

Lain, who recognized the woman in a silver high-end suit with long brown hair tied neatly, called her name, and Ellie, who was sitting on the floor looking at the documents, stands up and greets him.

"What the... uh... why are you looking like that?"

Ellie, who was about to smile and wave, looked up and down at Lain with a stunned face. Waving his hand with a face that says it was tiresome to talk, Lain approached her side and opened the door. Without telling her to come in, she trudges into the living room and turns on the lights when he collapsed on the sofa with a thud, and Ellie hurriedly approached Lain, showing her unusually worried face.

"Lain, you have to be honest.”

"What?"

"You're lying about working with Edan Blake, aren't you?"

As Lain looks up at Ellie with a tired face, wondering what kind of nonsense she’s saying, she nods her head with a look of understanding, expectantly.

"Tell me the truth. Where are you working? A construction site? Or a garden? Or do you work at some kind of farm in the suburbs?”

Ellie continued to question Lain to tell the truth, as she could not believe it when she saw Lain who looks shabby like rags in just one day. At her tone, as if a prosecutor interrogating a criminal pretending to be innocent after the murder to confess the truth, Lain muttered with a desperate face like a man who was framed as a murderer.

"……I'd rather do that instead."

"Then what is it?"

"I really am working with Edan Blake."

He did some odd jobs, but he’s certain that he’s working with Edan Blake. However, when Ellie looked at Lain’s face who seems out of it, she shook her head as if she couldn't believe him.

"Lain, you don't have to do that with me. You and I are like sisters.”

"Brother and sister, please."

"Sisters."

"……anyway, it’s true."

"But what's wrong with you? Your clothes are covered in dirt and your face is tanned. And you reek of sweat. What happened?"

Ellie was sharp as expected. Lain had been asking himself the same thing all afternoon. What on earth was I doing wearing a luxurious suit but digging the ground with a hoe in my hand? Why am I doing this here?

Lain, who had been recalling the question that had plagued him throughout the afternoon, decided to ask Ellie, who was cold-hearted, realistic, and ruthless, yet clearer than anyone else about his identity.

"Ellie, what do I do for a living?"

"What do you mean, you’re a lawyer?"

So you’re a lawyer, and when asked by her, Lain recited quietly in a feeble voice.

"Right..... I’m a lawyer."

"But why did you ask that all of a sudden?"

"I suddenly feel like I'm a housekeeper, gardener, farmer and driver.”

"……What?"

"And I might shoot a drama in a few days.”

"What?"

"Edan Break."

I want to break free from him, Lain added, and then Ellie relaxes her stiff face and smiles cynically.

"You still have a mood to crack a joke, so I guess you’re fine. But what have you been doing all day today that you’ve become a rag like this?”

"It's a long story."

"Tell me even if it’s long. What did you do?"

"I woke up at 4 a.m., picked up Edan and went to Fire Island then came back at about 11 a.m. and after that bought some soil, saplings, and seeds and returned to the villa, and started digging up all the villa's gardens at 1 p.m. and sowed them at 4 p.m. And it wasn't until 6 p.m. that I finished everything and Edan was sleeping, so I just roughly fixed something to eat with what was in the fridge and then returned home."

When Lain explained just the main story of what happened today skipping out the small things, Ellie, who was listening to the explanation, cut Lain's words as if it was a headache.

"Wait, why would you do that?"

"Edan told me to do it."

"So why are you doing it?"

"There's no one home right now. No bodyguard, no manager, no driver, no housekeeper."

There is no one, the world has gone, Hallelujah, and as Lain mumbles that while looking into the air with a blank face, Ellie slaps Lain on his back.

"You idiot! Are you telling me you had no choice but to do that?"

"It hurts!"

"You’re such an idiot for doing whatever people order you to. Who's to blame?"

When her fierce hand hit his back so hard to the point it makes a clapping sound again, Lain twisted his body and began to whine in pain.

"I know."

"But why did you do it? Are you a lawyer, or a housekeeper?"

"So...."

I don't know why I'm doing it either, Lain retorted to himself. He didn't do it because he wanted to. To tell the truth, he really doesn’t want to do it. Who would want to do such a thing? But although he doesn’t want to, his body is already doing it. And when he does something like that, his heart will feel relieved, so where does this dilemma come from?

"Huh, what kind of idiot is this?”

"Don't be too hard on me...….”

"This is truly ridiculous. I came here for a second because I was worried, but you're living well by doing stupid things.”

"You said it too. It's going to be okay even if I’m treated like an all-weather person...….” 

Someone who can follow orders and be ordered. Like slave. Sounds harsh right. *Pats Lain.

"Are you happy about that? Is it good to dig, sow, cook and clean?"

"……Actually, I feel comfortable."

In response to Lain's overly honest answer, Ellie shakes her head and clicks her tongue.

"Really, is this stupid or naive?"

"Tell me I’m naive. Oh, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep—I'm hurt all over."

"Even if you want to go to sleep, take a shower first and then sleep.”

"It's troublesome."

At Ellie who was nagging like a mother, Lain waved his hand as if he couldn’t be bothered to do that and lay down on the sofa. Ellie sighs at the sight.

"Then go to bed and sleep. I have to go now anyway. I have a meeting."

I'm going to be late, murmured Ellie, who checked the time on her watch and hurriedly packed her bag and documents.

He felt sorry for her who came and went into the house and couldn't even sit down, but Lain didn't even have the energy to move now.

"I won't see you out."

"Okay, just crawl into bed."

"Later."

"I'm really worried. Who's going to take this to be the truth?"

As she lamented on her way to the door with her crackling shoe heels, Lain laughed and replied.

"You can take it.”

"Have you gone crazy? I'm tired of being friends with you. I'm leaving. Make sure you go to bed and sleep."

"Yes."

As soon as he raised his hand to wave her goodbye while lying on the sofa, he heard the door opening and closing, and then the sound of her footsteps become distant. Again, there was silence in the house as he was left alone. Lain slowly closed his eyes in the overly quiet atmosphere.

For now, he just wanted to catch some sleep.

That night, Lain dreamed of becoming a Bulldog and running around the organic farm. And in the dream, Edan was smiling brightly at him while shouting.

It was, "<F*cker, d*ck sh*tty Bulldog bastard.>"

Honestly idk what that last curse was supposed to be like since it was jumbled up (they are the curses which Lain messes around with Edan earlier) and I can't wrap my head around it so I'll fix it later. If necessary. From Edan's POV, it could be "Beauty, you're the sexiest Bulldog baby." Or something. Hahah.

So, idk y this chapter was auto-updated when I just uploaded the teaser. I mean, I haven’t tagged this chapter yet but NU could sniff this chapter already last 2/3 weeks ago. Did I understand something wrong abt the NU auto-update function? But it doesn’t rly matter I guess. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the full chapter.

See ya. Next month I guess. Peace yaw.