FK 4 [Fortune Killer] - Nevereverland

Chapter 3 (UNEDITED)

After a good night's sleep, his muscle pain was gone to a great extent. Lain, who came to work in a much better condition than when he left work yesterday, made up his mind today and was now pushing Edan's villa door open with only a comfortable T-shirt and jeans on. Although he only went to work for two days, he realized with his whole being that casual clothes were much more comfortable to work with Edan than suits.  

With his shoes, that is a comfortable sneaker and a crossbody bag that he used when he was a student, Lain who slowly enter the villa, first go to the kitchen to prepare coffee after stopping by the mart to shop grocery. It was cumbersome but the only good thing about working with Edan was that he could drink freshly brewed coffee every morning.

It smells good, tastes good, and feels good. First off, he ground the right amount of coffee, put it in a white mug then naturally searched the house for a vacuum cleaner and started cleaning all over the house. Since the window was left slightly open without the air conditioner on, the whole house began to be filled with the aroma of coffee.

Feeling better, he plugged the MP3 player he borrowed from Ricky into his ear and pushed the vacuum cleaner while listening to music. The song he just purchased yesterday was playing from the earphones. Most of the lyrics were rap, so there was only one verse that he could sing along to, but he thought it was enough to sing just that verse.

"You are the Fucker~."

"Who's the Fucker?"

When he heard the voice, Lain, who was vacuuming diligently, hurriedly took off his earphones and looked back. There stood Edan, dressed in comfy clothes as if he had just woken up. Despite his messy appearance and magpie-like hair, Lain greeted the still gorgeous Edan Blake who looked a little annoyed.

"Good morning."

"Who's the Fucker?"

"I’m just singing? The Lonely Island." 

If you remember the ‘I’m on a boat’ rap from the previous chapter, that was by The Lonely Island too. In case you didn’t notice.

When Lain smiles with a brazen face and proudly shows the MP3 player connected to the earphones, Edan frowns as if he is doubtful.

"……You're a little suspicious…….”

Thinking that he was such a quick-witted guy, Lain quickly turned the subject around.

"Do you want coffee?"

"Yes."

"What do you want for breakfast?"

“Simply eggs, bacon, bread and pancakes.”

"Yes."

Lain, who was naturally doing his best with his housekeeper internship, got completely accustomed to his housekeeper life in just two days. If you can't avoid it then enjoy it, that sentence is good to hear but it's practically impossible in reality. Don't you want to avoid it because you can't enjoy it?

So if you can't avoid it, being patient is the answer. He just has no choice but to endure and get used to it. With a deep sigh, Lain finished the cleaning and was about to head to the kitchen when a low voice came from behind.

"Wally."

"Yes."

As soon as he looked back and answered reflexively, Edan smiled and giggled, and Lain finally realized that he was called "Wally" again and frowned. This guy has been treating people like dogs since yesterday.

"I’m telling you once again, my name is Lain."

When he introduces himself again three days after they just met, Edan does not even listen to it and only spits out his business.

"When are you moving your luggage?"

"What about my luggage?"

"Didn't Alex tell you to move into the villa?"

Of course, he did. He thought he (Alex) said something about working 24 hours a day, but he (Lain) took that 24-hour work as a sign that he should come to Edan as soon as something happens.

He's also heard that accommodation and meals are provided, but it's a little too much for a lawyer and a client to live in the same house. He was distracted at the time, so he just let it slide, but living together 24 hours a day in his house is kind of iffy.

For that reason, he's more like a housekeeper than a lawyer.

"He did, but...… do I have to move in?"

"Move in. It's inconvenient."

"I don’t feel inconvenient."

"I feel inconvenient. Originally, everyone else lives in this villa, so move your stuff today."

"……I don't think there's much inconvenience so far.”

When Lain wanted to change the subject a little as moving in is really something that bothers him, Edan crosses his legs and answers with a serious face.

"I have one. I woke up at 2 a.m. because I wanted to eat my mom's apple pie, but I couldn't because you weren't there.”

This was another bizarre remark so while listening, Lain kept his mouth shut for a while and opened it again.

"I'm sorry, but let me ask you a further question. Are you telling me that I have to wake up at 2 a.m. and make an apple pie?”

"Of course not."

Lain was relieved to hear Edan's answer. He doesn’t know how to make apple pie. But it was too early to be relieved.

"You’re going to go get it from her house."

"…… At 2 a.m.?"

"At 2:00 a.m."

"……Where is your mother's house?”

"My mom's in Los Angeles. That's where she lives."

"So you want me to wake up at 2 a.m. and go all the way to LA and bring your mother's baked pie?”

"Don't worry, I'll give you a private jet.”

It's very nice of you to give me a private jet, but there was a fundamental problem before that.

"……You, just live with your mother, won't you?”

"No."

In response to Edan's reply as if he really hated the idea, Lain quickly recalled the past of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Edward Furlong and Macaulay Culkin. Most of the growth stories of overly successful stars in their childhood are bleak.

From father who’s crazy about money, a mother who’s too excited of vainglory, divorce of parents, legal conflict aimed at the son's property, and from the appearance of a half-brother to exposure of privacy in autobiography by the parents. Sometimes, watching them causing a series of violent incidents, drug, sex scandals, and drunk driving, he wondered why those humans live like that but when he looked at their parents, he understands a little.

So maybe Edan Blake's mean personality also stems from the dark memories of the past. And Lain now wanted to analyse the cause of Edan's broken personality. Only then can he understand and accept his temper. An unfortunate past, an unhappy environment, a mental shock. Anything is good. Any reason is fine, as long as you give me a reason so I can understand.

There is compassion even in the law, so why wouldn’t a person have compassion too? Trying to catch a thread of hope, Lain asked him very carefully.

"Are you not on good terms with your mother?"

"No."

"Your parents are divorced...…."

"No. They’re very well off. Their marital relationship is stronger than ever.”

"Well, is your mother burning with ambition to raise her son as a star?”

"No way. When I joined the Disney Club, she was fiercely opposed. My mother is an elementary school principal, my father is a professor, my older brother is an architect, and my younger sister is a full-time housewife. They all live normally. Why?"

As soon as the thread of understanding and reconciliation in front of him was cut off, Lain dropped his shoulders. That means he was born with that personality. Then there's no way. This thing can't be fixed even if he dies.

"It's a nice family."

"They’re good. Everyone is well disposed."

But on the impulse to ask why are you like that, Lain clenched his fist. He doesn’t know how this was born into such a family. The world of mutants truly is both vast and mysterious.

"Coffee."

"Yes."

With a long sigh, Lain, who went back to the kitchen, took out the coffee beans, put them in a grinder, took out the water stored in the refrigerator and filtered out again the Evian mineral water with a water purifier. And as he was pouring the freshly grounded coffee beans into the coffee maker, he heard the bell ringing. There was also an intercom in the kitchen, so Lain went there, took the intercom and looked at the large 10-inch screen.

At the moment, six divided displays popped up on the screen. A front face shot of the person standing in front of the door, two shots taken from the side, two from the upper side, and one from the back. A total of six screens provided a thorough examination of the entire body of the person standing at the door. Looking at the surprisingly high-resolution screen, Lain asked the woman standing at the door looking rather tired.

"Who are you?"

[Melissa? You’re not Melissa?]

"Oh, Melissa's on vacation right now."

[Oh, I see. I’m Jessica Holt. I made an appointment with Edan yesterday.]

Recalling that yesterday someone said she would come here, only then did Lain hurriedly find a button to open the front door from a series of buttons next to the screen. The top button is the key to the front door of this house, the second button is the one that opens the elevator door that connects to the underground parking lot, and the third one is for the entrance of the building.

"Come on in."

After pressing the button, Lain diligently walked to the front door. It's nice that the house is large, but this is too large that it takes a long time just to reach the front door. To have a moderate-sized house is also good. As he trudged to the front door and waited, the doorbell rang a moment later. Lain, who often walked that way into the house, saw a blonde, tall, and mature woman standing at the door and reached out his hand first.

"Welcome. My name is Lain Jang."

"The one who picked up the phone yesterday?"

"Yes."

"I'm Jessica Holt. Is Eddie there?"

"Yes, come on in."

Seeing that she seemed to know Alex and Edan well, Lain let her into the house without much thought and turned to guide her to the parlour. It was that moment.

"Hey, I'll get the coffee...….”

Edan, who was shouting as he come out of the parlour, suddenly make a stiff face when he saw the woman standing next to Lain.

"Jessica? What are you doing here?"

The woman sighs briefly at Edan's tone, which seems a little irritated, but doesn't seem to mind it much.

"Your temper is still the same. That’s why there's no one left around you."

"What's going on? Why are you coming to my house without my permission?”

"I made an appointment yesterday.”

"I've never made it.”

"With this boy."

When Jessica raised her hand and pointed to Lain, Lain could only blink. As Edan stared at Lain with a face that looked like he was going to eat him, Lain blinked again and tilted his head.

"Oh... did I make it?”

It’s not like he asked her to come, but he didn't stop her from coming, so while Lain looked back, Jessica made an excuse for Lain.

"I called one-sidedly and said I'd come. Let's go in and talk. By the way, where did Jerry go? Why can't I contact Alex again?"

When Jessica spoke out as if she was dissatisfied, Edan enters the parlour again without answering the question. At the sight, Lain said, "Well, get in." and answered her question on behalf of Edan.

"Jerry's on vacation and Alex's wife is giving birth, so he's gone to attend to her."

Jessica, who was walking along the long hallway, blinks her eyes as if it was unexpected.

"What's up? Edan Blake, who's famous for not giving employees vacation?"

Lain put on a surprised look because this was the first time he’s heard that.

"He doesn’t give vacation?”

That's also a problem, so when Lain asks with a serious face, Jessica shakes her hand as though she’s not done saying her part yet.

"He's been such a wilful kid since he was young, so he never gives it to them. Jerry and Melissa have been pegged by him all their lives.”

"Uh...…."

"You have nothing to worry about there. By the way, did Alex hire you?"

"Yes."

"What about the others?"

"What?"

"He's always got a series of bodyguards and managers. So I wonder why he's alone since they were always on standby at home even if he doesn't have a schedule."

"Everyone quit."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"……That figures. There’s no way his temper got any better without even looking at him."

Jessica, who suddenly spoke in a very friendly way, looked back at Lain with a sorry face.

"Are you alone with Eddie now?”

"Yes."

"You must be going through a lot. It would be hard to accept all of those whims."

Seeing Jessica, who clicks her tongue and seemed to be sincerely sorry as she enters the parlour and sits in front of Edan, Lain hurried back to the kitchen and divided the coffee into three cups. And just as he went to the parlour with the cups on a tray, Edan was still sitting with a sour face, and Jessica was taking something out of her bag.

"Have some coffee."

"Thank you. Here you go. Script for the 12 Commandments."

When the woman who received the coffee from Lain puts the cup in front of her and pushes the paper binding in front of Edan, Edan looks at it and voiced out in annoyance.

"What’s that?"

"The title has changed."

"It's not about the title, I never said I'd do it."

"I know. That's why I came here myself. Just look at the script. Let's talk after you’ve read the script."

"It should’ve been written well if you’re the one who wrote it. But I don't do dramas."

Edan's stubbornness was great.

Lain, who had a cup of coffee in his hand, sat down slowly while admiring Edan who seemed to be quite close to her but still drew a line. He’s really good at rejecting. Knowing his own personality where the ability to say no is non-existent, Edan seemed really great.

"I do remember you said you would never do dramas, and I know you're not at the level of doing dramas anymore. So, read it first. It's a drama that I've spent 20 years working on. I agreed with CBN for 14 episodes including the prologue and the finale, which is exactly as I wanted, and not season-based. There is no second season. CBN tried to pull off the second season somehow, but I refused. We reduced the number of episodes from 24 to 14. The remaining 10 episodes will be made into a movie trilogy." 

The word that was used here is actually ‘signal’ in Konglish but it doesn’t make sense to me so I changed it. Signal and final do rhymes but they are not something that we used in pairs. Tell me if you got anything better though.

Holding his cup, Lain opened his eyes wide with surprise at the fact that she was already talking about making a movie. He doesn't know how their system works, but it's hard to make even a big hit drama into a movie, but he wondered if it was because he’s Edan Blake that she’s already talking about the movie version when only the script was out.

"No matter what you say, I refuse. If you're here for a personal visit, you're welcome, but you can't do this. I'd listen to your request if I could, but I won’t do dramas."

Jessica sits leaning against the backrest and sighs with her arms crossed at Edan's attitude that doesn’t seem to eat her proposal. She also came prepared, but Edan's attitude was stronger than she thought.

"You're not even doing a movie right now, are you?”

"Casting is still coming in like high tide.”

"I guess so, but Hollywood is in recession in line with the global economic recession. You have ticket power, so there's a production company that calls for at least 50 million, but the problem is you. There's nothing you want to do.”

Edan looks at her for a moment, as if caught off guard by her cool-headed analysis, and slowly continues to make excuses.

"I'm just waiting for a good scenario."

"The impact of the writers' labour strike last year is huge. The production company has cut off a considerable number of writers and all that remains is trash. Why do you think recent dramas aren't as good as before? The dramas that were in full swing are bottoming out in viewer ratings one after another. The framework of a good movie and drama is when the ensemble of the scenario, director, and actor are perfectly harmonized. I think the most important of all is the scenario. You filmed the movie that was released this year 2 years ago. Have you seen any good scenarios over the past two years?” 

Jessica was unable to conciliate, so she began to threaten secretly. At her determined tone, Lain glanced at her and thought that her name was very familiar. Jessica Holt, a name he’s sure he’s heard of.

"Eddie, I know your sky-high pride. I know well that you don't have to be in a drama. But I want you. I can never do this unless it’s you. You're the only one. And if you look at the script, you'll like it too.”

At her strong tone, Edan sits with his arms crossed and sighs.

"I mean, if you write this as a movie scenario, I'll do it for you. Why do you insist on making a drama?”

"Movies have a short span. All I want is for you to have 12 conversations in 14 episodes. It's been 20 years. I wrote this drama for 20 years after finishing Rain Vill. And the Alan Chaplin I've been working on for 20 years is only for you. It's never gonna ruin your career. And you won't regret it."

At the moment Lain realized who she was, Lain let out a small exclamation.

Jessica Holt, a famous producer and writer. Rain Vill was her maiden work.

Rain Vill was written and created by her when she was 25. That’s why it seems she’d known Edan for a long time, so she’s known him since Rain Vill. When Lain stares at her blankly, thinking that the producer actually appeared like this, she stresses Edan one more time.

"If you read the script, you'll want to do it too. Alex was desperate for you to play this role after reading the script. Did you ever see Alex do anything that would harm you?”

While Lain admires her persuasion, which is so serious and appealing, Edan pushes the script in front of her and spits it out bluntly.

"I know. I’m saying I won't read the script at all.”

"Just look at it! Greg Ronson already wants to play this role. I want to participate in the production myself so I'm convincing them that I can liaise with you. If you keep refusing, I'll go to Greg, but I don't want Greg. Alan Chaplin I wrote is you. It's you or not."

Lain, by the name of Greg Ronson, had forgotten that he was being rude and ended up cutting in on the conversation.

"Greg Ronson? Gary Stevenson?"

When the name of a comrade suddenly popped up, Lain’s eyes began to sparkle. Not just a comrade, Greg Ronson is his favourite actor.

"…Gary Stevenson in Rain Vill. But did you watch Rain Vill?"

"Yes! Wow, it suits Gary very much. He's perfect for a lawyer. I've seen all of his movies, and he looks good as a lawyer. It's perfect, just perfect."

Shouting "Greg, fighting!" Lain clasped his hands in earnest excitement and cheered for Greg.

If Jessica Holt herself wanted to leave that role to Edan to that extent, it must be a great role. Then Greg is good. It's because he’s unlucky that he’s always playing hateful roles, but if he plays a cool role, he might be cooler than Edan. As Lain repeatedly says, "Leave it to Greg," Jessica looks at Lain as though she was dumbfounded, feeling a subtle homogeneity when looking at a child and also pity for him.

And Edan also glared at Lain with his super piercing eyes. Who does this guy work for? He can't believe that the guy working for him actually holds his fist and shouts fighting to Greg Ronson and wants to give his role to him when he hates him the most in the world. This was the first time in his life. As Edan looks at Lain with a face considering if he should give him a beating, Jessica talks softly as if she was soothing Lain.

"I'm sorry if you’re a fan of Greg, but Greg can't play that role."

When Jessica explained to Lain like a mother admonishing her child, "You shouldn't eat this because it's bad for you," Lain widened his already round eyes and asked back.

"Why?"

"Definitely not Greg. If he does that, the whole drama will be ruined."

"Greg's a good actor too."

He's really good at playing hateful roles, and as Lain clenches his fists and pleads for Greg Ronson, Jessica smiles bitterly while looking at Lain and said "Munchkin,

"The role of Alan Chaplin itself is already a villain. He's a mean and detestable character. If Greg plays that role, it's over. He just ends up being a villain. Then the limitations and problems of the legal process that I'm trying to convey in this drama, and the dilemma of law enforcement and justice, are messed up. Alan Chaplin is a villain, but at the same time, he represents reality. He has to pinch the reality and criticize it sharply, but at the same time, he has to show that this is reality. That's why Alan Chaplin is important."

"But the villain role is really Greg's specialty. He's so good that I want to punch him."

"That’s why he can’t do that. He’ll end up being so obnoxious. Alan's role is to lead the whole play. He's mean and hateful and we want to punch him, but he's so attractive that people have to be dragged into his logic. Whatever absurd argument he makes, he has to be attractive enough for people to accept, 'Oh, is that so?' Then, as soon as the drama ends, we hear his narration and realize that it's not right. But when Greg plays the role, Alan Chaplin becomes just a double-faced, sly crook to people. Law and justice are then considered to be an inverse relationship. That's very dangerous. Then the purpose of this drama is ruined.”

"……so it's okay if Edan does it?”

"He’s perfect. He's the only one who can do it. That exquisite face, the kind where you want to kill him but you forgive him when he smiles. And a very twisted antisocial personality where he uses the loophole in the law to cover up the crime of his clients while ridiculing them. That's Edan.”

Slowly looking back at Edan's face at Jessica's explanation, Lain exclaimed, reflecting on his past two days like a zoetrope in motion. It's a good thing that Edan is the one who made him do the things he did, but if Greg had done so, he would immediately sue him for breach of contract. Without a doubt, the face is important. And the mood, tone and bearing of that face are also of importance. As if it was rightful, Edan so naturally gives orders that he has no choice but to obey his will. He was compelled to move at his word as if he was possessed by something.

"You're right. That crazy beauty. Plus that awful temper."

"Right? And that rude way of talking, the way he acts, and even that arrogant look are perfect. On top of that, his personality is completely twisted. No matter what he says, it sounds right even at face value. If he says, "This is the law," it sounds like there’s something wrong with the law itself, rather than that is the definition of the law. In a word, his character is so messed up. Even the wording is distorted."

Lain, who looked through Edan from head to toe at her sharp analysis and character observation as the best producer, really thought he was the right person for this. Edan is perfect, with his beauty enough to cover up his personality breakdown and his deviously twisted mind. Perfect—he could see why she insists so hard on Edan. But...

"Can’t Greg still do it, though?"

When asked again by Lain, Edan's face was very subtly distorted, which he, unfortunately, did not see.

"Oh my, you must be a big fan of Greg."

"Well, there's something like compassion or camaraderie."

Always being in second place, Lain felt pity for Greg Ronson, who made his debut earlier than Edan, but was always in Edan's shadow and could never be the top after Rain Vill, when he starred with Edan, who was of the same age. For that reason, he felt sorry for him. That's why he was always rooting for him, and when he heard that a good role would come back to Edan again this time, he just wanted to take his side. Rain Vill, which was a blessing for Edan, was a curse for Greg Ronson. Just like in the drama composition, Greg spent his whole life being obscured under the shadow of Edan's light. Lain personally hoped Greg would do well. And that feeling grew stronger ever since three days ago.

Of course, it's never because of bad feelings towards Edan. It's just, all of a sudden, Greg has unexpectedly turned absolutely and insanely good since three days ago. It's definitely not because he doesn't want to see Edan Blake doing well.

When Lain once again expressed his bias for Greg with his “I want Greg, Greg” non-stop, Edan, who had been quietly looking at Jessica and Lain until then, casually spoke.

“Jessica, leave the script behind."

"Huh?"

"I'll decide after reading the script. Don't ever give Greg Ronson that role and made him wait."

Edan's sudden change of attitude made Jessica surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes, I’ll do it. So don't give it to Greg."

While talking to Jessica, Edan's eyes were on Lain.

He doesn't know why, but when Lain looks at him with a grumpy face, strangely twisted lips, and blue eyes full of irritation as if he’s protesting against him, Edan, who put the cup down on the table, proceed to ask Lain.

"You, name five movies I've appeared in."

"……What?"

"Give me five movies that I appeared in."

Seeing his face with his chin raised slightly, which said, "If you can’t tell, you’re dead." Lain immediately verbalised one movie title that came to mind.

"Another Heaven?"

"And?"

And, what else is there? He can't think of anything. He wasn't much of a fan of movies anyway. Oddly, he remembers the name of his dog, but he couldn't remember the title of the movies he acted in.

"Hmm," as Lain dragged on his word, Edan suddenly began to snarl.

"That's the only movie you know that I'm in?”

I wanted to tell you that it's your illusion if you think that everyone in the world has watched your movies.… Luckily Lain didn't have the guts to. So he turned the subject around.

"…Rain Vill?"

When he raises his hand timidly and says the title of the only drama Edan has ever acted in, Edan gets even angrier.

"That's a drama!"

"I don't like movies."

"Don't make excuses. Greg Ronson, you said you’ve watched all of his movies. You've watched all of those crappy movies, but you haven't watched mine that topped the box office every time? All 15 commercial movies that I've appeared in so far have started as No. 1 in the North American box office. But you didn't watch it? You haven't watched any of my movies?”

"I was busy studying. And I also had part-time jobs and raised my younger siblings.….”

When Lain made excuses hesitantly, Edan got up from his seat, approached Lain and grabbed the hoodie Lain is wearing. Then he tells Jessica, who was sitting in front of him.

"Jessica, you should get going."

"Huh? Can I talk with you some more, please? It's been a while."

"I'm sorry, it's been a long time but.… I need to educate him today. This pup doesn't listen very well.”

He really does resemble Wally when he’s like this, Edan reiterated once again.

While the last three times he called Wally has a very soft and nostalgic tone, this time's Wally did not have a very good feeling. For some reason, he felt goosebumps all over and when Lain gave Jessica a begging look as if asking her to save him, Jessica then reproaches Edan.

"Eddie, exploitation of minors is illegal by law. He looks like a high school student, so don't bully him like that in the morning."

"He's 26 years old."

"Huh?"

"He’s 26. So don't worry and go."

“26?”

In response to Jessica's shriek, Lain looked at her with a grim face. So you thought I was a high school student until now? No wonder you were so friendly that you even speak informally.….

"Oh my. I work with Asians a lot, but I had no idea. You look really young."

"So don't worry and go. He has a lot of important work to do as from now."

"Okay. Well. It's your business. Then I'll be going now, so see you later. I look forward to a good answer.”

"Take care on your way."

"Let's have a drink together when Alex came back."

"I won’t see you out."

With Jessica in the parlour carrying her bag and about to leave, Edan dragged Lain's neck out to the hallway and began to walk inward.

"Where are you going?”

"My room."

"Why there?"

"Stop talking and just follow me."

"Argh, Edan Blake wants to kill me!"

Lain screamed and begged Jessica, who disappeared far away, but Jessica, who was heading to the front door opposite of him, smiled and waved. Then she opened the front door and disappeared.

"Help me!"

"I won’t kill you!"

"Then why are you dragging me to the locked room?”

"You'll find out when you get there."

Before he knew it, Edan who arrived at the room then opened the bedroom door and pushed Lain into the room first. Then, when Edan picked up the remote control in the room and pressed a button, the brightly lit room went dark in an instant. In the suddenly darkened space, Lain looked around the spacious room anxiously.  

The bedroom, which is large enough to fit his entire apartment, is facing the hallway with windows on its facade while to the left of the entryway are another two doors that seemed to connect to the bathroom or dressing room, and beside the entryway is a huge screen. And there is only one bed settled on the right wall.

As his eyes slowly get used to the darkness, Lain checks the objects in the room one by one and turns to Edan, and Edan points to the bed with his hand.

"Go to bed and sit down."

"Why?"

"There's something you need to see before you go to bed tonight.”

Can I not see it? He was going to ask that but Lain wisely turned his words around.

"What do I have to see?"

When asked by Lain, Edan picked up the remote control and began pressing the button again. Whenever Edan held that remote control, his heart seemed to beat fast, and Lain, who was once bitten twice shy, looked at him anxiously, and then the display immediately came upon the huge screen opposite the bed. 

Literally ‘surprised to see the animal and surprised to see the lid of the cauldron/pot’ and it doesn’t really deliver the meaning in English. That’s Korean proverb for you and it has something to do with being bitten by some turtle-like animal idk the name tho and there’s a story behind it but I’m not going to explain it here. But the gist is it refers to someone who gets scared in advance when he sees similar things (that makes one scared) again. For instance, you’re surprised when you see a jumble of ropes because you’re scared of snakes. Geddit?

As Lain stood still and stares intently at the screen, Edan drags Lain by the neck like a mother dog moving its pup, throws him hard onto the bed, and then sits next to him. Then, before Lain could even settle down on the bed, he manipulates the remote control and talks to Lain in an arrogant manner.

"You should be honoured. Because you're the first person ever who's lucky enough to be able to watch Edan Blake's previous work collection in Edan Blake’s bedroom."

As soon as he was about to sit up properly after falling onto the bed, Lain looked at Edan with a face wondering if he had heard wrong.

"……What did you say?"

"Let's start with Another Heaven. Yes, it's better to watch it in order. Because it's also the process of my growth.”

As he watched him mutter and manipulate the screen, Lain shivered. 

"Wait a minute. You want me to watch all of the movies you've acted in by today?"

"Oh, that's too much. Then let's keep on watching until we can. And 5 pages per review. Make sure you write it in your own handwriting."

Lain's voice rose a pitch higher due to his ridiculous tyranny.

"What?"

"Here we go."

Edan pressed the remote control and pick out the movie as if it had nothing to do with Lain's opinion. Looking at the movie files arranged year by year on the first menu on the screen, Lain barely managed to swallow the swearing that was about to come out.

The title of the movies listed in the menu column seems to be more than 15 movies by roughly guessing with his eyes. Usually, the running time of a movie is between 90 and 120 minutes. And the long one lasts up to 180 minutes. That's an average of 100 minutes, and for 15 movies, it's 1,500 minutes, which is about 25 hours.

That means I'll never be able to watch all of those movies by today. Even if I don't sleep or eat, I have to watch those until tomorrow. I'd rather be dug. No, I'd rather dig the ground.

"Well, I need to water the seeds I planted yesterday.”

"There are sprinklers.”

As soon as Edan pressed on the remote control, he heard a very faint sound of water splashing outside. You bastard, then why didn't you tell me when I was sowing the seeds and water them by myself yesterday?

"……What about food?"

"It can be ordered.”

"What about the laundry?"

"Just call someone from the dry cleaners. The dry cleanings can all be delivered."

Come to think of it, it really is so. This is the advantage of modern science, and there's the telephone. There's also a cell phone. This is a world where everything can be solved by a phone call if you add a little service charge. Why did I forget that?

"Then why did I have to do everything until yesterday?”

"Because I wanted to make you do it."

"So why...….”

"Shh. The movie is starting."

"Hey! Edan Bla…….”

When Lain tried to complain, Edan forcibly blocked Lain’s mouth thus cutting off his words. Lain struggled to take his hand off, but he was so strong that he didn’t even budge.

"Now, the first scene of this movie is important. Look carefully at my subtle yet intense acting. The ability to assimilate with characters, the ability to convey lines, and how I express emotions. Even the concentration, vocalization, and pronunciation didn't miss a single detail. Everything is perfect. Greg Ronson can't even keep up with me. Got it? Half of his movies were for the video stream, and only half of them were tucked into the top 20 of the North American box office."

"Umfff!”

"Look. How delicate my acting skills are."

"Umf!"

"As expected, I was also beautiful 15 years ago. I look great even with a cut on my face. How can I be so perfect?”

Edan, who wrapped Lain's head in his left arm and covered his mouth, was praising himself while looking at the screen. With a tone and expression as if he had fallen in love with himself on the screen, Lain finally came to a conclusion. Edan Blake is abnormal and might even be crazy.  

 

"Hiiiikk!”

As he finally get into the fifth movie after 10 hours since he started the movie marathon, Lain sat like he was stuck on top of the bed and kept on yelping weird groans of "Hiiiiik," "Urghh," and "Mom!" while covering his face with a pillow. The movie was "Look," a horror-thriller starring Edan Blake.

In the movie, Edan plays a college student majoring in criminology who approached the criminal in search of his sister who suddenly disappeared. At first, it simply starts with the disappearance of his sister, but the closer he gets to the criminal, the bigger the incident becomes, and the subsequent kidnappings of blonde women in the surrounding areas are linked. As the movie, which began in a light atmosphere gradually grew darker and bloody, Lain covered his face with a pillow and groaned many times over.

He’s so funny, thought Edan who was lying on his bed with his eyes off the movie and watching Lain's face instead. This is quite a fresh reaction too.

"Excuse me, is it gone yet?”

"Huh?"

"…..blood……"

When Lain, who covered his face with a pillow then turned his head and asked Edan with a face looking as if he was about to cry, Edan glanced back at the screen.

Sorry, but the screen has been paused since earlier. It’s the scene where it turned into a bloodbath. He pause it there on purpose, but Edan didn't bother to say it. He just smiles.

"Yes, it's gone.”

At that, Lain furtively moved his pillow away and looked at the screen, and then he ended up screaming louder this time and sprang to Edan's side. While thinking that this guy is determined to die, Edan, who was trying to push Lain's forehead down, decided to put up from pushing him away at the image of Lain who’s trembling while hanging on his chest with his butt in the air.

What he’s doing is really, like Wally. When he was scolded by his mother for pooping in the house, he always rushed into his bed and dug into his arms like this. Usually, he hates it when a man lies next to him and hangs on to him, but this guy looks like Wally, so Edan thinks that he’ll just let him go with it generously, as Lain mumbles quietly while clinging on Edan.

"Can you turn that off?"

"Why?"

"I don’t like blood."

"……is the blood that terrifying?"

"I'm not afraid of ghosts, I'm not afraid of guns, I'm not afraid of knives, but I'm afraid of blood.”

"Why?"

"Just because. Can't you just turn it off and watch something else instead?"

"No way…….”

"I'll watch the other one a hundred times, so turn that off please."

"No, I can't."

"Why?"

"Once I watched it, I have to watch it all the way to the end."

Saying that, Edan presses the play button. In fact, he didn't really want to watch more of the movie because he already watched it dozens of times, but he was determined to watch it again from the beginning to the end because Lain hated it. This is pretty fun.

"Is the blood scene gone?”

"Yes. Oh, no. There it goes again. He picks up a knife, he picks up a knife."

"Eek?"

"He’s slashing her throat. The blood is going to burst! Oh! It's going to burst! It burst!"

When Edan deliberately made a fuss in a normal scene where she was fine but says that the woman's neck was cut off and that the blood burst like a fountain as she tries to hold it together, Lain covered his ears, rolled himself into Edan's arms and keep groaning. Instead of watching the movie, Edan was looking down at Lain and seeing that his face turned white, he tried to keep the corners of his lips from rising.

"Oh, he’s trying to kill again. He’s killing again."

As he purposely adds a whimsical explanation to the scene on a leisurely beach, Lain digs into his arms like a baby and trembles. He looked strangely cute again, so Edan reached out and pat Lain's head gently.

"It's okay, it's okay. They're all dead."

"Really?"

"Yes. This is the last of the killing.”

Of course, the movie screened at the time was.

The first edited version was so brutal that it was rated NC-17 (for viewers aged 17 or older) and adjusted to R (not for viewers under the age of 17 unless accompanied by an adult guardian), so to display it at the movie theatre, the second half was cut off for about 20 minutes and edited with completely different contents. At that time, seven people were killed. However, this movie had a completely different ending since it was re-edited into a director's cut. So, nine people will die.

Even he himself died in the end. But I don't think it's necessary to tell you that, so when Edan smiles and pat Lain's head once more, Lain opens his eyes carefully and looks at Edan. But he still covered the screen with a pillow.

"Are you sure they're all dead?”

"Yeah. Isn’t the siren ringing? The criminal will be arrested now."

"Really?"

"Yes."

That was in the previous movie version I think, so when Edan nodded, only then Lain sneak away from his pillow and looked at the screen. On the screen, the scene was showing the armed police officers entering the building. Lain sighed for a long time in relief that it was finally over. And in the meantime, the wrecked protagonist was slowly walking out of the building with his sister. Even though this was a movie from eight years ago already, Edan had a face that was no different from now.

"Wow, thank goodness."

It was that moment when he’s about to clap, thinking that everything is fine now since the protagonist is alive although he doesn’t know how.

A dark shadow suddenly appeared behind the protagonist. And the dark shadow had a sharp knife in his hand.

"Urkk."

In the interval, the knife slit Edan's throat and Edan stopped in his track. Blood burst out through the thin, sharp cut. At the scene that soaked the whole screen red, Lain passed out.

 

"Hey, are you all right?"

“…….”

"Why are you surprised by that?"

“…….”

"Should I get you some water?”

Still, after a very brief moment of conscience looking at Lain stretched out on the bed, Edan continued to talk to Lain as he was a little sorry, but Lain, who lay down with his eyes closed, didn't answer his words. The scene was still in front of him, so he didn't feel like talking to Edan.

"Aren't you hungry? What should I order?"

“…….”

Edan thought of himself as a very broad-minded and generous person. So he was doing his best trying to comfort Lain. But that's about it. When he’s apologizing this much but the other even pretends that he didn't hear it, Edan burst into anger at Lain.

"Hey! Do you think what I’m saying is not worth listening to?"

When Edan couldn't stand it and break into his bad temper again, Lain, who was closing his eyes and calming his heart, finally opens his eyes and quietly talks to Edan.

"You’re too noisy?”

“…….”

"Get me some water. No need for a sedative."

"Are you that surprised?”

No shit, and as Lain stared at him with partly-closed eyes as if to say that, Edan stood up with his hands raised.

"All right, all right. Is water enough?"

"Yes."

"……Do you want to go to the hospital?"

"Not to that extent. My heart is strong, so you don't have to worry."

I’ll make sure there will be no article about Edan Blake's employee dying while on duty due to excessive work, said Lain bluntly, and Edan frowns as if he was a little offended.

"You speak so beautifully."

"I learned it from someone."

Clicking his tongue at the briefly cold atmosphere, Edan quickly left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. His face looks gentle and pretty but he has quite a temper. That type of person was hard to deal with, so he didn't usually keep them by his side but the problem was he looked like Wally so he just let him be, grumbled Edan all the way to the kitchen to get the water.

As he took out a bottle of water from the refrigerator and poured it into a glass, the house phone rang. When he went to the phone in the kitchen and got his hand on the phone, a familiar voice of a man can be heard on the other side.

[I've become a father!]

It was Alex. Edan spoke casually as he was not impressed by the overly-excited voice.

"Congratulations. Now you're not going to be able to sleep at night for the next year, you won’t be able to go out conveniently since you're going to have to carry your child on your back for two or three years and then you're going to have to spend a lot of money on private kindergartens. After that, there is private elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. What a rosy life.”

At Edan's words, which were very specific and detailed, Alex gritted his teeth.

[She's my daughter, not yours. So I'll take care of it. Why can't you just calmly say congratulations?]

"I did say congratulations.”

"Damn you."

"If I’m damned, so do you."

That was true. If Edan goes under, the people around him will also go under one after another. So when Edan once again emphasizes that the word "damn" should be excluded, Alex turns his word around as he was tired of it.

[What happened to Jerry? I just talked to Melissa on the phone, but I can't contact Jerry.]

"Well, maybe he's surfing."

[Oh, have you met the new lawyer?]

"Lawyer?"

[Yeah. What was the name……]

"I haven't met him? Did you hire a new lawyer?"

[Oh, you didn't hear my message. Luke got his license revoked. That's why I hired him.]

Come to think of it, there was such a problem. Edan didn’t really pay attention to employment issues because Alex took care of everything except for the movie.

"Is he finally relieved of his job?"

[That's right. Even if he had kept his license, I would have to terminate his contract anyway. I can't leave that job to a dementia patient.]

"That's true. Well, there's no big deal right now, so it doesn't matter if I don't have it, lawyer.”

[Ha, what? I made the contract because he looked sincere, but after the deals, he just hung up on me and went MIA?]

"Where the hell did you pick him up? You know I'm picky about people, so where did you get him from?”

[Oh, there's been an accident. But I don't have time...… right! What about the car? My car. Jaguar! Did he run away with that too?]

"Jaguar? It’s here. I went out in that car yesterday too.”

[I guess he still has a conscience. Anyway, that's fine, I'll send you a new manager and bodyguards. Jane was having a hard time, so I couldn't pay attention to this, but I'll send you someone I can trust, even if you don't like them, so hang in there for the time being. I wanted to go back quickly, but Jane suffered for almost two days because of birth difficulty. It will take another week before she can leave the hospital so I have to stay for a few more days.]  

If not, I'm going to get divorced, and as soon as Alex sighed, Edan glanced at the glass and looked back toward the bedroom. He hates a quiet house without people, but somehow he doesn’t think he'll let more people in now. For the time being, he thought it wouldn't matter if he stayed with him alone. Most of all, it's very interesting and fun.

"No, just leave it alone."

"Huh?"

"Just leave it be. When you get back, we'll hire them later, but for now, don't call anyone."

[Hey, Jerry's gone and Melissa isn’t there. Isn’t it inconvenient? No, that's not the problem, it's a bit dangerous to have just one person around.]

"It's fine. One is enough. Anyway, just leave it alone. I have to watch a little bit more.”

"Watch? What?"

"There's something like that. Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun right now, so don't call anyone. It's annoying when there are more people. I'm not planning to go out for a while, so don't send anybody. Don't even send a housekeeper. I need to spend a little more time with him.”

"Him? Who? Sean?"

"Why would Sean be here? Bye."

Did you send him and forget it already? Saying that, Edan, who one-sidedly hung up the phone, walked slowly toward his bedroom with a glass in his hand. Then Edan suddenly frowned at the thought of why he was carrying a glass of water. Why would he, who was born and has never in his entire life, get the water he’s going to drink, with his own hand, has to scoop up water for his naughty puppy. 

Edan, who had been thinking for a very short time about what he was doing, soon opened the bedroom door and entered the room thinking that he couldn't help it. Then he turned on the light in the room and headed to bed, but when he saw Lain stretched out on the huge white sheet, he laughed in exasperation.

The guy who was briefly distraught at the sight of blood and regulating his heart saying that it was palpitating to death, had fallen asleep in the meantime. He snores very comfortably too.

"Hey! Wake up!"

Edan yelled, looking at the intruder lying on his holy bed, where he never let others sleep on, but Lain was sleeping very comfortably, not even budging. Being indifferent to Lain's faint-heartedness, Edan approached the bed and kicked Lain, who was sleeping soundly on it.

"Won’t you get up!"

At that moment, he heard a bang, and Edan, who kicked him, was rather surprised and almost dropped the glass. He kicked him so spiritedly that Lain, who was lying on the bed, rolled far away and fell on the floor.

"Hey."

He was strangely quiet even after falling from the bed, so he hurriedly put the glass on the table and went to the other side of the bed, and Lain was lying on the floor like a freshly dead body.

"Hey."

When he leaned down, kicking him with his feet, wondering if he was dead, he could see Lain's lips slightly open with his cheeks on the floor. And he can hear the sound of heavy breathing.

"…..Are you sleeping?"

He checked once again just in case, but still didn't get the answer. Seeing Lain lying on the floor and sleeping soundly, Edan just smiled at his carefree face. Alex picked up something really weird. Big eyes with fluffy short hair. For Asians, he had distinctly clear facial features, but he still looked somewhat plain. Besides, he looks very badly young. He knew Asians looked young, but not usually this much.

In addition, he is young not only for his face but also for his actions. First of all, there were no people around, and everyone left him and ran away when he tried to be mean, but unexpectedly, his reaction is interesting. He was going to kick him out in exactly three days but asked him to move his luggage immediately because he needed to watch and understand this mysterious and harmless creature for the time being. This, is a lot of fun.

"You're lucky. Edan Blake is paying attention to you.”

Edan, who said that, went up to the bed and lay down, leaving Lain lying on the floor. Lain never wished for it, but that's how Edan Blake's affection for him, which he will beg him to put aside, began.

 

Lain, who was sleeping dreaming of being chased by a serial killer, opened his eyes wide and sat up at the feeling of hitting his head with something. Then, once again, he hit his head against something and groaned while hugging his head.

"Argh. What's this?"

Lain, who had been looking up and confirming the figure that hit his head out of nowhere in the morning, tilted his head at first because he didn't know what it was. It was like a dark black drawer.

Lain, who looked all the way around the room and frowned at the thought of why there was such luxurious furniture in his room, was then astonished to find out that the room he was now in was Edan's bedroom. But that was not the issue. For a moment, he had to swear once more at the fact that he had rolled and fallen on the floor.

"What, this is...….”

Lain, who was looking back on his memory and wondering why he was sleeping like a kitchen maid on the floor of this bastard’s bedroom, recalled the fact that he fell asleep just like that last night after Edan’s audiovisual torture. Then he soon stroked his tingling head at the encounter of a bigger problem than that.

Obviously, it was on Edan's bed that he fell asleep. And once he falls asleep, he just breathes and sleeps in his sleeping position like a corpse. There's no chance that he's ever rolled himself out of the bed – which is a huge super queen-sized double bed – that is not even a regular single-sized bed. This means that that human being rolled him down from it.

<You little piece of shit.>

What's wrong with just telling him to wake up quietly instead of rolling a good sleeper off the bed. No wonder he dreamed of being chased, rolled and fell while running away all night, apparently because of this guy.

"What luck."

Lain, who rose slowly from his position with his hand wrapped around his head, led his creaking body out of Edan's bedroom, thinking that he was still fortunate to sleep on the carpet.

It was still dark outside. Lain, who walked in the hallway under the dim light as the sun had just begun to rise and went to the kitchen, first take the water out of the refrigerator.

That was when he heard a familiar ringtone from afar. Lain, who had heard it somewhere and "Huh?-ing” soon realized that it was his new cell phone ringing and hurried to the parlour to find his bag that was thrown away, and found his cell phone in it. When he looked at the screen at the loud ringtone, the name "Ellie" was floating on it.

"Yes."

[Why aren't you answering the phone?]

"Oh, did you call me?”

[I did it several times last night.]

Ellie seemed to have searched hard for him while he was in Edan's bedroom watching his previous movies collection.

"I was doing something. Why?"

[Are you free this weekend?]

"Weekend? Well…….”

Of course, it is common sense to rest on weekends, but Edan never gives his employees vacation, so when he can't say that he’s unoccupied, Ellie sighs briefly.

[Still, make some time for me. My father wants me to bring you to him.]

"Me? Why?"

[I told him I’m going out with you now.]

"Huh?"

[Ah, he keeps making a fuss to get me to go on a blind date. He asked me what I was doing and told me to get married. Journalists may think that Senator William Ledger, who proposed a new bill to the Senate last month to increase the welfare budget for working women, then told his daughter to get married and have a baby quickly, is going crazy. He even brought pictures of the sons of conglomerate families and told me to go on a blind date with the Supreme Court judge’s son so I said I am dating you.]

At that, Lain laughed as he was dumbfounded by the words. What century is it now that there’s still a father telling his daughter to get married and have a baby instead of working?  

He knew that Ellie's father is, by nature, a stubborn, straightforward and conservative man, but he didn't expect it to be this much. Of course, Ellie is a lady from the upper class and of course, she's getting married, but this is a bit harsh.  

He’s heard that he even make a fuss when Ellie entered law school, but Ellie's mother managed to stop him saying that if she were a lawyer then other families would favour her, so Ellie's father thinks it is pretty good too. It's amazing that there's still such a person, but what's even greater is the fact that Ellie grew up under a man like that.    

How does that upright man manage to raise Ellie into such a person? He couldn't believe that Ellie, who was cold, brazen and bold within billions of light-years away from the conservatives, and closer to him like a same-sex friend rather than a girlfriend, was the man’s daughter.

"But does your father believe that I'm dating you?"

[No, that's why he told me to bring you.]

"……I wouldn't believe it either."

Thanks to frequent visits since college, he’s also close to Ellie's parents, who both knew how Ellie and he were doing. So Ellie and he were like real siblings. He hates to admit it, but they were more like brother and sister than other real brother and sister out there.

When Lain advises her to tell a reliable lie when lying, thinking that it was really not right for them to go on a date, Ellie shoots bluntly.

[But he wants to see you, so make some time. Otherwise, I'll be dragged to go on a blind date on the weekend. No, I wouldn't say anything if it was a blind date. The thing is I'm gonna have to dress up like a mannequin and go out to a party and get marketed like merchandise. Why didn't I even bother making my social debut? I don't want to be like a zoo monkey. Why should I wear a crown, a dress, and strings of jewels and be a spectacle!]

When she said that, Lain, imagining Eleanor Ledger sitting calmly at the party in a dress with a fan in hand, hurriedly shook his head with a feeling of goosebumps all over his body.

"Hey, that's not something that can just happen to anybody."

To a fault, and Ellie takes a bloody hit as Lain hits the nail right on the spot.

[Do you want to die?]

"……okay. I'll make time for you."

[Yes, and one more thing. Secretary of Edward Clark called me, I think?]

Lain frowned at the familiar name.

"What about his secretary?"

[I was asked to give him your new number?]

"Why?"

[I don't know. He asked me for your address and phone number, and he said he was going to send you a gift...… I didn't tell him because I felt uncomfortable. But with Edward Clark, it's no big deal for him to get your address, so be careful.]

"……I'm going nuts.”

This is making me go crazy. Edan on one side, Edward on the other side. All these ‘Ed’ around me.

"I will never name an 'E' when I have a son. F*cking Eddies."

Lain, who muttered the curse in a low voice, suddenly shivered with a cold feeling after realizing that Edward's nickname was also Eddie. What have you done to Eddie in your past life? Maybe you did a massacre on people named Eddie.

[Keep that in mind anyway. And Saturday at 4 p.m. Don't forget.]

"Okay."

[Okay. Then see you at the weekend. Call me ahead of time if something happens.]

"Yes."

[I'm hanging up then.]

Lain, who stretched his shoulders after finishing the phone call with Ellie, collapsed on the sofa in anguish over the current situation. As Ellie said, it's trivial for Edward Clark to find his home address or new phone number.

The question now was why Edward Clark was trying to find out his home address or new phone number. Edward Clark's insidious and despicable nature leaves no indication of what retaliation he will inflict. Will he blow up the apartment building? Or is he going to set a fire? Or shoot with a machine gun...….

"I shouldn't have thrown it on his face.”

It was too late to regret that he should have just thrown it on his chest. He forgot about this matter because he was swayed by Edan, but when the person in question comes up again, his head seems to be pounding. He knows being cut off at the law firm isn't enough, but what is he going to do after finding him? Is he going to bury him alive, lock him up or drown him?

"Ah, really, what should I do! Don't get interested in me!"

"Who's interested in you?"

While tearing off his hair and agonizing, Lain quickly raised his head at the voice from a distance and looked up at the man standing in front of him. It was Edan. Still in yesterday's clothes, looking down at him while standing tall with magpie-like hair, perhaps because he just woke up.

He felt it at first, but he's really huge. He's even bigger when standing in front of him. Looking up at him, Lain briefly lost in his primal agony. Edward Clark or Edan Blake, who is worse.

Personality? It's neck-and-neck. Both of them are shitty.

Face? Edan is a little better if you just look at his face. No, to tell the truth, Edan's face is a little more to his taste. But Edward Clark's face is fine too. He's just a little, a little too crazy. That's the problem.

So what's the conclusion? They are both similar. So, who would you choose if you had to work with either Edan Blake or Edward Clark? It was the biggest challenge of life that no one could easily decide.

"What, are you half asleep?"

Lain hesitated for a moment as he watches him kicking his knee.

Edan or Edward. Which of these damn ‘Ed-die brothers’ would be better off with. Lain, who had hesitated because it was not easy to choose because they were both so worst, gave a long sigh after a while and said a very casual greeting.

"When can I move my luggage?"

Suddenly it's already a new year peeps. I didn't expect to be held back this long too trust me. Hope I'm not forgotten already but anyway, I hope you like this chapter. I bet you're hoping for something spicy there too but nah, not yet. One chapter left before that hshshshsh. See you when I see you. I can't really promise anything for the next update coz work and study are abt to kill me rn. But I'm not dropping. Just doing things at my own pace. And you might want to factor in my laziness too perhaps.... Mwahhh.