FK 5 [Fortune Killer] - Nevereverland

Chapter 4 (UNEDITED)

It was past rush hour, so the street was quiet. Lain, leaning against the soft seat, was driving leisurely, holding the steering wheel with his right hand. The autumn vibe was increasing little by little. Low sunshine, gentle breeze, and fairly pleasant temperature.

The weather is nice, so when he lowered the car window and drives the car without turning on the air conditioner, the pleasant wind hits his face. On such a sunny and jovial morning, the soft voice of Jason Mraz was accompanying him through the car audio. Lain, who was driving with a cheerful smile at the warm rhythm of the guitar and the sweet lyrics, for a moment, had the illusion that the music had stopped at the voice coming from behind him.

"UV rays are coming in. Raise the window."

The arrogant and obnoxious tone heard from behind made Lain glance at the human in the back seat through the rearview mirror with a sullen face. Why is he following me when I'm just going to my house to get my luggage?

"That’s why you should just stay at home."

I was happy to be alone for the first time in a while, but why do you have to be so outrageous and follow me? As Lain was thinking to himself, Edan, in his light ivory trench coat with naturally combed down hair and the sunglasses on, leaned his head against the window like a scene in a painting, and responds slowly.

"I haven't eaten breakfast.”

"That's why I said I'd set it up for you before I go.”

"I just want to see the lives of common people. I've been a star since I was a kid, so I don't know how common people live. It's a hard experience to do elsewhere, so I just want to take a look. Oh, go to the establishment you eat often for breakfast. I just want to imitate the common people."

Even though Lain was annoyed by common people this and common people that every time he spoke, he decided not to tackle the problem because it was true that he was a special case. No, rather than understand it, he decided to ignore it. He’s tired of arguing about everything.

"Why do you want to act like common people all of a sudden?”

"Just because."

As expected, and Lain let out a long sigh at Edan's reply. After barely three days of working at his side, he decided to give up treatment for his capriciousness. It's better to just let him be whimsical, but it really is the worst when he adds improvisation to his whims. There are so many things you want to do, see, and eat, and you just ought to do everything as soon as you think of it. It gives him goosebumps to think about how he would have lived if he hadn't become a star. If an average person did that, he would have been fired from his job right away and left on the street to become homeless. Well, it's impossible to live as an ordinary person with that face, but...….

"But why can't you drive?”

He'd rather meet him separately later if he could just drive since it's annoying to have to bring him around, and when Lain asks like that, Edan changes the subject.

"Just drive properly."

"……Are you really bad at driving or not? You really don't have a license?”

"You’re noisy.”

Lain didn't say anything more to his attitude of interrupting him quickly like something was bothering him and stepped on the brake after looking at the traffic light. When he stopped the car and looked outside, he noticed a large ad photo on the show window of a jeans store.

It was Edan, with only his jeans on and his top out of the picture. Standing crooked with his hands stuck in the pockets of his pants, he looks gorgeous and attractive from a distance. He’s got a beautiful figure, a slim frame, a clear six-pack engraved on his belly, and a slightly tanned sexy skin. With wet blond hair dripping on top of it, a series of depraved sexiness flows down one after another.   

He fully understands why women squeal at this lump of pheromones. Even from the perspective of a man, he is terribly provocative and sexy. Whenever he saw this photo on his way home from work, he always thought that he was truly blessed with his face and body, and Lain glanced back at the actual Edan, who sat gracefully behind him from the rearview mirror. To think that and this are the same human beings...….… honestly, he doesn’t want to believe it.

<……As expected, it is better to see celebrities from afar.>

Korean proverb of the day: It is better to see people and mountains from afar. Meaning, if you get close to someone, you’ll be disappointed by the flaws revealed which you couldn’t if you are not so close.

As he sighs a little and unknowingly utters his true feelings, Edan, who was sitting behind him, flashes his eyes at once.

"What?"

Hearing such a small murmur in Korean, even your ears are pretty damn smart.

"I didn't say much."

"No kidding. You just cursed at me in Korean, didn't you?”

The word "ghost-like bastard," again lingered on Lain's lips. He's terribly sharp-eared and quick-witted.

It refers to people who know everything even though we didn’t tell them anything about it.

"I said it was sexy. Jeans advertisement."

When Lain points to the outside, Edan, who turned around to look at it then looked back at Lain, still suspicious. Feeling the gaze, Lain quickly added.

"I always see that on my way home from work. It's nice to see it again."

It's not like he doesn't mean it at all, so when Lain took out the complaints and chose the words that he would like, Edan, who looked at Lain with a face that says something is still not right soon nodded as if he decided to believe it.

"Do you mean that? I'm the sexiest man not only in America but also in the world."

I admit it, but...… at the thought of having to say that to him with his own mouth, Lain kept his mouth shut without saying anything. He doesn’t want to agree with him that he’s right, but if he said no, he’s going to snap and make him watch the movies again, so he held it in. It's really hard to earn money.

"I'm grateful to have the honour of working next to you. Not everyone can do that."

“…….”

"Do you think just anyone has the luck to come into my villa or my bedroom? Even my parents can't enter my bedroom. Sleeping in my bedroom will be your lifetime’s worth of luck and an unforgettable memory until the moment you die."

Lain agreed that he would never forget he slept in Edan's bedroom until the moment he died. However, it's not a piece of luck or a good memory, but a nightmare that's hard to forget for the rest of his life. Last night was one of the five worst nights of his life, Lain could be sure of it.

And he could also guarantee that Edan Blake, who gave him that memory, would soon become number zero on his hit list, beating Edward Clark. How can I be so unlucky?

 

Even in the underground parking lot of the apartment they arrived shortly after, Edan naturally got out of the car and followed Lain. Somehow bothered, Lain told him to just wait in the car, but Edan, again this time, of course, did not listen to Lain.

"How can you live in a place like this? I had filmed in an apartment building for a movie, but I had to live in the same building with an unspecified number of people I didn't even know.… it's really unpleasant."

Edan continued to grumble as he got off the elevator and walked down the hallway. As a human being who was born and has lived his entire life as a chaebol, it is understandable, but for Lain, who lives in a so-called unpleasant place, it was quite inaccurate.

Although this building is a bit old and it sometimes leaks when it rains and even old enough to hear creaking sound all night if the man next door brings his girlfriend, it is still worth living here. And even if it seems like this, the rent is huge since it is located downtown.

"Does everyone on this floor share this shabby hallway?”

When Edan, who has never experienced sharing anything with other people looks around curiously at the fact that this is a shared hallway and asked so, Lain gave a long sigh and pulls out the key in front of his apartment.

"……I'm sorry for the shabbiness. That’s why I said just wait in the car."

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

"Then just enjoy your experience."

Lain, who opened the door and entered the apartment, looked back at Edan with his eyes saying, "Wanna come in or not?" Then Edan quickly enters the house and looks around.

"It's clean inside."

"Yes. What do you want to drink? Oh, there's no organic fruit, no juice, no milk. And there are no freshly roasted coffee beans.”

"Then, give me some water."

"There’s no Evian for water either. I don't have a water purifier.”

"……I don't mind.”

In response to Edan's surprisingly cool answer, Lain went to the kitchen first, opened the refrigerator door, took out the bottled water inside and handed it to Edan. Then, without much thought, he turned on the answering machine in the living room as per his usual habit. While he was looking for the suitcase that he had just put in the corner of the living room, thinking about what to bring right away, the message turned on with a beep.

[Hey, Lain. Why aren't you picking up? Please answer the phone. It’s urgent.]

The first was Ellie, as expected. Since they already talked on the phone, so pass.

[Lain! What the hell are you doing? Pick up the phone!]

The second one is also Ellie. She seems irritated too.

As he was clicking his tongue and was about to drag his suitcase into his room, a low sigh of a man can be heard from the answering machine.

[Whoo....]

The sound of his breathing, which he seemed to have heard many times, made Lain cringe with goosebumps all over his body and he stopped his pace. It was a very familiar voice. The sickening, cursed voice of a man which gives him the creeps. That's obviously....

[You're avoiding my calls.]

Lain was convinced that he wouldn't have been so surprised if the blood spilt from the shower instead of water. He was so scared of blood to the point of fainting just by seeing it spattered, but this voice was scarier than that.

[Lain, you are not going to end this relationship with me so easily.]

Are you and I father and son, brothers or cousin? So far as I know we're not even friends. You and I don't have a relationship at all that we can end, Lain really wanted to shout that from the bottom of his heart. He could say that there's really not one thing he and he might well have done that could have caused a very small, even a palpable chemical reaction.

During the three months of dealing with his divorce suit, he was busy searching for precedents and filtering out information captured by private detectives. He was, after all, the third-party lawyer, and there wasn't much occasion where he actually faced him. Both of them ran into each other about 10 times in total.

His advisory lawyer is Sam Dustin, his colleague, so he's only under Sam's command. He and he really only met, greeted, and had a few meetings. And, in fact, even then, he (Lain) ignored him a lot and loathe him because he harassed him somewhat abnormally.

He (Lain) would have avoided him on his own if he (Edward) had made a sly trick, but that’s not the case. He (Edward) just stared at him in silence. Obviously, there is never anything between them. That's why he was even more surprised when he gave him a ring right after the divorce. So once he gently refused, the man sneaked the ring in his suit jacket and ran to Sam to tell him.  

That's why he got fired.

No matter how much he thinks about it, the whole process was absolute harassment. Rather than being interested in him, he (Edward) just hated him. That's why he just tried to get him fired and finish him then and there. Even if he couldn't work for a while, he thought that he would be able to hold out for a while, but that wasn't the end of it. Even after getting Ellie's phone call, he was wondering too. What the hell did he want from me!

[I'll be waiting for your call. We have a lot to talk about.]

In an instant, goosebumps covered his whole body and Lain quickly ran to the answering machine, turned off the power, took out the phone, put it on the sofa, and covered it with a cushion. It's a shame that this was an apartment, but if this was a landed house, he would have taken his phone to the garden right away and buried it deep in the ground. He doesn’t even want to see the phone with Edward Clark's threats recorded.

Holding that phone will just corrode and melt his hands, and he dare says that the subtle sighs will haunt him over and over again if he talks on that phone once more. The moment Lain recalled the low breathing sound, he immediately covered his ears with his hands at the creeping chill.

"Argh! Argh! Crazy bastard! Don't breathe! Get out and die!”

Lain shuddered with his hands covering his ears at his rapidly progressing mental illness. The disease got worse in a few days. He’s crazy as hell. I think I'll have to leave this house as soon as possible. Now that he’s got my home phone number, it's only a matter of time before he gets my address. Who knows when he's going to barge in through that door.

"Luggage, luggage. Clothes. Cell phone charger, laptop!"

Quickly remembering the things to be packed, Lain got himself busy and went to the bedroom, roughly took out the clothes, shoes, and watches to wear right away that he almost crammed them into his luggage, and soon hurried out to the living room with a cell phone charger and a laptop. Then he grabbed the picture of his family in the living room and a bag he often used and dragged Edan by the arm.

"Hurry up and go."

"……why?"                                               

"Hurry up anyway."

Lain, who only took care of the urgent things, carefully checked that the lights were turned off, and ran out of his house like he was escaping, all the while grabbing Edan's hand in his right hand and dragging his luggage in his left hand. Then he ran frantically into the hallway and got on the elevator. And just as he was about to press the button to the underground parking lot, Edan, standing next to him, looks at Lain and asks.

"Who's on the phone?”

At the straightforward question, Lain quivered.

"……Let's not talk about him."

Shuddering as if he didn't want to even think about that person, Lain pressed the button to the underground parking lot and shook his head wildly. Edan, who was watching the scene calmly, looked down at the back of Lain's head with suspicious eyes.

After a while, he looked at Lain's right hand, which was holding his hand tightly. Something about this situation is quite strange. Suddenly, a cheesy man said something strange on the phone, and Wally came out with his luggage in surprise and grabbed his hand.

It is the first time he's held hands with someone ever since he was 10. It is also the first time it was held tightly with his fingers crossed like this. It was quite unpleasant for someone else, and a grown-up man, to hold his hand, but somehow he thought this wasn't bad.

It was clearly the hand of a man with thick joints and rough fingertips, but he didn't hate the body temperature that the hand is giving him. And strangely, the phone call bothered him. It's very strange indeed.

***

"Wally, what's going on?"

Edan, who was sitting at an outdoor cafe located near Lain’s apartment where Lain used to go, and had coffee and French toast, brought it up first in the strangely quiet atmosphere. But Lain, who was drinking coffee, pouts out his lips and frowns at his words.

"I’m not Wally."

"Anyways. What was that phone call?"

"……Just erase it from your memory."

Lain again took the cup in front of him. Edan clicked his tongue irritably at the sight. Lain with a sullen look on his face was not cute. It felt strange because the guy who kept rolling his eyes at him in all directions from the moment they first met was now calm.

"Wally."

When Edan once again mischievously calls him by that name, he doesn't answer this time. At the look on his face, Edan cut some French toast with a fork. Then he whispered quietly to Lain's mouth.

"Aah, try it."

When Lain opens his mouth reflexively at that tone, which is gentle as if he is soothing a child, Edan puts a piece of toast he was holding into his mouth. Lain, who ate the bread that Edan had put in his mouth, blinked for a moment.

Wondering what this man was doing, he suspected that he had buried something strange in this bread or picked it up from the ground, but the next moment, the piece of soft and sweet bread circled his mouth, and Lain smiled unknowingly. The bread, full of milk and eggs, and sugar and soft butter, was sweet and tender. The sensation of it melting at the tip of his tongue suddenly made him happy.

At last, Edan put down his fork with a subtle smile on his lips and reached out to touch Lain's chin.

"Good boy, Wally."

At the tickling of his chin like he was soothing a dog, Lain, who had barely felt better, gritted his teeth. He was in a low mood because of Edward Clark and he was a little grateful for his attention, but Edan just shattered his grateful heart very nicely.

This guy continues to treat people like dogs.

Lain, who was looking at Edan calmly at his hand stroking his chin, opened his lips slightly and bit Edan's finger. In surprise, Edan pulls out his hand and yelps as he bites his finger full of revenge and bad feelings for the abuse, contempt and neglect he has received over the past three days.

"What are you doing?”

"You treat people like dogs, so I’m responding."

"Did you know how much I’m worth?”

"I don't know, but if you keep coming out like this, I'll report it to the Human Rights Association. And at the same time, I will file civil lawsuits for mental abuse and defamation of character.”

Edan looks at Lain with a surprised face as if he couldn't believe it when Lain said in a firm tone that he would take civil action about his unfair treatment the moment he picks a fight over how much he was worth.

"……To bite the owner…… Why are you so spoiled, Wally?"

Seeing Edan's face, with his eyes opened slowly as he sadly whispered, Lain almost fell for it again, but this time he endured it well.

"I’m not Wally."

Seeing how he acts on the slightest provocation, guess he'll have to put it up for now, so when Lain gets his hands on the coffee cup again, Edan, who wrapped his bitten finger in a handkerchief, crossed his arm and finally called Lain's name, rarely that seriously.

"All right, Lain. What could it be? Mafia? Loan shark? Drugs?"

Lain stared at Edan with astonishment since this is the first time he called his name properly since they met. Calling his name is one thing, but seeing Edan’s serious attitude is also a first. It is the first time he’s seen his serious face except for when he suddenly asked him to go to Fire Island or do the organic farm.   

"I asked you who was on the phone earlier. Is it drugs? Or money?"

"What?"

"It looks like you're being threatened. What is it about?"

"Oh... it's not about drugs, it's not about money either."

"Then what?"

"……Crime of passion?"

If I had to classify it, it would be something like a crime of passion, Lain reiterated. Obviously, it's not a question of money or drugs. At that word, Edan showed a very subtle expression, but Lain waved his hand as if he didn't want to recall them.

"Let's stop talking about him. Just thinking about it makes me feel bad."

Edan shrugs as Lain cuts off the topic seeming like he doesn't want to talk of it anymore.

"Well, it's none of my business."

"By the way, Wally is now, uh...… is he dead?"

Edan nods when Lain asks carefully, thinking that Edan's dog was obviously raised in his childhood, so he may have run out of life now.

"Yes, I've had him since I was 13."

"But why don't you have more dogs?"

"I'm busy. I don't have time to spend with them. But I raise a lot at home.”

"A lot?"

"Wally had a lot of babies.”

"What?"

"Should I show you the picture?”

Edan was already taking out his wallet before Lain granted his permission. Before Lain's idea of how many pictures of dogs he carries around is over, Edan pulls out a picture from his wallet and pushes it in front of him. And as soon as he saw the picture, Lain couldn't help but shut up and make a rotten face.

"Cute, aren't they? The third one from the left looks the most like Wally."

"Well, I'd like to ask you a question…... Wally was a female?”

"No, male."

"But why are there so many cubs?”

"I brought them all. Oh, he’s Wally III.”

Lain seriously began to count the dogs in the small picture one by one. One, two, three...... after counting to 12, Lain gave up counting more.

"Hey, how many are there?”

As if he saw something scary, he hurriedly returned the picture to Edan, and Edan, who received the picture, replied with a big smile.

"Twenty-one. It's going to increase."

"Do your parents raise them?"

"Yes, since they are very pretty. Everyone in my family is in love with Wally. All of Wally's babies are raised by my family.”

"……You have a very unique taste."

Well, it's natural because his dogs were pretty, but when Lain mumbled because he thought 21 were a little too much, Edan, who was looking at the picture gently, started talking about the old days as if he missed him.

"Wally was Bowie’s cub from next door. I was already in love with Wally the moment I went to see him when he was born in that house. He was so pretty that I said I would raise him, but I can't because I'm still young...… Ever since Wally started walking, he has always followed me when I visit the house. As if he was begging to be with me, he always followed me and forgot to follow Bowie. One day he followed me all the way into my house. That's why I decided to raise him."

"Did the dog really follow you?"

Surprised that the cub left its mother and followed someone other than its owner, Lain blinks and waits for the next word as Edan murmurs with a gentle smile on his face.

"He had this look on his face despite being a dog. He looked at me imploringly, so I secretly tied him to a leash and took him away. If he gets into an accident on the side of the road while following me, it'll be a disaster.”

Lain, who had been listening to the story of his pure boyhood without prejudice against Edan for the first time in a while, stared at Edan with his eyes wide open at the last sentence.

"You mean you stole him after all?”

"No, he followed me."

"You stole him."

To drag a dog from another’s house on a leash is stealing, so when Lain hit the nail saying that, Edan raises his head and looks up at Lain. Then he slowly reaches out his hand and stroke Lain on his head.

"Good boy, Wally."

At Edan's attitude of messing up his hair like he was petting a dog, Lain chewed Edan's thumb mercilessly this time without hesitation.

"Ouch!"

"I told you not to treat me like a dog, didn't I?”

When Lain went all out firmly thinking that he can no longer be defeated, Edan kicks up a fuss as he looked at his right hand, which has a clear mark left by Lain’s teeth.

"And you just bite my hand? Are you crazy?"

"You won't die from that much."

"The teeth marks are so clear.”

"It'll be gone soon."

After getting used to Edan to some extent, Lain became very brazen. It's terrible to have to live with such a thing for another year, but if you want to live for another year then you have to make up your mind. There's no end to it if you keep getting swayed. For the sake of your mental health, it's better to reject things appropriately and say no when you have to say no.

"You're still very naughty, Wally."

Won’t you just knock it off? While he was thinking that, someone slapped him on the back.

"Lain! Lain, right?"

Looking back at the cheerful voice, a slightly chubby man in a nice navy suit stood behind him and was smiling at Lain. Lain, who briefly called to mind who he was, soon recognized him and smiled brightly.

"Huh? Joey? Oh, what are you doing here?”

"What's up? I just stopped by to get lunch. By the way, did you change your phone number? You didn't answer my call, so I called your house, but you still didn't pick up your phone."

"Oh, I changed my number. Why?"

"Do you have time on the weekend……. Uh, who's in front of you?"

Joey, who was greeting him in a good mood, blinked in surprise to find Edan sitting in front of Lain. He seemed to recognize Edan, but he looked like, "No way." So Lain, who was thinking about whether to properly introduce him or not in a split second decided to abandon the idea because it was too troublesome.

"My employer now. Wally Blake."

Edan's eyes got ugly at the end of the sentence. But Lain ignored that look.

"Wally? Oh, nice to meet you. My name is Joey Houston."

There is something strange about it, but openly asking if he’s Edan would hurt the New Yorker's pride, so Joey just shook hands with Edan without any difficulty and looked back at Lain.

"Didn't you hear the message I left you?"

Of course I didn't hear it. Because I buried my phone on the sofa.

"No. Why?"

"My friends from the fishing club got together and decided to go fishing this weekend. Daybreak fishing."

"This weekend?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I can't. I have an appointment with Ellie.”

As Lain shrugs since he can't help it because his appointment comes first, Joey’s eyes glitter.

"Ellie? Eleanor Ledger? Are you still seeing her?”

"Yes."

"Wow, you're so good, are you going to get married?"

Somehow, when Joey, with a wicked look, clapped his shoulder and cheered him on, Lain tilted his head.

"…… I’m indisposed to that.”

"Why? She's a bit eccentric, but she's beautiful and has a good family.”

"No matter how beautiful she is and how great her family is, that personality is hard to deal with.”

"Well. I'm going in now. Why don't we go fishing together sometime, Wally? Oh, Lain, call me if you want to talk about investment."

"I don't do stocks."

When he was asked if he needed investment consultation, Lain just waved his hand and Joey, who had just gotten the paper bag that come out of the counter, waved his hand once more and walks away without wasting any more time. Lain watched him with a look of envy.

When will I be able to work like that again in a suit? Every time it was lunch break, it was awkward to go to eat something, but now, I think I can eat whatever I want to eat. No, it's not about eating. I just want to wear a suit. While Lain let out a long sigh and lamented his situation, Edan began to look at Lain's face and spit out his irritation. 

Just a little note about Korean work culture. In many cases, teammates usually eat lunch together. That’s the natural default anyway. And if that includes your boss, then sorry to say you’re not gonna be able to escape the hierarchical system (their age and status). Meaning, you’re going to spend your lunchtime with work stuff and pleasing the boss (honestly this exists in any workplace but I’m still speechless).

At this point, you need to be extra careful about table manners (there’s a ton of it), including finishing whatever is served on your plate whether you like it or not. So, lunchtime can be quite stressful. There’s also some other dark (annoying) culture in Korea about eating with your boss/ superior but I’ll spare you the details coz this is getting longer. Just google if you’re curious.

On another note, there’s an unofficial policy that the Koreans obey which is to work overtime than what is stipulated in the contracts (they don’t get paid for that), so leaving the office before your supervisor or boss has left is frowned upon. Even if it’s lunchtime. Or even if work hours are over. Ghad, bless these poor souls.

So, I hope these little random notes could somewhat help you understand Lain although we’re in an American setting, which I doubt is this depressing just to have a peaceful lunch. Hopefully, I didn't read too much into it hahah.

"Wally Blake?"

"But you know that I couldn’t just say you’re Edan Blake."

"Why, are you ashamed of me?"

"Yes."

Edan was markedly tongue-tied at Lain's answer that was too fast. He couldn’t think of any words to follow up at all. What else can he say when he said he’s embarrassed by him.

"……What’s the deal on the weekend? Who says you can make an appointment with anyone you like?”

"Oh, it's urgent. I’m supposed to be off on weekends, right?”

"Says who?"

"The weekend is a legal holiday. I'm entitled to a day off from Saturday afternoon."

"It is legal. But I didn’t say you could take a day off."

This is pushing it too far.  

Due to Edan's childish stubbornness, Lain put down the cup he had finished drinking, checked the tab, paid for his own meal, and stood up. Seeing that, Edan hurriedly takes out a banknote and follows after Lain.

"Anyway, you can't go. You’re leaving me by myself."

"……If you keep doing this, I'll file a complaint with the Office of Labor."

"Are you going to sue me for every little thing? You can't do that. I have a schedule on Saturday.”

"What schedule?”

"If I said there is, there is. You’re not going anywhere. You're dead if you go."

"Don't be so stubborn."

"How much is your annual salary?"

Lain stopped his pace at the mention of it. Then he felt himself shrinking rapidly. The annual salary...…. how much was it again……

"Let me take a day off on the weekend, my lord."

Edan raises his chin and laughs arrogantly as though he is feeling better at Lain's sudden servile attitude.

"No, you can't."

"I made a promise. It's an important appointment, or I’ll die if I don’t go.”

"My lord. Please."

"I have something scheduled.”

"I've never heard anything like that! Where'd you get that schedule you just didn't have!"

On that account, he checks the schedule with the PDA Alex gave him, and he was completely free until next week. The only schedule he has for next week was just an interview.

"Just a moment ago, it suddenly came out. Keep that in mind."

At the abrupt change of circumstances, Edan pats Lain on the shoulder and heads to the parking lot where the car was parked, and Lain obsequiously follows Edan and begs him.

"Only from 4 p.m. on Saturday. I'll be right back after."

"You can't."

"What the hell is that schedule? What are you doing?”

"I'm throwing a party."

"What kind of party?

"You'll find out when you go."

"Just let me know before that."

When Lain persistently asks for a specific date, time and place of the party, Edan stops walking and asks Lain, who was following him from behind, seriously.

"You don't want to meet Greg Ronson?”

"……Greg?"

"Yes."

"What about Greg all of a sudden?"

"I'm calling him to the party."

I'm not going to party, though, but as Edan gently waved the bait in front of him, Lain snapped at it.

"Let's have the party.”

"Right?"

"You're right, I concur."

Along with Lain's momentum like he wants to sing a praise song for Edan right away, Edan suddenly turned around with a very subtle frown as if he was in a bad mood again.

"I won't invite Greg."

"What?"

"Suddenly I don't want to see his face. I'm quitting—I'm not throwing the party."

"Wait. Let's have the party!"

"I don't want to."

"Lord Edan! Your Majesty! Your Highness!"

Toward Edan's capricious attitude, Lain clung with his desperate face as he grabbed the hem of his coat, and it was at that moment. There was a loud noise coming from afar. Lain felt the chills at the loud noise approaching him. At the instinctive danger signal, his legs were frozen stiff, and a certain strength hugged Lain's shoulder. And the next moment he opened his eyes, the collar of a light ivory silk fabric caught his eye. Then there was a ferocious cry just above his head.

"Why can’t you drive properly?"

At the powerful shout, Lain blinked in surprise when he realized who the person hugging him now was. The chilling fear that went through his spine still remains; but still, he couldn't believe that this person unexpectedly protected him. He’s more like the kind of person who’s likely to push him into the driveway when a car or motorcycle comes near instead, and as Lain stood blankly to get a grasp of his situation, the shout went to him this time.

"You don't walk around properly either? Why are you sticking to the driveway?"

Lain barely managed to support himself as he almost fell forward due to the hard blow to the head from his strong hug. Thank you for saving me from danger, but somehow I didn't feel grateful at all.

"……I'm sorry."

"Why don’t you wear a dog collar or something."

This time, he was caught by the nape of his neck again. Edan, who grabbed the back of Lain's shirt, began to walk while pulling Lain in stride. It happened so quickly that even as he was dragged to the parking lot by him, Lain had no idea what he appears like now. Until he reads the newspaper himself the next day.

Immediately after returning to the villa, Edan grabs the nape of Lain's neck again as Lain drags his luggage to the guest room near the front door.

"Take the room next to me."

"Oh, but Alex told me to use this room?”

"I have to come out and scream if I want to call you. Just use the room next to me."

Edan proceeds to drag Lain toward his bedroom. Reluctantly being dragged, Lain just sighed and said nothing. Now he’s somewhat used to being caught and dragged by the back of his neck. Though it was more comfortable to have chosen his own way to go. Thinking of that, Lain was stirred up by his terrifying adaptability. This is why the cramming system of education is not very good.

Despite the influx of self-deprecation and self-loathing, Lain began to diligently unpack. Still, thanks to Edan, he was able to escape the apartment for now. If he (Edward) finds out his new phone number, he can just use the PDA that Alex gave him. As for job hunting, he has no choice but to calmly adapt to the given situation and stop dreaming for the time being. If there's an obstruction, there's a way out.

Edan, who saw Lain unpacking diligently without dilly-dallying, slowly stepped out of the room and walked down the hallway. As he entered his room next door, Edan, who was looking for his cell phone, found a number in the storage and pressed the call button. After a while, a woman's voice was heard.

[Yes, Jessica Holt here.]

"It's me."

[Eddie? Uh, why? You want me to write the contract?]

"It’s not about the contract; I want you to throw a party on Saturday."

[What?]

"I don’t care how you do it, just throw a party."

Jessica let out a long sigh at Edan's request to throw a party out of the blue.

[What nonsense are you talking about, calling all of a sudden?]

"Set it up anyway. A party with drama staff, or whatever you want."

[Your whim really hasn't changed, be it 20 years ago or now.]

When are you going to grow up, Jessica clicked her tongue as she was genuinely worried about Edan. She had known him since his childhood, so she has a certain attachment to Edan because it was her who actually made him debut even though he was playing hard to get, so when he said he wouldn't appear in the drama anymore, she accepted his opinion, and since then, she has been in touch with him, and he has never changed.

To put it nicely, he’s consistently blunt and capricious, and to say the least, he’s far from being mature.

"Anything is fine. Just plan it. But it must be on Saturday afternoon. And don't invite Greg Ronson to the party. Never, ever invite him."

[Why? Greg said he'd settle for the role of a prosecutor because you want that role?]

"What’s wrong with that bastard?"

[Well, for him, that role is good too. A purveyor of justice, right? He thought it'd be nice to peel off that nasty image this time. The CBN side is also positive about this. I'm a little scared of the outcome, but if you two are on the show together, they're planning to promote you guys with something like 20 years after Rain Vill, I guess.]

"Why would I be on the show with him?"

The relationship between the two was the worst in the drama and even in the reality. There are several reasons, but it was crucial that Rain Vill's Ashton role originally belonged to Greg. At the time of Rain Vill's airing, Greg was already making a name for himself as a fairly promising child actor.

So the production company chose him as the main character, but Jessica, who was the screenwriter and real director, happened to see Edan, and the moment she saw Edan, she decided, "This is Ash," and pushed Greg away to a supporting role. Even then, Jessica had a hard time persuading Edan since he didn’t want to do it. So Greg, who saw the whole situation, couldn't have looked up to Edan.  

Moreover, Edan's personality was so damn wicked. On the job, he’s hardworking, efficient and sincere, but his real personality during the production of the drama is just the exact opposite of Rain Vill's. Surprisingly, the calm, earnest, and dorky Greg was constantly pushed around by Edan's whim and petulance that by the end of the first season, Greg was already good at running away whenever Edan clicked his tongue.  

Since then, the relationship between the two has continued as it is, and even though the Rain Vill casts have had a fairly strong relationship for more than 20 years, only the two have never contacted each other. So the whole cause was Edan. Really, what a load of bullsh*t.

[Anyway, it's already been decided, so there's nothing I can do about it. I can't be swayed by your whims time and time again, so keep that in mind.]

“I won't turn up if that guy shows his face.”

[Really? But that little kid would love it.]

"Little kid?"

[The new baby manager. Do you want me to call him and let him know Greg's in the lead role?]

"…… Are you trying to fight me?”

Jessica giggles and laughs at Edan's voice, which seems to be downright unsettled.

[You must have liked him a lot.]

"Who says I like him? He's just a little... cute.”

He's shaking next to me exactly like a puppy, says Edan frankly, and Jessica bursts into a cheerful laugh.

[I'm saying you like him. What's going on? A prince who thinks he's the only one that matters is now interested in other people? That's a good sign.]

Edan curtly refuted Jessica's remarks, which seems like she was praising her five-year-old son's first love.

"I'm just saying he’s cute, I didn't say I'm interested in him."

[Oh, you must be really interested in him. It's a pity that the first person you liked since you were born is a man, but I hope you get along well with him as a friend. And don't go beyond that. I know once you like him, you won’t hesitate to take any damage.]

"Don't go beyond what?"

[First love is a scary thing. Just by looking at what you did to Wally, I’m worried since you're the type to fall really deeply when you’re in love. Because once you set your sight on something, that's the only thing you can think of. To put it nicely, you have good focus, and to put it the other way around, you’re ridiculously simple. The problem is that you don't care about the surrounding situation at all. You just rush into it ignorantly. If you don’t even think about the other person's perspective admitting that you do like him, it's over.]  

In addition, Edan's attitude was also a big problem, such as who dares to interfere when he says he likes someone. So Edan was truly the type of person who lived thinking that everyone loved, worshipped, and went crazy about what he liked. It doesn’t make sense to him that anyone would disagree with him or object to his opinion. What he thinks is right is right, and everything he says is good is all good. When someone says no to what he likes, he explodes terrifyingly. He’s literally uninhibited, in and of itself.

So far, Edan has only ever liked two things. Throughout his life, there were just these two things: Wally and acting, so there was not much to worry about. He rarely drank, he didn’t smoke, he wasn’t interested in drugs, and he wasn’t fond of women very much. Edan Blake has spent his entire life relying on Wally and organic food to live.  

He knew his position well so he was more careful about his private life, but more than that, he had no reason to cause trouble with things like alcohol, women or drugs because those things were completely out of his interest. Edan thinks only one thing, and never two things. 

It means looking at only one aspect of something and missing the entire situation of it, like not seeing the bigger picture. Sorry, I don’t know the English equivalent of it, hence the literal translation. Hope you geddit anyway.

As a result, he sometimes showered a little too much interest and affection. That's exactly what he did to Wally. Edan's overprotection and affection for Wally were so serious that when Wally slightly stretched the ligaments of his hind legs, he called in 30 veterinarians from all over the country for diagnosis. Among them, his favourite doctor's hospital even installed an expensive animal MRI exclusively for Wally.

In addition, there was a time when Wally bit Edan in anger because he tied him up in a room full of cushions and hindered him from moving around, saying that Wally will get hurt if he go out and play. Come to think of it, Wally must have hated Edan very much. No, rather than hate him, it’s more like he was annoyed at him. So looking back, it was Edan's one-sided affection.    

The only difference between a stalker and Edan is that Edan is handsome (?bruh wut?). It’s no different from obsessing over a star. No, Edan's is worse. It was such a serious attachment that when Wally died, Jessica seriously advised Alex to hire about ten reliable psychiatrists. Well, fortunately at the time, Wally II and III were born one after another, so it was less shocking.

Even so, he built a separate charnel house inside a private villa, with the ashes of his cremated dog placed in a gold box and he even went to see it every year… but no matter how hard it is, Edan's obsession is a bit unusual. In addition, the crucial problem with Edan is that he gives affection in ways that the other person does not want. Besides, he can't stand rejection. Edan Blake is an unusual human being who, when he really loves something, he loves insanely a lot. His life itself is like a movie.  

"You know, it's natural to be grateful and happy to be liked by Edan Blake, right? You're saying there's someone who refuses my affection?”

[That attitude is the problem. Everyone has different tastes.]

"They can have different tastes, but there is only one royal road. No one can reject me. Regardless of age or gender."

[……Yes, you're the greatest.]

If, just in case, it will never happen, but...… If Edan really fell in love with the baby manager, something terrible would happen, thought Jessica in her head. Maybe Edan will push ahead no matter what and the baby manager will run away with disgust. Then Edan will get angry and spit fire, asking why he doesn't like him back, and then if he keeps refusing...….

Jessica stopped her delusional thinking because she didn't want to think anymore. Whatever it is, something very funny and scary will happen. This is why people who live with high taste are a problem.

"Stop talking nonsense and throw the party."

[Okay. Let's have the party since the main casts are practically decided. You have to show your face to the investors, so I'll set it up even though the schedule is tight. I'll try to make it on Saturday afternoon, so don't run away again.]

"……Just hurry up and set it up."

[Okay, then I'll hang up.]

"Bye."

After the short call, Edan put his cell phone on the table, went to the dressing room, changed into comfortable clothes, and headed out to Lain's room. Standing in front of Lain's room, Edan leaned against the doorframe in a slanted position and looked around the room.  

In the small room decorated for guests, Lain was diligently putting his clothes in the closet. There wasn't much of his belonging for a piece of luggage. Edan looked at Lain's back as he organized the room carefully and neatly.

At first glance, he doesn't have a very noticeable appearance. But he had a cute and pretty face. Clean, smooth, round and comely. The more he looked at it, the more he didn't get tired of it, and rather, the more he liked it. For people who are used to flashy things, it might not be good enough, but it’s certainly not bad for Edan's taste.

Edan, who thought that far, calmly began to openly size up Lain. He's quite tall, but his stature is a bit small. He’s Asian, so I'm sure he’s just skinny since he has no muscles and not much flesh. Seeing how he eats, I think I know why he doesn’t gain weight. Naturally, he doesn’t gain weight because he hates greasy and salty foods and he only touches plain bread or fried eggs.

What’s more, it seems that everything he eats will just disappear seeing how much he bustles about. It's definitely cute though. Anyway, he's just a little cute. It's never enough for Jessica to worry about. In the first place, it was impossible for me to like someone. Although sometimes scandals did spread around with actresses when we play lovers in the movies, that was because I was overly obsessed with the role, not because I really liked the other person. I mean, I think Lain is just a little, only a little bit cute.

"Of course, since he looks like Wally."

At Edan's small murmur as he leans against the door, Lain, who had just finished arranging his clothes, looks back at Edan with his glaring eyes popped open. To the feisty response, Edan hurriedly changes the subject.

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

"Coffee."

"I’m going to leave your clothes at the laundry, so if you can, give them to me."

"Yes. And there will be a party on Saturday with the drama staff, producers and actors. It won't be big, since it’s just the cast members and the staff trying to get to know each other, so write it down on my schedule accurately. And cancel your appointment quickly.”

Admiring Edan for ultimately creating the schedule, Lain shrugged his shoulders, ready to be beaten to death by Ellie. He just hoped she can finish it off with a few slaps on the back. He’s really sorry for Ellie, but he can't help it. In fact, he’d rather watch celebrities than have dinner with Ellie's father. And above all...….

"Is Greg coming to the party too?”

When Lain with his eyes sparkling asks Edan that, Edan with his disapproving face asks Lain back with his arms crossed.

"……Do you like him that much?”

"Yes."

"Where? Give me one thing Greg Ronson is better than me."

"Personality."

Edan was furious at Lain's answer which was so fast and accurate, but he could not refute it. Greg is definitely better with regard to personality. He had to admit it. No, to tell the truth, Greg had a pretty good personality among the celebrities. None of the actors he’s worked with so far have been so magnanimous at that level. He hates Greg, but that's the only thing he has to admit.

"Tell me three things, not just one. What are the other two?"

"Why all of a sudden?"

"If he's better than me, there must be a reason, right? Convince me."

"……Is there a reason why I like him? It's just my taste."

"What kind of taste is that? People, instinctively, tend to be attracted to the better side. It's about liking someone superior to them, identifying themselves with that superior person, and filling in their current grievances. That's why you have stars. People like the ideal human form that they envy, admire and want to copy. So if you like him more than me, doesn't that mean he's better than me? So try to convince me of that. What I'm lacking."

"Personality."

Lain answered Edan's question without hesitation.

Edan's words were all correct. There are definitely people who fall in love with stars, and that is because there was a kind of vicarious satisfaction that they felt while looking at people who were better than themselves. Copying their style and following what they wear, eat and drink is also their way of trying to identify themselves with the star.

That's why large corporations spend a lot of money on advertising stars. Edan is absolutely right. But sometimes some people have different standards. Lain, in particular, values personality. In that sense, Edan is out.

"Not that one. Something else.”

"What do you think you're gonna do?”

"Then I'll fix it.”

"Well, fix your personality first."

"I can't fix that. So I'll fix something else."

Lain showed a bitter face when he saw Edan, who proudly proclaim that his personality is his sanctuary so don’t mess with it, which means that he had no intention or reason to change at all.

"Then, what else are you gonna fix?"

"I'll make you like me more than Greg."

"What are you going to do if I like you?"

When asked by Lain, who hit the mark, Edan keep silent. What he was trying to do by making Lain like him was a question that Edan himself could not answer. There was a time when Alex, Jerry, Melissa, and even his own real family, sometimes looked at him and went, "You did it better than Greg." but inwardly "Damn you bastard."   

But it didn't matter at the time. It doesn't matter if they like Greg more than they like him, or if they quit their job to work with Greg. But somehow he doesn’t like how this puppy's eyes keep shining on Greg.

Just like how it is very unpleasant to think of Wally sleeping next to his mother and not next to him every night. He was the one who fed him, put him to sleep, dressed him, walked him and bathed him, but strangely, Wally preferred his mother. Sometimes, when he forced him to sleep with him, he kicked him, stepped on his face, and ran away from him, and he was always hurt, but that's exactly how he felt.

"You have to like me no matter what.”

"Why?"

"Because I pay you."

In response to Edan's stern and clear answer, Lain briefly put together his logic into his head.

No law stipulates that an employee must like the employer. Of course, in civil litigation, there are often cases where the employee is fired if found guilty of using abusive language against the employer. But that is illegal in all respects. In any case, there is no clause in the employment contract that says, "You must like your employer."  

If there is, things may change a little, but guidelines are guidelines for now. It is equivalent to the fact that a prenuptial agreement has no legal effect. So, Lain judged that this doesn't make sense at all. It is an offence and against the law to expect further emotional exchanges just because he hired him.

When Lain stared at Edan with a face wondering if he should ask him to buy a book on labour law, Edan also noticed the meaning behind that look. At Lain's scrutiny, who seemed to look at him as if he was retarded, Edan began to scream at Lain again with a fit of temper.

"Did you write the movie reviews?"

"……I couldn’t have written it."

"Write it down quickly. You've watched five movies, so that will be 25 pages. Do some cleaning, leave my clothes at the laundry, water the flower bed, cook the meal, and get those 25 pages of review done by midnight today. Write it in your own handwriting.”

Lain opened his eyes wide at Edan's sudden attack.

"Wait, do you really want me to do all that?"

"Yes."

"Um, that's a little too much."

"You don't want to do it?"

"No, that’s not it, I mean, just calculate the time. It makes no sense to clean this big house, go grocery shopping, leave your clothes at the laundry, and then hand-write 25 pages of reviews by midnight."

"Then how long will it take?"

In response to Edan's expression asking him to tell the time it takes, Lain nodded after calculating the time it would take to complete this and that in detail for a while.

"Until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow."

"All right, I'm a generous person, so I'll understand that."

Usually, employers don't tell their employees to write reviews after watching their movies, but when Lain was about to say that, he turned around in a hurry because his mouth feels sore to argue anymore. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he asks Edan again.

"And Greg's coming to the party, right?”

"After I saw you do what I say."

"What do I have to do?"

"……Well.”

"I'm ready to do anything with my whole body, milord."

Lain looked eagerly at Edan, who was instantly elevated from a "motherf*cker" to "milord." 

He never imagined that he would have the luck to meet Greg Ronson in his life, but if he could see him right in front of him at the party instead of a fan signing event or premiere, it would not be a waste to call Edan "milord.”  

Actually, he’s not really a big fan of Greg Ronson, but he’s excited to be able to meet him in person. It was good to see Edan, but Greg was his kind of role model. Thinking that he has been living like Gary in Rain Vill since he was a kid, Greg Ronson himself has become his role model.  

And Greg is actually a very hardworking man. Although he is not one of the top actors like Edan, he is definitely one of the first-class actors and although it is not enough to sweep the awards, he is always nominated. Rather than being the top player, he was the type who always chose the right role for him and continued to perform his duties faithfully. So if Edan was a bestseller, Greg was a steady seller.

Of course, putting Edan who’s the best and not on the same level with a steady person makes the steady Greg less prominent, but Lain liked the steady side anyway. He was more affectionate to him because he was the type to get back as much as he tried just like him.

"Are you really going to do anything?”

When Edan snuck a look at his earnest face and asked him that, Lain nodded resolutely.

"Just say it."

"Great. Let's get out of here."

"What?"

"Let's go shopping. Since there will be a party, of course, there will be a need for new clothes. Let's go."

"Again?"

Wondering how long it has been since they came in, Lain showed a pitiful face on purpose as he was tired, and Edan cuts off his words at once.

"Greg, should I have not invited him?”

"I'll be ready right away."

In an instant, Lain, who became servile again, quickly grabbed the key to his car. Edan smiles at the sight. The annoying face quietly reminded Lain of a Korean program. Dispatch SOS, aren't you going to save a slave lawyer from being exploited in New York? 

Alright, there was once a Korean reality program that aired on SBS called 긴급출동 SOS 24, Emergency Dispatch SOS 24 if translated, and it has almost the same name as what Lain is referencing, and that show is actually a program that covered events in troubled families or areas, finds out the problem, and solves the problem according to the opinions of experts. They covered issues like abuse, slavery, etc but there were controversial issues on the show and the depiction of violence was a bit too much (they said it was real reporting, so not much censoring is done) and there are suspicions that some incidents were edited and manipulated. I dunno much abt this tbh, and it was last aired in April 2011. This reality show was pretty much got buried at that time. And our Lain is just hoping for that show to save him… *virtual hugs to Lain

 

Fortunately, it was after lunchtime and after driving down the quiet street, Lain arrived at 15th Street and whistled at the huge Gucci building standing in the middle of the street. It was a larger and much more spectacular building than the one on Fifth Avenue, the shopping street.  

The store, which is known to sell only Gucci limited-edition products, had its exterior made of glass so you can have a clear view of the inside, and because of this he sometimes passed by and wondered who would frequent there, but here he came. As he slowly drive down the street and headed to the parking lot thinking that it’s been a while since he was blinded, Edan threw a word from his side.

"Simple is better, right?”

"I guess so?"

"Versace is too fancy. Dior Homme is too minimal."

"Is that so?"

"Hey, you should know a little bit about the luxury line. That's how you can have a good eye on things better."

To work with Edan in the future, he will surely need some information on it, but it was still unclear why he, the lawyer himself should heighten his good eye for Edan. Lain, who looked sideways while thinking, "Are you going to leave me the stylist job too because I have a high salary?" soon denied the possibility.

Even if he just puts on a rag, he’s the kind of person who dresses anything well. I wondered if he’s someone who really needs a stylist, but I don't think he'd make me do that. It might be more possible that he wants me to pick out clothes and then nagged me nonstop just to annoy me.

"I like this store. It's spacious and quiet."

Lain was not interested because it was a store that had no connection to his life anyway. Well, if his annual salary is maintained as it is for the rest of his life, he'll be spending a lot of money at Gucci stores, but his future is still uncertain. So it's better to save it as much as he can.  

Although he uses luxury suits, shoes and bags to meet the client's standard, he buys them in time for department store sales at best - he won't even touch a no-sale brand - so there is no reason to come in and out of high-end stores that sell limited-edition products. 

Brands (luxury brands specifically) that do not offer discounts, meaning it doesn’t matter when you buy it, the price is fixed.

So Lain's concern now was not the glamour and cosiness of that store, but rather the presence of Edan Blake next to him.

"……They’re all good…… Why did you sit in the passenger seat today?”

It goes without saying, when Edan, who always sat in the back seat treating him like a servant suddenly got on the passenger seat, it feels very uncomfortable and awkward. He felt so much pressure to the point where he wondered if the Jaguar could be this narrow. He couldn't see him swearing when he was riding in the back but sitting next to him, he couldn't even curse and was about to go crazy.  

"I'm rewarding you for working a lot. Be happy that I'm sitting next to you and work harder.”

It's not a reward, it's a punishment, Lain wanted to say that, but he closed his mouth. Why are you suddenly doing something you've never done before? It's only been three days since they worked together, but he has figured out all of Edan's bad temper so he wanted to keep as far away from Edan as possible. That way, he can curse him secretly.

"It's a light party, so a semi-formal suit will do. People who show up in tuxedos for parties are the tackiest."

I don't want to know and I don’t need to know that, thinking so as he pulled into the parking lot of the building, Edan gets out of the car first. Lain also unfastened his seat belt and hurriedly follows him, as Edan, who was wearing a bright knit shirt and jeans instead of the trench coat he wore in the morning, strode first with sunglasses on.

Following after him, who drew great attention even though he was just walking, Lain felt self-conscious at the thought that it was as if he had become his dog. The difference is too much. Edan, who walks at the high-end store parking lots imposingly, gracefully, even overwhelmingly, and he, chasing after him like a doggie. Why does this guy have such damn long legs and wide strides? Did he save the universe in his previous life?

Gasping and running along him nearly as fast as he can, Edan pauses and looked back, standing tall.  

"Come on. Why are you so slow?"

"You're too fast."

Saying so, Lain quickly comes to his side as Edan glances back at Lain, then he clicks his tongue and walks again. But this time, it was a little slower so he could catch up. As he followed him into the store at a diligent pace, the staff inside recognized Edan as their eyes wide opened.   

As those people come running to greet him, Edan greeted them back with a slight nod. His manner is neither arrogant nor stiff but gentle and polite instead when one of the staff rushed to Edan to guide him to the menswear store. Edan was very much kind and nice to her too.

Lain was rather dumbfounded by the 180-degree difference from when he was with him. Why is "Hey!" the default for him instead of calling his name properly and why is this human being who often vents his criticism and always grabs him by the neck going around being so kind and friendly to others? Even as he went upstairs on the escalator, Lain was staring at Edan like he couldn't believe it, wondering if that was really him. This man just didn't seem like him. Maybe he was swapped in the parking lot.

"Lain, come on."

When Edan, who arrived at the menswear store first and spoke to him in a soft tone, Lain trembled with goosebumps all over his body.

"What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"What?"

"Why are you smiling?"

Just scream and shout, mumbles Lain in his mouth since he's sick of it, and to that, Edan smiles and jokes to the store staff who’s approaching him.

"This guy's a little naughty. I'd like to see a suit. A light semi-formal suit. It’s for a party, but not too fancy."

"Aha, you're getting ready for a party. Please come this way."

When a woman dressed in a sophisticated black suit says so in a graceful tone and guided Edan, Edan followed after her into the store where the suits were hung and sat down on a velvet sofa. Lain, who followed him, falters and sits next to Edan and once he sits, Edan points to Lain and says.

"It's not me, it's this guy who's going to wear it, and a silver tone would be good, right?”

Lain was so surprised to the point that he almost jumps off the sofa. He never imagined they'd come to buy his own outfit. When Lain looks at Edan with his eyes wide open, thinking about what he ate wrong on the way, the staff smiles and responds to Edan.

"Oh, are you giving him a present?”

"He's a new guy. He doesn’t have a proper suit yet, so I'm going to buy him one.”

At Edan's remarks, which seemed like he has become a generous, big-hearted, and very kind employer, Lain raised his hand and waved it in front of Edan. At his action, Edan just looks with a gentle smile on his lips.

"Why?"

"How many are these?"

When Lain waved his two fingers as if asking, "Are you crazy?" Edan grabs Lain's hand and gently puts it down as he smiles at the staff.

"He's a bit of a playful guy. Please show me the suit first.”

"Oh, you're so kind. Would you like your usual coffee for a drink?"

"Yes."

"What about you?"

Lain hesitated for a moment before nodding his head at the gaze that suddenly flew at him.

"Oh... coffee for me, too."

"Well then, I'll show you some new items. I think silver or dark grey would look good on him, do you want me to prepare that line?"

"Yes. As simple as possible."

"Certainly, I'll have it ready soon."

As the woman approaches the apparel on display, Edan smiles and clenches Lain's hand tightly. But the power was so strong that Lain had to struggle to swallow the scream that was about to burst.

"It hurts……."

When Lain begged him to let him go, Edan sat right next to him and whispered with a smile into Lain’s ear.

"Don't talk nonsense. I always smile in public. Okay? I always smile unconditionally when there are people on the street. I smile even when there's a camera. I smile when people look at me in the car, and I smile when people look at me in the store. Now, smile. Look happy. Look cheerful. I want you to smile like you're dying of joy to have an employer like me. Come on, smile."

Still clenching his hand tightly, Edan was smiling, all the while saying it as if threatening him. The smile scared him so much that Lain nodded that he would do it no matter what. However, Edan emphasizes once again as he was not satisfied with that alone.

"I said smile."

Looking at Edan who’s clenching his teeth with a natural and refreshing smile, Lain did his best to show a plausible smile awkwardly. As he forcibly smiles as if he is dying of happiness just like he said, Edan's hand falls off of him. And in the meantime, a staff who brought about two clothes talks to Lain.

"For now, why don't you try it on?”

"Eh?"

"We have a fitting room ready. Would you like to try on the silver first? Since you are dressed casually, I will also prepare a shirt for you." 

"What? Yes, yes."

When he gets up from his seat and enters the fitting room guided by the staff, the staff hands over a purple dress shirt and suit together.

"Let me know if you need any help."

"Yes."

Lain, who came into the spacious fitting room in the confusion of the moment, was tongue-tied by the fact that not only the fitting room was huge and flashy but also of the splendour of the store. The privileges of rich people are really beyond imagination.  

"This is why you have to make money.”

For that purpose, Lain once again vowed to curry favour with that foul Edan. If he can keep pace with that person's temper, he can get one million instead of half a million a year. One year of hard work for 10 years of comfort is definitely not bad.

The moment he took off his T-shirt and put on the purple dress shirt, Lain couldn’t help but exclaim. He never told her the size, but the clothes fit him perfectly. Admiring the terrifying eyes of the staff, Lain took off his jeans, put on the pants, and lastly put on the jacket, and seeing his reflection in the mirror, Lain once again gaped at himself.

"Really..... Clothes make the man."

The one-button-type silver jacket accurately reached his pelvic line, and the lining made it light and comfortable as if he was not wearing it at all so his waistline was clearly revealed. The pants were also designed to show the body shape without being too fit.

Lain was a little vexed at the sight of himself looking a thousand times better than when he wore other suits.   

"All celebrities look good because they dressed up, aren’t they?"

He knew that makeup effect was scary, but he didn't expect even clothes could be this scary. He just changed his clothes, but even his person look different.

This is why everyone likes luxury brands, thinking so as he straightens his clothes and comes out of the fitting room, the staff claps her hands dramatically.

"As expected, it looks good on you. What do you think, Edan?”

When Lain looks back at Edan in response to the staff's feedback that seems to like it, Edan nods his head with a crabby face.

"…… Well, it's all right."

"Is it not to your liking?"

"Let's look at something else. Grey. And black and navy, please. With a simple design that doesn't stand out. And shoes. To fit each design."

"Oh, right. Please wait a moment."

In an instant, only the two of them were left in the store so Lain could only stare at Edan blankly as the staff ran somewhere looking excited. Edan, who was sitting on the sofa and still looking at Lain with a crabby face, soon stood up from his seat and approached Lain and walked around him as if he were evaluating him. Then he stops, runs his eyes up and down at Lain, and immediately grabs Lain's chin.

"Face completes the style…… the problem is your face."

Lain gritted his teeth as he responded to Edan, who showed his true colours again as soon as the staff disappeared.

"Sorry for being ugly."

"Yes, you should be sorry. It's pollution, pollution."

Lain also began to get angry at Edan, who grabbed a person's face and scrutinized him this way and that way and verbally abused him. He’s not very handsome, but he’s never been told he’s ugly – he’s been told he’s pretty a lot - so it hurts his pride to hear that he’s ugly like this. In particular, it is more upsetting that the person who says that is Edan, so he cannot even refute anything.

"Then Wally is pollution, too.”

"Who's the pollution?”

Lain quickly changed the subject to Edan's reaction, who seemed to snap now that he’s badmouthing Wally.

"You said I look like Wally?"

"It was then, but not now. You dare compare yourself to him? But how come you look so ugly? You're so damn ugly."

"……Then don't look at me and just live your life, can’t you?"

"You need to change your face. No. Surgery isn't going to work. You have to be born again.”

For some reason, the way he talks is full of petulance. His tone is just like he’s trying to pick a fight with him again, and feeling annoyed, Lain narrowed his eyebrows and asks him in a gentle tone instead.

"Why are you being mean again?”

"Because you're ugly."

"Then don't look."

"How can I live without seeing? Yeah, there's a good way. Just put on a mask."

You know, the Scream mask, and Lain retreated in horror at Edan's earnest attempt like he really wants to put that mask on him.

"I'm not that bad. I’m worth looking at, too.”

"Who says you’re worth looking at?"

"Ellie."

"Who’s that?"

"My friend. She said I have a pretty face.”

"What's so pretty about this face? So ugly. You’re damn ugly.”

Edan continued to talk as if it is compulsory to do so. Lain doesn’t know why, but his sarcastic behaviour feels really hurtful, so he quickly remonstrated with him.

"What's wrong with you? I didn't do anything wrong."

"Your look is a crime in itself."

The word "rotten son of a b*tch" almost popped out of Lain's mouth at the moment, but Lain endured it well.

In fact, if it was all about money, he wanted to go out right away and shout "You’re dirty and cheap and I don't want to work with you!" but unfortunately, Edward Clark is standing there in the distance now. Edward Clark or Edan Blake, clearly... Edward Clark might be better off.  

At that moment, Lain began to get lost in his agony as he was thinking seriously about whether Edward would be better off or not. He's a little crazy, but he doesn't harass people like this. Ah, instead that guy will keep on staring and flashing his teeth at him. Come to think of it, it's not very good over there either. Well, you have to have a choice first before you choose or not to choose...….

"The shoes are ready."

At the voice of the staff that had come back inside the quiet store, Lain quickly turned around and welcomed her as if he had met a saviour. In relief now that Edan will return to his pretentious mode again, Edan approaches from his back and pats Lain on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'll pay for it, so feel free to choose. To your heart's content."

When Lain opened his eyes in surprise at Edan's sudden turn to pretentious mode, the staff's eyes flickered for a moment, as if she could see it coming up.

Looking at Edan, who was tapping his shoulder, and wondering what's wrong with him again, he smiles and whispers quietly into Lain's ear.

"Instead, I'll deduct it from your salary.”

At that moment, Edan was demoted from “milord” to “motherf*cker” again.  

 

"I learned a major lesson in life today.”

[What?]

"If you film Pretty Woman, you'll go bankrupt."

[What’s that?]

"I bought 4 suits and 5 pairs of shoes, and they were thirty thousand dollars. Thirty thousand dollars for an hour's shopping."

That evening, Lain, who came back from the Gucci store carrying a bunch of packages, called Ellie and complains to her. He doesn't know if he was out of his mind in the store earlier, but he bought all of the clothes that he gave him, but when he came to his senses, he remembered the amount on the receipt and felt like hitting his head on the window until he died.

[That's the price of an Hermès bag. Just let it slide. Edan Blake has a pretty good eye.]

"It doesn't matter what his taste is! What about my tuition loan?"

[But didn’t you actually get all the money from Edan?]

Lain burst into a rage at Ellie's convenient words.

"If I were you, I’ll take it. But it's because you don't know him."

Everyone in the world is fooled by him, Lain exclaims, but Ellie still goes on in a casual tone, unconcerned.

[Then there’s nothing you can do. So you don't like the clothes?]

"……. No. I like it. The problem is because I like it so much. I think I desperately understand the feelings of women who become a shopaholic. I want to buy everything. Plus, I was absent-minded with him paying with the multi-purpose card next to me."

[That's how it is. That's why you can't come out on Saturday, right?]

As if to stop Lain's nonsense, Ellie simply tidied up her business, and Lain nods.

"Yes."

Come to think of it, he called her because of that matter, but he just talked nonsense. He’s prepared to do anything since he broke his promise with her for this Saturday, but Ellie unexpectedly moves on.

[It can't be helped. Well, just think positive. I guess you must have made a decent closet while you're at it, and you know it doesn’t matter if you sponge off him. And most of all, how long can you escape from Edward Clark's spell? Just live quietly like a dead mouse, for the time being.]

At Ellie's advice to think of it in a good way, Lain vented his anger again.

"Edward Clark! You son of a b*tch! What kind of enmity did you and I have in the past life to put me in this state of ruin!"

[Well, you have no choice but to leave it to luck.]

Against Ellie's heartless response as if it was none of her business, Lain pressed down on his throbbing head hard.

"Edan Blake in front, and Edward Clark at the back. I really want to die."

I feel like there's an alien in front and an anaconda at the back. I can't do this and can’t do that. No matter where I go, there are really only ways to die.

[Lain, be realistic and positive. If you play well on whichever side, you'll be lucky. What's the problem with money in both hands?]

"What's money in both hands? One side is treating me like a dog and the other is going to destroy me?”

[That's what you’re saying...… I think he'll give you a yacht if you say yes? If it's Edward Clark.]

"Anyway, I don't like him."

[It's for your own good. At any rate, you have two rich men you can hit on on both sides, so be happy. All you have to do is put an iron plate on your face and your whole life will bloom.] 

It means to be shameless, or brazen-faced.

"I'll spread out the iron plate when the other person is decent."

[They’re not bad at all. Both of them have weird personalities, but they have good looks, and they have a lot of money.]

"It's a problem because they can't go beyond money and face."

[Well, that’s a blessing too. Anyway, see you soon. You better be in perfect shape the next time I see you.]

"Okay."

[Then I'm hanging up.]

"Yes."

At the end of the brief call, Lain gave a long sigh. At least, after talking to Ellie on the phone, he seemed to feel a little better. Even though she's like a brother to him - Ellie insists they’re sisters - instead of a girlfriend, she is a good friend anyway.

"I'm blessed with my friends, but why not with my clients….."

Lain lets out a long sigh, lamenting that somehow every client who gets entangled with him is like Edward and Edan. His luck with his clients is really nonexistent.

***

A black car was running smoothly down the street.  

Edward Clark, who was on his way to work early in the morning for a breakfast appointment, was leisurely browsing the morning newspaper, leaning against the car seat. While browsing through a series of trivial articles, his eyes suddenly fell on the photo on the front page of the tabloid.

In the first photo, the famous Edan Blake was hugging a face that he knows quite well. And the next photo was a shot of the two people walking on the street together.

"Oh, my…. I was wondering where you went, and you hid so well.”

As he tapped on the photo in the article with his fingertips, Edward let out a low laugh. No wonder he seems to escape from me so easily. I'm sure he's not such a savvy person, but when I asked around where he went to, he magically erased his traces and disappeared, and who would’ve thought he was with the famous Edan Blake.

"This man has a talent for beguiling people.”

Edward smiled wryly as he thought of Lain, who had been seducing him with his innocent face. He looked at me as if he wanted me so desperately, but he’s such a heartless man that he dumped me as soon as I got divorced and proposed to him. He is a playboy who attracts and discards men as if they were his collection, but once they fell in love with him, they couldn't get out of it.

"This time it's Edan Blake.”

Even the unconquerable Edan could do little to resist Lain’s temptation, Edward concluded.

For Edward Clark, the man named Lain Jang was an incarnation of the femme fatale himself. I couldn't keep my head on straight because of how transparently cunning the way he looks at me. How could he be so cold for that kind of matter. You've made me crazy for you and now you're officially dating someone, so are you asking me to go to a mental hospital?…..

You really are a cold cat. Edward, peering at the photo in the newspaper, called his secretary sitting in the passenger seat.

"Chris."

"Yes."

"Learn about Edan Blake. Every little thing."

"All right."

"And check where Lain is now."

Chris hesitated for a moment at Edward's instruction. This was because he was well aware of what caused the irrational and bizarre behaviour his employer had shown over the past few days.  

"Chris?"

In the heavy silence, Edward calls the name again, and the man replies calmly with a nod.

"……Okay."

Listening to the answer, Edward once again looked at the photo in the newspaper on his lap. Then he slowly groped the picture with his fingertips.

"Wait, sweet kitten."

 

I forgot to remind you guys to bring your slippers since the last chapter. See how many times a certain someone needs all those good smackings here???? Coz you won’t be able to later. Trust me. Hshshshhshsshhh.

^{Btw, I hope you know what you signed up for when you start reading this novel.}

Wish I could see you guys sooner but there is just so much going on with my life right now, for the better of course. And you might not need this info but I’m just telling you that this chapter is worth 10 -13 updates in one go. And I still don’t feel like splitting the chapter. Haha. And good news, I’ve already translated the whole novel. The bad news is, I’m still busy. See you soon anyway. Mwahh. Thanks for being patient with me.