IH Ch 184

Chapter 184

Jae-i had turned a crisis into opportunity in his own way.

He must have been pressured from all sides to resolve matters quickly after Hwang Hajin’s death, yet he had seized the most advantageous position at the negotiation table.

He’s handling everything on his own just fine.

“…Then even the things he said earlier today will get buried on their own.”

Every time the videos showed Hajin behaving like a deranged disaster, Jae-i’s remarks would only gain more strength.

Regardless of blood ties, Hwang Hajin had become someone whose mere existence brought nothing but harm.

“……”

So why had he been wasting time posting comments, worrying unnecessarily?

Jae-i didn’t need him at all.

He handled everything beautifully on his own.

Among Lee Myeonghwan’s remnants, only the last one remained.

And Dohwa—who belonged to that very tail end—was the same.

It was time to disappear for good.

Rubbing under his eyes with the back of his hand beneath the lowered hood, Dohwa lifted his head.

At that moment, someone walked into the PC bang.

A tall figure.

A solid, powerful build.

And a face so striking anyone could recognize it from a hundred meters away.

Clear golden hair, red eyes contrasting vividly—an unmistakably sharp gaze landing exactly on him.

Dohwa stopped short, stumbling backward.

“…Uh?”

The foolish sound did not come from him.

The employee at the counter, glancing up at the new customer, froze with eyes bulging as if they would pop out. He scrubbed his eyes with his fist, looked again—and the entrance was empty.

“What??”

Maybe he’d imagined it?

Had Hwang Jae-i really just walked in?

He wanted to confirm, but nearly everyone in the PC bang wore headsets, absorbed in games.

If he bothered someone, he’d just get cursed out.

Flustered, the employee clutched his phone, set it down, clutched it again—and groaned in frustration, pounding his chest.

There was no mistaking Hwang Jae-i for someone else.

Which meant the man he’d just seen was Jae-i.

But how?

He’d left no trail.

He’d covered his movements well.

Confusion swirled—but first, he had to escape.

Dohwa darted out the back door and sprinted up the stairs.

Before reaching the rooftop, he slipped out a window, vaulted up a pipe onto the neighboring building, leapt across to another, then dropped midway down using window frames and signs as footholds. He rolled lightly across a worn tarpaulin and rose at once.

Next to the PC bang was a market; if he slipped between its tents, he could hide easily.

Don’t run anymore. Crawl into some corner and disappear.

But—his pursuer was Jae-i.

He had to run farther. As far as he could.

Dohwa hurried, legs tripping over themselves.

“……”

As he ran desperately, a strange thought hit him:

Why am I running like this?

Is Jae-i dangerous to me?

No.

If Jae-i saw him running as if terrified, he’d be hurt.

Deeply.

It would wound him.

You’re not the problem. I am.

If you stay with me, you’ll be dragged into things you never asked for.

You’ll have to make excuses you don’t owe anyone.

What right do I have to remain by your side?

Sometimes Dohwa had worried about the way Jae-i handled things—but every time, Jae-i had turned crisis into victory.

He was brilliant.

He would overcome anything.

As long as I’m gone…

“Dohwa-ya!!”

“……”

The shout shattered the quiet alley like a thunderclap.

Dohwa spun around.

Far at the end of the narrow passage stood a tall silhouette.

The face—he couldn’t bring himself to look at it.

He panicked, raising a finger to his lips in a plea for quiet.

Though the alley was empty, houses stood close together.

Someone might look outside at such a loud voice.

He wanted to scold him—don’t shout, you’re too famous to cause a scene—but then:

“Dohwa-ya!!”

His name echoed again.

Dohwa froze.

The shadow reached out an arm toward him.

No words.

None were needed.

Don’t run. Come here.

“……”

If he returned, Jae-i would not be angry.

He would not question anything.

He would simply pull him close.

Dohwa could take advantage of that gentleness— but he had no right.

Everything he had done… none of it was something he could call “good.”

So he took a quiet step back.

This time—even if Jae-i called—he must not turn around.

Then—

The steady figure swayed.

Stumbled.

And slowly collapsed.

Dohwa stared, stunned—the world hollowing out around him—as Jae-i’s large body curled in on itself, hitting the ground.

A loud ringing burst in his ears as Dohwa lunged forward before he even understood what he’d heard.

He ran as if he’d never run away from Jae-i moments ago.

His legs nearly buckled mid-stride; he barely caught himself.

He reached Jae-i’s fallen form and stretched out a trembling hand.

His fingertips shook uncontrollably against Jae-i’s broad back.

He could not even speak—only gasp, mouth open, breath shattering apart.

Jae-i-ya… Jae-i-ya… why…

Every word dissolved on his tongue.

He tried to lift him, but his strength wouldn’t come.

How long had it been since he’d left Jae-i?

Four days? More?

Not long—but enough for Jae-i to…

Was he that exhausted?

Unable to sleep without me?

Skipping meals and eating only sweets?

Or maybe not even that…

What should he do?

What could he do?

If Jae-i was hurt, if something happened—

Then large hands wrapped around his waist.

Tightly. Possessively.

But Dohwa was too overwhelmed to notice.

He couldn’t breathe properly, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Beneath him, Jae-i slowly stirred.

Dohwa, leaning over him, didn’t even realize he was being lifted.

When Jae-i raised his head and looked at him, his unwavering red eyes struck Dohwa still.

Dohwa hiccupped—once, twice, then repeatedly—his body trembling.

A big hand cupped his face.

“Easy. Breathe slowly.”

“……”

“Not like that. Don’t gulp the air. Little bit at a time. Yes. Slowly… breathe out…”

Dohwa had no idea what state he was in, focused only on Jae-i’s voice.

As he obeyed, he realized his own breathing was ragged, breaking apart as though it might stop altogether.

Panic tightened his chest.

Pain flared sharply.

Jae-i’s face drew closer.

A soft kiss brushed his lips—then deepened, firmly meeting him.

Dohwa’s eyes trembled.

He closed them as the familiar tongue slipped inside.

He was cold, breathless, shivering—hiccupping through tears he hadn’t realized were falling.

His face felt wet.

…I’m crying.

Blindly reaching out, he clutched whatever he could—

a thin piece of fabric.

He didn’t dare touch Jae-i himself, only grasped the hem of his clothes.

Jae-i withdrew briefly, then kissed him again—light, repeated pecks sealing against Dohwa’s trembling lips.

Even as Dohwa continued to shake and cry, Jae-i lifted his head slightly and stared at him without blinking.

Then, faintly—softly—he smiled.

“Where exactly do you think you’re going like this?”

“……”

“You think you can live without me?”

Dohwa pressed his lips together, staring at Jae-i’s face as if memorizing every detail.