Chapter 92: Staying Over Again Today?
by GideonHow did the reporters keep finding them? They hadn’t run into a single one on their way out of the police station.
“What’s with that video? Who filmed it?”
—One of the witnesses sent it to the news. Even with the blur, everyone in Korea knows it’s Do Zion.
Jubin had to admit it.
“The audio is clear too. There’s no denying it.”
—Yeah, your voice wasn’t recorded, though…
That meant it was only a matter of time before everything came out.
—CEO Park made a proposal.
Moon Woo-jin’s voice trailed off, turning heavy and somber.
—The company wants this project to be a success.
Jubin could already guess what kind of proposal CEO Park Ji-bun had made.
“It would be better if the company released the original footage first. If the public finds out you’re the hero who helped, it’ll go viral and boost the project. You’ll be the one who benefits most from this.”
This was definitely not a proposal CEO Moon Woo-jin would have come up with. It was the kind of thinking only CEO Park Ji-bun, who prioritized the company’s interests above all else, could have.
I don’t want to be exposed to the public because of this.
“No, CEO Park.”
Even in my dreams, Seo-rim had appeared, bleeding and begging me to save him.
If I hadn’t taken this role, could Seo-rim have escaped this disaster?
The day I went to see CEO Park Ji-bun to renew my contract, I ran into Seo-rim. What if I had chased after him instead of CEO Moon Woo-jin? What if I had persuaded him to take a better path? Would this have all been avoided?
Maybe, he thought, I could have even helped him break up with that murderer.
“I don’t want to release the original.”
The guilt gnawed at him. Every time something bad happened to Seo-rim, it felt like he was the one profiting from it.
“A teacher is supposed to help their student, not… whatever this is.”
His words came out sharper than intended, a byproduct of his frayed nerves.
—Help? You’re the one who stopped that madman. That was more than enough—
“That’s enough.”
Jubin cut CEO Moon Woo-jin off mid-sentence.
“Zion handled everything after that.”
He knew he couldn’t have stopped it all on his own. But the delusion—the false sense of control—whispered that if he’d just been more alert, if he’d just done a little more, things would have turned out better.
Trapped in that delusion, he turned all the blame on himself.
“Seo-rim hasn’t even woken up yet. I don’t want to piggyback on Zion’s name before the first episode even airs.”
CEO Park Ji-bun’s motives were transparent.
Since he didn’t know if Zion would renew his contract, he was trying to tie his own name to Zion’s by any means necessary.
I just want to be recognized as an actor on the same level as Zion. Is that too much to ask? Why is everyone making this so difficult?
“I don’t want my parents to know about this, either. Please, CEO Moon, talk him out of it. I’m not going public. I won’t.”
Over the phone, he could hear CEO Moon Woo-jin sigh, as if he’d expected this all along.
“Alright, I’m sorry. I thought Zion’s name alone would be enough for the viral marketing, but I just wanted my kid to do even better. I know how you are, so I just asked. Don’t let it get to you.”
Jubin knew CEO Moon Woo-jin meant well, but he couldn’t help feeling upset.
“Thank you for thinking of me, but I have to go now.”
He hurriedly ended the call.
His breathing grew ragged with agitation.
Zion said he’d be right here…
I’m so anxious. I’m going crazy.
“Why aren’t you here yet?”
Finally, he flung open the front door and ran out without even putting on his shoes. He ran straight into a startled Zion in the hallway.
“Sunbae? Why are you out here—”
I was afraid you’d disappear.
Jubin threw his arms around him, clinging desperately.
Instead of asking why he was late, Jubin pressed his lips against Zion’s, pulling him in as if trying to merge their very souls.
He needed to feel Zion’s warmth, his pheromones, his scent, and his breath just to be at peace.
Zion hugged Jubin so tightly it was suffocating, returning the kiss with a fierce intensity before slowly pulling away.
“…I’m sorry I’m late.”
He stroked Jubin’s disheveled hair, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
“Let’s go inside.”
The container in the bag Zion carried was still warm.
Back at the apartment, they shared the porridge Zion had bought. Jubin wanted to finish it all, if only to honor the effort Zion had made, but his stomach was too upset, and he had to put his spoon down early.
“I enjoyed it. Thank you.”
“I’ll put it in the fridge once it cools down, so you can reheat it whenever you’re ready. Got it?”
Jubin gave a light nod.
Come to think of it, Zion’s birthday was just around the corner.
“Hey, Zion.”
“Want more porridge?”
“No, I’m good.”
If I eat any more of this, I’m actually going to die, Jubin thought. He politely declined, knowing Zion would never guess his true feelings.
“Is there anything you want for your birthday?”
Zion slowly stirred his porridge, considering the question before answering firmly. “Yes, there is.”
“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it. Anything.”
“I think you’re the only one who can.”
Jubin licked his lips, his tension mounting at the cryptic words. “What is it?”
“Let’s live together.”
Jubin’s mouth hung open for a beat. “What…?”
“Let’s move into my place.”
His place? Do Zion’s place?
Where did this sudden proposal to move in come from?
Jubin was speechless.
“I don’t want to leave you here alone, senior.”
I knew his offer came from a place of affection—a genuine desire to look after me—but my mind was a chaotic mess.
“You checked that bastard’s address, didn’t you? He lives right around here.”
Whether it was a coincidence or not, he was bound to return to his old neighborhood after serving his time. The best solution would be to move out of this area as soon as possible.
“Just stay with me at my place until the project is finished,” Zion said. “Think of it as my birthday present to you.”
Jubin let out an awkward laugh. Who asks for a cohabitation agreement as a birthday gift?
Especially from their partner… He swallowed the rest of the thought.
“The most important thing about a gift is that the recipient wants it,” Zion said, his gaze intensifying. His tone made it clear this was no casual suggestion.
“I know you don’t like sharing your space, Jubin. I know…”
Zion’s voice dropped an octave, his tone turning grave.
“But whenever I’m not by your side, something insane always happens. I can’t stop worrying. I need you where I can see you.”
If anyone else had said this, Jubin would have shut them down instantly. Why are you making my safety your problem? he would have snapped. But when the words came from Zion, they landed differently.
That was how much influence Zion held over him.
Jubin had never lived with anyone outside his family, and he had never cohabited with a partner. The real question was whether he and Zion—who were strictly partners—could truly separate sex from their daily lives.
“Can you live without me?”
The question struck like a physical blow, and Jubin hesitated to answer.
“…Zion?”
The voice of the madman who had carved Zion’s name into his skin echoed in his mind again.
His body reacted before he could think. His breath grew shallow, and his chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. Fragments of memories he wanted to forget flooded back, uncontrolled. The fear that this could happen again kept him from confidently saying he was okay.
His mind was still trapped in the past, trembling with anxiety.
“…I don’t know.”
His heart sank heavily.
“Give me some time to think.”
Zion quietly covered Jubin’s hand with his own, making a request.
“There’s still time before my birthday. I’ll wait.”
It seems the answer is already decided, but I still need time to prepare myself.
“Yeah, I’ll think it over.”
“If you refuse, I might just move into your place.”
He threw out a lighthearted joke, as if to drive the point home.
“So, think it over carefully.”
Jubin forced a faint smile, not wanting to let the mood turn too serious. “I only have one bathroom. And the bed is small.”
“We can just cuddle up and sleep together,” Zion replied, his words even more outrageous than before, as if there was no problem at all. “I’ll be expecting the most difficult-to-get gift in the world.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” Jubin’s tone was firm, though he smiled as he tried to manage Zion’s expectations.
“Yes, yes, I get it.” Zion seemed to agree on the surface, but his tone suggested he was just brushing it off.
For a fleeting moment, that casual gesture felt immeasurably precious—so much so that Jubin couldn’t ignore it.
“Zion.”
Zion looked up at him with an innocent gaze.
“Do you want to stay the night again?”
“Haa… ah…!”
His hot breath scattered thinly in the air.
His body was still drenched in a pleasure that refused to cool, and the pheromones of the two men filled the room.
Jubin, who had finally come by Zion’s hand, arched his back as he ejaculated.
Rough breaths brushed against Jubin’s nape. Zion hugged him, rubbing the bridge of his nose against the soft skin.
“Sunbae, you’re too thin.”
“Isn’t this more like Hyeonseo? Don’t you like it?”
Limp and exhausted, Jubin let out a short laugh.
“I wish you’d stop losing weight.”
“Why? Do I look bad?”
“It hurts my heart to see you like this.”
Jubin stroked his soft hair, making a promise he knew he couldn’t keep.
“Okay, if you hate it, I won’t lose any more weight.”
Though I’m not sure if that’s possible.
Zion slowly pushed himself up, using his long fingers to smear the semen Jubin had just released over his perineum as lubricant.
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