CHAPTER 16
Having lived twice, he had experienced all sorts of strange things.
'I can't believe Gu Jei is actually worried about me.'
"Ahem."
Hanseo cleared his throat for no reason because he was almost about to burst into laughter.
Of course, his joy wasn't solely because Gu Jei was worried. It was the exhilaration of knowing his decision to mimic the pitiful and vulnerable "Yeo Hanseo" had been the right one.
Gu Jei had always sided with the weak and vulnerable. Even if he didn't want Hanseo as his exclusive Guide, he couldn't simply ignore a potentially dangerous situation.
'I can use this.'
Hanseo revised his assessment of Park Jintae.
From a trivial nuisance to a tool he could exploit.
Hanseo bit his lips, as if hesitating and struggling with his words, before cautiously countering.
"...But that was in the past. He might have repented and changed by now."
Gu Jei with his hands resting on the steering wheel, stared at Hanseo with a steady gaze.
"Do you really think he repented?"
'As if.'
Park Jintae showed no signs of remorse. The sinister glint in his eyes made that clear. Yet Hanseo answered the opposite.
"Yes, I think he might have."
"......"
"...I, I hope he has. Esper Park Jintae has been very kind to me."
Hanseo felt Gu Jei's gaze but lowered his head instead of meeting it.
He didn't need to see Gu Jei's expression to guess what he was thinking.
Yeo Hanseo was a victim who had been caught in a Gate and disappeared, only to return seven years later. Despite his return, he had no parents to protect him, no relatives came forward, and he had no friends.
In a world completely transformed from the one he knew seven years ago, poor Yeo Hanseo found himself completely alone, with no one to help him adapt.
Naive and lonely, Yeo Hanseo seemed dangerously close to falling for even the sweetest lies offered by malicious people. And the only person who could prevent that was...
"Have you developed feelings for Esper Park Jintae?"
What the hell is this nonsense?
It was fortunate that Hanseo had his head bowed. He couldn't completely hide the surge of anger that flashed across his face.
Hanseo barely managed to smooth out his distorted expression, leaving only confusion on his face.
"Huh?"
"Since you like men, I thought it was possible," Gu Jei said.
Gu Jei seemed to believe Hanseo couldn't possibly still like him. After all, from his perspective, Hanseo's sudden declaration of love after such a brief acquaintance must have felt shallow. It was only natural for him to assume Hanseo would quickly move on to someone else, just as he had done with Gu Jei himself.
But why? The moment Hanseo saw Gu Jei's calm face, as if stating an obvious truth, a sudden impulse seized his mind.
"I like Esper Gu Jei! Not man or woman, just you!"
"......"
"I've liked you since the first time I saw you, and I still do. I know I might not seem trustworthy, but... no matter how kind someone is to me, I wouldn't just start liking them for that reason alone."
His voice, which had momentarily grown louder, gradually softened. An awkward silence settled between them.
It was Gu Jei who broke the seemingly endless stillness.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that."
Hanseo forced an awkward smile, trying to appear unaffected.
"Then hurry up and buy me dinner. I'm really hungry."
"......"
Sensing that Gu Jei was about to dismiss him, Hanseo quickly interrupted. Gu Jei probably hadn't genuinely intended to buy him dinner; he likely planned to give him a perfunctory scolding and send him home. But in this situation, it would be difficult to simply send him away as originally planned.
As Hanseo had predicted, Gu Jei asked with a reluctant tone, "Is there anything you want to eat?"
Hanseo's eyes lit up. This was his chance to raid Gu Jei's bulging wallet.
'I'll order something outrageously expensive.'
He considered trying French cuisine at that Pineapple Restaurant or whatever it was called, the place the third-generation chaebol A-Class Esper had mentioned. Even if he ordered everything on the menu, Gu Jei's bank account wouldn't even flinch. Still, wouldn't it be fun to see his flustered expression?
'Perfect. That's what I'll do.'
"Kimchi stew," Hanseo blurted out, the words completely betraying his thoughts.
Gu Jei's eyebrow arched slightly, as if surprised by the unexpected answer.
"Will that be alright?"
"Yes, I've always wanted to eat Korean food with Esper Gu Jei."
"Kimchi stew?"
"I love Korean cuisine."
Hehe, Hanseo grinned, and Gu Jei didn't ask anymore questions as he entered the destination into the navigation system.
The car smoothly and silently exited the parking lot.
As Hanseo watched Gu Jei operate the navigation system, he noticed something odd.
"Is the steering wheel moving on its own?"
"It's in autonomous driving mode."
"Wow, I didn't know cars could do that."
Hanseo's gaze suddenly fell on Gu Jei's watch. He realized why Gu Jei was using autonomous driving mode. With his psychic waves so unstable, driving manually could easily lead to an accident.
The car was then engulfed in silence. Hanseo pretended to gauge Gu Jei's mood before cautiously asking, "Have you... given any more thought to the exclusive Guide arrangement?"
"Yes."
"So, what are you planning to do...?"
"I want to marry someone I love," Gu Jei replied after a moment's pause.
"That's why I'm doing my best to find alternative solutions. Whether I succeed or not, a decision will be made soon. More importantly, Yeo Hanseo, are you truly okay with marrying a man who doesn't love you?"
Gu Je-yi's gaze remained fixed straight ahead, as if he'd never looked anywhere else.
"I don't want this marriage, but I need it. Yeo Hanseo, on the other hand, is the opposite. Since you say you like me, this marriage might seem like a good thing. But someday that feeling will fade, and you'll regret it."
"......"
"Think carefully. At least Guides have a choice."
Espers can't survive without Guides, but Guides can live without Espers. Gu Jei had pointed out this disadvantageous truth, even though he didn't need to.
What Gu Jei didn't know was that Hanseo had no choice either.
In two weeks, after completing his training, Hanseo would be officially registered as a Guide.
Registering as a Guide was fine in itself. The problem was that all Guides were required to undergo a compatibility test with Espers.
Once the test began, the center would quickly discover his unique condition.
He didn't want to think about what would happen after that.
'I'll probably be dragged there to film "Lab Rat Season 2" or something.'
He must become Gu Jei's exclusive Guide before that happens. Exclusive Guides were exempt from the compatibility test.
However, he didn't want to pressure Gu Jei into making a rash decision. That would only make him more resistant.
Gu Jei was the kind of person who wouldn't budge unless he was convinced. He had to let Gu Jei make the decision himself.
'To be precise, I need to make him feel that way.'
Fortunately, Hanseo knew Gu Jei well.
He had access to publicly available information, of course, but also to private details that weren't widely known: family relationships, upbringing, weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and Gu Jei's limits of tolerance.
In short, Hanseo had a good grasp of how to manipulate Gu Jei.
The problem was time. He didn't have much of it.
'I wish that bastard would hurry up and make his move...'
And fortunately, Hanseo's wish came true.
❖ ❖ ❖
The morning after having dinner with Gu Jei.
Hanseo, this is Park Jintae! This is my personal number, please save it ^^
'He's here.'
Hanseo checked his phone, a smug smile curling at the corners of his lips.
He was worried that Park Jintae might fear approaching after Gu Jei's clear warning to stay away. Fortunately, the man wasn't that smart.
Animals instinctively cower before stronger opponents. Unlike beasts, humans sometimes defy their instincts depending on the circumstances. Park Jintae was a prime example of this.
Whether driven by arrogance or a desperate determination to keep his Guide, the outcome was exactly what Hanseo had hoped for.
Hello! I saved your number!
Hanseo replied promptly, adopting a friendly and approachable tone, as if he had no suspicion whatsoever over someone who managed to contact him through a number he had never given.
Gu Jei was worried about Hanseo associating with Park Jintae. His concern wasn't rooted in goodwill; if anything, it was akin to a sheepdog watching its flock stray too close to a wolf. He knew he could never stand by and watch the wolf snatch a lamb.
All it would take was one slip-up. A single crack, and it would be easy to slip through.
'So, for now, I'll have to give Park Jintae some leeway.'
Fortunately, Hanseo's naive and innocent character made this task relatively easy.
The phone rang almost immediately after he sent the reply.
"Hanseo, did you get home safely yesterday?"
"Yes, I did. Now that I think about it, I didn't even say a proper goodbye. I'm sorry."
"Oh, that's understandable! Today's a day off from training, right? It would be great if you could make up for yesterday's missed meal today."
'Hmm.'
His physical condition wasn't great, and that guy wasn't exactly someone he wanted to have a meal with face-to-face, but...
"Yes, that sounds good!"
Hanseo replied cheerfully. Since he was genuinely in a good mood, there was no need to act this time.
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