Codename Anastasia Novel (End) - Chapter 78

He sat on the bed for a moment. The mattress firmly supported his body. He suddenly thought that a lot had happened in the past year. Although all memories seemed to converge on sex. It wasn’t an exaggeration; in his house, they were always physically close.

They say God creates humans for a reason. It seemed Zhenya was given a massive penis, overflowing libido, and a superior physique to fulfill the mission of procreating. Otherwise, he couldn’t have been so full of carnal desire. Even considering he was in his prime, that was true. He would try to screw him just by making eye contact, so even Kwon Taekjoo, with his excellent stamina and resilience, found it hard to endure. It was faster to count the days he didn’t pass out after sex. Unbeknownst to them, if the two had been newlyweds, triplets would have easily been conceived. Truly, those were days of lust.

And so, it had already been a year. He had arbitrarily set a deadline, thinking it would last at most that long, and that deadline had long passed. He was so consistent that he hadn’t realized how much time had passed. In that time, he had grown accustomed to his mother worrying about him, the two of them spending time having conversations they didn’t understand, spending time with him after work or on holidays, and him suddenly appearing wherever he went. It had just become a natural part of his daily life.

So, he hadn’t considered that it might end someday, that he might return to his original place. Given how sudden the beginning was, the end could just as easily be sudden.

Zhenya’s sudden arrival in Korea was because of Kwon Taekjoo himself. That meant he could leave this place anytime, if not for him.

[You’re not planning to live there forever, are you?]

A single remark he had made bothered him like a thorn in his throat.

During lunchtime, he even skipped his meal and went to the ambassador’s residence. Since Zhenya’s official status was ambassador, his official residence was there. In reality, his stays there were extremely limited. He only visited for official duties when unavoidable invitation events, receptions, or dinners were scheduled.

The ambassador’s residence was a building about 100 years old. Because of that, the interior was decorated with antique furniture. Normally, it was customary for ambassadors to redecorate the interior to their taste immediately after being appointed. But Zhenya hadn’t touched a single item. It seemed he didn’t even consider it his own home from the start.

Kwon Taekjoo himself had only visited there a few times. Since he was registered with the Russian Embassy to deceive his mother, he felt a strong psychological aversion. He didn’t want to spend personal time in a place where he performed official duties. Though he had broken that principle more than once because of Zhenya.

Around the time Zhenya was appointed Russian Ambassador to Korea, he abruptly dragged Kwon Taekjoo there. He thought he might be showing him around the residence, but it wasn’t that at all. From the guy who listlessly scanned the interior, he couldn’t find any affection or enthusiasm.

[Why are we suddenly here?]

[I had dinner with Korean politicians here today. And foreign ministry reporters are coming tomorrow, apparently.]

[So what?]

[It’s very annoying and boring.]

He complained leisurely and approached Kwon Taekjoo. He involuntarily stepped back. It was an instinctive retreat. Because the guy’s eyes were sharply gleaming.

As he shuffled back, the reception table touched the back of his thighs. He had a bad feeling. The guy immediately leaned on the table, trapping Kwon Taekjoo in his arms. Then he stared intently into Kwon Taekjoo’s displeased eyes.

[But you never know. Maybe it’ll be better if we make some fun memories.]

[What kind of nonsense is that? Get out.]

[You were going to fuck anyway when we got home, right? Only the location changed.]

[You crazy bastard. This is where official business is conducted.]

[What does it matter? It’s a house provided to the ambassador’s family, after all. Everyone lives here as a couple and raises children too.]

He wasn’t wrong. The residence was also a space where the ambassador’s family resided during his tenure. But perhaps because Kwon Taekjoo himself was a public servant, he was hesitant to do such things in a place where official duties were often performed.

However, Zhenya’s eyes were already feverish. His pupils were constricted with excitement, and his body odor intensified. It was a sign that his body was heating up. He continuously kissed Kwon Taekjoo’s neck, coaxing him absurdly.

[As a public servant, you should follow your superior’s orders well.]

[What kind of superior are you?]

[Have you already forgotten what status you entered here with? If I’ve accommodated you, Taekjoo, you should cooperate with official duties too. That’s fair, isn’t it?]

[Crazy. Don’t…!]

He turned his head away from Zhenya, who was trying to kiss him. But he casually grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s face. Both cheeks were squeezed, automatically parting his lips. He pushed his tongue into the gap and completely locked their mouths. He thickly pressed and rubbed his tongue, sucking away all his breath, causing him to be helplessly swept away.

When he came to his senses, his body was completely sprawled on the table. His top was half-turned back, tattered. He grabbed Kwon Taekjoo’s exposed right chest and simultaneously stripped off his pants and underwear. His lower body felt surprisingly bare in an instant. He tried to bring his knees together, but Zhenya stood braced between his legs, making him unable to budge.

His middle finger repeatedly probed the opening, carefully touching and shaping the inside. At the same time, his thumb gently stroked his perineum while he bit the inside of his thighs. Zhenya’s hair touched his groin, tickling him. His penis, unable to endure the sticky stimulation, began to tremble and harden. Before long, it throbbed as if it would burst.

His erect penis kept brushing Zhenya’s forehead. He raised his head and gazed at the swaying penis. Then, with a nimble nose, he traced the surface of his penis all the way up to the glans. He inhaled deeply repeatedly, as if trying to smell his skin, which sent shivers down his spine.

At the climax, Zhenyalightly sucked the blood-engorged glans, then released it. Kwon Taekjoo’s face wrinkled in displeasure, and his lower body twitched. Zhenyastared up at Kwon Taekjoo, extending his long tongue. It seemed as if his tongue would touch the glans any moment. He watched him anxiously. His abdomen slowly rippled with anticipation. He felt his breath quicken.

Zhenya, who had been lowering his head, suddenly opened his mouth and slowly took Kwon Taekjoo’s entire penis inside. His soft tongue wrapped around the glans and encircled the entire shaft. The sensitive glans was sucked in, rubbing against the softest inner wall. It seemed he had swallowed it beyond his throat. A deep, dense sweetness beyond measure automatically elicited a sigh.

‘Haaah. Ugh…’

Zhenya caressed Kwon Taekjoo’s pubic bone, moving his head up and down. His saliva-soaked penis was slowly released from his lips, then swallowed back to the root. Kwon Taekjoo’s fingertips, gripping the table, turned white. As he raised his head again, and only the glans remained in his mouth, he tightened his lips around its circumference and sucked, smack, smack. Kwon Taekjoo, who had been savoring the leisurely pleasure, utterly collapsed.

‘Aah, mm, ugh, haah…!’

He sucked so persistently that it felt as if something would be pulled out from inside his urethra. Zhenya stubbornly delivered that intense pleasure, then suddenly opened his mouth and once again crammed his penis all the way to the root. Was it an illusion? His throat seemed to bulge as the glans passed. He couldn’t endure it any longer.

He half-rose and grabbed Zhenya’s hair. Then he thrust his lower body roughly into Zhenya’s receptive mouth. Despite the somewhat rough action, he continued to suck and hold the impaled penis without a word of complaint. Even when his penis repeatedly poked his throat and hit his uvula, he didn’t even gag. In the midst of it all, he even showed the composure to widen the opening.

Looking at the obedient face of the guy resting on his crotch, his head spun. His blood flow rapidly accelerated, and flashes of light ceaselessly flickered before his eyes. It was only when he felt himself about to come that he tried to pull Zhenya’s face away. No, he tried to. Zhenya held Kwon Taekjoo’s thigh tightly, resisting, and didn’t lift his head. As ejaculation approached, Kwon Taekjoo’s thigh muscles repeatedly twitched.

“Cra-crazy… Ugh, spit it out. Spit, ahh, ugh…! Aaaah…!”

He ultimately failed to detach Zhenya and ejaculated right there. His penis, pushed to its limit, angrily spewed a large amount of semen. He gritted his teeth in despair. Zhenya swallowed Kwon Taekjoo’s semen, which had been copiously poured into his throat. As if on purpose, his Adam’s apple clearly yet slowly rippled. He licked every last drop, even from the glans, and then grinned at the disgusted Kwon Taekjoo.

“Taekjoo, you like it this much.”

“Ugh… I told you to stop, you crazy bastard…”

“You stuck your belly right against me and now you’re talking nonsense? You enjoyed it to your heart’s content, so now you should eat this too.”

With the sound of a zipper, his penis plopped down. The flesh, smelling of semen, repeatedly nudged its head against the opening. He closed his eyes tightly, as if resigned.

Zhenya expertly pressed down on Kwon Taekjoo, spreading his body and roughly ravaging his insides. While he generally preferred missionary or bent-over positions, the problem was the location. His bare back kept scraping against the table, making it increasingly stiff. He was relentlessly pounded, groaning chaotically, until he finally managed to push him away.

“Ugh, haah…! Wa-wait. My back hurts. How about somewhere else…?”

“You must observe dining etiquette.”

For some reason, he stubbornly insisted until the end. Then he repeatedly inserted and ejaculated without a condom. Due to the mixture of semen and gel that filled his insides, a sticky, squelching sound was made with each mixing of their flesh. Every time his penis plunged in, a whitish, viscous fluid oozed out proportional to the density, eventually licking the table surface and dripping to the floor. Thus, collecting and accumulating, a small puddle was formed.

Exhausted, he dozed off, then suddenly remembered the interview he had that morning. He immediately opened all the windows and ventilated the room. He turned on all the fans in the residence, regardless of whether it was the bathroom or kitchen, trying to get rid of the smell.

The problem was the stain on the carpet. No matter how much he wiped it, it showed no sign of disappearing. Just when he thought it had lightened a little, it would quickly dry white again. Zhenya merely showered Kwon Taekjoo’s nape with childish kisses as he struggled to erase the traces of their lovemaking.

“…”

Looking at the large table in the reception room, the memory of that day resurfaced. The temperature of the table against his bare skin, the air that warmed up impossibly fast, the rising humidity and smell, all seemed to vividly return. He clicked his tongue and turned away.

He had specifically visited the residence hoping to find out why Zhenya’s stay in Russia was prolonged. Official mail addressed to him was usually delivered to the ambassador’s office at the embassy. If he didn’t show up for work, his assistant would move all of it to the residence. Although he acted like a loafer, he did occasionally visit the residence to check such correspondences and schedules. It was the minimum effort required to maintain his ambassadorial status.

He went to the second-floor study and checked the accumulated mail. There might be banquets or important events held in Russia. But no matter how much he looked, nothing particularly stood out. Next, he turned on his official laptop. He calmly entered the password and opened the real-time updated schedule. As expected, it had been empty for two weeks.

However, various events were scheduled for the Chuseok holiday ten days later. That meant he would return around that time, at least. No, was that really true? The terms of office for ambassadors were not specifically fixed. It was generally known to be between one and two years. There were also many cases where they were dismissed in the middle, or suddenly returned to their home country after being appointed to another important position.

Since he had been forced into the position of Russian Ambassador to Korea, he was the kind of person who could quit whenever he felt like it. A person driven solely by interest, interest-driven. If something else piqued his interest, he would not look back.

“…I don’t like it.”

He grumbled discontentedly and closed the laptop. He was about to turn and leave, when he saw an old Korean conversation book on the bookshelf. Unless it was left behind by previous ambassadors for their successors, it didn’t seem to be Zhenya’s.

Come to think of it, for the past year, he hadn’t spoken a single word of Korean. He didn’t even use common greetings. Even when he had to converse with Koreans, including his mother, he stubbornly only spoke Russian. And even then, he didn’t say much. What was amazing was that they still understood each other. People would instinctively bring him what he needed.

His mother was the same. When the two met, they still only said what they wanted to say. If Kwon Taekjoo happened to join them, they would ask him to translate what the other person had said. Once, it was so annoying that he chided Zhenya.

[If you’re going to keep living here, learn some Korean, seriously.]

[Why should I?]

[It’ll be more comfortable for you, won’t it? And for me too.]

[Korean is complicated and difficult like Koreans. It’s strange that the same word has different meanings. It’s not just one or two times I’ve been in trouble using a translator. Learning such a language is inefficient.]

[You’re so smart, but you hate studying. So, are you going to live your whole life illiterate?]

He shrugged, looking unconvinced.

[I’m not here because I like this country, Taekjoo.]

At that moment, why did he feel subtly disappointed?

Zhenya hadn’t chosen Korea. He had merely settled there because Kwon Taekjoo wanted him to be in Korea. If his enthusiasm for Kwon Taekjoo disappeared, there would be no reason for him to stay there any longer.

He nervously ran his hand through his hair and left the residence. There was one more place he had to stop by.

 

The assistant, Oleg Menshikov, narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Kwon Taekjoo. Then, after a long moment, he finally spoke, saying, “So…”

[You’re that ‘Kwon Taekjoo’ person, then?]

[Yes, I’m Kwon Taekjoo.]

He didn’t know why his name had a demonstrative adjective in front of it, but he meekly nodded. Since he had come all the way to the residence, he had also stopped by the embassy. He thought that place would be more knowledgeable about Russia’s unofficial affairs than anywhere else in the country. As a diplomatic institution, the embassy had to be sensitive to international situations. That included all of its home country’s political, economic, and social conditions.

The Bogdanov family wielded considerable influence in Russian political and business circles. If something had happened to them, the embassy would surely know. Moreover, even if it was only in name, he held the ambassadorial status, so they would respond swiftly to any issues regarding Zhenya’s personal safety. If he were to step down from his ambassadorship, the embassy would undoubtedly be the first to know that news as well.

[I see. Why are you, a person busier than the Ambassador, here without contacting us?]

Oleg Menshikov was full of sarcasm, openly displaying his wariness.

He didn’t know where or how his identity had been exposed while he was on the run a year ago, framed. His mother’s worry was immense. So he had his name listed as an employee of the Russian Embassy. Zhenyahad first suggested it, and his superiors had approved. Of course, it was only nominal, so this was his first visit to the embassy. He had left it to Zhenya, who said he would handle all that work himself, but the assistant’s attitude was completely uncooperative.

Kwon Taekjoo’s position within the embassy was something like the ambassador’s personal secretary and escort. To avoid unnecessary suspicion, he decided to stick to that role for now.

[The Ambassador had some urgent documents he wanted me to deliver. I tried calling, but he didn’t answer.]

[The Ambassador has temporarily returned to his hometown for family matters. Didn’t you, his escort, know that?]

Every word was edged with thorns. He forced a smile.

[No. He said he’d be back in about ten days, but it’s already been over two weeks.]

[Hmm… He is indeed later than scheduled.]

Oleg Menshikov nodded readily. Then he added a cryptic remark.

[Well, it’s not a problem that can be handled so simply. Perhaps it could be a great joyous occasion for Russia, so he’s being cautious.]

His words were so vague that he couldn’t understand what he meant. However, he seemed to know the real purpose of Zhenya’s visit to Russia. Since he couldn’t just directly ask what it was, he only confirmed one thing.

[Is he late simply because of that matter?]

[Or what other reason could there be? Is it more important than the documents? Then I could take it and deliver it on his behalf.]

Oleg Menshikov abruptly extended his hand. It seemed it was time to back off.

[No. He told me to deliver it directly, so I will do that.]

[In that case, you’ll have to come again later.]

[Yes. Then, I’ll take my leave for today.]

He bowed politely and left the embassy. As soon as he turned around, blatant gazes followed him from behind. It wasn’t just one or two pairs of eyes.

He ignored them and walked, then abruptly looked back at the building. The heads of the people who had been looking out at Kwon Taekjoo from the windows all disappeared at once. Some, missing their chance to hide, awkwardly fiddled with potted plants or averted their eyes.

Even though it was an official residence where most people were Russian, was a Korean appearing so surprising? It seemed even Joseon people encountering foreigners for the first time wouldn’t have started so openly.

He tilted his head, then started walking briskly again. The embassy staff, one by one, peered their heads above the windows and watched “that Kwon Taekjoo” disappear into the distance.

A tedious afternoon passed slowly. NIS field agents rarely reported to headquarters. There was nothing for them to do even if they came out. At most, they handled expenses related to operations and wrote reports. Sometimes they wrote statements of circumstances. Kwon Taekjoo had already gotten all those approved before his vacation. It was a habit he had naturally acquired, not knowing when a new mission would be assigned.

He aimlessly flipped through his desk calendar. He couldn’t readily recall when he had last received such a long vacation. It used to be his daily routine to be called in just when he was about to rest, or even without a moment’s respite. But with Zhenyaintervening, his hectic life had gained some breathing room. He had grumbled to him about various things, but that was the truth.

He wondered when he would be exploited again, using this vacation as an excuse. To avoid feeling wronged later, he should enjoy it properly, but there was no suitable entertainment. Now, he couldn’t sleep well, and each day felt boring. What did he use to do before? Usually, he didn’t even have enough time to rest, and recently, he had no time to be bored because he spent it with Zhenya.

“Is there anything to do?” He rummaged around and turned on the company messenger. Then he casually struck up a conversation with easygoing Yoon Jongwoo.

[What are you doing?]

Yoon Jongwoo read the message after a long time. The reply came even later.

(Working, what else?)

[Let’s have a drink after work.]

(No way.)

(I have to go hunt a boss monster tonight.)

[What’s so great about a 2D boss?]

(It’s 3D, actually?)

[You’ll eat before you play, won’t you?]

(No. I’ll do it even if I have to starve.)

(Don’t keep bothering me if you’re not going to help.)

(I really have to leave on time today.)

[Oh, really? I’ll help then.]

(Really?)

[Really.]

As soon as he replied, he turned on his laptop. He had borrowed it from Yoon Jongwoo around lunchtime. The game that he claimed to be addicted to was installed on the desktop. He entered his existing ID and password, then clicked the login button. But a message popped up, asking him to check his password. It was the same when he tried again.

He opened the messenger again.

[Did you change your password?]

Yoon Jongwoo was silent for a while after reading the message. It seemed as if the sound of him trying to figure out what had happened, and the context, could be heard even through the screen.

Soon, his messages came flooding in.

 

(Senior.)

(Senior?)

(Senior-nim?)

(Teacher, please answer me ㅠㅠ)

[Why? You said you were busy.]

[Your character, its complexion has improved a lot, hasn’t it?]

[And it has a ton of items I haven’t seen.]

(Please ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Don’t touch my baby.)

[I said I’d help you level up?]

After saying that, he didn’t reply anymore. He pretended not to see the constantly flashing messenger window. As he was scanning the updated UI, a call suddenly came in. The caller was, as expected, Yoon Jongwoo. When he pressed the answer button, he could hear Yoon Jongwoo’s ragged breathing.

“Why, you brat. You said you were busy?”

“We just need to eat together, right? I absolutely have to leave by 11 PM.”

A chuckle escaped him. He immediately logged out of the game and chided Yoon Jongwoo.

“Your senior’s offering to buy you a meal for once, and you have to make such a fuss? You always make me out to be the bad guy.”

“Why do you have to buy it specifically today?”

“Because I want to drink tonight, of course.”

It was a thoroughly self-centered remark. Yoon Jongwoo’s breathing grew even rougher. Though unseen, he must have been trembling, tearing at his hair in frustration.

“Work,” he said, and unilaterally hung up the phone. At that moment, he glanced at his phone; there were no new messages.

 

After work, they found a seat at a nearby grilled meat restaurant. Yoon Jongwoo grumbled, asking if he was only going to buy him pork, but then he ate the grilled samgyeopsal with gusto. His eyes kept darting towards the laptop he had turned on next to him. The game was running automatically on it. He couldn’t understand at all what was so fun about automatically fighting and gaining experience points.

“Hey, it’s getting cold.”

“I’m eating.”

He left the meat that was about to burn, only putting pieces with a hint of red into his mouth. It was as if he wasn’t even properly looking at the grill. Was this what it felt like to share a meal with a rebellious teenage child?

Watching him with displeasure, I wrapped a ssam. Then, holding it out to Yoon Jongwoo, I said, “Ah.” Yoon Jongwoo opened his mouth without suspicion. It seemed he was so engrossed in the game screen that he’d forgotten who he was with. His cheeks puffed out as he diligently chewed, but before long, the movement of his jaw slowed significantly. His previously calm face flushed as if it would explode. It was because the ssam contained no meat, only green chili peppers and raw garlic.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

He desperately tried to cover his burning mouth, flailing. Searching for water in a hurry, he snatched Kwon Taekjoo’s glass. There was no way soju would put out the fire in his mouth. To Yoon Jongwoo, who was silently howling, I held out an empty plate and said, “Spit it out.” But he stubbornly shook his head and crammed what was in his mouth down his throat. Something about not being able to waste even a grain of rice, thinking of his farming parents. Tears welled up in his eyes from self-inflicted penance. The tip of his nose was bright red.

“See? I told you not to get distracted while eating.” “Haa, haa. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!” “Then you think it was an accident?”

I responded brazenly. Ignoring his resentful glare, I even lectured him.

“If this were an operation, you’d be dead from poison. You’d have guzzled down the water and been finished off.” “I’m not going out into the field anyway, am I?” “Is that something you can decide?” “Why not? If it weren’t for you, senior…”

Yoon Jongwoo, who had flared up, made an ‘oops’ expression. Kwon Taekjoo smirked and said, “Exactly.”

“Who else can I trust besides you? I’m dying alone without a partner; if anything happens, you have to provide rear support or cover, right? What good is a subordinate?” “Ah, seriously! Then I’ll resign that day.”

He kept teasing, seemingly amused while the other person was serious. Then, he abruptly asked, “Want some Cold Noodle Soup?” Kwon Taekjoo was trying to appease him.

“…Cold Noodle Soup.”

Even the fuming Yoon Jongwoo quickly softened. He quietly closed his laptop, fearing he might be tricked again.

Actually, excluding lunchtime, it had been a long time since the two of them sat facing each other like this. Kwon Taekjoo’s frequent business trips made it difficult to see his face unless they specifically made time. Still, he used to call him out occasionally like this, but lately, he almost never did. It was purely because of Zhenya. At some point, it became natural for Kwon Taekjoo to spend his off-duty hours with that guy.

“Senior, are you lonely these days?” Yoon Jongwoo suddenly asked. His eyes had narrowed considerably. 

“What are you talking about? Out of nowhere.” 

“You’re suddenly clingy, it’s weird. Should I set you up on a blind date or something?” 

“Where would you find a woman you know?” 

“If not, then my sister….” 

“Are you pimping out your family because you don’t want to drink with your boss?”

You funny bastard, I thought, and continued to drink. Yoon Jongwoo quickly refilled my empty glass.

“Who knows? Is a relationship really that big a deal? If not my sister, there’s my cousin, and if she doesn’t like you, then her friend….” 

“Do you want to cut ties with your family?” 

“No, why?! What’s wrong with you, senior! You have job security, earn good money for a civil servant, you’re tall, big down there, in good shape, and even handsome. The fact that you’re a bit strict and have a bad temper… well, you wouldn’t try to dominate your lover too, would you?” 

“You have a knack for subtly insulting me disguised as a compliment, don’t you?”

As if his thoughts were exposed, he subtly averted his gaze. Then he sucked on the remaining drops of alcohol. I watched Yoon Jongwoo disapprovingly and picked up the soju bottle. Yoon Jongwoo held out his glass more courteously than ever.

“What about you? Aren’t you dating? It’s a good time for it.” 

“Me? I’m actually a non-marriage advocate.” 

“What does that have to do with dating?” 

“If I date, I might want to get married, you know.” 

“It’s not necessarily….” 

“Wow, you’re a bad man. Are you saying dating and marriage are separate?” 

“Of course, they’re separate. You don’t know if the other person wants to marry you or not.” 

“They say if you truly love someone, there’s no time to weigh things like that, right? If you don’t want to send them home and want to be with them always, you get married?” 

“If you don’t want to send them home and want to be with them always, then just do that. There’s no need to rush into marriage. They don’t call marriage ‘reality’ for nothing. Civil servant? What’s that? I’m constantly eyeing when to quit, my life allowance is higher than my base pay, I can’t tell anyone where I am or what I’m doing, and I’m out more days than I’m home. If I had a child, I’d have to raise them alone, and if I were to die, the country wouldn’t even recover my body, let alone treat me as a national hero. What woman would want that?” 

“……”

Yoon Jongwoo’s lips curled in. Every word was true, leaving him unable to refute. Kwon Taekjoo poured all the remaining soju into his own glass.

“For people like us, honestly confessing is a breach of duty, and keeping it a secret is a fraudulent marriage.” 

“That’s not wrong, but honestly, it feels a bit unfair. It’s not like we’re there for the money; we’re all wearing ourselves out physically and mentally for the country.” 

“It’s not too late. Run away now.” 

“I told you, I’m already a non-marriage advocate anyway? And I’m not a field agent like you, senior.”

Muttering, Yoon Jongwoo then asked a rather serious question.

“Senior, how long do you plan to work?” 

“Don’t know.” 

“Doesn’t your mother tell you to get married? You’re her only child.” 

“Why wouldn’t she? She’s already worried that if a man marries too late, the baby won’t be healthy. In her mind, she’s already married me off and held her grandchildren.” 

“Are you also a non-marriage advocate, senior?” 

“No? I haven’t really thought about it.” 

“Hmm. What about finding a more stable job than now? Then there’d be no reason to hesitate about marriage.” 

“Is it as easy as it sounds?” 

“You say it so easily to me, though.” 

“You said it doesn’t suit your aptitude.” 

“I told you, just don’t call me to the field!” “The only one I can trust is you….” 

“Ah, stop saying that too.”

I wondered if it was really something to make such a long face about.

Soon, the ordered Cold Noodle Soup arrived. Yoon Jongwoo, with a sulky face, quickly added vinegar and mustard, and neatly cut the noodles into bite-sized pieces. Then, as a courtesy, he asked, “Would you like some?” As soon as Kwon Taekjoo shook his head, he picked up a large portion of noodles and slurped them down. In the blink of an eye, a bowl of Cold Noodle Soup was empty.

“Ah, should I have ordered regular Cold Noodle Soup? The portion is small.” 

“That’s not dessert Cold Noodle Soup, you know.” 

“Liar.”

Clicking my tongue at Yoon Jongwoo’s denial, I ordered another bowl of Cold Noodle Soup, two more servings of meat, and two more bottles of soju. Yoon Jongwoo’s expression looked incredibly happy. He eats so well when I buy it for him, so why was he so standoffish earlier?

Yoon Jongwoo opened the first soju bottle that arrived and immediately filled Kwon Taekjoo’s glass.

“Honestly, senior, someone of your caliber would have a free pass to most security companies, wouldn’t they? Even the Blue House would want to hire you!” 

“Those places have complicated protocols, and I can’t do things my way. And honestly, it’s mostly just for show; there’s not much actual physical work involved.” 

“To buy hardship like that, I really don’t understand it. If you want to use your body so much, why not go overseas? There’d be plenty of high-paying, life-threatening jobs there.”