Flowers Are Bait Novel - Chapter 72

Meanwhile, Yiyeon greeted the man carrying a toolbox and made way towards the living room.

“As I told you on the phone, I don’t know why this burst.”

“Let me take a look.”

The company employee unfolded the folding ladder he had tucked under his arm. The company she had called was the one that had replaced all the light bulbs on the lower floor with LEDs two years ago when they expanded the house.

Yiyeon moved to the kitchen to give him space and occasionally watched the employee climb the ladder to check the burst light bulb.

But the employee kept turning his head to an unexpected direction, his mouth set in a rigid line, and there—

Kwon Chaewoo was glaring at him with a menacing gaze. His face was so startling even to Yiyeon that the peculiar atmosphere in the living room was palpable.

“…”

“…”

Kwon Chaewoo still stared as if to drag someone down, and the employee seemed unable to concentrate, bothered by the blatant gaze.

Nevertheless, the employee, instead of avoiding Kwon Chaewoo’s gaze, watched him meaningfully before looking away. The subtle psychological battle between the two men continued.

Yiyeon, considering the technician, quickly pulled Kwon Chaewoo’s arm and moved him away. He initially didn’t budge, but upon seeing Yiyeon struggling with effort, he finally moved his legs as if doing her a favor.

“Chaewoo, what’s wrong?”

Yiyeon whispered. But he only clenched his jaw and shook his head, not revealing anything. His bangs swayed and settled with each nod, making him look like an innocent boy for a moment.

“If someone else is uncomfortable, stay here.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what?”

“It’s just…”

He uncharacteristically dragged his words, then glanced back at the living room.

“I feel a bit strange. Yiyeon, you don’t need to worry about it.”

His voice dropped coolly. Yiyeon tilted her head, but no more words followed.

Meanwhile, Jang Beomhee urgently retrieved the burst bugging device from inside the light and replaced it with a new one. The light hadn’t burst; rather, the bugging device embedded within it had exploded. It was all Jang Beomhee’s doing.

From the moment he heard the news that the landslide had occurred and his young master was injured, he had made up his mind.

He would break the directive to only monitor from a distance and approach him to tell him the truth.

He could no longer just sit back and wait, not knowing when or how an unexpected accident might strike.

‘Young Master, it cannot be delayed like this. You still have unfinished business, don’t you?’

A strange tension lingered on Jang Beomhee’s face.

Kwon Giseok, the eldest son who cherished his family, was not someone to coldly cut off his youngest brother, who was twelve years his junior. Even if he troubled his siblings and sometimes disciplined them, he was not the type to kill his own blood. The man, who had grown up with a strong emphasis on family unity, was extremely obsessed with that bond and duty.

But what if the incapacitated Kwon Chaewoo never returned, and just lay there like a beast with its fangs pulled out?

Deep wrinkles formed between Jang Beomhee’s eyebrows. It was also something the Kwon Chaewoo before losing his memory would never have wanted.

Jang Beomhee tried to provoke his young master by occasionally leaving roses, which he had liked, in front of his house.

Schubert’s lie, Heidenröslein, about pricking you with a rose thorn so you can never forget me. Would that verse, which he used to hum after cutting and staining his hands red with blood, perhaps come to mind?

It was a kind of signal and stimulant, but it had no effect.

At that, Jang Beomhee knew it was time to act directly.

As he descended the ladder, an orange juice was offered as if on cue. Yiyeon was offering him a canned drink placed on a small tray. Jang Beomhee paused for a moment but naturally bowed his head and accepted it.

“I apologize. It seems to be a product defect on our end.”

“Oh…”

“If you notice anything else unusual, please call us anytime.”

He opened his toolbox and put his tools away. It was the moment Yiyeon’s gaze stopped there.

Suddenly, her complexion turned noticeably pale. Kwon Chaewoo, who had been idly sitting on a kitchen chair, abruptly stood up.

“Yiyeon?”

As he approached, twitching an eyebrow sensitively, Yiyeon finally realized her mistake.

“Oh…! No, it’s nothing. I just, strangely, feel a bit off.”

She leaned her shoulder against Kwon Chaewoo’s body, who had approached, stroking her arm. The employee calmly closed his toolbox, but Yiyeon kept seeing a red flower flickering among the black, cement-colored tools.

Just a few months ago, roses were evidence of stalking. Her scalp subtly tingled.

“Yiyeon, I’m going out for a moment.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Just outside. The yard looks messy; it’s time to sweep it.”

Kwon Chaewoo gently stroked the back of Yiyeon’s head and simply curved his lips.

However, Kwon Chaewoo’s pupils suddenly narrowed coldly as he followed the employee, who was pulling his cap low and heading for the front door.

Thud—!

Jang Beomhee’s shoulder hit the wall, and his neck was choked. Kwon Chaewoo was pressing his elbow against his throat.

“I remember we’re not strangers.”

Jang Beomhee, whose face had turned crimson from lack of breath, instantly revived at that one remark. The moment he realized Kwon Chaewoo was following him, he thought it was an unmissable opportunity. He was timing it, but the man suddenly attacked him first.

“Young Mas—”

“It’s annoying only once or twice, why do you keep hovering?”

“—Huh?”

Jang Beomhee’s face stiffened slightly at the unexpected words.

“You’re the bastard who lives next door, aren’t you?”

“…!”

Jang Beomhee inwardly clicked his tongue. Why were so many people noticing his identity these days? Another troublesome woman with animal-like instincts flashed through his mind like smoke.

“Last time you were serving at a hotel, and this time you’re here to fix a light?”

At this point, Jang Beomhee felt a little wronged. He had never directly confronted Kwon Chaewoo. At most, he had met Hwang Jo-yoon in this alley for a few seconds. At the party hall, he had only passed him diagonally.

Yet, he was terrified by the ghostly sense that easily connected those fragmented spaces as if piecing them together.

“By my memory, this is our third meeting. Is this really a coincidence?”

Kwon Chaewoo pushed his forearm harder and murmured through his teeth. It was an overwhelming superiority he hadn’t felt in a long time.

He let out a laugh without realizing it, finding it quite welcome and joyful, which made Kwon Chaewoo’s face contort even more fiercely.

“Who are you?”

“…”

“Answer me. Whether you do or not, I’m going to stomp on every bug that clings to my wife.”

Only then did Jang Beomhee seem to understand what misunderstanding he was under.

“Young Master, it’s not like that!”

He twitched an eyebrow, then his face hardened. Jang Beomhee hesitated and then spoke.

“Did you receive the flowers I sent?”

“What?”

“Even after seeing those, you still have no idea?”

“…”

“My face… do you really not remember?”

“What is this perverted bastard talking about?”

Kwon Chaewoo frowned, displeased.

Jang Beomhee, realizing his intentions were being misinterpreted, immediately kicked his shin and pulled away from his forearm. However, Kwon Chaewoo instantly reached out with incredible reaction speed, and the two exchanged several blows as if in a practiced fight.

Caught again, Jang Beomhee’s head hit the rough wall this time. One arm was mercilessly twisted and pressed against his back. He gritted his teeth and suppressed a groan.

“Stop your tricks and get lost. This is your last warning, and if I see you again—”

“…Ugh, Young Master, please come to your senses! You need to find your memories quickly, what are you doing being so carefree!”

Kwon Chaewoo froze at his voice, which even seemed desperate.

“Aren’t you curious? What kind of person you were in the past, what thoughts you had and how you acted! This is not the time to be playing house idly. Don’t be fooled by that woman…! That woman will—”

“Stop.”

Kwon Chaewoo twisted his arm further, pressing down.

“…Young Master!”

“I don’t want to hear it, so stop.”

Jang Beomhee couldn’t understand the situation at all, but the low voice continued calmly.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not curious about the past, nor do I care. I have a promise with my wife at an important moment.”

“…!”

Jang Beomhee’s body flinched once, but that was it. Kwon Chaewoo twisted his elbow just short of breaking the bone, restraining his resistance. The action of reflexively pulling the leash to control a dog seemed quite familiar.

“So, even if you know a lot about me, I’d appreciate it if you’d shut your mouth for now.”

“Wait, Young Master, don’t be fooled. That woman is—”

“I told you to stop. And stop with that damn ‘Young Master’ talk.”

Suddenly, Kwon Chaewoo’s voice took on an untouchable frost.

Jang Beomhee was sweating cold. He twisted his head as much as possible to look at him, but Kwon Chaewoo’s eyes held no hint of curiosity, wavering, or emotion.

At that firm rejection, as if his eyes and ears were covered, Jang Beomhee felt his knees buckle, utterly disheartened.

…Where on earth did that demon, who oversaw the Kwon family’s hunting dogs, evaporate to?