Passion Novel - Volume 1 - Chapter 28 - End vol 1

Jeong Taeui suddenly slowed his pace. It was because he remembered what had happened this morning.

This morning, that man died. The man who had aimed at Ilay last night, the one who had held the crossbow.

Ilay had told Jeong Taeui that he would deal with it after returning to Europe. And he hadn’t broken his word. Not until that man came at him again.

It was morning when they returned to the branch building after the march. After eating, they had to go straight into the morning schedule without rest. People grumbled and cursed as they shouldered their luggage and went inside.

Jeong Taeui, too, was grumbling, “They really work people to the bone,” and was about to pick up his luggage again when he suddenly saw someone and muttered, “Oh.” It was because he noticed a young man standing rather small—though in reality, he wasn’t that different from the average man—among the group of rough and burly men from the European branch. He looks somehow familiar, why is that? Jeong Taeui thought as he looked at him, and then he realized.

It was the man he had seen last night. Not clearly, but he had seen him entangled with Ilay. It was a side view, but his jawline and other features looked familiar, and when he took another look, it was indeed that young man.

Jeong Taeui felt inexplicably awkward and cleared his throat. He hadn’t made eye contact with the young man, and it wasn’t like he had directly witnessed their embarrassing scene yesterday, but he still felt awkward.

So that’s it. That’s Ilay’s taste. A smaller build than average, with relatively delicate and slender lines.

Jeong Taeui became depressed. It was because the way Ilay had looked at Xinlu came back to his mind. He should be careful, but even if he was careful, he didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t exactly fold Xinlu up and carry him around in his pocket, and besides, if Xinlu said he would go, he could only watch him blankly.

That man Ilay was undoubtedly an overwhelming man who could make you feel your life was in danger, but on the other hand, he also possessed a clear and intense primal charm. Hadn’t he felt it keenly last night?

Jeong Taeui suddenly felt a pang in his chest. And he became even more depressed. He couldn’t feel good at all when he thought about whether he could even stand against that man if he seriously approached Xinlu.

It was while Jeong Taeui was agonizing gloomily like that.

It was in front of everyone. The man with the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his head lunged at Ilay. The blue blade he thrust straight towards his side instantly came dangerously close.

Jeong Taeui was about ten steps away from Ilay, raising his luggage and lost in thought. Then he saw it.

The blade, about a hand span long, was sharp enough to cut through flesh and bone without difficulty. The moment that blade was about to touch Ilay’s side.

Ilay turned around. He gave the man a fleeting glance, and in the next moment, he looked at Jeong Taeui. It was a very brief moment. So brief that Jeong Taeui couldn’t even tell if their eyes had met, but he smiled slightly.

You see? It’s not my will to break my word. It’s something I can’t help either.

That smile seemed to say. And Ilay cut down the reckless and foolish man who had probably charged at him in desperation. He unhesitatingly slit his throat in one swift motion with the very knife the man had brought.

Blood spurted like a fountain from the wound he had cut so deeply that the man’s neck was almost severed. Ilay, completely covered in that blood, flung the knife to the ground as if throwing away trash. And he wiped the blood that had spilled onto his eyelids with the back of his hand. Only his eyes were white on his blood-soaked face.

Jeong Taeui stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the scene. It had happened less than a few meters away. A few drops of blood had splattered onto Jeong Taeui’s cheek and collar.

No one in that place opened their mouths. They simply watched the man slowly collapse, spewing blood, and Ilay standing before him expressionlessly, casually looking down at him.

Ilay raised his gaze from looking down at him. His eyes briefly met Jeong Taeui’s again. Jeong Taeui looked at the man who had already become a corpse and muttered softly,

“Another ‘self-defense’.”

He wasn’t a man who wouldn’t understand the sarcasm hidden in those words, and Ilay had clearly heard that muttering, but he only faintly lifted the corners of his lips as if smiling or not.

Jeong Taeui wiped the bloodstains from his cheek with his thumb and moved his feet.

Not long after Jeong Taeui passed by Ilay and entered the building, an instructor came running, and the instructor, with a troubled and awkward expression, began to sternly reprimand Ilay.

According to regulations, they couldn’t hold him responsible, but if this continued to happen repeatedly, they couldn’t overlook it, and if it happened again, they would take their own measures. It was a warning that Ilay wouldn’t even snort at, let alone Jeong Taeui.

Jeong Taeui rubbed his arms again, feeling goosebumps. Even though the building’s air conditioning was perfect, the scene from the morning made his stomach churn and his spine feel cold.

That was Ilay, and at the same time, Riegrow. A man who didn’t bat an eye even in such a situation, with no difference from his usual self. That very point was what Jeong Taeui found most unbearable.

“Isn’t the real reason you came here so you can kill people without getting punished, you bastard?”

Jeong Taeui muttered sullenly to himself. He didn’t want to think that way, but what if he was someone with a bizarre penchant for killing people from the start?

“Who are you talking about, Taei hyung?”

Jeong Taeui, who had been leaning against the wall and staring blankly at his feet, was startled and looked up at the sudden voice. Xinlu stood a few steps away, quietly looking at him. His face, which broke into a bright smile when their eyes met, was as sweet as cotton candy today too.

“Oh, Xinlu. How long have you been standing there?”

“‘It’s too beautiful to be wasted on that bastard’… that’s where I started listening. Whose hand is so pretty?”

Xinlu tilted his head and asked. At that subtle question, Jeong Taeui quickly waved his hand.

“No, no. There’s someone you don’t need to worry about. Someone you won’t gain anything good from knowing.”

“Hmm…”

Xinlu looked at Jeong Taeui quietly, but then smiled warmly and nodded.

“Yes. Whatever it is, hyung, please don’t worry about it too much. Your face hasn’t looked good for the past few days… Are you on your way back from Instructor Jeong? You shouldn’t get caught.”

Xinlu spoke with concern. The floor they were currently on was a place where Jeong Taeui shouldn’t originally be. However, having already resigned himself to writing ten copies of the disciplinary regulations, Jeong Taeui had nothing left to fear. He figured that since he was already caught on record, being caught once or ten times was the same.

Jeong Taeui quietly looked down at Xinlu. Just looking at him made a smile naturally appear on his lips.

He was a beautiful and lovable young man, no matter when he saw him. Just looking at this pure and innocent appearance made his heart feel calm. Moreover, that sweetly melting smile.

“Xinlu.”

“Yes?”

“…Nothing.”

Jeong Taeui called his name and then laughed nonsensically. Xinlu tilted his head with a strange expression but soon showed that lovely smile. Seeing that smile, Jeong Taeui’s heart ached. This joy he had never felt before, perhaps this was the joy of romance that people talked about.

He didn’t know if he was truly in a romantic relationship, but he liked him, and he showed his affection knowing his feelings, so it wouldn’t be wrong to call it romance. Come to think of it, they had even kissed, though it was on the cheek, Jeong Taeui thought to himself and smiled happily.

“Where are you headed?”

“Ah. I’m on my way back to my room. I just finished work. It was a busy day today, so I finished a bit late.”

“I see… Well, then go and rest. Rest, and I’ll see you later.”

Jeong Taeui patted Xinlu’s shoulder, hiding his disappointment. Xinlu also remained silent for a moment, looking a bit sad, before saying,

“Yes, then please take care of yourself. Don’t forget about going out to play together after the training ends.”

Jeong Taeui’s heart ached again at his slightly playful and whiny tone. This must really be the joy of romance.

“Yeah. See you later…”

Jeong Taeui, embarrassed by the smile that kept creeping up despite his attempts to suppress it, rubbed his lips with his hand and mumbled, then closed his mouth the next moment. The smile instantly vanished from his face.

It was because he saw a man coming around the stairwell, directly behind Xinlu.

Ilay Riegrow.

Perhaps noticing the sudden hardening of Jeong Taeui’s expression, Xinlu turned around with a puzzled look. Ilay, who had turned from the stairwell and was walking towards them, also noticed their presence, his gaze stopping on Jeong Taeui’s face before turning to look at Xinlu.

“…”

“…”

A subtle silence flowed. Ilay looked at Xinlu. Xinlu also looked at Ilay. Jeong Taeui watched the two of them alternately, feeling uneasy.

Whenever Jeong Taeui thought of Xinlu in front of that man, he tasted a faint anxiety. It was an instinctive unease, fearing that something precious would be taken away. Just like now.

“…Taei hyung. Then I’ll be going now. Please be careful on your way back.”

Breaking the short, heavy silence, Xinlu said quietly. Since he was standing with his back to Jeong Taeui, he couldn’t see Xinlu’s expression, but there was a faint wariness in his voice. Jeong Taeui felt relieved at that voice. At least at this moment, what Xinlu felt for that man wasn’t fondness or curiosity. He was wary of that man with a defensive heart.

Even though that monstrous man, whether Xinlu was wary or not, would have no hesitation in taking what he desired by force, Jeong Taeui felt a slight relief at Xinlu’s reaction. It was because he had a deep-seated fear that Xinlu might be drawn to that man’s threatening charm, even if only by a small chance.

“Yeah. See you later then.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you.”

Xinlu turned to look at Jeong Taeui and smiled brightly. It was a slightly stiff but still lovely smile. Thinking that Ilay over there was also seeing this smile made Jeong Taeui feel uneasy, but he leaned against the wall, watching them as if observing a scene, a playful light in his eyes.

Xinlu greeted Jeong Taeui and then turned to walk towards his room. Ilay was standing in the middle of his path. The closer he got to him, the stiffer his steps became. Like a young animal facing a predator, its fur standing on end in fear.

One step, then another. The distance between Xinlu and Ilay gradually decreased. Ilay stood leaning against the door with his arms crossed, silently watching him with a smile. At some point, Jeong Taeui suddenly felt a heat in his heart.

“Xin—”

Just as Jeong Taeui opened his mouth.

Xinlu, who was about two steps away from Ilay, heard the call and turned to look at Jeong Taeui. At the same time, Ilay straightened up, reached out, and snatched Xinlu’s waist.

Before Xinlu could even avoid him, Ilay hugged his waist and pulled him close, leaning him against the wall and pressing his body tightly against him. Ilay’s long fingers lifted Xinlu’s chin. And then he bit down on his lips as if to devour him. Ilay’s thick tongue forced its way into Xinlu’s open mouth. Xinlu’s eyes widened.

“Ilay! Stop it!”

Jeong Taeui exclaimed, filled with anger, and ran towards them.

Even during that time, Ilay, as if he hadn’t even heard Jeong Taeui’s words, lowered one hand and boldly grabbed Xinlu’s groin. A short groan escaped Xinlu’s lips. Ilay’s large hand cupped Xinlu’s groin and rubbed and kneaded it slowly and forcefully. The hand that had slipped between his legs slid up the path from his buttocks to his crotch with a sticky touch. Over the single layer of clothing, that hand, overlapping Xinlu’s genitals, held an undeniably lewd and dark light.

“Ilay!!”

Jeong Taeui grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back sharply. As if he had intended to from the start, Ilay easily let go, and Jeong Taeui grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall.

“Don’t do it! Don’t touch him!!”

Jeong Taeui cried out, his eyes wide with a fierce blue light. His head felt as if it had been scorched black. The moment Ilay grabbed Xinlu and bit his lips with his own, the moment he slipped his hand between Xinlu’s legs, Jeong Taeui felt breathless.

Ilay looked down at Jeong Taeui as if he were ridiculous, but then shifted his gaze to Xinlu. At that attitude, as if he didn’t care about someone like him, Jeong Taeui felt a surge of anger and tightened his grip on Ilay’s collar.

“Ilay…!!”

“Hyung…! I’m alright. Please don’t.”

However, the one who stopped Jeong Taeui was Xinlu, who was beside him, looking flustered and clutching his own collar.

Jeong Taeui looked at Xinlu, still holding Ilay’s collar. Xinlu, his face clearly showing embarrassment, looked back and forth between Ilay and Jeong Taeui with an unsteady gaze. “Hyung, please don’t. Don’t fight,” Xinlu’s repeated whispers sounded very anxious and uneasy.

Hearing that voice, Jeong Taeui’s heart ached once more, and he glared at Ilay for a moment before slowly releasing his grip. Ilay chuckled and straightened his collar.

“Quite exquisite. More delicious than it looks…, hmm?”

“…!!”

Jeong Taeui flared up again at Ilay’s low, laughter-filled words. But Xinlu, standing beside him, grabbed his fist. Jeong Taeui looked at Xinlu with a face hardened white with anger, but Xinlu shook his head, looking so anxious he seemed about to burst into tears.

Jeong Taeui, barely managing to control his ragged breathing, took a step back from Ilay. Then he said to Xinlu in a low voice,

“Go inside… It’s okay. Go.”

Xinlu still looked at Jeong Taeui with a worried expression. Then he looked at Ilay—with a gaze that was anything but kind, which was Jeong Taeui’s only faint relief. Not wanting to leave Xinlu there, within Ilay’s gaze, Jeong Taeui urged Xinlu to go again, and Xinlu nodded as if understanding his intentions. And then he slowly walked away.

Jeong Taeui didn’t move until Xinlu had looked back several times, entered his room, and closed the door. Just like Ilay, who stood right next to him, hadn’t moved.

Even after Xinlu disappeared from his sight, Jeong Taeui continued to look in that direction as if chasing after his afterimage, before finally slowly turning his gaze to Ilay. Ilay stood with his arms crossed, looking at the opposite wall as if lost in thought. Then, sensing Jeong Taeui’s gaze, he lowered only his eyes to meet his.

Jeong Taeui slowly unclenched his fist, which he had been gripping tightly, and with a sigh, the anger that had flared up intensely a moment ago gradually seeped out. He rarely got violently angry in the first place, and he wasn’t the type to hold onto such emotions for long.

Jeong Taeui took a step back, feeling a bit pathetic at his own behavior. He asked, unpleasant and gloomy,

“What are you planning to do…? Do you want that kid?”

At that, a fleeting, interested light flickered across Ilay’s eyes. That interest resembled desire.

“He’s not yours yet, is he?”

“Is that so? I think Xinlu likes me too.”

Ilay chuckled softly at Jeong Taeui’s words. It was a laugh with a hint of being let down.

“Listen, Taei. You’re misunderstanding again. I’m not talking about feelings like liking or not liking. You can have all of that you want. I don’t desire it. What I want is a short, intense pleasure.”

“—So?”

Anxiety, unease, and a displeasure that surpassed them both filled his chest.

Jeong Taeui looked straight at Ilay. He met Jeong Taeui’s gaze with those cold, deep black eyes that revealed nothing of what he was thinking.

He was a man who would get whatever he wanted by any means. Giving up or resigning himself to something he wanted was too uncharacteristic of this man. That was why Jeong Taeui couldn’t back down any further. If he tried to hurt Xinlu, the things he cherished, he couldn’t just stand by and watch. No matter what. Even if his own strength was woefully inadequate.

Suddenly, Ilay laughed, like a sigh. He shook his head slightly, as if raising both hands in surrender.

“Alright, fine. I don’t want to fight you right now anyway. Even if we were to fight, now isn’t the time. So, I’ll concede one thing. You should also take a step back.”

Jeong Taeui frowned slightly at Ilay’s low and subtle words. He couldn’t even guess what this man, who openly displayed his desire for Xinlu, was going to say.

He looked at Ilay and then quietly clicked his tongue.

Damn it. He felt like he finally understood exactly what his uncle had meant. Regardless of good or bad, the best thing was simply not to get noticed and not to get involved.

Jeong Taeui said bitterly,

“Let’s hear it then, this concession. Though I doubt I’ll even have a choice.”

At Jeong Taeui’s words, spoken with sullen discontent, Ilay smiled. And then he spoke as if making a grand concession.

“That guy is someone you have your eye on, isn’t he? He certainly looks appetizing to me too, and my lower half is stirring. Getting what I want is my rule, but as I said, I have no intention of fighting you right now. So—you don’t interfere with whatever I do with that guy. In return, I won’t use force to forcibly take him.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you understand? Since he’s not entirely yours yet, it means you have no business with whether I approach him, seduce him, or drag him to bed. In return, I won’t use threats or other coercive means.”

Jeong Taeui stared blankly at Ilay for a moment, speechless. He felt as if he had been lightly hit on the back of the head.

“No…, that’s…”

“And since you’re not properly dating him, you have even less right to say anything to me.”

Jeong Taeui closed his mouth.

He was right. In fact, Jeong Taeui couldn’t define what kind of relationship he had with Xinlu. If he had to put it into words, he was trying to court him, and Xinlu was responding well to those efforts. He wasn’t in a position to demand that Xinlu stay away from him.

However, Jeong Taeui couldn’t readily say, “Then please do as you wish,” and remained silent. In front of him, Ilay turned his body as if he had finished saying all he needed to say.

“Ilay!”

Jeong Taeui called out to him, half in a daze, as he was about to turn away. Ilay slightly raised his eyebrows and turned only his head to look back. Jeong Taeui glared at him with a heavy heart for a moment before saying gloomily,

“If you use forceful methods… I will absolutely not stand by.”

At that, Ilay laughed cheerfully. “Of course,” he replied briefly, a response that could be interpreted in any way, and then he walked away.

Jeong Taeui stood rooted to the spot until Ilay turned the corner and was no longer visible. As soon as he disappeared from his sight, Jeong Taeui leaned against the wall and slumped down. It felt as if decades worth of fatigue had suddenly washed over him.

Things had taken a turn for the absolute worst. He probably couldn’t have refused his offer anyway—there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t resort to extreme measures if he stubbornly refused to the end—and he didn’t even have a legitimate reason to refuse, but he had never wanted this situation.

“I will absolutely not stand by’… Only someone with the power to back that up can say something like that and have it mean anything.”

Jeong Taeui groaned, muttering self-deprecatingly to himself.

Ever since he came here, his life had been a series of unlucky events, and it felt like he was the only one doing all the stupid things.

1-END