They immediately snapped their faces away from each other, a thick wave of agonizing awkwardness instantly flooding the space between them.
The only sounds remaining in the vast park were the crisp rustle of falling rustic leaves and the gentle swaying of the trees in the wind. Desperate to break the suffocating tension, Leansei quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket and raised the camera, focusing on the breathtaking view of the horizon instead.
"What exactly are you doing?" Xerchin inquired quietly.
"The view is just too beautiful," Leansei replied, his voice slightly tight as he continuously tapped the screen to snap photos. "I couldn't help but capture it."
Xerchin stared at him in silence for a few seconds. Then, surprisingly, he pulled his own phone from his pocket, raised it, and snapped two quick photos of his own.
Leansei glanced over just as Xerchin hurriedly lowered his hand. "Wait, you're taking photos too?" An amused chuckle cracked through Leansei's throat. He had never imagined the cold heir doing something so ordinary; he always assumed Xerchin only knew how to be serious and deeply mysterious.
"We should probably head back—" Xerchin started, but he cut himself off as a ten-year-old boy and an elderly woman slowly walked past their spot, their quiet conversation drifting over.
"Mama, we haven't even sold half of our flowers today," the young boy murmured sadly, staring down at the woven basket in his small hands. Leansei lowered his phone, a sudden warmth squeezing his chest. Watching them, a vivid memory of his past life flashed before his eyes—recalling the countless times he and his late Grandma Delin had struggled just like this years ago.
"My child," the elderly lady said softly, reaching out to gently caress the boy's head. "Not every single day can be a lucky one. There will be times we sell every bloom, and other days where they simply cannot be sold."
"But what about our food, mama? We haven't eaten a single thing all day," the boy countered, his bottom lip trembling. "What if you rest here on the bench, mama, and I try walking down the other blocks to sell what we have left?"
"Silly child," the old woman replied with a pure, loving smile, affectionately messing up his hair. "I still have a little money saved from the other day. We can easily use that to buy your favorite meal tonight."
A sharp, piercing ache struck Leansei's heart. The genuine, unconditional bond between the two was incredibly precious, mirroring the love he had shared with Grandma Delin. Beside him, Xerchin was staring intently at Leansei's face, his blue eyes holding a profound, unreadable expression. Without a word, Leansei stepped forward, a kind smile breaking across his lips as he approached the pair.
"Excuse me. Are those roses still available for purchase?" Leansei asked politely. The little boy's disappointed face lit up instantly, and the old lady gasped softly, her shoulders dropping in pure relief.
"Yes, Sir! They are!" the boy chirped happily. "How many would you like? They are fifty pesos per rose, completely fresh and very fragrant!"
"How much would it cost if I bought every single rose in the basket?" Leansei inquired.
Both the boy and the old lady opened their mouths in a round 'O' of absolute shock. "T-that would be..." The old lady stammered, her hands shaking slightly as she quickly counted the remaining stems. The little boy's eyes were practically twinkling with joy. "It comes to exactly one thousand five hundred pesos for all of them, Sir."
Leansei smiled, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. But before he could pull out his cash, a large hand cut into his line of sight, presenting three crisp one-thousand-peso bills. Startled, Leansei snapped his head up to look at Xerchin.
"Th-this is entirely too much money, young man," the elderly woman whispered, staring at the three thousand pesos in disbelief.
"A high-quality rose typically commands one hundred pesos per stem," Xerchin stated, his face completely expressionless as he gently pressed the bills into her weathered palm. "If you calculate the true value, it totals to this exact amount."
Leansei stared at him, a deep, overwhelming warmth radiating through his entire body.
The little boy turned back and carefully gathered the heavy bundle of flowers from the basket. He quickly pulled a bright red ribbon from his pocket, wrapping it neatly around the stems. Fortunately, all the sharp thorns had already been meticulously trimmed away.
The elderly lady and her grandson bowed their heads repeatedly in deep respect, flooding them with gratitude for the massive tip. Leansei raised his hand in a cheerful wave goodbye. As the sun fully dipped below the horizon, his eyes glowed softly under the rising moonlight. He turned his head, realizing Xerchin was still silently watching him.
"Thank you," Leansei murmured, reaching for his wallet again. "Let me pay you back for—"
Xerchin immediately spun on his heel and began walking toward the parking lot. "There is absolutely no need to reimburse me. I simply purchased them because they were clearly to your liking." Leansei's cheeks flushed a bright crimson. He stared down at the vibrant red petals for a split second before quickly jogging a few paces to catch up, falling into step right beside the towering heir.
As they navigated the crowded pathways back to the car, reality suddenly hit Leansei. He was walking through a public park, cradling a massive, romantic bouquet of red roses, with an incredibly attractive man strolling right next to him. To his eyes, it was just a kind gesture, but the surrounding crowds definitely saw it differently.
The whispers started instantly.
"Oh wow, look at them. What a cute couple."
"Wait... are they together?"
"Hold on, isn't that Xerchin Vcheroi?"
"Who is that petite guy beside him?"
"They look like a total couple."
The murmurs and open stares caused Leansei to glance nervously up at Xerchin. But the heir's profile remained entirely stone-faced, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
' It really looks like he couldn't care less about what any of these people think, ' Leansei noted, letting out a quiet sigh of immense relief.
Still, he couldn't stop the blush from burning across his cheeks as he looked back down at the bouquet. This was the absolute first time in his entire life that anyone had ever gifted him a rose, and the sheer embarrassment of the situation was making his heart race.
' A c-couple? How can two guys even—but wait, it doesn't matter anyway. He literally mentioned earlier that he has a someone special, so obviously he isn't affected by the rumors at all! There is absolutely nothing for me to stress about! '
"-////-"
.
The luxury vehicle eventually smooth-talked its way through traffic, pulling to a stop right in front of Kean's high-rise condominium building. Leansei opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement, but he found his feet rooting to the ground. A sudden wave of doubt washed over him. He wanted to offer an invitation, but a nagging voice told him a wealthy heir like Xerchin would probably just reject it flat out.
But if he didn't offer something now, how on earth was he supposed to properly repay the guy for the dinner and the flowers? Steeling his nerves, Leansei bent down and lightly knocked on the tinted passenger window. A second later, the glass slid down smoothly. Leansei nervously bit the inside of his lip, his fingers instinctively reaching up to rub the back of his neck.
"D-do you... want to come inside for a bit?" Leansei asked, his tone entirely bashful.
Without a single word, Xerchin reached forward and killed the car's engine. He climbed out of the driver's side, clicked the key fob to lock the doors, and calmly ambled over to Leansei's side. Together, they walked through the grand lobby toward the elevators.
' Gosh, this is going to be incredibly awkward, ' Leansei panicked internally as the elevator doors closed. ' He was literally just staying over yesterday... and now he's back again. '
"Come in and take a seat. What would you like to drink?" Leansei asked, his eyes frantically scanning the room until he found a glass vase. He filled it with cool water at the sink and carefully arranged the heavy bouquet of red roses inside, setting them prominently on the counter.
"Water will do," Xerchin replied smoothly, stepping past him and taking a seat on the leather sofa.
Leansei quickly served him a crisp glass of water. To cut through the sudden quiet, he switched on the air conditioner and turned on the television, hoping the broadcast would keep the heir entertained.
"I wanted to properly thank you for taking care of me last night," Leansei said, adjusting the ties of a cooking apron around his neck. "This will only take a few minutes. Please, make yourself at home."
Instead of watching the television screen, Xerchin kept his eyes locked entirely on Leansei's retreating figure. He had never cared for TV shows, media broadcasts, or public entertainment. More importantly, he was a man who strictly never agreed to visit other people's private homes, let alone personally drive them back. Yet, here he was.
' Those eyes, ' Xerchin mused silently, leaning his head back against the cushions. ' Where have I seen that look before? Why does his gaze feel so agonizingly familiar? '
The heavy copper skillet clattered to a stop on the burner, its dying hiss giving way to the quiet hum of the apartment. Xerchin sat on the living room sofa, his gaze fixed on the kitchen threshold. The moment Leansei finished at the stove, Xerchin subtly adjusted his posture, straightening his spine as the sudden shift in energy filled the room.
Leansei walked carefully out of the kitchen, hands steady around the edges of a wide, heavy platter. A thick plume of steam trailed in their wake, carrying a rich, complex warmth into the cooler air of the living room. With deliberate care, Leansei leaned down and set the steaming dish directly onto the living room coffee table.
Xerchin leaned forward slightly, his eyes tracking the vibrant, mismatched layers of food. There was a mountain of golden fried rice flecked with green, a tangle of glossy, dark-sauced noodles, and a neat stack of toasted quesadillas oozing pockets of melted cheese.
"What exactly is this?" Xerchin asked, his voice low, his nose catching the rich, savory aroma drifting from the plate. It was a potent blend of toasted sesame oil, seared garlic, and grilled flour tortillas.
"It's just a combination of whatever I had left in my refrigerator," Leansei explained, offering a nervous smile that tugged at the corner of their mouth. They shifted their weight, looking between the massive spread and Xerchin's unreadable expression. "It's fried rice, fried noodles and quesadillas. I know you're probably full from our dinner. But try it! It's one of my specialty."
The heavy aroma hung between them, a quiet, savory challenge resting on the table, waiting for the first move.
Xerchin raised an eyebrow, his eyes tracking the steam. "Is it actually edible?" The excited light vanished from Leansei's face in a split second, and he leveled a sharp, annoyed glare at the heir.
Xerchin merely shifted his weight, picking up the utensils to examine the meal. It was visually appealing and smelled undeniably wonderful. As he took his first bite, Leansei hovered nearby, his eyes wide and twinkling, his cheeks slightly puffed out as he anxiously awaited the final verdict.
Xerchin froze mid-chew. A sudden wave of surprise hit him as he realized he had never tasted anything quite like this in his entire life. He had always been an incredibly picky eater, bound by strict culinary standards, but he absolutely could not deny how phenomenal the simple dish tasted.
"Well? How is it? Is it delicious?" Leansei pressed eagerly.
Xerchin calmly chewed, swallowing the bite before systematically finishing every single scrap of food on the plate within a matter of minutes. Once the ceramic was completely bare, he set his fork down and stated flatly, "It is not." Leansei's cheeks puffed out in pure irritation as he stared down at the completely empty plate.
' He literally demolished the entire portion, yet he has the audacity to claim it isn't good? What an absolute bastard! ' Leansei fumed internally.
Snatching the empty plate up in a huff, Leansei spun on his heel and marched angrily back to the kitchen. He began aggressively scrubbing the porcelain under the running faucet, his shoulders rigid with annoyance.
"It tasted delicious, mooncalf," a soft, deep voice murmured right far behind him. Leansei froze mid-scrub, a sudden, intense heat instantly rushing to his face. He shook his head vigorously, trying to force his heart to calm down as the irritation and grumpy thoughts completely dissolved into thin air.
While Leansei focused on rinsing the remaining dishes, Xerchin picked up his empty water glass, stood up from the sofa, and quietly approached the sink.
"Mooncalf," Xerchin called out.
"Yeah?" Leansei answered automatically, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the soapy water.
' Why does his voice sound like he's standing right behind of me? ' Leansei panicked silently.
"You forgot to take this." Leansei turned his head around to look, but he felt his entire soul physically exit Kean's body the exact second he realized their faces were mere inches apart—replicating the suffocating proximity from the school clinic.
Xerchin was towering directly over him, leaning his upper body down. The angle forced Leansei to stare directly at the sharp line of the heir's jaw before lifting his gaze to meet his eyes. Those mesmerizing, enchanting blue eyes caused his heart to violently throw a million rapid beats against his ribs.
Unconsciously, Xerchin leaned down just a fraction more, his heavy eyelids fluttering shut. The entire world seemed to slow to an absolute crawl, leaving the frantic rhythm of their own heartbeats as the only audible sound in the apartment. With Leansei's flushed cheeks and their lips drifting a single inch apart, a strange, electric sensation began to curl deep within their stomachs. It wasn't a painful or jarring feeling; rather, it was a profoundly warm, safe, and cozy sentiment—the exact same emotional pull that had paralyzed him back at the school.
They were on the absolute verge of closing the remaining distance when a sharp, aggressive ringtone suddenly blasted from inside Xerchin's pocket.
Leansei's eyes snapped open in an instant. Panicking, he violently jerked his face away and began aggressively scrubbing the already clean dishes, desperate to hide his utter mortification. He tightly squeezed his eyes shut, his cheeks burning a brilliant, furious crimson.
Xerchin remained frozen for a beat, staring intently at the back of Leansei's head before letting out a highly annoyed breath. He reached into his tailored pants and aggressively pulled out the vibrating device.
The screen displayed the caller ID for his company's chief secretary.
"I need to step out to take this call," Xerchin stated, his voice tight. Leansei gave a frantic, jerky nod without turning around, and Xerchin immediately stepped out into the quiet corridor of the condominium hallway.
He slid the screen open, his face darkening with absolute fury. "If you called me to waste my time with nonsense, I will personally ensure your head is removed from your shoulders," Xerchin growled in a dangerously cold baritone.
[ S-Sir! I am incredibly sorry to disturb your evening, ] the secretary stammered, his voice shaking over the line. [ But the President has explicitly demanded your presence at the corporate headquarters immediately, Sir. ]
"What is the nature of the emergency?"
[ H-he refused to disclose the details to me, Sir... but your father appears to be in an exceptionally foul mood. ] Xerchin let out a heavy, deeply irritated sigh before abruptly cutting the call. He turned around, pushed the condo door open, and stepped back into the warmth of the apartment. Leansei had just finished drying his hands on a towel.
"H-how did the call go?" Leansei stammered out, instinctively raising his hands to try and shield his red face from view.
"It was from the headquarters. I am required to report to the company immediately," Xerchin replied. He caught Leansei's fleeting glance before continuing, "I must take my leave."
"S-sure. Please take care on the road," Leansei murmured.
Xerchin closed the distance between them one last time, causing Leansei's cheeks to flush even darker. At this point, he looked exactly like an innocent, bright red tomato that was about to physically detonate at any given second.
Xerchin raised his large hand, gently placing it on top of Leansei's head and affectionately messing up his soft hair as though he were a cute, fragile kitten. Leansei stood completely dazed in surprise, his eyes widening as he looked up.
Realizing the sudden warmth spreading across his own face, Xerchin sharply retracted his hand and spun around toward the exit. "It was an absolute relish to spend the night with you. The food was exceptional as well. I shall see you at school, Mooncalf," Xerchin called out over his shoulder, stepping out into the corridor and closing the heavy door behind him.
Walking down to the garage, Xerchin couldn't shake the bizarre realization that he hadn't been acting like himself over the past few days. It felt as though he were misidentifying his own identity. The unfamiliar emotions he was feeling, the gentle way he was speaking, his protective movements, and the dangerous boundaries he was continuously allowing himself to cross whenever he was near that boy—it was unprecedented. It felt as though the rigid, impenetrable walls he had built around himself for ten years were slowly but surely crashing down into dust.
It was a sensation he had never tried before, never felt before, and especially never experienced in his entire life. It was completely foreign to him, and he couldn't determine if it was a genuine reaction to the boy himself, or simply because the youth reminded him so deeply of someone from his distant past.
Reaching the valet area, Xerchin pulled out his luxury car keys, unlocked the door, and slid into the leather driver's seat. He fired up the heavy engine, steering the vehicle out onto the main road toward the corporate district.
As he focused his gaze on the asphalt ahead, his eyes drifted for a brief second to the empty passenger seat right beside him, where Leansei had been sitting just an hour prior. A slow, genuine curve shaped his lips into a rare smile.
' This entire situation is completely absurd, ' Xerchin reasoned silently, pressing his foot down on the accelerator. ' But at this point... it doesn't matter in the slightest whether he is truly Kean or someone else entirely. '