The first visitor was James.

Carrying an elegant bouquet of flowers in one arm and a vintage wine so rare it was said to be worth a fortune in the other, James appeared with a perfect smile that no one could possibly describe as impersonal.

“It’s our first time meeting in person, isn’t it? I’m James Miller from T&R. I hope the room is to your liking.”

Setting the wine on the table with a modest: “It’s just a small token”, James handed the bouquet to Yuri. This left Yuri, who had been standing behind Xinlu, holding the bouquet somewhat awkwardly and wondering: ‘What am I supposed to do with these when every vase in the room is already filled with flowers?’

“Yes, it’s more than satisfactory. In fact, I feel almost guilty for being provided with such a splendid room.” – Xinlu said, standing up to greet James.

With a smile just as polished as James’s, Xinlu extended his hand. The two men shook hands, subtly assessing each other while maintaining their flawless smiles. The sight was dazzling enough that Yuri found himself unable to look at them directly. Muttering something to himself about putting the flowers in the bathtub for now until he could find another vase, he moved toward the bathroom with deliberate steps.

Xinlu had moved from the hospital to the hotel earlier that afternoon.

Yuri had suggested that Xinlu stay in the hospital a little longer, considering his health was not yet fully recovered. But Xinlu had decisively refused, saying he didn’t want to spend another moment in a grimy hospital. Although the private room was superior to most luxury hotels in both view and amenities, Xinlu had snapped: “It’s the hospital itself that’s grimy”, leaving Yuri no choice but to nod in agreement.

Since he was in the position of the guilty party, when Yuri reached out, Kyle – or more precisely, his assistant James – had immediately arranged a suite at the nearest five-star hotel to the hospital. And not stopping at that, James had shown up in person less than a couple of hours after their check-in.

“I’ve heard so much about you. They say you’re indispensable to T&R.”

With an impeccable smile, Xinlu invited James to take a seat. Watching this from the bathroom door, where he had just finished filling the bathtub with water to hold the bouquet, Yuri blinked in surprise.

He’d never seen that expression before. So that was the face of ‘the youngest son of the prestigious Ling clan presenting himself to the public.’

When Xinlu interacted with Jeong Taeui, Riegrow, or Yuri, he never showed the same face. But this? This was truly a ‘perfectly crafted’ expression. Anyone would believe he was a flawless young master, someone raised in a loving and affluent household, blessed with the finest education, and showing not a single flaw in his demeanor.

Perhaps Yuri had been staring too obviously.

As he felt the gaze, Xinlu turned away from James, his warm smile fading slightly as he looked at Yuri. Following Xinlu’s glance, James also turned to look at Yuri. In that fleeting moment, Yuri caught it. The sharpness in Xinlu’s gaze.

‘Don’t stare. Your gaze is irritating.’

Yuri could almost hear the words loud and clear. He’d heard them dozens of times just today alone. (Not that it stopped him from staring, which was why he kept hearing it repeatedly.)

Pretending not to notice, Yuri turned his eyes away and gave James a courteous nod. James was clad in a finely tailored suit that looked as impenetrable as armor, radiating an aura that felt especially intimidating today. Though his face wore a perfectly pleasant smile, his eyes burned with a quiet intensity deep within. That level of simmering anger…… undoubtedly, Kyle had caused trouble again.

And sure enough—

“Well, this is unexpected. I thought Mr. Kyle Riegrow himself might come, but instead, it’s his assistant…… Oh, don’t misunderstand. This is by no means a complaint about you, Mr. Miller.” – Xinlu said with that same impeccably polite smile.

Though Xinlu’s words were wrapped in politeness, there was a clear barb beneath them: ‘I’m actually voicing my dissatisfaction with your boss, who, despite being directly responsible for the trouble, sent his assistant instead of coming in person.’ As soon as Xinlu flashed his dazzling smile, James’s own smile grew even sharper.

“Yes, under normal circumstances, Mr. Kyle should have come himself.” – James replied smoothly – “However, an old illness of his flared up unexpectedly last night. For now, I’ve come to offer my apologies on his behalf, but he intends to visit in person at a later time. My deepest apologies.”

“Oh dear, I hope he recovers soon.” 

As Xinlu’s voice carried a tone of worry and James thanked him graciously for the sentiment, the scene could not have been more perfectly scripted. While listening silently, Yuri kept his thoughts to himself: ‘Last Night, Kyle must’ve run off again to some countryside book sale or secondhand bookstore clearance……’

James led an unfortunate life.

He was the kind of man who already held multiple prestigious certifications—qualifications that others would toil for years to achieve even one of. Talented across a variety of fields, he had an answer to everything and never faltered when asked a question. Naturally, he received a salary that matched his high caliber. On top of that, he had a beautiful wife, capable and reliable colleagues, and more than enough admiration from those who knew him casually. Undoubtedly, among those who knew him only ‘superficially’, there were many who envied his seemingly perfect life.

However, from a ‘safe distance’, there was one glaring shadow that darkened his otherwise brilliant life—his direct superior. No matter how many times he submitted his resignation, it was never accepted. His ruthless boss always found a way to shackle him and keep him from leaving.

Poor James. Yet again, today.

With practiced ease, Yuri set down a pot of expertly brewed tea between the two men and then stepped behind Xinlu. By habit, he stood closer to the door, but a short remark from Xinlu quickly interrupted him.

“I believe I’ve mentioned before not to stand on my right side.” 

“My apologies.” 

Yuri lowered his head slightly in apology and took a few steps to stand behind Xinlu’s left side. James observed them with a hint of curiosity, but true to his nature, he showed no unnecessary reaction or expression.

This wasn’t the first time Yuri had heard this from Xinlu, in addition to the frequent “Don’t stare at me.” The other rule was just as clear: “Don’t stand on my right side.”

‘If you’re going to stick around, at least don’t stand on my right. It’s irritating to have you in the corner of my vision.’

Because having injured his left eye, Xinlu preferred Yuri to stand in his blind spot – on his left – where he wouldn’t notice him at all. Yuri silently complied with the request, though there were moments when his habit of standing near the door led him to forget.

“I stopped by to see Dr. Bayeran briefly before coming here.” 

James took a sip of the tea to moisten his lips, before he began to speak. Yuri kept his face unreadable as he perked up his ears and shot a sidelong glance at Xinlu. The man in question showed no particular reaction and simply sipped his tea, responding with a calm: “Is that so?”

“As you likely already know, the prognosis isn’t particularly optimistic.” 

James continued: “But according to Dr. Bayeran, it isn’t entirely hopeless, depending on how the recovery progresses with treatment.”

A faint warmth appeared in James’s eyes. Though he was often brisk and businesslike, given the circumstances, it was clear he wasn’t a bad person. When he had good news to deliver, he shared in the relief, much like Yuri now unconsciously reflected in his own expression.

Dr. Bayeran was the type to lean toward positivity but never sugarcoat the truth. If he said the situation wasn’t entirely hopeless, it meant there was at least a sliver of hope worth pursuing.

“Not entirely hopeless……” 

Xinlu responded quietly, as if lost in thought. After a moment, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

“That’s a kind thing to say.” – He remarked briefly, before falling silent again and sipping his tea.

That was cynicism—directed at those responsible for his current situation and at his own unfortunate predicament.

“So, come to think of it, I haven’t heard much from that side. Has there been any word from Seringe on your end, Yuri?”

“Pardon? Oh, yes, there was a message this morning, but nothing about the situation has changed.”  

Yuri shook his head while standing at attention behind Xinlu with his hands clasped neatly behind his back. “I see.” – James murmured, his expression neither particularly disappointed nor overly concerned. It wasn’t an issue that required urgency. Yuri glanced down at Xinlu briefly. Though he turned his head slightly toward his blind side, where he couldn’t see, there was a faint trace of unrest on his face. It was likely because of Jeong Taeui.

“There’s no news that would confirm Mr. Jeong Taeui’s whereabouts.” – Yuri was addressing James but clearly directed his words toward Xinlu – “However, there’s also no indication of any harm coming to him. It seems more likely that someone is simply trying to obscure his movements.”

Xinlu remained expressionless, while James gave a small nod: “I see”, he said.

After a moment, James seemed to pick up on the source of Xinlu’s unease. Offering a light smile, he said: “Yuri is rarely wrong in his assessments. He’s quite capable. I believe you can entrust your safety to him without worry during your stay here.”

Only then did Xinlu turn to look at Yuri. He rotated his head until his right eye settled on Yuri. When their gazes met, Xinlu narrowed his eyes slightly. Whether it was a mocking smirk or a scoff was unclear, but Yuri met his gaze without flinching.

“Well, that’s probably true. Otherwise, my elder brother wouldn’t have gone out of his way to assign him to manage my safety…… I’ll be counting on you, Mr. Gable.”

“No, it’s my pleasure.”

Xinlu gave Yuri a subtle nod, and Yuri quickly returned it. Though his demeanor remained composed, he couldn’t shake a faint sense of unease.

Perhaps it was fortunate that, at least outwardly, Xinlu seemed much calmer. Since the morning, he had shown little sign of agitation or rough edges, and his tone when addressing Yuri had returned to its previous mix of formal and informal speech.

However, this surface-level composure was deceptive. Xinly’s razor-sharp gaze, and his clipped words still carried an undeniable edge. Even when he occasionally smiled, there was an underlying tension, as if one misstep might compel him to find a way to arm himself and put a bullet between someone’s eyes.

Yuri took a discreet step back and turned to look out the broad floor-to-ceiling windows. Beyond them stretched a panoramic view of the city skyline, its rows of buildings promising an impressive nighttime display. But what caught his attention first was the pool below, a serene outdoor space where crystal-clear water rippled gently without a single soul in sight.

He realized that neither yesterday nor today had he set foot in water, not even during his showers, where he had refrained from soaking in the tub. Was he going to have to forgo swimming entirely during their stay here?

The thought dampened his mood slightly. At the very least, he resolved to soak in the bathtub tonight.

……Oh. The bathtub. The flowers.

“Excuse me for a moment.” 

Yuri murmured softly, careful not to interrupt the conversation between Xinlu and James, before quickly heading to the bathroom. The massive bouquet he had left in the tub was now nearly submerged in water, with the faucet still running. The tub was almost full, and just a little longer would have caused it to overflow.

Quickly turning off the faucet and adjusting the bouquet so that it wouldn’t be fully submerged, Yuri let out a quiet sigh as he dried his hands. 

‘No swimming, and like this, for several days……’

He wasn’t usually the type to grow weary over others’ hostility or malice. He wasn’t sensitive to such things. But this time, it was different. Perhaps it was because he was painfully aware of how much he liked this person.

“Being hated by someone you like is hard, isn’t it, Annette?” 

He murmured softly, as if speaking to a ghost. Maybe it was because of the dream.

If she were here, Annette would undoubtedly whisper: ‘Oh, my darling Yuri, how foolish’, and place a tender kiss on his forehead. She’d soothe him with gentle, seasoned words of affection, the kind that only someone like her could deliver. ……And then, of course, she’d tease him mercilessly afterward.

Yuri glanced outside the bathroom. He caught sight of the two men still engaged in polite conversation. Their expressions were bright, their mannerisms refined, as if they were trading pleasantries at an elegant gathering. And yet, over their heads, Yuri could almost see the phrase ‘Hidden daggers behind smiles*’ etched in bold strokes.

(*구밀복검, 口蜜腹劍: Sweet words, but a dagger within.)

James, as always, was the kind of man who could swallow a snake whole and still maintain an unshaken smile if the situation called for it. But Xinlu? That was a little surprising. Or perhaps not. On second thought, Xinlu had always been remarkably adept at veiling his true self. There was no reason to be surprised now. Still, it was impressive. Just this morning – or even moments before James arrived, when it had been just the two of them – Xinlu had displayed only cold sneers, sharp remarks, and a chilling indifference. And now, as if none of that had happened, he smiled warmly and radiated charm and kindness like a completely different person.

‘Incredible…… That man should be an actor.’

As Yuri silently marveled at Xinlu, his admiration grew by the second. But before he could look away, their eyes met—as if Xinlu had known all along that Yuri was watching. Startled, Yuri flinched. For a fleeting moment, Xinlu’s dark eyes burned with intensity, then quickly softened, his sharp gaze melting into a gentle expression.

“Mr. Gable, why are you standing there watching like that? If you’re done, come over here.” 

Xinlu said with a kind smile, gesturing with a tilt of his chin toward the spot just over his left shoulder. “Yes” – Yuri murmured in reply, stepping out of the bathroom.

Yuri walked silently back to his usual spot, intending to blend into the background. But just as he passed the intercom near the door, the bell rang. It was an internal call.

It was unusual for a call to come from another room, Yuri thought, puzzled. As expected, the call was from the lobby desk on the first floor. While Yuri responded briefly: “Yes, that’s correct. Understood. One moment”, the two men paused their conversation and turned their attention toward him. Covering the receiver, Yuri turned to face Xinlu.

“You have a visitor, Mr. Xinlu. He said his name is Ling Paoyun.”

Yuri pronounced the name carefully, as it had been enunciated by the desk staff. Xinlu frowned slightly, as if struggling to recall, but soon murmured: “Ah, I see.”

“He’s my cousin—lives near Berlin. It seems he’s heard the news and has come to pay his respects.”

“Quick, isn’t he?” – Before Xinlu could say more, James stood and made a gesture to leave. “Ah, then I suppose it’s time for me to take my leave.” – James said. After all, their conversation had only consisted of polite formalities. The real discussions about the situation were undoubtedly happening at full speed between the respective legal teams. Xinlu made no effort to stop James, clearly unbothered by his departure.

James stood up and replied: “Yes, please send them up”, signaling with his eyes to Yuri, who put down the handset.

“If a relative has come, some private conversation might occur. Wouldn’t it be better to leave them alone for a while? Besides, you can speak Chinese.”

Yuri momentarily doubted whether Ling Xinlu could not understand what James was saying in German, but upon catching a glance of Ling Xinlu watching them silently, he responded in German.

“I can’t do that because we don’t know who might be dangerous.”

As soon as those words fell, he heard Ling Xinlu chuckle quietly.

‘So he does understand.’ – Somehow Yuri thought so. He vaguely recalls Ling Tangyun mentioning his youngest brother’s outstanding and diverse language skills in passing before.

“No matter how close a relative, it’s a shame to be so blatantly suspicious.”

To the reproach of someone who couldn’t quickly recall the name of a close relative, Yuri bowed his head and answered compliantly: “I apologize.”

“He’s not someone who would do anything dangerous. He’s probably just here to curry favor with me, hoping I’ll put in a good word for him with Father.”

“……”

Torn between whether someone else’s blatant suspicion might be preferable to a relative’s blatant disdain, Yuri said nothing. Ling Xinlu smiled gracefully and waved his hand, as if wondering who could utter such a harsh remark.

“But Mr. Miller seems eager to talk more, so go ahead. There won’t be any worrying occurrences even if there are no watchful eyes.”

Yuri hesitated. He gazed silently at Ling Xinlu, and when their eyes met, he spoke earnestly.

“Monitoring, not at all. You are free to move about as you wish. I’m just with you to ensure nothing dangerous happens. Nobody is forcing you into anything in any way.”

He did not want him to feel as if he were tied up or imprisoned. Had he been thinking that way all along? He felt unpleasant and upset inside.

Perhaps it was true. Certainly, Yuri had prevented Ling Xinlu from returning to Seringe, so the aggravated man wouldn’t recklessly run into his ruin for naught. To keep his still-unhealed wounds from worsening.

“No one, …………”

However, Yuri stopped speaking there. His mouth opened then closed, as he blinked without expressing the words. He was at a loss for words, rendered silent by Ling Xinlu’s gaze; those eyes slightly widened with an unreadable expression, devoid of any anger or pleasure. Those dark eyes felt like they held his gaze captive, forcing Yuri to continue maintaining eye contact with Ling Xinlu until he noticed another gaze fixated on him over his shoulder, prompting him to look up slightly. James was looking at him absently, then smiled nonchalantly when their eyes met.

As if he noticed Yuri’s gaze shift past him, Ling Xinlu also turned his head. James lifted his shoulders slightly and smiled charmingly as he said,

“He deeply values human rights. Plus, he’s very dedicated to his work.”

“It seems so.”

Ling Xinlu replied with a smile, but the smile felt formal, carrying a cool impression.

It seems something’s bothering this man again from somewhere. Yuri thought silently as he observed Ling Xinlu. However, he couldn’t figure out where the discomfort stemmed from, and there was no time to ponder before the doorbell rang, indicating someone’s arrival, which meant he had to withdraw from the spot.

Yuri gave a slight nod to the visitor who entered with a friendly demeanor and mentioned that he would be in the first-floor lobby until the conversation finished, then left the room with James. He didn’t forget to position another guard who didn’t know their language inside the entrance, where they couldn’t easily overhear the conversation but could see it.

*******************

“He’s a picky young master. What do you like about that young man?” 

As soon as they sat down in the spacious and open café located inside the entrance on the first floor of the hotel, James suddenly brought up the topic.

The café’s boundaries were so indistinct that it was hard to tell if the grand piano stood within the café or out in the hotel lobby. Most likely part of the café, a well-dressed young woman was seated at the piano, playing soft and unobtrusive melodies that blended seamlessly into the background.

‘Ah, indeed, live piano music has such a distinct charm.’ – Yuri mused quietly as he took a seat near the terrace, where he had a perfect view of the outdoor pool. Almost immediately, he seemed to forget the piano and even his companion, his attention wholly captivated by the pool’s tranquil surface. It wasn’t until James spoke to him that Yuri finally turned his gaze back to the present.

“Yes?”

“Yes? Come on, you quite liked him, didn’t you?”

“Well, you usually pretend to be indifferent but actually enjoy people more than you let on, but you seemed to like him more than usual.” – James said while opening the menu handed by the staff. After barely glancing at it, he mumbled “Espresso”, and Yuri followed suit, saying: “I’ll have the same”, as he scratched his temple awkwardly while meeting James’s gaze.

“Yes, that’s right…… He’s not a bad person.”

“Hmm.” – James tilted his head inquisitively.

“I thought he was just a smart and clever youngest son growing up in a wealthy family, but he looks like a lion cub with the face of a pretty cat.”

While mumbling nonchalantly, James turned his head, eyeing the glass shelf next to the counter, and then called the staff to order one of each type of macaron. It seemed he was under quite a bit of stress lately, considering he wasn’t someone who usually enjoyed sweets.

“Don’t you like him?”

“Well, it’s not like it matters whether I like him or not since I’m not planning to see him again. But if I had to say, I can’t stand difficult people, regardless of age, gender, race, or nationality. And among them, a 40-something German man obsessed with books to the point of madness is the absolute worst.”

“Ah……” – Yuri sighed softly, pulling his hand away from his temple as he glanced sympathetically at the vein protruding on James’s forehead. After a brief pause, he asked about the whereabouts of that troublesome 40-something German man.

“Where is he now?”

“Córdoba*.” 

“Well, at least he didn’t go too far.”

At that, James’s fierce glare was hard to bear, and Yuri defenselessly muttered: “At least it’s better than when he decided he should visit Antarctica and took a flight to Peru.” And as a consequence of this slip of the tongue, he had to listen to James’s endless complaints and curses: “Better? What do you mean, better?!”, until the coffee and snacks arrived. No, until the coffee cups were empty and the snacks completely devoured.

It seemed he had accumulated quite a bit. Ah, understandably so. Probably there’s no one who understands James better than Yuri. Having worked alongside Kyle with James until joining the intelligence agency, Yuri still regards James as one of the greatest individuals in terms of humanity.

This man too seemed cold and decisive but was oddly soft, let’s say, in the weirdest ways—so that when Kyle refused to process his resignation, he continued to be dragged along.

Yuri looked serenely at James, who was downing espresso and macarons like water, and said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

“Why don’t you try asking to hand over the entire management?”

“He was delighted.” 

“……”

Oh..Indeed, if it’s that man, it seems likely.

Yuri imagined Kyle grinning smugly, so he nodded slowly with an uneasy expression. And  James, who must have already been boiling with frustration over the situation, could only clutch his head in exasperation and let out a helpless sigh.

“I’d burn any Islamic scripture he brings without even knowing what it is.”

“Wouldn’t you get fired for that?”

It was then. Suddenly, James stopped pulling at his hair and looked at Yuri. In an instant, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and Yuri unconsciously leaned back a little.

“Yes, that’s right. That’s it.”

*Snap*  With a snap of his fingers, James nodded his head in agreement.

“If I do that, then I can finally get fired!”

“……”

It was said as a joke, but it didn’t seem like it would end as one. Yuri could only wish luck for James, or perhaps for Kyle’s future.

“How about you? Are you okay?”

“Pardon?”

“I thought it was just a role to placate a troublesome rich kid, but it’s not that simple, is it?”

“Ah..” – With a small murmur, Yuri rubbed his temples.

“Well, someone who’d point a gun at Rick’s head couldn’t just be a mere trouble. ……But still, it’s not that bad.”

He wasn’t too confident in that last part. He always thought of himself as an honest and objective person, but when a person becomes overly fond, it seems that’s no longer the case.

Luckily, it seemed James wasn’t focusing on that part. He clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“It’s the crazy second son that’s the problem. Why are the people around him so troublesome?”

“Even so, Mr. Jeong Taeui seemed like a decent person.”

“No, it’s not a matter of personality. If we just talk about that, Kyle isn’t a bad person either. The problem is whether they cause trouble or not.”

James was firm, and before that firmness, Yuri was at a loss for words. Moreover, upon reflection, it didn’t seem entirely wrong.

“Look at Mr. Jeong Taei now, he’s at the center of the Seringe situation. Do you know how often that crazy second son calls me?”

Ah, indeed, that’s the reason you look so gaunt lately. Yuri nodded blankly. At the same time, he guessed the reason James had called him out. It was probably because of the situation with Seringe. They had briefly discussed it in the room earlier, but perhaps James was considering that there might be something unspoken on Yuri’s part.

“Not really, but……” – Yuri murmured as he slowly rubbed his chin, sinking into thought.

“The situation with Mr. Jeong Jaeui hasn’t changed much. It’s the same for Mr. Jeong Taeui…… but I don’t think it’s the worst-case scenario. If they had been killed or buried—or anything drastic—out in the open, word would have reached us by now. If the worst did happen, it must have been somewhere far from prying eyes……” 

The only place like that in Seringe is the Al Saud’s mansion. And James seemed to understand the implication immediately.

After being momentarily silent, Yuri turned his gaze from the outdoor pool to James, and murmured calmly.

“I’d guess Mr. Jeong Taeui has already reunited with his brother. It’s only a speculation, though.”

“I just hope they haven’t reunited in the afterlife……”

‘Surely not. If that happened, no one would be able to handle Rick.’ – Yuri thought with a shiver at the grim imagination.

“There’ll be news soon, one way or another.”

“…….If you say so, it must be true.”

With a sigh, James’s expression relaxed a bit. Yuri’s intuition in work matters was usually spot-on. If he spoke about it, it was almost certain.

“Well, considering Jeong Jaei is more famous for his luck than genius, nothing’s likely to happen to him. Whatever the case, even though your work is nearing its end, being tied up in something like this is unfortunate.”

Since James always planned his schedule down to the minute, he checked his watch and noticed he still had some free time, prompting him to offer a few words of consolation. Meanwhile, Yuri simply glanced at the lawn with a distracted gaze before shaking his head nonchalantly.

“It’s fine. It’s not that bad. Except for not being able to swim whenever I feel like it.”

“Haha, isn’t that the biggest issue for you? Earlier, the atmosphere seemed quite forbidding, doesn’t the ‘young master’ allow you even a moment to swim?”

“No, it’s just that the situation is what it is, so he’s a bit rough right now, but he’s a good person.”

After speaking, Yuri thought it might be slightly misleading from a general perspective, but he decided it didn’t matter. In Yuri’s mind, Ling Xinlu, though a bit picky, was someone with a lot of charm, and it wasn’t a lie from his perspective.

“A good person……”

After repeating Yuri’s words, James didn’t seem to take them entirely at face value. But he looked as if it didn’t concern him much—what did it matter, since it involved someone not related to him.  What intrigued him, though, was hearing such a statement from someone like Yuri, who generally liked people but rarely showed any particular attachment to individuals. Amused by the anomaly, James let out a faintly bitter smile and asked: “In what way?”

Yuri was in a bind. When asked in what way he was a good person, he was momentarily speechless.

In reality, after meeting him, Xinlu hadn’t shown many aspects of a ‘good person’ to Yuri. Though he occasionally showed a lovely smiling face, beneath that exterior, his true nature was always evident.

……Then why was he drawn to him?

Because he’s beautiful.

Surely that wasn’t the only reason.

Perhaps initially, it was his appearance that caught his eye. But if it were merely superficial, Yuri should have been more impressed by Xinlu’s mother, whose appearance was so similar yet even softer and more graceful.

Then why?

“…………He seems perfect, but he’s not.”

Yuri muttered suddenly. Only after speaking did he realize: ‘Oh, is that so? Had it been like that?’ Did his unconscious mind that hadn’t surfaced become aware?

Once he started to speak, his words came out slowly but steadily without interruption.

“Because he’s so beautiful, I want to keep watching him. But more than that, there’s something unstable, something precarious about him that makes me want to stay by his side and keep an eye on him…… And the thing is, he knows it too. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even resorting to ruthless methods without hesitation. And yet, he has this unyielding pride, this streak of perfectionism that’s almost contradictory.”

‘Somehow, he feels pitiful, and I can’t look away from him. ……No, that’s not it. It’s not that I can’t look away. It’s that I don’t want to.’

“Hmm…… Is that a good person……?”

James frowned and smiled as if it didn’t match the context.

Yuri fell into thought again. As James said, what Yuri thought was far from the criterion for a good person. Then what he said was……

“……Yes, for me he’s a good person. A person who is good to be around and watch.”

Yuri nodded and said quietly.

‘So, that’s it. That’s what it was like.’

Though he had been thinking that all along, it felt strangely like he was thinking of it consciously for the first time, and Yuri felt a peculiar sensation.

Seeing Yuri’s expression was so earnest, James laughed out loud and waved his hand lightly.

“What, it sounds like you’re saying you like him.”

“Yes. He’s beautiful. Pure. Lovely. Fastidious.”

Yuri’s response was as blunt as usual, but sincere. James wiped away his smile for a moment, looked at Yuri carefully, and said: “Ah, it seems this young lad really has taken quite a liking”, with a wry smile.

“Yes, indeed.” – Yuri nodded.

Yes, right. So lovely. Even the malicious and evil side.

His heart thudded and raced. Slowly but surely announcing its presence, his heart pounded *thud, thud*. Somehow feeling shy yet good, Yuri quietly placed a hand over his chest.

‘That’s it, yes.’ – He unwittingly recalled a faint smile on his lips because he felt like laughing for no reason.

So focused on feeling the heart’s pleasant beat, it took a few seconds for Yuri to realize that James had already removed his smile. He looked over Yuri’s shoulder and stood up.

“It seems you have finished your conversation. Did you come down to see off your cousin, or to have some tea?”

“Coffee’s not bad, but their macarons here are excellent.” 

James said, and only then did Yuri turn around.

At some point, without Yuri realizing, Xinlu had appeared there. Standing next to the man who claimed to be a relative, he was looking at Yuri with a strange – almost unreadable – expression.

Their eyes met.

“…….”

“…….”

Until that moment, Yuri’s heart had been beating in a pleasant rhythm *thump, thump* when suddenly, it pounded harder. The reason was simple: The lovely face he had been imagining moments ago had appeared before him in reality.

Yuri smiled happily. It had only been a matter of tens of minutes since they last met, but it felt nostalgic and delightful as if seeing someone from a dream in reality again.

However, unfortunately, his smile was not met with another smile. Xinlu, who had been silently watching Yuri, briefly furrowed his brow—a fleeting moment, but enough to notice. In that instant, the smile faded from Yuri’s face as well.

‘Huh…… just now, for a split second, he looked…… upset.’

Soon returning to the usual expressionless face, Yuri fell into thought. 

‘If he hadn’t seen it wrong, then why?’

Perhaps Ling Xinlu overheard Yuri and James’ conversation. The café was open and spacious, and their voices weren’t particularly loud, but they hadn’t made an effort to whisper their conversation. Moreover, they were speaking continuously until Ling Xinlu approached so closely, so he might have been hearing for quite a while.

But thinking back, there weren’t really any derogatory comments to make him upset. If anything, it might be a slightly embarrassing conversation…… Come to think of it, there might have been talk about being vicious or not perfect.

While Yuri was lost in thought, Ling Xinlu had regained his usual bright and gentle smile that he showed to everyone else.

“I came down to see off my brother since he said he was leaving. I thought you would have left already, but you’re still here. It seems you had a lot to discuss with Mr. Gable.”

“Oh, yes, I was just about to leave.”

James exchanged brief pleasantries with the relative standing next to Ling Xinlu, and when introduced briefly to Yuri by Ling Xinlu, the relative gave Yuri a rather generous-looking brotherly smile.

********************

(*Córdoba: is a city in Andalusia, Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba.)