It seemed like he needed to step out for a while.

At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to locate Jeong Jaeui even if he had a thousand years.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be out for about two or three days. If you need anything, let Anna know. And if there’s an emergency, tell her—she’ll call me.”

“Oh, yes. Are you going somewhere far?”

“Not too far. Just wait a moment.”

There was someone in that area – Al Faisal – whom Yuri had been close friends with since his days studying in England. It was also the last trace before Seringe. If he probed around there, he might find some results. After quietly watching Yuri answer indifferently, Taeui muttered vaguely: “I see. If you say it’s not far, then I guess it’s not far.”

Jeong Taeui was sitting alone in the spacious outdoor lounge, watching a soccer match. When Yuri approached, he asked casually: “Is this Germany vs. Italy?”, pretending to make space for Yuri to sit next to him. Not that it was necessary, there was already enough room for two or three people to sit comfortably.

“For some reason, I find myself paying more attention to games involving my country when they’re playing abroad.” 

Jeong Taeui said to Yuri, who had just returned after some time spent searching for Jeong Jaeui. However, “Really?” Yuri replied with mild curiosity, as if he had missed the context of the conversation.

“I’ve never really made a point of cheering for my own country. In sports, there are times you win and times you lose, so as long as you enjoy it while it lasts, that’s enough. Come to think of it, though, countries in the East tend to have a stronger sense of nationalism, don’t they?”

“Ah—well, I’m not the type to put much meaning into winning or losing either, but still, I find myself cheering for my country, hoping they’ll win if possible.” – Jeong Taeui said, his eyes thoughtful as if recalling the Korea-Germany match from the other day.

Back then, Jeong Taeui had watched the game alone with Kyle’s family, enjoying a warm atmosphere, but had been the only one enthusiastically cheering for his home country. Reflecting on the family members, Yuri guessed that the Riegrow siblings likely watched the match quietly, showing little excitement. Meanwhile, Peter and Jeong Taeui had likely been the ones passionately competing to cheer the loudest for their respective teams.

Well, while there may be general traits shared by a nation’s people, whether someone is more fixated on winning or losing seems to depend more on individual personality than on national character.

Even when raised in the same country or environment, don’t siblings often have vastly different personalities? Take Ling Xinlu and his older brother Ling Tangyun, for example.

Ling Tangyun once said that he needed to win when it truly mattered, but he could afford to lose at other times. On the other hand, Ling Xinlu was someone who didn’t even know what failure meant. He was always staying ahead and leaving others behind, let alone losing.

“I can’t live without losing…… Actually, I just realized this recently. I’ve never lost before, so I don’t even know what losing feels like.”

Beside Yuri, who had just come out of the sea and was drying his soaked body, a young man began complimenting him: “If you’re that good at swimming, you’d probably win all the prizes if you went to a competition.” Yuri replied: “Well, that’s a competition with winners and losers. I’m not really fond of that. I don’t enjoy winning against anyone, and I don’t really like losing either.’ He added that he couldn’t live without knowing what losing felt like.

Yuri glanced at the young man while drying the water from his hair, thinking he needed to head back to the lodging to rinse off with fresh water anyway. The young man’s pretty eyes kept blinking, he looked a bit sleepy, as though he’d recently been deprived of a good rest.

“Is it even possible for someone to go through life without ever losing? For example, if we had a swimming race, I’d beat you.”

As Yuri tilted his head, wondering if it was even possible for someone to never have lost to anyone. The young man shook his head with certainty and said: “Ah”

“But that’s not what I want. I want to be smarter than others, I want to excel in sports—like endurance and agility—I want to be famous, and I want to have the talent to earn money and secure a place in society. In terms of what I ‘wanted’, I’ve never fallen behind others in achievements at this age.

“Except for extreme comparisons like Olympic gold medalists or tycoons like my father.” – The young man said with a bright smile.

Indeed, what he meant was that he couldn’t tolerate this situation where the tables had turned in a love battle that had started on equal footing—or perhaps even in his favor—and now the odds were stacked against him.

The more they talked, the more Yuri realized how different the young man’s personality was from his own. In some ways, Jeong Taeui seemed more similar to him. It was the type of personality explained through Anbin Nakdo or Anbun Jichok*. Finding joy in simplicity and contentment.

(*Anbin Nakdo (安貧樂道): “Although he is poor, he is at ease, does not worry, and enjoys the Way.” Anbin Nakdo refers to enjoying a simple life, which perfectly vibes with Taeui and Yuri’s personalities.)

And in that regard, Yuri felt a sense of pity for Jeong Taeui. While Yuri could bid farewell to all of this once the matter was over, Jeong Taeui couldn’t do the same, could he?

“If you become enemies with someone persistent and stubborn, you’ll be in serious trouble.” –  Yuri said, almost as a warning.

As Yuri muttered something under his breath, Jeong Taeui, who had been rooting for Germany and had just let out a relieved sigh when an Italian player’s shot narrowly missed the goal, turned around and said: “Pardon?” Without taking his eyes off the TV screen, Yuri mumbled: “No, it’s nothing…… just……”, trying to brush it off. However, Taeui was surprisingly perceptive, rolled his eyes thoughtfully for a moment before subtly probing, as if he’d figured something out.

“Did Xinlu do something?”

“No, not exactly…… It just seems like he’s always looking for an opportunity to do something whenever he can.”

Jeong Taeui sighed then scratched his head. He still looked calm, but it seemed like he was worried in his own way.

“That guy…… wasn’t like this at first. No, I should say, he was nothing like this at all. When I first met him, Xinlu was a very friendly and kind young man. He could handle everything without any trouble. I believe that’s his true personality.”

Taeui murmured: “If only the situation and emotions back then hadn’t been so complicated.” Yuri didn’t respond to Jeong Taeui immediately. Then he simply asked: “Is that so?”

That might be true. Generally, when dealing with people, he might present himself as polite and kind, smiling warmly. Even when interacting with Yuri, his tone and expression appeared friendly and approachable, a pleasant demeanor with a constant smile. However, the underlying menace in his attitude leaked through, unfiltered. If Yuri and he hadn’t met here in Seringe – or if they weren’t on the same side in this situation – Ling Xinlu might have concealed even that menacing aura. Instead, he would have shown only the image of a kind and lively young man.

……But even so, he didn’t seem like the type to indiscriminately smile kindly at people he didn’t particularly like. It was hard to imagine otherwise. There was little doubt that, in front of Jeong Taeui, he had likely put on a facade.

“When people are pushed to the edge, their true nature comes to light.”

At that moment, Riegrow walked out from behind Jeong Taeui, who had been silently sulking. His shirt was slightly untucked, suggesting he had been taking a nap in the room. After seeing the match nearing its end, Ilay turned his head away with the same disinterested expression, indifferent to whether it was his country’s game or not. And he sat down next to Jeong Taeui, then grabbed and took a drink of his beer. In just a few gulps, he drained the entire can, prompting Jeong Taeui to let out a brief cry of protest.

……They would probably dislike hearing it, but in some ways, Riegrow and Ling Xinlu seemed to share a few similarities. For instance, the remark just now. Yuri had heard almost the exact same thing, down to the smallest detail, from Ling Xinlu earlier this morning.

“The part about bringing back even a corpse, is that true? Are you still thinking that way now?”

When Yuri gave a half-hearted response to Ling Xinlu’s assertion that he couldn’t survive if he lost, he casually replied: “Good luck with that.” The response he got in return was: “Even if I have to bring back a corpse.”

“Why are you telling me this? I have no intention of sharing what we’ve talked about with them. I never have, and I don’t plan to now.”

Yuri stared blankly at him for a moment before declaring his neutrality. Pretending to be surprised and amused, he widened his eyes slightly, as if entertained, but then decided to add further to his point.

“Besides, there’s nothing for you to gain from me, Mr. Ling Xinlu. So……”

Yuri paused for a moment, uncertain how to continue.

‘So stop talking to me. So don’t pick a fight with me. So don’t prod me.’

All of these were plausible responses, but somehow, none of them felt quite right. After a brief moment of deliberation, the words Yuri finally chose came out in a weary voice.

“You don’t have to struggle to chase away sleep and drag yourself out every dawn.”

Ling Xinlu blinked heavily, his eyelids weighed down by early morning drowsiness. After Yuri’s words, he blinked a few more times, and in that brief moment, the sleepiness faded, giving way to a cheerful glimmer in his eyes.

“Ahaha, are you worried about me? Thanks. But everything’s fine. I’m not struggling at all. Honestly, moments like this, talking to you, sometimes make me really happy.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” – Yuri muttered. After displaying a playful expression, Ling Xinlu reverted to his cold demeanor, a look that seemed to reveal one of his truest faces.

“I’m not hoping for a corpse either. If possible, I’d like for us to return together in a calm and peaceful atmosphere……But when people are cornered, their true nature tends to reveal itself.”

The sweetness and youthful mischief that made his face seem so young faded as he spoke of true nature. In that moment, his expression looked far older, just like that of a man who had long surpassed his years. He wore a bitter yet arrogant smile, as if he didn’t like his own nature but had accepted it nonetheless.

Yuri stared at him with a blank expression. It was a pity to see that beautiful face frown. The faint glimpse of something close to self-reproach on his face was heartbreaking. He wished it could always remain beautiful.

“……There’s a common saying that a person’s true nature is revealed when they’re upset or cornered. Whenever I hear that, I’ve always wondered. So if a person lives the other 11 and a half months of the year in their usual demeanor, only revealing their so-called true nature for the remaining half month, does that really define their essence? I see someone in their everyday state twenty times more often than I see them in moments of agitation. In that case, how important is this so-called ‘true nature’ really?”

He had no intention of comforting Ling Xinlu. What did the so-called ‘true nature’ even matter in the relationship between me and him, unless he actually intended to kill him, of course. Yuri was momentarily perplexed.

He had been staring into the void, but now his gaze shifted to Ling Xinlu, who was staring intently at him. That pretty face revealed so little emotion that it was impossible to guess what he might be thinking.

This man was unreadable, as if his interior was hidden by an impenetrable wall.

Yuri sighed then bent down to pick up the water bottle Ling Xinlu had just tossed onto the sand. It was time to head back.

“But it seems the full moon is your true nature, because those two weeks are more intense than the other 11 and a half months combined.”

As Yuri muttered this and began walking away, Ling Xinlu after staring at him with an unreadable expression, suddenly wrinkled his nose. He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“So, now you think I’m essentially a person with a bad-tempered……?’

“No.”

“I think I guessed right.”

“No.”

Truthfully, it wasn’t entirely wrong, but Yuri denied it with his usual calm demeanor. If he admitted it with a ‘Right’, he’d never hear the end of it. Ling Xinlu continued to glare at Yuri for a moment before his lips curved into a soft smile. A sigh escaped his mouth, and the corners of his lips formed a gentle arc. Without even realizing it, Yuri’s gaze had fixed on those lips, his attention drawn entirely to them.

Ah, it truly feels like a flower blooming. That radiant flower that had once blossomed beneath the water long ago, now spreads its vibrant petals. How could it be this beautiful? Even knowing full well that this young man was staring at me, narrowing his eyes slightly, he couldn’t bring himself to look away.

‘……What should I do? Even though I’ve committed no crime, I’m still captivated by the sight.’

‘It’s a shame it’s a dangerous flower, one that can’t be touched. But when I think about it, even if I wanted it, I’ve never been too greedy. If a flower is this beautiful, isn’t it better to simply admire it from a distance? There’s no need to pluck it and hold it in my hand.’

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

It wasn’t until he heard the question that he realized that the young man was facing him. Xinlu raised eyebrows as suggested that he already had an idea why Yuri was staring at him like that.

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Since it was already obvious, there was no need to hide it, so Yuri answered. Yuri’s straightforward reply made him frown and click his tongue in disappointment.

“I’ve heard that thousands of times. But you, Mr. Gable, are the first to say it with such a detached expression.”

“You hear that often?”

“What, you don’t believe me? People line up outside my house every day just for a chance to see my face, even if only for a moment.”

After that, Yuri heard him add: “I’m not joking”, and for a moment, he imagined himself standing at the entrance of Ling Xinlu’s house. Though he wasn’t one to loiter, he could easily picture himself being there every morning.

That was why Yuri’s emotions surged so suddenly. It was frustrating.

“You should be grateful for your face. A significant part of why there’s nothing you’ve wanted but haven’t gotten so far is thanks to it.”

“So, you think you can win over Mr. Jeong Taeui as well?”

“——Hyung, I know he’s not someone who can be won over with just a face, so I’m considering other methods too.”

Ling Xinlu raised his eyebrows slightly, as if surprised that Yuri had brought up Jeong Taeui. Yuri looked up at the sky, then down at the sand, and finally at him.

“Do you actually like Mr. Jeong Taeui, or is it just that you hate someone else taking him away?”

Straight to the point.

It seemed the question struck a nerve with Ling Xinlu. His expression immediately went blank after hearing it. The air grew heavy with silence for a long moment.

“How presumptuous. Truly.”

The temperature seemed to drop with just that single word. His voice was cold, colder, and colder, just like ice. More than Yuri had expected.

Yes, colder than he had expected.

And only then did Yuri realize that, while he had guessed those words might make him uncomfortable, the stronger-than-expected reaction suggested he might have unintentionally touched on a vulnerability that even the young man himself had been trying to avoid acknowledging. ‘I didn’t mean to do that.’ – Yuri thought.

“Are my feelings laughable? So laughable that you can judge and trample on them as you please??? Is that what you mean, that I look ridiculous to you?”

A smile reappeared on his face again, as if the brief moment of unguarded anger had never happened. But his eyes were as black as abyss.

Yuri remained silent. It hadn’t been something he said to mock or trample on him, but he knew that no matter what he said now, it wouldn’t reach his ears. In that silence, Yuri felt a pang of regret. A momentary surge of mischief had led him to wound the fragile pride of someone who, at that moment, seemed as vulnerable as a child.

‘Don’t act superior just because you’re older by a few years, Yuri Gable. To someone who was over ten years younger than him.’

That was what Yuri told himself silently, instead of saying it aloud.

‘??Ugh.’

A tightly clenched fist suddenly struck Yuri’s temple without hesitation.

It wasn’t so much painful as it was surprising.

No, the shock came only a moment later.

After his head spun and he lost his balance, he fell onto the sandy ground, the coarse white grains clung to his legs, palms, and elbows. Even then, it took Yuri a moment to gather his thoughts. And when he did, he was surprised.

It wasn’t shocking that someone like Ling Xinlu had the skill to knock Yuri down. After all, Yuri wasn’t a combat-trained operative. But even so, he had expected the punch or some kind of strike to come. Yet, he hadn’t been fast enough to avoid it. What caught him off guard the most was the sheer force of the blow. It was enough to leave his head still reeling, with a faint wave of nausea creeping in from the impact.

Although Yuri knew that Ling Xinlu had the capability to join UNHRDO as a top-ranking officer, but that awareness had been dulled by the young man’s soft and gentle appearance. And so, Yuri found himself surprised once again, this time at his own poor judgment.

“I thought you were a rational and good judge of character. But being so presumptuous, was that because you expected my eldest brother to shield you? Didn’t he warn you to tread carefully and not do anything to provoke me?”

“……”

“You’re a smart man, Mr. Gable. Quick-witted, too. But you should be more cautious about how you conduct yourself. Next time, who knows? It might not be a fist, but the barrel of a gun pressed against your temple.”

“Isn’t that true for you too, Ling Xinlu?” – Yuri said, shrugging his shoulders.

He came here half-asleep and unarmed. If he had brought a gun, perhaps Yuri would have been shot already. If not in the temple, at least in the elbow or the ankle.

Ling Xinlu clicked his tongue and muttered to himself: “This isn’t fun at all. You even make me feel worse”, before turning away.

Yuri’s head was still spinning, and he felt like he might collapse if he stood up too quickly. So, he stayed seated on the sand a little longer, watching Ling Xinlu.

He felt a bit melancholic. Yuri quietly mulled over the feeling of regret, something as unfamiliar to him as mischief itself. Normally, he wouldn’t even register such emotions, but now, one by one, they surfaced in his mind. With a soft sigh, he let them linger.

“How peculiar, sighing like an old man.”

The man muttering next to Yuri, not even sparing him a glance……Did he ever experience things like melancholy or regret? Yuri wondered this as he watched Jeong Taeui, who had stormed off to the kitchen in frustration after having his beer snatched, now return clutching a new can. Meanwhile, Riegrow blinked with quiet satisfaction, a hint of amusement in his expression, while Yuri found himself gazing at him, momentarily lost in thought.

Probably not.

Yuri didn’t deliberate long before reaching a simple conclusion: That day would never come. The day he turned into a merman would arrive sooner.

“Why? Not having much luck with catching tails?”

It was only after accepting the beer can Jeong Taeui handed him that Riegrow cast a brief glance at Yuri. Only then did Yuri turn his attention back to pursuing Jeong Jaeui’s ‘tail’. He’d thought it was a done deal, but wrapping it up was proving to be anything but easy.

“Yes, tomorrow I’ll head to Sana’a* for a while. I’ll quickly gather more leads.”

There was no need to rush, but wasting time wasn’t an option either. It was time to finish the job. As Yuri seriously considered his work, Ling Xinlu suddenly came to mind without him realizing it.

If he intended to settle things here in Seringe, the time left to him was limited. Even if the conclusion were to be postponed, ……once his work was finished, he would leave Seringe. He would no longer be involved in their love triangle, nor would he have any reason to see that beautiful young man again.

“……”

Yuri thought it was a pity. But soon, he shook his head. It was a pity, yes, but not something he felt regretful about.

It’s good that we met like this, even if only for a short while.

He’s thought about this for a long time. The lingering regret from the past still lingers deeply. Back then, he saved a child as beautiful as a flower from the sea, but the next morning, he had to leave in such a hurry that he didn’t get to see the boy wake up.

Of course, later he heard from Ling Tangyun that the boy had woken up, but that lingering regret stayed with him for a long time, something he couldn’t quite forget.

But now, unexpectedly, he’s received a gift that feels like a coincidence. Only after seeing the young man, vibrant and radiant with those bright black eyes, holding that smile, that gaze, and that voice, did he finally soothe the vague longing from years ago that he had almost forgotten.

It feels as if he had finally completed an unfinished wish.

“You’ve been obsessed with this since last year, haven’t you? It seems like you’re having a hard time.” – Riegrow said.

Yuri gave Riegrow a curious look, surprised that he was offering even a token compliment, clearly in a good mood. But soon, he shook his head.

“No, it wasn’t. It was a rewarding experience. I’m glad I did it. ……Yes, truly.”

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

(*Sana’a: officially the Sanaa Municipality is the capital and largest city of Yemen.)