CHO EUNTAK was shocked after the doctor had finished treating Choi Seungmin.

He honestly thought he only had a bruised-up face.

However...

"Choi Seungmin, you have broken ribs and a sprained wrist," Cho Euntak said, horrified, when they were back in his car. Of course, he was seated behind the wheel while Choi Seungmin was in the passenger seat. "You were obviously beaten up. Do you want me to call the police for you? You need to report this."

"Nah, I’m fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I don’t want my boyfriend in jail."

Okay, that rendered Cho Euntak speechless.

That’s a bad boyfriend.

But since he wasn’t close to Choi Seungmin, he just kept his mouth shut.

"Ah, it should be ex-boyfriend," Choi Seungmin said. "He beat me up because I broke up with him."

"You don’t have to share it with me," Cho Euntak said awkwardly. "I’m sorry for asking in the first place. I just realized that I was being nosy."

Maybe it was because of Park Sohee’s influence.

Sohee Hyung loves drama, so I find myself being curious about people around me.

"You weren’t being nosy— you were just worried about me," Choi Seungmin said, smiling. "I appreciate that, Cho Euntak. Thank you."

"If you’re thankful to me, then please help me with our group project," Cho Euntak said. "Otherwise, I’ll remove your name."

"For real?"

"Yes, for real."

"Damn, I thought you were a pushover."

"Yah, you’re being mean," Cho Euntak said, and then he glanced at Cho Euntak’s injured wrist. "But if you need help with your part, then I’ll lend you a hand."

"Aigoo. You’re really a pushover, huh?"

"Should I kick you out and make you walk back home."

Choi Seungmin laughed and was about to say something, but Cho Euntak’s phone rang.

Oh, it’s Baek Jeho.

He apologized to Choi Seungmin before answering the call.

"Baek Jeho."

"Cho Euntak, where are you? I thought you’d be at the café."

Oh, right.

We were supposed to meet after his class.

"I’m at the hospital—"

"Hospital? Are you hurt? Which hospital? I’ll be there."

Aigoo.

"Let me finish first, okay? Calm down," Cho Euntak said, sighing while shaking his head. "I’m not hurt. I just accompanied my classmate to the hospital. I’m fine, and we’re done here."

"Which classmate?"

"Why would you ask that when you don’t know my classmates except for Sohee Hyung."

"So, it’s not Sohee Hyung."

"Stop asking weird questions or else I’ll hang up."

"Did you bring your car?"

Finally, a normal question.

"Yes. Should I pick you up?"

"Nah, just head back to your apartment and leave your car there. I’ll pick you up. I’m bringing a driver with me."

Ah.

"You want to drink?"

"Yep."

"Alright. See you later."

"Uh-huh."

As soon as Cho Euntak ended the call...

"Was that your boyfriend?"

"No," Cho Euntak answered Choi Seungmin’s question. "That was my best friend."

Choi Seungmin raised an eyebrow. "You like him."

"Now you’re being nosy."

"You’re not denying it."

Well, Cho Euntak wasn’t good at lying.

"Okay, I’ll stop being nosy," Choi Seungmin said, laughing while patting Cho Euntak’s shoulder. "Good luck with your love life, Cho Euntak."

"He doesn’t like me, but thank you," Cho Euntak said awkwardly. "I need that."

***

"SAMGYUPSAL?" Cho Euntak asked, surprised when the car stopped in front of a barbecue restaurant. "You don’t like places like this."

To be fair, it wasn’t a regular barbecue restaurant.

Charcoal Tree House was a famous Korean barbecue restaurant known for serving high-quality meat.

It was also known for its lavish modern interior.

Most of all, the restaurant was owned by celebrity chefs— and those celebrity chefs were Han Raehyun’s parents.

Raehyun Hyung is Sera Noona’s boyfriend.

At least, at the moment.

I don’t think Raehyun Hyung is going to stay as Sera Noona’s boyfriend for so long.

"You like barbecue," Baek Jeho said, wrapping an arm around Cho Euntak’s shoulders as they entered the establishment. "So, eat as much as you want tonight— it’s my treat."

"Why are you treating me? What’s the occasion?"

"Euntak-ah, you’re the only person who asks why I’m opening my wallet when I do."

"Well, you surround yourself with people who are obviously just leeching off you."

"Let’s not fight tonight, Cho Euntak."

"I’m not fighting you— I’m giving you some sound advice. This is for you, Baek Jeho."

"Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m not mad."

Cho Euntak just sighed while shaking his head.

He kept his mouth shut when a staff guided them to their table.

As expected, the restaurant was fully-booked.

This is the biggest branch of Charcoal Tree House, but all three floors are occupied. The business is really booming, huh?

"When did you book a reservation here?" Cho Euntak asked when they were finally seated. "I heard it’s not easy to get a reservation here."

Walk-ins were allowed, but it wouldn’t guarantee you a seat since the place was usually fully-booked.

Hence, booking a reservation was strongly recommended.

"I asked Raehyun Hyung’s help," Baek Jeho said, sitting across from Cho Euntak. "He told me to contact him directly when I need a reservation at his parents’ restaurant. That’s what I did."

"You didn’t feel awkward?"

"Why would I feel awkward taking up on Hyung’s offer?"

"No, I didn’t mean that," Cho Euntak said while shaking his head. "You’re close to Sera Noona, aren’t you?"

"Well, I used to play with Sera Noona when I was still living next to Heedo Sunbae-nim’s house. Why?"

"Then are you on Sera Noona’s side or Raehyun Hyung’s?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Sera Noona’s relationship with Raehyun Hyung is rocky, that’s why I feel awkward being here."

"Aigoo. Since when did you worry about other people’s affairs, Euntak-ah?"

Since I became friends with Sohee Hyung?

Cho Euntak didn’t get to say that because the staff arrived and served their meat.

And the staff was a familiar face.

"Choi Seungmin?"

Yep, the staff who brought their meat and side dishes was his classmate.

"Oh, Cho Euntak," Choi Seungmin greeted him, his face beaming. "We meet again, huh?"

"I see you’re working here, but..." Cho Euntak glanced at Choi Seungmin’s empty wrist, and then he looked up at him worriedly. "Why did you already remove your wrist support? You’re not supposed to be working with a sprained wrist, Choi Seungmin."

"Shh." Choi Seungmin put a finger on his nose. "I get paid daily. If I don’t work tonight, I’ll starve tomorrow."

Oh.

Cho Euntak nodded.

He was worried about Choi Seungmin, but he didn’t want his classmate to lose his daily wage because of him.

"Just be careful with your wrist, Choi Seungmin."

"Of course. Thank you, Cho Euntak," Choi Seungmin said, and then he picked up the tongs. "I’ll grill the meat for you."

It was a part of restaurant’s tableside service for the staff members to grill the first batch of meat for the customers.

"Who is he, Euntak-ah?" Baek Jeho asked indifferently. "Your classmate?"

"Yes, he’s my classmate," Cho Euntak asked while nodding. Then he decided to introduce the two to each other. "Baek Jeho, this is—"

"Choi Seungmin!"

A tall, muscular man wearing a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves— exposing his tattoo sleeves on both arms— suddenly grabbed Choi Seungmin by the hair.

Cho Euntak gasped. "Hey!"

***

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