But seeing my father’s delighted face as he said the shoes were really comfortable diluted the fear a little.

“Guess real chaebols really are different. I wish hyung had just become Seunghyuk hyung’s exclusive guide.”

“Right? Is it too late to do it now?”

“Lee Gyeongsu! Lee Minsu!”

Our mother scolded the twins. My parents always tried not to put pressure on me.

“It’s okay. Minsu, Gyeongsu, stop gawking at the game consoles and go try on some clothes.”

“Okay!”

“Okay!”

“Woof!”

The twins answered in perfect sync, and next to them, Minwoong barked too.

In the original story, Lee Yeonsu hated his family. He saw his poor parents and many siblings as dead weight. He despised their shabby poverty.

The day he became Joo Seunghyuk’s exclusive guide, he abandoned the mutt Minwoong and bought the most expensive dog at a pet shop.

But I liked it.

In my past life, I was an orphan. I’d always dreamed of having a warm family. So even if we weren’t rich, living noisily like this with my family made me happy.

“Let’s eat.”

“Mom, let’s eat some hanwoo!”

“Hanwoo! Hanwoo!”

Gyeongsu and Minsu pulled out hanwoo beef from one of the gift boxes stacked like moving crates.

“Yes, our Yeonsu should have hanwoo.”

My mother smiled brightly.

Even during the meal, laughter constantly filled the air.

“Thanks to hyung, I get to eat stuff like this.”

“I’m telling all my friends.”

“You always brag about him anyway.”

“Oh please, like you don’t? Our hyung is Lee Yeonsu—of course we brag.”

The twins devoured the beef in a frenzy.

Our parents and Jisoo kept saying how ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) good it was. Jisoo in particular normally didn’t eat much, but today she ate a whole bowl and a half.

To think I’d accepted so many gifts from the obsessive seme.... Honestly, the thought of what was to come terrified me. But seeing my family this happy lifted my mood.

After the meal, the real work began—sorting through the gifts.

I went into my room.

When I moved out for school, I’d said they could do away with my room since the house was small, but my parents had left it untouched.

When I was younger, we’d lived in a place much smaller than this. But after I awakened as an S-rank Guide, everything started going well for the family.

They caught the guy who’d scammed us ten years ago and got the money back. My dad landed a great new job. That’s when we moved into this house.

It was old and run-down, but it had many small rooms—perfect for a large family like ours.

We took out a loan, but thanks to me being an S-rank Guide, the interest was practically zero. And my side jobs guiding Espers paid pretty well.

We still weren’t wealthy, but we had enough wiggle room to order chicken whenever we felt like it.

Honestly, that kind of life was enough for me. But compared to other high-ranking Espers and Guides, it was undeniably modest.

I didn’t mind, but I wanted my family to live more comfortably. I felt that desire even more strongly because of all I hadn’t done for them. But to do that, I’d have to sign with another company—and that would be impossible with Joo Seunghyuk around....

Near the wardrobe were boxes containing clothes I’d sent home earlier.

When I mailed them, I told them not to bother sorting it—I’d do it myself.

I ran my fingers over the tape on the box. Would I ever wear these clothes again?

My dorm closet was already overflowing with clothes Seunghyuk had given me. Even if I wanted to wear something else, I couldn’t.

But if Seunghyuk’s obsession ever ended, everything might return to normal.

After a moment of hesitation, I tore the tape and began sorting the clothes. I’d be wearing them again soon enough.

“Woof woof.”

Just as I finished, Minwoong came in, wagging his tail.

“Woong-ah.”

He trotted straight into my arms.

“Aigoo, our Woongie’s gotten even chubbier again.”

He was noticeably heavier than a few months ago. His face was round and puffy, making him look even cuter.

“Woof! Woof!”

As if he understood what I said, Minwoong barked in a huff.

“I meant you’re cuter because you got chubbier.”

I was rubbing his face and kissing him when Minsu walked in.

“Gyeongsu! Woongie’s in here!”

“Got it!”

Soon Gyeongsu came running in. Seeing the way their eyes sparkled, I had a bad feeling. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I pulled Minwoong tightly into my arms.

“Don’t you dare mess with him.”

“We’re not! We came to give Woongie his present!”

“Yeah!”

“Present?”

“Yup. Seunghyuk hyung gave Woongie a gift too.”

Gyeongsu shook what he was holding in his right hand. It was a dog collar with a designer logo.

So Seunghyuk even thought of Minwoong.... I honestly appreciated the thoughtfulness.

“Woof!”

As if he knew it was his gift, Woongie barked cheerfully. I let go of him, and Gyeongsu tried to fasten the collar around his neck. But it didn’t go so smoothly, and Minsu frowned.

“But this is too small for our Woongie.”

“Yeah. Way too small.”

I looked at the collar.

Minwoong was chubby, sure—but even considering that, the collar looked too small for a large dog. Did Seunghyuk mess up? Or did he think Woongie was a small dog? But when you hear “shigor-jabjong,” most people picture a big mutt....

“This size feels like it’s meant for a human, not a dog.”

“Right? Looks like it’s made for a person.”

A chill crawled down my spine.

What if... that dog collar wasn’t meant for Minwoong, but for me?

***

I didn’t leave the house until Sunday afternoon.

Dragging my feet toward the bus stop to return to the dorm, I felt heavy-hearted. Once you come home, it’s hard to leave. It’s too warm, too happy—I didn’t want to step away even one inch.

As I shuffled along, I spotted a black sedan near the bus stop.

Joo Seunghyuk’s sedan.

My blood went cold.

How the hell did he know? That I’d come out at this time? That I’d use this bus stop?

He’d done similar things at school, sure—but this was something else entirely.

Don’t tell me... did he get to my family?

“Hyung!”

Seunghyuk stepped out of the car and pulled me into a hug.

“I missed you.”

It had only been one day. We’d called and texted too. But I couldn’t say that.

“I missed you too... but Seunghyuk, how did you know I’d be here?”

I asked carefully. No matter how good his information network was, could he really know this much?

Our home address, my family’s clothing and shoe sizes, the time I’d leave the house...

Seunghyuk just looked at me.

Had I just pissed off the obsessive seme? Should I have pretended not to notice?

But I couldn’t let this slide.

If he was watching me, I could deal with it. But touching my family? Absolutely not.

Then something completely unexpected came out of Seunghyuk’s mouth.

“I heard it from Gyeongsu.”

“...Gyeongsu?”

“Yeah.”

He showed me his chat screen.

Gyeongsu: Hyung’s leaving at 3 after lunch! He’s taking the bus from here!

Gyeongsu had even sent the exact bus location with a map link.

“You’re in touch with Gyeongsu?”

“Yeah. I talk to both Gyeongsu and Minsu.”

He scrolled up and showed me another message from Minsu.

Minsu: Hyung’s sleeping right now!

There was even a photo of me sleeping—when had he taken that?!

When did these brats get so close with Seunghyuk?!

“Since when have you been messaging my brothers?”

“Since you were hospitalized. I was with them a lot back then.”

“Oh... then the clothes and shoe sizes for my family too...?”

“I asked your brothers.”

So they were just pretending they’d only met him once at the hospital. Those little shits—they knew they were getting gifts and still acted innocent! No wonder they knew so much about designer brands.

People say kids today are scary... I didn’t think I’d be tricked this thoroughly.

“They told me a lot about you too. Sent baby pictures, even.”

They gave away my baby photos to a deranged obsessive seme?!

I was seriously tempted to go home and give Minsu and Gyeongsu both a solid smack.

“Ha... ha... I see...”

“Look at this.”

Seunghyuk showed me a photo. It was of me as a baby, probably when I turned one.

They really sold me out, huh... those little punks...

“Isn’t it adorable?”

“I-Is it? All babies look the same, don’t they?”

“Nope. You’re different. Makes me want to bite you.”

Bite me?

I stared at him in horror. Seunghyuk pulled up another picture.

It was of Minsu and Gyeongsu wearing their new designer clothes, each holding tablets and game consoles, looking smug.

“They called it a proof shot. Said it was their way of saying thanks.”

What the hell are these brats doing with the obsessive seme?!

“S-Sorry. My brothers must’ve bothered you.”

“Not at all. They’re adorable—just like you.”

Seunghyuk’s eyes curved into a smile.

I was terrified that the obsessive seme had wormed his way into my family—but at the same time, I felt strangely relieved.

Yesterday, I’d spent the whole day afraid, not knowing how he’d gotten all that information about us. But it turned out to be surprisingly... normal.

Come to think of it, even in the original story, Seunghyuk had certain rules. No matter what happened, he never touched family. When Kim Jun ran away and got caught, tons of people suffered—but his family was left unharmed.

So maybe even if I stayed entangled with this obsessive bastard, at least my family would be safe.

Relieved by how unexpectedly reasonable he was, I finally gathered the courage to ask a question I hadn’t dared to before.

“Seunghyuk...”

“Yeah?”

“So, I mean... it’s nothing, really, but how did you know my bank account number?”

“Oh, you wrote it on the exclusive contract form. I saw it then.”

Oh, right. I’d filled out the whole exclusive guide contract, then bailed right before stamping it.

It was such a simple answer, I felt stupid for worrying.

But solving one problem just raised a new one.

He brought up the contract from back then himself...

Damn it. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

Bringing up something from seven years ago wasn’t going to help me.

“R-Right. You’re thorough with record keeping, huh?”

“Yeah. But your account’s still the same. Just your house changed.”

“Yeah. We moved because having four kids in our old place was too cramped.”

“Got it.”

“I hope my brothers didn’t bother you too much.”

I hurried to change the subject.

“Not at all. They’re cute. Fun, too. I laughed when they said the dog collar was too small and must be for a person. Kids these days are sharp.”

Among that cheerful tone, a word I couldn’t ignore slipped out.

“...Sharp?”

“Yeah. How did they know it was actually a gift for you?”

“D-Don’t joke like that.”

“I’m not joking. Every time I see you, I want to put a collar on you.”

“......”

Seunghyuk traced his hand slowly along my neck with a chilling gaze.

I froze, staring back at him. His hand, cold like his stare, ran over my neck.

“...Haha. Just kidding.”

He chuckled low and pulled his hand away.

But I knew it wasn’t really a joke. He only pretended it was.