The Hunter's Gonna Lay Low-Chapter 162
Cha Uijae rubbed his face with both hands, but of course, doing so didn’t help bring back his scattered thoughts. He stared blankly into space, amazed by how vivid people’s imaginations could be. With just one photograph, rumors were spreading like wildfire.
He recalled a YouTube video he had seen recently, which had just 534 views. The video featured a black screen with bright red, yellow, and white text flashing across it, explaining how modern people who had gone through events like the Day of Fracture and the Day of Change sought more extreme stimuli to escape reality. They called it a dopamine deficiency. Uijae frowned deeply.
“Damn it… is everyone dopamine deficient?”
Was everyone so tired of their harsh lives that they were chasing after excitement? No matter the reason, was this really okay? Didn’t the media have any sense of decency anymore?
*“What was Minggijeok even doing?”*
For some reason, his frustration extended to the all-purpose problem solver, Minggijeok. But being the thorough workaholic he was, Minggijeok had already preemptively dug his escape route. Uijae picked up his phone, scrolling back to re-read the text message.
---
**Seo Min-gi:** *Just so you know, I’ve taken care of all the nearby CCTV footage. No one seemed to notice anything around you two until you got into the van. This seems like the work of an information broker.*
---
The message had arrived even before Uijae could request an explanation. It was a roundabout way of saying:
*“Not my fault.”*
Uijae grimaced as he typed a response.
---
*Yes, understood. Please gather information regarding the broker and send it to me. Thanks.*
---
What he really meant:
*“I don’t know who that bastard is, but I’m going to wreck him. Thanks?”*
Uijae trudged over to the large window that covered one wall of the room. As he roughly fixed his messy hair in the reflection, the article's comments floated in his mind.
Speculations about J “beating up” Sa-young, locking him up somewhere, disciplining him, sorting out ranks, or fighting him for three months were among the tamer ones. But the real issue was...
---
*“The expression ‘secret relationship’ seems dangerous.”*
*“So did they have a lovers' spat, and J won?”*
---
Comments like these.
Compared to the majority, they were just a few isolated jokes.
He knew it was all nonsense. Uijae understood that. If he ignored it, it would eventually blow over. Normally, he would have laughed it off by now. After all, none of it was true, and reality was much harsher. Lee Sa-young had been asleep for three months, and now there were two of him!
Even so, Uijae couldn’t shake off his unease. And the reason was simple:
*“Damn it...”*
There was too much truth in those rumors for him to just laugh them off.
He pulled out a cigarette and put it between his lips. It wasn’t his place, and it was indoors, so he couldn’t light it, but he fidgeted with it absentmindedly.
In any case, Uijae had read countless articles about J, but this was the first time one had felt like a personal attack. He looked at the photo saved in his gallery with a scowl. The background was familiar—near the West Sea Memorial. The picture had been taken in the short time it took for him to carry the exhausted and tear-streaked Sa-young to the van.
*“It’s definitely strange.”*
There was no way he could have been so distracted by Lee Sa-young that he missed the presence of a camera or a person. How had this photo even been taken? Maybe that was the “information broker's” skill. Uijae glanced at the hand in the photo, tightly holding onto Sa-young’s back and arms, and sighed.
*“I should have just carried him like luggage.”*
It was a belated regret, but even that regret faded quickly. How could he have slung a child over his shoulder when Sa-young had been crying in his sleep, still shedding tears even after passing out like a broken faucet?
Uijae let out another sigh when suddenly, he felt a presence behind him.
“What are you doing?”
A quiet, husky voice, accompanied by the soft touch of hair brushing against his neck. There was a faint scent of cinnamon, and the arm that slid around his waist felt all too natural. Uijae swiftly turned off his phone screen and responded.
“Nothing.”
“What were you looking at just now...?”
“Nothing important.”
“……”
Uijae glanced at the window. Lee Sa-young, resting his chin on Uijae’s shoulder like a well-fed lion, blinked slowly, sleepiness evident in his eyes. A hand with black fingertips reached up and grabbed the cigarette hanging from Uijae’s lips.
“What’s with the cigarette? You didn’t even light it...”
The tip of the cigarette began to melt into black liquid. The sweet scent of cinnamon grew stronger. In a lazy voice, Sa-young whispered,
“Do you smoke?”
Uijae straightened up awkwardly.
“Yeah, a little.”
“Since when...?”
“Not long ago...”
Just as the cigarette filter was about to melt, Sa-young’s thumb and forefinger brushed lightly against Uijae’s lips, causing him to frown. A low chuckle followed. The fingers barely grazed Uijae’s tongue before retreating. The cigarette dissolved into black liquid in Sa-young’s hand and disappeared. With a quick flick of his hand, Sa-young muttered,
“Quit smoking. You’ve got to live long.”
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
The arm around Uijae’s waist loosened as Sa-young let out a long yawn and headed toward the bathroom. Uijae rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around nervously. A system notification about the activation of Basilisk’s venom popped up, but he dismissed it with a wave of his hand. They were currently in Lee Sa-young’s living room, on the top floor of the Wave Guild.
---
Two days ago, just after descending from the mountain, Lee Sa-young had collapsed, drenched in cold sweat. Naturally, both Uijae and Minggijeok, who had been waiting in the car, had panicked.
The two debated whether they should take Sa-young to Nam Woojin or climb back up the mountain. After all, Sa-young had already been asleep for three months.
Throughout the debate, Minggijeok kept glancing nervously at Uijae. Eventually, Uijae couldn’t hold back and asked,
*“Why do you keep looking at me like that? Do you have something to say?”*
*“Ah, well... if you’re going to explode, could you give me some warning?”*
*“Explode? What do you mean?”*
*“Don’t you remember? You tossed me around like a toy doll. Physically.”*
*“......”*
It was probably about the Day of Change. Uijae didn’t remember much, but Minggijeok, the victim, seemed to have a vivid recollection. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Uijae pinched Sa-young’s cheek.
*“I don’t do that anymore...”*
Not a very convincing statement. Minggijeok responded skeptically.
*“Right... I’ll take your word for it.”*
Though it was clear from his tone that he didn’t believe it.
After hiding in the shadows twice and Uijae pinching Sa-young’s cheeks about five times, the debate finally ended. They decided to go back up the mountain. As Uijae was rustling around, preparing to carry Sa-young again, a strong hand grabbed his arm.
*“...Let’s just go home.”*
*“What?”*
*“Don’t be ridiculous...”*
Lee Sa-young had opened his eyes at some point.
Glaring at Uijae as if he wanted to devour him, Sa-young bit out his words, each one sharp and deliberate.
*“It’s just because I’m exhausted... stop fussing... and just take me home.”*
It seemed like that was the last of his strength. After muttering those words, Sa-young passed out again, his face scrunched up in pain. It was probably the last of his energy.
Feeling awkward, Uijae rubbed the wrinkles from Sa-young’s brow and signaled Minggijeok.
And so, they brought Sa-young back home...
And Uijae hadn’t left the house since. For two whole days.
---
*“......”*
How did it come to this? Uijae tried to retrace his steps. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried to escape from the house. But every time he snuck out, Sa-young would somehow find him, as if he were a ghost.
Uijae glanced toward the bathroom, then quickly slipped his mask back on. He tiptoed toward the front door and reached for the doorknob when...
“Hyung.”
A voice came from beyond the door. Of course, just like now.
*“Damn it, does he have radar or something?”*
Uijae quickly took off his mask and responded,
“Y-yeah?”
“Baewonwoo is coming up, so keep your mask on.”
“Baewonwoo? Why?”
“What do you think? Obviously, something’s come up.”
Uijae heard the sound of Sa-young drying his hair with a towel. At that moment, his instincts kicked in. There was only one reason
Baewonwoo would come here in person. His mind raced to the headline of the article.
**“A Secret Relationship Between the Number One and Number Two.”**
Uijae adjusted his mask. *Okay, time to make my escape.* He decided to hide in a dungeon until things calmed down. Just as he flung the door open, he came face to face with a figure blocking the entrance like a bear.
“......”
*Damn it.*
It was Baewonwoo, looking gaunt and haggard. He glanced around like a zombie before flashing a grim smile when he saw J.
“Oh... J! I knew you’d open the door for me before I even rang the bell. Impressive as always. Sa-young’s inside, right?”
*No, he’s not.*
Behind him, the sound of wet footsteps approached. Lee Sa-young, now wearing a bathrobe, was tying the sash as he came up behind Uijae. He raised one eyebrow.
“Wow... you’re here already? How long ago did you call?”
“I couldn’t help it. This is a pretty urgent matter.”
The sweet scent of cinnamon mixed with the fresh smell of Sa-young. He casually hooked his arm around Uijae’s shoulder, pulling him closer. Why did that arm feel like a shackle today?
Baewonwoo held a newspaper in his hand. Even at a glance, the words "Number One" and "Number Two" were visible on the front page. With a friendly smile, Baewonwoo stepped into the house and said,
“Oh, right. J, you’ve already heard the news from Minggijeok, right?”
Before Uijae could respond, Sa-young interrupted.
“What news?”
“Oh, nothing much. Just that the photo of J carrying you bridal-style has made the news.”
“...What?”
Sa-young squinted and took the newspaper from Baewonwoo. Uijae glanced at Sa-young. As Sa-young’s violet eyes scanned the page, his freshly showered lips curled into a delicate smile. His violet eyes narrowed, forming crescent moons.
“Hmmm...”
“......”
Sa-young’s damp toes gently nudged against Uijae’s heel. Uijae flinched as their ankles brushed against each other, sending a shiver down his spine. Sa-young's voice, filled with amusement, murmured,
“I didn’t realize you carried me like that.”
