Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1714

A Bitter Taste (8)

“You’re troubled, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho slightly lowered his head to look at Choi Yeon-ha.

The only difference from usual was that he was looking to the side instead of across from him.

Choi Yeon-ha, sitting next to him on the sofa, was staring at Kang Jin-ho with a sulky look.

“You’ve been spacing out since a while ago, haven’t you?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Ha, Kang Jin-ho has grown up so much. You’re even spacing out when I’m right next to you.”

A vein popped out on Choi Yeon-ha’s forehead.

Seeing her pissed-off face, Kang Jin-ho subtly lowered his gaze.

“We don’t even get to see each other much these days!”

“Ah, no, that’s…”

It was unfair.

Of course, it was true that Kang Jin-ho hadn’t been able to see Choi Yeon-ha much lately, but that was because Choi Yeon-ha was busy, not Kang Jin-ho.

Yet, being scolded like this felt unfair…

“What?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled brightly.

Unfair, my foot.

“Yeah, yeah. Well, would there ever be a day when the world-busy Kang Jin-ho doesn’t have any worries? What is it this time?”

“Well…”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha with a slightly serious expression.

“Wh-what…”

Choi Yeon-ha flinched.

“Don’t make such a serious face. It makes you look handsome.”

What was she supposed to do?

Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat and continued.

“It’s true that I have a worry, but…”

“Yes.”

“I wish you wouldn’t pay attention to it.”

“Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha stared at Kang Jin-ho as if asking what he meant.

“I’m not coming here to have a counseling session with you. I just want to refrain from talking about such things when we’re alone…”

“Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

“Stop talking nonsense and just tell me.”

“…Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

A conversation should be about each person listening to the other’s opinions, but why was this conversation so one-sided?

“It’s not that, well…”

“Geez, are you an electric rice cooker? You’re taking forever to get to the point.”

Kang Jin-ho felt anew the preciousness of Choi Yeon-ha.

Who else in the world would treat him like this besides Choi Yeon-ha?

“It’s not that, well, Lee Hyun-soo…”

But as soon as the name Lee Hyun-soo came out of his mouth, Choi Yeon-ha suddenly yelled.

“Hey! Just date each other! I’m fine, so go live with him!”

“Are these two having an affair behind their girlfriends’ backs?”

“…This is the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard in my life. To prove that it’s not true, I could throw Lee Hyun-soo off the roof of a high-rise building.”

“That guy would probably still survive, though?”

“Then should I bury him?”

“Hmm…”

Choi Yeon-ha narrowed her eyes.

If he proved his innocence to this extent, she could believe him.

Lee Hyun-soo, who was thrown off a high-rise building and then buried in an instant, might feel a little wronged, though.

“So, what about that Lee Hyun-soo?”

“I’ve been thinking a bit lately while watching Lee Hyun-soo. I wonder if me letting go of the burden might be transferring that burden to others…”

“You’re being all pathetic again.”

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Kang Jin-ho with a look of utter dismay.

“Jin-ho, are you a masochist? Oh my, I didn’t know you were into that.”

Kang Jin-ho stared blankly at Choi Yeon-ha.

No, did she go to the US and start doing rap battles in the slums? Why is her damage so high?

“Hey, Jin-ho. If you want to take on other people’s burdens so much, don’t just stand there, help me carry my bags when I go to the US. I’m already dying from carrying so much luggage these days.”

“You have a stylist…”

“How am I supposed to go through the gate with them! These days, Eun-sol’s arms are like a wrestler’s. She used to have a delicate charm, but now she’s a human weight machine!”

Eun-sol?

He couldn’t imagine it.

Choi Yeon-ha scoffed at Kang Jin-ho, who couldn’t figure out what to say.

“Still, it’s basic for Eun-sol to carry that. What would happen if I carried all that luggage? A super healthy actress would be born.”

Uh…

That doesn’t sound bad…

“So, what I’m saying is.”

Choi Yeon-ha said, looking at Kang Jin-ho.

“Everyone has their own role to play. Of course, it’s natural to be considerate and help each other. But taking on all the work to make that person comfortable doesn’t necessarily lead to good results.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha without a word.

“Why? Is there anything wrong with what I said?”

“No, it’s not that…” Kang Jin-ho smiled awkwardly.

“I just thought you were so sharp.”

Choi Yeon-ha made a ‘ha’ face, as if she was dumbfounded.

“You’re just realizing that now?”

“…Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha raised her voice as if to vent all her past grievances.

“Everyone else thinks so. It’s just you, Jin-ho, who sees me as some random neighborhood lady.”

“Ah, no, I’ve never…”

“Then you must see me as a pretty neighborhood lady.”

When Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth, Choi Yeon-ha glared at him.

“What? Why aren’t you answering? Is that right?”

“Ah, no…”

Even if it was true, he couldn’t say it was true.

“I’m a successful actress, and I’m also making my business thrive. Do you know how many people are contacting us, wanting to transfer to our agency?”

“Really?”

“Of course?”

“Ah, no, with that personality, there’s no way you have that many fellow actors’ contacts…”

Kang Jin-ho shut his mouth.

He saw the venom in Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes.

Why did he do that?

Even though he knew that all trouble comes from the mouth, why did he blurt out what he was thinking without filtering it?

“You’re dead, seriously.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Choi Yeon-ha glared at him with a fierce look.

“Look at me more prettily!”

“I-I am doing that.”

“More! Properly! Like other people do!”

Choi Yeon-ha smacked Kang Jin-ho on the back.

“You’re spacing out when I’m right in front of you! If my fans knew, they’d try to hang you upside down!”

Of course, she would be the one hanging him upside down.

She was way too strong here.

“Anyway.”

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Kang Jin-ho with a strange look.

“Tsk.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched at Choi Yeon-ha’s tongue-clicking.

What kind of scolding was coming next?

“Come here.”

“Yes?”

He was right next to her, so where was she telling him to go?

“Get closer.”

Kang Jin-ho subtly moved his butt a little closer to Choi Yeon-ha.

“Really close.”

Kang Jin-ho moved right next to Choi Yeon-ha. Then, Choi Yeon-ha opened her arms.

“Hug me.”

“Hurry.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho subtly leaned his head in, and Choi Yeon-ha grabbed his head and hugged him tightly.

“I…”

“Uh-uh, no talking when a man is like this.”

“Just stay still, stay still. Your sister will take care of everything.”

What was she going to take care of?

Choi Yeon-ha gently patted Kang Jin-ho’s back.

“I was nagging, but you wouldn’t be worrying without a reason, Jin-ho.”

“That’s…”

“Just stay still. I saw on the internet that people can relieve stress just by feeling another person’s body temperature. If my words won’t solve your worries anyway, you should at least relieve some stress.”

Kang Jin-ho slightly closed his eyes.

Whether it was effective or not, he could definitely feel that Choi Yeon-ha was thinking of him.

‘Thank…’

“And I’ll relieve some stress too.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched, and Choi Yeon-ha tightened her grip on his head.

“I told you to stay still! I’ll just…”

Kang Jin-ho squeezed his eyes shut.

Was he happy?

Uh… yeah, he was happy.

But he thought that his idea of dating was different from this…

“How is it? Do you feel a little better?”

“Not really yet…”

“Hmm, it seems the effect is ambiguous.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched.

Even without looking, he could clearly feel the corners of Choi Yeon-ha’s mouth curling up slightly.

“Then I think I should use the next method.”

“…Next?”

“Yes. According to what I saw on the internet, stress is relieved when bare skin touches…”

“Where do you read such weird things!”

“Weird? These are studies done by renowned scholars!”

“Which scholars?”

“I don’t know.”

No way.

This woman was hopeless.

“In that sense, how about we have a bare-skin conversation today?”

“…I’m fine.”

“But I’m not fine?”

As Kang Jin-ho tried to wriggle away, Choi Yeon-ha chuckled and hugged him tighter.

“I got it, so just stay still.”

“It’s okay.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes without a word.

He knew.

These playful conversations were Choi Yeon-ha’s way of subtly relieving Kang Jin-ho’s tension.

‘Did I look that on edge?’

He thought he was calm.

But Kang Jin-ho was also human. He couldn’t be completely unfazed when facing the final battle where everything could collapse.

Inside his heart, disguised as steel, an uncontrollable anxiety and fear were gnawing at his insides.

He could feel Choi Yeon-ha’s body temperature.

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes and forgot his thoughts.

Choi Yeon-ha’s hand gently stroked Kang Jin-ho’s back. His breathing slowly calmed down and soon became regular.

Choi Yeon-ha subtly lowered her gaze.

A little pity, and an unavoidable worry.

‘This is unusual.’

Whether he had fallen asleep or was just resting, Kang Jin-ho looked very comfortable right now.

‘That means he was that stressed.’

If it were the usual Kang Jin-ho, he wouldn’t have relaxed or fallen asleep this easily.

‘What a fool.’

People who openly complain and talk about their fatigue don’t break down easily. Just talking about it gives people some comfort.

Rather, people like Kang Jin-ho, who don’t think about their own situation and focus on others, or who believe they are okay, tend to break down faster.

Kang Jin-ho was just more resilient than others. But no matter how strong a fortress is, if it keeps getting hit, it will eventually crack and collapse.

‘I used to think I was lucky to have met you.’

Maybe…

It might have been fortunate for you to have met me too.

Choi Yeon-ha gently hummed a lullaby as she stroked Kang Jin-ho’s back.

‘No, that’s how it should be.’

Choi Yeon-ha smiled.

People can’t live alone in the end.

It’s a world where fools who can’t support themselves lean on each other. Choi Yeon-ha hoped that she could be something that Kang Jin-ho could lean on.

A place where he could rest for a while without thinking about other things, even if he couldn’t rest for long.

That was enough for now.

“But…”

Choi Yeon-ha stroked Kang Jin-ho’s cheek, who had completely fallen asleep.

“I can’t wait too long.”

Yes. Someday…

The day would come when they would form a family and live with different worries than they had now.

Someday.

Thinking of the wish she couldn’t say out loud, Choi Yeon-ha’s hand stroked Kang Jin-ho’s forehead.