Secretly Married to a Chaebol Alpha novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77: FEELING SPOILED

"SO, THAT was what happened," Garam said, finishing his long story while taking the last spoonful of his chocolate ice cream. "The company cut the budget for my solo debut. From a full-length album, it’s just going to be an EP. Plus, they’re pushing the song I like least as a double title track. I’m sad that the other songs I composed won’t be included in the EP, but I’m just grateful that ’Siren’ remains the title track."

One of the double title tracks, to be precise.

But, in my heart, my EP has only one title track.

"Thank you for sharing your troubles with me, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said while wiping the smudge of ice cream off the corner of his mouth with his thumb. Then he licked the smudge off his own finger. "And I’m sorry."

"For what, Hyung?"

"I shouldn’t have given the shareholders more power than they deserve."

Oh, no.

Garam suddenly felt embarrassed.

I probably sounded like I wanted Sihyuk Hyung to do something about my problem.

"Don’t worry, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk assured him. "I can always invest more money or buy more shares to regain control of the company. Had I known those stupid shareholders and board of directors would sabotage your solo debut, then I wouldn’t have sold my shares." The Alpha then sighed while shaking his head. "I sold most of my shares thinking the company was already knew how to manage your career properly. I’m really sorry, Garam-ah. Because of my mistake, you’re suffering now."

Now Garam felt guilty.

Song Sihyuk was blaming himself for something that was out of his control.

I shouldn’t have whined.

"Hyung, I’m sorry for making you feel like you have to help me," Garam said, putting the empty tub and spoon on the bedside table. Yeah, he ate the ice cream on the bed. Song Sihyuk didn’t scold him, so he thought it was fine. He didn’t make a mess anyway. "I only shared my frustrations with you because I wanted to get it off my chest. I wasn’t asking you to solve my problem again for me."

"Why would you apologize for that, you silly brat," Song Sihyuk said teasingly. "I told you to use me as much as you want, didn’t I? At the end of the day, I’m still your sponsor. I’ll support you every step of the way until you reach the top. Isn’t that what our agreement entails?"

That was true.

However...

"We’re dating now, Hyung," Garam said shyly. "I’m not saying that I’ll never ask for your help again. But I don’t want to use you for things that I can resolve on my own. I want our relationship to change little by little. Instead of a sponsor handing everything to me on a silver platter, I want Hyung to be more of a supportive boyfriend."

"I can be a supportive boyfriend by firing all the stupid directors in your company."

Pfft.

"Hyung, I’m bummed by the turn of events. But I won’t deny that the investors and the shareholders have a point," Garam said, forcing himself to smile because he didn’t want Song Sihyuk to be sad on his behalf. "I haven’t proven myself as a profitable artist yet, since I’m the least popular member in our group. So, I understand why they didn’t want to gamble on me. Especially since the company hasn’t financially recovered yet from all the breach of contract fees that we had to pay before."

He didn’t hear the exact amount of those fees.

But I heard it was in billions of won.

"This sucks to admit, but as artists, we know that the company only sees us as a cash-cow and not as humans," Garam said, clenching his jaw tightly. "So, I’m planning to prove myself to the company that I can bring in money as a solo artist. That’s why I’m going to work hard for this EP. I’ll stop sulking now and just work harder from now on."

"I don’t want you to work harder than you already do," Song Sihyuk said, frowning. "If budget is the problem, then I’ll fund your project, so you’ll get your original debut plan—"

"Shh," Garam said, cutting off Song Sihyuk by covering the Alpha’s mouth with his hand. "Hyung, I want to take on this challenge. I’m done being a burden to my team. Plus, I want to stop feeling pathetic. And it will only stop if I succeed on my own this time."

It might already be too late to recover his pride after he threw it away when he agreed to be sponsored by Song Sihyuk.

But the nature of their relationship had changed now.

I want to succeed as a solo artist so Sihyuk Hyung won’t worry about my career anymore. He already has too much on his plate as the SG Group’s heir. Rather than someone he worries about, I’d rather be someone he can be proud of.

Of course, Song Sihyuk could both worry about him and be proud of him at the same time.

But I want Hyung to see me as someone capable and deserving of my place as his spouse, not as a brat that he has to take care of.

"Are you sure about this, Garam-ah?"

"Yes, Hyung. I appreciate your offer, but let me do this on my own this time."

"Alright," Song Sihyuk said. It was obvious that the Alpha was still worried, though. "But let me know if you need my help. That’s what supportive boyfriends do, right?"

Garam decided to tease his chaebol husband then. "I wouldn’t know. Hyung is my first boyfriend, after all."

Of course, he was just playing dumb.

Being a supportive boyfriend was the bare minimum— even someone who had been single all their life would know that.

I’m just teasing my boyfriend.

"Hyung is my first everything."

Song Sihyuk’s face turned red as if he were embarrassed.

Wow.

That was an unexpected reaction from the Alpha.

"This is the first time I’ve seen Hyung blush," Garam said, laughing. "Hyung, are you embarrassed?"

Song Sihyuk, as if delighted by Garam’s laugh, smiled and nodded— his cheeks still tinted with pink. "Yeah, I’m embarrassed for being a manwhore in the past."

A what?

Pfft.

"Hyung, it’s fine. I don’t care about your lifestyle when you were a bachelor as long as you’re clean."

Song Sihyuk chuckled. "You and your priorities. I’m glad you accepted my dirty past when yours is clean."

"Hyung, virginity is just a social construct. The important thing when having sex is that you’re both consenting adults."

"It’s fine if both are minors, right?"

"Minors..." Garam trailed off, and then he gasped. "Hyung, how old were you when you became sexually active?"

Song Sihyuk just shrugged, avoiding Garam’s gaze.

"Don’t tell me Hyung started doing it in middle school?"

"Yah, I’m not that much of a manwhore— I started when I was in my senior year of high school. I used sex to blow off some steam since I was stressed from studying for my college entrance exam. And the university I applied for wasn’t in Korea— it was in New York. So, I really had a hard time back then."

"I don’t want to hear about it anymore, Hyung," Garam said, covering his ears with his hands. "I shouldn’t have asked about Hyung’s sex life. What a relationship rookie mistake."

"I’m sorry for being a slut, babe."

Pfft.

Garam wanted to act upset a little longer, but Song Sihyuk’s remorseful face melted his heart. "Hyung, I was just teasing you."

"I still owe you an apology."

"Your lifestyle before our marriage is none of my business, Hyung."

"I don’t deserve you, Lim Garam. But I want and need you," Song Sihyuk said, holding Garam’s hands. "Tell me what I need to do to make you choose me every day."

"Just dote on me."

"But you won’t even let me do that. You turned it down when I said I’d buy you an ice cream franchise."

Here goes nothing then.

And Hyung is obviously willing to give it to me.

And Hyung probably will.

***

I can’t believe Hyung took me in his mouth while helping me loosen up.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Sihyuk Hyung doing this for me again.

Hyung is really good at this.

This is the best view ever.

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