Chapter 39: Hwang Jo-Pil... do I still scare you?

Chapter 39 - Hwang Jo-Pil... do I still scare you? "Oh my," he exclaimed and laughed. "Don't do that. I only meant it as a joke but to think you took it seriously," I stared at Jin-Yeok, confused. He meant what as a joke? What was he saying? That was definitely not a joke. His gaze, his tone, and the way he wouldn't back down until he heard my response. He clearly meant every word. But what was this that he meant it as a joke? His expression had become pure again and the dangerous vibe he was giving had released quite a bit. "I... I don't understand, master," I said. "Weren't you going to punish me?" "You're so funny." Jin-Yeok claimed. "I only did that to scare you since you were so scared of me when I hadn't done anything. You already branded me a scary guy, do you know how much that hurts?" He held his chest and I got confused even more. "But to think you would comply so obediently when I was only just joking with you." He laughed and I gulped. That didn't sound like a joke though. It sounded like a command and if I didn't do it, I'd have myself to blame for whatever came next. "If I had told you to walk on burning coal for an hour as your punishment, would you have obediently done so?" He asked, and from the look of his eyes, it felt like he was testing me again. I just couldn't read him. It was difficult. "I am your slave, bought with your money unless another master overrules that command, I will have no choice but to do it." I said, bowing my head and clutching my arm. "And I would not want my masters to get into a conflict because of me so I would rather carry out my punishment, rather than see a dispute follow because of my lowly self." I can't believe I was saying such cringe things just to spare my life. But if that happened, I think I'd rather run away than walk in burning coal. I'm not that crazy. For now, let's try to appease him with this response. "Hwang Jo-Pil," he called, lowering his head to meet mine and for some reason, he dropped his forehead on mine, gazing intently into my eyes with his green emerald eyes while smiling like an angel. "Do I still scare you?" He said, but I was too fixed on his eyes to even give a response. How could someone's eyes be so green? I found myself falling into the clutches of his gaze and gulped. The fear I felt and the danger signs that had been ringing in my head for a while had suddenly disappeared, and I was more focused on the eyes of the man in front of me. They were eyes that held so many secret and evil deeds, and yet they sparked so purely as though he were indeed a saint. "Your eyes are..." I gulped, unaware that my thoughts were spilling out through my lips. "Very beautiful," My statement took Jin-Yeok and Min-Cheol by surprise and Min-Cheol, whose eyes I had complimented before, began to fume in jealousy. Jin-Yeok, on the other hand, raised his head away from mine and laughed, sounding gentle and respectful. "I'll take it that you're no longer scared of me because of what you said," he said and my eyes widened as I realized I had let my thoughts slip. I immediately closed my mouth in shock. What have I done? It was only a moment ago that I vowed to be more respectful with my words but I was already saying things without holding back. "I'm sorry," I quickly bowed my head. "Sorry, very sorry, master. I didn't mean it." "What? Do you mean you don't think my eyes are beautiful?" He asked with a pure expression on his face. Aish, how do I describe it? He looked calm and relaxed, his eyes glinting with amusement and his lips slightly curled up in what looked like a smirk, but a smirk was too loud for the kind of expression on his face, so it definitely wasn't a smirk. This was the image he showed everyone that made everyone worship him, and I was one of those unlucky fellows who was falling for his tricks despite already knowing the truth. "Hyung, you think the eyes of that evil old man are beautiful?" Min-Cheol asked, dropping his hands on my shoulders and I glanced back at him. He was sulking. "It's not fair. I thought I was the only one who had beautiful eyes for you. Why did you have to go and say it? I feel so sad right now," "I'm sorry, Little Min." I said but he wasn't satisfied with a simple sorry and dropped his head on mine. I raised my hand and touched his hair. It was soft. I gently stroked it and said, "I think I have a habit of spilling my thoughts when I get carried away," I said. And that was how I almost ended up running around the mansion naked. "Of course, your eyes are beautiful, but so are his," I glanced back at Jin-Yeok, who was simply watching us. What was he thinking? I had no idea. This man would be the most difficult character to deal with. I could already feel it. With thoughts so hidden that it became too hard to predict his intentions, I would have a really hard time dealing with him. "But mine are more beautiful, right?" Min-Cheol asked and my eyes fell on his. His blue eyes were definitely beautiful and just as I got lost in Jin-Yeok's green eyes, I also got lost in Min-Cheol's. He patted his forehead on mine and smiled. He was so gullible. "This is fun," Jin-Yeok suddenly said in a low voice that made me turn towards him right away. What was that? Did he just say, 'This is fun,'? I thought I had misheard. I was sure I misheard. I misheard, right? Tell me I misheard. I got anxious as I waited for him to say something else that would give me a clue but he did not say anything more. Instead, Jin-Yeok turned around, heading to where the gifts were dropped and I gulped. What did he find fun? Was it toying with me or watching Min-Cheol sulk in jealousy? Please, I needed answers so I could get prepared for the worst.