Where could he get the remaining money to cover the shortfall?
Ding dong!
Hearing the sound of his apartment doorbell, Karel dragged himself off the couch and walked toward the door with lazy steps.
When he opened the door, Arthur was already standing there with a very handsome smile, holding several bags full of groceries in his hands.
Even now, Karel still wasn't used to seeing someone this good-looking right in front of him, especially when that person was smiling at him.
"Good afternoon...dear" Arthur greeted smoothly, his usual gentle smile in place as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Karel.
Karel was only momentarily surprised, then briefly returned the hug, his face warming as he felt the short embrace.
Without further comment, he led Arthur inside.
As Karel shut the door behind them, Arthur had already marched straight into the kitchen, casually setting the bags down. Karel followed, curious, as he started pulling items out of the bags.
"What's all this?" Karel asked, watching Arthur organize fruits and vegetables in the fridge.
"You're too skinny. I happened to pass by the supermarket." Arthur's voice was as nonchalant as ever.
Karel scowled. Too skinny? His weight was perfectly fine—sure, he wasn't exactly ripped, but still!
Pretending to be offended, he huffed and stomped out of the kitchen in protest.
After finishing up in the kitchen, Arthur walked back to the living room and settled himself on Karel's right side. The younger man was busy typing on his laptop, completely absorbed in whatever he was doing.
Without a word, Arthur took the laptop from Karel's lap and placed it on the coffee table in front of them. Then, he wrapped an arm around Karel, gently pulling him to lean against his shoulder.
Karel, too tired to think about money any longer, didn't protest. Instead, he let himself relax, resting his head against Arthur's right shoulder and closing his eyes for a moment.
Arthur absentmindedly ran his fingers through Karel's short hair, his touch slow and soothing. A familiar scent of blueberries filled his senses, making something deep inside him ache with nostalgia.
His gaze drifted toward the laptop screen, still glowing on the table, and he frowned. "Ah… are you buying stocks?"
Karel cracked one eye open, lifting his head slightly to meet Arthur's sharp blue eyes—the kind of gaze that could make anyone feel like they were drowning. "Mm. Just playing around."
Arthur glanced at the screen again, his hand never leaving Karel's hair. He scanned the list of companies Karel had invested in, quickly reading through their projected performance.
"Mirac? Isn't that company on the verge of bankruptcy?" Arthur mused, remembering the massive scandal that had nearly destroyed its reputation.
Karel's head shot up in alarm. He wanted to scream, Of course, I know! I read it in a novel! But there was no way Arthur would believe anything supernatural.
"I just bought it on a whim," Karel muttered instead, lazily playing with Arthur's fingers. His hands were long and elegant, the veins on the back subtly visible, probably from all the hours spent typing at a computer.
"How much did you spend on this?"
"Thirty thousand dollars" Karel replied casually as he grabbed a packet of snacks.
Arthur let out a long, slow sigh. He was clearly stunned, and although $30,000 wasn't that much for him, it was still an absurd amount to throw at a dying company.
Arthur let out a breath, heavier than usual, as he gazed at Karel, who didn't seem the least bit concerned about what he had just done.
After a brief silence, Arthur decided to change the subject.
"By the way," he said, glancing at Karel, who was still busy chewing, "where do you plan to continue your studies?"
The question made Karel pause mid-bite.
He had been so focused on stock investments and the upcoming financial crisis that he had completely forgotten he was graduating this year.
In the novel he remembered, the original Karel's college life was never even mentioned—the story had skipped straight to the protagonist's early twenties.
But considering how obsessed the original owner's family was with reputation and social status, it was obvious they would push him into one of the country's top universities.
"I don't know. Probably St. Averill College or Velmont."
As soon as Karel said that, Arthur's phone, which was resting on the table, lit up. He glanced at the screen before reaching for it.
"One sec" he muttered, checking the caller ID.
It was his secretary.
That alone was enough for Arthur to answer immediately. It had to be important.
"I'll head to the location now," he said, his tone shifting into something more serious.
Then, he turned to Karel. "I have work to do."
"Work? This late at night?"
Arthur nodded, a hint of reluctance in his expression. He quickly grabbed his jacket that he had hung in the kitchen and walked toward the front of the apartment.
Slowly, he reached for the back of Karel's head, pulling him close before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
The kiss was brief, but enough to make Karel fall silent for a moment.
"Be careful" Karel murmured as he watched Arthur leave.
Arthur gave a faint smile, the kind that always looked warm in Karel's eyes. "You too. Good night," he murmured, his fingers brushing gently through Karel's hair.
But just as Arthur turned to leave, Karel suddenly tugged at the edge of his tie, stopping him in his tracks.
Arthur glanced back, brows slightly raised in question, but before he could say anything, Karel lifted himself onto his toes and pressed a fleeting kiss against his lips.
It was quick and light, barely more than a whisper of warmth, but enough to make Arthur freeze for a moment.
Karel looked up at him with an easy expression, though the faint red creeping up his ears betrayed his composure. "Now it's a proper good night" he murmured, almost a whisper.
Arthur stared at him in silence for a beat, then, without warning, he pulled Karel close by the waist, capturing his lips in a deeper kiss.
This time, it wasn't fleeting. It was soft but firm, a reminder that he wouldn't leave without leaving something behind.
As oxygen became scarce, Karel finally pulled away with a breathless chuckle, pressing a hand against Arthur's chest to push him back. "Just go already."
Arthur let out a small sigh before turning toward the elevator.
As he stepped inside, the doors began to close, and Karel remained in the doorway of his apartment, watching him from afar.
Just before the doors shut completely, Arthur gave him a small wave, a lingering smile still on his lips.
Then, the moment he was out of sight, his expression shifted. His eyes sharpened, focus narrowing as he swiftly pulled out his phone.
After typing a quick message, a voice answered on the other end almost immediately.
"Adrian, give me the latest report on MIRAC Group. Keep a close watch, don't let that company go under."
His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Without waiting for a response, Arthur ended the call.
Karel had already spent a lot of money on those stocks.
If that company collapsed, Karel would be devastated.
And Arthur wasn't about to let that happen. "Karel always has to smile"