Yeo Mujin’s eyes went wide. Gu Jongyeol looked at him with a slightly uneasy expression, and Yeo Mujin broke into a grin and turned the question back on him.
“What are you talking about. Jongyeol hyung. You’re a beta. Betas don’t have any scent.”
Even after he finished speaking, the corners of Yeo Mujin’s mouth stayed lifted, refusing to come back down. Gu Jongyeol stared at him for a long moment, then burst out laughing.
……This guy, seriously.
“Mujin. You’re actually a pretty decent person, aren’t you?”
I’d been wary of him for a while because of the way he’d look at me sometimes — but it seems that was a misunderstanding after all.
Then again, he has been following me around for a while now.
The very person standing in front of him — Yeo Mujin — was someone Gu Jongyeol had looked after as a side effect of taking care of Kang Yeonkyu. If Yeo Mujin hadn’t started keeping his distance at some point, Gu Jongyeol probably wouldn’t have been uncomfortable around him either.
But why did this guy start keeping his distance from me in the first place?
“I’m hurt, hyung. So up until now, I’ve been a bad person to you?”
Yeo Mujin stuck out his lower lip as he spoke, and Gu Jongyeol smirked.
“Sorry, sorry. You know how it is. I’ve been surrounded by a pretty messed up environment. When nothing around you is normal, you start getting suspicious of everyone. I’ll apologize. Accept it.”
Gu Jongyeol smiled, and Yeo Mujin answered, “Just this once.” Gu Jongyeol felt as though a halo was radiating from behind Yeo Mujin. Now that he knew this guy was decent, his face somehow looked brighter and more wholesome. Gu Jongyeol felt relieved.
“Hyung. Really, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to keep your secret.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m counting on you.”
“And if you ever need help, just say the word!”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“Oh. By the way, hyung.”
“Hm?”
“Now that it’s come to this — there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
Yeo Mujin gazed steadily at Gu Jongyeol, then smiled shyly and murmured.
“Your phone number…… Would you exchange it with me?”
Gu Jongyeol’s brows furrowed, and Yeo Mujin quickly added.
“There might be things that are hard to say through Yeonkyu. And there could be times when you need my help. Or the other way around……!”
“Mujin.”
Gu Jongyeol placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Kid, you’re a grown man — why are you going on and on just to ask for a phone number? Here, put it in.”
“……!”
“From now on, you’re family to me too. If something ever happens to you, I’ll come running anytime — so if this hyung ever has trouble, tell me anything.”
“Hyung.”
“I’m someone who never forgets a kindness, you hear me.”
Gu Jongyeol grinned.
Gu Jongyeol watched quietly as Yeo Mujin took his phone and tapped in his number, one digit at a time, and thought to himself.
This guy’s genuinely naive.
Can someone like him really go on to lead Jinjupa well?
It’s a relief that it’s at least changed into a company where ordinary civilians can work too.
He wasn’t sure someone like him could hold on in that rough world filled with scheming people.
Gu Jongyeol clicked his tongue as he watched Yeo Mujin smile quietly to himself over having gotten his phone number.
If he were ever given the chance to turn back time, Gu Jongyeol would not give Yeo Mujin his phone number.
And then he would have smashed this crazy bastard’s skull in with everything he had.
“Hyung. Isn’t this comfortable?”
“Mmph, mmph! Mmph mmph mmph!”
“Don’t worry, hyung. I’ll protect you. I’m not giving you to anyone. So…… stay with me forever.”
But at the time, Gu Jongyeol had absolutely no idea any of this would happen.
Seriously.
Who could have known.
3.
72 hours before the incident.
Ding.
A message came in.
Jongyeol hyung. I looked at the pamphlet that doctor apparently gave you. It says that during heat, omegas gather and hold onto objects that carry an alpha’s scent. Apparently it can help calm the arousal and bring a sense of comfort.
Gu Jongyeol’s face scrunched up.
Hold onto? What are they, birds?
Lol right. Interesting, isn’t it?
Interesting my ass. These people are ridiculous. Why would you hold onto someone else’s things? And is it only during heat?
Ah, yes. Statistically, that’s what it says.
Why?
Well, if they can’t immediately have sex to calm the heat, they have to get through it somehow.
Get through it? So they endure it?
Huh? If they don’t endure it, what do you expect them to do?
What do you mean what! They have sex!
Oh!
What are you so surprised about. Weren’t omegas supposed to just latch onto any alpha and have sex when heat hits?
Lololol Jongyeol hyung. Just how do you see omegas.
Sex-crazed. Obsessed with alpha cock. Perverts.
Lololol You must have met some really strange omegas. From what I know, most omegas aren’t that crude. It’s just that there are quite a few cases where they end up giving in to a bad situation against their will.
Strange omegas. So you’re saying the normal ones actually hold back?
Yes. During heat, most omegas endure it so as not to cause trouble for others.
I didn’t know that.
Well, in that sense, hyung — would you like some of my belongings?
What? Why yours?
In case heat hits, you might need something that belongs to an alpha.
Does it work with just any alpha’s belongings?
Well, that’s…
Forget it. Alphas are everywhere — if I really need it, I’ll just pick some guy and ask for something of his.
Ah…….
But Mujin. These belongings you mentioned — what exactly are they? Not a cock, right?
Lol no.
What else does it say? Did that doctor write anything weird in there?
It seems you don’t really trust him, hyung.
No, it’s not that exactly, but.
Apparently an omega’s heat cycle typically lasts one to two weeks. The first five days of the first week are the peak — during that time it’s recommended to avoid going outside as much as possible. It says that’s when an omega’s pheromones are strongest. During this period, an omega’s pheromones are so powerful that sometimes even betas can get intoxicated by them.
Hmm.
What’s wrong?
