It had been a face that couldn’t properly recognize what kind of symptom the suddenly arrived heat cycle was. The large eyes drenched in tears, while confused, unable to overcome heat or pain—the touch pushing away himself, who had gone into rut, was firm.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t surprised by the gesture of rejection even though the expression clearly showed he couldn’t overcome the impulse surging up because of heat. Rather, it was natural to be led by instinct that accepting an alpha would make it better. Compared to himself who noticed as soon as the symptoms came, Muyoung had already been in a state of completely entrusting himself to Dowon, not even knowing heat had come even when he couldn’t manage his body at all.
He himself was the one stimulated instead by the voice trembling violently, pushing at his chest with hands that couldn’t even muster strength.
The more he knew, the more Muyoung wasn’t someone commonly seen in the industry. While unhesitant about harming himself, he terribly hated causing harm to people around him. Rather than superficial appeasement and compromise working, he would clash more sincerely with direct expressions. Dowon predicted that even the partner who had imprinted with Muyoung couldn’t promise the end because he knew that. Because it was a disposition that could never mix with a type he couldn’t understand.
Spending time like that, before he knew it, Min Jeongryul returned inside the room with quiet footsteps, having guided Kim Youngseok back.
“How was it?”
“That person was asleep. Dr. Kim examined a few things and said he was quite stabilized, and administered IV fluids. He said he’ll look a bit more and come back up.”
“Right, he’ll be better by tomorrow.”
Dowon’s fingers placed on the armrest tapped it a couple times. Min Jeongryul, who had been examining his face deep in thought, immediately continued speaking.
“Yes, and I finished ventilating before Dr. Kim arrived and mentioned that part in advance, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”
“Did the doctor ask anything separately?”
“He asked if I’d heard anything about the trait abnormality that person is experiencing. I just said I hadn’t heard anything separately.”
“Good job. Let’s not let information go beyond that. Since he’s practically the chairman’s hands and feet, it’ll become a headache later.”
“Yes. I’ll be mindful.”
Watching Min Jeongryul nodding and answering, Dowon recalled something and slowly twisted his head to rest his chin on one side. It was because an unpleasant sensation came to mind. The strange pheromones Muyoung had been giving off as soon as he returned to his seat.
“By the way. I don’t know how far I should tolerate that Yu Jinho thing.”
According to what he heard through Muyoung’s mouth today, the bastard called sunbae was definitely Yu Jinho. Seeing the face pretending not to know him, he hadn’t worried much, but he didn’t think that would have been maintained even toward Muyoung. Dowon could be confident he could recognize at a glance humans steeped in inferiority complex, whenever, wherever, whomever he met.
Moreover, how similar the patterns were of those kinds whose direction always pointed toward the weak. Sensitive to rumors, more enthusiastic the more base the content, enjoying revealing their claws at things that aren’t their own business. Not knowing they’re the ones exposing the bottom, they cheer at the pain of the victim visible before their eyes. Dowon had to repay such behavior to be satisfied.
“Shall I check?”
“Mm, no. It seems we don’t need to concern ourselves right away. That kind of thing can be caught later. But he even knew about the tabloids.”
“Probably, it seems he mentioned it on purpose.”
“That would be it. At least it’s fortunate Secretary Min heard it. If someone else had heard, it would have been more troublesome.”
His only connection with him was becoming acquainted at one small gathering where only trait individuals gathered. Even that, it had been a long time since Dowon properly attended. First, there was a lot of work, and he no longer felt the need to go. It wasn’t like that was the only social gathering among business-related alphas. It was also proper to cut off visits to places that could become problems in advance. Though he’d be offended if entry was prohibited.
“I think this is the first time another alpha’s pheromones have been this repulsive.”
“Are you very uncomfortable?”
“No, I’m fine now. I covered it all up too……”
So it was difficult to control, but it wasn’t an entirely bad result. He now wondered if he’d acted too indifferent to Kim Youngseok when he should have at least pretended to have clumsily caused an accident. If he was going to be suspicious, he would have already judged on his own, so realizing it now was too late.
“He seems to like dividing ranks, so I should arrange a meeting soon. When did he say the wedding was? Wasn’t it Assemblyman Jo’s youngest daughter?”
“Correct. It’s a rapidly advancing schedule. Shall I find out if there’s anything going on?”
“There probably won’t be yet. Even if there is, it seems like it would be hidden so no one notices before the wedding. Rather, check Assemblyman Jo’s side. That daughter too. When both sides are desperate, it’s usually the side that speaks well that’s dirty. Let’s also check Yuyoung’s ownership structure, Yu Jinho’s company. As you know, quietly.”
Dowon, who had been giving Min Jeongryul several additional instructions while lightly pressing his brow with his thumb, buried his body deep in the chair he’d been sitting in. Though the unwinding time was longer than expected and he was barely managing himself, he couldn’t waste even a moment. When meeting Muyoung, there was at least a brief moment to breathe, but today even that couldn’t be expected.
“……Wasn’t it too much strain?”
“Well, a bit more than expected.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to tell that person later……”
“It’s already happened.”
Dowon, who let out a short hollow laugh, lightly shook his head. If he could have controlled it right away, he wouldn’t have let it become like this. Though sudden, handling it somehow was right. Though it wasn’t an expected matter, doing a bit more work filtering out the person who was bothersome before his eyes would be good for later.
“Dr. Kim is unavoidable, but let’s just not let other things go wrong.”
“Yes, then when should we set it?”
“When was Lee Muyoung-ssi’s drama finale date?”
“A week from now.”
Dowon, with deeply sunken eyes thinking about something, unusually remained silent for quite a long time. Only after lightly rubbing his chin and exhaling shortly did his face revealing his intention no longer show traces of the earlier contemplation. The hand examining other schedules while picking up his phone after slowly getting up from his seat was quite resolute.
“That day would be better. At least the final episode’s viewership ratings should be okay.”
“Then I’ll do that.”
“Let’s settle Seo Kyungju before that.”
“Yes.”
Dowon’s eyes, indifferently passing through countless incoming contact notifications, caught messages he’d confirmed a while ago. Unlike the name stored indifferently, messages where quite warm words were exchanged still felt a bit awkward even while checking with his eyes, and his mouth became needlessly sweet.
He remembered the candy often thrust before his eyes in childhood. At that time, perhaps it was a trend, there were many children with it in their mouths. He had refused most of the candy offered to him, but pushed by the stares watching intently, he’d put it in his mouth once or twice. The manufactured product manipulating young taste buds was exactly that much sweetness, neither good nor bad. But the particularly colorful candy mixed with dye would stick thickly inside his mouth. Like junk food usually does, with sweetness that didn’t fade well and wasn’t very refreshing.
He couldn’t accurately remember now whether he’d chewed and swallowed it all or spit it out while eating. Even if forcibly shoved into his mouth, the sweetness easy to become addicted to wasn’t forgotten. Like how even if other things became hazy, that candy’s sweetness remained long in memory.
Whoever he met in the past wasn’t very important. As long as Muyoung was already with him, what was more important was the future. There shouldn’t be delays in progress due to such trivial problems. If he could get much back with a slight risk, he was willing to turn a blind eye, but this time, such a generous heart didn’t arise at all.
“How on earth did he get caught in something like that?”
“……Pardon?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself. Secretary Min, you should go in now too. If there’s a problem, I’ll contact you.”
Kim Youngseok, who would stop by later, didn’t matter if Dowon met him alone. Now he too needed to close his eyes briefly. It was rest finally welcomed at dawn after the evening that felt quite long passed. The quiet stillness that could only be felt alone settled fully inside the room.
* * *
Muyoung, who had been bustling since morning, plopped down on the bed while preparing to leave. Though his eyes opened earlier than expected, his mind didn’t immediately clear, so he’d wandered for a while. He didn’t wake well from sleep, to the point it took time to recognize this place wasn’t home. Only after that did he bustle about finding his phone to check the time, contacting Dowon, and showering. Barely entering the bathroom and receiving hot water, his mind cleared somewhat. Whether he’d been tense even while sleeping, his body also ached weakly when getting up from bed, but the shower could relieve it considerably.
He’d only thought the saying that when something too shocking to handle happens, one becomes cold instead was just words. Would he have thought it would become his own matter?
He knew it was a tilted relationship. A benefactor he was grateful to and a sunbae he admired, the clumsily started feelings changed into a sense of fulfillment of walking side by side, and he’d been inwardly satisfied. Still, he gathered his greed several times to not act rashly. He just tried to be even a little closer because he knew he couldn’t have everything.
Rather, at least knowing that bottom this way was enough. As if trying to shake off all the thoughts painstakingly scraped out under the water, Muyoung, who hurriedly washed his body, came out of the bathroom to find contact from Dowon had arrived.
Han Dowon
Did you sleep well?
Is a meal okay?
Though it was a greeting offered as if nothing happened, it really couldn’t be nothing. Muyoung, who held his phone with hands not yet dry to look at the message, hesitated over a reply for a moment. What should he send? Should he ask if he’s okay? Should he ask if he doesn’t need to go to work? He found himself pathetic, only recalling words he didn’t need to ask about circumstances he already knew everything about.
Yes, I’m fine. Where shall we meet?
